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The Two-Headed Beast of Successful Habit Change
by guest
2 Feb 2012 at 9:20am
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Tyler Tervooren of Advanced Riskology. I used to have a lot of bad habits. I still do, but I used to have a lot more. Here?s just a small sampling: I woke up late and went to bed early. I procrastinated on my most important work. I [...]
Create the Habit of Meditation, & the Zen Habits Premium Membership
by Leo
31 Jan 2012 at 3:03pm
Post written by Leo Babauta. It’s something I should have created a long time ago: the Zen Habits Premium Membership, and a mini-course that’s included with it called Create the Habit of Meditation. The membership is a monthly subscription of $19.99, but really it’s a commitment to changing your life, and the tools needed to [...]
Creating Silence from Chaos
by Leo
27 Jan 2012 at 3:20pm
Post written by Leo Babauta. We are often afraid of silence, because its emptiness feels idle, boring, unproductive, and scary. And so we fill our lives with chaos, noise, clutter. But silence can be lovely, and therapeutic, and powerful. It can be the remedy for our stress and the habits that crush us. If we [...]
The Habits That Crush Us
by Leo
23 Jan 2012 at 11:26am
‘Don’t panic.’ ~Douglas Adams Post written by Leo Babauta. Why is it that we cannot break the bad habits that stand in our way, crushing our desires to live a healthy life, be fit, simplify, be happier? How is it that our best intentions are nearly always beaten? We want to be focused and productive, [...]
Learning to Sit Alone, in a Quiet Empty Room
by Leo
17 Jan 2012 at 1:49pm
‘All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.’ ~Blaise Pascal Post written by Leo Babauta. Think about some of the problems of our daily lives, and how many of them would be eased if we could learn to sit alone, in a quiet empty room, with contentment. If [...]
Life as a Conscious Practice
by Leo
13 Jan 2012 at 9:15am
‘Everything is practice.’ ~Pele Post written by Leo Babauta. When we learn a martial art, or ballet, or gymnastics, or soccer ? we consciously practice movements in a deliberate way, repeatedly. By conscious, repeated practice, we become good at those movements. Our entire lives are like this, but we’re often less conscious of the practice. [...]
Your Top 10 Clutter Questions, Answered
by Leo
11 Jan 2012 at 11:33am
Post written by Leo Babauta. Decluttering is a skill that you learn with practice, just like any skill. And just like other skills, there are many little questions and problems you need answered and solved as you get started. Those of you taking the Clutterfat Challenge this month are facing these problems, and I’m here [...]
Clearing Your Life for a New Year
by Leo
9 Jan 2012 at 12:55pm
Post written by Leo Babauta. Every January, people rush out and get a gym membership, set a list of goals or resolutions, and get ready to take on a new year of frenetic activity. Unfortunately, we don’t often clear space to make room for all this new stuff. The beginning of the year is a [...]
How to Tackle Your Clutter
by Leo
6 Jan 2012 at 12:19pm
Post written by Leo Babauta. So you’ve been putting off tackling your clutter for months, maybe even years. Papers pile up on a counter, shelves are crammed full of books and magazines and other things, closets are stuffed to the point of spillage, clothes pile up on the floor or furniture, boxes and furniture and [...]
How to Have the Best Year of Your Life (without Setting a Single Goal)
by guest
5 Jan 2012 at 9:15am
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Jeff Goins of Goins, Writer. This new year, do something different: stop setting goals. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results, then making resolutions for another year is a sure-fire way to drive yourself crazy. I did [...]
Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Be a Happy Non-smoker for the Rest of ...
by Allen Carr
Amazon Price: £4.94

The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting
by Gina Ford
Amazon Price: £6.87

I Can Make You Thin - Love Food, Lose Weight: New Full Colour Edition (includ...
by Paul McKenna
Amazon Price: £8.84

Instant Confidence (Book and CD)
by Paul McKenna
Amazon Price: £6.04

The 18 Rules of Happiness: How to Be Happy
by Karl Moore
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey
Amazon Price: £8.12

Jo Frost's Confident Toddler Care: The Ultimate Guide to The Toddler Years: P...
by Jo Frost
Amazon Price: £10.19

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
by Jeanette Winterson
Amazon Price: £8.99

Control Stress : Stop Worrying and Feel Good Now !
by Paul McKenna
Amazon Price: £6.92

Steve Biddulph's Raising Boys: Why Boys are Different - and How to Help Them ...
by Steve Biddulph
Amazon Price: £6.19



