Ancient Secrets

Is Overpopulation a Religious Problem?

2009-10-02T09:05:00.001-07:00

Overpopulation really isn't that hard to understand. People love each other, want to reproduce and have offspring. Their parents took care of them, and they will take care of their children. People love to have families and these families love to have more families. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

Now is overpopulation a religious problem? If you listen to religious text and understand a few simple sentences, you will see that there are plenty of religions all over the world that encourage the multiplication of mankind.

In the Bible, God tells man to be fruitful and multiply. If you read this a little differently, you might take it that God wants men to eat as much fruit as he wants to and plant more trees so that he can have more fruit and be fruitful.

That's not exactly how most Christians read this Bible verse. Christians need to have more children, and their children need to have more children. This is how they interpret the words, to be fruitful and multiply.

I do believe that religions all over the world play an important part in our worlds population problem today. It's not the people who are educated, that are constantly reproducing, in today's world.

Most religions support population expansion, but what are they going to do, once the world becomes so overpopulated, that we can't even take care of ourselves. This should give you another point of view to look at, especially if you one part of the problem and not the solution.

What About The End of The World

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with superior biblical knowledge , answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks For Reading Our Articles

Could You Be a Married Adulterer? - For Christians Only

2009-10-01T21:46:00.001-07:00

Adultery has been going on for centuries and obviously was a problem 2500 years ago or it wouldn't have been mentioned in the Bible so many times. Could you actually be married to someone and be considered an adulterer? It's time for you to learn all the rules in the New Testament about adultery.

Here's a Bible verse that could get a lot of Christians in trouble. Mark 10:11-12 (New King James Version)" 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

It looks a little more complicated than most of us could have ever thought. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. That means that there are millions of Christians all over the world who have committed adultery.

I've got some more bad news for Christians who might have looked at a woman lustfully. Matthew 5:28 (New International Version Bible) "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This isn't looking good, for men or women is it?

If you've never been married, but while you were at church, notice an attractive woman or man and had lustful thoughts, about them, you're an adulterer. I know, it sounds a little harsh, but I'm not making anything up here, it's right out of the Bible.

I know things aren't looking good but I would like to leave you with a comforting thought. If you were divorced from your spouse because of an adulterous relationship, things might be starting to look a little different with this next Bible verse.

Matthew 19:9 (New International Version Bible) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

These are typical contradictions and they are located throughout the Bible. Mark 10:11-12 states that all divorced people who have remarried, commit adultery. Matthew 19:9 states something completely different, if your divorced and your ex spouse has been unfaithful during your marriage and you remarry, everything is okay.

Are you even more confused than when I started? There's a good chance that you are. I'm even confused and I wrote the article. The real question is, can we remarry or can't we.

This would be a good topic during Bible study. You can start by asking, how many people are adulterers?

Read This Today

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

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Click here if you're interested in the Bible truth.

Tithing Education - Giving From Guilt

2009-10-01T09:19:00.001-07:00

If you're part of any organized religion and donate money on a regular basis, do you know where your money is going? Have you ever asked what they are spending the money on? Are you one of those people who feels that your pastor and church leaders know best and never even ask them, because you might feel inferior to them? Have you asked in the past and were told not to worry about it but still would like to know.

Before you give your hard earned money away, whether you're doing it out of guilt or pleasure, make sure you're supporting the right organization. You should never feel the need to donate money if you don't have it to give.

I went to a church that had funds for everything, building funds, starvation funds, church funds and even funds to fund of funds if they ran out of money. Okay I just threw that last part in their but all kidding aside, there's plenty of stuff to be done in our country, to help the starving, the poor and the needy. Why do we need to go to other countries?

I want to make a suggestion to people who can't afford to give their money away but feel guilty if they don't. In the Bible it tells you to give away 10% of your earnings to the church. The part that it doesn't tell you is what to do if you can't afford to give 10% to the church. I personally have known quite a few people who give money out of guilt and fear but will tell you that this is a requirement of their religion and its okay. God will take care of us and he always does.

I don't really believe God, the all powerful all-knowing and loving creator, wants us to suffer, if we just don't make enough money to survive. If you're planning on sending your child to a Christian private school and could only afford to send them to that school, using the money that you were going to tithe to the church, what will you do? Tithe the money to the church so that they can use it to feed hungry people in other countries or build a new church somewhere or help with your child's education.

Some of these decisions are made difficult by religious doctrine and these are the parts of organized religion that I have problems with. When do we use common sense, combined with a little education to seek the truth. Does your religion ask you to seek the truth but not to gather your information beyond their religious boundaries?

Only give what you can afford to give and feel good about it. If you don't feel good about giving your money away, don't do it. Take care of yourself, so that you can take care of others, if you choose to. Living a life of fear and guilt doesn't make sense.

Question Your Religion

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

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

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

Moral Leadership of The Christian Community

2009-09-14T20:57:00.001-07:00

The presidential election of 1992 introduced the discussion of
family values as a political issue. Apparently the populous
did not accept this issue as being significant. Christian
organizations were reluctant to enter political activities so
they did not push the concept of family values as being a
religious imperative.

Do some of these issues seem too "political" for the Christian
community to become involved? Are not, however, some of these
issues important enough to be hammered home by the clergy of
this country? When is sin significant enough to talk about
it?

ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT

"Amazing Grace" was written by a slave trader who came to know
Jesus and his life changed dramatically. John Newton was a
sailor on a slave ship. After his conversion, he became an
Anglican minister and influenced Wilberforce against Slavery.

William Wilberforce, along with John Newton and Granville
Sharp lived in England in the late 1700's. These three men
stopped slavery in England and throughout the British Empire.
Sharp's work led to the emancipation of slaves in England in
1772 while the work of Wilberforce led to the abolition of
slave trade and the emancipation of slaves throughout the
British Empire.

Key Evangelical Christian leaders in the United States
included Samuel Hopkins, Lyman Beecher, Charles G Finney, John
Brown, Theodore Weld, Jonathan Blanchard, and Harriet Beecher
Stowe. These individuals preach Christ for the salvation of
the individual but also saw the total injustice of slavery in
the "land of the free". Abolition was not a hobby with them.
It was also not all they did. They were also Evangelical
Christians. Their efforts led to the abolition of slavery in
the United States and the emancipation of the slaves of
America.

AND NOW

The involvement of Christian leaders throughout modern church
history demonstrates the historical basis of involvement of
the church in secular affairs. Social reform is the business
of the church. Social reform is not "socialism". Social
reform is not "government handouts" or "entitlement". Social
reform is moral leadership.

Christian lifestyle is a moral lifestyle. Moral leadership is
not the imposing of "blue laws" or "religious fanaticism".
Moral leadership deals with life and death issues. It deals
with freedom under God. Christian morals protect life and
property, things that even non-Christians cherish. Decisions
concerning morality must not be left to the atheists and to
the anti-Christians.

Christian leaders must take the initiative in developing a
corporate moral character for the country and the world. We
Christians are the "salt of the earth and if that salt loses
its taste, just what is it good for." These words in quotes
are not my words but Jesus's words. Perhaps we better start
applying the "salt".

Doug Johnson has been writing and online publishing Christian and Social Conservative articles since the 1990's on http://www.IndependentChristian.org/

Doug has been a Bible believing Evangelical Christian since childhood. He has been received into fellowship with the Evangelical Free Church, the Plymouth Brethern, the Assembly of God, the American Baptist, and the Southern Baptist.

In the early 2000's, he was received into full communion with the Catholic Church after careful study of the Catholic Catechism and the Bible. He believes Catholics and Bible believing Protestants should build on what they have in common rather than looking at what is different.

He is presently helping to establish the Independent Christian On-Line Academy at: http://www.ICOLA.us

Doug has an online retail wallpaper business at: http://www.TheWallpaperPirate.com/

Doug is available as a consultant and or speaker. To reach him, use the Contact Us page at any of the above websites.

Annual Forecast & Feng Shui Remedies for 2007 : Yin Red Fire Pig Year - Tiger Sign (Chinese Zodiac)

2009-09-14T07:48:00.001-07:00

The Chinese Zodiac Astrology is ancient, interesting, accurate and loved by millions across the world. The Chinese Zodiac is based on cyclic concept of time : a cycle of 12 years, repeated again and again. The 12 Years are associated with 12 Celestial Animals : Rat (or Mouse on Mongoose), Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (or Hare or Cat), Dragon, Snake (or Serpent), Horse, Goat (or Sheep or Ram), Monkey, Rooster (or Hen or Cock or Chicken or Phoenix), Dog and Pig (or Boar or Hog). The animal names occasionally differ with the Oriental Country they originate. The Chinese Yearly Horoscopes are basically built around these 12 Animal Signs.

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is directly based on the Chinese Lunar Year of Birth that you were born. The Chinese New Year is mobile and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year. If your Date of Birth falls into any of the following Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Tiger, you are symbolically identified by your Celestial Animal, the "Tiger" :

From 08 Feb 1902 to 28 Jan 1903

From 26 Jan 1914 to 13 Feb 1915

From 13 Feb 1926 to 01 Feb 1927

From 31 Jan 1938 to 18 Feb 1939

From 17 Feb 1950 to 05 Feb 1951

From 05 Feb 1962 to 24 Jan 1963

From 23 Jan 1974 to 10 Feb 1975

From 09 Feb 1986 to 28 Jan 1987

From 28 Jan 1998 to 15 Feb 1999

In Chinese Hsia Calender, 2007 is the 4704th year and significantly, is also the fourth year of the New Feng Shui Land Luck Cyclic Period 8. The forthcoming new Chinese Lunar Year is from 18th February 2007 to 6th February 2008. The next Chinese New Year, the Yang Earth Rat will begin on 7th February 2008.

Enjoy the Annual Forecasts and learn about the suggested Feng Shui & Crystal Remedies that you may need for the coming "New Lunar Year 2007 : Ding Hai, the Year of the Yin Red Fire Pig" :

CAREER A good year where opportunities can be turned into excellent success with hard work. Enough chances around for demonstrating your personal strengths and special skills. You are fairly well placed for receiving advancements, promotions and monetary increments in your profession. Time for you to set targets and reach them too. But do not stretch your luck too much - be realistic lest you burn out yourself. Over-confidence will only over turn you. At the same time, complacency or insensitivity for others will break many good relationships and make new enemies in your working environment. Getting back-stabbed is a reality. Continue to maintain your lively, active social network and you will greatly benefit from it. But learn to distinguish between friends and foes. New found friends should be kept at arms length until they have proven their worth. Do not rely on your clouded judgements, seek the advice of your parents or mentors when you sense trouble. If you have a female boss or a female business partner, you will do exceptionally well this year. The glamour of success will also bring gossip and jealousy. Just keep your emotions balanced. Many of you will keep losing your personal belongings like mobile phone, wallet, key rings, etc. this year. To derive the maximum benefits, to avoid disruptions in interpersonal equations and for protection, display the figurine or photo of Kuan Kung in your North West. You will do better if you are a trader, actor, speaker, poet, music composer, singer, teacher, preacher, lawyer, astrologer-diviner, dentist, beautician or philosopher. All this said, it should be highlighted that you are in damage-formation with the Year TaiSui, this year. This means you are disturbing a war-like energy formation called Annual TaiSui (or Grand Duke Jupiter) and because of this you will be having some serious property loss, get into litigation, attract discords and draw blood. So, whether you are self-employed or a salaried worker, you are in dire need of the blessings of the TaiSui this year. Display the genuine, energised photographs of "Feng Ji, the 2007 TaiSui" and the "TaiSui Protection Talisman for 2007" in the North West and carry their miniature versions in your pocket or purse, for minimising the severe negative impacts that you are likely to suffer this year. Do not attend burial ceremonies or cremation rituals this year.

MONEY Money flow will be quite handsome and well in proportion to your efforts. Some of you may even receive surprising doses of bonus income. Investment opportunities will be plenty but be choosy and do it wisely. Make efficient use of tips on share movements, but allow yourself be influenced only by the merits of the case and not by anything else. Exercise extra precautions when signing contracts or agreements. Otherwise, you might get into legal disputes or serious economic loss. All money matters should be accounted for clearly and dealt with in a cold, detached, business-like manner in order to have a satisfactory outcome for you. Do not lend money, especially to the opposite sex - if you have to, give it with the knowledge and generosity that it will not be returned. An excellent year for you to buy new properties. Warning : do not indulge in spur-of-the-moment purchases but have a reality check on your expenses. Manage your finances carefully and wisely to save extra cash for next year. Sudden travel plans at the end of the year might consume quite a lot of money. Keep three powerful "Four Heavenly Kings Coins" at home or office, to prevent money erosion.

HEALTH Average health. Keep away from sharp metallic objects. If you were born in 1998, you will be accident prone this year. Some of you might experience problems in eyes, skin, appendicitis, liver and urinary tract. Pay good attention to what you eat to avoid food poisoning. Stay away from physical clashes. Wear a Malachite Crystal Pendant, energised and programmed for you, exclusively. There could be additions or deductions or both in the family, this year.

LOVE The year generally favours marriage, child-bearing and rebuilding bridges of relationships. Singles should make use of this opportunity and build stable equations for marriage. Avoid procrastination and stick with your decision. However clash with Peach Blossom luck will also trigger frustration and anger. Success in career might kindle your ego too. All these could lead to disharmony, if you are not attentive, open and communicative with your spouse. Open admiration from colleagues of opposite sex or frequent meetings with working partner or team associate of opposite sex will invite serious gossips. Unless you balance your feelings and stabilise, you might be trapped into a situation of losing all that you have gained at home. Remember to separate your work karma from your family karma. Display a pair of Pink Mandarin Ducks in the South West of your bedroom.

STUDIES Excellent academic results. Many will shine in extra curricular activities also. Some of you will enjoy sponsored study trips abroad. However over-confidence and self-conceitedness might bring down your ranks heavily. Accept parental supervising and benefit from it. If you are a female born in 1986, you should resist seductions and concentrate fully on studies only. If you are a female born in 1998, avoid going to lonely places on your own or walking all alone in the night. Wearing a Black Tourmalene Crystal Pendant programmed for only you, is recommended.

Birthstone : Ruby Good Relationships with : Horse, Dog & Dragon, for 2007 Conflicts with : Snake, Ox, Monkey and Rabbit, in 2007 Polarity Force : More Yang Lucky Numbers : 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 34, 44, 45 and 54 Zodiac Protector : XuKong Zang or Akasa Garbha (Sanskrit)

A NOTE ABOUT REMEDIES :

The above analysis has suggested some remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and has recommended certain enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy of the year. For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location, to derive the maximum benefit. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the forthcoming new years, but they may have to be repositioned according to the specific new year.

Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Kabbalah Energy Numerologist, Crystal Master & Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is permanent Karma Energy Correction through custom-built Crystal Energy Fields. His E-Mail : crystalvaastu@yahoo.com. His website :http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm & http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com

Wine Tasting Party

2009-09-13T18:29:00.001-07:00

Do you have to be a sommelier to know something about wine? Well, if you want to tout yourself as an expert, perhaps but if you just want to enjoy a good glass of wine, go with your gut - or rather your mouth - and enjoy what tastes good to you. So, why not host a wine tasting party? Now before you hit the panic button, get uptight and claim to know nothing about wine, stop! We aren't proposing you sit around discussing bouquet and barrel fermenting. We want you to have a little fun.

You can buy wine tasting party kits from various sources on the internet and local shops. Don't want a kit? Here's what you need:

Guests - think about whom you know that likes and drinks wine and keep the numbers small
A few bottles of wine that you think you might like - both red and white. Depending on the size of the crowd plan on 2 bottles of each type. Or for an added twist, ask your guests to each bring 2 bottles of their favorite wine. If you do this you will need them to email or phone you with the wine information ahead of time.
Printed wine tasting cards that list the wines you purchased with some information from the bottle
Pencils in case guests want to make notes about their favorites
Wine glasses. We recommend 2 per person. One for tasting and one for later
Plain saltine or oyster crackers for guests to cleanse their palates
Still (plain) water for rinsing
Some good music, good conversationalists and a sense of fun!

If you want to add an extra flare to the party, why not serve a variety of champagnes instead. Have friends bring cava, prosecco, sparkling wine and champagne instead of a red or white wine.

At the end of the event, serve some crackers/bread, cheese and fruit or some other small/light appetizers and offer each guest a glass of his/her favorite wine. Wine charms are a fun thing to introduce at this point. Each person can pick her/her own and attach to the glass. Put on some music and enjoy the company. However, above all things, drink and serve responsibly!

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The companys creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net

Feng Swhat? An Introduction to Feng Shui and Home Decorating

2009-09-13T05:08:00.001-07:00

Obviously you have come to this page to find out about this home decorating application known as Feng Shui. The significance to interior design is beneficial but it's not as much about design tools as it is about a life style of beliefs and related actions.

Though unfamiliar to our Western culture it has been practiced in the Eastern hemisphere for thousands of years and is far more profound than the oversimplification we are applying here.

The most basic foundational energy source within Feng Shui is the Yin and Yang of 5 Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water which is believed to be universal energy that runs through in and around everything and everyone.

The center belief of those who practice Feng Shui is one of understanding this balance of energy in all areas of life. By practicing its disciplines you will not only be decorating your home but directing life energy that will increase wealth, improve health, and enjoy peace in your intimate relationships.

Some would consider this a form of religion - others a spiritual discipline. As you read through this page you decide. Certainly, Frugal is not attempting to instruct but rather to introduce you to the home design principles found within the study of Feng Shui.

Let's start by defining Chi Energy - the Feng Shui energy that moves amongst all objects. There are 2 main types:

Sheng Chi Energy - The positive energy. This is the good, healthy, positive energy. Happiness abounds within and without. You feel organized, light and airy. Fresh flowers, fresh air, bright cheerful sunshine is a good image for Sheng Chi energy.

Sha Chi Energy - When everything seems to be going wrong and the dominate mood is one of anger, unhappiness or lethargy. You feel ill more times than not and nature seems bland and lifeless. Friends and family appear gloomy and discouraging.

Within these 2 main identifying energies the primary goal of Feng Shui is to attract the Sheng Chi into our lives much like a magnet to metal.

To do this we now need to introduce a few magnetic forces that are believed to be within the home design arena.

Doors - the placement, color, condition, direction of opening, size and style all affect the levels of Chi in your home.

Plants - Using dried flowers of any sort is a strong magnet for Sha Chi (negative energy). Use only fresh or live plants throughout your home. Never use a cactus as an accent, It is believed to be the most "unlucky" of plants.

Live in Your Rooms - rooms designated for only special occasions build unused stagnate energy and can counteract the more positive spaces in your home. "Dead energy" can exert a bad influence and can cause illness to the people who live there.

Mirrors - placement of mirrors within your home needs to be considered carefully. For example, a mirror should never be placed in a bed room - it interferes with restful sleep. On the other hand it can place in a small foyer to create more space a light. Perfect for dining area or foyer.

Organize and Declutter - Everything in your home should serve a purpose and be in good working order. Too much stuff and the energy cannot flow easily. Chipped dishes, burned out light bulbs, repair and replace or your energy resources are draining away.

Keep The Bathroom Door Closed and the Toilet Lid Down - Believe it or not this is one of the most important rules to having and keeping wealth. The Chinese believe you literally flush your wealth away when you do not keep your toilet lid down or your bathroom door closed!

Get a Pet! Pets move around and help circulate the energy. Any healthy living animal: dogs, cats birds, goldfish brings good energy into a home. But, if you don't take the time to treat them properly - then it will attract Sha Chi.

Use Water Fountains or A Fish Tank - This elixir to all life is a huge magnet for attaining wealth. Place a small bubbling up fountain in your home office - it's sure to bring success!

Avoid Art that suggests Unhappiness or Aloneness - Place pictures that have more than one person or animal. Solitary trees and flowers are to be avoided over landscapes and floral arrangements. Think life, companionship and sharing depicted in your wall accents.

Now that you have an idea as to the surface elements of Feng Shui understand this is just the "tip of the iceberg" and to truly benefit from these lifestyle designs one must incorporate the more comprehensive aspects of this discipline and applications of the energy sources listed above.

Along with energy that flows around us, it is also believed we possess a luck Kua number and a predominate direction of East or West which powerfully influences the positive experience in our lives. The position of our rooms - the placement of furniture - our wall color - the accents we choose all significantly influence the energy in our homes.

To summarize, at the risk of gross oversimplification, Feng Shui is the embracing of all that is vibrant, alive and fresh and cleansing from all that suggests confusion, darkness, depression and death.

Feng Shui fits perfectly to the needs and aspirations of every heart that desires to make a house a home. Regardless of how deeply you believe the spiritual aspects,the benefits found in its application are self evident.

Life over Death - Love over Hate - Peace over Conflict - Who can argue with that?

Sue Krippner is a Free Lance Artist, Home Staging and Redesign Professional. She is attracted to "all things beautiful, especially as it relates to interior decorating and design.
Visit http://frugalhomedesign.com to see samples of her art and find plenty of professional design, tips hints and secrets to help facilitate your personal interior design goals with money saving frugal flair.

Miracles in Life

2009-09-12T16:02:00.001-07:00

Today, as I walked out of ICU, I met up with a lovely young woman and her young son. He was articulating his un-appreciation for hospitals. Hearing his comments and feeling badly for him, I took a good look at this very handsome little boy. He appeared to me to clearly have just been visiting someone he cared about. I continued to listen to their conversation as we entered the elevator. His hospital visit seemed to have left him a little rattled.

As the conversation when on, his mother asked him, "Who really likes being in a hospital?" At that point, I had to jump in and responded with, "No one really, sometimes, even those that work here." "But with illness, someone needs to help these people get better." "Mostly, really wonderful things have happened here."

The thought of hospitals often conjure up perceptions of sickness and death, which was my suspicion of his feelings.

His mother looked at me and said with a big smile, "Like what?" I told them that most people leave hospitals much healthier than when they came in and some even totally cured. She looked at her son, then at me and said, "Sometimes even miracles." My hair stood up on my arms and I responded with, "Yes, even miracles!"

As the elevator door opened, we stepped out and she then stopped. She looked me in the eye and said, "Just like me!" "I am a cancer survivor, and cancer free!" As she said that, I could feel her great sense of victory, happiness and love of life. I wanted to hug her, but we were strangers. I hugged her in my mind with all the love and happiness I had inside me as I know that intention also goes a very long way.

Cancer, no matter how good the prognosis, often feels like the end. With its awful images and aggressive natures, she was a walking miracle of good health and hope. Her son was smiling and I could not help but do the same. She said to me, "God bless you!" as I suddenly felt as though I had not done enough to share in this momentary celebration of her life. I wished her God's Blessings in return and we went out separate ways.

I was left with a great sense of happiness and a renewed sense of gratefulness.

Miracles come in many forms. Some we are lucky enough to witness, and some we live through.

My own personal miracles have come at some of the most important moments of my life. We all have those moments. We do however need to be open to them to be able to see them, as all miracles are not earth moving. Some are subtle and yet have the capacity to change our lives forever.

Somewhere between modern medicine and holistic therapies, I have witnessed great things. Our intentions, prayers and faith also play important roles in miracles. They don't always come in large dramatic packages but they do help.

With an open mind, body, and spirit, one becomes sensitive to all the greatness that this life has to offer - little miracles and large.

2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano
Silvana is a well respected Interior Decorator, International Feng Shui Expert and the Principal of the Award Winning Home & Life Design Firm: Blue Avalon. Along with her years of study in Home Decor and Feng Shui, she has the unique ability of being able create luxurious interiors with balance and optimum energy flow thus creating a beautiful environment of positive energy, balance and harmony.

Silvana also devotes her time to her Holistic Practise at the Dove Spa, Canada. She is a well respected and sought after Reiki Master also Certified in Reflexology, and also offering additional therapies as Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Coning. Her passion for Universe Energy and the world around us encompasses her passion for Holistic Therapies along with her Feng Shui expertise.

Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal; a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe, log onto our website today at http://www.blueavalon.com and you will receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!

Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home...Balance for your life

http://www.blueavalon.com

Gemstones in Your Magnetic Money Clips in the Year of the Earth Ox

2009-09-12T02:30:00.001-07:00

Are You an Ox? Don't be Thrilled Yet

Last year it was the lucky year for the earth rat and this year the earth ox people are already gloating because it's their turn to fill up their magnetic money clips, bank accounts, and pay off the mortgage without much trouble. Not so fast yet; if you were born in the year of the Ox, this year won't be an easy one says the Feng Shui gurus. If you remember, the last year of the ox was in 1997 and there was a money meltdown back then.

Oh no, not again you sigh. Well, who are the lucky ones who'll have magnetic money clips with loads of crisp dollars, money in the bank, and a successful business? Don't look now but they are the Rats, Tigers, Rabbits, Snakes, Monkeys, Dogs, and Horses. To share your gloom are the Dragons and Roosters, Sheep, and Pigs. You could gore the Rat in your frustration; it's the Rat's luckiest year, this year of the Earth Ox.

If there's any truth to all these, you might lose hope and believe there's nothing good for you this year. Take hope; there's an antidote to the financial gloom and doom; you can use your magnetic money clips to ward off the bad luck. A neat trick is finding the lucky charm that'll beat the blahs.

Lucky Charms to Go

For this year, the following gemstones are credited to bring in good luck; if you don't mind hooking your arm with gemstone bracelets. If this is impossible, you can have it stashed in our briefcase and wallet for a measure of good fortune. Or if you will, you can have an inexpensive ring set with the selected gemstone.

Here are the gemstones that will attract wealth - green jade, Chinese ingots, carnelian, and agate. For love - rose quartz, and red jade. For health - agate; courage - tiger eye, and for protection -- yellow jasper and Chinese jade pig pendant. Be creative with these gemstones. Find a way to have it set on your magnetic money clips and other accessories that you take with you or use daily.

These gemstones might just work their magic on you. It's a good thing these are not expensive. You can find these in Chinatown or in shops offering these items. At this time of year, there will be tons of gemstones because the Chinese Year has just started.

Get Real

Apart from all these beliefs in gemstones and Chinese calendar, take a realistic look at your financial situation and your magnetic money clips. If there's not enough for saving your money, it might be because you lack the will to save your extra money on the excuse that after the bills are paid you have so little left.

To save money is to decide to save whatever little you have and to stick to it. In the long run, saving money becomes a habit. To start, evaluate the way you spend money and cut back on unnecessary stuff. Your gemstoned magnetic money clips should be clipping enough money to last you beyond your next payday.

Money should also be organized in designer magnetic money clips and gold money clips. If you want a bonus, that money clip credit card holder will do more tricks. Visit ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com for your money organizer.

How to Select and Prepare Shrimp

2009-09-11T12:31:00.001-07:00

Among the many varieties of seafood, shrimp ranks as one of
America's most favorite. Even people who dislike fish seem
to enjoy shrimp and there is an endless number of ways in
which shrimp may be prepared. The dense white meat of shrimp
has a fresh, mild flavor that combines well with many
ingredients. Shrimp is great for dieters as they are very
low in fat and calories; however, they contain a greater
level of cholesterol than most seafood so that must be taken
into consideration if anyone has been advised by their
physician to limit their cholesterol intake.

Of the numerous species of shrimp sold worldwide, saltwater
shrimp are generally designated as 'cold water' or 'warm
water' species. Cold water shrimp are caught in the North
Atlantic and northern Pacific waters while warm water shrimp
are caught in tropical waters. The majority of warm water
shrimp available in the United States are harvested from the
waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. These
shrimp are generally classified by the color of the shells
(i.e., pink, brown and white shrimp). The differences in
appearance and flavor are difficult to distinguish but it is
thought that the Gulf white shrimp (although the most
expensive) are the most desirable.

Shrimp come in a wide range of sizes; naturally, the larger
the shrimp, the higher the price. Size classifications range
from Tiny (150 to 180 shrimp per pound) to Colossal (10
shrimp or less per pound). Although larger shrimp may cost
more per pound and be easier to prepare (because you will
have less of them), they don't necessarily taste any better
than the smaller ones.

BUYING AND STORING SHRIMP...

Shrimp are not inexpensive, so you will want to be certain
that the shrimp you buy are the best quality. Follow the
guidelines below when purchasing and storing shrimp:

When buying shrimp:

Purchase frozen shrimp with their shells on if possible.
Most all shrimp are frozen as soon as they're processed, and
the longer they stay frozen, the fresher they'll be.

Look for shrimp with firm white meat and a full shell. Avoid
frozen shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined, as
the shrimp will be less protected against freezer burn
without its shell.

Do not buy shrimp with black spots or rings (unless it's
black tiger shrimp) as this indicates the meat is starting
to break down. Also avoid pink meat.

Make sure the shell is not yellow - this indicates that the
shrimp has been bleached.

Avoid shrimp that smells of anything other than salt water.
It should have a clean smell with no trace of ammonia or
bleach.

Be cautious of labels such as large or jumbo, as there
are no firm guidelines for such terms. For each shrimp
variety (size), the market or grocery should display the
number of shrimp that make up a pound - use this as a
guideline instead.

Cooked shrimp should be purchased the same day they were
cooked. If cooked in the shell, shrimp should be
pinkish-orange with opaque rather than translucent flesh.
Avoid fresh-cooked seafood that is displayed alongside raw
fish or shellfish, as bacteria can migrate from the raw meat
to the cooked.

When storing shrimp:

Uncooked shrimp should be stored like fish and used the same day they are purchased.

When buying frozen shrimp, make sure they are still solidly
frozen when they reach the home freezer.

Cook raw shrimp before freezing...since 'fresh' shrimp are
most often previously frozen and then thawed at the market.

Cooked, shelled, and deveined shrimp may be frozen in
airtight packaging. Most types of raw or cooked shrimp can
be safely kept frozen for up to two months at a temperature.

Always thaw frozen shellfish in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.

PREPARING SHRIMP...

It is much easier to eat shrimp that have been shelled prior
to cooking, but the shells do add flavor to the dish. Of
course, shrimp may be purchased that have already been
shelled, deveined and are ready to be cooked, but this makes
the shrimp far more expensive. Shrimp will cost less if you
buy them in the shell and learn to shell and devein them
yourself. Once you know how, it's really not difficult.

How to shell shrimp:

To remove the shell from uncooked shrimp, use a small sharp
knife to make a shallow cut down the back (outer curved
side) of each shrimp. Use your fingers to pull off the shell
and legs, leaving the tail portion attached to the meat.

How to devein shrimp:

The black "vein" that runs along the back of the shrimp is
actually its digestive tract. It isn't necessary to remove
the vein, but the shrimp certainly look better and some say
they taste better when deveined. You can devein shrimp while
leaving the shell on (the shell adds flavor and can protect
the meat if you're grilling the shrimp.)

To make it easier to access the vein of unshelled shrimp,
cut down the back (outer curved side) of the shell with a
knife or kitchen scissors. Use a small pick ('shrimp pick'),
a skewer or your fingers to find the vein, and pull it out.
Pull out as much of the vein as possible (working under cold
running water will help free the vein). Repeat in several
other areas until the vein has been fully removed.

How to butterfly shrimp:

Many recipes will call for 'butterfly' shrimp. The raw
shelled shrimp are split and flatten to give them a pretty
appearance or aid in preparation, such as battering and
frying.

First shell the shrimp leaving the tail attached. Next
insert a knife or kitchen shears about 3/4 of the way into
the shrimp at the head region. Cut almost all the way
through the flesh, down the center of the shrimp's back and
to the tail. Use your hands to open the flesh of the shrimp
until it lies flat. Remove the vein with your fingers or the
tip of a knife. Hold the shrimp under cold running water to
rinse thoroughly.

Methods of cooking shrimp:

When cooking shrimp, it is important to heat them
sufficiently to destroy harmful organisms, but not so long
that the flesh becomes tough and looses flavor. This can
happen with only seconds of overcooking. Cooking must be
closely monitored and times will vary depending on size.
Shrimp will undergo a characteristic change when cooked that
indicates doneness. The flesh of adequately cooked shrimp
will turn opaque and the color will change from a
grayish-green to pink or orange.

BAKED: Peeled shrimp turn out moist when baked in foil
packets. To bake in foil, place the shrimp on a large square
of heavy-duty foil and add lemon slices and butter (herbs
and spices may also be added, if desired). Fold the foil
over the shrimp and seal by crimping the edges together.
Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 375F until just
done (approximately 5 minutes).

BOILED: Shelled or unshelled shrimp that are cooked ahead to be served cold or used in a recipe are usually boiled. Add raw shrimp to water that has been brought to a rolling boil. For extra flavor, add a few lemon wedges and crab-boil to
the water. Avoid overcooking or the shrimp will toughen and
loose flavor. Medium shrimp (2 to 3 inches long) take only
about 2 minutes to cook; larger shrimp take 3 to 5 minutes.

BROILED or GRILLED: Shrimp, in or out of the shell, can be grilled on skewers or broiled in the oven; however, leaving
the shells on will protect the delicate meat as it cooks and
add flavor. A marinade or baste will keep the shrimp moist
as it cooks.

MICROWAVED: This is a quick method for cooking shrimp. Place shrimp (preferably unshelled) around the edge of a
microwave-safe casserole dish with the tails pointing toward
the center. Drizzle with lemon juice and cook on high for 2
to 3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook.

POACHED: This cooking method works well for shrimp in or out of the shell. Poach shrimp in a mixture of water and lemon
juice or wine. Flavor the poaching liquid with herbs, if
desired. To poach 2 pounds of shrimp, bring 2 quarts of
liquid to a gentle simmer, add the shrimp and bring to a
boil. Once the liquid boils, cook shrimp for 60 seconds,
then remove immediately.

SAUTEED: This method for cooking shrimp traditionally
requires quite a bit of butter or oil, both for flavor and
to keep the shrimp from sticking to the pan. Remove the
shrimp from the pan promptly when done, or they will
continue cooking (and may overcook) from the pan's heat
retention.

STEAMED: Steaming shrimp provides a gentle, fat-free and
flavorful method of cooking. Steam unshelled shrimp in a
collapsible steamer or steaming rack over boiling water.
Seasonings may be added to the water in the steamer for
additional flavoring. Cook just until the shell on the back
of the shrimp lifts away from the meat.

STIR-FRIED: Stir-frying is a quick-cooking method that is well suited for preparing shrimp. Cook and remove the peeled
shrimp from the wok as soon as they are done then stir-fry
the remaining ingredients in the dish. Return the shrimp to
the cooked ingredients in the pan to briefly reheat
immediately prior to serving.

According to Bubba and Forrest Gump...

Shrimp is perhaps the most versatile shellfish on the
market. The number of ingredients shrimp compliment is
limitless as it adapts well to both spicy and plain recipes.
Not only does shrimp make an excellent gumbo, it can also turn
a plain pasta and sauce recipe into an elegant dish.

Although the ingredients may vary, there are only a few
basic methods of preparing shrimp. Once you know how to
select good shrimp and have a basic knowledge of how to
prepare them, you will find endless ways to enjoy this
delicate, succulent tasting crustacean.

About the Author: Janice Faulk Duplantis, author and publisher, currently maintains a web site that focuses on Easy Gourmet and French/Cajun Cuisine. Visit http://www.bedrockpress.com to see all that Bedrock Press has to offer. Janice also publishes 4 free monthly ezines: Gourmet Bytes, Lagniappe Recipe, Favorite Recipes and Cooking 101. Visit http://www.bedrockpress.com/subscribe.html to subscribe.

Inexpensive Meat Substitute

2009-09-10T22:45:00.001-07:00

What if I told you I'd found a food you can use like meat that's not only dirt cheap, but also healthier than many other food items on the market? You'd probably think I also had some swamp land in Florida to sell you cheap.
Well, TVP (texturized vegetable protein) is the "wonder" food in question. TVP is basically an inexpensive, relatively tasteless meat substitute which can be added to many dishes you're probably already fixing for your regular family meals.
TVP's texture is similar to that of ground meat, it's very low in fat and has no cholesterol. Since TVP is nearly tasteless, it absorbs the flavor of whatever you're cooking. I've found TVP tends to work best in fairly spicy dishes rather than bland recipes. We use TVP in spaghetti sauce, chili, soups, Sloppy Joes, skillet meals and tacos. For skeptical family members, you can even try sneaking TVP into your recipes mixed half-and-half with ground beef or turkey. The first time I snuck it into spaghetti sauce, my family commented on how good the meal was ... and no one suspected that the meat-like granules in the sauce weren't ground beef or sausage.
TVP comes in dry form (several different shapes/sizes: flakes, chunks, granules) and there are now also several flavored varieties. Since it comes dry, TVP needs to be reconstituted before using. To reconstitute, simply pour one cup boiling water over one cup dry TVP, letting it sit in a bowl until the TVP absorbs all the water (this just takes a couple minutes). If I'm adding TVP to something with a high water content such as spaghetti sauce or soup, I don't bother rehydrating it first since it will absorb the flavorful liquid from the sauce/soup.
I purchase TVP in the bulk food bins at my local health food co-op, but I've also seen it carried in several major grocery store chains. Just call around and find the stores in your local area that carry it.
Deborah Taylor-Hough (free-lance writer and mother of three) is the author of several popular books including Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month and A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving Your Time, Money and Sanity. To subscribe to her free email newsletter, Simple Times, send an email to: subscribe-simple-times@hub.thedollarstretcher.com Visit Debi online and read more articles dealing with simple living, frugality, parenting and much more: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

Feng Shui - What is It?

2009-09-10T09:06:00.001-07:00

There has been a long history of interest in the west about things oriental. Religion, philosophy, culture and art. Feng shui is also one of these interests, but what exactly is it? In Chinese feng means wind and shui means water. So the literal meaning is wind and water, two naturally occurring forces that have been dealt with in Chinese culture, art and philosophy for thousands of years. These two forces can create good health and well being with clean water, clear air, good harvests and prosperity. But they can also cause destruction, death and disease with high winds and flooding waters, for example. This is all related to the ancient principle of opposites called Yin and Yang. The good and the bad, light and darkness, good and evil, etc.
Very simply put, Feng shui is concerned with humans and nature, and how to best live in harmony within our environments. It all relates to the notion that if we as humans learn to live in balance with nature, we will be happy and prosper. The modern concern for ecology in a way is part of those ideas, as people are learning that what is good for the environment and the earth is also good for humans.
Basic Feng shui equates our surroundings with not only our physical well being, but our mental and spiritual well being as well. They are all connected, and to neglect one is to be out of balance with the others, which does not lead to happiness and prosperity. We can well imagine the frame of mind and our emotional state if we were to be surrounded by a room with no windows and barren walls. Or an environment of death and destruction, or ugliness and hate. These environments would affect us, throw our emotional and spiritual well being out of balance and eventually affect our physical well being. We will become corrupt in body and spirit, which would lead to our environment becoming even more corrupt, and the circle of imbalance continues. But if we balance our environments with things of beauty, music, windows that open to let the fresh air in, sometimes the simplest of things, it is possible to reverse the negative environments to positive and break the circle of imbalance, and lead lives of happiness and prosperity.
Feng shui is often portrayed as something complex, something that only a master of immense training and even psychic abilities can practice. Feng shui, as with all things,can be as complex as you wish to make it. But if Feng shui can be reduced to one word, that word would be balance. Be in balance with your environment. If there is darkness, make some light. If there is ugliness, bring some beauty. This can be done by obeying strict rules and practices of a Feng shui master, to be sure. But it can also be done in a very basic way by anyone. For what brings balance to you and your environment is a very personal thing. Add some beauty, some compassion, some concern for your environment, and you will be repaid. You may not be a master, but you will be practicing the ancient philosophy of balance that is the core idea of Feng shui.
Alan Beggerow is a free lance writer. Visit his writing services website, Ghostwriter, at http://www.ghostwriterboo.blogspot.com

People Styles at Work - Making Bad Relationships Good and Good Relationships Better

2009-09-08T06:35:00.001-07:00

For sometime I have been wanting to work on and learn more about how I can improve relationships I have with others whom I work with whether it is at a job, a business, family or friends. I have come to learn that at sometime I will work with everyone I am surrounded by and come in contact with often. I have also learned that I will not always get along with others. However, I have wanted to learn how to handle these type of situations without getting too emotional and learning to let go when necessary.
As a college student of Liberal Studies, I took the Leadership Skills class last semester. One of my requirements was to review a book related to working with others. I chose People Styles at Work: Making Bad Relationships Good and Good Relationships Better By: Robert Bolton and Dorothy Grover Bolton.
Of course, the first chapter discusses why we have people problems. We think, decide, use time and handle emotions differently. Not everyone is exactly the same. With this book though you learn how to change your attitude and learn to work with others in a more positive way. This is the only way that you can achieve success and happiness. You learn how to predict things whether the are turning out to be positive or negative. This is so you are able to handle the situation and continue on with your work.
A little more into the book you learn about what kind of person you are. Not only that you also learn to look in the mirror and see how others view you. This may sound scary at first, but learning from my own experience it is actually very informative. It teaches you on a deep level by placing yourself in another persons shoes.
Further on into the book and one of my favorite sections is The Key to Productive Relationships. I have been taught for the last two years extensively to learn to look at the good in everyone. That has been one of the most difficult things to do until the last six months. Especially in the workplace to have to look at the good in everyone who surrounds you can be very challenging. But I also learned that by learning to look for the good you can build a better and stronger relationship with others which makes the workplace more productive.
I have personally had to do some serious work on learning how to withhold my opinions and personal views of things. This has been hard, but I have learned a very valuable lesson. I have learned that it is better to listen more than it is to talk because I can learn more.
Then there is the four steps to better relationships: Identify, Plan, Implement and Evaluate. You learn how to relate to the other person and help them out. You learn to self discipline yourself with this process.
One chapter I have had to do some serious work on is Chapter 11. I am currently molding myself into being a better listener and helper. I do have to work on being patient with others and being forgiving to a certain extent when it comes to commitments. I am a stickler about being on time and communicating when I am going to be late or cannot make it to an event or appointment. One very important thing I have learned about myself is I have to become more spontaneous. I have often heard from people I work with or have worked with that they like spontaneity. They like for others to be able to start on things and get them done on their own without someone having to supervise them constantly. I know this to be very true and so I have been working on this myself.
Besides working on my own personal flaws I have learned too that I have to be flexible with others. I cannot expect others around me to be perfect or understanding. But it all comes back to me. I have to work on myself and change my ways. I cannot change others. I do have to become much more tolerant and understanding. I have to be willing to be open especially to learning and experiencing new ideas.
Chapter 13 reinforces how you can maintain good relationships. Do Unto Others as you would yourself is the Golden Rule. This has been instilled in me as well as my own children. Respect, Fairness and Honesty are what everyone wants and how they want to be treated.
These are also my biggest sticklers that I do sometimes allow to bother me although I shouldn't.
I am a huge person on respect. I can be hard on others when I feel they are being disrespectful. I feel respect goes to the absolute core of all relationships. Anytime there is a lack of respect the relationship begins to crumble. It is twice as hard to rebuild respect when it has been broken.
Fairness is a challenging one for me. I prefer to place everyone on the table of equality but that seems to be nearly impossible. Anytime something negative happens we are all guilty of focusing on just that, the negative aspects. In fact, we are supposed to look at the good, the positives in order to be fair. For example, I am a single mom with my business team there is only one other single person involved. There have been times a few of the teammates have attempted to schedule things that involve couples working together. Our team is to be based on teamwork. I feel that this is not teamwork that this is a team working within the team excluding a part of the team so in essence it is not team work.
Honesty I know is something we all have issues with. Even a white lie is really just a lie. We tend to do things and try to cover them up just so we don't cause problems or want to be reprimanded. I have had to deal with friends who I work with whom have decided to rather than speak the truth cover their own rumps rather than face getting jumped all over. This is frustrating to me although I can in some respects, understand why they would do things. I am working on where is the boundary line when it comes to honesty? What am I willing to walk away from and what am I willing to stand up for?
This book has been a great tool for me helping to improve my social skills on a personal and professional level. I am always looking to improve myself especially my attitude. I know that what I say and do affects everyone around me such as my family, friends and co workers.
One of my primary goals has been to be a positive, optimistic and motivational person. I want to attract people towards me instead of them running away. You learn how to positively work with others which is a very important issue when it comes to working. But this book has also caused me to stop and look at myself first and foremost before focusing on other people whom I have no control over in order to change. It does cause you to pause your thinking, look at yourself in the mirror to be able to clearly see what has to be worked on for improvement.
Jennifer Bryan
http://www.empowering-solutions.net - http://www.jenniferbryan.com

Checking the Building For Square

2009-09-08T04:36:00.001-07:00

The most important thing when building a home is the ability to keep everything as square, plumb and level as possible. Starting with the foundation, if the foundation is not square or level, the rest of the house is going to be out of alignment.
You've probably heard the saying, start with a good foundation. This applies to the building industry as well. There are quite a few ways to build a square foundation, it all depends on what kind of tools you have, to build it with.
Some of these tools can be quite expensive but it used every day can save you a lot of time and of course time is money.
You don't need expensive tools to build a square foundation. You could actually build a square foundation with less than $100 worth of tools. It might take you a little longer but could be done.
Let's start with the 3 - 4 - 5 rule.
Okay lets see if I can explain this in layman's terms. If no West side of the foundation is 3 foot and the north side of the foundation is for foot, then the diagonal measurement from the southwest corner to the northeast corner would be 5 foot. Out of square building can create foundation problems
This can also be done using 30' x 40' should equal 50 foot. You can use this if the building is large and you need to check it for square.
By measuring the foundation diagonally from each corner, the measurement should be exactly the same. If it isn't, the building is out of square and should be adjusted before the concrete is poured. This measurement should always be checked before you get too far along in the form building process.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your having problems in your attic, find out more at concrete contractor basics and home building ideas.
Should The Bible Be Edited

