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By Brian Orchard Mystery and confusion have long surrounded the cessation of physical life. Knowledge that can be established through the five senses provides a basis for assurances about our physical world. There is no scientific or physical evidence, however, to establish what happens to the human consciousness after death. Near-death experiences notwithstanding, no one has ever come back from death to tell us exactly what it is like on “the other side.” Many people, as a result, fear death, and this fear often underpins their belief in an afterlife. The role of religion and the Bible cannot be overlooked in addressing the confusion regarding an afterlife. Do we go to heaven or hell, or perhaps someplace in between? Death comes in many forms, from the peaceful to the violent. Perhaps we are somewhat numbed by the magnitude of some of the violent or catastrophic deaths that are presented to us on what seems to be a daily basis. Whether it be thousands of Rwandans slaughtered by their fellow countrymen, the drowning of multiple hundreds by floods in Bangladesh, or the shocking reality of terrorist attacks such as those of September 11, 2001, when mass death occurs at a distance, we’re able to build a mental wall of protection. On the other hand, if any of those deaths or others like them is of someone close to us, we are suddenly face-to-face with the awful reality. We learn well from personal experience the pain and anguish of loss. Even the peaceful death of an aged person who has lived a long and fulfilling life raises difficult and emotional questions for those who remain. A loved one is gone from our life. Where is that person? What does happen to a human being at the point of death? WHICH WAY DO WE GO? While fewer people adhere to traditional teachings today, there remains an underlying concept in most religions that if we are good in this life, then there is something enjoyable for us after death. Conversely, if we don’t measure up, then some kind of eternal punishment awaits. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “the term heaven has come to designate both the happiness and the abode of the just in the next life.” It’s an idea that provides the hope that the human mind needs while dealing with the material world and the reality of “three score and ten” years. A Newsweek poll, cited in the August 13, 2002, issue of that publication, claims that 75 percent of Americans believe that their actions on earth determine whether they will go to heaven. It is doubtful, however, that the same 75 percent would claim to be very religious or even attend a church. The same poll indicated that 76 percent of Americans believe in heaven and, of those, 71 percent believe it is an actual place. So the psychological need for assurance and hope runs deep through the American community. Of course, the Western world does not have a corner on the heaven market. Heaven seems to be one belief that Jews, Christians and Muslims share, albeit in variant forms. While Judaism allows any number of opinions on the subject, heaven is often referred to as Gan Eden, or the Garden of Eden–Paradise. Jewish scholar Michael Asheri writes, “It is believed that the souls of the righteous have a place there” (Living Jewish: The Lore and Law of the Practicing Jew). According to Shahid Athar, author of several books on Islam, “Muslims believe that the present life is a temporary one. It is a test and if we pass the test, we will be given a life of permanent pleasure in the company of good people in Heaven.” THE FEAR FACTOR While heaven is the carrot, hell can be the stick. Whether the mental image we hold of hell was created by Dante Alighieri and his vivid imaginary journey through hell and purgatory, or by the vagueness of contemporary evangelical theology, all seem to agree that it is a place to be feared and avoided. The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us that “hell . . . in theological usage is a place of punishment after death.” It also states that “by derivation hell denotes a dark and hidden place.” Not surprisingly then, a cursory examination of Protestant reformer Martin Luther’s early life reveals a deep motivation on his part to develop a theology that would relieve his fear of eternal punishment and separation from God. The concept of hell predates the Christian era by many hundreds of years. Around the eighth or ninth century B.C., the Greek poet Homer portrayed a shadowy place of dreary darkness as a backdrop for his hero Ulysses. Likewise in Virgil’s Aeneid, the hero Aeneas enters the underworld, where he encounters numerous terrors. From such pre-Christian sources come many of today’s theological concepts regarding the punishment of the damned. We fear the unknown beyond death because myth, superstition and theological manipulation combine to powerfully intimidate us. Mystery and confusion are compounded by a multitude of ideas generated throughout all societies and religions regarding the future state of man once consciousness has ceased. On the other hand, the Bible provides a simple explanation of what happens to a person when he or she dies. To understand, though, we must be prepared to open our minds to another point of view. A CHANGED MAN If a man dies, shall he live again? This is the question we have all pondered, but how many realize that this very question is posed in the Bible? We are not the first generation to puzzle about this issue. The biblical author Job asked this same question and provided the answer (see Job 14:14). He had knowledge that helped him reach this conclusion, and that knowledge will help us just as positively. Humankind was created with great spiritual potential. The here and now serves a purpose in the development of this potential, but it is not its object. Job’s answer to his own question was that he would wait until his “change” came. He accepted the certainty of death for every human. Physical life is finite and temporary. When we die, our bodies decompose and return to the elements from which they were formed. At that point all consciousness ceases: “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The change to which Job referred is spoken of throughout the New Testament. It shows that after death there is a resurrection. Christ stated that “the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29). The Bible speaks of the body as being asleep between the time of death and the moment of resurrection. When we awake in a resurrection, it will be as though we had awoken from sleep, as we do each morning. Clearly, death is a transitional condition. When does this resurrection take place? “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. . . . For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). At the specific timing of Christ’s return to the earth to intervene in the affairs of humankind, the consciousness of the dead in Christ will be reactivated and they will progress to a new stage in their relationship with God. Those resurrected are not up in a heaven, nor down in a hell. They stand with Jesus Christ on the earth after having met Him in the clouds. “And in that day [the day of His return] His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east” (Zechariah 14:4). “YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH” The knowledge that life has a specific purpose beyond the grave is very comforting. Without this understanding, the experience of seeing a loved one die can only produce a profound sense of loss and grief. After death, a person is asleep–without consciousness–in the grave until empowered in a resurrection. It will be like waking from a long sleep. Consciousness will return and the creative work of God will continue, only now in a spiritual condition rather than the physical. Those who have died are not lost in some kind of nebulous haze of human conjecture. They are not tormented in hell, nor are they floating around blissfully on clouds, playing harps. We need to free ourselves from the mental anguish caused by false ideas and concepts conveyed by society and culture, which picture God as an angry Judge waiting for an opportunity to punish helpless sinners throughout eternity. Rather, God is a Father who is eagerly waiting to embrace His resurrected children. As Christ said to those who would accept the authority of the Bible, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Author, Brian Orchard, writes articles on current events and ideology for Vision Media. More information about these and other current events and ideology topics can be found at http://www.vision.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Orchard http://EzineArticles.com/?Religion-and-the-Bible:-After-Life&id=391627 zolpidem without prescription ambien on line prescription buy zolpidem europe buy adco zolpidem

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By John Kunkle Many men are convinced that if they just find the right woman then everything will be perfect in their marriage. They either think that they are fine as they are or they think that they dont have to change or dont want to. They want their wives to accept them for who they are. Okay. Lets take a look at who you are. How did you prior relationships or marriages fair? If you are a widower and the reason you are looking for a new spouse is because your wonderful spouse died — you may be right you may be a great husband and father. For the rest of you, and I am including myself in this group, take a look at all of your relationships that failed. What is the common denominator in all those relationships? Give up? YOU. Thats right. You are the common denominator in all your failed relationships. That should give you a clue that there are chinks in your armor. Lets go through a checklist: Do you drink alcohol to excess or use drugs? How often? Every day? Every week? Have you gotten into trouble with the law or at work or in your relationships because of this? Do you gamble? Do you bet on sports or other events? How often do you go to gaming casinos? Do you bet more than you can afford? Can you stay within your pre-set limit? Has gambling been a problem in your past relationships? Do you like pornography? Do you frequent strip clubs or cathouses? Have you had sex outside of your marriage or relationships in the past? Have you been serially monogamous (faithful to your partner)? Has sex been an issue in your relationships before? Can you and have you had reasonably frequent sex with your past partners? Do you have problems with sex (premature ejaculation, failure to get an erection, et cetera)? Have you had problems at work because of sex (sexual harassment, having sex with coworkers, et cetera)? Are you financially stable? Can you provide for your wife? Do you have financial problems or have you had financial problems in the past? Are you current on your bills? Do you have savings accounts and retirement accounts? Do you have divorce settlements or child support payments that severely restrict your lifestyle? Are you paying child support for minor children that you have? Are you current on your child support? Are you actively involved in your childrens lives? Would you consider yourself a good example to your children and other children? Do you spend time with your children? Do you feel guilty about your relationship with your children? Do you do things with them that you both like to do? Are children safe with you? Are you safety conscious? Do you wear a seat belt? Do you have car insurance? Do you have life insurance? Do you have health insurance? Do you have disability insurance? Do you have property insurance? Are you a safe driver? Do you drink and drive? Are you in good health? Do you exercise? Is your weight normal? How would you rate your eating habits? Would you be able to complete a five-mile hike without problem? Are you able to play with your kids without problem? How is your job? Are you employed? Do you find your job rewarding? Is your job stable? Do you frequently find yourself daydreaming about a new job? Do you get along with your co-workers? Would someone else describe you as a workaholic? Would you describe yourself as a good person? Would you describe yourself as a moral person? Are you trustworthy? Are you a good friend? Do you have a