It is a Touching Story

I received an email which include a very touching story about family and a drunken driver. Well i want to share it to all of you. Although the writer is unknown but I want to thank him for sharing this story also.


I was walking around in a BigBazar store making shopping, when I saw a
Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old.
The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy
This doll. Then the little boy turned to me and asked: '' are you sure I
don't have enough money? ''

I counted his cash and replied: '' You know that you don't have
enough money to buy this doll, my dear. '' The little boy was still holding
the doll in his hand.
Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give
this Doll to.' It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much.
I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my
sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My
Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God
very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give
it to my sister. ''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I
told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come
back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he
was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so
my sister won't forget me.' I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have
to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little
sister.'

Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.
I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we
check Again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll? ''

'OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to
his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for
the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!'
Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to
sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so
that Mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me! '''I also wanted to
have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't
dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to
buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I
started. I Couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a
local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a
truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The
little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state.
The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining
machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from
the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news
paper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as
I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where
the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last
wish before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a
beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy
and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed,
feeling that my life had been changed for ever.

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is
still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk
driver had taken all this away from him.

Please DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

Many of us have been drastically affected by the economic downturn, despite our best attempts to save for rainy days and plan for retirement. With our Social Security and investment income dwindling down to a fraction of what they once were, it’s clear that this year we're going to have to be more creative than ever when it comes to celebrating the holidays.


Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy the holidays on a budget – and the Internet has made it easier than ever to find great gift ideas or stay connected with friends and family without breaking the bank. So you don’t have to let distance and travel costs keep you from seeing your loved ones and showing them how much you care! This year, enjoy the holidays as much as ever with my list of 10 easy ways to spend less and still show your love and appreciation to all the important people in your life.

1. Use old knit sweaters to create cuddly creatures. As the daughter of Depression-Era parents, I’ve learned how to use everything sparingly and I know that my mom would be proud of me for “recycling” a wool sweater into a cuddly owl toy for my grandkids. Check out www.Etsy.com for inspiration – you can make a sock dog or socktopus – and even a punky monkey that older kids would enjoy!

2. Take a cue from eco-friendly gifts ideas that use recycled products to create new works of art! This is another great way to use what you already have around the house. I’ve seen beautiful cufflinks created from vintage typewriter keys! For more ideas, check out www.eco-artware.com .

3. Save on long distance phone calls with Skype. If you can’t afford to travel this holiday season, keep in touch with Skype, which allows you to talk with anyone, anywhere in the world! There are no long distance charges here. The service is FREE to all registered users! Your calls originate and take place at your computer and you can chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to 9 others.

4. Get a webcam and see all of your friends and family without leaving your house! Participating in free video conversations via the Internet helps you view your loved ones who are far away (and you can even watch baby Levi or Ilana take their first steps!). To purchase a webcam, count on tech reviewer CNET to base their ratings on your individual priority: price, popularity, manufacturer, editors picks, user ratings, and product features. Just make sure one of their recommendations is compatible with your PC or Mac. You can then show off your creativity on YouTube, which allows you to upload your videos and broadcast them around the world.

5. Pick up those knitting or crochet needles. Whip up scarves, mittens, and throws for friends and family. The will treasure these hand-made items and all the thoughtful attention to detail that went into making them!

6. Don’t overlook consignment stores and popular discount retailers. Recently, I read an article about well-known interior designers, art museum curators, and other "A-list" people scouring discount stores (Tuesday Morning and Big Lots) for unique clearance items. If they can do it, so can we! And don’t forget about consignment stores where you can discover many great finds at bargain prices.

7. Put together creative themed baskets. You can send someone a garden by packaging some seeds with a couple garden tools. For the college student, you can make a sewing kit (they’ll thank you for it later!) For the newlyweds, print some of the old family recipes and put them into a cookie jar, crockpot or a colorful index box. You can also assemble arts and craft items for any age (and don't forget the stickers).

8. Tell a new story or a favorite classic with picture books . Check out LookyBook.com, named as a best 2008 website by Time Magazine, to see great picture books in their entirety. You could purchase their recommendations at full retail prices or find old standbys in "good as new" condition at garage sales, thrift stores or websites like Amazon.com. Look for "Harold and the Purple Crayon," "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day," "The Hungry Caterpillar," "Good Night Moon," "Corduroy," "The Giving Tree," "Pat the Bunny," "Guess How Much I Love You," and the Dr. Seuss classics.

9. Shop Iliketotallyloveit.com for teens and other discriminating recipients . Check out this site for gifts to satisfy the tame as well as the outrageous members of your family.

10. Donate to charity and make the season bright for others. And finally, for those recipients who either have everything, don't have the space for anything or don't want anything, pick a charity they'd approve and make any size donation. Justgive.org makes it easy and secure to support your favorite charity.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/10-creative-ways-to-make-the-holidays-bright-on-a-budget-a-boomers-guide-to-gift-giving-and-staying-connected-during-the-holidays-688893.html

About the Author:
Susan Levine is a boomer web entrepreneur and founder of www.50somethinginfo.com , a human-powered vertical search engine dedicated to delivering the best of the net to adults (both men and women) 50 years old and better. Discover more great Boomer sites and tips for senior living at http://50somethinginfo.blogspot.com/

The movie Corpus Christi is due to be released this June to Aug. 2009I totally agree with the message below.Let's stand for what we believe in and stop the mockery of Jesus Christ our Savior. If everybody do what they believe to be right against theirreligion, where do we stand as Christians?At the risk of a bit of inconvenience, I'm forwarding this to all I thinkwould appreciate it too. Please help us prevent such offenses against ourLord. It will take you 4 minutes! If you are not interested, and do not havethe 4 Minutes it will take to do this, please don't complain when God doesnot have time for you, because He is far busier than we are.


A disgusting film set to appear in America later this year depicts Jesus andhis disciples as homosexuals! As a play, this has already been in theatresfor a while. It's called Corpus Christi ' which means 'The Christ Body.'It's a revolting mockery of our Lord. But we can make a difference. That'swhy I am sending this e-mail to you. Will you please add your name to thebottom of the list at the end of this e-mail? If you do, we will be able toprevent this film from showing in America and South Africa.Hey, it's worth a shot! Apparently, some regions in Europe have alreadybanned the film. All we need is a lot of signatures!Remember, Jesus said 'Deny Me on earth and I'll deny you before my Father'.Hit forward, and when it comes up, delete any e-mail addresses, fill in whomyou want to send it to, scroll down to the last name and add yours to thelist. When it reaches 500 please send to ...

INTRODUCTION

We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and have his spirit imprinted on our heart (Ezekiel 36:27). Therefore, we will find peace only when our spirit resonates in unison with His spirit and we live a life that is attuned to His life. On the other hand, when we do not live His life or are not in unison with Him, we are like fish out of water; because, then, we are not what we are created to be. This suffocates our spirit and causes turmoil in our heart.


In this website, therefore, an attempt has been made to understand who God is and how we can live His life.

Understand God

God is Spirit (John 4:24) and love (1 John 4; 7-12). He is a kind, merciful, all forgiving, generous and loving father who created us in his own image (Genesis 1:27). When we were unfaithful to Him by rejecting His friendship and choosing a life of sin and destruction He did not abandon us. On the contrary, in His Divine Mercy He humbled Himself to take a human form, taught us the truth about His love by His words and actions and emptied self completely on our behalf by dying on the cross. Because selfishness is the cause of all sins, by freeing us from selfishness He frees us from sin. Because sin is the cause of death, by freeing us from sin He brings us eternal life. Furthermore, He sent His own Spirit (the Holy Spirit) into the world and feeds us with His own sacrificial body and blood (in the form of bread and wine) to strengthen and nourish our Spirit. When the above facts become reality to us we know how much He loves us. This propels us to trust and follow Him. Trust in Him gives us a sense of security; and following His ways, which is a life of selfless service to others, frees us from anxiety, hate, jealousy, greed and lust.

