GREEKS AND PERSIANS

Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

2009-10-02T08:54:00.001-07:00

It looks like there is a big problem in the Gospels. There are more years in Jesus' life that are missing than years of his life that were ever recorded. Why weren't these years listed in the Bible?

All the Gospels talked about the death of Jesus, the birth of Jesus and a few years in between, but all of the Gospels are missing some very important years from his life. When raising a child, some of the most important years of their lives, will be those when they were teenagers and often those of their young adulthood.

The Gospels talk about Jesus at the temple at around the age of 12 or 13. After that, there is very little known until he reaches the final years of his life. Was there someone or a group of people or even a community who influenced his life? Could Jesus have learned something from a spiritual master Guru that changed the world forever?

There is more speculation on Jesus' missing years than you could ever imagine. Some say that Jesus went to Egypt to study with their masters or priests. Egypt obviously wasn't that far from where Jesus was raised, but like most of the stuff in the Bible, there is very little evidence to support any of these speculative stories.

Could Jesus have went to India and studied with the Buddhist masters or even a Hindu scholars? Did Jesus study with advanced Jewish scholars? This is only a little bit of the historical speculation, but if the truth was ever to be known, it could help Christianity solve a lot of problems.

Most Christians rarely even question these missing years. There are quite a few Christians that don't even know that there are any missing years in Jesus' life. I wrote this article to get people thinking and hopefully to start educating themselves about early Christianity. Good luck and God bless.

Great Christian Books And Articles

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Religious Education And Fear

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

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

How Long Does God Really Want Me to Try?

2009-10-01T21:33:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit has been working through me for many years and I really want to know how long, God really want me to try? How long does he want me to try to get Christians to think and understand Christianity? I'm doing the best that I can and as long as God is working through me, I will try to do better.

God put me here for a reason and my reason is to teach other Christians about Christianity. As long as the Holy Spirit will keep me alive, I will continue to do the best that I can and teach other Christians, how to study the Bible and where their religion actually came from.

If you're reading this article, your probably interested in Christianity and the Bible, if you do read the Bible, do you actually understand what it's saying. If you study the Bible, are you exposing yourself to others who also study the Bible, or are you only studying the Bible with people you know and are familiar with.

How long are you going to try, before you actually quit? Have you quit before and started again and maybe you've done this a few times, but you haven't quite yet. I know where you're coming from, I've been there myself and continue to motor ahead.

I would like to give you a word of advice, don't ever quit and don't ever give up. Keep searching and you will find the answers, keep knocking and doors will be opened. I have been knocking and will continue to keep knocking.

I wish you nothing but the best of luck on your journey towards the ultimate answers that we're all hoping to find.

Do Christians Believe Everything

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

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

Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

2009-10-01T09:11:00.001-07:00

I've been doing research on Christianity and other religions throughout the world for quite some time and find it hard to believe that most of these religious followers, won't even listen to facts that I and others have found regarding their religion.

I find most of these people to be living the ultimate lie and when it comes to Christian fundamentalism or someone who I would consider to be a super Christian, these people adamantly hold both hands over their ears, while stomping their feet, trying to scare me into submission.

No matter how you slice it, no matter how you want it delivered to you, the truth is always going to be the truth. If you won't listen to the truth, you will live trapped living in a world of lies. It doesn't matter whether you're a Christian who believes in Jesus or an Islamic follower of believes in Allah, the truth, for most people, can only be found outside of your religion.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. How many religions talk about how the world was created, most of their followers, choose to believe their religious leaders and their religious text, without ever questioning, but often doubting what they were taught.

Science teaches us one way, religion teaches us another, however, neither one of them have any scientific evidence to back up their theories.

The minute that you state either one of these beliefs as a truth, you're living in a world of lies. If a scientist or religious leader, can convince you that their way is right, they have simply took a belief, without any evidence and made it into a fact. This illusion, is simply a belief that you have personally made into a truth and as long as you continue to believe this, without doing any of your own research, you will continue to spread lies and rumors throughout the world.

Problems With Noah's Ark Story

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

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

Thanks

Motivation and Positive Thinking - Self Help Tips

2009-09-14T20:50:00.001-07:00

There are many ways to improve self-motivation but very few that seem universal.

Many people tend to look at the outside, and tend to ignore the inside where all people hold their esteem. There are 3 simple rules to live by are the three- D's. Desire, Determination , & Dedication. The first step would be to ask if feel the desire to improve yourself! The second step is to put forth effort to overcome. Then finally, you must be dedicated to see to achieving the success that you desire.

If you can remember those three simple- D's, they will inspire so much passion in you to obtain what ever you seek! Motivation is key to what ever we do in life. If we are feeling unmotivated then we feel lethargic. If you are motivated you can really bring excitement and thrill into the most simple tasks. Positive thinking is the key to finding motivation in everything you do! It starts with waking up and thanking the lord for another day. Every day that you wake up, you should have goals to obtain that day. Make it a challenge to yourself that day, you must complete those missions. It will bring more excitement and something to drive your emotions that day.

The four things I try to obtain each day are as follows; Try to make someone laugh Try to read and learn something new and intellectual. Try to exercise and improve your energy. Then try to make a new connection with someone or rekindle an old one. Well I hope this brings some basic motivation spikes that will be implemented for your future success.

Remember that it is all a mindset you need to place yourself in!

"Pura Vida" means pure life in Costa Rica... Now it is up to you to find it!

This article was written by Matthew Gruenke - Please visit my web-site at http://www.mymysterywealth.com
God Bless & Pura Vida

The Pizza Man And The Parrots?

2009-09-14T07:40:00.001-07:00

Another day ends as the crimson sun sets beyond the glistening waters of the Verrazano where kites fly, joggers jog and lovers gaze. Its no wonder Brooklyn is the star child of New York.

Famous for its humble beginnings and ahem... a few A-list celebrities: Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Marisa Tomei and Tony Danza each began their legacies here.

The food? Let's just say when it comes to food, no where on earth will you find better bagels, mozzarella, or pizza. John Travolta put Brooklyn on the map in 1977 when he played the role of neighborhood ruffian Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, ate a piled high triple slice of pizza at Lennys on 86th Street and strutted his stuff through the streets of Bensonhurst.

In this great town, there is always room for more! In the land of Badda-boom, Fughettabout it, and thick-necked tough guys are some docile newcomers: the Green Monk (Quaker) Parrots, a.k.a (Myopsitta Monachus) which have inhabited the towns trees and utility poles. As legend would have it, the beautiful South American decedents destined for sale at local area pet shops escaped (or rumored to have been released) from a shipping crate at Kennedy Airport in 1968. They have adapted brilliantly to harsh NYC winters by nesting near warm power lines and transformers. As a result the birds have multiplied and appeared in satelite colonies delighting most residents throughout the borough.

According to www.brooklynparrots.com, the adorable tropical newbies are so adaptable in fact, that theyve developed a taste for our pizza! What is it about Brooklyn pizza that attracts tropical birds or anyone for that matter? Neapolitan thin-crust or thick Sicilian, round or square, classic or nouveau, no one makes Americans favorite food better than Brooklyn pizzerias. Perhaps its the light, crispy crust made with the freshest toppings? Who knows? Parrot Expert, Steve Baldwin tells like this:

I was walking down Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue on Friday when I heard a pronounced crunching sound coming from overhead. I looked up, and there in a tree was a pair of wild monk parrots sharing a slice of pizza. "Eureka!" - I shouted, reaching for my trusty camera, cognizant that I was on the cusp of a new discovery that would forever enlighten scientists studying the fascinating species known as Myiopsitta Monachus. For while it has been known since Charles Darwin studied the monk parrot in the 1830's that the species is "omnivorous" (meaning that it will eat almost anything, as long as it tastes good), and that bagel-eating among New Jersey wild parrots has been demonstrated in the field (Evans-Fragale, 2004) no actual evidence of pizza-eating among wild parrots has, to my knowledge, existed in the formal literature, until now."

Despite neighborhood hospitality cultural diversity and the best pizza in the U.S., the birds are moving on. They have been spotted setting up nests in the Bronx, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida.

I'd have to say that it's a real honor to be graced with culinary accolades from The Wild Parrots of Brooklyn. The parrots help to make Brooklyn a little greener and remind us that the best things in life really are free - even if the pizza is not.

Art imitates life for Brooklyn Author Nancy S. Mure, who created The Pizza Man and the Parrots, illustrated by Tom Torre. The heartwarming and humorous children's story is about a good natured Pizza Man and the talking birds who prove to be his toughest customers! http://www.nancysmure.com

Numerology and the Meaning of Numbers

2009-09-13T18:24:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what meanings may lurk beneath a number, perhaps one that keeps reappearing in your life? Since time immemorial humankind has wondered about the nature of number and how it relates to life. Numerologists believe that there are nine unique archetypes corresponding to nine cycles of development the numbers 1 through 9. These numbers are also called Core Numbers or, Digital Root Numbers. Since Compound Numbers are merely combinations of these 9 Core Numbers, understanding the meaning of a number is predicated upon a thorough examination of these Roots. We shall now examine the evolution of these Root Numbers.

We begin with the Zero. This is the un-manifest where everything exists in potential. The Zero neither contains nor is contained by any number. It exists outside of any cycle. When the Zero is added to any number it symbolizes a perfection of that number's meaning. Although 1 is the root of 10, 10 is not strictly synounymous with 1. This is because the addition of the Zero signifies a perfecting of the 1 influence, in effect moving out of the cycle of 1 through 9 and into a higher order - 10 through 19. When Zero is added to a number it tends to bring a universal responsibility to its root number. It is out of this formless perfection that some-thing appears.

Moving out of the formless realm of the Zero is some One thing which is whole, unified, and independent of the Zero. Our symbol for The Number One, 1, is a pillar. A phallic shape. The one is a masculine energy that strikes out on its own and pioneers what is new, original, and seething with energy. This One is the irreducible fact of consciousness, the eternal I AM.

Between the Zero and the One all other numbers have their being. As soon as the One appears it is placed in relation to the un-manifest Zero. For the One to be One at all it must be independent of something hence, the arising of The Number Two. The Two brings about a relationship, it holds within it the strength of the One but with a humbleness reflected in its character. The symbol itself, 2, reveals a man at prayer bowing to some greater power (1).

Once we recognize the arising of self and our relationship to something 'higher' (be it g-d, nature, principle or idea) we feel the need to express this understanding. The Number Three brings us into the social sphere. Out of the un-manifest Zero, 0, an independent form arises, 1, which brings us into an essential relation, 2, which we need to in some way express, 3. The character of the Three, 3, reflects this openness in its form. It is open at its top, receiving the higher influences, and open at its bottom, expressing those influences to others.

If what we express is to be of lasting value we must work to create a solid foundation - the Four. Many projects falter before reaching this point, making it to Three but never bridging the gap between expressing a higher ideal, 3, and embodying a higher ideal, 4. In order to maintain its balance the 4 must close off or limit the influence it is working with. The Number Four takes the ideas expressed by the Three and adds a self-imposed limitation, creating a stabile and enduring foundation.

After the discipline of the Four we encounter the change and activity of The Number Five, in effect testing the solidity of our foundation. The Five, 5, turns itself around and introduces freedom and adventure. It is open in both the front and the back. It is a point where decisions must be made, and true to its form, those decisions could radically alter the outcome.

The freedom introduced to the Four through the Five brings about a new balance symbolized in The Number Six. It simultaneously broadens the limits of the Four and places the necessary responsibility upon the five. The Six, 6, is pregnant with love. It is the number of family and social responsibility. The social responsibilities of the Six create a need to understand and gain insight, a need to find some way of placing experiences into a meaningful whole.

The Number Seven questions and seeks answers to the grand riddle of life. It is a number of magical, mystical maturity. Its character, 7, may be likened to an old man bent over with age or perhaps, carrying a staff or lantern that casts its light into the darkness surrounding it. It is the number of introspection, planning, and inner searching. Through the control, insight and planning that emerges with the Seven we realize that we reap what we sow.

The Number Eight becomes a carrier of dynamic power and the success of the seeds planted all the way back with the One. Its character, 8, reveals a perfect balance between the world of ideas and the world of action. It is closed off indicating the power that will bring ideas into fruition.

After the rewards bestowed by the Eight we realize we are reaching the end, The Number Nine. As we confront this ending the focus shifts from the material to the spiritual. Selfless service and universal ideas become paramount. The character of the Nine, 9, is very much like the Six, 6. Whereas the Six sends its love to the material world of family and friends, the Nine closes the cycle by returning its love and compassion to higher ideals.

And again we are faced with the Zero. We may start a new cycle, beginning once again with One. It is possible we may continue our endeavor and raise the One to the relative perfection of the Ten, learning lessons of a higher order. In either case, we find everything between nothing (0) and something (1).

Jakob Steele invites you to sign up for his monthly newsletter at http://www.thenumberwizard.com if you want to receive up to date information concerning Numerology and related topics.

Please feel free to reprint this article in its entirety provided you include the resource box and an active link to my website. Notification of use is appreciated.

The Feng Shui of Food

2009-09-13T04:58:00.001-07:00

Feng Shui can show you to prepare your meals by teaching you how everything you do with food can affect the natural energies that surround you at meal time.
You probably understand by now that balance in your kitchen can be enhanced through the use of shapes, materials, colours and directions but you can also further enhance your families balance by ensuring the foods you each and prepare are balanced as well.
Everything in life is balanced through two energies - Yin and Yang. Your body and your optimum health should be balanced as well by ensuring that your food intake has been balanced as well. When your diet is balanced your body feels satisfied, warm, healthy. When your body is unbalanced it will let you know!
Yin and Yang foods have a different effect on your body. Different foods can have a different effect on your mental , spiritual, physical and emotional nature. Ying foods are cooling to the system while Yang foods are warming. Balance chi or energy that moves through your body is considered healthy but if your balance is blocked because of poor eating choices this can lead to illness.
Too much Yang foods can make you feel restless, anxious, wired, hot, dry and full of too much energy. You may notice yourself sweating a great deal and feel tense. Adding a balance of Yin Food can calm you down and help to refresh your chi!
Too much Yin food can make you feel chilled, tired and lethargic. Depression and bloating can also result from too much Yin Food. Adding a balance of Yang foods can help to nourish your chi and warm you up!
A good balance of Yin and Yang Foods is key. Use the following list to achieve a balanced diet. The key of course is to understand your body, what the signs are telling you about your inbalance and try to correct it accordingly.
YIN FOODS
Milk
Alcohol
Honey
Sugar
Oil
Fruit juices
Spices
Stimulants
Most drugs - such as aspirin
Tropical vegetables and fruits
Refined foods
Most food additives of a chemical nature.
Including:
Bean curd and sprouts, all bland or boiled foods, the cabbage family, carrots and celery, cucumber, duck, some fish and fruits, American ginseng, most greens, honey, melons, milk, pears, pork, potatoes, seaweed and soybean products, white turnips, water and watercress, winter squash, most white foods.
YANG FOODS
Poultry
Seafood
Eggs
Meat
Salt
Fish
Cheese
Including:
Bamboo, beef, broiled meats, catfish, chicken and chicken soup, eggs and eggplant, fatty meats and fried foods, garlic and ginger, Korean ginseng, glutinous rice, green peppers, hot and spicy foods, leeks and onions, liquor, mushrooms, peanuts, persimmons, pig's knuckles and pork liver, red foods (beans, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) sesame oil, shellfish, sour foods, tangerines, vinegar and wine.
BALANCED (NEUTRAL FOODS)
Seeds
Nuts
Vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, peas)
Cereal grains
Steamed while rice
Brown Rice
Non Fat Milk
Beans
Sea vegetables
Temperate fruits (such as apples and pears, cherries, rasins, plums, peaches)
2008 Fay Chapple
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fay Chapple is an International Feng Shui Expert, award winning Interior Decorator and Life Coach, and is Principal of the award winning Home & Life Design Firm Blue Avalon.
Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal, a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe log on to our site at http://www.blueavalon.com and you'll receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!
Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home... Balance for your life!"
http://www.blueavalon.com

Five Reasons Why Solar Power is Right For Your Water Fountain

2009-09-12T15:49:00.001-07:00

A solar water fountain could become the highlight of your entire landscape. Some people plant bedding flowers and flowering shrubs and perennials to beautify their gardens. A solar fountain will make an interesting feature to your garden or patio dcor simply, easily and inexpensively.
If you have hesitated about buying a garden water fountain before, the benefits of solar power will quickly change your mind.
There are no running costs - No mains electricity or batteries to buy

No installation costs - Are easy to install for all skill levels

Eco-friendly - do not use non-renewable fossil fuels

Can be placed anywhere - user-friendly and easy to set up

Inexpensive and last for years
When you purchase your solar water fountain, it will be a self-contained unit. You may buy a direct power kit but you will probably want to go with the power pack. The power pack has the advantage of absorbing the suns rays then storing that energy for continued usage, day or night. You can take advantage of the fountain even when the sun goes down for those evening garden parties or poolside parties.
Because you are not using mains power, you are not contributing to the depletion of the Earth's resources. There are no holes to dig, no electric cables to install and no dry cell batteries to buy. You do not have to worry about hooking them up to a power source to make them run. Solar fountains and solar water pumps require no power source and so can be installed anywhere. Find a nice spot in your garden where your fountain will have maximum impact
Setting up a solar water fountain is an easy project even for the most novice DIY person and you will have your fountain up and running in no time. Just add water.
Solar powered water fountains are comparatively inexpensive and will last for years. Even when you redesign your landscape, the fountain can be incorporated in a different area of the garden and continue to run effortlessly.
Solar water fountains will enhance the beauty of your garden or patio.
Solar fountains run off the energy of the sun and are quickly becoming very popular.
Solar fountains are extremely friendly to the environment. They don't require any external power source so they don't increase the demand for electricity from polluting coal or natural gas electric plants. Solar fountains are the organic way to enhance the ambience of your garden. Few sounds are as pleasing as the slow murmur of cascading water.
Outdoor water fountains come in all sorts of designs, from those with cascading waterfalls to those that include a birdbath pool, to those that spout jets of water into the air, to decorative wall fountains. serenityhealth.com has a great selection of solar water fountains available in many different styles for use landscapes and in ponds.
There is a large range to choose from, depending on the style you're after for your garden's new image. Make the solar fountain the centerpiece of your garden or simply use them as accents, to increase your gardens overall beauty.
Solar fountains are a great addition to a water feature. Take advantage of their benefits.
Now emerging from the mist of a colorful and varied career, Ian Patterson was born early in is life somewhere in a long forgotten postal code. The mantra that he learned from his parents, while growing up on their farm was "if you want it done right, then do it yourself".
That's just what he did.
Ian Patterson is someone who's been there, done that, printed the T shirt and wrote the book. A firefighter, soldier, yachtsman, skier, climber, mechanic, plumber, electrician, data technician, business continuity planner, and web writer are just some of the things he's been.
He was a pescaterian before it was fashionable and is an avid animal lover and a longtime dog handler. He has traveled to most countries around the world. Set up home in three of them and learned their language and culture.
Now he is the founder and CEO of Write Research Office since 2004.

Traditional Food of Honduras

2009-09-12T02:20:00.001-07:00

It is amazing that this great country of Honduras which is very poor can still produce some of the greatest tasting recipes. Some of the more traditional food of Honduras includes tortillas, fried beans, bananas or papayas, eggs and usually some type of veggie. It is known that in this country most of the traditional food of Honduras is grown right there so they do not have to import a lot of foods. Fruits, vegetables and meat are usually all butchered and homegrown for each family.
This country tends to take some of the recipes from Mexico and put their own Honduras twist on it, so if you like Mexican food and you are looking for something newer and healthier, then you may want to give some traditional food of Honduras a try. Because most of the food of this country is homegrown and not imported, using the freshest possible vegetables, fruits and other ingredients is very important and will make all the difference in taste. Organic is the way to go when it comes to preparing this type of authentic food.
The baleada is another traditional food of Honduras and is a staple in the country. Basically, a baleada is a flour tortilla which is folded in half and filled with refried beans and cheese and then topped with sour cream. In essence, this dish is what Americans call a quesadilla. A baleada is a great dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner it is all on how you prepare it. Many people will add roast meat (chicken or pork, red meat is not allowed in a lot of Honduran dishes) for dinner and scramble up some eggs to have in it for breakfast.
Naturally, these are not the only traditional food of Honduras, there are many soups that have made an appearance in this country and are a great way to start or end a meal. For instance, a great bean soup can compliment a dinner of tacos amazingly well, or if you are a person who enjoys seafood, the Honduran's have come up with a fantastic seafood soup that is a little bit spicy and sweet. Most of the soups, as a known fact are complimented by corn tortillas which you can dip into the soup.
So as you can see, some of the most traditional food of Honduras is fantastic, tastes great and is very healthy for you! Whether you are making this meal specifically for you or you are cooking for a big family, you will have a great time not only preparing this meal but also eating it! Just be sure that you have some water around, for a lot of the traditional food of Honduras is spicy!
To try out some traditional food of Honduras such as quesadillas, fried plantain, salsas, chismol, bronzed tilapia, conch soup, coconut bread and many, many more, check out these Honduran recipes.
Margaret Assor is an enthusiast of ethnic cookery and an advocate of boredom free kitchens. If you want to try out some of the exotic Honduran recipes, visit her website at http://www.RecipesForHonduranFoodsInEnglish.com

What Is a Wheat Berry?

