Friday, July 31, 2009

God Puts it in Writing

Just how important is the written word? Most of you already know.
  • Complain out loud at work and not much will happen. But put in writing that you're strongly considering another job, and your post can be filled immediately.
  • Try getting a loan from the bank with a smile and a please and a thanks. But sign your life away, and the money flows in.
  • You can say you were at the meeting, but when the boss sees your signature on the sign-in sheet, it's a done deal.
  • The government can say they want to lower your taxes, but laws to do such must be in writing.
  • They can say the new machine is easily put together, even show you a picture of what it is supposed to look like. But a written set of instructions is what makes the difference.
  • Government leaders can promise their counterparts that they will not attack, but a written document eases everyone's fears.
  • You say this car is yours? Where's the written title?

Have I made my point? The old song goes, It's real for it's written. Yes, when it's written down is when truth becomes something we can take to the bank. Christians have been hearing good things from pulpits for many years, but how many true believers will stick around if the preacher doesn't prove that what he's preaching is written?

Oh how wonderful that our God is an author, a writer. Wonderful that He breathed His Spirit on 40+ writers over 1600 years and through them gave us a Book. Yes, it was 66 books, but the unity is so great that we have always thought of it as one book, the Book.

Brother Peter says that the prophecies of old were of Divine, not human, origin. Men were moved along by the Spirit. So the written word has come down to us. II Peter 1:20-21.

God's promises are sure. He wrote it down, and passed it on.

Our brothers and sisters in North Korea and other suffering nations need to hear the precious promises of God. He saves. He forgives. He heals. He comforts. He guides. He is coming. Eternal life. Joy. Peace. Love. It's all in there. And it's all true. They deserve to see and believe it for themselves. Who will get the Word to them?

Will you join me in prayer to that end?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Placing God Under Arrest

If in the passages referring to the trials of Jesus one substitutes the title "God" in place of His name, the result is striking. John 18:12 becomes:

"Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested God and bound God. And they led God away to Annas..."

You get the idea. God was in Christ. Jesus said, "I and My Father are one." John says, "The Word was God."

The thought of puny man being given the opportunity to control his Creator is at once startling and sickening. But, yes, God is still being arrested and tormented in our own day. Totalitarian governments have unknowingly placed the Deity in custody countless times. For Jesus promised to come to His disciples in the form of His Spirit. The church is truly the very body in which the Lord of Creation lives in our day. The house of God. To arrest church members is to arrest God Almighty.

We want them to be set free so desperately. But all of our prayers cannot be directed to "Get them out of there! " for Jesus suffers willingly for the people of earth. Those that he uses to suffer are those that he makes similarly willing.

So we also say, "Lord give them grace while they are there. May they faithfully bear their cross without complaining. May they in fact be faithful until death, for we know You have said we will never be tested above what we are able to bear."

And after we finish such prayers, we look in a mirror and see if there is a cross on our own back.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Salvation of the Catholics

Members of the Roman Catholic Church do not know the truth about Christ's way of saving man from the day of God's wrath. They thought that by merely calling the name of Christ and do the things they thought are good will lead them to salvation. They are taught by the Catholic Authorities that through their so-called Holy Mass, souls from purgatory will be sent to heaven. However, we should consider asking the Holy Bible. Is it enough for all Catholics to call the name of Christ for them to be saved? Christ taught that calling His name is not a guarantee for them be saved:

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21, NIV)
What should they do? Christ said, one should do the will of God:
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21, NIV)
And what is the will of God concerning Christ and all the things that should be done? According to Aposlte Paul, the will of God is to gather in one all the things in Christ.
9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillmentto bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10, ibid)
But how could it be? Is it possible to gather in one all things in Christ? Yes. It is really possible. Apostle Paul attested:
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:4-5, NKJV)
The said body of Christ is the church.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18, ibid)
It is not just any churches, but only the Church of Christ.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:16, ibid)
The Church of Christ is the church founded by Christ Himself:
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18, ibid)
Therefore, Catholics will be saved on Judgment day only if they will enter, join and become part of the true Church of Christ.If you are members of the Roman Catholic Church, you better think and strive to become members of the true Church of Christ so that you will receive the promised Salvation.

Sustines Laplana is a Pinoy Blogger who blogs on Technology, Gadgets, Information, Society, Religion and Products available for online purchase. Visit him at http://www.selaplana.com

Learning Meditation Or Watching

Jesus Speaks on Death and Dying

When Sylvia and I got married, the minister commented that he had done as many weddings as he had done funerals. All of his funerals lasted. Not all of the marriages that he performed have lasted. One thing is for sure, we are all going to die once per lifetime. There will be no second chance to go back and do it over. If God were to call you today, are you ready to die for Him?

In Matthew 20:17-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34, Jesus prepares the Apostles for His coming death. James and John's mother asks Jesus for preferential treatment for her sons. Jesus challenges their commitment and then informs everyone about how to have true greatness. Are you willing to die to yourself for Jesus?

We're All Going to Die - Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32; Luke 18:31-32 Jesus and the Apostles are on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus will not leave the city and immediate area alive. He prepares the Apostles again, reminding them that He is going to die as the Old Testament prophesied.

Death is something that is going to happen to everyone who is conceived on this earth. Not even God's Son will escape the pain of dying. We need not lament that we are going to die, but be prepared so that we don't have to "get ready" if that moment should come suddenly.

Best Friends May Betray You - Matthew 20:18-19; Mark 10:33-34; Luke 18:33-34 One thing that makes this situation especially painful is that Jesus declares that He will be betrayed. He doesn't give any clue that it is one of the Apostles, but He knows. He does state that it will be unfair, cruel and final. Jew and Gentile will be involved in His death (murder).

How would you feel if someone that you were close to lied about you to authorities in a way that was quickly going to result in your execution? How would you feel if you knew this person was going to do that, days, weeks, even years ahead of the event? Could you tolerate having them in your company? Jesus did! No matter how much someone has hurt you in your life, you have never experienced the betrayal that Jesus endured!

Bargaining With God - Matthew 20:20-21; Mark 10:35-37 The mother of James and John comes to Jesus upon this announcement and, not realizing fully what she is asking, requests that they be given special honor in Jesus' Kingdom. She may have totally missed that Jesus is going to die and be expecting Him to set up a Kingdom in Jerusalem. That is what most of His followers are expecting from Him. Death is totally out of their minds. Whether she understands or not, she tries to bargain with Jesus for that special favor.

Most people who are dying go through a phase of bargaining for more time. All of us want some kind of "glory" or recognition. We will look to God or someone else for a special favor or title in hopes that it will give us a degree of life after we are dead.

Paying the Cost - Matthew 20:22-23; Mark 10:38-39a Jesus responds to the request for James and John by asking them if they are willing to pay the price to have the honor. They declare that they are willing to do whatever is required in exchange for the recognition.

Nothing "great" comes without a cost. If you want a raise or promotion, you have to deliver more work or assume more responsibility. Although our salvation is not on such terms, privilege on this earth does require a responsibility and special commitment if we are going to receive the honor. Are you willing to die for Jesus, if necessary? Are you willing to pay the price of your life in order to maintain your eternal life with Him?

Jealousy in the Ranks - Matthew 20:24; Mark 10:39b-40 The other Apostles are a little upset at James and John for asking for special favor. After all, aren't they as good (or better than) those two?

Being jealous is a waste of time. You should use your talents for God and not compare yourself to others or complain because they have some talent that you do not have.

Dying to Self - Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:41-45 Jesus sees the resentment towards James and John and must now defuse the jealousy and wrong attitudes in the ranks. He tells them that the one who is truly greatest is not the boss, but the worker who is out there doing something for others.

Which is more important to you, getting the honor or serving the Lord? Is Jesus truly first in your life? If He is, what are you doing to help advance His Kingdom? Are you the best worker at your job? Does your integrity reflect Jesus' presence in your life? Is loving others and serving Jesus more important to you than getting recognition or controlling others? Are you willing to die to yourself (your selfishness) for Jesus? God bless you and have a great week!

These articles are related to the "Getting To Know Jesus" Bible study series, a non-denominational Bible study that is written to help you become more like Jesus! Jesus is a role model and a testimony of God's best being given to us!

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Glen Copple is an ordained minister who has over 25 years of preaching and teaching experience in ministering to non-denominational churches. In 1983, he earned a Master of Arts in Ministry from Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University) in Fullerton, CA, and has had ministries in Kansas, Missouri, and California.