Following Jesus

By His example and words Jesus taught us what His life is all about. He taught us to go out of our way and give of our self completely to love and serve others, including, those who hurt and offend us. He showed us to (Luke 6:27-35) love our enemies, do good deeds to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. If anyone slaps us on one cheek, we must let him hit the other one too. We must lend expecting nothing back. We must give to everyone who asks for something. Even when there is unfaithfulness (Hosea 3:1) we must not divorce our spouse (Mark 10:11-12) and be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6: 35-36). If someone takes us to court to sue us for our shirt, we must let him have our coat as well. We must walk an additional mile if the occupation forces ask us to carry their pack for one mile (Matt 5; 39-41).

Worship God

In order to love God we must worship Him. To worship God is to offer our entire life as a sacrifice to Him. As sinners we are incapable of making this sacrificial offering. However, Jesus, who is pure and sinless, made a perfect sacrifice of His life to the Father on our behalf and allows us to join and reenter His sacrifice by sharing with us His sacrificial body in the form of bread and His sacrificial blood of the new and eternal covenant in the form of wine (Matthew 26:26-28). We join in His sacrifice by bringing our humble and contrite heart to Him and dedicating our lives to love and serve others.

Discern God’s will

In order to follow God we must discern His will. Many a times we have problems in discerning God’s will. We try to analyze the situation in detail to find out what is according to God’ will. Generally, we come back disappointed, because we are never sure about God’s will. We can, however, follow the following general rule in discerning God’s will. First of all we must be humble and exercise unconditional love. Our decisions must be morally sound, must not deviate from the teachings of the Church and must not have the slightest element of selfishness or hate. Furthermore, we should do what we think is right but in our heart ask God to do what ever He desires to do through us. In this way if we are wrong in our thinking we still allow God to take control of our life and steer us on the right path. Humility enables us to discern God’s will. In order to develop humility we must spend quiet time in prayer to meditate on the greatness of God and our dependence on Him. We must also ask God for the gift of humility. Furthermore, in order to realize our frailty we must constantly remind our self of the uncertainties in life. In addition, we must realize that our wisdom and power are nothing compared to those of God’s. We must also realize that our power can end at any moment due illness, serious bodily injury or other events in life.

Trust God

God so loved us that He not only made us in His own divine image but also sacrificed His life in order to save us from sin. Furthermore, He is also infinitely wise and resourceful. We can, therefore, always trust Him to do what is best for us. When we trust Him we accept His decisions unconditionally. This allows Him to help us. On the other hand when we want to be our own god by wanting our own way we refuse His help.

When we do not get what we ask for or receive the opposite of what we asked for, we doubt God’s ability or desire to help us. However, God always answers our prayers. He answers them in such a manner, that, in the long run it will make us a people with greater faith and love. Therefore, He may not give us exactly what we asked for, or He may delay granting our petition, or may even allow tragedy to come upon us (like He did to Job). Furthermore, we should remember, that he has already given us the only gift we really need, namely, the ability to selflessly love others. This ability is the life of God. This is the only treasure that cannot be destroyed, not even by death. This is also the only treasure we take with us when we die. We should, therefore, trust God, accept God’s will without even knowing what it is and (in our heart) allow Him to do whatever He feels is right. When we distrust his plan and want only our own plan, we reject his help.

Many people lose faith in God when they see evil and natural disasters in the World. They feel that, if God is really present or really loves us, He will not allow evil. This feeling becomes even stronger, when they see children and innocent people suffer. However, it is not God, but our sins, that produce evils in the world. Sin results from selfishness and selfishness causes hurt to others. Even natural disasters, which some people erroneously refer to as “acts of God”, are result of our sins. Since we have dominion over the World (Genesis 1: 27-28), our acts of selfishness affect the balance in nature. So that when we sin by going against nature, the balance in nature is disturbed to produce natural disasters and diseases. Similarly, our evil acts directly affect others and cause them hurt. The hurt that evil produces affects everyone; including those who live holy lives. God allows evil, because, He has given us free will. He has given us free will so that we can exercise unconditional love. If we did not have free will, we will never be able to love others unconditionally, because, to love is a choice, and every choice needs a free will. God wants us to love (John 13:34), because, he wants us to have His peace and joy (John 15:11) for all eternity. Furthermore, compared to the peace and joy that God gives us in the eternal life our hurts in the present life are nothing.

Forgive others

To forgive is not only to give up claim or resentment we have against our offenders but also to bring them healing. For example, if someone insults us we feel that our pride is taken away. To forgive in such a situation, is to sacrifice (give up) our pride and reach out to that person in love, in order to bring healing to that person. The best example of forgiveness is when God took a human form and came into this world to heal human beings who had betrayed Him and were unfaithful to Him (Luke 5:32). He forgave His executioners (Luke 23:34) and sacrificed His life so that they may have eternal life. He thus showed us that, love and forgiveness are the only positive responses to hate.

Most of us have great difficulty in forgiving others, although we know that it is the right thing to do. In such a situation we must first remember that we need to forgive others, because, we ourselves are sinners and that God forgave us by dying on the cross. We must meditate on the passion of Christ and at each stage remember the suffering He bore to bring us forgiveness. We must make our desire to forgive others strong by our prayers and sacrifices. We must be still, know that God is God and surrender our will to Him by saying “I love you Jesus, may your will be done”.

Betrayal is a common occurrence in human relationship, because, we are sinners. Betrayals can take many forms; however, we, especially feel betrayed when someone we really love or someone we have helped betrays us. We must realize that we can not change others; we can only change our self. We, therefore, have to make sure that we do not betray others; even if they have betrayed us. Although, it is natural that we have to cautiously deal with such people, we should continue to love them just as God continues to love us although we have betrayed Him.

Avoid war

War kills human beings, breaks families, destroys property, and displaces people. Furthermore, war generates brutality, deception, treachery, hate, tyranny and violence. War is, therefore, evil. Unfortunately, war is often glorified and many well-meaning people risk their lives to enter into war. People often justify war as necessary evil, in order to obtain peace and freedom. Although, war may result in a period of peace and freedom, it generates hate that lasts for generations to come, because, it has the above-mentioned evils. Furthermore, when we justify war, it reinforces our belief that some problems can only be solved by violence, because, peaceful methods don’t always work. This makes us believers in violence to solve our problems, and thus creates a violent society. When we believe that war is sometimes necessary, because, love does not always work, it means that we believe that God (who is love) is sometimes not effective. In other words, we do not truly believe in God. In addition, war also divides the world and creates hate among human beings. It, therefore, can never bring us permanent peace.

Jesus came into this World to eradicate evil. Many people thought that he would do this by fighting a war against the Romans, who unjustly had occupied their land and terrorized them. He on the other hand, told them to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, pray for those who mistreat them, forgive others unceasingly and go an additional mile if the occupation forces ask them to walk one (Luke 6:27-28). Furthermore, He taught that those who use the sword would perish by it (Matt. 26: 52). He sacrificed His life to eradicate the occupation of evil in our heart. He, therefore, used love, and not war, to eradicate evil. To most people this teaching is utter stupidity. However, early Christians believed in it and showed others what true love is by following these teachings. They, therefore, did not fight the Roman with swords. Instead, they lived holy and peaceful life which attracted many to Christianity in spite of severe persecution of the Christians by the Romans.

