Getting What You Want

How Long Does God Really Want Me to Try?

2009-10-02T09:47:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit has been working through me for many years and I really want to know how long, God really want me to try? How long does he want me to try to get Christians to think and understand Christianity? I'm doing the best that I can and as long as God is working through me, I will try to do better.

God put me here for a reason and my reason is to teach other Christians about Christianity. As long as the Holy Spirit will keep me alive, I will continue to do the best that I can and teach other Christians, how to study the Bible and where their religion actually came from.

If you're reading this article, your probably interested in Christianity and the Bible, if you do read the Bible, do you actually understand what it's saying. If you study the Bible, are you exposing yourself to others who also study the Bible, or are you only studying the Bible with people you know and are familiar with.

How long are you going to try, before you actually quit? Have you quit before and started again and maybe you've done this a few times, but you haven't quite yet. I know where you're coming from, I've been there myself and continue to motor ahead.

I would like to give you a word of advice, don't ever quit and don't ever give up. Keep searching and you will find the answers, keep knocking and doors will be opened. I have been knocking and will continue to keep knocking.

I wish you nothing but the best of luck on your journey towards the ultimate answers that we're all hoping to find.

Do Christians Believe Everything

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

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

Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

2009-10-01T22:29:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Problems With Noah's Ark Story

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

Thanks

Religious Mind Control Or Generational Sin

2009-10-01T09:51:00.001-07:00

If you were raised with certain beliefs and belong to a certain religion, there is a very good chance that your parents followed your religion and share the same beliefs. If you are a Muslim, there's a very good chance that your parents were Muslims. If you live in the United States, there is a really, really good chance that you're a Christian, especially if you live in Texas or Utah.

Is this religious mind control and generational sin or is this truly the way life is meant to live. Your parents and ancestors formed strong beliefs and pass them on to their children. What's wrong with that? Is it a generational sin to pass on what you truly believe? With that question asked, is a generational sin our mind control to teach our children how to fit into society, is it our obligation as stewards.

We often send our children to school, give them a good religious upbringing and then assimilate them into the workplace, almost like robots on an assembly line. We seem to never even question where these beliefs originated, we have no idea where they are going to take us and above all, we have no idea that they are truly beneficial to society, let alone ourselves.

Teaching our children what we have been taught, isn't always going to be right. If you look back in history, at all the beliefs, rituals and facts that have been disproven and are no longer followed by modern man, you can get a pretty good idea what I'm talking about. These people often taught their children, what they were taught. In centuries to come, these truths died out and were replaced by new ones.

Religious mind control can be cured by opening your mind and reading articles like this. You might be talking to someone who you have been taught to fear or even hate your whole life, only to find out that they think like you. They care about their families, feel sorry for others who are less fortunate and usually eat and sleep just like you do. If your mind is open enough, you could realize that you have been lied to and now it's time to start thinking seriously about what you were taught and what you're going to believe in the future.

Religious mind control can be cured through reading books, watching television, visiting other countries and educating yourself about other cultures and religions. The change you make today could affect future generations in your family.

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 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.

Do You Ever Loose Your Keys - Planning Advice

2009-09-14T21:40:00.001-07:00

You obviously don't need to read this article if you rarely lose your car keys. However if you misplace your car keys often and have a pretty good relationship with your locksmith, it's time to change these bad habits into good ones.

One of my friends, recently lost their car keys. I would like you to listen to what I'm about to say and see if it makes sense to you. Most people get two keys when they buy a car. This means, if they lose one key, they now have a spare key. When they lose their first key, this should give them a pretty good clue that the second key is now the only key, if they wish to drive their car.

Does that make sense? If you lose your first key, you don't have a second or spare key anymore. Now is a good time to purchase a spare key or have one made. Don't wait until you lose the second one, unless you are planning to change your bad habit into a good one.

Now let me get back to my friends who recently lost their car's key. The car they were driving was a new Honda and you can't go to the locksmith to get another key made. You have to order one from the Honda dealer and this key cost them over $200. That's a lot of money for one key.

Now my friends lost both of their original keys and now have one key to operate the vehicle and this key cost them over $200. Now if I had to pay this amount of money, I would make sure that I never lost this key ever again. I would do whatever it to to change my old habits and create some new ones.

How hard is it to get in the habit of placing your keys inside of your purse. Placing your keys in your pockets and then only removing them when you are going to place them inside of a drawer, container, cup, bowl or on a shelf in your bedroom. If you place your keys in a drawer, this will keep them out of other people's temptation.

If you choose to lay your keys in a bowl, in the kitchen, there's a good chance someone will take them or another member of your family could lose them. Place your keys in a protected area, do not leave them out in the open ever.

If you want some tips to prevent you from losing your keys, simply talk to someone who rarely if ever loses their keys. Most of these people have simple and easy to follow tips. You can consciously create a habit that can save you money and frustration in the future.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Healing Through the Written Word

2009-09-14T08:18:00.001-07:00

Healing through the Written Word - Writing is the medicine we need to heal our everyday wounds and provide us with the immunity to go forth and live, knowing we have a powerful healer at our fingertips.

Everyday wounds are those hurts that present themselves to us on a daily basis through our relationships and interactions with others and stay with us until they are addressed and eventually healed. Each day we are presented with situations that can develop into wounds or contribute to our growth as a Higher Ground Human. It all depends on what we choose.

"Everyday wounds" consist of the following:

* Fears we have not faced or embraced. * Hurt feelings that either are not recognized or addressed. * Blocks or obstructions that keep us from achieving our goals, evolving, or developing self esteem. * Lost dreams due to overwhelm. * Feelings of isolation. * Frustration * Negativity and judgments. * Unable to focus.

We can choose to walk in integrity taking us one step closer towards becoming a Higher Ground Human or as many of us do we can choose to take the safe route, hide our true feelings, protecting our vulnerability and safely hiding our fear.

When we choose the latter, we are being untrue to ourselves, the biggest sin of all. We are our own worst enemy. Once we realize and accept our hurtful behavior we are ready to step onto our healing path and begin the journey. To do otherwise would be deliberately unkind.

Writing is an untapped natural healer, which according to The Med Serv. Medical News, reporting on a study by Smyth & colleagues, concluded that "The simple act of writing about bad times can be potent, and a low cost, method of relieving pain and symptoms of chronic illnesses....

Healing our emotional wounds is necessary for us to move forward, to grow spiritually, to live peacefully and to Be the best we can be.

Walking in integrity means our thoughts; actions and feelings are all aligned, all in accordance all congruent (in agreement). Actively and consciously inhibiting and holding back our thoughts and feelings takes work AND can lead to stress, ultimately affecting our immune system often putting us at risk for major and minor diseases.

James W Pennebaker, PhD is his 1990 book; Opening Up showed a relationship between expressing our emotions through writing and the positive effect this type of writing has on our immune system.

Healing is learning to be true to ourselves. To be true to ourselves and to trust ourselves takes courage and a knowing of who we are. To become true to ourselves we must embrace our fears, walking through them to the other side. When we do this we open ourselves to trusting and experiencing life.

Knowing who we are is a life-long journey AND it takes willingness on our part to consciously take that first step.

I believe we are all aware of what happens when our emotions are left dangling with no where to go, or no release. They can manifest themselves into physical ailments, leaving us confused and often making visits to the doctor's office.

Healing our everyday wounds is necessary for our mental health AND for personal growth.

Everyday wounds are painful and many of us choose to simply ignore or eliminate the pain by being in a constant state of denial.

For those who choose to travel through the pain, we find integrity and personal growth on the other side.

Writing is a powerful tool to have when moving through the pain. Through writing we can make sense out of confusion, giving meaning to emotional hurts, pin-pointing the root of our pain and sadness and opening us up to a whole new world.

Writing on a daily basis at the same time is a simple everyday ritual we must develop. When you have a conflict between your thoughts and your actions sit down and begin to write giving yourself a prompt. Your prompt may be "Why was I angry yesterday.........?" and just let the words flow through your fingers onto the paper. This free writing is powerful. You will know when you are finished.

Now give yourself the prompt "Why was I not truthful .......?" and begin to write, letting the words flow out onto the paper.

Once you are finished sit quietly and read both writings. I promise, you will be exposed to the answers to both of your prompts, giving you the opportunity to make amends to yourself by bringing your actions and your thoughts in alignment. You will begin to walk your thoughts and your talk AND be yourself. There is nothing more powerful and a battle worth fighting.

The famous American poet, EE Cummings, said, "To be nobody-but-yourself----in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else---means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight...."

This exercise will take only 30 minutes of your time, yet it is invaluable when it comes to your personal growth.

Writing helps us get in touch with what is hidden from us, giving us answers to those questions that seem to baffle us often exposing the reason behind our anger.

Writing gives us energy and frees us from the ties that bind. When we write we create a spiritual, truthful connection with ourselves and with others.

Give yourself the gift of writing.

Virginia Dever Writer - Coach - Healer

Ideas For A Second Wedding Anniversary Gift

2009-09-13T19:05:00.001-07:00

The strict followers of tradition tell you that a second wedding anniversary gift item should be of cotton. Cotton doesnt translate into a plain cotton sheet or a pillow. Too little creativity makes your second wedding anniversary gift a little colorless. Think out of the box and you will hit on an innovative idea that can change your gift giving into an exciting experience.

The man or woman for whom you want to honor with second wedding anniversary gift will be a close friend of you. And you will have fairly good idea about their personal likes and dislikes. Just as you can see, they have gathered all the essentials for their home. Chances are higher that the bed sheet that you would give them will only join a huge pile. Bring your thought process to outside the existing norms. Hey, to live is to change constantly.

A personalized notepad or some enveloped with cotton paper would make a nice second wedding anniversary gift idea. You can bring in any number of innovations with your cotton notepad. No, dont stop your thinking of cotton gift here. You honor our cotton tradition here and shows a good gesture that you have some thoughts reserved for your friend.

What if you look to modern traditions of second wedding anniversary? You can think of china as a second anniversary gift. If you have a chance check to make sure your friend doesnt have a big collection of china. Even then the appeal of china is unmistakable and almost everyone likes to occasionally add a set of two of china to their collection.

Everything Chinese also can make good second wedding anniversary gift item. It can be a gift certificate to enjoy always demanded Chinese cuisine at a local Chinese restaurant or a gift basket treasure hunt with Chinese items like Feng Shui crystals or fortune cookies.

The options dont end here; in fact this is your starting point of finding a unique second wedding anniversary gift. Just make a search at eBay.com or Froogle.com to find out the rich variety of cotton and Chinese jewelry and craft items available.

It is the relationship between you and your friend and your simple gesture of thoughtfulness will be remembered for a long time.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning wedding. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Wedding Anniversary Gift

Feng Shui Independent of Zi Wei Dou Shu (ZWDS) And Ba Zi (4 Pillars)? Part I

2009-09-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

Chinese Metaphysics consist of many individual fields which can be classified into broad categories of Astrology, Feng Shui, Divination and Strategy.One of the common misconceptions is that these are stand-alone fields and that practicing one does not require knowledge and streamlining with other fields of knowledge.In addition, many held the belief that Astrology subjects like Ba Zi (4 Pillars) and Zi Wei Dou Shu (ZWDS) are merely tools to foretell our fixed-capacity destiny and fortune and Feng Shui solely holds the key to betterment of one's outcome and luck.

In actual fact, destiny is not entirely fixed. If destiny is entirely fixed, what is the use of consulting a doctor or surgeon for one's illness? Geomancy tools are effective only up to the extent it complements one's destiny and the key to betterment of one's outcome and luck lies in using holistically using Geomancy, Divination and Strategy to support one's destiny. A simple way to view this is to look at human as the object and Fengshui, Divination and Strategy as the tool.Astrology is tool to decipher human's well-being and hence takes precedence over Fengshui, Divination and Strategy in the scheme towards improvement of one's outcome.

Providing Feng Shui solution to client without considering their Ba Zi & Zi Wei Dou Shu charts is like a doctor prescribing medicine to patient without his own diagnosis.A Geomancer prescribing Feng Shui tools to improve wealth for his client upon request is like a doctor who prescribes aspirin to his patients because he relied on his patient to tell him the symptom of headache but did not investigate or is incapable of investigating if the headache is a symptom to other underlying illness.

It may cure the symptoms in the short run but problems may surface in the long term.For example, clients usually engage a Geomancer to improve their wealth.If this consultant did not consider the ramifications of the client's birth data, he may hastenthe windfall his client had asked, but in the long term this client may lose his health or life.Or he may get the career advancements he asked for but end up losing his wife to divorce.The various aspects of one's life are intricately linked and you seldom can improve one aspect without losing out on other aspects.Destiny is also a zero-sum game.

How important are knowledge of 4 Pillars and ZWDS towards the execution of Geomancy? Stay tuned for the answer in my next article.

I am a Fengshui Practitioner in private practice and I specialise in Ba Zi, Zi Wei Dou Shu ZWDS, Feng Shui, I-Ching, Qi Men Dun Jia QMDJ and other Chinese Metaphysics tools. My blog site is at: http://fengshuiforward.com and http://fengshuiforward.com/forum

Having Good Luck in Your Life - Forever

2009-09-12T16:40:00.001-07:00

While it is commonly known that good feng shui can bring good luck to the person who takes advantage of it, it is also important to understand that there is also bad chi. Basically, Sha Chi and Si Chi falls under the category of bad chi in feng shui. People who want to bring good luck to their lives must avoid bad feng shui.

Sha Chi is also referred to as "killing" energy by feng shui experts. It traces its origins from above ground and below ground; it has different negative effects on the person who suffers from it. ShaChi that comes from below group will sap the energy of a person and cause sickness. Usually, a person who suffers from it will feel tired and anxious without any reason. Meanwhile, ShaChi from above ground will usually cause illnesses and nervous complaints. It can also result to problems in a person's personal life such as broken marriages and financial concerns.

This kind of bad chi can be created by the sharpness of an object, either man-made or natural, that points sharply towards the entrance of your house or window. For example, houses at the corner of a T-junction are more likely to accumulate Sha Chi because the attacking energy goes to the main door. Inside the house, ShaChi can also be developed. For example, when there is a sharp angle that points to your work area or your bed, it will emit energy that attacks. In this case, the proximity of the sharp object should be looked into; the further away the attacking element is, the lesser its damage.

Other situations that can create Sha Chi include a house located opposite a dilapidated building, a noisy neighborhood, or cables and wires that obstructs the view. It has also been noted that the closeness to a graveyard can create ShaChi.

Si Chi

Another kind of bad chi is Si Chi. SiChi is also characterized by decaying and low energy that feels lifeless. It can lead to sickness and depression for people who are exposed to it for a particular period of time. Like ShaChi, Si Chi can also be found outside the home; usually, SiChi is created at the site of a massacre or the site of human tragedies. Si Chi can also be found inside homes and buildings as well. It is what we sometimes refer to as "bad vibes"; it can be felt when you have the urge to leave a particular area for no apparent reason at all.

Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida.

Food - What is Milk?

2009-09-12T03:12:00.001-07:00

There is strong evidence that proves that milk has played a very important role in the history of man. There are early records that frequently mention that milk and milk products were part of a man's everyday life from childbirth until old age. It was in the year 1922 that a temple near Babylon that was thought to be 5000 years old was discovered by a British-American expedition. In this particular temple can be seen painted walls with different milking scenes of the local people. On the mural, some men are depicted milking cows. The positioning of the milker is peculiar because they milk the cows from behind it instead of from the right, like the dairymen of modern times do. The milker is shown sitting on a milking stool. Another scene that is painted on the wall is men straining the milk into a certain container on the ground. There is also a third group of milkmen depicted collecting the strained milk into large stone jars and sealing them up. Another proof that attests to the role of milk in society is the book of Exodus in the Bible. It is described in Exodus 3:8 that Palestine is the Promised Land which was "flowing with milk and honey". In the Bible, milk stands for riches and abundance.

Every single human being has consumed milk at at least one point in life. We all know what it looks like. But what is milk? Milk is the white liquid that is especially produced by the female species of warm-blooded animals that they use to feed their young. Warm-blooded animals that produce milk are called mammals. Mammals have udders or mammary glands where blood that is pumped by the heart passes through. The mammary glands are specialized glands that have the ability to separate different substances from the blood and combined them into the substance we know as milk and then excrete them. To make 1 pound of milk, it takes 150 to 500 pounds of blood to pass through the udder.

Nowadays, the most common sources of milk used for human consumption are the cow and the goat. However, many people still get milk from other animals that are native to their land. In India and Central Asia, they drink the milk of the water buffalo and the zebu. They also milk camels, yaks and horses in Asia. The sheep provides milk for the people of Asia and Europe. Eskimos and the Laplanders use the reindeer and the caribou.

Milk contains several hundreds of chemical components. Even today, scientists are constantly finding something new in milk. Milk is best known for its good taste, high quality and high content of phosphorus, protein and most especially calcium. Since milk is a natural substance, it is easily broken down and digested making the calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients effortlessly available to be used by the body. Milk contains important vitamins needed for growth and normal functioning. It has large amounts of Vitamin B2 or riboflavin and some vitamin A. Some of the components of milk are only found in it and not anywhere else. These are the Milk Fat, Milk Sugar or Lactose and Casein, which is the major milk protein.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Food

Hot and Cold Italian Foods

2009-09-11T13:07:00.001-07:00

When it comes to Italian foods, it is important to note that there are many forms of food that will grace a table. Some foods will be hot, while some will be cold. It is must be understood that regardless of the type of food that you try, it should not define and or forge your opinion on Italian food as a whole. There are just too many types of food to be enjoyed in the Italian culinary arsenal, and you would be hard pressed to try everything that it has to offer in your lifetime.

From Cold Cuts To Baked Ziti

It really does not matter what it is that you are enjoying in regards to Italian foods, as each and everything that you try will most likely tickle your senses. One moment you could be enjoying a great platter of cold cuts such a soppressata or mortadella, and the next you could be enjoying a wonderful baked ziti. Both have their merits and appeal, yet both are so opposite in the food spectrum. There is no question that you are going to enjoy both of these delightful entries in the fascinating world of Italian cuisine. Often you can find many items that are both hot and cold that can be combined or share space on the Italian dinner table at the same time. This is nothing more than a delight for those that are going to dine, as it offers you much in the way of variety and culinary experimentation.

Hot Pasta And Cold Pasta

Italian foods are not temperature specific, and this can be attested to by perhaps the most popular of all Italian foods in pasta. While some may assume that pasta is something that is always served hot, this is not the case as there are several dishes old and new that revolve around the use of pasta that has been chilled prior to serving. Great pasta and even Greek salads are known to be served in the warmer months in the Mediterranean region, and this is a great way to dine in the early afternoon on the terrace of a caf. Cool pasta tastes just as delightful as hot pasta, and the great thing about pasta is whether it is served hot or cold the texture always remains the same. This makes pasta an ideal food to work with, and it is obvious why it is a top choice for many chefs worldwide today.

Even Soups Have Variations

When it comes to Italian foods that are hot and cold, even soup has its own distinct differences. Many soups in Italian culture have been made specifically hot or cold depending on the season. One of the most common and popular cold soups in Italy is known as gazpacho, and this soup consists of several different finely chopped vegetables. All are mixed in a large pot and chilled for hours; the result is an absolutely wonderful flavor and simply refreshing texture.

Anna Fiori writes food related articles for the Italian Traditional Food website at http://www.italiantraditionalfood.com

Natural Crystals and Stones - Their Metaphysical Qualities and Uses

2009-09-10T23:20:00.001-07:00

Over the centuries, people from all over the world have been intrigued by the metaphysical qualities of stones, or more appropriately called minerals. It has been recognized that all that exists is in a constant state of vibration, and crystalline structures have a particularly stable vibration which resists the influence of other vibration frequencies.

Minerals, particularly in their crystalline form, stimulate healing based upon the property of sympathetic vibration or resonance. They have very specific points of resonance with one of our seven major energy centers (chakras). The colours of the stones seem to have a bearing on the qualities of the vibrations. This is more or less similar to the colours represented by the seven charkas which also coincide with the seven colours of the rainbow. (Crown chakra - violet, Blow chakra - indigo, Throat chakra-blue, Heart chakra - green, Solar Plexus chakra - yellow), Sacral chakra - orange, and Base chakra red). These resonant frequencies set up an electromagnetic field.

If we believe that all human beings have interweaving energy bodies (human aura) beyond their physical shell, and they are being electromagnetic in nature, it naturally follows that they can be influenced by the electromagnetic resonance of minerals and crystals.

Diseases and illnesses have been attributed to disharmony in thought patterns, causing irregular energy flow within subtle (non-physical), the etheric and physical bodies; therefore, prolonged exposure to the positive vibration of stones may have a healing effect. Other than their healing effects, minerals also offer protection against negativities and in a way bring good luck to us.

Amulets and Talisman to ward away ghosts.

Certain stones, especially those of celestial origins appear to have the power to drive away unwanted or negative energy. These are stones like those from the meteorite family - tektite, moldavites, iron or nickel meteorites - can actually ward off evil spirits. When carved with images of Buddha or deities, or when they are specifically enchanted by advanced practitioners, they can be used as very powerful talismans or amulets.

