What It's Really All About?

Sometimes in the hurry of it all, we forget what its really about. What is it really about anyway? It is about being grateful and simply experiencing the joy that comes from sincerely appreciating everything. Let us realize that with such a fast paced life and the glitz and glamour of wanting it all, it sometimes can be hard to enjoy and appreciate the simple things every day. Perhaps its that we do not appreciate as often as we should. Appreciation is the very essence of personal and business success. How do you show appreciation?

The secret is in building relationships. Building relationships is what success on any business level is all about, no matter what time of year it is. How do you build strong relationships? Start with a smile. It is free and works wonders.. Always be genuine and sincere with clients. Never sell them your product. I realize that this sounds odd because as a business owner this is what you do, sell. Remember why it is that you patron the places you patron. Most likely you shop there because you know that these businesses are not simply selling you a product. They are helping you solve your problem and simply care. Make your clients part of your business. Clients are the main reason for my business. Without them I do not exist. So simply scheduling some special events, writing handwritten thank you notes, fun contests, blog and more really help in creating word of mouth and build a sense of community that people want to belong to. These are just some ways to building relationships in your organization. Do a little cause marketing. Host an auction event and offer some items from your business and invite other surrounding businesses to get involved. This auction can add as part of your holiday party. You will make it more memorable, create entertainment and make people feel good about doing good deeds.

Launching a new product this year. Offer free samples at a party. It could be casual. Take this time to get up close and connect with everyone in your organization. Wait until New Year's to thank your clients. You could offer tips to sweep out the old and create great fortune in the coming year. Write handwritten notes to all of your clients and schedule to have them delivered on New Year's Eve. Hand written notes are a great gesture throughout the year. Send them healthy snack gift baskets instead of chocolates and the other high calorie stuff we eat too much of during the holidays. Trust me they will be glad you gave them something crunchy like popcorn or pretzels. This last tip is really for you. Remember to focus on what is important to you and always be genuine and sincere. Take some time and reflect on what is important to you? Maria Shriver's book," Just who will you be", is a great short read to help you gain some perspective if you need it.

For more marketing tips and other ways to network please visit ExpressionableShopping,com and click on the gift etiquette blog. Happy holidays!

Hello I am Mireya owner of ExpressionableShopping.com, an online gift boutique that features gifts for life' s occasions. I hope to conquer the corporate markets of event specialists and mortgage/realtor companies by helping people build the right relationships and express the best intentions. Shop now at ExpressionableShopping.com

Ask about free shipping for local orders.

The Value of Indian Spices

India, as they rightly say, is the Land of Spices. Indian spices are popular throughout the world for their usefulness in adding to the taste of cuisines, besides their value in making perfumes, cosmetics, medicines, and pharmaceuticals.

Excellent appetizers and preservatives with great anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-biotic properties, spices are indeed rather useful. Actually, earlier--in the absence of freezers and deep freezers--certain spices such as cloves, mustard, and ground mustard were used to preserve food for long.

The climate of India being varied from tropical to sub tropical to temperate helps in the production of almost all types of spices. In fact, 75, out of 109 known spices, are grown in India, and India accounts for 45 percent of total global spice exports.

Indian spices have a rich history that is more than 7000 years old. In the distant past, these were the chief item of export from India to Mesopotamia, Arab and Egypt. And, at times, wars were fought between the various western powers such as the Portuguese, the British and the French for control over Indian spices that were sometimes valued more than their weight in gold.

Categorized Indian Spices

Indian spices could be categorized under various heads.

Seeds: Ajowan, Anardana, Aniseed, Coriander, Fenugreek, and Poppy Seeds are some of the famous and widely used spices that come in this category.

Leaves: Peppermint Leaves, Mint, Curry Leaves, Tejpat, and Rosemary Leaves are the leading spices in this category.

Flowers: Rose, Caper, and Saffron are the well-known names in this group.

Roots: Garlic, Ginger, Onion, and Turmeric are some of the leading spices that are basically roots.

Bark: Cinnamon and Darchini are the well-known names in this category of spices.

Fruits: Cardamon, Tamarind and Vanilla are some of the leading names in this category.

Miscellaneous: Black Pepper, Clove, and Asafoetida are the leading names in the group.

Indian Spices may be placed under various heads but their usefulness remains the same: making the Indian cuisines, particularly the Indian Curry, the most famous name in the world of cuisines, besides being indispensable for a variety of other purposes mentioned elsewhere.

http://www.indianexcursion.net/indian/indian-spices.html

Mind And Body

How to Take Care of Yourself Too!

First thing I have to say is that everything anyone has ever said about grandparenting, is true! You really get to do all the fun things you did with your kids as they discovered the world around them, only it's in a never ending state of "now". Otherwise known as timelessness. All the challenges of being a parent, are so joyously absent in being a grandparent. It's just pure Joy.

As a retired nurse (after thirty plus years) I have to say that some of my greatest lessons in life have been learned since becoming a grandmother. I've learned that spending time with my little grandbaby is like making time stand still. I've learned that when I'm being "silly grammy" in whatever way that I can, just so I can see and hear her little belly-laugh, ... that it's so infectious, I laugh just as hard .... and that makes her laugh even harder! Watching her discover something for the first time, or finally mastering something she's been working so hard to learn, is truly an event! An event worthy of a "standing ovation" every time. :) It's such a privilege to be involved in your grandchildren's lives. And so good for grandchildren to have their grandparents close by.

Yes, It's our time and our love that is everything to our grandkids, but I also want to be here with them on this planet, in the very best health and shape I can be. In the end, I want to have been a good example of how to caretake a body, mind, and spirit, at any age! Now there is where a little extra income will come in handy. So I'm getting an education on how to go about taking good care of me financially too!

I'm a senior and I don't mind saying, that I don't always learn things as quickly as I used to, so it was very important to me that it should be a program showing me exactly what to do and where, "step by step".

If you feel the same as I do, then go to: http://DirectionsToMoney.com and get educated too! The time couldn't be better, to bring in an extra income with minimal expenditure of time on your part, because time is very precious for us grandparents!

Sincerely,

"Grammy G"

Norman Vincent Peale

Should Christians Buy This Book?

Studying On Faith Alone
What Happened To The Wise Men

Do You Read The Bible Regularly

Henry Ford
Bill Gates

Do You Actually Get to Go to Heaven - Christian Thinking

Stuart Rachels
Donald Palmer

Was Jesus Really Born On December 25th - Video

Shiva Rea
Jai Uttal

What Are the Fundamentals in Christianity

Dealing With Selfish Thoughts
Dealing With Macho Mentality

Who Really Wrote The Bible

Five Rules For Bathrooms
Electrical Wiring During

Ideas About Your Religion and Trees - Something To Think About

John Adams
Abraham Lincoln

New Thinking About Noah's Ark and Family

Edith Hamilton
Joseph Campbell

Ideas About Your Religion and Trees - Something To Think About

Linda Page
Andrew Weil

Good Explanation of Old Testament Tithing

Recommended Teen Reading List
How Do I Know What The Universe

Ezekiel Prophecy - Bridge Uniting House of Judah and House of Joseph

The following is a bridge from the Native American spiritual path, the Red Road, as taught by Cherokee elder John Red Hat Duke, to Torah, the holy scriptures of our ancestors in Jerusalem, on which Judah (Jews) and Joseph (Hopi and those tribes associated with them) may unite with HaShem's blessing.

Note: The union of the House of Judah and the House of Joseph is the same event as the completion of the Hopi migration back to Jerusalem, as revealed to Dorothy by Creator. Ezekiel 37

Step 1: Observe nature with awe and gratitude. A sense of love and respect for all creation will begin to grow within me.

Creation. Our universe. The cycles of life and death. A vast composite of exquisite harmony; a truly beautiful harmonic symphony of melodious verse with each vibratory element sustaining one another, loving one another. This is truly a miracle of melodies played out in the grand scheme of creation.

HaShem's plan for humanity is wondrous and exciting! As the salmon swim upstream every year to spawn, they are led by HaShem's awesome spirit. In the wondrous scheme of HaShem's creation, all of creation follows an internal instinct, and so Jacob's children yearn to go home. HaShem has provided an inheritance for them in Judea-Samaria so His plan of creation may be fulfilled.

Step 2: Learn to trust Creator and accept my circumstances. Overcoming adversity will produce spiritual growth within me as I walk the Red Road.

Today we face great adversities, probably greater than any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes. It is also a wonderful time of great opportunity for spiritual growth. We have the potential of rising to great spiritual heights; even to the place of forgiveness, love and tolerance where we will be prepared for the coming of Messiah.

Moses' life was filled with circumstances that tested his faith in HaShem, G-d. He was instructed by Creator to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses had to trust HaShem or he would have given up on his mission before he ever began it because in his mind the work was impossible. Yet, if he had given up and not trusted HaShem, the Israelites could still be living as slaves under the Egyptians, but HaShem's plan was fulfilled. The Israelites were protected and sustained. Creator led them through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. Through all the adversity of wandering in the wilderness, Moses had to convince the people of Israel to accept their circumstances and trust HaShem and He would lead them home.

We have a tendency to quickly enter the land of 'fire and ice," where our emotions fluctuate to extreme anger (fire) and to coldness and judgment (ice.) Now we must learn to enter the land of 'milk and honey,' where we will nourish, i.e. provide milk for all the children of Jacob with an attitude of sweet forgiveness, i.e. with the sweetness of honey. May we move beyond the place of being extremely difficult to appease to a place where we will bring joy to Jacob and all of our ancestors who wait with hopeful hearts that we will enter the land of milk and honey.

Step 3: Seek for truth within myself, that I may remove hypocrisy and evil intent from within my heart.

Creator is the third partner in procreation. It is He who gives life. It is interesting to note that procreation is the first mitzvah mentioned in the Torah, which gives it primary importance.

Children are the greatest blessing we can have in this life, and Jacob's children were no exception. They were his greatest joy, and it is said that Joseph was his favorite.

This apparently caused jealousy in the hearts of his brothers, except for Benjamin. So they contrived evil action against Joseph to get rid of him. They contemplated killing him, but ended up throwing him down a well from which he was sold into slavery in Egypt.

Joseph's brothers, including Judah, then went home and practiced possibly the greatest hypocrisy and deception of their lives. They pretended to be grief stricken, and convinced their father, Jacob, that Joseph had been mauled to death by wild animals.

However, HaShem was with Joseph, and turned the evil action of his brothers into a positive guidance and blessing for Joseph and for all of Israel.

There is a way to remove jealousy and evil intent from our hearts and return to live in the abundant blessings and unconditional love of HaShem. HaShem commanded the Israelites that He is Yahweh their God who brought them out of Egypt where they lived as slaves. They shall have no other gods to rival Him.

As we serve others with loving-kindness, we serve HaShem. As we allow His Living Waters to flow through our hearts and bring joy to others, the flowing water also purifies our own hearts through love, and this prepares our hearts to be ready for the coming of Messiah. The reason the union has not occurred between Judah and Joseph prior to now is because the people have not been ready! There has been no water in the well!

Is there any other way for all the children of Israel to regain wonderful blessed companionship with Creator except to accept each other with unconditional love and return to being the unified family of Jacob? Let's bring Joseph back home to his father and receive HaShem's blessing.

Step 4: Repent and humbly surrender my will to Creator, that I may become one with Great Spirit.

The joy of walking in harmony with Creator cannot be surpassed by any worldly activity. It produces a profound sense of peace and completeness; it answers the question, "Who am I?"

The House of Israel sinned against HaShem. We chose to live wickedly and rebel against Him. Before we can walk in harmony with Him again, we must see our own wickedness as repulsive and turn away from it in humility and repentance. We must ask HaShem's forgiveness.

We must surrender our arrogant self-will to Creator's will. For instance, He told us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and He declared the seventh day as the Sabbath.

Some of us feel it does not matter which day we choose to call the Sabbath, but that is not humble surrender to the will of HaShem; it is arrogant self-will! The Sabbath given to man was a blessing from HaShem, and a blessing once given cannot be changed! If we desire to walk in companionship with Him and receive of His blessing, we must repent and humbly surrender to His will.

When we have turned away from our wicked ways, and received Creator's forgiveness, then we will be ready to accept our inheritance in Judea-Samaria. Currently, Judah is in control of this area. Although HaShem has promised to join together Judah and Joseph as one stick, it will only be accomplished when the people are ready. Judah must be ready as well as the Ten Northern Tribes; the House of Joseph.

It is not enough to walk in the ways of the Noachide Laws, or to adhere to the 613 laws of the Torah. This is like singing in low bass; a very low vibration. We must sing in high tenor or soprano at a much higher vibration. We must walk the higher spiritual path of purity and unconditional love; the spiritual path of the Keetoowah, the Red Road, in the truth of the Torah. This can only be accomplished by learning to walk in the way Creator commanded when He told us to not bear any grudge against the children of His people, but to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18)

All children of Jacob, Israel, must accept one another in the way HaShem commanded before we will be ready to fulfill the prophecy in Ezekiel 37:19. May we be quick to forgive perceived wrongs, and not relish being cruel and difficult to appease. May Israel again see all his children united as one family.

Step 5: Communicate with Great Spirit from my heart; listen, and live the insight I receive.

Israel is to listen! Yahweh our G-d is one G-d, and we must love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Have we lost the unity between our body, mind and spirit? Is our worship of HaShem lip service only? We can try to convince others that we walk with HaShem by speaking about holy things. However, our actions speak much louder than our words, and our actions betray what is in our hearts, and what is in our hearts is who we really are.

Some Israelites were thorns in the side of Moses. They tried to convince the people that they should return to Egypt to the good life. These are the dark forces that are with us still.

Today, Joseph wants to return home and claim his inheritance, but there are those who would deny him that which HaShem has provided, saying Joseph's children are an abomination in the sight of Creator and would only destroy eretz Israel if they were allowed to return.

Judah is refusing to invite Joseph back home, and in some ways he has good reason. The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel have not been living as a light reflecting the wonderful love of HaShem. They have assimilated into the many Nations of the world and many of them are living in idolatry today.

But what has Judah done to draw them back into the love of HaShem? Where is the light that would light the pathway for the rest of Jacob's children to find their way back into the joyous place of living in harmony with Creator? Judah, herself, does not appear to carry this light!

We must rise above the material world of law, only, into the spiritual world of HaShem. It is here that love resides; that HaShem resides. It is here that Light exists. It is here that our thoughts exist and we make our choices.

Creator has given us instruction; we are to have a heart full of unconditional love. If we refuse to accept our brothers and sisters of the House of Israel with unconditional love and forgiveness, and with a helpful spirit to help each other prepare to stand before HaShem in purity and truth, then we are a hypocritical people; we worship HaShem with our lips only! We must live His commands if we are to truly be His people! We must love our people as ourselves; all the children of Jacob!

Step 6: Learn true abstinence. It is in serving others, with an attitude of loving-kindness that I create a flow of Living Waters which will purify my heart.

Joseph served his Egyptian master well. Even when he was falsely accused and imprisoned, he retained his attitude of servitude and loving-kindness by interpreting the dreams of the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker. When the pharaoh had two dreams and could find no one to interpret them, the chief cup-bearer remembered Joseph and told the Pharaoh how he had interpreted his and the chief baker's dreams accurately.

So the Pharaoh called Joseph to him and asked him to interpret his dreams. He did so, and then suggested how the Pharaoh should govern in the approaching times of plenty and famine.

Pharaoh approved of his suggestions and the interpretation of his dreams, and therefore promoted Joseph to chancellor. Only his own throne was above Joseph.

Joseph was blessed by HaShem, and because Pharaoh accepted Joseph into his household, he prospered.

Joseph knew and acknowledged that it was HaShem who interpreted the dreams. He also knew that when he served others, he served Creator.

When Joseph's brothers came to him during the famine and asked for food, Joseph lovingly fed them and provided additional food for them and their families. It was this service with loving-kindness that created tremendous joy in Joseph's heart; the joy of serving HaShem.

Jacob's family was reunited, and the flow of love, the flow of Living Waters, moved them all to tears. This is why water is used as the symbol for the cleansing of the soul. Flowing water purifies, and love flowing from HaShem through compassionate servants like Joseph purify their hearts with the flow of living waters.

This same joy will be experienced again when Joseph's brothers serve HaShem by welcoming Joseph's children and the other members of the House of Israel home. It is then that HaShem will establish a new covenant with the House of Judah and the House of Israel. It will be a covenant written in the heart, a covenant of unconditional love without judgment. It will be a time of great joy and abundant blessing as we experience the wonderful love and compassion of HaShem.

Step 7: Attain complete, joyous harmony with Great Spirit; walk the Red Road. This requires that I totally surrender my will to the will of Creator, and love others unconditionally without judgment because that is who I am.

IAM is calling. Have we forgotten how to listen to His voice? Have Judah and the House of Israel become deaf to the voice of HaShem and turned to self-worship in the ways of the world?

We must return to the ways of the traditional ancestors if we would be ready to welcome Messiah (Masaau). We must return to the ways of Abraham, and the ways HaShem taught Moses when he called His children out of Egypt; out of bondage into a land of milk and honey.

We are invited to enter the land of milk and honey and we can do this by inviting our children home with a sweet, forgiving spirit.

It is time to do more than talk about HaShem and about holy things. It is time to BE that which we were created to be. It is time to become one with the wonderful, awesome IAM; to walk in companionship with Him as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden.

Joseph was a wonderful example, and we can do this as he did. With a forgiving spirit, he fed his brothers when they came to ask for food from him in Egypt during the famine.

