Jun 30, 2009

Peoples and Persons

�But the Lord said, `You have been conceed about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow...But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left...Should I not be conceed about that great city?'" (Jonah 4:10,11).

Jonah is one of the more interesting people in the Bible. He was that most human mixture of strength and weakness; Godly yet bigoted, selfish and mean spirited, just like the rest of us.

And yet God seems to say to Jonah, "Come, let us reason together, Jonah. You are conceed about this measly vine which I have destroyed with a worm, and you are so angry about it you could die. And yet I want to save this nation, people and animals, and you seem so unconceed about them. I want no more controversy with you, Jonah, for I am both sovereign and merciful. You are merciful to this gourd which is as nothing to the people in Nineveh, and yet you are angry that I want to overlook their sins and accept their repentance."

This passage from Jonah tells us of God's conce for the population. The great city is as much His distress as the sparrow. God is a God of peoples as well as persons. His Son wept over Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often I have longed to gather your children together...but you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37). Here Nineveh is willing to repent, and God is willing to forgive. The Book of Jonah is filled with lessons and waings. One waing is for us to beware of expectations interfering with our present obligations. Jonah expected God to destroy Nineveh, not realizing that God's plans are flexible. Another lesson is to let God lead rather than give in to our own inclinations. Jonah ran the other way and God still caught up with him, for God does know best. Our direction in duty is God's direction. All benefit when all obey. Nineveh did, and probably so did Jonah, after God reasoned with him.

There Are Life Lessons Every Where

The other day, Erica and Eli baked their first cake, with very little help from me. We found a recipe off the Inteet and went together to the grocery store to buy all of the ingredients.

They were so excited. Although they have helped me cook dinner and bake cookies in the past, this was going to be their first attempt at baking solely on their own. I told them that I would only help them to put the cake into the oven and to take it out when it was done so that they would not have to deal with a hot stove. Well, I did read the directions a bit when they seemed a little stumped as to what they should do next.

It was a hilarious experience. They had flour all over themselves, the floor, the table, the chairs and Eli even managed to get it in his ears.

Anyway, after adding all of the ingredients and mixing it together, they greased and floured the pan and put the cake into the oven. We set the timer and the cake began to bake.

They couldn�t keep their eyes off the oven. The recipe called for them to bake it for 30 minutes. They pulled up stools in front of the oven and watched it as if they were watching the Super Bowl. Every 30 seconds they asked me was it done yet? Thirty minutes never seemed longer.

Finally, the timer went off. They jumped off the stools and laughed and jumped up and down, elated about their creation.

When I opened the oven, I could tell right away that the cake was not quite done. So, I said, �I don�t think it is quite done.� �Yes it is. The recipe said thirty minutes and thirty minutes is up. It�s done.�

�No, the middle part is still soft and jiggles. I think we should leave it in for a few minutes more.�

�No, Mommy, you said we could do this ourselves.�

�OK. But I�m going on record that I think it should stay a little longer.�

I took the cake out the oven and told them that we had to wait for the cake to cool off before we could add the icing.

Well, that was too nerve-racking for them, and for me, I might add. Because every 10 seconds one of them was asking me, is it cool yet? What about now? I think it�s ready. It feels cool to me? Hey, Cake, are you cool yet?

Finally, it was cool enough to add the icing and you should have seen them go to work. They added white icing and even made flowers on the cake. They drew pictures with the icing, they added their names, and they added everything they could possibly think to add on every square inch of that cake. The entire cake was white, yellow, green and pink.

When they were finally finished, they had done a really great job on being creative. I had never seen a cake like it before. Now, don�t get me wrong, it would have never won first prize in a cake baking contest, but for a six and seven year old, they displayed a lot of creativity.

If you could have seen them, you would have thought they had just accomplished the biggest task the world had ever seen. They were SOOOOO proud of themselves. Their cake looked like Mommy�s�better yet, according to Erica, it looked like Grandma�s.

After dinner that night, we had cake for dessert. Now, I must give them their prompts. The cake LOOKED really good. But once it cooled off, the part of the cake that wasn�t completely done had sunk into the middle of the cake. And when we cut the cake, it didn�t taste all that great. Actually, there were quite a bit of egg shells in the cake which made it quite crunchy. I had to shoot my husband prisms so he would keep his mouth shut and not say anything bad about the cake.

Of course I encouraged them and told them what a fabulous job they had done with the cake and how wonder it had tued out. But children are sometimes brutally honest, even with themselves, and both Erica and Eli were quick to say, �This might look like a good cake, but it doesn�t really taste all that good.� They were trying to figure out what the hard white things were that were in the cake.

Being me, I had to take this opportunity and share with them one of life�s true lessons that I wanted to share with you today.

See, a lot of times we have absolutely no problem with spending hours working on the outside of ourselves trying to make us �appear� beautiful�going to the salon, getting our nails done, legs waxed, pedicures, shopping for hours for the right shoes--but we become very impatient when it comes to working to make the necessary changes on the inside, the part that counts.

Erica and Eli spent the most time decorating the cake and displayed a lot of impatience when it came to waiting for the cake to be complete. Even though they were waed that the cake was not quite ready, they were willing to sacrifice the taste, because of their impatience.

Working to make true changes in your life, means starting from the inside and working your way out. But for the most part, it won�t happen over night. Sometimes it takes what may seem like forever. But don�t let your impatience allow you to compromise the greatness that you will become. If it requires that you go back into the oven for a few more minutes, or a few more days, or weeks, or months, or years �do it. Trust me. The end results will be all worth it. Not only will you look like Grandma�s cake, but you will taste like it too.

Dawn Fields - EzineArticles Expert Author

Dawn Fields is a Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and Author. She helps you discover and live your life's purpose in a down-to-earth, easily comprehensive type of way. Visit her web site at http://www.dawnfields.com and be sure to sign up for Your Life's Purpose newsletter by sending a blank email to mailto:yourlifespurpose-subscribe@topica.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Tune in each and every Thursday to Your Life's Purpose Interactive Inteet Radio Show at 9 p.m. EST http://www.dawnfields.com/radioshow.htm

Jun 29, 2009

Our Skimpy Buckets

"The woman said, `You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep'" (John 4:11).

We stand by the well of life with our pitifully small containers, knowing that the well is too deep for us to perceive. We lower and lower our broken cistes into the world's offerings of so-called wisdom. When we find the well is muddy and putrid, we look around for another who has a larger and more intact pitcher, and more knowledge of where to look for who possibly can help us. Again we are frustrated; our brothers and sisters are just as uncertain and unsteady as we are. Finally we lose faith and patience, for at last we realize that God has made foolish the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:20).

Then one day there stands beside us One who understands all things: our griefs, our sins, our hopes and our dashed hopes. There we are with our skimpy bucket ready to draw again from a well that will not quench our dryness, and yet we still question and cavil and we say to Jesus, "What do You have to draw with? I don't see anything. I can't have faith in You to quench this awful thirst for something better in my life, for I can't see what You have." How sad!

"Suppose there is a well of fathomless trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says, `Let not your heart be troubled'; and you shrug your shoulders and say, `But, Lord, the well is deep; You cannot draw up quietness and comfort out of it'" (Oswald Chambers). Jesus must weep that we have such a difficult time believing that He has the means to dip into the well of life and to draw up for us His sustaining graces. And His water doesn't just keep us alive; it makes us alive to all His blessings.

Jun 28, 2009

Seven Powerful Steps to Increase Self Confidence

We come into this world with total self-confidence/self-esteem. An infant has self-confidence/self-esteem that their cries will get them what they need--food, diaper change, cuddling, communication, soothing, etc. If the child's needs are readily met and the child senses they are accepted unconditionally they flourish. If their basic needs for survival and emotional sustanence are only met sporadically or poorly their sense of self-confidence/self-esteem begins to deteriorate. If the child continues to experience depravation they begin to view themselves as not being good enough to be cared for or cared about. Their birth-right to self-confidence/self-esteem has been compromised. Thus, as an adult those who have experience any form of depravation, they need to re-establish what is their birth-right: Self-confidence/Self-esteem.

1.) Ask yourself, �What would be the worst outcome?� We tend to place excess importance on potential problems�a.k.a.�Worrying ahead syndrome. We have an infinite amount of energy so let�s apply it to creating extraordinary relationships, advancing our careers and meeting our goals INSTEAD of wasting that energy worrying. Take action on what you have control over and minimize risks for what you don�t. Then invest your energy wisely.

2.) Disengage the nagging, negative inteal critical voice. That negative inteal critical voice can keep anyone stuck. To disengage the inteal voice, imagine a volume control and lower the volume. Or simply change the inteal voice to the Disney Channel. Do you think you could take Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck seriously if they were criticizing you? The point is to disengage the critical voice by altering the way it nags at you. If you hear your own voice or a critical parent voice nagging you, it will paralyze you. If you hear a funny voice, you laugh and maybe hear the irony of your negative inteal critic and continue onward.

