As the Old Year Fades, So Does My Memory
July 14, 2007
Memory is a very tricky thing, at least for me it is. Looking back, over a year’s span of activity my memory seems to pick and choose what it remembers. It amazes me not so much what a person remembers but what a person forgets.
Often some old-timer will moan about how much he misses the good old days. I’m not sure if he is thinking of World War II or the great Depression. I’m positive that during the great Depression some wonderful memories were created, but I’m not sure anyone wants to return to those thrilling days of yesterday.
The bad was not as bad as we remember and the good was not as good as we boast.
Some things are best forgotten and some things should never be forgotten; my trouble has always been remembering which is which. (Personally, I don’t know the difference between “which” and “that.”)
Several things about the old year bear serious consideration. The past year, in my opinion, was not just one year but several years flowing together. Sometimes I’m not sure which year I lived.
The year 2004, like all its brothers before it, actually consisted of three years.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - But In Current Textbooks the Context of These Words is Deleted
July 14, 2007
Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of The Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention.
It is the same congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of scripture for the people of this nation.
Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, “Give me liberty or give me death.” But in current textbooks the context of these words is deleted.
Here is what he said: “An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle sir, is not of the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” These sentences have been erased from our textbooks.
What is the Ultimate Lifestyle?
July 13, 2007
Since the mission of this newsletter is to help you define, carve out, and live your own Ultimate Lifestyle, I figured I should devote some space to laying a proper foundation for doing that.
Before you can hit a target, you need to know where it is! So, to begin, let’s answer the question:
What is The Ultimate Lifestyle?
First of all, it’s different for different people. There are no rules or formulas. For some people, it means a lot of money, lots of “stuff,” a fast-paced and “jet-set” sort of lifestyle. For others, it means a very simple, slow-paced life that focuses on service to others. And for others, it’s every possible scenario in between these two “extremes.”
There’s no right or wrong lifestyle, or good or bad lifestyle.
There’s just what works for you — and it will likely change over time. I know it has for me.
No matter how you end up defining Ultimate Lifestyle for yourself, now and in the future, there are 8 components that must be considered:
1) Income Streams
Authenticity Of Vastu (Science of Indian architecture)
July 12, 2007
Vastu is one of the most ancient sciences of Indian architecture and is composed of specific rules, regulations and directions, set down by sages of the vedic times. For the modern society it is the highly evolved, comprehensive building philosophy.
According to vastu, a building or a premises is a living organism and can be designed in harmonic resonance with the underlying energy structure of the universe. Such a building or premises becomes a generator of coherence, attuning the occupants to the universal laws and increasing health, wealth and spiritual well being.
Prosperity of Famous Tirupati Temple
World famous Tirupati temple is found adhering to the principles of vastu shilpa shastra. Its prosperity legendary thanks mainly to the exemplary implementation of the principles of Vastu Shastra. The main temple is situated on the South - West side of the temple complex. On its North - East direction is a lake and pond. The dining hall of the temple is on South-East side while the North-West and North side of the temple is allocated to the godown for grains and items require in the kitchen. The entire temple complex is of square shape as a result of which its axis and that of the Earth are perpendicular to each other. The main temple is occupying only the one fourth area of the total areat and on its Eastern and Northern side is open area. Thus the Tirupati temple of Lord Balaji is an ideal place according to the norms of Vastu Shastra which is why it is the most prosperous temple on the earth.
Thoughts on the Road to Emmaus
July 11, 2007
". . . their eyes were opened, and they recognized him . . ." ?Luke 24:31
Two friends-people who had known Jesus, who had walked with Him, talked with Him, and eaten meals with Him every day for three years didn’t recognize Him even on a long walk down a dusty road. Have you ever wondered about that? I have. How could that possibly be?
The reality is: the disciples were looking at a man who happened to be traveling along the same road they were. They did not see Jesus because they did not expect to see Jesus.
How many times on our walks through life do we not see Jesus? How many times do we talk with a co-worker or a parent or a child or a friend or even someone we have never met before and fail to recognize that this person holds a precious piece of Our Lord and Savior within them? And because we don’t recognize Jesus in them, we treat them not as we would treat Jesus, but as just our friend, or just our co-worker, or just our child.
Top 10 Secrets for Being HAPPY!