2009-09-11T12:18:00.001-07:00

Wheat is one of the oldest and most important crops in the world. Second only to rice, it is the main staple for much of the world. Wheat kernels have been used since the beginning of time, and they have been seen in instances of ancient art, and language. For many people it is used every single day of their lives, often whether they realize it or not.
A wheat kernel is a seed produced by the wheat plant. A wheat kernel is often called a wheat berry by nutritionists and health nuts. The kernel is the simplistic form of wheat, and comes in a variety of colors. Most commonly red and white in color, and rated as soft or hard kernels.
Wheat kernels can last for years if they are stored in a cool, dry place. This makes it one of the more sustainable crops, if treated correctly.
Wheat berries are much more elaborate than they look, and are made up of several parts that give them the nutrients, and flavor our bodies need. Wheat kernels have vitamins A, which helps with our vision, immune systems, and skin; Vitamin B, which reduces cancers, helps with our immune system, and promotes cell growth, and Vitamin E. Pretty impressive, isn't it?
The outside of the wheat kernel is the bran, and if you've ever had bathroom issues, you've probably been recommended bran cereals to provide fiber. Wheat germ is the "life" of the wheat kernel, and the main particle that allows wheat to sprout. The endosperm is a word that you may recall from middle school biology, and that's the last part key factor in the makings of a wheat kernel; the endosperm is the part of the wheat berry that contains all the starch.
When you take the time to think about it, it's really amazing what one kernel is made up of. Like the snow flake, no wheat kernel is the same. There are over fifteen thousand varieties of wheat that are grown in the United States, and they are all based around harvest times, colors, and what they can be used for. When many of us think about wheat, a loaf of bread is probably what pops into our minds, but what about pastries, pasta, oatmeal, and flour? These all originate from a different type of wheat, grown at a different time!
Whole wheat is something almost everyone needs more of in their diet. Dr. Grandma's sells nutritious whole wheat mixes and wheat berries (aka: wheat kernels). To learn more about whole wheat foods and to find some great wheat berry recipes visit DoctorGrandmas.com.

Feng Shui Tips For Renovating Your Home - Part 2

2009-09-10T22:35:00.001-07:00

Light plays a very important role in creating good feng shui. Dark corners in homes attract a lot of negative energy that can be harmful for the family. A brighter home is always more auspicious than a dark and gloomy one. If you were planning to renovate your house, the addition and widening of windows to let in more natural light would be a great idea. Sunlight rejuvenates the energy of a room. As much as possible, all rooms in the house should have window, especially the bedrooms. Although bedrooms are predominantly Yin areas of the home, it is inauspicious for the bedroom to be too Yin (passive and dark), as it would resemble a tomb. Having a window allows the bedroom's energy to a renewed everyday by letting in fresh air and sunlight.
On the other hand, it is also a bad idea to have too much light in the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors tend to let in too much light. A room with too much Yang energy is also a bad idea, as it may cause restlessness and petty irritations.
A fresh coat of paint would also do wonders to the room. The walls and furniture is should be painted or cleansed regularly to get rid of accumulated negative Chi. This is the quickest and easiest way to renew the Chi of the home.
As much as possible, important areas of the home such as your bedroom should not be located next to toilets and the kitchen. If this is inevitable, at the very least, make sure your bed or work desk does not share a wall with the toilet or the stove (with the toilet and the stove on the other side of the wall).
For more practical feng shui tips visit - http://www.fengshuitipstoday.com/

How to Take Care of Yourself Too!

2009-09-10T08:58:00.001-07:00

First thing I have to say is that everything anyone has ever said about grandparenting, is true! You really get to do all the fun things you did with your kids as they discovered the world around them, only it's in a never ending state of "now". Otherwise known as timelessness. All the challenges of being a parent, are so joyously absent in being a grandparent. It's just pure Joy.
As a retired nurse (after thirty plus years) I have to say that some of my greatest lessons in life have been learned since becoming a grandmother. I've learned that spending time with my little grandbaby is like making time stand still. I've learned that when I'm being "silly grammy" in whatever way that I can, just so I can see and hear her little belly-laugh, ... that it's so infectious, I laugh just as hard .... and that makes her laugh even harder! Watching her discover something for the first time, or finally mastering something she's been working so hard to learn, is truly an event! An event worthy of a "standing ovation" every time. :) It's such a privilege to be involved in your grandchildren's lives. And so good for grandchildren to have their grandparents close by.
Yes, It's our time and our love that is everything to our grandkids, but I also want to be here with them on this planet, in the very best health and shape I can be. In the end, I want to have been a good example of how to caretake a body, mind, and spirit, at any age! Now there is where a little extra income will come in handy. So I'm getting an education on how to go about taking good care of me financially too!
I'm a senior and I don't mind saying, that I don't always learn things as quickly as I used to, so it was very important to me that it should be a program showing me exactly what to do and where, "step by step".
If you feel the same as I do, then go to: http://DirectionsToMoney.com and get educated too! The time couldn't be better, to bring in an extra income with minimal expenditure of time on your part, because time is very precious for us grandparents!
Sincerely,
"Grammy G"

What Do Your Goals Say - Self Help Tips

2009-09-08T06:31:00.001-07:00

Do you have goals? How to you set things in motion to accomplish your goals? What is your game plan of success? You can either focus on the results or you can focus on the activities you are doing. If you have the right steps in place, you will achieve your goal.
You should be attempting to link your daily steps to your weekly achievements and then to your monthly goals. So that your efforts are always working in your favor.
Set achievable steps - let them have a purpose to your overall goals. You don't want to fall into activity traps. Yes, you are expediting energy, but it is not helping you to reach your goals, You are busy, but to no end.
Use project management software or a system of your own design of checks and balances. You know where you are on your path to goal achievement. Be realistic and know that there will be days when you may not accomplish what you intended, but "get back on the horse" the next day.
Write your goals down and review them. That way you will know if you are making strides to achieve them. Change them where you need, if something isn't working or a new approach becomes known to you. Improve your tactics and make the necessary changes. Success is yours to carve out. Complete at least one goal step each day. Keep adding to your goals. There is always more to achieve. Keep asking yourself, "Is what I am working on leading to the my achieving my goals?" If it isn't, do not waste your time doing it! You are the Captain of Your ship of life.
Gloria-Jean Brown
http://www.CoachingbyGJ.com

New Home Buyers Beware

2009-09-08T04:29:00.001-07:00

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

Compassion - A Powerful Doorway to Personal Growth

2009-09-07T22:50:00.001-07:00

What if there was one choice you could make that would change everything in your life for the better? Actually, there is. Its the choice to move out of judgment and into compassion for yourself and others.
Compassion is defined as a deep caring for the pain of others, often accompanied by a desire to help. There is nothing that feels more wonderful and comforting than experiencing anothers compassionate response to our painful feelings and experiences.
However, its interesting that compassion is never defined in terms of oneself. Yet, compassion is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves. In fact, when we give compassion to others but not to ourselves, we often end up feeling alone, worn out, and uncared for.
Jackie is a good example of a person who has compassion for others but not for herself. She is a very caring mother and wife. She listens compassionately to her husbands work problems and does all she can to help him, even when she is having her own work problems. She is always there for her children, helping them with whatever problems arise, as well as for her co-workers. Everyone sees Jackie as a very loving person and she is. So why is she often unhappy? Why is she often so fatigued and depleted? The problem is that Jackie is completely out of touch with her own feelings.
Jackie is so focused on meeting everyone elses needs that she never tunes into herself and her own feelings and needs. She doesnt know when she is tired or when she needs time for herself. She doesnt know when she is feeling sad, lonely, or anxious. Because she has no compassion for herself, she finds herself using food to fill the inner emptiness that is the result of not taking loving care of herself.
Richard, on the other hand, lacks compassion for both himself and others. While it may seem as if he has compassion for himself, he also is not tuned into his own feelings. It seems like Richard has compassion for himself because he does what he wants buys what he wants, goes after what he wants, spends time the way he wants. But his choices are coming from his fears and his addictive need to fill up from outside with things and approval rather than from love and compassion for himself. In addition, he is usually unconscious regarding the effect his behavior has on others. He keeps people waiting, doesnt do what he says he is going to do, and becomes judgmental rather than compassionate in the face of anothers difficulties. Instead of caring when his wife is tired or needs help, he gets resistant and resentful that she isnt there for him or is asking something of him.
A lack of compassion for oneself and others is a major cause of inner and relationship unhappiness. In terms of personal growth, if you were to just focus on making compassion your highest priority both for yourself and for others you would find yourself progressing toward happiness, peace and joy more rapidly than you can imagine.
We move into compassion for ourselves when we know that we have very good reasons for our feelings and behavior, and into compassion for others when we know that others also have very good reasons for their feelings and behavior. These good reasons are the fears and false beliefs that we have absorbed from our growing up years that create our painful feelings and our defensive behavior.
Moving into compassion is a process that takes time and practice:
1. Moving into compassion for yourself starts with noticing your self-judgment. Judgment is the opposite of compassion. When you judge yourself, you are telling yourself that you are wrong or bad for your feelings or behavior, rather than that you have good reasons. Each time you realize that you are judging yourself, consciously open your heart to compassion for yourself. When your intention is to be compassionate rather than judgmental, you will discover that it is not as hard as you think to shift from judgment to compassion.
2. Moving into compassion for others is similar. Begin to notice your anger, irritation, judgment, resentment, or resistance toward others. These negative feelings are the opposite of compassion. Once you notice these feelings, you have the choice to open to caring, understanding to compassion.
3. Each time you find yourself in judgment for yourself or others, instead of judging yourself for judging, move into compassion for the judgmental part of you. If you judge yourself for judging yourself or others, you will stay stuck. If you embrace with compassion the judgmental part of yourself, you will find yourself gradually becoming less judgmental and more compassionate.
Each time you are compassionate with yourself and others, it becomes easier next time. You will discover that focusing on compassion for both yourself and others will move you toward the peace and joy you are seeking. It all comes from your intent to protect against pain with your controlling behaviors, such as anger, blame and judgment, or to learn about loving yourself and others. When your deepest desire is to become a loving human being, opening to compassion is a powerful doorway to that path.
The preceding article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as the author resource box at the end is included, with hyperlinks. Notification of publication would be appreciated.
For other articles which you are free to use, see http://www.innerbonding.com
Copyright: 2004 by Margaret Paul
About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" She is the co-creator of a powerful self-help, 6-step emotional and spiritual healing process called Inner Bonding. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Repair

2009-09-07T21:01:00.001-07:00

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

Choice - More Or Less?

2009-09-07T15:15:00.001-07:00

The hundreds of decisions we now have to make in our daily lives doesn't necessarily make for a richer life.
Some years ago, choice was either a fluke or a privilege. Choice only came to you on special occasions such as your birthday. Then you would get to choose things like which of two outfits you wanted to wear , which three friends you wanted to come to tea, and maybe if you were really lucky, the style of your birthday cake. Or if you won at the fairground you could choose which goldfish or cuddly toy you wanted, and would it be candyfloss or toffee apple?
But now our lives are ruled by choice. Even asking for a glass of water in a restaurant has turned into a major decision. Should it be still, fizzy, tap, Finnish, French, or Derbyshire? Surely it doesn't matter as long as your thirst is quenched!
Choice has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. Make a telephone call to any department store, supplier or doctor's surgery and before you even get to speak to a real human being you will have had to choose which button to press, probably a number of times!
The TV provides such a bewildering choice of channels is it any wonder so many people just use their favoured one or two?
Some Advice When Decision Time Comes.
When making a choice, think about what you really do want. We're conditioned to think we want many things, in fact many of them are totally unnecessary and living without them gives a less cluttered life.
Try to consciously make a choice. Don't just "go with the flow", or act out of habit. This can leave you feeling stuck in a rut.
Don't regret your choices. Once you've made a decision, focus on that - rather than thinking about other routes you could have taken.
Work from Home Internet Business Take A FREE Tour Visit http://www.mibforce.com . We offer Full Multi Media Training and we close sales for you

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

2009-09-07T13:44:00.001-07:00

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

The Power of Group Energy Work

2009-09-07T07:44:00.001-07:00

Most people that seek a therapist think about doing individual counseling sessions. They are safe, individualized and allow you to focus on your specific concerns. Group therapy is an alternative way to work with a therapist. Group therapy, like individual therapy, is a dynamic therapeutic environment for personal growth.
Group therapy is a powerful venue for change. People benefit from being part of a supportive group that is facing similar issues. Groups provide the opportunity to gain alternative points of view, ideas and feedback on the issues you present. Group dynamics allow you to explore and better understand yourself and how others perceive you.
In a group, you have the benefit of being in a dynamic, supportive environment. Using the Emotional Freedom Technique will increase the effectiveness of the group. Even if you choose not to disclose your issue, you will have relief from them through the process of Borrowing Benefits. During the group, EFT will be used to address all issues. We will tap as a group on the issues that are presented. At times you might be tapping for someone else; however, you are aware of what you need to address. This is a very effective process for each person in the group to experience relief and healing at the same time. The group tapping will help to resolve your issues, although the focus might be on another individual.
After being in the group, you might find that you have more in common than you realized. So often, people feel that their concerns are unique. There is comfort knowing that others have similar concerns. Being able to receive feedback in a supportive way and having your perspective validated is an important part of the group dynamic. Often other group members will address issues that might be similar to your experience. While tapping as a group on that issue, you will most likely find relief for your issue as well.
I have found group therapy to be more effective and to produce quicker results than individual counseling. The group has the ability to become a mastermind where you benefit from each persons perspective and to work through issues with other people that have similar concerns. The group dynamic provides more wisdom and insight than in an individual counseling session due to each group member bringing their unique perspective to the group.
Come join the group for a time of healing. Bring one or two issues to the group that you want to focus on. We will tap together for each person to increase the effectiveness of the tapping. Being able to Borrow Benefits will allow you to benefit from all issues that are presented during the group session. You will experience progress on your own issues from tapping on another person's issue, even if you don't have that issue in common. If you do share the same issue, you will get even more benefits.
You will be amazed at the progress you make in a single session. You can come as often as you want. Come and experience the benefits of tapping in a group. You will leave feeling energized and empowered from the experience of group tapping.
Read more articles written by Loren Fogelman at http://www.kolpiacounseling.com

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

2009-09-07T06:17:00.001-07:00

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

Need Motivation? Olympian Reveals the Number One Key That Will Ignite Your Motivation Forever

2009-09-07T00:19:00.001-07:00

Every four years, millions of people around the world are enthralled by the athletes of the Olympic Games.
But as a spectator what you may not know is that Olympic athletes discover keys to success THAT CAN HELP YOU! True, you may not be able to relate to their god-like physical attributes, but if you're like me, you can relate to their desire to achieve, to reach a goal.
So whether you are a fan of the Olympics, and especially if you're not, you will want to take advantage of the number one key learned by all Olympic athletes. This key will build your motivation, ensure greater success and boost your self-esteem.
Powerful key revealed: THERE ARE THREE OUTCOMES TO EVERY RACE!
We all can agree on the first outcome, and that is TO WIN! Winning means that you achieved better results than anyone else on that day. That's good. The downside of winning is that only one person can win. So where does it leave everyone else?
Most people would say that if you don't win, then you lose. Losing is much rarer in the Olympics than you can imagine. But let's talk about another outcome.
You can BE BEATEN. This is not the same as losing. Being beaten means that you did your very best, but someone else did better than you. Of course everyone wants to be number one, but there is honor in being beaten. How can you possibly do better than your very best?
Think about it. If your very best isn't good enough, then only the impossible will do. What are your chances of achieving the impossible in your life? If there is only win and lose, you are setting yourself up for failure. How much motivation can you muster to continually try and fail? So the key is to include "being beaten" as an honorable outcome.
The final outcome is TO LOSE. In the Olympic world "to lose" means giving up or quitting. It means taking yourself out of the race, or not even trying. How motivating is that? Many people have this all-or-nothing attitude. If they can't win, then they don't try. Over time this attitude is the biggest killer of motivation. How do you operate your life?
To succeed we need a different attitude; we need to believe that doing our best is honorable.
A great story emerged from the 1968 Olympics. John Akhwari of Tanzania, brutally injured his leg during the marathon. The winner had already been declared an hour earlier when John hobbled into the stadium. As he crossed the finish line, the few remaining spectators roared its appreciation. A reporter asked him why he had not retired from the race, since he had no chance of winning. He seemed confused by the question. Finally, he answered: "My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish." Was John a loser? No. HE WAS WELCOMED HOME A HERO.
Another great story you will never forget is about Nick If this story doesn't strengthen your motivation, nothing will!
It's true. The Olympics just come around every four years. And your life, your fitness, (or lack of it) is very, very real. However, if you are like me you appreciate guidance from whatever direction it comes. And this key learned from the Olympic athletes can (and will) insure you emerge from your particular challenges with stronger motivation, greater success, and increased self-esteem. So go ahead! Set high goals for yourself; just remember to celebrate EVERY time you do your best!
Linda Schaumleffel, Olympian and head injury survivor, guides people worldwide with faltering memory or head injuries, by teaching them how to thrive again, strive for peak productivity, and build a hedge against dementia. Get a jump on your own brain health with free special report, "BRAIN FITNESS: The Top 17 Activities That Will Revive Your Brain at Any Age!" at http://www.PowerBrainFitness.com

Dog Creates Remodeling Nightmare

2009-09-06T22:54:00.001-07:00

How many homeowners normally leave their dog in the backyard or they have full time access to the backyard through a doggie door. You're probably wondering how can a little dog create a remodeling nightmare for any contractor.
This wasn't the case this dog was a large Labrador retriever and tore up everything in the backyard constantly. The house remodel we were working on was a two story room addition over a single story house. This job lasted around six months and the dog was a daily reminder of how much attention a large dog actually needs.
Let's start with the first item of value the dog actually destroyed. It was my favorite tool bags of course that I have taken care of for over five years and deeply appreciated the fact that they were broke in just the way I wanted them to be. Kind of like a baseball mitt that doesn't quite fit right because of how stiff it is until you break it in.
While the homeowner of course apologized and never even offered to replace them. Oh but after that he did mention never to leave anything lying around in the backyard. Lesson learned of course and never forgotten. Well to make a long story short this large dog could chew up tools, lumber, plumbing pipes, electrical wire and was even able to destroyed the plywood fencing we would use to keep him away.
I'm going to stop right there with the remodeling nightmare created from this dog in hopes that other contractors can learn from my valuable lesson. As a contractor you should never assume that a homeowner will replace any damaged or broken tools and materials.
As a homeowner with a dog reading this article, think about having a place to enclose the dog if necessary while remodeling work is done on your home.
I love being around dogs and other animals but sometimes a problem like this can make life extremely miserable for both parties.
Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.
Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.
You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help
Personal Development

Self Knowledge

2009-09-06T16:58:00.001-07:00

Self knowledge means more personal power. You can more effectively use a computer when you know more about it, and in the same way, you can more effectively use your own brainpower, mind and body when you understand them better. There is, however, one big stumbling block to learning more about ourselves. It is our tendency to rationalize, as demonstrated in the extreme in the following true story.
Jack, while hypnotized by his therapist, was given the post-hypnotic instruction to get up and put on his coat whenever the doctor touched his nose. Once out of the trance, he and the doctor talked. During the conversation, the doctor scratched his nose, and Jack immediately stood up and put on his coat.
The doctor asked why. Jack said "Oh, I thought we were finished," and he took off the coat. A few minutes later, the doctor touched his nose again, and Jack again immediately stood up and put on his coat. "It's getting cold in here," he explained. By the third time, it was getting more difficult for Jack to explain his behavior, yet he still tried to.
Now, is this scenario really unique to hypnosis? I don't think so. We are often just assuming that we know all that goes into our decisions and actions. Like poor Jack, we feel compelled to explain ourselves, and to believe our own explanations. Of course, this isn't self knowledge, but self explanation, or rationalization, and it is one of our strongest human habits.
Self Knowledge Versus Self Explanation
When a child throws a book at his brother, and his mother demands "Why would you do that!?" What usually happens? The child answers, "I don't know," which is true, but entirely unacceptable. With five seconds to come up with an answer, the best psychologists couldn't understand the child's action with certainty, yet a five-year-old is expected to do just that.
Though he may not understand, he learns quickly how to explain himself. With this pressure to explain, it is no wonder that by adulthood, we rarely say "I don't know" when asked about our behavior. Instead, we simply create an explanation. Isn't this a problem if we want true self knowledge? How do we learn the true causes of our behavior if we already have our explanations?
Self Knowledge - I Don't Know
A better approach is to say "I don't know." If it helps, follow it with "Maybe it's because of..." and let the explanations spill out, but don't be too quick to accept any of them. It isn't always necessary to explain.
For example, suppose you are avoiding a certain person. If you never know why you are avoiding them, isn't it better to leave the question open than to accept a false explanation based on a habit of self-justification and rationalization? When you leave questions unanswered, you may someday have a better understanding. A quick answer just means a quick stop in your thinking, and less self knowledge.
Why not just say, "I don't know." Isn't it better to learn to accept your ignorance, and to keep observing yourself? Don't let self-explanation get in the way of of self knowledge.
Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

