Mindfulness is the practice of learning to pay attention to what youre experiencing moment by moment. It means letting go of any thought that is unrelated to what you are presently experiencing and finding something to enjoy right now. To be mindful you must slow down and bring your full awareness to the activity at hand.
Instead of thinking things like: "I will be happy WHEN I get a promotion OR a new car OR a bigger house", it trains your mind to let go of any thought that is unrelated to the present and find something to enjoy now.
For example: Instead about complaining about our kitchen in our house being to small---Instead, I replace it with a more positive thought... "Thank you Lord for providing a place to cook my family wholesome meals, for providing a roof over our heads & bringing us all together as a family".
When something stressful comes to your mind, you must choose to move on to a more positive thought related to what your doing at the moment. And remember to be thankful. Instead of complaining about what your don't have, practice being grateful for what you do have. As you practice being grateful and mindful, your body unwinds & stress is relieved.
"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing"-Proverbs 17:22
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Self Doubt
Self Doubt
Even the most successful people in the world are never completely satisfied with themselves. In fact, dissatisfaction can be a powerful driving force, compelling us to greater and greater levels of achievement.
The problem comes when self dissatisfaction turns into self doubt. Often, we feel frustrated or disappointed about the past, and we project those feelings into doubt about the future.
The future, however, has not happened yet. And so it makes no sense to be negative about it. The future is full of limitless possibilities. Your own future is largely under your own control. Your future is not determined by your past. It is determined by you, and by the actions you take from this point on.
Use your past disappointments not as an excuse to doubt yourself, but as a guide to improving your future. There is no reason to doubt yourself or your own abilities. In fact, the very impulse to doubt yourself is an indication that you know you can do better. Look past the doubt, past previous shortcomings, and you'll discover a bright future.
-- Ralph Marston
Friday, October 26, 2007
Look Out for One Another
As a parent of a child with disabilities, this article touched my heart. :)
Look Out for One Another
by Dr. David C. Cooper
An unusual event occurred at the Special Olympics in Seattle. Nine mentally and physically handicapped runners took their places at the starting line of the 400-meter race. The race began and they ran as hard and fast as they could. About half way through the race one boy fell. He got up and started to run again. Then he fell again.
This time he lay there and started to cry. The other runners heard him and one by one they stopped running and went back to help him. They picked him up and all of them had to give him a reassuring hug. Then they joined hands and finished the race together.
The crowd and the judges were puzzled. Who won the race? After deliberation, the judges decided to award all nine runners the gold medal.
The world's system says, "Look out for number one." Christ says, "Look out for each other."
Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2).
As you go throughout your activities of the day, be on the lookout for someone to pick up who has fallen down in the race of life.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Food for Thought
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?" --Jay Leno
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
God Is Not a Vending Machine
Even though the article below was written by a younger author --I really liked it as I have been making it a routine of including the Attitude of Gratitude (or thanksgiving) in my prayers lately. Just before I fell asleep last night, I thanked God for our warm and cozy beds, the food on the table that day and our home that shelters us from the elements outside.
I also thanked him for his divine intervention in answering a prayer that I had previously made regarding my son just a few days earlier :) Im finding by including more prayers of Thanksgiving, it really makes my prayer life be more powerful than before. :)
Young or not so young... The ACTS model of prayer is a great way to keep our prayer lives from getting stagnant. :)
God Is Not a Vending Machine
By Vicki Courtney
CBN.com – Have you ever stayed in a hotel? You know how they have soda machines and ice makers on almost every floor? Have you noticed the machines that have all the snacks? For only sixty-five cents you could have just about any snack you can think of. That’s all you have to do: put your money in and make your selection. D-5. Then those peanut butter crackers or M&Ms or Cheetos are yours! It’s that easy.
Sometimes we can treat praying kind of like a vending machine. We give God our prayers, and we expect him to give us what we asked for. Unfortunately, prayer doesn’t really work that way. Let me tell you a little about how I learned about prayer.
When I was little, I used to pray “wish-list prayers” to God. They were kind of like quarters I would put in the vending machine, hoping I would get what I punched in. “God, I’ll take an ‘A’ on my test tomorrow.” Each night I went over my list of wants with God. It went something like this:
Dear God,Please, please, please help me remember my spelling words even though I didn’t really study. And please let Mark like me and not Missy. And please make my brother vanish into thin air. Amen.
As I went on to middle school, my prayers were still all about what I wanted: making the cheerleading squad, winning track meets, getting invited to the cool kids’ houses, and praying my parents wouldn’t find out I got in trouble for passing notes in class.
By high school it was clear that he didn’t always answer my prayers in the way I wanted. I had pretty much decided that he either (a) must not be listening or (b) must not care. Either way, I didn’t think that praying worked, so my prayers basically stopped except for when I was in real big trouble. Then I might say a prayer to God to see if it got any results.
When I finally became a Christian in college, I figured out that I had a lot to learn about prayer. Someone taught me the ACTS model of prayer. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanks, and Supplication. People of any age can use this model. In fact, I still use this method today!
The ACTS Prayer Model
Adoration
The “A” of ACTS stands for adoration. Adoration simply means to brag on God. We should start prayer by praising God for how awesome he is. When you pray, start by remembering what you love about God and “adoring” him for those things. Examples would be praising him for his perfection, his enormous power, his ability to forgive us, his control of all the earth and the skies, his desire to love uscompletely, his gift of Jesus, etc. The list goes on and on! You can praise God for anything. Praising God—adoration—helps us take the focus off ourselves and direct our attention to God.
Confession
The “C” of ACTS stands for confession. Confession is basically telling God about when we’ve done something wrong and feeling sorry for it. When I get to the confession part of my prayer time, I try to think of specific ways that I have been wrong that day rather than simply saying, “Forgive me for my sins.” An example would be: “Lord, I confess that I was wrong when I had a bad attitude when my mom asked me to unload the dishwasher.” If my confession involves a sin against another person (Mom, in this case), many times God uses my prayer time to direct me to talk with that person and ask their forgiveness. Confessing our sin every day helps us to remember that sin is serious to God. As you confess your sins to God, remember that no sin is too big for him to forgive. Our part is to admit our sin. His part is forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9).
Thanks
The “T” in ACTS stands for thanks. I bet you can think of the one holiday when it is easy to remember to thank God for his blessings. That’s right! Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving not only because of the annual turkey and pumpkin pie feast but also because, as a family, we offer thanks to God for what he has given us. We also thank him for the prayers he has answered (even if it wasn’t the answer we wanted). Did you know that we’re supposed to have Thanksgiving all year long? That’s right; every day should be Thanksgiving, with or without the turkey and dressing!
It is easy to forget to thank God on a regular basis. One way to remember is to use a prayer journal. Start by taking a notebook, journal, or even a piece of paper and make a list of things you are thankful for, like your church, your friends, your parents, or for your brothers or sisters (yes, even if they do drive you crazy!). If you can’t think of anything, you should always be thankful for God’s Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for you. With all that we have been blessed with, we should have no problem thinking of things to thank God for.
In addition to thanking God for the blessings he gives us, we should also thank him for answering our prayers. Begin by taking that same prayer journal, or notebook, and divide the pages into two columns. In one column, list your prayer requests, and in the other column, mark how or when the prayer was answered, even if the answer was “no!” (The Bible tells us to be thankful in all circumstances.)
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT)
Supplication
The “S” in ACTS stands for supplication. Supplication means asking God for something for ourselves or for others. When you ask God for things, try to think of others first, and lift up your own needs last. This is the part of prayer where you talk to God about your grandmother who is sick, or your dad who needs a new job, or maybe your best friend whose parents are getting a divorce. After you say your prayers for others, then you can pray for yourself. Be honest with God. Are you sad? Tell him. Are you scared? Tell him. Talk to him as you would your very best friend, and remember that your prayers are heard. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayer in the way we would like. Like the time I prayed and prayed to make seventh-grade cheerleader, but I didn’t make it. Now I understand that God’s ways are higher than our ways.
So, what about you? Do you treat God like a vending machine when it comes to prayer? If so, you’re missing out on what prayer is all about. Put your change away and try using the ACTS model. It is important that you talk with God on a daily basis. You don’t have to wait till bedtime to say your prayers. Get in the habit of talking to him throughout your day as things come up. He can’t wait to talk to you.
1. Have you ever treated prayer like a vending machine?
2. What are some things you adore about God?
3. Name something that you need to confess to God.
4. What are three things you are thankful for?
5. What are some requests you would like to make to God?
Congratulations! you just completed the ACTS model of prayer!
See how easy it is? Try to get in the habit of using it each day.
I also thanked him for his divine intervention in answering a prayer that I had previously made regarding my son just a few days earlier :) Im finding by including more prayers of Thanksgiving, it really makes my prayer life be more powerful than before. :)
Young or not so young... The ACTS model of prayer is a great way to keep our prayer lives from getting stagnant. :)
God Is Not a Vending Machine
By Vicki Courtney
CBN.com – Have you ever stayed in a hotel? You know how they have soda machines and ice makers on almost every floor? Have you noticed the machines that have all the snacks? For only sixty-five cents you could have just about any snack you can think of. That’s all you have to do: put your money in and make your selection. D-5. Then those peanut butter crackers or M&Ms or Cheetos are yours! It’s that easy.
Sometimes we can treat praying kind of like a vending machine. We give God our prayers, and we expect him to give us what we asked for. Unfortunately, prayer doesn’t really work that way. Let me tell you a little about how I learned about prayer.
When I was little, I used to pray “wish-list prayers” to God. They were kind of like quarters I would put in the vending machine, hoping I would get what I punched in. “God, I’ll take an ‘A’ on my test tomorrow.” Each night I went over my list of wants with God. It went something like this:
Dear God,Please, please, please help me remember my spelling words even though I didn’t really study. And please let Mark like me and not Missy. And please make my brother vanish into thin air. Amen.
As I went on to middle school, my prayers were still all about what I wanted: making the cheerleading squad, winning track meets, getting invited to the cool kids’ houses, and praying my parents wouldn’t find out I got in trouble for passing notes in class.
By high school it was clear that he didn’t always answer my prayers in the way I wanted. I had pretty much decided that he either (a) must not be listening or (b) must not care. Either way, I didn’t think that praying worked, so my prayers basically stopped except for when I was in real big trouble. Then I might say a prayer to God to see if it got any results.
When I finally became a Christian in college, I figured out that I had a lot to learn about prayer. Someone taught me the ACTS model of prayer. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanks, and Supplication. People of any age can use this model. In fact, I still use this method today!
The ACTS Prayer Model
Adoration
The “A” of ACTS stands for adoration. Adoration simply means to brag on God. We should start prayer by praising God for how awesome he is. When you pray, start by remembering what you love about God and “adoring” him for those things. Examples would be praising him for his perfection, his enormous power, his ability to forgive us, his control of all the earth and the skies, his desire to love uscompletely, his gift of Jesus, etc. The list goes on and on! You can praise God for anything. Praising God—adoration—helps us take the focus off ourselves and direct our attention to God.
