Here?s Help for the ?I Can?t Say ?No? Blues?
May 6, 2007
I hear it all the time. Cries from Christian women who want desperately to serve the Lord, but who feel overwhelmed. "I almost dread going to PTO meetings or church services anymore because I just know somebody else is going to ask me to help with something," they say. "Don’t get me wrong. I want to help, but there are only so many hours in my day. I feel like I’m just going to explode if I don’t get some relief."
What usually follow these statements are apologies. "I’m sorry. I don’t mean to complain. I’ve been blessed with so much that I have no choice but to give back. And I really am glad to do it. Anyway, as a Christian, I’m obligated to say ‘yes’ when called on to help. Plus, if I don’t do it, it simply won’t get done."
Does any of that sound familiar to you? Have you found those same statements coming from your own mouth? Do you rush around all throughout your days doing for others whether you have time to do it or not? Do you cringe whenever the phone rings and the voice on the other end starts with, "Let me ask you something"? Do you have too much stress, not enough time, and a boatload of guilt for feeling the way you do? Then you most likely suffer from "I Can’t Say ‘No’" Syndrome.
Popping the Balloon of Belief
May 5, 2007
I’m really excited. I just got a bigger soapbox, and I wanted to invite the rest of you to get up here on it with me.
You may remember I was recently talking about how beliefs are at the core of our conflicts, yet those beliefs are built upon less-than-complete information. What is known is not all there is ? there’s always something more. Yet we try to explain what we think we know by constructing complex belief systems around them, and fight to defend them against those who believe another way. Our egos are so fragile that we’d rather fight than consider that the foundations of our thought and society might be built upon shifting sands.
Maybe this seems farfetched. But let’s look at the Middle East. The interplay of beliefs give us a prime example.
One set involves religion, where ideological descendants of a common ancestor have fought for centuries under the guise of righting a perceived assault upon their God. Each fights to eradicate the other side, and hopefully the differing beliefs they hold. Superimpose upon this age-old fight an internal Muslim war between sects, along with a regional struggle between clerics and secularists, and the complexities grow immense. But that’s far from all.
The Crisis of Human Survival
May 5, 2007
Environmental Pollution
1. Damage to The Ozone Layer Causes Radiation Pollution
The hole in the ozone layer above the North Pole is becoming larger, allowing large volumes of ultraviolet radiation to fall directly on the Earth’s surface, causing destruction and harm to humanity, and resulting in skin cancer and other bodily ailments. At the same time, it reduces the rate at which green plants photosynthesise, thereby reducing oxygen content in the atmosphere.
This has extreme negative effects on the Earth. Health organisations all over the world are continuously researching on ways of reducing such harmful effects on humanity. In a direct attempt to address the issue, many are actively looking into the effects of radiation, and taking measures to rectify the situation, such as through modifying the coolant compartments in automobiles and refrigerators, and setting up new guidelines for certain products.
2.Acid Rain
The emission of pollutants and toxic gases into the atmosphere has resulted in chemical reactions, which cause acid rain. Acid rain damages the environment by, for example, corroding the metals we use in car doors and buildings. It also harms human health; the first sign of prolonged exposure to acid rain is the onset of skin ailments.
The ABCs Of A Great Life: J Is For Joviality
May 4, 2007
Laughter, humor, a lighthearted sense of being - all of these are an important part of a well-balanced breakfast, er, life. Without humor, there is no hope. Without laughter, no love. And with a heavy heart, we live only a life of sadness and despair. Our ability to laugh at our foibles and laugh with our friends is a key indicator for predicting how readily we’ll bounce back from difficulties and how well we’ll handle the curveballs that life throws our way, and a quick smile is always the best defense in a situation that’s hit a sour note.
In addition, medical studies have shown that indeed, laughter is the best medicine. Not only does it flood our brain with “feel good” hormones and exercise our body’s core trunk muscles with spontaneous and deep contractions, but it noticeably and effectively raises our immune system’s defenses in ways that are only now being fully explored - an effect which lasts considerably longer than the laughter that triggered it. Laughing lowers your blood pressure and exercises the heart. It relieves stress and helps generate an overall stability of well-being.
About The Spiritual World of Madonna
May 3, 2007
Pop singer Madonna came this week to Tel Aviv to take part in a congress of Kabbala studies. According to press releases, she is going to stay in Israel until Sunday night and will have on the last day of her visit, the opportunity to visit the graves of Jewish Tzaddikim (righteous holy people) near Safed, a small town in northern Israel.
Why Safed? What does Kabbala mean? (Literally it means “Receiving” in Hebrew).
I am not so sure the press has given the correct answers to these and other questions related to the background of this visit. Here is my humble contribution.
Safed , one of the four “holy cities” in Israel, together with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias, is actually a small mountain town (27,000 residents). As opposed to other historical cities in Israel, it is not even mentioned in the Bible.
Its golden era was during the Middle Ages, when it functioned as a Crusaders fortress and a Moslem administrative centre. But it was only in the 16th century that Safed was a city of international importance, as well as a Jewish cultural Capital.
What made Safed so special is linked to what Maddona is looking in Israel for.
Why More Priests Need To Train As Fighters (And Why We Dont See Many Boxers In Church)
May 2, 2007
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” — (1cCorinthiansc9:26-27)
St Paul was a fighter. I don’t think he ever competed in the ring, but that wasn’t because he lacked the discipline or was afraid of the pain.
I always say that to be a fighter you need to have two things going for you. Firstly you need to have a lot of energy inside that needs release. Secondly, you need to be not too concerned about your own health. This fits the profile of most of our young men perfectly - on the edge of the drug culture, full of testosterone, and with no thought for the future. It also fits perfectly the profile of another group - single fathers, struggling to gain access to their children.
That was how I got into the fight game. I hadn’t taken it up as a teenager, and I certainly hadn’t been born into it. My dad was a priest for God’s sake, and an academic. Fighting had not been my birthright. I came in through the back door of pain and loneliness and bitter struggle.
How I lost A million Dollars In A Bank Robbery
May 1, 2007
The Million dollars was my life-savings earmarked for prime the pump money for my biotech start-up. I am the Gerald Armstrong the owner of Gen Cells Cures?Gen Cells Cures is focused on private medical research for the individual. Searching for cures for incurable diseases and aging. Of course, with the best scientific technologies on the planet! With President Bush trying to ride the middle of the road on stem cell research and his rejection of therapeutic cloning. I packed my bags and went offshore. A great place to go, but leave your money at home. I transferred the money to a carribean island and the local banker stole every last penny.
The local government gave me back the money, but in their currency then devalued the currency almost 100% and I walked away almost flat broke. The banker also robbed 2.2 billion dollars of the local folks money. He bought himself out of the scandel and is enjoying my million along with the other billions he robbed and his new helocopters and yahts in his home-country! I am pretty sure he will show up on the Forbes billionaire list next year. Not a bad business?Robbing banks, if you have the conscience for it! Don’t worry about the country, the International Monetary Fund stepped in to replace the stolen money, no questions asked. The American Embassy screamed for justice in the scandel but to no avail.
