Six Reasons to Give
May 31, 2008
If you run a business, you undoubtedly feel many pressures on your time and money. Why would you want to add “giving to the community” to your “to do” list? Here are six reasons …..
1. It feels good. Making contributions to the community is personally rewarding. Our values are important to us - from helping kids to supporting neighborhood cleanup efforts. Charitable contributions enable us to support these values.
2. It’s tradition. Local businesses traditionally have been principal supporters of many community organizations that do good work. Without the support of the local business community, many programs that serve your neediest residents would not exist.
3. It builds company morale. Contributing to organizations that are important to employees enables business owners to promote a more positive work environment and build shared pride in the company’s role in the community. Providing opportunities for employees to contribute, whether financially or volunteering time, improves morale and helps reduce turnover.
4. It’s good for business. Support for local causes is a good way for a business to develop a positive image, reinforce relationships with customers, and develop closer relationships with community leaders and officials.
Three Inspirations for Happiness
May 30, 2008
The following three inspirations were adapted from A Daily Dose of Happiness, and they represent three key ways to increase our happiness.
1. FORGIVING FOR HAPPINESS
We like to think we are better than our friends below us in the food chain, such as the octopus and the snail. After all, we have love. We feel happiness. We have empathy. We have a conscience. We can reason.
We can also hold onto grudges.
Grudges are, in fact, prickly little creatures that worm their way into our hearts. Holding onto them is a self-defeating exercise.
Fortunately, forgiveness is also uniquely human. Forgiveness cleanses the spirit. Forgiveness let’s us get on with enjoying our lives instead of being preoccupied with someone else’s. Forgiveness opens the door to happiness.
2. SUPPORTING FOR HAPPINESS
When things seem to be very bleak, it does not take much to lift someone’s spirits. Sometimes all it takes is to let somebody know they are not alone.
That is why it is so important to smile at people, especially if they look down. And if you know what is weighing the person down, let them know they are not alone. Don’t go burdening them with all your miseries, but let them know you have been there.
Catholic Hierarchy: The Nobiliary Element in the Catholic Church
May 29, 2008
It seems to me that some of the oldest still surviving hierarchies are those of the nobility, the Church and the military. What is perhaps not commonly known is how they correspond with each other. Below is an outline of the correspondence between the catholic hierarchy of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and that of the nobility.
Let me first say that all noblemen are dependent on a Prince or Monarch for their noble rank. Catholic priests have since time immemorial held rank equivalent to that of an (untitled) nobleman, nobile. It is from a nobiliary standpoint interesting to reflect upon the Lateran Pacts of 1929 between the Holy See and Italy. The Vatican City State is recognized as a sovereign country and the Supreme Pontiff as its Sovereign, in this capacity equal to the King of Italy. Article 21 of the “Conciliation Treaty” states that “All Cardinals shall enjoy, in Italy, the honours due to Princes of the Blood”. (For the text, see http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/treaty.htm).
This means that the two top levels of the noble hierarchy are defined, and they correspond to equal ranks of the priesthood. The other steps follow by extrapolation in the only way possible.
Sterling Silver Jewelry - The Rest Of The Story
May 29, 2008
Silver is widely diffused but is rarely found in the native state.
Silver is originally as widespread as gold, occurring in nearly all of the volcanic rocks. Whereas gold remains unaltered by the action of the elements and is often carried long distances from its original place of occurrence, silver on the contrary is only to be found in the rocks where it originally occurs. When these rocks are broken down or worn away, the silver is either driven into new mineral combinations, or more often dissipated and lost. Silver, therefore, is only to be obtained by subterranean mining. Shafts are driven and the ore brought to the surface, and by use of various processes the silver is extracted, refined and made ready for commercial purposes.
No Happiness Without Patience
May 28, 2008
I’m searching for modern happiness. The old-fashioned kind takes just too long. That happiness requires patience and I don’t want to wait. I want upgraded happiness. I want release 4.02, the “new and improved” version.
This is the 21st century and I demand instant gratification.
Once upon a time, you had to wait to eat your meal. Even when the Mammoth Burger walk-through was open, they offered only self-kill meals. And when you brought them home, you still had to get the fire started.
“What? Mammoth burger again? How you cook?”
“Ugh. Start fire for cave lady.”