Motivational Speaking - You Will Be Inspired by It

2009-09-07T22:57:00.001-07:00

We live in busy times where we have no time for ourselves. Today, depression and tension go hand in hand with our daily lives. Many people are greatly surrounded by depression. We need some booster to help us move up in life. Motivation is providing enthusiasm. Motivational speakers are inspirational both to the one who is the speaker as well as to the listener. Motivation can uplift any depressed soul. In such circumstances we need someone to lift us up and get us motivated to return to a normal healthy life.
Listening to motivational speeches can steer our lives towards positive thinking and towards changing our lives positively. Many today take it up as a career and try to help other people to get motivated and move out of their depressed lives.
To take up motivational speaking, a person has to be really dedicated towards their career and need to aim at improving lives of people positively. Such speakers need to have the ability to improve people's lives. Motivational speakers set up workshops and seminars on particular topics or subject. Motivational speakers are in great demand in this tech world today as the world is continuously in need of emotional support.
The Role of Motivational Speakers in Business
People in business are driven by pressure and need constant motivation and support. Motivational speakers provide great impetus to business people and many others to keep cool under pressure and remain driven in their place of work. Therefore, motivational speakers contribute greatly in business. Such business people can do their work well if they are balanced and out of depression and tension. They can thus become more productive and cooperative with their work.
Motivational speakers can assist every class of person in the society. Being emotionally motivated allows people to be more focused on their work. People need motivation not because they are unable to perform effectively but because people are not adept at carrying the load of pressure and demand of their jobs. Constant work pressure and load can deplete a person's resources to remain focused and motivated. That is why motivation is so important to allow people to remain focused on the job in hand and to take charge in life. It is generally seen among many business houses, where they hire motivational speakers on a regular basis, to keep their staff and personnel focused and emotionally motivated.
Motivational speaking is the work of experts who know their job and know what needs to be done. Experts can convey the message easily on any topic. Since motivational speaking is a blurred and multifaceted subject, experts are really needed. Many companies today are deeply involved with the topic of motivational speaking in their place of work. Constant motivational speaking and motivation can help peers to cope with their work pressure.
According to the new age business management, managers and executives new with the company are given special training to provide an insight into human nature. Since such managers and executives are well versed with the human psyche they are able to give out the best in their place of work through motivational speaking
Motivational speakers have the ability to challenge your thinking and let you arrive at a different and positive platform of life. Where the need arises motivational speaking can be personalized. If a person is not able to cope with the problems of his life and solve his own lives queries he can turn to motivational speakers to help them personally. Such speaking has changed many people's lives.
A motivational speaker can prove to be a management tool to improve their place of work or work environment in a better way. Motivational speakers can really transform people's personal as well as professional life. It is imperative that we know how we react to people around us and vice versa and the effect of motivational speakers in our lives and attitude.
A good motivational speaker needs to have good presentation skills. They can convey their messages correctly and directly. Such people can provide incentives to people to remain in their work place for long. They need to have the ability to speak on any subject and therefore need to have the right amount of experience and skill. They need to be trained in such a way that they are able to talk on any topic.
Many managers are doing extremely well. But what makes them feel that they have achieved success? This is a query in the minds of most people and this is needed to be answered. Motivational speakers have the stories to give out of such successful managers. Motivational speakers can stop employees from leaving their jobs. This can help the company to retain its good and experienced work force. Motivational speakers provide and help people and give them the right direction to succeed.
Motivational speaking has made a tremendous impact on our lives in many ways. Therefore, we need to respect their contribution to society. It is regarded as a profession that has its features as being able to understand people, their way of thinking and changing their attitude in life. Therefore, motivational speakers have to be themselves very motivated people that have a high amount of energy aura to influence and steer people in the right direction.
Jason Ryan Dorsey is an acclaimed keynote speaker, bestselling author, and award-winning entrepreneur.
Known as The Gen Y Guy, Jason has been featured as a generational expert on 60 Minutes, 20/20, The Today Show, The View, and in Fortune Magazine, along with dozens of other media outlets.
Jason's high-energy keynotes, motivational speaking and in-depth seminars have impacted over 1,800 diverse audiences across the United States and as far away as Egypt, Finland, Spain, and India. The 110 events that Jason keynotes each year range from exclusive executive summits and high-profile education conferences to industry sponsored meetings. In recognition of his business achievements, Jason won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award at age 25-one of the youngest winners ever.
http://www.jasondorsey.com

Ways to Stop Losing Your Car Keys

2009-09-07T21:06:00.001-07:00

You obviously don't need to read this article if you rarely lose your car keys. However if you misplace your car keys often and have a pretty good relationship with your locksmith, it's time to change these bad habits into good ones.
One of my friends, recently lost their car keys. I would like you to listen to what I'm about to say and see if it makes sense to you. Most people get two keys when they buy a car. This means, if they lose one key, they now have a spare key. When they lose their first key, this should give them a pretty good clue that the second key is now the only key, if they wish to drive their car.
Does that make sense? If you lose your first key, you don't have a second or spare key anymore. Now is a good time to purchase a spare key or have one made. Don't wait until you lose the second one, unless you are planning to change your bad habit into a good one.
Now let me get back to my friends who recently lost their car's key. The car they were driving was a new Honda and you can't go to the locksmith to get another key made. You have to order one from the Honda dealer and this key cost them over $200. That's a lot of money for one key.
Now my friends lost both of their original keys and now have one key to operate the vehicle and this key cost them over $200. Now if I had to pay this amount of money, I would make sure that I never lost this key ever again. I would do whatever it to to change my old habits and create some new ones.
How hard is it to get in the habit of placing your keys inside of your purse. Placing your keys in your pockets and then only removing them when you are going to place them inside of a drawer, container, cup, bowl or on a shelf in your bedroom. If you place your keys in a drawer, this will keep them out of other people's temptation.
If you choose to lay your keys in a bowl, in the kitchen, there's a good chance someone will take them or another member of your family could lose them. Place your keys in a protected area, do not leave them out in the open ever.
If you want some tips to prevent you from losing your keys, simply talk to someone who rarely if ever loses their keys. Most of these people have simple and easy to follow tips. You can consciously create a habit that can save you money and frustration in the future.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.
Another Crappy Rule In The Bible

A Wrinkle in Time Book Review

2009-09-07T15:21:00.001-07:00

I recently read A Wrinkle in Time for the second time in my life. Meg Murray's father is a scientist, and he's missing. Along with the help of her brother (Charles), a school friend (Calvin) and some other-worldly friends (including Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit), they're seeking to find and retrieve the missing scientist.
The three children must travel through time and space and confront many opposing forces, including one another.
Children will love this book, especially those with interests in science fiction. I read this book when I was young, and to this day I can remember exactly where it sat on the library's shelves. I re-read it as an adult, and I can still feel its magic!
I like the very basic introductions to physics ideas in this book. Time travel is just one of the ideas touched upon here, and it's explained in a way that children can begin to understand some of the larger forces in the universe. A Wrinkle in Time presents an interesting story with complex vocabulary and ideas in such a way as to introduce them to children.
Meg Murray is an outcast with a strong will, a child who feels like she doesn't belong. She does have a very supportive family that encourages curiosity and intelligence and one that sticks together no matter what. A Wrinkle in Time can be a great book for any child (especially a girl) who feels like they aren't quite "normal" or the perfect fit for mainstream society.
A Wrinkle in Time is just the first book in this interesting universe. The saga continues with A Wind in the Door, then A Swiftly Tilting Planet and finally Many Waters (which follows the adventures of Meg's younger twin brothers). It's obvious that the first novel in the series was a successful one. It's a classic amongst children's literature and is re-read by many adults who wish to recapture the magic of their childhood reading.
When I read A Wrinkle in Time as a child, I remember feeling its magic, thinking the book was fantastic. Reading it again as an adult, the book seemed very simple. I found the story to be lacking just a little, but I still enjoyed it. If you're reading this for the first time as an adult, remember that it is a book intended for a younger audience. If you can stay in touch with that magical feeling of being a child, you'll see the magic of this book.
Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.
Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

Advantages of Framing With Steel Studs

2009-09-07T13:48:00.001-07:00

I have heard all sorts of stories over the years of the advantages in framing with steel versus wood studs. One time I even heard you could build an entire house with the amount of recycled steel from a large automobile such as a Cadillac. I find this hard to believe unless you're building a very small home.
My personal favorite for framing with steel studs is that they are extremely straight. I have built nonbearing partition walls using 12 foot 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs and after the drywall you can lay an 8 foot level to check it for straightness on the wall with amazing results.
If you use 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs with 5/8 of an inch drywall you will get an extremely durable and sturdy wall. Framing was steel studs is common in office renovations or remodeling. Most of the steel stud framing is done via the drywall contractors.
Steel studs and termites do not mix. You'll never have to worry about these little buggers or other uninvited house pests damaging your walls.
Over the years I have heard stories that steel framed buildings are earthquake and fire proof. They might be more resistant to fire than wood but keep in mind when metal is hot enough it will bend and warp making it unusable.
When I hear people talking about a fireproof building built with metal framing components my first thought is all of the other materials used in building the house that are not fire resistant. Don't get a false illusion when buying a house framed with steel studs and think it is 100% fire proof.
As far as steel framed buildings being earthquake proof this is another story. I really can't comment too much on earthquake damage to a steel building. The problem with earthquakes is they seem to create fires. So even if you're building does survive an earthquake it could get damaged by a fire in the area.
I have framed more wood homes than steel homes over the years and my steel stud construction is limited to nonbearing partition walls usually located in office buildings. I love framing with metal because of its light weight and ease of construction.
I still love framing with wood. There is something about what framing that I have always loved and always will.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as
well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on House Framing Ideas
Religion Articles

Positive Attitude Maintenance - Self Help Tips

2009-09-07T07:49:00.001-07:00

The thing that people must realise is that you won't suddenly decide to feel good and that's it. It is a process of bit by bit feeling a bit happier and a bit more positive every day. There may be days when you go into a bit of a relapse for a few days but don't loose your resolve.
You can improve your attitude and become happier by many means:
Saying your Affirmations
Facing your fears
Thinking more positive thoughts
Helping others
Being kinder to yourself
Stop procrastinating
Whatever works for you
But you have to keep up this activity on a daily basis, just like a piece of machinery your happiness and positive attitude need regular maintenance.
You might ask yourself, why is it that my unhappy, depressive, negative attitudes come so easily, why don't I need to maintain them.
The truth is that you are maintaining them through negative habits that you have taught yourself over many years, you just might not realise it.
There will be a point where you cross a threshold, if you have not crossed it already. Where you will wake up and realize that feeling good and positive is the norm and feeling bad and stressed is unusual.
It will then be easier to maintain your positive attitude and happy state, but you will still have to continue your maintenance program. So design your positive attitude maintenance program now.
Design some Affirmations that work for you
Start identifying negative messages you tell yourself and replace them with positive ones
Build your own support group of friends to support you in your quest to become more positive
Make lists of your abilities and the things you are grateful for in life
Help others to be more positive
And put it into action, using it and updating it on a regular basis, and now is as good a time to start as ever.
I am a husband, and father of one son who works as an engineer. I became involved in writing articles about self improvement and positive attitude as part of a process of developing a more positive attitude to life myself.
I am committed to making my thoughts freely available to anybody who takes interest in reading my articles in the hope that they can similarly make their attitude more positive.
For anybody who is interested in improving their attitude to life and would like to see more of my articles or simply wants some advice on how they can feel better about themselves please visit my website http://www.positivity.9f.com - I am interested in any feedback about whether my articles are providing a positive benefit.

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

2009-09-07T06:22:00.001-07:00

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get calls from people, that have no idea what they want or how much anything is going to cost. Here's some simple tips that can be very helpful when planning a bathroom remodel budget.
Bathroom Remodeling Investment
In 2008, the average mid-range bathroom cost around $16,000 and you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment upon the sale of your home. According to a popular remodeling magazine, larger bathrooms using expensive fixtures, tile, bathtubs, woodworking, toilets and showers had an average of $52,000. Upon the sale of a home, you could recoup around $36,000 of your original investment.
Finding out How Much Things Cost
My first suggestion, would be to visit your local home improvement center, lumber yard or plumbing supply warehouse. Larger stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, seemed to provide you with value pricing but don't have a large selection. While doing some research on the Internet I noticed that some of their pricing is outrageously, outrageous. Some plumbing supply warehouses can provide value but beware others won't.
Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts
You can get a good idea of your bathroom remodel costs for your budget by making a list of bathroom parts with pricing and then adding them up for a grand total. If you're a total bathroom remodel budget is $15,000 and you have a $6,000 bathtub with $4000 worth of tile, you could have a budget problem.
Figuring out the Labor
You will have to contact a contractor to get an actual cost for the labor. Sometimes you can double the cost of your bathroom remodeling parts to get a rough idea. If you have a list or a couple of lists and a few pictures of some sample bathrooms, this will make the contractor's job easier and often they can give you a labor price within a few days.
Give Yourself a Cushion
I would suggest leaving yourself a small financial cushion for any additional remodeling items. For example, you could see a different toilet, or instead of painting the walls, you now choose to wallpaper, you could incur additional expenses that you haven't planned for. If you know exactly what you want and stick to the original bathroom remodeling plan, you shouldn't need the cushion.
Financial problems often transfer into construction problems, so spend some time figuring out, how much money you want to spend on the bathroom remodel and try not to go overboard on the budget. I hate to see homeowners struggling with home improvement loan payments. Try to create a bathroom remodeling budget that is realistic and will not create a financial burden upon you or your family.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.
Wrong With Bible Verse

Beginning Through Awareness

2009-09-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

Are you living your values, or has your life been hijacked by someone else's? Are you living your life through the eyes of someone else, or is it your own? Is this journey your truth or someone else's truth? Are you living the experiences they want you to or that you want?
Values are ideals that guide you through life. They help distinguish and inform you as to what is important and provide a way in making stronger choices that are in line with your heart. When you live by your values, life is fulfilling and joyful. There is a sense of calm, completeness and contentment. When you don't live by your values, there is a feeling of quiet frustration that drains your energy without even an awareness that it's happening.
Many of us go through life unaware of where we are headed. We
plough through the days must's, should's and have to's and don't stop to reflect and adjust according to our intentions or desires. It's okay to get side-tracked. Being sidetracked could be a form of relieving tensions or anxieties.
Getting side-tracked could also be a way of reminding us to reflect. To find out if where we are headed is the direction we really want to go. Is where I am going in alignment with my true heart's desire? For me, what I plan on doing, is being more aware when I do get side-tracked. And because of my awareness to what may occur, I will get back on the bus and begin the forward movement I initially intended earlier.
Most importantly, every time you feel like life is giving you a bad deal, or your wheels are stuck in the mud, ask yourself if you are chasing someone else's dreams and values or yours. Each one of us will make many different stops, turns and directions that are unique only to us. But there's one thing that we all have that is the same. Time. Being side-tracked is part of life, but how long do you intend to be side-tracked? The price you will have to pay is in the delay of your dreams or pursuing another's vision and finding out it was never yours all along.
You can begin anew with awareness to what is. Recognize your values. Values also change in priority depending on what is happening in your life. When a newborn arrives, your value of freedom and adventure may be restricted temporarily, but your value for commitment, care, reliability, provider and radiance is magnified.
Reflect and then adjust your intentions according to your desires. Make sure your values line up with your truth and not someone else's. Living with values that are a priority in your life will create a life filled with fulfillment and joy, and a sense of calm and contentment. Create a new beginning and strive to become the real you.
Discover the #1 Rule to Live By and 7 Life-Changing Steps to transform your life! Wake Up To Life is a monthly ezine for women in transition and of all ages who seek clarity, direction, meaning, change and purpose in their lives. Transform from mediocre and mundane to passionate and with more zest. Visit http://www.desireeleigh.com/ezine.htm and begin designing the life of your dreams!

Dangers Using Wood Stair Cleats - New Stair Construction

2009-09-06T23:01:00.001-07:00

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.
Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.
If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.
If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.
I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.
If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.
If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Does God Make Mistakes

I Am Just Exploding With Excitement

2009-09-06T17:04:00.001-07:00

I feel fired up for life. I just can't keep it to myself. I never felt energy in myself like this before. I love giving off this high energy. I think it is contagious. Just give off the energy that you can't help but bring a smile to somebody.
The week before the Summit , I dropped off 4 cards in 4 of my neighbors doors. They have no idea that each other had it done to them. I could believe the responce my cards. They were blank cards that I had filled in something that I appreciate about them.
First Cosmo, I told him he was my hero. He has a brain tumor to big to do anything about.He lives each day to the fullest and never takes a day for granted. I saw him 2 days later and He was so happy to have recieved my card.
Then there is Carmen, She lives on my floor. She used to take my kids for 2 hours once a week to let me have a break. That is years ago when my husband worked nights. We are just good neighbors. We look out for each other. So Her card said thanks for always being there. 2 days later she dropped flowers at my door. I had made her day. Ha! She made mine, i love fresh flowers .
Lynn, She lives on the 6 floor like Cosmo. She is very sick. She won't tell me what is wrong. She looks really sick. We have gotten to know each other in passing throughout the years. We have done nice gestures for each other as well. Her card said , I miss you. I haven't see her in months and I just wanted to tell her HI, I miss seeing you. She called last night. She said she couldn't bring herself to call me and tell me how she felt about me. She in my mind reasures me that I am a amazing human being. That I know how to touch hearts and change lives.
The last card I didn't hear from. I hope it brought a smile to her face, like the thought of her brings to mine.
My name is Dana Malave. I am 35 years old. I am a wife and a mother of 2 incredible children. My life is dedicated to personal development . Whether it be helping people through my writing http://www.mylifeinabundance.com

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-09-06T15:21:00.001-07:00

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.
Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.
1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?
2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?
3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?
4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?
5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?
6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?
7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?
8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?
If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.
When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.
When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.
If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Are Christians Really Interested

Vision Means Passion - What's Yours?

2009-09-06T09:20:00.001-07:00

Interestingly, the word vision can be interchangeable with the word passion.
But small business owners often forget to promote the true reason for being in business. Theyve lost touch with their passionate vision.
Passion is defined as an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. Vision means unusual discernment or foresight - a person of vision.
Our vision (passion) is that intense driving conviction of unusual foresight that involves people in our story.
It is an authentic story because it comes from our heart. Its the reason we do what we do. And authentic stories are how we persuade people to use our service or product (ideas) over many other choices.
But for a majority of people in small business, vision is lost somewhere between starting the business and dealing with the day-to-day challenges and opportunities that arise.
Ask Yourself This Question
Why did you go into business in the first place?
Like many people, you probably got started with a vision you felt passionate about. Somewhere along the line you fell victim to day-to-day, reactive thinking and never returned to your original business vision. It became diluted and never rose from the ashes again.
What Can I Do to Rediscover My Vision?
Remembering the reason you started your business is the first step. Follow the action steps below to rediscover it.
Next, tell people the story of how you got started and why you love what you do. That story should be on your marketing collateral, web site, sales presentations and phone messages.
Passion is that single, illusive thing that attracts clients. Passion helps you stand out from other businesses who are selling rather than telling a passionate, authentic story about a unique business vision.
Action Steps to Develop Your Vision
1. Create an Authentic Vision Story. Start by considering the reason you started your business in the first place. Think back, when you first started out, what were you excited about?
2. Write down one sentence that tells the value you provide to others. This is the true reason anyone is in business.
3. Next, write down your competitive advantage. How are you different than the competition?
4. List single sentence statements that tell people your identity. Remember, image is dead. Clients and prospects need a strong authentic identity to understand exactly who you are and what you stand for.
5. Add your niche to this list. What single group of people do you best serve?
6. List the type of client you most enjoy working with. Include both professional and personal qualities. Understand who your ideal client is.
7. Weave the 6 points above into a compelling story.
8. Memorize that story. Focus on your ideal client only. Tell every ideal prospect you talk to this week your Authentic Vision Story.
9. The results will surprise you. Your prospects will seem more receptive. Your clients will be more willing to help you spread the word.
Follow these steps and you are guaranteed to find more enjoyment in your business.
Copyright 2005, Bill Gluth, Develop Your Vision, All Rights Reserved.
Bill Gluth is the motivator of focused change. He is the first to specialize in teaching small business owners how to be extraordinary in a commodity driven world.
Since starting Develop Your Vision in 2001, Bill has helped business owners achieve balance, satisfaction and profit with freedom by understanding the unique vision that sets one business apart from their competition.
Bill teaches strategies that turn dreams and goals into accomplishments by successfully reaching tightly defined niche markets using inexpensive, creative, Human Touch ideas and methods.
To find out more about Bill Gluth, Develop Your Vision, visit his website at http://www.developyourvision.com or his Blog at http://www.billgluth.com.

The Bible's Power Over One Child

2009-09-06T07:48:00.001-07:00

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.
Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.
We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.
Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.
One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.
I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.
That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.
I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.
I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.
It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.
Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Simple Words Create Powerful Beliefs.
What Happens To Nonbelieving

Staying Motivated After the Conference High

2009-09-06T01:44:00.001-07:00

I attend several seminars each year. During those sessions I join others in thunderous applause following a great presentation and like thousands of other conference attendees leave the hall motivated and full of ideas. But for most, that enthusiasm begins to wane as the reality of every day tasks begins to creep in. Here are five quick tips to keep you motivated after the conference lights have gone down and the applause has stopped.
1. Keep spiritual "Power Bars" on-hand
My father is a triathlete and when he is training he consumes large amounts of calories. On race day he meticulously packs the fuel sources that he will need to help him cross the finish line. Get your race-day package ready by equipping yourself with tools that will keep you motivated when your focus hits a pothole. Order some motivational CD's to keep in your desk drawer, and fill your bookshelf with books that empower you.
2. Push play
Remember that Risky Business scene with Tom Cruise? He runs; slides across the floor on his knees; and plays the electronic guitar to Bob Seger's I Like That Old Time Rock & Roll. That scene is classic and demonstrates the power of music. On the journey towards your goals, some days, even the smallest of hills will feel like a mountain. When one more phone call or extra hour of study feels insurmountable, harness the power of a song to evoke powerful emotions. Download your play list on your i-Pod or pick-up a CD that makes you feel strong, energetic and ready to take on the world.
3. Put Yourself in Time Out
Sometimes my son's energy gets the best of him and he lunges onto the couch or jumps on his bed landing on his little sister. After a few requests for him to settle down, I send him to time-out. He marches defiantly to the designated time-out chair and sits with his arms folded tightly. In moments, those folded arms soon fall to his side and before you know it, I can hear him singing a little song or talking to himself. Give yourself permission to take a time-out. Take a walk around the block or head to the restroom for a few deep breaths. These small time-outs will give you the calm and focus you need.
4. Treasure Mommy/Daddy Moments
I was late for a meeting and feeling frazzled as a result. As I fumbled through my purse looking for my junk drive, a paper butterfly covered in sparkles fell out of my purse. I laughed out loud and a feeling of self-assuredness came over me. My real purpose - my family and personal satisfaction - became clear to me again. Embrace the moments that allow you to laugh at yourself and remind you of what's really important.
5. Build Your Dream Team
I am a huge basketball fan and like most Americans I was devastated when the United States lost the Gold Medal during the 2006 Summer Olympic Games. In 2008, the legendary Coach Michael Krzyzewski made sure that the States' most talented basketball athletes were on the roster and the United States men's team capturing gold once again. Who is on your roster? Don't' leave reaching your goals to chance by hanging out with friends or colleagues who do not share your values or strive to be their personal best. Take a good look at your personal team roster and make sure that your innermost circle is filled with the best and brightest. Bench those who are draining and negative and before long you won't have to look far to get the motivation and inspiration you need to reach your goals.
Tonya Seavers Evans is a life coach, multi-media writer and communications professional specializing in topics related to working women and mothers whom she calls "Chief Multi-Tasking Officers" and "Superwomen." Evans has represented various industries in her communications practice including human resources, beauty, healthcare, security, non-profit agencies and C-suite executives. Her passion is to help working women and mothers create a working definition of balance and a life map to success through her writing, coaching practice and radio show called, Today's Superwoman. She is married to her husband Percy and is the mother of two beams of light, Luke and Kendall. To learn more about her coaching practice go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Todays-Superwoman.