3.) When doing something for the first time, imagine that you have already done it. Close your eyes, then, vividly imagine you succeeding at what you are planning to do for the first time. The mind does NOT know the difference between something VIVIDLY imagined and something real. Make it vivid by involving all 5 senses.

4.) Find someone who is already confident in the area of expertise you need and watch how they do it. Model as many of their behaviors, attitudes, values, and beliefs for the context you want to be confident in. How can you do this? Talk with them if you have access to them. If you don�t have access to them, get as much exposure to them as you can. This could be talking to people who know the person and/or buying their products if they have some.

5.) Act �As-if.� Act as-if you already have the habit/behavior you desire. If you were confident, �How would you be feeling? What would you be doing? How would you be speaking? What would you be thinking? What would you tell yourself�self-talk?� By asking yourself these questions, you compel yourself to answer them by going into a confident state. You will then be acting �As-if� you are confident. As you continue to act �As-If� you will notice you are acting less and less as your behavior becomes a habit. Within 30 to 45 days you�ll develop it into a natural habit/behavior.

6.) Project yourself into the future and ask if what you�re faced with is as onerous as you fear. This might be a bit morbid and yet this works tremendously well. Imagine yourself on your deathbed looking back over your life. You are surrounded by your friends and family. You�re reviewing your life. Is what you�re faced with now even going to pop up? That�s highly unlikely. Keeping things in proper perspective really diminishes fear.

7.) Remember that you lose out on 100% of the opportunities that you never go for. Nothing ventured�Nothing gained. To get what you want, ask for it. If you consistently ask people for what you want, you will get it. As you think about your goals and what you are striving for, how effective would it be for you to believe that several people out there want to and would be willing to help you if you only ask? People will help because they know they might need help in the future and you might be a source. Whether that is true or not in the �real world� is irrelevant. The belief is empowering, I invite you to adopt it.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD - EzineArticles Expert Author

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD as an inspiratinal leader empowers people to see life's issues as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. Author, If I'd Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, she is noted for her pioneering work in verbal, physical, sexual abuse prevention and recovery. http://www.gen-assist.com/book.asp

The Seasons Of Life Part 3 of 5

This week is part three of our five part series on The Season's of Life.

In Part One of the series, I stated:

a) That life is about constant, predictable pattes of change.

b) For all of us, the only constant factor is our feelings and attitudes toward life.

c) We as human beings have the power of attitude and that attitude determines choice, and choice determines results.

In Part Two of our series, I stated:

a) Life and business are like the changing seasons.

b) You cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.

c) A major lesson in life to lea is how to handle the winters.

d) Winter time allows you to get stronger, wiser, better. The winters don't change, but you can.

This week we talk about spring. Fortunately, following the turbulence of winter comes the season of activity and opportunity called springtime. It is the season for entering the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment, and a determined effort.

However, the mere arrival of spring is no sign that things are going to look good in the fall. You must do something with the spring. In fact, everyone has to get good at one of two things: planting in the spring or begging in the fall. Take advantage of the day and the opportunities that spring can bring.

It is the promise of spring that as we sow, so shall we also reap. Faith further provides to us an irrevocable law decreed in heaven which assures that for every disciplined human effort we will receive a multiple reward. For each cup planted, a bushel reaped, for every good idea given to another, many shall be given to us in retu. For every demonstrated act of faith, a multiplicity of the rewards, and for every act of love given, a life of love in retu.

Just remember it is a natural characteristic of springtime to present itself ever so briefly, or to lull us into inactivity with its bounteous beauty. Do not pause too long to soak in the aroma of the blossoming flowers, lest you awaken to find springtime gone with your seed still in your sack.

With the intelligence, wisdom, and freedom of choice given to us as humans exercise the discipline to plant in spite of the rocks, weeds, or other obstacles before us. The rocks, weeds, and thos of the world cannot destroy all your seeds if you plant massively enough and intelligently enough. My suggestion is to choose action, not rest. Choose truth, not fantasy. Choose a smile, not a frown. Choose love, not animosity. Choose the good in life in all things, and choose the opportunity as well as the chance to work when springtime smiles on your life.

Spring shows us that life is truly a constant beginning, a constant opportunity, a constant springtime. We need only to lea to look once again at life as we did as children, letting fascination and curiosity give us welcome cause to look for the miraculous hidden among the common.

Get busy quickly on your springs, your opportunities. There are just a handful of springs that have been handed to each of us. Life is brief, even at its longest. Whatever you are going to do with your life, get at it. Don't just let the seasons pass by.

(Next week we will talk about Summer, the time of testing.)

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

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To read previous articles, quotes, and Q and A from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine Archives, or to get a complete listing of Jim Rohn's books, audios, videos and seminar schedule, or to place an order; please go to: www.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434 M-F 8:30-5:30 CST.
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Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn Inteational. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

Jun 27, 2009

Playing Hurt

�Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow: The same God who cares for you today will take care of you and yours tomorrow and everyday. Either God will shield you from suffering or God will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.� St Francis Desales

�Hands down,� my husband said. �It�s Super Bowl Sunday and you need to write another �Playing Hurt� Newsletter.

It was a tradition started by our old pastor and dear friend, Wayne Smith, arguably one of the most influential Christian pastors in America. He preached tirelessly for over forty years to the faithful who, Sunday after Sunday, both drove great distances to hear him preach as well as sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic for endless miles of the stretch down the only highway leading to the mammoth church in Kentucky. His message was always divinely inspired, but it was his yearly �Playing Hurt� sermon on Super Bowl Sunday that drew the ravest reviews.

It�s because most of us are playing hurt. In one way or another.

And so I wrote my first �Playing Hurt� Newsletter last year, as I played �excruciatingly hurt� when Nick got diagnosed with cancer. Am I worry-free now? Completely walking in faith without shuffling in fear? Absolutely not. I�m only human. I still play hurt on some days, like I did this Thursday when I got a phone call from him saying that he had a fever and was in the doctor�s office. My stomach moved to my throat; my heart raced faster; and my mind played mental gymnastics that were something less than limber.

I admit to playing hurt this year for entirely different reasons. I�m a tad bit physically hurt...but it�s that �good hurt� that comes from exhausting exercise, the kind that I didn�t get quite enough of last year because of Nick�s treatment. It�s similar to the kind of hurt that the football players in the Super Bowl play through. Achy muscle hurt. Broken bone hurt. Sore ribs hurt. As the football players stay in the game despite their hurt (did you catch the player riding the stationary bike through a pulled groin?), I booked a tennis game for tomorrow moing. Despite a throbbing previously-broken shoulder and a throbbing-even-more previously-shattered leg. I need to play hurt to make my body even stronger. Professional football players stay in the Super Bowl with broken fingers, pounding muscles, and aching heads. They stick it out until the end. Keep their eye on the ball. Until the game is over and a winner declared.

This year finds many friends of mine suffering emotional pain, and I�m playing hurt with them. Fractured relationships, parenting challenges, strained marriages. Playing hurt while helping them sort out difficult issues. And I have my own playing hurt issues to resolve, too. Disappointments on the business and personal side that require healing.

And these long, bitter days of winter don�t exactly help to lift our spirits, do they? Full of bleakness and of gray, devoid of sunshine and flowers, our landscapes are marked by leafless trees and barely-bubbling creeks. The dreariness makes it even easier to bathe in hurt and in pain. To become depressed with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. With little in the next weeks to look forward to other than a possible delivery from the florist on Valentine�s Day or the surprise of some dark chocolate, it�s almost �natural� to walk around playing completely hurt. No bright, happy colors in wardrobes or nature to inspire and delight our senses, playing hurt in January seems a logical choice.

All of us play hurt at some point in our lives. It's not the playing hurt that separates us from the rest; it's how we choose to play when we play hurt. I am fully aware that when I play sad when playing hurt, that I do not play my best game. Because I wallow in too much self-pity and take my eye off the ball. I am also fully aware that when I play scared when playing hurt I do not play my best game, either. Because then I live in fear instead of in faith. And when I play angry, I play a pretty horrible game, too. Because then I get cranky with everyone around me and take all the fun out of things. Playing angry when playing hurt serves no useful purpose at all; I need to clean out a closet or sweep the hardwood floors on those days.

When I play hurt, I need to play strong. I need to abandon fear and worry and instead, incorporate a walk in faith. "The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit." I need to stop playing angry and get on with the game. I need to enter into the game with joy and with hope, for "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not grow faint."

Playing hurt is never as much fun as playing pain-free. Not in football nor in tennis nor in life. But playing hurt is something that, every now and then, we are forced to play. And sometimes through it, but certainly in the end, we'll see the beauty in strength. "�strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us." (Colossians 1: 11-12)

With daffodils and sunshine just around the coer, I pray that whether you�re playing hurt or playing strong, you will gain strength with each passing day and that you will eventually soar like the eagles. Just like the pros at the Super Bowl.