So, it is also believed that the wearing of certain amulets or talismans would protect you against ghosts. Also, some also feels that certain stones, especially the quartz family, (White Quartz, Amethyst, Ametrine, Citrine and Smoky Quartz) can offer the same protection. Other protective stones include, diamond, pyrite, hematite, obsidian, black star sapphire, black diopside, and jet. Personally, I understand that stones have a varying degree of electro-magnetic radiation. When they are worn on our body, they serve to strengthen our body energy vibration, sort of casting a protective shield over us.

One very powerful talisman I have is the image of the Earth Store (Dichang) Bodhisattva made of tektite. I also have a bracelet made of pyrite and amber, and I use to have it with me whenever I traveled overseas. In my arsenal, I also have bracelets and pendants made of iron meteorite, and they are also very potent in warding off negativities. It is also believed those moonstones are good protective stones for overseas traveling especially crossing waters. I always keep a few pieces of tumbled moonstones in my luggage.

For those who are frightened of ghosts when traveling overseas and staying in hotel rooms , they can try arranging their shoes in the Ying Yang manner - one with the sole facing up while the other in the normal position - at the foot of their beds.

Amulets and talismans are similarly charged with strong vibrations by their makers - monks and priests alike, and they serve the same purpose as the stones. At my level, I am able to magnetize stones and any objects to confer upon them stronger radiation by using my energisation method or by chanting of mantras.

Spirits In Stones

There are belief that some stones contain memories of the past while some become dwelling place for some life forms, just like the hermit crabs that inhabit the shell after the shellfish have died. My spiritual friend Stella has the ability to communicate with stones and she claimed she often saw impish looking creatures residing in some stones. Once I was meditating with one Labradorite ball (a kind of felspar stone which is opaque with luminous blue against grey background) and spotted images of a woman clad in Greek-like gown amidst some Roman like pillars inside the stone. She had almond shape eyes and shape features and appeared annoyed by my unwelcome intrusion. There was another stone, a piece of Rhodonite - a pink colour stone with black Manganese steaks, that I could see images of dome shapes structure. I also recalled another instance when an old lady handed me a piece of jade which she retrieved from the exhumed grave of her mother died long ago, and asked me whether it was alright for her daughter-in-law to wear it. The moment I picked up the jewelry I could feel a painful sensation in my stomach. I asked her whether she could recall whether her mother suffered some sort of ailment of the stomach, and she confirmed it. I cleansed the stone for her but she told me she had changed her mind about giving it to her daughter-in-law and instead chose to keep it in the jewelry box. Jade is said to have the unusual quality of protecting its owner. It would break into pieces whenever the wearer encounter dangerous situations; the folklore has it that it blocks off the dangers on behalf of its owner.

Stones For Attracting Fortune

Chinese believes that wearing of certain stones would bring them good fortune. Jade is the most favoured stone adorn not only to bring good luck to the wearer but it also offers protection as well. For those gamblers who are ever hopeful windfall, they may wear yellow gemstones - yellow sapphire, topaz, or citrine. Some may even carry a pyrite doughnut together with a dollar coin in their wallet. Green stones are for attracting wealth generated from career, and they include not only jade but also emerald, peridot, quartz with chloride inclusions, aventurine, malachite, and amazonite. Besides wearing them as semi-precious stones set in rings and pendants, some of the tumbled stones (aventurine, malachite, and amazonite) can be placed in cash registers to help enhance daily takings from retailed businesses.

Stones and Feng-shui

Feng-Shui, or Geomancy, is in a manner of speaking also about energy - Energy caused by the landscape, magnetic forces and flows, seasonal fluctuations in energy flows, celestial and planetary influences, and positioning of static objects in the environment, and how your own body energy copes with and resonates with all these causes of energy. The western application of Feng-Shui is to bring an array of scientific equipment into a location and test out the various forms of energy in the area. If you are sensitive to energy, you can actually feel the influence of "Feng-Shui" - the good and bad "Chi" - rather than relying entirely on the Feng Shui principles practiced by the masters. Since stones have positive vibrational energy, they can be deployed to improve the Feng-shui of the building if placed at the correct position. For example, the left hand corner of the main hall of the house diagonally opposite the entrance is considered the wealth position; to enhance positive energy in this corner one could emplace amethyst geode. This is a better substitute for putting round leaf plants there, as traditionally recommended by Feng-shui masters. Other than putting up mirrors or wind chimes at our windows to block off negative energy from some ill-formed structures or landscape facing our house, we could hang faceted cut crystal balls. Against the sunlight, these faceted balls could reflect specks of rainbow lights into the house and create a wonderful sight as they are seen as if dancing on the walls.

Anthony Leong

Feng Shui and Wall Water Fountains

2009-09-10T09:44:00.001-07:00

Wall water fountains are an important component of Feng Shui when decorating the inside of your home. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of making sure objects are placed an arranged in a room to ensure harmony and the flow of positive energy. The term literally translates to "wind-water" and water is one of the five elements of Feng Shui.

The main elements to think about when using the principles of Feng Shui in decorating are:

Earth
Wind
Water
Fire
Metal

You need to think about how you can incorporate all of these elements into your home. Earth, wind and metal are generally easy because of the many types of stones, fans and metals you can use in the furniture, flooring and decorative touches. Water and fire are sometimes harder choices to make, but you can have the element of fire simply by burning candles.

Bring water into your home a wall water fountain. These can be free standing units or smaller designs that you hang on a wall. Flowing water increases the positive energy, so just about any kind of fountain fits in well with Feng Shui. You can have a tabletop fountain in any room of your home or outside on your patio if you don't have room for a waterfall or a garden wall on which you can install a fountain.

Installing a wall water fountain is not a challenging task. There are many lightweight designs available that only require one person for the job. While most people think of the living room wall as the only place in the home for such units, they work well in all rooms, especially the bedrooms.

The sound of falling water and the sight of the water continuously flowing over the wall background of your choice is the perfect relaxation method to help you fall asleep easily. This is especially beneficial for children in helping to get them settled down and ready for bed.

The sounds of falling water also help to drown out the sounds of the rest of the household and the outside. The lighting in a wall fountain will provide a nightlight for the room. As the light catches the reflections of the colors of the water it will provide an exciting contrast for the color scheme of the room, especially if you use colored lights.

In addition to bringing the positive energy of Feng Shui into your home with a wall water fountain, the water helps to humidify the indoor air. This is beneficial all year round decreasing the need for air conditioning in summer and humidifiers in winter.

During the winter, the heat you need to have in the home can cause your hair and skin to dry out. A fountain will add moisture to the air but not too much so that it will cause any condensation on the walls. This you get the relaxing benefit of falling water and the humidity that your skin and your plants require.

With the numerous designs of wall water fountains available from online retailers, you will not have any difficulty finding a design and size to suit your home. There is a wide price range available as well, which will make it easy for you to fit this wall accent into your budget.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in landscape architecture, gardening, and home improvement. For the perfect wall water fountain for your home or backyard, please visit the premier wall fountain website, http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

Learn How to Communicate With the Younger Generation

2009-09-08T06:59:00.001-07:00

Before I became a senior citizen, I thought I was keeping up fairly well. Then, after retirement, I began reflecting on how few actors and singers and other popular icons I knew by name any longer. I also became aware that I had allowed technology to outrun me. When observing video games, I remembered how much fun PONG used to be. Magazines became suddenly overrun by teen driven products and jargon and styles.

The sad part of all of this was that I was failing to learn the language my son and my grandchildren were speaking. And, when you don't know or can't speak the language, communication becomes severely limited. The good news was, in my case, that the younger ones are and remain very tolerant of their dad and granddad. But, with my own inabilities I still suffer some inferiority in trying to stay current.

Perhaps, some of my own experiences will speak to yours:

*Whatever you do, don't try to fake it. You will get caught every time. They can sort out sincerity and honesty very quickly. They had rather respect you than for you to think you are cool.

*Spend as much time with them as you can. That is a tall order. The "children" (and don't ever call them that) in your life have overwhelming demands, but they will always find joy in having time with you. So, work at making it happen.

*Communicate by phone and email. Not easy, because of distractions, but give it a try and don't give up.

*When together, give up your own need to dominate the conversation and the directions it takes. Ask questions, seek explanations out of their experience and from their world.

*Avoid being judgmental. This is probably the toughest task of all. It is also the one that will earn the most respect and camaraderie. I wish I had learned this one at age 25.

*Be sure to find out what their interests are, what turns them on, what dimensions of life and the universe they live in gives them the most satisfaction.

*Be sure to demonstrate interest. Don't feign interest, be interested!

*When possible, and invited, include their friends, so that you can learn by observation and participation what their life is all about.

*Don't be easily offended. You will only lose.

*Check your embarrassment quotient at the door.

Most of us senior citizens know how special it is to be with children and grandchildren and to learn from them. They will want to be with you more! You both win!

Article provided by Dr. Jerry D. Elrod. For information on retirement, Baby Boomers and everything related to Seniors, please visit my blog at http://seniorcitizenjournal.blogspot.com

The Bible's Power Over One Child

2009-09-08T04:58:00.001-07:00

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.

Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.

We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.

Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.

One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.

I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.

That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.

I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.

I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.

It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.

Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.

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

Meditating On Religious Scriptur

Use Motivation Or Inspiration

2009-09-07T23:18:00.001-07:00

Are you attempting to use Motivation when Inspiration would be more effective? Many people think that these two words are interchangeable.In fact and application, they are quite different.

Motivation is based on Fear.It is the fear that says, "if I don't do this thing I don't really want to do, then I won't have this other thing I want (money, love, a job)."In a carrot and stick scenario, it's the stick.

It's also the stick used on us by other people to get us to do what they want us to do - parents, bosses and spouses come to mind.Often they invite us or teach us to then take up the stick ourselves, and use it on ourselves in an attempt to reach an outcome.It is one way children are trained and civilized into society. It is the Make Your Quota or Loose Your Job many face each month.

The problem with motivation is that is ONLY works short term.And since we become accustomed and then eventually immune to repeated motivation techniques, it becomes necessary to apply a stronger motivation to achieve the same goal the next time.This can create an 'addiction to motivation' - as the number of books on self help shelves testify. People are continually looking for the next thing to get them to results.It also creates increasingly negative self talk as results become seemingly harder to achieve and failures become more common.

Statistics show people gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over and over never reaching or at least never maintaining their goal weight, and actually gaining weight overall. This is also why the old-school "Rah-Rah" training will produce a short flurry of change, quickly overwhelmed by the old comfortable status quo.

What should we do instead?Use Inspiration along with or instead of motivation.Most especially use it on Yourself!

Inspiration is a more subtle, yet infinitely stronger, emotion for creating change.Inspiration draws us forward.Motivation drives us forward with the stick of fear.We are literally looking for ways to escape motivation.Inspiration IS fun in action. Inspired Action is light; it flows forward; it carries excitement and surety with it. Our old friend, Motivation pushes action forward, creating in effect its own bow wave of resistance and requiring more effort to achieve an equal or lesser effect.

Properly used, Inspiration is something we want more and more of in our lives.So a taste of it can be positively exhilarating and lead to more and better and easier and long lasting results.

Inspiration does not mean you can take No Action.While some enlightened masters might be able to sit in a cave and call in all they desire, that is not how it works for most of us; nor does that really sound like much fun - caves are hard, damp and full of crawly things.

The odd thing is that the very same action taken with Inspiration flows easily and achieves more than that action taken in the fear of the consequences we call Motivation.

There is an element of Timing inherent in Inspired Action that is totally lacking in action forced by Motivation.It's not logical or rational or sometimes even sensible, but when you are suddenly inspired to pick up the phone and make a call, or write a letter, or send an email, or go to a networking event - the results flow back to you effortlessly.You all know when this has worked for you.Remember when you just 'suddenly decided' to do something on a flash of inspiration and the benefits were tremendous?

Tchaikowsky said, "Inspiration is a guest who does not like to visit lazy people."And this is true.You must be in motion for things to flow your way.But mindless motion generated by fear of the consequences often produces little but mindless motion.

So a little motivation may be necessary to prime the pump, but inspiration will un-dam the river and create a more lasting flow of results in your business and your life.Use it with yourself, your employees and your customers to see increased results in all areas of your life.

To use this article in your newsletter or Ezine, please include the entire text and the following author information:

Beth Lane, CTACC Peaceful Sales Coach, harnessed her expertise from 30+ year's business experience as top sales producer, sales trainer and business owner to create Peaceful Selling. This is a program that teaches you to enjoy selling, increase your productivity and expand your income. To find out more about her Sales Secrets and receive a FREE e-report visit http://www.peacefulselling.com

Repairing a Leaking Toilet

2009-09-07T21:26:00.001-07:00

Let me explain how a toilet works. First when you go to flush the toilet a little arm pulls a rubber flapper up and lets the water drain into the toilet bowl. The water draining into the toilet bowl forces the old water out along with the number two or number one waste and extremities.

If the toilet sounds like it is running there is a good chance that the seal between the rubber flapper and the plastic rain at the bottom of the toilet is broken somehow. The sound you are hearing is water running around this ring and in to the toilet bowl.

This leak is actually causing no damage to the toilet itself but is wasting water. Hence the water bill will be a little higher if you don't fix the leaking toilet. The best way to find out if this is actually your problem is to take the toilet tank lid off. Then stick your hand down into the toilet bowl and press gently on the rubber flap.

If the water stops leaking or starts running faster this is your problem. Turn the water off to the toilet. There will be a shut off valve on the wall under your toilet bowl in the bathroom. After you turn the water off removed the plastic flap and examine it.

You will be looking for a warped toilet flap or of some sort or grooves on the flapper itself. Take the toilet flapper down to your local home improvement store and buy a new one. Go home and replace the new toilet flapper and this should solve 90% of your leaking toilet problems.

There is one more thing it could be. With the toilet tank lid off, check to see if water is overflowing into the little round plastic pipe. This plastic pipe should have a small hose running from the float valve assembly into it.

If the water is over flowing from the toilet tank into this little plastic pipe you will need to adjust the float.

First thing you will need to do is while the toilet is running lift up on the float lever arm. If the water stops you can simply bend the metal arm of the float lever. The purpose of bending the arm will force the float deeper into the water there for stopping the water from rising over the small tube in the center of your toilet.

There are few parts to a toilet and most parts can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement centers. Toilet repairs like this can be made simple and the parts used to replace are inexpensive.

Happy Toilet Repairing.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more House Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Some Great Plumbing Ideas

Are Your Prayers Being Answered

You Absolutely Must Know Now - Self Help Tips

2009-09-07T15:44:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Surviving As A Contractor In California

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

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.

Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.

Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.

I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.

These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.

Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.

Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.

Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

Ask And You Might Receive Or Ask

How Do We Interpret Things?

2009-09-07T08:15:00.001-07:00

With lot of things or events happening around us on a daily basis, we start believing that events control our lives and our environment has shaped who we are today. Right? No. . . wrong! It is not the events that shape up our lives, but our beliefs as to what those events mean to us. Take for example, two children born of the same father. where father is an alcoholic, drug addict, bitter and cruel who killed a liquor store cashier. One of his son turned out exactly like him. Where as his brother has a totally different story. . . a man raising three kids, happily married, working as a general manager for a blue chip company, finds work both challenging and rewarding. How these two people turned out to be totally different from each other, in spite of having grown up in the same environment?

When both were asked privately about this. . . they had the same answer. . . "What else could I have become with a father like that?"

Similarly, two women turning 70, each take a different meaning from the same event. One knows. . . that her life is coming to end. To her living seven decades means that her body must be breaking down and she did better be ready to exit from this game of life. The other woman decides that what a person is capable of doing at any age depends upon their beliefs and she sets a higher standard for herself. She decides that mountain climbing might be a good sport to begin at the age of 70!For the next 25 years, she devotes herself to this new adventure thus scaling some of the highest peaks of the world. Thus in her nineties, Hulda Crooks became the oldest woman to ascend Mount Fuji.

What I am trying to make a point here is. . . it is never the environment, it is never the events of our lives, but the meaning we derive from these events. . . how we interpret them, that shapes who we are today and who we will become tomorrow. So start giving the right meaning to the events of your life and make them memorable ones!

Get all motivational tips at Deepak.M's Self Development Zone Get all articles related to self improvement or self development at Self Development Zone.

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

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

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage

Are Your Prayers Being Answered

Setting Goals That You Can Achieve!

2009-09-07T00:51:00.001-07:00

We often hear the old saying that Failing to Plan is planning to Fail. Planning is indeed critical if we are to achieve what we truly want in our lives. For me there are a number of stages to creating a Plan:

The Vision

What I quite often refer to as the "Mountain Top View." Imagine that you are stood on top of a mountain and as you look around you everything you want in your life, in say five years time, is in place. Five years is probably as far as you should go and more often people feel more comfortable thinking about three years in the future. So as you look around you what do you see? Now don't go putting barriers in the way because remember you have achieved what you wanted to achieve, you have climbed the mountain! Everything from where you are stood now is what you wanted to be able to see.

Now for me in five years time we will have stopped working in someone else's box/business. We will instead be working in our own business, which will be based online, but have lots of real contact with people. We will be earning sufficient to maintain our lifestyle living in a wing of a large old Country House (of which there is a picture sat beside my computer monitor.) We will also be earning sufficient to keep us in the style we want to live long into the future when we move to live in Italy.

When I have worked with others in the past and when you are doing this part for yourself you should be able to say what colour Front Door your house or apartment will have etc in other words really paint the picture that you can see from the top of the mountain.

Boulder Avoidance.

This is where you look back down the mountain and try to spot the boulders you have overcome on your way to the top of the mountain. What were they? Were there some big boulders and some little ones? Make sure that you have a clear view of the things that tried to stop you getting to the top of the mountain so that when you sit down and work out your objectives over the medium and short term you know what you have got to overcome.

Now to give you an example probably the biggest boulder in our way at the moment is generating the income from our online activities and knowing which of the activities will generate what we need and which will not contribute to what we want to achieve. So here we are starting to think about where we need to focus our activities and are asking questions. Are there online activities which are taking up a large percentage of our time but contributing little to what we want to achieve?

It may be that there are some that you want to continue to take up a large amount of time without them contributing. However, you need to consciously be aware of that rather than bemoaning the fact that you are not achieving what you say you want to. If you are serious about running an online business and want to move full time online your mindset needs to change from "hobby" to "business".

Now I will turn to the specifics of creating your Plan. The two elements I have mentioned so far are the parts which people normally miss out. However, they are critical if the detailed part of your planning is to have a context and an aim.

Detailed Planning

In terms of the detail of the Plan you create it needs to have a focus on the Vision and be constructed in the Long Term (9 months plus), Medium Term (1 to 3 months) and the Short Term ( the next month).
You need to have a very clear focus on what you want to achieve in those time frames. In order to do that I work with SMART Objectives:

Specific - what exactly do I want to achieve?

Measurable - what numbers or other measurable element do I want?

Achievable - is what I am proposing achievable? Relevant - is what I am proposing to do relevant to enabling me to achieve my Vision?

Time bound - so I will achieve by xx/xx/06

SMART has always worked for me and if you combine it with PDR (Plan, Do and then Review) it's a surefire way of focusing you on what you need to achieve.

I will finish by simply saying that you should always keep asking yourself "have I done today what I planned to do and has it contributed to achieving my Vision?"

Paul Duxbury is a successful online entrepreneur with many successful websites. Some of the latest to launch include http://www.ecoach4u.com and http://www.sort-your-finances.com

Installing a 32 Inch Back Door

2009-09-06T23:24:00.001-07:00

In some older houses you will find a 30 inch back door. Have you ever tried to move a refrigerator or some large furniture through a 30 inch door? Keep in mind most bedroom doors are 30 inches wide and are in 36 inch hallways. 30 inch doors and bedrooms make it tough to move some furniture in too.

Let's start with the price difference between a 30 inch door and a 32 inch door. The cost difference is usually going to be around $20. If you are building a hundred homes this could become quite an additional expense. So we can understand why the home builder installed a 30 inch door in the back of our home.

He got the extra money in his pocket, you got a headache.

Here's the big problem. If you ever want to install a larger door you will need to replace the structural door framing. Now this is where you could run into a little bit of an expense. Changing the framing for a wider door could become quite costly. It could actually cost over $1000 in some cases.

Now if the homebuilder would have originally installed a 32 inch door in your house it might have ran him as high as an additional $45. How can this be? I will give you the first clue. There is a good chance the homebuilder will not be moving into any of these houses. If for some strange instance he did move into the house, he would learn the same lesson whenever he needed to move a large item into the house.

I'm a contactor and learned this lesson in a long time ago.

If you are building a new home you might even want to consider installing a 36 inch back door. This door will give you plenty of room when it comes to moving large items in or out of your house. The cost difference between a 36 inch door and a 32 inch door is usually around $20 also.

When building a new home most people don't give very much thought about their interior or exterior doors. Here's a simple chart I made to help with some basic door decisions.

