Be yourself and Live your purpose

Merry Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

O Come All Ye Faithful by rocacruz
vocals:Donita Sabater
guitars: Filbert Wong

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord

O sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God
Glory in the highest

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

Need to hear God's guidance?

2011-10-25T11:40:00.000-04:00

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." Isaiah 58:11

Though the Bible never uses the word guidance, it does speak of a Guide. We may seek guidance, but God provides something better--himself.

Many of us struggle to understand and discern God's guidance for our lives. We ask questions like: Should I marry or not? Should I marry this person or that person? Should I have another child? Should I join this church or that one? Which profession should I follow? What job should I take? Is my present line of work the one to stay in? Herein lies the major distortion of knowing and doing God's will. Does God lead and direct in these areas? Yes. Does he come out and overtly tell us what to do? Rarely.

So how does God guide us? Consider these principles:

God's guidance concerns itself more with our steps than our overall journey.

God's guidance is more preoccupied with the present than with the future.

God's guidance has less to do with geography and more to do with morality.

God's guidance is more interested in our character than our comfort.

God's guidance is not insider information.

God's guidance is that we pursue the Guide more than guidance.

In seeking God, his plan will be revealed. His way will lead back through his Word. If the step is more critical than the journey, and the present is of greater consequence than the future, and the Guide more essential than the guidance, what is needed? We need to know the right step to take. We need to know what we must do in the present. We need to know the Guide. God does not guide us magically; he guides us relationally. Therefore, the Bible must be studied so we may become acquainted with the ways and thoughts of God. God's aim is that we become his companions who walk with him. He already knows us. Now he wants us to understand and know him. The more we understand him, the more real our relationship will be with him and the more likely we are to keep in step with him in the direction he is taking us.

By:Laverne Riley

Mill Bay to Vancouver to Banff

2011-09-26T15:00:00.000-04:00

Mill Bay British Columbia - Vancouver British Columbia
Trip length - 3 hours Greyhound ( 30 day discovery pass)

Met up with an old friend who I haven’t seen in years. I met her daughters and mother in law. Vancouver is one of my favorite cities!!!

Vancouver British Columbia - Banff Alberta
Trip length - 20 hours Greyhound ( 30 day discovery pass)

I liked Banff but it really felt very touristy. I did some hiking, Gondola ride and walked around the town. The town was filled with tourist like me LOL. I enjoyed my Bisson Burger and riding the gondola. I stayed in Hi-Hostel Banff, I recommend getting a Hi-Hostel card

Canmore Alberta to Victoria British Columbia

2011-09-19T17:13:00.000-04:00

Canmore Alberta - Victoria and Mill Bay Vancouver Island British Columbia
Trip length - 1 day Greyhound ( 30 day discovery pass)
I enjoyed the scenic view from Canmore to Victoria. The mountain ranges are majestic. I also saw some animals like deers, bear and woodland caribou on the road.

When I got to Vancouver to take the ferry to Victoria, I learned that the Greyhound bus lines do not ride the ferry anymore and i would have to pay for another bus company to reach Victoria from Vancouver. I did not want to pay so I asked around and i found out that I can take the Greyhound bus to Nanaimo, there is a Greyhound bus that will meet you as you crossed the island. That bus can take you to Victoria. (I hope i was clear.)

I was housed by beautiful people who were so hospitable and loving..

Toronto Ontario to Canmore Alberta

2011-09-15T10:45:00.001-04:00

Toronto Ontario - Canmore Alberta via Greyhound Bus ( 30 day discovery pass)
Trip length - 2 days and 9 hours

First experience in traveling by bus in North America. I read allot of tips in the internet about traveling by bus, I have taken note of it and used it but these tips I have are from my own experience.

1. Make your itinerary clear and take note of the bus transfers and length of lay-overs.
2. Bring food most of the stops are fast food chains. My food suggestions are Trail Mix, veggie snacks, sandwiches, water, and fruits.
3. Pack very light and you don’t have to bring a sleeping bag. If you are hosteling most hostels do not allow sleeping bags (fear of bugs) they provide sheets, towels and blanket already. For my 45 day journey i brought just 5 shirts, 2 under shirts, swimsuit, 4 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of underwear, 2 trousers, 1 long sleeve shirt and a jacket. Laundry service are available in most areas.
4. Avoid drinking coffee. Its a diuretic and will make you “pee” all the time. There is a toilet inside the bus; however, its so difficult to use it while the bus is moving.
5. The bus can be cold so be prepared. Neck support is good, small blanket for the bus. I used my long sleeve shirt as blanket.
6. Use the stops to stretch arms, back, legs and neck. The bus stops 3-4 hours.