Bible Gateway

Copyright of matt_blass5@hotmail.com Here is your Tuesday STORY on: SELF DEVELOPMENT: Our mind works in a most peculiar way, and I don't think I need to remind you of that. We can smile at that very contemplation. But why do we allow it to do this? In WISDOM and PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY we cannot prevent our mind operating in these peculiar ways, but we can limit it by acknowledging its grip and preventing the turmoil that follows. You can be assured that our pattern of thought is determined by our state of mind. If we are ever in the mood of revenge, then you can be sure some bizarre thoughts and actions will follow. So bizarre in fact that another time you'll be embarrassed to tell the tale. Do you ever find yourself justifying your actions? Consider why you justify? You do it in the hope that your actions will be understood. Why? You hope within your explanation that your actions that now appear wrong can have some sort of good intention. The best explanation of your actions however, is that they were made in a high emotional state. The justification appears almost as if you are in a court of law. If you find you have to explain your decisions, the very implication is that they were not done from a sound and logical frame of mind. What is this telling us? That we ARE most definitely controlled by our emotional state of mind. Our good intentions, our sensible head, our intellectual deliberations all mean nothing during the throws of a high emotion. We need our feet firmly on the ground and we need to interrupt by SEEING what is happening, before we can expect any degree of sense to arise from the so called madness that takes over. Forgive me as I would need to describe this emotional control to an extreme to drive the point home. Today's story is about a man who looses sight of reality and finds he is making decisions during a period of depression. While ever he stays in this deep and dark emotional state he'll not SEE. WISDOM is not always about helping yourself. If you practice the skill on other people as did the child in this story, you'll find an understanding that will help direct your own life. DADDY DEAREST I laid there in bed, thinking. It had been three years since my dad was lively and happy. A terrible bout with depression was taking a toll on him, and thus our family, over that time span. Lucky for me, I went to college out of town. I came home on breaks, as well as weekends when I could, but I had my own life now. And every time I went home, I would build up walls and keep myself at a distance from all the problems in the family, because I didn't think I could take it. This particular summer, I had arranged for a job near school, so I could escape the emotions of returning to an unhappy home. As I laid there in my childhood bed, the night before returning to my apartment for the summer, I broke down in tears. How could I be so selfish? How could I leave my mom and dad all alone to deal with this? How could I pretend that I didn't need to bear some of the responsibility of helping out? The years of denial came out in my tears that night, and I knew I couldn't continue on pretending. I was going to help as much as I could, even if that was only a small baby-step. That next day, I told my dad over breakfast, firmly, that we were going to clean his room, and I was going to help him. My mom had been begging him for a year to clean his room, because it was in such disarray. The doctors said taking proactive steps like that would help him feel better about himself, and maybe chip away at what was wrong with him. But he never wanted to listen. Stubbornly, he never actually took those steps. Much to my surprise, he actually smiled, and said "Ok, " to my suggestion. That day we went through years of old trash and documents. Newspapers from 10 years ago, computer games from elementary school. We worked together the entire day. All he needed was a firm kick in the butt to get him moving, and then he was able to take charge, looking happier than I had seen in months. By the time the day was over, his room was sparkling. Now we could all go back there and watch television together, just like childhood. though that would unfortunately have to wait until my next visit home. More importantly, now my dad had done something to help himself, and was a little happier. And I had helped him. It was time to leave though. I had a great job lined up, and had already given up a good night's rest on the first day of work by helping my dad all afternoon. I really hugged my dad as I said goodbye, for the first time in years. And as I hugged my mom goodbye, she whispered "Thank you so much" in my ear. This is still a story in progress, so I can't report that everything is all better now. But my fingers are crossed because now there is a lot more hope, and hope is very powerful. (Matt Blass, 2002, all rights reserved) QUOTE: "No lions are ever caught in mousetraps. To catch lions you must think in terms of lions, not in terms of mice. Your mind is always creating traps of one kind or another, and what you catch depends on the thinking you do. It is your thinking that attracts to you what you receive.' (Thomas Dreier, Author)