In previous ministries, Pastor Glen taught through the Life of Christ and developed the structure for "Getting To Know Jesus." He knew that God led him to put his years of ministry and Bible study to work to share with you, your family and friends in this non-denominational study of Jesus Christ, his life and teachings.

Dreaming And Outer Body Experien

Monday, July 27, 2009

The Way Home

At the moment, your life may seem like a fierce battlefield. Perhaps you're desperately struggling to keep your head above the water, slowly drowning in despair. Maybe you've walked away from God and your church family years ago. You're not alone. I've been there myself. Rick Warren says it best, "You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got." (From his book The Purpose Driven Life).

In the midst of your turmoil, let me give you a word of encouragement. None of us had the ability to choose our birth parents. Like it or not, we're bound to them by blood, through birth. If this is a true, biological law, could the same also be true of the spiritual?

When you turned away from God, may have lost fellowship with Him, but you didn't lose relationship. Fellowship is a connection that can be decidedly dissolved. But, relationship is an inseparable connection by blood, through birth! Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission* of sins." (Matt 26:28, KJV with emphasis added).

*remit v. 1. To transmit (money) in payment. 2.a. To refrain from exacting (a tax or penalty, for example); cancel. b. To pardon; forgive: remitted their sins. 3. To restore to a former condition or position. (The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition)

Just before His death, Jesus said in John 19:30, "It is finished." Receipts for taxes found in the papyri have written across them this single Greek word, which means "paid in full." The price for our redemption from sin was paid in full by our Lord's death. (Source: Ryrie Study Bible)

You cannot redeem yourself, no matter how much you try. All you have to do is repent of your sins and ask God for forgiveness. Pastor LeJeune teaches, "The word 'Repent' was an old military command that was issued while marching that simply meant 'about-face' or turn-about 180 degrees." A little boy said, "Repentance is being sorry enough to quit."

The blood that Jesus shed for us over 2,000 years ago has never lost its power. It is still just as effective today as it was the day we experienced His New Birth (John 3). The bible says in 1st John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Since the day you left, your Father had His eyes fixed upon the horizon, longing to see you making your way back home. It doesn't matter to Him what you've done, where you've been or how long you've been away. He just wants you to come back home!

Author's Bio: Born in 1973, raised in Southwest Louisiana, Joshua Olmsted is a divorced father of four, raising his children while serving his local assembly, Jesus Worship Center of Jennings, LA (Rev. Clifton J. LeJeune, Sr. Pastor). His professional career involves Offshore Natural Gas & Petroleum Facility Operations in which he has become a senior operator/supervisor over the past 10 years of service to the industry. He is a former Deputy-Sheriff of the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Department, a former locally-licensed minister of the U.P.C.I. and, served his country as a U.S. Marine. He is a frequent freelance writer and contributor to many publications, including; The Pentecostal Herald magazine, The Louisiana Challenger magazine, Apostolic Information Services, Indiana Bible College - Perspectives Magazine, PreachIt.org, Jennings Daily Newspaper of Jennings LA, and more.

Water Damage Cleanup

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Was Jesus Real and Did He Live - Video

Accomplishing Your Goals
Powerful Life Changing Thoughts

Why Should We Give Thanks To God?

On Thanksgiving Day, families all over America sit down to dinner at the same time -- halftime.

"Thanksgiving has two good words," says Hollie, age 9. "They are 'thanks' and 'giving,' and that's what we need to do -- thank others and be giving. Those are two things my mom taught me."

Hollie, your mom has taught you well. Gratitude is one of the most important lessons parents can teach their children.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life," writes Melody Beattie. "It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Adrienne, 9, is fortunate to have a father who's not ashamed to offer thanks to God: "I like when my dad prays before we eat. I don't know why, but I just do."

Tori, 6, is already following the example of godly parents: "I like Thanksgiving because I get to eat chicken, and my mama is with me, and my daddy is with me. I get to see my cousins. I get to be with God because I say the blessings."

Tori, you might have the wrong bird, but you've definitely got the right spirit and company.

You have a kindred spirit in Ally, 11: "I like Thanksgiving because it is good to thank God. He gives us so many blessings that we don't even realize. It's the least we can do to give him one whole day of thanks, but we should be giving thanks daily."

Robert, 8, goes even further: "I can give thanks when I broke my finger and that it didn't get cut off. I can give thanks when my dad got shot four times and that he didn't die."

Wait a minute! How could anybody find a bright side to a broken finger or gunshot wounds?

This kind of worldview sees all circumstances as divine tapestry. Faith in God's sovereignty and goodness transports the believer into a realm where giving thanks in everything is as normal as breathing. This doesn't mean that everything we encounter is good, but rather that God's goodness and power will work it out for his purpose and our benefit.

Why, then, do we complain instead of giving thanks?

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow," wrote 19th century minister Henry Ward Beecher. "A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."

Kimberly, 8, is an example of someone who is grateful even in the midst of great loss: "My grandmother died of a heart attack, and it was hard to thank the Lord for that. I was very close to my grandmother. I saw her almost every day. But now, she doesn't have any more pain, and she is in heaven."

Think about this: Even though we sorrow over the loss of loved ones, not even death can make spiritual Christians ungrateful. The Lord Jesus absorbed death's sting when he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Faith alone in Christ alone guarantees everlasting life.

Memorize this truth: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Ask this question: Can you give thanks for everything?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more material like this, visit http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. See Careys Kid TV Interviews. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.

Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version.

Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving

Learning From The Four Agreement

Odd Video, You Try and Figure It out

if you don't matter to God, you don't matter to anyone else, that statement doesn't make a lot of sense. If I reversed the phrase, if you don't matter to anyone else you matter to God. Something to think about.

Seek the wisdom and the truth shall set you free.

Hope in Religion

Miracle Story With Michael
Sai Baba Spiritual Leader

Rapture Or Second Coming? Final Distinctions Refuted

So is there a difference between the rapture of the church and the return of Christ to the Earth? Modern theologians have suggested that it is not proper to pray with John, "Come Lord Jesus," if we know He is not coming for seven years (at least). Thus there must be an un-announced and a clearly predictable coming, both. This seems to make

This implies that every time we pray, we are changing God's plans. Rather, when we pray, it must be in accord with God's will. That is, Jesus, I know you are coming, and you are welcome here! Your will be done, Come as you plan to come, Lord Jesus! I want it and I am looking forward to it.

Anyone who has prayed that prayer over the last 2000 years, including John the Revelator, understood that it might not be answered physically and immediately. But the prayer went up anyway, and continues to rise to Heaven. To suggest that a prayer is invalid because God has a fixed moment for its answer is to suggest that our desires should supercede His.

When we pray for healing, He hears us. Or for financial blessing. Or for deliverance. Or for the salvation of family members. He hears. But the answer may be down the road. Our knowing that we must wait upon God does not stop us from crying out to Him, yea, day and night ( Luke 18:1-5).

The Spirit and the Bride call out for these many years, Come, Lord Jesus. But He doesn't come. But He will. When it is time. For now, the world is in a mess, the world needs the Saviour, O come, O come, Emmanuel! Keep praying it saints!

One final suggestion that the rapture and return are two different events separated by seven years is that the judgment seat of Christ and the

marriage of the Lamb must take place in Heaven and with the Church present, and before His coming to earth. Yet he can offer no proof of the location and timing of these events, for, of course, such proof does not exist.

Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10 simply state that there will be a time when saints stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Revelation 19:7-8 describe not the wedding, but the announcement of same. The marriage has come. The wife is ready. Blessed are those invited. But wait! Some serious work to do first, following this announcement. Now the church descends with Jesus (Revelation 19:7-21) to the earth, taking its first step toward the announced supper. There, as described by prophets and apostles, the Kingdom is set up after Christ's victory over His enemies. Then Jesus keeps His promise to drink the fruit of the vine with His followers (Matthew 26:29). It seems to me that this is a more logical arrangement of details.

But for a "proof text" that this will happen, neither the pre- or post- people can find one. It simply is not there.

In fact, no proofs can be offered anywhere in God's Word that there is such a thing as a "pre-tribulation" rapture, that there is a rapture at all without the revelation of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth, that there is any distinction between our catching away and his coming again. Thank God, much of this teaching is losing its grip, and there are many places in the world where men's books are not available, only God's. These people believe what the church believed for two millennia, namely, "Immediately after the tribulation... they will see the sign of the Son of man..."

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Religious Faith Or Religious Fac

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

God at a Railroad Crossing

This testimony is fresh from the Korean peninsula. God continues to work and move to do His will among those who will seek Him.

