Trend Authority Blog

Tickle my funny bone

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until she knows absolutely everything about nothing...

The government promised me a stimulus package... instead I got a raft of measures.

A woman turned me down for a date... I had to explain I wanted to have dinner with her - not having her for dinner.

"My passport photo does not do me justice." "You don't need justice - you need mercy!"

French people do not like fast food. They eat snails instead.

"I can't find what's wrong with you - must be the drinking or something..." "I'm sorry to hear that doc, what about if I come back when you're sober?"

The drought forced a farmer to turn his field into an auto-parts junkyard. From that time on every year was a bumper crop.

What do you call a lump of metal, wiggling at the bottom of the sea? A nervous wreck.

If God is watching us... we'd better be entertaining...

If you're feeling unwanted or insignificant... try missing a couple of mortgage repayments.

I told my shrink I thought I was a dog At my next appointment he wouldn't let me up on the couch.

I never drink coffee at work I toss and turn at my desk all day.

A divorce lawyer put on his sign Satisfaction guaranteed or your honey back.

Marriage is the way to stop people fighting with strangers. Divorce is the way to get custody of your sanity.

I've been sacked from every job I've ever had At least you can't call me a quitter.

He's not a complete idiot ...some parts are missing.

My psychiatrist says I'm manic-depressive. I have mixed feelings about that...

I've got an inferiority complex. But I say it's not a very good one...

He never treats a woman like an object. But occasionally he treats an object like a woman.

The magic hasn't gone out of our marriage. He still disappears every few weeks...

Ours was a mixed marriage. She was perfect and I wasn't...

My ex-wife said she wanted to dance on my grave. So I arranged for a burial at sea.

She said she was sick of me. Undeterred I bought her a get well card.

She was so nervous on our blind date. When I picked her up she put the seatbelt around her knees.

I had a terrible nightmare. I dreamt I was eating a giant marshmallow. When I woke up my pillow was gone.

Pass the offering plate

Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000

Large ministries have a huge appetite for cash yet George Muller ran an orphanage on virtually nothing.

The consumer society mindset has infiltrated the church and the leadership is forever inventing new and elaborate ways to make donation appeals.

The subtle inference is that if you extend yourself in giving a significant offering you will find the perfect wife, get healed of cancer or buy the house of your dreams.

Christian marketing is a fine art with paid-up seminars (they used to be called crusades, retreats or outreaches in the past), regular worship CD releases and school of ministry for those who dream of being one day on the payroll.

If you really want to run a church like a business then let us have an AGM and see if it was a good investment. Unfortunately the financial statements are nowhere to be seen. What about the social balance sheet? How many people were provided jobs, accommodation, counselling, etc...? How many lonely folks were provided with caring friends and social activities? How many shaky marriages were saved from impending divorce? Do you think they would have a story to tell, bring in all their mates and the recruiting drive would be sorted out once and for all?

The few churches left who do welfare work receive grants from the government and are denied the right to present the gospel to those they care for.

This is quite a contrast to the way it works in Third World countries. NGOs don't send missionaries to stand on a soap box, preach an upbeat message and collect tithes. No, they meet people's needs by providing disaster relief, healthcare or housing projects. Then they have earned the right to tell folks about Jesus Christ.

Well enjoy the show while it lasts but remember that as a believer you too are accountable for this poor state of affairs. For starters you are supposed to uphold in prayer those in position of leadership. Also you cannot afford to let yourself be upset by what is going on. If you ask: "Lord whom can I bless today?" you will find you have the ability, the gift and the duty to brighten somebody else's world.

Then it will make all the difference to you and you will be empowered to do more.

Your enemy the devil is prowling like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. Taking offense at what goes on in the churches and falling out of fellowship with other believers is the best way to let him do just that. Don't let yourself be his next snack.

Christians are having a hard time in their witnessing efforts because their personal lives lack the power of living out the gospel. Good Samaritans are very rare indeed.

Yet this is the perfect atmosphere for a revival to take place - that no one could take credit for it - only the hand of God could achieve such a turnaround.

Different ways of tackling obesity and cancer

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin or HCG is a hormone only found in pregnant women and can be easily recovered from their urine.

A 500- Calorie diet over 26 days with 23 daily injections of HCG will remove abnormal fat.

"We have grown pretty sure that the tendency to accumulate abnormal fat is a very definite metabolic disorder, much as is, for instance, diabetes. Yet the localization and the nature of this disorder remained a mystery. Every new approach seemed to lead into a blind alley, and though patients were told that they are fat because they eat too much, we believed that this is neither the whole truth nor the last word in the matter."