Jesus = "Let there be light" pt 2.....?
pt 2 to my last question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081019043506AAgtqoD&r=w In my last question I linked a Bible Gateway search for "Jesus+light", and after reading your responses I did a search just on "light", and something really caught my attention: Remember the parable of the virgins who had plenty of oil for their lamps, vs. the virgins who did not and were unprepared, so after when they went to go get oil, it was too late and Jesus wouldn't let them in the kingdom? Did all those rules for the Jews have meaning? I think so, and I'm very likely not the first to think so, but this quest is for my trying to understand whether Jesus IS God, or a god - the son of the MOST HIGH, or a man with the power of the Holy Sprit. When reading these passages put emphasis on "the light", and my question is below the passages: Exodus 35:8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; Exodus 25:6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; (parallel verses...parallels are generally used for emphasis) Exodus 35:14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; Exodus 39:37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; Leviticus 24:2 "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. Numbers 4:16 "Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, (this verse also ties in Jesus(the light) being a descendant of Aaron for God's everlasting coventant over priesthood, Jesus was both King(line of David) and priest(line of Aaron)) Psalm 18:28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, Proverbs 13:9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. __________________________ extra's on "light": Job 3:20 "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, Job 24:13 "There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths. Job 33:28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light. Job 33:30 to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him. Psalm 44:3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Isaiah 53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 60:1 [ The Glory of Zion ] "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. Isaiah 60:19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. John 8:12 [ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Revelation 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. ----------------------------------------------------- This is just a small portion of 100's of verses from the search that relate to "the light" in a meaningful way. I'm not sure if Jesus the son is "the light" or the word he spoke is "the light" by revelaling portions of God's original plan ("let there be light"= plan?) by the Holy Sprit through Jesus. What do you think? Jesus is the light...or Holy Spirit through him reveals the light=plan? Is "Let there be light" what begot Yahshua, making him NOT the MOST HIGH? Or is "Let there be light" the plan, God knowing the beginning and the end? Or...is "let there be light" just something about a literal light given for suns, moons and stars for later when they are created?...which is the general theory that makes little sense to me and isn't very meaningful considering how mysterious "let there be light" is in the first place. If the light IS Yahshua, then he's not the MOST HIGH and the trinity is a flop. If ....then he's not the MOST HIGH and the trinity is a flop. If the light is the plan, revealed by the Holy Spirit through Yahshua, then Yahshua can be a prophet, the messiah, a miracle worker, but not anything more than a man, right? Did flesh ascend on the 3rd day? Or did "the light=plan" ascend? or...Yahshua being the MOST HIGH ascend to be the...MOST HIGH?...? *sigh* Everytime I think I understand the trinity doctrine, something happens(logic), and it makes far less sense than ever. Analogies like eggs, or divided clay, or a triangle, does not make this doctrine make any more sense for me. Yahshua being a man who's a prophet/miracle worker by the Holy Spirit who reveals "the light" makes sense. Yahshua being "the light" - a god begotten by the MOST HIGH, makes sense. Eggs, divided clay, & a triangle, does not make this doctrine make sense for me at all.

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How can I -- on liins?
if I want to use a certain Bible verse (John 3:16) how do i give the link to the verse and the source such as Bible-gateway at the same time? I usually wind up giving both links and think there ought to be an easier way. How can I--on Links question-----I always give 10 points to the person with the best answer. --not always people often choose for various reasons on the in vote question I have put one one question to vote--I got to top[ Contributor because I pick and choose my questions carefully, then give a lot of thought to the answer.

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a question about how to use links?
if I want to use a certain Bible verse (John 3:16) how do i give the link to the verse and the source such as Bible-gateway at the same time? I usually wind up giving both links and think there ought to be an easier way.

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bible Gateway Easy to find passages

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What Bible Gateway Visitors Accomplished in 2011

25 Jan 2012 at 11:35am


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Bluefly Announces Management Changes - Business Wire (press release)

3 Feb 2012 at 10:05am 

Bluefly Announces Management Changes
Business Wire (press release)
Mr. Park came to HarperCollins through its' acquisition of BibleGateway, the largest biblical reference website where he was hired as President. Earlier in his career, Mr. Park co-founded and was the CEO of Kozmo.com, the first Internet retailer to ...

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Bluefly Announces Management Changes - MarketWatch (press release)

2 Feb 2012 at 2:22pm 

Bluefly Announces Management Changes
MarketWatch (press release)
Mr. Park came to HarperCollins through its' acquisition of BibleGateway, the largest biblical reference website where he was hired as President. Earlier in his career, Mr. Park co-founded and was the CEO of Kozmo.com, the first Internet retailer to ...

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Honesty policy trumps privacy statements in Biblical commercial - Examiner.com

16 Jan 2012 at 10:09am 

Honesty policy trumps privacy statements in Biblical commercial
Examiner.com
Google that-and you will find the complete verse from Bible gateway- in whatever version you care to read. I think the best thing about it is that we have a group of children who weren't worried about the separation of "Word and Game," or privacy ...



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John 3:16: Meaning of Tim Tebow's Favorite Verse and Eerie Broncos Game ... -...

11 Jan 2012 at 9:18am 

International Business Times
John 3:16: Meaning of Tim Tebow's Favorite Verse and Eerie Broncos Game ...
International Business Times
John 3:16 is one of the most famous and widely quoted verses from the Bible. According to Bible Gateway Blog, John 3:16 is the most frequently searched verse online and has been nicknamed the "Gospel in a nutshell." The Bible verse appears in the third ...

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