Carolina Feandez - EzineArticles Expert Author

Carolina Feandez eaed an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were bo about the role of the arts in child development; ten years of homeschooling and raising four kids provide fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is widely available online, in bookstores or through 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via seminars, workshops, keynotes and monthly meetings of the ROCKET MOM SOCIETY, a sisterhood group she launched to �encourage, equip and empower moms for excellence.� Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com.

Jun 26, 2009

Superstition is Magical Thinking

Most of us grew up with superstitions. A few of my childhood favorites are seven years of bad luck for breaking a mirror, bad luck for walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella indoors and having a black cat cross my path will also produce bad luck. I have heard of athletes that have to wear a certain pair of socks or have a lucky coin in their pocket when they play "the big game." The truth is we all have superstitions.

As my sister and I move through the process of selling our childhood home, we were brainstorming ways to move the sale along. I remembered that a friend buried a statue of St. Joseph in her front yard to expedite the sale of her home. The house sold quickly. My sister thought I was nuts when I suggested this to her. But we found out that a lot of people share this superstition when we got on the Inteet. There is even a St. Joseph house selling kit available for purchased. I have no idea if burying St. Joseph really works or if it works because people believe it works, and I have to wonder if it matters. Thoughts are things and what we think becomes what we believe and what we believe becomes reality.

Superstitions are not really silly and can actually be helpful if not just a little amusing. Superstitions are also rich in tradition and folklore. The concept of burying the St. Joseph statue comes from stories of nuns placing St. Joseph medals on property they wanted for the convent. The tradition evolved into the statue concept. Many traditions date way back, and some are personal ones we create. I have created many superstitions of my own. Since I only believe in good luck I believe it is lucky when a black cat or any animal crosses my path. I still recite the poem "See a penny pick it up. All day you'll have luck" anytime I see a penny lying on the ground. Superstitions can be fun and helpful as long as we believe they are.

According to the Inteet, a superstition is "A set of behaviors that are related to magical thinking, whereby the practitioner believes that the future, or the outcome of certain events, can be influenced by certain specified behaviors." I love the idea of magical thinking. So to create superstitions is to think magically. To my way of thinking superstitions are a way to create magic. And who doesn't want a little magic in their life?

Rachelle Disbennett-Lee - EzineArticles Expert Author

Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching � Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com.

Jun 25, 2009

Self Talk What Do You Say When You Talk to Yourself

You have just completed a major work project before the deadline. Having worked diligently and spending your own time, you�re proud of the results and can�t wait to impress your boss. You show him the project and he immediately begins to criticize it and you. The criticism is completely unwarranted. What do you say to yourself? "I've failed again" or "He must be having a bad day, I know I did an excellent job"?

You�ve thought of an innovative idea for a business that you really believe in. Excitedly, you tell your spouse who finds only faults with your idea. He tells you it�ll never work. Seeking another opinion, you confide in one of your closest friends. She has nothing positive to say either. What do you say to yourself? "Why can't I ever come up with good ideas" or "I know my concept is good, I'm going to go with it"?

You�re a volunteer at a civic organization. You make a suggestion for a fundraiser and the president of the organization tells you it�s a bad idea that won�t work. What do you say to yourself? "It's no problem if they don't like my ideas, I'll still help anyway I can" or "If they don't like my suggestion, they can do it themselves"?

You help your neighbor move some fuiture. Several months later, you ask them for help carrying some heavy items to the dumpster. He tells you he�s too busy and doesn�t have time. What do you say to yourself? "Fine, last time I help him or anyone else" or "No big deal, I�ll ask one of my other friends to help"?

There�s a job opening where you work. The position is something that you always wanted to do. It�s a great opportunity and would be a promotion. You�re not sure if you have enough experience. What do you say to yourself? �I�ll apply, I�ve got nothing to loose� or �Why bother applying, I�ve got no chance�?

You can probably relate to one or more of these illustrations or have experiences that are similar in nature. Comments of all sorts are volunteered by everyone; friends, family, coworkers, bosses, acquaintances, and even strangers.

People are constantly giving you their unsolicited opinions. There's nothing you can do, it�s human nature. What�s important is what you say to yourself, not what others say to you.

Without discrimination, your brain believes whatever you tell it and immediately goes to work figuring a way to make the statements happen. Your mind processes your self-talk 24 hours a day. Don�t say to yourself phrases you don�t want to come true.

Tell yourself things that help rather than hurt you. You want to be saying things such as I can do this, I am capable, I'm a good person, I can lea what I need to know, I can make it work, and good things will be happening.

Whatever it is that you say to yourself, you are right. Occasionally, I have a student tell me that he or she can't do something. I tell them if that's the way they feel, they are right. But if someone says, �I can do it,� they are also right. Remarking "I can't do this" is different than saying "I need help" or "I don't understand." Asserting, "I can't" is a final conclusion rather than making an effort to seek a solution.

Be aware of and monitor what you say to yourself. Don't tell yourself anything that�s not going to help and assist you in achieving a positive outcome. Always engage in positive self-talk.

Copyright 2005 Bryan Golden

Bryan Golden is a self-development and motivational expert, author, and adjunct professor. He is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits," and writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column. For more information please visit: http://www.daretolivewithoutlimits.com or http://www.bryangolden.com

Jun 24, 2009

Reaffirming Love

"You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him" (2 Corinthians 2:7).

Sorrow can make one look through a dark glass when he or she is swallowed up in anguish. One struggling with somber thoughts is unable to "behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This particular passage deals with a backslider, but this wise advice to realize and reassure our love for a troubled one is true for any who need mercy and solace and restoration to the family or community. We all need reaffirmation at times.

Love is encouragement: "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). It is possible to look beyond what people are and have done, and love them for what they can be. Love then becomes redemptive and rejuvenating. It is said that Michelangelo found a piece of rough marble that had been cast aside as useless. He was told that no good thing could come from it, but Michelangelo said, "It is not useless. Send it to my studio. There is an angel imprisoned within it, and I must set it free." We can help release the distressed caught in the hard marble of life through showing them God's forgiveness and love.

Jesus went about freeing angels from within seemingly useless or sinful human beings finally released by His love: Zacchaeus the tax collector, Mary Magdalene, Saul to become Paul, the thief on the cross, the woman of Samaria -- and us! Jesus sees what we can be and He treats us accordingly. And He asks that we do the same for others: treat them as they can be, through His transforming grace and our love for them in Christ�s name.

Jun 23, 2009

Right and Easy Are Rarely The Same Thing A 5 Part Series

The right thing and the easy thing are rarely the same. This is a truism that transcends subject, gender, economics, or culture. Life is funny that way. There is an opportunity cost to everything that we do. Despite the persistent search for the elusive �win/win� solution and despite the prolific claims of corporation executives that they deliver the �win/win� solution, the typical solution is either �I win/you don�t and can�t do anything about it,� �I win/ you don�t do so bad� or �nobody gets anything really good.� Consider the Constitution of the United States, World War II, the shift from 1 parent working to 2 parents working outside the home in the average household and �paper or plastic� in this five part series.

Before we begin, I should make a disclosure. I have an aunt that has said that if a mountain appeared in the middle of my path, I will always choose the more difficult choice to climb the mountain instead of the easier path of simply going around. I can see why she would think that about me. It isn�t true but it is a reasonable and frequently arrived at conclusion by those that don�t reside in my head with my thoughts like I do. I like easy as much as anybody, maybe more. I live by a code; not �the code� like Eest Hemingway but a code that I made up myself.

Now, my code isn�t anything weird and off the wall. I don�t start each day licking a frog. It is a series of rules that pretty much everyone agrees on but many people find colorful and creative ways to provide caveats that create a list of exceptions a mile long. It�s not that I am not flexible. I just require a compelling reason to revisit the code. It makes it a lot easier for me to make decisions because I have rules. I compare any given scenario to the rules and the necessary action reveals itself. I have told you this about myself so that you know that I am aware of how improbable what I am about to suggest really is. I want you to know that as improbable as it is, I suggest it all the same because I believe it. And, although I don�t always make the right choice; I don�t just talk about it. I have spent a lot of time paying the price for living it.

Dawn Worthy - EzineArticles Expert Author

Dawn Worthy, owner of Fresh From the Farm, offers a complete line of biodegradable, vegan friendly, organic botanical soap. What is in the soap is good. What isn't in the soap is better. There are no artificial ingredients. There are no manufacturing, coloring or fragrance additives. It's simple, Aunt Ann's Garden Soap is naturally good. We invite you to see for yourself at http://www.FreshFromtheFarm.Us

The Mind s Fancy Dress Party Or A Brainstorming Session

In Berlin a restaurant opens for anorexics and in Buffalo a lawyer with a stutter wins a court case. When everything you're working on has gone STALE and your own initially promising concepts are starting to annoy you, you need a brainstorming session to get to the missing bits or generate some new ideas.