Canmore is a great place! Lots of hiking! http://www.tourismcanmore.com/activities/ I recommend Georgetown Inn http://www.georgetowninn.ca/ great food!! and The Hostel Bear http://www.thehostelbear.com/ its walking distance from the Bus Terminal and is in the heart of the town.

Emabarking a new journey part 3

2011-07-18T00:15:00.000-04:00

One week to go!!! My semi-final itinerary ...
Destination:
Canmore, Alberta
Vancouver, British Columbia
Victoria Island, British Columbia
Banff, Alberta
Japer, Alberta
Yellowknife, New Territories
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Thunder Bay, Ontatio
Montreal, Quebec
Quebec City
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Gaspe, Quebec
30-45 days journey!

Bottled Water or Tap Water

2011-06-25T12:54:00.001-04:00

Is bottled safe? Not really.. Tap water is monitored every 3 mins
Does bottled water taste better? NO taste test FAILED when compared to TAP water
Is it cheap? NO .. its 2,000 x more expensive
Bottled water fills our land fills!! Trashing our environment.
Its a Manufactured Demand .. Scaring us, misleading us and seducing us to believe that bottled water is safer
Please help redeem our planet .. our mandate.

Embarking on a Journey Part 2

2011-06-21T11:03:00.000-04:00

Backpack Travel Preparation - Pack and weight training

I have made my skeleton itinerary and my plan has widen. I now plan to travel from Toronto-Vancouver Island, Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick then back to Toronto in a month and a half.

I packed my backpack with the following items:

sleeping bag
5 t-shirts
bathing suit
one pair of trousers
1 shorts
quick dry towel
2 tank tops
wet ones
toiletries (toothbrush, tooth paste, soap for clothes, coconut oil and baking soda)
a month supply of vitamins
5 pairs of socks
underwear
tights and gloves
pajama
slippers
5 finger vibrams!

The sack itself and the sleeping bag are the heaviest.. but everything in total is under 15 pounds. I packed early so I can start walking with the backpack for a month as weight and endurance training. My goal is to walk every night around with my backpack! Sounds crazy but I’m no spring chicken anymore. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking

Preparation is a key. Preparation is fun and I love the process. Im starting to understand and enjoy every part of every plan. Its not only a natural or physical preparation but also a spiritual one.

I pray that God gives me the key to every city and town I visit. That I will be a blessing every where.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20

Embarking on a Journey Part 1

2011-06-03T14:31:00.001-04:00

Planning a trip from Toronto to Vancouver and back to Toronto on August 2011 via Greyhound discovery pass. Budget tips for greyhound women riders

Preparation Stage 2 months:

Set-up a prayer shield to cover me in my travels.
Haircut, from my mid-long hair to super short hair. Its such a hassle to have long hair and travel. So will have to chop off my hair, and turn it into a wash and wear hairstyle. Hair idea the 2nd to the last picture
Make an itinerary
Make reservations in hostels
Check out friends if they are willing to house me.. il be like an “angel” in disguise
Work-out ! There will be allot of carrying uggh!! and walking (love walking! not carrying)
Packing list .. super pack light! (2 trousers, 4 t-shirts, 2 tank top, 1 jacket, sleeping bag, pajamas, 2 long sleeves polo, toothbrush, comb, hat, scarf, gloves, flashlight, underwear, baking soda, flip flops, bathing suit, extra glasses, 1 walking shorts) guide to packing

Tentative Itinerary:
1. Toronto to Canmore Alberta (2 days and 16 hrs)
2. Canmore to Vancouver (13 hrs)
3. Vancouver to Vancouver Island
4. Vancouver to Banff (13 hrs) Moon Canadian Rockies: Including Banff & Jasper National Parks (Moon Handbooks)
5. Banff to Jasper (whole day traveling the Icefields) dream destination banff
6. Jasper to Edmonton (5hrs)

7. Edmonton to Saskatoon (7 hrs)
8. Saskatoon to Winnipeg (13 hrs)
9. Winnipeg to Thunder Bay (9.15hrs)
10. Thunder Bay to Toronto (20.5hrs) hostel in thunder bay

No-Soap Challenge

2011-05-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

No-Soap Challenge

I started the “No-Poo” challenge last April 28 and at the same time i started the “No-Soap” challenge. Its been great! It is only a challenge during the first 2 weeks, but as time passes it becomes a way of life.