“Hah. You probably burn cave down.”
“Hah you. No can burn cave down. Buy insurance policy.”
“How you start fire?”
“Rub two fingers together. Make big flame. Cook mammoth burger.”
“Last time you burn fingers.”
“Yummy.”
Nobody lights a fire these days. People don’t even light ovens anymore. It takes just too long to heat up a meal. It takes just too much patience. I’m hungry now, not 40 minutes from now. That’s why God gave us microwave ovens. Just pop the food in and whrrr ?BEEP- out it comes, nicely warmed for immediate consumption. That’s how I want my happiness ? toasty warm and right now!
Is It Good For Man Not To Marry?
May 27, 2008
Are we doing what the word of God say to do. Please allow me to give you some insight about the purpose of marriage and the single person. Let’s start first at 1Corinthians 7:1 it says Now for a matters you wrote about: it is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. Now if you look further in the chapter at verse26 it says Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy some something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. Continuing reading and at verse 35 it says I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
End-Times and the Other Bible
May 26, 2008
Can you imagine Biblical "End-Times" prophecies happening in your lifetime? Does thinking about disasters like the three days of darkness and the Wormwood predictions trouble you when you’re alone in the still of the night? If so, the "End-times" knowledge in a Bible-era wisdom text called The Kolbrin offers hope through new insights. Parts of it were written in the very days when Jesus walked the Earth, and it echoes the warnings of the Bible, that we could be in the "End-Times!"
Unlike the rare and arcane texts used by Bible researchers, The Kolbrin offers a familiar way to understand Bible prophecy. Written with families in mind, it offers simple "you-were-there" style accounts of many of the disasters also mentioned in the Bible. As a historical text, it covers the period between Exodus and the last additions to the New Testament.
WRITTEN IN BIBLICAL TIMES TO EXPLAIN THE END TIMES
Within its 548 pages, The Kolbrin offers a profound collection of prophecies and creation stories. Published by Your Own World Books in both print and ebook editions, it is now available at Amazon.com and other popular Internet bookseller sites.
The Daily Show is a Must See on Comedy Central
May 25, 2008
Doesn’t it seem that today there is nothing but bleak reports to hear on the news? Watching the news can give you a feeling that the world is coming to an end. Hope can be found on Comedy Central by means of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Comedy Central features stand-up comedians, shows, and movies that are all meant to make you laugh until you can’t breathe. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is one of Comedy Central’s original programs and, in my opinion, a must-see show. The program offers an entertaining way to learn a bit about current news and political events. The following is some of the features that make The Daily Show worth watching.
Anchor Jon Stewart is a Riot. Jon Stewart has had a long background in comedy as a standup comedian and also author of America: A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction. He also has appeared in several movies such as Big Daddy and Half Baked (many of his movies are featured on the Comedy Central channel). Jon Stewart is a perfect fit for this comedic show with his great humor and large knowledge of politics.
Give a Hug for Happiness
May 24, 2008
Hugs have a long and honorable tradition, going back to the day the caveman first squeezed his wife and discovered that no ketchup squeezed out. Since then, he found that his wife makes an awesome teddy bear, and he can always squeeze a rhinoceros when he wants ketchup for his hotdog (which gave him the necessary motivation to go hunting when his wife asked him to).
Hugs remain an important part of our daily happiness, but some cultures raise better huggers. For instance, North Americans exchange way too few hugs, depriving themselves of an abundant source of warmth and comfort.
So for a little motivation to increase your happiness, here are the top five reasons to hug somebody today:
So go forth and hug somebody. No, not the parking lot attendant. It’s too cold this time of year for that. But hug someone who wants to be hugged, and see if you might just bump each of your happiness up a notch.
Living Without Blueprints
May 24, 2008
Some people look at the biblical book of Revelation as a blueprint for the end of time. It tells exactly when the end will come, how it will come and who will be punished when it happens. Those with this perspective buy up apocalyptic fiction like the "Left Behind" series and confidently pronounce that we are in the "end times." They may even associate certain modern day figures or happenings with supposed end-of-times events. There are three basic problems with this perspective: (1) It is counter to the pronouncements of Jesus himself; (2) It ignores the long history of people who have tried to use Revelation in this way; and (3) It is counter to the nature of faith itself. Let’s look at these three problem areas more closely.