The papers provide ample ideas for jump starts. A stutterer in a court case or an anorexic going to a restaurant that has opened especially for them must have no problems with ideas to keep them going for at least two weeks after their memorable experiences.

Brainstorming is trix galore, right? But that's really nothing new. Our mind plays on us all the time, wherever we are, whatever we do. It thinks of a stutter as its rightful body. Or of the numb anorexic craving as its self in top form.

The mind's always on a mission. Always. When faced with putting together a magazine-type product, a sales promotion concept, a new hype of some sort. It's the mind, that comes up with everything.

When brainstorming, think of the stutterer. At all cost, do NOT work on losing the stutter if you wanna speak. It's only obstructing and keeping you from the ideas labeled 'good' in the recesses you're trying to access.

Material to work with? Anything, so long as it is not defined. Space for now. Goal to achieve? An arrival point.

Very often the best ideas are the ones bo in the early seconds of a session. Here at contentClix, we call it 'performance brainstorming'. Trust your instinct rather than the treacherous mind and your first utterances prove most valuable.

What DO we get at when we get at what we normally miss out on? And DO we miss out? Or does what we can't afford to miss out on catch up with us anyway?

Days that we are opening restaurants for anorexix are here. Really, since last December. How about launching something with a statement. Something like "Soon, human beings don't have to think anymore and they'll still be thinking". Sounds like a reproach to technology - it's also been said 1,000 times of poetry.

So we live in days that a restaurant caters for anorexics. A real-life manifestation of something we think of as an unviable concept made into a commercial venture, a marketable concept.

We really are so overmarketed in our entertainment that this new theme restaurant probably doesn't even stand out any more. We can go around feeding anorexics and the poor girlies probably won't feel in any way forced to eat. Solves their problem by creating a new layer in indifference on a wider scale.

Perhaps this is a consolation for those girlies with enough energy left to be on the lookout for healthier anger ventilation opportunities: of the stutterers, 80 is male.

The mind's mission RIGHT NOW is getting on target. Do you feel it coming? The next thought you're likely to produce is something to do with doing your very best and losing a stutter. A marriage of idea and form! Perhaps we nearing some arrival point.

Angelique van Engelen runs http://www.contentClix.com, a copywriting agency in Amsterdam. She has lived and worked as a joualist in the Middle East and London for over six years and currently lives in the Netherlands.

Jun 22, 2009

The Meaning of Life Not Just Another Dust in the Wind Theory

I grew up in the south in the 1960's. Married when I was 18 and joined the Army when I was 23. I traveled to Germany then back to the states where I lived in Connecticut for a while and then Tennessee for 10 years. I am now living in Maine.

Of all the traveling I have done in my life I have heard people asking one question constantly. It doesn't matter if you are religious or not. We all want to know "What is the meaning of life?" I myself have asked that question a thousand times.

Socrates and Plato and a thousand other deep thinkers of their times have tried to define or explain the meaning of life. Each with his own perception and understanding and most times with a very complicated explanation.

It was not until I took up hiking in the mountains of Tennessee that I had plenty of time to ponder the complexities of this age old question. Being a Christian I was raised to believe certain things and to look at life in certain ways. But as I got older and began studying and searching for myself I began to realize that what I was taught as a child was not as complicated as some would have had me believe.

I always wondered why God would have put us here simply to suffer through this life. After all he does love us and of that I have no doubt. So why then? I studied and pondered and reflected in deep thought just like many have before me, and like them, to no avail.

Then one day while hiking the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee I came to a clearing overlooking a valley. It was a clear day with the sun shining bright. As I looked out across the valley I saw an eagle soaring on the wind. And as usual the thought crossed my mind that it would be really nice to be able to soar like that. Then I thought, do eagles look at us and wish they were like us?

That is when something inside me clicked. It was more like an explosion or an awakening of sorts. The meaning of life was so simple that I had looked right past it thinking that it would be some big discovery of some sort. Some words of wisdom that would make me look like a genius. Instead three words kept going through my brain. Thundering as if God himself was speaking them directly into my thoughts.

We spend our entire lives from the moment we take our first breath til our last one is used up trying to be something we aren't. Whether we are trying to get a job by seeming more experienced or trying to win someones heart by becoming the person they are looking for. We act differently in different situations. Why?

It is in our nature I suppose or at least the nature of the flesh. But God's nature is to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And since we are to strive to be more "God-like", which I used to think meant to try to be perfect, then the meaning of life is nothing more than to "JUST BE YOU!"

Yep, it is just that simple. Be you no matter what happens or where you are or who you are with or what you are trying to achieve. If you can do this you will be something that the majority of people will never be. Good, bad or indifferent you will just be you.

John Dyer is the owner of: thisonlinepage.com

T.H.I.S stands for Truth Honesty Integrity Sincerity - something the author has found too little of online.

Salute Your Magnificence

My friend Caroline and I were out shopping one day when we noticed some items on a half-price table. Immediately our eyes went to a stunning Serafin angel that had been marked down. I picked it up and noticed a label: �Broken � half-price.�

Though we looked carefully, we couldn�t find the flaw. We took it to the counter and asked the sales clerk to show us the break. She too could find nothing.

�Maybe it was put on the table by mistake.� I said.

The clerk went to the back room to ask her manager. When she finally retued, she said �My manager said that it it�s on the half-price table, then it�s on sale.�

�What about the break?� we asked her.

�My manager says if it�s marked �broken.� then it�s broken. Do you still want it?�

�Yes, yes, we�ll take it.�

Were you labeled �broken� at some point while growing up? Were you humiliated and dumped on a half-price table for all to see? Were you awkward at something? Not good enough? Too much trouble? Did some adult calculate your worth and give you a price tag? Those labels are rubs on your rock of self esteem.

Sometimes we may feel like broken angels, but we�re not really broken at all. There�s nothing wrong with us, but the labels from the past are a heavy burden. We�ve convinced ourselves that they were right after all. Those labels bruised our spirits. They were the voice of authority that as children we felt we couldn�t challenge. But you can now.

Appreciate that you are unique. Even your flaws and imperfections are unique. Connect to your spiritual genesis, to the fact that you have wings. Your Magnificent core cannot be harmed by anyone. This is what esteeming the self is all about.

The Tibetan people have a traditional greeting. When they see each other, they put their hands together palm to palm, fingers pointing up, in front of their chest, bow and say the words �Tashi deley.� The words mean, � I salute the Magnificence in you.� Imagine what a kinder, gentler world it would be if everyone greeted each other in such a holy way. Tashi deley expresses a deep reverence for one another. It is what our world needs today. It would help us realize who we are if the people around us would, at least on occasion, reflect our Magnificence.

When we�re not seen for who we are, we disconnect. We mou. Remember that when you put yourself down, whether consciously or unconsciously, you are denying your Magnificence. And when you deny your Magnificence, you give others permission to do the same.

If we become aware of our hurts, lea to feel our pain and heal it, we become whole again. And when we�re whole, we feel worthy. When we�re whole, we can afford to give our love unconditionally. When we�re whole, we don�t see the flaws in the angel, we just see the beauty, the Magnificence.

Grace Cirocco is a Canadian motivational speaker and the author of the inteational bestseller, Take the Step, the Bridge Will be There. She specializes in women�s issues and runs spiritual retreats for women in North America and Italy. Visit her at http://www.gracecirocco.com

Jun 21, 2009

The Tiniest of Gladiators

I stared into those biggest of navy blue eyes and felt the power of his fighting spirit, despite the pain and week long raging fever. Most of the time my heart was in my throat and my mind was awash with counter-productive thoughts like, "why him?" and "this isn't fair!"

This wasn't helping him to be sure (my daughter was much stronger than I), but in spite, he not only survived the arduous ordeal, but he emerged the victor!

I am talking about my infant grandson, Corbin Nicolas, clobbered with a serious infection of the lymph glands. This tiniest of gladiators toughed out what few adults could have and not only amazed his wonderful pediatrician and hospital staff, but I feel profoundly and positively impacted them.

My precious bundle of joy is not a superhuman little being. He is simply a child, like any other, who knows no different than to fight the fight and win!

Now I ask you: what if YOU knew NO other way than to just go out and win? Well, that's how the true achievers of this world think 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Further, it is the lack of this thinking process that is most often the sole difference between success and failure.

When failure is perceived as a possibility, it will most likely become your reality. However, when we envision success as the only option, just as natural as gravity itself, success is achieved. Not without sacrifice. Not without setbacks. And certainly not without pain. But, it IS achieved!