Confession
The “C” of ACTS stands for confession. Confession is basically telling God about when we’ve done something wrong and feeling sorry for it. When I get to the confession part of my prayer time, I try to think of specific ways that I have been wrong that day rather than simply saying, “Forgive me for my sins.” An example would be: “Lord, I confess that I was wrong when I had a bad attitude when my mom asked me to unload the dishwasher.” If my confession involves a sin against another person (Mom, in this case), many times God uses my prayer time to direct me to talk with that person and ask their forgiveness. Confessing our sin every day helps us to remember that sin is serious to God. As you confess your sins to God, remember that no sin is too big for him to forgive. Our part is to admit our sin. His part is forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9).
Thanks
The “T” in ACTS stands for thanks. I bet you can think of the one holiday when it is easy to remember to thank God for his blessings. That’s right! Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving not only because of the annual turkey and pumpkin pie feast but also because, as a family, we offer thanks to God for what he has given us. We also thank him for the prayers he has answered (even if it wasn’t the answer we wanted). Did you know that we’re supposed to have Thanksgiving all year long? That’s right; every day should be Thanksgiving, with or without the turkey and dressing!
It is easy to forget to thank God on a regular basis. One way to remember is to use a prayer journal. Start by taking a notebook, journal, or even a piece of paper and make a list of things you are thankful for, like your church, your friends, your parents, or for your brothers or sisters (yes, even if they do drive you crazy!). If you can’t think of anything, you should always be thankful for God’s Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for you. With all that we have been blessed with, we should have no problem thinking of things to thank God for.
In addition to thanking God for the blessings he gives us, we should also thank him for answering our prayers. Begin by taking that same prayer journal, or notebook, and divide the pages into two columns. In one column, list your prayer requests, and in the other column, mark how or when the prayer was answered, even if the answer was “no!” (The Bible tells us to be thankful in all circumstances.)
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT)
Supplication
The “S” in ACTS stands for supplication. Supplication means asking God for something for ourselves or for others. When you ask God for things, try to think of others first, and lift up your own needs last. This is the part of prayer where you talk to God about your grandmother who is sick, or your dad who needs a new job, or maybe your best friend whose parents are getting a divorce. After you say your prayers for others, then you can pray for yourself. Be honest with God. Are you sad? Tell him. Are you scared? Tell him. Talk to him as you would your very best friend, and remember that your prayers are heard. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayer in the way we would like. Like the time I prayed and prayed to make seventh-grade cheerleader, but I didn’t make it. Now I understand that God’s ways are higher than our ways.
So, what about you? Do you treat God like a vending machine when it comes to prayer? If so, you’re missing out on what prayer is all about. Put your change away and try using the ACTS model. It is important that you talk with God on a daily basis. You don’t have to wait till bedtime to say your prayers. Get in the habit of talking to him throughout your day as things come up. He can’t wait to talk to you.
1. Have you ever treated prayer like a vending machine?
2. What are some things you adore about God?
3. Name something that you need to confess to God.
4. What are three things you are thankful for?
5. What are some requests you would like to make to God?
Congratulations! you just completed the ACTS model of prayer!
See how easy it is? Try to get in the habit of using it each day.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Fall in a Cup: Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice
Ahh... it was another beautiful, Fall weekend. One of my favorite Fall rituals is getting a Caramel Apple Spice (formerly known as Caramel Apple Cider) drink at Starbucks. It tastes just like Fall in a cup... steamed apple juice, cinnamon syrup, whipped cream and caramel sauce. Can you say Yum??? LOL
I went to the Starbucks Gossip blog to find out the reason of the change in the name is due to a change in the recipe:
"Caramel Apple Cider is called Caramel Apple Spice now since the recipe changed to Cinnamon Dolce. What we used to call Steamed Apple Cider is now Steamed Apple Juice because we're not really using cider."
http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2007/09/the-new-starbuc.html
Mmmmm... whatever you call it, if you want to taste Fall in a Cup, I would highly recommend this one :) Even our 6 year old son loves this one as well (ordered in kid sized)
I figure it will tide me over until Starbucks have my traditional Winter favorite... the Peppemint Mocha! :)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Autism, Vaccines.......
Autism, Vaccines, and Robert F Kennedy Jr. by Jeffrey Dach MD __________________________________________
Special Television Announcement : Watch Dr. Dach on Channel 7 News talking about Bio-Identical Hormones. Click Here for Video called Hormone Help Medical News Report.Special Radio Announcement : Listen to Dr. Dach on Radio Show, Alternative Mainstream Click Here to Listen (Dr. Dach comes on air 15 minutes after start, so be patient)
______________________________________________________
Do Vaccinations Cause Autism?
If you ask this question to anyone in the medical establishment, government or drug industry, the answer would be a firm NO, with supportive peer review medical publications. However, if you asked this question to mothers of autistic children, or the (DAN) physicians treating them, the answer would be a an equally emphastic YES, of course , pointing to their own supportive medical studies. (1)(2)(3)(3A)(4)(5) (93-99)Canary in the Coal Mine Autistic kids are the canaries in the coal mine, having genetic variations called SNP's (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), so they can't easily eliminate environmental toxins from their bodies.
The most toxic is the ethyl mercury preservative in vaccines, unwittingly injected into young children before they are old enough to eliminate the mercury. Mercury impairs the immune system, causes auto-immune diseases, and is directly toxic to the brain, causing neurological disorders. (6)(7)(8)(9)
It's a Crime in California In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Thimerosal (Mercury) Law which took effect on July 1, 2006 prohibiting vaccination with mercury-containing vaccines to pregnant women or to children under age three. At the federal level, however, Pres. George Bush plans to veto similar legislation (FY 2008 HHS-Labor-Education Appropriations Bill). (10) (11)
The Most Bitter Debate
There is no greater rancor in medicine than the autism-vaccine debate, and this debate has reached the federal vaccine court where 5000 autistic kids and their families are requesting compensation for vaccine injury.
Vaccination Deemed Necessary to Protect Society Society has deemed vaccination necessary to protect the nation from diseases such as smallpox, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. In return for these benefits, society accepts the inevitable injury or death of the unlucky few from adverse effects. After all, vaccines contain foreign substances which provoke an immune response. Examples of vaccine injury include the 1 death per million from viral encephalitis and disseminated viral infection after smallpox vaccination. Another example of vaccine injury is paralytic polio after receiving the live Sabin oral polo vaccine.
With the eradication of polio, there are now more polio cases caused by the vaccine then are prevented by it in the US. (12)(13)(14) The Swine Flu vaccine caused more deaths than did the Swine Flu itself, and there were 500 cases of vaccine associated Guillan Barre paralysis. Both the live polio vaccine and the Swine Flu vaccines have been discontinued in the US for these reasons. (15) (16) The National Childhood Vaccine Injure Act Large jury awards arising from DPT vaccine injury litigation in the 1980’s induced some vaccine makers to cease production, representing a threat to national military readiness in the case of biological warfare. (17)(18)
So, Congress passed the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act to provide for uninterrupted vaccine production. This law made the vaccine manufacturers immune from civil litgation, and instead established a Federal Court system to provide speedy compensation for vaccine-related injuries or death. (19) The court uses a table which lists the types of injuries which automatically qualify for compensation. However, Autism is not included in this table. (20) 5000 Autism Cases Before the Vaccine Court There are currently 5,000 cases before the Federal Vaccine Court requesting compensation for vaccine related autism, and a ruling is expected within the next 6-12 months.(21)(22)
The 5,000 autistic families are represented by Kevin P. Conway, Ronald C Homer & Syvia Chin-Caplan, 16 Shawmut Street, Boston, MA 02116, Phone: 617-695-1990 (23)(24) Acceptance by the Medical Establishment Not Necessary A previous case was a victory. In Capizzano 05-5049 (3/9/2006),the Court decided that peer-reviewed scientific literature was not needed to win compensation. All that was needed was a medical theory linking an injury to the vaccine, a logical sequence of cause and effect, and a temporal relationship between them.
This can be accomplished by medical records, or by an expert opinion. Peer-reviewed literature, pathological markers, rechallenge and general medical acceptance, are not required to win compensation. In other words, it is not necessary for the acceptance by the medical establishment that vaccines cause autism., nor was it necessary for the peer review literature to show that vaccines cause autism.
All that is needed is to show that Johnny was OK before the vaccination, and after the vaccination, Johnny developed autism. 280 Billion Dollars for Autistic Children - Do the Math The current rate of autism as 1 in 150 children. Since there are 4 million live births annually in the US, this calculates out to 28,000 autistic kids annually, or 280,000 autistic kids per decade. Assuming the 5000 autistic families prevail in court with an average payout of one million dollars per autistic child, with the potential for 280,000 claims, the potential payout could amount to 280 billion dollars. This is an incredibly large amount of money, about the same amount of spending for 2 years of war in Iraq.(25)
For this reason alone, it seems inconceivable that the federal vaccine court would grant compensation for autism. However, only time will tell. Vaccine-Strain Measles Detected in Autistic Kids from MMR The Vaccine Court’s compensation table includes Vaccine-strain measles infection, so these autistic kids would automatically be entitled to compensation. There are a number of reports of measles infection in the small bowel in autistic kids shown with endoscopic biopsy and PCR testing. Of course, mainstream medicine claims these findings are debatable, as seen in this article in Nature by DeStefano. (26)(27)(28)(70-75).Lack of Evidence of Harm As expected, the medical establishment claims there is a lack of evidence that thimerosol vaccines cause autism, and lack of evidence that the MMR vaccine causes persistent measles infection. (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)
A recent Sept 2007 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) article speaks against the notion that thimerisol containing vaccines cause neurological problems.(37)
For the rest of the article:
http://jeffreydach.com/2007/10/11/autism-vaccines-and-robert-f-kennedy-jr-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
Special Television Announcement : Watch Dr. Dach on Channel 7 News talking about Bio-Identical Hormones. Click Here for Video called Hormone Help Medical News Report.Special Radio Announcement : Listen to Dr. Dach on Radio Show, Alternative Mainstream Click Here to Listen (Dr. Dach comes on air 15 minutes after start, so be patient)
______________________________________________________
Do Vaccinations Cause Autism?
If you ask this question to anyone in the medical establishment, government or drug industry, the answer would be a firm NO, with supportive peer review medical publications. However, if you asked this question to mothers of autistic children, or the (DAN) physicians treating them, the answer would be a an equally emphastic YES, of course , pointing to their own supportive medical studies. (1)(2)(3)(3A)(4)(5) (93-99)Canary in the Coal Mine Autistic kids are the canaries in the coal mine, having genetic variations called SNP's (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), so they can't easily eliminate environmental toxins from their bodies.