Let me tell you about the first time I came to China. It was with my brother-in-law. He has visited for several years and has been helped through his friendship with the church. Often he tried to persuade me to have faith in the God he met. But I ignored his encouragement.

Well, I have many questions about God. Does God really exist, like my brother-in-law always is saying? Hey, if God exists, why does he let North Korean people stay so poor?' If God really loves humans so much, why does He let North Koreans die by starvation? Also, Just how big is this God? Does He even have the power to help humans? I didn't believe God, but I had a lot of questions. On this China visit, I began to get some answers.

You'll never believe what happened as we made our way from NK to China. Around 4 a.m., we tried to cross over a railroad passage into China, but we were just frozen. We somehow went the wrong way, and passed up the train tunnel. Suddenly we saw 2 NK guards. There was just 40 meters between the guards and us. It was light out, we couldn't do anything.

My brother-in-law prayed to God, "God, please help us!" The prayer was really quiet and very simple, and he prayed it again and again. And then he said "Let's go." I couldn't move. Not even one step. I shook my head, but he began to walk.

I couldn't believe it! We made clearly audible sounds with our steps, but the guards never even looked at us! What was happening?

Brother said God had heard his prayer, and made the guards blind and deaf to us. I couldn't say anything. I couldn't understand such a thing with common sense, but it had happened. I began to believe in God's existence after His amazing help.

With this experience, I decided to believe God. I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and my Lord.

God is my salvation, my shelter. Jesus is my joy, my hope.

Thank you, God. Thank you Jesus.

One at a time He builds His glorious Kingdom. Thanks for praying.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com. There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Faith Belief Or Education

Was Jesus Real - Video

Pain And Pleasure With Attachmen
Disclaimer

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Watching for Jesus

There is evidence in the Book of Revelation, 16:15 to be exact, that the current theory of "imminence" may be a little out of order. In the midst of the worst of the Tribulation days, sores, blood, scorching, darkness, Jesus speaks to His own,(who really are still there!) : I am coming as a thief! Watch! stay righteous before Me. Don't give up now! Here is a context just before Jesus' final return, all will agree. But the

"thief" message is still being given! The warning to "watch" is still there, even though it is clear He will now come at any minute, and very soon.

Let the doctrine of imminence be believed in the light Jesus has given us. No matter how much we know or don't know, we are told to watch! "Watching" and knowing when He is coming do not cancel each other. We are not watching with fear and ignorance, but watching with knowledge and expectation.

Upon our return from a recent trip to Mexico, we were told that within a couple of weeks our Mexican friends who actually live in the States, citizens, would be coming back to America also. Since we love them dearly and enjoy their fellowship, we started "watching" for their coming. We weren't told the exact day of their arrival, for they did not know when it would be. But we knew that some day soon they would arrive. We knew some things had to happen first. They had to purchase bus tickets. They had to go to the bus station. They had to make the long trip. But we were anticipating their arrival, living with it mentally every day.

That's how it works. Antichrist rises, and we know that within a few years Jesus will come. Are we watching any less? Oh my no! The anticipation and excitement grows as we see prophecy so dramatically fulfilled. Those who say that such specific knowledge of the time of His coming would cause us to stop watching are speaking only of wicked servants, spoken of by the Master in Matthew 24:48ff:

" But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants..."

No brothers, we are not in such darkness as this. We will know when He is coming, and we will be rejoicing until the end, knowing that His return is what our life is about.

One final line of thinking about "imminence": Both Peter and Paul knew that the Lord could not come at "just any moment." How? Jesus told Peter he would live to be an old man and die to glorify God, in John 21:18-19. Later Jesus told Peter that soon he was about to die, thus Jesus would not be coming at least until after that death (II Peter 1:14). Paul knew he was a chosen vessel who would stand before Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15). It is not likely that they wore lapel pins announcing "perhaps today" , but their hope in His return was rock solid nonetheless, and a source of constant comfort and joy.

Bottom line, we look forward to seeing Jesus at any moment, for we know not when He will call us home. Beyond that we search the Scriptures daily to discern the times we are in, and see if we are close or not close. Whatever we find, we keep our eyes toward Heaven, knowing it is the meeting, and not the time, that matters. But to glibly make statements that Jesus never asked us to make and to believe things He never asked us to believe can only be detrimental to us and those who hear us. Let's get our revelations from the Word, and not from popular books and movies!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Action Plan For Success

Find Out Why The Christians Don't Want You Watch This

What Are Affirmations
Recommended Teen Reading List

Spiritual Humor In Religion - Read This It's Funny

Well you probably heard of the problems that some people get into when they drink a little too much and start to drive their cars. This is known as drinking and driving irresponsibly and can be hazardous to your health but more hazardous to your pocketbook. Overdosing on drugs, spending too much money shopping, gambling excessively and last but not least, spending too much time at your place of worship can be hazardous to others. Over time, our loved ones seem to suffer the most from our excesses.

I suggest most people use religion responsibly and try not to overindulge in the excesses of your spiritual practice. Like an alcoholic drinking until they feel good, only to wake up feeling bad the next morning. And then starting the process all over the next day.

Now for the big question, "Are You a Religiousoholic?" Do you spend too much time at church? Do you surround yourself exclusively with people that share your same religious beliefs?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, there's a good chance you're a religiousoholic. Like alcoholics and drug addicts, there is help for you, once you've identified your problem, we can help. We call it our 5 step program. Alcoholics Anonymous has a 12 step program for recovery but we have eliminated a couple and rearranged others in hopes for a faster recovery.

Religionolism is no laughing matter and should be handled with the utmost delicacy. Start with the first step and work your way down the list and within a short period of time you should find yourself free from the religious tyranny of your institutionalized religion.

Step 1. The biggest problem you're going to happen during your recovery will be the temptation from religious followers, wanting you to come back. Like a drug addict, saying no to drugs,it's hard, you're going to have to be strong here. Learn to say no to organized religion and yes to religious freedom.

Step 2. Instead of reading Scripture, start reading about other religions around the world. You will find some weird things and new ideas, but the bottom line here is that you'll be able to see some similarities, and silliness between the religions.

Step 3. You can still spend time praying, just spend more time praying about how grateful you are, instead of praying for something you want, start spending a little more time thanking God for the things in your lives that you already have. I have spent a lot of time praying for things I never got. When I stopped praying for the things, I thought I needed, I started getting the things I really needed.

Step 4. Start spending a little more time believing in yourself, some religions seem to give all the glory and credit to their gods and very little to the people that are actually making the sacrifices. I have also noticed that when something goes wrong, some religious followers tend to punish themselves and it just doesn't seem fair. God gets all the credit when things are good and you blame yourself when things go wrong.

Step 5. Start showing a little more compassion towards people who don't think the same as you do or believe in your religion. Love and compassion are the true acts of a religious believer. I believe you'll find that in every religious scripture... somewhere.

Sometimes we get a little carried away in our beliefs and tend to beat up other people who don't share them with us. If you're part of a religion who discriminates, shows intolerance, bigotry or prejudice to other nonbelievers, maybe this isn't the religion you think it should be.

Dalai Lama - "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness, the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. If we could communicate better and understand different religious philosophy and cultures.

Just how big of a deal is Money Organized Religion. Your money is used for various things and some of them, you might not really want to spend the money on. Something to think about.

If you want to read something funny and get your daily laugh in, you need to read this, it's funny Using Religion Responsibility. It's based on overindulgence.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Studying on Faith Alone - Education Can Often Be Hard on Religious Faith

It's probably hard to find facts if your mind is already made up. If you're trying to find information on anything, more than likely you will find exactly what you're looking for, if you look hard enough. With all the information out there, available in books, media, and of course the Internet, would we really know the honest to God truth if we ran into one.

Not something that man made up and forced our ancestors to believe in.

If you're studying on faith alone and trying to prove or disprove something, you will succeed. If you're reading the Bible and looking for answers to problems in your life, eventually you will find the answers. All you need is to believe in your God and he will show you the way. Has he truly shown you the way or are you basing your religious beliefs on faith alone.

I have studied the Bible for many years and came to the conclusion that, I was often blinded by the way I view the information and couldn't get the facts most of the time. I always enjoyed reading Proverbs and the story of Job, both of these books in the Bible inspired me to become a better person.

By studying the Bible without faith and looking for information based on facts, it wasn't long before I realized this book could be and I say could be a group of stories that man over the centuries combined into one book during the Council of Nicaea in 325A.D and became religious doctrine for Christians.