Personally, and most probably, I'm at least an entry-level workaholic with enough Virgo perfectionism to allow my thinking to stray off course at times. My stress level rises, my thinking pattes disintegrate and I become unfocused. Suddenly, my forward motion is slowed, halted or even reversed.

I was in such a tailspin when the call came from my daughter that something was terribly wrong with Corbin. Of course, business just didn't matter at that point, but it was through this trauma and "in" someone who has been on this planet more than 90 times less than me, and who knew no different than to "just do it!", that I found my way again.

Corbin was released from the hospital after his ten-day fight, better than new and all the stronger in both body and soul.

Look, I'm not a preachy person (most of the time anyway), but every now and then we all need a wake up call to remind us of the very simple laws that propel our universe. And I received mine so close to home and in a circumstance that had absolutely nothing to do with the entrepreneurial spirit, but everything to do with the human spirit.

I leaed my lesson through the eyes of a child.

� Rick Beneteau

EzineArticles Expert Author Rick Beneteau

Rick is co-creator of the breakthrough Make Every Day A Great Day Program. Read the powerful, life-changing testimonials and discover how this revolutionary product can dramatically change Your Life too!: http://www.MakeEveryDayAGreatDay.com/yes

Not a Word of Reproach

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him� (Luke 15:20).

The father gave the son a kiss before his son said a word. It was given while the prodigal was still dirty and in rags; therefore, it was entirely unmerited. This first blessing was followed by many others. NOT A WORD OF REPROACH IS SPOKEN. How important this is for those of us who speak words of reproach to God's children because they may not do and speak as we do.

This is the story of our Father who runs to us while we are yet far away and when we are desperate after having tasted of the husks of life; when we are tired of searching for what is real and true. The son tells his father that he is not worthy but that does not stop the father from loving him and forgiving him and bringing out the best of what he has, to give to his precious son who has come home. Our Father runs to us and gives us His best--anyway! Can we engrave this bright verse on our sad hearts as a beacon light for those days when we feel that not even the Father loves us? When we feel we don't deserve anyone's love?

Herein we have:
1) A love that is quick-sighted: "He saw him a long way off.";
2) A love that is sympathetic: "He had compassion.";
3) A love that is eager to help: "He ran.";
4) A love that yields its all: "He fell on his neck.";
5) A love that delights to forgive: "He kissed him."

Herein we have:
1) Eyes of mercy: "His father saw him. . .";
2) A heart of mercy: "He had compassion.";
3) Feet of mercy: "He ran.";
4) Arms of mercy: "He threw his arms around him.";
5) Lips of mercy: "He kissed him."

Thank You, Father!

Jun 20, 2009

The Bouncer Turning Defeat into Victory

I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep it in perspective. But there are times, often when I least expect it, when life teaches me lessons about the true nature of competition. One of those lessons came on a warm spring day several years ago, in a small town outside Portland, Oregon.

I used to love to watch the high school track team train�especially the distance runners. But that year, my eye was drawn to one girl in particular. Her running style was all wrong�she ran with her arms tucked close to her body, bouncing up and down in a way that must have driven her coaches crazy. My athletic mind scoffed at her strange style, I began to think of her as "the Bouncer."

But the more I watched her, the more I began to notice something else about this awkward young girl. While she ran, she was oblivious to everything and everybody as she bounced around the track, and always wore a smile that could only be described as serene. For her, running had taken on significance that was difficult to define, and in spite of myself, that young woman with the angelic smile began to intrigue me.

Even so, I couldn't help wondering how she was going to fare once the real track season began�and it didn't take long to find out. In early May, the high school hosted its first big track, featuring athletes from every school in the conference.

Since the conference ran the distance races with both boys and girls on the track at the same time, a large group of athletes gathered at the starting line for the two-mile run�including the Bouncer. The gun sounded, and the runners took off in a multi-colored flash.

That year, our school had a very gifted runner named Dave, and he quickly took the lead, one he would never relinquish for that entire season, because he never lost a race.

But the Bouncer quickly fell far behind the pack and as the race progressed. Dave lapped her once, twice, and finally a third time. In fact, every runner, male and female, lapped the Bouncer at least once before it was over. But she just kept running, arms tucked close to her sides, never varying her stride, bouncing up and down�and always wearing the same angelic smile.

I found myself being embarrassed for that ungainly girl who was being lapped again and again. Surely she must be mortified, I thought�but it didn't seem to bother the Bouncer at all. She didn�t even seem to notice, and just kept doing exactly what she was doing, never changing her stride.

A short while later, the crowd rose to its feet, cheering Dave to another victory, followed by scattered applause for every athlete who crossed the finish line after him. It wasn�t long before the Bouncer was the only one left on the track, running all by herself.

That poor kid, I thought. What must she be feeling? Why didn't she just give up? There was nothing at stake now, and nothing to be gained by finishing so far behind the pack. Still, the Bouncer never faltered, and her serene expression never changed.

After what seemed like an eteity, the Bouncer finally approached the final tu, a full five minutes behind even the slowest runner. But then, something strange began to happen. As the Bouncer entered the home stretch, a cheer began to rise up from the bleachers. It rose and swelled, growing louder with each stride the Bouncer took toward the finish line until, finally, every person in the stands, regardless of which team they'd come to support, stood and cheered as if the fate of the entire meet hinged on this one lone girl, bouncing toward the finish line.

The Bouncer tued on no extra burst of speed or big kick down the straightaway. She just continued to run exactly as she�d been doing from the opening gun, smiling so sweetly that it made my heart ache. But as she neared the finish line, the roar of the crowd could be heard echoing throughout the valley. And in the midst of all that noise and celebration, the mighty, invincible Dave walked out onto the track and held out his arm to slap the Bouncer's hand as she crossed the finish line.

It was an incredible moment.

I've seen hundreds of races since that day, and I've seen thousands of runners cross the finish line. But I've never seen anything that embodied the true spirit of victory as I watched on that warm spring so long ago, when I saw a race won�and I mean won�by an ungainly girl I had laughingly called the Bouncer.

So here's to you, Bouncer, wherever you may be, and may your smile always be as sweet as it was on that day.

From Spider�s Night on the Boom

www.abciowa.com

� Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Gary Anderson is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and manuscript analyst, living on a small Iowa farm. He�s published more than 500 articles and four books. He�s also ghosted a dozen books, edited more than 30 full-length manuscripts, produced seven newsletters, and has done more than 800 manuscript reviews for various publishers around the nation. If you need writing or editing help, visit Gary�s website at www.abciowa.com.

abciowa@alpinecom.net

Jun 19, 2009

The Ant Philosophy

Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept - the ant philosophy.

I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them; they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer.

An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer." Why do we need that advice? Because it is important to think ahead. In the summer, you've got to think storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long; we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it tus cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-that-you-possibly-can" philosophy.

Wow, what a great philosophy to have - the ant philosophy. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Special Note: Be part of the 1% that makes a decision to achieve all their goals in 2004! Enroll today in the Jim Rohn One Year Success Plan. For details visit his website address below.


Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn Inteational. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

My Final Last Words Finally Well Almost

If I heard it once I've heard it a million times and this week was no exception. In fact, the words have carelessly tumbled from my lips on many occasions, some of which have been perilously near the conclusion of my sermons. Most preachers never conclude their sermons, they just quit when they cannot indulge the congregation another minute longer.

Someone once asked a famous preacher what it meant when he said, "Now, in conclusion ..." He thought for a moment and then replied, "nothing."

Preachers are not the only ones inflicted with this verbosity virus. Watching a news broadcast lately, I heard a politician tumble headlong into the same abyss; "We're going to make some changes around here," he proclaimed, "and that's my final word on the subject."

It doesn't really matter which politician pontificated thusly, for all of them have said it at one time or another and usually it is never their "final word" on any subject.

Several things are wrong with that statement.

First, when a politician uses the word "we're" he never means to include himself. It's just a word he uses to confuse the subject at hand. Someone once made this observation, "if all the politicians were laid end to end I would not be surprised."

Secondly, the only change most politicians are interested in is the change in my pocket. They have committees devoted to figuring out how they can change the change in my pocket to their pockets. The slickness to which they do this is most remarkable.

Thirdly, there is no such thing as a "final word" among politicians. Every politician insists on having the last word on any subject even though he knows nothing about the subject at hand.

The entire political sorority has one brain, which they share. The Democrats have the left side, the Republicans have the right side and they have one intent; mouth in motion at all times. When a politician has nothing to say you can be sure he will say it most profusely.

Every politician has two sides, before election and after election. What a politician says before being elected has absolutely no relationship with what he or she will say after election. The only thing absolutely certain is the newly-elected politician will have a lot to say, but not much.

Once elected their only strategy is to stay elected. They will do everything and anything to get my vote. I vote they all be elec-tro-cuted. Nothing would be cuter.

One thing that can be said about the political institution in our country, it is an equal opportunity liars club. Women have as much opportunity to join this truth-challenged extravaganza as the men.