The most toxic is the ethyl mercury preservative in vaccines, unwittingly injected into young children before they are old enough to eliminate the mercury. Mercury impairs the immune system, causes auto-immune diseases, and is directly toxic to the brain, causing neurological disorders. (6)(7)(8)(9)
It's a Crime in California In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Thimerosal (Mercury) Law which took effect on July 1, 2006 prohibiting vaccination with mercury-containing vaccines to pregnant women or to children under age three. At the federal level, however, Pres. George Bush plans to veto similar legislation (FY 2008 HHS-Labor-Education Appropriations Bill). (10) (11)
The Most Bitter Debate
There is no greater rancor in medicine than the autism-vaccine debate, and this debate has reached the federal vaccine court where 5000 autistic kids and their families are requesting compensation for vaccine injury.
Vaccination Deemed Necessary to Protect Society Society has deemed vaccination necessary to protect the nation from diseases such as smallpox, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. In return for these benefits, society accepts the inevitable injury or death of the unlucky few from adverse effects. After all, vaccines contain foreign substances which provoke an immune response. Examples of vaccine injury include the 1 death per million from viral encephalitis and disseminated viral infection after smallpox vaccination. Another example of vaccine injury is paralytic polio after receiving the live Sabin oral polo vaccine.
With the eradication of polio, there are now more polio cases caused by the vaccine then are prevented by it in the US. (12)(13)(14) The Swine Flu vaccine caused more deaths than did the Swine Flu itself, and there were 500 cases of vaccine associated Guillan Barre paralysis. Both the live polio vaccine and the Swine Flu vaccines have been discontinued in the US for these reasons. (15) (16) The National Childhood Vaccine Injure Act Large jury awards arising from DPT vaccine injury litigation in the 1980’s induced some vaccine makers to cease production, representing a threat to national military readiness in the case of biological warfare. (17)(18)
So, Congress passed the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act to provide for uninterrupted vaccine production. This law made the vaccine manufacturers immune from civil litgation, and instead established a Federal Court system to provide speedy compensation for vaccine-related injuries or death. (19) The court uses a table which lists the types of injuries which automatically qualify for compensation. However, Autism is not included in this table. (20) 5000 Autism Cases Before the Vaccine Court There are currently 5,000 cases before the Federal Vaccine Court requesting compensation for vaccine related autism, and a ruling is expected within the next 6-12 months.(21)(22)
The 5,000 autistic families are represented by Kevin P. Conway, Ronald C Homer & Syvia Chin-Caplan, 16 Shawmut Street, Boston, MA 02116, Phone: 617-695-1990 (23)(24) Acceptance by the Medical Establishment Not Necessary A previous case was a victory. In Capizzano 05-5049 (3/9/2006),the Court decided that peer-reviewed scientific literature was not needed to win compensation. All that was needed was a medical theory linking an injury to the vaccine, a logical sequence of cause and effect, and a temporal relationship between them.
This can be accomplished by medical records, or by an expert opinion. Peer-reviewed literature, pathological markers, rechallenge and general medical acceptance, are not required to win compensation. In other words, it is not necessary for the acceptance by the medical establishment that vaccines cause autism., nor was it necessary for the peer review literature to show that vaccines cause autism.
All that is needed is to show that Johnny was OK before the vaccination, and after the vaccination, Johnny developed autism. 280 Billion Dollars for Autistic Children - Do the Math The current rate of autism as 1 in 150 children. Since there are 4 million live births annually in the US, this calculates out to 28,000 autistic kids annually, or 280,000 autistic kids per decade. Assuming the 5000 autistic families prevail in court with an average payout of one million dollars per autistic child, with the potential for 280,000 claims, the potential payout could amount to 280 billion dollars. This is an incredibly large amount of money, about the same amount of spending for 2 years of war in Iraq.(25)
For this reason alone, it seems inconceivable that the federal vaccine court would grant compensation for autism. However, only time will tell. Vaccine-Strain Measles Detected in Autistic Kids from MMR The Vaccine Court’s compensation table includes Vaccine-strain measles infection, so these autistic kids would automatically be entitled to compensation. There are a number of reports of measles infection in the small bowel in autistic kids shown with endoscopic biopsy and PCR testing. Of course, mainstream medicine claims these findings are debatable, as seen in this article in Nature by DeStefano. (26)(27)(28)(70-75).Lack of Evidence of Harm As expected, the medical establishment claims there is a lack of evidence that thimerosol vaccines cause autism, and lack of evidence that the MMR vaccine causes persistent measles infection. (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)
A recent Sept 2007 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) article speaks against the notion that thimerisol containing vaccines cause neurological problems.(37)
For the rest of the article:
http://jeffreydach.com/2007/10/11/autism-vaccines-and-robert-f-kennedy-jr-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
Friday, October 12, 2007
Choose Your Attitude
Choose Your Attitude
author unknown
Is the glass half full or half empty? Is the responsibility, a privilege or a duty? Is the help we've been asked to give, an opportunity or an obligation? Do we "get" to do it, or do we "have" to do it? Attitude is everything and luckily for us our attitudes are a matter of choice. We can pick the attitudes we want much as we pick our out clothes or hairstyles.
Nothing or no one in the past or present can dictate our attitudes. No one else deserves credit or blame for how we choose to process reality. For better or worse, our attitudes are ours alone. We all have the same world to respond to. What we practice, we become. If we practice looking at each day as a new adventure, so it will be.
≈ 1îghtw¤rker§ ≈
Noah reading :)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
God Shaped Hole
This Audio is beautifully done by Plumb. I'm sure all of us can relate to this on time or another in our lives-- after all, we are human!
We've all tried to fill our lives with one thing or another to fullfill us (whether it be the internet, our jobs, tv, drugs, alchohol, etc) only to be left empty.
I did some research on the subject and found some answers on this website:
www.GotQuestions.org
Question: "Does everyone have a "God-shaped hole"?"
Answer: Some people argue that all people have an innate longing for God. Pascal described it as a "God-shaped vacuum." Some quote Ecclesiastes 3:11 referencing God's placing of "eternity in their heart'' which is often said to mean that God has placed a God-shaped hole inside of all people who then spend their lives looking for something to fill it. Without God, people will try to fill the hole with immorality, business, etc. Thus, they remain unfulfilled and wondering why their lives never seem satisfactory. We are often then told that the key to evangelism is to get people to admit to this problem, show them that nothing will ever satisfy besides God, and then proceed to the gospel.
The question is: What exactly does it mean to have eternity in one's heart? First, though, we might ask if this is even what the Bible says. The NIV translation has, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." The KJV has "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." The NET translation has: "I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied. God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives." None seem to be clearly referring to any kind of internal desire that all men have for God, even if the word is "eternity."
Further, Pascal did not in fact say that "there is a God-shaped vacuum in all of us." What he said was, "All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. . . . And yet, after such a great number of years, no one without faith has reached the point to which all continually look. . . . A trial so long, so continuous, and so uniform, should certainly convince us of our inability to reach the good by our own efforts. . . . he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present? But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself. He only is our true good, and since we have forsaken him, it is a strange thing that there is nothing in nature which has not been serviceable in taking His place; . . . And since man has lost the true good, everything can appear equally good to him, even his own destruction, though so opposed to God, to reason, and to the whole course of nature." (Pensees 6.425) Thus the hole Pascal speaks of is "happiness shaped." That one can only FIND ultimate happiness in God is a separate matter.
Finally, and with all due respect to Pascal who I think is being misquoted here, I see several problems with this idea. First, the Bible does not paint a pretty picture of unsaved man's desires. Rather, it says that men have hearts that are full of evil (Ecclesiastes 9:3) that do not seek God (Romans 3:10-18) and whose desires lead to sin (Romans 7; James 1:14). Second, having been saved as an adult, I clearly remember my "B.C." days and I was definitely not seeking to fill any God-shaped vacuum. In fact, I desired many of the same things I still do - security, safety, soundness . . . and although I have learned that I must trust God for my needs (met or not) I still want these things. I think most people desire the same basic things, the problem is that they seek fulfillment for this life alone and are convinced that achieving some additional success in these areas will satisfy them (although studies and common experience show that they do not). This leads to my third point..
What a lot of people do not realize is how unique Qohelet (the author of Ecclesiastes) was. How many people can exhaust themselves on riches, women, food, drink, learning, etc.? I make a lot more money than I did five years ago but I still want more. I still feel like doubling my pay would satisfy me and I won't find out that it doesn't until I get it. Then, if I get the money, I'll think that a newer car, or a thinner spouse, or a shorter drive to work, or, or, or will satisfy. The fact is that it is extremely difficult to find someone who has sampled enough of the world to be convinced that they will never find true happiness in the world (this, I think, was Pascal's point). Finding someone who has hit rock bottom abusing themselves is another thing, of course, but that only pushes the starting point below zero so-to-speak.
So in conclusion I do think that man was made with a desire for happiness - virtually all great thinkers admit to this. Further, it is the case that only God can, ultimately, fill that longing. But I think it is a mistake to act as though unbelievers are out groping for God and all we need to do is tap into that and we will gain converts. There is just too much in this world to give short-lived satisfaction. However, we can argue from this innate desire that unless existence is a cruel joke there must be an ultimate satisfaction to be found. And that ultimate is God.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Attitude of Graditude
Here it is a rainy Autumn day. I tend to get in a funk, due to we live in the Pacific Northwest, there are many rainy days and lack of sunshine. I'm finding that an "Attitude of Graditude" always helps me cope and stay focused.
Yesterday, on the way to the store, I noticed how all the leaves were changing into the most beautiful hues. It was almost like God took his paintbrush and carefully colored them one by one. I found myself in a joyful mood, rejoicing in the beauty around me.
Once I start to adjust to the shock of the rainy season coming in after enjoying such a beautiful Summer, I love this time of the year... the leaves, the cozyness, the crispness in the air... and yes, the food... pumpkin & apple pie, soups and stews and staying cozy under a comforter with a loved one or enjoying a good book. :) Let's not forget the java... a nice cup of coffee with my favorite creamer is always a treat-- even better with an occasional trip to our neighborhood Starbucks. :)
Here is an article how we all can develop and Attidude of Graditude:
5 WAYS TO CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
by Susie Michelle Cortright
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/reading/articles/5-Ways-to-Cultivate-an-Attitude-of-Gratitude.asp
Gratitude keeps us centered and wards off jealousy and negativity.
Here are five little things we can do each day to nourish our sense of gratitude:
1. Choose your friends wisely. If you strive to be spiritually strong, supportive, empowering, intelligent, energetic, and positive, seek those characteristics in others. Help your friends develop more positive traits by living those positive traits yourself. Know what kind of friends will help you nurture your soul, and set out to find some.
2. Help your friends cultivate gratitude. Before you say anything about a friend's situation, remember that everyone's situation is unique. I've seen it happen to myself and to my friends. They'll be perfectly happy until someone tells them they're being mistreated. Suddenly, they're upset. Don't let your friends wield such power, and work to avoid wielding such power yourself. Day by day, hour by hour, make a goal to stop complaining about your life. Make a pact with your friends to cut the complaints from your conversations.
