Back 2 Basics 101

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STATISTICS

Tue 29 Dec 2009, 09:17 10 Comment(s) Report Abuse

The below statistics landed on my desk some time ago, and even though I can’t vouch for its accuracy, it makes one think quite a bit.

STATISTICS TO THINK ABOUT

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:

There would be:

57 Asians

21 Europeans

14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south

8 Africans

52 would be female

48 would be male

70 would be non-white

30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian

30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual

11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.

80 would live in substandard housing

70 would be unable to read

50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death

1 would be near birth

1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education

1 would own a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

The following figures are also something to ponder on…

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness… you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation… you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death… you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep… you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married… you are very rare, even in the United States and Canada.

If you can read this… you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Original source unknown.

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

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Topics: statistics think

GOD VS SCIENCE

Sat 12 Dec 2009, 06:02 19 Comment(s) Report Abuse

I received the below content in an email some time ago.

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, 'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

At the back of the room another student stands quietly for a moment before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.'

'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word.'

'In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.'

'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.'

'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

If you read it all the way through and had a smile on your face when you finished, please invite your friend to visit this page and read this article.

YES, AND GOD IS CERTAINLY DIFFERENT TO RELIGION!

Original source unknown.

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: god science religion professor student faith good evil

DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

Sun 6 Dec 2009, 08:20 46 Comment(s) Report Abuse

I received the below content in an email recently.

SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

In a small town, a person decided to open up a brothel, which was right opposite to a church. The church and its congregation started a campaign to block the brothel from opening with petitions and prayed daily against the business.

Work progressed. However, when it was almost complete and was about to open a few days later, strong lightning struck the brothel and it was burnt to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that--till the brothel owner sued the church authorities on the grounds that the church through its congregation and prayers was ultimately responsible for the destruction of his brothel, either through direct or indirect actions or means.

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection that their prayers were reasons for the act of God. As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork at the hearing and commented:

'I don't know how I'm going to decide this case, but it appears from the paperwork, we have a brothel owner who firmly believes in the power of prayer and an entire church that doesn't.'

YOU BE THE JUDGE.

Original source unknown.

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: judge prayer power faith

PREJUDICE

Sun 29 Nov 2009, 07:36 20 Comment(s) Report Abuse

A Chinese man and a Jewish man were eating lunch in the same restaurant. Suddenly, without warning the Jew got up, walked over to the Chinese fellow and smashed him in the mouth, sending him sprawling. The Chinese man picked himself up, rubbed his jaw and asked, “What in the world did you do that for?”

And the answer came back, “For Pearl Harbour!”

His response was total astonishment, “Pearl Harbour? I didn’t have anything to do with Pearl Harbour. It was the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour.”

The Jew responded, “Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese… they’re all the same to me.”

With that they both sat down again, and before too long the Chinese man got up, walked over to the Jew and sent him flying with a hard smack to the jaw. The Jew yelled out, “What did you do that for?”

And the answer came back, “The Titanic.”

The Jew responded, “The Titanic? Why, I didn’t have anything to do with the Titanic!”

Whereupon the Chinese man replied, “Goldberg, Feinberg, Iceberg… they’re all the same to me!”

Even though we can truly smile at the tenacious stupidity of prejudice portrayed in the above illustration, we have to admit that our own behaviour isn’t much different on many an occasion! Yes, the very same prejudice portrayed above finds its way into our very own lives in such a subtle way that we stand amazed when accused of such stupendous behaviour. And this happens in the sociological, political and economical spheres of life; in business, politics and church; in absolutely every area of our lives.

Have you ever suffered harm or hurt at the hands of a person from another race (white, black, pink or green), and now you classify them all as…?

Have you ever done business with a Christian (or Muslim, or Jew, or Greek, or Indian, or German), had a raw deal, and now you classify them all as…?

Have you ever been molested by a man (or woman, or adult), and now you classify them all as…?

Have you ever had a bad experience in your dealings with your bank (or church, or doctor, or municipality, or lawyer, or supermarket, or police), and now you classify them all as…?

Have you ever ... and now you classify them all as…?

The list is infinite. The common denominator is prejudice where the thinking is basically that all must pay for the sin of one. This is diametrically opposed to the message of the Gospel where One paid for the sin of all!

Prejudice is a luxury true leaders can’t afford. When policies, philosophies and practices are founded on prejudice, the vision is distorted, the mission is corrupted, the emission is hatred and the final conclusion is death.

Adolf Hitler orchestrated the rise of the Third Reich on racial purity and supremacy, amongst other reasons, which resulted in the extermination of “inferior” peoples like the Jews and the Gypsies. The basis of hatred, founded on prejudice, was well established. And the end result? Death of the vision… death of the mission… and death of the leadership…

In South Africa we have deep embedded prejudices. The government strives to “legislate equality, acceptance and tolerance.” However, prejudice is not a matter of the law, but a matter of the heart! The law is limited in function by only being able to punish offenders. But a change of heart, a change of thinking, a change of how we see other people, results in a permanent change of the attitudes of people, which will render the law irrelevant and immaterial. When we listen to the political rhetoric of certain of today’s firebrands, it’s quite clear that prejudice is alive and well in our society, and that a change of heart is desperately needed.

Leaders need beware of prejudice. Those who engage in it are merely emulating the behaviour of the Chinese and Jewish gentlemen in the illustration. Not only does prejudice prove personal stupidity, but also out of it is born diseases like racism, sexism, superiority, pride, and the like—which in turn lead to hatred, violence and those terrible diseases of the soul. And how the devil enjoys division! He actually specialises in this field. When a person falls prey to prejudice he’s a very effective tool in the hands of the devil in causing division. And this is regardless of the standing or position of the person concerned.

The process to eradicate prejudice starts with the leaders. There are normally more followers than leaders, and the followers emulate the example of their leaders. Leaders who advocate tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness, radiate a Godly love that changes people. However, leaders must have a first hand experience of receiving that Godly love, tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness prior giving it away—for one simply cannot give what one does not have.

As leaders it is imperative to determine whether there is any prejudice alive in our beings, and to remedy the situation in our own lives without delay—through the grace and love of God.

Where we all desire a better South Africa as far as business, government and Christianity is concerned, let each leader take up the challenge and act—having said, “It starts right here! It starts with me!”

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: prejudice christianity stupidity leaders tolerance acceptance forgiveness godly love

PLEASE SHARE MY JOY!

Sun 22 Nov 2009, 08:21 10 Comment(s) Report Abuse

'Quest for Freedom' was released on November 17 by my publisher, Tate Publishing & Enterprises, Oklahoma, USA!

'Quest for Freedom' is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, Kalahari.net, and many other USA stores!

'Quest for Freedom' is an inspirational novel about relationships--relationships between couples and their relationships with God.

WHAT OTHERS SAY!

“A beautifully written book—filled with compassion, sensitivity and integrity. A golden thread of wisdom runs throughout the book. A God who desires intimacy and a personal relationship is portrayed by the author in a very real and honest way. Thank you, Emil.” ~Margi

“It tells the story of two struggling couples who find hope in the wisdom of an old man they barely know. This book is an enjoyable read and is a gift for people who are seeking answers for the difficulties in life. Emil’s writing style is in no way heavy-handed or preachy.” ~Jim

“Emil’s writing compelled me to read through it without wanting to pause to do anything else. He drew me into it by his style and illustrations from life. He caught me in his web of detail and drew me on to the end by the cords of his understanding of the suffering of people—and offered some great reasons and counsel.” ~Vic

“At the time when many people in South Africa, and maybe elsewhere, are searching geographically for a place where they can be free, this book will certainly point them in the right direction. Freedom is seldom a place, but is a state of being! Emil Kirstein’s first time novel Quest for Freedom points the reader in the right direction!” ~Ruth

“This book has depth. I laughed, I cried and I identified with so many of the scenes. I really want to read Quest for Freedom again.” ~Francois

“I appreciated the author’s unique use of South Africa’s history and how through the personal stories, South Africa’s various local cultures affected the lives of his characters in the story. It is a very relevant book, relevant to today’s current events. Real freedom is not only political freedom or even a good justice system. ” ~Ruth

“This is an uplifting book—bringing hope and encouragement to anyone who has ever experienced pain, disappointment and disillusionment, in their search for spiritual freedom.” ~Hannelie

“The author of Quest for Freedom leads the reader on a journey with very ordinary people who suffer the inevitable vicissitudes of life. They finally become winners who achieve their freedom through their faith and with the assistance of the Almighty. A thought provoking and inspirational read.” ~Vincent

“The author has so skillfully shown in the book that anywhere one lives, freedom is possible and real. Also appreciated was the author’s unique expressions and language, challenging me to slow down and give deeper thought to the text.” ~Ruth

“The 'QUEST FOR FREEDOM' can only be truly satisfied when coming face to face with the Ultimate Truth. In a clear and unassuming manner, the writer leads both the characters and the reader of this book on this road of discovery. When traveling down this road with an open mind and receptive spirit, the reader’s search for freedom is bound to be fulfilled. ~Charles

“The book is a must read. A fairly unique style, fresh, and grasping—keeps you wanting to read more. Challenges what most will gloss over, in a very gentle, yet, no nonsense manner...addressing relevant issues in a very gentle and wise manner through his book.” ~Ivan

“Emil, thank you so much for the book. It has meant so much to me, I could relate to the lives, trials & tribulations of the characters. Truly outstanding writing, easy to read & relate to.” ~Elmarie

“This book has been a blessing. Thank you Emil. I know of several friends who are weathering storms in their marriage. This would be the perfect gift for them.” ~Jo-Anne

"As real as today is to anyone so real is the book 'Quest For Freedom' to any reader. You will not want to put the book down since you are possibly reading the life of a family member, friend or even your own experiences with life." ~Vic

"I'm busy reading and enjoying the book very much so far. Thanx Emil for taking this grand step, to write it and in so doing blessing us, the readers." ~Kotie

"I couldn’t put 'Quest for Freedom' down. I found it very interesting and gripping. Within three days I had completed reading it. Congratulations, Emil." ~Louie

“This country has one of the highest divorce rates in the world and I think that this book will help save marriages that are in trouble. Good job Emil!” ~Jo-Anne

“I am reading this book right now and into it more and more... I bet anyone who reads it will love it much...” ~Kyeongdo Bae

ORDER NOW!

You can order your copy of 'Quest for Freedom' directly at http://kirsteinonline.com/html/orders.html

You can also become a fan of 'Quest for Freedom' now at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quest-for-Freedom/153151692294.

SPECIAL OFFER! SOUTH AFRICAN RESIDENTS ONLY!

To celebrate the release of 'Quest for Freedom,' my novel, on November 17 by my publisher, Tate Publishing & Enterprises, USA, I have a special offer for all South African residents:

All orders placed and paid for before 28 November 2009, will receive a DISCOUNT OF R20 PER BOOK!

See my website for details http://kirsteinonline.com/html/orders.html

And don’t forget—it’s a great gift idea!

Blessings to all and asunder!

Topics: quest for freedom novel relationship god

MELANIE’S MALADY

Sun 15 Nov 2009, 07:06 10 Comment(s) Report Abuse

On Sunday Melanie went to church. On Monday Melanie contemplated the events of Sunday. On Tuesday Melanie discussed it all with Douglas, her husband. But he was his usual noncommittal self. On Wednesday Melanie confided in Sarah and Jolene over coffee and cheesecake at the Mugg-and-Bean—but all to no avail. On Thursday she phoned her mother, 1000km away, who merely told her to stop her nonsense. On Friday morning she rang Scott’s doorbell.

Scott hadn’t seen or spoken to Melanie in months. But there she was on his doorstep, unannounced, under stress and unable to help herself. Before Scott could properly invite her in, she plunked herself down on the couch in the living room. Scott tried to get through the customary cordialities of, “How’re you? How’s Douglas?” But Melanie simply unburdened herself, opened the flood gates, and poured her heart out…

“I’ve been attending church since I was a little girl. Every Sunday I went to Sunday school and after that I sat between my mom and dad during the main service. The years went by and Sunday school turned into confirmation classes. Mom made me a beautiful light mauve chiffon dress for the confirmation. And I started to use Holy Communion. I met Douglas; we got engaged and went to see the minister. We had a lovely church wedding; and later both our children were christened in the same church. Everything was so regular and so normal—all according to the way things have always been done.

“Then one morning during Bible study we discussed the ‘born-again’ issue. The one girl said that she would get hold of some more information. At the next meeting she brought a guest along who explained salvation to us in a way none of us had ever heard from the pulpit. It was as if blinkers fell off our eyes and we were all born-again that morning—receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We returned to our church, but our message of joy wasn’t well received. Gradually, we all left and joined other churches. Douglas didn’t protest too much, and just tagged along. Everything had been going well, till this past Sunday…”

“Well, what happened?” Scott asked, quietly hoping that he wasn’t getting himself into something rather problematic.

“Everything was the same as usual—nothing out of the ordinary,” Melanie continued. “We had a precious time of praise and worship. Then the pastor started preaching and I listened, following in my Bible. The pastor proceeded to Psalm 107:8-9 ‘Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.’ And right there I stopped listening… I stopped following the sermon… It was as if the text had been highlighted, and it stood out very prominently. I stared and stared and stared…

“I was thirsty! I was hungry! I wanted the good things of the Lord! I wanted more of God! No, let me rephrase that: I AM thirsty, I AM hungry, I WANT the good things of God, and I WANT more of God. And that’s been driving me crazy all week!”

Scott got up to make them some tea, hoping that it would give him some time to formulate an answer to Melanie’s malady. “After all,” he thought to himself, “what do I know anyway?” He placed the tray with the cups and some biscuits on the coffee table, poured the tea and attempted an answer.

“You know, I have a very simple faith. I strive to focus on Jesus. I firmly adhere to the Scripture in 1 Timothy 2:5 that says ‘For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.’ So I’ve been trying through all these past years, to improve my relationship with Jesus, and practice a faith devoid of rituals and religion. I’ve found that my thirst can only be quenched, and my hunger only be satisfied, in fellowship with Jesus. That’s the only way I’ve been able to get more of God.”

Melanie looked at Scott intently, and with tears starting to form in her eyes, asked, “Are you implying that I’m not praying enough to God? Are you saying that I don’t have a proper prayer life?”

“No, no, no,” he quickly interjected, “that’s not at all what I meant.” He gave her a moment to regain her composure and continued, “Fellowship with Jesus is more than prayer—its ‘prayer plus.’”

“Prayer-plus? What do you mean?” Melanie had a puzzled look on her face.

Scott got up and went to the CD-player. He searched his CD collection and found what he was looking for. Melanie asked whether he was going to play some praise and worship music. Scott looked at her and handed her the CD case—a remake of a Mario Lanza golden oldie. Melanie looked at him with raised eyebrows. He knew that she was busy questioning his spirituality and wondering whether he had backslidden. Scott asked her to listen carefully to the words. He suggested that there might be a secret hidden in the lyrics. The song started… Mario Lanza’s outstanding voice filled the lounge…

I'll walk with God, from this day on

His helping hand, I'll lean upon

This is my prayer, my humble plea

May the Lord be ever with me

There is no death though eyes grow dim

There is no fear when I'm near to Him

I'll lean on Him forever

And He'll forsake me never

He will not fail me

As long as my faith is strong

What ever road I may walk alone

I'll walk with God, I'll take his hand

I'll talk with God, He'll understand

I'll pray to Him, each day to him

And he'll hear the words that I say

His hand will guide my throne and rod

And I'll never walk alone

While I walk with God

When the melody had finished, Scott turned off the CD-player. Melanie read and reread the words on the CD-case insert. She lifted her head, looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I think I’m getting what you’re trying to tell me. Fellowship with God is a daily walk with God. Is that right?”

Scott smiled at Melanie. She sure had got it! “Fellowship with Jesus is an intimate walk with Jesus—24/7,” he responded. “As you allow Him to come closer to you, you’ll experience more of Him. It is no different to your relationship with Douglas. The more you let Douglas into your life, the better you get to know him. You see, fellowship with Jesus is not a religious ritual, it’s very practical and it’s very real.”

Melanie started to understand what Scott had meant with prayer-plus. Even though she had been born-again, she was still adhering to some rituals and religious concepts. If she really wanted more of God, she had to have a one-to-one relationship with Jesus. And such a relationship could only come by talking to Him, listening to Him, spending time with Him—all the time… Whilst, working, playing, showering, eating, anything, everything—24/7.

Like the clear sound of a bell, she realized that ‘relationship’ outweighed ‘religion.’ As if the lights were suddenly turned on, she began to see the difference between ‘Christianity’ and ‘churchianity.’ In a twinkling of an eye, she chose ‘intimacy’ above ‘institution,’ and ‘Truth’ above ‘tradition.’

They spent some time in prayer and God touched Melanie’s thirsty and hungry soul. He filled her with His love and joy. He gave her a new song in her heart. God changed MELANIE’S MALADY into MELANIE’S MELODY! I’ll walk with God… from this day on…

That was Friday. On Saturday, Melanie was jubilant. On Sunday, Douglas was jubilant. On Wednesday, Sarah and Jolene were jubilant.

You know what? You too can be jubilant! Today, God can change your malady into a melody!

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this story, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

(‘I'll walk with God’ lyrics © by Paul Francis Webster)

Topics: malady melody walk with god relationship religion christianity churchianity intimacy institution truth tradition church christian more of god

QUESTION AND THINK

Sun 8 Nov 2009, 10:25 27 Comment(s) Report Abuse

We live in an “instant” world and in a “spoon-fed” society. Sadly, I’ve found that most people are too lazy to think for themselves. They rely on what they’re fed, and swallow anything and everything that’s dished up—bait, hook, line and sinker. And if it’s dressed up and well presented, it goes down even better. The coming of the Internet has facilitated research and the flow of information. However, too many Internet users accept, believe and propagate what they read without doing any verification homework.

True leaders simply aren’t like that—they question and they think! Questions such as who, what, where, when, why, how, etc. need constantly be asked to prevent indoctrination and misinformation.

Ontology is that branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of being. Thus the ontological question endeavours to provide an answer to the question, “What is it?” Epistemology is that branch of philosophy that deals with the validity, methods and scope of knowledge. Thus the epistemological question endeavours to provide an answer to the question, “How do we know that.”

Leaders needn’t be philosophers, but leaders need to ask questions and think for themselves. Too often we coin the phrase, “knowledge is power,” yet we fail in our responsibility to obtain verified knowledge. We’re content in our comfort zone of untested information.

In failing to ask the question, “How do you know that?” we become prone to the reasoning of other people. Their arguments, statements or agendas dominate the table, and we inevitably end up by discussing and debating the opinions of others. By asking the simple question, “How do you know that?” the entire emphasis is shifted from discussing a statement that everyone is supposed to accept as factual, to proving that statement as factual in the first instance, prior discussing it.

Let’s look at a very practical example. A person says that the remains of dinosaurs that lived 150 million years ago were discovered. Now the ensuing debate normally is about whether there were dinosaurs or not, whether evolution or creationism is the correct interpretation of origin, and the like. However, by simply asking the question, “How do you know that dinosaurs lived 150 million years ago?” the entire emphasis is shifted on the one making the statement, to prove his statement. And the irony of this exercise is that he can’t, because there are too many suppositions in the equation to make any reasonable sense at the end of the day.

Mankind has firstly been conditioned to accept the words of those in “authority” for they “know” what they are talking about. But do they? Unless we challenge their statements we’ll never really know what’s right and what’s not. Furthermore, mankind has been conditioned not to question for it’s an unacceptable practice, very rude and extremely disrespectful. Thus we’re conditioned not to think for ourselves—and to be followers where others lead.

Academic schools of thought present a certain sense of credibility which results in the fact that Joe Soap hardly ever questions their allegations and findings. This gives them power over the people. When a school of thought can control what people believe and think, they have power over those people, and they have “willing” and “controlled” followers!

Of this there are many practical examples throughout history. In South Africa the political concept of “apartheid” was dished up to the masses, who, without questioning and thinking for themselves, swallowed it for many a year. Not only do we have this in politics, but also in religion, where but a few “anointed” have the “insight” and “revelation” to interpret “the way.”

Sadly, this is also evident in Christianity! And this happens despite the fact the Bereans were commended for daily verifying the Scriptures to see whether Paul had been teaching the truth. I’ve a very simply question to the person in the pew, “Do you check what you’re being taught?” I also have a question for the person in the pulpit, “Do you ask your hearers to check if what you teach is true?”

Scientists are another group of people prone to this kind of thing. The theory of evolution has become a fact—without anyone proving a thing. Medical science has ridiculed the spiritual as “unscientific” to such an extent that believers have more faith in their doctors and their pills than in their Creator and Healer. A very small group of academics who prescribe to the humanistic world view have virtually taken over the world with their value system.

Evidently, if you make enough noise, if you sound credible enough, if you use the right platforms, you aren’t questioned sufficiently and your hollow philosophy turns into a masterpiece!

Tradition is another very powerful tool in the hands of manipulators. We are told to do things or believe things in certain ways because “it has always been done that way.” This is found in the political, spiritual, sociological and economic spheres of life. And because we simply don’t dare question our forefathers and think for ourselves, tradition, instead of reason and truth, rules our lives and dictates our belief systems. Thus we today we still have societies in certain parts of the world that are governed by traditions dating back thousands of years—ignoring progress and innovation for the sake of tradition.

Why is it true that when a fable is repeated often enough it becomes accepted as a fact? Because no one questions the fable sufficiently! Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? These questions separate the leaders from the followers. These questions separate the thinkers from the undiscerning.

Ignorance and blind acceptance of what you’re told and taught give others power over you. Knowledge, truth and understanding enable and empower you—it makes a leader out of you. No wonder then that Jesus Himself said that knowledge of the truth sets free! In politics, in business and in the church, start asking questions. “What is it?” “How do you know that?” “Why should I do that?” These questions serve as a dividing line between fact and fable, between substance and nonsense, between reality and fantasy. It’s one of the marks of separation between a leader and a follower.

The Biblical reference that “rebellion is as witchcraft” is often misinterpreted and very effectively abused by classifying questioning as rebellion, and thus suppressing the development of independent thinking. The full context of the Scripture refers to obedience to the voice of the Lord and rebelling against the word of the Lord. It has nothing to do with questioning the rules and laws of man, with questioning the reasoning and revelations of the learned, or with questioning the authority of man over man.

Just for a moment picture a scene so often seen on TV: There’s a speaker—a religious preacher, a political orator, a public speaker, a popular entertainer… And there’s an audience—fascinated, captivated, entranced, emotional, and lapping up every word… Have you ever wondered about what you’re witnessing? Have you ever marvelled at the seeming adoration of the hearers? Have you ever been a part of such an audience? Have you ever questioned the speaker? “How do you know that?” “What is it?” Questions such as who, what, where, when, why, how, etc.

True leadership consists of integrity and accountability. If truth and knowledge of the truth is not part of the equation, both integrity and accountability become no more than mere empty words.

How then can a leader obtain knowledge, and in that, knowledge of the truth? Ask! Ask questions! Think! Think clearly about the answers, evaluate them carefully and discerningly—and then ask even more questions! And most importantly, leaders question everything! Often we're apt to only question the things that don’t suit us, but we blindly follow the things that suit us or sort of make sense to us.

My challenge to you, dear reader, is simply this: QUESTION and THINK. It is true knowledge that empowers, and truth that sets free—not the indoctrination, manipulation or control by others.

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: question think leadership leader knowledge truth

BOOK

Sun 1 Nov 2009, 07:16 12 Comment(s) Report Abuse

BIO-OPTIC ORGANIZED KNOWLEDGE

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade-named BOOK.

BOOK is a revolutionary break-through in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it.

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere—even sitting in an armchair by the fire—yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.

Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKS with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet.

BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

BOOK never crashes or needs rebooting—though, like other devices, it can become damaged if coffee is spilled on it and it becomes unusable if dropped too many times on a hard surface. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move backwards and forwards as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.

You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with optional programming tools, Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Styli (PENCILS).

(Original source unknown)

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this story, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: book pencil technology

WORKING FROM HOME

Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:42 14 Comment(s) Report Abuse

Since I started to work in 1969, I observed one thing that bothered me tremendously. I questioned it and persistently kept it in the foreground of my “moans and groans” but I simply could not come up with suitable answers. This thing that bothered me was the ordering of the economic society.

God instituted the family as the basic unit of society. The husband and wife marry to become “one” and in their wedding ceremony the minister says, “What God has joined together, let no man rend asunder.” Yet, the husband goes out to the market place to work, and very often the wife goes out to the market place to work. And during the larger portion of their awake-time they have been rent asunder by the ordering of the economic society! In later years the children, God’s precious gift to the couple, go to school and also spend the larger portion of their awake-time being separated from their family through the ordering of the educational system.

I also noticed that “office affairs” were not uncommon, that families grew apart, and that when retirement age arrived and the couple really started to share their awake-time, they worked on each other’s nerves and divorce was the end result. Those facts really bugged me. Yet I had no answers to those questions or solutions to those problems.

However, as from the beginning of 1985 I started to operate an insurance brokerage from home. At first the adaptations were horrendous. I had no “privacy” in my office. It seemed as if “professionalism” had gone for a loop because people had to come and see me at home. I got in my wife’s way and she in mine. My “business” line got clogged up with private calls—especially so when the children discovered how to operate the telephone. But we persevered. (I actually had to install a second line!)

Subsequent to that we organized business activities, missionary work, Christian counseling and Christian politics, plus we engaged in a healthy family life, all from the comfort of our home. Our family core became stronger and stronger, enabling us to face the ensuing insurmountable financial situations—by the grace of God

During the years that we were in South Korea, we were “gainfully employed” as we strived to do things together. Many Koreans were amazed that we could spend so much time together without driving each other crazy!

And today? I want it no other way! My wife and I tutor English from home—after a short stint at an English Academy. We lead Christian fellowship groups from home. And of course, we write at home—sitting opposite each other in our office. Sometime we have debates about whose office it actually is—especially when “my stuff” lies scattered all over the place.

We are a very strong and united family—my wife and I, and our two sons and their families. I can only ascribe this to God’s infinite love and grace, and the fact that we spend so much time in one another’s company.

In places like Hong Kong and Singapore, families also work from home. They engage in industry, manufacture and retail from the privacy and intimacy of their apartments. There are no limits or boundaries. The value system of the family has precedence over the ordering of society.

In the current economic climate people are more and more forced to turn toward entrepreneurship and working from home. The economic realities and political trends have placed, and will still be placing, people out of jobs. Why look for another job? Work from home! Restore the family as the basic building block of society, secure your own financial freedom, and enjoy life—all by God’s grace. Whether you engage in multi-level marketing, manufacture, services or maintenance—the type of business being absolutely irrelevant—just do your own thing from home. You can, you know! Go for it! Furthermore, the system of “home schooling” also provides for the restoration of family values, and the re-ordering of society.

Work from home, secure your financial freedom, keep your family together, instill values in the lives of your children, live in God’s love and grace—and be happy!

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this story, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Topics: work home happy economy

PROVERBS

Sat 17 Oct 2009, 06:54 16 Comment(s) Report Abuse

EMIL’S FUN ENGLISH LESSON 7

As an English Foreign Language Teacher one often comes across some funny and weird things. Hope you enjoy the ‘lesson’ of the day! (I received this one in an email just the other day.)

PROVERBS

A 1st grade school teacher presented each child in her classroom with the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds!

1.	Don't change horses	Until they stop running.
2.	Strike while the	Bug is close.
3.	It's always darkest before	Daylight Saving Time.
4.	Never underestimate the power of	Termites.
5.	You can lead a horse to water but	How?
6.	Don't bite the hand that	Looks dirty.
7.	No news is	Impossible.
8.	A miss is as good as a	Mr.
9.	You can't teach an old dog new	Math.
10.	If you lie down with dogs, you'll	Stink in the morning.
11.	Love all, trust	Me.
12.	The pen is mightier than the	Pigs.
13.	An idle mind is	The best way to relax.
14.	Where there's smoke there's	Pollution.
15.	Happy the bride who	Gets all the presents.
16.	A penny saved is	Not much.
17.	Two's company, three's	The Musketeers.
18.	Don't put off till tomorrow what	You put on to go to bed...
19.	Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and	You have to blow your nose.
20.	There are none so blind as	Stevie Wonder.
21.	Children should be seen and not	Spanked or grounded.
22.	If at first you don't succeed	Get new batteries.
23.	You get out of something only what you	See in the picture on the box.
24.	When the blind lead the blind	Get out of the way.
25.	A bird in the hand	Is going to poop on you.

Emil Kirstein, Soterion International

(Original source unknown)

Topics: english fun proverbs grade 1 1st grade 6-year-old

PLAYS ON WORDS

Wed 14 Oct 2009, 05:54 12 Comment(s) Report Abuse

EMIL’S FUN ENGLISH LESSON 6

As an English Foreign Language Teacher one often comes across some funny and weird things. Hope you enjoy the ‘lesson’ of the day!

A FEW PLAYS ON WORDS

1. Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.

2. A backward poet writes inverse.

3. A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

4. Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.

5. Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.

6. A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.

7. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

8. Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.

9. Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

10. Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.

11. Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.

12. When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

13. A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.

14. What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway.)

15. She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.

16. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

17. If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.

18. When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.

19. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

20. You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

21. Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.

22. He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

23. Every calendar's days are numbered.

24. A lot of money is tainted - taint yours and taint mine.

25. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

26. He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

27. A plateau is a high form of flattery.

28. A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.

29. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

30. Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

31. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

32. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

33. Acupuncture is a jab well done.

Emil Kirstein, Soterion International

(Original source unknown)

Topics: english fun word play play on words

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Mon 12 Oct 2009, 08:45 19 Comment(s) Report Abuse

EMIL’S FUN ENGLISH LESSON 5

As an English Foreign Language Teacher one often comes across some funny and weird things. Hope you enjoy the ‘lesson’ of the day!

REASONS WHY THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS DOUBLE TROUBLE

Please go through each one slowly—“double” if need be.

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4. We must polish the Polish furniture.

5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. I did not object to the object.

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

14. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

15. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

16. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

17. After a number of injections my jaw got number.

18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

Emil Kirstein, Soterion International

(Original source unknown)

Topics: english fun double trouble

FUN FACTS

Thu 8 Oct 2009, 07:32 32 Comment(s) Report Abuse

EMIL’S FUN ENGLISH LESSON 4

As an English Foreign Language Teacher one often comes across some funny and weird things. Hope you enjoy the ‘lesson’ of the day!

FUN FACTS

Here are a few interesting things some might not have known…

1. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is “screeched.”

2. “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”.

3. No word in the English language rhymes with “month,” “silver,” “purple,” or “orange.”

4. The symbol on the “pound” or “hash” key (#) is called an octothorpe.

5. The symbol used in many URLs (Web addresses) is called a tilde. (~)

6. The dot over the letter ‘i’ is called a tittle.

7. The word “set” has more definitions than any other word in English.

8. “Underground” is the only word in English that begins and ends with the letters “und.”

9. There are only four words in the English language which end in “-dous”: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

10. The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. The only other word with the same amount of letters is its plural: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconioses.

11. “Facetious” and “abstemious” contain all the vowels in the correct order, as does “arsenious,” meaning “containing arsenic.”

12. Los Angeles’s full name is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reinade los Angeles de Porciuncula” and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size, L.A.

13. The verb “cleave” has definitions that are antonyms of each other: to adhere and to separate.

15. A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

16. There is a seven-letter word in English that contains eleven words without rearranging any of its letters, “therein”: the, there, he, in, rein, her, here, ere, I, therein, herein.

17. ‘Stewardesses’ is the longest English word that is typed with only the left hand.

18. The combination “ough” can be pronounced in nine different ways; the following sentence contains them all: “A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed.”

19. The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is “uncopyrightable.”

20. The word “Checkmate” in chess comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” which means “the king is dead.”

21. Only three words have entered English from Czech: polka, pilsner, and robot.

Emil Kirstein, Soterion International

(Original source unknown)

Topics: english fun facts

SLIP-UPS

Tue 6 Oct 2009, 16:27 29 Comment(s) Report Abuse

EMIL’S FUN ENGLISH LESSON 3

As an English Foreign Language Teacher one often comes across some funny and weird things. Hope you enjoy the ‘lesson’ of the day!

SOME SLIP-UPS FROM AROUND THE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

Doctor's office, Rome:

Specialist in women and other diseases.

Hotel, Acapulco:

The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

At a Budapest zoo:

Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

In a Nairobi restaurant:

Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.

A laundry in Rome:

Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

On the grounds of a private school:

No trespassing without permission.

In a City restaurant:

Open seven days a week, and weekends too.

In an Indian maternity ward:

No children allowed.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:

You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.

AND SOME SLIP-UPS FROM AROUND THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

Spotted in a toilet at a London office:

Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.

In a Laundromat:

Automatic washing machines: please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.

In a London department store:

Bargain basement upstairs.

In an office:

Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken.

In an office:

After tea break staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.

Outside a secondhand shop:

We exchange anything - bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain?

Emil Kirstein, Soterion International

(Original source unknown)