In order to study anything effectively, you need to keep an open mind, this might require you to reprogram your thinking. You have been taught for years that only your religion is correct and all other religions are wrong. You can't think like this and gather information effectively.

Studying on faith alone could close your mind and keep you on the path of spiritual resistance. You know you're on this path if only the things you believe in make sense. Nothing nobody else says can make much sense if you're studying on faith alone.

What would it hurt to read a life changing spiritual book on another religion or form of spirituality? If you can't read another religious book, because you're religious organization tells you to only read their spiritual books to gather information, you're following a path of spiritual resistance.

If you're really going to study on faith alone then I suggest studying with intention to learn instead of follow.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended reading, Stories from the Old Testament

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

Christian Thought Movie

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Christian Movie About Jesus and The Problems

Smiles Are Free So Give Them Awa
What Do I Do If Someone Insults

When Peace Comes

I dedicate this article to my brothers and sisters in North Korea, who suffer unimaginably as I write. For them, that is the believers in Christ, the subject of this piece is incredibly delicious. Oh that all of God's people could think it so.

Most people get to Revelation 21 and 22 and take a deep breath. No more vials. No more trumpets. No more seals. No more monsters. Smooth sailing. That's mostly true, but one of the biggest puzzles for me is the timing of this bit of prophecy.

When will arrive the "new heavens and the new earth"? Peter in his epistle sees it coming directly after the present age. The prophets likewise see a time of worldwide peace directed by the Jewish Messiah at the end of the present era. I lean that direction too, for those reasons, and others I will mention. But if that is true, then

  • the Bible nowhere speaks of what eternity will be like.
  • chapters 21 and 22 are out of order, and go back before chapter 20, which brings readers not only to, but through, and after, the millennium.
  • the last recorded event in chronological time is the vanishing of heavens and earth, followed by the judgment of the damned in the Lake of Fire.
  • the "new heavens and the new earth" are merely a healed planet, not a brand new creation as in Genesis 1.

Whether the magnificent descriptions of the last two of the Bible's chapters are the millennium or the period following it, one must admit that the Bible does not spend much time talking about things that are so very far away. We will have, after all, 1000 years to hear about the plan for the next phase of our existence. Truly it has not entered into our mind the things God has prepared for us.

But I was saying I tend to agree with the millennial interpretation here. The phrases used are very reminiscent of prophets like Isaiah. Things that happen are very this-worldly. Kings and nations are mentioned, nations that are slowly being healed from the ravages of the governments of men. And very significantly, even though Jesus has everything under control, there is still the potential for evil, as ordinary men live on into this time period. Our city is indeed holy and wonderful, but the whole world is not fully aligned to these things. All of this points away, I think, from an interpretation that says these two chapters are about eternity.

The set-up will be much as Rome dreamed it was going to be hundreds of years back. Their timing was a bit off. There shall indeed be a world empire ruled by the church, but it will be the glorified church descending from heaven, with Christ at the helm, not a military-based empire with a mere human at the head.

At the end of the 1000 years, the evil potential is gathered together for one last assault against the Righteousness enthroned in Jerusalem. Christ is victorious, and now it's time to move on to places as yet unspoken to human ears. What an adventure awaits!

Let us put all things away from our lives that do not matter, so as to be sure not to miss what will surely come our way. Never have God's promises failed, even when we did not fully understand them. They will not fail now.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

In North Korea - Memberships Available

What is the cross? And how can I relate to my North Korean brothers and sisters who love Jesus to the death? Two parts of the question that travels with me day after day since I met this land. I can never be the same having been challenged by their faith. I truly live in a land of comfort and pleasure. Should I concentrate on being uncomfortable? Is that the cross? Why not a Daniel fast? I tried that for a week not long ago. Vegetables and water. Seemed feasible. I meant to go for two weeks, though. After a few days i realized what I was in for. And I headed for familiar land. Better to fast altogether than to keep eating like that.

"But in North Korea," the Voice comes...

I read in a northwest Alabama newspaper online about the 21st century Underground Railroad in NK. The author "met groups of people who live every moment with sickening fear," not knowing when the sound of footsteps outside the door might mean the Chinese police are there to force them back to North Korea and misery. He speaks of "wretched" people who come from a "national torture chamber."

How can I relate? My wife purchased a tour package out West so I could get back up in the air, and eventually visit or even work in Chosun. Because of an unfortunate flying incident, I have been "sickened with fear" at the thought of flight and possible claustrophobia. I struggled for weeks with the thought of going even on this pleasure trip, and at the last minute called it off. Such a hero.

But in North Korea believers can't "call it off." It's not about pleasure packages and making up one's mind what one will do. It's the cross, the cross, the cross...

I am truly the wretched one, flinching from imaginary pain while they suffer the real thing.

What is the cross? Denying myself more and laying my life down for my wife, my children, my church, my work-place? Or presenting myself before a dictator and others of Christ's enemies and saying "Here I am, do with me what you will, but I will preach Christ until I die." Or both? Or more?

There are some no-doubt statements about which all of us need to meditate, I think:

"If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him." That means if we don't, we won't.

"All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Those who don't won't.

"Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it." And vice versa.

And then there's Paul's classic description of enemies of the cross of Christ: those who do not mind heavenly things, and whose god is their belly.

There is only one church. It is the suffering church. Let us all apply for membership, being willing to die for our own plans effective immediately.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Real Meaning of Easter and Springtime

In nature and inside ourselves are energy patterns and dynamics that activate. Humanity evolved over a million years or more responding to the seasons of the year. Thus we have built into our genes, our psyches, a natural energy rhythm that we would do well to acknowledge and not avoid.

- finding Easter Eggs in an Easter egg hunt

- going to Easter Sunday church service when you don't go other times of the year

- getting in a car accident you never intended to happen, or did you?

- starting a love affair, whether married or not

- buying new clothes for yourself to go into summer with

- marrying the wrong person, and so later you have to get a divorce

- wanting to take a week's vacation instead of work at your job

- reading the latest mystery novels just out this year at this time

- going into nature with your friends and doing at least a walk there

- feeling depressed because you have nobody to love

THE ARCHETYPE OF EASTER-SPRINGTIME

What does the above list have in common?

- Why must you watch out for its effects?

- Why do certain celebrations occur traditionally at this transition from winter into springtime that is the 21st of March and the month of April?

In Jungian terms the archetype of Death-Rebirth becomes most active at springtime.

Death-Rebirth? What is that?

In nature and inside ourselves are energy patterns and dynamics that activate. Humanity evolved over a million years or more responding to the seasons of the year. Thus we have built into our genes, our psyches, a natural energy rhythm that we would do well to acknowledge and not avoid.

For what is not faced consciously in our awareness gets acted out anyway unconsciously.

Why do Norwegians every springtime take a week or more vacation at their summer cottages by the sea or in the mountains?

It's a wonderful thing to do. After the long Northern winter of more darkness than light, of more cold than warmth, the Norwegians are used to the seasonal shifts.

The spring equinox is the transition point when the hours of night equal the hours of day. We can imagine the long winter nights of the Northern countries, such as Norway. When spring finally arrives a sense of happiness comes with it, or so we think.

What about the dark side, the people who commit suicide when the spring comes, the people who have accidents?

One strange custom that has developed in Norway is that Norwegians when they go in the spring to their cottages also take along this year's published thrillers and mysteries. This type of genre is all about being killed and finding the killer. Why should a strong people who have just survived the winter then want to read fiction about death?

Well, don't think everything is just fine in the springtime. Norway has other forms of death for you, like quicksand in the forest because the ground is no longer frozen. Or how about you are hiking up the big mountain in Norway and suddenly the ground under you on the path just collapses into running water and mud and you are swept off the mountain to your death?

Yes, things like this happen every year in Norway. Several deaths occur to hikers in the Norway mountains when the springtime is arriving. Death is not over. Springtime is also the time they find the thawed-out bodies of those Norwegians who have chosen to commit suicide in the past winter by going into the forest and sitting under a favorite tree and freezing to death.

Deaths like this are no stranger to the Norway clime.

What is going on?

Since Death-Rebirth is the archetype of springtime this means that one must experience death first and then rebirth, then new life. The religion knows this with its Black Friday and then its Easter Sunrise service.

You don't have to go to an actual church service to feel the effects of Death-Rebirth. But the archetype is there.

Part of the monastic service is to have a midnight service and the lighting of the new pascal candle which has nails in it representing the crucifixion.