Joseph depicted a man totally surrendered to the will of HaShem, else he would have judged his brothers guilty and unconditional love and forgiveness would not have been possible.

Joseph walked the Red Road by fulfilling HaShem's Law of Love, and now Joseph's children are asking his brothers to complete HaShem's plan of Creation by walking in companionship with them along the Red Road and inviting them to come home. Will HaShem hold Judah guiltless if they do any less?

For more information about gaining eternal life in the presence of Creator, and about the return of the long awaited Hopi Pahana, read the books Red Hat Speaks, and Red Hat's Wisdom, by Dorothy K. Daigle. These books can be ordered from any bookstore or online from http://www.iuniverse.com or Amazon.com

Dorothy was taught by Cherokee elder and wisdom keeper, John Red Hat Duke, for over ten years in the Keetoowah Cherokee spiritual ways, in Eastern philosophy, and in Judaism. She was raised Christian so she has a good working knowledge of Christianity. She now follows no religion but strives to walk the Red Road spiritual path according to Jesus' teachings.

She received her call from Creator in the fall of '92, and was then taught by the great prophet Elijah for four years. She was given four assurances by Creator when He called her. She was told that she was anointed by the Holy One of Israel, that she would be protected until this work was done, that Creator would go before her whenever He sent her somewhere, and that she did not have to prove herself to anyone. She is one of Creator's prophesied Two Witnesses. She carries wisdom of many years of living under Creator's guidance and direction.

Starting With Simple Things

Prevent Pinhole Leaks & Slab Leaks & Conserve Energy by Controlling Your Hot Water Circulating Pump

If you have had 1 leak, more will surely follow - you can do something about it before further damage is done and additional money is wasted.

Circulating hot water is the fastest way to wear out your pipes. In fact 90% of all pinhole leaks and slab leaks happen in hot water lines for the following reasons:

1. Chemicals in water are corrosive

2. Chemicals in water when heated are even more corrosive

3. Chemicals in water when heated and circulated through copper pipes that bend around corners and turn up walls and curve around electrical conduit and sewer pipes and are reduced in size as water passes through a building is extremely corrosive

In order to understand the solution it is helpful to know what causes the problem. With a little insight into how domestic hot water recirculation lines or recirc loops are built and how they work we can see that the answer is as easy as flipping a switch.

Apartments, hotels and larger homes have recirc loops designed to move hot water to the farthest fixture from the boiler or water heater in a reasonable amount of time. Each loop has a pump pushing water through a copper pipe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each loop has multiple joints and fittings that obstruct the flow of water. Gate or ball valves and flapper checks and expansion tanks and whatever else the plumber had on his truck the day he built the line create disturbances in the flow path.

Water likes to flow in a nice straight line with no obstructions. This is called laminar flow - nice and smooth. Anything in the flow path can disrupt the flow and cause an eddy to form. Eddies are the bad boys, the unwanted visitor, the black sheep of the family.

Create a little friction, add in some turbulence and the next thing you know you have a leak.

As your reading this please keep in mind there are things you can do to reduce or even eliminate leaks. They are relatively inexpensive and I'll tell you what they are in a minute.

When water pipes leak many things can happen - none of which are any good. Pinhole and slab leaks, mold, wasted water, wasted energy, property damage, resident/guest complaints and inconvenience all mean one thing.

It cost you time and money.

The only question left is how much? Please refer to Table 1 for an idea of how much a leak can cost.

Table 1: The Cost of a Leak

1 $200 You caught the leak early and it wasn't buried in a wall or under a slab

2 $1,000 The leak was in a wall and you caught it early and it was relatively accessible after tearing out some drywall

3 $2,000 Same as above except you didn't catch it early and mold and light structural damage had occurred

4 $10,000 The leak was underneath a concrete slab but you were able to pinpoint the exact location

5 $20,000 Same as above except you had to chase the leak into another rooms

6 $100,000 + The leak went unnoticed until someone got sick and you got sued

So there is the doom and gloom. What's the solution?

Good question. The answer is there are a number of things you can do. As you go through my list keep in mind that people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time (based on a study by the California Energy Commission).

First, check your water pressure. 40 psi is high enough for most 1 or 2 story buildings. Be sure to check it in several places to find the lowest pressure in the building. Typically that would be the point furthest from the water meter. If you don't have a pressure regulator, put one in.

When implementing this strategy do it in stages. Drop the pressure by 5 psi at a time and wait to see if you have any complaints. Shower heads and aerators already restrict flow to 2.5 gpm or less. Newer fixtures like the Evolve line of low flow shower heads have pressure compensating technology built into them and work just as well at low pressure as they do at high pressure.

Second, turn off the pump when no one is using hot water. That's right. I said turn off the pump. As I mentioned earlier people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time. The pump only needs to be on when people need water.

There are 3 methods of implementing this strategy:

1. The Manual Method

2. The Guessing Method

3. The Automated Method

Manual Method

Have someone go to the switch and turn on the pump when you need hot water and turn it off when you are done. Might be practical for a single family home (certainly not convenient) but impossible in an apartment or hotel.

The Guessing Method

Plug your pump into a timer and guess when hot water will be needed. This may be a practical solution if the number of people living in the house or apartment or with a limited number of guests in a hotel and everyone has the same predictable need for hot water. Unfortunately when hot water is needed during an off period the timer gets disabled and never turned back on.

The Automated Method

Think about your recirculation line as a closed loop. When there is no demand for hot water, no water enters or leaves the system. When a hot water faucet is turned on there is a "leak" in the system.

When water leaves the system more water is added from the city water line through a cold water make-up line (this is the technical name for the copper pipe that brings cold water to your water heater).

If a flow sensor is placed in the cold water make-up line, any indication of water movement would mean someone is using hot water.

If the sensor sensed a demand (i.e., someone turned on a hot water faucet) it could turn on the pump. The demand would be met and the pump could be turned off automatically when the demand ended.

That is precisely how an On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller works. The pump is only on when there is a demand.

As it turns out, there are many benefits to automating your recirc pumps operation:

Drastically reduces pinhole leaks and slab leaks - if the hot water is not moving, it is much less corrosive

Energy is conserved - since people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time, the pump will be off 80% to 85% of the time. That means the recirculation line isn't full of hot water and no energy is being lost. California Energy Commission studies indicate 37% less energy is consumed when an On-Demand Controller is installed.

Note: A sufficiently high speed pump is required (2,200 rpm or faster) to implement this strategy. If you have a high speed pump you will only need an On-Demand Controller. If not you will need a full system including a high speed pump.

In conclusion, cut your risks, lower your losses, reduce your energy bill and extend the life of you pipes and water heater or boiler by turning off you recirc pump with an On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller.

Contact me directly at the email address below to find out if this solution will work for you or what other options you might have. To purchase the On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller click on the link below.

Do it now and sleep better tonight knowing that one of your biggest headaches just got cured.

For information on the On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller go to http://www.SavesYouEnergy.com

Mark Franklin is CEO of Saves You Energy, LLC a manufacturer and retailer of water and energy conservation products. As a civil engineer Mr. Franklin was involved in the design of multi-family and commercial projects worth in excess of $100 million

Mr. Franklin has worked with companies ranging from the US Navy to Embassy Suites and Biltmore Hotels to Stanford Student Housing. Pinnacle Properties, United Development Group and ConAm are among the apartment ownership and management companies that have used his products. School Districts like the Blue Valley School District in Kansas and ESCOs such as Johnson Controls have utilized his technologies to reduce energy consumption

Mr. Franklin can be reached at mark@SavesYouEnergy.com or visit his company's web site at http://www.SavesYouEnergy.com

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Home Made Solar Panels

Solar panels are designed to produce electricity through the use of the natural energy of the sun. These panels absorb the wavelengths of light and turn the natural imminence of the sun into heat and power for the home. Homemade solar panels even work on most cloudy days simply because the light sends enough of the UV wavelengths of light needed. However on bright sunny days the panels work even better.

Now, it is so easy to construct and design your own solar panels with the simple purchase of kits. These kits offer all the instructions, designs, and information needed to accomplish the task. For many homeowners the concept of having homemade solar panels is increasing in popularity everyday.

The kits that are sold and used are not considered expensive and in addition the overall cost of the entire project is worth the funding; because the homemade solar panels will usually pay for themselves within the first few months of installation or being constructed.

Many people who have purchased the kits have done all of the work own his or her own, this means that hiring a contractor or having major technical experience isn't necessary, you don't need professionals to do the job at all.

Homemade solar panels are being seen more now than ever as individuals want to also preserve the environment and the resources. Some panels are even being seen on recreational vehicles, office buildings, and even factories. However, there are more homes seen with the panels than a year ago and that estimation is speculated to increase as well.

In order to achieve having homemade solar panels on your home too all an individual need do is purchase the kit through a web site via the Internet, or also at some local home improvement stores. The idea is so popular there are even some bigger hardware stores that carry these kits. As more people consider the idea of becoming eco-friendly and use the panels they also save a great deal in expenses. There are occasions when some utility companies or power companies in various areas will pay individuals for the unused power that the homemade solar panels produce. So, in essence it all works out for the best when it comes to the homeowner and the decision to have solar panels.

For the most part the kits are selling faster than any other home improvement product on the market today as more individuals realize the increased potential of the homemade solar panels on the homes. Earth4Energy is a guide that explains building Homemade Solar Panel.

Simple Light Switch Replacement

Spiritual Ethical Will - Giving the Gift of Tradition

Spiritual ethical wills are different from a last will and testament. Instead of bequeathing physical assets, ethical wills bequeath personal insights, morals and philosophies. If you are looking for a gift that will keep on giving then invest in the development of a spiritual ethical will.

Parts of an Ethical Will

An ethical will can be formatted in a number of different ways, however, most formats will have the same basic sections. The first section will be the introduction. It will identify who the ethical will is intended for and what its purpose is. The second section will contain personal insights into life, philosophies and values that the writer has. The final section will point out what the reader is supposed to learn from the will, such as cherishing time with their family or learning to be charitable.

Writing Your Ethical Will

Writing your ethical will can be an intimidating process. People who do not write a lot may feel as if the process of composing and editing an ethical will is more than they can handle, or they may feel that they just don't have the time to write one. Fortunately, you don't have to sit down and write the entire thing in one night, nor do you have to write an ethical will that is 100 pages long.

The writing process for an ethical will needs to start with an outline and a brainstorming session. The outline will help you to format your ethical will and the brainstorming session will help you to flesh out the ethical will. There are a lot of brainstorming activities that you can try including word association and freewriting.

The next step is to develop the topics you entered in your outline. To do this you will need to try and write at least one paragraph per topic. You can talk about memories, you can provide examples or you can just discuss your thoughts about the topic.

After you have a first draft completed you will want to put away your will for at least a week. When you take it back out you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes. This will make it easier to edit your will. Start by reading through the ethical will out loud. This will help you to find grammatical mistakes, typos and sentence flow problems.

Get more tips for writing an ethical will at Spiritual Ethical Will.

Developing Wealth Building Habit

Maintaining Gutters in Winter - San Diego Home Tips

For the homeowner, nearly nothing is as bad of a problem as is undertaking a foundation repair project. Foundation repair is costly. It is time consuming and it is messy work. More often than not, foundation repairs could have been mitigated if proper gutter maintenance was used. This is especially true during the winter months. Here is why it is important to maintain your gutters in winter.

When snow falls and lands on the roof, it accumulates. Depending on the area you live in, there up to a foot of snow, or more, can end up accumulating before temperatures climb above freezing. That roof snow acts as a huge reservoir of water. In addition, snow accumulates inside the gutters. When the weather gets above freezing the snow quickly converts into ice and water. That water needs a quick route of exit. If your gutters have not been cleaned or maintained or if an ice dam has been created, the water is going to flow over it and onto the ground surrounding the house. The ground around your house is already going to be saturated. Adding more water so near the foundation is inevitably going to create seepage. This seepage is what is, ultimately, going to wreck your foundation.

The first signs of infiltration will be in the form of moisture in the basement. This may be accompanied by the smell of mold. If the problem is not remedied, it will get worse. As the freeze/thaw cycle of winter and summer goes on, cracks and visible seepage into the basement may occur. Ultimately, these cracks become larger. This leads to a general weakening of structural integrity and potential structural failure.

All this could have been prevented if you had maintained your gutters in winter. Here are some tips to help you avoid this nightmare scenario. Make sure the downspouts drain at least 10 to 15 feet from the residence. Doing so will help to mitigate liquid infiltration, as it is channeled away at a safe distance.

Use long lasting materials. When people look at the cost of roof products, they need to look both at the price and its longevity. The longer the product lasts, the longer the period of time the cost can be amortized. In my experience, cheap products lead to more, sudden, failures than ones built with heavy duty ingredients.

If you do not like the idea of having to regularly maintain your downspout system, get a solution that uses covered gutters. You will not have to worry as much about debris and ice dams. They cost more. So, you will need to determine if the additional amount of money is worth the time savings.

Finally, make sure there is an adequate ground slope away from the residence. If there isn't, you will have a much higher risk of pooling and, ultimately basement infiltration. A cubic yard of dirt will vary from region to region of the United States. The cost of fixing the damage as a result of inaction will be a high multiple of this price.

For more information about gutters, please visit the website entitled Gutter Guards.ws. It can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.gutterguards.ws

If you liked this article and would like to learn more about Gutters, you should read the article entitled, Gutter Covers. It talks about a potential solution for keeping your gutters clean and well maintained. You can read the artice by clicking on the following link: http://www.gutterguards.ws/Gutter-Covers.html

I Have A Squeaky Floor

Spiritual Affirmation - Healing Your Inner Self With Spiritual Affirmations

From childhood to adulthood, the knowledge we gain or the experiences we have in our lives only helps us to discover our outer personality and brings us closer to material things of this world. At the same time we sometimes get depressed or fall into a low self-esteem Problem. Spiritual Affirmations help us get out of these problems. Spiritual Affirmations leads us towards a happy and satisfying life with a peaceful mind.

Affirmations are a judgment that we pass or any thought we have. An affirmation is directly linked to our sub consciousness. Affirmations can either be negative or positive which can either guide our subconscious actions to a successful life or towards failure.

Spiritual Affirmations are a form of meditation which when mediated often, have a desirable results. For example if a person has a lack of confidence or self-esteem problem sit in a peaceful, quiet place with some spiritual affirmations in your mind, let the emotions flow to you and start saying the spiritual affirmations aloud, 'I believe in myself' or 'My inner self will always guide me towards right path with decisions that are beneficial to me and others'.

The key behind spiritual affirmations is to let go of all your negative thoughts and trust completely in yourself. Instead of thinking 'This project is too difficult for me' try thinking 'I am capable of anything and obstacles do not effect me or my work'. Once you adopting this kind of spiritual affirmation you will notice a positive and healthy change in your life.

The best way to carry out spiritual affirmation technique is to release your mind of any negative thought, sit in a peaceful and quiet place, relax and visualize any positive spiritual affirmation such as 'My mind is at peace now'. At the same time try to use simple words and sentences which can easily be interpreted by our mind and mind can easily accept it to be true.

Spiritual affirmations not only help to achieve a peaceful mind and happy life but also helps us draw closer to God. Remember God and His blessings as much as possible while utilizing the spiritual affirmation technique. For example "I let my renewed soul thank God for His blessings" or 'I release my old self and reborn with a new pure soul'. The most acceptable and commonly used word in spiritual affirmation is 'Amen' meaning 'so be it'. While some of us use it to conclude our prayer, it can be used for spiritual affirmation.

For a positive result spiritual affirmation needs to be repeated many times for effectiveness. Write down any positive thought you get maybe in a diary, on a piece of card or whichever way is convenient to you. Review them daily to get your mind to completely accept these thoughts. Preferably review them twice a day. Initially during spiritual affirmation technique we will also get negative thoughts. Note down these thoughts as well and at the end of the day review them and try replacing them with something more positive. Once you perform this spiritual affirmation technique on a regular basis you will find a positive change in yourself with a renewed spirit.

Robert Watson is a certified hypnotherapist with the ABH and the NGH, and has worked with affirmations and subliminal messages for over ten years. Visit his Subliminal Messages website for more information about using affirmations and subliminal messages to help you lose weight, quit smoking, have a more positive outlook and more.

Habits To Prevent Losing Things

All About Retaining Walls - Home Repair Advice

Introduction to Retaining Walls

First, a retaining wall is a structure that holds back, or retains, lateral faces of dirt, water, or other materials. Retaining walls are used to prevent erosion or collapse of higher level ground onto a certain building, structure, or general area. The earth that is retained is often referred to as backfill. The word backfill is also used as a verb to describe placing more dirt behind a retaining wall to make the ground more level.

Retaining walls can be the answer if you are blessed (or cursed) to a contoured lot. They can turn a steep slope into a terraced yard, creating a stair step effect instead of a slope.

Retaining walls can be constructed from many different materials using many different techniques. There are several factors that influence which choice will be the best choice for each situation, including cost, height of the wall, soil characteristics, and ground water conditions.