I don't know who makes better liars, men or women. The feminine side of this auspicious group has made miraculous progress in catching up to their male counterparts. They both seemed quite adept to the practice.

Many elected officials go to great lengths to keep their constituency from knowing where they stand on the issues. They are seated on committees so they don't have to reveal where they stand. They are good at sitting and pontificating but bad when it comes to standing for anything, which makes them believe their constituency will fall for anything. And we usually do.

The lawmakers of our day are great "change agents," to use a contemporary phrase. Their opinion on important issues changes with every new poll published. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, for our friendly politicians, opinion polls can be given every hour on the hour.

And of course, the more important the issue the more the politician reforms his opinion. A politician should have the cleanest mind in our country because they change it so much. Unfortunately, the exchange is usually down.

Perhaps the best final words any politician could utter are, "I won't run again." Usually when a politician says this, it means he's currently running from something or someone.

Regrettably, the only change that comes with a new election is the name on the office door of the public servant.

The bolts and nuts of our political system can be boiled down to; the politicians bolt for or from any excuse and we are nuts for electing them to any office.

I sometimes get weary of all this superfluous change. It is true, the more things change the more they remain the same. What I want to change never does and what I don't want to change does.

You can imagine what comfort I get from the Bible that never changes despite the efforts of some people. Two verses are particularly comforting to me.

One from the Old Testament: "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6 KJV.)

One from the New Testament: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 KJV.)

When it comes to final words, I want that word to come from someone who will not capriciously change that word and upset my life. I can always trust Jesus Christ to give me a word I can always count on.

James Snyder - EzineArticles Expert Author

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Contact him by calling 687-4240. His e-mail address is jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is"

http://www.whatafellowship.com

The Reverend James L. Snyder is an award winning author whose writings have appeared in more than eighty periodicals including GUIDEPOSTS. In Pursuit of God: The Life of A. W. Tozer, Snyder�s first book, won the Reader�s Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Snyder has authored 8 books altogether.

Rev. James L. Snyder has a knack for making fun of daily frustrations and will increase the humor aptitude of your readers so they too can discover that life is less stressful when you�re laughing. Through these essays, your readers will realize that humor and religion belong together and can keep them from taking themselves and others too seriously.

Jun 18, 2009

Sue Them Sue Everybody

�Must brother really go to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? ... Why not rather submit to injury? Why not rather submit to being deprived of something?� (1 Corinthians 6:7-8 RSV).

When our son died I was told by our church lawyer that we had a case for a lawsuit against the college he was attending. He had tried to commit suicide there and they never contacted us. At the time it was the last thing I wanted, for I had sense enough to know that these are not simple things.

The cry of the land seems to be, �Sue them!� I�ve watched with interest the proliferation of these frivolous lawsuits and always I wonder, �What does God think of all this nonsense?� I realize there are legitimate reasons for some lawsuits, but this has gotten blasphemous. Years ago there was a story in the paper about a little girl who didn�t get her toy in the Cracker Jax box. Her father sued! I thought, what an ideal opportunity for Dad to sit little Princess down and tell her the facts of life: sometimes we don�t get our toys! That�s life, child!

�Why not submit to being deprived of something?� It�s a great idea, but in today�s aura of rights and things, I rather doubt this would fly. But it would certainly bring some peace to the earth, wouldn�t it?

Nine Things More Important than Capital

When starting any enterprise or business, whether it is full-time or part-time, we all know the value of having plenty of capital (money). But I bet we both know or at least have heard of people who started with no capital who went on to make fortunes. How? You may ask.

Well, I believe there are actually some things that are more valuable than capital that can lead to your entrepreneurial success. Let me give you the list.

1. Time.
Time is more valuable than capital. The time you set aside not to be wasted, not to be given away. Time you set aside to be invested in an enterprise that brings value to the marketplace with the hope of making a profit. Now we have capital time.

How valuable is time? Time properly invested is worth a fortune. Time wasted can be devastation. Time invested can perform miracles, so you invest your time.

2. Desperation.
I have a friend Lydia, whose first major investment in her new enterprise was desperation. She said, "My kids are hungry, I gotta make this work. If this doesn't work, what will I do?" So she invested $1 in her enterprise selling a product she believed in. The $1 was to buy a few fliers so she could make a sale at retail, collect the money and then buy the product wholesale to deliver back to the customer.

My friend Bill Bailey went to Chicago as a teenager after he got out of high school. And the first job he got was as a night janitor. Someone said, "Bill, why would you settle for night janitor?" He said, "Malnutrition." You work at whatever you can possibly get when you get hungry. You go to work somewhere -- night janitor, it doesn't matter where it is. Years later, now Bill is a recipient of the Horatio Alger award, rich and powerful and one of the great examples of lifestyle that I know. But, his first job -- night janitor. Desperation can be a powerful incentive. When you say - I must.

3. Determination.
Determination says I will. First Lydia said, "I must find a customer." Desperation. Second, she said, "I will find someone before this first day is over." Sure enough, she found someone. She said, "If it works once, it will work again." But then the next person said, "No." Now what must you invest?

4. Courage.
Courage is more valuable than capital. If you've only got $1 and a lot of courage, I'm telling you, you've got a good future ahead of you. Courage in spite of the circumstances. Humans can do the most incredible things no matter what happens. Haven't we heard the stories? There are some recent ones from Kosovo that are some of the most classic, unbelievable stories of being in the depths of hell and finally making it out. It's humans. You can't sell humans short. Courage in spite of, not because of, but in spite of. Now once Lydia has made 3 or 4 sales and gotten going, here's what now takes over.

5. Ambition.
"Wow! If I can sell 3, I can sell 33. If I can sell 33, I can sell 103." Wow. Lydia is now dazzled by her own dreams of the future.

6. Faith.
Now she begins to believe she's got a good product. This is probably a good company. And she then starts to believe in herself. Lydia, single mother, 2 kids, no job. "My gosh, I'm going to pull it off!" Her self-esteem starts to soar. These are investments that are unmatched. Money can't touch it. What if you had a million dollars and no faith? You'd be poor. You wouldn't be rich. Now here is the next one, the reason why she's a millionaire today.

7. Ingenuity.
Putting your brains to work. Probably up until now, you've put about 1/10 of your brainpower to work. What if you employed the other 9/10? You can't believe what can happen. Humans can come up with the most intriguing things to do. Ingenuity. What's ingenuity worth? A fortune. It is more valuable than money. All you need is a $1 and plenty of ingenuity. Figuring out a way to make it work, make it work, make it work.

8. Heart and Soul.
What is a substitute for heart and soul? It's not money. Money can't buy heart and soul. Heart and soul is more valuable than a million dollars. A million dollars without heart and soul, you have no life. You are ineffective. But, heart and soul is like the unseen magic that moves people, moves people to buy, moves people to make decisions, moves people to act, moves people to respond.

9. Personality.
You've just got to spruce up and sharpen up your own personality. You've got plenty of personality. Just get it developed to where it is effective every day, it's effective no matter who you talk to - whether it is a child or whether it is a business person - whether it is a rich person or a poor person. A unique personality that is at home anywhere. One of my mentors, Bill Bailey, taught me, "You've got to lea to be just as comfortable, Mr. Rohn, whether it is in a little shack in Kentucky having a beer and watching the fights with Winfred, my old friend or in a Georgian mansion in Washington, DC as the Senator's guest."

Move with ease whether it is with the rich or whether it is with the poor. And it makes no difference to you who is rich or who is poor. A chance to have a unique relationship with whomever. The kind of personality that's comfortable. The kind of personality that's not bent out of shape.

And lastly, let's not forget charisma and sophistication. Charisma with a touch of humility. This entire list is more valuable than money. With one dollar and the list I just gave you, the world is yours. It belongs to you, whatever piece of it you desire whatever development you wish for your life. I've given you the secret. Capital. The kind of capital that is more valuable than money and that can secure your future and fortune. Remember that you lack not the resources.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn


Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn Inteational. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

Jun 17, 2009

My Next Year With Jesus Joyful Reflections On My Walk With The Lord

The one question I keep coming back to is...

"Am I involved with life the way God wants me to be involved?"

That's it.
Nothin' fancy.

Now two related questions for you:

1. If that question doesn't ring true with you, how would you modify it to be *most* meaningful to you?

2. If you do connect with that question, what ideas or thoughts come to mind?

Obviously, the most important concept we have to deal with this year -- in one form or another -- is how we will respond to the Lord's working in our lives.

As I write these words and reflect on what I just mentioned, maybe a few additional related questions would be...

"Am I following Jesus the way He would have me to follow Him at this stage in my life?"

"As I think about living for Jesus this next year, what would give Him great joy?"

"What would excite me the most about following Jesus this next year?"

"What untapped potential could I bring to world this year and be a positive influence for Christ in doing so?"