Thus built into our psychology is the recognition that we have to acknowledge our suffering and hurt and go through a letting go process to release ourselves into new birth.

The beauty of doing a sunrise experience is that you experience in nature Death-Rebirth, and this experience becomes a conscious part of you for as long as you live.

I went with some friends years ago and drove to the top of the local mountain, Mt. Diablo, in Northern California. There in the darkness we waiting all night looking out over the near and distant cities that kept their street lights on, the energy of humanity. We talked. We meditated. We knew the significance for us in our own lives of the Death-Rebirth experiences we were going through. Finally from the stone-walled walkway we saw the dawn breaking in the far distance. We had stayed up all night in our vigil and sharing together.

Here was our reward: the new dawn to a special day of rebirth. It is never to be forgotten.

Of course, the important level is to also take such things inside.

As a dreamwork psychologist, I wanted to figure our why when I lived and taught in Norway that the Norwegians read the new mystery novels at springtime. They did not know consciously themselves. It was a fad that most of them did.

Could it be that the Norwegians had waited out the long winter cold and at last when they did not have to be so strong any longer they could indulge in reading about surviving death?

What is the essence of these death-defying thrillers if not to catch the murderer before he or she catches you.

We all know we are under sentence of death but with indefinite reprieve, as Victor Hugo, the French writer, put it, but we don't know when our death will come. Will it be this year or the next, or after that? But it will come.

It's great in reading a thriller to realize that though there are deaths in the story, none of those victims are you. You are alive one more year, or so you hope.

Thus for me in the Norway sun and rains, and the new leaves on the branches of the trees, I felt a certain sadness. I was so glad to be alive still another year, and always planned to make good use of my "luck." But I also knew that one of these years the spring would come and I would not be there to marvel in its new life. The very wooden Norway house I lived in could have been built by those no longer alive. I lived in a dead man's house. And if not the house being there after me, at least the other houses of our community in the country of Norway, beloved land of all the seasons, would surely outlive me.

Whether by the sea in spring in California, or high atop the mountain elsewhere, it is a time to go adventuring and meditate on all your life is now.

What must you lose and give up? What must you sacrifice so you don't have to sacrifice life itself, even gruesomely as recounted here?

Better to realize the death part of your life now, the letting go of what can never more be. This is the base, the preparation to look forward to, and to experience through choice the new life you will dedicate yourself to with passion and awareness, as you live further your existence purposefully on this earth.

View Drs Kaplan-Williams' extraordinary blog at: http://strephonsays.com/blog/2008/11/hello-potential-members

Thomas Edison

In North Korea - Hyok's Big Mistake

Right around the year 1995 in the northeastern section of North Korea lived a 10-year-old boy named Hyok. Hyok later escaped from this land and gave us his story in the fascinating This Is Paradise! But in this particular year on an especially boring day in school, Hyok made a serious mistake.

Now it's pretty easy to make a mistake in North Korea. The government takes the place of God but has created rules that the true God never dreamed of inflicting on His creation. In fact, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest." Unfortunately this Scripture and all the Scriptures were strictly forbidden to young Hyok, and to all the people he left behind to this day.

Hyok knew it was a terrible thing to do anything disrespectful to the government's "Great Leader." He would never consciously have tried to ridicule this man-god. But when you're bored, you're bored. Looking at the badge on his chest, the compulsory one bearing the image of the nation's dictator, Hyok began to doodle. Well, a little more than doodle. He began to re-create the picture that he saw. Slowly, carefully, the badge's surface was reproduced on his paper.

The little boy sitting next to him probably didn't want to hurt Hyok. But instinct told him that something was awry here, and that if he didn't report this incident, he himself would be in trouble.

"Teacher! Hyok is insulting the Great Leader!"

Now, before I unveil the scene that ensued, imagine a similar scene in the United States. Alright, we're a pretty disrespectful nation, let's be honest. So let's suppose it is a strict Christian School down South or out West. You're bored in class. You start drawing. And from pictures you've seen on TV, you start to create the likeness of our President on your paper. Your neighbor sees you. Questions:

  • does he report you or try to draw something even better at his desk?

  • supposing he does report you, what does the [good Christian but strict] teacher do. Imagine the worst.

Now that you've imagined the worst America might offer, let's revisit Hyok in 1995. Here's what happened, according to his own story:

  • He was made to stand in the middle of the room, where

  • For five minutes the [female] teacher literally beat him all over his body in front of his peers.

  • During this time she yelled at him hysterically to make him realize how utterly awful was the sin he has just committed.

  • Hyok was then sent to the back of the class where he was to stay - on his knees - the rest of the day.

  • As a final "blow" he was asked to write several pages of confession of his crime, showing his true penitence.

That was one of Hyok Kang's childhood memories. The kind of scar that only Jesus can heal properly. Lord we pray for Your saints in that land, but also ask that You use the hardships of North Korea to continue to draw unbelievers to the rest that You freely give. Amen.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

How Imminent Is The Return Of Christ?

The doctrine of Imminence is one that is sworn by these days. Suggest that you don't quite believe in it and you're out!

"Jesus could come at any time, today, this hour." That's the watchword of believers in this teaching. I know what the people who say this mean, but we must take objection to that statement as it stands. For, Heaven has a day circled on the Heavenly Calendar when Jesus must come. [Acts

17:31, "(God) has appointed a day in which He will judge the world by the Man Whom He

has ordained."]

That is to say, God knows when Jesus is coming. It is not a random day. It is clearly and definitely scheduled. Jesus cannot come at just "any" time, but only on the day He has appointed. The problem is not that there is uncertainty in Heaven, but that we are uncertain. The question then is, just how far is that uncertainty to extend?

When the disciples asked Jesus, "What shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3) why did Jesus even suggest a time frame? Why did He answer such a thing at all, if we are not to know something ? Why not say, as we hear commonly today, "Don't worry about it! It will all pan out. I'll come when I come."

That was not His approach. Jesus for all time laid out a clear description of a particular generation, a season, when He will come, so that those believers living in that generation will know it is time! All others of all time, not totally certain of what He was saying, since the time was not ready, have been commanded to watch, and be ready. Of course, the coming of Jesus at a man's death is reason enough for any person, any time, to be on guard against foolish behavior.

The importance of knowing a particular season is confirmed by our dear brother, the apostle Paul, in I Thessalonians 5. First he says to the ungodly (verse 2) that Jesus is coming as "a thief in the night." This is the concept that has been passed on to godly people as their own norm

for looking for Jesus to come! But moving even one more verse leads us to : "For when they say, 'Peace and Safety' then comes sudden destruction upon them..."Who are they and them? The world! The unbelievers! Verse 4 insists, "You are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief!"

That means we can and should know the general time of His coming, especially if we are living in the last generation. That generation is described further by Paul in II Thessalonians 2:3. In words that could not be more clear, Paul demands that that Day will not come unless there is a noticeable world-wide apostasy and the revealing of the man of sin .

Oh my! Jesus could come at any moment? Yes, in death. Yes, theoretically to those who walk in darkness and have not read the words of the apostles. But in fact? No! He must come when Paul says He must come, and that is after the great apostasy, and after antichrist.

The man or woman who is seeking God with all the heart about the coming of Jesus will see the plan unfold clearly and will indeed be watching when He comes. The ungodly "carnal" Christian, if there be such a thing, will be loudly proclaiming His love for a Jesus who might come just any time, and for him the coming will be a surprise, for that person has never dug deeply into God's Word to find the truth. I am saying that more light is

revealed to those who seek, and those who do not seek will be still in darkness and fulfill their own prophecies about how "we can never really know."

The only information that has been denied to us is the very day on the calendar and the very hour on the clock when Jesus will come. Let us be diligent though to comprehend with all the saints what are the times and seasons God has revealed to us.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

You Don't Become a Wicca, You Either Are Or Are Not

There is a major growth in today's society for older religions, this includes people who want to become a Wicca. First of all, people need to understand that you do not become a Wicca, no more than you become a doctor and an engineer. Sure, there are signs of progress, and as a doctor or an engineer you get a piece of paper, however, that doesn't make you a doctor or an engineer.

As I said you do not become a Wicca. I am sure this raises some degree of curiosity and confusion. If I don't become a Wicca, then why do people call themselves such? See, it's not about becoming as much as it's about being. You don't become a Wicca, you are one.

I learned this a long time ago when I was studying the martial art of Ninjutsu, and it carried over as I began practicing witchcraft. As I gained belt after belt, I wondered at what point I would be a ninja. I couldn't wait to tell people I was a ninja. Once I earned my black belt, I wondered if I was now a ninja. I asked my teacher and his only response was, "you will know."

Eventually I came to understand that I can't become a ninja. It is something I am or am not. It wasn't about becoming, it was about being a ninja. The same is true when talking about how to become a Wicca. I now live, day to day, the way of the ninja. I use the philosophy and strategies I learned as I trained to live my life on a daily basis. The same is true for my spiritual practices.

You see, you didn't become anything, I either was or wasn't. I either lived as one, walked as one, talked as one, made decisions as one based on what I had learned, or I didn't. Learn, study, and apply what you learn as you grow, and you will be a Wicca. Then there will be no need to become a Wicca.

Are you ready to become the most powerful witch you can? Do you want to learn what it means to be a witch, and how to create your own spells at the drop of a dime? Do you want more free spells and the best resource for ancient witchcraft and Wiccan knowledge? Then Click Here Now to learn how! Don't forget to sign up for your completely free spells!

My Parents Motivation Using Fear

Is There A Rapture? Oh Yes!

However,

  • It was not meant to be an escape from the cross of Christ to which all are called; it is rather the blessed hope of those who carry that cross to the very end.
  • It was not intended to create a division of the saints whereby some are feasting in Heaven while others suffer on earth. There is one church. The members of Christ will receive their bodies in one final resurrection of life.
  • It is not a secret appearing; rather, the most public act of all human history.
  • It does not herald the evacuation of the Spirit of God; it precedes the entrance of the Son of God and His Kingdom to Planet earth.
  • Saying the rapture comes after the Tribulation is in line with the historic as well as the Scriptural accounting.
  • The pre-tribulation rapture theory is a modern invention with but scanty evidence before the 18th century and no clear Biblical evidence at all.
  • Proof that the rapture is "post" is from Biblical statements. Proof that it is "Pre" is from logic.
  • There are absolutely no clear and provable distinctions between the rapture of the saints and the revelation of Christ: these are two aspects of the same event!

Therefore:

  • We should be looking for His coming and praying for it according to the will of God,even though we understand that other things must come first.
  • We should be prepared to meet Him at a moment's notice, as He can come to us by our death today.
  • We should live in hope, not in fear, for we know His wrath is not intended for us.
  • We should have the mind of Christ in us to suffer as He did, without complaining, and in fact with rejoicing as the apostles showed us.
  • We should begin to buffet our bodies, and tighten our belts now, so that we will be ready to endure what must come.
  • We must share the truth of this matter with other brothers in the Lord , who truly believe they will be exempted from the suffering of that day. What a huge disappointment will be theirs as they see the Temple being built, and antichrist rising to world power.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Perfect Letter in 6 Quick & Easy Steps

This article will show you a simple, step-by-step formula to quickly and easily write a character reference letter that you can be extremely proud of.

If you've ever been asked to write a character reference letter, you know the anxiety that the request can create. The first thought is usually "how in the world do you even write one?" And this thought is quickly followed by such questions as "what do I say?" and "what if I say the wrong things and make the person look bad?"

The fear and unanswered questions can be very troubling. But, rest assured that if you know the person you're going to write about and use the information presented in this article, you won't have anything to worry about.

But understand this. If someone you're not comfortable with asks you to write them a character reference letter or if you can't think of enough good things to say about the person, then it will be better if you can find a way to get out of writing it. However, if you just can't say no to them or can't get out of doing it, well, just follow the information presented here as best you can.

So What Is A Character Reference Letter All About?

A character reference letter (also sometimes referred to as a letter of personal reference or personal recommendation) is used to recommend someone for a position within a company or for some capacity within an organization. But, the primary objective is to share how the person you're writing about possesses the character traits that make them best suited for the position they're seeking.

A character reference letter is different from an employee reference letter and even a letter of recommendation.

A character reference letter is usually written by someone you know outside of work which could be a friend, neighbor or relative. It can also be written by a person with whom you have shared an experience with, like a teammate or fellow volunteer. And because of this, the tone of the letter is usually more casual than a letter of recommendation.

Character reference letters generally describe a person's positive qualities. Meaning, all of the good things are written about them while leaving out any of the bad. You want to put the person you're writing about in the best light possible without going overboard.

Steps To Organizing and Writing Your Character Reference Letter

Character letters that have the greatest impact are personal and heartfelt. So, the more you can write in your own words, the better it will be. But know that although a character reference letter might be less formal, you shouldn't just randomly include words in it.

A character reference letter speaks of your relationship to the person you're referring and your assessment of that person's abilities. It provides evidence from your personal observation that the person meets certain criteria and the letter centers itself on specific attributes to prove its effectiveness. So to organize such a personal testament for someone, your letter must have a proper structure.

The letter should be relatively short, usually no more than one typewritten page. The paragraphs only need to be 2 to 4 sentences.

Just follow the 6 steps and you can write a winning character reference letter in no time!

First Things First - Get Prepared

The first thing you should do once you've decided to write a character reference letter is to do a little prep work. You need to get information from the person who has asked you to write the letter.

- If possible, get the name and/or title of the person to whom the letter should be directed.

- Get the address of where or to whom you should mail the letter.

- Depending on what you're writing the letter for, get the job description or qualifications needed for the position they're seeking.

- Make sure you know exactly by what date they need the letter completed or mailed.

- Think of at least 3 strong, positive qualities that the person possesses that relate to the position they're seeking.

Start Writing The Letter

STEP 1: Date & Address

The person reading the letter will want to know that the reference is current and not from 5 or 10 years ago so include the date. Also include your full address

STEP 2: Salutation

Start with a salutation. If you know the full name of the person the letter is being addressed to, use it. Using their first and last name will increase the professionalism, and therefore the credibility of the letter.

If the person being addressed is not known or if you're unsure who it is or if the letter is being used for general purposes, simply use "To Whom It May Concern". However, if you know the title of the person being addressed, you can write, for example, "Dear Human Resources Director" to personalize the letter a little more.

Avoid using "Dear Sir or Madam" as well as Miss, Mrs., Ms., or Mr.

After all, how much credibility would your letter have if you wrote to "Mrs. Sydney Smith" only to find out that "Sydney Smith" is a man?!

STEP 3: The Opening

The opening is usually a paragraph of only a sentence or two. The opening paragraph explains who you are, how long you've known the person you're referring, and how you know them.

STEP 4: The Body

The body is the largest part of the letter. It can be several paragraphs. This is where you make the case for the person you're referring by describing your experiences with them and giving examples of the person's outstanding qualities or abilities.

It's best that you construct the letter around 1 to 3 of the person's best qualities. And try to keep these qualities somewhat related.

For example, suppose the person you're writing about is friendly, honest, intelligent, creative, responsible, and hardworking. Now, suppose also their seeking a supervisory position. A supervisor should be, among other things, friendly (able to get along easily with others), honest, and responsible. So it's best to build your letter around these qualities.

The examples of these experiences provided should be focused and direct, making them very easy for the reader to grasp. Usually, a paragraph of no more than 3 sentences for each quality should be enough.

Two pieces of very strong advice: When writing a character reference letter, don't go overboard sharing the person's positive qualities and be honest.

You need to understand something. The person who will be reading your letter already assumes that the letter writer is "pumping up" the person they're referring. So, to keep your letter more credible, you should provide proof that your high opinion of the person is legitimate. You can do this by explaining very specific events concerning the person you're referring.

An effective way to keep the credibility in your letter without it sounding like a bunch of hype is by telling one or more short, believable stories that you know personally about the person. In doing this, the experiences should illustrate the person's positive qualities. They should be examples of how the person behaves.

In the event you mention more than one incident, divide them into 2 different paragraphs and end the paragraph with the quality that should be highlighted with each example.

STEP 5: The Closing

The closing is the last part and doesn't have to be long. It summarizes and reinforces your belief in the person you're referring, why you believe they meet the qualifications, and contains your actual recommendation.

This is where you can say something about yourself by mentioning your credibility as to what qualifies you to make an assessment of the person's ability by way of the type and duration of your relationship to them.

STEP 6: The Valediction

End your letter with a valediction or complimentary closing, such as "Sincerely".

Leave three spaces and type your name. Include your title if it will help the person you're writing the letter for.

Complete the letter with your signature.

On a side note, include contact information so the person reviewing your letter can use in the event more information is required. But, adding this information can sometimes be a judgment call.

Final Comments

The bottom line is a character reference letter should be recently dated, short and to the point, and very professionally presented.

If you have excellent penmanship, the letter can be handwritten, but even still, it would better if you used a word processing program.

