A Hidden Oriental Jewel: 100% Chinese Hand-Made Silk Embroidery
December 23, 2007
Introduction
Do you know what “silk embroidery is? Do you know what it looks like? Many people I come across in the U.S. are either unaware or unfamiliar with what silk embroidery is. Moreover, for the few who are familiar with this specialized Chinese skill, I have discovered that they do not have a true knowledge and appreciation for this fine Chinese art form. Thus, the implication can be made that "silk embroidery" is truly a “Hidden Oriental Jewel" that has been under appreciated in the West due mainly to the fact that the common person is ignorant of the time, effort, and skill required to create high-quality “silk embroidery” works. Hence, the purpose of this article will be to inform and educate you (whether the art lover or the common person) on: What is silk embroidery?, How it is made?, How to appreciate it?, etc. My hope is that you will acquire an appreciation for the uniqueness and value of this oft-overlooked Chinese art. Whether an art lover or not, I think you will come to appreciate the value of this "Hidden Oriental Jewel."
What is Silk Embroidery?
Why Laughter Is Good For You
December 22, 2007
How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your Health
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones. -Proverbs 17:22
Feeling stressed out, angry or sad? Dread going to work?
Try this: Open your mouth as wide as you can, bug out your eyes, stick out your tongue, bring your hands up like the claws of a lion, then erupt in a mighty roar of hearty laughter.
Or this: Sitting down, pretend you’re on a roller coaster approaching the top of the hill. Slowly raise your arms higher and higher, bend back, lift your feet off the ground, and in a rising tone of voice, exclaim: "Oooooohh." Then, as the imaginary coaster races downhill, bring your arms crashing down with a big belly laugh that crescendos as you bend over at the waist.
Even if your laughter seems forced, don’t be surprised if you feel much better. Just as lifting weights and doing aerobic exercises can strengthen the body and invigorate the spirit, scientists today believe that the act of laughter can be a physically and emotionally therapeutic force.
Amos and Social Justice - Part 1
December 21, 2007
Amos was a shepherd who lived in the region of Tekoa, not many miles from the city of Jerusalem. He earned his living by raising sheep and taking care of sycamore trees. He was not a prophet, son of a prophet or priest. He was an ordinary man chosen by God for a specific purpose: to prophesy to Israel. God called him, shepherd’s staff in hand, and sent him forth to warn his straying people.
Amos’ message was to an age of unprecedented post-war prosperity in the middle of the 18th century. Materialism had become the order of the day. Politically, the kingdom was secure. Samaria, its capital, was considered impregnable. Under Jeroboam II, Israel enjoyed a remarkable cultural, social, and economic revival. It was the last glorious period in the history of the kingdom of Israel. The hopes and expectations of the people were lifted to the highest heights. They looked forward with great anticipation to even greater success and declared a great "Day of the Lord" when God Himself would take the battlefield against their antagonists.
Catholic Voters Need to Rethink Morality
December 21, 2007
If Catholic doctrine calls for the sanctity of all human life, then why is it that church leaders implicitly endorse Republican candidates that are pro-life at the expense of all else. In fact, the sanctity of life doctrine stands directly in opposition to the death penalty as well as abortion. Nevertheless, The Tablet, the official weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, is far more enamored with abortion than the death penalty and our President who executed approximately 30 people as the governor of Texas in 1999.
At least once a year, Catholic churches around the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrate a special, sanctity of life Sunday Mass. What this amounts to is a largely elderly audience receiving a sermon on the evils of abortion. In itself this is not wrong; however, priests would be better off encouraging their flock to support unwed, single women who choose life. The problem with pro-life conservatives is that while they despise abortion, once the children are born they are unwilling to use public money to support these brave women. According to CNN, Catholics voted for President Bush over Senator John Kerry by a 51 to 48 percent vote. A closer look at George W. Bush’s beliefs and policies make this fact perplexing to say the least.
Man and His Machines
December 20, 2007
A woman creates life from her womb, and man tries to create life through his machines.
I have always had a close relationship to machines, any kind of machine. While I was growing up I tinkered with them, took them apart and explored there workings. I loved them whether they were working or not and to me they were always alive and waiting. I was fascinated at how they where put together and the thought process that must have gone into making sure all things fit together to work perfectly. To me every machine is a symbol of man’s genius.
It always stirs some emotion in me to see a discarded machine that was once someone’s pride and joy parked in a yard or scrape yard. I have always felt the life that exists in a machine and I have been able to communicate with it. I had names for my cars and machines and an uncommon ability to repair them. I have many times experienced the machines repairing themselves once I got close to them. Many men know this and have experienced a bond between themselves and their machines. Men talk to their machines because at some level they know it has life.