few good friends or people you can confide in? How are your family relationships? Do you get along well with your parents and siblings? Is your family structure a healthy one? Do you consider yourself a spiritual or religious person? Do you go to church or regular spiritual gatherings? Are you considered a member in good standing at your church or spiritual organization by others in your organization? Do you have healthy hobbies and interests? Do you read books and like to learn new things? Is your television viewing taking over a large portion of your life? Does your computer time cut into your family time or your involvement with others? Do you have volunteer organizations that you donate time to? Are you involved in coaching or other community activities in which you give back to the community? If you answer these questions honestly, you should have a fairly good appraisal of yourself as a human being, potential husband, father, employee, and community member. You know your strengths and your shortcomings. Are you willing to work on your shortcomings to become a better person?If not, then you probably arent going to make a very good husband and father. The best way to get in touch with your personal shortcomings is to get involved in a relationship. Your wife will be more than happy to point out any shortcomings you have that are in your blind spot! You can wait until she points them out or you can work on them yourself. I recommend that you take care of them yourself. Do you know what the secret is to finding a perfect mate? The secret is that you have to attract her to you. Not with money, trinkets, bragging, buying her gifts, or showering attention on her. You have to attract her on a cosmic level. You have to become the kind of human being whose personal standards are so high that you are irresistible to a woman who is looking for the ideal man. It is a law of the universe that like attracts like. You are going to attract to yourself exactly the kind of person that you are. The best way to attract the best quality woman for you is for you to become the best person you can be. In other words, the process of finding the perfect mate is more about you becoming the best man you can be rather than it is about finding the best woman. If you are the perfect man, you will attract the perfect woman.You now know your assignment work on developing your personal strengths and minimizing your personal weaknesses. Become the kind of man that she will leave everything that she knows and loves behind and follows half way around the world to have and to hold. The process of wooing, winning, and wedding the woman of your dreams has been a personal quest for you. Like the knights of old, to join the Round Table, they had to venture on a quest where they used all their talents, skills, and mental toughness and ingenuity to accomplish their quest. The quest in itself was not the important thing. It was how the knight was transformed while on his quest. He became a better person. He was transformed into a man who could slay dragons or move mountains. In the process of your pursuit of your ideal mate, you will be transformed. You will be become a better person, a better husband, and a better father. 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By Rebecca Livermore Glassy stares, monotonous chants, and the fragrance of burning incensethese are images that often come to mind when we hear the word meditation. Such negative associations have discouraged many from pursuing something the Bible exhorts us to do. If you’d like to teach the person you’re discipling how to meditate on Scripture, here are a few things to keep in mind. Benefits. Teach the scriptural benefits of meditation on God’s Word: success and prosperity (Josh. 1:8), fruitfulness (Ps. 1:13), joy (Ps. 63:16), victory over sin (Ps. 119:11), and wisdom and insight (Ps. 119:9899). Uniqueness. Point out the fundamental difference between biblical meditation and the meditation associated with Eastern mysticism. The latter entails emptying the mind. Biblical meditation involves filling the mind with scriptures that point to God. Logistics. Encourage them to find a set time to meditateduring morning quiet times, perhaps, or when drifting off to sleep at night. Make sure they start smalljust a minute or two in the beginning, then a gradual increase. Preparation. Teach them that meditation begins with asking God to guard their hearts and minds from any images that are not from Him. Confession and repentance of known sins should follow. To rein in wandering minds, they should ask God to help them focus on Him and His Word. Example. Make quiet reflection a part of the time you spend with the person you’re discipling. This will encourage the disciple who is hesitant to try meditation on his or her own. Method. Some people find it helpful to write a verse in their own words. Others use Scripture songs as springboards to meditation. In her book From the Heart of a Woman (NavPress, out of print), Carole Mayhall suggests using the letters AEIOU for systematic meditation. For example, if you were meditating on the verse “The Lord is my shepherd” (Ps. 23:1), you would: Ask questions. (What is the function of a shepherd? In what way is the Lord my shepherd?) Emphasize words. (The Lord is my shepherd. Not a Lord, but the Lordthe only true God.) Illustrate. (Draw a picture of the verse or link it with a story you’ve heard.) Other scriptures. (What else does the Bible say about this?) Use. (How can I apply this verse to my life?) 2006 by Rebecca Livermore, a Christian speaker and writer from Denver, Colorado. Her passion is helping people grow spiritually. To read more of her articles on Christian living, and to check out her always growing selection of Christian resource materials, visit http://www.rebeccalivermore.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Livermore http://EzineArticles.com/?Teaching-Biblical-Meditation&id=320228 safe tramadol american pharmacy online purchase tramadol without a prescription medication online pharmacy ultram tramadol without prescription cheap