It may not be the best decision to show your finished letter to the person whom you're writing for. Reason being is the person may ask you to change something or to include some other information. Or, they may even feel disappointed that you didn't "pump them up" enough.

Be sure to mail the letter without delay.

Save yourself a ton time by going to http://www.sample-and-example-letter.com and getting FREE character reference letter templates as well as many other business and personal letter templates. Just add your personal touch to them and BINGO! You have the perfect instant letter right when you need it.

Universe Long Before the Big Bang and After - Neosecularism Vs Atheism and Religion

Materials presented below are neither illusions nor assumptions. All are matters of absolute facts to me. But since there is no scientific tools presently available to prove any of the materials presented here, and the transcendence by which I have ascertained the truth about them cannot be explained in this short essay, I have to guide the reader to the references at the end of this essay to find the answer. Therefore, instead of facts I am going to present those as assumptions leaving to the readers knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics, other related fields and properly informed individuals, and their intelligence, reasoning power, logic and rationalization in reaching a reasonable conclusion. I propose that the reader assume each segment of these facts as a hypothesis, as we scientists do in verifying of any issue in our research and study process, then attempt through logic and reasoning to verify its different components and ultimately reach a reasonable conclusion.

Let us assume that there are two universes instead of one. Actually, there are three but we leave the third one out since it is very complex and difficult to understand with the present level of knowledge held by the scientific community. However, we will give a brief explanation of the third universe presenting its form and nature to the readers without bringing it into discussion. The first universe is matterless the second material and the third non-material. The first, being matterless, is not subject to time or space since only the matter can have such dimensions. Therefore, the Matterless Universe, under the standards of measurement used and understood at the present, expands to infinity with no beginning or end. It consists of what we may call "Pure Energy" or super-energy. It is a highly condensed mass of pure energy. The term "mass" used here is not the same as the material mass known to us. There is neither a way nor a proper term for this mass in our present scientific vocabulary. Since energy is the source of life for the body of the universe all the way down to plants, animals, humans and the smallest particles, comprehensively this Pure Energy must be the highest state of being, thus, dynamically alive, with supreme intelligence and enormous creative power. Therefore, as a supreme being it seems the only source capable of creation of the material universe as presented below. It is then proper to be called the Creator. Being matterless, it has no gender, thus, it is neither "He" nor "She" but "It". No light is associated with this Universe since any light is associated with matter and space.

Because the Creator is matterless, It extends to infinity. It is ever present everywhere transcending all matter including human beings. It has extensive sensitivity to the environment at any chosen point. As a matterless being It has no need to see but to sense. Therefore, It exists conveniently in absolute darkness. Our scientific community has already discovered a trace of the Creator. It has named it Dark Energy with a condensed mass and supreme power. All efforts are being made, within the material concept of science, to find more about it. This is nothing else but the Creator. As soon as we move away from our planet, we find ourselves in the same absolute darkness yet at the presence of the Creator. If we consider all these as facts, we may come to the conclusion that the Creator is not a holy dogmatic being as assumed by different religions but totally a secular being with no association with any particular religion. It is like a super scientist, inventor and creator and as such anxious for ultra-scientific designs and experimentations of which the creation of the Material Universe may have been one, and more likely not the only one. The essence of these experimentations may not be all for the same purpose namely to create a material universe.

The second universe is the Material Universe, which, at least so far as we have discovered, is subject to time and space as any matter, and as such it has a beginning, a process of life and development, and an ending. How the material universe started? This is a question not yet fully answered. If we consider that the Creator's experimentation intended to create a material universe, it certainly did not start with the Big Bang but long time before that. We should simply ask ourselves what was that caused the Big Bang. If we think of the Creator's intention for super-scientific experimentation in creating a material universe, we can easily come to a conclusion that it necessarily required a material base which had to come from the Creator's own essence, Pure Energy. There is no other source imaginable. Furthermore, we know that in our material world, the energy, in a variety of ways, is the source of life and base of existence of all matters from the Material Universe itself to planets and all living things in them. Based on all these facts the Creator, or the Matterless Universe, consisting of Pure Energy, would appear the only source of such immense energy required for the creation of the Material Universe and its continuing life, evolution and transformation.

Consequently, it is not unreasonable to assume that the Creator decided to carry out this experimentation and designated an initial point and a space there with specific dimensions fitting the objectives of its experimentation, and capable of absorbing and accumulating of needed energy from the Pure Energy consisting of Its essence. In a matter of maybe a billion or more years, the accumulation of energy in this designated space became crystallized in the form of a condensed huge transparent but solid object we may call it as Pure Matter, the ultimate size of which was determined by the Creator to suit the objectives of Its experimentation. For the first time "space" and "time" were created long before the Big Bang. The Material Universe, therefore, was initiated and its course of creation, evolution, maturity, decay and extinction was figured out by the Creator and now was the time to see to what extent the system would follow the envisioned process by the Creator's design of experimentation.

When the Pure Matter became saturated by the energy absorbed from the Pure Energy, it reached the point of explosion causing the Big Bang, unleashing the enormous energy saturated inside it. Because of the extreme heat, the resulting matters, which were not pure anymore, were mostly in the form of gas including what later on became solid matter or liquid. The explosion created immense light associated with heat, causing an outward push of the resulting matters with a lightening speed, creating a huge black hole in the Center with incredible power of electromagnetic gravity. Some huge parts from the Pure Matter thrown outward by the Big Bang were still in solid transparent form, though likely not so pure as they originally were, but still capable of absorbing more energy, becoming saturated and exploding later on far away from the Center. Therefore, we may properly assume that there was not just one Big Bang but a succession of big bangs maybe not as magnificent as the original one, and they are still continuing to occur in the outer dimensions of the Universe, though not as enormous as the previous ones, creating new galaxies, solar systems and corresponding planets. Therefore, it may be properly assumed that supernovas could be related to the extension of these bangs.

Immediately after the Big Bang, because of extreme heat caused by the explosion, all matters were in gas form. After quite an extended period of time, as temperatures receded, some matters liquefied and then took a solid form, some others took a liquid form yet some others remained in more condensed gas from. Ultimately, the solar systems and planets were crystallized. Evolution of life in each planet depended on the material components of the planet and the environment within which it was situated. Evolution of each planet proceeded to its maturity, aging, decaying and extinction. The nature of matters composing each planet determined the extent of its capability to absorb energy from the sun and other sources.

Considering that energy is the source of life, the nature of accumulation of this energy, within a proper environment created by the solar system's accidental surge of energy from its sun, allowed in some planets for the living organisms to be created. This surge of energy which may happen very rarely during the whole life span of a sun, created an orbit like outward movement. In this outward movement this high energy orbit, known as the intelligence orbit, met certain planets enabling them to absorb extra and unique kind of energy. this higher level of adsorption reached a point known as the intelligence line materialized by the planet's encounter with the core of intelligence orbit expanding outward.

This level of intelligence was also affected, positively or negatively, depending on the nature of the material components of each planet and its environment. As a result of this high energy environment, a variety of intelligent creatures were created including human beings as the environment became favorable. This assumption is in contrast with the Darwinian theory of evolution of humans from other species. The level of intelligence of the coming class of intelligent creatures advanced by the increase in the level of the planet's intelligence level as the planet approached to the inner core of the intelligence orbit emanated from the sun and moving outward.

It is important to notice that the Creator did not create the universe , its components and living creatures in some planets including ours. They were created according to the specific conditions required for their creation as set up in the Creator's design of the experimentation and the level of available energy. For example, human beings were not created by the Creator and they were not created at one time in a specific area of the planet. Different parts of the planet being subject to different environment, some human beings were created tens of thousand years after the others, likely, more intelligent than the previous group because of rising intelligent level of the planet had placed them on a higher level of intelligence. So, the total process of the development of each planet, as that of the Material Universe, involved the creation and the evolution side by side at different levels of development and varying environments. Based on the conditions of the environment and natural climate, some species were created, some evolved into a new ones and some became extinct. The same process is still continuing.