2009-09-06T15:13:00.001-07:00

One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to keep it as clean as possible. If you need help or don't have the time to organize your stuff, you can hire a home staging professional in your area. Ask your real estate professional for more information.
1. Remove any clutter from the home and place it in storage. Do not store this stuff on the property if you don't have enough room. Storing clutter in closets or in your garage, will often make these areas look smaller. By removing clutter or even large pieces of furniture, the rooms will look larger.
2. Disconnect yourself emotionally from your home. This is a big problem for people who have lived in their house for long periods of time. If you've raised a family here, the children could have emotional ties also to the home. Some home sellers are looking for someone special to buy their home, if you've got the time and money to wait, you can be selective but be careful, because the longer you wait, the market could go up or down.
3. When your real estate professional is showing the house, it's always a good idea to leave the home until the potential homebuyers are gone. One example of this would be if you were in a bad mood or didn't have a good day and were a little upset at the world. Your mood could cause potential homebuyers to lose interest in the property. I've seen this more than once.
4. Make sure everything is operating properly. This would include doors, door knobs, windows, kitchen appliances, garage door openers, cabinet drawers, bathroom fixtures, toilets, faucets, lights, switches, electrical outlets and anything else that moves, slides, turns or rotates that is part of the home.
5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.
6. Make sure the flooring is in good shape. Some real estate professionals will suggest, replacing the carpeting with a neutral color. This method often works pretty good but I have seen plenty of homes that were re-carpeted and after the home was purchased the carpeting was replaced again, by the new owners. Just make sure the flooring is in good shape.
7. Here's a trick that definitely works a little magic when selling a home. Leave some cookies or a nice fruit bowl on the dining room table. There is no need to leave a sign that says "Eat Me". It gives the home a warm feeling, almost like a country atmosphere.
8. Even better than home selling tip number seven would be baking some cookies just before the perspective buyers arrive, it's not the cookies, it's the smell from the cookies that most people cannot resist.
These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.
Spiritual Dictionary

Everything That's Beautiful is Cracked, That's How the Light Gets In

2009-09-06T09:15:00.001-07:00

What is beauty anyway?
The answer to that question seems to come at us everyday through magazines like; People, Chatelaine, Men's Health, Vogue, Hello, Esquire, newspapers, television shows like; Extreme Makeover, Entertainment Tonight, The Miss Universe Pageant, Access Hollywood and the advertisements that come with those publications and shows, that purport to know what beauty is. We seem to take for granted that the narrow, superficial societal definition of beauty is essentially related to physical appearance and attraction. But have you really stopped to ponder what beauty is, really?
Leonard Cohen; singer, songwriter, novelist and poet said that "everything that's beautiful is cracked, that's how the light gets in." I do believe he has captured the essence of beauty.
Beauty is in the nature of our flaws. It is in our reflective self-awareness and acceptance of our imperfections that we discover our true beauty. Once we begin to reach that level of maturity and self-esteem, approaching self-actualization, we increasingly behave and even radiate an inner goodness, grace and dignity, which becomes evident to the people around us. Acceptance of ourselves is eventually what leads us to becoming self-actualized. It allows us to transcend our imperfections, highlight and focus on our strengths and forge a life for ourselves and for those who we love in a congruent way with the essence of our being.
To translate; "that's how the light gets in," is meant to mean quite literally becoming "enlightened." When the light shines through the cracks in our outer armor rather than blinding us, it illuminates areas in our lives that we need to bring attention to. Those cracks or flaws are what often keeps us from achieving that level of esteem that all of us desire, whether we are consciously aware of them or not. We can do two things in relation to our imperfections, work to bring about change that will perhaps eliminate or minimize them or just come to accept them as a part of who we are in the world.
So, don't be afraid to let the light shine through the cracks, open up to it, bask in its warmth and glow, work with it to bring harmony to your life, find your true self then share it with the world.
I believe that in spite of the seemingly complex nature of our world today, our true self is actually love reflected. Become a positive force for good, it will make you feel better.
James Ladd
Your Personal Coach
JAMES LADD B.A., C.H.R.P., C.P.I.R. Life & Business Coach, author and speaker, who has without a doubt been down the "Road Less Traveled," having survived and thrived after a double lung transplant in August of 2003. Jim comes to this place in his incredible life journey with a dynamic combination of work and life experience. Jim worked as an Organizational & Human Resource Development Specialist for over 35 years in the private, public & non-profit sectors and also managed a provincial government employee assistance program serving over 15,000 employees. He has authored and facilitated a wide variety of training programs covering such diverse topics as; managing organizational change, conflict resolution, performance management, managing and/or coping with stress, interviewing & counseling skills, supervisory & management skills. His most recent publication titled; "THE PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION GUIDE: Raising Awareness of Self to Slay the Dragon," is available through his website. In the community he became an award winning football coach over the course of 25 years (Coach of the Year 3M of Canada, Coach of the Year, Developmental Category, Coaches Assoc. of Manitoba

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

2009-09-06T07:43:00.001-07:00

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?
Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?
When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.
Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?
Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.
Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.
Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.
If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.
It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.
If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.
Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .
Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.
If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.
This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Nothing Will Be Impossible

Happiness For a Better Life

2009-09-06T01:36:00.001-07:00

Have you ever felt to be in bad mood when you get up in the morning? Do you need too much time to get running and functioning at high speed? Do you need many coffee breaks? Off course, sometimes everybody has a hang through phase, be it after a lot of work, long time school or study, boring work or what ever.
I have thought a bit about how to improve the small things of life to the positive and how to get up with a great smile every morning. Actually I just reflected what I am doing for years and which helped me through many difficult situations. Funny enough, to get up positively in the morning has its roots in the evening before and how you go to bed. That's what I do:
After our work day, Eliane and I sit down for a short while just talking to each other about the nice and frustrating things we encountered over the working day. Then, while she prepares a small meal, I help her with some jobs to be done in the household, going to the cellar for milk or what else is needed. After the meal, often together with our adult children, we do no more speak about business but about our dreams, holidays, the book we a re reading, etc. Now it comes: we go to bed with an absolutely positive feeling and mind.
The alarm clock rings! There it is very important to get up slowly and with a first and positive thought. This is easy since I already slept with a positive mind, so I just restart where I left. Be not hectic, enjoy the shower, look out of the window, see the birds, the sunshine, and enjoy your life. Go on to have joy the whole day!
My conclusion and recommendation:
- Chose to be happy, be grateful
- Avoid bad news and stress
- Manage your time well, do not waste it, it's just too precious
- Laugh heartily, this is medicine
- Express your feelings and passions
- Work hard but not to exhaustion
- Enjoy your achievements and accomplishments
- Learn something new everyday, broaden your horizon
- Exercise your mind, soul and body, feel alive, eliminate depression
- Find Inspiration and success, be enthusiastic
- Take some minutes for meditation and religion
Following these simple but powerful small steps every day will increase your health (mind and body) dramatically. If you learn to avoid negative exposures, enjoy what you feel and what is around you, you are set for a long and prosperous life. Start reading motivational books.
Martin Bigler is an experienced Copywriter and offers Resources, Tools and Educational Content to help interested People build their Internet Business successfully and with motivation. His Educational Martin Bigler Newsletter offers profound step by step guidance on various Marketing and Sales Tasks. A big selection of Free Reports, Downloads and useful Links are available at MartinBigler.com and the MartinBiglerBlog. Copyright by Martin Bigler.

Dog Creates Remodeling Nightmare

2009-09-06T00:01:00.001-07:00

How many homeowners normally leave their dog in the backyard or they have full time access to the backyard through a doggie door. You're probably wondering how can a little dog create a remodeling nightmare for any contractor.
This wasn't the case this dog was a large Labrador retriever and tore up everything in the backyard constantly. The house remodel we were working on was a two story room addition over a single story house. This job lasted around six months and the dog was a daily reminder of how much attention a large dog actually needs.
Let's start with the first item of value the dog actually destroyed. It was my favorite tool bags of course that I have taken care of for over five years and deeply appreciated the fact that they were broke in just the way I wanted them to be. Kind of like a baseball mitt that doesn't quite fit right because of how stiff it is until you break it in.
While the homeowner of course apologized and never even offered to replace them. Oh but after that he did mention never to leave anything lying around in the backyard. Lesson learned of course and never forgotten. Well to make a long story short this large dog could chew up tools, lumber, plumbing pipes, electrical wire and was even able to destroyed the plywood fencing we would use to keep him away.
I'm going to stop right there with the remodeling nightmare created from this dog in hopes that other contractors can learn from my valuable lesson. As a contractor you should never assume that a homeowner will replace any damaged or broken tools and materials.
As a homeowner with a dog reading this article, think about having a place to enclose the dog if necessary while remodeling work is done on your home.
I love being around dogs and other animals but sometimes a problem like this can make life extremely miserable for both parties.
Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.
Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.
You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help
Does God Make Mistakes

You Can Be Famous by Danek S Kaus Book Review

2009-09-05T17:44:00.001-07:00

Getting Free Publicity - Open Doors to Celebrity Status
Daniel S. Kaus has written a unique book on insider secrets to getting free publicity in his book "You can be famous!" This is a book for entrepreneurs, organizational leaders, sales representative and authors, to anyone wanting to provide goods or services, or for individuals wanting to get."
Each of the twelve chapters is packed with powerful with keys to gaining fame. Kaus shows the reader how to create your own media tool kit, how to talk like a journalist, and the satisfaction of seeing your name in print. He walks you through the steps to get on radio and TV talk shows. He has included a number of sample press releases, FAQ's, sample query letters, as well as sample headlines for proposed articles. Kaus gives practical pointers on the benefits of fame, a 10 second rule, how to attract media attention, and how to talk to journalists.
The format of the book is user friendly, easy to read, assimilate and to put into immediate use. The "Key Points to Remember," the suggested "Action Steps," and the "In the Next Chapter, You Will Learn" were particularly practical and personally challenging.
Kaus writes with enthusiasm. He is an innovator, a motivator, and a communicator. His writing is fresh. He has a tight writing style that is entertaining and informative. I plan to go back to reread, digest and put into action the suggested steps for getting free publicity as outlined in the book.
This book is a must for anyone with a media message begging to be heard.
9781934759110, Robert D. Reed Publishers
As reviewed for Midwest Book Review
Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Book Store Owner

Structural Framing Beams

2009-09-05T16:27:00.001-07:00

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

Multicultural Connections - 3 Tips To Connect People To People With Any Cultural Group

2009-09-05T10:06:00.001-07:00

As a personal brand strategy coach, I work with clients helping them unearth their authentic strengths, their unique promise of value and help them connect the dots for their prospects and clients of "the why" in "why do business with me." That authenticity is key to any relationship they are forming, business included. In fact, if you believe that all business is based on relationships. Then understand that the key to all relationships is the relationship you have with yourself.
"Know thyself" stated Shakespeare. And, he is so correct, because it is yourself you bring into every connection. This becomes even more evident in making connections with minority based businesses where even our communication is scrutinized for inclusion, awareness and biases.
"Creating community, awareness and inclusion is our focus" shared Odel Crawford, president of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce. "Our theme for this month's conference is GROWING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN TEXAS. We realize that there are many issues associated with the development, enhancement and sustainability of minority owned businesses. Of course our focus is on African-American entrepreneurs, however we realize the importance of supporting all minority owned businesses as they are important part of a community's economy."
Mr. Crawford brings out three important points to connecting to any minority business or community and that is to "create community, awareness and inclusion". As a coach, I'm driven to make this into useful, do-able, action oriented activities, so let's go:
First is AWARENESS. Are you aware of the many communities within your community? Sometimes, diversity trainers will say that we focus too much on the differences. While that might be true, I believe that the differences are their already and to ignore them is not authentic. And don't we know that in connecting with people, that insincerity can be "read" quite quickly? How many cultures are in your community? Make a list and next to each culture identify if there is a group, organization, or association that represents that culture.
Second is INCLUSION. Time for some self discovery. Do you do anything that "excludes" or "includes" everyone in your connections? Self discovery can be challenging however, we are that common denominator in every business relationship we have so we're a critical factor. Diverse connections come in many packages and sometimes it is easy for us to assume that the outside or external differences are the only ones we should concern ourselves with. Remove questions like "what are you?" or "what's your nationality?" and rather use all the great networking questions that the many fine experts of this publication will teach you. Asking great questions, or yourself and others and then listening will provide all the "skills" you need to make great connections.

Spending time in self discovery will also help reveal any assumptions that you might have or make. Assumptions, as we all know, can be quite damaging to reputations and relationships. Rachel Stone, president, of the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and active member of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce, shares the surprised reaction she gets and comments made when she meets them such as "Your last name is Stone? Are you married to an Anglo man? Or, wow, how did you get a last name like that?"
Abraham Maslow, the creator of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, found that in addition to the basics of food, water, shelter, air, people have a need to "belong and to be valued." Do you fulfill that need for people when you converse with them? Do you do and say things that make them feel that they "belong" or that they are "valued"?
Here's a quick revealing test to see if you do. Have you ever had someone who has to tell you the story in order to relay the facts to you? Have you ever tried to "cut them off" and give you "just the answer" or "the bottom line information"? If you have, you are guilty of making the person who values "detail and information" feel not valued. Truthfully, have you ever done that to anyone?
As in any networking situation, the goal is to learn more about the other person. The more you know the better the connection you can make. The deeper connection you make the more memorable and visible you become (for all the right reasons). The better the connection the more chance they have to sample your character and competence. The more chance they have to sample your character and competence then the faster trust is developed. Trust is foundational to all great relationships - including business relationships.
Dale Carnegie in his book "How To Win Friends and Influence People" speaks of the rules of engagement. One of the rules is, take a genuine interest in what they're interested in. One, cannot take a genuine interest in someone if they do not know what they're true interest is. It's amazing how often I hear people say, "I think this is what he wants. Or, I know that she wants this." Yet, they've 'not asked the person. They are speaking for this person. How do you feel when someone speaks "for you" and does not check in to see if that's really how you feel? Often the feeling is that of assumptions, being judgmental and even to the point of stereotyping.
So, let's get better at asking some good questions. When you ask great questions you get great answers! When do you ask these questions? When you're at a networking event or when you are meeting someone. Steer clear of asking these in "rapid fire" style or like a 20 point oil check. Do weave them into your coffee conversations. They will put more "meat" into your grip, grin and graze. Here are some to put in your connection bag:
What organizations do you belong to? Or, enjoy spending time with?
What drew you to those organizations? What drew you to this organization?
What have you found to be your most successful times with this organization?
What are some of the barriers that you've encountered as an organization?
What do you enjoy about what you do?
What are some of your favorite activities or events with the organizations you're involved in?
How do you keep yourself connected with others between networking or social events?

The key to great questions is to be silent and listen to the answers.
Lastly:

Create COMMUNITY. Bring people together and give them opportunity to feel valued. One of the keys to creating community is to value the people that you are bringing together and that they value you. It is in this "valuing" that you create trust. Trust is a key component to any community and to any team.
Have you ever heard the comment opposites attract? We hear that often especially in the context of couples. And, while in personality style they may be opposites, a closer study reveals that they do share something in common - the same values. Look closely at people in long term relationships and you'll see that they share the same values.
Now, while that is true for marriages and long term relationships there are also some relationships where people do not share the same values but they do share something else in common. They have a shared activity that they enjoy or do together.
As you create community, it can be by discovering and sharing the same VALUES or by having a SHARED ACTIVITY (such as the African American Chambers of Commerce, or the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce) that brings you together.
As this great melting pot world becomes more like the great salad bowl world, you'll see that connecting with minority based networks is more about people relationships that in is about cultural relationships. And, whether their connection is values, generations, experiences or interests, the deepest connections are made people to people.
The true spirit of relationship performance management is to take high performing entrepreneurs and executives from frantic networking to profitable engagement that comes from shedding the limitations of old sales pitches and creating compelling connections. I invite you to discover your personal brand strengths and connect-ability readiness by taking this on-line quiz found at http://www.buzz2bucks.com
If you'd like to learn more about succeeding at your personal brand, visit http://www.buzz2bucks.com You'll learn everything you need to know from what is your personal brand, how to use what makes you best, and engage others in a way that compels others to speak positively on your behalf and influence their contact sphere to your benefit.
Maria Elena Duron, C.P.B.S., C.N.P. PCC, is Chief Buzz Agent, speaker and coach specializing in connecting high performing entrepreneurs and executives and using what makes them best so they can move from their frantic pursuit to success and balance now.

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

2009-09-05T08:55:00.001-07:00

One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to keep it as clean as possible. If you need help or don't have the time to organize your stuff, you can hire a home staging professional in your area. Ask your real estate professional for more information.
1. Remove any clutter from the home and place it in storage. Do not store this stuff on the property if you don't have enough room. Storing clutter in closets or in your garage, will often make these areas look smaller. By removing clutter or even large pieces of furniture, the rooms will look larger.
2. Disconnect yourself emotionally from your home. This is a big problem for people who have lived in their house for long periods of time. If you've raised a family here, the children could have emotional ties also to the home. Some home sellers are looking for someone special to buy their home, if you've got the time and money to wait, you can be selective but be careful, because the longer you wait, the market could go up or down.
3. When your real estate professional is showing the house, it's always a good idea to leave the home until the potential homebuyers are gone. One example of this would be if you were in a bad mood or didn't have a good day and were a little upset at the world. Your mood could cause potential homebuyers to lose interest in the property. I've seen this more than once.
4. Make sure everything is operating properly. This would include doors, door knobs, windows, kitchen appliances, garage door openers, cabinet drawers, bathroom fixtures, toilets, faucets, lights, switches, electrical outlets and anything else that moves, slides, turns or rotates that is part of the home.
5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.
6. Make sure the flooring is in good shape. Some real estate professionals will suggest, replacing the carpeting with a neutral color. This method often works pretty good but I have seen plenty of homes that were re-carpeted and after the home was purchased the carpeting was replaced again, by the new owners. Just make sure the flooring is in good shape.
7. Here's a trick that definitely works a little magic when selling a home. Leave some cookies or a nice fruit bowl on the dining room table. There is no need to leave a sign that says "Eat Me". It gives the home a warm feeling, almost like a country atmosphere.
8. Even better than home selling tip number seven would be baking some cookies just before the perspective buyers arrive, it's not the cookies, it's the smell from the cookies that most people cannot resist.
These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.
Christian Articles

Effective Goal Setting Activities For Success

2009-09-05T02:38:00.001-07:00

There are many effective goal setting activities that can be used in all areas of life to help individuals better their own personal experience. Whether you are striving to lose weight or you want to further yourself in your chosen career, there is no mistaking the power of setting goals for yourself. When a person takes the time to state a goal, and then creates a plan that will help them achieve that goal, they have a much better chance of success.
Making a list of all the things you hope to accomplish within a set period of time is a great idea. You can use goal setting forms to do this if you wish. These are really just carefully plotted charts that allow you to keep track of your goals as well as your progress in attaining those goals. If you are trying to better your health by eating sensibly each day or partaking of a specific form of exercise, a chart can be a great ally. Use it each day to track your progress and you are much more likely to stay focused.
If you prefer to use your computer, theres an option available for that as well. Goal setting software usually is comprised of not only worksheets, but calendars and inspirational readings. If you install one of the available programs on your personal or business computer you can note all the advances you are making each day towards your stated goal. One of the benefits of a software program like this is that you can generally utilize items like free wallpaper that has encouraging messages, as well as daily words of inspiration. Its almost as though you have your own silent cheering section pushing you in a positive direction.
You can also look beyond your computer when you are searching for goal setting activities. Reading motivational books is another great source of inspiration for many individuals. If you are just starting out on a new business venture, reading the autobiography of a magnate who worked their way up from almost nothing can help you attain your own goals by showing you that it really can be done.
For people attempting to make positive physical changes in their lives, talking to someone who has lost weight or stopped smoking can be a great way to help stay focused on goals. Quite often, when we are striving towards a personal goal we wonder if can really be done. Being given the opportunity to speak to someone who has attained their own goal, that is similar to your own, is a tremendous source of hope. Use the positive experiences of others as part of your goal setting process and youll soon be the one aspiring others after youve surpassed your own dreams. From self improvement online guide, http://www.i2lifeselfgrowth.com.
For more goal setting activities, forms and software to further your self improvement, go to http://www.i2lifeselfgrowth.com/goalsetting

Structural Framing Beams

2009-09-05T01:19:00.001-07:00

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

How Developing Your Awareness About Universal Laws Will Work To Your Advantage and Success

2009-09-04T19:15:00.001-07:00

Universal laws also known as spiritual laws or laws of nature are principles that never change. They rule over our universe. Once you become aware of how these incredible principles operate, and align your actions with these laws you will literally attract abundance into your life.
Because of a lack of awareness of how these laws work we have tried to get abundance by struggle, working more, resulting in physical and emotional overwhelm, fear, anxiety, depression and many other problems.
The Universal laws work by exact precision. They are predictable, they never waver or err, and make no distinction on who they work for. They work regardless of your gender, color, age, religious preference of if you are aware of or are ignorant about their existence.
Just like gravity makes no distinction as to who they work for, the universal laws work with the same unwavering and precise fashion. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, young or old, Indian, Chinese, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or an atheist. These laws work in a predictable and specific way 100% of the time.
When you develop an awareness of how they work and you consciously align your thoughts and actions with them, you will attract and experience seemingly impossible outcomes, and attract what you desire into your life. Understanding these laws will develop a deep awareness of the incredible power that these simple truths hold. They will help you to rewrite and replace the self sabotaging and limiting beliefs that have caused struggle and hardship in your life.
Most people don't know who they really are, or the reason for being in this world. Because of this lack of awareness they don't know what they are capable of creating and achieving, operating only by their five senses to create what they want.
We only see our body composed of nine systems, organs, tissues and cells, but they are further broken down into molecules, atoms, protons, electrons and subatomic particles.These are all electromagnetic vibrating waves of light called Quanta.
Quantum physics is the science that explains how this infinitely small universe that you and I cannot see with our physical eyes operates. It tells us that at the lowest denominator we are a soup of energy.
So it is important to realize that you are more that your body or your five physical senses. You are energy, housed in a body. You are infinite potential, pure energy at your core. You are intelligence and consciousness. You are magnificent, powerful, and invincible. You have all this potential residing within you which needs to be activated and released so that you can create what you desire. So how does this incredible intelligence work? How do you fit into the whole scheme of things?
First realize that everything is energy. It is present everywhere and cannot be created nor destroyed. Energy moves from one form to another, from a higher vibration to a lower vibration, from a subtle to a gross form, and is interchangeable. Energy can be changed into matter and matter can be converted into energy. Energy is always changing. It is in constant motion and it never rests. Change is energy's only attribute.
Second, the universe operates by natural laws, meticulously and with accuracy. There are truly no accidents. When you work with these laws they will work with you.
Just like the wave is a part of the ocean and the ocean is a part of the wave, and the two cannot be separated, so too you as an individual can have your own views and at the same time be connected to the infinite possibilities of the universe.
These laws work when you realize that you are not separate from the universe but are one, that you are in partnership with one another and are working together as a team. Therefore to work together as a team you must learn how the universe operates, so that these laws can work to your advantage.
Brenda Blindenbach is the best selling co-author with Dr.Wayne Dyer and Anthony Robbins, of Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Living In Clarity.
She is also a Possibilities DNA Instructor/Practitioner who enables clients to make shifts in their beliefs, helps them see and feel their progress immediately and teaches them how to replicate it. Claim Brenda's free audio on "Do you understand the laws of the universe"? Available at :=>
http://www.peacefulinterlude.com/.