Bathroom Doors Should Be 28 Inches Wide Minimum.
Bedroom Doors Should Be 30 Inches Wide Minimum.
Front Doors Should Be At Least 36 Inches Wide
Back Doors and Garage Doors Should Be At Least 32 Inches Wide

If you are a professional football or basketball player don't use these numbers above.

If you have large sliding glass doors or French doors throughout your home and can use them to move large items into the house you can install whatever size doors you choose that are comfortable to walk through.

Give some thought when installing a new door on your next project and keep some of the above tips in mind..

If you are designing a home give some thought to the stairways and hallways in the home as well.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Bay Window Ideas

Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Do You Ever Loose Your Keys - Planning Advice

2009-09-06T17:26:00.001-07:00

Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

New Home Buyers Beware

2009-09-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

Ican't believe how many homebuyers purchase a house, with very little information and a Lotta hope. I'm a general contractor and often work on these homes, after they have been purchased and a homeowner has their money, the real estate professional is no longer involved in the transaction and the new homeowner is starting to experience the pitfalls from buying the home, that they sincerely believe was in good condition.

It's usually somebody like me that gets involved with the new homeowners after everyone else is out of the picture and chooses not to return their phone calls or explains to them quite simply, it's not our responsibility, you're the new homeowner and we really feel sorry for you, please call us again if we can help you with anything.

You couldn't even help me with that, why would I want to call you again if I had a problem. I never could understand this thinking but have ran into it often. It sounds like an oxymoron when someone refuses to help you but offers you help in the future. What ever!!!.

If homebuyers had something else to rely on besides their real estate salesperson, home inspection service, mortgage or insurance professional, I believe they can eliminate some of these problems. Where do you start and how do you get the information. You can gather information from reputable people, books, the Internet and so on.

The problem is how do you know these people are reputable and the books on the Internet have good information. This brings us to another problem, but I've got the solution that will help eliminate some of the grief. I'm not going to remove all of the grief from your life but have a suggestion for you that will eliminate some of the pain when buying a home.

Arm yourself with a good home inspection checklist. You can search the Internet and they have quite a few good home inspection checklist to work with. These checklist can provide you with things you might not have thought of, and this is where you can eliminate some of the problems.

If you took one of these checklists with you while you were shopping for a home, you would be aware of some of the problems with the home. You might not find all of the problems but these checklist will help you with some of the problems.

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

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

If I Hate My Brother

Using Yoga to Promote Mental Health & Fitness

2009-09-06T09:44:00.001-07:00

When suffering from a physical illness we have obvious symptoms of pain and discomfort and rely upon familiar medical practices or natural remedies to provide relief. But psychological disturbance does not necessarily carry with it such readily discernible symptoms. This can result in the disturbance becoming clinical over time, demanding the need for psychiatric care.

In order that we avoid any anxiety about our own mental health, we need to know what the early symptoms of mental disturbance are-symptoms that have the propensity to develop into mental illness. This will enable us to be aware of any problem should it begin to develop in ourselves.

Not only that, but we need to know how we can empower ourselves to change our psychological states and habits so as to improve our mental well-being, in the event that we do develop a concern about our on psychological well-being. Studies show that the majority of people in these circumstances have little confidence about identifying or embarking upon a self-help program. Few people are aware that a proven system of psychological and intellectual betterment is at hand in the teachings of Raja Yoga.

So then, what are some of the common symptoms of mental illness?

Aside from the well known and generally acknowledged disorders such as serious stress and clinical depression which manifest in varying degrees of intensity, we can readily observe other signs of mental and emotional problems, for example:

-Exaggerated emotional responses
-Sudden mood swings
-Nervousness and fears of all kind
-Irrational speech and behavior
-Anxiety (this can apply to a limitless range of concerns)
-Chronic Allergies
-Morose or negative moods
-Lack of enthusiasm for life
-Inability to demonstrate affection
-Cruel or selfish behavior
-Chronic insomnia
-Nightmares
-Lying, stealing and other unethical behavior
-Violent behavior
-Lack of creative activity
-Reluctance to talk in a one- to-one situation
-Extreme dependence
-Inability to relax
-Unhappiness

However it is important that people don't rush headlong into self-help situations should they be experiencing one or some of these symptoms, for they man well be the result of some malady that requires the care of a health professional. In the event that such is not the case though, then some serious thought can be given to following a program of self-help; and one of the very best self-help programs a person could possibly follow-one that has stood the test of time over hundreds, even thousands of years, is Raja Yoga. People need to open their minds to the possibility that this ancient teaching can help them. They need to take a really hard look at it.

Sally Janssen is a writer and educator who from an early age trained in Raja Yoga--that branch of the ancient science that deals with the mind and its complexities. She subsequently gained an international reputation for her skills and her wisdom in the training of the mind.

In her wonderfully readable book entitled Mental Fitness: The Complete Self-help Guide she presents simple, self-help practices that help to generate and maintain mental fitness just as the natural principles of physical fitness can be personally applied by us all. The book may be found here: http://www.mentalhealthandfitness.com This really is a must-read book for us all. Sally also welcomes you to visit her blog at http://www.mentalhealthandfitness.com/blog

Ways to Stop Losing Your Car Keys

2009-09-06T08:13:00.001-07:00

Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Nothing Will Be Impossible

Stress Management and Defending the Ego

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

Stress management is an absolute requirement when we get into a mode of defending various beliefs and opinions. We can get to a point where we would rather die than be proven wrong. This mindset can place us in a self-imposed box that closes us off from the wonders that Life offers. However, we can give ourselves immediate relief.

The ego is composed of beliefs, attitudes and the resulting energies. The ego believes these positions are necessary for its' survival. The ego believes it is right and everything else is wrong.

This variation from reality produces a tremendous amount of stress. Management of this discomfort becomes necessary if we're going to have a meaningful life. We can make amazing progress by simply letting go of the idea that we have the only right opinion.

Right or wrong depends on context. From the context of a computer programmer, it's right to spend all day in front of a computer. From the context of a sales person, it's right to spend all day saying good things about their product.

Stress management becomes necessary when we lose track of the above. You can experience relief when you recognize the above. Socrates said that we all believe we're doing the right thing.

This right and wrong context extends to all life situations. In the grand scheme of things all of us are divine. In every day living we can simply observe ourselves with love and silently give ourselves approval. Then we can observe other people with love and silently give them approval.

It's easy to read the above paragraph. However, the above is a powerful tool for living. If you focused on the above as your basic principle for living, your life experience would go through the roof.

Jim Kitzmiller is the author of Rocket Fuel for the Soul -- Blissercise Self-Help Manual. The book's bliss exercises (blissercises) surpass usual positive thinking approaches by bypassing the logical mind. The blissercises cover 46 different areas of life.

Jim leads self-help workshops and does spiritual coaching.

Success Starting in Your 40s

2009-09-06T00:30:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gregory Vanden Berge

Effects Of False Prophets

The Power of Truth

2009-09-05T18:16:00.001-07:00

Everything you need to succeed is found within you. How you see yourself and your ability to succeed will be "make or break" of your business. I've seen some amazingly talented people give up because they allowed two words to take over their psyches. These words have had a profound impact on their lives and businesses. The words are, "I can't."

"I can't" are the two most debilitating words in the English language. "I can't" usually starts with the all to familiar "You can't," or "You'll never". These words seem to carry an intrinsic power. For some, it's a call to stand up and say, "Yes I can! Watch me!" For others it's call to sit in the ashes of self-defeat. Which one are you?

For years I allowed, "You can't" to get in the way of my success. There was a time when I believed I would never be a success. My self-esteem was so low I didn't think I could get up again. Then I realized the Power of Truth. The choice to get up or stay down had been given to me. My success or failure was up to me, no one else. I became fully aware that I had the power to choose. I chose to stand. After I made that decision. I made several changes in my life in order to keep my mind set on belief instead of unbelief.

My rules to stay standing are:

1. Start where you are. Don't think about past failures. Start right here, right now, today. Move ahead one-step at a time.

2. For every negative thought that comes into your mind create an opposing positive thought. Say it out loud. Write them down and keep them front of you. Read them daily.

3. Commit to your goal. Write down your goals. Make sure they are manageable and commit to making them happen. Keeping them visible is a great way of keeping them real.

4. Be in good company. Stay around positive people. Read positive material. I highly suggest joining online groups to provide support and accountability.

5. Trust the Power of Truth. No matter where you go there are going to be those who will want to knock you down. Connect with your inner power. Remember who you really are. Don't go back to the ashes.

Make the choice to stand.

Jill Betz Freeman is the CEO of ROAR! Growing Your Business With Pride. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow. Jill has over 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, business development, customer service and corporate training. Shel is a saavy, vivacious, straight on consultant and trainer who is commited to working with companies, business owners and sales professionals who want to increase their bottom line. She has trained sales people involved in diverse industries such as healthcare and engineering. Stacy Kelly, CEO of PM Squared in Houston TX said, "Jill is the go-to person for sales advice." Beth Felege, BSN and Clinical Liason for a major skilled nursing company praised Jill as being, "the person who taught me the most about sales."

Check out ROAR! at http://www.roarcorps.com and contant Jill for more information about services.

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

2009-09-05T16:54:00.001-07:00

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?

Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?

When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.

Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?

Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.

Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.

If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.

It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.

If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.

Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .

Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.

If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.

This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.

Impact Of Christian Mentors

Employee Motivation Games

2009-09-05T10:36:00.001-07:00

Every year at the major company event there are employee motivation games to play. Most of us dislike these games because the majority of them seem silly and pointless. Why waste our time with this is what employees usually complain about.

However, help is on the way. Out of all the employee motivation games played this one seems the favorite. Try a company scavenger hunt. The nice thing about this game is it does not have to be done during a major company event, although right before yearly inventory for smaller companies seems to be a good time. This will work for all companies. Large and small alike. You just need to have a set of company information for the employees to find out.

The reason the scavenger hunt is my favorite of all employee motivation games is that it is easy to set up and easy to play. It is also relatively fun. First, get a list of company information that you want the employees to find out. It can be date of incorporation, date the first product was sold/manufactured, who was the founder, what is the best selling product, and the list goes on. Once you have a set of information you divide the employees into teams. You can set departments against each other or you can have other ways of making teams. Set a time frame, especially if some of the items are hard to find or locate. Have everyone meet back at the designated time and declare the winner or winners. Be sure to have a prize for the winning team or teams.

This is a great game because it is different from the usual employee motivation games. The game is actually educational in nature. Instead of wasting time with seemingly pointless tasks, it actually teaches the employees about the company they work for. The more knowledge employees have about the company they work for, the better they are able to understand and relate to its mission statement and vision. By empowering employees with knowledge, you are inviting them to stay. Isn't this a fun and interesting way to help improve employee retention rates

For more employee motivation tips, please visit our site:

Employee Motivation

Also available at: http://employee-motivation-about.info/Employee_Motivation_Games.htm

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

2009-09-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get calls from people, that have no idea what they want or how much anything is going to cost. Here's some simple tips that can be very helpful when planning a bathroom remodel budget.

Bathroom Remodeling Investment

In 2008, the average mid-range bathroom cost around $16,000 and you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment upon the sale of your home. According to a popular remodeling magazine, larger bathrooms using expensive fixtures, tile, bathtubs, woodworking, toilets and showers had an average of $52,000. Upon the sale of a home, you could recoup around $36,000 of your original investment.

Finding out How Much Things Cost

My first suggestion, would be to visit your local home improvement center, lumber yard or plumbing supply warehouse. Larger stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, seemed to provide you with value pricing but don't have a large selection. While doing some research on the Internet I noticed that some of their pricing is outrageously, outrageous. Some plumbing supply warehouses can provide value but beware others won't.

Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts

You can get a good idea of your bathroom remodel costs for your budget by making a list of bathroom parts with pricing and then adding them up for a grand total. If you're a total bathroom remodel budget is $15,000 and you have a $6,000 bathtub with $4000 worth of tile, you could have a budget problem.

Figuring out the Labor

You will have to contact a contractor to get an actual cost for the labor. Sometimes you can double the cost of your bathroom remodeling parts to get a rough idea. If you have a list or a couple of lists and a few pictures of some sample bathrooms, this will make the contractor's job easier and often they can give you a labor price within a few days.

Give Yourself a Cushion

I would suggest leaving yourself a small financial cushion for any additional remodeling items. For example, you could see a different toilet, or instead of painting the walls, you now choose to wallpaper, you could incur additional expenses that you haven't planned for. If you know exactly what you want and stick to the original bathroom remodeling plan, you shouldn't need the cushion.

Financial problems often transfer into construction problems, so spend some time figuring out, how much money you want to spend on the bathroom remodel and try not to go overboard on the budget. I hate to see homeowners struggling with home improvement loan payments. Try to create a bathroom remodeling budget that is realistic and will not create a financial burden upon you or your family.

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

If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.

Are Christians Really Interested

It's A Huge Test Being Positive

2009-09-05T03:08:00.001-07:00

Staying positive in the face of wiggy Karma, weird choices and life's journeys tell us a lot about our progress. One time I was watching a video of a woman named Helen Collier, who was putting a question to the group, "How do you know, you are in your Holy Christ Self?' What Helen said, I was so impressed with, was, "you know you are in your Holy Christ Self (also know as your higher self), when you are being positive. I realized what she said was so simple but it was also most accurate. Lately, I have gotten to remember how easy that advice is, but not so easy to keep. Maybe, I have gotten off course of the divine will at times and gone through some interesting things. We like to say, here on this Mission Saint Germain website, the path is practical not just always about the deep understandings of the Universal mysteries. In fact, I believe God and the Masters teach me most through my daily walks through life and especially the encounters I have with people. Then there is always that very interesting equation when we want something and another part of the Universe doesn't seem to want it to happen. Now, I remember something learned that was attributed to Buddha, Yes, that Buddha, the former Prince Siddhartha, that supposedly walked away from a palace and life of very lofty comforts, including leaving behind his twin flame and child, to wander, become an aesthetic and renounce worldly and physical pleasures.

Not sure, I'd be running to do that. But Buddha, wound up preaching the noble truths and one of the things he said was inordinate desire was the root of suffering. Now, just being a practical guy, trying to walk this path, here in the West, in California no less, I've got a few interests or indulgences. I try and consider to keep a Spiritual perspective about the things that I let my energy go to. Sometimes I wish I was surrounded by more people that are following the Spiritual path. It would make things probably more supportive to each other. Buddha also said, community or "Sangha," was one of the three jewels, we need to make it on the path with, because really we know it is not a worldly path, trying to keep right with the Ascended Masters teachings especially, but we do live in the world. So some of you might know, recently I attended a seminar on the Teachings and practices of Mother Mary. Forgive me if this story is getting too autobiographical, but I have not made too many confessions lately and its feels right to share from the heart in simple terms and ways. Well, on that third day of the Mother Mary class, the instructor asked us to give her some suggestions that the group could make prayers of intercession for, to the heart of Mary. Well, I said, "The Lakers" She maybe being from Australia and not LA didn't seem to understand, said, well what about this Lady, and I said not Lady, but Lakers as in Los Angeles Lakers pro basketball team. I guess I should point out she did not put the Lakers on the prayer list, they have been winning a lot lately and it has captured a lot of my interest, maybe too much, not sure if it has been the interest of my higher self, so much. Maybe I was crossing over into that inordinate territory Buddha warned about. Maybe that is why they call these things creature comforts, I don't know. But as long as they were winning I was feeling positive, so I was just going on that path.

Being positive has not been easy lately for a lot of people. A lot of things have been affecting people, the economy, business and coming by money has been tight, even our own faith in things can get tested, so more than usual I felt I needed something to keep me interested. These darn basketball games became my outlet, but I can't say it was always making me happy. I was still trying to do the right things in my Spiritual path, but soon i got the sense i was getting too attached to outcomes, which is another Buddhist teaching, non-attachment. On the other hand, I began to wonder, is it easy just to never have any passion for something you want? I needed some desires. It was a good test to learn about my interests, about getting fed up with things I wanted to change and being motivated to do things. Its interesting how easy it is to lose a certain harmony, a certain inner peace or balance we need to make it through tougher times. Times when there is an uncertainty that we feel uncomfortable with. Parts of us want to say, "I don't want to be positive! I want to be angry, I feel pissed or this is frustrating" but unfortunately or fortunately that doesn't help us. That was the test before being or feeling positive, could I maintain some balance about things and work on becoming positive. It was about taking steps. Well, one of the things we learned about at that Mother Mary seminar is we build up a certain positive momentum by disciplining our energies. We can store these positive energies like as a reservoir in our feelings and in our thoughts and especially in our outlook. But the key is we have to maintain it.

There is also a lesser-known Spiritual equivalent made available to us that is helped by keeping our harmony and by trying to be in a positive or receptive state. I don't think I was close at times to doing that. Mentally yes, "I got it" but I was having a tough time internalizing it. It was like my outer self was praying for something positive to happen first, but it was also a struggle within myself, if outwardly things were almost agonizingly progressing. It wasn't very much fun watching myself go through this, nor is it for any body. This is really where it separates belief from theory. I think that Spiritually one' s faith is tested sometimes severely when we are so trying and striving and my God do we need a break. I recently have been around four situations where people I know are either having their homes foreclosed on or are living (renting) a house that is being foreclosed. Now, that is stressful. Sometimes, I just feel able to come away from some situations where I really feel for people and all I can do is pray and let it go. I wonder how much we are really making it by God's grace. Wouldn't it be great if we could all get little faith envelopes where we open one of them up and in Gold lettering it says, "Hang in their Homer! Love, God I know that Saint Germain talks about we are all ministering servants to life and yet there is so much of a sense of surrender we have to accept.

I though again about Helen Colliers words about being in your higher self, when you are being positive. I decided to just devote more of my energy to notice when I was being positive about things and notice when I was slipping. Sometimes, I just have to feed my inner child, to keep me going. Maybe that is where the whole Lakers thing has come in for me. Recently, I went through a period where almost all the Limousine runs I drove, were resulting in a no-tip situation. We call those no FL's or No Financial Love. Now I was really beginning to think God and the Masters must love me because it has been said God chastises those he loves, but I also think we earn our true spiritual nature by how we deal with situations. I have to admit I was developing a pretty unappreciative attitude when the people were departing my limo with "thank you's" and no FL. Eventually, after gagging on my own sour-ness I just gave in started again to be just plain grateful that I would even have a job. It wasn't like magically tips started flowing back, but I did feel the grace of God's love flowing into me, again. I think I was probably getting a C+ on the being positive meter.

I even discovered to start using the Violet Flame to help me out again, though I actually was trying to do a Violet Flame decree service over the internet broadcast, while watching the TV screen with a Lakers game. Something transcending did happen though, I began to realize I had to give myself a break; I needed to not take things so seriously. They say, "Joy" is a mark of the Holy Spirit, so I decided to take myself out in the World and just look for opportunities to express Joy. I went to the Supermarket and I looked for people I could make eye contact with and Smile. I watched and waited for opportunities to be polite, like letting another car go before me or being patient and let someone ahead of me in line have their space. It seemed pretty simple, but I was getting a "Joy Buzz" from life.

Maybe the Soul and the personality have to find a way to make peace with the circumstances in life. Sometimes we are able to be present for the deeper understandings of life's mysteries and we can face responsibility for managing our minds and our feelings head-on. Sometimes, we have to care for ourselves in a gentle comforting way, while we make our way to solutions and keeping a sense of hope about things. That is, it seems to be is the whole usefulness of being positive, even if the actual feeling of positive seems to be a delayed action experience sometimes. I still have kept watching those Laker games with an eager zeal, though sometimes it is maddening, but I guess I'm not alone. I read a user's comments after a recently hotly contested game, saying he didn't know if his emotions could take it anymore. I laughed at that one, cause I knew what it felt like, but still it felt useful to be that interested in something. Maybe I needed it. If anything it will become some test of personal mastery, how I handle things. It will at least be a huge test to stay positive Do you think Buddha was a Laker fan in his time?

Please feel free to contact me, at sirronald@earthlink.net if you have any questions or comments. If you would like to see the pictures and illustrations that go with this article, click the following http://www.missionsaintgermain.com

Ron Henry writes a range of personal, down to earth articles focusing on a more insightful sometimes Spiritual, Mystical purposes and discovery. Hopefully these articles stand alone as inspiration and even sometimes, whimsy and wit to a contemplative side of Life.

Most of these and others have been posted in the navigation bar of http://www.missionsaintgermain.com that explores Ron's research and experiences with Saint Germain, Ron has perceived since childhood

What Does a GFI Do? - Electrical Problems

2009-09-05T01:44:00.001-07:00

In your bathroom you should have a GFI electrical outlet. Most new homes or newly remodeled homes require you to have GFI electrical outlets in the kitchen. Most older kitchens do not have GFI electrical outlets. GFI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter.

Why not call it a GFCI instead of a GFI electrical outlet? Well it is called a GFCI in some instances. GFI is short and is the most common name used by most electricians and builders for this type of outlet.

GFI 's come in 15 amp and 20 amperage outlets. GFI outlets must be wired properly. Make sure you're using the proper wire size when hooking up the GFI outlet.

