Financial Burdens From Church Leaders

I really can't believe how many people that don't have enough money and could be living below poverty levels, often he as much as they can to their religious organizations. It saddens me to see those who don't have enough to eat, giving money to their church, even though they needed more than God does.

I realize that the Bible tells its followers to give at least 10% of their earnings to their church or temple. The problem is, that the Bible doesn't provide any information for people that constantly give money to the church, even though they can't afford to. They need this money for food and to educate their children.

I guess it's okay, to form a dependency on your church, even though you could provide for yourself, if you didn't give away all of your money. There are plenty of churches that will provide their patrons with close, food and some of them will even provide shelter for the poor or homeless.

The financial burdens that are produced by some church leaders, make me sick. They make those who can't afford to give, feel guilty and this guilt eats away at them like a cancerous disease, working its way through your vital and important body parts.

I'm going to suggest something to the church leaders. Quit making people feel guilty, simply because you need more money to accomplish the things that you are planning to do. It doesn't really matter, if the stuff that you are doing is great for wonderful, if you're doing it at the expense of others.

I would also like to give some advice to those people who can't afford to give away their money. Quit giving it away. Save your money, feed your family, by your own clothes, and save up for your children's education.

Some of, the money that you are giving to your religious organization, might be squandered away on your church leaders programs. These programs might have nothing to do with God's desire for a better world.

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. 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.

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Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

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.

Embrace the Idea About Learning - Shouldn't You Be Studying the Bible Regularly?

Most Christians own at least one Bible, but the idea of studying it on a regular basis, is normally considered a difficult task for those to perform. If you really want to call yourself a Christian, shouldn't you at least understand, a few things in the Bible?

Maybe something about Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, or what about that guy, what's his name, I think he died for our sins and wasn't he the son of God, what was his name... You might think I'm kidding, but very few Christians, know very little about the Bible.

How do we get Christians to embrace the idea that studying the Bible could benefit them or change their views entirely about their religion? I've always had problems with those who consider themselves practicing Christians, while trying to convert others to Christianity with a limited knowledge about the religion itself.

If you go to church every Sunday, there's a good chance that you will have to touch the holy book of scriptures, at least once. You might even pick it up and turn some of the pages while listening to the sermon. Is this the only time during the week that you will pick up the Bible? And does this bother you?

What about those who read the Bible regularly and don't take the time to interpret it literally. Read the Bible, word for word in order to get a simple understanding of each Bible verse. Don't try to read anything into it or look for hidden messages.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer simple questions or understand what your church leaders are talking about? When they mention Paul or Isaiah, are you thinking about your cousin and his friend? Spend a little more time learning about your religion and you will reap the rewards that education has to offer.

There Are Plenty of Problems with the Bible and If You Need More Help, Click on This Link Understanding the Bible

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 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.

Click Here If You're a Positive Christian Person.

Is Busy A Good Thing - Self Help Tips

"Dan, you've been in the office since early this morning, do you want to go for a walk?"
"Id love to but I'm too busy."

"I've got supper ready. Can you stop for a few minutes to eat with me?"
"Thanks Carol but, I'd better not. I'm too busy."

"Dan, it's 11:30. Are you going to quit for the day and get some rest?"
"I'm busy right now. I'll finish this first."

Busy. Do you use that word?

It seems that many people choose to wear the "busy" word as a badge of honour, as if it indicates productiveness, worthiness, and success.

My perception is that the "busy" word is the curse of the new millennium.

"Busy" is a thought-choice. When we verbalize the thought by saying, "I am busy," it reaffirms the thought, magnifies it in our mind, and proves to us that we are busy. "Busy" creates physiological reactions in our body. Our muscles become tense; we lose focus, become irritable, and may experience anger. "Busy" causes great stress and the result is the common cold, headaches, heartaches, and dis-ease.