3. Give the gift of gratitude to your children. Help your children to be satisfied with the simple things while giving them the innate power and ability to achieve whatever they want in life...by living in such a way yourself.
4. Say "Thank You." Whom in your life do you appreciate? Let them know, whether it's your mom, your kids, your friends, your husband, your child's daycare provider or the helpful woman behind the cosmetics counter. A heartfelt "thank you" often does the trick. Make it a habit and your attention will suddenly turn to all the things people do for you. Also, write thank you notes regularly - not just after a gift exchange - and be mindful of all the ways you show your appreciation by the things you do in return. Another idea: Spend 15 minutes writing a letter to your children. In this note, tell them how much you love them, why you're thankful for them, and all the ways they have enriched your life. This can be something you give them now or after they have grown.
5. Be mindful of the little things. Today, strive to be aware of all the aspects of your personal, professional, and family life for which you are thankful. Take a few minutes today to appreciate nature. Go for a walk and notice only those things that are beautiful. Whether you focus on the stars above, a distant mountain range, or the cottonwood tree in your backyard, try to notice the details.
Give thanks for the beauty that surrounds us. Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance, speak often of the importance of a Gratitude Journal, in which, at the end of each day, you record at least five things you're grateful for. Regardless of whether you write down these items, spend some time each day to focus on the little things in your life that make each day special. Perhaps it's your child's toothless grin. A warm home. Delicious food enjoyed with family. Together, let's work on focusing on what we have - not on what we don't have - and all the ways we can help one another have more gratitude for the gift of life.
Yesterday, on the way to the store, I noticed how all the leaves were changing into the most beautiful hues. It was almost like God took his paintbrush and carefully colored them one by one. I found myself in a joyful mood, rejoicing in the beauty around me.
Once I start to adjust to the shock of the rainy season coming in after enjoying such a beautiful Summer, I love this time of the year... the leaves, the cozyness, the crispness in the air... and yes, the food... pumpkin & apple pie, soups and stews and staying cozy under a comforter with a loved one or enjoying a good book. :) Let's not forget the java... a nice cup of coffee with my favorite creamer is always a treat-- even better with an occasional trip to our neighborhood Starbucks. :)
Here is an article how we all can develop and Attidude of Graditude:
5 WAYS TO CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
by Susie Michelle Cortright
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/reading/articles/5-Ways-to-Cultivate-an-Attitude-of-Gratitude.asp
Gratitude keeps us centered and wards off jealousy and negativity.
Here are five little things we can do each day to nourish our sense of gratitude:
1. Choose your friends wisely. If you strive to be spiritually strong, supportive, empowering, intelligent, energetic, and positive, seek those characteristics in others. Help your friends develop more positive traits by living those positive traits yourself. Know what kind of friends will help you nurture your soul, and set out to find some.
2. Help your friends cultivate gratitude. Before you say anything about a friend's situation, remember that everyone's situation is unique. I've seen it happen to myself and to my friends. They'll be perfectly happy until someone tells them they're being mistreated. Suddenly, they're upset. Don't let your friends wield such power, and work to avoid wielding such power yourself. Day by day, hour by hour, make a goal to stop complaining about your life. Make a pact with your friends to cut the complaints from your conversations.
3. Give the gift of gratitude to your children. Help your children to be satisfied with the simple things while giving them the innate power and ability to achieve whatever they want in life...by living in such a way yourself.
4. Say "Thank You." Whom in your life do you appreciate? Let them know, whether it's your mom, your kids, your friends, your husband, your child's daycare provider or the helpful woman behind the cosmetics counter. A heartfelt "thank you" often does the trick. Make it a habit and your attention will suddenly turn to all the things people do for you. Also, write thank you notes regularly - not just after a gift exchange - and be mindful of all the ways you show your appreciation by the things you do in return. Another idea: Spend 15 minutes writing a letter to your children. In this note, tell them how much you love them, why you're thankful for them, and all the ways they have enriched your life. This can be something you give them now or after they have grown.
5. Be mindful of the little things. Today, strive to be aware of all the aspects of your personal, professional, and family life for which you are thankful. Take a few minutes today to appreciate nature. Go for a walk and notice only those things that are beautiful. Whether you focus on the stars above, a distant mountain range, or the cottonwood tree in your backyard, try to notice the details.
Give thanks for the beauty that surrounds us. Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance, speak often of the importance of a Gratitude Journal, in which, at the end of each day, you record at least five things you're grateful for. Regardless of whether you write down these items, spend some time each day to focus on the little things in your life that make each day special. Perhaps it's your child's toothless grin. A warm home. Delicious food enjoyed with family. Together, let's work on focusing on what we have - not on what we don't have - and all the ways we can help one another have more gratitude for the gift of life.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
How To Be A Sweepstakes Winner
I enjoyed reading this website ( http://www.onlinesweeps.com/) as my husband, Joel is an advid sweeper as well. Its has become his hobby & every evening you can find him diligently entering as many sweeps as he can enter on the computer.
Some say we are lucky, but we aren't that lucky really. We like to call ourselves Blessed instead! My husband & I both believe that its definately God's intervention though the years. I mean, how can you possibly explain it all????
Since 2003, we've won (6) all expense paid trips (to Major cities) 25K in cash, gift certificates, a computer monitor, t-shirts, cosmetics, household products and the big win of all... 250K toward a new home (Century 21 Home Run Derby)
This year alone, he's won (2) Blackberry Pearls & (2)Rhapsody Mp3 players, a spa certificate.. Plus last month, he won $1,800 in cash in a stock picking contest!!!! :) :)
Plus--We just enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to The Big Apple-- New York City, this Summer! We are still praying that one day we will also win a trip to Hawaii as well :) :)
I just thought I would share this article... Susan has some great tips!
One tip that I would like to add is that my husband prefers save postage & opts to do his sweeping online & has had some great success through the following websites:http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/ & http://www.ezsweeps.com/ . He also uses http://www.roboform.com/ to electronically fill in the sweeps forms.
He also recommends setting up a seperate email box that is used exclusively for sweeping-- to reduce the spam. Also be prepared for junk mail in your mail box as well. We've gotten used to it over the years & it promptly goes into the assigned recycling bin! :)
Anyways, onto Susan's article & Happy Sweeping! :)
Susan Donahue, our expert sweepstakes columnist, is also the publisher of 'Winning Ways', a national online sweepstakes newsletter available at http://www.onlinesweeps.com/. Susan has tips and advice on how to be a sweepstakes winner. So far this year, she has won an entertainment center (valued at $3500), a mountain bike (valued at $450), a vacuum cleaner (valued at $200) and a Dirt-Devil (valued at $50), an iced-tea maker (valued at $35), four wins of $100 each, many T-shirts and music CDs, and a second-prize cash winning of $5000.
Imagine ... it was a very stressful day, traffic on the way home from food shopping was horrendous, and you almost hit the neighbor's cat while you were pulling into the driveway. As you walk up the stairs to your front door, you notice a package over to the right.
Your heart starts pounding and your palms are sweating. You open the note attached to the package, and you read the words you've been anxiously waiting to hear..."Dear Mrs. Donahue, Congratulations! You have been selected as a second place winner..."
Entering sweepstakes as a hobby has increased dramatically over the past 5 years.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to make ends meet, sweepstaking is becoming more and more popular. Contrary to what you might think, "sweepstaking" does not fall into the category of get-rich-quick schemes. It's not like trying to win the lottery. It's a pastime that delivers satisfying, visible results.
While many of us may dream about being that grand prize winner, the first, second, and third prize winners are receiving substantial prizes, too. This year so far, I have won an entertainment center (valued at $3500), a mountain bike (valued at $450), a vacuum cleaner (valued at $200) and a Dirt-Devil (valued at $50), an iced-tea maker (valued at $35), four wins of $100 each, many T-shirts and music CDs, and a second-prize cash winning of $5000 -- all just for sending in my name and address to a legitimate sweepstakes.
What is a "legitimate sweepstakes?"
Legitimate sweepstakes are those that ask you for no money whatsoever -- no money to enter, no money to deliver your prize (shipping and handling), and no money for special processing fees to hold your prize for you. It is up to YOU to enter legitimate sweepstakes -- no one comes looking for you -- no too-good-to-be- true phone offers or solicitations by mail.
Scams will often contact you by mail or phone telling you that you won a sweepstakes which you didn't even enter and then ask for a fee to send you your prize.
Legitimate sweepstakes are sponsored by companies whose products you buy every day: General Mills, Sony, Kellogg's, Family Circle, Vidal Sassoon, Johnson & Johnson, Quaker State, Tylenol, M&M Mars, and many others. These companies use sweepstakes as a way to promote their products.
Through offering a sweepstakes with major prizes such as new cars, vacations, jet skis, money, PCs, entertainment systems, and cash prizes, these companies hope to attract your attention and encourage you to buy their products.
How can they afford it?
Holding a sweepstakes is included in their marketing and advertising budgets. Even a grand prize for a sweepstakes of $100,000 is only a fraction of what some companies pay for the production and airing of a 30-second TV commercial. Also, the prizes in a legitimate sweepstakes, unlike playing a lottery, are GUARANTEED to be awarded. Sponsors rarely hold the sweepstakes themselves. They pay sweepstakes judging agencies to manage the promotion for them and to make sure that all prizes are awarded, and that they are awarded fairly -- and everyone has the same chance to win.
How do you find a sweepstakes to enter?
There are many places to find legitimate sweepstakes: grocery store and department store displays, Sunday newspaper inserts, the Internet, local radio stations, and so forth. There are also sweepstakes newsletters available that gather all of the legitimate sweepstakes for you and provide you with all of the information you need to enter them. Some of the better newsletters also provide you with hints and tips on how to win.
How do you enter a sweepstakes?
Each sweepstakes has its own set of official rules. The important information you need is the entry information (what the sponsors require), which is usually just your name and address hand-printed on a 3x5 piece of paper or index card, the address to mail it, and the deadline date for the entry. There may be certain restrictions, such as age, residency (US and Canada mostly), or they may allow only one entry per person. All of this information can be found in the official rules. Sweepstakes newsletters also publish all of this information for you.
What do you need to enter?
No special supplies are necessary to enter a sweepstakes. Typical items you'll need are things you already have on hand and include plain white #10 envelopes, 3x5 index cards or plain paper, and postage. As you enter more sweepstakes, you might want to use colored envelopes or decorate them yourself, but this is not necessary. Most sweeps winners will tell you that they won using plain envelopes and papers. In fact, there are some sweepstakes that require you to use only plain white envelopes -- as another way to ensure that everyone has an equal chance!
* Hints and tips on how to win ...
After you write your name and address on an index card, and mail it to the correct address, other than cross your fingers, what can you do?
Everyone has the same ODDS, statistically-speaking, of winning, however, there are things that you can do to give yourself a better CHANCE to win.