By Vlady Peters The tradition is that the bride always steals the show, as the wedding day is the brides day. Well, not always. On the day Henry Vlll married his Anne Boleyne, you would have thought that she would have looked and felt the belle of the ball. After all, she was significantly younger than Henrys former 48 year old wife. Although theres a difference of opinion whether Anne was quite as young as she said she was then, as now, women recorded their age after their own fashion she was young by all standards. She may or may not have been fifteen, but she was certainly less than twenty-five. Suffice it to say, when it came to dressing, Henry was as much of a peacock as any woman. When he came down the aisle on his wedding day, he had no intention of being upstaged by anyone, including his bride. Though people today accept the fact that a bride might spend thousands of dollars on the dress, while the groom is likely to hire his suit for $100 plus, this was not the case at Henrys second wedding. In fact, the Grooms outfit was way more expensive than that of Anne. She should have sensed something wrong right there and then. Its a known fact that men are usually at their best when trying to impress a woman, then slowly revert to type as soon as they feel that the race has been won. In the case of Henry, here was a man revealing a mean streak on the wedding day itself. How could you expect anything better once the knot was tied? Trusting fool that she was, Anne even countenanced a secret marriage ceremony because he said, Its all right, my pet. I know I havent got my divorce yet, but we will have a second, public marriage once the divorce comes through. In the meantime, this marriage will be just a secret between me and you. Trust me. She could trust him all right, right to the time his eyes were caught by wife candidate number three. Then he immediately remembered not the second, public wedding, but that first secret one. Full of remorse for his transgression, he confessed to the public at large that his marriage to Anne couldn’t possibly be valid as he was still married to wife number one at the time he exchanged his vows with Anne. Hopefully, wife number three ended up with a better wedding dress than Anne did. Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorized to perform marriages in Australia. She also performs general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about Vlady, visit her at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vlady_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?I-Feel-Pretty,-Oh-So-Pretty&id=237335 buy ambien zolpidem cheapest ambien online ambien generic online ambien zolpidem online

By Charles Carpenter This article is intended for Bible believing Church leadership. As a conservative old school believer I used to say we dont need user friendly churches; we need user deadly churches. (Romans 6: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. KJV) This is to imply that the church should be so structured to bring about transformation that means proverbial death to the old man and sinful behavior. While this is true one can not abandon wisdom in the name of conservativism, holiness or old time religion. A Church without a life transforming message that challenges the status quo and clarifies right from wrong is nothing more than a hymn singing social club. But thats another article; in this article I want to explore the wisdom of being a user friendly Church and what that means. I have been inspired by Pauls writing to the Colossian Church: Colossians 1: 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. So what is His will? Clearly it is not His will that any should perish. (Matthew 18:14) With more than nine years as a full time evangelist I have had the opportunity to worship with some of the most successful Churches and ministries in the country. In recent years I have visited scores of Churches in more than half of the continental US states posing only as a visitor; in all of this I have identified 4 qualities of user friendly churches. I have shared these principles with Churches all over the country in much greater detail than is possible here; it is my hope that you will be inspired by these ideas and further explore the user friendly principles. Before I share them with you I want to define what I mean by user friendly. A user friendly church is accessible, comfortable and conducive to visitor participation. Now here are the four qualities. Visibility User friendly churches are visible. This does not mean that you have to be in a prime geographic location. What it does mean is that the community needs to know you exist and why it would benefit them to attend. To create greater visibility lets start with your immediate community. Obviously your property should have curb appeal. Simply a little manicuring of the lawn, landscape and parking lot will make a huge difference. Your property appearance should scream we know youre looking and we welcome you to look closer. It would be a shame if hundreds or thousands of cars passed by your property every day and only a few noticed your church because it blends in with the surroundings. Of course you will want to check on zoning restrictions that restrict what you can do on your property. If restrictions are tight you can do things like folding signs and removable effects that can be placed at your drive access at the start of the service and removed as service begins walk lightly and you can get away with a lot. Here is a checklist to get your maintenance staff started: Clear easy to read signage Clear easy to recognize lot entrance Cleanliness Inviting landscape (dont hide the building) Pleasant lighting Attention grabbers (banners, flags, special occasion signs, inflatable mascot or seasonal displays) The second visibility is what I call reference visibility. Reference visibility includes the yellow pages, internet and newspapers as well as a few other options that should be considered. When I arrive in a new city the first thing I do is find the phonebook and check for a UPCI church to attend. Upon surveying a substantial sampling it became obvious that the first place families go to find a new church upon moving is the yellow pages. Your yellow pages listing should include your church name, defining statement of faith or organizational association, pastors name, at least two contact numbers, address, service times, driving directions and web URL address. If you can afford the space you should also include ministries offered, a benefit statement, map and picture of the property and or pastor. The reference visibility that is second only to your yellow page listing is the internet website. If your church doesnt have a web presence, make it happen within the next thirty days. Your church website doesnt have to be fancy or complicated; a free site management service is better than nothing. The following checklist includes the minimum information you should make available on your website: Church name Statement of faith Names of ministries and ministry directors Driving directions and or map Photo of the church Articles or audio sermon samples Event calendar Contact information (consider alternative contacts) The third reference visibility is newspapers and periodicals. Obviously your church should run ads to announce special events such as revivals, public seminars and public services offered. Consider assigning the title of publicist to someone that will be responsible for running ads and getting free periodical, news and media space. If your church is offering a public service like gifts for the needy at Christmas send press releases to the area media. Announce available ministries, special events, new ministries, building programs etcetera. Other possibilities that increase visibility might include billboards, highway signs, bumper stickers, T-shirts, radio spots and TV spots. Next I want to leave you with a couple of power tips for creating visibility. New Residence Welcome Package You can easily get information about new residents who move into your city or county. If you share your plan with apartment managers they may help you with distribution. Simply put together a welcome package that includes some home warming gift, some coffee and or tea a brochure and handwritten card of invitation from your assembly. (I like the idea of having the card signed by hand by each member. This can be done in advance.) Hotel Church Directory Organize and produce a nice looking church directory to be placed in hotel rooms. The cost of the directory can be shared by all of the churches you choose to involve. Most hotel guests that attend services while visiting your city will attend the church of their choice anyway youre just making your information available through one more media. May also consider an area attractions directory that would include only your church and other businesses; I have seen such directories that list only Christian owned businesses in the area. Accessibility Accessibility begins with your marketing pieces (Brochures, yellow page and media ads etc.) you should include clear directions that include popular area landmarks and highways, maps are nice. Once the visitor finds your property it is important that they know how to access your parking lot so have lot entrances clearly marked. The last thing you want is for your visitor feel frustrated or anxious this early in the visit. It is also a good Idea to have visitor parking reserved and marked with signs. Make sure the main entrance is marked clearly so the visitor knows exactly where to go. If you use alternative entrances or walks during bad weather have portable signs to put out to accurately direct the visitor. Greeters should be present to greet the guest; make sure they are trained to inform the guest about where the sanctuary, restrooms, nursery and Sunday school classes are located. A tour should at least be offered; if the tour invitation is turned down hand the guest a diagram of the property that clearly indicates the location of rooms that may be of interest. Service times should be visible on signs and at all entrances. Greeters should be trained to meet ladies with children and the elderly at the car during adverse weather conditions to assist them into the building. Pathways should be well lit. Restrooms should be clearly marked and if they are hidden down some dark or hidden hallway mark the hallway and light it up. Ushers should ask the guest where they prefer to sit (front or back) and offer to escort them to a seat. Friendliness Now this isnt something you can plan and assign. Congregational friendliness must be learned and it must be sincere. The saints should greet the visitor with a smile and a handshake as well as some non-prying personal questions. These personal questions can help identify common ground to create personal relationships. Youth and children should be taught to get to visitors their own age; they may invite the guest to join them in the Sunday school class. I would like to think that someone in our assembly would extend an invitation to our guest to go out to dinner with them. I try to make this invitation myself when time and opportunity permits. If it makes you more comfortable most wont accept. Someone in leadership should approach all visitors to explain how the service will be conducted, when the children will go to their classes and where those classes are. If an entire family visits find out the ages of the children and adults and inform them where they should go for breakout Sunday school classes. Once you know there ages it can be a good idea for either the Sunday school teacher or a representative from the class to personally greet and invite the visitor to join todays class. Diversity of Ministry Truly user friendly churches are aware of unique needs of their community and make an honest effort to meet those needs. If you have a large population of Spanish speaking people, and obvious ministry need is Spanish interpretation or Spanish specific ministry. Other considerations include young married couples, singles, senior citizens, college students, military etcetera. Charles Carpenter, affectionately known as “Bill” by friends, has inspired and empowered audiences to reach peak performance and dreams for more than a decade. 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