Self-Worthiness
December 19, 2007
Worthiness-word origin. Worth and worship both come from Old English weorth, worth value. Worship is composed of this word weorth, worth, + ship (a suffix meaning condition, office, etc. as in friendship and sportsmanship), hence worship was originally the condition or office of being worthy, worthiness, dignity. This use is still found in the title worship, as in Will your worship take tea now? From this use worship then came to mean homage, as given a deity. Although, it is foolhardy to expect people to worship you, it is a nice concept to remember. You are worthy of being worshipped-for the most part it isn’t plausible.
What is your worth? What is your value? To whom do you have worth or value? To thine own self be true. Most people base their worth or value by deriving it from those around them. This is a false and empty standard by which to measure our worth or value. For many denying the truth abounds. The truth is - our worth or value is best measured by our own yardstick. Many people would rather wallow in self-pity than accept the power within that we own our self-worth. We are all responsible for ourselves. We are the only ones who can walk through our doors and if we don’t see ourselves as an open door, we will just close it and continue to live life in the state of suffering that unconsciously we believe is our fate.
The Christian Community Tries To Take Back What Belongs To Them!
December 18, 2007
“See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Is. 43:19
Until now, plagued by scandals, and unscrupulous business practices, the Network marketing industry was being frowned upon by the Christian community. Many Christians, who once believe that involvement in this industry is an illegitimate way to earn a living, now see it as an alternative to help alleviate financial and funding pressure. For those who have become weary of the ever-increasing benefit cutbacks and lay-offs in corporate America, network marketing and affiliate programs has become the alternative for their survival.
Before the dawn of the Internet, very few people really understood network marketing, and many got taken advantage of, due to ignorance. There are still many more, who continue to struggle to accept its legitimacy because they do not understand the complex nature of the industry. Network marketing is nothing short of word-of-mouth advertising. Word-of-mouth is the most cost effective form of advertising, and many companies would rather pass their advertising savings to individuals willing to promote their goods or services. The industry is being closely monitored and regulated to protect the consumer. Because of this tightened security, the Christian community has now step up to the plate, using this once dreaded medium, to alleviate the constant funding pressure, on Christian families, churches and ministries.
Masking European Animism
December 17, 2007
The ancient peoples of Europe were more fond of masks and religious ritual than you would suspect if you saw Europeans today. Mask wearing and shamanism was part and parcel of everyday life in ancient Western European tradition, say researchers.
There are stories abound about African and North American tribal shamans but not a lot is known about ancient European peoples’ involvement with masked ritual or the practice of magic. That is why finding out about similarities between the ideas behind masks from around the world and those originating from European soil, is a discovery of intriguing and real beliefs.
The less obvious link of European societies with shamanism or religious ritual than for instance the North American native Indian customs or magic activity in the past is due to the more ’sanitised’ way Europe has developed because of church interference in people’s lives. The church dominance virtually stamped out any pagan ritual.
It was not until after 1960, when the Americans experienced a revival of the interest in shamanism, that much has become known about the European version of the practice of magic and mask wearing. There is more verifyable information about the true roots of Western European civilisation than initially suspected.
How To Live Happily Ever After
December 16, 2007
In life, many of us simply plunge ahead, only to realize later that some of the things we did, we wish we hadn’t, and some of the things we didn’t do, we wish we had. How do you keep yourself on the right track, the right path? And how can you live happily ever after? Here’s how. Here’s one simple easy-to-do thing that can help keep you on the right track and help you live happily ever after …
Before you do something ask yourself, “will I be happier afterward?”
How does that work? How do you apply it to your life? Here are some examples …
Before a person binged on something they shouldn’t eat too much of, if they had asked themselves “will I be happier afterward?”, maybe they would have binged less, or not binged at all.
Before a person bought an expensive, non-returnable item on impulse, if they had asked themselves “will I be happier afterward?”, maybe they wouldn’t have bought such a dumb thing and wasted their money.
Before a person jumped into bed with someone or moved in with someone or married someone or divorced someone, if they had asked themselves “will I be happier afterward?”, maybe they wouldn’t have done it (or maybe they would have!)
A Gentle God
December 16, 2007
I was in my late teens when I first read Henry Barbusse’s Under Fire, a novel set in the first world war trenches. It led me to consider the question: who does God listen to when He is bombarded with the prayers of different nations and religions, all equally convinced that He is on their side?
As I grew up, the questions became more problematic: what kind of god are we talking about? Who would want to follow a supposedly supreme being whose followers regularly take up arms in his name?
While Muslim leaders are urging their followers to look honestly at the health of their faith, Christian bishops are silent. There is almost a total lack of prophetic critique of the west’s way of waging war on terrorism and no cries for the Israeli government to end its oppression of the Palestinian people. The Judaeo-Christian religion has evidently nothing to repent. God is on our side. Victory is assured. Or, in the words of President Bush: “We will not falter and we will not fail.” The western coalition consists of secular states, and yet we are suddenly hearing a great deal about God from some of our politicians.