How do I know which size wire to use? This all depends on how far away you are running it from the electrical panel. There are charts you can use to figure this out. If you are not running the electrical wire more than 80 feet from the electrical panel you can use 12 gauge electrical wires for a 20 amp GFI. This is a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

If you're going to be using a 15 amp GFI and you are going to be less than 80 feet away from the electrical panel you can use 14 gauge electrical wires. Again this is just a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

A GFI is a light duty electrical plug used in bathrooms, kitchens and the exterior of your house. The sole purpose of the GFI is to shut the breaker off faster if there is any moisture or light load problems.

Let's say for instance you have your hair dryer plugged into the GFI outlet. The hair dryer somehow falls into the sink while it is on or plugged in. The GFI outlet will instantly shut off because of the sensitivity of the breaker inside of the plug it self.

The GFI plug has a test button and a reset button on it. If you are continually resetting the GFI you will wear it out eventually. I have had GFI plugs after resetting the button about 10 times break and no longer able to use them.

The GFI electrical plug is a great idea and if you don't have them in your bathroom or outside of your home it would be a great idea to have an electrician install them for you.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Home Building Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

San Diego Termite Damage

Ask And You Might Receive Or Ask

Midlife Women in the Age of Miracles

2009-09-04T19:45:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Create Treasure Maps if you're visual -

-Tell yourself if your auditory...

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

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

This truly can be your age of miracles.

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

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

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

2009-09-04T18:15:00.001-07:00

Bathroom Remodeling Investment

Finding out How Much Things Cost

Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts

Figuring out the Labor

Give Yourself a Cushion

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

If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.

Nothing Will Be Impossible

Why You Need to Be Flexible With Your Tarot Card Definitions

2009-09-04T12:17:00.001-07:00

Tarot Card Definitions

Tarot card definitions can seem to be a bit hazy to those just starting out learning the tarot. But, while it can leave you a little frustrated at not being able to find plain and concise instructions, this is actually the beauty of this ancient art. If you were to be totally literal in your interpretations of the tarot card definitions, your readings would actually become jumbled and nonsensical.

How can this be so? Because tarot card definitions are not just isolated nuggets of information but instead are fluid and flexible in order to absorb the wisdom of the cards surrounding them in your reading. To use an analogy - words have meanings by themselves but these meanings change within sentences or by context. You simply need to learn to 'talk' the language of the tarot.

Here are two examples. Firstly, let's take a popular spread, the Celtic Cross. In this spread, the cards will be placed in a particular order and this assigns them a specific function. Card number 1 details your present, card number 2 tells you what your immediate challenges are, and so forth.

Let's look at how we might treat the Seven of Swords in both of those positions. If I were to see this card come up as the querent's present, I would immediately think that s/he is involved in plan making and wishes for the future, but I would also feel that these might be flaky and lack substance. If I were to see this card in position number 2, the immediate challenges, then I would ask if there might be someone around the querent who is encouraging them with big ideas and that they need to reign in their plans a little, perhaps take more responsibility for themselves.

You can see the similar characteristics of the card at work, but their meanings take on a slightly different flavour.

Example number two - I'm going to look at different tarot card definitions for a Major and then Minor Arcana card. First, let's look at a card that usually puts a smile on people's faces - The Lovers. Now, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, so let me say that if you've asked a question regarding love then this is almost always going to be favourable for you. However, it can have other meanings too. Are you too deeply involved with someone or a situation? Are you lacking in enthusiasm for something that really needs you to put your all in? This card might be asking you to inject the energy, that love usually inspires, into it.

Another confusing set of tarot card definitions can be seen in the Eight of Cups. This card often indicates that you have drawn a line under things and have decided to move on. But can you be so sure that you have done this or are you kidding yourself? This card can sometimes be there give you a bit of a kick up the backside!

As mentioned above you will also need to look closely at the surrounding cards for your answers. The tarot card definitions will be modified by the presence of other cards. This will be even more true if you see patterns, such as a high number of a particular suit come up.

So, now let's look at the general themes of the minor Arcana:

Wands represent thoughts and notions. Is there something that you need to work out? If you see a high number of these cards come up, you should take note and maybe take some time out to think.

Cups mean emotions. If you see a high incidence of these cards, it's likely that you are going through a difficult time or that there is a lot of change around you.

Swords stand for activity. If you see lots of these cards then expect things to start happening or ask yourself if you should start to make them happen.

Pentacles mean that things are starting to take shape. But as with the swords, the cards may actually be telling you that you need some of the pentacle's energy in your life so it's time to get motivated.

As for the tarot card definitions of the Major Arcana? These cards carry more authority in your readings so when you see these, it's time to sit up and take notice as they are more likely to mean major changes, either psychical, emotional or in attitude. In fact, these cards are so influential, some experts recommend that beginners use only the Major Arcana for their readings but I am of the opinion that you might as well get stuck in!

In summary - harmonize. Yes it's important to understand the meanings of each the cards. But try to get to know the cards as rich and complex characters, rather than just seeking the precise tarot card definitions. They're not to be used as a Q&A session. The answers will be reaching far deeper than that. As with all great disciplines, you will have to persevere to achieve the wisdom.

For tarot cards, new age gifts and Wiccan supplies, please visit our online store at http://www.destinycharms.co.uk

For more info on tarot and all other mystical areas, try our blog http://destinycharms.blogspot.com/

Francesca xx

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

2009-09-04T10:41:00.001-07:00

One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to keep it as clean as possible. If you need help or don't have the time to organize your stuff, you can hire a home staging professional in your area. Ask your real estate professional for more information.

1. Remove any clutter from the home and place it in storage. Do not store this stuff on the property if you don't have enough room. Storing clutter in closets or in your garage, will often make these areas look smaller. By removing clutter or even large pieces of furniture, the rooms will look larger.

2. Disconnect yourself emotionally from your home. This is a big problem for people who have lived in their house for long periods of time. If you've raised a family here, the children could have emotional ties also to the home. Some home sellers are looking for someone special to buy their home, if you've got the time and money to wait, you can be selective but be careful, because the longer you wait, the market could go up or down.

3. When your real estate professional is showing the house, it's always a good idea to leave the home until the potential homebuyers are gone. One example of this would be if you were in a bad mood or didn't have a good day and were a little upset at the world. Your mood could cause potential homebuyers to lose interest in the property. I've seen this more than once.

4. Make sure everything is operating properly. This would include doors, door knobs, windows, kitchen appliances, garage door openers, cabinet drawers, bathroom fixtures, toilets, faucets, lights, switches, electrical outlets and anything else that moves, slides, turns or rotates that is part of the home.

5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.

6. Make sure the flooring is in good shape. Some real estate professionals will suggest, replacing the carpeting with a neutral color. This method often works pretty good but I have seen plenty of homes that were re-carpeted and after the home was purchased the carpeting was replaced again, by the new owners. Just make sure the flooring is in good shape.

7. Here's a trick that definitely works a little magic when selling a home. Leave some cookies or a nice fruit bowl on the dining room table. There is no need to leave a sign that says "Eat Me". It gives the home a warm feeling, almost like a country atmosphere.

8. Even better than home selling tip number seven would be baking some cookies just before the perspective buyers arrive, it's not the cookies, it's the smell from the cookies that most people cannot resist.

These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.

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

Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.

Does God Make Mistakes

From Greedy to Grateful - Appreciating What You Have

2009-09-04T04:33:00.001-07:00

Not everyone is greedy, but most of us expect a lot out of life and often forget to be grateful for what we have already achieved and obtained. We seem to quickly jump from one accomplishment to the next. We go from receiving good things that we enjoy only briefly to quickly pursuing the next good thing we want. We are, for the most part, a pretty needy and wanting bunch of beings.

If you're at all familiar with the Law of Attraction (LOA), you know that it states that what you put your attention on you attract to you. When you are grateful for what you have, you will be more apt to attract more good to you. When you are greedy and constantly wanting more and the next best thing, you are not stopping to be grateful for what you just received. You are not even taking time to celebrate your success, to enjoy the accomplishment, to revel in having it. What you appreciate, appreciates. That is, what you offer gratitude for grows and more comes your way.

For example, say you wanted a promotion at work and you got it. Instead of making a party for your co-workers or family, you're already thinking about how you can get the next promotion. It's a never-ending list of "gimme's" when you don't offer gratitude. Gimme that new car, gimme that new suit, gimme that vacation. It's all right to want tangible objects and activities in our life that make us feel good, that we feel we've earned by our hard work. However, we become greedy when we don't take time to acknowledge all that we are getting and all that we have.

And if we throw a tantrum when we don't get what we want, that is certainly not being grateful, and we are less likely to get it. If you want to live your life by applying the LOA, you need to be grateful, offer blessings and thanks for what you have now, and more will be added to you. A grateful heart attracts, while a greedy one repels.

A great practice for giving gratitude, which I share with my life coaching clients, is to write in a daily success journal. Every night before going to sleep, write down five things you are grateful for. What was wonderful about your day? Who did you touch? Who touched you? How did you serve? How did you make a difference? What good came into your life? The small things are just as important as the bigger ones.

Are you grateful for your family, friends, pets, house, car, clothes, work, prosperity, health, and more? Write these in your journal as a way of appreciating what you have. Not only will you attract more good, but you will feel good. You will feel filled up with all you already have. Your grateful heart will replace your greedy one.

I am grateful for the moments I share with my wife and children. I'm also grateful for my profession as a life coach, which allows me to help people live better lives. Most of all, I'm grateful that I always have the ability to change.

How about you? What are you grateful for?

Lifestyle Mentor, Personal Coach, Author, Educator, and Entrepreneur, David B. Bohl is the creator of Slow Down FAST. To learn more about this step-by-step strategy for Living YOUR Life YOUR way, and to sign up for his 9 FREE Tips for Finding Happiness in a Fast-Paced World, free teleseminars, free Special Report, free bi-monthly ezine and more, go to: http://www.SlowDownFAST.com

Surviving As A Contractor In California

2009-09-04T03:04:00.001-07:00

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

Effects Of False Prophets

The Bio-Neurobiology Of The Self

2009-09-03T20:57:00.001-07:00

Like always My eyes see, my ears listen, my nose smells, my fingers touch and I cannot help cognizing and ask questions of my everyday experiences and experiences of others that reach me through one of my senses, some of them or all. So like then now it is my eye that caught some written material and threw my selfish self in to examining them in an effort to may be understand more than anything my selfish self. As I read through the material I thought if I could only understand my selfish self and be able to see it from outside of it and from a neutral vantage point what else would there be that I won't master at all. Nonetheless wherever I went and whatever I did and am able to do got me always wrapped up in my selfish self and it more and more proved to me that it is all there is in whatever ways and how it was said and done.

""The most obvious thing about you is yourself." "You look down at your body and know it is yours"." Todd Heatherton. I thought of the statement and wanted to be certain of my knowledge of myself and wished if the self within me was only the physical self and wanted so bad to fully comprehend it and master it if I may and be certain of my knowledge, but hard reality hit me so hard that it was not meant to be. It turned out that the self was much more than the macroscopic physical. It also has what is called the spiritual psychological and more aspects to it. The certainty of the self by the self simply dissipates in to the thin air as I try to examine it even further and the self assurance about the knowledge of the self appealed to me as somewhat far fetched. The day to day discoveries and the new lights that are being shed about the inner and outer workings of our self tells a story of even more unknowns and what we know of our self is barely a scratch on the surface of a very large stack yet to be known and ever.

"When you wake up in the morning, you don't have to interrogate yourself for a long time about who you are." Todd Heatherton. The statement makes it as though we have never had a question or a doubt about who we are and why we are , but the fact remains that the overwhelming part of out every day activities are related and are about finding our self, making our self, changing our self sustaining our self and maintaining our self, all in all whether we say it in a single sentence or thousand paragraphs, whether we ask it directly or not the selfish self often and always takes precedence and primacy. In our daily all encompassing and comprehensive activities, actions, reactions, Cognitions and recognitions we do define and redefine ourselves and I am afraid if we are so sure of why we do so with certainty. If there is anything certain that we have asked enough times who we are and why we are, where we came from and where we want to go and are going, these are questions that are in every ones head without being framed may be in an elitist word framing. And what everyone does revolves around the same issues with varying probability of knowing the answers, but with certain truth of never certainty. Even the questions we ask of others come around often as question about our self and we can't escape the fact that it is all about the selfish self. It often is about acquisition of knowledge, material, position, notoriety or something of value here or in the hereafter. The complete knowledge of the self is the ultimate and as such remains always less than certain.

As we go through life every day we wake up, I feel like, what we do is interrogate our selves of who we are, how our poison has changed and how to best react to it contrary to the statement quoted, in all and many things we do, think and imagine. Indeed we have the greatest interest in ourselves and interest is dependent on the degree of exposure to the subject of interest, and the self more than anything else is exposed to the self itself. May be the root of selfishness lies in the exposure of the self to the self more than the not self and there is no way of exposing the not self to the self more the self itself to the self, thus instilling the selfishness permanently in the self and may be a falls sense of complete self awareness as well. "" Heatherton himself shied away from direct study of it for years, even though-"My interests were around the self but not around the philosophical issues of what is the self."

Things have changed today, Today Heatherton, along with a growing number of scientists, is tackling the question head on, seeking to figure out how the self emerges from the brain. In the past few years, they have begun to identify certain brain activities that may be essential for producing different aspects of self awareness. They are now trying to determine how these activities give rise to the unified feeling we each have of being a single entity. This research is yielding clues to how the self evolved in our hominid ancestors. It may even help scientists treat Alzheimer's disease and other disorders that erode the knowledge of the self and in some cases destroy it altogether." It is rather the philosophical self that interested me the most than the mechanical descript self, not that I understood it but I am intrigued by it. It raises questions more than I could speculate and ask of the readers of this article and knowledgeable people if I may and pose them directly. Is the self a collection of memories? Cognitive and reactive process?, Will the self cease to exist when the mind (brain )ceases?, When the subjective self (mind or brain, or consciousness and memory) ceases will the objective self turn in to an automaton and mechanical being?, Are other animals, plants and inanimate that go through motion purposeful, intentional, disciplined, ordered and unique motion self aware?, If not why not?, When the self that is self aware ceases will the self that is not self aware remain? Is the objective self a reality of the subjective self or is it the subjective self the reality of the objective self? Or does the objective self exist independently of the subjective self and the vice versa? Is the subjective self the extension of the objective self or is it the objective self the extension of the subjective self?

As a matter of everyday practice it seems the subjective self to act as its sole purpose and intent to protect, preserve, sustain and propagate the objective self. If subjective reasoning alone were enough to answer it all, I would have had mine, but reason fails short and reality often times defy reason and it is often reality that has to be reasoned than reason define reality, therefore a dose of objective reality may be is in order and in time for a comprehensive understanding of the issues raised and points reiterated. " Further clues have emerged from injuries that affect some of the brain rejoins involved in the self .Gage, a 19th century railroad construction foreman who was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time when a dynamite blast sent a tamping iron through the air. It passed through Gage's head, and yet, astonishingly, Gage survived. Gages friends though noticed something had changed. Before the accident he had been considered an efficient worker and shrewd businessman. Afterward he became profane, showed little respect for others and had a hard time settling plans for the future. His friends he was "no longer Gage." Cases like Gage's showed that the self is not the same as consciousness. People can have an impaired sense of themselves without being unconscious." As is indicated by the awareness of the amnesiac of all things about him it rather seems as though the self is a physiological and psychological construct of information that precedes it. As such as long as the physical construct of this precedent information is intact the self will retain its self awareness which is ingrained in its genes. This self awareness which is to serve in the fulfillment of the selfish needs of the self necessitates the awareness of the environment in which the self finds itself in. it is therefore this secondary awareness that is to be called consciousness. It is an awareness the helps the self act and react in ways and times that its interest are best served by. As every existence is a relativistic phenomenon, it would rather make the complication easier to understand if we have to conclusively argue whether the self is absolute relative to the not sell or the self is yet a relative reality to the not self. If we claim the self is an absolute reality then the self exists independently of consciousness and if we claim the other way around then the self ceases upon cessation of consciousness. As indicated in the article , the retention of the information about the self while all memory is wiped out by amnesia seems to attest to the fact that the self does not exist because X or Y existed, but because of the information upon which it was constructed that determined its intent, shape, color, purpose and destiny and consciousness helped best accomplish these predeterminations in an environmental constraints.

"At the university college of London, researchers have been using brain scans to decipher how we become aware of our own bodies." This is the very basic law-level first point of the self "UCLA's Sara Jayne Blakemore says. When our brains issue a command to move a part of our bodies, two signals are sent. One goes to the brain region that control the particular parts of the body that need to move, and the other goes to the region that monitor the movement. Our brains then use this copy to predict what kind of sensation the action will produce. If the actual sensation we receive does not closely match our prediction, our brains become aware of the difference. But if the sensation does not match our prediction at all, our brains interpret them as being caused by something other than ourselves. Blakemore and her colleagues documented this shift by scanning the brains of subjects they had hypnotized. When the researchers told the subjects their arms were being lifted by a rope and pulley, the subjects lifted their arms. But their brains responded as if someone else were lifting their arms, not themselves." As untenable as it seems it rather is a fact that the objective self is existent independently of the subjective self (the mind) but too mechanically. The subjective self does not only interpret coordinate and give meaning to the environment the objective self is in but also gives the essence of the self itself in relation to everything and anything within its environmental constraints and how it reacts to and interacts with the elements of its environment. The brain that generates the subjective self seems rather an information in, information processing and information out center that where when and how it gets its imputes determine how it will react and what it puts out when it puts out what it does as its purpose and duty.

"Heatherton and his colleagues at Dartmouth have been using the technology to probe the mystery of why people remember information about themselves better than details about other people. They imaged the brains of volunteers who viewed a series of adjectives. In some cases, the researchers asked the subjects whether a word applied to the subjects themselves. In others, they asked if a word applied to George W.Bush. In still other cases, they asked simply whether the word was shown in uppercase letters. They found that questions about the self activated some regions of the brain that questions about someone else did not their results bolstered the "self is special" hypothesis over "the self is familiar" view." The special self and the familiar self are separate and in essence and are intertwined in purpose.

While the special self is the information upon which the physical self and the psychological self is constructed on, the familiar self to me is the conscious self that determines the position of the special self in relation to its environment and helps act in the best interest of the special self. There is no time or space separation between the self and the information about the self. The information about anything else is separated from the self by distance and time. The self is constantly accumulating and accessing information about itself. The self and about the self are intertwined and inseparable unlike the self and about the not self. Information may be filled separately and in categories, yet the fire about the self may be the most important and may be the most significant of them all. "When we are in new circumstances, our sense of our self depends on thinking explicitly about our experiences. Soccer players know whether they are athletic, strong or swift without having to consult their memories." It is rather indicative of the fact that the special self is very much dependent on its consciousness of the environment it find itself in to react in ways and manners its interests are best met. When the self knows and knows well and is familiar with the environment it finds itself in, thinking becomes un necessary, logical construction becomes redundant and the facts become self evident. "The primate ancestors of humans probably had the basic bodily self awareness that is studied by Blakemore and her associates." I wondered if at all there is any living thing that is not self aware. How is this awareness expressed other than being active in the self preservation and primacy of the self? All living things are self reproductive, self preservative and self protective and knows its relative position in its environment and acts and reacts in ways and manners it is able to survive and thrive; what possibly be the so called self awareness if not all these and more? "The self requires time to develop fully. Psychologists have long recognized that it takes a while for children to acquire a stable sense of who they are. "They have conflicts in their self-concepts that don't bother them at all."Lieberman comments. "little kids don't try to tell themselves, 'I' am still the same person.' They just don't seem to connect up the little pieces of the self-concept."" If I am spared of the possible label of someone playing in semantics and engaged in hair splitting I would like to not that there is nothing at all that had happened happens and will happen in no time and in no stages. Even instantaneity is a relative short period. I cannot agree any less that self awareness takes time while the self is a physical construct of the information that preceded it, it does not only predate self awareness, but is there from the initial date of its complete construction when ever that may be. It seems the self goes through stages of cognition of its environment, compilation of the facts of its environment, understanding of its environment, determining the self's position in the environment and acting in the best interest of the self within the environmental constraints.

While the last two of the process described are attributable to self awareness the former four stages are only precursors to self awareness. May be children's conflict of self concept that don't bother them are indicative of the developmental stage to self awareness than it is physiological (biological) (self) developmental stage. The self awareness of the self goes way passed the developmental stages of the brain to the very origin of life itself as a product of self awareness .As it is attested to and proved over and again programs of self propulsion, development, reproduction and ability to choose are ingrained in the fundamental elements of life precedent cellular construction. It poses a dynamism where change in quantity and quality in time and space are among the prevalent character threats. As stated by Robert Shapiro's " A simpler Origin for Life" Scientific American June , 2007 " Muller's Remarks would be in accord with what has been called the NASA definition : Life is a self sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution" I as a lay person wouldn't have agreed less except for the two things I need to elaborate or needed be elaborated by some who are more able than I. It is the convergence of among the chemical, mechanical, electrical and even gravitational self sustenance as we prove in to the very fundamentals existence and succumb to simply in to being a product of change in space in time following or governed by a precedent information. As it is guided and goes through self sustaining change in time in space gathers information that helps it undergo Darwinian evolution in effect Darwinian evolution is cumulative information gathered to help self sustenance in time and space.