Unavoidably, there arrives a point at which the consumption of energy by the planet reaches the level of its absorption. At this point, the evolution stops. Pursuant to this point the absorption of energy gradually decreases, either as a result of decrease in the emission of the energy from its original source or certain transformations in the components and composition of the planet or other reasons. As a consequence, the planet receives less energy than it needs for its survival and starts an accelerated process of devolution and degeneration. In planets with living creatures, this situation occurs when the planet is near moving out of the influence of the intelligence orbit. When the level of intelligence of the planet is reduced, by the intelligence orbit starting to move away from the planet, it causes decay on the level of intelligence of its intelligent creatures. When the planet is placed in the outer limits of the intelligence orbit, the level of intelligence on the planet reaches the zero point and no intelligent creature survives and the planet with an increasing acceleration loses its gravity power to the point that its components cannot be held together by its weakened gravity and the planet meets its destruction. The majority of planets, in their process of development do not encounter the intelligence orbit or even the level of environment capable of producing any kind of creatures. The span of life of these planets is comparatively quite short.

Apparently, the Material Universe, the whole subject of the experimentation, is set to follow the same course of evolution, decay, devolution and extinction. After its creation and the Big Bang, it started to expand outward with lightening speed by incredible force created through the explosion. From this point of explosion on, the motion of the Material Universe has been under the influence of two immense opposing forces: An outward pushing force created by the Big Bang, and an inward pulling force, located at the point of explosion created by the enormous gravity and electromagnetic forces caused by the Big Bang. The resultant effect has been the slowing down of the expansion speed. This is in contrast with the present concept of accelerating expansion of the universe. In addition, the later big bangs have also affected the resultant effects of expansion course since their expansions were also spherical, part of which expanded toward the Center, opposite to the expansion direction of the Universe. These repeated post-Big-Bang explosions have actually caused a chaotic movements inside the sphere of the Material Universe. Based on these assumptions, at one point in time the Universe would reach the zero point of expansion. Then, under the pulling power of the gravity from the Center, it would start to contract in an accelerating fashion which will cause increasing heat to the extend that as it moves closer to the Center and becoming condensed by bringing together billions of the existing planets with an ever-increasing speed, the level of temperature will cause all matters to be transformed into gases, ultimately being totally extinguished, by transforming into matterless state, leaving nothing behind. Every material thing will disappear by being transformed into matterless form again. It will appear that nothing had ever happened. Considering the infinite dimension of the Matterless Universe, this whole process would look like a mosquito bite in a human body which it swells outward, then swelling stops and then the skin recedes to its normal condition without any trace of the bite left behind.

In conclusion, it is quite important to note that the history of the humanity shows that there have been individuals going back to melania who were aware of the secular, pure and matterless nature of the Creator that even today after thousands of years, our scientific community has difficulty to understand let alone to accept it. There are many evidences for such claim. Zoroaster or Zarathustra, the great Persian prophet, around 1500 B.C. when he introduced his dynamic message of "unique" monotheism, the concept of only one Creator, he called It "Ahura Mazda" meaning a "Super-Intellect Being," as "the creator, sustainor and promoter of the Universe."(1) The old Persian word for the Creator is "Khod'a", meaning created by itself. This meant that there was nothing to look for beyond Pure Energy. With the present paste of scientific progress, discovery of the matterless world or the Creator as exposed here and understanding of it, is a century or more in the future. It is possible only through transcendence achievable by years of meditation aimed at expanding the mind into the non-material and ultimately to matterless world. It is definitely the science of the future though such thou hgts are considered to be nonsense by the scientific community at the present time. However, I know it is a fact since I have been there, and all this knowledge comes from there.[2]

The main purpose of this exposition has been to invite knowledgeable readers particularly those qualified in related fields such as astronomy, astrophysics, and metaphysics, to leave aside their preconceptions and outright rejections and pay serious attention to the facts and reach conclusions based on logic, reasoning and rationalization. The hope is that if this way of thinking is followed, the scientific community may ascertain the nature of the Matterless Universe and the facts of creation and evolution of the Material Universe, not in a century or more as is estimated but much sooner. An enormous and incredible wealth of knowledge is waiting to be discovered. When discovered, it will cause universal peace, prosperity and tranquility. It will bring about true democracy, eliminate excess materialism by accepting the application of the principle of equality of opportunity in every aspect of daily life. [3]

It was mentioned above that there was a third universe called Non-material Universe and we will give a brief description of it. Non-material Universe is a stage between the material and matterless universes. It is transparent, therefore, invisible to our eyes. It engulfs the material universe. For every material planet there is a non-material one several times larger in size. It is subject to time and space by a different standards for which we have no means of measurement. It may shed an idea of time if we consider that a year in that planet may equal to thousands of year in our planet. The same applies to non-material beings living in them. The span of life may extend to thousands of years. The climate and environment follows the same standards with enormous deviations. Temperature may vary from thousand degrees below zero to thousands above it. It is a super advanced civilization where, though there are some bad beings but they cannot do anything bad thus are automatically forced to correct themselves. The life is extremely painful to those who are caught in harsh environments of the planet, and incredibly enjoyable for those located in favorable environments.

Finally, in closing, it may be noteworthy to say a little about the concept of neosecularism, which materializes if one accepts the facts of the two universes as discussed above. Secularism is defined as indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations. Neosecularism is defined as the exclusion of religion or religious considerations. It is fundamentally different from secularism since it rejects the religious dogmatic concepts of God, spirituality and creation of the Material Universe, while in a completely secular, rational and scientific manner accepts the existence of a totally secular Creator and a different course for the process of creation and evolution.

From all the materials presented here, it can be easily concluded that: first, nothing is holy about the Creator as assumed by several religions. It is a totally secular super being with a supreme life, intelligence and creative power. Thus the Creator has no relation to, or interest in nor belong to any religion. Its only interest in human beings, if any, concerns their behavior and development as a component of Its total experimentation in creating the Material Universe.

Second, since the Creator consists of Pure Energy, Which is the highest and purest level of being, Its nature could be nothing but inherently good, pure and positive. More likely, as a super-scientist, It is interested to see to what extent this goodness and purity can be restored when the Pure Matter was degraded by the Big Bang to much lower grade matters including human beings.

Third, among all Its creations at this Material Universe, the Creator has been able to sustain contact with human beings through their high level of intelligence, the human mind or spirit being the locus and medium of such contact. It seems reasonable to assume that the main purpose of this experimentation may have been to examine to see to what extent and level human beings can develop themselves approaching the Creator's pure essence at the matterless level.

Fourth, To guide humans in the process of self-development towards this purity, the Creator often receives help from those who consciously have developed and purified themselves and thus have been able to get direct contact with the Creator through transcendence. These are not actually assigned by the Creator as prophets or agents. The fact is that when a human being becomes conscious of the meaning of life and creation by dedicating himself to physical and spiritual advancement, after years of hard and disciplined labor he finally reaches the level of being able to contact the Creator. At this high level of purity, he finds himself obligated to assume the burdensome and often dangerous task of guiding the others. The number of such individuals is not restricted to Jesus, Moses, Mohammad and others who have been mentioned, but it is in thousands at any given time who remain unknown. Many operate silently carrying out their self-assumed duties. They receive directions from the Creator if they are in such need and ask for. As more knowledge about the Universe and the Creator is discovered, a rational, non-coercive and non-dogmatic way of thought, labeled here as neosecularism, will come to prevail. Religions and other dogmatic thoughts and beliefs will loose their influence in daily lives of the people. Important reasons for conflict and confrontation will disappear and opportunities for peaceful coexistence will materialize.

Reference:
1. www.iranonline.com/magazine/issue25/mehregan-english/ p. 3
2. For details about this concept also the kind of meditation needed to reach the matterless world, see Passage to the Heaven: The Secrets of the Universe, Life and Happiness, by the author, Reza Rezazadeh, Professor Emeritus and Fulbright Scholar, University of Wisconsin. For more information visit www.democracywhere.com

3. For this concept of democracy see Technodemocratic Economic theory: From Capitalism and Socialism to Democracy,1991, by the author. For information about this book and other relevant articles see www.democracywhere.com

Dr. Reza Rezazadeh
1080 Eastman Street, WI 53818

Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin System,and a Fulbright scholar, a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual scholar with background in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.), Continental and Islamic Law (Licenciate), J.D. in American Jurisprudenxce, LL.M. in International Law and International Economics, Ph.D. in Political Science, Economics and Administration, and Doctor of the Science of Law (S.J.D.) the highest law degree offered in U.S. Fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Persian, Azeri-Turkish. Elementary knowledge of Arabic, Urdu, Russian and Italian. Patented inventions; an artist, a poet (oil and pastel), a musician (violin), with over 35 years of academic background in teaching, research and administration, research and cultural studies in many countries in Europe including USSR, Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, Central and South America.

Author of 8 books and many scholarly articles listed in his website http://www.democracywhere.com

Rose Vanden Eynden