Common Cold

Im not talking about the sniffles and coughing. The common cold I refer to is our habitual lack of attention to and compassion toward others we are cold to them. Because we are so "busy," we don't take the time to listen to others. We assume we know what they are thinking, and make judgements based upon our assumptions. The common cold eventually destroys relationships.

Headaches

When we convince ourselves that we are "busy." our head begins to swim with confusion and yes, it may even hurt. We think we have so much to do and not nearly enough time. We attempt to multi-task, which is physically impossible. We can do only one thing at a time. When we choose to be "busy," we bounce back and forth between duties and projects and none of them are completed. Or they are not done well.

Heartaches

"Busy"-ness often leads to neglect, resentment, and apathy toward others, and especially to those closest to us our life-partners, children, family, and friends. We tend to not treat them in a loving, caring way because we are too "busy." They may think you are a pain in the butt. That may be true and hearts ache and are being broken.

Dis-ease

Ease is a state of effortlessness and simplicity. In the state of ease, we experience love, joy, and happiness. "Busy"-ness creates dis-ease (lack of ease), and a state of hard work, struggle, and difficulty. In this state, we experience hurt, anger, fear, and sorrow.

With these things in mind, do you still want to be busy?

As usual, I have a challenge for you, if you choose to accept it. Don't get your shorts in a knot; there are only two things.

1. Give yourself a "busy-ectomy." Eliminate the word "busy" from your vocabulary (mentally and orally). Every time the "busy" thought enters your mind, or you start to say it, stop yourself. Instead say things like, "I've got some great projects on the go" or "I'm really enjoying the challenges in front of me" or "I have ample time to do the things I need to do."

2. Consciously notice the changes in how you feel, think, and act.

If you think you're too "busy" to accept my challenge, change your mind. Just as you chose to be "busy," you can choose another experience. At least notice how often the word "busy" is used by people around you, and be aware of how it affects them. Does it do the same for you?

In the past, I was so "busy" making a living that I didn't take time for a life. Since I eliminated "busy." I am more focussed, at ease, and productive. I find that I have oodles more fun making a living and having a life. I experience great pleasure, joy, and happiness in everything I do. Yup, everything. It is a choice I make.

Trash the "busy" badge, turn up the edges of your mouth, jiggle, chortle, snigger, bellow out a big "yahoo" and have fun!

Copyright 2007

Dan Ohler is Thinkin' Outside The Barn!

Dan writes and speaks internationally on relationships, happiness, and change. Through Dan's insights & humour you learn to apply the basics of human psychology the natural laws that create life-long flourishing relationships, and abounding success

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Your Thoughts Become Things

"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.

Sometimes You Need to Cry

I recall a period in time, at about 18 months after my husband passed away, that I felt pretty good about myself. I had handled what life had thrown me and come out battered, but mostly okay on the other side. After caretaking my husband for almost a year, I was battling some minor health problems of my own, related mostly to stress, but most days I was certain my life was on track. Steady and focused, my three boys were also adjusting and it seemed we all had a grip on reality.

On this day, I was on my way to an appointment with my holistic doctor when the radio began playing a song I had never heard before. The singer's words stirred something inside me. The song spoke of loving someone through the years, and even with that person gone, the threads of memory remained.

The words reverberated through me, and I experienced almost a kind of shock as their meaning sank in. Out of nowhere, I began to cry so hard I had to pull off the road. I had no control over the rush of anguished emotion. All my hard won calm fled, chopped off at the knees as I hugged the steering wheel of my car.

I cried as if a great well had opened inside and pulled my guts out. When I finally began to calm and the tears subsided, I had to wonder where this emotional outburst had come from. How could a song open a wound of such profound loss?

I arrived at my doctor's office, and as usual with holistic doctors, they not only want to know about you physically, but they dig deeper into the emotional aspects of your life. I hesitated only briefly before telling him what had occurred on the way to his office. I felt embarrassed by my earlier semi-breakdown. I tried to explain that I'd been feeling good, and then to suddenly have this upheaval had thrown me for a loop.