The Disadvantages of Soap http://www.soapalternatives.com/benefits.php
Soap is the simplest type of surface-active agent - surfactant - and works by making fat and oil water-soluble and easily removed by wiping or washing. Made from fatty acid salts, soaps clean by reducing the surface tension of your skin with anionic agents such as carboxylate, sulfonate and sulfate ions which are potential irritants.
At one time, it was thought soaps caused irritation by removing only fat from the outermost layer of the skin, but research indicates that soaps damage affects both the fat and protein structures of this top layer. This can cause unpleasant skin reactions and lead to a rougher skin texture. More bad news: the soap salts that emulsify dirt and oil are by nature alkaline and will raise the skin’s acidic pH as well as provoke swelling of the skin surface. Some studies have shown long-term use of a neutral or alkaline surfactant, such as soap, can increase the amount of bacteria on the skin, while swelling can lead to cellular damage or even breakage. Soap salts can also remove natural moisturizing factors and disrupt the skin’s protective barrier. The fatty acids in soap can have harmful effects too, by plugging follicles (pores) and causing acne.
No-Soap Advantage
-hair and skin softer than ever before
-hair less greasy than before
-saving money

I use Baking Soda for my hair and body and i feel very clean.My hair and skin is very soft. I used to get allergies from an unknown source and now its gone. For almost a month now i have not had an allergy attack.

Oh after i take a shower i use Virgin Coconut Oil as a moisturizer. I stopped using lotions.

Taking the "No-Poo" challenge

2011-04-28T11:35:00.000-04:00

No-Poo means No Shampoo..

I'm now trying to get into a more simple way of consuming products that are 1st healthy to my own body and eventually contributing my lifestyle to a healthier environment for everyone. After all, aren't we called to be part of God's redemption?

This is a challenge to simply not wash your hair with the toxic, chemical-laden, store-bought shampoo that damages the hair and strips it of natural oils and leads to all kinds of diseases in the long run, like cancer.

Suggested "new" way of washing hair:

Dump one to two tablespoons of baking soda in a container (those they use for coloring)
Add to it a cup or so of hot water.
Shake until the baking soda is dissolved.
Pour it in small amounts over my scalp, thoroughly massaging the portion of the scalp that the baking-soda-water hits, until it feels slippery (at first it will feel gritty).
Continue the pouring and massaging until my whole head feels slippery.

Rinse thoroughly. It should feel squeaky clean now.

To condition the Hair:
U can use Lemon Juice
or Apple Cider Vinegar (this can have vinegar smell)
or White Vinegar (no smell) a small dab of coconut oil

Rinse thoroughly. It should feel silky soft now.

Saved by Grace not by works

2011-04-02T11:57:00.002-04:00

Woke up this morning like any other morning, I pray, I get my bible and read a chapter or two. Today was somewhat mundane yet special.
I came across one of my favorite verse in the bible.
Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.(NLT)
I know this verse by heart, the gift of Salvation! ... but this morning I got to notice the verse after..
Epheisans 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
It explains the product after receiving the gift of Salvation through faith. "He has created us anew in Christ Jesus." Being re-created in Christ.. (or born-again, re-birth,etc) "so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." A plan He made, for His glory and I can be a part of, by being me.
So I am a new creation in Christ, I just do good works. Its my new nature now, nothing to brag to God about, not to myself and others. A revelation that I don't have to feel guilty if I have done enough.
Have a great Spring season.. wohoo!! Its a new season..

Has Christianity Failed You?
Who Made God?: And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith

I have a choice to be Better or Bitter

2011-03-07T14:36:00.000-05:00

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Great words of Paul... Delighting in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. Not being bitter but BETTER! For when we delight in God's grace we are made STRONG (better).

Bitterness is neither consistent nor rational. A bitter person is his own worst enemy. It is very difficult to maintain any kind of relationship with a chronically bitter person; and bitterness is a major contributing cause of marital and family problems.

The Results of Bitterness

Bitterness is antisocial. A bitter person is selfish, inconsiderate of others, withdrawn from society, indifferent or adverse to conformity with conventional standards of social behavior. Even strangers avoid bitter people, Prov. 14:10. No one is happy around bitter people.
Bitterness is a sign of the fragmented life, Jer. 2:19.
A bitter person rejects Bible teaching. James 3:14, "But if you have bitter jealousy and strife, stop being arrogant and lying against the truth."
Bitterness shows total lack of grace orientation. A bitter person does not understand the Plan of God, let alone how it affects individuals. In Job. 9:17-18, Job's complaint against God. "Why does God let this happen to me", is a statement of bitterness.
Bitterness accompanies the sin unto death, Job. 21:25.
Bitterness motivates complaining, Job 7:11, 10:1. People who habitually complain are bitter people; they have no self esteem.
Bitterness motivates gossip, Psalm 64:3
Bitterness fragments other peoples lives. Heb 12:15, "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by it many be defiled.
Bitterness is self induced misery, and it produces chain sinning. Bitterness is misery to others in the periphery. But two wrongs never make a right. You cannot build your happiness on someone else's unhappiness.

