Net Miles Of Smiles

Looking for independence from your long-held beliefs, you could use your energy to challenge them from within yourself. Or you may boldly challenge outward authority for the underlying values they represent and perpetuate. While in principle your motives may be positive, you may also want to find ways to communicate that will actually get your message across. Otherwise you may find yourself limiting your freedom rather than enhancing it. Knowing the system you are trying to change, and the people who operate the system, can help you navigate your way to making a difference rather than merely making a statement. Today your boldness can find the best ways to make the changes you believe are best for everyone.

Rebellious feelings may be a reaction to something else. By going within to examine your feelings before acting, you can be sure to respond appropriately. Your intuition will be able to guide you before you misdirect your frustrations in a way that may be inadvertently destructive. For example, if you have a problem with something at your job, rebelling against your immediate supervisor may only get you fired, and no one would benefit. But if you investigate the issue and find out who has the authority to make the changes you seek, you can work within the system to make a positive impact that will benefit all involved. By wisely channeling your rebellious energy today, you can make a difference in the world.

What do you think?

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“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”
– Sophocles
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Comments (0) Aug 08 2008

I like the story about three ministers and a priest who played golf
together every week. They decided to visit each other’s churches. So
the following day, the three ministers showed up at an early morning
mass at their friend’s church. There were no empty pews, so they
stood in the back.

When the priest saw them, he whispered to the little acolyte, “Get
three chairs for the Protestants!” The boy looked stunned and sat
down.

The priest pointed in the back to where the clergymen were standing
and repeated, “Get three chairs for the Protestants.” The confused
boy still stared back blankly.

Exasperated, the priest said emphatically, “Please! Get three chairs
for the Protestants!”

The dismayed acolyte stood before the congregation and announced,
“Ladies and gentlemen. This is the first time this has ever been done
in a Catholic church, but let’s all stand and give three cheers for
the Protestants!”

Perhaps it’s time to give three cheers to those of another faith. And
while we’re at it, let’s applaud those of other cultures and races,
too! What a beautiful world it is when all are truly part of one
glorious family! And after all, if God doesn’t love variety, why is
there so much of it?

– Steve Goodier
http://www.lifesupportsystem.com

Comments (0) Aug 08 2008

THINK ON THESE THINGS

Every Step Is Forward
No Going Back

There are times when we feel that we are spinning our wheels in the mud in terms of our spiritual progress. This can be especially true following a period of major growth in which we feel as if we’ve gained a lot of ground. In fact, this is the way growth goes—periods of intense forward movement give way to periods of what seems like stagnation. In those moments when we feel discouraged, it’s helpful to remember that we don’t ever really go backward. It may be that we are at a standstill because there is a new obstacle in our paths, or a new layer to get through, but the hard work we have done cannot be undone.

Every step on the path is meaningful, and even one that seems to take us backward is a forward step in the sense that it is what we must do to move to the next level. In addition, an intense growth spurt requires that we rest for a time in order to fully integrate the new energies that have been liberated by our hard work. When we feel we are not making progress, we can encourage ourselves to take a moment to rest. We can meditate more, feed ourselves well, and get extra sleep. Before we know it, we will be spurred on to work toward the next level of our development, and this rest will make sense then as something we needed in order to continue.

Once the sun rises, it doesn’t go backward but instead follows its path in one direction. It may appear to stand still for a moment in time, or to move more slowly at some point or another, but really it is steadily moving forward on its path. We are the same way, and once we have moved through something we can never really go back. We may be resting or revisiting issues that seem old, and it’s natural to feel stuck, but in truth we are always taking the next important step forward on our path.

What do you think?

DailyOM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Yard by yard, it’s very hard. But inch by inch,
it’s a cinch.

~ Anonymous

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“Life is beautiful, live it well !”

Comments (0) Aug 08 2008

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,

AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING;

IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM,

AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.

Proverbs 3:5~6

Comments (0) Aug 08 2008

All stories copyright 2008 Bob Perks
Today’s message:
“Waiting for the Hummingbird”
By Bob Perks

It had been a long time since I saw him. I guess you
could measure it in years, but I will think of it more
along the line of the changing color of his hair.

It was pure white now. Pre-maturely white, I would think
since he is only in his early 40’s.

These were my thoughts as we approached each other. It
wouldn’t be until after our conversation that I would
understand.

Life has a way of aging us.

“Where have you been, my friend?” I asked.

“I haven’t gone far but I’ve been there and back,” he
replied with a smile.

It just didn’t seem right. He was always happy and upbeat.
He walked like a man in love with the world. Today he
dragged himself across the room as if he were now angry at
it.

“So, how long has it been, five, ten years since we last
spoke?” I asked.

He shook his head slowly as if it really didn’t matter.

“Time is lost on those who stop looking at the clock,” he said.

“So, you are living a care free life now? Maybe retired early?”

His hair now longer than I remember was not combed nor did it
look washed in recent days. He had on a long sleeve shirt that
was tattered along the collar and cuffs. It was one of the hottest
days of the summer and yet, he appeared unaffected by the heat.

Something told me not to ask him, but it would not be right if I
didn’t.

“How is your lovely wife, Abbey?”

Without lifting his head, his eyes peered over the top of his
dirty, finger printed glasses.

“She’s waiting for the hummingbird,” he said.

My brow now raised with an odd look of surprise and confusion,
I paused to think how I should respond.

“In the old days they would say she had a nervous breakdown.
The truth is she’s in a home. She has no idea who she is.
Me? I’m an old friend who likes to watch the birds with her,”
he said.

Do you say I’m sorry? Do you not respond at all?

I did what comes naturally for me. I hugged him. It appeared to say
it all. He cried.

He then went on to explain that the only real thing left from her
previous life was her love for birds. In particular, Hummingbirds.

“Of all the things, people, places she could have held onto, it
was the hummingbird that took preference over me,” he said.

I could tell it caused him great pain. If there was one thing in his
life he valued more than anything it was his love for Abbey.

I wanted to help. I wanted to say something that would lift him up.
I wanted to take him home, feed him, offer him my clothes or new ones
of his choice. Still, there was little I could say or do.

“I will see her in my prayers and you, my friend, can call me any time
and I will be there,” I told him as we embraced one more time.

We said our goodbyes and I watched him walk away, fade into the busy
street life and without explanation or understanding, an odd sense
of peace came over me.

Perhaps he would be alright eventually. I can’t say a miraculous turn
around in Abbey’s condition would occur.

But, maybe the answer lies in her waiting for the Hummingbird.

“I believe in you!”
Bob
I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you
keep my name and contact information with my work.

If you would like to receive Bob’s Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
and submit your email address.

Comments (0) Aug 08 2008

Pass The Butter, Please .

This is interesting . .

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings.

DO YOU KNOW the difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end; it gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .

And now, for Margarine…

Very high in trans fatty acids..

Triple risk of coronary heart disease.
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).

Increases the risk of cancers up to five-fold.

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here’s the most disturbing fact; HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING !

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC.

This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends (if you want to ‘butter them up’)!

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Chinese Proverb:
‘When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.’

Comments (0) Aug 08 2008