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

2009-09-03T19:37:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Happens To Nonbelieving

Fighting Depression - You Can Be Happy Again

2009-09-03T13:14:00.001-07:00

When we're in a depressed state, it seems as if it's never going to end. But everything changes over time. We can facilitate the rapidity of a change to more positive territory through actions of our own, such as those suggested below. No matter how bad things might be, or get, you always have hope. And you have God or a higher power too, if you believe in that. In any event, it's always good to know that you're not alone. Have someone else to turn to and to lean on when you need to.

1. See Your Doctor
This is important to determine if your depression has a physical cause or whether a referral is needed to a trained psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Sometimes people say, "I've been there already and it didn't help." My suggestion is to try someone else. Every counselor is not good, nor are they all suitable for us. Just keep at it until you find someone who can help.

2. Don't Try To Go It Alone
Talk with trusted family members and friends who you can rely upon to keep your confidences. Don't feel like a burden. What goes around in life often comes around. You can be there for them in the future when they need some help.

3. Take The Focus Off of Yourself
Thinking about your problems 25 hours a day is not helpful. Maybe you can't always get help, but you can always give it. It will help renew your own self-esteem when you see the power you have helping someone else. It also puts your own problems into perspective. Doing this is an important step to getting yourself out of the woods to the point where you can see a clearing ahead that you can keep walking toward. It's ok to crawl sometimes too. Just keep your head up and keep moving in the right direction.

4. Just Do The Next Thing
Sometimes depression can immobilize us to the point where we seem overwhelmed by everything and can't seem to get ourselves to do anything. Just do the very next thing. Don't worry about tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. Just do the next thing. If you're depressed when you get up, then wash your face. Then brush your teeth, then get a shower, then get dressed, then put on the coffee,then do the dishwasher, etc, etc. One thing at a time. Just do the next thing and don't think about anything else until you're finished that. Then decide what the next thing is to do. After a while you're going to see that you are staying active and getting things done. Staying active is a big help because it takes your mind off of you and substitutes accomplishments, even if they are very modest, for obsessing about your problems.

5. Get Out!
Don't stay in the house. Get out and take a walk, go to the mall, volunteer, or ask someone to go to lunch or dinner with you. It is very important to stay busy at night. Many people can deal with things during the day when they are busier, but nights can be very lonely. Whenever you feel tired, take a short nap and stay up at night until you feel tired enough to go to sleep without a struggle. Sleep helps.

6. Self-Help Reading
This should be a lifetime habit. There are research tested ways for people to be happier. One I would particularly call to your attention in dealing with depression is written by Dr. Gordon Livingston M.D., a practicing psychiatrist, who wrote the national best seller: Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart. It contains many positive suggestions for dealing with depression.

7. Prayer and/or Meditation
Both provide the opportunity to stop and reflect and to enable us to gain perspective again.

8. Make The Most of Your Unfinished Life
Think about others and be kinder. If being happier by being kinder and taking the emphasis off of ourselves sounds like mumbo-jumbo to you, here's what famed intellectual and philosopher Aldous Huxley had to say about it:

"People often asked me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have
to say that the best answer is - just be a little kinder."

Virtually all positive psychologists say too that true gratification in life is found not in focusing on ourselves and our egos, or by basing our life on material things, but in the service of something higher. Pick something that's meaningful to you. It will improve your self-esteem, and provide you with the peace of mind,personal fulfillment and happiness you seek.

Larry Danks is an Assistant Professor of Business at Camden County College in New Jersey. He has written five books including Your Unfinished Life which is available through Amazon.com (Discount Price: $13.45), Barnes & Noble, and all major booksellers. It contains dozens of inspiring and motivating quotations to help you. Samples from each chapter and reviews of the book are available by visiting:http://www.YourUnfinishedLife.com

I have also compiled an excellent list of recommended books about happiness in my "Ezine Articles" article: "Happiness 101".

Slow Market Home Pricing Advice

2009-09-03T11:59:00.001-07:00

Homes are going to be sold in good markets and bad. When times are good, people often forget that bad times will be coming eventually. During good times, people often get caught up in the hype of the real estate boom. During tough times, houses will be sold eventually, or taken off the market and sold later. If you need to sell the home as soon as possible, for financial or other reasons, you will have to adjust your price with the current market and don't get greedy.

This is the hardest thing for most people to do, lower the price of their home in order to sell it in a slow real estate market. Don't get caught up in the value of your home, six months or even a year ago. Last year's prices are not going to be this year's prices and you need to get that through your thick skull. If the average homes in your neighborhood are selling for $250,000 and you have a swimming pool or done some upgrades, maybe a room addition. Your home is going to be worth more than the average selling price.

Most real estate professionals will price your home according to the length of time you have to sell it. If you're in a hurry to sell, they don't have time to test the market. The price of your home would need to be competitive or lower than homes selling in the area. Whether homes are selling fast in a good market for selling slow in a bad market, if you have time, you can ask a little bit more for your home. If the market hasn't reached the bottom, waiting could actually hurt you, because the prices of the homes in the area would still be dropping.

Listen to your real estate professionals advice when pricing your home. That's what you're hiring them for, they are in the real estate business. Your neighbors, relatives, friends and people you work with, will probably be guessing if you asked for their opinion on pricing your house.

Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Finding that person is the key to selling your home, finding that person as soon as possible could give you the illusion that you sold your home to cheap. Don't worry about it, your final objective is to sell the house.

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

If you really think your home is safe, check out these pictures about home water damage.

Nothing Will Be Impossible

Primal Leadership - A Book Summary

2009-09-03T05:43:00.001-07:00

Primal leadership takes center stage in this book. This concept goes beyond the set of conventional competencies on the making of a leader. Beyond bottom line figures, this book takes a leap forward with the concept of primal leadership through a keen and in-depth understanding of emotional intelligence and its link to leading and building emotionally intelligent organizations.

The authors explore the idea of leadership as an emotional
function. They propose that the fundamental task of a leader is to create resonance at work, thereby unleashing positive traits and attributes in people. Emotionally intelligent leaders bring organizational success to the fore because they inspire, motivate and foster commitment in people.

Harness the power of primal leadership in this book and bring out the emotionally intelligent leader in you.

Primal Dimension of Leadership

The use of emotion in leadership functions is a primal task that sets leaders apart. Great leaders move people by channeling emotions in the right direction, whether it is in formulating corporate strategy in the boardroom or a series of action items in the shop floor.

Resonance Effect

The positive channeling of emotions that empowers people to be top performers is called resonance. The culture of resonance brings out the best in people. On the other hand, when leaders negatively drive emotions dissonance is created. Dissonance is not conducive to harmonious working relationships as it can undermine peoples potentials.

Key to Primal Leadership

Emotional intelligence is the foundation of making primal
leadership work. An emotionally intelligent leader knows how to handle himself and his relationship with the people he works with in order to drive up performance.

Good Moods, Good Work

A good mood is essential for a team to function effectively. It is crucial for a leader to foster positive working relationships because emotional conflicts in a group can hamper a teams performance.

A study of CEOs from Fortune 500 companies revealed that
positive overall mood of top management people leads to better cooperation and better business performance. This argument takes the view that it is top management that creates the conditions for workers to work well.

Resonant Leader

For emotionally intelligent leaders, resonance comes naturally in their dealings with people. Their actions reinforce synchrony within their team and within the organization. The strength of an emotionally resonant leader lies in the emotional bond he forms which allows people to collaborate with each other even in the face of change and uncertainty.

Four Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

The creation of resonance is a hallmark of primal leadership that can only be fostered by emotionally intelligent leaders. For a leader to promote prime resonance in a group, it is important to understand the four EI competencies. Interestingly, these competencies are not innately inherent but are learned abilities. According to research, an effective leader typically demonstrates at least one competence among
the four dimensions.

1. Self-Awareness

2. Self-Management

3. Social Awareness

4. Relationship Management

Approaches to Leadership in a Nutshell

1. Visionary

2. Coaching

3. Affiliative

4. Democratic

5. Pacesetting

6. Commanding

The Five Discoveries of Self-Directed Learning

1. First Discovery: My ideal self Who do I want to be?

2. Second Discovery: My real self Who am I? What are my strengths and gaps?

3. Third Discovery: My learning agenda How can I build on my strengths while reducing my gaps?

4. Fourth Discovery: Experimenting with and practicing new behaviors, thoughts, and feelings to the point of mastery.

5. Fifth Discovery: Developing supportive and trusting
relationships that make change possible.

Final Notes

Primal leadership is anchored on emotions. These emotions have underlying neurological explanations to them such as the open loop system. Thus, a leader must work hard to obtain emotional intelligence competencies that will make him a resonant leader
because resonance is the key to primal leadership.

A resonant leader builds a culture of resonance by emonstrating emotionally intelligent abilities that permeate throughout the organization. A resonant leader aims to live a resonant life for him and his people in order to make resonant work. It is this kind of work that builds an emotionally intelligent
organization a kind of organization that can survive the changing business climate because it has built-in processes that can sustain change.

By: Regine P. Azurin and Yvette Pantilla

Regine Azurin is the President of BusinessSummaries.com, a company that provides business book summaries of the latest bestsellers for busy executives and entrepreneurs.

http://www.bizsum.com "A Lot Of Great Books....Too Little Time To Read" Free Book Summaries Of Latest Bestsellers for Busy Executives and Entrepreneurs

Mailto: mailto:freearticle@bizsum.com

BusinessSummaries is a BusinessSummaries.com service.

Stair Lighting Problems

2009-09-03T04:36:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spiritual Dictionary

3 Keys to Personal Self Help

2009-09-02T22:21:00.001-07:00

Personal self help is one of the greatest ways to reach your purpose and achieve your goals in life. The more you grow and increase personally the more you will succeed in your life. However, its not always easy to know where to start or what to do. Here are 3 keys to personal self help.

1. Read.

One of the simplest ways to start your personal self help is to read books, magazines, and articles on the topic that you are wanting to grow in. There are so many books in the world today that you can find a great book that will help you. This is one of the ways that I first started my personal self help. Its not always possible to sit down and get the knowledge and wisdom from someone personally but you can get it first hand in a book that they have written.

2. Get a mentor/coach.

Probably the most powerful way to grow is to get a mentor or a coach. This will allow you to learn directly from someone that you respect as well as get hands on experience. Another great thing that you will get is the gift of accountability. This may not seem like something you want but it will do wonders for your progress in life. If you really want the most personal self help, you need to have a mentor or coach.

3. Be honest with yourself.

I have talk to many people that say all the right things but arent honest with themselves. They deny that they have certain areas that they need to change and are always sidestepping the real issues at hand. For you to truly change and be all that you can you have to be more honest with yourself then with anyone else.

Is there greatness on the inside of you but you don't know how to achieve it? Jason has just completed his brand new 7 part e-course, 'Find Your Greatness'

Get it free here: Find Your Greatness

Do you want to learn how to create successful habits and goals? Download Jasons new FREE ebook here: Goal Setting

Jason Osborn has dedicated himself to changing thousands of lives by helping people find their greatness and true potential through his Find Your Greatness Newsletter.

Removing Interior Walls

2009-09-02T21:21:00.001-07:00

Here's a word of advice for any contractor, Carpenter, handyman or homeowner that is planning to remove an interior wall from your home or someone else's. Beware of removing interior walls, to eliminate your fears of the house collapsing. Some of the interior walls inside of the house are important structural components of the building.

Some of these walls hold up floors, roofs and other loadbearing sections that could create safety problems within the structure of the house itself. This is an area where an expert with framing skills should be consulted. What is the definition of someone with excellent framing skills? Some one with at least 10 years as a master framing carpenter.

My home building experience consists of three decades for over 30 years of assembling some of the most difficult sections of a home. During these years I have seen damage done to houses from removing structural interior walls. Most of this damage could be repaired with a little structural engineering. Some of the damage could not be repaired and caused other damage to different sections of the house. The damage caused in some cases to the floor and the roof framing had to be completely rebuilt.

I'm not telling you about every single thing I have ran into but you would be surprised if I started to make a list of all the homeowners and professionals in the building industry or home selling and buying business that contacted me to remove a structural component of a building. There have even been a few of these people that told me everything was going to be okay just go ahead and remove the structural building component.

Needless to say I would leave these people very irritated but I'm sure they found someone to do the job. The bad news is I was normally the person they would hire to go back and repair the damaged building after these people were gone and out of business. There have been cases where people have removed an interior walls against my better judgment and over the years of driving by in these homes I personally got to witness the structural damage that was occurring on the outside of the house.

I have no idea what the inside of the house looked like but could only imagine. My advice again when removing interior walls is to hire an experienced contractor or at least get some advice from an experienced framing carpenter. This does not include your basic know it all that has basic construction experience like your father in law, parents, friends, golfing associates or people you work with that tell you not to worry about it, just do it, everything will work out just fine.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and What Does A Shear Wall Do

Wrong With Bible Verse

Freedom to Finally Enjoy Life

2009-09-02T15:00:00.001-07:00

What do you most want in life? There is a way to get it. Imagine having the time and money to do what you enjoy most. Whether it is spending more quality time with your family, enjoying long weekends with your spouse, spending more quiet time at home or having fun with your favorite hobbies.

Yes, all these ideas are what we all have in mind when asked what would we do if we had the time and money.

In order to make this happen we must have a definite plan of action. First, make time in your daily schedule to set aside 1 hour where there will be no interruptions, no phone calls and no one around to disturb you. Sit in a quiet place, somewhere in your home or apartment.

Now start thinking of what is most important in your life. Put things in prospective. Family, grandchildren, freedom of time, financial security, health, etc. Once you have them on paper, start with the first one and think of ways you can improve your time or work habits to better your relation with the person or project. Then go to the #2 on your list and do the same.

There are always ways to improve our daily performance related to work habits, family time, play time or any other activity which we do on a daily basis. Have you ever said at the end of the day, " What a wasted day, I didn't get nothing done. " Always have a plan for every day, make it the best day of your life. Remember, Life is a gift, don't waste it!

I sincerely hope you enjoyed this article, Please check out the following link to view online Video Tutorials on how to make the money to be able to enjoy life to the fullest.

http://FreedomMoneyMakers.com

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

2009-09-02T13:54:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I Hate My Brother

How Setting Goals and Following Through With Them Can Help You Achieve Success in Your Sales Career

2009-09-02T07:29:00.001-07:00

Have you ever dreamt about what you would like to become and what you would like to be doing? Have you ever wished you had an unlimited source of money and could make decisions based on choice not dollars?

Now wishing and dreaming are things most people do every day. It's like buying a lotto ticket, hoping you'll win. That's why the majority of people are just surviving, getting by. They wish and hope that their luck will change and until then they settle for mediocrity, second best.

However, the small minority who make it to the top have one thing in common. They take action! Not just any kind of action, planned action, action based on predetermined goals.

It's true! Successful people can tell you where they are going, how long it will take and what they plan to do along the way. They are experts at goal setting. Their goals are specific, measurable relevant and trackable. They map out every part of their life, regularly reassess and fine tune for success.

Most people know the story about the Harvard class of 1954 where they tracked those who made goals and those who didn't.The small percentage that made goals on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis made more money, had more free time and more happiness than the others.

Well that same study has been replicated using a group of sales people. They found that 6 out of 10 do not set outcome-based goals at all and this group earns the least amount of all salespeople! Three out of 10 set earnings goals and as in the Harvard study, this group earns double the income of the no-goals group. Only 1 in 10 people sets specific goals but they earn 3 times as much as those who set no goals at all.

So if you want the kind of success in your career that only a minority have then becoming a master goal setter is the key.

Knowing how to set goals and then following through with them of course, guarantees to improve your career. It's the way to bridge the gap between what you are now and what you truly want to be.

Goals are really stepping stones to success. When you first start out learning how to set goals and follow through with them there are a few things you must keep in mind.

1. Make your goal achievable in the near future. It's all very well setting a goal that is just way out there....totally huge and fantastic. The problem with doing that however is that you can become overwhelmed and frozen into inaction. The task, although something you want to achieve may seem just too hard and you don't end up even taking the first step towards it. Better to break the major goal down into small steps that you can work on day by day and which lead to the bigger goal.

2. Write your goals down and share them with someone you trust or admire. This will help you stick to what you have said you will do and keep you accountable.

3. Celebrate your successes along the way. Each time to complete one part of the major goal or any of the goals you set, congratulate yourself. This can be done by actually saying positive things to yourself or giving yourself little rewards, like a night out at the movies, a takeaway dinner or a bunch of fresh flowers. Too often we are quick to berate ourselves when we don't finish a task or complete a goal rather than taking the time out to acknowledge the things we did do well.

4. Reassess your goals regularly to see if you are still heading in the right direction and rewrite them if necessary. It is better to do this than stick doggedly to something that is actually getting you nowhere.

Remember the wise saying of Confucius..... A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

We all have to start somewhere and taking that first step can be the beginning of something great! So start writing down your goals and remember it's okay to just start with small ones. When you achieve them you will feel so much better and be able to keep moving forward.

Donna Cox and Dayle Walker are the brains behind Success In Sales For Women. With more than 60 years experience between them in sales and educating people from all walks of life to achieving their true potential, Donna and Dayle now specialize in inspiring women who are keen to excel in the sales world. Learning how to set goals and follow through with them is one of the topics they cover in their membership Course. If you want to find out more go to http://www.successinsalesforwomen.com or contact them at dayle@successinsalesforwomen.com or donna@successinsalesforwomen.com

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

2009-09-02T06:32:00.001-07:00

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

When Do We Get To Meet God

5 Books to Read on the Quest For a Better Life

2009-09-01T23:47:00.001-07:00

When I was thinking about writing on this subject, I thought about how subjective this actually is. Anyone who is on the quest for a better life most likely has their bookshelves overflowing with "self-help" or "personal growth" books. And if you're just beginning the journey on your quest for a better life, then you may be looking for someone to help you find the best books out of the thousands that shout down at you from the bookshelves in the personal growth section of your local bookstore.

You may also have gotten recommendations from friends and associates claiming, "You've got to read this book. It's changed my life!"So either you said, "I'm so happy for you," and ignored their request, or you ran to the bookstore or Amazon.com, bought the book, only to leave it languishing on your already full bookshelf. Or you read it and said, "What's the big deal? I don't get it."

Therefore, choosing a reading list for you is a difficult task. The books we read are a very personal choice. We listen to recommendations, yet, what affects others may not affect us in the same way. Additionally, your quest might be to improve your physical well-being, your wealth, your relationships, your business, or your mental or emotional health. Whatever your focus is on, will ultimately determine the books that will have the greatest impact on you.

That said, the ones I have chosen are classics, so millions of people have endorsed them. Still that doesn't mean they will change your life, but they may have some impact on you, at least to get you thinking and reading, and maybe lead you to other books that will support your quest for a better life.

So here is my list. With these 5 books, you can't go wrong. They may become some of your top favorites as well.

You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay
Written in 1984, this book on using your thoughts and feelings to affect your health not only is a classic in its genre, but launched the powerful Hay House empire that's published millions of life-changing books. Originally printed as a small booklet, Hay created a list of physical maladies, their probable psychological cause, and a new thought pattern to shift it. For example, most pain in the feet has to do with obstacles in mobility and direction. The new thought is "I move forward easily in life." These thoughts also launched the explosion of the use of affirmations to shift thoughts. The expanded version goes deeper into why we think what we do and how we can heal all areas of our life by changing our thoughts.

Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
Few people in the personal growth movement, or even in business for that matter, have not read Hill's 1937 classic on the use of the mind to improve our financial state. Just the term "think and grow rich" has spawned numerous clones like write and grow rich, speak and grow rich, and meet and grow rich. Hill spent a lifetime researching millionaires and distilled his findings into philosophies and formulas that led the great men he studied to success. He encourages readers that they too can reach the same levels of achievement through the power of thought.

The Power of Intention, Dr. Wayne Dyer
This book may not be on everyone's list of classics in the personal growth field, but Dyer is one of the most prolific authors in this field. His PBS appearances have vaulted him into an almost cult status. His authenticity captures his audiences wherever he appears and jumps off the pages of his many books. I like this book because it takes goal setting to another level. Dyer's definition of intention is: "intention is a force in the universe and everything and everyone is connected to this invisible force." From that place he guides people to allow their dreams to come to them rather that go after them with drive and hard work.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
Another classic, published in 1989, this book put Covey on the map as a powerful leader in personal change and effectiveness. His groundbreaking book launched memorable buzz words and phrases like "begin with the end in mind," "think win/win," and "seek first to understand, then to be understood." You can't be anything but more effective if you follow the sound, practical guidelines Covey presents.

The Aladdin Factor, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Six years before their Chicken Soup fame, Canfield and Hansen collaborated on this brilliant, yet simple book on how to ask for anything. They teach the reader how to ask, who to ask, and what to ask for. They show you how to ask at home, ask at school, ask at work, ask at the world, ask yourself, and ask a higher power. That about covers it. If you know how to ask, who to ask, and what to ask for in your life, there's virtually nothing you can't have or do. It's a very powerful book you must add to your collection.