As long as we do not perpetuate evil by using evil methods, evil will destroy itself. We should, therefore, not get impatient and loose faith in the power of love to overcome evil. We should know that the power of love is infinitely greater than the power of evil, because, God is love. When we try to destroy evil governments by the evil method of war, we increase evil in the world. On the other hand when we change these governments by love, we eliminate evil. We should, therefore, not rely on war and our power; rather, we should rely on the spirit of God, which is love (Zech. 4:6). The peace that results from love is lasting, because, it is produced by changing hearts; while the peace that comes from war is temporary, because it is produced by force.

Evil can only be overcome by the love (Romans 12:21; Ephesians 6:10-20). Therefore, only the love can break the cycle of hate and revenge, and stop terrorism. In order to stop terrorism, therefore, those who are reborn in Christ, like Christ, must impart Christ’s love to the terrorist. We can do this only by showing them Christ’s sacrificial love in our acts (Matthew 5:16). This can be done by having a friendly dialogue with them. During such dialogues show honest concern for their concerns; try to solve differences through negotiations in which we are generous to them; and provide them with humanitarian help (without any string attached). This will build trust between the two sides. Then, it will be possible to negotiate a just solution for problems that separate us from them. A just solution, therefore, would be to give more to the other side than they demand (Luke 6:29-30), and demand less for one’s own side. Such an attitude will further increase the trust between the two sides and bring peace. Furthermore, in the long run both sides will gain; because, absence of war will bring major savings of life and resources. The solution outlined herein, may not sound very practical, especially if there is centuries of animosity and bloodshed. However, because God is love, we must never underestimate the power of love.

Do not compete

Some people may say that certain types of competitions are healthy, because, they increase our skills or encourage team spirit. However, the fact remains that in competitions we put our selves or our own team’s interest ahead of others. This is contrary to Christian teachings. Jesus tells us to be servants of others (Mark 10:44), instead of putting ourselves ahead of others. He also tells us that we should seek the Kingdom of God, rather than worry about our food or clothing (Matt 6: 31-34). The early Christians followed these teachings and (Acts 4:34, 35) shared all their belonging with others, so that no one lacked their basic needs. Furthermore, if we truly love others, we will excel in our work, because, we would want to do the very best for others.

Jesus tells us that the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Mark 9:35). He also tells us that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:4). Paul tells us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love, and honor and esteem others above our selves; and look for others’ interest rather than our own (Gal. 6:4 & Phil 2:3-4). He also tells us to keep away from strife (Phi.2: 3; Rom. 13:13; 1Cor. 3:3; Gal 5:20, 21); which is opposing, battling or competing with others. In competition we put our interest ahead of others. This makes us selfish. Selfishness takes away peace from our heart by distancing our self from God. Furthermore, when we win, we become proud, arrogant and self centered; and when we loose we become jealous, angry, revengeful and hateful. All of these lead us to turmoil in our heart and destruction of spirit (Pro. 16:18).

Respect Human life

Human life is precious, because, God has put His spirit in us. This makes us temples of His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). Every human life, therefore, must be respected. Furthermore, no one has the right over another human being’s life, because, God alone is the author of human life. Unfortunately, human life is violated in many ways in our society. They include: abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia.

It is estimated that approximately 10-15 million human lives are destroyed each year in the world by abortion. It is the worst form of terrorist activity; and a disgrace to any nation that allows it, for the following reasons: 1) it is killing more human beings than any other form of terrorism or war; 2) it is aimed at helpless innocent unborn babies; 3) the mothers (who are supposed to protect the babies) are the initiators of the killing process; and 4) the doctors, who are supposed to save lives, do the killing. In this form of terrorism, therefore, the victim’s family and the medical team are the terrorists. Furthermore, abortion is also the worst form of betrayal, because, a mother betrays her innocent baby by having it killed.

Some people justify abortion, because, they feel that a fetus is not a human being. However, irrespective of the different arguments people have for or against to prove that fetuses or human embryos are human beings, no one can deny the fact that abortion is destruction of a genetically distinct human life. In addition, since a large number of people feel that a fetus or an embryo is a human being, it is our duty to protect them (even if we do not consider them as human beings), because, if the others are correct, then, destroying a fetus or embryo is murder. If a group of people went hunting, and half of them see an animal in the distant and want to shoot it, but the other half think it is a human being, the benefit of the doubt has to be in favor of it being a human being. The same logic also applies to abortion.

Some people realize that abortion is wrong; however, they do not want to force their belief on others. However, protecting the life of innocent human beings is our civic duty, and has nothing to do with our belief. We have laws against murder, although it is a religious belief that murder is wrong. In this case we don’t say that we are imposing our belief on others. Others argue that a woman has a right to choose to not have a baby. However, when a woman becomes pregnant, she already has the baby in the womb; therefore, the question about her right with respect to that pregnancy is not an issue.

Some people justify abortion, because the mother's health or life is in danger. However, since every human life is equally precious, one cannot take the life of one human being to save another. Therefore, every effort has to be made to treat both human beings with the best available methods. Still others feel that women should have the right to their own bodies. However, a fetus is not part of its mother’s body, because, it is a distinct living human entity with its own unique genetic make up that is different from the mother’s. We do not have right to kill our children who live in the privacy of our house. Similarly, the mother does not have a right to kill her baby that lives in the privacy of her body. Still others argue that, by legalizing abortion, abortion is made safe for the mother. We, however, do not legalize other violent crimes in order prevent injury to the criminal or innocent bystanders.

Human life begins as a tiny little cell. This cell has a genetic makeup, which is the blue print to that individual’s entire life, and it is unique to that person. This cell also triggers a reaction, through which, successive generations of cells multiply to accomplish the plan set forth in the blue print. The blue print contained in this cell shapes our body, mind and spirit. It determines our looks; color of our eyes and hair; our personality and behavior; our talents in sports, music, literature, science, mathematics and other fields of learning; our ability to love and forgive others; our desire for freedom and self determination; our aging process and all other aspects of our life. In short, this little cell has that person’s entire humanity and abilities within it. Therefore, to destroy this humanity at single cell stage or any subsequent stage of its development grossly violates his/her human rights.

Capital punishment is a punishment, in which human beings are condemned to die. The usual crime, for which this punishment is given, is murder. This form of punishment is usually chosen to deter others from committing this crime and to make criminals pay back for the crime they committed by their own life. Because, this form of punishment involves killing human beings, in imposing this punishment the society performs the same violent act it is trying to deter. In addition, it teaches the society that violent methods are sometimes acceptable. This increases violence in the society. Furthermore, since God is the author of all life, no one has the right or authority to kill another human being.

The purpose for punishment is to help others to change for the better and never for condemnation or revenge. When we impose life-taking punishment, it is condemnation; and it does not give the convict a chance to change. It teaches the society that some people are beyond hope. Since all of us have had hate (for another human being) in our heart at one time or the other, and hate for another human being is similar to murder (1John3: 14-18), we ourselves are guilty of a crime similar to murder. How then, can we condemn another human being? In the old days, when it was not possible to securely imprison violent criminals, capital punishment was accepted as a form of self-defense for the society. However, nowadays, when it is possible to securely isolate violent criminals from the society, there is absolutely no justification for capital punishment.

Euthanasia and suicide are also acts of violence, because, they destroy human lives. They, therefore, cannot bring peace. Some people choose them, because, they feel hopeless or want to end their pain and suffering. However, irrespective of how bad our situation is, we can always find hope, because, God loves us; and there is no greater joy, than to be loved by God. Because of this, even in the midst of pain and suffering we can rejoice, and know that as long as we allow God to be in our heart, in the end, we will be free of all pain and suffering. Furthermore, we can give our pain and suffering redemptive value by quietly accepting it as a sacrifice on behalf of others, so that the humility this sacrifice generates in us opens our heart to accept God’s graces for us and those dear to us. Pain and suffering accepted in this spirit brings us endurance, endurance brings us virtue and virtue brings us hope. Many people feel that to live with pain, suffering and severe disabilities is undignified. However, our true dignity comes from God's love for us, and His life in us; and not from our social, economic or health status. Furthermore, human beings who are terminally ill or totally disabled, are also contributors to the society, because, they bring out the spirit of love in the people who take care of them. This enriches the society by making it more compassionate and caring.