A controversial usage of HCG is as an adjunct to the British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons' ultra-low-calorie weight-loss diet (less than 500 calories). Simeons, while studying pregnant women in India on a calorie-deficient diet, and "fat boys" with pituitary problems (Frolich's syndrome) treated with low-dose HCG, claimed that both lost fat rather than lean (muscle) tissue. He reasoned that HCG must be programming the hypothalamus to do this in the former cases in order to protect the developing fetus by promoting mobilization and consumption of abnormal, excessive adipose deposits. Simeons, practicing at Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome, Italy, recommended low-dose daily HCG injections (125 IU) in combination with a customized ultra-low-calorie (500 cal/day, high-protein, low-carbohydrate/fat) diet loss of adipose tissue without loss of lean tissue. After Simeons' death, the diet started to spread to specialized centers and via popularization by individuals, such as the controversial author Kevin Trudeau, famous for promotion of alternative therapies and treatments.

Cansema (also known as black salve) is a brand name of a popular alternative cancer treatment. The product is commonly classified as an escharotic. When applied to the skin, escharotics burn and destroy tissue and leave a thick, black scar called an eschar. Escharotics were widely used to treat skin lesions in the early 1900s, but have since been replaced in mainstream medicine by safer and more effective treatments such as Mohs surgery. Escharotics such as Cansema are currently advertised by some alternative medicine marketers as treatments for skin cancer, often with unsubstantiated testimonials and unproven claims of effectiveness.

Cansema is listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as one of 187 fake cancer cures. Cansema continues to be marketed by numerous individuals, as referenced by recent FDA Warning Letters. The FDA has taken enforcement action against illegal marketing of Cansema as a cancer cure, as in the 2004 arrest and conviction of Greg Caton.

Virtual reality, an oxymoron?

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000

The next trend in computer games will be an attempt to interface your emotions to the unfolding course of the action play. In other words as your heartbeat increases or your palms become sweaty the game's pace will react.

How is that for developing good social skills? If you have seen teenagers in your neighbourhood they can either grunt or misspell text messages.

As a society we have to make up our mind as to what it is we want to hand over to the next generation (if there will be one left - that is).

You can either be real showing concern for your fellow man - or you can be a fake and live in a virtual made-up world in the forever quest of "What's in it for me?"

Trying to skirt a path with a foot on either side is a recipe for disaster.

The saving grace is that all of us crave for true love and attention - that's the way we are wired by design. Those who have dated on the internet will tell you that those commodities are in short supply in cyberspace. Let's get real and go for a bushwalk in the open spaces as a family and re-discover who we are.

When is the last time you felt the breeze and the sunshine on your face? When is the last time you made lunch to share with someone else? No need for a games console to do that.

And that's my point. We take it for granted that progress is to replace the real thing with man-made substitutes when God-made reality is the original thing and cannot be faked or duplicated.

The original fall of Lucifer was to dare to be like God and he has never turned back on his original project.

Unfortunately social disorder is such that for some loneliness and neglect is a reality and they are seeking a virtual world to escape from this nightmare. We have a social responsibility to reach out to those who have been shipwrecked through family breakup, alcoholism, drug abuse, bullying at school, etc...

You might think that being addicted to make-believe computer games is a better outcome than suicide but it is only a delaying process. As young people are being deprived of true social interaction they grow up to become social outcasts.

The government is well aware of the situation and the falling rate of new apprenticeships is an alarming trend.

The solution? Putting real life into our lives. Cut out the clever computerised substitutes and live a more fulfilled simpler life putting the interest of others before our own.

A cycling herd of imbeciles

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000

A common phenomenon to grace our roads these days is the regular appearance of men in tight lycra outfits swinging their posterior in the air and holding up the traffic at a snail's pace.

To me a bicycle was a means of transport back in France when I used it to go to school and move around the town.

My bike was a reliable appliance and although we didn't wear helmets in those days it was fitted with all the right accessories which are sorely missed on today's expensive show-off machines.

It had a rear vision mirror so that I could see any traffic backing up behind me.

It had mud guards so that my trousers remained clean if I had the misfortune of riding across a puddle. We wore clasps or tucked our trousers inside our socks so that it wouldn't get tangled up with the chain or pedals.

The handlebar and the brakes could both be used in an upright position as well as a reclined position to minimize the air drag.

There were luggage racks both above the front and rear wheels as well as a couple of panniers.