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

2009-09-06T00:07:00.001-07:00

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.
I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.
On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.
He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.
As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.
As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.
The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.
My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.
I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.
Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.
To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.
I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage
Personal Development

The Times They Are Changing

2009-09-05T17:50:00.001-07:00

We live in a very interesting time in world history. The evolution of getting to this point has never been so dynamic. Even though all the events that have taken place prior to this point in time have great significance, and the fact that it is what brought us here, our current world environment has been propelled into the 21st century with lightening speed. The advancement of technology in communications, information, and the internet has created the instant information age. And with that our conscious minds have become more inter connected with the world than ever before.
What is interesting is that this phenomenon is the staging ground for all of us to become more enlightened. We are, and always have been connected to the entire universe. We all have roots in the universe because consciousness affects our physical world, which includes all living things right down to the individual cells. Our minds have a great influence on our health and well being and on how we view the world. Our existence in the universe is born of a sense of participation and kinship with all others and all matter. The basic oneness of the universe is the central characteristic of the mystical experience, but is also one of the most important revelations of modern physics, (i.e. quantum physics). But I don't want to talk about quantum theory; I want to talk about the human connectedness, and what I detect as a shift in the thinking of more and more people.
Because of the information age, a fast paced lifestyle, what's in it for me attitude, and a win at all cost mentality, too many people began losing sight of the connection we all have with each other and the universe. The ideal of we are all in this together was fading, and taking responsibility for the common good of all, had begun to disappear. Over the last decade, an exponential amount of negative actions and the pursuits of an ideology of egotism have brought us to this juncture. But there is hope because I see the beginning of a change in the minds of many people.
Now, more than ever people are placing an increased importance on relationships. Taking stock of what really matters, like family, friends, and community. There is a new awareness that we are all connected to the universe, and that human consciousness and the physical world are intertwined. The realization is that there is a profound interaction that exists between conscious mental activity and the physical world itself.
We cannot separate our own existence from that of the outside world. We are not only associated with the earth that we inhabit, but with the furthest reaches of the cosmos. We affect all of those about us, so events such as caring, loving, and confiding exert profound consequences on the universe.
Following the Laws of Attraction, the universe gives us what we want if follow our dreams and our passions, but it also takes away if we lose sight of that connection that exists between us all. I believe that there is a change in the winds of time because there is the beginning of an understanding of this relationship. Maybe, just maybe it could be the start of the new Age of Enlightenment.
http://www.enerchilivingspaces.com/
Owner : EnerChi Living Spaces & Gallery. We are a unique Home & Garden decor store. Specializing in Feng Shui design and consultation. We offer one-of-a-kind gifts and personalized ideas for decorating your home, garden and office. We offer workshops in Feng Shui decorating, meditation, journal writing, and manifesting your dreams. We support our local artists and musicians with shows and vignettes. Our merchandise is selected from all over the world with an emphasis on Asian Western design. The store exhibits a unique blend of products in a tranquil peaceful setting. We have just launched a home staging service for our local market. We have just completed an expansion to over 2,000 square ft. and our new website has launched. http://www.enerchilivingspaces.com

Repairing a Leaking Toilet

2009-09-05T16:32:00.001-07:00

Let me explain how a toilet works. First when you go to flush the toilet a little arm pulls a rubber flapper up and lets the water drain into the toilet bowl. The water draining into the toilet bowl forces the old water out along with the number two or number one waste and extremities.
If the toilet sounds like it is running there is a good chance that the seal between the rubber flapper and the plastic rain at the bottom of the toilet is broken somehow. The sound you are hearing is water running around this ring and in to the toilet bowl.
This leak is actually causing no damage to the toilet itself but is wasting water. Hence the water bill will be a little higher if you don't fix the leaking toilet. The best way to find out if this is actually your problem is to take the toilet tank lid off. Then stick your hand down into the toilet bowl and press gently on the rubber flap.
If the water stops leaking or starts running faster this is your problem. Turn the water off to the toilet. There will be a shut off valve on the wall under your toilet bowl in the bathroom. After you turn the water off removed the plastic flap and examine it.
You will be looking for a warped toilet flap or of some sort or grooves on the flapper itself. Take the toilet flapper down to your local home improvement store and buy a new one. Go home and replace the new toilet flapper and this should solve 90% of your leaking toilet problems.
There is one more thing it could be. With the toilet tank lid off, check to see if water is overflowing into the little round plastic pipe. This plastic pipe should have a small hose running from the float valve assembly into it.
If the water is over flowing from the toilet tank into this little plastic pipe you will need to adjust the float.
First thing you will need to do is while the toilet is running lift up on the float lever arm. If the water stops you can simply bend the metal arm of the float lever. The purpose of bending the arm will force the float deeper into the water there for stopping the water from rising over the small tube in the center of your toilet.
There are few parts to a toilet and most parts can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement centers. Toilet repairs like this can be made simple and the parts used to replace are inexpensive.
Happy Toilet Repairing.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more House Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Some Great Plumbing Ideas
Are Your Prayers Being Answered

5 Personal Development Tips That Will Enrich Your Life

2009-09-05T10:13:00.001-07:00

Personal development is all about improving yourself as a person and reaching your goals in life. The goals vary between people. Quite commonly it relates either one or more of the following:
- improving your career
- improving your personality
- making more money
- finding your spiritual side
- Improving and building relationships
- finding your purpose in life
The above goals are common amongst people but the vast majority of people simply plod through life with no real regard to how they will achieve any of their true goals. It is only once we stop and think about our life do we start to realize that we may not have achieved what we want or that we are not on the right path to making those dreams come true. Whatever the case, making self improvement a major focus in your life has countless benefits.
Here are some quick tips to help you use personal development to your advantage:
1. Make a plan and write it down
Writing down your plans and goals on paper reaffirms them to you. It makes them real. Reading through this plan every day, twice or more per day, is the best way to train your brain to see them as reality.
2. Envisage yourself where you want to be
Do you want a new job, better marriage or more money? Then start imagining that it is happening right now. You will be surprised how events will fall into place once you have accepted the fact that you CAN have these things.
3. Take small steps
You can't achieve your life goals in one day. But you can take steps towards it every day so make sure you make a move everyday that is just a small part of your overall development plan.
4. Be grateful
Only through being grateful through what you already have and the changes that have come about will you learn to accept even more good fortune into your life.
5. Take responsibility
Stop blaming others for where your life has ended up and realize that everything that you have now is a direct result of the decisions you have made each and every day. You can start making better decisions today and take full responsibility for the path your life will take.
These simple tips can help you make the most of what personal development has to offer.
One great personal development tool I've started using recently is the Quantum Mind Power Program. I have posted a review about it at my website. Visit http://www.mindpowerreviews.com/quantum_mind_power_review.html to check out whether it will be suitable for you, too.

Finding Homes Using the Internet - Home Shopping

2009-09-05T09:01:00.001-07:00

You can simply type the words real estate or homebuying into any search engine on the World Wide Web and you will come up with hundreds, maybe even thousands of websites that are extremely helpful and full of great information. Like the one you're on right now.
Finding homes with the internet, combined with a skilled real estate salesperson, provides you with the most effective technology available today. Most websites start out, having you select a state you would like to search in and then, select a city, with your price range.
By answering their questions, this narrows the search down to all of the homes available in the area. The internet has made home shopping very simple. Considering what you had to go through in the 1970s. You found a realtor or by looking in the yellow pages, sometimes you found a good realtor and if you are lucky, maybe you would find you a good home.
Most of the time, the first homes you would look at, were owned by the real estate professional you were working with.
There are however a couple of problems with using the internet to find your dream home. Some of the verbage used and photographs taken can create a wonderful illusion of a tropical paradise but the reality, it's a regular home in a decent neighborhood.
Some of these photos are taken by skilled photographers who take advantage of every angle and tend to give an illusion of grander. When you actually start driving around and looking at these homes, only then will you get a reality check, of what the home actually looks like. You'll get used to it.
After you've looked at a few of your future dream homes, you will get a better idea of what I'm talking about with these wonderful pictures and the extraordinary home descriptions like "Beautiful Three Bedroom House with an Ocean View." When reality it's a two-bedroom house with an extra closet for the third bedroom and the ocean is 45 miles away, but you can see it on a clear day if you actually climb to the top of the largest tree on the property.
Take your time when searching for your dream home and don't let any one push you into making a decision if you're not ready. If you find your real estate professional a little too aggressive or pushy, get out of your contract, if you've signed one and find another, more helpful real estate salesperson to help you with your home purchase.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
Find other real estate tips and great advice, from another one of the Internet's best website creators.
Are Your Prayers Being Answered

Is Busy A Good Thing - Self Help Tips

2009-09-05T02:42:00.001-07:00

"Dan, you've been in the office since early this morning, do you want to go for a walk?"
"Id love to but I'm too busy."
"I've got supper ready. Can you stop for a few minutes to eat with me?"
"Thanks Carol but, I'd better not. I'm too busy."
"Dan, it's 11:30. Are you going to quit for the day and get some rest?"
"I'm busy right now. I'll finish this first."
Busy. Do you use that word?
It seems that many people choose to wear the "busy" word as a badge of honour, as if it indicates productiveness, worthiness, and success.
My perception is that the "busy" word is the curse of the new millennium.
"Busy" is a thought-choice. When we verbalize the thought by saying, "I am busy," it reaffirms the thought, magnifies it in our mind, and proves to us that we are busy. "Busy" creates physiological reactions in our body. Our muscles become tense; we lose focus, become irritable, and may experience anger. "Busy" causes great stress and the result is the common cold, headaches, heartaches, and dis-ease.
Common Cold
Im not talking about the sniffles and coughing. The common cold I refer to is our habitual lack of attention to and compassion toward others we are cold to them. Because we are so "busy," we don't take the time to listen to others. We assume we know what they are thinking, and make judgements based upon our assumptions. The common cold eventually destroys relationships.
Headaches
When we convince ourselves that we are "busy." our head begins to swim with confusion and yes, it may even hurt. We think we have so much to do and not nearly enough time. We attempt to multi-task, which is physically impossible. We can do only one thing at a time. When we choose to be "busy," we bounce back and forth between duties and projects and none of them are completed. Or they are not done well.
Heartaches
"Busy"-ness often leads to neglect, resentment, and apathy toward others, and especially to those closest to us our life-partners, children, family, and friends. We tend to not treat them in a loving, caring way because we are too "busy." They may think you are a pain in the butt. That may be true and hearts ache and are being broken.
Dis-ease
Ease is a state of effortlessness and simplicity. In the state of ease, we experience love, joy, and happiness. "Busy"-ness creates dis-ease (lack of ease), and a state of hard work, struggle, and difficulty. In this state, we experience hurt, anger, fear, and sorrow.
With these things in mind, do you still want to be busy?
As usual, I have a challenge for you, if you choose to accept it. Don't get your shorts in a knot; there are only two things.
1. Give yourself a "busy-ectomy." Eliminate the word "busy" from your vocabulary (mentally and orally). Every time the "busy" thought enters your mind, or you start to say it, stop yourself. Instead say things like, "I've got some great projects on the go" or "I'm really enjoying the challenges in front of me" or "I have ample time to do the things I need to do."
2. Consciously notice the changes in how you feel, think, and act.
If you think you're too "busy" to accept my challenge, change your mind. Just as you chose to be "busy," you can choose another experience. At least notice how often the word "busy" is used by people around you, and be aware of how it affects them. Does it do the same for you?
In the past, I was so "busy" making a living that I didn't take time for a life. Since I eliminated "busy." I am more focussed, at ease, and productive. I find that I have oodles more fun making a living and having a life. I experience great pleasure, joy, and happiness in everything I do. Yup, everything. It is a choice I make.
Trash the "busy" badge, turn up the edges of your mouth, jiggle, chortle, snigger, bellow out a big "yahoo" and have fun!
Copyright 2007
Dan Ohler is Thinkin' Outside The Barn!
Dan writes and speaks internationally on relationships, happiness, and change. Through Dan's insights & humour you learn to apply the basics of human psychology the natural laws that create life-long flourishing relationships, and abounding success
Visit Thinkin' Outside The Barn
for FREE how-you-can-do-it-too articles. You can see Dan in action, or order your copy of "Thinkin' Outside The Barn And Steppin' Into Fresh B.S" while youre there!

Repairing a Leaking Toilet

2009-09-05T01:22:00.001-07:00

Let me explain how a toilet works. First when you go to flush the toilet a little arm pulls a rubber flapper up and lets the water drain into the toilet bowl. The water draining into the toilet bowl forces the old water out along with the number two or number one waste and extremities.
If the toilet sounds like it is running there is a good chance that the seal between the rubber flapper and the plastic rain at the bottom of the toilet is broken somehow. The sound you are hearing is water running around this ring and in to the toilet bowl.
This leak is actually causing no damage to the toilet itself but is wasting water. Hence the water bill will be a little higher if you don't fix the leaking toilet. The best way to find out if this is actually your problem is to take the toilet tank lid off. Then stick your hand down into the toilet bowl and press gently on the rubber flap.
If the water stops leaking or starts running faster this is your problem. Turn the water off to the toilet. There will be a shut off valve on the wall under your toilet bowl in the bathroom. After you turn the water off removed the plastic flap and examine it.
You will be looking for a warped toilet flap or of some sort or grooves on the flapper itself. Take the toilet flapper down to your local home improvement store and buy a new one. Go home and replace the new toilet flapper and this should solve 90% of your leaking toilet problems.
There is one more thing it could be. With the toilet tank lid off, check to see if water is overflowing into the little round plastic pipe. This plastic pipe should have a small hose running from the float valve assembly into it.
If the water is over flowing from the toilet tank into this little plastic pipe you will need to adjust the float.
First thing you will need to do is while the toilet is running lift up on the float lever arm. If the water stops you can simply bend the metal arm of the float lever. The purpose of bending the arm will force the float deeper into the water there for stopping the water from rising over the small tube in the center of your toilet.
There are few parts to a toilet and most parts can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement centers. Toilet repairs like this can be made simple and the parts used to replace are inexpensive.
Happy Toilet Repairing.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more House Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Some Great Plumbing Ideas
Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Motivation Can Combat Bankruptcy

2009-09-04T19:21:00.001-07:00

Personal financial management skills have never been so important in the history of mankind as they are now. The liberal terms and superfluous marketing techniques employed by credit card providers has made bankruptcy a term so popular that even grandmothers can tell you its meaning and even quote some sections of the ACT regulating bankruptcy.
Found in this article are the hidden potentials of motivation to help shield you from bankruptcy. Motivation is the working force of every strong desire. Without motivation, you will agree that all your desires to get out of debt and possibly avoid filling in for bankruptcy will all be in vain. Below are some tips that when backed up with motivation will help you get out of that debt that may lead to bankruptcy fast.
Self-control/Self denial and Discipline: Any human being on earth who does not have self-control, self-denial and discipline will find it very difficult if not impossible to make it in life. Credit/debit cards are like loaded gun given to a drunk. A person who lack self control and is not able to discipline him/her self is likened to a drunk handling a gun that is well loaded in the gathering of people. Self control and its associates will help you forgo certain things that are not essential (i.e luxuries). This self-control cannot be found outside motivation. A depressed, stressed and frustrated individual can never be disciplined or have self control.
To get yourself motivated, simply remind yourself that you love yourself so much that you cannot afford to risk losing all the benefits that is associated with clean financial records. Keep an eye on maintaining a clean financial record ( i.e making it your goal) i bet you will always be motivated to have self-control.
Financial Literacy: If you really want to manage your credit and avoid bankruptcy, or even get out of a near bankrupt situation, financial education is one thing that you must seriously consider. I am not saying that you take up a course in finance or accounting. No, what i mean is to always use other peoples' expertise (OPE). You can find quality financial planner online or offline. Discuss whatever venture/purchase you want to make with him/her. Ask for their opinion. In fact, ask them to tell you the financial implications of what you are about doing. Though there is nothing wrong with you being a little friendly with "figures" but you can still get away with it.
Developing a thick skin to compelling adverts: Advertisers and marketers are always researching ways to make people spend even when they don't want to spend. This is their job and they are obliged to it. And it is your sole duty to learn to say no to certain fantastic offers.
Record keeping: This will help you in the area of being disciplined. By keeping records of all your financial transactions, you can effectively and efficiently manage the possible temptation posed by advertisers
Applying common sense and being focused: Make a rational judgment as to what and what you need to buy and what not to buy.
Okwuduche Chinweike is an accountant who found joy in helping people come out of the shackles of financial illiteracy. This he does at http://motivationmotive.com/personalfinance
You can also meet him at http://www.accountantnextdoor.com for some healthy financial tips.

New Home Buyers Beware

2009-09-04T17:51:00.001-07:00

Ican't believe how many homebuyers purchase a house, with very little information and a Lotta hope. I'm a general contractor and often work on these homes, after they have been purchased and a homeowner has their money, the real estate professional is no longer involved in the transaction and the new homeowner is starting to experience the pitfalls from buying the home, that they sincerely believe was in good condition.
It's usually somebody like me that gets involved with the new homeowners after everyone else is out of the picture and chooses not to return their phone calls or explains to them quite simply, it's not our responsibility, you're the new homeowner and we really feel sorry for you, please call us again if we can help you with anything.
You couldn't even help me with that, why would I want to call you again if I had a problem. I never could understand this thinking but have ran into it often. It sounds like an oxymoron when someone refuses to help you but offers you help in the future. What ever!!!.
If homebuyers had something else to rely on besides their real estate salesperson, home inspection service, mortgage or insurance professional, I believe they can eliminate some of these problems. Where do you start and how do you get the information. You can gather information from reputable people, books, the Internet and so on.
The problem is how do you know these people are reputable and the books on the Internet have good information. This brings us to another problem, but I've got the solution that will help eliminate some of the grief. I'm not going to remove all of the grief from your life but have a suggestion for you that will eliminate some of the pain when buying a home.
Arm yourself with a good home inspection checklist. You can search the Internet and they have quite a few good home inspection checklist to work with. These checklist can provide you with things you might not have thought of, and this is where you can eliminate some of the problems.
If you took one of these checklists with you while you were shopping for a home, you would be aware of some of the problems with the home. You might not find all of the problems but these checklist will help you with some of the problems.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.
Personal Development

Separating From God

2009-09-04T11:55:00.001-07:00

If you quit going to church or your place of worship, would you feel like you are separating your self from the congregation, the people that go to church with you, or do you feel like you would actually be separating from God somehow. I believe some people think that God is actually in the church and if they were to quit going to church, they would actually lose a direct link to God. Most people believe what they are told and follow their leaders.
If you're a Christian, can you answer me this, What Church Did Jesus Belonged to? Was he a Catholic, Protestant, evangelical or some other form of Christianity, maybe, just maybe he believed in a different religion altogether. I often wonder if Jesus was a Buddhist or he learned something magical from the Egyptians. It's said that Jesus traveled to other countries, do you think it's possible that he learned some sort of ancient wisdom from a man or woman, instead of being born God.
Is this how he was able to perform the miracles written about after his death?
Jesus supposedly studied the Torah and was considered to be Jewish, but was he really. While Jesus was studying the Torah, did he gain knowledge and wisdom, or was he actually born knowing everything. How can we actually prove that Jesus knew everything?
Does it say anywhere in the New Testament about going to church on Sunday, when Sabbath is actually Friday evening or Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset. Have you ever thought about why they switched days. The God from the Old Testament seem to get pretty mad if anyone did anything on the Sabbath, which was Saturday. One person decided that it would be better to go to church on Sunday and now we call it the Lord's Day. What really happened to the Sabbath?
It often gets a little more confusing, the more conscious effort you put into educating yourself about your religion and others throughout the world.
People often assume that I have separated from God somehow and could be going to hell, because I write some of these articles. I'm hoping that you will do a little more research about your religion and find your true North, your true direction in life, what it is you are actually here to do. Don't follow the faithful blindly, follow the intelligence willfully.
Life of Jesus
You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

New Home Buyers Beware

2009-09-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

Ican't believe how many homebuyers purchase a house, with very little information and a Lotta hope. I'm a general contractor and often work on these homes, after they have been purchased and a homeowner has their money, the real estate professional is no longer involved in the transaction and the new homeowner is starting to experience the pitfalls from buying the home, that they sincerely believe was in good condition.
It's usually somebody like me that gets involved with the new homeowners after everyone else is out of the picture and chooses not to return their phone calls or explains to them quite simply, it's not our responsibility, you're the new homeowner and we really feel sorry for you, please call us again if we can help you with anything.
You couldn't even help me with that, why would I want to call you again if I had a problem. I never could understand this thinking but have ran into it often. It sounds like an oxymoron when someone refuses to help you but offers you help in the future. What ever!!!.
If homebuyers had something else to rely on besides their real estate salesperson, home inspection service, mortgage or insurance professional, I believe they can eliminate some of these problems. Where do you start and how do you get the information. You can gather information from reputable people, books, the Internet and so on.
The problem is how do you know these people are reputable and the books on the Internet have good information. This brings us to another problem, but I've got the solution that will help eliminate some of the grief. I'm not going to remove all of the grief from your life but have a suggestion for you that will eliminate some of the pain when buying a home.
Arm yourself with a good home inspection checklist. You can search the Internet and they have quite a few good home inspection checklist to work with. These checklist can provide you with things you might not have thought of, and this is where you can eliminate some of the problems.
If you took one of these checklists with you while you were shopping for a home, you would be aware of some of the problems with the home. You might not find all of the problems but these checklist will help you with some of the problems.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.
Another Crappy Rule In The Bible

Anxiety Self Help - Methods That Can Work!

2009-09-04T04:12:00.001-07:00

If you have had anxiety for any length of time you will have gone through all the doctors appointments and all the counselors and therapists and most likely taken all the medication that your body and mind can stand only to find your self at the same horrible place you started at!
Having anxiety and anxiety attacks is an emotionally traumatic experience that only those who have had it understand, all the drugs and medications in the world will not cure your anxiety problems either, because they do not treat the reason behind the anxiety, they just block the symptoms temporarily.
There are numerous natural methods that can help you get control of your anxiety from meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, as well as plenty of herbal remedies!
The problem lies in knowing which one is suitable for you, and that can take quite a bit of trial and error on your part! Anxiety can be with you in some form for the rest of your life, what really matters is how you deal with it so that it does not interfere with your daily life and activities. Once you have your anxiety under control although it will probably still be lurking there you can get on with your life and enjoy the things you like doing without fear or apprehension!
I have personally had anxiety problems for all my life, and although I feel fine now, I know that they are still there, but thankfully I am now easily able to control them so that I can get on with things and go places I never would have been able to go when I had anxiety problems!
If you are having severe anxiety attacks or you worry or panic unnecessarily, and you want to put an end to it for good then Click Here to find out how you can cure your anxiety attacks once and for all, so that you can live the life you deserve free from anxiety! http://www.anxiety-online.info

Slow Market Home Pricing Advice

2009-09-04T02:42:00.001-07:00

Homes are going to be sold in good markets and bad. When times are good, people often forget that bad times will be coming eventually. During good times, people often get caught up in the hype of the real estate boom. During tough times, houses will be sold eventually, or taken off the market and sold later. If you need to sell the home as soon as possible, for financial or other reasons, you will have to adjust your price with the current market and don't get greedy.
This is the hardest thing for most people to do, lower the price of their home in order to sell it in a slow real estate market. Don't get caught up in the value of your home, six months or even a year ago. Last year's prices are not going to be this year's prices and you need to get that through your thick skull. If the average homes in your neighborhood are selling for $250,000 and you have a swimming pool or done some upgrades, maybe a room addition. Your home is going to be worth more than the average selling price.
Most real estate professionals will price your home according to the length of time you have to sell it. If you're in a hurry to sell, they don't have time to test the market. The price of your home would need to be competitive or lower than homes selling in the area. Whether homes are selling fast in a good market for selling slow in a bad market, if you have time, you can ask a little bit more for your home. If the market hasn't reached the bottom, waiting could actually hurt you, because the prices of the homes in the area would still be dropping.
Listen to your real estate professionals advice when pricing your home. That's what you're hiring them for, they are in the real estate business. Your neighbors, relatives, friends and people you work with, will probably be guessing if you asked for their opinion on pricing your house.
Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Finding that person is the key to selling your home, finding that person as soon as possible could give you the illusion that you sold your home to cheap. Don't worry about it, your final objective is to sell the house.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If you really think your home is safe, check out these pictures about home water damage.
Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Thoughts To Ponder

2009-09-03T20:33:00.001-07:00

These little known quotes from a variety of well-known philosophers, authors and professionals bring a perspective worth contemplating.
"Russia on its path has oftentimes discussed and over discussed what had happened earlier, instead of moving forward. The result is always the same: It is very difficult to move forward when you're looking backward. - Mikhail Khodorkovsky
"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." - Vince Lombardi
"It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith and discipline when you're not yet a winner." - Vince Lombardi
"Part of the issue of goals is to be able to set realistic goals, but that's one of the hardest things to do because you don't always know exactly where you're going, and you shouldn't." - George Lucas
"Basically, our goal is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful." - Larry Page
"I've been blessed to find people who are smarter than I am, and they help me to execute the vision I have." - Russell Simmons
"You will encounter many distractions and many temptations to put your goal aside: The security of a job, a wife who wants kids, whatever. But if you hang in there, always following your vision, I have no doubt you will succeed. - Larry Flynt
"Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present." - Rudy Giuliani
"One of my goals is to inspire people to be all that they can be and, hopefully, be a good example and teach some useful, interesting principles. Perhaps I can be the key that turns on the engine in their life, and then they can take their car where they want." - Mark Victor Hansen
"Perhaps my most important goal is to create a million millionaires." - Mark Victor Hansen
"How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I'm committed to?" - Anthony Robbins
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Cost Effective Stair Building