When a person is in coma, that person is still a person. We, therefore, must treat him/her the same way we would treat anyone else. To withhold nutrition or water or any other form of necessary care in order that he/she may die is a form of euthanasia. Similarly, when there is a reasonable chance for cure, to withhold treatment so that the person may die, thereby, avoid suffering that comes from the disease, would also be euthanasia.

Keep marriage holy

Marriage is a covenant of love between a man and a woman, in which each surrenders one self completely and unconditionally to the other to form a unit of life through procreative union. Furthermore, since God is love and marriage is a covenant of love peace in marriage is possible only when the couple is totally open to God’s will. They must, therefore, be totally open to receiving the gift of children that comes from God.

In order for a couple to form a unit of life they must have physiological union; because, life is physiological. The only function, in which two human beings can have physiological unions, is in reproductive (procreative) physiology. Furthermore, procreative union is only possible between a man and women; and both are essential to complete the cycle of reproductive physiology. Therefore, marriage is only possible between a man and a woman. Furthermore, since the physiological purpose of conjugal union is procreation, in order to make it an act of love the couple must leave their union totally open to procreation.

In marriage, spouses leave their parents and unite with each other (Mark 10:7) to become one flesh (Gen.2: 24). Because, it is a covenant of love, and God is love (1 John4:8), it is God who seals the marriage covenant; and no one can separate what God has joined together (Matt 19:6). In divorce, therefore, this covenant is not broken; it is rejected. God, therefore, hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and is not pleased with the offerings of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14). Jesus tells us that before making offering to God, we must reconcile with those with whom we have grievances (Matt. 5: 23-24). Therefore, a divorced person must first reconcile with his/her spouse before making an offering to the Lord. Furthermore, a person divorced by his/her spouse must still stay faith to his/her spouse, just as God is faithful to us even when we reject Him (Hosea 3:1).

Sometimes, the stresses of marriage may seem unbearable, especially if our spouse is alcoholic, abusive, mentally ill or unfaithful. In such situations, we can stay faithful to our commitment; by remembering, how Jesus compensated for our wrong doing, when we were unfaithful to him and wronged him. We should continually pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of our spouse. In our prayers, we should surrender ourselves completely to God’s will, and ask Him to be our thoughts, feelings, desires and actions.

We are created in God’s divine image (Gen. 1:27) and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.6: 19-20). Therefore, all actions of our bodies must conform to God’s design. God’s design for us is to use our bodies according to what they are created for. In other words, we must use each organ according to its physiological function. Therefore, the gastrointestinal system is for nutritive function; the respiratory system is for oxygenation of blood; and the reproductive system is for reproduction. Furthermore, reproductive function requires a male and a female; and each one complements the other to complete the reproductive union. This function can therefore take place only between a man and woman. Any other way is an aberration or a perversion.

When unmarried couples engage in conjugal act, it is selfish, because, they have not unconditionally surrendered their lives to each other by entering into marriage. Furthermore, they are abusing the act and their bodies, because, they are engaging in an act that unites lives without uniting their lives (in marriage). In addition, they are being totally irresponsible to the potential children that can result from their act, by not having a full family unit for them. Paul therefore tells us that adulterers and fornicators will not inherit Heaven (1 Cor. 6:9).

The very essence of human existence is love, because, we are created in the image of God (who is love) and are a product of God’s love expressed through our parents union of love. Conception, therefore, is the fruit of marital love. Artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization and cloning procedures therefore, dehumanize human reproduction, by taking the act of unitive love out of it and converting it into a purely cellular process. This devalues the understanding of procreative love in marriage, thereby devaluing the meaning of marriage itself. This causes grave hurt to the institution of marriage which is the very foundation of society. Furthermore, unitive love, which is conjugal union in marriage, is inseparable from conception, because, conjugal union’s only physiological purpose is conception; and conjugal union and conception are different stages of reproductive process. Therefore, to have one without the other is to go against Love, who is God.

Contraceptive methods prevent pregnancy. They, therefore, frustrates the very purpose of reproductive physiology. It is similar to eating food, while putting a barrier in the stomach so that the nutritive value of the food is eliminated. Those who use it, therefore, abuse their bodies. Furthermore, by going against the natural physiology, they are going against the creator of the physiology. They are also against life by preventing life. Contraception, therefore, makes conjugal union sterile or devoid of any life-giving element. It, therefore, degrades conjugal union in marriage from a sacrificial and holy act, to a sterile act. Furthermore, when sex is used only for fun, it makes those involved in the act objects to derive pleasure from. These factors result in decrease in respect the couple has for each other. This in turn leads to increase in divorce in the society. It is, therefore, no surprise that in the scriptures a contraceptive act was considered deadly in the eyes of God (Gen.38: 8-10).

Be just

Only God (who is love) is truly just (Matthew 19:17). Furthermore, only love fulfills the law (Roman 13: 10), because only true love is impartial. True justice, therefore, is love. To be just is to be fair, impartial, forgiving and generous. True justice is fair to all, including one’s opponent. Furthermore, it is not affected by time, place, person or situation. God reveals true justice to us in the New Testament. When we were unfaithful to Him and rejected His friendship, He did not give up on us, condemn us or take revenge. Instead, in His love, He compensated for our selfishness by emptying his life on our behalf and putting his life in us. Therefore, true justice does not condemn or sue others. On the contrary, it exercises mercy by forgiving others, and by sacrificing self, in order to help others to recover from their weaknesses. St. Paul teaches us that, the fact that we have legal disputes amongst us means that we have failed completely. He tells us that, it is better to be wronged and robbed, rather than to wrong or rob another person (1 Cor. 6:7).

True justice does not prefer one person’s right over another person’s right; rather, it makes sure that both sides are treated with love and dignity. It, therefore, helps both the offender and the victim, and does not fight or condemn the offender; does not ask back what has been borrowed; loves one’s enemies and prays for their happiness; gives without expecting anything in return; forgives others unceasingly; and keeps one’s good deeds secret (Matthew 5:38-42, Luke 6:27-38). True justice is merciful because mercy (which comes from God) is above all laws (James 2:13) and God demands mercy (Matt. 9:13). True justice therefore is never revengeful.

We often get upset, when others hurt us, because, we feel that by hurting us they have taken something away from us or have shown their superiority over us. Similarly, we get upset and jealous when someone else gets a better deal than us, because, we feel that we have lost something. However, our pride and things we possess are nothing, because they will cease to exist in eternity. In addition, when we have God’s love, which is infinitely more valuable than all the riches of the world, why should we worry about loosing anything else? We should, therefore, not take revenge. Besides, revenge leads to more revenge and hurt. It also deprives us peace and joy. We should, therefore, trust God (who is love) and solve our problems by love. God desires mercy, and not sacrifices or burnt offering (Matt 12:7). Mercy comes from love. Our goal, therefore, in every situation is to care for others.

Work for God

Every work of love is God’s (because God is love) and every work done with the sole intention of unconditionally serving others is a work of love. Therefore, irrespective of what our job is, if we work to unconditionally severe others, we are doing God’s work. We should, therefore, rejoice and have peace in knowing that God’s work is done through us. We should, therefore, be excited about our work, and go out of our way to do more than what we are asked to do. We may sometimes have authorities that are not very pleasant. However, we must respect them and obey them (as long as they do not ask us to do something that is wrong), because, if our work is God’s, then they are directing God’s work. If we take this attitude, we will get joy and peace from our work.