FREEDOM

The Holy Spirit fills you and controls your life when you have no unconfessed sin in your life. You can trust the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you when you commit it, or even before. When the Holy Spirit in control, He produces His fruit (Gal. 5:12). The fruit of the Spirit does not include heaviness, bitterness, discouragement, disillusion, anguish, sadness, dejection, or loss of productivity. Consider these points:

o Love is free from bitterness.

o Joy pushes bitterness out.

o Bitterness can not coexist with peace in the soul of the believer filled with the Holy spirit.

o Longsuffering gives the ability to deal with bitterness and other troubles.

o Gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are fruits of righteousness, which is divine good. Divine good takes the place of bitterness.

Friends we can choose Grace ... we can be better!

Motivation

2011-01-03T21:32:00.002-05:00

The definition of motivation is to give reason, incentive, enthusiasm, or interest that causes a specific action or certain behavior. To empower you and set you on track to achieving your goals.
There are 2 ways to motivate us:
1.Mastery- the more we practice and master our skills the more we will enjoy and have fun. We can experiment, be creative and grow in what God has already given us.
2.Purpose- Mat 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 1:4 In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Motivation and Personality Motivation and Personality 2nd Edition Psychology for the Curious: Sensation, Perception, Motivation, Emotion, Cognition, Brain and Behavior, Learning, Memory, Consciousness, Personality, Psychopathology, ... Psychology and Deviance, Scientific Method

Enjoy practice and be who God made you to be SALT and LIGHT to a dark hurting world!

Happy New 2011 Message

2010-12-31T13:31:00.000-05:00

Before: "I long for the day when.... I reach my goals and aspirations."

I love to day dream and imagine where God will take me.. I hang on to one of my life verse .... Ephesians 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
For years and years I hang on to "what I can think or imagine" as if God will magically make it happen. Its like some mantra I can conjure and create something out of nothing. However in the past few months I realize, the real work is knowing and trusting God Himself. The context of Paul’s prayer is found in the previous verses Ephesians 3:14-19 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now: "I am here today excited and trusting the One who is truly in control"

Psalm 119:105 Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. God will show a glimpse of a distant scene but wants us to live our life today. The word trust is believing yet not seeing ...Our LORD promises a lamp unto our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We do not need to know what will happen tomorrow. We only need to know that He leads us and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

I still believe in the destiny God has prepared for me, the good works in advance. I am super excited to work and plant on the ground He has set before me.

Happy New Year to all!!

Hidden Meaning .. Christmas Carol..

2010-12-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

by: Larvern Riley

True Faith

2010-12-13T22:10:00.000-05:00

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18

At first glance, this verse seems to contradict Romans 3:28, “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds. While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith; James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith.

After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don’t obey him.

True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.

Laverne Riley

I always wondered why our famous nursery rhymes end in tragedy?

2010-11-19T12:52:00.006-05:00

I always wondered why our famous nursery rhymes end in tragedy?

I was reading this website http://www.rhymes.org.uk

The history and origins of most nursery rhymes reflect events in history and where available we have included both the meanings, history and origins of everyone's favourite nursery rhymes. Two examples of these types of nursery rhymes history and origins are 'Ring a Ring o Rosies' which refers to the Bubonic plague and 'Remember Remember' nursery rhymes which allude to Guy Fawkes' foiled attempt to blow up the English Houses of Parliament! Many of the words and nursery rhymes lyrics were used to parody the royal and political events of the day, direct dissent would often be punishable by death! Strange how these events in history are still portrayed through children's nursery rhymes, when for most of us the historical events relationship to the nursery rhymes themselves are long forgotten!

Here are examples:

Hush bye Baby

Hush a bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

London bridge is falling down

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair Lady.

Georgie Porgie

Georgie Porgie pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry
When the boys came out to play,

Georgie Porgie ran away.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses, And all the King's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again

Goosey Goosey Gander

Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up got Jack, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
He went to bed and bound his head
With vinegar and brown paper.

Little Bo Peep

Little Bo peep has lost her sheep
And doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they'll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.
Little Bo peep fell fast asleep
And dreamt she heard them bleating,
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For they were all still fleeting.
Then up she took her little crook
Determined for to find them.
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they left their tails behind them.
It happened one day, as Bo peep did stray
Into a meadow hard by,
There she espied their tails side by side
All hung on a tree to dry.
She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling,
And tried what she could,
As a shepherdess should,

Dangers of drinking SODA

2010-11-06T20:16:00.001-04:00

I used to drink at least one can of soda, esp diet soda...but i now stopped! its so addictive.. here are my reasons..
Here’s what’s in Soda Pop:
Phosphoric Acid: May interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.

Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. Most sodas include over 100 percent of the RDA of sugar.

Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. Further, when aspartame is stored for long periods of time or kept in warm areas it changes to methanol, an alcohol that converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens.

Bone Weakening
Animal studies demonstrate that phosphorus, a common ingredient in soda, can deplete bones of calcium.
And two recent human studies suggest that girls who drink more soda are more prone to broken bones. The industry denies that soda plays a role in bone weakening.
Animal studies -- mostly involving rats -- point to clear and consistent bone loss with the use of cola beverages. But as scientists like to point out, humans and rats are not exactly the same.
Even so, there's been concern among the research community, public health officials and government agencies over the high phosphorus content in the US diet. Phosphorus -- which occurs naturally in some foods and is used as an additive in many others -- appears to weaken bones by promoting the loss of calcium. With less calcium available, the bones become more porous and prone to fracture.
The soft drink industry argues that the phosphoric acid in soda pop contributes only about 2 percent of the phosphorus in the typical US diet, with a 12-ounce can of soda pop averaging about 30 milligrams.
There's growing concern that even a few cans of soda today can be damaging when they are consumed during the peak bone-building years of childhood and adolescence. A 1996 study published in the Journal of Nutrition by the FDA's Office of Special Nutritionals noted that a pattern of high phosphorus/low calcium consumption, common in the American diet, is not conducive to optimizing peak bone mass in young women.
A 1994 Harvard study of bone fractures in teenage athletes found a strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in 14-year-old girls. The girls who drank cola were about five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than girls who didn't consume soda pop.
Besides, to many researchers, the combination of rising obesity and bone weakening has the potential to synergistically undermine future health. Adolescents and kids don't think long-term. But what happens when these soft-drinking people become young or middle-aged adults and they have osteoporosis, sedentary living and obesity?
By that time, switching to water, milk or fruit juice may be too little, too late.
Research presented at an American Diabetes Association gathering this summer found that women who went from drinking less than one, non-diet soda a day to one or more daily sodas were nearly twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes over a four-year period as women who drank less than one soft during a day. (The women who drank more soda also gained more weight over the same period.)
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggested that fructose, a sweetener found naturally in fruit juice and typically used in concentrated amounts in soft drinks, may induce a hormonal response in the body that promotes weight gain.
Soft Drinks, especially light-colored drinks, and canned iced tea appear to “aggressively” erode teeth enamel in laboratory tests—and it didn’t matter whether they were diet drinks or regular ones, according to a study published in General Dentistry.
Meals on Wheels: A Handbook on Food and Drink Made Simple
Big Train Blended Ice Coffee, Heath Mocha, 2.8-Ounce Bags (Pack of 25)

The Benefits of Negative Ions

2010-11-06T01:05:00.003-04:00

"Economy Daily News" - January 30, 2002
It is well known that consuming more alkaline foods, i.e. fruits and vegetables, is beneficial to human health. An acidic PH balance of the body, on the other hand, makes the body weak and susceptible to sickness. Acidification of the blood, which is caused by the loss of electrons, can be prevented by Negative Electric Ions which contains an abundant amount of electrons improving the body's immunity and resistance to illnesses. This is the reason Negative Electric Ions products are becoming more and more popular nowadays.

Metabolism, which is the process of acquiring nutrients from the blood and excreting waste out of the body, is extremely important to the human cells. The more Negatively Charged Electric Ions there are in the blood, the more efficient the cell's metabolism process.

On the contrary, the more Positively Charged Ions there are in the blood, the slower and less efficient the cell's metabolism. This causes the body's cells to become weak and the body will tend to get sick more easily and aged faster.

An experiment was conducted on electric ions and the permeability of the cell membrane. In the experiment, skin was used to exemplify the cell membrane. When positively charged ions were permeated into the surface of the skin, its pores and sweat glands began to contract. However, when Negative Electric Ions were permeated into the surface of the skin, its pores and sweat glands expanded, which demonstrates good metabolism of the cell membranes. This is phenomenon is called Prototype Plasma Membranes of Dermal Reflectivity. Dr. Arudoman of Germany also conducted a research regarding the influence of ions to the human body. He proposed the following hypothesis - Negatively Charged Ions are beneficial to the human body in four major ways: It helps to strengthen the functions of autonomic nerves, reinforces collagen (tissues that are resilient and tension-related), improves the permeability of the cell's prototype plasma membranes (improves metabolism), and strengthens the body's immune system.