2009-09-03T19:11:00.001-07:00

What is the most cost effective way of building stairs? Why do the tract homes use on site methods of construction? When you think of a factory assembling a product on a assembly line you think why not a home. Why do they still build homes on lots or residential home sites?
If homes could be built in a factory cheaper than on site that is exactly what every home builder would be doing. They just haven't quite figured it out yet. When dealing with the large amounts of materials required to build a house and of course the expense of shipping. It is not cost effective to build a conventional home in a factory and ship it over long distances.
This is the biggest problem with cost effective stair construction. Most prefabricated stairs you will notice are spiral stairs. These stairs are smaller than most stairs that are used for multi level construction.
Spiral stairs are hard for your average carpenter to build. These stairs can be purchased from a factory easily and quite inexpensive.
The stairs in your average two story house are going to weigh about 3 times the amount of a spiral set of stairs that could be shipped in a cost effective way. Spiral stairs are not going to be the main stairway in a home and normally go up to a loft or an attic. Most spiral stairs don't meet the minimum building requirements for the main stairway in your home.
When building tract homes the lumber is shipped in bulk directly to the house site where it will be assembled. The lumber and other building materials will be shipped once. If it went to a factory and then assembled it would also have to be sent to the site on which the house was to be built. This added expense in shipping the materials twice is the problem for such a large and heavy item such as a set of stairs.
There are other prefabricated types of stairs that are built locally and the shipping usually is not a major expense. If you are building a stairway that is not to difficult to build for the average carpenter it will normally be cost effective to build the stairs on site. This would require having the carpenter build the stairs as part of the rough framing and then after drywall have the finish carpenter build the stair handrail system.
Visit us now for easy Home Constuction Help
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Spiritual Dictionary

Solutions to Anger

2009-09-03T12:48:00.001-07:00

Some of us have difficulty recognizing our anger; some of us find it so troublesome to acknowledge our anger that we deny it and turn it inwards on ourselves. Hmmm. Sounds painful. It is! Anger turned inward is called depression. (I can hear some of you, maybe even health professionals, typing away at a rebuttal.) That's okay, do whatever you need to do to deal with your anger issues. It is much healthier to take some action, provided it does not harm anyone including yourself, than to turn your anger in. Writing is a very constructive outlet for anger. And don't tell me I am opposed to antidepressant medication. I am not, if it is used as part of the solution. If we take a pill, legal or not, and collude with the prescriber, (or collude with the patient if we are the prescriber), saying the pill is the solution, we do a great disservice. Medication can be an enormous help in bringing one up to a level of functioning to effectively deal with the anger, fear and depression. Still, one does have to deal with the anger, fear and depression. Sorry, there is no magic pill and my magic wands have been on backorder for years now.
And, if you believe you have a "chemical imbalance" causing your depression, start balancing it with resolving your old anger. There is no harm in trying...it just might work. It's a chicken and egg deal...think about it.
So how does that anger stuff work? In an earlier article, we talked about children, (you?) who are brought up without being taught a constructive way to deal with normal anger. Watch a toddler get frustrated (angry) with trying something new, which they do about every two and a half minutes. If they are helped through both the something new and the frustration by another person, their anger (frustration) gets resolved. What's going on here? The toddler is angry because he cannot do or get something; he is fearful he will not be able to do or get something he wants. Take away his toy. What happens? He is angry because he has lost something. If he is helped to do or get what it is he wants, his anger goes away; if he cannot have whatever it is, but is coached through his feelings, receives empathy and hugs, and has his needs met, he moves on, not needing to hang onto the anger...someone has understood and helped him feel better in spite of not getting what he wants.
As adults, we have the same emotions: we get angry because we are afraid of losing something we have, or not being able to get or do something we want. For those with a history of being abused, this is very serious; you may have lost all trust in other people, all sense of self, have no self-esteem and be angry with God, if you believe there is a God. You, too, can heal. It just takes a lot of hard work.
If we agree that anger is an expression of fear, then part of the solution is to allow oneself to identify and feel it. Becoming vulnerable enough to experience the fear then allows us to look for a solution. Here's where it gets sticky. What is the fear about? Example: if it is real time and there is real danger, protect yourself. If you are angry and afraid of being thrown out of your apartment because you owe back rent, get a job. Get two jobs, sober up, stop spending money on entertainment and pay the rent. Then you don't have to be fearful and angry at losing your place.
People who are willing to look carefully at underlying fear usually find that they need to trust. Trust the process, trust the universe, maybe even trust that there is a God who is in charge and can help. Example: big business deal depending on decision by other party...you cannot control other party, are fearful of losing deal so are generally pissy with everyone, family and friends as well as your office manager. Not cool. If you have done everything you can, acknowledge your fear, then trust. Try praying, not for everything to go your way, but for acceptance; it can't hurt.
If your anger (fear) is based in old stuff, perhaps childhood neglect or abuse, abandonment or frequent frustration, the solution to your current feelings will require some sorting out. Most of this stuff is too much for anyone to do alone...your brain is not always your friend. Therapy can help, as can support groups, but you have to really use them; writing or journaling about old stuff is therapeutic. Physical activity to discharge some of the anxiety and irritability is the best medicine I know and changes brain chemistry to actually produce internal antidepressants called endorphins.
For those of you in a recovery program, you have access to tools, called steps, to deal with old stuff. Write your fourth step! For those who are not in recovery, similar "steps" provide the solution; they include reading, writing, talking with others, especially those who have been there, listening, and praying.
Get to work. It is not useful to carry around old fear and anger to make you depressed and no fun for your family and friends!
Dr. Dawn Obrecht is the only MD addiction medicine specialist on the western slope of Colorado. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and her office is in Steamboat Springs. She does consultations and referrals anywhere in the country and can be reached at 970-846-8479 or through http://www.docdawn.com

The Bible's Power Over One Child

2009-09-03T11:35:00.001-07:00

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.
Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.
We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.
Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.
One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.
I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.
That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.
I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.
I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.
It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.
Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Simple Words Create Powerful Beliefs.
Personal Development

Self-Help Anxiety Curing Methods to Help You Fall Asleep

2009-09-03T05:22:00.001-07:00

Self-help anxiety curing methods can be extremely valuable if they are successfully implemented and help you with troubles falling asleep. Most people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks have an especially difficult time getting a good night's rest. A lack of sleep will only heighten the chances for anxiety to take over your day.
For many that suffer from anxiety, bedtime is just another dreaded part of life. The thought of lying in bed in silence and letting thoughts run wild can be outright terrifying. I used to feel like this, and I wouldn't be able to fall asleep without the background noise of the television present. It's easy to let your thoughts take over and begin worrying about all the negative things that can happen tomorrow, or replaying any stressful events of the previous day.
The obvious truth is that these thoughts do you no good, and when you don't get the amount of sleep your body needs to function you're inviting anxiety into your life.
Self-Help Anxiety Tip # 1 - Think Positive
Bringing positive thoughts into your life will benefit you in multiple ways. It's really easy to fall into a habit of dwelling on negative thoughts all day long. We all know someone who takes this to an extreme and it's safe to say that this kind of person is never the life of the party. This type of person can bring everyone around them down, and if they exhibit worry or fear, those same feelings are likely to be become contagious as well.
Contrarily, positive speech and positive thinking can also catch on. Positive thinking can replace the habit of negative thinking. When you lie down at night to go to sleep, the first thoughts don't have to be about how horribly wrong your day may go tomorrow. Instead, you may just get into a habit of feeling great about what potential tomorrow holds and looking forward to the future.
Self-Help Anxiety Tip #2 - Exercise Regularly
If you haven't heard by now, exercise is healthy. I apologize for the sarcasm, but it seems many people don't quite understand just how much exercise can benefit your all around well-being. Sure you'll lose weight and feel good about yourself (as if that wasn't enough reason to exercise), but a regular exercise routine will dramatically reduce the amount of stress and anxiety in your life.
Try jogging a mile or lifting weights for 20 minutes the next time you feel anxiety taking over. After 20 minutes stress melts away and it's often replaced with a sense of elation. Exercise is a potent all-natural stress killer. If you do workout, or have in the past, I have no doubt this rings true for you. If you don't exert yourself often, give exercise a chance. One session won't change the way you look in the mirror, but you will immediately feel the effects of its anxiety diminishing power.
Secondly, on the days that you exercise, you won't be able to ignore the fact that sleep comes with less effort and is often uninterrupted. When you introduce a daily workout regimen into your life, a good night's sleep is a natural byproduct. When you combine the two, anxiety is less likely to be a part of your day, or sleepless night. Practicing both of these self-help anxiety curing methods will benefit many aspects of your life.
If you suffer from anxiety you're not alone. There's help available in various forms. If you'd like to learn some more effective self-help anxiety curing methods, visit Mike's site at:
http://self-helpanxiety.blogspot.com/

Surviving As A Contractor In California

2009-09-03T04:15:00.001-07:00

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.
Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.
Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.
I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.
These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.
Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.
Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.
Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.
Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.
Effects Of False Prophets

Religious Thought

2009-09-02T21:59:00.001-07:00

As a young boy and even into my early adult hood, I asked almost every one that I knew, what they thought heaven was going to be like. These people painted me the most wonderful and beautiful pictures, with the words coming out of their mouths. One woman told me that heaven was going to be the most wonderful place you could ever imagine. She told me that, I would be able to do anything that I wanted to do at any time of the day or night.
All I can say to this, is why are we afraid to die and why do we put that much effort into staying here, when heaven sounds like the place we all want to be. This becomes very confusing during troubled times. We live our whole life to be the best we can possibly be, and then and only then do we get to enter the kingdom of heaven, the most wonderful place in the universe.
Another man told me that, if I wanted to go to heaven, the more good deeds I did on earth, the better buy chances were of actually entering heaven. He said that some people don't get to go, because they did a couple of bad things or maybe one really, really bad thing, like murder. I often wondered what would be worse, murder or painting demonic symbols on the walls of a church, mosque or synagogue. I hope I'm not confusing you anymore than organized religions.
Well now that I have a pretty good idea, that in order to enter into heaven, I need to do good things... that's what I will do for the rest of my life. Sounds simple doesn't it. Now for the bad news, depending on which religion you choose to follow and don't forget that Christianity is one religion that allows you, something special, right before you die, no matter how bad of a person you were to accept Jesus Christ into your heart and accept him as the Almighty God, and this gets you one free pass into heaven.
Am I confusing you at all, does this make sense? When the man told me, that, the only way I would get to go to heaven was by doing good deeds and then the Bible tells me that, I just need to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I get to go to the promised land, heaven. All right now were talking, this sounds pretty good now. I won't have to do very many good things and before I die can ask forgiveness for all the bad things I did.
I don't know what's true, but I can say that it gets a little confusing and as you go from religion to religion and place of worship to other places of worship, you will hear different stories, from different religious leaders. I can't make much sense out of some religions, but if you want to believe in heaven, there is someone out there who can paint you, the most wonderful picture of heaven in your mind. Whether we really get to go there or not, depends on what you want to believe in.
I wrote this article to get people thinking about the choices they've made and the religions they choose to follow. Is your religion right and others are wrong? Ask yourself this one question, think back, to when you made a conscious choice to follow the religion you're in right now, if any, most of the time you started believing as a child and never really got to choose because your parents, teachers, friends, family or guardians made a choice for you.
You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, spiritual books
If you want to read something funny and get your daily laugh in, you need to read this, it's funny Using Religion Responsibility. It's based on overindulgence.

Luck is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity

2009-09-02T20:57:00.001-07:00

You must be ready when an opportunity comes before you, opportunity often comes in the form of work and that's why most people seem to miss it. Most people are too busy looking for the easy path through life. They seem to lay around waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime,... to simply fall at your feet.
Why would you want to spend so much time complaining about something, or someone? Other people can help you along the way, if you let them, but it's up to you, ultimately, to become the most you can possibly be. I have had plenty of opportunities in my life and have took advantage of some, while letting most of them pass by.
I'm no different than most people but now seem to be aware of my surrounding opportunities, all the time.
How many times do you wish for an opportunity to come along? It's probably one that you missed already, at some point during your life. Are you going to be prepared for the next opportunity when it comes along? These opportunities seem to repeat themselves throughout our lives and if we're not in the right state of mind, we often overlook them and let them pass by, time and time again.
You need to prepare yourself in advance for the next opportunity. If you are prepared and have your eyes open, you will be able to see the next opportunity that comes your way. Preparation will increase your chances for success and good fortune always.
Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Be on the lookout, when you're walking to the grocery store, taking a break at work, reading the newspaper, talking to your neighbor, walking down the street or even while you are sitting alone, letting your mind wander away. Your chances for success could come while your in your quiet places, or relaxing. Be prepared.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Personal Development

Weight Loss Instrument of Torture and Demotivation

2009-09-02T14:39:00.001-07:00

When we are trying to lose weight there are many things that can so easily demotivated us. Our motivation can be tripped up by a throw away remark, a negative thought of a craving for the things we tell ourselves we shouldn't have.
There is one thing though that is guaranteed to demotivated most people, far more than it ever motivates - the weighting scales. How many times do you hop on the scales in a week, or even a day for that matter?
Weight is the measurement on which your motivation depends if you possess that terrible instrument of torture - the weighing scales! Used daily it does more damage to the psyche than any other instrument. If it does not deliver the expected weight loss you want, the effects are devastating...
~ Emotional turmoil;
~ A feeling of failure;
~ A reinforcement of the belief you are 'Not Good Enough';
~ Increased unhappiness and stress;
~ A reversal of healthy eating for comfort eating;
How crazy is that? We even allow ourselves the experience of public weighing sessions in an attempt to motivate ourselves to lose weight. This weekly ritual at the local slimming club only lasts, as a motivator, for the period our weight loss meets our projected expectations. We can so often feel demotivated even when we have lost weight. When that 1 lb loss is less than the expected 2 or more pounds even the weight loss consultant can tell us we need to try harder!
Isn't it time to start...
Measuring life by happiness and not weight;
Measuring size by inches not pounds;
Measuring health by energy and fitness not BMI;
Eating for love of self and not for comfort?
What would it be like to rule our lives by the use of a scale of happiness? We would certainly feed on life experiences that brought us joy. We would look for more things each day to fill us up with joy. We would search out the people in our lives that brought us joy. We would appreciate our lives far more and live them to the full.
Gone would be the focus on weight and food. The remarkable thing is that you can still lose weight by this change of focus. How? Well, the fact is that when you are happier your motivation stays high and there is no need to comfort eat.
So, really can find the weight you were born to be without the instrument of torture - the weighing scales!
Chrissie Webber is a published author and weight management motivation coach. Through her online company http://www.lifeshapers.co.uk/ she offers support, motivation and re-parenting to the 95% - 97% of dieters who are still struggling to find the weight they were born to be. Her web site and blog http://www.chrissiewebber.co.uk/ offer motivation 'Keys' that help children, parents and adults discover a life without guilt, shame and self-loathing. To learn/relearn the skills of 'Conscious Eating' and how to live in harmony with food and nature become an online member today: http://www.lifeshapers.co.uk/

Finding Something You Don't Like About Yourself - Creating Habits

2009-09-02T13:34:00.001-07:00

Finding something you don't like about yourself is usually very easy for most people. Most of the time you don't even have to ask your family or friends because you have heard them complain about the same thing for years. How many times have you heard someone mention, I need to lose weight?
Here's a list of things people don't like about themselves. If you're one of those people that has a hard time finding something wrong with yourself, you could always ask one of your friends for some suggestions. I'm sure they would like that.
1. The need to lose weight. This of course is one of the worst problems with Americans. Most people need to lose weight and let's not forget there are some people that need to gain weight.
2. The need to stop gambling. As more Indian reservations are allowed to build gambling casinos and of course as the Internet gambling gets larger, I've noticed some people with gambling problems.
3. The need to stop drinking alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been going on for many years. These people have an excuse for why they drink and most of the time it doesn't make sense.
4. The need to stop smoking. This could be one of the most difficult things I've ever seen my friends and family deal with.
5. The need to stop excessive behaviors. For example, gossiping, cruelty, bullying, lying, cheating, stealing, partying etc. You get the idea.
6. Don't forget the dreaded shopaholic. Most shopaholic's seem to have large credit card debt and can't seem to stop this vicious circle of buying and owing money to their creditors.
7. Working long hours or the workaholic. Sometimes this is a necessity but I would suggest that you change your lifestyle if possible. Reevaluate your reasons for working so hard.
8. Religious fundamentalists. People that spend too much time at their place of worship and soon find themselves feeling guilty if they're not doing something spiritual.
9. The need to be on time. This would include people that have problems giving themselves enough time to get ready for work or school.
10. The need to stop doing drugs. I thought by now, approaching my 50s, that drugs would no longer be a problem in the United States, but it is. It's one of the most damaging things people can do to their lives.
There are plenty of things that people would like to stop doing or start doing. If you're a smoker and you seem to shop excessively near the casinos, I would advise you to start with something small and work your way up to the big stuff.
What are you going to change today about your life? Make a list of things that you're not happy with about your life and start making the changes today that you need to create the life you deserve and desire.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a personal development video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Was Jesus A Good Example

How To Be More Media Savvy and Less Media Ignorant. Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

2009-09-02T07:06:00.001-07:00

Too many people in business today are not media savvy and continue to make one mistake after the other in their dealings with the media. It is important for business people to become more media savvy and less media ignorant. There needs to be a commitment made to learn more about working with the media in a positive way.
Based upon more than 35 years of experience in working with the media, your strategic thinking business coach created a list of ten (10) tips on what to avoid doing when you work with the media in order to foster more positive media relations. Here is the list of actions to avoid:
1. DONT send your media release to every possible media you can think of.
2. DONT try to use publicity as a substitute for advertising.
3. DONT demand editorial space in return for placing advertisements.
4. DONT even think of asking a journalist to review his or her story before it is published so you can approve it.
5. DONT ask or expect journalists to let you know when an article or story will run.
6. DONT make it difficult for journalists to get information about you and/or your company.
7. DONT have a policy to only speak to or seek out the media when there is good news.
8. DONT expect to build relationships with the media over lunch.
9. DONT annoy the media by calling and asking them if they received your release and are they going to run it?
10. DONT ask journalists to send you a copy of their story or article after it is printed.
Your strategic thinking business coach encourages you to use strategic thinking to plan for your media relations also. If you would like to learn more about how to and how not to work with the media, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website at http://www.businesscoach4u.com or by email at jgecoach@aol.com
Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, Glenns Guiding Lines Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach and has published more than 250 articles on business.

Dangers Using Wood Stair Cleats - New Stair Construction

2009-09-02T06:09:00.001-07:00

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.
Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.
If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.
If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.
I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.
If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.
If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Religion Articles

Four Reasons Why We Procrastinate

2009-09-01T23:21:00.001-07:00

The biggest obstacle to success and fulfillment for most people seems to be procrastination. Likewise, a major component of effective time management is avoiding procrastination.
Avoiding procrastination is also crucial if we hope to realize our dreams. This must be a conscious effort, because procrastination is so easy to engage in, yet so difficult to overcome. We must keep our goals in mind and maintain our desire to reach those goals, so that the temptation to put off our responsibilities until later does not eclipse our desire to succeed.
There are many reasons why we procrastinate - and we all do it. Procrastination, though, means sure death to reaching your goals.
1. Fear of Failure.
Many people put off doing things because they are afraid of failing. If they only speak of their hopes and dreams, but make no firm effort towards achieving their goal, they cannot fail. If, however, people take action towards reaching their goals yet fail to realize them, they fear they will be seen by others as failures.
Even if a goal is not reached, the act of trying is reward in itself. Great learning is derived from experience, which can only be attained through action. Also, most people recognize a valiant effort and applaud it regardless of the outcome. The act of trying is an act of bravery. The act of avoidance is paramount to cowardice. Do not fall into the trap of using fear as a reason to procrastinate.
2. Feeling Overwhelmed.
Many times we look at a goal and feel that there is too much that needs to be done in order to accomplish it. The sense of being overwhelmed paralyzes us, preventing us from taking even the first step towards achieving our goal.
For every goal you have in life, break it down into individual parts. Determine what actions each individual part needs in order to be successful. If looking at the big picture makes you feel overwhelmed, look at the tiny steps along the way instead. Tackle them one by one, without worrying about the next one. Forge ahead with each individual victory, and before you know it you will have found success.
3. Human Nature.
We naturally tend to avoid that which causes us hardship or pain, and gravitate towards that which is easy or gives us pleasure. In order to avoid procrastination due to the unappealing or difficult nature of a task, commit to complete the most unpleasant jobs first. Dive in with a can-do attitude, and realize that the sooner you start and the harder you work, the sooner it will be over. Tackling the most difficult responsibilities first paves the way for smoother sailing down the road.
4. Perspective.
If we view a task as being difficult, then that is exactly what it will be for us. Rather than dreading a given assignment, view it as an opportunity to excel. If you are being asked to complete a research assignment, view it as the chance to gain new knowledge and expand your mental boundaries. By diving into a project with enthusiasm, deriving it wherever it can be found, you can turn a chore into pleasure. Try changing your perspective and see if it helps fan the flames of enthusiasm.
There has been much talk throughout history about the destructive nature of procrastination. One of the best ways to view it is that we do not know what fate tomorrow will bring us, so we are best off experiencing everything we can today.
Another irony of procrastination is that so many of us complain about not having enough time, yet spend so much time sitting idly, dreading the work that awaits us. If we just dug our hands in and got started, there likely would be more time found in the day, and we would accomplish a great deal more.
If you find you are having difficulty achieving your goals, take a look at the steps you must take to achieve success and ask yourself if you have fallen into the dark pit of procrastination. Examine what your own reasons for procrastinating are, then vow to yourself that you will not let it kill off your hopes and dreams.
Lifestyle Mentor, Personal Coach, Author, Educator, and Entrepreneur, David B. Bohl is the creator of Slow Down FAST. To learn more about this step-by-step strategy for Living YOUR Life YOUR way, and to sign up for his 9 FREE Tips for Finding Happiness in a Fast-Paced World, free teleseminars, free Special Report, free bi-monthly ezine and more, go to: http://www.SlowDownFAST.com

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Repair

2009-09-01T22:45:00.001-07:00

Right above my bathtub in my master bathroom the paint is peeling off the wall. The area is peeling above the tile in my bathtub and shower combination. I tried to glue the peeling paint back and only made the situation worst.
First things first. The paint is peeling because there is to much moisture in the bathroom while you are using it. Do you have any windows you can open or a ventilating bathroom fan. If you have a window crack it open part way while you are showering.
The water droplets will accumulate on the walls and drip into any cracks. Right above the tile grout is a great place for moisture to accumulate. Oh yeah moisture loves grout and drywall. If you have any unpainted areas or an area that has cracked. Guess what you have now.
Your paint is peeling because the bathroom gets hot and cold. Moist and dry. If you have the door and windows shut. You just created a moisture trap. Most people prefer their privacy and will closes the door when using the shower. Well then open the window and let some cold air in while you are taking a nice warn shower. I don't think so. Most showering fools don't like that idea either.
Ok one more idea keep the windows shut so you don't let the cold air in. Then lock the door so no on barges in on you. If you have a ventilation fan turn it on. This will at least pull fresh air in from under the door and send the moist air out of the house.
But the fan is so noisy and I can't enjoy my nice warm vapor producing shower that will eventually cause me to get sick from mold particles floating around in the air while I am using my bathroom.
Does this about sum it up for you and don't we all do this from time to time. We want to enjoy our shower time, so we close up everything and when we are in our bath sauna environment relaxing our house is getting some damaging moisture that could cause mold and mildew.
Open a window or door a little when you shower. Get some air circulating through the bathroom and prevent damage to your nice house.
Put up with a little inconvenience for you homes sake and your pocket book.
Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.
His website provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Home Remodeling Carlsbad Home Remodeling
Visit us now for Bathroom Ideas
Meditating On Religious Scriptur

How to Permanently Release the Pain of Disappointment and Rejection From Your Past