Works with selfish motives produce anxiety, because, they depend on self, and are directed to self. On the other hand, works of true love are free of anxiety; because, they depend on God, and not on self. We should, therefore, be calm, know that God is in charge, and accept in our heart whatever God wants to do through us without actually knowing what it is. If we take this attitude, we allow God to do what He feels is best for us. We should not worry if there is a waiting period, when nothing seems to happen. We may even have periods, when it seems like we have absolutely no contact with God, like we are in total darkness. God allows such periods of total darkness, because, he wants us to mature into trusting him completely. Such periods, therefore, are the most fertile periods in the life of our soul. In addition, they make us humble, by making us realize our dependence on God. Our humility, then allows God to work through us, because, when we are humble we tend to surrender to God’s will. Humility also enables us to appreciate God’s good deeds for us. We should not get anxious about the results of our works, because, if our works are truly good, they are God’s work, and not ours. The results of our works may be a total failure in the eyes of the World, and may not become evident in our lifetime. However, our fulfillment comes from accepting God's will and letting Him work through us; and not from what people think or say about our works.

Though it is true that all workers deserve a just wage we should work primarily to severe others rather than to earn wages. If we take this attitude we will find joy and peace in serving others, even when our wages are unjust. Furthermore, by taking this attitude we are letting God to take control of our life. This enables God to help us to overcome many of our difficulties in life. Sometimes, we are upset, because, we are treated unfairly, or our boss or peers never appreciate our work. Here again, we should focus our attention on serving others, and realize that our true reward is to be able share in God’s life by serving others, and not by obtaining wages or appreciation.

Be a healer, not a victim

Self-pity is destructive to our mind and spirit, because, it leads to anxiety and depression. It also makes us sad, dejected, bitter, jealous, angry and revengeful. On the other hand when we think about the suffering of others and try to help them, rather than dwelling on our own suffering, we find peace When Jesus was carrying His cross, he was not concerned about His own suffering. He kissed the cross and carried it without demanding any pity, because, He was doing it out of love for us. Furthermore, when He met the women of Jerusalem He was concerned about the suffering that was to come upon them, rather than the suffering He was going through (Luke 23:27-29). Just before His death, instead of being concerned about His own suffering, He was concerned about those who were killing Him. He, therefore, told His Father to forgive them (Luke 23:34). We must, therefore, spend our life serving others without dwelling on our own sufferings. In other words, we must treat our self as healers rather than victims. This attitude will brings us peace and joy in the midst of our sufferings.

Pray

Prayer is very important for peace, because prayer brings us in communion with God. In this communion we let the spirit of God permeate our heart making His thoughts ours and His spirit ours. During prayer we express our thankfulness to God for the love He expresses for us; our contrition for the hurt we caused Him by our selfishness; and our confidence in Him in times of trouble.

In our prayers we must meditate on God’s love and forgiveness for us; which He expressed by dying on the cross in order to compensate for offenses we committed against Him. This should help us to bring love and forgiveness in our heart for those who offend us. Our prayer should also be a conversation with God, in which we make our joy, suffering and desire known to Him. It should also be a time of surrendering our will to God and accepting our total dependence on Him.

God is constantly speaking to our spirit. His voice is the strong desire in our heart to unconditionally love others and be merciful and forgiving towards them. His voice is also the sense of comfort and consolation within our heart in times of trouble. We often fail to hear Him because the noises of the world overtake our spirit. However, if we free our self of all distractions we will hear Him and feel His love.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/spirituality-articles/how-to-find-peace-655213.html

About the Author:

Thanksgiving is a beautiful time for gift giving! Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and gratitude that most share with loved ones.


This is a peaceful time that is centered around family, friends, and food. Stuffing yourself with turkey each year with those you love most is a sign of appreciation and reflection, forcing you to give thanks for what you have and thinking about how appreciated it really is. Giving thanks for what you have can involve deep thought, prayer, love, and giving thanks to others. Giving thanks to others is achieved by hugs, long talks and most notably, gifts. These gifts signify your feelings and your appreciation for the recipient and are a sign that you have been thinking about them all year and they are appreciated.

While giving thanks this year one should think about everything he or she has to be thankful for. This is a great time to reflect on the past years events and connect with yourself once again. Being away from the daily hustle and bustle, celebrating and eating with loved ones gives you a day to clear your head and think about things that normally slip your mind. This downtime gives you a clear view of where you are and how you got there. Giving thanks for what you have and the people who help you is a special time in that it allows you to give somebody praise that you would normally overlook. Whether it be your sibling who has helped you out financially or spiritually or a person that made you smile during your day, you should go out of your way to do something special for them on this thankful holiday.

Thanksgiving is a holiday built around giving, so what better way to celebrate than with a gift. Gift giving is a productive way to express your thoughts and feelings to others. Giving a person a gift makes them feel special knowing that you spend your precious time and hard earned money on them. Presenting somebody with a gift also is a great way to express something that is hard to say in words. It is not easy to verbally communicate your appreciation and love for another person, but with a gift, you can let your actions do the talking.

Choosing the right gift for Thanksgiving can be as simple as you want it to be. You can send candy, food, clothing, or a relaxing spa gift basket to your recipient to express your thankfulness and appreciation. Sending a gift let the other person know that they are not forgotten and they are appreciated even if you do not see each other on a regular basis. This Thanksgiving don't let the time slip away any longer, seek out the perfect gift and let that special someone know that they are appreciated and loved on this joyous occasion.

The right gift for you may be a nice spa gift basket that will let your recipient relax and reflect during this busy time of year. An Italian food gift basket is a gift that lets the recipient know that they are appreciated, and it is time to celebrate! Also a gourmet food gift basket will make them feel right at home no matter where they are. If you want to give thanks to a soldier, a military care package will get the message across and make that soldier know they are appreciated during this rough time. Whichever gift you may choose to send this thanksgiving, your recipient will know that they are appreciated and you have been thinking about them during this hectic year.


Kevin James is a freelance writer who often writes on behalf of www.FilledWithGifts.com. Visit this online shopping store to learn more about purchasing Thanksgiving gifts and Holiday Gift Baskets online.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

Buying gifts for women is not always that easy, especially for the average male. Some women have everything they might seem to need, some claim to want nothing at all and some apparently have no idea what they want


Most men seem to have a particular blockage of thought when it comes to thinking up gifts ideas for women, and some are just downright inconsiderate. I know a man who bought his girlfriend a bunch of flowers from a petrol forecourt, a magazine and a chocolate bar as a gift for her birthday. After a heated argument it is unsurprising that they are not together any more. If you're going to be that thoughtless, expect the relationship to be over or the divorce papers to be in the post any day soon. If that is not bad enough, there are lots of examples of men buying domestic gifts and let me offer one piece of advice:

Do not buy her a domestic gift. Under no circumstances should something that is to be used in the house to be considered one of your gift ideas for her. Even women claim they would love a dishwasher as a gift will not want to receive one; let's be clear, no one wants the gift of domestic servitude for their birthday, Christmas or anniversary present. So, wipe your mind of all domestic gifts for her and start thinking of something special for the woman in your life.

So what type of gift should you buy her? Let us start at the beginning. You need to plan this in advance and the gift needs to be for her, not you. There are various levels of gift ideas for her.

Here are some suggestions:

Extravagant: The Car, the Holiday, the Diamond Necklace. Very expensive but leaves her with absolutely no doubt of how you feel about her. Avoid this one if you've only been on two dates. If she is important to you, this type of gift will knock her off her feet.

Intimate: Lingerie is usually found within this category and it requires that you know the women very personally. Lingerie is tricky for two reasons. First, if you get her size wrong, you can seriously dent her self-esteem. Second, if you are buying this gift for her, but really for you, do not expect her to wear it with pride. If you want to buy lingerie, go with classy, expensive stuff, no gaudy, brightly coloured stuff with holes in it.