Putting God on Trial

2009-09-04T17:46:00.001-07:00

I was listening to something interesting the other day when someone mentioned putting God on trial for some of the atrocities in the world. If God is the creator of the universe and all that is, or all that ever will be, how can we put him on trial, he's our creator. We can't put our spiritual master on trial can we, he'll just escape anyway if we convict him, won't he. He's got to be smart enough to break out a prison.
As a child I often thought about God and why he would allow such suffering throughout the world. It never made sense to me when I was child and it still doesn't make sense to me today. Why would the creator, want us to suffer, with even the littlest of problems. Other religions have explained it as if God was teaching us a lesson and that's why we have hardships in our lives.
Do you think God ever went through these hardships? Did God have problems finding a job or gathering some food? Does God even eat? Okay now I'm getting off the topic here,(I wonder what God does eat)... if children do something wrong, most of the time their parents will discipline or correct them. If adults to things wrong, the government will discipline and reprimand them. Sometimes these punishments can be severe. It depends on the crimes committed.
If man has to be put on trial for committing crimes like murder, genocide, and general atrocities towards mankind, should God also be put on trial or is he above man because he's God. I can't imagine the creator of the universe ever being put on trial for man's crimes against humanity or other men, but it seems like someone who is all powerful and all knowing could help his children out of this little mess that we're in today.
Couldn't God help us like we help our children. We as parents might not have all the answers, but we do not claim to have them. We are not all powerful and all knowing, like we would assume God to be. When is God going to help us solve some of our major world problems, like genocide and starvation.
Putting God on trial might not solve all of our problems today but it would be nice to have some help with our problems. If he created us to please him, do we have to go on trial one day, for all the things we did or ignored while we were alive. Something to think about isn't it.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development. Check This Out What Happened to the Wise Men's Gifts
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.
Christian Articles

52 Ways to Live a Better Life by Shadonna Richards

2009-09-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

Infinity Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780741451675
Shadonna Richards, a Canadian registered nurse, freelance writer and former newspaper columnist, has put together a simple but concise book on how to live a better life. As a nurse working with terminally ill cancer patients, who are told they have only six months to live, she was inspired to write empowering words of wisdom. Richards also interviewed many individuals for her newspaper columns, thus compiling inspirational stories to encourage us to look at our own lives, makes changes as necessary, and to live a fulfilled life. Although her resources are Canadian, the concept of her book is global and I'm sure readers will find similar resources in their respective countries and areas.
"A Gift of Hope" is designed to be used as a workbook, with each week having an exercise to be done daily. For example, the first week starts with "Stay Mentally Fit." The text talks about the stresses in our lives and then gives exercises. The first exercise for the first week is to "Identify, then rectify." Richards says "A crucial part of any solution is locating the problem. Do worries keep you up at night? Go directly to the source of your tension." The second exercise for the first week is "Detox Your Mind." Richards says "We always have a choice. We can choose to dwell on being hopeless in situations or dwell on having hope."
The second week covers "Dare to Dream: Believe that Anything is Possible" and captures president-elect Barrack Obama's "Yes We Can" powerful slogan. Using his story and his dreams, Richards iterates that our dreams can become reality if we persist and believe.
Other weeks cover topics like: Understand That Money Isn't Everything, Reach out to those in Need, and Be the Friend You Desire to Have. For the purpose of this review I didn't have the opportunity to test the system for a full 52 weeks; however, being a student and teacher of transformation, I know it works. Shadonna Richards has provided a book, "A Gift of Hope," to take us to a higher level of consciousness, a place where we can manage our personal lives with ease and contentment.
http://www.readerviews.com/

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

2009-09-04T10:12:00.001-07:00

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

The Magical Power of Gratitude

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

I remember when Oprah began encouraging everyone to write their own gratitude journal. I started one but it just felt like one more thing to do. Instead I tried to experience feelings of gratitude by simply thinking about 3 things I felt grateful for every day, either upon awakening or just before bed. Naturally, there were lots of mornings and evenings when I forgot to do this.
Flash forward 7 years and "Wow! What a difference!" Today, I'm surrounded by beauty, space, privacy, and other forms of abundance I couldn't even have imagined before. And now I find my gratitude comes naturally. I can't even open my eyes without feeling an amazing sense of appreciation for all that I've created in my life.
Is there a connection between all that I have and the depth of gratitude I feel?
Obviously, this didn't happen overnight. I wonder, when did gratitude become so effortless? Gradually, for sure. And how did it become such a natural state of being? Profound, genuine, effortless gratitude is so powerful in creating anything your heart desires, it's well worth doing whatever it takes to get to that place in your life.
Like anything else, you start small. You consistently exercise that "muscle." Over time it gets more powerful. As your efforts are rewarded with less and less effort, the use of gratitude becomes second nature.
Sometimes, I still find myself wondering whether such deep and genuine gratitude will be enough to sustain this exquisite lifestyle? Will simply feeling genuinely grateful for all the beauty and abundance that surrounds me now lead to a mindset that thinks differently and acts accordingly?
It's truly a grand experiment at this time. Stay tuned to find out if my happily ever after is self-sustaining. My blog will keep you posted with interesting and inspiring audio clips, video and super short articles to jump start your mind so you too can easily create a life of radiant health, deeply fulfilling relationships and permanent prosperity.
At http://www.stressfreepersonalfinance.com we specialize in inspiring tools to set you financially free. Plus there's free articles and audio to continually inspire you on your path towards financial freedom, radiant health and healthy, fulfilling relationships, because when you have enough money you can easily have all that!
While you're there be sure to download the FREE special report, "The 7 Affirmations That Took Me From $10,000/Year to $10,000/Month and the Powerful Techniques I Used to Synchronize Them with My Body & Mind" when you sign up for our free inspirational newsletter, Pathway2Abundance @ http://www.Pathway2Abundance.com

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

2009-09-04T02:38:00.001-07:00

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.
Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.
How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.
As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.
Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.
Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.
This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.
There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.
Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.
Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.
I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Home Improvement
Using Words In The Bible Effecti

Top 12 Qualities of True Business Professionals

2009-09-03T20:27:00.001-07:00

Many in the business, education, government and not for profit sectors consider themselves to be true professionals. Yet if this was so, why are we experiencing far more poor ethics from the financial meltdown to pay for play to the decline in even professional associations?
Professionalism is a word embraced by many, but in all honesty demonstrated by far fewer individuals. Its Latin's origins come from the word profess which means "to avow before." So the question is what are these individuals who believe themselves to be true professionals avowing before? Possibly the answer may be found within the word professional.
1. P = Positively proactive. Professionals demonstrate behaviors that are positive and proactive instead of negative and reactive.
2. R = Respect. Through this ethic and value of respect, professionals are known and trusted within and without their respective organizations.
3. O - Opportunities to help others. Those who avow before understand they have a responsibility to help others whether it is to grow self leadership skills or provide some expert advice.
4. F - Follow-up. No one likes to wait for un-returned phone calls or emails. Professionals make it a habit to follow-up on everything and accept responsibility when they fail to engage in that behavior.
5. E - Empathy. Professionals know how to be empathetic. This characteristic is a one of the signs of high emotional intelligence and a predictor for leadership success.
6. S - Self-confident. When individuals are self confident, they do not have to put others down at their own expense. These individuals have a high sense of balanced self-esteem and role awareness.
7. S - Sustainable. Professionals are truly sustainable in that they can continue forward when times become difficult. Their ethics and beliefs keep them focused.
8. I - Integrity. Simply simply, integrity is putting your values into action; doing the right thing when no one else is looking without personal gain or benefit; and accepting a potential personal cost.
9. O - Optimize all interactions. This is really critical because professionals do not negate the value of people. They look to see how one interaction can benefit someone else even before themselves.
10. N - Nimble. Being flexible and open to change allows these individuals to be quick on their feet, nimble to the opportunities that they encounter on a daily basis.
11. A - Awareness. Having a high level of awareness of themselves, the marketplace, the community and even the world helps these individuals to continually stay on top of things.
12. L - Leadership. Last, but not least, professionals demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and even more importantly self leadership skill. For if you cannot lead yourself, you cannot lead others.
Leadership Coaching Tip: Take a few moments to revisit this list and determine if there are any areas to be further developed. Remember the origins of the word professional - to avow before and are your actions in alignment with your beliefs?
If you would like to receive Leanne's weekly business column for free, sign up at http://www.processspecialist.com/column.htm
Call 219.759.5601 to schedule a free business coaching training or leadership coaching strategy session with Leanne Hoagland Smith provided you are willing to be uncomfortable.
P.S. This tools helps with developing true professionals

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

2009-09-03T19:06:00.001-07:00

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

How to Create a Personal Leadership Development Plan

2009-09-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

Many people think that management and leadership go hand in hand automatically. But just because you are a manager does not mean that you are a leader. Many management techniques are being thrown out the window in favor of leadership skills. But making the transition between manager and leader can be difficult for some. The best way to become an effective leader is by creating a personal leadership development plan.
The first thing that you need to do to create a personal leadership development plan is to understand the difference between management and leadership. While some do not see the difference, others cannot explain it. Quite simply, management is something that you do. It is a career. Leadership is having strength and courage in your convictions, and the ability to see those convictions manifest in reality.
So what are your convictions? You may think that you know what you believe in, but it is important to take a step back and actually list your beliefs and values. There are many assessments available that can help you do this. This important step in creating a personal leadership development plan will likely teach you things about yourself that you yourself did not realize were true. It may seem like a waste of time, but until you know what your convictions are, you cannot manifest them in reality through effective leadership.
Once you have a clear understanding of your convictions, you need to apply them to your organization. Do not look at numbers and people. Look at the overall purpose and mission of the company. Then, narrow your view to your team, and finally yourself. If you do not see your values and beliefs reflected in your actions, the actions of your team, and the actions of the company, then your work is cut out for you.
When creating your personal leadership development plan, first outline your beliefs, ethics, and values. Then, outline the ways that those beliefs, ethics, and values show in your actions within the organization. Are there ways that you need to improve? What support does your team need to obtain personal and organizational success that you have failed to give them? After all, their success is your success. Write down all of your thoughts and ideas for manifesting your convictions in the reality of your team and organization. This is the bare bones of your personal leadership development plan.
Next, do your homework. Talk to your employees, team members, customers, and suppliers to learn what more you can do or be that will assist you in manifesting your convictions and your personal leadership development plan. Sit back and listen to the ideas and feelings of others. This is the only way that you can learn from other perspectives what is needed for organizational or team success. Until you are aware of the changes that need to be made, you will not be able to make any changes for the common good of the organization and your employees.
Remember that while you may be able to affect change in your own small part of the world, the organization as a whole may not reflect your convictions any time soon. Change within large corporations is either very slow or nonexistent. Watch for signs that your personal leadership development plan is making a difference in your immediate environment.
Tracy Brinkmann is an goal setting and success coach. Through his company Success Atlas, he provides goal-setting, motivational & educational material, & training via live presentations as well as digital/audio products.
Sign up for his free e-Zine http://www.successatlas.com

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Repair

2009-09-03T11:30:00.001-07:00

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

Watch How You Stack Your Stories

2009-09-03T05:17:00.001-07:00

We love a good story, told well, that entertains us. But there are some who use stories for a different purpose: Justification for why they aren't in control of themselves and, therefore, their lives.
I have a call scheduled with someone who wants to tell me her story. Basically, she hopes I'll "get" why her life is the way it is and will never be any better. I know for a fact that she plays this story over and over in her mind and I understand why she believes her history impacts her present and future; but the question I intend to pose after I've listened a bit is, "How will you use your story to move forward in your life?"
Buildings have stories. One level is stacked upon another. Every time we repeat our stories to ourselves and others, we stack another level (more often than not, extra, unnecessary weight) on top of what's already there. The fact is every story is based mostly on perception and, usually, not enough information even if we were the ones who lived it.
What I mean by this is often, what first appears as a negative results in a positive, even if it takes years to realize it. The adage that advises us to look for the silver lining exists for a reason: It's based on the wisdom of experience. We get locked into our stories because sometimes we just can't believe they happened. But they did. And they are now over, in the past, history. What we do with what we're "given" in life is more important than the fact it was "delivered" to us.
When we look for examples of courage, do we look to those who give up in the face of their challenges or those who keep moving forward despite challenges many of us hope we never have to face? Do we seek the company of those who bemoan their lot in life or those who find their inner power and create more of what they want?
It's too easy to become attached to our stories, too attached to the momentary (negative) attention we receive when we tell them. And, when we use our time and energy telling them over and over, whether to ourselves or another, we aren't applying energy to make our lives better and more meaningful.
Why repeat stories? Do we hope someone will give us permission to give up? If that's a desired outcome, we can grant that permission to ourselves just as we can grant ourselves permission to leave our stories behind and create the ones we truly wish to live and share. Carolyn Myss once said when we lead with our wounds we let people know how we intend to manipulate them.
The building we structure from our lives can be one where creativity and beauty are the products, where energy and enthusiasm fuel all of our activities. Or, we can create drab structures where nothing more than widgets get produced and administrative repetition fills the hours.
What story or stories do you repeat to yourself or to others? Are your stories entertaining and empowering or do they make listeners look for the least offensive escape? Certainly, we don't want to live in denial of what we feel or experience, and there are times we need to vent so we heal; but more often than not, we could choose to make a more "joyful noise" in the world.
Joyce Shafer is a published author; freelance rewriter, editor, proofreader; and United Press International weekly columnist, also published at various online venues. See the exceptional reviews of her books, "I Don't Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say," at http://www.lulu.com/content/773467, and "How to Have What You REALLY Want," at http://www.lulu.com/content/796351 - Visit her new website at http://www.freewebs.com/joyceshafer

Putting God on Trial

2009-09-03T04:10:00.001-07:00

I was listening to something interesting the other day when someone mentioned putting God on trial for some of the atrocities in the world. If God is the creator of the universe and all that is, or all that ever will be, how can we put him on trial, he's our creator. We can't put our spiritual master on trial can we, he'll just escape anyway if we convict him, won't he. He's got to be smart enough to break out a prison.
As a child I often thought about God and why he would allow such suffering throughout the world. It never made sense to me when I was child and it still doesn't make sense to me today. Why would the creator, want us to suffer, with even the littlest of problems. Other religions have explained it as if God was teaching us a lesson and that's why we have hardships in our lives.
Do you think God ever went through these hardships? Did God have problems finding a job or gathering some food? Does God even eat? Okay now I'm getting off the topic here,(I wonder what God does eat)... if children do something wrong, most of the time their parents will discipline or correct them. If adults to things wrong, the government will discipline and reprimand them. Sometimes these punishments can be severe. It depends on the crimes committed.
If man has to be put on trial for committing crimes like murder, genocide, and general atrocities towards mankind, should God also be put on trial or is he above man because he's God. I can't imagine the creator of the universe ever being put on trial for man's crimes against humanity or other men, but it seems like someone who is all powerful and all knowing could help his children out of this little mess that we're in today.
Couldn't God help us like we help our children. We as parents might not have all the answers, but we do not claim to have them. We are not all powerful and all knowing, like we would assume God to be. When is God going to help us solve some of our major world problems, like genocide and starvation.
Putting God on trial might not solve all of our problems today but it would be nice to have some help with our problems. If he created us to please him, do we have to go on trial one day, for all the things we did or ignored while we were alive. Something to think about isn't it.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development. Check This Out What Happened to the Wise Men's Gifts
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.
Wrong With Bible Verse

The Plain Truth about Easter

2009-09-02T21:55:00.001-07:00

Like dumb sheep to the slaughter, most of mankind continues to blindly follow pagan traditions, rather than obey God's clear commands (Mark 7:7). Has it ever occurred to those stuffing their faces with Easter ham that Jesus would puke at the thought? Neither Jesus or Peter, James or John ever ate forbidden foods. They wouldn't feel too comfortable at plenty of people's dinner tables.
Even the early Gentile converts to Jewish Christianity respected the biblical dietary laws (Acts 15:20), understanding that not all foods are sanctioned by the Creator in the Holy Scriptures (I Timothy 4:5).
When John the Baptist recognized Jesus as our Passover sacrifice, he declared: "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:29). He didn't say, "Here comes the Easter Bunny!" Again, like the Easter ham, the Easter rabbit is also rejected in the Bible as an abomination (Leviticus 11:6-7).
The very name of Easter exposes itself as a heathen festival, although it's cloaked as "Christian." Easter/Ishtar/Astarte is the Babylonian spring goddess our British-Israelite forefathers foolishly worshipped. Hence the fertility symbols of rabbits and eggs.
God isn't fooled by such baptized paganism, such whitewashed heathen customs (Deuteronomy 12:30). He commands us to commemorate Jesus' death every Passover and recognize His atoning work of redemption as our resurrected High Priest in Heaven, unleavening our lives of sin (I Corinthians 5:7-8).
The early Church followed Jesus' Jewish example for several hundred years until Gentile opposition (from false converts) threatened them with a death sentence if they didn't bow before Easter observances (the Quarto-Deciman controversy)!
A growing number now know, understand and believe the biblical account that we're to observe Passover and that Jesus was resurrected before sunrise Sunday, "when it was yet dark" (John 10:1). Others prefer to reject this light of understanding to remain in their traditional darkness and die in their sins (John 3:19)-- it's that serious! Because if our nations don't repent of such idolatry and immorality we'll soon suffer national destruction, defeat and deportation! That's why this article of faith is part of our plea to diehard Catholics and Protestants to repent.
Thankfully, every generation has those chosen few who are willing to reject holidays for holy days and "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered" (Jude 3). Hopefully, this plain truth about Easter will cause you to question your beliefs and provide some "kosher" food for thought!
David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall.