All of these books are available at your local library or at www.Amazon.com.

The Bible's Power Over One Child

2009-09-01T23:09:00.001-07:00

That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.

When Do We Get To Meet God

Mindfulness Meditation - A Path To Happiness

2009-09-01T16:11:00.001-07:00

Meditation has been found to have a positive influence on the body, mind, and spirit. Successful management of chronic pain, decrease in blood pressure, and reduction in stress hormones are a few of the physiological benefits of meditative practices. Meditation is also known to produce a variety of psychological benefits, including reduction of anxiety, enhanced sense of well-being, increased awareness of emotions, and a greater sense of self-actualization. Spiritual bliss and enlightenment are among the spiritual benefits of meditation.

Recently scientists have looked at the effect of mindfulness meditation (one type of awareness meditation) on the brain and neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brains ability to develop and change - essentially rewire itself - in response to training and/or experience. Richard Davidson, PhD at the University of Wisconsin has conducted research that indicates that meditation increases neuronal firings in the left frontal cortex of the brain the same area associated with positive feelings and happiness. Studies involving very experienced meditators (Buddhist monks) have shown that these brain changes may be long lasting. In other words, mindfulness meditation may increase your level of happiness and the more you practice the happier you will be.

Rather than disregarding any distracting thoughts, those practicing mindfulness meditation simply observe their thoughts without judgment. The goal of this form of meditation is to increase awareness in the present moment. If you want to give this type of meditation a try, I suggest beginning with a mindful walking practice. This simply means that while you are walking, you keep your awareness on the experience of walking. Stay in the present moment and be aware of what your body feels like as you walk. Notice the sensations as you put one foot in front of the other. Notice the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Simply keep your awareness on your experience in the moment.

When other thoughts come into your mind (and they most definitely will come) simply observe them and let them go without judging them. This is a key to mindfulness - rather than getting caught up in these thoughts or berating yourself for having distracting thoughts, it is important to be an impartial observer of the thoughts flowing through your mind. Remember observe the thoughts and let them go.

As you gain experience with this type of meditation, you will gain the understanding that your true essence - your essential spirit - is not the contents of your mind, but rather the observer of the contents. This awareness will help you detach from intense emotions and allow them to flow freely and easily. When practiced on a regular basis, mindfulness becomes a way of life and a path toward greater happiness, peace, and joy.

Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. is a psychologist, consultant, life coach, inspirational speaker, and entrepreneur. Dr. Harrell has combined her expertise in positive psychology, energy psychology, stress management, and mind-body therapies, to provide cutting edge services to individuals and businesses for over 15 years. In addition, she is a leading authority on the use of positive thinking to create health, happiness, and success. Dr. Harrell has taught graduate level courses at the University of Dayton and Wright State University. She is the President and co-founder of Popular Inspirations, Ltd. http://www.ipopin.com and co-creator of ipopins (the one minute affirmations).

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

2009-09-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.

I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.

I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.

The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.

Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.

Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.

My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.

About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.

The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.

The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.

The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.

That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.

Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.

Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.

I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.

Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.

I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.

The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Wrong With Bible Verse

Law of Attraction Frustration

2009-09-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

The law of attraction has frustrated many people and they will say that it doesn't work. You may have seen the movie, The Secret, or one of the specials on TV done by Oprah or Larry King. Have you tried using its principles? There are usually very specific mistakes that are made by someone just learning to attract the things they want. Those mistakes are easily corrected.

The Law of Attraction always works

This universal law is an energy that is available to everyone, all the time. You have used it since forever. Maybe what you have attracted is not what you prefer, but the law has followed your instructions to the letter. Then why hasn't it worked the way you want?The rules are that what you focus your attention on, will come into your reality. So what you experience today, has been caused by what you thought about and talked about long before this. What you complain about and worry about today, will be what you are drawing to you for your future.

So what blocks what I want?

Most likely, it is old beliefs of not being worthy of having it. Your value and self-esteem has been established for years by situations and people around you. They haven't done it on purpose; their own self-esteem has not been very high, so they couldn't help but teach you as they were taught--that YOU aren't enough. A belief is only a thought that has been repeated over and over until your mind accepts it as true. It doesn't have to BE true.

Holding onto old ideas doesn't help

Holding onto those old beliefs is no longer supportive of what you want to accomplish today. Those beliefs were chosen by you to protect your emotions in the past. The key word here is CHOSEN. You made a choice--a decision about what happened. It doesn't follow that the decision you made was actually true. But thinking about it over and over and talking about it has allowed your mind to accept it as true, and this is what is blocking you from being able to attract your desire.

You have an inner guidance system

By listening within, to the promptings and guidance you receive, you will find answers to help you remove those old beliefs and blocks and create the life you desire to lead. Life flows easily for you when you learn how to program and listen and obey your inner whisperings. Walls that you keep hitting your head against, will crumble and you walk free.

If you want to learn to listen within, you can download a free ebook, Learn Listening Within

Mareen Robinson, a published author, columnist and teacher of the Law of Attraction is offering tips, techniques and other goodies to learn to accelerate the Law of Attraction. Visit her at her website: http://yourmagicwanda.com

Success Starting in Your 40s

2009-09-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

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

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

Gregory Vanden Berge

Does God Make Mistakes

How to Escape the Hamster Wheel - Self Help Tips

2009-09-01T01:38:00.001-07:00

Do you ever feel like you're trapped on an out of control treadmill, running faster and faster, working harder and harder, yet not getting anywhere? Right now do you actually feel like you're losing ground, with all the bad economic news and political turmoil? If so, you aren't alone. Many, if not most people in the developed countries are feeling much the same. Trapped and forced to run endlessly, with no hope of ever achieving our life goals. It's been called the hamster wheel life.

We are surrounded by technological marvels. Our standard of living is beyond that of even the wealthiest rulers only a few generations ago. And we have access to an almost limitless selection of products and lifestyles. So why should we feel so trapped and stressed out?

I think we feel this way because we've lost our way. That is, we have lost touch with the traditions, customs, and rituals that people have traditionally based their lives around. Our lives are fast. We are always on the run, always behind schedule, always chasing the next goal. As a result, we experience most of life shallowly. That is, we don't have the time or the energy to delve deeply into the meaningful experiences of our lives. The hamster wheel doesn't stop and we don't have time.

We experience life shallowly. With endless interruptions and distractions, we don't have the time or energy to experience most things deeply or intensely. About the only things that can knock us off the hamster wheel for long are major crises. Family or personal disasters get our attention. So do massive disasters like September 11. But all too soon, we're back on the wheel, running for all we're worth, with our current events and experiences a blur, and our strongest impressions those left over from the latest disaster. No wonder we feel stressed out and helpless to achieve our personal goals.

You can escape the hamster wheel life. You don't have to sell everything you own and abandon modern life either. If you can bring some positive intense experiences into your life, and dive deeply into them, you can transform your experience. It doesn't take a huge commitment of time, or lots of experimentation either.

Until very recently, humans always included these kinds of experiences in their lives. There are tried and true traditions that you can easily incorporate into your own life to counteract much of what is wrong with our modern way of life. What we're talking about here is our natural way of life. All you need is a little help to find your way back to it.

There are nine types of positive experiences that successful and happy people across all cultures seem to share. To learn about these 9 intense experiences, and get yourself back on track to achieving your life goals, visit: http://www.your9intenseexperiences.info

William P. Smith is the author of dozens of how-to books and articles, and is busily working on adding more intense positive experiences to his own life.

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-09-01T00:47:00.001-07:00

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

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

1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?

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

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

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

5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?

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

7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?

8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?

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

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

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

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

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Religion Articles

Mentware - How to Develop a Money Making Mentality

2009-08-31T18:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, you can work your own miracles. You can give your life a turn-around. Mentware is where all the money lies. Yes, all the money you need till you depart this world does not depend on the possession of hardware or the accumulation of all kinds of software. It lies on having the right mentware.

Hardware and software can't show you the money but mentware not only shows you the money but it also puts the money in your pocket. It says to you, "Man, you deserve more than this but just keep doing the right thing because you will soon get exactly what you deserve if you don't give up."

Hardware and software can take all your money away from you but mentware brings more and more money to you. Hardware and software can make your credit card, purse or wallet to be lean but mentware makes your credit card, purse or wallet to be fat.

Hardware and software can give you the spirit of selfishness and laziness but mentware gives you the spirit of service and decisive search for solutions to problems.

Great men and women of our times and history might have used hardware and software to showcase their missions and visions but it was mentware that actually brought success to them. Most of them did not even use hardware and software at all because such tools were not in existence when they were on this planet but they never achieved anything without mentware.

It was mentware that showed and brought Christopher Columbus to America. It was mentware in him that discovered America, a land flowing with milk and honey.

It was mentware that helped Martin Luther King Jnr. to see that time will come when all men and women of America will not be judged by the color of their skin. It is mentware that has made that tall dream to become a reality today and we can all say now, "Yes, we can!"

Raymond Edeh is an expert writer in a variety of topics. He writes high quality reviews for high demand products. Visit Raymond's site at http://www.flyarticles.com for your ghostwriting services.

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

2009-08-31T17:15:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

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

Should The Bible Be Edited

How to Goal Set and Track Your Progress

2009-08-31T10:50:00.001-07:00

Goal setting is the most important thing. If you don't have any goals in life you must be pretty bored. Some people sit around everyday and say they are content with going back and forth to work to the same job every single day, year after year. You see nothing happen and you can always guess where they will be because they never do anything out of their routine. You might be one of these people.

Setting goals helps you grow. It makes you feel good to set goals and work toward making them happen. Goal setting is healthy for your body and healthy for your mind. One of the things to consider when it comes to setting goals is that you do not want to sit around and talk about the goals you have. This will do you nothing but be discouraging.

When you set goals they have to be realistic and reachable or you will be discouraged. Always set goals that you really can reach and you see a way to meet them. It is important to write down the steps it will take to accomplish the goal. Decide how long it will take you to accomplish each task. This might be in days or weeks. Once you do this you will need to set a date that you will begin working toward the goal. Then you can set the project up on a calendar and write down where you should be with each task.

As you begin a project or a completion of a goal you must track the progress. As you meet certain milestones you need to treat yourself to something special because you are one step closer to doing something you feel is important. If you are running behind you might need to pick it up a step or extend out the deadline. Be sure that you are only running behind because you underestimated and you are really working according to task.

Goal setting is very important. When you set goals and lay them out with time frames and milestones you will be more motivated to complete them. As you reach certain milestones you will be motivated more than ever to reach the end of the project. This is a very positive way to work on projects especially if you have a hard time completing them.

Scott Wells invites you to read http://www.drugabusefocus.com/117/ where you can read about or share stories on drug or alcohol addiction. Help others or learn what it is like to be addicted to drugs or alcohol.

When We Choose Misery Over Happiness

2009-08-31T09:36:00.001-07:00

I am not one to feel sorry for most people. They seem to have a unique ability to cause themselves the most damage during certain parts of their lives. I have met some pretty self destructive people in my life. Being raised by a mother that lived in misery and love.

My mother had a difficult childhood. It seemed as if every corner she turned there was a obstacle either right in front of here or waiting just around the corner. Her father died when she was 12 year old. He was a farm laborer and didn't make much money. In other words they were poor...... She got sent to live with a few foster families and according to her she was molested by one of the fathers she lived with.

Soon her older sister invited her to live with her. My aunt was married to the owner of a pottery business and had 2 children about 10 years younger than my mother. My aunt soon realized she had a live in baby sitter that allowed her to stay out drinking most of the day.

My Uncle was what you would call a drunk back then, now we call these people alcoholics. Well any way I think you are starting to get a picture of my mothers life up to this point. It is probably safe to assume that this isn't the ideal life for a young woman.

The next event to happen in my moms life was for my uncle to fall in the shower one night after tying one on that night. He died soon after but my aunt seemed to make a another good choice and ended up marring the owner of the bar that they spent most of their time in.
The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Allan K. Chalmers

By this time my mom was in High School and met my future father. It wasn't exactly a marriage made in heaven. My dad was always an easy going man. He seemed to let most stuff go in one ear and out the other.

As you guessed it they had a few children. Nice one Dad and Mom. According to the books I have read on Angelic beings. People that believe in the after life and angels. They tell me I had a choice and was able to choose my parents....... What was I thinking...... I should have choose someone with some money and a couple of parents that were deeply in love .

How did I end up here in this situation.

I ended up loving my parents like most of us. They seemed to be doing the best that they could possibly do raising me, my bother and my sister. My mom and dad ended up getting a divorce and I went to live with my father.

My Father is remarried to a wonderful woman that seems to bring him a lot of happiness.
I haven't seen my mother for a while now. She lives with a life of excuses and misery. Her childhood was not the greatest but that doesn't give her the right to bring misery into other peoples lives. She has made a conscious choice to live what seems to be a painful life. Maybe her choices in life have made me choose happiness over misery.

I have always wondered what it is that motivates someone to live a life of true unhappiness when it takes the same amount of energy to live a life of joy. Life is meant to be full of joy and happiness so start today by making the right choices to live a fulfilling life of happiness.

If you are reading this and can't make up your mind what kind of life you truly want to live visit me at http://live.spiritualideas.com/ . Change your thinking and change your life.

Greg Vanden Berge will help you create a new approach to life and discover talents you never knew you had. We can help you get the most out of yourself all the time. Start developing your innate strengths and abilities to start enriching your life TODAY !

Nothing Will Be Impossible

The Juice is Worth the Squeeze

2009-08-31T03:08:00.001-07:00

Have you ever considered that there are two main motivators in life? There is the pursuit of pleasure. And, there is the avoidance of pain. Some might argue that the two are one and the same. I don't think so. We'll talk about that as you read further down.

Success has a price attached to it. Failure has a price tag attached to it. To experience either one, you will pay the price.

Success has a price tag on it that you get to have control over. Failure's price tag comes from default. It automatically shows up.

The price tag of success is paid up front. The price tag of failure is paid later on. The price tag of success gets easier with time. The price tag of failure keeps on costing you for the rest of your life.

Let me begin by saying that failure is never final unless you quit. The only way that you can 'be a failure' is to quit. And amazing advantage that those have who have chosen to quit is, at any moment, they can choose to get back into the game.

You may find yourself sitting at the end of the bench in the game of life. You might have chosen to go sit in the stands and be a spectator. You may have chosen to leave the stadium all together. The great news for you is, the game is still going on and you are welcome to come back. You probably won't come back as the starting quarterback, but there's still room for you on the team.

Why pay the price of success? Well, that's pretty much a no-brainer. There's a reward for success. Why stay in the game and not give up? Well, there's a result of a lot of pain if you give up.

Think about it. The man who has given up. The guy that got in his car, left the stadium and sits and does nothing. Is he happy or sad? Glad or mad? Feeling good about himself or bad? Gets along well with others and enjoys his family and friends? Or is he at odds with the world? Hopeful about things getting better in the world and his own life? Or hopeless, negative and in psychological turmoil? Grateful to others in his life or blaming others in his life?

Its pretty obvious isn't.

Did Michael Jordon make the first shot that he ever took? Probably not. How did, year after year, Michael's stats get better and better? Because he could magically fly? Well, it took a lot of sweat, determination, commitment and work for Michael to learn to 'fly'. : )

What is the price of success? Just hard work? Let's talk about it.

Hard work is definitely involved. However, hard work isn't 'the key' alone. If it were, then everyone who worked hard would be wealthy, right?

There's more involved.

It takes a goal. It takes concentration on your goal UNTIL it is achieved.

It takes awareness. Knowing what's working. And, knowing what isn't working then making adjustments.

It takes managing the negativity of others. Some of whom you might value highly in your life. Vision is said to be, 'you seeing what others can't see.' Just because you have a vision and are excited and passionate about it, doesn't mean that others are going to 'get it'. Let's face it. Its YOUR vision. Not theirs.

It takes facing obstacles, dead ends and sometimes, all out attack on you and your efforts. Yet still, being able to keep going. Keep pursuing. Keep believing.

It takes detractors and even enemies being right about some things, but you still keep believing in yourself, your goals and your vision.

It takes dealing with negative self talk. Learning how to subdue it and counteract it with positive self talk.

You see, no one is born with the Midas touch of creating success effortlessly. You weren't. Nor was I. No one else on the planet either.

The key is using your will to do the thing that you've imagined for your success. Recognizing that there will be a price of time, willpower, opposition, obstacles and even mountains you might have to climb.

BUT, the price for success is worth it. You get to HAVE more, DO more and BECOME more along the way. You won't be the same person in the end that you were in the beginning. You'll change. You'll change FOR GOOD. For the good of your life. For the good of your family. For the good of others.

Make a choice now to pay whatever price you must in order to live the life that you've dreamed of and imagined for yourself. You'll be very glad that you did.

Michael Murphy
Author of 'Powerful Attitudes', 'Powerfirmations', 'Faithfirmations' and new book yet to be released. Michael is a recognized expert on building powerful, positive self esteem and success. Get his gift of 9 FREE self empowerment classic ebooks by going now to http://www.powerfirmations.com/home.html

Creating Your Electricity

2009-08-31T02:20:00.001-07:00

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.

What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.

Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.

We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.

Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.

This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.

Think green and together we can start saving the planet.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy

Greg Vanden Berge Quotes

Helping You Recover From Grief and Loss

2009-08-30T19:53:00.001-07:00

Journaling is about empowerment through self-awareness. It is a process by which you meet your needs for emotional and spiritual cleansing. Journaling removes the cobwebs from your thought processes by recording the ideas, feelings and emotions that are currently distracting to you.

This process is about balance. Journaling gives you access to your inner thoughts and feelings, and removes them from the cluttered storehouse of your unconscious. Then, you can clearly see where you are going from day to day, what you are thinking and what you need to focus on as your growth unfolds.

The world opens up to you when you start journaling because your unconscious receives the message that you are ready to receive information from your inner world.

Self-empowerment through self-knowledge is about entering your world of unconscious activity where you have stored past traumas, hurt feelings and any un-examined life events. When you are open to this process, you will discover much about yourself that has heretofore remained hidden.

Journaling is not a short cut to creative writing, as some would have you believe. It is simply an access point to your inner life where valuable information about who and what you are can be uncovered.

Disregard any other ideas you may have about journaling, especially those that suggest you have to write creatively and with purpose. This is not the case. Journaling is about self-revelation. You are bringing your unconscious self to conscious awareness. Only by knowing what you believe in, and then acting on that information, can you make choices for the better.

The conditioning you received in your early years is still active, even if it no longer rises to conscious awareness. That's what repeating patterns of behavior are all about. We are being driven by some part of us that believes in unquestioned and outdated ideas. Once you see these patterns, and the ideas that drive them, you can interrupt your automatic responses and make new choices.

Prepare yourself for a rough ride, at times, as your unconscious protector-controller tries to steer you away from recognizing this inner activity. This part of you has a big investment in remaining hidden and will resist your pursuit of self-honesty and increased awareness.

In the end you will acquire what you want, because your submerged self wants to come forward and enjoy the same level of freedom you desire.

The old guard, the protector-controller, will put up resistance because it is about to lose its job. Successful journaling requires you listen to all the voices within, including this one. So when that part is active, put it on the page.

Your resistance will hiss and snarl at times of change, so let it do so in your journal. You will see this happen time and time again. It's a struggle, after all, for every part of you. When you choose to make a change for the better, it upsets the old inner balance. Let the resistance have its say in your journal. Only then can you set it aside and resume your forward motion.

Once you begin this process and engage in it regularly, your journaling will become self-activating. Whenever something inside you clamors for attention, you will find yourself reaching for the journal to let it out. Whatever needs attention, put it on the page - good, bad or indifferent. Do not edit or deny what is begging for attention. You will learn that these so-called "negative" parts of you are just scared. Once those feelings are out, you will immediately calm down.

Journaling is a very powerful process of self-communication. It will activate itself time and again as you become accustomed to using it. Begin simply by recording your feelings. Let your inner self tell you what is going on inside. Ask yourself feeling questions, mainly, because we are all capable of rationalizing our thoughts and feelings rather than experiencing them.

When you ask feeling questions, listen for feeling answers and write them down. Your protector-controller will try and dissuade you from going too deep. Feeling questions help you sidetrack that resistance.

"How do I feel about . . . .?" will help you reach the center of any difficulty while bypassing the defenses to awareness of your interior life.

You will discover things about yourself that are truly amazing, secrets you've never revealed to anyone. You will uncover regrets you have had about past experiences, hopes you hold for your future and secret desires that you have never acknowledged. This is your chance to do all that adventurous excavating while clearing your emotional and feeling centre of psychological debris.

This will be a time of great learning accompanied by great frustration. It is all part of the package. Journaling brings out everything and that is always to your benefit.

Do not give up on your recording practices just because things have calmed down. Your journaling sessions will become smoother as time marches on, and you'll be better equipped, in terms of emotional and spiritual strength, to handle each and every crisis that comes your way.

Journaling takes you to the Well of Wisdom from where all answers emerge. Eventually, you will find yourself confronted with the deity that is you, your own holy soul. This encounter will reveal much about who you are and help you secure that connection with your Higher Self.