2009-09-01T15:52:00.001-07:00

Old hurts associated with memories of past disappointments have many negative consequences on a person's life. In short they severely constrict the potential of that individual ever achieving a state of joy and fulfillment.
When one experiences a disappointing or hurtful event, be it in one's relational, work or financial life, the memory of that event gets stored in that person's mind/body, i.e. their unconscious mind, along with the associated feelings of emotional pain. These memories, if you reflect on any of them, serve to continually deplete your Life Force Energy. What is the consequence of that to you?
Well for one it is killing you! After all when one's Life Force Energy is completely drained from their Physical Body are they not therefore technically dead?
While you are still alive however, and you have such memories inside you, they "are" killing you and this is associated with many of the following experiences:
Feeling unmotivated to be in life, weak, vulnerable, sad, anxious, depressed, ill, lacking self confidence, lacking self esteem, lacking self worth, unable to trust one's self or others, like hiding or running away from life and so on. All of this equates to you being in a depleted Life Force Energy state.
You see all of one's strength, confidence, self esteem, self worth, resilience, health, courage, happiness, joy, and love for life and so on are inherent qualities of your Life Force Energy. Hence if you are being depleted of it by negative disappointing memories that you carry inside you then you are in a compromised or handicapped state. How does it feel like to "live" (that's a joke) in such a state?
Nick Arrizza MD, a former Psychiatrist and Medical Doctor is an International Life, Executive, Organizational Tele-Coach, Author, Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Facilitator who lives in Toronto, Canada. He is also on Faculty at Akamai University in Hawaii. He is the CEO and Founder of Arrizza Performance Coaching Inc. and the developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process (MRP).
A 1 hour free introductory MRP telephone consultation is available upon request by visiting my web site or emailing me at the address below. (You will be asked to cover your own long distance telephone charges)
Email: drnick@telecoaching4u.com

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

2009-09-01T15:18:00.001-07:00

During my 30 years of remodeling and building new homes. I have ran across quite a bit of structural framing failures. I find myself answering this question a lot when explaining to a homeowner about the structural failure I am repairing on their home, "Why Didn't They Use Better Lumber" or " Why Didn't They Use Larger Lumber." I really have a hard time answering these questions because I honestly don't know the answer.
However I can try to use some logic and reason to give these people an answer that seems to make sense to both of us. Why didn't they use better lumber, quite simply because, with most older homes that were built before the 1970s they actually do have better lumber. Now you're probably thinking how can these homes have better lumber when the lumber is old versus the new lumber used in a brand new house.
Most of the structural repairs I have made over the years has nothing to do with the lumber and whether it was new or old. A large number of these repairs were caused by neglect and poor maintenance.
The lumber in most older houses are from older growth trees. Some of these trees were extremely large and only the premium parts of the trees were used. The premium lumber is cut farthest away from the center of the tree. Now the larger the tree it makes sense that there will be more premium lumber.
A large majority of the newer lumber used in home construction comes from trees about 6 inches in diameter. Now you're probably wondering how can they cut a 2 x 8 piece of lumber out of a 6 inch tree. Of course they cannot, the larger lumber comes from larger trees.
Most 2 x 4's that are less than 8 foot long can be cut from these trees. This scrap or waste that comes from cutting these two by fours will now go into engineered building materials like particleboard, oriented strand board and engineered beams. Another name for an engineered been would be a paralam.
I hope you're starting to get the picture now when it comes to using new or old lumber. There are companies that are going into old logging rivers and retrieving old growth lumber. These were logs that sank to the bottom of the river's and were never retrieved because it was too costly.
The old growth lumber is quite expensive. Who's to say what problems we will happen in the future from the newer products created with modern day technology. When it comes to building houses it is not an exact science and as contractors we have been repairing the damage from poor engineering for years.
When I use the word poor engineering I am not pointing fingers at engineers. We now have more knowledge about home construction then we had years ago.
New versus old lumber, who wins the battle. Only time will tell.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Structural Repairs.
If I Hate My Brother

When Spiritual Means Practical

2009-09-01T08:33:00.001-07:00

In the middle of the last century, Werner Heisenberg, in the process of trying to determine the speed and position of an electron spinning around an atomic nucleus, discovered instead that it was a theoretically impossible task. His path to discovery brought him to the realization that his very presence as an observer changed the observation. Few of us reading this are - or will ever be - nuclear physicists. Yet, all of us have to cope with the problem of perspective as we try to figure out what a balanced life looks like to us right here and now. Our observation - our very awareness - of our own balance (or lack of balance, as the case may be) changes the very conditions of our observations.
Imagine yourself on a moving carousel horse. You're going in numerous directions: serially up and down, and simultaneously around in a circle. Some of parts of the carousel travel with you while you merely watch others spin by. At any given instant, where are you? At least on a carousel you can anticipate where you're going to be in the next second. Your motion is hardly random. Even so, by the time you've figured out exactly where you are in space at any given point, you're no longer there. The same thing happens when we try to figure out what 'now' means: the instant we've figured it out, it has already become 'then'!
Let's dig just a little deeper, shall we? We've just taken a quick look at the difficulties we experience trying to navigate through space and time. Even though our senses are attuned to performing this function, disorientation often accompanies on our perceptions. Now, what happens when we try to improve our life balance? Like Heisenberg, trying to focus on the process of our conscious awareness causes us to become unaware of our surroundings. We can't simultaneously exercise awareness and awareness of our own awareness. When we focus on our own process of awareness, we become less aware of our surroundings.
This sounds all very nice and philosophical, but does it have any practical application? Yes, indeed it does! The only practical way to plot our future course around the carousel is to get off the merry-go-round! Only then can we take the stance of an observer of our own process of living life. Can you think of a time in your life when you've been able to spend some time alone with your thoughts (and maybe with a mentor or adviser) to consider your short-term and long-term future? When was the last time you took a retreat from action? More pointedly, have you ever taken a retreat from action into reflection? The world looks a lot different from the sidelines. Of course, while you're on retreat, your life or business could be taking off in unforeseen (and undesirable) directions.
What if you were able to maintain your active role on the carousel and at the same time have a mirror outside the moving system that shows you your exact position in real time? Where can you find such a mirror that allows you to both live your life and stay aware of your position in the stream of its evolution simultaneously? You don't have to look very far; in fact, you already possess the capacity to perform this minor miracle. We call this remarkable (and often-overlooked) ability 'spiritual intelligence.' This remarkable intelligence (which Dana Zohar calls "the ultimate intelligence") enables you to maintain a higher perspective on the direction your life and career will assume without abstracting you from the mix. You're able to see where you're going while you're deciding where to go.
By fully embracing your spiritual intelligence, you have the opportunity to go on a 'retreat' from the daily grind at will. You get the chance to recharge your intuition and your discernment, and finely tune their functions so that your inner guidance system works smoothly and almost effortlessly. By maintaining a conscious contact with a Higher Power (however you choose to define that), your powers of discernment will allow you to cut through whatever confusion, uncertainty and fear that may threaten to paralyze your decision-making capacity. The baffling dizziness that comes from having too many options with too many consequences will begin to melt away as your destiny emerges from the fog in the light of your spiritual focus.
When you begin to appreciate the critical function that spiritual intelligence plays in informing your decision-making capacity, you'll realize that what at first seemed to be at most a marginal concern (if not just an annoying distraction) is, in reality, the most practical of all your core competencies. How clearly you see your way forward determines, to a great extent, the success of your life and career. How much more practical can you get than that? Get oriented: get spiritual!
H. Les Brown, MA, CFCC
ProActivation Coaching
Website: http://www.ProActivation.com
E-Mail: info@ProActivation.com

Join our weekly EZine and get 7 Spiritual Strategies at no cost:
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Copyright 2008 H. Les Brown

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

2009-09-01T07:49:00.001-07:00

Question: I have a floor that every single time I step on it I get the most annoying sound. I don't know what it does to me or why it bothers me so much. My kitchen floor squeaks and actually moves up and down if you are standing on it. The whole floor moves. How do I stop it from moving and squeaking. Help Me Greg!
Answer: It sounds like you have a broken floor joist. You are going to have to go under your house. If you have a basement this will be a little easier to fix. It is my guess that you don't have a basement or you would have seen the broken floor joist by now.
Have someone stand on the floor in the spot that squeaks and have them move up and down while you are under the house. Don't have them jump up and down while you are under the house. This could cause more damage to the structural framing of the floor. Once you are in the right position under the floor you can have them start moving slowly. What you are looking for is one of the floor joist that are moving.
If you see one of them moving. Look to see where the damage is. Is it a split, crack, wood rot or a big knot in the wood that has loosened up and fell out. Once you find the damaged floor joist you can now think about repairing it.
If you don't see any floor joist moving. Have the person on top start moving a little bit more and you can even have them jump on it a few times until you see something out of place. If you still don't see any broken floor joist. Start looking at the sub-floor, this will be plywood of some form, 1 x 6 or 2 x 6 materials.
What you are looking for is movement of any kind. Is there a separation or movement between the sub-floor and the floor joist. If you still can't find the problem maybe it is time to call in a professional.
The main thing you are going to be looking for is movement of any kind.
Most squeaky floors are caused from the sub-floor rubbing up and down on a nail. If you have carpeting and you have a squeaky floor you can do your best to locate a floor joist and screw right through your carpeting into the floor joist.
For more help on fixing squeaky floors visit http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm
Thanks for the great question. I hope it helps.
Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.
His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.
Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips
Wrong With Bible Verse

Patronym - The Name of God the Father As Patronym

2009-09-01T01:16:00.001-07:00

The Patronym is the Name of God the Father. When you are sealed, it is written in your forehead. It shows you belong to God, that He has claimed you as His own child.
It is not enough that you consider God your Father. You need His consideration. You need Him to say that you are His child. You may want Him to be your Father but you must have His approval to realize your dream.
You may say, "You are like a Father to me." But does He say, "And you are a child to me," in response? This is what you are seeking. The favorable response of God. And being sealed is the way.
When you are marked with the Seal of God he claims you as His own. He owns you. He should be able to do with you as He will. That is the ideal at least. But it's not always that way.
And most people are not marked by God. It is not common. It is unusual. It is not the norm. It is an exception. But it can happen to you. Just like it happened to some of the people in Heaven.
One of the apostles John saw a multitude of people in Heaven. There were 144,000 of them. And each of them had the Name of God written in their forehead. They belong to God. And so can you.
God is seeking people to belong to Him. It hurt God that man disobeyed Him from the beginning. That was not what He created you for. He created you to work with Him. To help Him. And so He could help you.
Because when you belong to God you are not just His property. You are glorified. And He will give you what your heart desires. He will help you fulfill your dreams. Just as you help Him with what He is doing.
And often the two will be inseparable. You will want what God wants. He will want what you want. The goals of the two of you will be in such agreement that when one of you gets their way so will the other.
It can happen to you just like it happened to the people in Heaven. God can favor you as His own. You can belong to Him. The way it happens is to be sealed with the Patronym in your forehead, or Name of God.
Jason Witt is a sinner healed and sealed. He has been transformed by Jesus, who came and made His Home in Jason's heart and in his mind. Come and see what Jesus foretold that is starting to happen today. Jason Witt dot org

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

2009-09-01T00:24:00.001-07:00

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get calls from people, that have no idea what they want or how much anything is going to cost. Here's some simple tips that can be very helpful when planning a bathroom remodel budget.
Bathroom Remodeling Investment
In 2008, the average mid-range bathroom cost around $16,000 and you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment upon the sale of your home. According to a popular remodeling magazine, larger bathrooms using expensive fixtures, tile, bathtubs, woodworking, toilets and showers had an average of $52,000. Upon the sale of a home, you could recoup around $36,000 of your original investment.
Finding out How Much Things Cost
My first suggestion, would be to visit your local home improvement center, lumber yard or plumbing supply warehouse. Larger stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, seemed to provide you with value pricing but don't have a large selection. While doing some research on the Internet I noticed that some of their pricing is outrageously, outrageous. Some plumbing supply warehouses can provide value but beware others won't.
Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts
You can get a good idea of your bathroom remodel costs for your budget by making a list of bathroom parts with pricing and then adding them up for a grand total. If you're a total bathroom remodel budget is $15,000 and you have a $6,000 bathtub with $4000 worth of tile, you could have a budget problem.
Figuring out the Labor
You will have to contact a contractor to get an actual cost for the labor. Sometimes you can double the cost of your bathroom remodeling parts to get a rough idea. If you have a list or a couple of lists and a few pictures of some sample bathrooms, this will make the contractor's job easier and often they can give you a labor price within a few days.
Give Yourself a Cushion
I would suggest leaving yourself a small financial cushion for any additional remodeling items. For example, you could see a different toilet, or instead of painting the walls, you now choose to wallpaper, you could incur additional expenses that you haven't planned for. If you know exactly what you want and stick to the original bathroom remodeling plan, you shouldn't need the cushion.
Financial problems often transfer into construction problems, so spend some time figuring out, how much money you want to spend on the bathroom remodel and try not to go overboard on the budget. I hate to see homeowners struggling with home improvement loan payments. Try to create a bathroom remodeling budget that is realistic and will not create a financial burden upon you or your family.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.
Impact Of Christian Mentors

The Law of Attraction - Let it Give You the Good Life!

2009-08-31T17:49:00.001-07:00

The Universe is nothing but energy, the only differences are in the vibrations. The Law works on the principle of vibration and these vibrations create energy, then the generation of energy attracts energy that is in turn generated by an equal amount of vibration. The Law Of Attraction requires that we remain concentrated in whatever we want. So for example, if you want a brand new car, then concentrate your feelings, thoughts, emotions, vibrations and energy on a brand new car. If you concentrate on the same car you have now, then that's what you will get, more of your old run down car! You can ultimately create your world and the world around you.
Every person, every object and everything generates some kind of energy. The entire idea about being focused on positive things is to concentrate the energy so that it stays in your mind so to speak. The less power in your mind, the less energy, the less strength you have over things. When you bother to appreciate things in your life, even the small things, it appreciates and grows in value. When you are unappreciative, things start to lose their value. The point is, is to try to concentrate on the positive things in life. Even if things aren't positive, make them seem positive, turn them, twist them, tie them, it doesn't matter, just make it so your life is positive. Positive thinking, feeling, vibes, energy, etc. This will bring good things to you!
The Law Of Attraction is based upon creativity. The Law teaches you how to create the power of thought. The intellect possesses your constructive imaginations and attributes. It establishes your identity as a being. You are always in a state of vibration when the law of attraction works. This manifests your creative desires as if they are already present. This vibrational resonance is your mentality, which has all the constructive attributes.
Your emotions, play a huge role in creating what you want in life. As the law states; the energy present in your emotions will always pull you towards things that you always wanted. Both your thoughts and feelings are so incredibly powerful that they can actually make things fall apart despite all the effort of the other forces trying to keep them together. If you feel hatred toward someone, or if you feel sadness because you don't have this or you don't have that, all those negative feelings are going to result in is a lot of turmoil. You have got to change the way your thinking and feeling, it's the first giant step!
This author is a HUGE fan of http://www.envisionfreedom.net
You become what you think about most. Change your intention, change your results. I recommend http://www.envisionfreedom.net

Creating Your Electricity

2009-08-31T16:54:00.001-07:00

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.
What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.
Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.
We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.
Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.
This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.
Think green and together we can start saving the planet.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy
Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Don't Buy Another Self-Help Book - They Don't Work!

2009-08-31T10:30:00.001-07:00

Life is always going to present challenges to us and, yes, it's how we handle these bumps in the road that create our future. Diet, exercise, weight control, creating a career path, dealing with relationships, divorce, parenting issues, retirement and lifestyle transitions are some of the things that will most likely test us along the way. Well, it's about time someone told you, most of the time, self-help books don't work! Truthfully, dealing with life is twofold: the knowledge of "how" is everywhere; the hard part is taking the steps to change. Here's some of the knowledge - you decide what to do next.
1.) you are great, you have a reason for being here and you have family and friends who love and care about you; stay connected with all of the people and activities that are positive for you, that give you purpose
2.) life is about setting goals and making decisions; it's not about the end result, it's about the journey; what are the things in your life that you would like to be different and what can you do about them
3.) what and who will help you stay focused
4.) acknowledge your successes, even if they are small steps; any positive move is worth celebrating
5.) regularly create memories and have lots of fun; balance with everything in your life is needed to achieve true success with your goals
6.) you will always have times in your life that are confusing, anxiety ridden, stressful - this is how you handle them:
Dealing with Life in a nutshell!
+ staying in the game - it's about trying whatever ideas and opportunities come your way; life is a lesson, there are no mistakes, most directions can be changed, beating yourself up about the past is self-defeating, being proactive for yourself is the quickest way to find solutions and success
+ taking care of yourself - take your vitamins & medication, eat healthy meals, drink water, get plenty of rest, and keep your environment orderly
+ have faith in something - find, explore and educate yourself about your faith; religious faith, faith in relationships, faith in the cosmos, whatever grounds you to the universe and keeps life in perspective - it's not just about you!!
Do something regularly that reminds you of your faith -reading the Bible, praying, talking to your children and continuing to read and think on a "global" level!
+ ask for help when you need it - you would want the people you care about to feel like they could come to you when they needed help, so you are doing a disservice to those who love and care about you to not allow them the opportunity to help you
+ giving to others - you will be rewarded two fold for staying regularly involved in giving to others; those in pain, those in need, those who are less fortunate than you, those who just need a friend or someone to listen to them; this will keep you connected to the world around you and keep you from thinking about yourself too much Now, think about the things in your life that you would like to change. Make a list, if that would help, start with one thing and do it. If you are having trouble, call a Coach!!
Carolyn Bates is an ICF Certified Personal Life Coach
Specializing in successful life transitions and retirement for people 50 and older
Visit her website at http://www.coachinglifedesign.com
Sign up for her popular newsletter: http://www.coachinglifedesign.com/newsletter.html
Your first consultation is always complimentary 830-598-8961

Structural Framing Beams

2009-08-31T09:16:00.001-07:00

Let's start with the beams. They can be Glulam, Parallam, Microlam or even wood beams. What are all of these and why do I need them in my house. The beams are used to hold up parts of the house and are located in your walls, roofs and floors. Beams are used to transfer a load from one point to another.
Structural framing beams allow the architect to create large openings, floors and roofs in your house. The beams are also used to support the weight over the doors, windows and other openings in your home. These beams support massive amounts of weight in some cases and are even made of steel if needed.
Another growing problem is the lack of old growth trees in the forest. If we just used wood beams with out using the new engineered beams we would have to cut down a lot more of the bigger trees. So you can add these guys to your Christmas list. The lumber or wood engineers have come up with all sorts of alternatives for new building products. These new beams are just some of them. Keep up the good work guys...
Glulam is a engineered wood product comprised of wood laminations, or 2 x 4s that are bonded together with strong, waterproof adhesives. If you use a Glulam beam on the buildings exterior you will have to order a exterior Glulam beam. In this case the manufacture will use special exterior rated glues for the beam.
When ordering any wood engineered beams specify to the lumber yard what you are using the beam for. Exterior or Interior of the building. If you use a interior glulam over time there is a good chance of the beam delaminating or cracking apart.
Parallam is made from almost all of the wood on the log using veneer strands that are aligned parallel for maximum strength. The end product is a rectangular beam; which is longer, thicker, and stronger than solid-sawn lumber. They are often used as beams, headers, columns, and posts, among others uses.
Microllam is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It offers several advantages over typical milled lumber: it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform. It is much less likely than conventional lumber to warp, twist, bow, or shrink due to its composite nature. Made in a factory under controlled specifications, Microllam products allow users to reduce the onsite labor. They are typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material.
These beams come in all sorts of different lengths, widths and heights. They are engineered to hold amazing amounts of weight. They really are great engineering marvels.
Tip: I have had to replace almost all of these types of beams over the years due to some form of damage. Like anything else in your home if it is used improperly there is a good chance your are going to have some sort of failure. I have seen people add weight to these structural beams with no thought of them ever failing.
If you are planning on building a room addition, rebuilding your roof, adding a floor or any other type of construction where you are adding a addition load to your house. You might want to consult with a building contractor or structural engineer.
Thanks Greg For Another Super Article On Home Building. For more great articles visit Greg at http://gregvan.com/
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Causes of Structural Failure
Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Mentoring Children

2009-08-31T02:46:00.001-07:00

All parents hope that their children will grow up healthy, happy, and productive. They aspire to have children who have the skills to contribute to their own well-being and to the well-being of their families and community. There is no magic bullet for developing these capacities in children. Literally thousands of programs have been developed to support families in their efforts to help children to become competent, confident, caring young people who have positive social connections and good characters.
Children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. However, not all children get the support they need to thrive. By all estimates, an astounding 17.6 million young people - nearly half the population between 10 and 18 years of age - live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential. Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they could make choices that undermine their futures. The presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples has proved to be powerful tools for helping young people fulfill their potential.
Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. A mentor is an adult who, along with the parents, help young people bring out strengths that are already there. They are good listeners, compassionate and teach children how to live an honorable life. A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist, parole officer, or cool peer. The role of a mentor is not to "fix" young people but rather to help them achieve their full potential. Enforcing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution to self and society, help develop a child into a productive and respectful adult in later years.
A mentor's main purpose is to help a young person define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. Since the expectations of each child will vary, the mentor's job is to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that responds to the young person's needs. Using influence and resources as a decision maker, adults can bring new hope to young lives through the power of mentoring. A mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, teaches respect for oneself and family, supports academic achievement, and introduces the young person to new ideas. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking alcohol (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters). About 40% of teenager's waking hours are spent without any companionship or supervision. Mentors provide children and teens with a valuable place to spend free time. Children learn to make thoughtful choices, fulfill their commitments, acknowledge their mistakes and account for their actions. By taking control of their lives, children realize they can achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.
I encourage you to think of the mentors in your own life-a coach, teacher, or another caring adult, and take a few minutes to consider all the contributions they made in your life during your developing years. I know throughout my own adult life and business career, I have been greatly rewarded by years of mentoring children and young adults into productive, happy individuals that are successful in life. Children need someone to believe in them. Often times, children lack the attention needed to reinforce morals, values and self esteem on a daily basis. It makes all the difference in the world during times of indecision in their lives to have that reinforcement. Mentoring develops children into young adults who have confidence, determination and self-awareness.
Mentoring is recognized throughout the US as an important part of a child's life and some states have already proposed legislation to the Senate. The Coalition of State Mentoring Partnerships has worked closely with Capitol Hill staff and Senators to advocate this legislation. The Mentoring for All Act 2008 (S. 3200) is one of the most significant legislation actions to benefit mentoring. Please call; send emails or letters to your Senators urging support for the bill.
Denise Dema is a Business and Life Management Coach with over 20 years experience empowering individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners to attain self-defined success in their professional & personal lives. To learn more about the author and her practice please visit http://www.denisedema.com

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

2009-08-31T01:57:00.001-07:00

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.
I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.
I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.
The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.
Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.
Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.
My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.
About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.
The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.
The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.
The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.
That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.
Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.
Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.
I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.
Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.
I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.
The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.
Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.
His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.
Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips
If I Hate My Brother

The 11 Forgotten Laws - Review

2009-08-30T19:31:00.001-07:00

I am not a big fan of most online self-help courses. While most of them are inspirational, the effects of them on one's life usually last for a couple of weeks, then the old patterns, as well as the old way of thinking returns. The chosen online self-help course slowly fades into memory. However, the 11 Forgotten Laws is different. What Bob Proctor (The Secret) and Mary Morrisey have put together are universal laws that have been around since man first walked upon the Earth. You may have already heard of one or two of them, but in the day-to-day bustle of life, they have been stored away in the recesses of your memory. When you hear the definition and meaning of each law, it's a head slapping experience because the truth of them is self-evident. Let's take a look at the list.
The 11 Forgotten Laws are as follows -
- the law of thinking
- the law of supply
- the law of attraction
- the law of receiving
- the law of increase
- the law of compensation
- the law of non-resistance
- the law of forgiveness
- the law of sacrifice
- the law of obedience
- the law of success
By looking at the list, perhaps some of the truth of the Universal Laws is coming back to your consciousness. I must say that I was touched by the Law of Forgiveness. There is an old saying that goes "He who sets out for revenge should dig two graves." It's a true statement. Having anger and resentment towards anyone or anything has negative consequences that is concentrated more on the bearer of the grudge than the object of the anger. When the anger is let go, it allows one to move forward.
There are many glowing testimonials about the 11 Forgotten Laws, and if you were to read them here you would think it was just another get rich quick course. The truth is the increased income of these individuals is a consequence of living a better life. It's easier to play the game once you know what the rules (laws) are. One of the 11 Forgotten Laws is the The Law of Attraction, which means when you expect more and you have more you will get more. If you are a positive person, you will attract positive people in your life.
Sometimes in life, we need to give ourselves a checkup from the neck up. The 11 Forgotten Laws will help you do just that. It will change your way of thinking, and once you change your way of thinking to a more positive aspect, good things will happen for you.
For Additional information concerning The 11 Forgotten Laws