Slow Market Home Pricing Advice

2009-09-02T20:51:00.001-07:00

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

3 Steps to Compelling Communication

2009-09-02T14:35:00.001-07:00

Communication is the primary tool we use to interact with others. It is vital in the development of successful business and personal relationships. Helen Keller who was blind, deaf and mute needed to learn ways to communicate so she could participate in the world. Participating in everyday life requires the development of effective, respectful communication skills.
The 3 key steps to compelling communication are Listening, Awareness and Questions
Listening
Sometimes silence is the most effective listening tool available. Have you ever noticed people who frequently interrupt conversations in order to make their point? What is the message to the person who was talking? Other times people rush to speak as a way of showing they understand or perhaps they have a solution to offer. To really listen means to give someone your complete time and attention without judgment or assumptions.
An employee went to her manager for suggestions and support in dealing with a difficult client. As she began describing the situation, her boss kept interrupting her and making assumptions. She never got the chance to fully clarify what had occurred and as a result the recommendations she was given for handling the situation were not particularly relevant. The impact of being a good listener can bring positive returns in not only working with colleagues but with clients and suppliers as well. When you do not fully listen and understand the concerns, how can you deal with it?
Awareness
In order to be truly aware you need to recognize what you are saying and doing as well as noticing other people's actions and reactions. In the work world as you move your way up the ladder of responsibility you will have managers and bosses who guide you and give constructive criticism. However, if you dislike your job or some aspect of the job you need to be aware of how your dislike might be coming across. How do you deal with a colleague or boss with whom you are having problems? What is your response? As you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings about a challenging situation, you are better able to manage and plan your actions.
It is equally important to be aware of how others may be feeling or behaving. If you are interacting with people face to face you may notice their body language. In today's world this can sometimes be challenging as you may be doing a lot of communicating by computer and phone. Therefore it is important to pay attention to tone of voice and the tone of emails. Your awareness and sensitivity of yourself and others invites collaborative solutions to problems and concerns.
Questions
Asking people questions instead of making assumptions is a useful way of gathering information. However the kind of questions you ask and the tone of your voice is key. Questions which are critical and judgmental disrupt communication, whereas questions which come from a place of curiosity and inquiry invite more meaningful conversations.
According to the "Inquiry Institute" there are two main types of questions, "judging or learning." Questions which have an accusatory tone such as "who's at fault, why are they so irritating or why can't I do anything right," generally contribute to people being stuck. Questions which invite possibilities like "What can I learn from this, what are the options and how can we do it differently the next time," tend to produce a more positive outcome. Which kind of questions would you respond to more favorably?
To move your conversations forward in the direct you want them to be going remember to really listen to what people are saying, be aware of yourself and others and ask questions which invite collaboration.
Copyright 2008, Gail Solish, Communication and Relationship Coach. All rights reserved. Visit http://www.actualizeyourgoals.com for more tips and information on communication skills and developing positive business and personal relationships. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter "Actualize Your Goals".
Gail Solish, provides Executive/Personal coaching to managers, directors and executives focused on workplace development and relationship management. Claim your copy of "7 Keys to Effective Communication" Today at http://www.ActualizeYourGoals.com

Installing a 32 Inch Back Door

2009-09-02T13:30:00.001-07:00

In some older houses you will find a 30 inch back door. Have you ever tried to move a refrigerator or some large furniture through a 30 inch door? Keep in mind most bedroom doors are 30 inches wide and are in 36 inch hallways. 30 inch doors and bedrooms make it tough to move some furniture in too.
Let's start with the price difference between a 30 inch door and a 32 inch door. The cost difference is usually going to be around $20. If you are building a hundred homes this could become quite an additional expense. So we can understand why the home builder installed a 30 inch door in the back of our home.
He got the extra money in his pocket, you got a headache.
Here's the big problem. If you ever want to install a larger door you will need to replace the structural door framing. Now this is where you could run into a little bit of an expense. Changing the framing for a wider door could become quite costly. It could actually cost over $1000 in some cases.
Now if the homebuilder would have originally installed a 32 inch door in your house it might have ran him as high as an additional $45. How can this be? I will give you the first clue. There is a good chance the homebuilder will not be moving into any of these houses. If for some strange instance he did move into the house, he would learn the same lesson whenever he needed to move a large item into the house.
I'm a contactor and learned this lesson in a long time ago.
If you are building a new home you might even want to consider installing a 36 inch back door. This door will give you plenty of room when it comes to moving large items in or out of your house. The cost difference between a 36 inch door and a 32 inch door is usually around $20 also.
When building a new home most people don't give very much thought about their interior or exterior doors. Here's a simple chart I made to help with some basic door decisions.
Bathroom Doors Should Be 28 Inches Wide Minimum.
Bedroom Doors Should Be 30 Inches Wide Minimum.
Front Doors Should Be At Least 36 Inches Wide
Back Doors and Garage Doors Should Be At Least 32 Inches Wide
If you are a professional football or basketball player don't use these numbers above.
If you have large sliding glass doors or French doors throughout your home and can use them to move large items into the house you can install whatever size doors you choose that are comfortable to walk through.
Give some thought when installing a new door on your next project and keep some of the above tips in mind..
If you are designing a home give some thought to the stairways and hallways in the home as well.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Bay Window Ideas
Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

Higher Self

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

Sometimes you might allow your emotional input to dictate your choices, which could be an indication that you are acting compulsively. The best way to make a distinction between intellect and emotion is to engage with your higher self to hear the wisdom of your spirit.
Your higher self (a.k.a. subconscious or collective unconscious) is connected to the universe, and also has access to your thoughts and feelings. Consider your higher self (subconscious/collective unconscious) as having a helicopter view of your actions, reactions and goings on in your life. It has the ability to weigh all the factors from a neutral place of peace. Even before a sudden impulse can be triggered, you can go within the space of your higher self by taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly-quieting your mind-to access the wisdom within. Meditation or yoga are also highly effective in helping to connect with the higher self.
When you practice connecting to the wisdom within regularly, you will learn to discern quickly which voice is advising you. When you notice it is the ego mind or an emotional aspect, you can stop it in mid-stream.
To learn which aspect is in control you can look back to learn from previous choices and recall what your inner guidance was advising you-albeit you might not have followed it. You will learn when you have listened and when you have gone against its direction, and this information is helpful for your learning and growth. Every choice you make is an opportunity to learn about life and about yourself as you co-create with the universe.
There is no right or wrong, only choices that take you closer or farther away from your goals. Growth is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works.'
When you use your higher self you know you have your best interest at heart, you can listen and trust you will be on the right track. The answers to life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one's daily thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net

Structural Framing Beams

2009-09-02T06:03:00.001-07:00

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

Stress Management and the Ego

2009-09-01T23:16:00.001-07:00

Here's how to do it. We can observe ourselves. There are ancient meditation practices based on simple self observation.
We take a moment and just notice ourselves. This can be done by noticing the feelings in our bodies. Notice our breathing. Notice the inhale and exhale. You can do this as a regular practice as a powerful stress management technique. You can get fast relief when you find yourself in stressful situations.
If you wish, you can listen to a free audio meditation on self observation. This will help you get started. After you've used the audio for a while, you can practice self observation on your own.
What does this have to do with the ego? When we observe "our self" we are usually observing the ego. This observation tends to help us realize that we are not really the ego. This is a very powerful step in stress management. It skyrockets the way we experience life.
You can practice this throughout the day. You might decide to walk very slowly and observing yourself when you're walking. This greatly increases your awareness and brings you into the Now.
Over time this can be amazingly relaxing practice of stress management. It brings amazing relief. You'll get more insights about life. You can step out of life's challenges. You can return to the challenges with a refreshed and relaxed state of mind.
Copyright 2006 by Jim Kitzmiller
Jim Kitzmiller is the author of Rocket Fuel for the Soul -- Blissercise Self-Help Manual. The book's bliss exercises (blissercises) surpass usual positive thinking approaches by bypassing the logical mind. The blissercises cover 46 different areas of life.
Jim leads self-help workshops and does spiritual coaching.

Window Header Framing Problems

2009-09-01T22:40:00.001-07:00

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

The Quandary With Goals

2009-09-01T15:46:00.001-07:00

Ok, two weeks into the new year. Have you met your goals for this year, yet? Ha! of course I'm just teasing. . .
Was it just me, or did you wade through a new year goal frenzy too?
First, I found myself repelled by the "be all you can be" type new year goal promotions. Last week, I even told myself that I was NOT going NEAR the gym until next month or later! Sure, I'm laughing now, but I was struck by the depth of my reaction to these type of goals.
Then a slew of messages, expressing the idea that "I'm already fabulous," grabbed my attention. THAT perspective felt great! In contrast to the other message, I got excited about my life, and was ready to dive into my amazing relationships, and work.
Whew! I know which approach I'm using! Here's why a feel good approach to goals is effective.
We're evolving creatures-always have been, and always will be. You evolve whether you're sitting on the couch day dreaming or running your 10th marathon! There's just no escaping your personal evolution. From this perspective, our attraction to personal improvement, goals, and New Year resolutions make sense, because they tap into our innate desire to expand.
Consider that your goals reflect what your soul already knows is true about you. On some level, you know that you're ALREADY that savvy business woman , or the mom, lovingly in the middle of her family, or that 145 lb strong and sexy woman. Yes, that is exactly who you are!
And yet, your mind needs to catch up to what our soul understands for your true self to emerge. Until then, you might believe that you need to have, do, or think the right thing to be who you want to be.
Can you see that the quandary that setting goals creates? How do you become who you already are? No wonder new year resolutions are so easy to break, they're unnecessary!
Think about it. How much energy do you expend trying to be the person who you already are?
Yes, of course there is an easier and much more enjoyable way to make room for your true nature to emerge.
Here are two suggestions.
Michael Neill suggests that you take at least a week off from working on yourself in any way. Don't try to change, improve, or fix yourself - just enjoy hanging out with your work, your hobbies and your loved ones.
Try this exercise. Let me know what you noticed? What brought you joy?
Here's a second approach.
Look at your goals, or things you want to accomplish this year, and ask yourself:
"How would I live my life if this goal was already met?"
I imagine that there are some beliefs, and actions within your description that you can incorporate in your life right away, yes? Let yourself step into being the person your goals represent. You're ready, and your goals reflect this.
You'll create a momentum that the universe will gladly match. Now THAT'S a sweet spot!
Judy is a Law of Attraction Coach for accomplished lesbian, bi and queer women who are ready to fully enjoy their fabulous life! Find her at http://www.dreamandflourish.com

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

2009-09-01T15:14:00.001-07:00

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

Essential Laws of Fearless Living by Guy Finley - Book Review

2009-09-01T08:29:00.001-07:00

I recently read the new book, The Essential Laws of Fearless Living by Guy Finley. Guy says that we have an insatiable desire to be someone in the world. What drives that? The wish for power, he asserts. We think that power will put us above the world of the ordinary. It will move us out of our unremarkable daily lives and into a life of excitement and pleasure. We are running from the fear of being no one. But, as Guy points out . . ."what we resist persists." So by living in fear and discouragement because we are unable to move away from the fear, we are only bringing more of the same feelings! It's a vicious, never-ending circle. We try using power to control and possess others - a really bad idea Guy points out because by trying to control another person, we are, in fact, giving our power over to that person. So not only are we not in control, someone else has control over us! Not exactly what we had in mind. So instead of trying to control others, give to others what we ask from them. That is the secret to receiving what we wish for from others
Most of us automatically resist the unknown. But in order to become fearless, we must practice self-liberation. We live in negative states of self-doubt and fear. But if we realize that these states are voluntary, not mandatory, we can begin to free ourselves from their imprisonment. The more we think negative thoughts, the more we sink into negativity. And the more we live in negativity, the more we react negatively. We must realize that negative reactions make nothing better!
So how do we become fearless? By letting go of those limiting beliefs. And how do we find our limiting beliefs? Through self-reflection and thought. Put a question to ourselves - such as, what do I fear? - and really think about the response. Self-awareness puts us in touch with the higher intelligence that already lives within all of us.
Stop trying to change the world that we see. Instead begin by changing the way we see the world. Work on the inner first and the outer will follow.
Annette Greco is co-owner of a successful home remodeling business, author of The Kitchen Remodeling Cookbook: The Survival Guide to Cooking When Your Kitchen Can't and co-founder of On The Level Consulting. The remodeling business requires a successful combination of sales, marketing, administration and production. It is even more important for the small remodeling company to execute all areas well and in the right combination. Find out how to maximize profits while minimizing time and stress. Sign up for On The Level Consulting's FREE online newsletter to find out how. Visit http://www.onthelevelconsulting.com

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

2009-09-01T07:45:00.001-07:00

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.
Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.
How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.
As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.
Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.
Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.
This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.
There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.
Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.
Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.
I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Home Improvement
Nothing Will Be Impossible

The Mind Body Connection

2009-09-01T01:12:00.001-07:00

An interesting incident is narrated by Gordon Rattray Taylor, the famous Chief Science Advisor, BBC Television in his book The Natural History of Mind. The Mind Body connection is a baffling subject even to the scientists. And hence it is worth reading the incident to understand the mind- body connection.
Taylor narrates: During the war I was so fortunate as to form a friendship with a man named Clifford Troke. He had been an air-raid warden in London for four years, repeatedly at risk and short of sleep. Among his more stressful experiences were the following. After a heavy air-raid in which more people were killed than the burial arrangements could cope with, an empty school in Trokes district was taken over and the unburied bodies placed in it. The following night a time-bomb fell near the school but did not explode. The health authorities decided that it was an unacceptable health risk to leave the bodies in situ. Volunteers were called for to enter the school and rescue not the living but the dead from the expected explosion. One night, after various such adventures and during a raid, Troke was assailed with the feeling that all Hitlers bombs were directed at him personally, and that the German air force would continue to drop bombs in his vicinity until they got him. He sat down on the edge of the pavement and began to weep.
In hospital next day, the doctor took his blood pressure and whistled. He told him that if he did not take things very easily from then on he would probably explode himself. In point of fact, he survived a few years after the war, but succumbed, while still relatively young, to a heart attack.
I recall this story to emphasize the point that mental stress can produce physical disease.
Stating this incident Mr Taylor points out that the connection between mind and body is subtler and more intimate than most people realize or are ready to admit.
The Upanishads declare:
Mana Eva Manushyaanaam Karanam Banda Mokshayo: in Sanskrit means the mind is the reason for the human beings to bind or release themselves. Amrutha Bindu Upanishad, one of the 108 important Upanishads teaches this.
The Mother of Aurobindo Ashram emphasizes this point:
There are people as soon as the least thing happens to their body, their mind is completely upset. There are others still who may be very ill and yet keep their mind clear. It is rarer and more difficult to see a mind that is upset and the body remaining healthy. It is not impossible, but it is much rarer; for the body depends a great deal on the state of the mind. The mind is the master of the physical being. And I have said the latter was a very docile and obedient servant. She further points out that, Normally one uses the mind ill as badly as possible. But instead of letting the mind do the disastrous work; one can use the same capacity to make favorable formations. If one knows how to do that, one gets wonderful results in a few seconds.
Mother advises us: Organize the Mind. Purify the Mind. Quiet the mind.
The great secrets of the Upanishads are to be learnt to achieve the above.
S. Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 1300 articles in 16 magazines and published 18 books. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V. Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. His email address is: snagarajans@gmail.com. His articles on Yoga, laughter, efficacy of mantras and sound, Hypnotism, Tele Kinesis, Power of Prayer, Vastu and Feng Shui, Auto suggestion, Success Formula, Out of Body Experience etc are regularly appearing in ezinearticles.com. So far sixty three articles have been published in ezinearticles.com.

Old Versus New Construction Adhesives

2009-09-01T00:16:00.001-07:00

When I first started building in 1978 as a young carpenter and an apprentice to my father. I had the grand illusions of becoming what they call on the east coast a master carpenter and on the West Coast a journeyman carpenter.
Part of my training in construction was learning to use the proper adhesive and caulking for different parts of the building project. We used to use a standard solvent-based construction adhesive when we were building our stairs and they would also use this adhesive on the floors to eliminate squeaks.
This glue dried extremely hard and everyone thought the harder the better. This construction adhesive was great when I started using it in 1978. There wasn't the polyethylene super elastic expandable multi-use glue and caulking construction adhesives at that time.
We used this brittle glue and it always seemed like a waste of time. As the wood dried and started to shrink the brittle hard glue would crack and break away from the wood it was glued to. Normally the glue was breaking away from plywood floor sheeting. I have seen 2 x 12 shrink 3/8 of an inch before in as little as a few months during the summer.
Now as time went on the old construction adhesives were replaced with a new window sealant made by a company called TOPS. This stuff was the hottest and best product of the decade to me. I used this stuff for everything.
This new urethane glue was now being used for sub floors, stair treads, sealing the windows flashing and siding. This stuff is still in use today and is a great choice for all of the uses I mentioned above. The price for this sealant is about double that of most water-based or solvent-based glues. But it's worth it.
So there you have it I like the urethane glues because of their flexibility, elasticity, their ability to adhere to wood concrete or metal and their performance in the years ahead.
There is one thing to keep in mind when using construction adhesives. Most construction workers seem to ignore the fact that the wood needs to be dry and clean before applying the construction adhesive. There have been quite a few times I have witnessed carpenters working with me and ignoring my advice.
Don't put yourself into this category. Doing quality work and following the manufacturers recommended installation instructions for their product will decrease your liability if there is ever a problem. Read the instructions carefully on all of the building products you use.
The manufacturers of these construction adhesives have thoroughly tested them. So use them properly and follow all safety warnings.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Structural Repairs
Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

A One Minute Meditation

2009-08-31T17:44:00.001-07:00

Maybe learning to meditate intimidates you, and in any case it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. The solution to both problems is an easy meditation you can learn right now, that will only take a minute to do each day.
An Easy Meditation Technique
Breathing through your mouth expands your chest, but if you breath through your nose you'll notice how your abdomen extends. You see, nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain. It also tends to relax you.
Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it's the basis of this one-minute meditation. You simply close your eyes, let the tension go out of your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and take four slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your breathing.
Is Meditation This Easy?
You're not likey to get you into a deep meditative state with this simple exercise. You will get benefits, though. These will almost certainly include a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.
Try to develop a "trigger" for your meditation. You can do your four breaths when you get into the car, for example, or right after lunch each day. A trigger is a place or time that reminds you, so your meditation becomes a habit.
Some may say this isn't "real" meditation, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying the relaxation you'll get from this technique. You can always pursue deeper meditation later, if you wish. In the meantime, remember that not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not do an easy one-minute meditation right now?
Steve Gillman writes on many self help topics including boosting brainpower, losing weight, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, learning gratitude, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

Window Header Framing Problems

2009-08-31T16:48:00.001-07:00

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

Kundalini Activation - How Self Hypnosis Helps Kundalini Enlightenment

2009-08-31T10:24:00.001-07:00

If you ever hope to access the Kundalini energy that lies hidden within your chakras you may need more than a little Kundalini activation help. This power is hidden within you laying dormant until you either find the mental clarity to tap those resources for yourself or experience moments of great need that bring them, unbidden, to the surface. If you seek to make these chakras do your bidding you are going to need to devote some time and energy into learning to control them so that they work in unity and on demand. This is much easier imagined than accomplished.
What is the Kundalini Path?
The Kundalini path is literally the path to enlightenment. Followers of this path believe that there is a living power within each of us. Enlightenment is the ability to unify various chakras within us so that they will work in harmony with one another. The path to enlightenment is a journey in this belief and one that is well rewarded. Kundalini activation help is not the easiest help to find though there are a few excellent resources that will provide insight and guidance.
Unifying the Energy Within
Through conscious effort, it is often difficult to unify forces that are generally opposed or work independently of one another. To do so on a subconscious level is an even greater feat for those who accomplish this. Once you learn to unify the energy within yourself there will be little you set your mind to that you cannot accomplish.
The Kundalini Awakening
Many people experience some degree of let down when their Kundalini first awakens. No matter how often you are told and expect there to be no unity there is still an initial sense of disappointment that follows that initial thrill of excitement. Don't allow yourself to dwell on what didn't happen. Choose to focus on the positive and realize that you managed to wake your Kundalini. This is an accomplishment to celebrate even without control.
Tantric Kundalini Awakenings
Couples will want to explore tantric Kundalini activation help for an amazing experience that defies all others. There are stark differences between Kundalini awakenings that are achieved through yoga and those that are achieved through tantra. If you get nothing else from this, understand that to experience this awakening with a lover is an experience that defies words.
Hypnosis Help With Kundalini Awakenings
Listening to recordings and self hypnosis can help you train your subconscious mind to awaken your Kundalini. If you need Kundalini activation help you will probably find that self hypnosis is an excellent source of assistance not only for the actual activation but also when it comes to gaining control.
Begin an Amazing Journey
Are you ready to leave the shell of yourself behind and find a completely new plain of existence? Are you ready to experience more of everything than you've ever imagined possible? If so, today is the day to seek Kundalini activation help and begin exploring life on an entirely new and exciting level.
J. Seymour is a writer with Self Help Recordings. 'Discover Kundalini Activation' is an excellent recording by Steve G Jones, who offers twenty years of experience through these recordings. To find out more, visit Kundalini Activation Help. A range of other self hypnosis products can be found here - Kundalini Self Help. All of the recordings on Self Help Recordings are backed by an impressive sixty day guarantee, so to find out more simply click on the links.

Structural Framing Beams

2009-08-31T09:12:00.001-07:00

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

Your Thoughts Become Things

2009-08-31T02:42:00.001-07:00

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world. " - Buddha
"Thought is as much a thing as the favorite ring you wear on your finger. It has weight, color, shape, size and form. Thought is a dynamic force. It is a force like gravitation, cohesion or repulsion. Thought has tremendous power and can manifest desires. can do anything, it can work wonders. "- Swami Sivananda
"As ye sow, so shall ye reap." - Jesus
"The Kingdom of God is within you" - Jesus
"I and My Father are One"- Jesus
What is the point?
Here we have saints from three different spiritual traditions saying essentially the same thing. What are these saints trying to tell us? They are telling us that our thoughts become things and that with our thoughts we create our reality.
This means that the power we seek is within our own selves; we need not look elsewhere. Every time we think a thought it is a creative event. This is so because at any given time there are an infinite variety of different thoughts that we could choose to think; when you choose to think one, you are taking an active role in the creation of your own reality.
This process happens whether we are conscious of it or not. We basically have no choice in the matter. The only choice lies in whether or not we want to become conscious of what we are doing with our thoughts.
We are creators whether we like it or not.
In Christianity they talk about the fall of man. This is referring to the time when man lost sight of his inherent divine creative abilities. This is when man lost sight of his own godly nature. This is the reason you are here. This is what you came to this earth plane to remember and discover again. You were born to remember and to experience your dominion over the illusion of time and space.
What about destiny and fate?
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
So if we are creating our reality with our thoughts, then what of fate, destiny, luck, and karma? If we can master our thoughts then these things will come under our control. So how do we do this?
All you have to do is think of what you want and refuse to deviate from that thought. This will set you into motion, stir up the magic, and unleash the full force, power, and majesty of a Universe conspiring on your behalf.
Anything worth having is worth working for.
Do you think living the life you want is worth working for?
It's worth everything you've got. So you must be strong and take action. The progress might be slow at first, but it is like learning any skill, it takes time, practice, and discipline. At first you couldn't ride a bike and you probably fell off quite a few times. This process was very frustrating, but you kept at it. Soon thereafter riding a bike became easier and easier until one day you were able to do it without thinking about it. You just did it.
Being vs. Doing
This example illustrates the state of being vs. doing. When you were first learning to ride your bike you were doing. You mind was involved in analyzing and issuing the commands to tell you how to ride the bike. Your body was full of tension and anxiety because you were learning something new, you were unsure of your abilities, and you were afraid to fall.
This is exactly the same thing that happens when one begins to be aware of their thoughts and live their life as a divine creative being.
At first you are thinking, analyzing and worrying about each little thing that you do. You mess up many times along the way and experience a lot of frustration with minimal rewards. However if you keep at it eventually you gain mastery. Eventually there comes a day when you are you longer thinking about what you should or shouldn't do. Rather you are simply doing it because that is who you are. You are that kind of a being.
Just like eventually you became the kind of being that could easily ride a bike, eventually you become a being that creates the life they desire with their thoughts.
This is the message that these saints are trying to get across. The goal is not to be a person who makes things happen because they think it to be.
The goal is to become the divine, godly, and creative beings that were meant to be.
Read more at http://brandon-gilbert.blogspot.com/.
Brandon Gilbert has been a superfoodist for the last 4 years and has spent that time dedicated himself to learning and sharing all he can about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. It is his passion and mission to inspire and guide other to their own healing and growth.