In time, you will trust that connection so completely that you will begin to access it often, especially when big decisions are at stake. At this point, you will see yourself as a co-creator with your God Source and happily utilize that guidance for every aspect of your life. That is the power of journaling. It puts you in touch with your essential self, which puts you in touch with your Source. We are part of a Divine Matrix and we are all enriched by this connection.

Let Journaling be Your Friend from this point forward.

Maurice Turmel holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology. He was a practicing therapist for nearly 25 years providing counseling and therapy to individuals, groups, organizations and families. He is the author of "The Voice - A Metaphor for Personal Development"; "Mythical Times - Exploring Life, Love & Purpose"; and "How to Cope with Grief and Loss - Support, Guidance and Direction for Your Healing Journey". He has been a guest on numerous regional television and radio talk shows and hosts his own radio shows on live365.com/drmauriceturmel and on BlogTalkRadio.com

Email: drmoe2000@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.howtocopewithgriefandloss.com

Installing a 32 Inch Back Door

2009-08-30T18:48:00.001-07:00

He got the extra money in his pocket, you got a headache.

I'm a contactor and learned this lesson in a long time ago.

When building a new home most people don't give very much thought about their interior or exterior doors. Here's a simple chart I made to help with some basic door decisions.

If you are a professional football or basketball player don't use these numbers above.

Give some thought when installing a new door on your next project and keep some of the above tips in mind..

If you are designing a home give some thought to the stairways and hallways in the home as well.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Bay Window Ideas

Wrong With Bible Verse

Self Help For the Self Employed

2009-08-30T12:26:00.001-07:00

So much for Mr. Key Executive and his forerunner, Mr. Young Executive. As employees of Corporation Americana, their occupations offer them a unique and negotiable source of estate building. Yet not everyone climbs a corporate ladder, nor has the opportunity or inclination to do so.

For those reasons we want to introduce another character into the drama, a professional woman who is nobody's employee. Her name is Ms. Doctor, the young physician who nets $80,000 a year from her new practice. She has no compensation package and no negotiated benefits, no company to give her any of these niceties. Where are the estate-building opportunities in her occupation? Who is going to help her?

This, in a nutshell, is the situation of some ten million citizens of this country-all the doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants, architects, engineers, writers, artists, and actors, other independent professionals, and along with them the independent businesspersons: the sole owners or partners of businesses, large or small, the entrepreneurs. These are the self-employed. They range from the actress who commands $100,000 for a single performance and the individual business owner who grosses a million per year, to the corner grocery store operator who nets only $35,000, or the writer who makes $60,000 in a good year, half of that in a bad one, and the Web page designer who has seen his business boom in the last few years, and expects it to keep on growing.

There are no ready-made pension plans, deferred compensation arrangements, or profit-sharing funds for them. They can put up to $3,000 a year into an IRA or $6,000 where there's a nonworking spouse and they file a joint return. (If neither of them participates in a qualified retirement plan they may make deductible IRA contributions. However, if they are active participants in a retirement plan, the $3,000 IRA deduction limit per person is phased out for single taxpayers with income over $45,000 in 2004; $50,000 in 2005 and thereafter. The phase-out income threshold for married taxpayers is $65,000 in 2004; $70,000 in 2005; $75,000 in 2006; $80,000 in 2007 and thereafter.) Unlike the rest of their fellow citizens, their occupations do not automatically provide them with substantial built-in tax shelters. They are compensated as well as or sometimes better than the corporate employee. But since all of this compensation is in the form of income, it is subject to tax.

The heart of their dilemma is in the very word that describes their economic situation: self-employed. Our tax laws were set up originally to benefit the employee, the person who works for someone else. Large though their numbers are, the self-employed used to be an economic anachronism in our economy.

Today there are a variety of opportunities for the self-employed to establish tax-favored savings plans for retirement. The fence that once separated the tax-sheltered employee from the nonsheltered self-employed person is no longer an issue. Over the years it has been opened more and more, until the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 gave the self-employed the opportunity to provide themselves with most of the same employee benefits that their corporate counterparts enjoy. Since then many changes in the tax law and many more retirement planning opportunities have been added.

"Self-help" is still the concept, however. More than large corporation employees, the self-employed have to take the initiative and put together their own compensation packages, and have to know about and utilize the various opportunities available to them for building funds for retirement and for building an estate.

I got my free credit report at http://www.securecreditadvice.info, it is hands-down the most reputable credit report company online. Customer testimonials and feedback have been excellent for this company.

Change Your Thinking About Life

2009-08-30T11:18:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I Hate My Brother

How to Counteract Violence, Anger and Hatred

2009-08-30T05:07:00.001-07:00

Counteract Violence with Knowledge... The saying "it's the quiet ones you want to watch" is very accurate, the people who don't instantly recoil to the violence but stop to weigh their options. Profile the aggressor, find the cause of the violence, then react in a cool calculated way by finding collaborative and empowering alternatives. If the reaction comes from keen acuity and not a chemical imbalance the outcome will be far more efficacious. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind"- "Mahatma Gandhi" Wise words from an even wiser man that teaches us one thing. There is no point in fighting fire with fire. Remedies like listening, deducing and giving time to get to the root of violent behaviour is what we need to dissipate it.

Counteract Anger with Understanding... Anger is a significant state of disapprobation and reasoning power is significantly hampered. Often anger can be diffused significantly when given a passive audience or serene location. Communication skills are essential in anger management but it is important not to lose control of your emotions. You do not have to agree with the position to respect the human behind it.

Counteract Hate with Righteousness... Hatred is more difficult, simply because it is not a rational feeling and is not subject to reason. Isolation from the hate mongers, education and psychotherapy should work. Every individual is human (with good traits and not so good traits) applying this ideology inhibits the reciprocation of this hate.

These may be difficult to counteract, especially since they are strong emotions, but with practice and dedication, they can be achieved!

Sashakay Fairclough is a 20 year old final year law student at the University of Huddersfield in England.

Bathroom Faucet Leaks

2009-08-30T03:52:00.001-07:00

Faucet leaks can waste more water than you think. Have you ever put a cup or bowl underneath a leaky faucet and actually seen how much water is wasted. Leaky faucets should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent the waste of water in your home. Water is a precious resource and should be used wisely.

One slow drip from the faucet can waste over 5 gallons of water per day. If you think that's not a big deal, let me put it in perspective for you. 5 gallons of water per day equals 35 gallons per week, times 52 weeks in a year, that equals over 1800 gallons of water, and that's a lot of water.

The problem with a faucet leak isn't just the amount of water it waste, it will soon start to deteriorate your sinks, bathtubs and showers and could damage other sections of the home, like the wood framing. I've seen a water drip in a steel kitchen sink, in just a few years, wear a hole right through it. Keep in mind water and wind formed the Grand Canyon, water can be extremely erosive.

Faucet leaks can attract house pests, like mice, flies, ants and a wide variety of other insects.

Most faucets can usually be repaired for under $20. Most of the time the problem will be in the valves or handles that turn the water on and on. If you're not familiar with plumbing parts, you could pick up a do-it-yourself home repair manual or go online and look up the manufacturer of your faucet, for more information.

Usually the manufacturer has a diagram of the faucet, broken down into sections and you could get a pretty good idea, what parts you will need to remove, in order to replace the damaged part or parts that are creating the water leak.

Calling a plumber seems to be most homeowners last resort. They only do it if they absolutely have to. If you don't understand how a faucet works and have no desire to learn how, I would suggest you call a plumber or contact someone who can help you with your faucet leak, but get the faucet leak fixed and quit wasting water.

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

Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Designing Inspiring Environments

2009-08-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

The influence of your personal environments on your health, creativity, and well-being is often subtle, yet profound. You can use the environments you live in to support you in feeling good about yourself, to experience less stress, and to be more productive.

Personal environments can include your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, your work environment, networks, ideas, learning environments - and your physical environment - such as your home, the community you live in, nature, your garden, the technology you use, the information you absorb everything that you surround yourself with. It can also be the foods you keep in our house, the beautiful objects and colors around you, the books, magazines and newspapers you read, the movies you watch, and the thoughts you think.

Personal environments can also include your internal surroundings your belief systems and thought patterns. As you work on raising your awareness of your inner thoughts and eliminating negative or unproductive thoughts, you might notice increased levels of energy and focus.

Its possible to revitalize your surroundings or environments and design them so they bring out the very best in you, so that they evolve you toward a successful, inspiring, struggle-free life. As you develop your personal environments, you develop yourself and your capacity to be creative and to receive ongoing inspiration and support.

The goal is to design supportive environments that will inspire you to be your best and do great things. Success and personal development are more sustainable when there are environments and failsafe structures which support it.

ASSESS YOUR PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTS
Being fully alive calls you to play a much bigger game in life...evolving to your optimal potential or greatness. Do the environments around you bring out your best? Do you receive enough creative inspiration? Do you know what sparks your muse? Is there enough intellectual and spiritual stimulation in your life?

1. When you are feeling fully alive, what is going on for you?

2. How do you feel as you walk into your workspace? Into your home?

3. On a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the most desirable, how much would you say your environments are supporting you in living the life you most desire?

4. What is something in your environment that you are tolerating that could be removed?

5. What is something that is missing from your personal environments that, if added, would inspire you to do and be your best?

6. What methods do you use on a daily basis to raise your energy level?

7. What beliefs most profoundly affect your way of thinking?

TRY THIS
If inspiration is an energy that flows through the spaces we inhabit, it is wise for us to remove any items that might block its path, and add items that would increase its presence.

Choose one physical environment in your workspace or home to concentrate on. If you could change one thing in your surroundings starting today, what would you change? Each day, do one task in that environment to establish order, create space, remove items that block your creativity, add items that you love, perhaps add color - and design surroundings that will inspire you to be and do your best.

Creating an environment that truly supports you in being your best can be a very worthwhile long-term project. Envision what an inspiring, stimulating environment would be for you, and have the patience to build that vision a step at a time. It's worth the work!

FINAL THOUGHT
"If you have not used something in the past year, regardless of how attached to it you are, pass it along. You have used up its usefulness to you... letting go of attachments is a rewarding way to feel positive about yourself, and to keep things flowing back into your own life as well." ~ Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Copyright 2005 Jan Marie Dore. All Rights Reserved. Newsletter publishers are most welcome to reprint this article provided it is published in its entirety, without change, including contact and copyright information. Please send an email to admin@janmariedore.com advising the ezines name & URL, and the date the article appeared.

Jan Marie Dore, Professional Certified Coach, Speaker, and Writer, publishes articles like this one in her free ezine 'Living From Intention', designed to inspire, challenge, and support you in creating a life that is meaningful, authentic, and a joy to wake up to every day. You can sign up for your own subscription by sending a blank email to subscribe@janmariedore.com . For free resources and programs on living a purposeful life, visit Jan Marie's website: http://www.janmariedore.com.

Structural Framing Beams

2009-08-29T20:33:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Causes of Structural Failure

Personal Development

Building the Foundation Towards Personal Development

2009-08-29T14:08:00.001-07:00

To achieve any form of success, personal development should be on top of one's priority. You cannot expect growth in your business when you lack certain aspects in terms of personal growth. Hence, the sad reality that only a few among those aiming for success achieve it. Through personal development methods, you might not ensure yourself of success but you can be one step closer to it.

Create Goals As Your Stepping Stone

When it comes to self improvement, goals serve as both your driving force and endpoint. In concept, setting a goal is like building a solid foundation. Hence, it ensures that whatever you place thereafter or what steps you take are supported by that strong foundation.

It might seem obvious at first, after all it is what most self-help books would initially point out. But stressing the importance of a goal is critical to your success. When you have a goal, you are able to determine what actions to take in order to reach that. Accordingly, you will also identify whatever it is you need to avoid so as not to be stopped on your tracks.

As much as you can, set specific goals: monthly, weekly, or daily. This helps keep your focus on what needs to get done for you to become a step closer to achieving your goal.

How Do You Create A Goal?

Now that you realize the importance of setting goals, the next dilemma is to determine healthy goals. It is easy to set goals, but recognizing the important goals is the tougher part. Hence, you might find these tips helpful:

1. Think of something, whether short or long term, that you want to achieve or acquire. Hence, you can use that goal towards personal development.

2. Devise a plan that will enable you to reach that goal.

3. Within that major goal, trim them down to smaller and shorter goals that will serve as steps towards achieving that bigger goal. This assists in the personal development process because it practice discipline in meeting those smaller goals.

Pillars of Personal Development

Depending on your habits, you can determine whether your day to day activities are productive or not. Indeed, our habits control what you do and the way you think. Learn to recognize your healthy habits from those that are not. Then, you can work on improving your unsuccessful habits and turn them into a more productive activity.

When it comes to your way of thinking, developing an optimistic outlook could spell success in personal growth. You become what you think about. Also, having a positive outlook in life will enable you to examine things objectively so you recognize the areas in your personal life that need improvement.

Improving Your Self Image

If you have a healthy self image, you do not have to worry about living up to anyone's expectations. Do not stress out over convincing others but focus on what you need to do instead.

In terms of business, you can get more people to trust you or find you credible when you act like one. Then, surround yourself with people that will help you grow and aim for the same goals as you do. Work only with people that are committed to helping you succeed. When you have a healthy working relationship, you assist in the process of personal development. Also, limiting the amount of negativity within your immediate surrounding improves your own self-esteem and capacity to succeed.

Just a few steps to take and keep in mind in your quest to achieve personal development.

Larry Rivera is a Internet Network Marketer who teaches people how to use the internet to start a home based business. Success University is the #1 Personal Development website on the internet. It gives you a place to earn while you learn. Having problems with relationship building, Learn the skills they never taught you in school.. Success University Review

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

2009-08-29T13:11:00.001-07:00

5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.

These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.

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

Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.

Personal Development

A Review of "Transformational Life Coaching" - A Book For Mentors and Mentees Everywhere

2009-08-29T06:47:00.001-07:00

There are many different indicators in today's world demonstrating that humanity has reached a new level of awareness and appreciation for its own existence. If we look at the shifts in the types of occupations being pursued (and sought after), the abundance of life coaches and personal development mentors is like a mirror held up to our collective psyche. It seems to say that life is a precious experience, and we simply want to be sure that we're present for it in every way possible. To coin a somewhat overused phrase: We seek to live authentically.

In 1977, long before having a "life coach" was something commonly discussed at Starbucks, Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott published her first book on the subject and began a career that eventually, would find her labeled, "The Mother of Coaching." New Species (published in 1978) was to become the first of many books Dr. Scott would write on personal development. The long list includes, "Negaholics," a series of 'Rules' books - including "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules," and her most recent work, "Transformational Life Coaching."

Transformation Life Coaching throws open the doors to Life Coaching School and invites us all inside. Although written for those who either are, or espouse to become, mentors in the transformational movement, this book is an accessible "how to" for anyone. It welcomes all those who have spent time seeking to develop a better appreciation with their own life and how they intend to live it. Chapter 1 literally outlines what to look for and how to choose a coach, offering twenty-five important questions to discuss during the interview process.

In this book, Dr. Scott has created a virtual concordance of information, challenges for personal thought patterns and judgment, practical exercise and reference tools to use over and over. Embracing many global teachings, Dr. Scott often refers to the different chakras, or energy centers, as tools to release the ego and be of maximum service to others. As she explains, "You are in the process of opening up and taking control of your power," and by deeply understanding each energy center, we will be able to literally, "open and close each chakra at will."

Imagine being able to consciously open the fifth chakra (which controls speech and communication) in order to more fully participate in our marriage or work relationships - or being able to close down our first chakra, which embodies survival and security, so that we might be more risky and daring in our professional roles or fearlessly take on new adventures in life.

Dr. Scott has spent most of her professional life traveling the world and sharing her expertise on personal empowerment and development at every turn. On her website she shares that, "Writing a book is not done with the wave of a wand. It takes time to reflect and soul search for the universal truths related to each developmental phase." These same words could definitely be applied to the very journeys that Dr. Scott encourages us to make with our lives.

What we know about coaching is that it is not only sought after, but it is necessary in today's fast-paced world of endless challenges. From corporate teams to softball teams, being coached and coaching others on how to live as appreciatively and authenticity as possible is a proactive way to turn roadblocks into paving stones on your road of success.

Dr. Success (aka Andrea Goeglein, Ph.D.)

http://www.ServingSuccess.com

DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

(702) 243-4040

Creating Your Electricity

2009-08-29T05:52:00.001-07:00

This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.

Think green and together we can start saving the planet.

For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy

Another Crappy Rule In The Bible

The Religion of Bio-Psychiatry

2009-08-28T23:16:00.001-07:00

If we examine the term 'psychotherapy' we will see that it literally means the 'healing of the soul'. Much of emotional distress is actually a spiritual problem, where an individual has lost meaning and hope. In today's society, we have lost sight of spiritual values and many have in turn decided to turn to the religion of bio-psychiatry.

Bio-psychiatry has a creed, the creed is that all problems of life are the result of so-called chemical imbalances. Any professional or individual challenging such conception is branded a heretic and subject to sanction.

The psychiatrist is the priest, and in some cases is also looked upon as a messianic figure. As the priest, the psychiatrist defines the Social Law and the infractions thereof.

The religion of bio-psychiatry has its 'sacraments.' The sacrament of initiation occurs at intake, and confirmation occurs when the individual is indoctrinated into the credo of bio-psychiatry and led to believe that their problems lie in 'wiring' problems in their brains.

The religion of psychiatry has absolution. Through their ritual, adults and institutions are able to be completely absolved from taking any responsibility for meeting the real emotional needs of a person or examining how their own actions and choices could have impacted the challenges faced by the individual.

Ordination occurs at the conferring of the Medical Degree and the completion of a residency in psychiatry.

The religion of bio-psychiatry has the 'sacrament' of Matrimony. Bio-Psychiatry is wedded to the pharmaceutical industry, and what a generous dowry the pharmaceutical industry has provided!

The American Psychiatric Association serves as the "Ecumenical Council" to promulgate the creed of bio-psychiatry and to institute the definitions of the Social Law and the infractions thereof.

The Bible of bio-psychiatry is the DSM-IV.

The Deity is the enormous ego of the bio-psychiatrists themselves.

by Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Repair

2009-08-28T22:17:00.001-07:00

Right above my bathtub in my master bathroom the paint is peeling off the wall. The area is peeling above the tile in my bathtub and shower combination. I tried to glue the peeling paint back and only made the situation worst.

First things first. The paint is peeling because there is to much moisture in the bathroom while you are using it. Do you have any windows you can open or a ventilating bathroom fan. If you have a window crack it open part way while you are showering.

The water droplets will accumulate on the walls and drip into any cracks. Right above the tile grout is a great place for moisture to accumulate. Oh yeah moisture loves grout and drywall. If you have any unpainted areas or an area that has cracked. Guess what you have now.

Your paint is peeling because the bathroom gets hot and cold. Moist and dry. If you have the door and windows shut. You just created a moisture trap. Most people prefer their privacy and will closes the door when using the shower. Well then open the window and let some cold air in while you are taking a nice warn shower. I don't think so. Most showering fools don't like that idea either.

Ok one more idea keep the windows shut so you don't let the cold air in. Then lock the door so no on barges in on you. If you have a ventilation fan turn it on. This will at least pull fresh air in from under the door and send the moist air out of the house.

But the fan is so noisy and I can't enjoy my nice warm vapor producing shower that will eventually cause me to get sick from mold particles floating around in the air while I am using my bathroom.
Does this about sum it up for you and don't we all do this from time to time. We want to enjoy our shower time, so we close up everything and when we are in our bath sauna environment relaxing our house is getting some damaging moisture that could cause mold and mildew.

Open a window or door a little when you shower. Get some air circulating through the bathroom and prevent damage to your nice house.

Put up with a little inconvenience for you homes sake and your pocket book.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Home Remodeling Carlsbad Home Remodeling

Visit us now for Bathroom Ideas

Religion Articles

How to Escape the Hamster Wheel - Self Help Tips

2009-08-28T15:42:00.001-07:00

William P. Smith is the author of dozens of how-to books and articles, and is busily working on adding more intense positive experiences to his own life.

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

2009-08-28T14:37:00.001-07:00

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.

Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.

How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.

As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.

Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.

Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.

This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.

There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.

Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.

Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.

I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Home Improvement

Personal Development

Practical Ideas For Business Goal Setting

2009-08-28T08:03:00.001-07:00

With any type of business goal setting you need to be careful. Setting too high goals will lead to disappointment and frustration and if you set your goals too low then you will not be motivated. There are a few tactics that are important to set goals. By using the following tactics you will create a ladder of goals that can be reached successfully.

You need to be passionate as the goals that you are passionate about will be the most powerful and generally include what you want, what you do and who you are. You need to discover your passion and then set a goal based on that passion. It is important to be realistic. If you want to make 1 million dollars in a year but only make 500, 000 don't think of that as failure. You just made 500,000 dollars, which is great!

You should be value driven and your goals should not conflict with your values or beliefs. If you think there may be some overlaps then you should list out your goals and your values. If the goal does not include at least of your values then you shouldn't waste time pursuing it. You need to be as detailed as possible as just having the goal is not enough. You also should have an achievement date and a way to measure the goal.