July 10, 2007
One of my favorite songs is Bobby McFerrin’s refrain, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. I recently had the opportunity to observe people’s reactions when a highway was closed because of an accident ahead. As we waited, I watched as some listened to radios, a few began tossing a Frisbee, other’s seemed to be working or reading, and some opted for a quick nap. But, there were also a handful who were clearly agitated and angry. Pacing about, swearing, and upset, they decided that the best response to this event, which none of us could control, was to be very unhappy. I was reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s comment that, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” The following are my Top 10 Tips to increase happiness in your life:
1. Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.
The Lost and Found
July 9, 2007
When we think in terms of what it means for man to be lost, we are immediately confronted with the fact that it is as sad a description as could ever be given to human beings. A sick person may get well; a crippled person may adjust to his infirmity; an indebted person may pay off his debt; an illiterate person may educate himself. But something lost has severed all connections. It is out of touch, out of reach, out of reality, gone. Lost implies interest and desire but no ability to locate. When something is lost it is disconnected from its owner. And, when someone is lost, there is a twofold negative affect because not only is the person who suffered the loss miserable, but also the lost person. Both are dissatisfied, frustrated and incomplete. Yet, Scripture repeatedly describes man as being lost.
Man is described as lost because we are disconnected from God’s purpose for our lives. We are out of touch with our Creator, out of tune with divine order, disconnected from our Source.
Welcome to the Mind Revolution: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Living Between the Points
July 9, 2007
What does it mean to live "between the points?" What are the points? Are they science and religion? Are they conservative and liberal? Are they men and women? Are they childhood and old age? Are they intellectual and physical? Are they quantum physics and cosmology? Are they Freud and Jung? Are they the sacred and the profane? Are they nature and nurture? Are they light beer and stout?
To live between the points is to understand the nature of the human mind-where it begins and where it ends. The very structure of time is inherent in the process of thought-the ticking away of the clock in the song "Time" on the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon is the sound of the mind in movement. See, the mind is a function of the universe-much like Kepler’s laws of motion which keep planets swinging in elliptical orbits around a common center of gravitational mass.
The paired opposites described in the first paragraph are all addressed in the philosophy of living "Between the Points," but more importantly they are surpassed for the ultimate pair of opposites-life and death.
How the Christian Right is Blowing It
July 8, 2007
I am not a particularly pious person and I certainly don’t go for the religious ceremony of things like Inaugurations and Graduations. It has always been my belief that we should do our alms in a closet. Whatever you give, keep that info to yourself, is pretty much my policy. In the past few years Christians have taken a lot of heat from liberals and moderates as a result of the Bush administration and mostly because of John Ashcroft and what has been labeled as "The Christian Right".
That being said and believe me the citations are overwhelming and need not to be mentioned here for the sake of space, I have come wonder if the old saying, "What you do speaks louder than what you say", should be in play here.
The newest attack on the Christian Right is that they have accused SpongeBob Squarepants and his buddy Patrick of being homosexual partners and are pushing the gay agenda down the throats of children. Remember Teletubbies sounds pretty similar.
Here is an example of the liberal critics taken from a letter I received in my email, "I see that once again, the “religious right wing” has found a monster in animated clothing, to wit, “SpongeBob.” This has happened before. I remember the comical furor over “Teletubbies” and aspersions that one of them was “gay.”
The Capacity for Happiness and Respectability
July 7, 2007
Humans are liable to experience a variety of afflictions, but they are commonly endowed with a capacity for happiness and respectability. There is no guarantee, however, that they will exercise this capacity at all times and to the maximum, whatever happens. Depression and shame remain a possibility, which increases with the severity of their afflictions and the difficulty of living up to the values that are necessary for their happiness and respectability: courage, efficiency, wisdom, and nobility.
Living up to these values is never easy, even under extremely favorable circumstances. It requires an effort of will. To make or not to make this effort is the question, central to the human existence. This question is difficult in proportion to the weight of suffering that bears on humans, while their dignity hangs in the balance. The more burdensome this weight, the more tempting it is for them to take the easy way out. The fear of losing their dignity, however, is a strong deterrent. There is no greater loss than that of dignity, save the loss of life itself. Yet, the easy way out is a very powerful temptation in extremely unfavorable circumstances. Giving up instead of living up to the values mentioned above is then deplorable but understandable. Excruciating circumstances are extenuating ones.