Romantic: As far as romantic gifts go, a good bunch of flowers is always a nice thought although can be seen as last minute, cute teddy bears however are also a winner. If she does not like bears, cute photo frames or perhaps a piece of small but sweet jewellery can be a great idea. Romantic gifts do not have to be expensive, but romantic thought needs to be evident.

Thoughtful: Choosing her favourite perfume, or a new fragrance from the same brand will show that you've taken the time to think about this gift. The thoughtful gift always scores you points, whether it is a gift for your mum, auntie, sister, girlfriend, wife or any woman.
Never be stuck for gift ideas for her. There is all manner to choose from; hopefully this article gives men categories of gift ideas for her ensuring you will soon come up with dozens of ideas to win you brownie points.

About the Author:
Relationship expert Thomas Pretty looks how choosing gifts for her can sometimes be the hardest choice of all.Article Source:http://www.freearticles.co.za/relationships/how-choose-perfect-gift-girlfiend.html

In the end, everything is a gag.
Charlie Chaplin

I hate life, I hate death and everything in between just doesn't interest me.
Chris Rapier

When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
R. Buckminster Fuller

Nothing changes your opinion of a friend so surely as success - yours or his.
Franklin P. Jones

Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves.
Robert Anton Wilson

A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.
Thomas Mann

The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.
Bertrand Russell

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
Martin Luther King Jr.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
George Bernard Shaw

Before I met my husband, I'd never fallen in love, though I'd stepped in it a few times.
Rita Rudner

If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door.
Paul Beatty

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.
Samuel Johnson

A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.
H. L. Mencken

Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand.
Putt's Law

Life is an unbroken succession of false situations.
Thornton Wilder

To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so.
Robert Orben

A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.
H. L. Mencken

Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand.
Putt's Law

Life is an unbroken succession of false situations.
Thornton Wilder

To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so.
Robert Orben

It is possible to be below flattery as well as above it.
Thomas Babington Macaulay

The world is full of people whose notion of a satisfactory future is, in fact, a return to the idealised past.
Robertson Davies

What's the difference between a boyfriend and a husband? About 30 pounds.
Cindy Gardner

Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Stephen King
Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.
Woody Allen

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.
Nikita Khrushchev

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
Elizabeth Taylor

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a rich widow.
Evan Esar

Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles.
Pat Paulsen

It matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose.
Darrin Weinberg

Conceit is God's gift to little men.
Bruce Barton

There's always somebody who is paid too much, and taxed too little - and it's always somebody else.
Cullen Hightower

The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
Horace Walpole

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.
Michel de Montaigne

Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality.
Nikola Tesla


The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't.
Douglas Adams

Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
Ambrose Bierce

No one gossips about other people's secret virtues.
Bertrand Russell

If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.

Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other.
Ann Landers

People seem to enjoy things more when they know a lot of other people have been left out of the pleasure.
Russell Baker

Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come.
Matt Groening

If not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
P. G. Wodehouse

I don't really trust a sane person.
Lyle Alzado

The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.
Albert Einstein

If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.
Quentin Crisp

Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.
Frank Lloyd Wright

I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I've ever known.
Walt Disney

Your true value depends entirely on what you are compared with.
Bob Wells

Most turkeys taste better the day after; my mother's tasted better the day before.
Rita Rudner

The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say.
Tom Stoppard

The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
Paul Fix

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy

I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way.
Franklin P. Adams

Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.
Iris Murdoch

A motion to adjourn is always in order.
Robert Heinlein

Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind.
Marston Bates

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Abraham Lincoln

These days an income is something you can't live without--or within.
Tom Wilson

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Harry S Truman

Fashion is something that goes in one year and out the other.
Unknown

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
Paul Gauguin

Lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.


I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.
J. D. Salinger

Your life story would not make a good book. Don't even try.
Fran Lebowitz

There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.
Pablo Picasso

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.
Mark Twain

A lifetime is more than sufficiently long for people to get what there is of it wrong.
Piet Hein

There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.
Doctor Who

The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.
H. L. Mencken

Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.
George Orwell

In a mad world only the mad are sane.
Akira Kurosawa

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
Mark Twain

Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day.
Mickey Rooney

If the human mind was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it.
Emerson Pugh

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
Albert Einstein

The only thing I like about rich people is their money.
Nancy Astor

A thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions--as attempts to find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all.
Friedrich Nietzsche

I hope that when I die, people say about me, 'Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money.'
Jack Handey

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
Albert Einstein

The only thing I like about rich people is their money.
Nancy Astor

A thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions--as attempts to find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all.
Friedrich Nietzsche

I hope that when I die, people say about me, 'Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money.'

..when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A quotation, like a pun, should come unsought, and then be welcomed only for some propriety of felicity justifying the intrusion.
Robert Chapman

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely- read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.
Hesketh Pearson
Jack Handey

Technology is a way of organizing the universe so that man doesn't have to experience it.
Max Frisch

Only the mediocre are always at their best.
Jean Giraudoux

Furious activity is no substitute for understanding.
H. H. Williams

If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf.
Bob Hope

I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.
Jackie Mason

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.
Niels Bohr

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
Henry Kissinger

I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
George Carlin

I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.
Jackie Mason

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.
Niels Bohr

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
Henry Kissinger

I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
George Carlin

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
John Lennon

I do not have a psychiatrist and I do not want one, for the simple reason that if he listened to me long enough, he might become disturbed.
James Thurber

The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half.
Fyodor Dostoevsky

In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better.
Ellen DeGeneres

What is your Motto in Life?
Please add your motto in life so others may inspire.

Share your mottos here by adding to comment.

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.
Russell Baker

I've never struck a woman in my life, not even my own mother.
W. C. Fields

We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?
Ray Bradbury

No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself.
Thomas Mann

Life is just one damned thing after another.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
Fran Lebowitz (1950 - )

Life is something that everyone should try at least once.
Henry J. Tillman

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.
Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)

Life is a long lesson in humility.
James M. Barrie (1860 - 1937)

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
John Lennon (1940 - 1980), "Beautiful Boy"

The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.
Norman Thomas (1884 - 1968)

The unexamined life is not worth living.
Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC), in Plato, Dialogues, Apology

Life is an unbroken succession of false situations.
Thornton Wilder (1897 - 1975)

Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act.
Truman Capote (1924 - 1984)

Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.
Wally 'Famous' Amos (1936 - )

Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all.
William Goldman, "The Princess Bride"

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.
Oscar Levant

The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided.
Casey Stengel

Those who agree with us may not be right, but we admire their astuteness.
Cullen Hightower

Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose.
Evan Esar

Things are only impossible until they're not.
Jean-Luc Picard

Competence, like truth, beauty and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder.
Laurence J. Peter

Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
George Bernard Shaw

Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion.
Robertson Davies

I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.
J. D. Salinger

Your life story would not make a good book. Don't even try.
Fran Lebowitz

There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.
Pablo Picasso

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.
Mark Twain

A hypnosis CD can offer the support that you need to help stop nightmares. This approach serves as a guide that works to rework your subconscious mind in order to take charge of your dreams. There are many benefits to taking this approach.


Benefits of Self-Hypnosis

When you adopt an approach like self-hypnosis, you are taking an important step in taking control of your mental processes. Your dreams are your subconscious mind’s way of working through your experiences, emotions and perceptions. When they are frightening, you know that you have issues to address.

Working with a dream state through the conscious mind is counterproductive because you are not addressing the realm of the mind that deals with dreaming and with automatic emotional responses. The subconscious houses these elements and it works through them as you sleep. The process is automatic and involuntary but it can be controlled through hypnosis.

Understanding Nightmares

Part of taking control of your dream state involves understanding the nature of bad dreams. The nighttime terrors have a number of different causes including psychological and physical components that you can consider as part of your efforts to help stop nightmares. Once you are aware of these elements, you are better able to take control of the situation.