Generally, most municipalities require that any retaining wall over four feet in height be engineered or approved by a licensed engineer. It is important to check local building codes before starting any retaining wall projects, even if it is below four feet tall. After all, retaining walls should be structurally sound before there is any thought of aesthetic appeal. The retaining wall must be able to stand up to the pressure exerted by the backfill, also called lateral earth pressure. This lateral earth pressure is a majority of the force that the retaining wall will need to bear. Lateral earth pressure is determined by studying the weight of the soil unit, slope of the soil, soil type (for plasticity and adhesion purposes with clay soil types), and ground water levels. Engineers do many calculations with these factors to determine what design to implement with the wall. To homeowners and contractors that do not want to go through engineering steps, it is generally a good rule to overdo it. Many structural methods to build retaining walls with withhold earth, at least temporarily, with a height up to four feet, are adequate, which is why most local building codes require engineering if the wall will be over four feet tall.

However, even methods that may seem adequate for retaining earth can fail if they are not built properly. Many times, it is elements below grade that can make (or break) a retaining wall. Problems including bowing, slanting, or cracking are evidence of retaining wall failure because it was not successful in retaining the dirt. Cutting costs with a bad contractor, insufficient materials, or neglecting the below grade elements can turn out to be more expensive over time if replacement or repair is necessary often or if collapse of earth causes damage to nearby structures. For example, erosion can cause foundation issues if dirt erodes from under the foundation. This is just one example how a retaining wall failure can cause expensive problems aside from the cost to repair or replace the retaining wall.

Another aspect that is often neglected or underestimated that can cause failure of a retaining wall is drainage. Inadequate drainage of retaining walls can mean that water is trapped behind the wall, adding to the weight that the wall must hold back. Usually weep holes and/or drainage pipes are used to flush rain water and ground water from behind the wall. It is important that the drainage system, whatever it be, have a filter barrier to keep dirt from clogging the drain or weep hole.

Options for Retaining Wall Materials

Railroad Crossties Railroad crossties, also shortened to railroad ties, can be used as a retaining wall material; however, as with most every retaining wall material, it must be installed correctly in order to be a solution. For example, most railroad tie retaining walls will need a substantial footer to tie the crossties to in order to keep the bottom from sliding out. Also, there needs to be perpendicular members placed into the ground behind the wall to keep the wall from overturning. These members, called deadmen, should be at least 1.5 times as long as the wall is high and should be placed at minimum every 6 feet or so. Because railroad ties are wood (even though they are treated most of the time), there is a risk that they may rot over time or be subject to termite infestation, which can lead to a weak wall likely to bulge or break. And, even though there are areas for water to slowly seep though, it is still a good idea to have a filtered drain or weep holes designed into the wall.

Treated Wood Treated wood retaining walls offer many of the same risks as retaining walls because over time it is susceptible to rot and termite infestation. It is a labor intensive construction, but it is usually lightweight and decently strong if built correctly. It is recommended to build a concrete footer to attach the wall to in order to keep it from shifting. Construction usually requires a clear area to be backfilled after the wall is built, so it is not always the best material to use if you are replacing an existing retaining wall. This wall still needs weep holes or drains designed into the wall. Standing water behind the wood will only increase risk of rot.

Concrete Concrete is a great material to use for retaining walls. Of course, there is a right and a wrong way to build a concrete retaining wall, which makes choosing your contractor a big job. There are many different designs that can lead to a successful concrete retaining wall, but one thing is for sure: there needs to be a footer beneath the wall to ensure success. Concrete is one of the most durable man-made products known to man. Most concrete poured today is engineered to last for over 50 years. Plus, concrete offers many decorative options as well. Aside from a plain, white concrete retaining wall, you can also pour a colored concrete retaining wall, stain a retaining wall after it has cured, pour into a patterned form, apply a vertical stamp material and pattern after poured, etc. Sealing the concrete wall can lead to an easy-to-maintain surface that rinses free of most dirt and grime.

Blocks or Paver Stones Engineered blocks that stack together to make a wall must be as simple as building with Legos, right? Nope. These retaining walls should also have a significant footer in order to support not only the weight of the dirt but also the weight of the wall. These blocks can be a unique look, but it may even be necessary to place a concrete retaining wall behind the blocks if there immense lateral earth pressure. In such a case, the concrete would be the structural element, using the blocks as a visual feature.

Rock or Brick One of the favorite looks for a retaining wall is natural stone or brick. These materials usually look more permanent and traditionally classy. However, just as we have seen with the other materials, it is necessary to have a concrete footer below grade to carry the weight and ensure success of the retaining wall. Like architectural blocks or paver systems, it may be necessary to back a masonry retaining wall with a concrete retaining wall for structural support.

Tasha Lucas
Monster Constructors - http://www.monsterconstructors.com
Retaining Walls - http://www.monsterconstructors.com/dfw-retaining-walls.htm

Ice Dam Problems And Solutions

What Needs to Change to Become Your Authentic Self?

Becoming your Authentic Self is a process of deprogramming who you were trained to be and rebuilding your perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors to be in alignment with who you were born to be.

And this means change.

"Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!"

There is good reason why humans resist change. The inborn survival instinct does not want to risk losing what it has in exchange for the uncertainty of change.

The dilemma for the person on the spiritual path is that you must change in order to grow. My Awakening Your Light Body teacher, Duane Packer, often shared this quote: "If you want to have what you've never had, you will need to do what you've never done."

The good news is that the more spiritually evolved you become, the more tools and skills you have for consciously creating your reality.

Although it is quite tempting to believe that if only the other person (or situation) would change all would be well in our world, at some point in our spiritual growth we come to accept that our outside reality is a reflection of our inner reality. It is said that we don't see the world as it is; we see the world as we are. It is a big leap forward in spiritual awakening to understand that what we experience in our outer life is a reflection of our inner life.

The great thing is we can change our mind any time we want and start focusing on how we want our life to be (instead of focusing on what we don't want and creating more of that!)

As Nelson Mandela has said: "We must become the change we want to see in the world."

A good question to ask when you are not liking a life situation:

"What belief, attitude, behavior, or perspective do I need to change so I can be joyful in this situation?"

Once we get past wanting to blame someone else for our unhappiness, it is not too hard to take the next step and ask what we need to change about ourselves.

Is it possible that something as simple as asking what we need to change in ourselves can turn around a seemingly impossible situation? Yes!

How do I know? Because I have done it. The hardest part is acknowledging that the unpleasant outside circumstance is a result of something inside of me. But as the saying goes, "do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?" At this point on my spiritual path I have found myself to be "wrong" so often that I am used to noticing my "faults" and owning what is true no matter how embarrassing, silly, stupid (all judgments, by the way) it is. I encourage you if you have a situation that is causing you unhappiness, use it as an opportunity to ask "What do I need to change in myself so this situation gets better?"

I know you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc.,Spiritual Growth Coach & Mentor, Founder of http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com, an online resource center for people exploring their spirituality. Sign up now for a fr^ee membership and receive Jennifer's guided meditation:"Sitting in the Stillness". In this meditation you will connect with your Divine Self for guidance, inspiration and expanded consciousness. Sign Up Now! http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com

Structuring Your 24 Hour Day

Why Choose Home Window Tinting Film

Choosing Home Window Tinting Film can be a very important decision for your homes interior health. Window Film helps keep the sun's damaging rays from entering your home and damaging wood, fabrics, carpets and even furnishings and artwork. Window Tinting also keeps your home cooler and reduces glare caused by the sun.

The new homes built today are filled with windows giving a feeling of spaciousness and beauty, unfortunately with all that glass comes the task of keeping the sun damaging rays out. You really only have three choices:

1. Do nothing, leave your windows wide open and enjoy the beautiful views of the outdoors, plus have all natural lighting throughout your home, your home looks and feels bright. But unfortunately with unprotected windows the suns damaging effects will cost the homeowner a great deal of money in replacement furnishings and even replacement or refinishing of wood and wall coverings.

2. Put up window treatments, this seems like a logical choice but with large great rooms and floor to ceiling windows, window treatments would be the worst choice to keep the sun out. Plus window treatments would have to be raised and lowered during the day, no one wants to live in a dark home, why put in all that glass if you are just going to cover it.

3. Use Window Tinting Film, this is becoming the best choice amongst the bunch. You still can enjoy your beautiful views and you still can have natural lighting throughout your home. The best thing about home window tinting is that you can cut the sun's damaging UV rays by up to 99.9% and reduce the heat entering your home by up to 15 degrees.

The choice is clear, home window film is the best all around choice to protect your home interior.
Our company uses the Huper Optiks line of window films, we carry some of the best window tinting films on the market today. We have a patented line called select, this film actually has gold and silver in between the layers of film, giving it unmatched properties to protect your home and a film that is virtually clear. Contact us for a free estimate and a demonstration of our line of window films.

Mario Kotik is the co-owner of Tinting By Window Genie they service Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Medina and surrounding areas. For a Free Estimate call us at 1-866-966-Tint (8468)

Lowest Construction Bids

Make Your Home Handicapped Accessible

Whether you have a family member or a close friend who is handicapped, you need to make sure your home is handicapped accessible. Stairs and small hallways are impossible for those who need wheelchairs to move around, but there are a few easy changes you can make or a few features you can look for in order to make sure it is wheelchair friendly.

Safety is the most important feature of any home, but additional measures need to be taken into consideration if one your family members uses a wheelchair. Their bedroom needs to be on the ground floor and needs to have an easy exit. In most cases, this means that there is a door to the outdoors in the room so if there is a fire, this individual can escape quickly. Along the same lines, every room needs to have a large enough space for a wheelchair to rotate 360 degrees, which is approximately 5 feet in diameter. Doorways need to be at least 36 inches wide and hallways need to be anywhere from four and a half to five feet wide. Ideally, your home will have a minimal number of hallways. These precautions make it much easier for handicapped individuals to move from room to room.

The bathroom is the room that needs the most attention. Elderly or handicapped individuals often need the most help in the bathroom but it is very embarrassing to need assistance in this room. Therefore, you should design the bathroom so that these individuals can be as independent as possible. One of the best investments is a walk in bathtub. These tubs are designed in order to make bathing a safer and easier experience for those who have limited mobility. The convenient door opens up so you do not have to swing your legs up and over and the seat inside means you do not need to lower yourself to the bottom of the tub. Grip bars are an extra safety feature and should be installed around the entire bathroom.

Lower tables and keeping important or handy items at a convenient height is also an important consideration. It is not difficult to find a home that is already handicapped friendly or could easily be remodeled to be so. Remember that safety is the most important consideration so this factor needs to be top priority! With accessible emergency exits and a walk in bathtub, you are making the right choices!

If you would like more information on walk in bathtubs or would like more information about handicapped bathtubs, please visit the Simply Bathtubs website.

Resolving Home Remodeling Anxiet

Dream Walking - Where Do You Go To

Dream walking and astral travelling are very similar. Astral travelling tends to be something you do alone, where dream walking is a more conscious experience where you can choose who goes with you.

It is good to set your intentions when going to sleep. You can ask your Higher Self for help with a problem or you can consciously choose to go on an adventure, using your powers of visualization and imagination.

If you have friends who are open to spiritual experiences, you could chat with them in advance and invite them along on the adventure. Distance is no object, so you can even arrange this on Chat or by SMS messaging in advance.

When bedtime comes, go to bed in a relaxed and happy way and if you feel any tension in your body, just spend a few minutes releasing that consciously, becoming aware of the different parts of your body.

Breathe into these areas and relax and expand your consciousness. Feel the more subtle aspects of the physical body  the organs, the cells and molecules; and become aware of your Energy Body or Aura, which permeates throughout the physical body.

Allow the Electromagnetic Power in your Aura to expand and connect to more aspects of yourself by grounding yourself to the Earth, reaching up with your consciousness and feelings to the planets around the Sun in our solar system and feeling their influence, like archangels guiding one's destiny.

As you connect more and more with your Energy Body and the Energy Matrix of the Zero Point Field, which is talked about in Quantum Physics, feel your chakra centres activating and coming alive. Feel the multidimensional aspects of yourself opening up and connecting you with your spirit family, healing helpers and guides within and beyond the veil. You may feel your power increasing like a magnetic presence or charisma comes around you.

When the energies feel right, remember your intentions at the beginning of the process and who is coming with you. Reach out with your feelings and start a telepathic communication with the friends you would like to take with you. You do this deep in your heart with a faint starring in your feelings; it is more the intention to send the message than anything verbal.

If they are ready too, choose to slip out of your physical body into your Energy Body and choose to focus with your feelings on the images in your imagination. See yourself soaring through time and space. This is a process of transcending your physical body consciously becoming aware if the finer and finer aspects of Self, until you transcend the physical into your light body.

Remember that you do not really travel out of yourself: you just choose to make yourself bigger and move your awareness around inside of your Self, which truly is the whole universe. It is like moving your awareness from your head to your big toe, travel from your head to your toe; you just became aware of a different aspect of yourself. So choose to feel yourself as the Universe in this expanded transcendental awareness and then choose which aspect to be aware of.

It is all about focus of intention and what you choose to create; either alone or with the friends you have chosen to have this experience with you. Connect fully to the senses in your Energy or Light Body. This is like being aware of your senses in Sixth Sense Mode.

Feel your surroundings, the warmth of the sun, the wind in your hair; smell the flowers and the freshly cut grass in the hay meadows. Start a conversation with your friend and hear their voice in your ears. Feel their hand in yours as you walk along together. You are using your powers of visualization, imagination and mixing these with your passion and desire in a very subtle dream state.

Then fully open up your imagination and your Self to the multi-dimensions of experiences you can choose to create in this state of consciousness. Enjoy your Dream Walk. Remember you are only limited by your imagination, in this state of awareness all things are possible. Please focus on the good and life supporting aspects, which will help you and your friends, live a happier more fulfilled life.

When you are finished bring your Light Body/awareness back to the here and now, reconnect with your physical body again and enjoy the rest of your night's sleep. Thank all your friends who helped with this process and send them loving thoughts.

By George E. Lockett SSHA, IIHHT -- HealerGeorge(C) Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved. Tel: +44 (0)1286 882701 Visit HealerGeorge's web site to experience the power of Distant Healing or listen to HealerGeorge Radio giving Questions and Answer advice mixed with Spiritual Music. You can also enjoy many free benefits on HealerGeorge, like listening to Free Guided Meditations. Why not order HealerGeorge's Latest book entitled "A Journey into The Self - The Multi-dimensional Nature of Being Human" By George E Lockett. It is all available off the web site. HealerGeorge Web Site and New Book

Description: What is this book going to do for YOU? For those who are seeking a complete energetic makeover, as you read it you will feel a stirring and awakening in the depths of your heart. For those who have questions about Shifts in Consciousness, Energy Balancing, and Healing within the body, you will find clear answers.

Creating A Habit

Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling - My Favorite Trick

Do-it-yourself home remodeling is definitely on the increase. And while there are many ways to make changes to your living space, I have one definite favorite for cost, ease, impact and versatility.

My favorite do-it-yourself home remodeling trick is paint. I love paint! Why do I love paint? Let me count the ways.......

1) Cost

The average cost of a gallon of quality interior latex paint is $40 - $50. Depending on how many coats you will need to apply to cover the current color or if you will apply primer first (approximately $35 - $45 per can), an average size room will take 2 gallons. Ceiling paint adds another $25 - 30. Approximate cost if using 1 gallon of primer, 1 gallon of ceiling paint and 2 gallons of paint is $140 - $175. Throw in brushes, plastic drop sheets, rollers, painters tape and all the other things you might need for about $50 more. So for about $190 - $225 in paint and supplies you can completely change the look of a room even if that is all that you do.

2) Ease of Use

Paint is a great place for a do-it-yourself home remodeling beginner to start. Granted, there are many advanced techniques that may require more time, patience and practice. However just painting a solid color while requiring a little skill, can quickly be learned to achieve outstanding results.

3) Impact

I love the impact that paint can make. Taking a room and painting it a whole new color can make it feel like a whole new room. Even if everything else about the room remains the same. Don't be afraid. Try something new. Liven up a room with bold color or subdue a room with soft color. If you don't like it that's ok. You can change it because paint is also.....

4) Versatile

Paint can go on the walls or even be used to update your furniture, woodwork and cabinets. Paint is a great way to keep up with current trends and because of its low cost and ease of use, you can actually afford to be trendy in this area. And when the trends change in a couple years so can your paint job.

Do-it-yourself home remodeling can be fun if you know what you are doing. Painting is just one step that you can take to make your house into your home. Some you can do yourself. Some might be better left to professionals. To help save yourself time, headaches and frustration, do yourself a favor and invest in a good guide like the one found at http://www.RemodelingForBeginners.com. With a book as well as videos, this resource can show which seemingly complicated projects are really simple and which seemingly simple ones are better left to the pros. Written by a 10 year remodeling professional specifically for beginners, I cannot think of a better place to start your remodeling adventure.

Fixings Squeaking Stairs

Psychic Readings - What is Psychic See-er?

When people talk about psychic abilities, then very imaginative ideas pop up in the minds of general population. Some reckon psychic is some one who can talk to people who have departed this transition, and some others think psychics are God gifted and are able to actually talk to God. Throughout the ages there were see-ers who could see the heart of the matter also communicate with spiritual dimension, getting guidance also predicting and anticipating up coming events.

In our recorded history we come to see the importance of spirituality to all lost civilizations. Example: Aztecs of South America, or ancient Egyptian cultures which really evolved their entire existence around a belief that life is of spiritual nature. Ancient Egyptian society had a very rich spiritual belief system. They have built marvelous temple tombs for their journeys for after life. And not just Egyptian but almost all civilizations throughout ages believed in spiritual realms and try to communicate with those dimensions. When we study history we come to see cave painting which date back to 10000 years before time, where we get to see the rock art in detail, showing shamanic rituals being performed. Shamanic cultures still exists in remotes part of our globe. Still living and practicing spiritual traditions their ancestors left for successive generations. Also spirituality touches nearly every heart in one form or another.