"What one discipline could I initiate or improve upon that would help me be a better person, a stronger influence for good, or please Jesus most in my world?"

"Is there anything I need to stop or finally put an end to?"

"If I were to influence three people for Jesus this year in small, consistent, easily achievable ways, who would I influence?"

"How could I connect with God more in my devotions?"

"What talents do I have that would bring Jesus *and me* great joy in developing them together this year?"

"If Jesus were to step into my world and assume the daily routines of my life, what would my life 'look and feel like' --inside and out?"

These questions -- and the others you create -- should be enough to get us started thinking about next year!

May the Lord give you an increased sense of His presence, a greater understanding of His love, and more than an extra dose of His power this coming year and always.

Because of God's grace,

Lee
(John 15:16)

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Jun 16, 2009

Practical Spirituality Healing Depression I

In our last article we gave instruction on how to deal with anger. The same techniques can be applied to grief, anxiety, and any root emotion associated with stress. The techniques should work with you whether you have an explosive type of anger, or if you are one of those people who just hold anger in, and allow it to slowly wear away at your stomach, liver, heart and other parts of your body. Through much research Aryuvedic practitioners have discovered, and have reported, that a large percent of illness is caused by stress. Intealized anger, or anger tued inward, is a source of stress that is very much related to depression.

Many people in the world today, especially in the west, suffer a great deal from depression�especially those who have traditionally not been allowed to express their anger openly. It is not surprising that another name for depression is leaed helplessness. An example of leaed helplessness can be understood through an experiment done a long time ago with a dog. The dog was put into a big box with a metal grate on the floor and a partition in the middle. Scientists would push a button and send an electric current through the grate. Each time the dog would jump over to the other side.

After doing this several times the scientists decided to tie the dog down so he couldn�t jump, and see what happened. They hit the button several times. He whimpered and hollered trying to escape. Eventually he just laid there, stopped struggling, and took the pain. When they released him they hit the button again expecting him to jump over the partition. To their surprise he just stood there and took the pain until they let go of the button each time. He never jumped again. They also noticed that the dog became very depressed.

The dog had accepted that he couldn�t do anything about his circumstances except bear the pain. He was depressed because he had leaed that he was helpless and had accepted it. What was the difference between the pre-depressed dog and the post- depressed dog? One fought and struggled to be free each time, and for a moment, after he jumped the barrier he was free. The other one had accepted that he was helpless and from that moment on, during the shock or not during it, he was tied down. The same thing happens with many people in our society. They lea to be helpless and become depressed.

When horrible circumstances happen in people�s lives, they often hold on and struggle to live joyful lives until the circumstance pass. After the circumstance they usually, slowly rebound from the sadness or fear that comes with their loss. They expand their awareness of self, and realize that they are more then anything that has been lost. Sometimes, however, what happens is that the person gives up in the midst of the struggle. They, like the dog, begin to just wait for one painful episode after the next to pass. The outcome of this is depression and also a living death.

A major part of life is the struggle. We struggle to be bo, we struggle to lea to walk, we struggle to talk, and we struggle with awkwardness during our teenage years�life is about struggle and overcoming circumstances. If we are not working to overcome circumstances and to be fully engaged in the world and with life, we are not living completely; we are only existing. It is important to live fully and completely in the midst of the storm, even if we are feeling lonely or depressed if we ever want to come out of the circumstances as whole, more powerful individuals. We can do this by: Doing the opposite that our emotions suggest. Instead of separating from people and breaking relationships we should start spending time with others and building more meaningful, supportive relationships; If we are more lethargic, we should become engaged in an exercise program that gives more strength and vitality�one where we can see a physical change to our bodies, not sleep more and gain weight; And instead of avoiding the problem, or trying to shove it under the rug or forget it, we should be working on whatever the core problem is, not the outgrowth.

The Shaolin say that many people work on the outgrowth of a problem when they are trying to solve it, and not the root. This is like trying to heal an ailing tree by working on the branches, instead of the root. According to the Shaolin it is important to find the root of the problem, and then bring all of our gifts and talents to bear to work on the root. Above we have suggested ways to work on the physical�the body, through physical exercise to improve self image, the mental through social interactions with friends and loved ones, but the most important is to work on the core of the problem.

What is the core of the problem? It is probably different for everyone, but it is likely that it is the same problem that the dog had in our previous example, with some variation. I once knew a man who said that he leaed the cure for depression. He said that he was depressed for a long time. He discovered that he was only depressed when he stopped trying to live the way that he really wanted. When he couldn�t do that, or stopped trying to do what we refer to in our philosophy as his life work, or that which he felt called to, he was depressed. �All I do now,� he said, �is keep trying to do what I want.�

Very simple, yet profound. This basically means that you shouldn�t give up on life. As long as we keep jumping over the barriers, as long as we struggle and strive to do our life work, we will never be depressed. And we will see each little step�each little leap, as a victory, because that, after all, is what it is. It only takes one step at a time to make the longest jouey. If you are a person inclined to be depressed, or if you know someone depressed consider this article. Work on the self image, work on your social life, and find the core of the problem and work to correct that. In the next three articles we will give you some techniques for doing one step at a time. Perhaps then you will find life more satisfying and you will discover your life work and be able to do it one step at a time.

Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com

The Fight for My Children

The summer heat baked through my car windows as I tued off the AC to save fuel, in hopes of coasting into a gas station. I left the house early that moing knowing this could be the most life defining day of my life. There was so much at stake, and here I was sweating and regretting, that I didn't fuel up on the way to the courthouse. Some one was looking out for me that day, and I first realized it when I coasted into the gas station and my car stalled right at the pump. I was 5 minutes away and still had 30 minutes to spare.

The anxiety was beginning to swarm over me, stealing my breath, pounding my heart. I had waited over two years for this day, and I knew this was my last opportunity. My life and the lives of two little girls would be decided upon today. It was my last shot at getting custody of my daughters, otherwise they were going to be split up and put up for adoption. But how did we get here in the first place? How does anyone put themselves in a position like this?

It began about 4 years ago, and neither I nor my wife could ever imagine that anyone would ever think about taking our babies away. Our relationship had fallen apart along time ago, when she found a new love that she put before her husband, her children, and her own self respect. His name was heroin. Before I paint my wife as the sole culprit, I should say that I had my own addiction that I was battling. And that's what I was doing on the day the state took our children. I was in a 6 month intensive rehab, which seemed to be my only chance at recovery.

The drugs were making all of my wife's decisions and none of them were for the good of anyone. The state contacted me and told me they had taken the children from my wife. When I attempted to leave the rehab to get my girls back, they informed me that due to the situation with my children being exposed to an atmosphere of drugs, they were requesting that I finish my commitment at the rehab, which at that time I had 4 months left. I was sick to my stomach and have never felt so helpless in my life.

Four months later I left the rehab feeling healthier than I had felt in years. My mind was clear and I knew I had to avoid all the people, places, and things from my time before the rehab. On top of the list was my wife.

Eventually my wife dropped out of the picture and chose not to complete her case plan to get custody of the girls back. My case plan was going right on schedule and I stayed clean and focused at the task at hand. I began to struggle with extreme anxiety and depression, which I soon went on medication for. I was able to visit my girls once a week supervised, but I was a nervous wreck. With seven months clean I relapsed. Yes, I relapsed, I used drugs again. My daughters were the most precious thing in my life and they were counting on me, and I would choose drugs over them. What kind of person in his right mind would do such a thing? None. But when the disease of addiction takes control of our lives, it's safe to say "we are no longer people in our right mind". The guilt made it even harder to quit the drugs. It was an endless circle and I could see no way out. I struggled for one full year, putting together a week or two of clean time, and in a flash I was using again.

In no time at all I lost my job, and I found myself sleeping on the beach. I ran my car into the ground and I had to abandon it. I would go the narcotics anonymous meetings right down the street. I was always welcomed there. I was 6' tall and my weight was down to 144 lbs. I was dying and I was hopeless, until that one miraculous day, the day I surrendered my will to God and some friends took me to a detox. I felt so sick and so weak, but I had hit a horrible bottom and I could barely walk. I spent almost three weeks detoxing, the self inflicted poison seeping out my pores.

As soon as I left detox I went straight to an N.A meeting. I was welcomed with open hearts and loving hugs. I went to at least one meeting every day. I moved into a halfway house and 1 month later I had my old job back. Within 90 days I had a car and an apartment, miracles after miracles. Now it was time. It was time to get my girls and bring them home after almost 2 1/2 years. I was ready to fight for them and I was determined, even against the odds, that one day I would leave that courtroom with my precious girls by my side

I began to get supervised visits, then eventually I took them for the day on my own. We had been to family court many times and we were having a problem with the way the system was set up. The statute said after a year�s time I cannot get my children back, because the children were now being placed for adoption and they already had a family go through all the adoption procedures. The judge had a new admiration for me and every agency was on my side, we just had to find a way to get through the red tape.