It’s important to recognize that a nightmare is nothing more than a dream. This is readily understood by the conscious mind but it can be difficult to comprehend when you are in the throes of nighttime fear. Sometimes the dreams follow you throughout your day.

Causes of Nightmares

There are a number of different causes for bad dreams. Physical causes can lead you to have certain frightening dreams. If your leg falls asleep while you are resting, you may dream that it has been cut off. Illness can also lead to very frightening dreams.

Stress and anxiety are major contributors to your dream experiences. Hypnosis can help stop nightmares by helping you work through these negative emotions. Many times, you are not consciously aware of your stress so it manifests itself in horrible dreaming episodes.

Emotional Responses in Dreams

Some dreams are horrifying because they lead to such strong physical reactions. You may wake with a pounding heart or you might find yourself covered in sweat. These physical responses make the experience even more real to you.

The experience is real in your subconscious mind. This realm does not make a distinction between reality and imagination. If you are harboring stress, bad experiences and ill feelings, they will appear in your dream state. Your body responds as if the terrible events are unfolding because your subconscious mind does not realize the difference between reality and imagination.

Hypnosis to Help Stop Nightmares

You can take steps to overcome your nighttime fears and anxiety. Hypnosis is an excellent approach that allows your subconscious mind to work through your emotions and experiences in a healthy way. You can replace anxiety and fear with pleasant emotions through this process.

You can find an excellent hypnosis recording by the legendary hypnotherapist, Duncan McColl here - Help Stop Nightmares . His masterful recordings have helped many people over the years. Other excellent selections are available here - Hypnosis CD . Simply click on the links for more information.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/nightmares-self-hypnosis-can-help-stop-nightmares-582817.html

About the Author:
J Seymour writes for a number of hypnosis and NLP related websites such as http://www.selfhelprecordings.com - an online self hypnosis shop based in the USA, http://www.justbewell.com - a site in the UK which both offers one to one hypnotherapy sessions and hosts a self hypnosis recordings shop, and http://www.hypnosis-vancouver-toronto.com - a hypnotherapy and NLP site based in Canada.

A big question. I am sure that everybody on this planet would like to know the answer to that.
A few years ago, I worked for a British time share company. I am sure that right now there are many people twisting their faces: “time share? Oh. No! “. I agree – But this is not the point of this article.



While I was working there, I took some intern course in body language and “The art of sales”. Since then EVERYTHING i want to “sale”, I manage to. By saying everything, i mean business, things that I want from my wife, from my kids, from my friends and family and so on.

How do I do that, you ask? Well, here it is. You can try to use this method in every field, and I promise you it will work:

As an example, I will use my first date with my wife which eventually leaded to our marriage.

Picture this – My first date with her, nice restaurant, candle lights, wine and music (you do need to set the scene first).

She came; we said hello to each other, ordered some wine and then the “sale” started.

KISS – Which means: Keep It Simple & Stupid. This is a very important point in the whole conversation. The more info you give freely, them more they need to think about. You should give info about your self, but try to think about what you say as you can talk too much and give some info that should not be given…at least not right now.


WH questions – As the conversation roles, try to ask as many WH question as you can: why, where, how, what…You need to gather as much info about them as you can to understand who is sitting right now and talking to you, what is his/her type, what does she/he likes…Why is that so important? As I asked my future wife on that first date all the WH question, I found at that she is a “homey” type, love romance, love to coddle…If I would right away start talking about me and my “wild” life, I would probably missed her interest in me. I do not say you need to be someone else just to get their attention, but trying to “win” this meeting.


Tea or Coffee – Now you have gathered all the info you need, and it is time to start closing this deal. You are not about to close it now, but we need to get closer to the goal of our “sale”. Tea or Coffee questions are BASED on the info you got earlier and now you try to focus on the points. For example: “so what you are trying to say is that you rather be at home then go out to wild parties?” or “so… what do you prefer, Madonna or Jimmy Hendricks?” With this type of question you are now minimizing the info you got to more focused answers.

The Closing – You have now got the info, got the focused answers, it is time to “close” this “ Sale”. What you want to do is to get a yes or no answer (depends on you) from them. If you will get that answer – You have just reached you goal. Who do you do that? Very simple. Use ALL the info from the entire evening/meeting and concentrate on the particular questions you wan to get yes or no answers to. For example: “so what you are saying is that if I could make some nice dinner for you, just as you like, with candle and wine, could we meet again?” Of course, you are waiting for a “yes” here. It is EXTREMLY important to use finishing statements at the end of your questions, like: “so you do like coddling, don’t you?” Use you head to nod as you ask it..it gives a “mirror effect” on people and they can’t help not nodding back.

As I mentioned at the beginning, you can use this technique ANYWHER on EVERYBODY…trust me it works, but as everything in life, you need to practise and a lot.

Hope you can and will use it in your life.

Yair Czitrom

http://www.onenightstanddate.com

Yair Czitrom is the owner and webmaster of http://www.onenightstanddate.com - An experienced online dater that took his dating knowledge and web skills as a dater and as an IT pro to help other fun seekers in today’s cyber world. He is an expert writer on ezinearticles.com and searchwarp.com

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

What Are Ego Defense Mechanisms? When you accidentally injure yourself, your body automatically begins several self healing processes, aiming to restore your body to its original healthy state. But what if you're emotionally hurt? What if you face a sudden shock or a tremendous amount of stress? What if your anxiety becomes more than you can handle? What if you lose a dear one?

Just like how your body has defenses against physical wounds and injuries, it has its defenses against emotional shocks and wounds; they're called "Ego Defense Mechanisms" or "Unconscious Defense Mechanisms". Ego Defense Mechanisms: The following is an explanation of each of the ego defense mechanisms:

* Denial: Denial is refusing to acknowledge the presence of the threat or the occurrence of the unpleasant event. Examples of denial would be refusing to acknowledge the death of a person, questioning the qualifications of the doctor who diagnosed the disease or going like: "Madness? This is Sparta!!" when threatened by a very large armyJ . The problem with denial is that it blocks the road to acceptance; you won't be able to get over that event until you first accept it.

* Displacement: Displacement is transferring or discharging your emotions on a less threatening object. For example, shouting at your children or having a fight with your neighbor right after your boss shouts at you means that you are angry at your boss but taking it out on your kids. If your displacement ego defense mechanism gets fired, try to control yourself a bit and then work on identifying your real enemy. Don't attack innocent people just because someone you can't harm has emotionally hurt you.

* Repression: Repression is the complete memory loss of a painful event. In this case, your subconscious mind doesn't want you to remember what happened because it may negatively affect your mood.

* Projection: Projection is placing blame for the unwanted event upon others. Examples would be saying that you failed an exam because the teacher is racist.

* Rationalization: Rationalization is the act of rationalizing your wrong actions and creating a self serving explanation for what you did. Saying "I have the right to cheat on the exam because the lessons weren't well explained" is a basic example of rationalization.

* Sublimation: Sublimation is satisfying your socially unacceptable needs in a socially accepted way. So, by becoming a boxer you are able to satisfy your hidden need for violence.

* Regression: Regression is returning to a previous state of development. Crying instead of taking actions to solve your problems means you have returned to the stage of childhood. * Identification: By identifying with something or someone else you can increase your sense of ego and self-worth. Saying that a famous singer is a friend of yours might make you admired and so cause you to feel better about your other problems. * Undoing: This means trying to fix your mistake, like sending a SMS to apologize to a friend you've recently had a fight with.

* Fantasy: It's pretty much self-explanatory. Imagining yourself beating up your boss with a chair after he's shouted at you is you fantasizing to help make you feel better.