Some of these include:
* Have the kids help. My kids like to help decorate envelopes, and my oldest likes to help by writing out 3x5 cards in advance. When a sweepstakes is open for children only, we have plenty of hand- decorated envelopes done by the children!
* Remember that local contests are great! The area is limited, and there are less entries. Look for them in grocery stores, department stores, drug stores, gas stations, on local radio stations, and so forth.
* Enter the sweepstakes for which you are uniquely eligible -- ones that have restrictions that would exclude others. For example, if a sweepstakes is open to households with children under a certain age, we would enter that one more often (as long as we meet all of the requirements) than sweepstakes that are open to everyone.
The odds decrease drastically.
* Stagger your entries throughout the life of the sweepstakes.
Many people flood the mail bags or online entries at the end of the sweepstakes, right before the deadline, trying to get in a few more entries before the sweepstakes ends. This means that your odds of getting picked from one of those last mailbags is greater. You have much better odds of winning a sweepstakes if you enter throughout the life of the sweepstakes, getting your entries in as many mail bags as possible.
* If you have an unlisted phone number, please state so when you fill out your 3x5 or postcard. The judging agency will disqualify you if you do not provide a phone number if one is specified. If you let them know your phone number is unlisted, they should not pass your phone number on any further -- but you will still meet the requirements of the sweepstakes.
* If you are on a budget for postage, for example, one roll of stamps a month, choose your sweepstakes wisely. That brand new car might be nice, but if it's the only prize offered in the sweepstakes, you might be better off entering the sweepstakes giving away a different grand prize with a few smaller prizes. Your chances of winning something would be greater. Also, enter online whenever you can for additional savings.
* Smaller wins make great Christmas or birthday presents. If a contest has a particularly uninviting grand prize and lots of smaller ones, we still send in a few entries. You can always decline the grand prize, and you'll still have a chance to win the smaller prizes.
Sweepstaking is a very rewarding hobby. For a small investment of supplies, postage, and time, the results can be very satisfying. Instead of dreading those bills and piles of junk mail, you can begin to look forward to the occasional prize notification.
It can help to make those special occasions even more special by providing things that you may not otherwise be able to afford to buy. For example, Christmas at our house last year was almost completely funded through prize winnings. Each family member received a large gift from a sweepstakes win: a portable CD player for our oldest daughter, a Little Tykes play house for our middle daughter, a bike for our son, a Toys "R" Us shopping spree for our youngest daughter, and a digital satellite system for the whole family.
We also won two round-trip tickets good for anywhere in the continental US, so Grandma and Grandpa flew in for Christmas with us.
We've had many other big wins, too. While we are still dreaming of someday winning those his-and-her minivans, the wins along the way are not only worthwhile, they're fun!
Next month, we'll present more tips on how to win, plus some important information to consider when entering sweepstakes online!
About the author: Susan Donahue is the publisher of Winning Ways, a national online sweepstakes newsletter available at http://www.onlinesweeps.com/ If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Susan at winningways@onlinesweeps.com. or visit her website at
http://www.onlinesweeps.com/.
Some say we are lucky, but we aren't that lucky really. We like to call ourselves Blessed instead! My husband & I both believe that its definately God's intervention though the years. I mean, how can you possibly explain it all????
Since 2003, we've won (6) all expense paid trips (to Major cities) 25K in cash, gift certificates, a computer monitor, t-shirts, cosmetics, household products and the big win of all... 250K toward a new home (Century 21 Home Run Derby)
This year alone, he's won (2) Blackberry Pearls & (2)Rhapsody Mp3 players, a spa certificate.. Plus last month, he won $1,800 in cash in a stock picking contest!!!! :) :)
Plus--We just enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to The Big Apple-- New York City, this Summer! We are still praying that one day we will also win a trip to Hawaii as well :) :)
I just thought I would share this article... Susan has some great tips!
One tip that I would like to add is that my husband prefers save postage & opts to do his sweeping online & has had some great success through the following websites:http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/ & http://www.ezsweeps.com/ . He also uses http://www.roboform.com/ to electronically fill in the sweeps forms.
He also recommends setting up a seperate email box that is used exclusively for sweeping-- to reduce the spam. Also be prepared for junk mail in your mail box as well. We've gotten used to it over the years & it promptly goes into the assigned recycling bin! :)
Anyways, onto Susan's article & Happy Sweeping! :)
Susan Donahue, our expert sweepstakes columnist, is also the publisher of 'Winning Ways', a national online sweepstakes newsletter available at http://www.onlinesweeps.com/. Susan has tips and advice on how to be a sweepstakes winner. So far this year, she has won an entertainment center (valued at $3500), a mountain bike (valued at $450), a vacuum cleaner (valued at $200) and a Dirt-Devil (valued at $50), an iced-tea maker (valued at $35), four wins of $100 each, many T-shirts and music CDs, and a second-prize cash winning of $5000.
Imagine ... it was a very stressful day, traffic on the way home from food shopping was horrendous, and you almost hit the neighbor's cat while you were pulling into the driveway. As you walk up the stairs to your front door, you notice a package over to the right.
Your heart starts pounding and your palms are sweating. You open the note attached to the package, and you read the words you've been anxiously waiting to hear..."Dear Mrs. Donahue, Congratulations! You have been selected as a second place winner..."
Entering sweepstakes as a hobby has increased dramatically over the past 5 years.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to make ends meet, sweepstaking is becoming more and more popular. Contrary to what you might think, "sweepstaking" does not fall into the category of get-rich-quick schemes. It's not like trying to win the lottery. It's a pastime that delivers satisfying, visible results.
While many of us may dream about being that grand prize winner, the first, second, and third prize winners are receiving substantial prizes, too. This year so far, I have won an entertainment center (valued at $3500), a mountain bike (valued at $450), a vacuum cleaner (valued at $200) and a Dirt-Devil (valued at $50), an iced-tea maker (valued at $35), four wins of $100 each, many T-shirts and music CDs, and a second-prize cash winning of $5000 -- all just for sending in my name and address to a legitimate sweepstakes.
What is a "legitimate sweepstakes?"
Legitimate sweepstakes are those that ask you for no money whatsoever -- no money to enter, no money to deliver your prize (shipping and handling), and no money for special processing fees to hold your prize for you. It is up to YOU to enter legitimate sweepstakes -- no one comes looking for you -- no too-good-to-be- true phone offers or solicitations by mail.
Scams will often contact you by mail or phone telling you that you won a sweepstakes which you didn't even enter and then ask for a fee to send you your prize.
Legitimate sweepstakes are sponsored by companies whose products you buy every day: General Mills, Sony, Kellogg's, Family Circle, Vidal Sassoon, Johnson & Johnson, Quaker State, Tylenol, M&M Mars, and many others. These companies use sweepstakes as a way to promote their products.
Through offering a sweepstakes with major prizes such as new cars, vacations, jet skis, money, PCs, entertainment systems, and cash prizes, these companies hope to attract your attention and encourage you to buy their products.
How can they afford it?
Holding a sweepstakes is included in their marketing and advertising budgets. Even a grand prize for a sweepstakes of $100,000 is only a fraction of what some companies pay for the production and airing of a 30-second TV commercial. Also, the prizes in a legitimate sweepstakes, unlike playing a lottery, are GUARANTEED to be awarded. Sponsors rarely hold the sweepstakes themselves. They pay sweepstakes judging agencies to manage the promotion for them and to make sure that all prizes are awarded, and that they are awarded fairly -- and everyone has the same chance to win.
How do you find a sweepstakes to enter?
There are many places to find legitimate sweepstakes: grocery store and department store displays, Sunday newspaper inserts, the Internet, local radio stations, and so forth. There are also sweepstakes newsletters available that gather all of the legitimate sweepstakes for you and provide you with all of the information you need to enter them. Some of the better newsletters also provide you with hints and tips on how to win.
How do you enter a sweepstakes?
Each sweepstakes has its own set of official rules. The important information you need is the entry information (what the sponsors require), which is usually just your name and address hand-printed on a 3x5 piece of paper or index card, the address to mail it, and the deadline date for the entry. There may be certain restrictions, such as age, residency (US and Canada mostly), or they may allow only one entry per person. All of this information can be found in the official rules. Sweepstakes newsletters also publish all of this information for you.
What do you need to enter?
No special supplies are necessary to enter a sweepstakes. Typical items you'll need are things you already have on hand and include plain white #10 envelopes, 3x5 index cards or plain paper, and postage. As you enter more sweepstakes, you might want to use colored envelopes or decorate them yourself, but this is not necessary. Most sweeps winners will tell you that they won using plain envelopes and papers. In fact, there are some sweepstakes that require you to use only plain white envelopes -- as another way to ensure that everyone has an equal chance!
* Hints and tips on how to win ...
After you write your name and address on an index card, and mail it to the correct address, other than cross your fingers, what can you do?
Everyone has the same ODDS, statistically-speaking, of winning, however, there are things that you can do to give yourself a better CHANCE to win.
Some of these include:
* Have the kids help. My kids like to help decorate envelopes, and my oldest likes to help by writing out 3x5 cards in advance. When a sweepstakes is open for children only, we have plenty of hand- decorated envelopes done by the children!
* Remember that local contests are great! The area is limited, and there are less entries. Look for them in grocery stores, department stores, drug stores, gas stations, on local radio stations, and so forth.
* Enter the sweepstakes for which you are uniquely eligible -- ones that have restrictions that would exclude others. For example, if a sweepstakes is open to households with children under a certain age, we would enter that one more often (as long as we meet all of the requirements) than sweepstakes that are open to everyone.
The odds decrease drastically.
* Stagger your entries throughout the life of the sweepstakes.
Many people flood the mail bags or online entries at the end of the sweepstakes, right before the deadline, trying to get in a few more entries before the sweepstakes ends. This means that your odds of getting picked from one of those last mailbags is greater. You have much better odds of winning a sweepstakes if you enter throughout the life of the sweepstakes, getting your entries in as many mail bags as possible.
* If you have an unlisted phone number, please state so when you fill out your 3x5 or postcard. The judging agency will disqualify you if you do not provide a phone number if one is specified. If you let them know your phone number is unlisted, they should not pass your phone number on any further -- but you will still meet the requirements of the sweepstakes.
* If you are on a budget for postage, for example, one roll of stamps a month, choose your sweepstakes wisely. That brand new car might be nice, but if it's the only prize offered in the sweepstakes, you might be better off entering the sweepstakes giving away a different grand prize with a few smaller prizes. Your chances of winning something would be greater. Also, enter online whenever you can for additional savings.
* Smaller wins make great Christmas or birthday presents. If a contest has a particularly uninviting grand prize and lots of smaller ones, we still send in a few entries. You can always decline the grand prize, and you'll still have a chance to win the smaller prizes.
Sweepstaking is a very rewarding hobby. For a small investment of supplies, postage, and time, the results can be very satisfying. Instead of dreading those bills and piles of junk mail, you can begin to look forward to the occasional prize notification.
It can help to make those special occasions even more special by providing things that you may not otherwise be able to afford to buy. For example, Christmas at our house last year was almost completely funded through prize winnings. Each family member received a large gift from a sweepstakes win: a portable CD player for our oldest daughter, a Little Tykes play house for our middle daughter, a bike for our son, a Toys "R" Us shopping spree for our youngest daughter, and a digital satellite system for the whole family.
We also won two round-trip tickets good for anywhere in the continental US, so Grandma and Grandpa flew in for Christmas with us.
We've had many other big wins, too. While we are still dreaming of someday winning those his-and-her minivans, the wins along the way are not only worthwhile, they're fun!
Next month, we'll present more tips on how to win, plus some important information to consider when entering sweepstakes online!
About the author: Susan Donahue is the publisher of Winning Ways, a national online sweepstakes newsletter available at http://www.onlinesweeps.com/ If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Susan at winningways@onlinesweeps.com. or visit her website at
http://www.onlinesweeps.com/.
What Is the World coming to???
Billboard Promotes Extramarital Affairs"A billboard in Los Angeles that reads: "LIFE IS SHORT, HAVE AN AFFAIR" has caused a stir in the City of Angels as well as on the Internet. The ad is for a dating Web Site that caters to married people. Protesters argue the sign promotes adultery and should be taken down."
I went to the AshleyMadison.com & this is what they said on their website: http://www.ashleymadison.com/app/public/risque.p
Sigh! Pretty sad isn't it???? If we aren't in the End of Times now, then signs like this make me think that we are a lot closer than we think we are!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Josh Groban: NOEL
I'm totally psyched! Josh Groban's Christmas CD comes out tommorrow-- Oct 9th! Although, my husband pre ordered it for me weeks ago on Amazon.com, it will be worth the wait to get the CD in the mail around Oct 15th! :)Here is a snippet on what is on the CD! Josh's voice is amazing & sure to be a welcome addition to our Christmas music collection (and we might just buy a couple extra copies for family and friends as well. Teehee!)
Wow-- what a great way to welcome the Holiday Season! Leave it to Josh Groban's captivating voice for "making spirits bright" this year! Timeless! :)
Track Listings
1. -Silent Night
2. -Little Drummer Boy
3. -I'll be home for Christmas
4. -Ava Maria
5. -Angels We Have Heard On High
6. -Thankful
7. -The Christmas Song
8. -What Child is this
9. -First Noel
10. -Petit papa Noel
11. -It came upon a Midnight Clear
12. -Panis Angelicus
13. -O Come all Ye Faithful
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Bringing Josh Groban’s majestic yet intimate voice to Christmas music is truly a gift this holiday season. The young Adult Contemporary star’s fourth studio album brings together the traditional such as Silent Night with the contemporary such as I’ll Be Home For Christmas and the new, Thankful. Featuring duets with Country’s Faith Hill and R&B’s Brian McKnight, and inspirational music’s master choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and produced by the illustrious David Foster the album’s wide appeal promises that a timeless Christmas music classic will be beneath the tree this year.
Four Boyfriends
A friend emailed me this story & it had such a good moral to the story that I thought I would share. The ending may surprise you... its not what you would have thought! :)
4 boyfriends
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, "I loved you the most, endowed you wit h the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!", replied the 4 th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!”, replied the 3rd boyfriend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd boyfriend. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"
In truth, you have 4 boyfriend s in your lives: Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go.
Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
4 boyfriends
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, "I loved you the most, endowed you wit h the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!", replied the 4 th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!”, replied the 3rd boyfriend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd boyfriend. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"
In truth, you have 4 boyfriend s in your lives: Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go.
Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
What Is with Worship anyway?
Since today is Sunday, my mind often focused on Spiritual things. My husband & I are Christian in our faith & must say that Praise & Worship time is my all time favorite part of attending church services. It is a time that after a hectic week, that I can truly let go & let my spirit totally connect again with our Lord & Savior, so much that I find myself in tears (in a good way, though) :)
For a long time, I often wondered why was this such an emotional time for me, until I realized that it was a connection with the Holy Spirit. Since that revelation, I've tried to make it a point to make Praise & Worship my routine during the hectic work week (Yes, I said "work week"! LOL. Just because I happen to be a Stay at Home Mom doesnt disqualify me from work. As any Mother can tell you... it is a 24/7 job, often with no time off)
It has become my routine for me to turn on a Christian music station in the car or at home. It helps me stay focused on God, his blessings & to keep my mind off of lifes circumstances. :) Im finding when I worship, it sends a sweet fragrance to God & helps keep me stay on track with my Walk with Him. As the old Sunday school song says "As the Praises go up, the blessings come down" :)
Some may be wondering, What is Worship all about anyway? What does it all mean???
I did some research on the topic to explain where words fail me, since Worship is different for everyone.
Enjoy & Have a blessed week! :)
True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person is in the right place.
The first thing we should know is that worship and praise is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of his servants (Revelation 19:10). We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any other false gods, or even Mary, mother of Jesus.
We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.
Worship can be public praise to God (Psalm 22:22, 35:18) in a congregational setting, where we can proclaim through music and praise our adoration and thankfulness for him and what He has done for us.
True worship is felt inwardly, then comes out through our actions. "Going through the motions" out of obligation is displeasing to God and is done completely in vain. He can see through all the hypocrisy, and He hates this. He demonstrates this in Amos 5:21-24 as He talks about coming judgment. Another example is the story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. They both brought gift offerings to the Lord, but He was only pleased with Abel's. Cain brought the gift out of obligation; Abel brought his finest lambs from his flock. He brought out of faith and admiration for God.
True worship is not confined to singing in church, or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told to do them in the Bible), but it is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in the things we do. To do this, we must know God, we can not be ignorant of Him (Acts 17:23).
Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.
For a long time, I often wondered why was this such an emotional time for me, until I realized that it was a connection with the Holy Spirit. Since that revelation, I've tried to make it a point to make Praise & Worship my routine during the hectic work week (Yes, I said "work week"! LOL. Just because I happen to be a Stay at Home Mom doesnt disqualify me from work. As any Mother can tell you... it is a 24/7 job, often with no time off)
It has become my routine for me to turn on a Christian music station in the car or at home. It helps me stay focused on God, his blessings & to keep my mind off of lifes circumstances. :) Im finding when I worship, it sends a sweet fragrance to God & helps keep me stay on track with my Walk with Him. As the old Sunday school song says "As the Praises go up, the blessings come down" :)
Some may be wondering, What is Worship all about anyway? What does it all mean???
I did some research on the topic to explain where words fail me, since Worship is different for everyone.
Enjoy & Have a blessed week! :)
True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person is in the right place.
The first thing we should know is that worship and praise is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of his servants (Revelation 19:10). We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any other false gods, or even Mary, mother of Jesus.
We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.
Worship can be public praise to God (Psalm 22:22, 35:18) in a congregational setting, where we can proclaim through music and praise our adoration and thankfulness for him and what He has done for us.
True worship is felt inwardly, then comes out through our actions. "Going through the motions" out of obligation is displeasing to God and is done completely in vain. He can see through all the hypocrisy, and He hates this. He demonstrates this in Amos 5:21-24 as He talks about coming judgment. Another example is the story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. They both brought gift offerings to the Lord, but He was only pleased with Abel's. Cain brought the gift out of obligation; Abel brought his finest lambs from his flock. He brought out of faith and admiration for God.
True worship is not confined to singing in church, or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told to do them in the Bible), but it is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in the things we do. To do this, we must know God, we can not be ignorant of Him (Acts 17:23).
Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.
Friday, October 5, 2007
How To Avoid the "Holier than thou" Committee
Note: Although I didnt write this, I found some of the points made perfect sense! Although this article is written by a different author, I have noticed some similar parallels. In the book "The Bait of Satan", John Bevere mentions several tactics that the enemy uses to cause offense. It is good to be aware of that, cause offense seems to run rampid these days, even Christians could easily fall into the trap, so its good to be aware & keep our eyes on our own Walk (with God) while we "walk in love" with others. Besides that, isn't it supposed to be love, not legalism that drives us? Christ taught in the Holy Bible for us to be "fishers of men", so I try to keep on the right track by occasionally asking myself, How many fish have I caught lately & does my light shine for all to see or does it leave them in the dark? Just my perspective on things anyway :)
Enjoy the article:
One of the most effective deceptions that Satan has foisted upon Christians is the idea that certain groups are more spiritually mature than less-enlightened believers. The endless game of, “I am more approved in the Lord's eyes than you,” divides the Body of Christ and gives non-believers a negative opinion of the Christian faith. Few people would ever openly say, “I'm a better Christian than you.” It is through their beliefs and deeds that they proclaim their superiority. Listed below are six common ways people use to promote spiritual elitism.
1. Members of the One True Church
The trademark of this belief is that a particular group has a stranglehold on the truth and that there is no salvation outside of its organization. The groups hold that leaders are specially anointed by God, are in many cases infallible in interpretation of holy writings and, more importantly, are above reproach. These groups believe in what they feel are superior interpretations of scripture and they are more concerned about the doctrines and traditions of man than the Word of God.
Special revelations from God are a trademark of the One True Church. In most cases, the luster of the revelation can be found to have been tarnished by failed prediction. Bible requires 100 percent accuracy rate for all predictions that are claimed to have originated from God.
One-true-churchism leads to people questioning their salvation and spending more time worrying about their actions than on studying the Word of God and enriching their personal walk with Him.
Mark 7:9: “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
2. The Keepers of the Law
This group of people believes in keeping Torah observance. While I see no problem with people choosing to keep the levitical kosher (dietary) laws or the Sabbath, there is a fine line between personal choice and self-righteousness.
These groups maintain that Jesus never intended for the law to go away. They base this belief on Matthew 5:17 and John 14:15, which say, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law," and "If you love me, you will keep my commandments," respectively.
What they are missing, however, is that Jesus clarified what He was referring to and it had nothing to do with the 613 laws of Torah. When Jesus was cornered by the Pharisees and asked which of the commandments were the greatest, He replied:
Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the first and great commandment and the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." What was He referencing?
Isaiah 29:13: “Therefore the Lord said, ‘Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.’”
Jeremiah 31:33: “But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
It is impossible for the Judaic law to save anyone. The standard is too high for anyone to follow the law to perfection. The law said, “Don't do it.” Jesus said, “You’re guilty if you even think about doing something that is wrong.” Paul warned us in Galatians that we can fall from grace by trying to follow after the law.
Galatians 2:21: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Galatians 5:4: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”
3. Legalists
Scripture tells us that we are to exhort fellow believers (1 Thess. 4:1). So where is the line between assisting a believer in his walk with the Lord and condemning a believer for his every thought and action?
Common sense dictates that a believer should not dress wantonly and get drunk, but common sense is not enough for the legalist crowd. That crowd feels a duty to protect people from themselves, so it creates measuring sticks in order to maintain its role as its brother's keeper.
Based on 1Thessalonians 5:22, which says to abstain from all appearance of evil, popular legalisms promoted are: no drinking, smoking, dancing, going to movies, or attending sporting events (because beer is sold). Women can't cut their hair or wear makeup, jewelry or slacks. Women's skirts or culottes must be at least below the knee in length. Men must wear trousers at all times, regardless of the weather. No eating out on Sundays. Everything must be approved by a minister. The list is endless.
While I am not advocating a free-wheeling lifestyle, I am saying that we are to walk in the Lord's light. Our deeds are like filthy rags to Him; it is what is in our hearts that matters. Legalism pits believers against one another in an unending cycle of condemnation. Additionally, it can turn people away from understanding the grace of Christ when they are made to feel that they have bigger shoes to fill than they can wear.
Matthew 23:24: “[Ye] Blind guides, who strain on a gnat and swallow a camel!”
4. KJVOnlyism
Some Christians proclaim that the 1611 King James Version (KJV) is the one and only true English version of the word of God and that all other versions were corrupted by Satan.
While Rapture Ready uses the KJV for Scripture references, it is only because this version is the mostly widely quoted. Nothing is dramatically wrong with other versions of Christian Bibles such as the New King James Version, New American Standard Version, and the Revised Standard Version. However, some versions, such as the Clear Word Bible of the Seventh Day Adventists or the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, were specifically rewritten to accommodate private interpretations, but even these versions contains the heart of Biblical truth.
No Bible version says that Satan died for our sins. The King James Only crowd implies that positive magical qualities are attached to the KJV version, and that negative energies indwell all non-KJV Bibles. I have never found a need to go digging into the meaning of the original Hebrew and Greek. Whenever I encounter a passage that seems unclear to me, most of the time, I'm able to find some other verse that resolves the confusion.
The King James Version was written in Elizabethan English (a la Shakespeare), and can be rather difficult for people to read, especially for those new to the faith. What is more important: encouraging people to read their Bibles to learn about Jesus, or overwhelming them with language that makes understanding the text more difficult, causing them to turn to commentaries of man rather than the Word of God?
Hebrews 5:12: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
5. Word of Faith Proponents
This group promotes the doctrine of “name-it-claim-it,” which says that the Lord has a storehouse full of blessings in heaven just waiting for the faithful to claim while they’re here on earth. It teaches that those in the Lord's favor are blessed with health and wealth and that those who are struggling in life are not blessed because of their inferior relationship with the Lord and their inferior faith and trust in Him.
The biggest question here is the one of universal application. Is this teaching practical and accessible to all? Is a teaching of the Lord if it only applies to affluent suburbia but not the underdeveloped nations of the world? What application does the teaching have for believers imprisoned for their faith by atheistic, Islamic and other repressive governments?
Word of Faith promotes elitism between the “haves” and the “have nots” by claiming that those who “have not” are inferior Christians of inferior faith and the Lord is treating them as such.
Matthew 6:19-20: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Mark 10:31: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
6. The Intellectuals
One of the most basic human desires is the praise of mankind. Many Christians like to impress other believers with their intellectual capabilities. Some go as far as proclaiming themselves spiritually superior to anyone who doesn’t share the same level of academic achievement.
The intellectual crowd is very harmful to the spreading of the Gospel. They motivate fellow Christians to try to master a lofty vocabulary that is often above the heads of average people.
They hold the general philosophy that it is better to appear to be intelligent than it is to be understood by your audience.
The Bible repeatedly warns against trusting in the flesh for wisdom. Because Satan is a spirit being, with nearly unlimited intellectual skills, no man is able to match wits with him. Anyone who strays from the Word of God to rely on his own understanding is making a terrible mistake.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
Romans 1:21-22: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
Bottom Line
Individuals who hold to an “I'm a better Christian than you” mindset can always find Scripture that will support their stance. What they need to do is examine their rationale for holding to this view. If their offering of correction is not sparked from love, then one can only conclude vanity is their only motivation.
Philippians 2:2-3: “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
The Flu Shot:New Debate Over this Years Vaccine Puts Kids at Risk
The Flu Shot
By Christina Elston
There's New Debate Over whether This Year's Vaccine Puts Kids at Risk
Last winter, Daphne Allen seriously considered taking her 3-year-old daughter in to get a flu shot. "My mother lives with us, and she has emphysema," says Allen, who was concerned that her little girl might get the flu at daycare, spread it around the family and put Allen's mother at risk for complications.
The 2003-2004 flu season began and peaked earlier than usual. It was also more severe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As national headlines tracked the number of child deaths from the illness, parents scrambled for flu shots and, in many cases, healthcare providers ran out of the vaccine. In all, 152 children died as a result of the flu, with 41 percent of them being under the age of 2, the CDC reports.
But despite the public's alarm, the only children for whom flu shots were recommended last season were those with heart, respiratory or immune disorders (the same was true for adults, although shots were recommended for any seniors over 65). Allen ultimately decided not to have her daughter vaccinated.
This season, however, things are different.
For the first time, the CDC is recommending that otherwise healthy children ages 6 months to 24 months, pregnant women and everyone in those households get flu shots. What the CDC isn't going out of its way to publicize is the fact that some of the flu shots available still contain thimerosal – a controversial, mercury-containing ingredient recently removed from all other childhood vaccines.
Mercury-free vaccines also will be available, but many public health officials say those will be reserved for pregnant women and kids under age 2, for whom mercury poses the biggest health risk. That means that kids over age 2, such as Allen's daughter, could end up getting a vaccine with thimerosal.
"I understand that they don't want to sound an alarm that will prevent parents from having their children vaccinated," Allen says of federal health officials' reluctance to publicize recommendations that parents avoid shots containing mercury. But given the choice, she says, she would prefer that her children's vaccines be mercury-free.
Heavy Metal
Thimerosal has been used in vaccines since the 1930s, according to Marie McCormick, M.D., a professor of maternal and child health at the Harvard School of Public Health. It is a preservative used to help protect vaccines – especially those stored in multiple-dose vials –
Did You Know …Other Sources of Mercury against contamination with bacteria.
Though it has been removed from other vaccines recommended for kids, thimerosal is still used in some flu vaccines because it's the only way to safely make use of multidose vials. The vials are considered more space- and cost-efficient when it comes to vaccinating large numbers of people on a seasonal basis.
Anyone can request a flu vaccine for themselves or their child (except for infants under 6 months). For years, however, flu shots were recommended only for adults, for whom thimerosal doesn't present the same health risk. This season's changed flu vaccine recommendations for kids under age 2 will mean that more mercury-free vaccine is produced. But there will likely be production of the thimerosal-containing multidose vials as well.
The downside of thimerosal is that it contains an organic form of mercury, a heavy metal that is toxic in high enough doses. The biggest danger is to unborn babies and young children, says David Carpenter, M.D., of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the State University of New York "There's very strong evidence that exposure, especially before birth, causes a reduction in IQ," Carpenter says. The effects are similar to those observed in children exposed to high levels of lead or PCBs.
While no one denies that mercury is harmful, the dispute within the healthcare community is over whether the thimerosal in vaccines contains enough mercury to cause harm. "The question is, 'Is the concentration adequate to cause effects on learning and memory in children receiving these vaccines?'" Carpenter says.
Already, some public health departments are saying they will dedicate their mercury-free flu vaccine supply to pregnant women and kids under age 2. And many public health officials also say there will be mercury-free shots available for parents who seek them out. The key for parents is to have enough information to decide whether to request a mercury-free vaccine for their kids.
A History of Controversy
The issue of mercury in vaccines first began to draw attention around 1997, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act required manufacturers to disclose the amount of mercury in each dose, says McCormick. Health officials discovered that the total amount of mercury in all of the vaccines children received exceeded an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for mercury exposure.
By 1999, reports of increasing U.S. autism rates began to emerge. The California State Department of Developmental Services documented a 273 percent increase in cases of autism between 1987 and 1998. As suspicions began to arise about a possible link, some public health experts began advocating for the removal of thimerosal from vaccines, and the CDC announced it would begin phasing out its use.
At the time, McCormick explains, virtually nothing was known about how the body metabolizes mercury. "It was taken out as a precaution," she says.
The Autism Question
Is there really a link between childhood vaccines and autism? In May, a committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences, headed by McCormick, released a report stating that there is not. "In the doses that are being given in the vaccine schedule, there was no link between thimerosal and autism," she says.
But that report, based largely on five studies completed since 2001, has been criticized by autism activists, who charge that researchers on some of the studies were employed by vaccine companies and had a vested interest in finding no association between thimerosal and autism. Some of the studies were also conducted on populations that autism activists say received less mercury in vaccinations than did children in the United States.
But McCormick defends the IOM report and those who helped create it. She says that all researchers were required to disclose potential conflicts of interest before delivering their information. IOM committee members were selected to have the minimum conflict of interest possible, she says. They were not allowed to have:
• worked for the CDC or vaccine companies,
• made public statements about vaccines, or
• had research funded by vaccine companies.
IOM members made their decisions based strictly on the data they examined, McCormick says. "None have been able to critique the honesty of the committee."
Another objection from the autism community, however, is that the report did not address the role of genetics. Studies have shown that people's ability to clear mercury from their bodies differs depending on their genetic makeup, says Lyn Redwood, R.N., president of the Coalition for SafeMinds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing mercury from medical products.
"What we've been saying all along is that some infants are more susceptible to this than others," says Redwood, whose son has autism. The IOM report, she says, acknowledges that the studies from which it drew its conclusions would not detect an association between thimerosal and autism in children who were genetically less able to metabolize mercury.
In June, a Columbia University study published online in the Nature publication Molecular Psychiatry – and sponsored in part by the Coalition for SafeMinds – concluded that injecting genetically susceptible mice with thimerosal could lead to autism-like damage to the brain. Researchers reported that these mice exhibited features of autism spectrum disorders, including abnormal responses to new environments, abnormalities in brain structure and increased brain size.
Florida Congressman David Weldon, a physician, says a study that he believes "will truly answer the question of whether thimerosal is harmful to kids" is going to play out during the next 12 to 18 months. Because thimerosal was basically stripped from the childhood vaccination schedule by the year 2002, the first generation of kids in many years to grow up thimerosal-free is old enough for cases of autism – usually diagnosed after age 2 – to become apparent.
"We should begin to see a decline in autism in the next six to eight months," Weldon says. He introduced legislation this year that would have legally banned the use of thimerosal in any childhood vaccines, but the bill was not passed prior to the end of the legislative session.
This past July, the California State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) reported a nine-month sustained reduction in the number of professionally diagnosed cases of autism entering the state's developmental services system. Weldon calls this data too preliminary to be conclusive, but he says that if these results are mirrored in the rest of the country, "the case will be closed. That will be fairly compelling to most people."
Risks of Not Vaccinating
With all the controversy over thimerosal, should you even chance a flu vaccine that contains the substance? It's this question that prompts some of the strongest debate over the issue.