Finally, it was judgment day. It was now or never. The state attoey told the judge that the children should be with their father, as did everyone else who testified that day. The Judge looked at me and smiled. He glanced around the courtroom until his eyes found mine again. He said "sir, in all my years on the bench I've never seen a parent go through as much as you did fighting your addiction, sleeping on the street, and still show enough perseverance to be here today fighting for your children. I'm confident that your love for your children, somehow defied all odds. How would you like to have your girls back with you, where they belong?" Those were the sweetest words I have ever heard.

It's been almost three years now that I've been raising the girls as a single father, and the three of us cherish every moment. We haven't seen their mom in over two years, but we keep her in our prayers. I could have never done this on my own. I had to tu my will over to God and trust that he could manage my life better than I could. I feel so blessed to have my children back, to be able to provide for them, and to get a hug and a kiss each night before they go to bed, only 20 feet away, from the luckiest man in the world.

Jay Bartels - EzineArticles Expert Author

If you would like to read Jay�s jouals, which include �Mister Mom�, �The Family Guy�, and �Jays Addiction�, as well as many others, please visit his site at Jays Plan

Jay is a single work at home parent and devotes his Jays Plan - Secrets of a Single Dad web site to parenting isues and many other issues that he feels need to be written about. Also be sure to stop by Family Health With Mister Mom

Jun 15, 2009

Rattle Those Funny Bones

�He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing� (Job 8:21, NKJV).

Laughter may indeed be the best medicine after all. In his Anatomy of an Illness, published in 1979, Norman Cousins recounts how ten minutes of solid belly laughter would give him two hours of pain-free sleep. Laughter stimulates heart and blood circulation and promotes respiration. It produces deep relaxation, thereby breaking up our tension. Just putting on a happy face can be rewarding. I worked in a high rise for senior citizens for several years and I made what I thought at the time was the profound discovery that if I smiled�whether I felt like it or not�I would feel better. I knew I couldn�t go in to those old people looking like a grump, so I would paste on a smile, and soon I was actually smiling. In an article published in the Orlando Sentinel, Ronald S. Miller states that �if we just assume facial expressions of happiness, we can increase blood flow to the brain and stimulate release of favorable neurotransmitters.� So when I smile I am releasing neurotransmitters and giving others and myself a better day in the process!

Years ago I had a ministry with parents who had lost children. At the risk of sounding like a heretic, I asked them to keep a good joke book beside the Bible. I explained that there would be days when even the Bible might need to be supplemented with a good laugh that could, at least momentarily, lift the incredible weight of pain and loss. My personal daily shot in the funny bone is Lynn Johnston�s For Better or for Worse. God bless her for her painkiller insight on family life.

One more bit of advice: don�t stick around negative people. These are what one writer calls �energy suckers.� Do yourself a huge favor and find someone positive and funny and enjoy life. God wants us to laugh and enjoy the full range of positive emotions He created. Otherwise, He wouldn�t have promised to �fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with rejoicing�!

So let�s rattle those funny bones today and praise our heavenly Father for the wonderful gift of laughter.

The Fastest Way To Change Your Life

We are in a world where so many people are looking for the magic formula to change their lives. It amazes them that there are people around them that are successful in one area of their lives and they just couldn't figure out how they did it or how they can do same in their life.

People in this situation always resign themselves to fate and believe that those who have being successful, are just lucky or that some fortune was bequeathed to them. I was in this position myself and was thinking I will never amount to anything in life. I was just thinking I am not worthy of being successful in life.

These kinds of thought always weigh me down whenever it comes to my mind. Despondency is the best word that can describe my condition back then until I discovered a secret that I believe anybody can apply to his/her life. It tued my life around completely and I have experienced so many changes in my life.

The fastest way to experience change in your life, is so simple you may not even think it important. So many people have overlooked it and cannot even reckon with it. The magic formula is to read the story of somebody that has achieved success and copy the steps they have followed.

There is no experience in this world that somebody has not passed through. When we are passing through a situation, we tend to personalize it and make it feel we are the first person to experience it. This is not true.

If you want to make so much money and you seem to have none at present, there are a lot of people who have started with nothing and have gone ahead to achieve so much in their lives. If you are facing difficulties and you are not able to decipher the way out, there are people out there who have faced situations that are worse than yours and have been able to overcome at the end of the day.

Have you being told there is nothing you can do? You will believe so much in yourself when you know that the likes of Ted Tuer, Bill Gates, Henry Ford, Walt Disney and their likes have once being told that they cannot achiever their heart desires. Getting to read the stories of these people tend to have an instant effect on your life than what anybody else can say.

Are you feeling discouraged now? Are you in a situation you think you won't be able to get out of? Are you in dire need of inspiration? Why don't you pick up a book that addresses your situation! Why not visit your local library to read about Henry Ford, Dr. Schuller, John Foppe, W. Mitchell and so many other people that have been where you are now? You won't believe the effect that will have on your life.

I did this several years ago and I still do it till today. Today, I just can't imagine the transformation that has occurred in my life. The same boy that used to be despondent then is now helping a lot of people with their lives all over the world. The word unemployment seems to be a word I just couldn't understand any longer. Tough times is now seen as a challenge to overcome and impossibilities is a non-existent word in my dictionary.

I can tell you this works because I know it works. When will you pick up the story of somebody you want to be like? Tomorrow may be too late, NOW is the time to get started with changing your life.

This is to your success as you do this.

Adebola Oni

Adebola Oni is the author of the just released Super Inspirational Stories, a book containing several stories of love, overcoming challenges and achieving your dreams. You can visit: http://www.super-inspirational-stories.com to lea more about this book. You can also get a free copy of this book by mailing: storylover@aweber.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adebola_Oni

Adebola Oni - EzineArticles Expert Author

Recognize the Perfect Realtor

As soon as you have launched a strong desire, the answer is on its way. In that moment the Universe/God begins to orchestrate every person, event, and resource necessary to fulfill your desire.

Once I realized that I REALLY wanted to live in the newly discovered harborside condo, I began to look for a Realtor to represent me.

Lesson #1: If is doesn't feel right, it isn't

Since I had only lived in Victoria, BC a year and only knew one Realtor (I'll call him Jerry), I decided to see if Jerry was willing to come out of retirement to assist me with this project. I phoned him and shared my exciting and enthusiastic idea: sell my downtown condo and buy the harborside condo. His response was less than enthusiastic--in fact, he tried to talk me out of it! This made me feel VERY uncomfortable, however I had already asked him if he would do this for me and felt 'trapped' by my own lack of discretion. Jerry agreed to come out of retirement after he took a short vacation. He said he would call me upon his retu to Victoria.

Lesson #2: Let the Universe do the work of lining up the Perfect Players

While I was waiting for Jerry to call, I received a letter in the mail addressed to: 'Homeowner'. Normally, I would toss out an unsolicited letter that was obviously a pitch. However, I really wanted a Realtor I could feel good about. I wanted a Realtor who was a match for my excitement. One who was as enthusiastic as I about my next new home.

As I opened the letter, I wondered if this could be the Universe sending me the Perfect Realtor. It WAS indeed. The letter, from a Victoria Realtor began with these words: "As a fellow owner and Realtor I would like to update you on the sales in our buildings over the past three months and the confidence that potential purchasers have in [our buildings]." I telephoned Noah Dobson immediately.

Noah's excitement and enthusiasm surpassed mine! He was the Perfect Realtor for this project and a perfect match for me!

Lesson #3: Be bold enough to let go of what does not feel good

Yes, it takes courage to tell someone "I will be working with someone else." Within an hour after my first interview with Noah, Jerry called. I took a deep breath and in the most positive tone I could find, I told him that I had found someone else that I wanted to work with. He seemed relieved to let me go.

Sitting where I am now (in my gorgeous, luxurious harborside condo) and looking back at what it took to pull off 3 Real Estate deals in 6 weeks, I am certain that Noah was the best Realtor for me.

Together we maintained the high level of pure positive energy necessary for such a project.

Together we 'vibrated' the perfect investors to purchase my downtown condo and the perfect renters for that condo.

Together we envisioned my move to the harborside condo by talking about where my fuiture would go and choosing new wall colors.

Over and over again, Noah reinforced that I deserved to live in such a beautiful place.

Are you OPEN to allowing the Universe to orchestrate ALL that you need to know, do or have so that you can attract the "Perfect Players" who can best help fulfill your desire? Contact Rebecca, Toll Free at 866.472.1949 to lea how YOU can live your dream!

Rebecca Hanson - EzineArticles Expert Author

Rebecca is leading a training course for Coaches, Therapists, Nurses and other Professionals who are ready to make a paradigm shift within themselves (a change from one way of thinking to another) to better serve their clients or patients.

http://www.youcanhaveitall.com