* Reaction Formation: This behavior has you taking actions that are the opposite of your real desires, like for example greeting one of your enemies warmly just to show that you don't hate him.

* Humor: Looking at the funny side of a situation can help you forget about the real problem.

* Compensation: Hiding your weaknesses by acting as a beacon of strength; saying something like "I'm never scared" after watching a horror movie.

* Affiliation: Affiliation is to seek another's help in getting over your problem.

* Suppression: In this case, you avoid thinking about that unwanted event.

* Dissociation: Dissociating yourself from reality and thinking that this is not happening to you is one of the means of emotional defense.

So, Are Ego Defense Mechanisms Effective? Sometimes they are healthy and sometimes not. Some of them can help you, while others can make the problem even worse; whenever possible, try to consciously detect the presence of the defense mechanism and see if it is really beneficial. If you find that it is not, then try to avoid it and maybe alter it to your benefit.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/ego-defense-mechanisms-634030.html

About the Author:
www.2knowmyself.com The ultimate source for self understanding

Teenagers have a lot to deal with. They have to withstand peer pressure, deal with adult expectations and rejections. It's natural that sometimes they are confused and discontented. This causes low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, which in turn causes depression, unhappiness, and insecurity among teenagers. Help him feel confident, even while emphasising the importance of good manners and healthy values.


Symptoms of a troubled teen:

* Performing badly in school, lack of concentration, and forgetfulness
* Remaining aloof, keeping away from friends and activities
* Feeling sad and hopeless
* Prone to quick bouts of anger and rage, or reacting strongly to criticism
* Being indecisive, restless, and agitated
* Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
* Substance abuse
* Having problems with authority

Take charge before the symptoms become too severe.

What to tell your teenager :

1. Face your fears. Once you face them, you will feel that they aren't as bad as you thought they were. Facing your fears will increase your confidence.
2. Forget past failures. Don't assume that just because you failed before, things will go wrong again. Look on your failures as stepping stones.
3. Reward yourself when you have achieved something. Self-help is always the best help. Learn to rely on yourself.
4. Talk to others. Don't come to hasty conclusions about a situation or a person. If you have any doubts or questions, clarify. Don't assume things.
5. Don't let failure defeat you. Accept it. Try something else. Everyone fails at some point in life.

AS PARENTS :

o Help your child to make new friends.
o Motivate your child to participate in sports.
o Encourage him to acquire new hobbies.
o Encourage him to keep a private journal. It will help him deal with his fears.
o Encourage him to do volunteer work. Help him get a realistic view of the world.

Provide him with strong family support.

1. If he comes to you with his problems, help him make the best of what he has.
2. Remember to mention his positive points and encourage every small accomplishment.
3. It is all right to exert a little pressure or promise of rewards to induce your child to perform. But, too much pressure can lead to rebelliousness or fear of failure.
4. It is better to accept your teenager for what he is. Be realistic in your expectations. Never focus on his weaknesses.
5. Finally, help him to get up on his feet again when or if he fails.

Show unconditional love towards your child. Let him feel cared for and wanted. Keep working at it continuously. All you need is a different approach

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/teenagers-articles/how-to-build-self-confidence-in-teenagers-593113.html

About the Author:

Whether it's your birthday or the birthday of some one close to you, it'll always be an occasion that remains the reservoir of happy memories, lots of laughter and wholesome family fun! Birthday is one of those occasions where the strong emotional bonds, warmth of heartfelt best wishes go beyond the barrier of language and sincere and cordial birthday wish always becomes successful in conveying with its true glory.


Other than the usual party, celebrations, good food and sparkling birthday gifts, it is a day when the spotlight shines on friends, relatives, parents and cheerful memories. It is the day when the birthday boy or girl is in his or her most emotionally vulnerable state. Feelings, thoughts previously unspoken, may be in fear of denunciation are expressed on this day as it is the perfect occasion to share feelings and emotions along with best wishes.

When it comes to wishing your loved ones on his or her birthday, originality and uniqueness is the key to make your dear one feel surprised and delighted. It's hard to put in to words what you want to express to the birthday boy or girl on that special day, but once you tell them how wonderful you feel on their birthday, the expression on their face with bright smile and cheerful look makes the day all the more special. To brighten up the birthday of your loved onesyou may be finding the right word to express your heartfelt best wishes can be a difficult task, so why don't you go beyond the barrier of language and wish happy birthday in different languages. It's sure to make your friend, relative or whoever is the birthday boy or girl, feel fascinated and really excited at this unique birthday wish. Even if it is the birthday celebration of a little kid, wishing happy birthday in different languages can be a quite an educating way of wishing someone happy birthday. Kids can learn those languages a little and feel fascinated in exploring more, consequently stirring their learning faculty in an indirect way. Here is a list which will help you to wish "Happy Birthday" in different languages of the world. So next time you are at a birthday party you can share the joy and excitement in different languages. It can be an amusing at the same time a unique learning experience for both of you.

Brazil: Parabéns a você! nesta data querida muitas felicidades e muitos anos de vida.
Chinese-Cantonese: Sun Yat Fai Lok!
Chinese-Mandarin: qu ni sheng er kuai le
Croatian: Sretan Rodendan!
Czech: Vsechno nejlepsi k Tvym narozeninam!!
Danish: Tillykke med fodselsdagen!
Dutch: Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! or Van harte gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!
Esperanto: Felichan Naskightagon!
Farsi: Tavalodet Mobarak!
Finnish: Hyvaa syntymapaivaa!
French (Canada): Bonne Fete!
French: Joyeux Anniversaire!
German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Greek: Eytyxismena Genethlia! or Chronia Pola!
Hawaiian: Hau`oli la hanau!
Hebrew: Yom Huledet Same'ach!
Hungarian: Boldog szuletesnapot! or Isten eltessen!
Italian: Buon Compleanno!
Japanese: Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!
Russian: S dniom razhdjenia! or Pazdravliayu s dniom razhdjenia!
Spanish: Feliz Cumpleaños!
Swedish: Grattis på födelsedagen
Taiwanese: San leaz quiet lo!
Thai: Suk San Wan Keut!
Ukrainian: Mnohiya lita! or Z dnem narodjennia!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/relationships-articles/how-to-wish-happy-birthday-in-different-languages-46741.html

About the Author:
Sean Carter writes on holidays, events and celebrations around the world. He also writes on family, relationships, birthdays

How well do you know your purposed in life? I mean have you ever asked yourself, why am
I doing here and what am I supposed to do as a living person? What brought me here? And
who brought me here? That question came to my mind before, when I first embrace Christ
Jesus my Lord God and personal savior. And seemingly I never thought that I could be one of those of which some called servants of the Lord.

It is written in the bible known to all Christian “The Great Commission” in Mathew 28:19 the
Lord says: 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Well that well explained my purposed, to serve God be His instrument in sharing what purposed God has
for His people and let anyone know that truly He (Jesus) is the way the truth and the life that no one can come to the father but through Him John 14:6. In our time now, we are apparently living in a modern era, our spiritual faith make us much stronger to face reality and more vulnerable for our brothers and sisters in Christ, giving a hand for those who are in depth
of sins and not spiritually prepared for any occasions of struggles in life. In any other way we have our own battle, but as far as our Faith concern we have all the power to win every battle for the word of God are much powerful than anyone else in this world. As He have said into His words in “Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” the Lord never fails to remind us about our spiritual need and things to be done in any circumstances. He is truly true and faithful to His word it is our faith our love for Him which makes His spirit moves toward our life. Prayer is a very powerful weapon to gear up one’s desire to serve God for without it we are useless. The bottom line is that open up your eyes to reality of life the chase is on for the coming of Jesus Christ, live life according to His will for you might don’t want to be left alone..

SALVATION IS ALL WE NEED don’t leave without it!!!!