Removing Interior Walls

2009-08-31T01:49:00.001-07:00

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

Intelligence - Learning How Other People Think, Feel and Sense

2009-08-30T19:25:00.001-07:00

By interpreting your dreams, you will understand how your psychic sphere works and how you can develop all your psychological functions and stay away from depression, craziness and suicidal thoughts. Moreover, you will also understand how other people think, feel and sense, what will help you avoid misunderstandings and other problems in your relationships.
First of all, you will have clear information about the person you love, so that you may understand if this is really the ideal person for you and what you must do to have a peaceful and happy relationship.
However, everybody is important in your life. You may never have cared about trying to understand the others, but this is a crucial matter.
In my ebook concerning craziness prevention through dream interpretation, I summarized the psychological types defined by Carl Jung in his book (2 volumes) "Psychological Types," because one cannot understand why one must develop the psychic sphere, what to learn in order to be balanced and why dream messages are so important, without knowing about the 8 existent psychological types and their defects.
This is important not only for your own development but also to help predict other people's reactions to avoid fights, misunderstandings and manipulations against you. Of course, you shall not use this knowledge to manipulate others because you can predict their reaction. Your intentions in life must always be good if you want to avoid problems.
The comprehension of the psychic sphere function in each one will give you many answers for many questions you never expected to have because you'll understand the roots of the human behaviour.
The light of wisdom will eliminate your doubts and your complaints about other people's behaviour. You'll be able to trust your friends and partners without fear and avoid relationships with psychological types based on the opposite psychological functions of your psychological type. This will save you from unnecessary conflicts and help you distinguish people who are compatible with your character.
Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung's research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.
Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com and http://www.booksirecommend.com
Click below to download your copy of the Free ebook
Beating Depression and Craziness

Attic Odors and Strange Smells

2009-08-30T18:21:00.001-07:00

If you've ever opened up your attic access hole, only to find one of the worst odors you have ever smelled in your whole life, I've been there too. What causes these horrible smells and what can you do about them?
Let's start with the cause of these smells, moisture, dirt, mold, mildew, dead animals, animals that make their home in your attic and the biggest problem of all is normally poor ventilation.
Poor ventilation is the biggest problem with musty smells in the attic. These smells are often caused from moisture accumulating in the building materials over time. If there is enough moisture in the attic, the wood will start to rot but this wouldn't be a normal situation, unless there was a roof or water leak.
Roof leaks can cause a constant supply of water to one part of the attic. This constant supply of water will eventually rot the wood and damage the ceiling. Water leaks from pipes can provide a steady supply of water and the situation can attracts termites and mold. Not a good thing.
One of the worst possible smells or odors in your attic would be a dead animal. Don't under estimate the size of some of these animals, they have found dead raccoons, cats, snakes, large birds, squirrels, rats and mice in some attics. These animals usually enter through damaged access holes or vent blocks, roof vents, large gaps, holes and even fireplace chimneys.
Once these animals die, their bodies start to decompose and produce one horrible odor. Once the body is completely decomposed, the smell usually goes away if the attic is ventilated properly. These smells can seep into the homes living area, often creating a room that no one wants to enter.
Home peststhat make their home in your attics, often create smells from urinating and defecating in the areas around their nest. Large birds like owls can become a problem over time.
Now that we've figured out some of the causes for attic odors and strange smells, what can we do to prevent this from happening and if it's already happened, how can we get rid of the smell.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your having problems in your attic, find out more at pest control books and home building ideas.
Nothing Will Be Impossible

The Consciousness Banyan Tree

2009-08-30T12:02:00.001-07:00

Vague and mystic terms like consciousness, will and emotions can be explained in more concrete terms through the intuitive algorithm (IA) concept. IA suggests that phenomenally intelligent nerve cells make the mind a powerful information processor and can explain universally recognized human behavior, including its unique foibles. For IA, consciousness can be likened to the feel of breeze on the leaves of a banyan tree. The neural correlates of consciousness logically point to the perceptions of the leaves and not to the processes of the tree. All the nuclei, the intelligent groups of nerve cells, within your brain bear a strong resemblance to the banyan tree, with its spreading branches (dendrites) and numerous roots (axons).
The branches of nuclei perceive patterns in the environment on the periphery and dispatch recognition signals through their roots. There are receptors on the branches of your olfactory tree, which evaluate molecules in the air. Its roots, (axons of those cells) transmit messages, indicating the recognition of the fragrance of orange, or the smell of sweat. Similarly, the branches of the somesthetic association tree perceive the sense of touch and its roots signal recognition of a touched object. In practice, if this recognition-of-objects-by-touch "tree" is injured, you cannot recognize a pair of scissors by touch, when your eyes are closed. If the recognition-of-touch tree remains intact, you will still be able to feel the scissors. By recognizing and responding to patterns, these trees process the vast reaches of your intelligence.
IA suggests that those trees store and use memories of combinations for recognition. Among many such nuclei, smells were recently reported to be recognized through a coding process, where the olfactory tree recognized different combinations of receptor signals. If the tree had receptors, identified as A, B, C and so on to Z, it could then fire, when it received inputs at ABC, or DEF. It recognized those combinations. The tree could identify ABC and would be inhibited for ABD. The experiments of the scientists revealed that even slight changes in chemical structure activated distinctly different combinations of receptors. The olfactory tree stored such codes and indicated that octanol smelled like oranges, while the similar compound, octanoic acid, smelled like sweat. A Nobel Prize acknowledged that discovery in 2004. IA suggests that the intuitive intelligence of the olfactory tree derives from its capacity to remember and sensitively recognize trillions of combinatorial codes.
It is established that the wisdom of nature is founded on the accumulation, over millions of years, of unbelievably large lodes of such operating instructions. If the total DNA codes in a grown human body (each cell contains a sequence of over 3 billion chemical nucleotide bases) were crammed into 500 page instruction manuals, those books would fill the 450 kilometer Grand Canyon fifty times over! Such massive archives of actionable instructions also operate within the banyan trees of your nervous system. Vast galaxies of subterranean knowledge, stored as similar combinatorial codes, manage your perceptions, emotions and drives. Those codes manage your every activity, not you.
The banyan trees within your brain translate a complex and timely knowledge of your world within a few thousandths of a second. Walter Freeman, the famous neurobiologist summed up that amazing competence. "The cognitive guys think it's just impossible to keep throwing everything you've got into the computation every time. But, that is exactly what the brain does. Consciousness is about bringing your entire history to bear on your next step, your next breath, your next moment." Science is yet to make the obvious announcement that your nervous system uses combinatorial codes to store cubic miles of data within your nerve cells. They have also not yet discovered that intuition, an elimination algorithm, can instantly extract the best and most appropriate answer from that information.
Just as naturally as lilies bloom in the field, your words of love, or anger originate from one of the intelligences residing in the myriad banyan trees within your brain. Both your experience and the findings of science suggest that you have a separately identifiable existence as you perch on one of those trees as an intangible awareness. That proof lies in the significant time lag between actual neural processes and your awareness of them. Your experience will show that your awareness of speech comes only after your network speaks. Within the blink of an eye, the system gathers ideas, locates words, arranges them grammatically and moves your muscles to enable speech. You become aware of your choice of words after they are uttered.
The same time lag, highlighting the distinct separation between neural functions and conscious awareness was measured by the famous experiments of Benjamin Libet. These tests were deceptively simple. He timed the neural cues in subjects while they voluntarily pressed a button. Each time they decided to press down, they were also to note down the location on a computer screen, of a dot, which changed its position every 43 milliseconds. The exact moment of a conscious decision to act, was compared to measurable activity in the system for the initiation of that muscle movement. After many experiments with many subjects, Libet discovered that activity in the motor areas began 350 milliseconds before the subject consciously decided to press the button. Since the motor activity begins before conscious awareness, it is obvious that it is not the intangible you, but the system, which decides to move even your little finger.
Those numerous banyan trees intuitively interact within your nervous system. They have access to vast coded archives of routines followed, during millions of years of experiences, in achieving varied objectives. Each living moment, the system simultaneously evaluates many strategies for applying these routines to cope with the challenges of life. Specific trees are dedicated to specific strategies. One navigates aggressively. Another follows defensive strategies. Yet another seeks relaxation of the stresses of life through play. Yet another jealously seeks to be the best in its community. Still another is caring and protective of the tribe. The emotions of anger, fear, laughter, envy, or love define some of these focused strategies. Specific trees, (organs in the limbic system, in the mammalian part of your brain), are activated for fear, anger, guilt, or love. Operating as a strategy hub, the limbic system makes swift choices between competing and conflicting strategies to allocate control of the whole system to a single tree.
The chosen tree primes your brain to adjust to its distinct inherited mode of behavior. If you suddenly have to walk a plank five hundred feet above ground, the defensive tree will urgently signal fear. Registering those frantic signals, the strategy hub will switch control to that tree. With fear in control, the tree will stiffen you into immobility, instantly suppressing your normal ability to stroll down a plank. Instead of walking, you would prefer to lie down and hold the sides. Even while fear can debilitate you, love can inspire you to achieve impossible tasks. Your behavior is decided by the tree which takes charge of your system. You are merely a belated observer of the current strategy, whether it be fearful retreat, aggressive attack, or jealous outburst.
You have one advantage. Superior to the ancient marble sized nuclei in the mammalian regions, a giant tree resides in the prefrontal regions of your brain. Originating as an investigative entity with millions of years of evolutionary knowledge and experience, it occupies cortical regions recently augmented to house a new human competence. It is the broadest tree in the network and is logically the fabled "deep wisdom within." Science points to this tree as the seat of your consciousness. Sages from ancient times have sung praises of a control of your mind by this tree. Untouched by emotions and impregnable to the cuts and thrusts of capricious fortune, it exists with the pure perception of a rational intelligence, which sees both success and tragedy as similar situations. It is undisturbed by the worries and fears of its lesser siblings.
The consciousness tree processes your perceptions and its roots deliver the will and views of your spirit. It dispenses the verdicts of your conscience, telling you what is right and wrong. Other siblings in the limbic system deliver the fears and desires of the flesh. Sadly, the gentle will of your spirit competes with a slew of searing emotions. Inherited combinatorial codes are designed to permit a single group of linked emotions, or will, to control your attention, conscious thoughts and movements. If the guilt, or anger of lesser trees dominate, you will then feel guilt, or anger to the exclusion of all else. Those trees make your decisions. Their output patterns produce motor instructions, which direct attention, or movements.
You have only this uniquely subjective awareness of what the system perceives to be the outcome of the intuitive process. It is at the leaves (synapses) of the consciousness tree that electrical impulses enter the boundaries of your ethereal awareness. Combinatorial codes process everything else. You exist in a transcendental information dimension, where neural perceptions of the network touch the leaves of the branches of your consciousness tree. But the great mystery remains that, while nerve impulses course through the whole system, only the neural correlates of consciousness generate your mystic awareness. Could those leaves be a cosmic information interface?
In the website Effective Mind Control Abraham Thomas suggests that, since the human mind is a pattern recognition entity, your rational prefrontal regions can effectively control your mind by inhibiting your lower emotional levels of consciousness.

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

2009-08-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

What does the word inerrancy main? Inerrancy would refer to text that is accurate and totally free of any errors or without any mistakes. Does this sound like any book that you have ever read or have knowledge of. Maybe there is a one sentence book that could fall into this category.
Most books however and even this article has mistakes. If I made a decision to base my life, my entire life and that of my children and grandchildren, I would want to make sure that it was accurate as possible.
Is the Bible, 100%, 90%, or even 50% accurate. Are these stories that were written by people many years ago and the lessons have been helpful but now need to be rewritten.
Does the Bible actually contain the will of God? Some scholars believe that certain sections of the Bible meet this criteria while others do not. How can these people judge if they are not God and how can we believe in this stuff is not true.
If the Bible was inspired by God but written by men, this could actually mean that God had complete control over writing the Bible or does this mean that the man wrote the Bible with gods inspiration. I'm inspired by God daily and often write about it, but don't seem to have enough followers to make it into the biblical Hall of Fame. I'm writing with inspired beliefs right now.
If there are errors in the Bible, how extensive or how many errors are there actually. There are actual stories that can be documented as historical facts. This doesn't mean the rest of the Bible is factual, nor does it mean it is historically inaccurate.
The Bible has some errors in it and some facts that we can prove but leaves us with the question, is this a book from the Creator of the universe or a book written by men, to make us believe, it was written by God and if so why are we still believe being in it. Why do some people read this book and other religious text daily? What motivates them to read holy Scripture regularly but doesn't seem to allow them enough time to find out if they are reading accurate information.
The biggest problem I have with the inerrancy of the Bible is the fact that most people tend to ignore certain truths and cling to their childhood beliefs about religion. If this is not the way or the truth, I would want to start looking for it, instead of following someone else's dreams or religious doctrine.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Religious Education And Fear
Personal Development

The Truth About Jealousy

2009-08-30T04:38:00.001-07:00

This article will not take up too much of your time, but will be very helpful in your daily life. What you are going to read is important in regards to the very controlling and confusing issue that so many women are challenged with every day, for some every single minute of their day. In this particular part of the jealousy series, you will learn what jealousy feels like and just how serious and captivating an emotion it can be. The next article will talk more about dealing with jealousy and how one can actually get control of it.
In the next few minutes you will learn what and how a woman feels when she is stuck in this very real and controlling jealous emotion.
It has been proven that many women are not even able to identify this confusion of thoughts that they are suffering from. A very big part of healing and winning these battles of jealousy is in identifying your enemy. In this situation the enemy is the jealous emotion that results from a much deeper issue that may or may not be obvious to its victim. You will hear more about that in a bit.
Through research and in speaking with many women every day through the womensselfesteem.com, jealousy seems to be a very big issue that has them in such a downward spiral that they cannot find a way to get hold of it.
One of the main causes for this negative emotion, "jealousy" stems from a time in a persons life when an emotional wound is created, which severely attacks their safe world or in other words their feelings of inner securities. These insecurities will seriously affect a woman's self-esteem, which will in turn result in feelings of low self-worth, lack of a self-respect, and mistrust. These emotional wounds can be caused from several types of abuse or trauma such as, physical, psychological or an over-restrictive/dominated childhood. If a child is sexually abused, then that child's security is threatened through the fact that she trusted the abuser and almost always grows up feeling that they were at fault for the abuse. This also rings true in an adult life, especially if the victim truly trusts and sees her abuser as almost," God" like. When a child is psychologically abused, they usually live a life of demeaning name calling or belittling, again this does happen to adults in a trusting relationship. The over-restrictive or dominating upbringing begins at an early childhood and then follows through into adulthood. Each and every one of these abuses that you have just have just heard about are definite cuts that eventually turn into deep emotional wounds.
These wounds will send a person into a prison, a prison of fear and weakness that they will carry throughout their lives if they do not learn to identify them and deal with them and strengthen their inner self. So many women search for answers to solve this scrambled up problem that they can feel inside of themselves, always coming up with a 0. They tend to look outside of themselves and that is the mistake that they are making. So many jealousy issues come from within.
The human brain is set up of two minds, which allows two ways of thinking, one being positive and one being negative. Unfortunately if a person is somehow mistreated or loses a trust as you have heard about earlier through my thoughts, at any time in their lives, it tends to weaken their ability to maintain a balance between the two. This is when they will fall prey to certain triggers that will ignite the fuse that leads to jealousy. You may be wondering what triggers are, they can be anything from a memory of your past, a smell, a persons laughter, a picture, another women, a feeling of being left alone, or even a look from a partner. There are many different types of triggers that will set off negative emotions. In this series of articles you will learn about relationship triggers and how they set off your jealous emotions.
Negative relationship triggers are definite causes, which happen when a relationship fails due to mistrust issues caused by infidelities or pornography addictions by a present or past partner, and are left unresolved, which unfortunately will follow them into every relationship, if she does not stop and take hold of her issues.
Jealousy is not just a word that can be ignored or excused. It is a word to be feared because it is fear that creates this negative feeling. Have you ever noticed how jealousy changes your relationship from happy to devastate in just seconds? It will feel like something that you would not wish on your worst enemy.
The negative emotions that are hidden behind this word jealousy will tear your trust apart letter by letter, and rearrange it until it spells deception, betrayal, even hate. Theses words will turn you into a paranoid living creature, hiding from reality. Reality is truly jealousy's enemy. It avoids its enemy as quickly as it replaces the positive thoughts that you once had in its place. It is strong enough to take control of your mind and direct it into thinking that someone you dearly trust and love has turned into another being, a being that is cheating on you, lusting for another, watching pornography behind your back, lying to you when you ask a direct question, twisting everything you say so that you come out looking like you are delirious and they will laugh at you when you cry out for help. It will tear your guts apart until you feel like you are going to vomit and it will make your head swirl with uncertainty. Jealousy can speed up your breathing quicker than a exercise machine, which in turn will send your heart racing into turmoil. It is a total body trauma. It can make your body break out into a sweat so fast that it will make rain look slow. If you have ever had even one minute of these threatening feelings, you know exactly what I am trying to explain here.
This negative emotion will make your mind fear abandonment, ones biggest fear in a relationship are to be replaced or abandoned. This fear alone is a very strong trigger of jealousy. This fear will imprison you and force you to suffocate or guard what's yours, until that person can no longer be a victim to your jealousy. It will drive you to feel a deep need to control another's thoughts and actions. To allow jealousy in your mind to the point of this kind of control, is to fall victim to an," attachment prison" or an addiction. In this attachment prison you are the weaker element of the partnership or relationship, your need to feel attached will ruin your sense of security and your self-esteem. A very good example of an attachment prison is when you fear with all of your senses to let your partner out of your site, not even to go to the corner store or to work for fear he may see someone that you would deem as a total threat.
Jealousy is like a drug. Once it gets into your veins, you are no longer coherent or independent in your thinking. You have now just become a dependent thinker, dependent on jealousy and its power. To have such a need is also equivalent to an addict needing a drug. Your addiction is your jealousy, your high is the adrenalin that your body creates through its fears, only this is not positive adrenalin; it is a pure negative adrenalin rush. The only antidote to combat this addiction is through positive steps that will strengthen your ability to take back your control and find a freedom from that attachment prison.
Jealousy will not rest until through you, it has created a frustrating and unbearable environment that puts you in the position in your relationship as your own worst enemy. In effect you become the attacker that you have been trying to run from. You are now jealousy! You are the cause of this turmoil that is being thrown to your outside world; an outside world that cannot possibly feel your pain; nor can they help you escape it. But they will look down on you in their confusion. You are all alone in this prison. You are the only one that can feel this pain, the only one that feels this need to control and hide from the world. You will find yourself being driven by negative thoughts every turn you make.
Have you ever been on a negative thought rollercoaster? If you ever have, you will understand what I mean when I say negative thoughts; negative thoughts that will not let you think rationally. If anything, they will work very hard at confusing your positive thinking. You will spend countless hours talking to yourself trying to get out of insecure feelings and you will end up right back feeling the same negative control that jealousy has over you.
Jealousy will rob you of sleep hour after hour. When your mind cannot sleep, it becomes weak and that is exactly what strengthens the negative thoughts that will feed jealousy and keep it controlling you. These thoughts will turn over in your head until they are locked into a place of negative non realities. This is when you begin to believe in things which seem surreal. An example of this non reality is, let's say, you're walking past your partner as he is watching television. A commercial is on. There is a young scantily dressed woman on the commercial. Your immediate reaction is fear. You fear that at that very minute he is lusting her or worse, wishing you were her. As I said non- real negative thoughts = jealousy.
This negative emotion is extremely careful to not allow your self-esteem to strengthen. It will turn your thoughts into a comparison mode instantly when it feels threatened. When it can put your mind into doubt of it's worth, it has total control. It will continue to control and force thoughts of being undeserving, not worthy, unintelligent, boring, self-less, non-appealing, even just plain ugly. It is a true negative powerful and destructive emotion that will not only control your thoughts but will also alter your desire to love. It will make you hide in safe, loveless corners and never allow another person into your heart. To allow a person into your heart would mean that you would be putting yourself at risk of falling victim to jealousy and all the horror that it creates and feeds on. So, you at this stage begin to set up protective walls, separating you from ever being hurt, but also putting a wedge in between you and your partner. Your choice, if you choose to stay in negative thinking, is to live a life alone.
When you have allowed it to weaken your thoughts to the point of delusional thinking, your mind will only see what will feed this negative emotion. All of your rational characteristics will be taken over by irrational thoughts and reactions. Everything that you thought you could control is now uncontrollable. Nothing is what it seems, while this jealousy emotion has you imprisoned behind its bars of negative and low self-worth thoughts.
I truly believe that being controlled by jealousy is similar to being in captivity. Your mind will get so conformed to that space that you're allowing, that you will learn to depend on it. You will feel safe only in that space. All of your knowledge of what's outside of that captive space has been hidden away into a very dark deep place in your mind. It is all you feel that you can control, not even realizing how little control you do have; again equivalent to an addiction.
What captivity and jealousy have in common is that once you allow your mind to be controlled or captivated by the overpowering emotion: jealousy, your mind will react as it would in a captive situation. Both jealousy and captivity hold your mind and reshape it to conform to its negative demands. A person in captivity eventually starts to depend on the person that's holding them captive. You start to depend on the feelings that you're getting from being captive by your jealous emotion. Jealousy becomes you, and you become jealousy. Together the duo team that you have allowed to control your thoughts will now destroy anything that is real. You will now live together in an unreal negative world of deception.
You will live and breathe the feelings of fear, worry and deception. You will not rest one single minute. Your mind will constantly be filled with disorder and accusations and," what ifs". At this point your ability to trust and feel secure with your partner will no longer be available to your mind, to your negative mind that is; the negative mind that you have allowed to take place of your once positive mind. Your innate desire to protect you and your reason for being are now at risk in your mind. You need to control everything and everything about your partner, right down to his every move. You need to take ownership in order to feel safe. With this control, then and only then can you feel safe from jealousy? Again the," attachment prison" takes over. This prison created by jealousy to keep you in its power and control. You're first breathing thoughts are livelihood and your future are based on attachment and acceptance. To lose that would be like dying a very slow death. Under the control of jealousy and its attachment prison you will fight to survive at any cost. You will be on guard even in your sleep, to notice even the simplest sign of abandonment or loss. Hence, the sleepless nights, haunted by the enemy: jealousy, captivated by the attachment prison again.
This is what you already know of jealousy. It is not fun. It is not a happy place. It is however very destructive and it will destroy your life if you continue to allow it to control your thoughts. As I mentioned earlier in this article, your mind has two sides, one being negative and one being positive. You have the ability to choose.
I have brought this part of the jealousy series to you because of how important it is to identify with the truth of jealousy. It is as real as you are sitting there listening to this. There is a way out and a way to free your mind of this prison of negative thoughts. Through my next article on "The Truth of Jealousy", you will learn steps and strategies that will help to strengthen your mind so that you may win the battle of negative thinking.
dorothyl@womensselfesteem.com

Surviving As A Contractor In California

2009-08-30T03:24:00.001-07:00

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

Why Companies Need Motivation During Tough Economic Times

2009-08-29T21:12:00.001-07:00

Companies need motivation, especially during these tougher economic times. Senior management must find ways to motivate employees in order to have their people perform at high levels. This is also true for associations and their members.
Motivation is required for any company employee at any level but is even more crucial for those in roles that have more direct consequences on revenues. An obvious example would be the company sales force. Another is customer service staff since they have direct interaction with customers. Dealing with complaining customers day in and day out can be a very demotivating. Production teams can also fall into this category because overall quality is impacted by the efforts of assembly people.
During booming economic periods, many companies made sure that there were incentive programs to help motivate employees. They were very aware that if some employees were not happy, they could easily jump ship to other companies. This was particularly true for valuable positions of high demand in the market. I've seen this type of jumping many times with top pharmaceutical sales representatives during my career and quite often, these high performers would end up with a direct competitor. Competitors love to snap up high performers much like professional sports teams do.
Some senior management might think that because we are in tougher times, the risk of losing valuable employees to competitors would be much lower. There might be a perception that most people would be happy just to have a job during times of recession and layoffs. There might be a lower emphasis to motivate employees since there probably won't be much jumping around to other companies.
However, this may not be true. The security of a job is not the only motivating factor among many employees, particularly younger ones. Even though it's true that people may stay with a company without much motivation from senior management, it doesn't mean that they will be motivated to perform their jobs at high levels. Quality will suffer as a result. This is why companies still need motivation during both good and bad times.
Of course, it is great to have inspiring company leaders and managers to motivate their staff. But messages from the same internal people over and over again can grow stale. This is why external motivational speakers can be such a plus during company meetings. External speakers can motivate company audiences in different ways and angles that employees have not been exposed to. It becomes a fresh source of motivation for the company. External motivational speakers can use examples that are not directly connected to a company's business but still make them relevant for the audience.
Having been on both sides as a motivational speaker and as an audience member, I can say that the best way for a company to motivate its staff is to bring in an external motivational speaker to address its people and then have senior management regularly reinforce those key messages made by the speaker. This will help employees keep motivated since in order to be successful, companies need to make sure that their people are motivated on a regular basis over time. Motivation is like vitamins, as we all need regular doses in order to keep performing at high levels.
Clint Cora is a motivational speaker, author and martial arts karate world champion. His book, "The Life Champion In You", is about how to overcome challenges and achieve life success. It is one man's journey from personal tragedy to becoming a karate world champion. More information about his speaking programs, books, videos, articles on motivation and success can be found at http://www.clintcora.com

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Repair

2009-08-29T20:02:00.001-07:00

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

The Origin of the Master Key System by Charles F Haanel

2009-08-29T13:40:00.001-07:00

I received an email from a reader named Derek L. in which he wrote -
Thanks for your great posts/blog. It's refreshing to see someone telling the truth and not selling more snake oil.
I do have a question...
I'm intrigued by the lineage of thoughts relating to this subject. Since you have a lot of exposure to this material I'm wondering if you have any ideas about where Haanel got his original concepts?
I am often asked that question because there is a lot of mystery surrounding Haanel and his perennial work, The Master Key System. Was he a part of a Masonic conspiracy? Did he receive his knowledge through arcane means? Someone even theorized about some Russian wizard of sorts who shared his knowledge with Haanel.
The history is quite interesting, but more blase than some of the stories would lead you to believe. The Master Key System must be looked at within the context of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The New Thought philosophy was in full swing with many books and magazines publishing the new beliefs for a seemingly ravenous audience. Based on Christian Science as espoused by Mary Baker Eddy, the Christian Scientists and many New Thought-ers held firmly to the belief about what Jesus Christ said about the powers available to each and every person.
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (John 14:11-13)
Thus, with enough faith and belief, one could perform miracles as Christ did. Even a cursory reading of The Master Key System would reveal to someone that this was something in which Haanel believed deeply. That being said, the monotheistic ideas that Haanel espouses is more than likely derived from his participation in Freemasonry - while the Masons do not define their God, their only prerequisite is a belief in one God. It is then through this God that miracles and extreme human potential can occur.
Before going further into this, it is worth pointing out that there were at least two other publications that emphasize the words "The Master Key" prior to the Twentieth Century. The actual phrase has been used since the 17th Century by the Freemasons and for a publication in the 18th century - Hiram, or the Master Key to the Door of Freemasonry, published in 1760. Another use of the phrase can be found in Madame Helena Blavatsky's famous (or should that be infamous) 600-page Isis Unveiled, with its sub-title A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology, published in 1877. One shouldn't underestimate the popularity and influence of Blavatsky and those who followed her teachings - the Theosophists.
In the Twentieth Century, two authors released books with "Master Key" in the title. The first comes from L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz fame, and is an early science fiction novel. It was called The Master Key and subtitled An Electrical Fairy Tale. It told of the adventures Rob and the Demon of Electricity. This was published in 1901.
Another book came out at around the same time Haanel was working on his correspondence school. Its advertisement showed a book and a man reading a book inside an hour glass. The advertisement read:
The Master Key ~ Reveals Things You Never Thought Possible. The Hour Glass of Success. You Will Never get Another Book Like "The Master key".
It was written by L. W. de Laurence and published by The de Laurence Company of Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1914. To quote a few lines from it will show obvious similarities with Haanel's The Master Key System.
"THE MASTER KEY is divided into Six parts: contains Thirty-seven full Chapters embracing Thirty-five Lessons of graduated difficulty covering Forty individual numbered Exercises in which the fundamental principles of Concentration and Mental Discipline are fully explained."
L. W. de Laurence, whose full name was Lauron William de Laurence, was an American author, publisher, and owner of a supply mail order house in Chicago. He has been accused of plagiarism and the illegal publication of various occult works. The number of publications by this man seems to be considerable.
De Laurence was active at the same time as Haanel and was in fact only two years younger than him. De Laurence, who was born in 1868 and died in 1936, had connections with AMORC. It is unclear whether there was any connection between the two authors.
This then brings us to the main influence of Charles F. Haanel's: the New Thought Movement.
When you read Haanel's The Master Key System, it isn't long before he starts to use terms that can be cross-referenced. To be fair to Haanel, many quotes he uses have nothing to do with the New Thought Movement. He was a man of his time and a well-read one. He used references from eminent people of the 19th Century and talks about the inventions of that time and the early years of the 20th Century. Other quotes come from the Bible but all are rather enigmatic and symbolic which could point to being influenced by New Thought writers, the Christian Scientists, the Freemasons, or the Rosicrucians. There are several hints of a possible knowledge of Hinduism, but it is unclear of Haanel's exact knowledge of that subject as references like Pranic Energy or Pranic Ether may be from the Rosicrucian teachings or possibly, and more likely, Theosophy.
There are several words and phrases that may be of interest:
"The Great Architect of the Universe"
"Secret Place of the Most High"
"Universal Mind"
the "I"
"The Law of Attraction"
The "Great Architect of the Universe" is a phrase often used to represent God or Supreme Being by Christians, Freemasons, and Rosicrucians. It may go back to the Middle Ages or beyond. Thomas Aquinas used a similar phrase but with "Grand" instead of "Great".
"Secret Place of the Most High" can be found in the Bible in Psalm 91:1 -
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
The "Universal Mind" would seem to come from Friedrich Von Schelling and was expanded on by Georg W. F. Hegel. Ralph Waldo Emerson also made use of this term.
The concept of the "I" also seems to have its origins in the works of early German philosophers. It would seem that "I" was the first principle of Johann Gottlieb Fichte's Wissenschaftslehre - "Doctrine of Science".
The phrase that is on the tip of the tongues of many today is "The Law of Attraction". Like the other terms used by Haanel, this was probably not of his own inventing. It seems to have come to light first in the works of William Walker Atkinson (1862 - 1932) and particularly in Thought Vibration or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World published by The New Thought Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, USA, 1906. Though the phrase itself is much older, its meaning became somewhat different with Atkinson and Haanel.
The Law of Attraction also appears in the syllabus of the S.R.I.A. - The Society of Rosicrucians. However, it is not known how old this syllabus is and it is likely that it is quite modern. The S.R.I.A. was formed in 1909 with the idea of teaching to the general public rather than Masons as with previous Rosicrucian groups. Some other aspects of the S.R.I.A. syllabus bears similarities to Haanel's works. However, it may be that both this syllabus and Haanel's ideas are from an older source - or a just coincidence. It is unknown which came first.
Ultimately it may be possible to trace the idea of the Law of Attraction back to certain phrases that were put into the mouth of Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Bible.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8, King James Version)
Another book that cannot be ignored was published in 1908 and was called The Kybalion: Hermetic Philosophy by Three Initiates and published by The Yogi Publication Society, Masonic Temple, Chicago, Illinois, USA. It cannot be ignored that this book may have played a part in the development of Haanel's The Master Key System. It certainly wasn't a collection of lessons and exercises, but the wording throughout this book is remarkably similar to Hannel's publications. At one point the phrase "Mental Chemistry" is used. And though there is nothing in the title remotely similar to Haanel's work, the phrase "Master Key" is used in the Introduction and several times in the body of the book. The Kybalion also delves into the power of thought.
...(T)he Hermetic Philosophy is the only Master-Key which will open all the doors of Occult teachings.... One of the old Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago: 'He who grasps the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on the Path to mastery.' These words are as true today as at the time first written. Without this Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and the student knocks in vain at the many doors of the Temple.... The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open.
It is believed that The Kybalion is not some ancient document but was written by William W. Atkinson and the other "Initiates" have been guessed at as Paul Foster Houses and Mabel Collins. Atkinson was certainly active in the years leading up to the publication of The Master Key System and it is hard to believe that Haanel would not have known of either the man or his works. Master Key Arcana includes short pieces from the writings of several members of the New Thought Movement, including William W. Atkinson, James Allen, Florence Scovel Shinn, Henry Drummond and Phineas P. Quimby.
Whether Haanel was influenced by Atkinson, or any other members of this Movement, though, is another thing all together and it is difficult to be sure what his sources were.
Much of Haanel's life is a mystery. Not many records were kept or preserved and the lack of many living descendants who knew him add to us not knowing much about him. C. W. Evans-Gunther researched and examined Haanel's life as much as possible. His thorough biography can be found at www.haanel.com.
Researching Haanel's influences and their play on his works is somewhat easier. As was noted at the beginning of this article, when the times in which Haanel lived are examined, you can see the influences and how Haanel used those influences to shape his thoughts and his works.
In the time period in which Haanel lived, the self-help/personal development movement (although not called by those terms) was quite large and actually very similar to today's scene. As the saying goes, the times may have changed but things remain the same. By some counts, Haanel was a somewhat important player, although he never had the infamy of Blavatsky or a few others of the time.
It was all of these elements (at least) that came together in Haanel's mind to form one of the greatest books about personal development.
[Please note: This article was researched by C.W. Evans-Gunther. He is also responsible for writing the majority of it. Additional information was added by me. I am also responsible for additional editing and any mistakes that one might find. More information can be found at www.haanel.com.]
Anthony R. Michalski/Master Key Coaching
http://www.masterkeycoaching.com

Dangers Using Wood Stair Cleats - New Stair Construction

2009-08-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

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

Stop Stuttering - Help - How to Stop Stammering and Stuttering Easily

2009-08-29T06:18:00.001-07:00

If you want to stop stuttering, help is necessary. Stuttering or stammering is a speech disorder where you repeat certain syllables or sounds while you are talking. It gives people the impression that you are uncomfortable in the situation or unsure of yourself. They can quite literally hear the fear in your voice. For this reason, many people want to quit their stammering and end the problems that it creates. A stutter is involuntary and as such it cannot be stopped by reading a troubleshooting guide or FAQ, nor can it be stopped by participating in tutorials. Instead of a tutorial, a person with a stammer needs to find another way of stopping the problem. While there is no anti - stammer medications that you can go to the shop and pick up, the solution is almost as easy as that. If you suffer from stuttering, self help and support are necessary to overcome it and hypnosis is the most effective way of achieving that goal.
How Do I Know If I Stammer?
It is often hard for people to hear their own speech imperfections. They have likely become so habitual that they are hard to recognize. However, if you routinely draw out sounds within a word or repeat syllables or sounds then you might have problem. The problem is often first recognized by a parent or teacher during one's childhood but not always.
Why Is My Speech Impaired?
Scientists and doctors are not sure what causes this particular speech impairment. It might have something to do with language development in the brain or it might be a result of teasing or low self confidence during childhood. The cause is not as important as recognizing that you have a problem and fixing it. The solution to the problem is not at all dependent on the initial cause.
Is My Speech Holding Me Back?
If you have a speech impairment such as stammering it is likely holding you back whether you are in school or in the workforce. Other people hear uncertainty and anxiety in your voice and make the often erroneous conclusion that you do not know what you are talking about.
Now, imagine what the difference would be in how others perceive you if you spoke clearly and confidently. People would not be distracted by your speech and would instead listen to the words that you were saying. You would be more respected and better able to communicate your point of view which often will get you what you want.
Do You Want to Stop? Stuttering Help is Possible
Self hypnosis recordings can help you end your speech impairment once and for all. The recordings target your subconscious and change the message that your brain has been sending your voice for most of your life.
Hypnosis is a Good Solution
Hypnosis is a noninvasive solution that will not cause any side effects. The recordings allow you to change a life long habit quickly and from the comfort of your own home. You will not have to endure countless and expensive sessions with speech pathologists or psychologists. If you want to stop stuttering, help through hypnosis is possible and often the most effective method available.
J. Seymour is a writer with Self Help Recordings. 'Stop Stuttering' is an excellent recording by Steve G Jones, who offers twenty years of experience through these recordings. To find out more, visit Stop Stuttering Help. A range of other self hypnosis products can be found here - Stuttering Self Help. All of the recordings on Self Help Recordings are backed by an impressive sixty day guarantee, so to find out more simply click on the links.

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

2009-08-29T05:23:00.001-07:00

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.
Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.
How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.
As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.
Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.
Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.
This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.
There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.
Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.
Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.
I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Home Improvement
Are Christians Really Interested

How to Easily Cure Any Addiction Or Phobia With Self Help Hypnosis and Mind Control Techniques

2009-08-28T22:50:00.001-07:00

Self Help Hypnosis can be used to very effectively help you with a number of problems that you are experiencing in your daily life. By using mind control techniques and self hypnosis audio you will be able to alleviate phobias, addictions or any kind of social problems you may be experiencing. The process of self hypnosis has many kinds of advantages.
Its an effective way to plants ideas and suggestions into your subconscious mind that will have a great influence over the actions in your daily life. You will be able to re-train your mind to steer away from negative behaviors. Just think about all you could achieve by using these effective mind control techniques.
Self hypnosis can help you with:
Curing phobias such as fear of heights, fear of the dentist, social phobias or any other situation where you feel vulnerable.
Easier to overcome addictions such as smoking, or help you to lose weight or any other things you need help with to stop doing, but where your mind powers are lacking.
Hypnotize yourself and get those hours of sleep you desperately need. Your Insomnia problems will be a thing of the past.
Learn how to train your mind to relieve stress, tension, worry or anything that is painful in your life
So as you can see there is many benefits of using Self Help Hypnosis. These mind control techniques will be bring an enormous positive experience to your daily life. Using self hypnosis audio you can achieve the results you seek while resting comfortably in your sofa.
If You want to find a Solution to your problem Right Now, all you need to do is Click HERE
Visit This Online Hypnosis Site that offers a ton a resources on anything hypnosis related. Dont wait for the solution to your problems when you can get the answers right now!

Developing Wealth Building Habits

2009-08-28T21:43:00.001-07:00

If you want to be successful, you need mentors or in other words find people that have succeeded. These people can include the ultra rich like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but don't forget about the people around you that have created good wealth building habits.
Some of the people have great advice and will need to be listened to very intently, while others need to be put on a list and never spoken to again. If you're going to be developing wealth building habits, you're going to need some advice from wealthy people. Let me make myself clear, when I'm talking about developing wealth building habits, I'm not talking about spiritual, knowledge, Biblical or religious wealth. I'm talking about making money, as much money as you desire or feel you need.
Wealth building habits start with you. Ask yourself this question "how bad do I want or desire wealth?" Really, really, really bad or are you the kind of person that would like to be rich, but that's as far as it goes. Developing any of these habits does not include sleeping in until 11 o'clock in the morning and then complaining the rest of the day about your finances.
Bill Gates used to work 16 hours a day. How many days a week did he do that? These are the questions you're going to find the answers to. If you're interested in making $50 million, you need to find someone who can teach you, how to make $50 million.
It won't be necessary to contact Warren Buffett but I would advise you to gather as much information about him as possible. Wealth building habits start with learning about wealthy people. If they get up at four o'clock in the morning and read the newspaper until six o'clock, then exercise for 30 minutes and start working at seven o'clock, you need to start doing this also. Developing good wealth building habits over time are what most successful businessman and women have been doing for years. Study their habits and start changing yours.
If you do something every day, it will usually become a habit within 30 days.
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
Greg is currently working on a self help video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Nothing Will Be Impossible

A Review of "Transformational Life Coaching" - A Book For Mentors and Mentees Everywhere

2009-08-28T15:11:00.001-07:00

There are many different indicators in today's world demonstrating that humanity has reached a new level of awareness and appreciation for its own existence. If we look at the shifts in the types of occupations being pursued (and sought after), the abundance of life coaches and personal development mentors is like a mirror held up to our collective psyche. It seems to say that life is a precious experience, and we simply want to be sure that we're present for it in every way possible. To coin a somewhat overused phrase: We seek to live authentically.
In 1977, long before having a "life coach" was something commonly discussed at Starbucks, Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott published her first book on the subject and began a career that eventually, would find her labeled, "The Mother of Coaching." New Species (published in 1978) was to become the first of many books Dr. Scott would write on personal development. The long list includes, "Negaholics," a series of 'Rules' books - including "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules," and her most recent work, "Transformational Life Coaching."
Transformation Life Coaching throws open the doors to Life Coaching School and invites us all inside. Although written for those who either are, or espouse to become, mentors in the transformational movement, this book is an accessible "how to" for anyone. It welcomes all those who have spent time seeking to develop a better appreciation with their own life and how they intend to live it. Chapter 1 literally outlines what to look for and how to choose a coach, offering twenty-five important questions to discuss during the interview process.
In this book, Dr. Scott has created a virtual concordance of information, challenges for personal thought patterns and judgment, practical exercise and reference tools to use over and over. Embracing many global teachings, Dr. Scott often refers to the different chakras, or energy centers, as tools to release the ego and be of maximum service to others. As she explains, "You are in the process of opening up and taking control of your power," and by deeply understanding each energy center, we will be able to literally, "open and close each chakra at will."
Imagine being able to consciously open the fifth chakra (which controls speech and communication) in order to more fully participate in our marriage or work relationships - or being able to close down our first chakra, which embodies survival and security, so that we might be more risky and daring in our professional roles or fearlessly take on new adventures in life.
Dr. Scott has spent most of her professional life traveling the world and sharing her expertise on personal empowerment and development at every turn. On her website she shares that, "Writing a book is not done with the wave of a wand. It takes time to reflect and soul search for the universal truths related to each developmental phase." These same words could definitely be applied to the very journeys that Dr. Scott encourages us to make with our lives.
What we know about coaching is that it is not only sought after, but it is necessary in today's fast-paced world of endless challenges. From corporate teams to softball teams, being coached and coaching others on how to live as appreciatively and authenticity as possible is a proactive way to turn roadblocks into paving stones on your road of success.
Dr. Success (aka Andrea Goeglein, Ph.D.)
http://www.ServingSuccess.com
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
(702) 243-4040

Surviving As A Contractor In California

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

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

Affirmations Don't Work, and How I Finally Got That They Do!