You should always have a plan to reach your business goals by starting with your final result and working your way backwards. You also need to be held accountable and hold yourself accountable to that goal. The best way is to have a due date for each part of your plan and report to yourself or another person. It is also important to have fun and reward yourself even when things get tough.

You also need to believe that you will reach the goal. You will never be successful if you don't believe that you can reach that goal. Almost all individuals also need support so don't be afraid to look for some support. Finally the most important step is not to give up. You may need to alter your goal a bit but you can succeed and have fun at the same time.

For more help on how to set goals just click here

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

2009-08-28T07:11:00.001-07:00

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

Effects Of False Prophets

Why You Shouldn't Hate Math

2009-08-27T23:35:00.001-07:00

People hate math, at least that's what they're always telling me. Of course, being the way that I am, I have to make converts of everyone. I don't know what my passion is exactly, that drives me to convert the "math haters," but I simply cannot overcome the compulsion to do so. To me, there is not just beauty in mathematics but something else which is spiritual. It's as though God speaks to us through this strange and mysterious language. For this reason, I always approach the subject with a certain degree of humility and reverence, knowing that I can be both abased and exalted by its magnificence.

But why try to make math converts? Why not simply preach to the choir of that rare group of math lovers? Well firstly, the latter group is minuscule in comparison to the former, and secondly, there has always been something noble in trying to make a "believer" out of a "doubter." Moreover, I have this firm belief that our society advances or stands still according to the progress of its children. If the children of society are reared properly, then the future success of such a society is strongly enhanced. If the children are adulterated, ill-educated, and poorly motivated........well, then guess what? Do you really expect a brighter future for mankind? Hardly.

It is for this reason that I go around preaching the importance of mathematics, particularly the foundations of arithmetic. To this day, when I work with a student and see him or her struggling with the topic at hand-whether it be algebra, geometry, or even a higher branch such as calculus-I come to observe that invariably a weak foundation is the root cause of the struggle. In addition, the student's lack of confidence makes the fight even more challenging. The struggle having increased without remedy, the student eventually succumbs and adopts an "I hate math" attitude.

What is encouraging for such cases and certainly worth stressing is that all of mathematics hinges on the basics of arithmetic. It is unfortunate that much of a student's frustration in his studies later on is the result of poor mastery of arithmetic. For this reason I say, "Soundly drill this discipline into the minds of our children and the chances of success in higher mathematics is dramatically increased." A good analogy to make would be with sports and professional athletes. Expert athletes master the basics. The Tiger Woods of the world spent countless hours practicing the fundamentals of golf swinging. The ace pitchers of baseball worked on mastering the mechanics of certain pitches. In both cases, these athletes practiced endless rounds with a keen focus on both speed and accuracy. Even great coaches understand the importance of the fundamentals: this is why athletes spend countless hours in training camp going over the basic exercises and drills. This same concept applies to mathematics. Master the basics and the chances of success later on are increased dramatically.

Consequently, in mathematics, once the foundations are mastered, success comes in this discipline as easily as it does in others. Okay. Maybe not as easily, but certainly success will come nonetheless. And as mathematics is so powerful in helping us march forward as a society-indeed mathematics unfolds to us mysteries of the very universe itself-there really is no need to hate this most awesome subject, but rather love it.

See more at Math Ebook Online Bookstore

Joe is a prolific writer of self-help and educational material and an award-winning former teacher of both college and high school mathematics. Under the penname, JC Page, Joe authored Arithmetic Magic, the little classic on the ABC's of arithmetic. Joe is also author of the charming self-help ebook, Making a Good Impression Every Time: The Secret to Instant Popularity; the original collection of poetry, Poems for the Mathematically Insecure, and the short but highly effective fraction troubleshooter Fractions for the Faint of Heart. The diverse genre of his writings (novel, short story, essay, script, and poetry)-particularly in regard to its educational flavor- continues to captivate readers and to earn him recognition.

Joe propagates his teaching philosophy through his articles and books and is dedicated to helping educate children living in impoverished countries. Toward this end, he donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every ebook. For more information go to http://www.mathbyjoe.com

Setting Up Your First Fish Tank

2009-08-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

I still remember every minute of the day I got my first fish tank. Of course, I said I wanted to start small, so I got my 10 gallon tank with 3 small Goldfish...six months later, I had a 75 gallon tank with 9 Goldfish. So, if you don't want to repeat the whole process very soon, I would recommend getting the largest tank that you can accommodate. It's actually easier to clean a bigger tank than a smaller one. Small tanks and bowls require a lot more maintenance, believe it or not. You can find more information about all that throughout the site. For now, let's hope that this guideline can help you set up your fish tank. Like I said, you can start with a 10, 20, 30 gallon tank or bigger, made of glass or acrylic. Glass is traditional, but the advantages of an acrylic tank are many. It's a lot lighter, seamless, and the clarity is unbeatable. Just remember to buy cleaning tools for acrylic and not glass.

Get an under gravel filter, UGF, a plastic cover with a fluorescent light, one pound-per-gallon of aquarium gravel or sand, an air pump and a heater. If you have some extra change, get a power head instead of an air pump and replace the hanging heater with a submergible model.

You can buy a complete setup without ornaments for a low price, and this is a great beginning. You also need a stand that can hold the tank. Remember it'll be very heavy once you add the water. Start out with plastic plants, and plastic or resin, maybe wood, stone or ceramic decorations. Be careful, not every rock or toy is good for your tank. Some have toxins that can kill your fish. Remember, a larger tank is easier to maintain than a small one and it can hold many more fish, which will lead to a more pleasant experience of fish keeping.

Once you have the equipment, the rest is easy. Choose a stable place to set the tank in your home.

Once it's filled you won't be able to move it without emptying it first and you don't want to do that, and try no to put it under the direct sunlight of a window or a very hot area, since heat makes algae grow faster, which means, cleaning will be harder.

There are more complicated and expensive ways to filter the gravel, but I recommend using under gravel filters (UGF). These sit on top of the glass in the bottom of the aquarium. Lift tubes are inserted into the risers at the rear of the filter, and then the under gravel filter is covered with gravel.

Rinse the gravel well and spread it so you get an even layer. You always have to rinse everything very well before putting it in the tank.

Now add the heater and the water pumps if necessary. If you have a hanging heater, hang it off the back, where you can still see it and tell if it's on. A submersible heater should go near the bottom of the tank because the heat rises. Find a location for your air pump and put your air line and air stones in. You will also need a gang valve for the air line, which will let you run two lift tubes off of a single outlet air pump. Run a piece of air line from the air pump to the gang valve. Run another air line from the gang valve to each of your lift tubes. Read the instructions for your filter to see exactly how to attach the air line to your particular air stones.

Power heads are great for aquariums. They draw water from under the UGF and pump it out of the power head, creating water movement as well as delivering oxygen to the fish and the beneficial bacteria that live in the gravel (substrate).

There are also mechanical filters on the market. I prefer the ones with a Bio Wheel. The Bio Wheel is a paper like cylinder that rotates as the water is returned to the tank. Beneficial bacteria live on the wheel and helps increase the biological cycle.

Now place your ornaments in the tank and see where you want them before you get your hands wet. Expect some ceramic or plastic decorations to float or tip over as you put water in the tank.

Once your decorations are in place, you are ready to add water. You can just pour tap water into the tank and since you have no fish, plants, or a biological filter to worry about, add the treatment after the tank is full. Be careful that the water doesn't dig a hole in the gravel as you pour it in.

It's good to wait a couple of days before adding fish. Remember that patience is important to have long living, happy fish.

Then you'll be ready to start the biological cycling process.

If you want more information about setting up or maintaining a fish tank, visit me at: http://www.thefishtankplace.com.

Meditation Ideas on Practice

2009-08-27T14:31:00.001-07:00

Wandering Or Lost Souls

Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival

2009-08-27T04:32:00.001-07:00

By now you should probably be aware of the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, this coming August. However, there is at least another event going on in (and beneath) China during August.

Every year, during the seventh month of the Chinese Calendar, it is believed that the Gates of Hell will be opened and all Hell beings (well, not nearly all, only those well-behaved ones) will be set to roam freely on Earth for a month. In this month, many spirits roamed the world in search of their past memories to fulfil their unforgotten attachments. As such, these are called the "hungry ghosts" and the festival is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival.

The Hungry Ghosts festival occurs on the 15th night of the 7th Lunar month which falls on the 15th of August this year. This festival is different from the more well-known Qing Ming Festival, or the tomb-sweeping day which is now an official holiday in China and is predominantly an ancestor worshipping day. The Ghost Festival on the other hand is for the ancestors to return the visit and is a festival of elaborate rituals of joss sticks and paper money, food offerings, and opera shows for the deceased.

The festival is also influenced by Buddhist teachings introduced into China. In the Buddhist's Ullambana Sutra, Mahamaudgalyayana, one of the chief disciples of the Buddha, well-known for his psychic powers, searched for his deceased mother during one of his meditation session. He found his mother being reborn in the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts due to her previous greed. Seeking Buddha's advice, he eased his mother's suffering and eventual rebirth into a human form by performing various rituals of merits creation and offerings. This is the famous "Mahamaudgalyayana Saving His Mother" storyline which is often performed in Chinese opera. In the Chinese context, more emphasis is placed on offerings to the ancestors than to the Sangha, or monks, as in the original Ullambana practice in Buddhism.

There are similar festivals around the world as well. These include the El Da de los Muertos Festival in Mexico, the Chugen and O-Bon Festivals in Japan as well as the Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam. This shows that people today are still in awed and respectful towards the mysterious underworld. For the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in particular, it is a yearly reinforcement and reminder of one's filial responsibility towards the mother and other ancestors in general.

Read more about the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival , and other Chinese culture at Expat Articles. Linus is an expat living in China. He writes about China and the Chinese Culture for eChina Expat at eChina Expat, a platform for Chinese Culture, China Travel, Feng Shui and general China expat tips for expatriates and tourists living in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and other China cities.

False Prophet Are Biblical Facts- Movie Video

2009-08-27T03:02:00.001-07:00

Can you believe this guy, if you look up these verses in the Bible, you will see that there and there, but how did he come up with these ideas about the Sabbath, teenagers and the fact that the Bible is repulsive.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

Fix Yourself Before Fixing Other

Cooking Lobster

2009-08-26T17:28:00.001-07:00

Lobsters are one of the most delicious foods and are considered as a luxury by some. They are healthy and low in fat. Unfortunately, they taste better when cooked alive and thus cooking lobsters, for some people, can really be a difficult task what with boiling or cutting them when still alive. However, certain specific cooking methods need to be followed to speed up the killing process.

For boiling lobsters, a large pot full of rolling boiling water needs to be added with salt and lemon juice. For a 12 to 14 quarter pot, the water level needs to be at least 6 inches high. Once the water is at full boil, the lobster has to be dropped head first inside the pot. In case of trying the reverse, the lobster might crawl back out of the pot. For a lobster weighing 1 lb, the ideal cooking time would be 12 minutes whereas for a 1.5 lb lobster the time would be 15-18 minutes. A 2 lb lobster needs about 22 minutes for proper cooking. The boiled lobsters can be removed from the water once the shells are bright red and then can be served with melted butter. Lobsters get overcooked very quickly and to avoid this, they need to be taken out as soon as the time is up and placed on grocery bags or paper towels for draining.

For steaming lobsters, they need to be placed inside the pot, along with something with holes at the bottom of the pot, so that the lobsters are never able to sit in the water. A 10-quarter pot might need an inch of water added with salt. While lobsters under 2 lbs require 10-12 minutes of cooking, 15-20 minutes would be needed for those over 2 lbs.

Live lobsters may not be ideal for broiling. Individuals can kill them by stabbing them through the ?T? mark on their head, appearing right behind the eyes. A sharp knife is essential to cut through the center of the shell followed by cracking the shell and prying the sucker open by hands. Claws can also be cracked but not removed. For broiling, the lobsters are brushed with melted butter and placed on a preheated pan or broiler with the shell side down until they are heated through.

Lobster provides detailed information on Lobster, Lobster Tails, Lobster Recipes, Maine Lobster and more. Lobster is affiliated with Salmon Fishing.

Someone Else's Point of View on Creation

2009-08-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

Here's a different point of view of how life originated in what's going on on our planet and throughout the universe.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual and sell help articles 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.

Sai Baba Spiritual Leader

9 Quotes From Martin Luther King Jr As They Apply Today

2009-08-26T05:23:00.001-07:00

In honor of this country's greatest spiritual leader, take time today to reflect on the following nine quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Allow his vast wisdom to resonate in your own life so that you may experience more fullness, richness and juiciness in the year to come!

1. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Positive situations can only spring from optimism. Peace will never be established through war. And inner-peace will never be created through negative self-talk.

So many of us are kind to others, yet are cruel dictators internally. Practice speaking gently to yourself this week, like you would to a sweet, innocent child. Be compassionate and understanding. Be encouraging, excited, and joyful about all that you dream. It is only through a loving approach that the true enjoyment and richness of life can be embraced.

2. "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Action is the missing step in so many peoples' journey. Most of us know what we should be doing, yet do not live in alignment with those goals. Stepping into integrity, and moving forward energetically, by taking action any action is vital. Without movement, there is stagnancy. Nothing can change when standing still.

So take a leap. Make a decision about something small this week that you've been putting off. Once you take those first brave steps, life has a beautiful way of illuminating the road just ahead. With each step forward, the path will be revealed and your journey will unfold.

3. "Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek."

So often we get sidetracked in this country, and only hold the end-results of our endeavors in high-regard. But quite often I meet clients that are very outwardly successful and financially abundant...yet spiritually bankrupt. Many people are so focused on the prize that they'll do anything to get there, forgetting to stop along the way to play, reflect, be grateful and smell the roses.

If we lived in a world where the only thing that was of any importance was in fact your intention, your awareness, your kindness or your faith, how would you stack up? What grade would you give you in the school of life?

The same principle applies in feng shui. It is not as important that your home look beautiful, but how it got to be that way. That you have reverence when cleaning. That you dance when decorating. That you smile as you rearrange. Focus instead on how you're BEING, rather than all you're DOING... and you'll be doing great!

4. "The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important."

We tend to make choices about our lives in terms of physical well-being over spiritual well-being. We want to live long lives, and we have doctors and hospitals and drug companies to support those goals. But what if we were just as tenacious about our own joy and laughter? What if we fought to have meaning and love? What if we would do anything to feel passion, pleasure and playfulness each and every day?

The desire for longevity is based on fear. The other is based on love. In what ways can you begin to live a long and LOVING life? Bringing in even the smallest twinkling of lightness to your day will go a lot farther for your health and longevity than a trip to the doctor...

5. "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

When clients come to me frustrated or depressed, it's usually because they have shifted their perspective inward, wallowing in the details of their own life. I've been there many times myself, as the human brain has a sneaky way of putting each of us as the center of our own little Universe. And while that seems like it would be a great thing, it also can wreak havoc.

When we shift our focus onto others, we not only get the experience of helping a fellow human being, but we also realize that we are not alone, others share the same struggles (or oftentimes, worse ones, and that the things we're fixated on might really not be that important after all.

This outward focus also can bring a deep sense of satisfaction. When we live only for ourselves, there is a hollowness that develops. By holding to what we know to be true, and shining our lights for others to see, we not only enrich our own lives, but make a difference in the world - and this sort of experience always reaps far greater rewards than those done solely for our own gain. When you learn to light another's lantern, you are also illuminating your path as well.

6. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

We tend to see ourselves as individuals, separate from the whole. We get concerned with our own needs, our own injustices, our own struggles, and our own desires. But if you look around, we are all completely interdependent. Every bite of food, piece of clothing, or car you drive has likely been touched by hundreds of other people. Unless we're living off the grid, every move we make is linked to lots of other folks.

The same interconnectedness is found on an interpersonal level. Every time you meet another, you're making an impact either positive or negative. Every smile, grimace, compliment or hug ripples out into your home, your community...and eventually, the planet. Only when we begin to see each other as united, as cells of a greater being, as our very own selves, will we experience peace throughout the planet. Let it begin with you.

7. "We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the positive affirmation of peace."

Dr. King expresses here a most important principle in the manifesting of any dream. Whatever we focus on, becomes bigger and unfortunately we have a media that fixates on scandal, crime, violence and poverty. Take a look in your own life, your own struggles... Have the things you worry about most come to pass? Are the challenges you face those that you reflected on?

Take a look also at your triumphs. Were they things that you talked about, dreamed about or wrote about?

This week take a look at your wish list. How can you keep your eyes on THAT prize, and less on your worries? Where can you live "as if" your dreams already have come true, rather than grumbling about your displeasures? Where can you find room for improvement, and making loving steps to revel in all the good?

8. "Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."

So... Are you a follower or a leader? Do you take what everyone tells you as truth... your parents, the papers, the priests and the politicians? Have you taken time to as YOU what you think? Have you put your hand on your own belly and sat in that silence, listening to the quiet wisdom within? Did someone once tell you you weren't pretty enough? Smart enough? Creative enough? Driven enough? Tall enough to have what you really want?

If so, where can you begin to take back your power and find your own voice and set your own path? Where can your spirit begin to whisper in your ear? Where can you find your own beautiful answers?

9. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

In a world full of flashy cars, high-profile celebrities, plastic surgery and get-rich-quick schemes, it's easy to lose sight on the deeper aspects of the human spirit. When we judge ourselves or others on their appearance, status, age, ability or wealth, we lose sight of the truly beautiful parts of each one of our souls. Every person on this planet has a story, has hopes, has fears and has a heart if we open our eyes to see it.

If you're only walking through the surface of life, I challenge you to go deeper. Take time out of your busy schedule to make eye-contact, flash a smile, or offer a hand to your fellow man. Stop to ask your children what their lives are like, what they're scared of, and what they long for. Ask your mate what they most want more of from you, and ask your neighbors how you can help.

Living solely on the surface makes for a very brittle life. So go deep, go deep... and go a bit deeper. There you'll find the gold....

Stephanie McWilliams is the host of HGTV's "Fun Shui". She is a success coach, health counselor, interior designer and feng shui consultant with a booming practice in NYC. She travels the country teaching, speaking and working one-on-one with clients. To learn more about Stephanie's coaching, design or feng shui services & products, receive her free weekly e-zine "My Cup of Chi" and get lots of free goodies, visit her website at EvolvingArts.com

Light Workers video

2009-08-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

This video tells of the estoic wisdom between the three types of light workers and how they are going to bring the earth into a new earth full of love and light.

Life of Jesus

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Greg is currently working on a spiritual 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.

Why Dont We Listen To Our Parent

Feng Shui Bedroom - Bringing Harmony to Your Life

2009-08-25T10:45:00.001-07:00

Feng Shui has been used for thousands of years to improve the quality of life and bring harmony, among many other things, into the home. You can use Feng Shui in any area that you would like but many people use it in the bedroom.

Feng Shui is pronounced "Fung Shway" and can be used to help you sleep better and enhance your love life. If this sounds like something you would like to do to your bedroom, here are a few "rules" that you need to consider to help you achieve a Feng Shui bedroom.

Feng Shui Tip Number One
The bed is the most important piece of furniture in the bedroom. Your bed should be in a command position. This means that your bed should be in complete view of the door but not in the direct line of the door. You also need to leave plenty of room on both side of the bed for each partner to get in and out of bed with ease.

Also, never have your bed in the position where your feet are facing the door. This is very bad Feng Shui. This position is called the death position because the dead are usually carried out by their feet.

Feng Shui Tip Number Two
It is best if you choose to have your bedroom in the farthest room from the door. This is said to give the mind more security because there is that much more distance between anything coming in the door and you sleeping in bed.

It is extremely bad Feng Shui to have you bedroom facing the front door. However, sometimes we have no real choice where the bedroom is located but you can still use other tips to Feng Shui your bedroom.

Feng Shui Tip Number Three
Remove the clutter. Any kind of clutter that reaches over your head that can make you feel uneasy therefore you need to clean anything that should not be piled up on your dresser or side tables. The clutter will prevent the Chi from flowing naturally as it should.

Anything in your bedroom that has to do with other things that do not have to do with sleep or the bedroom should be taken out. For example if you have work related items in your room, they need to be taken out. Computers, televisions and other electronics do not belong in the bedroom either.

These are three of the best tips that can be given for those who want to turn their bedrooms into a Feng Shui paradise. Not only will Feng Shui improve your life but using Feng Shui in the bedroom can help improve your sleep habits so that you wake up feeling more rested and fully regenerated.

There are many other things you need to consider when if you intend create a Feng Shui bedroom. Make sure you do as much research as you can before you begin. You need to know what you are doing and how to do it before you get started. You do not have to be a believer for Feng Shui to work wonders in your life.

Click Here to get Free Tips on how to improve your life with Feng Shui. Lynn Lee is a celebrated authority on the traditional Chinese art of Feng Shui, providing valuable advice on Feng Shui Decorating.

Growing Your Psychic Powers - Spiritual Video

2009-08-25T10:29:00.001-07:00

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

Smiles Are Free So Give Them Awa