He explained it was to be expected there would be days where emotion could still catch me by surprise. With the loss still relatively fresh in my life, how could I expect to be 100%? I admitted to him that I'd been feeling excruciatingly lonely, but I thought I was handling it. Some days my idea of "handling" it meant ignoring or burying my feelings. Always a very private person, I hadn't shared much of my thoughts with anyone. When friends asked how I was doing, I would usually say I was okay. Inside, I kept thinking, who wants to hear that I just want to get through another day?

I felt much better after speaking with him. Not only was he a sympathetic ear, it felt good to open up and share my worries about being alone, my concern for the kids' welfare and fears that I wasn't handling my finances to my best advantage.

We talked extensively about the triggers that stirred my own private misery. Something as straightforward as a song, or as complex as past memories, seemed to have the power to entrench me in great emotion. He made me realize there would be times I merely needed to cry as part of grief's healing process. There was nothing complicated about it. Each time we are brave enough to reach down and allow our true emotions out, it brings a little more healing into our lives. As time passes, and we remain true to ourselves, a new sense of empowerment emerges.

Elaine Williams 2008

Elaine Williams is a writer across various genres. She is a mother and a widow of four years. She can be contacted at onwingspress@yahoo.com - http://www.ajourneywelltaken.com

Making a Difference Through Organic Cleaning Products

Recently, with the advent of environmental awareness that is prevalent in the media through all forms, care for Mother Nature has been gaining grounds as a priority today. I couldn't remember a time in the past where environmental awareness was as active as it is today. Everywhere, you can see all sorts of movies, videos, songs and everything else that talks about being aware of what even the most trivial things humans do, can cause effects on the world that we live in.

So many measures have been suggested and even implemented that aim to make the world we live in a better place for us and for the next generations. Even presidential campaigns incorporate environmental awareness to their platforms and this, I guess, is a strong indication that everyone from whatever nook in the world they may come from should follow suit and begin to start caring for the world.

There are many good examples of doing even simple things that, when done on larger scale and by so many people, can create a great positive impact on the environment. One of these things is the use of organic cleaning products and putting into practice the principles of natural cleaning in general.

Natural cleaning refers to the use of natural cleaning products that help minimize the risk of environmental degradation. Commercial cleaning products available today reek of toxic chemicals that can cause harmful effects to the environment in the long run. That's why, with environmental awareness at its peak, natural cleaning is proving to be a great alternative to switch to.

Using organic cleaning products is the core of natural cleaning. Instead of commercial cleaning products, we should employ cleaning products made from organic materials that are just as effective as those products that contain toxic chemicals. These cleaning products are safe, efficient and are less expensive than those that are manufactured by capitalists. These products contain no harmful chemicals that might ruin the natural flow and balance of nature. They are all natural and go back to nature (like all things do) in a natural way.

Unlike commercial cleaning products which have been synthetically made and may contain chemicals that are either non-biodegradable and do not mix well with the environment, cleaning products made from natural ingredients are completely safe to even use in large doses as they can revert back to their natural form and be reused by nature.

Example of these cleaning products can usually be found in your very own home, right in the comfort of your kitchen. These products include vinegar, washing soda, baking soda, lemon juice, lime juice, lemon and lime peel, among others. These things are common and are most likely bought for other purposes. But they can serve multiple functions, which makes them very cost-efficient.

The products mentioned above are considered the basics - or the basic cleaning products that, when combine well, can be used to makes pastes, sprays and other formulas for other purposes. With these products, you don't have to buy a separate product for a different purpose. All you need to do is a little research and you can create a cleaning product of your own using tested recipes that are available online.

As you can see, these kinds of cleaning products make a very good deal. They can serve so many purposes which make you save a lot more money. They are also safe and do less damage to the balance of nature than commercial cleaning products.

Organic cleaning products are becoming the best alternatives nowadays. Read more articles online if you are still skeptical about natural cleaning products as the new way of cleaning your home in a safe and natural way.