The human body is surrounded by ions; therefore, the function of electrons inside and outside the cells has significant influence on the human body. It makes the body strong if good ions are taken. When the amount of Negative Electric Ions contained one c.c. of air inhaled reached 5,000 to 50,000, it strengthens the body's resistance and immunity; and when the amount of Negative Electric Ions contained in one c.c. of air reached 100,000 to 500,000, it relieves illnesses. Negatively Charged Electric Ions in our body are essential in sustaining and improving our health. Whereas 85% of the Negative Electric Ions are absorbed from our skin, only 15% is inhaled and absorbed through our lungs. (quoted from page 56 of Negatively Charged electric Ion Treatment, issued by Youth Publishing)

Production and Neutralization of Negative Ions and Beams: Eighth International Symposium/Production and Application of Light Negative Ions: Seventh European ... (AIP Conference Proceedings) (v. 439)

Negative ions are beneficial to human body in four major ways:
Reprinted from "Economy Daily News" - January 30, 2002

Strengthen the functions of autonomic nerves
Reinforces collagen (tissues that are resilient and tension-related)
Improves the permeability of the cell's prototype plasma membranes (improves metabolism)
Strengthens the body's immune system

LightAir IonFlow 50 Surface Air Purifier

Alcohol Poisoning..

2010-11-02T14:55:00.001-04:00

What Happens to Your Body When You Get Alcohol Poisoning?

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
It is common for someone who drank excessive alcohol to vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. There is then the danger of choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not conscious because of intoxication.
You should also know that a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out. Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off.

Critical Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused.
Vomiting.
Seizures.
Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).
Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths).
Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.

What Should I Do If I Suspect Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning?

Know the danger signals.
Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
Be aware that a person who has passed out may die.
If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help. Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness.

What Can Happen to Someone With Alcohol Poisoning That Goes Untreated?

Victim chokes on his or her own vomit.
Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops.
Heart beats irregularly or stops.
Hypothermia (low body temperature).
Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures.
Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that your friend may become angry or embarrassed-remember, you cared enough to help. Always be safe, not sorry.

The number and kinds of alcohol-related civil claims have increased dramatically in Canada during the last 30 years. Parents, you are not immune to these claims. Nevertheless, with some planning, common sense and basic precautions, you can dramatically reduce your exposure to liability. More importantly, these same measures will go a long way to protect your children and their friends from the substantial toll of alcohol-related injuries and deaths among Canadian youth.Examining the etiology of associations between perceived parenting and adolescents' alcohol use: common genetic and/or environmental liabilities?(Report): ... Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