It had a dynamo producing electricity for the lights. We were not wasting money with disposable batteries.

It had a stand to park it upright in case there wasn't any wall or fixture to lean it against.

It had a bell so that I could warn any pedestrian traffic of my silent arrival.

The railway station had undercover rack cycle parking for 500 bikes to cater for all those workers commuting to work in Paris. People padlocked their bicycle to the rack and no-one would dare to interfere or steal any parts as the local police officer kept watch from a distance. He would also get you booked for an offense if your vehicle didn't have a small plate in the middle of the handlebar engraved with your name and address. No rego plates for bikes but authorities still wanted to know who owned any bike left about.

Men climbed on their bike by standing to the left of it, raising the left pedal to the 11 o'clock position, putting the full weight of their body on it with the left foot and then swinging their right leg over to the right side.

Women were more elegant and rode a bike with a lowered frame. Mature ladies cycled each day to do their shopping down Main Street. They could easily sit on the saddle of their stationary bike loaded with groceries and take off on a low gear.

Since such a large part of the population were cyclists motorists would respect them and give them right of way instead of squeezing them into the gutter. In fact they would slow down, honk at you and say hello if they knew you.

Today cycling is not a means of transport but a sport and that's where the problem lies. You don't want children to play in the middle of the road but when adults do it as a group this is the wrong activity in the wrong place. Go and find yourself a velodrome. Breathing in exhaust fumes and putting your life at risk for the sake of fashion is no sport at all.

The rewards of motherhood

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000

Beyond blowing noses and wiping bottoms there is much to be gained by raising the next generation. But without a vision it is impossible - simply because without it you do not know why you are doing what you are doing...

This is a call to women to stop being everything besides women and knuckle down to their primary vocation - society as we know it depends on it!

Do you realise that the birth rate in western countries is so low that our society as we know it will become extinct in some twenty years! Yes, read that again and ponder on it...

Despite all the propaganda and the great inroads women have made into corporate careers there are testimonies after testimony that when everything has been said and done a woman is more fulfilled by raising her own children than by running the antics of the corporate world.

The break-up of the family unit has a lot to do with this sad state of affairs. Elderly people are parked in retirement homes rather than being given a chance to mind their grandchildren.

Women do not go to work by choice but to maintain a lifestyle which becomes more and more an illusion. Do you need the latest plasma TV? Do you need to maintain two cars? Do you need to go on vacation overseas? Do you need a gym membership when running in the park is free?

What is the point of gaining the whole world if you forfeit your soul...

You burn the candle at both ends and you get burned. Your marriage blows up in your face and we now have a whole generation of people who do not have a clue what a stable home environment looks like. They are very likely to reproduce the same chaos they came from - unaware of the balancing effect of looking up to both a male and female role model in the home (aka, mum and dad...).

Gender equality is a myth. We are made different for good reasons. We should not try to swap places but instead leverage our differences and discover that they are quite complimentary if combined together in a home environment through marriage.

What has marriage got to do with it? It is a lifelong commitment to do life together and achieve long time goals (ie raising children). The one thing which works against the stability of the home (and as a by-product the stability of our society as a whole) is the lack of commitment and vision of both spouses. Notice I used the word spouse not partner. Marriage is not a business. You are not in it for what you can get out of it. You are in it for what you can put in it. It's by giving of yourself that you get the fulfilment you are craving for.

A selfish mindset has caused people to withdraw their affection and commitment and the net result is that the very things we need most - stability and security have been lost. That's the recipe for a decadent civilization - it's rolling over us faster than we can perceive.

Wikipedia antics

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000

I use Wikipedia every day but what a surprise when I attempted to contribute! The existence of a reliable, free, online encyclopaedia is in itself an outright miracle. But it comes at a cost. There is a long learning curve to assimilate the dos and don'ts of editing plus compliance with NPOV (neutral point of view) and always citing sources for verifiability.

You would have guessed the 80/20 applies here: Over 50% of all the edits are done by just 0.7% of the users (at the time: 524 people). Wikipedia incorporates elements of general and specialized encyclopedias, almanacs, and gazetteers. Wikipedia is not a soapbox, an advertising platform, a vanity press, an experiment in anarchy or democracy, an indiscriminate collection of information, or a web directory. It is not a dictionary, newspaper, or a collection of source documents.

60% of registered users never make another edit after their first 24 hours. Possible explanations are that such users only register for a single purpose, or are scared away by their experiences. Editors who fail to comply with Wikipedia cultural rituals, such as signing talk pages, implicitly signal that they are Wikipedia outsiders, increasing the odds that Wikipedia insiders will target their contributions as a threat. Becoming a Wikipedia insider involves non-trivial costs; the contributor is expected to build a user page, learn Wikipedia-specific technological codes, submit to an arcane dispute resolution process, and learn a "baffling culture rich with in-jokes and insider references." The majority of editors are male, aged 18 to 30, graduates, without partner or children. That blows out of the water the assumption they would have been retired academics...

Wikipedia has been criticized for allowing graphic sexual content such as images and videos of masturbation and ejaculation as well as photos from hardcore pornographic films found on its articles. Child protection campaigners say graphic sexual content appears on many Wikipedia entries, displayed without any warning or age verification. Articles rival in quality the best from the commercial sector. A 2008 study gave a distribution of topics as well as growth (from July 2006 to January 2008) in each field:

* Culture and the arts: 30% (210%)
* Biographies and persons: 15% (97%)
* Geography and places: 14% (52%)
* Society and social sciences: 12% (83%)
* History and events: 11% (143%)
* Natural and the physical sciences: 9% (213%)
* Technology and the applied science: 4% (-6%)
* Religions and belief systems: 2% (38%)
* Health: 2% (42%)
* Mathematics and logic: 1% (146%)
* Thought and philosophy: 1% (160%)

WikiScanner revealed changes made by anonymous editors were made by corporations or government agencies changing the content of articles related to them, their personnel or their work. In practice, Wikipedia is defended from attack by multiple systems and techniques. These include users checking pages and edits (e.g. 'watchlist's and 'recent changes'), computer programs ('bots') that are carefully designed to try to detect attacks and fix them automatically (or semi-automatically), filters that warn users making undesirable edits, blocks on the creation of links to particular websites, blocks on edits from particular accounts, IP addresses or address ranges. For heavily attacked pages, particular articles can be semi-protected so that only well established accounts can edit them, or for particularly contentious cases, locked so that only administrators are able to make changes. Such locking is applied sparingly, usually for only short periods of time while attacks appear likely to continue.

Wikipedia rejected an online petition against the inclusion of Muhammad's depictions in its English edition. The presence of politically sensitive materials also led the People's Republic of China to block access to parts of the site.

To wrap-up thanks to all you guys at Wikipedia for a wonderful masterpiece. (Parts of this article are sourced from this wiki page)

Reiki healing bonus package

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Reiki, therapeutic touch, self-hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, acupuncture and other pseudo scientific healing methods abound - welcome to the New Age!

There is intense competition for the hearts and minds of suffering folks who seek solace from their pain. If you care to travel to a third world country where medical insurance is non existent you will experience first hand the power of divine healing through the name of Jesus Christ.

In the Western world though, traditional churches have done a great service of thrusting ailing folks in the arms of New Age healers with the statement that "miracles ceased with the death of the apostles who spent time with Jesus". Pastors were trained in seminaries to deny from the pulpit that any miracles could take place in our time - and so it is a miracle that new ministries such as healing rooms emerge to prove them wrong.

So the battle lines are drawn - there are two camps to choose from. You can believe that there is spiritual energy out there to heal you and that whatever method to rebalance your body fluids is fine as long as you get the expected results.

On the other side there are those who have committed their lives to serve the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Redeemer of mankind - and since we are body, soul and spirit, God is in the business of restoring the whole person - not just giving you a ticket to heaven.

There are scores of testimonies where screws and metal plates have disappeared from X-rays and people who had a metal rod inserted along their spine can now bend forward and touch their toes - something previously physically impossible.

That's the good news! The bad news is that reiki healing and other New Age methods always come with a bonus package. You always get more than you bargained for. So why is it so bad? The reason is that while you reached out to spiritual energy for healing you also open yourself to spiritual bondage from demons, sprit guides, whatever you want to call them, who will exploit the bridgehead which is taking place.

Under the guise of Judeo-Christian mumbo-jumbo people from a Western background are led to try out what is vehemently prohibited in Scripture: namely getting involved in witchcraft and divination. Yes there is a spiritual world out there for the taking but if you get there apart from the atoning blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for the remission of our sins there are some strings attached. People from a non Western background know full well the ravage caused by witch-doctors, shamans and the like. Will you be another casualty? There is excitement at trying out new things couched in pseudo-science. Will you forfeit your soul to cure a migraine or will you humble yourself before God and be reconciled to Him?