Spiritual beliefs and practices vary for different cultures and societies. And almost all cultures have a spiritual psychic who they consult on regular basis. Psychics are not a new invention in our modern busy lives. They can be seen almost in every culture, making their spiritual journeys to higher consciousness to receive psychic answers, and spiritual guidance. In eastern part of our world these spiritually attuned psychics are named as see-ers. They have the unique ability to intuitively see the heart of the matter in question. Psychic clairvoyants in our modern world are becoming in demand and proving to be very popular amongst spiritually minded people. They provide psychic readings, also some are able to read divination as well, divination is not simply a fortune telling event, as alleged in Hollywood movies, it is more than that, it is being able to see insights of a person or events.

We need to understand the difference between psychic readings and divination readings. They are both completely different subjects altogether, yet they will both prove to be insightful also accurate, if received from a genuine source. Our history has seen psychics, soothsayers, magicians, astrology prediction given by astrologers who study the position of stars, clairvoyant, rune stones readers, psychic - mediums who make the spiritual journeys between spirit world and our normal world, divination kumalak readers and many other spiritual forms of divination and seeing.

As science evolved so did knowledge of our universe, science answers many questions, and without the efforts of science we could not make so many new discoveries we find to be useful for us. And scientific communities will disagree with psychic ability being real, as most scientific scholars do not believe in the existence of soul - spirit nature. Everybody is entitled to their theories in life, which is the basis for advancement, to have theories. Yet the spiritual communities know the accuracy and usefulness of consulting a psychic, and getting psychic readings from them. Genuine psychic advice has and will continue to provide a useful option to those who live their lives believing in the existence of spiritual forms thus receiving guidance from these dimensions. Question should not be as to, are psychics real? Rather the question should be how can I utilize the dedication of these spiritually attuned souls? "Psychics"

We are human beings whether we live in Asia or America, and there were psychics thousands of years ago, and some are genuine psychic clairvoyants today also. Have you ever had genuine psychic readings before? If you have, then your theories about them will be positive in nature. And if you never had genuine psychic readings before, then perhaps you may like to test your theories about them, by getting genuine real psychic readings online, today.

Tolga Savas Dedicated and Trusted genuine psychic clairvoyant, is now offering psychic readings, one of worlds best dream analysis free, psychic chat online, kumalak readings, spiritual guidance and spiritual healing, Kumalak the Mirror of Destiny - Only the Calm Waters will Reflect the Stars

30 Days To Creating Super Habits

House Renovation - Framing A Closet

Renovating can either be a fun experience, or a frustrating one, depending on how well you are prepared for it. And if youre renovating a house, then we would hope are quite well prepared. After all, the last thing you want to have to do when youre done is to re-do something you thought was working out just fine.

In any home, space is an issue. You can really never have enough of it. And a well made closet space is an essential part of the houses over all aesthetics. When smartly framed, your closet can be quite an asset, whether its for your precious wardrobe, or next to the main door to just hang coats. Now lets take it from the top.

First, you want to decide on the ideal size. 27 inches of depth is what you want for minimum, especially if you plan on hanging your clothes. Other size factors depend on the size of your room or what you need. You could go with a smaller single door closet, or a bigger walk in.

The best way to frame your closet is by laying the structure flat on the ground. You might want to consider placing it at one end of the rooms wall, just to make it more space efficient. But make sure it doesnt obstruct windows or heat boxes.

Once youve got the basic raw materials ready, make sure youve got the hardware too; apart from your tool box, keep in handy a nail gun, a power miter box and a compressor. If you dont have it on you, you could easily rent all three for less than $100 a day.

After you measure the wall height, you should cut them into length and lay them out between the top and sole plates that will be fixed to your ceiling and floor respectively. Also, figure out where your door will be centered and make sure you mark each spot that needs nailing or trimming, and each part of the frame clearly. After that, its really just putting the parts in place carefully.

Once your frame is ready, hoist it up carefully to put in place using 3 screws to fix the top of the frame to the ceiling. Place your choice of doors on to the frame and if you want to put a light bulb inside, it is advised you consult your local electrical inspector and use only fluorescent lights.

George Christodoulou,

If you have questions about house flipping or would like more information about framing closets and house renovation,
visit, http://houseflipblog.com for more information about house flipping.

You can also ask your questions about house flipping and have them answered by experts in the field.

What Does A Gfi Do

The Missing Years of Jesus Resolved

Shrouded in mystery, fable and legend, nevertheless the Bible recorded the birth of Jesus Christ and follows His life up to about 12 years old.

To this day Jewish male children undergo Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13. This was not recorded by the Evangelists. Indeed, the life of Jesus is not considered again till the age of 30.

To accept that Jesus was just at home with His family is a plausible explanation, but not in keeping with the Gospels that say at the age of 12, Jesus was at the Temple, and the people marveled to hear Him.

Certainly, after His Bar Mitzvah, He would have been technically a man and no longer a boy, and would naturally continue to marvel the people. It would have been His right to speak in the Temple. There is no such record.

There is much speculation, but a lot of recorded incidents and connections. One very important one is Joseph (Saint) of Arimathea. Certain he was a rich man, and certainly he was able to speak (in Greek and /or Latin) to the Roman governor at a very sensitive moment, so he was certainly influential.

He gave his own tomb for the burial of Jesus, and paid for all the necessary burial formalities. There is no question he was close to Jesus, and as a member of the Sanhedrin, would have defended him in that assembly. There were more connections, and many very plausible.

Joseph of Arimathea was certainly wealthy, but how did he amass his wealth? Arimathea, is not a town or district at all, but a Greek compound word meaning Harima Theo (by the Grace of God).

He most likely came from Ramle or another town. He was said to be in the trade of metals; tin precisely. This would have theoretically put him in contact with England, where tin was mined and sent throughout the Roman Empire.

More speculation has Joseph related to Jesus directly. It is been written by early Church fathers that Joseph was the uncle of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Certainly the Gospel has them familiar as when Joseph was burying Jesus in his tomb, he was accompanied by Mary (the mother of Jesus), and Mary Magdalena.

Jesus Himself was familiar with Alexandria in Egypt (where He grew up) and as a major center of learning (the Library was there), Jesus would have also spoken Egyptian.

Since where there is so much smoke there must be fire, the story of the young Jesus being accompanied by Joseph, his uncle, on a journey to England is certainly possible.

The legend records the journey home, but with a diversion to Greece, and then into Asia Minor. There it is said that Jesus and Joseph departed, with Jesus joining another wealthy traveler with his son.

At the time, there were Buddhist missionaries all over Asia Minor, and indeed as far as Rome and Egypt. It is plausible Jesus had encountered one or more, and thus found His interest and way to India.

There are many records from early travelers to India having been shown or heard about Jesus time there.

The famous James Churchward in his major work Mu the Lost Continent describes such an encounter. There have been many others including Notovitch in 1888.

Aside from the fantastic speculation, many of the diversions from classic Judaism appear to be oriental in nature, and very specifically Vedic in nature.

Where the Jews were waiting for a Messiah, the Hindus have their belief in Avatars which are human incarnations of God.

So the missing years perhaps saw a journey from the Holy Land to Egypt, to England, passing central Europe into Greece, Asia Minor, and the Hindu Kush all the way to the Himalayas.

There, Jesus would have found the perfect environment to slowly become the world Avatar that He has indeed become.

There is no Hindu which does not accept Him as a divine incarnation.

Here is William Blakes poem Jerusalem which alludes to such a visit

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon Englands mountains green?

And was the holy Lamb of God

On Englands pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here

Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;

Bring me my Arrows of Desire;

Bring me my Spear; O clouds unfold!

Bring me my Chariot of Fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,

Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand,

Till we have built Jerusalem

In Englands green and pleasant Land.

There have been many theories on Jesus the missing years and we hope you find our view thought provoking.

More free information

For more thought provoking articles on http://net-planet.org/newage.html visit our website for more articles, features and downloads at:

http://www.net-planet.org

Stopped Losing Your Car Keys

Creating the Perfect Home Remodeling Priority List

Home remodeling is one of those projects that can be fun or a pain in the -- you know what. It is best to start your home remodeling plan with one room at a time and decide on the value of each room to prioritize where to save and where to spend. This article will look at the value of each room to help you deiced the type of home remodeling project you may consider.

The big debate on what room is the most used room in the house could go on forever. Some say it is the kitchen others say it is the living room while others say the master bedroom. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you can use some basic rules to see what the highest priority is for you.

If you have kids then you probably spend more time than you like in the kitchen cooking. If you have a smaller family maybe the kitchen is just a place where you are in and out. If you cook allot then the kitchen should get some very high consideration for your home remodeling project.

Do you like to play games and watch TV? If you find yourself or your family watching television often and you perhaps enjoy family night games then you should place the family room at the top of your list. Maybe it is time to add family room to your home remodeling ideas. Perhaps you could remodel a spare bedroom or add a new room to the house.

Do you have guest spend the night often? You may want to think about making a nice guest bathroom with all the luxuries of a five star hotel for your guest. Do not do this unless you love to have people stay awhile and come often. They are likely to really enjoy visiting you.

When planning your home remodeling ideas you will find that they become much easier with a good priority system. Once you know which rooms are the most important to you and your lifestyle then that is where the money should be spent on nicer upgrades. On rooms that are not high on the list, but still need some fixing you could use less expensive things to fix them up.

Find more helpful remodeling tips by visiting http://best-home-improvement-projects.com where you will find helpful remodeling tips, advice and resources to include Home Remodeling.

Concrete Patio Gofer Damage

Ramadan - Fasting in 2009

Ramadan is the time of the year when Muslims must obey one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting. Fasting is an important step all Muslims must take.

What time does fasting begin and what time does fasting ends depends on the rising of the sun and setting of the sun. You can find out what day Ramadan begins and the last day. It is customary to open you fast with dates, which are very inexpensive and can be bought from many shops, if not than something sweet will do, such as fruits etc.

When a Muslim man or woman fast they are learning how precious life is and how we should be grateful for what we have and feel as others less fortunate then we are.

Tips for fasting. There shouldn't really be any tips on Ramadan or fasting as that would perhaps defy the whole point God found Muslims to complete this task every year. But there are some things Muslims can do. Drink plenty of water before starting your fast to avoid dehydration as you are not permitted any foods or liquids of any kind while fasting.

For all of you who want quick facts about fasting than here goes, Please remember these are guidelines.

1. No eating or drinking during fasting times

2. No smoking or taking of illegal drugs

3. No sexual activities

4. No behaviors which are considered harmful

5. Fasting is not allowed during menstrual periods.

6. Medical conditions which would require you to break your fast is allowed.

Remember this is a fast of not just food but also of the soul, of our daily luxuries.

This is the time of contemplation and spirituality.

Shazia Shah is a practicing Muslim and has been a driving force behind the Muslim Matrimonials website http://www.muslimandsingle.com and http://www.asians4asians.com With Muslim Members from all over the UK and rest of the world.

Getting Up Earlier

DIY Vertical Wind Generators - Are They Worth It?

With the ever increasing need for everybody to be more careful with the environment (and in today's climate their money) have you ever thought about building your own DIY Vertical Wind Generator? These units are much like the usual wind generators except the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally.

It is easy to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator from plans for normal wind generators. All that is needed is to turn the blades vertical. All the components need to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator can be found in your local DIY store for as little as $200.

So why build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator rather than a normal wind generator? Since the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally you have the option of putting more blade units on the generator since there is more space. It won't necessarily generate more energy but it will allow the blades to become more sensitive to wind, allowing for power to be generated even in slight breezes; something that is not always possible with the conventional wind units.

The units can also be built to be much more compact that the usual wind turbines. This makes them ideal for people who do not have a lot of outside or roof space and can even be set up to sit on apartment balconies or outside walls. You don't even need a stand that rotates with the wind as the blades are sensitive even in a fixed position. The electronic side of setting up the DIY vertical wind generator is not all that complicated either. There are plenty of electronic blueprints out there that will show you how to set this up.

If self-sufficiency is what you are after then you will probably need at lease three to four units. If you want to ensure that you will still have power during a power outage then you will need to fit batteries to the unit. This allows electricity to be stored and be readily available to use. The downside is that these batteries can increase the cost of building the units. My suggestion would be to have a few units with batteries and the other directly connected to the grid. This would allow essential energy to be provided in cases of power outages.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators are ideal for supplying your household energy needs for a fraction of the cost of commercial units. They are easy to build and don't cost the earth.

http://www.squidoo.com/DIY-Vertical-Wind-Generator

Extreme Temperature Building

Home Bridge Construction Loans - Providing You the Funds You Need to Construct Your New Home

Are you planning to sell your old home and build a new one? If you are, then you may need to get some funds to construct your new home. However, you need to face the fact that selling homes today can be quite difficult. So, how will you be able to construct your new home if you can't sell your old home as fast as you can? Without selling your home, you will be faced with a dilemma where you will never have enough money to buy a new one.

Today, it is now possible for you to get the funds that you need in order for you to construct your new home even before you sell your old home. By taking out a bridge construction loan, this will be able to cover both the homes you are selling and the home you want to construct.

The great thing about bridge construction loans is that it is quite easy to qualify. The reason for this is that most lending companies know that you will only be obligated on both properties on a limited period of time.

You need to understand that bridge construction loans or home bridge loans are short term loans where it will only require you to pay one monthly payment and one closing payment. To make it more convenient, most bridge construction loans have low interest rates compared to other types of mortgages.

These are the things that you can benefit from with bridge construction loans. With it, you will be able to get the funds you need to construct your new home before you even sell your old home.

To Learn More About Bridge Mortgage Lenders and Loan Programs, Visit the Bridge Mortgage Loans Information Center Today at http://www.bridge-mortgage-loans.com/

Resolving Home Remodeling Anxiet

How Do We Know If it is Spiritual Love Or Just Physical Pleasure?

Love is spirituality along with the actual realistic knowledge of knowing there is someone other than oneself in the picture. Spiritually as if your heart is not in your own body, it inhabits the space in the heart of the person you love, with that person's heart inhabiting the space in your own, as if indistinguishable who is who, and it does not matter. Physically there are two, though spiritually there is only one, and that one is love, body, mind, and spirit. It can not be broken, ever, period, at least if it is absolute love from the infinite timelessness of our spiritual being, in the present body.

Simple, yes if it is realized that our nature is love and our spirits are free of complications or delusional illusions of what someone else may tell us. In other words when we listen to anyone other than ourselves in the realm of our own spirituality in consideration of love we give up our truth and become as deluded as the ones telling us what to do or who to love. Delusion is rampant in to-days so called intelligent society because of the ego of the experts (supposedly experts) who give out guidance as if there were no tomorrow, even though they may say they are not orders it is implied that if you do not follow their guidance you will be left out. Our media circus is great at that one, and unfortunately many seem to be unable to reject or ignore the zoo keepers. It is akin to actors in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter, being the character in real life as well as the part they play, so they really are confused as to who they are for the most part. Hence all the idiocy we see coming from so called celebrity status.

What is the circus selling? Pure and simply sex in all the glory it has. Glorification though of sex is like being blissfully ignorant, even though most buy it, or so it seems when we look at statistics of who watches what and what movies sell the most tickets. No there is nothing wrong with sex, or even liking it, and obviously it is a beautiful aspect of life, though it is perhaps the least understood in all that we aspire to understand. Difficulty is the fact that spirituality and sex go together, while sex can be apart from spirituality nothing comes from just sex by itself. Our deficit in spirituality leads to a loss of value to the human condition as well as some of what we see going on in the economy right now, greed for only pleasure/money/sex with no actual work being done.

Pleasure is not a bad thing, though sexual pleasure just for the sake of pleasure is what tears at the very foundations of our human existence, especially in the way of our spiritual realm. Spiritually we have occupied many bodies, we do not know how many, though the fact of our spirit remembering minute, less than perhaps molecular pieces of our past memories is why we behave the way we do, along with of course the cause and effect of our present surrounding. If from childhood we live without any trauma whatsoever we may grow up with full faculty of our own spiritual being, truly knowing who we are all the while not needing any type of mind altering substance or wanting to be altered. Rare indeed, and yet that in itself does not mean the spirit is ready for enlightenment, or love, though perhaps it may help, for example in the area of sex, it is known instinctively, no matter male or female, what is means to be attracted to the opposite sex and why as spiritual purity enables such innocent attraction to manifest with an intimacy which has nothing to do with the physical nature of the body. Of course one will know something is there, though with again the innocence of love. If there is a beginning to true or absolute love it is here in the innocence.

Just for the sake of looking at things from perhaps what some may call a rather different perspective, think of making love as something that everyone sees, not only those involved, hopefully a male and female who actually love one and other, in what we will say is in the spiritual realm. We will leave religious dogma out of the equation for now. When we leave the body at death of the body our consciousness or spirit searches for a womb, unless it has become as god consciousness or enlightened, in order to have a new body to house the spirit. How many spirits are watching when those in love are making love? Choose the womb carefully from Tibetan Buddhism is the relevancy of how and why spirituality is the most important factor in life, as in we are responsible for our own choices. In other words if we are not making love, we are not in love and sex is the only factor, the spirits who are ignorant may end up in a womb they are not meant to actually be in at that time (hence birth control, as in take away responsibility) and may need to start the search all over shortly thereafter, how ever unfortunate it is. Choose the womb carefully.

Sex for sale, narcissus, egotistical, sociopathic exhibitionism and or voyeurism are some of the factors of the spiritual deficit in the world, there is no love or spirituality in this scene. Like it our not religion is meant to be a structural support of love and spirituality, as human beings have always needed some kind of structure to help in behavior, which is why we are not still beating each other with sticks, hopefully. Our spirit is the foundation with love being the transporter which allows life in the physical body to exist, and why spirituality is the actual basis for the foundation. Point is this, the unrestricted sexual behavior of a non-spiritual nature confuses our own consciousness along with all the other spirits involved with our personal behavior.

Depression, irritability, anger, frustration, anti-social behavior all are part of the consequence of our behavior of any type in the realm of sex, be it physical or mental. Drugs, which by the way alcohol is one, are the emotional strength to delude the body and mind that all is just great. Our spirit knows, yet our mind and body pay no attention to the signs and leaves the spirit in the dirt. Of course this is why when it comes to the sex trade, no matter what is happening, drugs are a necessity to keep girls, boys, women, men in the game to profit from, another words exploit without spiritual consequences.

No consequences, is just a lie or delusion that goes with the behavior, even for those who may not actually partake to the extent of some and seem to keep their senses for the most part. It is like standing at the edge of a cliff thinking you are able to fly when you jump. Deviant behavior of a sexual nature must stop before any type of spiritual awakening is enabled. Love making is not deviant behavior, even though it may not be spiritual, though when it is done for an audience other than the female and male involved it turns into deviance, known or not. Usually this type of sexual behavior is not done without the help of some type of uninhibited mind altering substance, which bears repeating, or just plain delusion that there is nothing wrong with it.

In a free society such as ours here in America we must not try to control any-ones' behavior other than those who break the law. Our constitution was and is written in order to allow freedom of all people here in the United States. Behavior is something which is ones' own responsibility, owning up to it is another story perhaps, and spirituality does not necessarily need to be a part of any-ones behavior at least consciously, although it is always there waiting in the background to let us know when we have screwed up, ignored or not.

If love is based on spirituality it will be known to anyone involved as intimacy and innocence will allow the female and the male to actually get to know each other before any physical contact of a sexual nature takes place. When the time comes the female will let the male know what is going to happen or not, or how much, which is completely normal when all is right with the relationship. Meaning it is the female who controls the situation, yet this does not mean or imply she is somehow to blame when things may not go right. Problem is man, usually is the one who pushes or forces something which is not totally wanted, though interestingly younger boys, or young adults will respect the wishes of the girl before an older man will, which again is normal as the spirit is not yet pushed aside in the young man who realizes there is something more at play here than just sex. Point here is man will at times use force to control the woman, and this is and has been and most likely will remain the problem as long as man deludes himself into thinking that he is the one in control of woman. It is kind of a paradox as most men know this already though do not want to admit it because they want to think they are the boss though they know they are not, which ignorantly is why they continue with the stupidity. Of course not all men are stupid, which is why so many people are happily married and do have spirituality in there lives, mainly though because of and through the spiritual nature of woman, as she instinctively knows what is love and what is not because she has the womb the spirits keep wanting to enter.

What can be perhaps the most significant in importance is when there is a true spiritual connection between the female and male there will never be any force what so ever in any part of the relationship. Force is not needed at any time in the union of the female and male, it is the force of nature which is absolutely the way the universe intended in the realm of physical intimacy between the female and the male, as nature is what does and or has brought anyone together in a spiritual union. Fact is we may at times think this will not happen, though with a spiritual nature kept solid through discipline and will we do find we are brought together with someone to love in a spiritual way, which is one reason why they say, and it is true, patience is a virtue. Physical pleasure, or just sex will not happen under those conditions, the spiritual universe will not allow narcissus, egotistical, or a sociopaths behavior to exist in those conditions. Love, absolute spiritual love, is what the universe allows, period.

George Merritt is a Certified General Contractor, Welder, Writer, Machinist always learning something new, and never gives up hope on the love of life and the human condition in the quest for truth, love, peace, and joy among other things.

http://www.georgetmerritt.com

Backup Plans Feel Good

Concrete Basics - Home Repair Advice

Concrete is the most commonly used man made building supply on Earth. Six billion cubic meters are manufactured a year, in a $35 billion industry. This means there are pretty good odds that you'll eventually do something with, or be around something with concrete.

Weather and climate will affect your concrete. It is not wise to pour your cement in conditions that involve a drop below freezing before the cement cures, as this will prevent the cement from reaching its maximum strength. Likewise, if the humidity is too low, the surface of the cement can crack and produce weaknesses for weather to attack. All concrete will eventually crack to some extent, though this can be minimized by good design and selection of good reinforcement where needed. This does not mean concrete is a bad choice, as concrete structures have lasted thousands of years.

Concrete is used as a fire barrier, but while it doesn't burn, it can be damaged by heat. Once the temperature reaches or exceeds 300 degrees, the concrete is considered unsafe, and this can usually be detected by a pink, light gray or yellow-brown color. Discolored concrete should be replaced. For handyman style use, bagged cement is perfectly reasonable, and for convenience, there are pre-mixed bags with aggregate already mixed, just requiring water. These are very handy for small jobs such as setting a pole into the ground for a doggy chain or clothesline. This is usually too expensive for large jobs.

Pouring concrete, such as a sidewalk, requires several steps. First, figure out how much you need. This is determined by measuring the surface area and thickness to determine how many cubic yards you need, and this will tell you whether you can mix it yourself, or need to have it delivered. Then you build your forms. This probably involves digging, and laying 2"x4" boards to hold the edges of the concrete. 2"x2" boards should be used to hold those in place, pounding them deep enough that the weight of the concrete won't push the boards out of place.

You will almost always want to lay reinforcing material in the bottom, such as metal fencing materials. Ensure that you have everything square and at the proper level, as after you pour, it will be too late. Then ensure that all of the pieces are well secured with nails and clamps. Spray the site with later lightly, and pour. Tamp the concrete down, especially on the edges, and level the concrete.

Once it has set enough to support a 2"x8" board, use one as a straight edge to cut contraction joints. These should be every four to six feet. For sidewalks or narrow areas, this is sufficient, but for patios these should go in both directions. A pair of beveled clapboards can be used. Coat them with motor oil and place a nail into one. Insert them into joints on large concrete structures. As the concrete begins to set, the nail is used to remove one of the boards, and the other is hidden inside, leaving room for the concrete to expand or contract with the weather.

There are a variety of ways to surface the concrete, but remember that you must select one that will allow water to drain off of the concrete, as standing water is a major cause of damage to concrete. After you surface the concrete, it must be wetted down every 12 hours for the next three days, and protected from sunlight while it cures. Visit http://www.tipsonconcrete.com for additional tips.

For more information & a free newsletter visit our blog at http://myhomeimprovementtips.com.

Pocket Door Problems

For the Best Spiritual T-shirts - Full of Faith T-shirt Expressing How You Feel About Jesus

This started about 4 years ago when I was at church hearing the preacher say when God is with you all things are possible no matter how it looked. that word started stirring me up on the inside. I know I wanted to started my own business but what. I know I had drawing talent but I did not know how I was going to put it to good use. I prayed about it everyday asking God I wanted to your my talent to glorify you. it took awhile it did t happen over night.

It was about 3 years later. One night God puta vision of a logo in my heart; I quickly woke up and drew it on a sheet of paper. Still I did not know what it meant at first because I still wanted to use my drawing talent for God. Then it hit me I seen alot of t-shirts but very few that Christian can wear that would express how they felt about God. Then I know I was on to something very special. I took my drawing talent and started making design for the christian to show how much they love God using my talents to focus on Jesus in a way that never been do before.this t-shirts are a powerful witness tool for christian of all ages. there is a t-shirt that will please everyone. but for the most part I just one of many trying to do my part in getting the word out that Jesus is here now and forever more.

My Name is Thomas Gathers born in Brooklyn New York now living Lynchburg, Virginia, with my wife of 14 year Gwendolyn and my 2 year old daughter Brookelyn. I am one out of seven children. My life was not easy, but my parent Annie & Ancil done their better to make sure that we had everything we needed. I had friend but sometime they were up to no good. But when I met my wife for the first time there was something different about her. She had Jesus in her life something I really didn't know about. But the more time I spend with her the more I wanted what she had. Joy, peace, happiness. then that special day on 11/21/01 when I accepted Jesus Christ and the rest is history. My life was changed forever I never know life can be so wonderful with Jesus in it.

Finding Something You Don

Realty Remodeling Rules

Thinking of remodeling or renovating? Make sure you do not 'improve' your home out of the neighborhood. It is okay to do this if you want to stay living in it, but if you are making improvements to sell your home at a higher value - beware!

Realtors accept that there is a ceiling in realty prices, no matter which location you live in. The catch-phrase 'location, location, location' is not just for fun; every location has a 'bottom price and a top price'. If you live in a top location area - the sky is the limit - but sadly most of us do not!

If you are living in a lower price area and put in a swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen before you list your house, it will most certainly bring the buyers to your home. It will no doubt bring in offers for your home and all this is good news.

However, while you will be able to sell at the top neighborhood price, the sale price may not reflect the total cost of your improvements.

In order to avoid this error of judgment, ask an expert in the field of neighborhood prices - your local realtor! He or she will be happy to come and advise you on which specific improvements may potentially add value to your specific home in your specific neighborhood.

This is the type of advice that you want if you are improving solely to make money. Many home improvements have been 'analyzed' to see which ones give the best returns on their initial outlay.

For instance, in the 'Money Magazine' they recommend adding a quality deck to bulk up the potential square footage of your property. It should be no larger than the one third the size of your home.

A deck can be transformed into a luxury class fairly inexpensively - outdoor lighting around the deck area, waterproof speakers and an entry via French doors will help. If you use 'cute' strings of outdoor lighting and decorate with potted trees, the deck will have an appealing ambiance.

A report from HomeGain.com suggests that the outlay for updating a kitchen can add double of the initial cost of the improvement to the value of your home. If you have a closet that you can turn into a pantry - go for it!

The pantry is a sought after feature in a kitchen at the moment. Islands are another wished-for feature, although preferably with a secondary function such as a sink or breakfast bar stools.

Once again, keep a ceiling on your prices. If your neighborhood is for the average family, it is not worth investing thousands of dollars in top of the line appliances if this will price your home out of the local market. The report suggests that looks and newness are the most important factors.

PorchLight Real Estate Group combines local market knowledge with cutting edge marketing skills. For more information on Denver CO real estate or to do a search for Aurora real estate, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com.

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

Psychics and Psychic Readings - The Higher Level

When people research or debate also talk about psychic clairvoyants or precognitions, and try to expand their knowledge about this phenomenon, and when people try to find facts about this subject using known theories, this in itself becomes a conflicting challenge about their personal theories, and not many people would like the fact that their theories are challenged.

There are many people who experience events and somehow feel that it is more than coincidence, through out our life of human history. Psychic intuition skills have helped us whether we were aware or not. To glimpse in to the future sounds out of this world, but as we know, we live in a very complex world indeed. And the advancements of modern science answer many unknown facts about our existence. Example being; we now know that our beautiful planet is round instead of flat. Yet also, ancient cultures without such scientific advancement have astounded us with their marvelous creations such as the Pyramids of Giza. They have placed high regard, rather evolved around the concept of spirituality for their spiritual masters. We can all agree we are far from really understanding our true nature.

Also we must place high respect for science and their findings as well, especially the science of consciousness. Many research and energy is being put towards subjects of psychics clairvoyants extra sensory perception telepathy just a name a few. As you maybe aware that psychic readings give insights to events and situations. Psychic readings and psychics ability to accurately advice people, on matters that concern them has forever been within our human history. Also we all have seen movies where in past history, when people who practiced or explored different beliefs or concepts have been tied to a tree and prosecuted. Thank goodness that is in our unintelligent past, as freedom of speech and choice of belief, is the most important factor, rather a sacred treasure, we must all uphold.

Psychic intuition is built in us to protect us from danger, guide us to our true nature (spiritual) just like a little new born turtle hatched and knows to swim straight to the ocean. We too are drawn to spirituality, almost all the people around this complex planet believe in spirituality. And almost all the cultures have a psychic to consult when faced with spiritually unfamiliar waters. The ocean of emotions in every heart thirsts for spiritual reason, guidance and spiritual answers. And only the calm waters will reflect the stars. When we expand our beings then calmness can become part of our hearts ocean.

It is possible to glimpse also anticipate near future events, this requires an art, art of seeing; whether one likes to label such visions as predictions or perception. To have a real psychic ability, one must attend life from a view point of purity of heart, and when a spiritual psychic advances in wisdom through proper guidance and learning for many many years, will develop an intuitive psychic ability. Every human is equipped with this psychic ability; it's just only select few choose to explore the boundaries. And just like any chosen subject, the more we attend the more we learn of it. Also when we debate a subject of reality, then this becomes a personal matter. As what is real for some might not be real for others. Yet if we were to draw a straight line _______ and we both at the same time see this line. We will both see and agree that it is a straight line. The truth cannot be bent. And the truth of the matter is, within the garden of every spiritual heart, there is a rose that is blossoming silently, which is called YOU.

Tolga Savas
International psychic clairvoyant answering all your metaphysical questions, and offers real psychic readings, dream analysis, psychic chat online, Kumalak the Mirror of Destiny, See the Future that is Now

You Have To Start Somewhere

Solar Power How It Works

How it works seems like a mystery to some, but we've all seen it used to power everyday things like calculators. It is also used to supply electricity to the appliances and lights we use in our homes.

Even utility companies use solar power to supplying hundreds of houses with megawatts of electricity.

If you decide to power your house with a solar electric system, you will receive FREE power from the sun, once your system is paid for.

Here are two of the most frequently asked questions for solar power how it works.

How is solar energy used?

1.) Solar energy works by converting the sun's rays into electricity with the use of solar panels to supply power to the appliances use in our homes.

2.) Solar energy works by converting the sun's rays into heat with the use of solar thermal collectors for warming water, i.e. for the swimming pool.

3.) Solar energy works by converting the sun's rays into hot air for heating buildings with the use of solar thermal collectors.

How do solar panels work?

1.) Rays of sunlight hit the solar panel (also know as a photovoltaic/ PV) and are absorbed by semi-conducting materials such as silicone.

2.) Electrons are knocked loose from their atoms, which allow them to flow through the material to produce electricity. This process whereby light (photo) is converted into electricity (voltage) is called the photovoltaic (PV) effect.

3.) An array of solar panels converts solar energy into DC (direct current) electricity.

4.) The DC electricity then enters an inverter.

5.) The inverter turns DC electricity into 120-volt AC (alternating current) electricity needed by home appliances.

6.) The AC power enters the utility panel in the house.

7.) The electricity (load) is then distributed to appliances or lights in the house.

8.) When more solar energy is generated that what you're using - it can be stored in a battery as DC electricity. The battery will continue to supply your home with electricity in the event of a power blackout or at nighttime.

9.) When the battery is full the excess electricity can be exported back into the utility grid, if your system is connected to it.

10.) Utility supplied electricity can also be drawn form the grid when not enough solar energy is produced and no excess energy is stored in the battery, i.e. at night or on cloudy days.

11.) The flow of electricity in and out of the utility grid is measured by a utility meter, which spins backwards (when you are producing more energy that you need) and forward (when you require additional electricity from the utility company). The two are offset ensuring that you only pay for the additional energy you use from the utility company. Any surplus energy is sold back to the utility company. This system is referred to as "net-metering".

For more information about Solar Energy visit Facts About Solar Energy today.

Toilet Paper Under The Bathroom

Spirituality - 3 Questions to Develop Your Personal Spiritual Relationship With Your Higher Power

Women often find themselves searching for deeper meaning in life.

We all know a woman who seems to be at complete peace with her divine relationship. She is serene, has confidence and her life works.

• Maybe she grew up in a spiritually rich environment and has always felt guided and protected by her Higher Power.
• Maybe she grew up without a spiritual foundation at all and has developed her Divine Relationship on her own.
• Maybe she had to reinvent her relationship with her Creator for various reasons.

Whatever her path, a woman in an intimate relationship with her Higher Power is a beautiful being indeed.

So, what about you?

You intuitively know that you are intricately connected to something greater than yourself but if you don't have an established spiritual belief in place, where do you start?

Start here.

Ask yourself these 3 Important Questions designed to help you develop your own deeply personal and satisfying relationship with a Divine Power, however you choose to understand that Power.

#1 What is your current understanding of a Higher Power?

• You may or may not have had any religious or spiritual instruction growing up. Some of what you did receive may no longer fit what you truly believe. Maybe you have gleaned bits and pieces from various sources and haven't taken the opportunity to put it all together. It doesn't matter really, you are who you are, and you are enough.

#2 How would you like to feel about your relationship with your Higher Power?

• This may seem like an unusual question. By answering it you will understand what you need from your Divine Relationship. Everyone will want something different.

#3 What questions would you like to find your answers to?

• You undoubtedly have some questions about spirituality. Gather them up and go looking for answers that feel right.

In the end, all paths lead to the same place.

There are no right or wrong answers. There are so many aspects of spirituality in the world. With a bit of insight you will find the path that feels right for you. You will know when it is a good fit. It will feel like you have "come home".

Caution: Some of us have been wounded spiritually at some point in our lives. If this applies to you, please give yourself the gift of finding a support system. This journey is supposed to feel good, you are supposed to feel connected and loved. Anything less than that is unacceptable. Ask someone for help.

Wishing you Peace & Abundance... Joyce Lee "Your Life Empowerment Coach"

2008 joyceleelifecoach.com

Are you ready for more opportunities to explore and reflect? Go to http://joyceleelifecoach.com/prompts.html for your special gift of "20 Profound and Provocative Journal Prompts" designed to help you focus on your life with a spirit of peace.

Joyce Lee is a certified Life Empowerment Coach, Personal Growth Facilitator and Law of Attraction Practitioner, specializes in helping women understand the Law of Attraction and deliberately creating the life they really want.

Spending 15 Minutes Each Day

Goal Setting Activity

Most people find the act of a goal setting activity almost impossible because they set goals that are way too large and become disheartened before they ever come close to reaching them. A goal setting activity that works is one that is broken down until it represents a single event. It is the progressive, sequential accumulation of single events that ensure the final desired end result.

For example, if your goal setting activity is to save $10,000 this year and you are paid fortnightly, you should have 26 single event goals, each written progressively to allow for changed circumstances.

Your goal setting activity should be what I call SMARTIES! SMARTIES is an acronym for the following:

SPECIFIC
Be absolutely specific when producing a goal setting activity and use the present tense.

MEASURABLE
You need to be able to monitor your progress so you can measure your success.

ATTAINABLE
You also need to be able to conceive your goal to attain it.

REALISTIC
Obviously goals need to be within the grounds of logic and circumstance.

TANGIBLE
Your goal needs to be something that is real or physical, that you can see and/or touch.

INSPIRATIONAL
If your goals don't inspire you it's unrealistic to expect that you're going to be driven to achieve them.

EMOTIONAL
The more emotionally involved you become with your goal the quicker it will manifest into your life.

During your goal setting activity, as well as writing down your goals, I recommend you write down every possible benefit you will realize as a result of achieving your goal and its impact on all areas of your life.

Author: Greg Dempsey - Investor/Internet Marketer
Title: Goal Setting Activity
http://www.OpulentWealth.com.au

Reprinting this article is allowed with this footer attached.

Fixings Squeaking Stairs

Does God Not Like Corner Backs?

I am a person that has been on a journey. Over that last few years I have really searched for a spiritual centeredness in my life. I grew up in a very religious family. Religion tore our family apart because certain philosophies could not exist. Everyone felt they had the true way to heaven. Now mind you all of them considered themselves Christian, but with their own brand of Christianity.

My family for me is a microcosm of the world. Everyone is not Christian but each religion feels as though THEY have the way to heaven. As a matter of fact if you do not believe as THEY do then you and others that think like you deserve to die! I never could understand the thought process that another creation of the God you worship should not live because you disagree on some miniscule point. For me it is difficult to understand how a creator of all things can choose one group or one person over another.

One day I was watching a football game. My team did win the game on this particular day. One of the receivers was very emotional during the game after he caught a touch down pass. He sat on the sideline actually crying! After the game a reporter asked the receiver what was going through his mind at that time. The receiver stated that he had spoken with his pastor at church the day before or sometime during the week. He said the pastor told him that God would allow him to do something great in the game to glorify him. Because the touch down was a turning point in the game the receiver surmised that this was the great thing that God had allowed him to do. God was on his side that day according to the receiver. A thought came over my mind at that moment. What did the corner back (this is person that plays a position on defense in American football) do to fall out of favor with God? Did God not like the corner back so he allowed him to get embarrassed on national TV?

I make lite of the situation with the cornerback, but it puts religion in a perspective that we should start to think about someday and I hope soon. Many people think of God as someone watching over all facets of our existence. I know some days he must get tired and just rest. He takes his eyes off the window to the world for brief times. I know this is true because I was going to the barber last week and prayed for a good hair cut. The barber messed up!

I figured I got in the same dog house as the cornerback or else he would not have gotten beat for a touch down and my barber would have had a steady hand. Or maybe he was busy with the guys involved in the war that had the guns praying that they be the ones to live and the other guy die? Have you ever thought how a God would choose which one of his creations would live when they were in conflict? People often speak of God as being the father. If that is so then how does a father choose one child over another? If you are a parent, what could your child do that you would never forgive them for and send their souls to burn in hell for eternity?

I don't think any religion has it right. When there is any thought that God will favor one over another for any reason it is wrong. When we start to question why a God does not work favorably for everyone then maybe we can move away from the thought process of God punishing one person over another. That cornerback has to know that he was not out of favor with God and that is the reason he was embarrassed by that receiver. I have come to believe that God is not a being in any sense of the word. However, there is a source that is greater than us, a source that we are all connected with. This source does not favor anyone anymore than the next person. One day I hope that religion will come to grips with its contradictions and let that lowly corner back know that him being out of favor was not the reason he was beaten on national TV. In our connection with universal consciousness, we all are as great as we choose to be.

Hi my name is Reginald Martin and my perspective is one of a holistic approach with the knowledge of how the universe weaves its interconnected tapestry and affects our lives. I am just like many of you. I have been through many of life's major ups and downs, like the birth of my children, raising a family, a divorce, Amway (any former distributors out there?) starting out dating again after years of marriage and being laid off from a job. These ups and downs can either make you or break you! My friend they made me. Although when my Amway business went under that was close to the straw that broke the camels back for me. J Just kidding. I developed a consciousness about life through the school of hard knocks that I would like to share with you. I look back on many of those events now and can laugh a little. I have been where many of you are about to go. There is a saying that I like, "you can learn from your experiences or from the experiences of others. The former will take you a lot longer to get the lesson but you will eventually learn it." I have mucho experience! My expertise is the areas of man, husband, father, brother, uncle, boss, friend and neighbor. I enjoy sports, reading, blogging and manly things like crotch scratching, yawning and stretching in the morning. Unless you have not lived you know that anything going haywire in those areas can cause you to have mental breakdown followed by a spiritual awakening, or not! And oh yeah, I kinda look at life in an irreverent quirky kind of way. I swear this is like writing an online dating profile!

Spiritual Connection to the Earth

From an oversea's show, spliced to view the message from one elder (Floyd Red Crow Westerman)...how america has come and is destined to go. .. added the Elders Speak to the title

Life of Jesus

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Game Of Life And How To Play
Small Things Lead To Change

Basement Waterproofing is Essential

The foundation of your house depends on a strong basement. Basement waterproofing prevents water from penetrating into the basement area Waterproofing your basement is mandatory or else it could lead to structural damages and collapsing drywall.

Given below are 5 reasons why basement waterproofing is essential:

" Structural damage: Water seepage is very common problem in basements; especially if you live in wet areas with moist soil. If you do not take proper preventive measures for this problem then it could lead to structural damages to your property. You find seepage mainly in the corners where the wall meets the floor. This process is typically slow and won't show immediate consequences but if ignored then it could cause major damages such as bowed walls and cracked foundation. Basement waterproofing is very important to treat wet basements. Timely preventions can save you from disastrous structural damages.

" Infestations: If you live in an area where there are black molds, then it becomes absolutely essential to waterproof your basement. Damp areas are a breeding ground for waterborne contaminants such as black mold. All kinds of mold can grow between walls and under padding of wet carpets; the worst kinds are the black molds. It is very toxic and can cause death. If basement waterproofing is not done in time them these infestations keep breeding in the wet areas which can cause major health hazards. You may even have to abandon the house if the professionals are not able to take care of the infestations.

" Natural calamities: If you live in an area where there is heavy rainfall or in hurricane areas, basement waterproofing becomes very essential. These areas are prone to flooding; as a result, water is very likely to enter the basement. Rainwater can penetrate through cracks in the wall causing seepage. Also when flood water collects around the foundation walls, water collects in small pockets in the soil next to the foundation and starts forming hydrostatic pressure. Over the time this pressure increases until the water is pushed through the wall. Thus basement waterproofing becomes necessary in such areas.

" Damage to property: Most of us keep a lot of stuff in the basement like furniture, books, equipments, etc. sometimes there are workshops or even wine cellars down in the basement. But if the basement is not waterproofed then water seepage can cause a lot of damage to your property. Wooden furniture rots when it gets damp. Expensive items could be damaged due to dampness. It you plan to use your basement for important purposes then it becomes even more essential to waterproof your basement.

" Sloping and grading: It's important to know if the ground around your house is sloping away from your foundation. The soil outside should meet the walls; if it doesn't then the water can penetrate between the gaps. In this case you have to hire a professional grader to help slope the ground downhill and away from your house. But as preventive measures it is best to waterproof your basement just in case you do not detect the sloping around your house instantly.

Basement waterproofing can be expensive but it's worth the cost to prevent you from irreparable damages in the future.

To learn more about the importance of basement waterproofing and to get helpful guides visit our website at http://www.allaboutbasementwaterproofing.com

Patio Books
Masonry Books

How to Tell if You Need a General Contractor

Making major home improvements can be a great way to improve the value, and the looks, of your home, but it can be a daunting task, and involve no small commitment of time and money. Many homeowners are unsure whether to do the home improvements themselves or hire a general contractor. The answer to that common question lies in the time the homeowner has available, and of course in his or her own skills and abilities.

One thing to remember is that few homeowners are highly skilled in all the elements that go into a major home improvement. Few of us have the extensive construction, plumbing and electrical skills it takes to complete a home addition or similar large project without professional help.

Of course finding a great general contractor, and qualified subcontractors, can be a job in itself, and it is important to take that job very seriously. It is of course important to ask family, friends and coworkers for recommendations, and to check their references carefully.

Those considering a major home improvement project or home addition will need to first determine exactly what the job entails, and what the time frame for the project is. If the new addition or home improvement requires specialty work it is probably a good idea to hire a contractor who has experience in the specific project you need. For instance, those who wish to install a new hot tub would be advised to find a skilled plumbing contractor, while the installation of a deck may call for a good carpenter.

For more extensive projects, like a kitchen remodeling job, a bathroom remodel or the addition of a second story, a general contractor is probably the right choice. It is the job of the general contractor to manage all the various aspects of he project, including such things as hiring the subcontractors, obtaining all the necessary building permits, ordering the materials, and scheduling the needed inspections. The general contractor will also work with the designers and architects to make sure that the job meets their specifications.

It can sometimes be difficult to exactly when a general contractor will be needed, but in general it is a good idea to seek a qualified general contractor when any of the following factors are involved in the project:

-An addition to an existing home, such as an extra room or a second story.

-A major remodeling project, such as remodeling the kitchen or the bathroom.

-Adding an additional building, like a workshop or garage.

-Finishing the basement.

All of the above projects call for qualified professional help, and it is a good idea to make them a reality with the help of a qualified general contractor.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and writes on a wide range of topics from home improvement to credit repair and everything in between. She is a regular contributor to http://www.get-home-improvement.com and http://www.home-remodeling4u.com

For more information and advice on home improvement projects, check out http://www.home-improvement4u.com

For the Testimony of Jesus

In the very heart of the new covenant is the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. 19:10 NLT):

"Then I fell down at his feet (i.e. the angel) to worship him, but he said, 'No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.'"

The great binding connection between Jesus and his new covenant is the key to learning the truth, and the essence of all of prophecy. The new covenant is God's golden key that unlocks God's rich treasure house of blessings for believers. When we move forward to enter his house all confusion and conundrums disappear. If He is all that matters to you (Col. 3:11), and not these other earthly kingdoms that lead away from him, then you have already gained much wisdom (I Co. 2:7; Eph.1:17; Col. 1:9, 2:3, 3:16).

The holy Scriptures specifically give "the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus" (II Ti. 3:15). We live by this faith in Christ, "not by sight" (II Co. 5:7. See also Heb. 11:8-18; Ro. 3:24-31; II Pet. 1:1).

"In him lie all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). He opened up the new, life-giving way "through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us" (Heb. 10:20). This wondrous sacrifice stands for all time (v. 10). There is no need whatsoever to be distracted from full attention to him in the rumored resumption of the earthly temple and animal sacrifices. If such obscenities are resumed in Jerusalem and He does return at this time, it will be to take vengeance upon those unbelievers and their supporters who have defiled the truth with blasphemies. Those who are giving a clear witness for Jesus today will shine forth as the sun in the new Jerusalem, the beloved holy city (Rev. 20:9, 21:2) of our God, where they will live with him forevermore.

Such blessed ones are not unbelievers who cling still to the earthly city where He was crucified by those who would not accept his rule, but they are the ones who have followed him all along the higher pathway of his new covenant that leads them directly into the most blessed place where they can draw very close to him, even today. Their faith in him alone has rewarded them with his richest blessings.

Follow this higher pathway today. It will take you into his beautiful city where there is no disappointment!

Anita Whalley has recently authored the Christian book entitled There Is A Kingdom, available in the Christian and inspirational books section in Amazon. com. There Is A Kingdom is the happy outcome of years of intense searching for real answers to the eschatological dilemma of the day. This is a compelling book that sticks to one, giving him a higher form of confidence, peace and joy than is readily available in a mere eschatological study alone.
Anita also authors a page entitled Significant Values on http://www.Blogger.com
Anita has pursued a career in healthcare, but is now retired from that. She continues with her personal Bible studies, though perhaps not as intensely as she did before the great breakthrough discoveries unearthed in Christ's new covenant, which went beyond the finding of just a mere answer to plaguey eschatological questions. She discovered just how truly transcendently enriching and fulfilling God has made his new covenant to be. A very spiritually uplifting experience this is for any child of God to run into and to enjoy, and his answer to our every prayer.

Defeating the Giants

Defeating the Giants

1 Samuel 17: 50 - 51

"So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword."

Like David, most of us have faced giants before, whether it be the giant of unforgiveness, insurmountable debt, physical illness, addictions, oppression or depression, we have all faced circumstances in our life that seem beyond our ability to overcome. And the more we focus on the giant, the more terrifying it becomes. Goliath had held the entire Israelite army at bay for 40 days. Day and night he would harass them and they had become paralysed by fear . Paralysis be it mental or physical occurs when we are overcome by fear and intimidation . In our heads we start to say , I can't do it, nothing is ever going to change, its hopeless, I don't care any more, is God even real? The conversation in our minds has turned from hope to hopelessness and the voice of the enemy has become louder and more frequent than the voice of God. What we focus on draws our energy and our emotions and we will always move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. The more we focus on the GIANTS in our life the more they control us.

David, was too young to go to war and had stayed back home with this father Jethro. On one particular visit to his brothers, Goliath made an appearance and bellowed out his usual intimidation's. Instead of running for cover, David was indignant, "who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?". David believed that Israel had the power of God on its side and no matter how big or how nasty this Giant was, no one was greater than the God of Israel. The victory that day had been won in David's mind long before it was won in the natural. The armies of Israel had been paralysed by fear, but David had refused to be intimidated.

David was a 'make it happen kind of guy', rather than a person who hoped it would happen, or reacts to what happens. The difference lies within. The bible teaches us that the power to overcome lives within you. Ephesians 3: 20 " Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to that power that works in us" In other words, He is saying it is up to you. You must stop procrastinating, waiting for others, or blaming the past. So many times it's much easier to embrace the role of a victim, a loser, or of the one who's not smart enough, not good enough, not educated enough or not financially sound enough. When you accept such limitations for yourself, the giant will always roar and they become true for you.

Do you really want to change? Are you willing and ready to give up perceptions and behaviors that have kept you paralysed instead of soaring with the eagles? Start by replacing wrong thought patterns with rights ones. Isaiah 54: 17 " No weapon formed against you shall prosper." When thoughts of fear, worry and intimidation begin to speak, shout, stop! And declare the power of God to that giant. Its time to become as indignant as David was about Goliath, and get some fight back into your spirit.

Pray.

God I thank you that there is nothing going on in my life right now that you have not already given me the power to overcome. Help me to renew my mind and break the power of fear and intimidation. I choose to put my trust in your word, not what the circumstances say. Thank you that today there is victory over every giant in my life in Jesus name. Amen!

Yours faithfully
Carolyn Evans-Hale
Subscribe to my Facebook Group for weekly devotionals.
http://www.faithforeverydayliving.com

When A Christian Dies

The coldness of the grave awaits every living being on this earth, there is no escape, no delay and no other recourse except the rapture, and even then, the body must still die. We see things in the physical most of our lives. We see the known and material things of this life, we see clouds, stars, sun, moon, automobiles, and every thing else that is physical. The Bible tells us that these things that we can see are temporal and not eternal. But what about the soul of man and especially the believer in Christ?

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Living a life for Christ is an every day affair. We look not as the world looks, we hear, not as the world hears and we see, not as the world sees When the world looks at a disaster, the believer sees divine intervention, when the world sees hunger, the believer sees, man made famine, when the world sees death, the believer sees resurrection.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Paul tells us in Romans; For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We weep at the death of another Christian, for this is the Adam nature within all of us. We see a blessed hope for reuniting with them in the by and by. We see reunion with great joy and gladness but we still cry. We weep at the death of those that are lost, for theirs is a death within death. Their time is over for decision making and another second death awaits them. They die without hope.

For I, my self, am persuaded, that all of our grief will turn to joy at a time and place chosen by God. Jesus promised us that he would never leave us nor forsake us, this is also including the time of our death. The grave is not cold for a Christian but rather a place that the body can be rested and changed from mortal to immortal.
Sometimes our grief turns into Great in extent, quantity and duration; very extensive, sorrow.

We see someone that gave all for family, husband, wife, children and especially Christ. These Christians will be sorrowfully missed. They all give their heart and sometimes their very life to further the Doctrine of the Everlasting Father. For as Jesus stated about the little Girl, She is not Dead, but just sleeping. The most famous passage, to me in scripture, is;Jesus Wept.
John 11:35-36; Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Behold how he loved him! Behold how we loved our departed, sorrow, grief and tears are natural, and must be done to bring closer to our fellow Christians departure, to meet our Saviour. In over fifty years, I have seen many a loved one and Christian put beneath the ground, wondering what they were doing, how they enjoyed not having any more pain, suffering, aging and worry. How were they adapting to joy unspeakable and full of Glory and especially how they reacted to meeting Jesus face to face, this was always a wonderful thought to help me, grieve. Many years ago, the Children of Israel were tempting God and being skeptical as to Gods power, this were their words; Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

We as Christians believe in God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Gods word, then as believers we must also believe in the resurrection of the Body and Spirit. The unbeliever, at death, takes a journey into darkness and flames, awaiting the final judgment, the Christian takes a journey into life everlasting with Christ awaiting the resurrection of their immortal body. So the question arrives to all that read this message, What will the journey at your death be like?

Mat 22:31-32; But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
The Christian must remember the promises of God when He stated; God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Our Christian family's, Friends, and acquaintances, are not really dead but alive with Christ, we must all comfort ourselves with these words and seek a Kingdom above, for God is not the God of the Dead but of the living. Weep then not for the dead, but rather the living. ars.
This message is dedicated to all our brothers and sisters that have lost a loved one.

2Co 4:18 -
we: 2Co_5:7; Rom_8:24, Rom_8:25; Heb_11:1, Heb_11:25-27, Heb_12:2, Heb_12:3
for: Mat_25:46; Lev_16:25, Lev_16:26; 2Th_2:16; 1Jo_2:16, 1Jo_2:17, 1Jo_2:25
Rom 8:35 -
shall separate: Rom_8:39; Psa_103:17; Jer_31:3; Joh_10:28, Joh_13:1; 2Th_2:13, 2Th_2:14, 2Th_2:16; Rev_1:5
shall tribulation: Rom_8:17, Rom_5:3-5; Mat_5:10-12, Mat_10:28-31; Luk_21:12-18; Joh_16:33; Act_14:22; Act_20:23, Act_20:24; 2Co_4:17, 2Co_6:4-10, 2Co_11:23-27; 2Ti_1:12, 2Ti_4:16-18; Heb_12:3-11; Jam_1:2-4; 1Pe_1:5-7, 1Pe_4:12-14; Rev_7:14-17

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Installing Home Windows - Home Remodeling Help

Most carpenters and construction workers understand one thing about eye level. It had better be straight, square and plumb. My dad could walk into a room take a quick glance at a wall and notice almost every single flaw in that wall. I was always amazed at his ability to find problems so quickly.

I have never quite developed the ability that my father has in noticing construction defects at his level. But I can tell you this most people notice a majority of flaws at their eye level. What does this mean? Quite simply if you are 4'6" tall you will notice every flaw possible between 3'6" and six foot.

If you are 6 feet tall you will notice every flaw between 5 feet and 8 feet. You might not notice the window apron but you will notice the window header if there are any problems.

Now the problem is installing windows at eye level and making sure that the window sill is level and the jambs are plumb. Windows seem to get used a lot and therefore will be looked at often. The more we look at something the more we will notice the good and the bad about that object.

Does the window slide easy, does the window lock easy, does the window close and open with little effort? If the window has grids this could be a bigger problem. If you are sliding the moving panel of the window passed the fixed panel of the window and the window is not level or straight you will definitely see it.

If you are installing Windows above 8 feet you could probably get away with the window being a little bit out of level or plumb. If the window is a two-story house and you can view it from upstairs you could have a problem if the window is out of square or not level.

Keep in mind is very important and not hard to do when installing the windows during construction or remodeling to keep them plumb and level. I know a lot of carpenters and window setters that slapped the windows in, eyeball them for straightness and move on to the next window to perform the same task.

Every person's eye level range will vary. A taller person will notice most mistakes five foot and above. A smaller person will notice mistakes five foot and below. Working at someone's eye level is a mistake. Your work should be quality and when setting windows should be done to the best of your ability.

You might ask why it matters. Because you never know when someone smaller or taller is going to be walking through the house and notice some simple problems that could have been fixed easily during the construction process. Now the window will have to be repaired which could be a costly process.

I like to build things right the first time. Take your time, double check everything and assemble with pride.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Articles and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in Installing Windows in Your Home

Whole House Water Filters - Home Tips

Whole house water filters have gained much attention with the increase in problems with the purity of public water systems. If you want to be assured that the water coming into your house is safe for drinking, bathing and cooking, then a whole house water filter is a critical addition to your home. There is no other way to thoroughly and effectively remove water contaminants, no matter what size home you have.

There is no question why we need to filter our water. However why do we need a whole house system? The reason is found in the fact that any water that comes into our homes can affect our health. Most homes have between 8 and 15 sources of water and whether they are used for drinking water, showering, bathing or cooking, they allow any contaminants in the water supply to enter our body. Even though most filters used at an individual outlet will remove most types of contamination, only whole house water filters can ensure pure water at every faucet in your house.

It is critical that each source of water in your house is filtered. We all know that it is important that the water we cook with and drink is pure. However, are you aware that contaminants can enter our body through our skin while bathing and showering? Our skin is designed to breath so release toxins from our body. As such it is extremely efficient at absorption also, not to mention the water vapors that enter your body through your lung. Unless you place individual filters on every faucet and shower head, only a whole house water filter can provide protection anywhere in your home.

You can find a wide selection of water systems for your home. Whole house water filters are effective at removing 99.9% of virtually every contaminant imaginable, while also balancing the ph level of your water, assuring you of its purity and healthfulness. Removing the contaminants before they come into your home has been shown to reduce risk of disease including many forms of cancer.

Because the decision to purchase a water purifying system is so critical you will need to thoroughly research the different types of systems on the market. Read the specifications on each. Some systems are far more effective than others. For the most part, you will find that a multi-stage whole house water filter provides for maximum removal of contaminants.

You will want to avoid reverse osmosis and distillation systems. These are great for industrial uses, but you don't want to be drinking the water they produce over the long run. These systems remove all the minerals; minerals that are important to the human body in order to remain healthy.

A filtering system that uses charcoal at some point in the process will provide the best tasting water. These systems are usually referred to as carbon block systems and when used with other stages of filtering, are extremely efficient at removing organic and inorganic contamination from your water while retaining essential minerals.

You can find some very effective carbon block filters that connect to individual faucets and shower heads, but a whole house system provides the best coverage at the least cost per outlet. By installing whole house water filters at the point where water enters your home, you will be protecting all the water outlets in your entire home.

Pure water is critical to maintaining health for your entire family. With today's water filtering technology, that can easily be accomplished. My website describes some of the filtering systems available in detail. By taking some time sorting through everything that is out there you will find the best system for your needs.

Kevin Proctor has studied health related issues for over 8 years. His research led him to realizing the importance of pure water as it relates to overall health. Kevin discusses what he has learned on his website, Filtered-Water-Resources.com. For more information about water purification and to see the water filter systems he personally recommends visit his website now

Marking 50 Years of Achebe's Things Fall Apart - Maintaining a Proud Presence in World Literature

50 years ago in 1958 a young Nigerian, Chinua Achebe, at the young age of 28, made major breakthrough for African Literature with the publication of his novel Things Fall Apart. This novel became widely read and recommended in schools and colleges all over the world. I could remember reading it for two years in succession 30 years ago when I was in secondary school in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and all of us in the class were as thrilled not only by the events but by the infectiously fresh idioms and imageries used to describe characters and scenes.

Up to now the imageries that lard the texture of the narrative still have place in the lexicon of my students. The most common included that comparing the speedy growth of Okonkwo's reputation and power: to "a bushfire in the harmattan" and that if a man should say yes his chi, his personal god, should also say yes, in accord with him. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, the "agbala" soon had his counterparts identified amongst us as much as were the fools and weaklings dubbed 'efulefus'. But Unoka was not seen as such a hateful character as his son was trying to make him, for he seemed like a lively fun-lover who had no problem with anyone, except of course his son who was ever burning with the hatred of a failed parentage and heritage as his father spent most of his time playing flute and drinking palmwine unmindful about tomorrow. I have had to read, teach, lecture, discuss, read and reread with new layers of meaning and interpretations unveiling themselves to me at each stage in that joyful cycle of engagement with it, with the text taking a permanent place in the imagination.

I am still trying to retrieve an essay I wrote whilst doing my masters on Achebe's unique style across his novels, then restricted to Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, A Man of the People and Arrow of God. For Anthills of the Savannah had not yet been written. So when I read the preamble to Joyce Ashuntantang"s interview of the literary sage in "50 Years After "Things Fall Apart": A Chat with Chinua Achebe" it was as if she was a spokeperson for our experience which I expect might be one all across Africa, especially. She recalled many secondary school children who were not macho enough ending up with the nickname "agbala" which meant womanly, a derogatory reference to a man in Umuofia who had not taken any titles as was the case with Unoka. Another name she identified was "efulefu" meaning worthless person,

Many of the proverbs from the text have flown beyond Umuofia to Anglo-literate communities across Africa like ours in Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana and Gambia. For example, "The lizard that jumped from the high Iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did"; "Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing I have learned to fly without perching"; "A child who washes his hands can dine with elders"; "An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb".

Chinua Achebe's fate was being sealed from 1948, when in preparation for independence, Nigeria's first university, now the University of Ibadan, opened, as an associate college of the University of London.

Achebe obtained such high marks in the college entrance examination that he was admitted in its first intake with a bursary to study medicine.

After a year of gruelling work, however, deciding that science was not made for him, he changed to English, history, and theology. But this switch cost him his scholarship. He now had to pay his tuition fees. Luckily, he received a government bursary, which helped him halfway together with money contributed by his family. His older brother, Augustine, gave up money for a trip home from his job as a civil servant to enable Chinua continue his studies. From its inception, the university had a strong English faculty which attracted the brightest intakes including those who like Achebe were to become famous writers like Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, John Pepper Clark, Christopher Okigbo and, Kole Omotoso.

In 1950 Achebe made a further advance towards his literary goal when he wrote his first piece entitled,"Polar Undergraduate" for the University Herald even serving as its editor during the 1951-2 school year.Through irony and humour it celebrates the intellectual vigour of his classmates. He followed this with other essays and letters about philosophy and freedom in academia, some of which were published in another campus magazine, The Bug.

Achebe then wrote his first short story, "In a Village Church", which combines details of life in rural Nigeria with Christian institutions and icons, a style which was to be of much use in many of his later works. Other short stories he wrote during his time at Ibadan include "The Old Order in Conflict with the New" and "Dead Men's Path" which examine conflicts between tradition and modernity, with an eye toward promoting dialogue and understanding on both sides. Professor Geoffrey Parrinder's arrival at the university to teach comparative religion, set Achebe on exploring the fields of Christian history and African traditional religions.

He was now becoming critical of European literature about Africa.like Irish novelist Joyce Cary's Mister Johnson, about a cheerful Nigerian man who was working for an abusive British store owner for which Achebe and some of his classmates could not conceal their dislike . One of his classmates even went as far as announcing to the professor that the only enjoyable moment in the book is when Johnson is shot . In amother move to cultural nationalism, Achebe renounced his British name, Albert, replacing it with his indigenous name "Chinua."

At the end of his undergraduate studies in 1953 Achebe was so disappointrf at being awarded a second-class degree and not the first class that he had been expecting that he became uncertain as to how to proceed after that. So he returned to his hometown, Ogidi, to sort through his options. There, a friend from the university who visited him convinced him to apply for an English teaching position at the Merchants of Light school at Oba, a ramshackle institution with a crumbling infrastructure and a meagre library built on what the residents called "bad bush" or evil forest as a similar area in Things Fall Apart is called - a section of land thought to be tainted by unfriendly or evil spirits which was what was allocated to the Christian missionaries to build their church with the hope that they would not survive the evil spirits..

As a teacher, Achebe encouraged his students to be original in their work and read extensively. As the students did not have access to the newspapers he had read as a student, he made his own available in the classroom. But after four months here he grabbed an opportunity which arose in 1954 to work for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS), in Lagos, and left.

Achebe was assigned to the Talks Department, where he was responsible for preparing scripts for oral delivery, a task which helped him master the subtle nuances between written and spoken language, thus enabling him later to write realistic dialogue with ease.The city of Lagos, a huge conurbation teeming with recent migrants from the rural villages also made a significant impression on him, as it did on Ekwensi. Achebe revelled in the social and political activities around him later drawing upon such experiences when describing the city in No Longer At Ease.

While in Lagos, Achebe started work on a novel though quite a challenging task, since very little African fiction apart from Amos Tutuola's Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952) and Cyprian Ekwensi's People of the City (1954) had been written in English. While appreciating Ekwensi's work, Achebe worked hard to develop his own style, even as he pioneered the creation of the Nigerian novel itself. Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Nigeria in 1956 which brought issues of colonialism and politics further to the surface, was a significant moment for Achebe.

His first trip outside Nigeria also in 1956, when he was to undergo training in London at the Staff School run by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).was an opportunity for Achebe to advance his technical production skills, and to solicit feedback on his novel. In London he met a novelist, Gilbert Phelps, to whom he showed the manuscript. Phelps with great enthusiasm, asked Achebe if he could show it to his editor and publishers. Achebe declined, insisting that it needed more work.

On his return to Nigeria, Achebe started revising and editing it, now titled Things Fall Apart drawn from a line in the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming". He concentrated only on the story of a yam farmer, Okonkwo, adding sections, improving various chapters, and restructuring and tightening the prose.

By 1957 having sculpted it to his liking, he took advantage of an advertisement offering a typing service to send the only copy of his handwritten manuscript (along with the #22 fee) to the London company. He waited several months without receiving any communication from them, and began to worry.

So when his boss, Angela Beattie, was going to London on her annual leave he requested her to visit the company and act on his behalf which she did rather decisively, angrily demanding why it was lying ignored in the corner of the office. The company quickly sent a typed copy to Achebe. Beattie's intervention thus rescued and revived Achebe's spirit thus enabling him to continue as a writer. Had the novel been lost, he would have been so discouraged that he would probably have given up altogether.

In 1958 Achebe sent his novel to the agent earlier recommended by Gilbert Phelps in London. The agent upon receiving it sent it to several publishing houses. Some rejected it immediately, claiming that fiction from African writers had no market potential. Finally it reached the office of Heinemann. Executives there hesitated until an educational adviser, Donald MacRae, - just back from a trip through west Africa - read it and forced the company's hand with his succinct report: "This is the best novel I have read since the war"

In the book Okonkwo haunted by the failure of his father - a shiftless debtor fond of playing the flute and drinking palmwine - tortures himself not to resemble him in any way by working hard and not showing any feelings or compassion. It also evplores the complications and contradictions that arise within him and in the wider community when white missionaries arrive in his village of Umuofia. Exploring the cultural conflict, particularly after the first encounter between Igbo tradition and Christian doctrine and European administration that ensues, the novel shows the crumbling of the infexible and inhumane structures of Umuofia along with the equally infexible Okonkwo. Achebe thus retold the history of colonization from the point of view of the colonized, in reversal of previous images presented. For Achebe's emergence as "the founding father of African literature ... in the English language," is traceable to his reaction to Joyce Cary's novel Mister Johnson, set in Achebe's native Nigeria which he studied at the University College in Ibadan. In a curriculum full of Shakespeare, Coleridge, and Wordsworth, Mister Johnson stood out as one of the few books about Africa which Time magazine recently declared the "best book ever written about Africa," but Achebe and his classmates had quite a decidedly hostile reaction to. For they saw the Nigerian hero as an "embarrassing nitwit," as Achebe writes in , Home and Exile, and detected in the Irish author's descriptions of Nigerians "an undertow of uncharitableness ... a contagion of distaste, hatred, and mockery." Mister Johnson, Achebe writes, "open[ed] my eyes to the fact that my home was under attack and that my home was not merely a house or a town but, more importantly, an awakening story."

Home and Exile, which describes this transition to a new era in literature is then both a kind of autobiography and a rumination on the power stories have to create a sense of dispossession or to confer strength, depending on who is wielding the pen. Achebe depicts his gradual realization that Mister Johnson was just one in a long line of books written by Westerners that presented Africans to the world in a way that Africans didn't agree with or recognize, and he examines the "process of 're-storying' peoples who had been knocked silent by all kinds of dispossession." He hopes -- that this "re-storying" will continue and will eventually result in a "balance of stories among the world's peoples."

Things Fall Apart marked a turning point for African authors, who began to take back the narrative of the so-called "dark continent."

The style of Achebe's fiction draws heavily on the oral tradition of the Igbo. He weaves folk tales into the fabric of his stories, thus illuminating community values in both the content and the form of the storytelling. The tale about the Earth and Sky , for example, emphasises the interdependence of the masculine and the feminine. Although Nwoye enjoys hearing his mother tell the tale, Okonkwo's dislike for it is evidence of his imbalance. Later, Nwoye avoids beatings from his father by pretending to dislike such "women's stories".

Achebe' s free but deft use of proverbs, which often illustrate the values of the rural Igbo tradition. sprinkled throughout the narratives, repeating points made in conversation is deft. For Achebe, however, proverbs and folk stories are not the sum total of the oral Igbo tradition. In combining philosophical thought and public performance into the use of oratory - "speech artistry" -, his characters exhibit what he called "a matter of individual excellence ... part of Igbo culture." as Okonkwo's friend Obierika voices the most impassioned oratory, crystallising the events and their significance for the village.

Ceremonial dancing and the singing of folk songs also reflect the realities of Igbo tradition. The elderly Uchendu, attempting to shake Okonkwo out of his self-pity, refers to a song sung after the death of a woman: "For whom is it well, for whom is it well? There is no one for whom it is well." This song contrasts with the "gay and rollicking tunes of evangelism" sung later by the white missionaries.

Okonkwo's tragedy perhaps could be seen as emanating from his furious manhood overpowering everything feminine in his life, including his own conscience. For example, when he feels awful after killing his adopted son, he asks himself: "When did you become a shivering old woman?" All things feminine are distasteful to him, in part because they remind him of his father's laziness and cowardice. The women in the novel, meanwhile, are obedient, quiet, and absent from positions of authority - despite the fact that Igbo women were traditionally involved in village leadership. Nevertheless, the need for feminine balance is highlighted by Ani, the earth goddess, and the extended discussion of "Nneka" ("Mother is supreme") in chapter fourteen. Okonkwo's defeat is seen by some as a consequence of his suppression of a balancing feminine ethos.

Heinemann published 2,000 hardcover copies of Things Fall Apart on 17 June 1958. According to Alan Hill, employed by the publisher at the time, the company did not "touch a word of it" in preparation for release. The book received such a rousing reception that merits a whole book or at least an article to detail.Mean while as we celebrate 50 years of Things Fall Apart the book keeps moving into new corners of the globe while holding and tickling the imagination of those of us who have grown and fed on it for decades.

Born and schooled in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Arthur Smith has taught English for over thirty years at various Educational Institutions. He is now a Senior Lecturer of English at Fourah Bay College where he has been lecturing for the past eight years.

Mr Smith's writings have been in various media. He participated in a seminar on contemporary American Literature in the U.S. in 2006. His growing thoughts and reflections on this trip which took him to various US sights and sounds could be read at http://www.lisnews.org

His other publications include: Folktales from Freetown, Langston Hughes: Life and Works Celebrating Black Dignity, and 'The Struggle of the Book'

Spending 15 Minutes Each Day

The Power of Leadership

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King had it, Sen. Barack Obama has it, and in fact, all great leaders have it according to Rev. Tim Costello; it's the ability to tell a good story. The is a quote from Costello from his book, Tips from a Travelling Soul-Searcher:

"The distinguishing mark of a great leader... is his or her ability to tell a good story--one which encompasses enough of human experience. It must acknowledge pain, anxiety and crisis, but then it must transcend the self-pitying aspects of this so that it lifts a person to new ground with hope and a fresh map for the way forward."[1]

In a slightly different way Stew Friedman from Harvard Business Press says the same thing:

"Effective leaders use their imaginations to connect the actual stories of their pasts with the hoped-for stories of their futures."[2]

This quality of story-telling is not simply the art of oratory or skill in engaging the heart. It is however, ostensibly about demonstrating a compassion and empathy of people and struggle through an actual happening as a way of projecting hope out of a despairing situation.

President-elect Obama has his work cut out for him with the Global situation as it is; yet it is his job, as much as anything else, to remain the eternal optimist, embracing the unknown with power and resolve during each day of his Presidency.

He will have to use all of his stories, and many others he learns about and can connect to, to inspire a generation of people who are flailing with a sense of despair for what is in front of them. He will need a team of leaders behind him who know too, how to tell a good story to inspire hope and positive change.

The refrain from Obama's acceptance speech seemed to be "Yes we can," employing much the same technique as Rev. Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech in connecting people to a simple meaning. Refrains connect people listening to the story to a simple truth. For Obama, and the picture he's presenting to the American people, anything is possible. His election is proof of that.

Story-telling in leadership is way of engaging people through the use of imagination. It's about engaging the heart as well as the mind. Inspiring leaders all around the world and in all different spheres learn of the implicit need to connect with people, their people, in ways that inspire hope, courage and faith--the broader good.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Tim Costello, Tips from a Travelling Soul-Searcher (St. Leonards, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1999), p. 167. The chapter this quote is taken from is called, "the public and private anatomy of leaders." Costello offers a fresh and a not-necessarily-secular take on leadership.

[2] Stew Friedman "Obama's Authentic Leadership -- And Yours" in Better Leader, Richer Life (posted November 6, 2008 2:38 PM) available at: http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/friedman/2008/11/obamas-authentic-leadership-an.html?cm_mmc=npv-_-LISTSERV-_-NOV_2008-_-LEADERSHIP.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified lay Christian minister (GradDipDiv). His key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us.

Missing Years Of Jesus

This One Tip Will Improve Your Study Skills

What is the best way to improve study skills? The fact is many students can not answer this question and this is what leads to those students struggling. The key to succeeding in school is the ability to perform well on tests and exams. This article will provide the basic foundation to successful students and people. Furthermore just having this does not mean automatic success it has to be used.

I am talking about motivation and a desire to be great. This might not have been what you were looking for but the truth is desire and a motivation to succeed will carry you along way. How do you get motivated or develop it if you perceive to not have it. You have to have something that you want that will help you get motivated. I would know because for most of my life I did not think I was capable of being motivated about anything.

The first thing to do and is often the hardest thing to overcome is to convince yourself that you are not domed to be a failure. You can be anything you want to be if you only try. Think about what you want in life or what you want to accomplish in school or business. Then write it down and every time you find your motivation lacking pull that piece of paper up and remind yourself why you are doing what your doing.

What I am getting at is to find what you want and let that be your motivation. I wanted to be the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree and I kept thinking about the look on my mothers face when I walked across that stage, keeping that in mind kept me motivated when before I thought I had none.

Motivation and desire carried me to the finish line ahead of schedule but also made me develop better study habits and speed so that I could improve a sour GPA. Whatever you wish to accomplish write it down and get focused and motivated. Following the above steps will help you become a better student guaranteed and it only takes one time to reach a goal before you get hooked and motivation runs wild.

My motivation was to become a better student by learning how to improve my study skills and also learning how to increase my study speed. Motivation will help you become a better student guaranteed but you have to find it and use it. As mentioned before becoming a better student is learning how to increase your study speed. A website you can go to to learn the benefits of speed studying is here SpeedStudyMethod.com Imagine how well of a test taker you will be when you can study twice the material in half the time. My motivation was because I had more time to focus on other things. There are many benefits to using this method of studying. I used this method and was able to finish my undergrad in 3 and half years and currently I carry a 3.79 in my MBA program. If you want to be a better student follow these tips and check the website out you won't regret it

Programming Yourself For Success

Apollo The Greek Deity

Although you may not realize it, many of the deities of ancient Greece still play a role in our modern society. Apollo, the Greek Deity, was a name used for space missions for a very obvious reason.

Ancient Greece had a large pantheon of religious figures with each figure guarding over a different aspect of the world, or at least, daily Greek life. There were deities for important parts of life, such as war, and also for more mundane areas, such as cleaning and weaving. One of the most well-known deities in the Greek world was Apollo the Greek deity of many areas, including medicine, healing, music, poetry, archery and even plague.

Apollo the Greek deity was seen differently in later times, and as Roman deity of the same name. The Classical version of Apollo was the deity of the sun, taking the place of Helios. Apollo was also a patron of Delphi, which made him an oracle and able to tell the future and speak to mortals. He also became the deity that oversaw colonists, and was the patron defender of herds and flocks. Apollo's many different aspects were worshiped alternately in different areas of Greece.

The sun of the deity Zeus and mythical figure Leto, his twin sister was Artemis, deity of hunting and later the deity of the moon (a position usurped from Selene). His position diving prophecy at Delphi made Apollo one of the most important deity figures of Olympus. The cults (sects) that followed Apollo the Greek deity were quite distinct, unusual, because he had two areas that were devoted to him Delos and Delphi. Often, shrines of each cult would be found in the same city.

The most common symbols associated with Apollo were the lyre and the bow, along with occasional depictions of a plectrum and the sacrificial tripod, representing his powers of prophecy. The Pythean Games were held at Delphi every four years in honor of Apollo, with the laurel bay plant being used as the basis of crowns given to winners at his game. This was not the only plant sacred to Apollo, palms were often used in ceremonies regarding this deity because he was born under one in Delos.

Apollo was one of the most influential and powerful deities in the Greek pantheon. With two sites, Delos and Delphi, devoted to worshiping him, Apollo had many followers. He also governed many aspects of Greek life, so received more donations and tributes than many of his fellow deities. Today, Apollo is still revered by followers of revivalist Hellenic polytheism. As the Greek Deity of the sun, NASA seems to have liked him as well.

Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about everything.

Recommended Teen Reading List

Protecting Yourself When Remodeling

The slowdown in the real estate market has many homeowners "stuck" in their homes. For many home and condo owners, this brings thoughts of remodeling. Unless you are extremely handy and experienced with the building trades, your home improvement project will most certainly require the services of a contractor. Home improvement projects can easily cost thousands of dollars; making your selection of the right contractor(s) extremely important. While most licensed contractors are reputable professionals and strive to do the best job possible, there are others who lack the necessary skills or expertise in business matters to insure the successful completion of your project. Less reputable contractors may try to sell you services or materials you don't need and may be financially unable (or unwilling) to resolve a dispute should it arise.

Research

The first step to selecting a contractor or tradesperson is to research your remodeling project. You must be knowledgeable about what the job involves, the necessary materials and the steps needed to complete the project. The web is a great place to start. There are many useful websites with tons of free information. Use a search engine such as Google to find information ontype of project you are considering. You will be amazed at all of free information available on the Internet.

Permitting

Depending on the type and size of the project, you may need to contact your local building departments to find out what building permits are necessary and what your legal obligations are regarding obtaining and posting permits on the job site. Once you haveknowledge of the requirements, most licensed contractors will handle the permitting is process for you.

Ask for References

Ask around for references and get two or three estimates. Talk with your friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. When interviewing contractors, ask for names and addresses of previous customers and check with those references. Ask for a copy of their license. Sometimes, the Better Business Bureau maintains records describing whether the company has a number of consumer complaints.

Insurance

Talk with your insurance agent or company about the extent of your coverage during the remodeling project. Before you even begin the project, you should review your policy for weather and water damage, theft, fire and other types of coverage. During the remodeling project, most policies will only cover building materials, so make your contractor be responsible for all products and materials until that time. Additionally, you should be insured for the cost of the construction before any renovations begin and make certain that your home is currently "insured to value."

Hiring a general contractor or a tradesperson brings other risks. Two types of coverage are carried by reputable firms or individuals: worker's compensation and general liability. Discuss the importance of these items with your insurance agent to gains his or her opinions of the applicability of these insurance products to your particular situation. Check with the contractor your select to make sure their insurance is current and also make sure they carry adequate coverage.

By doing your homework and following the simple steps above, you can increase the likelihood that your next remodeling project will be a success.

John Allen is a Sarasota real estate agent representing buyers and sellers of fine real estate. He specializes in condos, waterfront homes and golf course communities.

Upgrade To a Wet Bar In Your Rec Room

The den, the rec room, the family room...no matter what you call it, there should be one place in the home where the entire family can relax after a long day. If you are especially sociable, the room should be inviting and spacious, perfect for receiving guests, and equipped to entertain. Most definitely, a wet bar is needed for all your planned activities.

If you're not familiar with the term, a wet bar is simply a counter area or bar, recessed within the room or situated like a kitchen island, that features a working sink with running water. Unlike the standard kitchen sink, a bar sink is usually a small single bowl, often stainless steel, used for rinsing glasses and flatware or adding water to mixed drinks. Wet bars may also features miniature refrigerators for storage of wine and beer, and cabinets for glassware and other items needed for entertaining. For families who host gatherings on a regular basis, be they club meetings or a weekly football game viewing, having a wet bar offers a great advantage.

A wet bar takes some pressure away from the kitchen by allowing drinks to be stored and served where the party is, plus the host can save time using this service area rather than having to run to different parts of the house. Using a stainless steel sink for the bar allows for an attractive, sanitary workspace for your parties as well.

Regardless of the layout of your home, wet bars are usually simple to install. Hiring the proper plumber and contractor for the job is one step in the right direction, and an attractive countertop and accessories will enhance the look of your entertaining area. So if you plan to receive friends, family, or co-workers into your home, why not consider making them more comfortable with the luxury of a wet bar? This is one investment guaranteed to enhance the value of your home.

Kate Lively is a freelance SEO writer specializing in tips for home improvement, from buying the right stainless steel sinks to new carpeting.

Coaching for Self Esteem - Seeing Perfection vs Fixing People

The whole class was astonished.

We were all coaches and healers. We'd spent most of our lives in improving ourselves and others. Yet what we saw shook the very foundations of everything we believed.

Our teacher asked for a volunteer to come up front for yet another demonstration. We were about to see something that would make our heads spin.

You might have heard of muscle testing. It's a technique to find out if something is good for us or bad for us. Chiropractors and other health practitioners use it all the time.

She tested the volunteer for a baseline. In other words, you have to start by making sure the testing works correctly.

Then came the earthquake. Our teacher asked everyone to send healing energy to the volunteer. Then she muscle tested again.

You're not going to believe this. The person tested weak!

The volunteer weakened when we sent healing energy to her!

We were about to get the next earthquake to complete the collapse of what we thought we knew.

The seminar leader asked everyone to see the person as already perfect in that moment. Guess what.

The volunteer tested strong!

She became weaker when we saw her as needing healing energy. She became stronger when we saw her as already perfect!

Whoa. What have I been doing all my life? What have we been taught?

Our intentions were good, but ...

Perfection happens where someone sees themselves or someone else as perfect and does something, or nothing, for the benefit of the other person. The word intention may not even apply. We see the person as already perfect. There is no intention to change anything.

Black magic is where someone has an intention to damage another.

Misguided Intention

What the heck is misguided intention?

Misguided intention is where we see a person or situation as screwed up and we try to fix them. This is gray magic.

Does that shake things up for you? It sure shook me up.

What have I been doing all my life? What have I been taught?

Sure, you can see things as messed up and fix them. For example, you can see a house as dirty. You can then clean it up. And yes, then it's clean.

Does it stay clean? There is a never-ending activity of cleaning the house as it keeps getting dirty. Does that mean that, if you always see the house as clean, it will always be clean? You still go through the motions of cleaning.

But we want to raise self esteem. And I can tell you that if we always see ourselves in our perfection, that we'll dissolve anything that limits our self esteem.

This is good stuff!

Humility is fine. But that doesn't mean that we tear ourselves down.

True humility is seeing perfection in others.

Smiles

Have you seen the Jack Nicholson smile? That smile tells me that Jack is really cool.

How about the Tom Cruise smile? It tells me that we're both really cool. Does that smile help others to be really cool?

What does all this mean?

We had our foundations shaken. Are we going to go around with the belief that we're screwed up? Are we going to keep fixing ourselves?

Is there a better way?

Glad you asked! We can practice seeing ourselves and others as already perfect.

This approach goes way beyond fixing your self esteem. There is nothing to fix. All you have to do is see your own perfection.

Would you like to help other people? See them as already perfect.

Copyright 2006 by Jim Kitzmiller

Jim Kitzmiller is the author of Rocket Fuel for the Soul -- Blissercise Self-Help Manual. The book's bliss exercises (blissercises) surpass usual positive thinking approaches by bypassing the logical mind. The blissercises cover 46 different areas of life.

Jim leads self-help workshops and does spiritual coaching.

Tuscan Architecture

Tuscan architecture combines modern and classic elements that make up pure Old World Europe. The beauty of architecture Tuscan style comes from the typical custom crafted natural stone. This includes limestone, travertine and marble. Terracotta floor and roof tiles are often used to give the antique feel. In Tuscan architecture, wooden beams are often refurbished from Tuscan farmhouses.

Tuscany architecture involves fine Italian building materials that create beautiful marble fireplaces, wrought iron gates and amazing fountains.

Integrating Tuscan elements brings a sense of Old-World charm and mystique to indoor and outdoor aspects of your home.

Exterior architecture typically include:

Tile roof Wrought iron front door entrance Walls covered with vines Crumbling stone walls that outline patios and walkways Beautiful travertine cobblestone driveways Brick or stone set garden paving Tuscan Landscape : Lavender, rosemary and sage can be found surrounding a Tuscan style home. Old lemon pots and antique jars give the feel of a Tuscany garden .

Interior architecture typically include:

Walls: Plaster walls with hand painted wall treatments. Usage of warm colors that represent the rolling hills of Tuscany bring the feel of basking under the Tuscan sun! Mediterranean decor involves subtle earth tones. These are standard in French Country decorating.

Ceilings: Textured richly. Stenciled borders can be found along the ceilings. Paneled or vaulted ceilings are a typical choice in decor as it creates pure Tuscany architectural framework. Wooden or chestnut beams provide a rustic feel to the Old World style home.

Floor: Glass, stone and tile are often used to create amazing mosaic art for flooring, which works well with table tops. Terracotta tiles, marble and ceramic flooring marks true Tuscany home decor . Selection of marbles that blend nicely with your Tuscan color palette.

Tuscany architecture uses pale travertine in home flooring. Marble Chips, stucco and crushed stone are polished nicely creating terrazo floors.

Your home can be so beautiful when choosing architecture Tuscan style!

Patrice D. Walker is an Architect student who specializes in Tuscan Decorating. Visit: http://www.Tuscan-Home-101.com/tuscan_decor.html for more Tuscan interior design tips and information.