2009-08-28T07:38:00.001-07:00

If you've been around the EFT world for any length of time at all, you'll know it's generally believed that affirmations don't work. Until now that is, with this powerful new work by the masterful metaphysician Dr Sylvia Hartmann, called "Power Affirmations".
I like Sylvia Hartmann's approach to life and healing in general, so when I received an email about her new book I thought I'd have a read of her sales page anyway, even though I'm fairly convinced that affirmations pretty much don't work. Why they don't work is that we all have subconscious but powerful limiting beliefs, or "yes-buts", that trigger an internal argument or discomfort when we make statements that are clearly not true.
But, I trust Sylvia and I know she would not be wasting her time or mine writing about something that just doesn't work. Still, I did think - "What, Sylvia's writing about affirmations? Why?" - before I actually clicked on to her site. And I liked what I read, enough to decide that $20 wasn't a huge risk if it turned out to be more of the same old affirmation stuff, and I bought the book.
At just 40 pages "Power Affirmations" is a quick read in Sylvia's very conversational easy-read style.
Now, I have read a lot about positive affirmations, because part of me wants it to be true that making clear statements about how I want to experience life, will be enough to make it happen. For at least fifteen years I've studied many books and DVDs about affirmations, attended lectures, listened to the audios, run a subliminal program on my computer, and in more recent years even joined a membership site or two, all in the quest to find the key that would unlock the door that I would step through to finally "get it"!
But I never did get it. Everything I discovered seemed like so much soul-searching was required, and constant focus, and it was all something I would put off actually doing until I had more time. And the EFT explanation for WHY I didn't get it made sense; all my yes-buts were getting in the way. I've diligently worked on finding my yes-buts and clearing them, and I know there's a long way to go still.
I also know I've got to "feel" the result I want, because charging it up with emotion makes the affirmation more powerful. I teach people how to process their emotions, I know how to process my own, I GET the emotion stuff. But I just couldn't get connected to the big house or the flashy car or really any other hook. So I also couldn't visualize any of it - very frustrating!
But Dr Hartmann taught me, in two pages, how to put the emotion and the pictures in to anything! It is so simple, and so clear, why didn't I see it before? And that's what I love about her teaching style - she understands where most people trip over the basics, shows you how to step over and up, and then takes you deeply and easily into how and more importantly WHY to create your own affirmations.
She also taught a simple amazingly-powerful way to completely nix the yes-buts. I tried it and felt the most incredible shift in my energy, that was really unexpected. I'll be using it every day, easily and seamlessly!
She also covers things I've not read elsewhere, like meta affirmations and affirmation cascades, and her own unique Vega Pattern.
If you're looking for a book that gives you lists of affirmations about any particular subject, this is not the book for you. There are no lists. Also, Sylvia Hartmann has long explored the evolution of consciousness using the language of magic. This makes sense to me, but it might not make sense to you.
For just 40-some pages, this is an information-packed ebook. More importantly, it's an action-packed ebook, with teaching and tools that actually work! At the end of Power Affirmations, all I can say about it is: I get it. Finally!
If you want to finally "get" how affirmations can and will work for you, and how you can powerfully transform anything about your life, get your clarity from http://www.affirmationsdontwork.info.

Window Header Framing Problems

2009-08-28T06:42:00.001-07:00

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

Get Your Goals Going With 7 Proven Steps

2009-08-27T23:05:00.001-07:00

Are you tired of your dreams being just wishful thinking or unattainable fantasies? One major difference between a dreamer and a successful person is the ability to achieve goals. The dreamer just dreams while the successful person puts their dreams into action. Goals are the blueprint to making your dreams a reality.
Get your goals going by following these 7 proven steps:
1. Determine your goals. Establishing clear goals lay the foundation of ultimately achieving them. Put your goals on paper. Be specific. When dreams are too vague, establishing goals becomes difficult. Have a clear vision of what you want the result to be. Ask yourself, "What do I really want?" Determining what goals you really want to accomplish will make the steps to achieving them easier to define.
2. Make a Commitment. You must give 100% to seeing your goals all the way through. Adopt a no excuses approach. Be honest with yourself. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals? Are you willing to devote your time, energy, and finances if necessary? Are you ready to make sacrifices? Is your dream worth fighting for? If the desire is strong enough, you will be able to stay on track and let nothing derail you. There is no need to move forward until you can commit.
3. Plan of Action. Now that your goals are clear, you must begin to put them in motion. Develop a plan of action- specific steps that lead to accomplishing your goals. It is amazing how many people stop at just determining their goals. Success is about doing, it is about action. Really focus on your goals one at a time and ask yourself, "What actions do I need to do to accomplish it?" Identify the outcome you want, and decide what steps are needed to move forward.
4. Give Yourself Deadlines. Look at your plan of action and determine at least 3 weekly tasks that will bring you closer to achieving each of your goals. If your goal is to lose 25 lbs. in 6 months, your action tasks could be to join a gym, make an appointment with a nutritionist, and remove all junk food from kitchen. Choose your deadline and stick to it- no excuses, no matter what. You must determine tasks and deadlines on a weekly basis. You can also consider what you want to accomplish in a year, 6 months, and 1 month to help establish your weekly tasks.
5. Get prepared for roadblocks. Once you are on the road to success, you can expect some bumps along the way. It will happen, so you might as well get prepared. What has stopped you before? Chances are those same obstacles will try to stop you again. Learn ways to blast the barriers that keep you from your dreams. Turn negative thoughts into positive ones, surround yourself with supportive people, don't just quit if you can't finish a task, read at the library if you are too distracted at home. Do whatever it takes to keep you on your mission. Always remember your best protection is to keep your eye on the prize. When discouragement comes, close your eyes and visualize achieving your goal. Take it a step further and really feel that moment of victory.
6. Get support. There is nothing like the support of a trusted friend who is willing to help you. They can keep you on track to achieving your goals. They will hold you accountable and ask you how you are doing with your weekly tasks. Knowing that you have to "check-in" with someone is a huge motivator. Go over your goals, plan of action, and weekly tasks with them. You can also do activities together. Determine and agree on how best they can help you. They will be your cheerleader- always rooting for you to win. Establish some time with them at least once a week. Let your friend know where you are and what needs to be achieved for the week. Share with them any successes and disappointments along the way.
7. Celebrate the small victories. It is easy to be discouraged when it takes time to achieve your goals. Experience the beauty and victory in accomplishing all the smaller tasks that lead to your ultimate desire. Celebrating the small successes is a great way to remain motivated and inspired.
You will get your goals going by following these 7 proven steps. Momentum is powerful. Goal setting is one of the most effective tools to transforming your life. So take the necessary action now and make your goals come true today. There is nothing as rewarding, exhilarating, and satisfying as seeing your goals become a reality.
Now get those goals going!
Allyson Spellman- "The Breakthrough Muse" is a life coach and an expert on breakthroughs to success that motivate and inspire individuals worldwide. Her proven techniques for elevating personal and professional achievement refresh, recharge, and renew the way one can achieve greatness, no matter what! To receive her free special report visit http://allysonspellman.com/Test/gen-step1.php

The Bayou Doughnut

2009-08-27T15:16:00.001-07:00

New Orleans is famous for many things including jazz music, and Mardi Gras to name a few. There are so many attractions in the bayou that it can be hard to try all the things you want in the short time you are there. Many people have to take several, or even dozens of trips to get their New Orleans adventures accomplished. One stop everyone should make when visiting New Orleans is the bakery. Not any bakery though, it has to be one that sells beignets, the sweet baked treat that is part bread, part doughnut.
The beignet has been a staple of New Orleans cuisine for decades, but it hasnt yet enjoyed widespread consumption. In fact, it is a major challenge to find beignets for purchase outside Louisiana. There are several places around the U.S. that sell beignets, however they are specialty stores that are only located in major cities and have small selections of these baked treats.
Absolutely the best way to enjoy a beignet is to travel to New Orleans and go to a local bakery which sells them. There is a tradition in New Orleans to eat beignets with sweet coffee, that the French call caf. The combination of beignets and sweet coffee is as delightful as it is filling. The beignet is deceiving in its looks as a light pastry; it is actually sweet bread that can fill you up in no time at all. The beignet is a world famous pastry with little sales outlets outside of New Orleans, so it should be a must on anyones to-do list when visiting New Orleans.
Many websites offer beignet cookbooks, and recipes online, however nothing tastes better then the real thing. Maybe its something in the water, or maybe its just the fresh caf that is brewed to go along side the beignet, but something about eating it in the soul city makes it all the more scrumptious.

Mary Magdalene and Spirituality - Movie Video

2009-08-27T13:57:00.001-07:00

This video has more information on Mary Magdalene, great video on advanced spiritual thinking.
If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.
Living With What If In Your Life

The Chinese Dragon Tortoise

2009-08-27T04:08:00.001-07:00

Dragons and tortoises are two of the most powerful symbols in Chinese mythology. The Dragon itself stands for many things. Wealth, fertility, positive energy and immortality are but a few of the symbolic meanings. The Dragon is a positive influence, most often a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the fire-breathing evil dragons as portrayed in Western mythology.
The tortoise represents longevity, of steadfast effort, of deliberate action that inevitably leads to success. The combination of the Dragon and Tortoise combines the qualities of both animals into a potent symbol of success and longevity.
The Dragon tortoise is portrayed with the head of a dragon and the body of a tortoise. There is usually a small turtle on the back of the tortoise shell, and the dragon tortoise is standing on a pile of coins and precious metal ingots. There is very often a coin in the dragon's mouth.
This symbol is used in Feng Shui for decorating homes and offices. Because of the incredible energy this symbol represents, it is recommended that it not be placed in any room of rest, such as a bedroom. Have the painting or figurine of the dragon tortoise hanging on or near the east wall of the room it is used in. Any area that is used as an office is a good place for a dragon tortoise. Also any area that creative work or research is done is a good place for one.
Whether represented in a painting, or a figurine of wood, metal, crystal or stone, the Dragon Tortoise symbolizes good fortune and longevity.
Alan Beggerow is a free lance writer. Visit his writing services website, Ghostwriter, at http://www.ghostwriterboo.blogspot.com

Video on Mary Magdalene

2009-08-27T02:30:00.001-07:00

This video has more information on Mary Magdalene, great video on advanced spiritual thinking.
If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.
Living With Out Limits

Grandparents Getting Custody of Their Grandchildren Becoming More Frequent

2009-08-26T16:56:00.001-07:00

Do you have an unmarried teen daughter who is pregnant and intends to keep the child? Chances are she may also believe that her teenage boyfriend is going to marry her and they will live happily ever after like in the movies. The unfortunate reality is that grandparents getting custody of the child will more likely be the outcome. That means you will be parenting your child and grandchild at the same time.
Unwanted teen pregnancies cause tremendous life changes for the teen mother and her parents as well. Regardless of what the teen thinks, the reality of raising a baby is profoundly difficult in the best of circumstances. The teen mother usually has to forgo her education causing her to take menial jobs to support her child. Often a teen mother will become rebellious and not tend to her parental duties at all.
Grandparents getting custody of the grandchild may be the only way that the baby has a chance to survive without social services stepping in and moving the child to foster care. As a grandparent you may feel that you have failed in your parenting of your child and have a tremendous amount of guilt as a result. Try not to be too hard on yourselves because unintended teen pregnancies happen all the time.
The best thing you can do if you have to parent your child and grandchild at the same time is to say to yourself that as your child matures she will probably realize that her motherly duties will become a priority in her life. At sixteen or seventeen all she wants to do is hang out with her other teen peers. When she starts to become an adult her priorities will also change.
To find more information on grandparent child custody issues with a teen daughter visit Grandparents Getting Custody or GrandparentsCustodyRights.com.

Is the Bible Repulsive or True - Movie Video

2009-08-26T15:10:00.001-07:00

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

Who is the Dark Angel?

2009-08-26T04:34:00.001-07:00

Sometimes in metaphysics you will come across the phrase "dark angel." There are many interpretations of what the dark angel means when it comes to the psychic arts. Some of them are more psychological and other is more cultural.
The most common interpretation of the dark angel is Lucifer. Lucifer is one of the original favorites of the Archangels in heaven and he fell from grace. In essence, he was kicked out of heaven for misbehavior, but got to keep his angel wings. You often see depictions of Lucifer in angel art. He is one of the foremost players when it comes to the religious angels mentioned in the bible. Of course, if you are a practicing Satanist, you will never be asking your self if Lucifer is "angels or devil." The angel falls from heaven myth is absolutely crucial when it comes to studying the pantheons of angels and also drawings of angels. Lucifer is also one of the original natural angels, which is why he so often appears in angel art.
The feminine version of the dark angel of love is Lilith. Lilith is often described a first wife of Adam that is not mentioned in the Bible. As she was not made from man's rib, she became corrupted and was thrown out of the Garden of Eden. She is not mentioned in the Bible, but she is honored among some sects and even feminist sects that see her as the original earth mother. She is one of the amour angels in the sense that she symbolizes seduction.
Yet another interpretation of the dark angel is as a description of a lover. This could be a karmic relationship that is somehow troublesome or bad for you. The dark angel of love is someone in your life who you cannot stop thinking about or becoming obsessed about. It is the relationship that you are unable to handle or that causes you great grief. If you are a man, this dark angel is no doubt the "Lilith" in your life.
However, in contemporary times, most of us know the Dark Angel as a television series directed by James Cameron that ran from 2000 to 2002 on Fox television. The Dark Angel character was a genetically enhanced super soldier played by the actress Jessica Alba. She escapes from an oppressive government institution and trains to be an assassin with eleven other genetically enhanced human beings. Originally, this dark angel was supposed to be a film, but James Cameron could not get a film deal to support it. It is important culturally as the character paved the way for several more superwoman type characters.
Yet another common meaning of dark angel is the concept that it simply describes the dark side of you that succumbs to temptation. It is your shadow side that insists on not being connected to the light.
SpiritNow.com is the new website of Sylvia Browne - featuring content on psychics, astrology, angels, dreams, feng shui, and love. Visit SpiritNow.com today for a free psychic reading.

Video on Mary Magdalene

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

This video has more information on Mary Magdalene, great video on advanced spiritual thinking.
If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.
Suggestions For Lifes Problems

Love by Leo Buscaglia

2009-08-25T09:21:00.001-07:00

"To cheat oneself out of love is the most terrible deception; it is an eternal loss for which there is no reparation, either in time or in eternity." - Kierkegaard
This is a book simply about LOVE. "A learned phenomenon".
It is not deeply philosophical nor complicated. It is a simple, easy read that is intended to be shared not just in words, but in actions. It is about daring to expose oneself. To be vulnerable and to give without reservation or expectation.
I picked up this book in January 1984 and carried it and read it over and over through the years. It brought me great joy and great hope during a time where I was young and feeling rebellious, invincible and strong. At 22, I felt as though this was the greatest book I had ever read. It was the right time in my life for me to explore, to learn and understand what love meant to me. While, as far as I know, it never won any awards, I loved it then and I still love it now with it's yellowed and curled pages.
Now about Karma; although he does not use that word in the book, he does discuss the way love gives back when we kindly give to others. How what we do in this world will be mirrored back to us.
Leo was a University professor by profession. He had an idea for a new class to add to the curriculum. He wanted to introduce a university class on "LOVE". When he pitched his idea to the dean, and with much discussion it was accepted, (after much criticism), but only if he did it on his own time, without load credit and without a salary. The idea seemed ridiculous to the other professors. He ignored the ridiculing and forged ahead with this great idea. The idea was not embraced by many students but slowly and steadily, enrollment increased. It had to be eventually capped at 100 students.
These were students of all ages interested in "Love Class". They shared ideas, feeling and observations that was relevant to the human condition. Although they were never really able to define love, one student did come up with a wonderful explanation:
"I find love much like a mirror. When I love another, he becomes my mirror and I become his, and reflection in each other's love we see infinity!"
There are those that dismiss love as a nave romantic concept while others find love all encompassing and the greatest, deepest feeling that is meant to be given away.
Have a read and you decide.
I loved this book.
2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano
Silvana is a well respected Interior Decorator, International Feng Shui Expert and the Principal of the Award Winning Home & Life Design Firm: Blue Avalon. Along with her years of study in Home Decor and Feng Shui, she has the unique ability of being able create luxurious interiors with balance and optimum energy flow thus creating a beautiful environment of positive energy, balance and harmony.
Silvana also devotes her time to Holistic Practise at the Dove Spa, Canada. She is a well respected Reiki Master and Certified in Reflexology. Her passion for Universal Life Force, Holistic Therapy and Feng Shui encompasses various forms of positive living through energy in the environment, mind, body and spirit.
Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal; a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe, log onto our website today at http://www.blueavalon.com and you will receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!
Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home...Balance for your life http://www.blueavalon.com

Change Your Attitude - Zig Ziglar Video

2009-08-25T09:15:00.001-07:00

Zig Ziglar explains how to change your attitude and how it affects certain things in your life.
Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Accomplishing Your Goals

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-08-20T04:35:00.001-07:00

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

Bathroom Faucet Leaks

2009-08-19T23:12:00.001-07:00

Faucet leaks can waste more water than you think. Have you ever put a cup or bowl underneath a leaky faucet and actually seen how much water is wasted. Leaky faucets should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent the waste of water in your home. Water is a precious resource and should be used wisely.
One slow drip from the faucet can waste over 5 gallons of water per day. If you think that's not a big deal, let me put it in perspective for you. 5 gallons of water per day equals 35 gallons per week, times 52 weeks in a year, that equals over 1800 gallons of water, and that's a lot of water.
The problem with a faucet leak isn't just the amount of water it waste, it will soon start to deteriorate your sinks, bathtubs and showers and could damage other sections of the home, like the wood framing. I've seen a water drip in a steel kitchen sink, in just a few years, wear a hole right through it. Keep in mind water and wind formed the Grand Canyon, water can be extremely erosive.
Faucet leaks can attract house pests, like mice, flies, ants and a wide variety of other insects.
Most faucets can usually be repaired for under $20. Most of the time the problem will be in the valves or handles that turn the water on and on. If you're not familiar with plumbing parts, you could pick up a do-it-yourself home repair manual or go online and look up the manufacturer of your faucet, for more information.
Usually the manufacturer has a diagram of the faucet, broken down into sections and you could get a pretty good idea, what parts you will need to remove, in order to replace the damaged part or parts that are creating the water leak.
Calling a plumber seems to be most homeowners last resort. They only do it if they absolutely have to. If you don't understand how a faucet works and have no desire to learn how, I would suggest you call a plumber or contact someone who can help you with your faucet leak, but get the faucet leak fixed and quit wasting water.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.
Power Of Affirmations

Old Versus New Construction Adhesives

2009-08-19T19:01:00.001-07:00

When I first started building in 1978 as a young carpenter and an apprentice to my father. I had the grand illusions of becoming what they call on the east coast a master carpenter and on the West Coast a journeyman carpenter.
Part of my training in construction was learning to use the proper adhesive and caulking for different parts of the building project. We used to use a standard solvent-based construction adhesive when we were building our stairs and they would also use this adhesive on the floors to eliminate squeaks.
This glue dried extremely hard and everyone thought the harder the better. This construction adhesive was great when I started using it in 1978. There wasn't the polyethylene super elastic expandable multi-use glue and caulking construction adhesives at that time.
We used this brittle glue and it always seemed like a waste of time. As the wood dried and started to shrink the brittle hard glue would crack and break away from the wood it was glued to. Normally the glue was breaking away from plywood floor sheeting. I have seen 2 x 12 shrink 3/8 of an inch before in as little as a few months during the summer.
Now as time went on the old construction adhesives were replaced with a new window sealant made by a company called TOPS. This stuff was the hottest and best product of the decade to me. I used this stuff for everything.
This new urethane glue was now being used for sub floors, stair treads, sealing the windows flashing and siding. This stuff is still in use today and is a great choice for all of the uses I mentioned above. The price for this sealant is about double that of most water-based or solvent-based glues. But it's worth it.
So there you have it I like the urethane glues because of their flexibility, elasticity, their ability to adhere to wood concrete or metal and their performance in the years ahead.
There is one thing to keep in mind when using construction adhesives. Most construction workers seem to ignore the fact that the wood needs to be dry and clean before applying the construction adhesive. There have been quite a few times I have witnessed carpenters working with me and ignoring my advice.
Don't put yourself into this category. Doing quality work and following the manufacturers recommended installation instructions for their product will decrease your liability if there is ever a problem. Read the instructions carefully on all of the building products you use.
The manufacturers of these construction adhesives have thoroughly tested them. So use them properly and follow all safety warnings.
Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Structural Repairs
Bible Verses That Don