Ions Can do Strange Thing to You

2010-11-01T18:10:00.001-04:00

Reprinted from The Readers Digest
Researchers believe that through control of the electrical charges in the air we breathe, our moods, energy and health can be markedly improved. Condensed from The Rotarian., byRobert O’Brien
One sweltering day in Philadelphia this summer a man sat before a small metal box resting atop a hospital file cabinet. It was plugged into an ordinary wall socket. A doctor flipped a switch. Inside the box a small fan whirred; the box hummed distantly, like a high-tension wire, and gave off a faint, sweetish odor. Soon the man felt alert, magically refreshing, as though he’d been taking deep gulps of sparkling October air. The doctor turned the machine off, switched on another that looked just like it. The air grew quickly stale. The man’s head felt stuffy. His eyes smarted. His head began to ache. He felt vaguely depressed and tired.
With this simple experiment, the scientist-Dr. Igho H. Kornblueh, of the American Institute of Medical Climatology- demonstrated the effect that atmospheric icons can have on human beings. The first machine generated negative ions; the second, positive ions.
The air around us is filled with these electrically charged particles. They are generated in invisible billions by cosmic rays, radioactive elements in the soil, ultraviolet radiation, storms, waterfalls, winds, the friction of blowing sand or dust. Every time we draw a breath they fill our lungs and are carried by the blood to our body cells. They appear to have a lot to do with such varied things as our moods, why cattle grow skittish before a storm, why rheumatic joints “tingle” when the barometer falls, and how ants know in advance that it’s going to rain, in time to block their tunnels.
Falling barometric pressure and hot, dry, seasonal winds, such as the Alpine fohn and the Rocky Mountain chinook, for example, pack the air with an excess of positive ions. Not everyone is affected; healthy young people swiftly adapt to the change. But countless others are distressed. The aged come down with respiratory complaints, aching joints; asthma sufferers wheeze and gasp; children grow cranky and perverse; crime and suicide rates climb.
The Positive Effect of Negative Ions On the other hand, a preponderance of negative ions spices the air with exhilarating freshness. We feel on top of the world. Dr. C.W. Hansell, research fellow at RCA Laboratories and an international authority on ionization, illustrates the effect with a story about his ten-year old daughter. “We were outside, watching the approach of a thunderstorm. I knew that clouds of negative ions were filling the air. Suddenly my daughter began to dance across the grass, a radiant look on her face. She leaped up on a low boulder, threw her arms wide to the dark sky, and cried, ‘Oh, I feel wonderful!’”
Negative ions “cure” nothing that we know of, at most afford relief only so long as one inhales them. Many doctors doubt their therapeutic effects. But there is a growing army of people who swear by them.
“Total Relief” At the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate Hospital and at Northeastern and Frankford hospitals in Philadelphia, Dr. Kornbleuh and his associates have administered negative- ion treatments to hundreds of patients suffering from hay fever or bronchial asthma. Of the total, 63 percent have experienced partial to total relief. “They come in sneezing, eyes watering, noses itching, worn out from lack of sleep, so miserable they can hardly walk,” one doctor told me. “Fifteen minutes in front of the negative-ion machine and they feel so much better they don’t want to leave.”
It was RCA’s Dr. Hansell who, in 1932, stumbled upon the behavioral effects of artificially generated ions. He noticed a startling swing in the moods of a fellow RCA scientist who worked beside an electrostatic generator. Some days the scientist finished work alert and in bubbling good spirits. On other days he was rude, ill-tempered, depressed. Dr.Hansell investigated, found that the scientist produce negative ions, morose when it was producing positive ions. A few months later, reports of ionization research in Europe confirmed the strange experience.
A few years ago atmospheric ions became suddenly important to military researchers in environmental medicine. How would they affect men locked in submarines? In space ships; What were the possibilities of ion therapy? Research programs multiplied, with fantastic results. Effective Pain-Killer
In Philadelphia Dr. Kornblueh studied brainwave patterns and found evidence that negative ions tranquilized persons in severe pain. In one dramatic test he held a high density negative ionizer to the nose and mouth of a factory worker who had been rushed to Northeastern Hospital with second- degree burns on his back and legs. In minutes the pain was gone. Patients are left in the room for 30 minutes. The treatment is repeated three times every 24 hours. In 85 percent of the cases no pain-deadening narcotics are needed. Says Northeastern’s Dr. Robert McGowan, “Negative ions make burns dry out faster, heal faster and with less scarring. They also reduce the need for skin-grafting. They make the patient more optimistic. He sleeps better.”
Encouraged by this success in burn therapy, Dr. Kornblueh, Dr. J.R. Minehart, Northeastern’s chief surgeon, and his associate Dr. T.A. David boldly tried negative ions in relief of deep, post-operative pain. During an eighth- month test period they exposed 138 patients to negative ions on the first and second days after surgery. Dr. Kornblueh has just announced the results at a London congress of bioclimatologists. In 79 cases- 57 percent of the total- negative ions eliminated or drastically reduced pain.
“At first,” says Dr. Minehart, “I thought it was voodoo. Now I’m convinced that it’s real- and revolutionary.”
Experiments by Dr. Albert P. Krueger and Dr. Richard F. Smith at the University of California have shown how ionization affects those sensitive to air-borne allergens. Our bronchial tubes and trachea, or windpipe, are lined with tiny filaments called cilia. The cilia normally maintain a whiplike motion of about 900 beats a minute. Together with mucus, they keep our air passages free of dust and pollen. Krueger and Smith exposed tracheal tissue to negative ions, found that the ciliary beat was speeded up to 1200 a minute and that mucus flow was increased. Doses of positive ions produced the opposite effect: ciliary beat slowed to 600 a minute or less; the flow of mucus dropped.
Counteracting Cancer In experiments that may prove important in cancer research, Drs. Krueger and Smith also discovered that cigarette smoke slows down the cilia and impairs their ability to clear foreign, and possibly carcinogenic (cancer- inducing), substances from the lungs. Positive ions, administered along with the cigarette smoke lowered the ciliary beat as before, but from three to ten times faster than in normal air. Negative ions, however, counteracted the effects of the smoke. Observed Dr. Krueger, “The agent in cigarette smoke that slows down the ciliary beat is not known. Whatever it may be, its action is effectively neutralized by negative ions, which raise the ciliary beat as well as in a heavy atmosphere of cigarette smoke as they do in fresh air.”
Mood Alteration How do ions trip off our moods? Most authorities agree that ions act on our capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen. Negative ions in the blood stream accelerate the delivery of oxygen to our cells and tissues, frequently give us the same euphoric jolt that we get from a few whiffs of straight oxygen. Positive ions slow down the delivery of oxygen , producing symptoms markedly like those in anoxia, or oxygen starvation. Researchers also believe that negative ions may stimulate the reticulo-endothelial system, a group of defense cells in our bodies which marshal our resistance to disease.
Dr. Krueger predicts that we shall some day regulate the ion level indoors much as we now regulate temperature and humidity. Ironically, today’s air-conditioned buildings, trains, and planes frequently become supercharged with harmful positive ions because the metal blowers, filters and ducts of air-conditioning systems strip the air of negative ions before it reaches its destination. Says RCA’s Dr. Hansell, This explains why so many people in air- conditioned spots feel depressed and have an urge to throw open a window.”
Air-conditioner manufacturers are designing new systems that increase negative ionization. The American Broadcasting Co. will equip its new 30-story New York City headquarters with ion control. Two national concerns, Philco and Emerson Electric, already have ion-control air- conditioning systems on the market. RCA, Westinghouse, General Electric and Carrier Corp. have similar products under study or development.
We still have much to learn about atmospheric ions. But researchers believe that these magic bits of electricity, under artificial control, will soon be helping millions to healthier, happier, more productive lives. Purely Products Ionic Lifestyle Negative Ion Generator for Home and Office