First, the flu is serious business. Despite the controversy, the CDC had clear reasons for its recommendations, particularly after such a deadly outbreak last season. Doctors, in fact, are generally in favor of the recommendation for flu shots.
"I think it's a good recommendation, and I support it," says Jane Siegel, M.D., head of the Infection Control Committee at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. "In children, influenza is a serious disease worth preventing."
Serious complications from the flu can occur in pregnant women and children under age 2, just as they can for people over age 65. But aside from any people living in the same households as these at-risk populations, there is no official recommendation for vaccinating healthy people ages 2 to 64. Certainly, a flu vaccine is beneficial for these folks. But considering inadequate supplies in many areas last season, parents may find their healthcare providers reserving mercury-free flu shots for kids under age 2.
Second, the flu vaccine is effective. Flu presents a special challenge to vaccine makers, according to Debra Ritzwoller, Ph.D., a researcher from Kaiser Permanente's clinical research unit in Denver, because flu strains are always changing. Vaccine makers base each year's vaccine on strains observed the previous winter, and the effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the "match" between vaccine and flu strains.
Even though there was a slight mismatch between the vaccine and flu strains last season, a research team co-lead by Ritzwoller found that the vaccine was still effective:
• Children under age 10 who had received two doses of flu vaccine were 27 percent to 50 percent less likely to visit the doctor for flu symptoms than unvaccinated children.
• Children ages 6 months to 23 months who had two doses of the vaccine were 49 percent less likely to contract flu or pneumonia than unvaccinated children.
Ritzwoller reminds parents that children who have never had a flu shot before need a booster a few weeks after their initial shot. The Kaiser study found that children receiving just one dose were not protected. "It was only effective for those kids who got the full dose," she says.
Vaccine Alternatives
Not all flu vaccines contain thimerosal, and you can request a thimerosal-free vaccine from your healthcare provider. According to the FDA, the following products are available:
Fluzone – Available in three forms: a 10-dose vial that contains thimerosal, a single-dose prefilled syringe that contains thimerosal, and a single-dose prefilled syringe that contains only trace amounts remaining from the production process.
Fluvirin – Available in two forms: a 10-dose vial that contains thimerosal, and a single-dose prefilled syringe that contains only traces.
FluMist – Available for ages 5 and up in a single-dose nasal sprayer. Contains no thimerosal.
CDC spokesperson Curtis Allen says there should be an adequate supply of mercury-free vaccine for those who want it. The agency has contracted to purchase up to 3 million doses, which Allen says should cover many of the 4.8 million children the agency is estimating will actually get flu shots.
Coalition for SafeMinds' Lyn Redwood suggests calling your healthcare provider well in advance to ask specifically which brand of vaccine the office ordered, and in which formulation. Your local health department might also be able to help you locate healthcare providers who have ordered mercury-free vaccine.
Resources
CDC Flu Hotline – 800-232-2522; www.cdc.gov/flu – The CDC's flu vaccination campaign Web site includes information about vaccines and the flu itself, including prevention tips.
KidsHealth.org – The Nemours Foundation health site includes current information on influenza and many other childhood illnesses.
National Vaccine Information Center – 703-938-0342; www.909shot.com – Focuses on the reporting and prevention of vaccine injuries and deaths. The Web site includes information on the debate over whether certain vaccines are linked to autism.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
My Son
Although I didn't personally write this myself; I can relate to this. This is what it is like for parents of children who have Autism.
My Son
Is the one you see at the playground, not playing with the other kids. He is content to sit alone, and let sand fall through his fingers and onto his leg.
He is the child in the store, having a meltdown, and I can't always figure out why. His senses are stronger than my own. Everything is brighter and louder to him. The crowds of people are uncomfortable to him.
My child is the one who would rather switch the light on and off than sit down and play a game with me at the table. He would rather throw the crayons across the room than color. He would rather walk around with a c.d. in his hand than to play with his toy. He is the one who hates to get dressed,and fights me into a sweat when it's time to, because he can't stand the feel of the fabric on his skin.
He doesnt seem to mind that it's cold, he's more comfortable with nothing on. He is the one who insists on sameness. He would watch the same movie over and over all day if he could. It wrecks his day when he can't have his favorite cup or bottle. He thrives on things being the same,and doesnt understand it when things change, or when mom can't find his favorite thing.
My son is the one who can't express himself with words, so he uses crying, he hits, he bangs his own head on the floor to express his feelings. but most important, my son is my son, and he is the boy who can brighten my day when i do get a smile from him.
He is the boy I love to cuddle on the couch when he's ready to do that. He is the one that makes me see the world a little different, and makes me and everyone he knows realize that it's okay to be different,and march to the beat of your own drum.....
I am the mom who looks frazzled when i'm shopping. I am the mom who walks away in a sweat after changing a diaper. I am the mom who will search the whole darn house for that one special cup to make the crying stop. I will watch that kid movie 5 times in a row, because it makes my son happy. I am the mom who lives for those smiles and butterfly kisses! And I am the mom who would not have it any other way.
Thank you, my son.
My Son
Is the one you see at the playground, not playing with the other kids. He is content to sit alone, and let sand fall through his fingers and onto his leg.
He is the child in the store, having a meltdown, and I can't always figure out why. His senses are stronger than my own. Everything is brighter and louder to him. The crowds of people are uncomfortable to him.
My child is the one who would rather switch the light on and off than sit down and play a game with me at the table. He would rather throw the crayons across the room than color. He would rather walk around with a c.d. in his hand than to play with his toy. He is the one who hates to get dressed,and fights me into a sweat when it's time to, because he can't stand the feel of the fabric on his skin.
He doesnt seem to mind that it's cold, he's more comfortable with nothing on. He is the one who insists on sameness. He would watch the same movie over and over all day if he could. It wrecks his day when he can't have his favorite cup or bottle. He thrives on things being the same,and doesnt understand it when things change, or when mom can't find his favorite thing.
My son is the one who can't express himself with words, so he uses crying, he hits, he bangs his own head on the floor to express his feelings. but most important, my son is my son, and he is the boy who can brighten my day when i do get a smile from him.
He is the boy I love to cuddle on the couch when he's ready to do that. He is the one that makes me see the world a little different, and makes me and everyone he knows realize that it's okay to be different,and march to the beat of your own drum.....
I am the mom who looks frazzled when i'm shopping. I am the mom who walks away in a sweat after changing a diaper. I am the mom who will search the whole darn house for that one special cup to make the crying stop. I will watch that kid movie 5 times in a row, because it makes my son happy. I am the mom who lives for those smiles and butterfly kisses! And I am the mom who would not have it any other way.
Thank you, my son.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Happy Birthday Noah (and Grandma too)
Today is our son Noah's 6th birthday. Its hard to believe that 6 years have gone by. He still is the light of our lives & Grandma Bowen's favorite birthday present. He was born on her birthday-- at 9:12PM on Oct 2nd. He weighed in at 7lbs 14 oz, but has been a growing boy ever since then. He weighs in at a whopping 42 lbs now & is more than half of his grandma's height.We had a family celebration over the weekend & had a good time. Noah is enjoying his new tent. He still is BIG into cars of any kind. Loves looking at them, naming every make and model on the street, & of course there is Disney CARS! LOL
Happy Birthday to our Noah bear (and Grandma Joan too!)
Monday, October 1, 2007
Autism & the Bible
I found this article on: TheAutismHomePage@groups.msn.com & found it comforting. While I was channel surfing one afternoon while our son was in school, I happened to come across a program on Daystar, which was talking about illnesses/disabilities. It really hit my heart & soul when the guest gave me a good rhema; which was to concentrate on the healer and not the science (in which I was guilty!)
Autism and the Bible
The word autism is not mentioned in the Bible but, like so many things in life, the Bible seems to have something to say about it anyway. Think first about the symptoms of autism. To me, the most tragic part of autism is that I would love to comfort a child with autism, but he won't let me. The more I pull the child close to me, the more he pushes away. I try to communicate but she doesn't hear me. I try to teach her but she will not learn. Isn't this like our relationship to God?
This journey in the world of autism has led me to believe that the cure for autism lies in the hands of our Almighty God! He has helped me to see that the increase in autism in these latter days may well lead to a cure. What I ask of each of you who love the Lord is to pray each day for a cure for autism. Pray that doctors, researchers, and professionals will have God's wisdom in completing their research and will clearly see the connections between symptoms, treatments, and findings which will help them to discover God's cure for autism. Pray this prayer (or one of your own) daily:
"Dear Father, forgive me and my nation for our sins. We have failed to look to You for help with this disorder called autism. Forgive us. I pray that You will lead us to find a cure for autism. Lord, You made us, You know each cell of our body, You know where autism originates, You know what goes wrong in people with autism, You know what will cure this disorder. Lord I pray for a miraculous cure for all children with autism.
Please give families strength to deal with autism. Give them wisdom and help them find people who will truly help them and not take advantage of them. Lord, I pray also that You would lead researchers to find a cure for autism. Help the researchers to be humble, to seek You, to understand the connections between the physical, biological, chemical, and immunological findings in autism research. Open their eyes to find new connections and help parents to share their own discoveries and findings. Let there be a new cooperation among the researchers that will lead to a true cure for all autism. I give You the glory for this cure. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer. Thank You, Lord, for having mercy on the thousands of children with autism. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen." ~GJH~
Autism and the Bible
The word autism is not mentioned in the Bible but, like so many things in life, the Bible seems to have something to say about it anyway. Think first about the symptoms of autism. To me, the most tragic part of autism is that I would love to comfort a child with autism, but he won't let me. The more I pull the child close to me, the more he pushes away. I try to communicate but she doesn't hear me. I try to teach her but she will not learn. Isn't this like our relationship to God?
This journey in the world of autism has led me to believe that the cure for autism lies in the hands of our Almighty God! He has helped me to see that the increase in autism in these latter days may well lead to a cure. What I ask of each of you who love the Lord is to pray each day for a cure for autism. Pray that doctors, researchers, and professionals will have God's wisdom in completing their research and will clearly see the connections between symptoms, treatments, and findings which will help them to discover God's cure for autism. Pray this prayer (or one of your own) daily:
"Dear Father, forgive me and my nation for our sins. We have failed to look to You for help with this disorder called autism. Forgive us. I pray that You will lead us to find a cure for autism. Lord, You made us, You know each cell of our body, You know where autism originates, You know what goes wrong in people with autism, You know what will cure this disorder. Lord I pray for a miraculous cure for all children with autism.
Please give families strength to deal with autism. Give them wisdom and help them find people who will truly help them and not take advantage of them. Lord, I pray also that You would lead researchers to find a cure for autism. Help the researchers to be humble, to seek You, to understand the connections between the physical, biological, chemical, and immunological findings in autism research. Open their eyes to find new connections and help parents to share their own discoveries and findings. Let there be a new cooperation among the researchers that will lead to a true cure for all autism. I give You the glory for this cure. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer. Thank You, Lord, for having mercy on the thousands of children with autism. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen." ~GJH~
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