Advantages of Framing With Steel Studs

2009-08-30T18:26:00.001-07:00

I have heard all sorts of stories over the years of the advantages in framing with steel versus wood studs. One time I even heard you could build an entire house with the amount of recycled steel from a large automobile such as a Cadillac. I find this hard to believe unless you're building a very small home.
My personal favorite for framing with steel studs is that they are extremely straight. I have built nonbearing partition walls using 12 foot 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs and after the drywall you can lay an 8 foot level to check it for straightness on the wall with amazing results.
If you use 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs with 5/8 of an inch drywall you will get an extremely durable and sturdy wall. Framing was steel studs is common in office renovations or remodeling. Most of the steel stud framing is done via the drywall contractors.
Steel studs and termites do not mix. You'll never have to worry about these little buggers or other uninvited house pests damaging your walls.
Over the years I have heard stories that steel framed buildings are earthquake and fire proof. They might be more resistant to fire than wood but keep in mind when metal is hot enough it will bend and warp making it unusable.
When I hear people talking about a fireproof building built with metal framing components my first thought is all of the other materials used in building the house that are not fire resistant. Don't get a false illusion when buying a house framed with steel studs and think it is 100% fire proof.
As far as steel framed buildings being earthquake proof this is another story. I really can't comment too much on earthquake damage to a steel building. The problem with earthquakes is they seem to create fires. So even if you're building does survive an earthquake it could get damaged by a fire in the area.
I have framed more wood homes than steel homes over the years and my steel stud construction is limited to nonbearing partition walls usually located in office buildings. I love framing with metal because of its light weight and ease of construction.
I still love framing with wood. There is something about what framing that I have always loved and always will.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as
well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on House Framing Ideas
Meditating On Religious Scriptur

Is the Bible Accurate

2009-08-30T12:07:00.001-07:00

I'm going to start with the first book of the holy Bible, Genesis chapter 1 verse one through five. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said," let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
If the Bible is historically accurate, did God actually create earth. I have been battling over this, my whole life. It's very easy for someone to accept and believe in any religion, government, other people or whatever they truly desire to make real. I see it every day of my life, open your eyes and you will see it to.
It's hard to imagine that a superior entity like God created everything that we touch and see. The moon itself is pretty big and the creation of the sun would prove to be a little more difficult, but if you're God and your all knowing and all powerful, he or she or it, must be one incredible being.
This is only the first couple of paragraphs in the Bible and there is no, I repeat no, historical accuracy to this event. It seems like God or man, whoever wrote the Bible, should have started the Bible with something a little more believable for people that live in the 21st century. It's not hard to imagine someone 2000 years ago, believing in something like this.
2000 years ago the Romans were worshiping their own gods, we might find this ridiculous today but back then the Romans would punish you if you didn't worship their gods. We are not too far from that today. If we don't stop organized religion and their influence on humanity, we're going to have serious problems in the future.
The biggest problem I foresee is common sense. If the Bible has 500 historical accurate facts that can be proven without a doubt by historians, scholars and other intelligent people, but has one thing that can't be explained, how do we handle this. How do we handle the fact that the Bible states God created light? If this is false, what else is false in the Bible.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Have you ever really ask yourself Who is, Jesus of Nazareth?
Greg is currently working on a Personal Power Ideas. If you're ever wondering why some people can achieve success, while others seem to struggle aimlessly, what would it hurt, to take a couple of minutes of your time, if you could actually find the truth.

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

2009-08-30T10:54:00.001-07:00

Question: I have a floor that every single time I step on it I get the most annoying sound. I don't know what it does to me or why it bothers me so much. My kitchen floor squeaks and actually moves up and down if you are standing on it. The whole floor moves. How do I stop it from moving and squeaking. Help Me Greg!
Answer: It sounds like you have a broken floor joist. You are going to have to go under your house. If you have a basement this will be a little easier to fix. It is my guess that you don't have a basement or you would have seen the broken floor joist by now.
Have someone stand on the floor in the spot that squeaks and have them move up and down while you are under the house. Don't have them jump up and down while you are under the house. This could cause more damage to the structural framing of the floor. Once you are in the right position under the floor you can have them start moving slowly. What you are looking for is one of the floor joist that are moving.
If you see one of them moving. Look to see where the damage is. Is it a split, crack, wood rot or a big knot in the wood that has loosened up and fell out. Once you find the damaged floor joist you can now think about repairing it.
If you don't see any floor joist moving. Have the person on top start moving a little bit more and you can even have them jump on it a few times until you see something out of place. If you still don't see any broken floor joist. Start looking at the sub-floor, this will be plywood of some form, 1 x 6 or 2 x 6 materials.
What you are looking for is movement of any kind. Is there a separation or movement between the sub-floor and the floor joist. If you still can't find the problem maybe it is time to call in a professional.
The main thing you are going to be looking for is movement of any kind.
Most squeaky floors are caused from the sub-floor rubbing up and down on a nail. If you have carpeting and you have a squeaky floor you can do your best to locate a floor joist and screw right through your carpeting into the floor joist.
For more help on fixing squeaky floors visit http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm
Thanks for the great question. I hope it helps.
Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.
His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.
Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips
Should The Bible Be Edited

The Power of Alpha - Instant Meditation - Success, Vibrant Health and Happiness is in Your Hands!

2009-08-30T04:44:00.001-07:00

God has made us awesome and wonderful creatures. He has created us with a mind that can enable us to achieve whatever we set out to accomplish.
Most of us do not realize that we have the power in us to achieve the things that we most desire.
~ Man can shape circumstances, but circumstances should not be allowed to shape the man. We should seize upon circumstances as instruments by which to work. We
are to master them, but should not permit them to master us. ~
Ellen White
Did you know that you can easily re-program yourself to become the person you most desire to be?
How
By slowing your brainwaves to the Alpha Level. You can achieve the Alpha brainwave state by learning meditation techniques that can be time consuming and difficult to master. Or you can achieve instant meditation by listening to sound or music that has been recorded in the Alpha brainwave range.
All the changes that you want to make in your life are now at your fingertips!
~ The greatest discovery of the 19th century was not in the realm of the physical sciences, but the power of the subconscious mind touched by faith. Any individual
can tap into an eternal reservoir of power that will enable them to overcome any problem that may arise. ~
William James
What is Alpha?
Normally, we operate in the beta state. In this state our brain waves range from 15-26 HZ. When we are in the Alpha state our brain waves average range are around 7-12 HZ.
The Alpha state is a state of "aware relaxation". Emotions experienced in the alpha state include a sense of well being, pleasure and tranquility. The Alpha brainwave level appears to link the conscious to the subconscious mind.
At the Alpha level you can re-program yourself and reap numerous advantages. The Alpha brainwave state:
Calms and relaxes your body and mind. The brain's thought process is slowed and the mind is clear. Tension and stress just melts away.
Enhances Positive thinking and Emotional Healing. Releases Negative Attitudes. Research has found the Alpha Brainwave rhythm puts you in a Positive state of Mind and Mood, enabling you to erase your negative attitudes and gives you an overall feeling of Wellness.
When you are in Alpha state you are mentally able to Re-Program yourself to achieve anything you Desire:
Gain Complete Confidence

Stop Addictive Habits

Lose Weight

Release Disabling Fears

Goal Setting and Achieving

Achieve any success you desire.
~ Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will. ~
George Bernard Shaw
Accelerates Healing and enables you to Achieve Vibrant Health
Enhances your Learning Ability, Memory, Creativity and your Ability to Focus, Concentrate and Think more clearly.
Boosts Peak Performance - During speaking engagements, competitive sports and in all areas where peak performance is critical.
You achieve the Alpha brainwave state with ease when listening to music or sound recorded in the Alpha range. The best times to go to your Alpha level are first thing in the morning and again before you go to bed at night.
While listening, think about the things that you want to change in your life and visualize that you have already gained success in that area. Visualize what that looks like physically and what that feels like emotionally. Always visualize your success in the present tense.
For example, to heal an ailment, visualize your white blood cells surrounding and smothering the ailment until it is gone. Visualize yourself completely healthy and well.
Give yourself positive affirmations, such as the positive affirmation by French physician Emile Coue, "Everyday, in every way, I am getting better and better."
Practice Alpha meditation daily and gain the levels of success and healing you have been looking for. You have the power in you to change your life.
Petrea Dishman at http://www.awesomealpha.net

Ways to Stop Losing Your Car Keys

2009-08-30T03:28:00.001-07:00

You obviously don't need to read this article if you rarely lose your car keys. However if you misplace your car keys often and have a pretty good relationship with your locksmith, it's time to change these bad habits into good ones.
One of my friends, recently lost their car keys. I would like you to listen to what I'm about to say and see if it makes sense to you. Most people get two keys when they buy a car. This means, if they lose one key, they now have a spare key. When they lose their first key, this should give them a pretty good clue that the second key is now the only key, if they wish to drive their car.
Does that make sense? If you lose your first key, you don't have a second or spare key anymore. Now is a good time to purchase a spare key or have one made. Don't wait until you lose the second one, unless you are planning to change your bad habit into a good one.
Now let me get back to my friends who recently lost their car's key. The car they were driving was a new Honda and you can't go to the locksmith to get another key made. You have to order one from the Honda dealer and this key cost them over $200. That's a lot of money for one key.
Now my friends lost both of their original keys and now have one key to operate the vehicle and this key cost them over $200. Now if I had to pay this amount of money, I would make sure that I never lost this key ever again. I would do whatever it to to change my old habits and create some new ones.
How hard is it to get in the habit of placing your keys inside of your purse. Placing your keys in your pockets and then only removing them when you are going to place them inside of a drawer, container, cup, bowl or on a shelf in your bedroom. If you place your keys in a drawer, this will keep them out of other people's temptation.
If you choose to lay your keys in a bowl, in the kitchen, there's a good chance someone will take them or another member of your family could lose them. Place your keys in a protected area, do not leave them out in the open ever.
If you want some tips to prevent you from losing your keys, simply talk to someone who rarely if ever loses their keys. Most of these people have simple and easy to follow tips. You can consciously create a habit that can save you money and frustration in the future.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.
Impact Of Christian Mentors

Astrology and Love Compatibility - Horoscope Helps You Succeed in Love and Marriage

2009-08-29T21:17:00.001-07:00

Have you been dumped? Have you been finding it difficult to find a true love and get the best out of your relationship? Are you still struggling in matters of love ? Do you find that you are constantly being rejected in matters of love? If your answer is in affirmative to any one or all of these questions it is high time that you make a reassessment of your relationships and the reasons leading to such disasters!
Quite often you may not be able to do the retrospective and find out the real reasons behind your problems. Astrology and Horoscope reading can do wonders in such cases. Indian Vedic Astrology, which is thousands of years old, can make the correct assessment of your relationships and emotional problems and suggest very effective remedial measures . No one is born with excellent relationship skills .The difference between a guy who is considered as a Cupid by many girls and another who is being dumped by all is very thin. If you can makeup the difference you would be stepping into the shoes of the former, and will be reaping success ever after.
Astrological predictions are not fatalistic readings of your life . On the other hand they are scientific analysis of the innate characteristics and talents of the subject and help fix the problems and find permanent solutions. The remedies in the form of offsetting 'Karmas', use of Gems and crystals and many more such remedies help to set right your approach and make you a well-balanced individual. There is no wrongdoing or making use of magic here. It is a pure spiritual remedy by invoking the universal energy by accepted ways and help save the individual by improving the personality and thereby the responses of the individual. The remedies suggested also help you to get suitable surroundings and situations conducive for your success .
If you are desperate over your failures in love life, it is time to act now and change your future and fate! Your success is guaranteed by our Astrological suggestions and you will see the changes within a couple of weeks of following our instructions
If you like to know more about the remedies that help you succeed in your love Visit Author's Blog for free details.
Raveendranath Menon is an astrologer . mystic and spiritual healer of repute with more than 25 years of service to the society. You may get accurate predictions for all your burning problems at his blog Love and Marriage in Astrology.

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-08-29T20:10:00.001-07:00

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.
Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.
1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?
2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?
3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?
4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?
5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?
6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?
7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?
8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?
If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.
When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.
When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.
If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Are Your Prayers Being Answered

50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships

2009-08-29T13:45:00.001-07:00

Bookstores have been full to bursting point with self-help books for relationships for years, thousands more marriage counselors seem to be setting up shop every year and of course the internet is also cluttered by a million pages about how to have a perfect relationship or marriage. So how does 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships by Oprah expert Michel Webb differ from the crowd?
Let's have a look and see:
Firstly, it is good to see that this guide is based on real life examples rather that hypothetical scenarios where the author has complete control of the events in his own mind. Michel Webb actually provides real life examples from his own life to illustrate the points and solutions he makes with a warts and all approach which is refreshing.
Secondly, Michel Webb practices what he preaches and claims to have never had a fight with his wife Athena in 15 years which is remarkable. If you doubt this which I did at first you have to read exactly how he achieved this because it is riveting stuff that comes from real experiences and practice. After reading the book I can now see how this amazing 15 year streak can definitely be possible.
Thirdly, the book itself is simply set out with about one tip per day and just continues like this until the end of the book. Just about every tip had me shaking my head in agreement, as it gave me real-life solutions and several of those "a-ha" moments of profound understanding.
Thirdly, the book is well set out which is an undervalued thing when people are reviewing books. While the content is absolutely vital poor layout and poor written communication skills can turn any book no matter how good in advice into a confused clutter. Michael Webb takes a simple approach you can use in a couple of ways by having one tip a day for the whole book. You can read it one tip at a time one day at a time or you can read it through in a single sitting but the division of advice works well by not overloading the reader and still giving great advice and many a "a-hah!" moment when a p-particular tidbit leaps out at you and strikes a chord of new understanding of relationships.
There are however a few niggles with the book that we found. It is a bit TOO formulaic in its approach which might be a side effect of their layout system. They always have a story or unrelated example, followed by how that information ties into relationships and the topic at hand.
However, if this become annoying or you are impatient to get through a long winded story you can skip down to about halfway down the section to find the point he is trying to make without going through every tiny detail.
Also, instead of the tip titles providing a clear "how to solve X problem" or a clear topic description, it simply has a phrase that ties together with the information. Now while this is no big deal, it would have been nice to be able to skim the book to exactly the advice I wanted. Although if you read the information on the sales page, you can work out what information belongs where in the book. So it's not too bad.
Another small issue is that the titles to each section do not give you a clear idea of what problem this tip and story associated with it is suppose to solve. There is a phrase that ties in with the information which you can hazard a guess from but no "This section solves or covers this problem". This makes it hard to skim for the exact solution you may be looking for but it is not too bad as you can guess from the title often.
It is definitely a better book for those who want to read from cover to cover as this seems to be it's design philosophy, but those that want to skip around will also not be left cold either.
All in all, this is one of the best relationship books I've ever seen and it definitely deserves a read, especially if you have serious problems in your relationship.
So, after all this is taken into consideration 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships deserve a read if you are interested in making your relationship better especially if you are having some serious issues that need to be sorted as this could turn things around for you quickly.
For more book reviews and links on how to create a happy and successful marriage click below to find out more!
http://www.loveiscomplicated.info/marriage/relationship-tips-secrets/

Slow Market Home Pricing Advice

2009-08-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

Homes are going to be sold in good markets and bad. When times are good, people often forget that bad times will be coming eventually. During good times, people often get caught up in the hype of the real estate boom. During tough times, houses will be sold eventually, or taken off the market and sold later. If you need to sell the home as soon as possible, for financial or other reasons, you will have to adjust your price with the current market and don't get greedy.
This is the hardest thing for most people to do, lower the price of their home in order to sell it in a slow real estate market. Don't get caught up in the value of your home, six months or even a year ago. Last year's prices are not going to be this year's prices and you need to get that through your thick skull. If the average homes in your neighborhood are selling for $250,000 and you have a swimming pool or done some upgrades, maybe a room addition. Your home is going to be worth more than the average selling price.
Most real estate professionals will price your home according to the length of time you have to sell it. If you're in a hurry to sell, they don't have time to test the market. The price of your home would need to be competitive or lower than homes selling in the area. Whether homes are selling fast in a good market for selling slow in a bad market, if you have time, you can ask a little bit more for your home. If the market hasn't reached the bottom, waiting could actually hurt you, because the prices of the homes in the area would still be dropping.
Listen to your real estate professionals advice when pricing your home. That's what you're hiring them for, they are in the real estate business. Your neighbors, relatives, friends and people you work with, will probably be guessing if you asked for their opinion on pricing your house.
Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Finding that person is the key to selling your home, finding that person as soon as possible could give you the illusion that you sold your home to cheap. Don't worry about it, your final objective is to sell the house.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If you really think your home is safe, check out these pictures about home water damage.
Personal Development

Organic Food and Vegetarianism

2009-08-29T06:25:00.001-07:00

In this article, organic food vis-a-vis vegetarianism will be initially elaborated. Organic food has been previously described to be any food - vegetables, fruits, meat, processed food, food by-products - which is free from harmful chemicals and produced using all natural methods, processes and inputs. At some point, it must carry the organic certification seal, but some simple tips to distinguish organic from inorganic food have also been presented. On the other hand, vegetarianism, which has many levels, shall be defined here in broad terms, and that is the edible fruits and vegetables.
For some people, they learned and practiced organic food lifestyle first before becoming vegetarian. For others, they took the vegetarian road first before learning and being organic food consumer. Of course, there are also those who only consider themselves as vegetarian or simply into organic food lifestyle, whichever. They may be conscious of categorizing themselves or simply not aware of it.
Vegetarian consciousness has been more identified with spirituality. This consciousness has been as old as the Eastern Civilization. It is a discipline in attaining Oneness with the Divine or Yoga. Yogis and meditators believe that the physical body, being the temple of the soul, must be clean and therefore has to be purified. Being vegetarian is one way of purifying the body because vegetables eliminate physical wastes and toxins in the physical body. Scientific researches have already presented a lot of healing and cleansing properties of vegetables. An example is the way vegetable fibers do in eliminating wastes.
Organic food awareness, for its part, has been greatly brought about by the harmful effects of artificial and commercial food production. It is actually in advocacy stage as this caters only to a niche market Although it was a natural thing to consume natural food in the pre-historic age until the dawn of commercial production, this awareness was eventually replaced when the need for mass production arose. Therefore, while organic food awareness seems to be much older, the awareness dissipation caused by modernization has made it something new for the present age.
People who are becoming more aware of organic food consumption are indeed in the process of going back, of communing with nature and be at one with it. They would like to be as healthy as the people who once set their feet on earth. With the way cancer and other diseases are shortening the lifespan of people, organic food consumption is becoming a choice.
For vegetarians, this is the same process they are discovering and doing in their life. They also would like to go back, to be home. The Vegans have for thousands of years known the benefits of eating vegetables. These same benefits are the benefits being appreciated by organic food consumers. Both are now learning from each other.
Read more organic food articles and get ready for the organic and natural choice. Browse other related articles by visiting Natural and Organic Food Reviews. The site is dedicated to provide information about healthy habits and lifestyles, list and links to organic food stores and organic food online, campaigns and advocacy on organic and natural food, organic farming and production and a storehouse full of organic food tips. Exchange of information and comments are always welcome.

Attic Odors and Strange Smells

2009-08-29T05:32:00.001-07:00

If you've ever opened up your attic access hole, only to find one of the worst odors you have ever smelled in your whole life, I've been there too. What causes these horrible smells and what can you do about them?
Let's start with the cause of these smells, moisture, dirt, mold, mildew, dead animals, animals that make their home in your attic and the biggest problem of all is normally poor ventilation.
Poor ventilation is the biggest problem with musty smells in the attic. These smells are often caused from moisture accumulating in the building materials over time. If there is enough moisture in the attic, the wood will start to rot but this wouldn't be a normal situation, unless there was a roof or water leak.
Roof leaks can cause a constant supply of water to one part of the attic. This constant supply of water will eventually rot the wood and damage the ceiling. Water leaks from pipes can provide a steady supply of water and the situation can attracts termites and mold. Not a good thing.
One of the worst possible smells or odors in your attic would be a dead animal. Don't under estimate the size of some of these animals, they have found dead raccoons, cats, snakes, large birds, squirrels, rats and mice in some attics. These animals usually enter through damaged access holes or vent blocks, roof vents, large gaps, holes and even fireplace chimneys.
Once these animals die, their bodies start to decompose and produce one horrible odor. Once the body is completely decomposed, the smell usually goes away if the attic is ventilated properly. These smells can seep into the homes living area, often creating a room that no one wants to enter.
Home peststhat make their home in your attics, often create smells from urinating and defecating in the areas around their nest. Large birds like owls can become a problem over time.
Now that we've figured out some of the causes for attic odors and strange smells, what can we do to prevent this from happening and if it's already happened, how can we get rid of the smell.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your having problems in your attic, find out more at pest control books and home building ideas.
Personal Development

How Positive Thinking Leads to Positive Results

2009-08-28T22:55:00.001-07:00

Positive thinking is a habit. But why does negative thinking creep in so easily? It's because it's all around us. It's in the the news, media, conversations, etc. Jack Canfield refers to CNN as Constant Negative News. (How true is that!)
So, you must understand how your thinking affects your productivity, relationships, and success.
1. Negative Thinking
"I'm fat."
"I've got no money."
"My job sucks."
I think it's apparent that negative thinking has a weakening affect on a person. Heck, it's in the term: negative thinking.
These ideas curtail any attempt to change. They are definitive. You will keep manifesting the thoughts, in your head, into reality.
If you say "I can't"...you're right.
If you say "I shouldn't"...you're right.
If you say "I don't deserve"...once again, you're right!
Saying you can't do something ultimately means you won't. You have already made the decision that whatever it is that you are seeking is out of your reach.
Napoleon Hill says, "Whatever a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve." You attract what you think into your life, even if it is negativity.
2. Positive Thinking
I saw James Arthur Ray demonstrate an exercise where he asks you to list your negative thoughts. He then instructs you to write their polar opposites (positive thoughts) next to them.
Let's take the negative ideas above and list the polar opposites.
Negative thoughts - "I'm fat. I've got no money. My job sucks."
Positive thoughts - "I have great health. I am prosperous and abundant. I am grateful for this opportunity"
This exercise ditches the negative thinking. When you focus on the positive, you'll start to see more positive things and experience more positive results. It's the Law of Attraction.
The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. If you want more joy in your life, focus on things that create joy. If you want greater health, be conscious of your food choices and physical activities. If you seek greater prosperity, grow your knowledge on wealth creation.
Have you ever experienced the world sending you signals that matched the thoughts you were focusing on at the time? When we bought our last car, I already knew what I wanted. I was looking at online ads, going to dealerships, and reading reviews. All of a sudden, I noticed more and more of that particular car on the road. Do you think that's a coincidence?
Pay attention to your thoughts.
They can either do one of two things.