Colossians 2:20-23

2010-10-08T13:14:00.007-04:00

Is this talking about rules or human standards?

In col 2:13-15 it says 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,[b] God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[d]

Then he goes on telling the colossians not to let anyone judge them by "what they dont do!" which goes to mean to me is that the colossian church still has rituals and human imposed rules and regulation to work out their relationship with God ..

18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.

and this is your question : 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

I like the NLT version 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Paul was explaining GRACE... the colossian church (i guess the ones who are TRYING to follow the religious rules again) and Paul is saying dont TRY .. TRUST in the work of JESUS. Trying by using "self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body" will not make them any holier..

So my answer is both .. he was talking about the Religious Jewish Laws and Human Standards that is added to it..

personally i catch myself treating my body harshy by fasting or praying or TRYING so hard... but the answer is TRUST.

Artist Manager Job Description

2010-10-06T12:22:00.007-04:00

By Buffy Naillon, eHow Contributor

updated: March 28, 2010

The artist manager is the person who ensures that an artist is successful in the marketplace. The artist manager is also known as an artist's representative, agent, manager or consultant. But whatever she's called, her job remains the same: to concern herself with the business of art so that the artist can concentrate on making art.

Advising

The artist manager helps the artist navigate the business side of art, according to Art Business. This might include reading a contract, explaining to an artist what constitutes "business as usual" in a transaction or organizing a show. Advising artists about these matters is a primary function of the artist manager; this kind of advice helps the artist avoid having misunderstandings with potential clients.

Relationships

Artist managers seek out artists and build relationships with them, according to the Find Your Art School website. They keep abreast of artists' work in order to better talk to potential buyers. Without this knowledge, it would be impossible for the artist manager to explain the artist or her goals for her art.

Marketing

According to Find Your Art School, the artist manager spends a good portion of his time marketing an artist's work. Marketing activities can include setting up promotional events and exhibitions. In this capacity, he also notifies clients of these events via newsletter, makes phone calls, mails postcards and posts information on the artist's website. Because the artist representative has taken the time to get to know the artist, this also assists him when trying to market the artist's work. He understands how to show the work in the best light and possesses additional knowledge about why people buy the artist's work, because he's gotten feedback from the artist's clients. According to the Art Business website, the use of this information helps to develop better marketing plans.

Industry Trends

Aside from the work that the artist manager does for a specific artist, the manager also makes sure she knows what the current trends in the art industry and markets are. The artist manager keeps current on up-and-coming artists, looking to see who might be on the verge of success. According to Find Your Art School, this ability to spot trends in the art world will have a great impact on the would-be artist manager's job prospects. A potential employer will look for a representative who understands the current and future movements in the art world.

Financial

The artist manager deals with other aspects of business that aren't related to the artist making art, but are important nonetheless. The artist manager keeps track of the finances as they relate to the business side of art. He minds the artist's money, keeping watch on how much the artist's work has made and how much is owed to the artist. Additionally, the artist manager keeps records and makes sure that all the financial aspects of the artist's business balance.

Essential reading for people aspiring to a career in music

2010-09-28T12:41:00.002-04:00

Producer, musician and label owner George Howard discusses several books he feels are essential reading for people aspiring to a career in music or the music industry: Good to Great by Jim Collins, Getting Things Done by David Allen, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, his own Getting Signed!, gives detailed advice on a number of critical topics how and whether to pursue a record deal, how to protect your publishing rights, how to find a manager and agent, discusses at length what the different members of your team manager, agent, lawyer, publicist, radio indie can and should do for you, and provides information on how musicians can apply the basic principles of business to their careers intuitively and effectively.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity