30 April 2011
29 April 2011
The Power to Change
In 1977, I thought I was successful. I owned 50 per cent of a successful business, had a Ph.D. and was married with three children. I believed I had accomplished this all through my own capability and wisdom. I thought I could accomplish anything if I just tried hard enough. My knowledge, strength of will, college degrees and business success were important to me, and I put them ahead of everything else.
My 20-year-old son Allen had different priorities. He tried to tell me what Jesus Christ meant to him, but I was convinced I didn't need Him. I told Alan that I could do everything myself. I was so firm about rejecting the Christian faith that Alan told his pastor, 'My dad will never become a Christian!' As a chemical engineer, I had tried to prove or disprove the existence of God as one does chemical reactions in a lab. The tests came up empty, so I ignored God.
Alan later became seriously ill and was admitted to hospital. After his heart stopped beating, I stood outside the emergency room struggling with pain, anguish and helplessness. It was here that I realized I could not do everything myself. There was nothing I could do as my son hovered on the brink of death. I didn't even know how to pray.
Alan survived the cardiac arrest, but he was in the hospital for a long time suffering from a serious head infection. He told me, 'God is in charge. If God's purpose in my suffering is to bring you to Christ, then everything I'm going through is worth it.' I was astonished!
I read Alan's Bible to him every day at his bedside. For the first time, I began to learn what the Bible was really about. And I began to learn about Jesus. Alan's strong belief in Jesus, combined with what I read in the Bible, made me realize that Jesus was real. He had to be who He claimed to be. Although I tried to believe that He was nothing more than a great teacher or prophet, this argument didn't stand up to the test. He claimed to be the true Son of God. I decided that Jesus must have been telling the truth, and I accepted His claims.
A month later, I asked Christ to take charge of my life, to be my Lord and Saviour. I knew God wanted me to have a more meaningful life. Alan was thrilled when I told him about my decision! He had prayed for a long time that his father would know eternal life.
Three weeks after my decision, Alan went into a coma. For three days I hardly left his bedside, until finally he slipped away from life on earth to be with his Lord and Saviour. I had looked forward to sharing my new Christian life with my son, but I knew that he would now spend eternity in heaven and that I would see him again someday. Though grief stricken, God gave my wife and me a peace and hope that surpassed all human understanding.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if anyone is in Christ, he is a 'new creation.' The old self has gone and the new has come. This certainly was true in my life. God now has first priority, followed by my wife and family, and then my business. My principles for decision-making have also changed completely. I ask God for help in making daily business decisions, and no longer rely solely on my own knowledge. I have found that God's infinite wisdom is vastly superior to my own. Best of all, there is joy in my life no matter what happens to me. I know that I have eternal life to look forward to.
http://www.powertochange.ie/changed/ebecker.html
My 20-year-old son Allen had different priorities. He tried to tell me what Jesus Christ meant to him, but I was convinced I didn't need Him. I told Alan that I could do everything myself. I was so firm about rejecting the Christian faith that Alan told his pastor, 'My dad will never become a Christian!' As a chemical engineer, I had tried to prove or disprove the existence of God as one does chemical reactions in a lab. The tests came up empty, so I ignored God.
Alan later became seriously ill and was admitted to hospital. After his heart stopped beating, I stood outside the emergency room struggling with pain, anguish and helplessness. It was here that I realized I could not do everything myself. There was nothing I could do as my son hovered on the brink of death. I didn't even know how to pray.
Alan survived the cardiac arrest, but he was in the hospital for a long time suffering from a serious head infection. He told me, 'God is in charge. If God's purpose in my suffering is to bring you to Christ, then everything I'm going through is worth it.' I was astonished!
I read Alan's Bible to him every day at his bedside. For the first time, I began to learn what the Bible was really about. And I began to learn about Jesus. Alan's strong belief in Jesus, combined with what I read in the Bible, made me realize that Jesus was real. He had to be who He claimed to be. Although I tried to believe that He was nothing more than a great teacher or prophet, this argument didn't stand up to the test. He claimed to be the true Son of God. I decided that Jesus must have been telling the truth, and I accepted His claims.
A month later, I asked Christ to take charge of my life, to be my Lord and Saviour. I knew God wanted me to have a more meaningful life. Alan was thrilled when I told him about my decision! He had prayed for a long time that his father would know eternal life.
Three weeks after my decision, Alan went into a coma. For three days I hardly left his bedside, until finally he slipped away from life on earth to be with his Lord and Saviour. I had looked forward to sharing my new Christian life with my son, but I knew that he would now spend eternity in heaven and that I would see him again someday. Though grief stricken, God gave my wife and me a peace and hope that surpassed all human understanding.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if anyone is in Christ, he is a 'new creation.' The old self has gone and the new has come. This certainly was true in my life. God now has first priority, followed by my wife and family, and then my business. My principles for decision-making have also changed completely. I ask God for help in making daily business decisions, and no longer rely solely on my own knowledge. I have found that God's infinite wisdom is vastly superior to my own. Best of all, there is joy in my life no matter what happens to me. I know that I have eternal life to look forward to.
http://www.powertochange.ie/changed/ebecker.html
28 April 2011
27 April 2011
26 April 2011
25 April 2011
24 April 2011
My One Good Easter Story
from http://tangerinemonday.com/2011/04/my-one-good-easter-story/
Easter, in particular, always reminds me of my days as a Catholic schoolgirl. When everyone in class goes to the church down the road, no one worries about being PC. We celebrated all the Christian holidays without a moment’s worry over offending a Jehovah’s Witness. As far as the school was concerned, we all walked (and partied) with Jesus. Heathens would just have to miss out on photo ops with the Easter Bunny.
Each holiday, our teachers scrambled to prepare a “feast” for their classes. They would cook a special festive meal to share with the students. In theory, it sounds great. But when you’re a kid (and most likely a picky eater), straying from a Stove-Top stuffed Butterball is a big no no.
So you can imagine my horror when as a fourth grader I was served a funny-smelling slab of meat for Easter dinner. I looked at my classmates, shifting anxiously in my uncomfortable plastic chair. They looked similarly distressed. We didn’t know what the mystery meat was, but we were quite certain it wouldn’t taste like chicken. Finally, someone was brave enough to ask for an identification of the entree.
“It’s lamb,” the teacher said.
Our eyes grew wide and we stared at our plates. We were going to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection by devouring a dead baby animal. In my head I heard, Mary had a little lamb . . . and she ate it.
Suddenly the class collectively took up an interest in the side dishes. I saw eggs. Dyed Easter eggs. There we go! That was familiar! I selected a bright blue egg from the bowl and began to peel off the colored shell to reveal . . . a colored “white.” The dye had permeated clear through to the yolk, which was as good as making the egg radioactive. I put my blue egg down on my plate and hung my head.
“Stacey, you haven’t touched your food. You need to eat something,” the teacher scolded.
“I don’t want it,” I mumbled.
“We don’t waste the good food that our Lord has graciously provided for us,” she continued.
“I can’t eat it.”
“You haven’t even taken a bite.”
She stood over me as I cut a tiny sliver of lamb and tried to eat it without grimacing. It tasted awful and I swore I heard the meat say “Baa” every time I chewed. After just one piece, I had had enough. I put down my utensils in silent protest.
“Stacey, what is the problem?” the teacher asked testily.
What was the problem? Was she mad? The problem was obvious. She didn’t know how things worked. She was forcing us to eat something foreign and bizarre and I, for one, would not have it. This was bullshit.
“Eat your food.”
I crossed my arms and pouted.
“But I don’t like blue eggs and lamb.”
Easter, in particular, always reminds me of my days as a Catholic schoolgirl. When everyone in class goes to the church down the road, no one worries about being PC. We celebrated all the Christian holidays without a moment’s worry over offending a Jehovah’s Witness. As far as the school was concerned, we all walked (and partied) with Jesus. Heathens would just have to miss out on photo ops with the Easter Bunny.
Each holiday, our teachers scrambled to prepare a “feast” for their classes. They would cook a special festive meal to share with the students. In theory, it sounds great. But when you’re a kid (and most likely a picky eater), straying from a Stove-Top stuffed Butterball is a big no no.
So you can imagine my horror when as a fourth grader I was served a funny-smelling slab of meat for Easter dinner. I looked at my classmates, shifting anxiously in my uncomfortable plastic chair. They looked similarly distressed. We didn’t know what the mystery meat was, but we were quite certain it wouldn’t taste like chicken. Finally, someone was brave enough to ask for an identification of the entree.
“It’s lamb,” the teacher said.
Our eyes grew wide and we stared at our plates. We were going to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection by devouring a dead baby animal. In my head I heard, Mary had a little lamb . . . and she ate it.
Suddenly the class collectively took up an interest in the side dishes. I saw eggs. Dyed Easter eggs. There we go! That was familiar! I selected a bright blue egg from the bowl and began to peel off the colored shell to reveal . . . a colored “white.” The dye had permeated clear through to the yolk, which was as good as making the egg radioactive. I put my blue egg down on my plate and hung my head.
“Stacey, you haven’t touched your food. You need to eat something,” the teacher scolded.
“I don’t want it,” I mumbled.
“We don’t waste the good food that our Lord has graciously provided for us,” she continued.
“I can’t eat it.”
“You haven’t even taken a bite.”
She stood over me as I cut a tiny sliver of lamb and tried to eat it without grimacing. It tasted awful and I swore I heard the meat say “Baa” every time I chewed. After just one piece, I had had enough. I put down my utensils in silent protest.
“Stacey, what is the problem?” the teacher asked testily.
What was the problem? Was she mad? The problem was obvious. She didn’t know how things worked. She was forcing us to eat something foreign and bizarre and I, for one, would not have it. This was bullshit.
“Eat your food.”
I crossed my arms and pouted.
“But I don’t like blue eggs and lamb.”
23 April 2011
Christ is Entombed Today
And yet, we wait, and watch. Patiently. For He will rise ... and with Him, hope ... promise of our own eternal life. God bless.
22 April 2011
21 April 2011
20 April 2011
In this world ...
In a world of hurt, compassion heals.
In a world of anger, patience calms.
In a world of bitterness and loss, faith overcomes.
In a world of depression, smiles take form.
In a world of evil, goodness shines.
In a world of despare, hope compells.
We are truly here for each other ... in this world.
In a world of anger, patience calms.
In a world of bitterness and loss, faith overcomes.
In a world of depression, smiles take form.
In a world of evil, goodness shines.
In a world of despare, hope compells.
We are truly here for each other ... in this world.
19 April 2011
18 April 2011
The True Meaning of Stress
A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasing ly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!" 1 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. 2 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker. 3 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. 4 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. 5 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. 6 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. 7 * The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so ... sleep late. 8 * The second mouse gets the cheese. 9 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. 10 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live. 11 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. 12 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Sharp, pretty, dull, weird names, different colors - but they all live in the same box. 13 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. 14 * Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate! 15 * Have an awesome day! Know that Your Maker created you for a reason - that you may not understand - that you need patience to fulfill. |
17 April 2011
16 April 2011
15 April 2011
14 April 2011
13 April 2011
12 April 2011
11 April 2011
10 April 2011
09 April 2011
08 April 2011
07 April 2011
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
In addition to medication treatment, psychosocial treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support groups and other community services can also be components of a treatment plan and that assist with recovery. The availability of transportation, diet, exercise, sleep, friends and meaningful paid or volunteer activities contribute to overall health and wellness, including mental illness recovery.
Thanks to the National Alliance of Mental Illnesses for the facts!
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
In addition to medication treatment, psychosocial treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support groups and other community services can also be components of a treatment plan and that assist with recovery. The availability of transportation, diet, exercise, sleep, friends and meaningful paid or volunteer activities contribute to overall health and wellness, including mental illness recovery.
Thanks to the National Alliance of Mental Illnesses for the facts!
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness
06 April 2011
Windy Tale?
Three retirees, each with hearing loss, were playing golf one spring day.
One remarked to the other, 'Windy, isn't it?
'No,' the second man replied, 'it's Thursday.'
The third man chimed in, 'So am I. Let's have a beer.'
http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/good_jokes.htm
One remarked to the other, 'Windy, isn't it?
'No,' the second man replied, 'it's Thursday.'
The third man chimed in, 'So am I. Let's have a beer.'
http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/good_jokes.htm
05 April 2011
04 April 2011
03 April 2011
02 April 2011
01 April 2011
Miser's Final Wish
There was a man who had worked all of his life and had saved all of his money. He was a real miser when it came to his money. He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me. I wanna take my money to the afterlife." So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.
Well, one day he died. He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend. When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!" She had a shoe box with her. She came over with the box and placed it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.
Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
She said, "I'm a good christian and I can't lie. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him and I did."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did, " said the wife. "I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
http://www.thejokeyard.com/funny_stories/misers_final_wish.html
Well, one day he died. He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend. When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!" She had a shoe box with her. She came over with the box and placed it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.
Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
She said, "I'm a good christian and I can't lie. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him and I did."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did, " said the wife. "I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
http://www.thejokeyard.com/funny_stories/misers_final_wish.html
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