Weaken you.
Ignore the thoughts that weaken you. Toss aside the notions "I can't...I shouldn't...I don't deserve..." These negative thoughts paralyze your ability to move forward and change.
If someone tries to implant a negative thought in your head ("you can't...you shouldn't...you don't deserve..."), say thank you and shrug it off. They can attempt to plant the negative seed, but you can choose to let it fall on rocky ground.
Empower you.
Everything is neutral. Things and events only have the meanings in which we give them. Now that you're in control, search for the positive in everything.
These ideas add power and fuel to your mind. Even when it's difficult, make a conscious decision to focus on empowering thoughts and possibly step out of your comfort zone. When you're uncomfortable, that's when you grow.
My wife and I experienced an investment that didn't perform the way we had anticipated. We went down the road of negative thinking. "It's too difficult," we complained. We even started finger pointing. We weren't making the situation any better.
We had to trigger positive thinking. We needed bigger thoughts in order to learn from the situation. We had to put power behind our thinking.

"What's the lesson?"
"How can we make this better?"
"What are we thankful for?"
Notice how these thoughts trigger deeper analysis. Under any circumstance, situation, or issue, know that you have everything you need at this moment in order to solve any problem. If you believe that, how much power do you think you have now?

Pay attention to what ideas are taking space in your head. Discard negative thinking.
If you want positive results, positive relationships, positive impacts to your financial success, focus on positive thinking.
Action Steps
1. If you have negative thoughts, write them down on a piece of paper.
2. Next to them, write their polar opposites.
3. Focus on the positive and make a conscious effort to ditch the negativity.
Learn how to develop your millionaire mindset.
Visit us at Choose Financial Freedom.

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

2009-08-28T21:50:00.001-07:00

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.
I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.
On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.
He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.
As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.
As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.
The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.
My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.
I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.
Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.
To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.
I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage
Personal Development

Positive Thinking - Self Help Tips

2009-08-28T15:17:00.001-07:00

I am a huge advocate of positive thinking. I apply it in every aspect of my life. But lately, I have been wondering, is all this positive thinking starting to cloud my judgment? Am I so focused on the positive that I am just not in touch with reality anymore? When does positive thinking become delusion?
It all started about two weeks ago when I started to have a dangerous moment of self reflection. If someone asked me at that point, 'Are you happy with your life?' I would have said 'Sure, pretty much'. I would like to be less busy, I would like to have a bit more time, I would like to see my friends more, but generally, I am pretty positive about where I am with life. The problem is that then I started to question whether that positive feeling was in fact justified, or was it simply a state of mind.
So, I started to examine the facts, which is even more dangerous than self reflection! I started to look at my life as it stands and compared it with how I wanted it to be. I mentally skipped through every aspect of my life; relationship, friends, family, work and self. At the end of it all, low and behold, I wasn't feeling very positive anymore. It was actually a fairly sad and dreary tale.
Now don't get my wrong. I am not saying that everything in my life is awful or that there is nothing good that is happening for me. But, when I looked at where I am and where I wanted to be, there was a pretty big gap between the two. So, for someone that thought life was pretty good and easy, I was suddenly forced to consider that perhaps it was not.
Firstly, I thought about whether my goals were realistic or just down right ludicrous and some did not pass the test. If I did everything that I wanted to, I would never sleep and even then would struggle to get through it all, which resulted in reestablishing my expectations. But, even after that, I realized that there were parts of my life that I wanted to believe were amazing and fantastic, but when I looked at the cold hard truth, were a far cry from what I wanted them to be. For all my focusing on the positive, I had failed to see that the negatives were actually things that mattered to me and simply ignoring them would not make them go away. In this case, I had been so hell-bent on looking at the positive; I was deluding myself and damaging my life along the way.
Armed with this new awareness, I have since been forced to conduct a major review and the outcome continues to remain unknown. And, (surprise, surprise), I feel pretty positive about it! As I said, I am a huge fan of positive thinking. It can be the difference between amazing or ordinary, sparkling or flat. I truly believe that it is a conscious choice and way of life that drives satisfaction and well-being. But used in the wrong way, as I have now learned, it can result in misguided choices and poor direction.
I have absolutely no idea what the answers are for me right now. I am in a fairly confused state as a result of all of this turmoil. However I do believe that I will make all my dreams come true one way or the other, and that is something to feel positive about. So with that in mind, I will continue to bubble along and try to remember my important lesson. Stay positive, but do not lose sight of what is real!
find4me has been created to make it simpler and easier to manage your health and wellbeing. We provide practical information about what health and wellbeing services are available and finding those that are right for you. To read more articles like this one or suggest a topic of interest, just visit our blog
find4me was founded by Kareene Koh and is based around her passion for health and well-being. To find out more about find4me please visit http://www.find4me.com.au

Surviving As A Contractor In California

2009-08-28T14:14:00.001-07:00

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.
Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.
Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.
I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.
These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.
Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.
Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.
Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.
Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.
Personal Development

Breaking Through Obstacles With Chop Sticks

2009-08-28T07:43:00.001-07:00

I remember accompanying a friend of mine to a workshop and taking part in a little demonstration. We were put in teams of two. One person held a disposable wooden chopstick firmly in front of them, with one end of the chopstick in one hand, the other end in the other. Their partner took a business card and was instructed to break the chop stick with the business card.
As soon as this little game was explained I had a powerful thought. "I'm going to break that chopstick on my first try." I don't know what made me feel so confident, but I just knew I was going to do it. Now mind you, I'm not particularly strong or fast. However, I was feeling particularly powerful and wanted to prove to my friend - and myself - that I could do whatever I set my mind to do.
My partner, Andrea, chose to go first. She whacked away with her business card until it was a pulpy mush. Other people whacked and smacked and swiped to no avail. It took a while, but eventually one person broke the chopstick. Then another and another succeeded. Now it was my turn. I took the card and made a bold swipe. The stick instantly broke in two. Andrea looked at me in disbelief. I just smiled. I did exactly what I imagined I would do.
I wish I could tell you that I'm always so successful. It's not that I (and you) are not capable of these little (and big) victories in life. We are. But little nagging voices of self doubt come marching in like ants to a picnic. Those old, sad stories of how we aren't good enough, or smart enough, or talented enough tug at our self confidence and stop our efforts before we start. I have heard these nagging doubts referred to as "your evil twin" mocking any attempt at success.
You can't tell other people to shut up (not safely anyway) but you can tell your evil twin to take a hike. And you should - as often as the little creep whispers nasty nothings in your ear. As long as you believe these sad stories, they will continue to have power over you. Make it a practice to rewrite your life's script and choose to believe the winning moments of your life as your model. Our actions are the direct result of what we believe we can do.
Robert Collier once said: "Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives."
The proof of this is illustrated as my little story continues. I went home and repeated the chopstick demonstration to my 14-year-old daughter, Brittany. I got out a pair of chopsticks and a business card and tried to replicate my earlier success. There is something a little intimidating about a teenager's disbelief and mocking smile. I took the business card and swiped it against the chopstick. It didn't break. I took a moment and thought about my plight. What was different? It only took a second. A little self doubt had crept in. I paused, took a deep breath, mustered up the power I knew I had within me WHACK!. The chopstick broke in two. Brittany was amazed. I was proud and relieved.
So what is the moral of this story? If we believe in our personal power, rather than focusing on our failures, we can be heroes in our own life story. So, don't just sit there reading. Go out there and do something amazing. Chop, chop.
Sally Marks
Coauthor of upcoming book, Erase Negativity and Embrace the Magic Within. Check out her blog at http://www.erasenegativity.blogspot.com

Creating Your Electricity

2009-08-28T06:47:00.001-07:00

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.
What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.
Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.
We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.
Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.
This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.
Think green and together we can start saving the planet.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy
Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

Full Moon And How It Affects Human Consciousness

2009-08-27T23:12:00.001-07:00

It has been known for centuries that the full moon can affect people's consciousness and behaviour. Many people may feel wakeful at night with energy streaming through their body for the three days before full moon.
It is only recently that I have discovered why this may be happening. NASA-supported scientists have realized that something does happen every month when the Moon passes through Earth's magnetic tail.
"Earth's magnetotail extends well beyond the orbit of the Moon and, once a month, the Moon orbits through it," says Tim Stubbs, a University of Maryland scientist working at the Goddard Space Flight Center. "This can have consequences ranging from lunar 'dust storms' to electrostatic discharges."
Anyone can tell when the Moon is inside the magnetotail. Just look: "If the Moon is full, it is inside the magnetotail," says Stubbs. "The Moon enters the magnetotail three days before it is full and takes about six days to cross and exit on the other side."
Human consciousness too is made up of electrical activity - which can be measured with an electro encephalograph - and a magnetic aura, or field of energy. A lot of people can feel this field of energy; for example, when you smile you can feel the field of buoyant, glowing energy extending into your aura like the energy field of a magnet.
I have often wondered why I am affected so much by the moon from three days before full moon to a few days after. The magnetotail provided me with the perfect explanation; as the moon charges up when within the tail and becomes much more electrical and magnetic, it is only normal that this increase in power should be felt on Earth.
We all know from astrology that each of the planets, and the sun and moon, have an influence on our feelings, emotions and consciousness. The moon affects our emotions because the moon influences water; just as the moon causes the tides, it exerts a pull on the watery components of our body, and we feel this as emotions. The body is made up of 70 to 80% of water.
Human consciousness is also affected by sun spots and the mass ejections from the sun's corona; these are what cause the solar winds of magnetic energy which affect the Earth's upper atmosphere and give rise to the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
I feel it is beneficial if we extend our awareness to take in all these influences of the celestial bodies, as they all communicate with, and have an influence on, each other by the transfer of electrical and magnetic energy - which could also be called consciousness.
Our body has a field of energy - the aura - which is the same as the aurora or magnetic and gravitational field of the planet. We are all One, a part of the Universal Life Force; and it is natural to be aware of the greater cosmic system, which is as much a part of our consciousness as our brain is.
As human consciousness evolves and moves from the individual awareness to an awareness of greater integration within the whole cosmic system, we also expand our understanding of the unity of life and develop a love of all things, in the realization that We Are All One.
By George E. Lockett SSHA, IIHHT -- HealerGeorge(C) Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. Tel: +44 (0)1286 882701 Visit HealerGeorge's web site: http://www.healergeorge.com to experience the power of Distant Healing or listen to HealerGeorge Radio giving Questions and Answer advice mixed with Spiritual Music. You can also enjoy many free benefits on HealerGeorge, like listening to Free Guided Meditations. Why not order HealerGeorge's Latest book entitled "A Journey into The Self - The Multi-dimensional Nature of Being Human" By George E Lockett. It is all available off the web site. Description: What is this book going to do for YOU? For those who are seeking a complete energetic makeover, as you read it you will feel a stirring and awakening in the depths of your heart. For those who have questions about Shifts in Consciousness, Energy Balancing, and Healing within the body, you will find clear answers.

Video on Bible Facts

2009-08-26T03:36:00.001-07:00

Can you believe this guy, if you look up these verses in the Bible, you will see that there and there, but how did he come up with these ideas about the Sabbath, teenagers and the fact that the Bible is repulsive.
If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.
Changing Bad Habits

Cotton Candy

2009-08-25T09:38:00.001-07:00

This delicious dessert made of sugar and food coloring was first introduced during St. Louis World fair, in 1904 by William Morrison and John C. Wharton. It's also known as fairy floss. Unlike the olden days, today there are improved and better machines used in making candy cotton. Generally this machines are made up of a small ball in the middle where sugar is poured and food color added. This mixture is then melted through heating, after a few steps of spinning it's solidified and ready.
Traditionally, candy cotton is pink in color. However, it's also available in other colors such as orange,white, yellow, blue or purple. Carnivals,amusement parka or circus are some of the places where we can easily get it. Have you ever watched it when it's being made? If you've, then you'll agree with me its quite interesting. Actually what's funny, its as big as an adult head in the first stages when making it.
I know you don't buy that story of how it can cause cavity in your teeth, well am not saying your folks are wrong but it's not as bad as some make it look. Did you know that there 130-170 calories in a can of soft drink compared to only 100 calories in candy? Well, you do the math. The most important thing is to take care of your teeth.
Generally, most of us think that cotton candy is only for children. To be honest, if you enquire from your grand parents, you would be surprised when they first tasted it's sweet taste. They might even wonder around in their mind just reminiscing of the good old days.
Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Candy. For More Information on Candy Cotton, Visit His Site at CANDY COTTON You Can Also Add Your Views About Candy Cotton At My Blog here CANDY COTTON

Doreen Virtue appeared discusses the Crystal Children part two

2009-08-25T09:27:00.001-07:00

Doreen Virtue appeared discusses the Crystal Children, a type of child born since 1995 that has unusual attributes such as very large eyes, telepathy, and fearlessness. Virtue had previously studie
Life of Jesus
You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a spiritual help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Buddhism For Teenagers

Window Header Framing Problems

2009-08-20T04:44:00.001-07:00

As a building contractor it is my job to assemble the house to meet the specifications from the architect and the structural engineer. I do this by looking at the building plans and installing the specified lumber sizes. I can take it upon myself to install a larger size wood beam or window header adding an additional cost to the job of course. I don't think so.
It's not uncommon for a framing contractor that has an additional 5 foot scrap piece of 4 x 8 left over that he now has no use for. He can then choose to use the 4 x 8 instead of a 4 x 6 for the window header. This type of building is common and acceptable.
If the structural engineer calls out for 4 x 6 window and door headers do not take it upon yourself to replace the 4 x 6 with a 4 x 4. I have seen too many framing contractors or carpenters make an on-the-job judgment like this.
A good example would be a single story house with 2 foot wide windows that require a 4 x 6 window header. As the carpenter builds homes over the years he can come to his own conclusion that a 4x4 will work fine for this application. Again keep this in mind as a framing contractor and a carpenter you are assembling the home not designing it.
Do not change the sizes of any headers or beams.
A long time ago carpenters used a standard rule of thumb, you could go up two sizes larger than the window opening for your header. Let me give you an example of what I'm trying to explain.
A 4 foot wide window opening would require a 4 x 6 window header. A 6 foot window opening would require a 4 x 8 window header. This should give you an idea of what I mean by going up two sizes larger than the window opening to figure out the lumber necessary to use for your window header.
This rule of thumb does not necessarily apply in today's building industry. The reason for this is structural changes from earthquake damage. The structural requirements that are required for building a home require a lot more metal bracing and strapping. Therefore some of the lumber requirements for beam sizes and window headers will be different.
This message is for general contractors, framing contractors and carpenters. When installing a window header and you take it upon yourself to change the size you also assume the responsibility if the building fails. This type of mistake is common and you guys know what I'm talking about.
It's not worth it. Keep in mind you are the assembler and not the designer of the building you are working on.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and House Framing Structural Repairs
Goal Planning For Success

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

2009-08-19T23:14:00.001-07:00

Question: I have a floor that every single time I step on it I get the most annoying sound. I don't know what it does to me or why it bothers me so much. My kitchen floor squeaks and actually moves up and down if you are standing on it. The whole floor moves. How do I stop it from moving and squeaking. Help Me Greg!
Answer: It sounds like you have a broken floor joist. You are going to have to go under your house. If you have a basement this will be a little easier to fix. It is my guess that you don't have a basement or you would have seen the broken floor joist by now.
Have someone stand on the floor in the spot that squeaks and have them move up and down while you are under the house. Don't have them jump up and down while you are under the house. This could cause more damage to the structural framing of the floor. Once you are in the right position under the floor you can have them start moving slowly. What you are looking for is one of the floor joist that are moving.
If you see one of them moving. Look to see where the damage is. Is it a split, crack, wood rot or a big knot in the wood that has loosened up and fell out. Once you find the damaged floor joist you can now think about repairing it.
If you don't see any floor joist moving. Have the person on top start moving a little bit more and you can even have them jump on it a few times until you see something out of place. If you still don't see any broken floor joist. Start looking at the sub-floor, this will be plywood of some form, 1 x 6 or 2 x 6 materials.
What you are looking for is movement of any kind. Is there a separation or movement between the sub-floor and the floor joist. If you still can't find the problem maybe it is time to call in a professional.
The main thing you are going to be looking for is movement of any kind.
Most squeaky floors are caused from the sub-floor rubbing up and down on a nail. If you have carpeting and you have a squeaky floor you can do your best to locate a floor joist and screw right through your carpeting into the floor joist.
For more help on fixing squeaky floors visit http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm
Thanks for the great question. I hope it helps.
Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.
His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.
Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips
Luck Is What Happens When

Window Header Framing Problems

2009-08-19T19:02:00.001-07:00

As a building contractor it is my job to assemble the house to meet the specifications from the architect and the structural engineer. I do this by looking at the building plans and installing the specified lumber sizes. I can take it upon myself to install a larger size wood beam or window header adding an additional cost to the job of course. I don't think so.
It's not uncommon for a framing contractor that has an additional 5 foot scrap piece of 4 x 8 left over that he now has no use for. He can then choose to use the 4 x 8 instead of a 4 x 6 for the window header. This type of building is common and acceptable.
If the structural engineer calls out for 4 x 6 window and door headers do not take it upon yourself to replace the 4 x 6 with a 4 x 4. I have seen too many framing contractors or carpenters make an on-the-job judgment like this.
A good example would be a single story house with 2 foot wide windows that require a 4 x 6 window header. As the carpenter builds homes over the years he can come to his own conclusion that a 4x4 will work fine for this application. Again keep this in mind as a framing contractor and a carpenter you are assembling the home not designing it.
Do not change the sizes of any headers or beams.
A long time ago carpenters used a standard rule of thumb, you could go up two sizes larger than the window opening for your header. Let me give you an example of what I'm trying to explain.
A 4 foot wide window opening would require a 4 x 6 window header. A 6 foot window opening would require a 4 x 8 window header. This should give you an idea of what I mean by going up two sizes larger than the window opening to figure out the lumber necessary to use for your window header.
This rule of thumb does not necessarily apply in today's building industry. The reason for this is structural changes from earthquake damage. The structural requirements that are required for building a home require a lot more metal bracing and strapping. Therefore some of the lumber requirements for beam sizes and window headers will be different.
This message is for general contractors, framing contractors and carpenters. When installing a window header and you take it upon yourself to change the size you also assume the responsibility if the building fails. This type of mistake is common and you guys know what I'm talking about.
It's not worth it. Keep in mind you are the assembler and not the designer of the building you are working on.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and House Framing Structural Repairs
12 Apostles Of Jesus Christ

Finding Something You Don't Like About Yourself - Creating Habits

2009-08-19T11:38:00.001-07:00

Finding something you don't like about yourself is usually very easy for most people. Most of the time you don't even have to ask your family or friends because you have heard them complain about the same thing for years. How many times have you heard someone mention, I need to lose weight?
Here's a list of things people don't like about themselves. If you're one of those people that has a hard time finding something wrong with yourself, you could always ask one of your friends for some suggestions. I'm sure they would like that.
1. The need to lose weight. This of course is one of the worst problems with Americans. Most people need to lose weight and let's not forget there are some people that need to gain weight.
2. The need to stop gambling. As more Indian reservations are allowed to build gambling casinos and of course as the Internet gambling gets larger, I've noticed some people with gambling problems.
3. The need to stop drinking alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been going on for many years. These people have an excuse for why they drink and most of the time it doesn't make sense.
4. The need to stop smoking. This could be one of the most difficult things I've ever seen my friends and family deal with.
5. The need to stop excessive behaviors. For example, gossiping, cruelty, bullying, lying, cheating, stealing, partying etc. You get the idea.
6. Don't forget the dreaded shopaholic. Most shopaholic's seem to have large credit card debt and can't seem to stop this vicious circle of buying and owing money to their creditors.
7. Working long hours or the workaholic. Sometimes this is a necessity but I would suggest that you change your lifestyle if possible. Reevaluate your reasons for working so hard.
8. Religious fundamentalists. People that spend too much time at their place of worship and soon find themselves feeling guilty if they're not doing something spiritual.
9. The need to be on time. This would include people that have problems giving themselves enough time to get ready for work or school.
10. The need to stop doing drugs. I thought by now, approaching my 50s, that drugs would no longer be a problem in the United States, but it is. It's one of the most damaging things people can do to their lives.
There are plenty of things that people would like to stop doing or start doing. If you're a smoker and you seem to shop excessively near the casinos, I would advise you to start with something small and work your way up to the big stuff.
What are you going to change today about your life? Make a list of things that you're not happy with about your life and start making the changes today that you need to create the life you deserve and desire.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a personal development video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
You Have To Start Somewhere

Removing Interior Walls

2009-08-18T23:30:00.001-07:00

Here's a word of advice for any contractor, Carpenter, handyman or homeowner that is planning to remove an interior wall from your home or someone else's. Beware of removing interior walls, to eliminate your fears of the house collapsing. Some of the interior walls inside of the house are important structural components of the building.
Some of these walls hold up floors, roofs and other loadbearing sections that could create safety problems within the structure of the house itself. This is an area where an expert with framing skills should be consulted. What is the definition of someone with excellent framing skills? Some one with at least 10 years as a master framing carpenter.
My home building experience consists of three decades for over 30 years of assembling some of the most difficult sections of a home. During these years I have seen damage done to houses from removing structural interior walls. Most of this damage could be repaired with a little structural engineering. Some of the damage could not be repaired and caused other damage to different sections of the house. The damage caused in some cases to the floor and the roof framing had to be completely rebuilt.
I'm not telling you about every single thing I have ran into but you would be surprised if I started to make a list of all the homeowners and professionals in the building industry or home selling and buying business that contacted me to remove a structural component of a building. There have even been a few of these people that told me everything was going to be okay just go ahead and remove the structural building component.
Needless to say I would leave these people very irritated but I'm sure they found someone to do the job. The bad news is I was normally the person they would hire to go back and repair the damaged building after these people were gone and out of business. There have been cases where people have removed an interior walls against my better judgment and over the years of driving by in these homes I personally got to witness the structural damage that was occurring on the outside of the house.
I have no idea what the inside of the house looked like but could only imagine. My advice again when removing interior walls is to hire an experienced contractor or at least get some advice from an experienced framing carpenter. This does not include your basic know it all that has basic construction experience like your father in law, parents, friends, golfing associates or people you work with that tell you not to worry about it, just do it, everything will work out just fine.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and What Does A Shear Wall Do
Stop Losing Your Car Keys

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

2009-08-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

During my 30 years of remodeling and building new homes. I have ran across quite a bit of structural framing failures. I find myself answering this question a lot when explaining to a homeowner about the structural failure I am repairing on their home, "Why Didn't They Use Better Lumber" or " Why Didn't They Use Larger Lumber." I really have a hard time answering these questions because I honestly don't know the answer.
However I can try to use some logic and reason to give these people an answer that seems to make sense to both of us. Why didn't they use better lumber, quite simply because, with most older homes that were built before the 1970s they actually do have better lumber. Now you're probably thinking how can these homes have better lumber when the lumber is old versus the new lumber used in a brand new house.
Most of the structural repairs I have made over the years has nothing to do with the lumber and whether it was new or old. A large number of these repairs were caused by neglect and poor maintenance.
The lumber in most older houses are from older growth trees. Some of these trees were extremely large and only the premium parts of the trees were used. The premium lumber is cut farthest away from the center of the tree. Now the larger the tree it makes sense that there will be more premium lumber.
A large majority of the newer lumber used in home construction comes from trees about 6 inches in diameter. Now you're probably wondering how can they cut a 2 x 8 piece of lumber out of a 6 inch tree. Of course they cannot, the larger lumber comes from larger trees.
Most 2 x 4's that are less than 8 foot long can be cut from these trees. This scrap or waste that comes from cutting these two by fours will now go into engineered building materials like particleboard, oriented strand board and engineered beams. Another name for an engineered been would be a paralam.
I hope you're starting to get the picture now when it comes to using new or old lumber. There are companies that are going into old logging rivers and retrieving old growth lumber. These were logs that sank to the bottom of the river's and were never retrieved because it was too costly.
The old growth lumber is quite expensive. Who's to say what problems we will happen in the future from the newer products created with modern day technology. When it comes to building houses it is not an exact science and as contractors we have been repairing the damage from poor engineering for years.
When I use the word poor engineering I am not pointing fingers at engineers. We now have more knowledge about home construction then we had years ago.
New versus old lumber, who wins the battle. Only time will tell.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Structural Repairs.
Jim Jones Impact On My Life