People are in it for themselves

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Have you been looking for a helping hand lately? When you are popular and generous you have lots of friends. When you are in the dumps you come across two sorts of people: those who ignore you and those who are quite willing to take advantage of you.

The decay in our society is that we are dishing out rejection full strength as a matter of course. We are lulling ourselves that the plight of others is taken care of by the government who is doing such a fine job with our tax money. Out of sight - out of mind. No obvious signs of poverty in the streets (at least in my leafy suburb) and so we conclude poverty does not exist.

But if society is really that (the interaction of human beings) then we better wake up that it is the task of each one of us to take responsibility for the welfare of others according to our means.

When was the last time you invited some stranger into your home for a meal? When was the last time you stopped on the side of the road to change a punctured tyre for somebody? I knew somebody who always carried some jumper leads and a spare can of petrol in his truck so that he could be of assistance of someone he passed on the road (that was 20 years ago - people had a sense of community on an open country road...)

Some people are in business for themselves but have also a very narrow mindset. Instead of taking the opportunity to grow their business and provide employment for others they knock back any extra work so that they just cruise along with just as much as they can handle by themselves. It is in fact quite a juggling act to sustain a business in a neutral position. An enterprise either gains market share and grows and blossoms or looses market share and shrinks to extinction.

It seems that it is those who have lost something who display some altruistic motives. People who have lost a house in a fire are those who would volunteer in the bush fire brigade. People who lost a child to cancer or leukaemia are those who run support groups.

Are you afraid of strangers? When is the last time you stroke a conversation queuing at the checkout? When is the last time you help a blind man cross the street? When is the last time you carried the pram of a woman up the stairs? Are you living for yourself or are you on the lookout for putting a smile on someone else's face?

Still seeking an explanation?

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Sometimes we are so upset with a situation that we demand a reason why things happened. Unfortunately there are circumstances where no good explanation is forthcoming.

Get over it! Even in the 21st century mankind is not privy to all knowledge.

Insurance companies dare to call some unforseen events "acts of God" - what a joke! If you blame God for the bad things that happen you'd better go to another church!

This is a sobering thought that people go about their lives being accountable only to themselves but when things go out of control they are quick to blame their creator for their misfortunes.

The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that God knew about our predicament beforehand AND did something perfectly perfect about it. It does not mean it is a walk in the park for those who follow Christ but at least they know they are not going through their trials for nothing.

There is no shortage of horrors in this fallen world and the persistent demand for answers puts pressure on church leaders to come-up with some rather wacky theologies which in turn filter out in the broader community and give Christianity a very bad name.

People pray earnestly for someone to be cured of cancer or for a marriage to be restored and they get the exact opposite of what they prayed for. Why is God playing hide and seek? Well His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts... that's a glib answer for those who are suffering but that's where the battle is: in our minds!

It's not what happens to you that matters ultimately because by and large you have little control over it. What you have control over though is the way you handle it. Some people need to read again Pilgrim's Progress to be reminded that life is an adventure, an obstacle course, a boot camp, a refining process to bring out of you the fruit that God is after.

What? Do you mean that God is letting me be crushed just to see how I still worship Him through the ordeal? That is something only you can settle for yourself. Remember that God let His Son be crushed for you so that by a divine exchange the punishment that fell on Christ paid for your eternal life in heaven.

If you care to look around there are scores of people who are worse off than you and do not complain. When it says "take up your cross" it means you have a cross to carry that is just the right size for you. You will not be tested beyond what you can bear. Have you noticed that blind people have an acute 3 dimensional sense of hearing? Have you noticed that deaf people can lip read? And so on... whatever you trial is God is sovereign and does not owe you an explanation. Your mission is to move along in your journey and give glory to God in a way that only you can. One day you will slip into eternity, it will be all over and your reward will be there. Remember we are only here for a short while - so make the most of the opportunity so you can hear the words "well done, good and faithful servant."

Seeking all hypochondriacs

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100

The ready supply of private health insurance has fuelled a whole pseudo-medical industry bent on making a quid out of patients whether they are sick or not.

There is no shortage of new inventions: after the hip replacement (very hip!) you can go for the knee replacement, the bionic ear, the pacemaker or the colostomy bag.

You are bound to meet new monsters at a hospital near you. Dr Frankenstein and his associates are working overtime to maim the human race of whatever dignity we have left.

If inserting foreign objects inside the human body is not repulsive enough you can still apply for endoscopy with live video monitor to see under sedation how things are going inside your guts...

What about pre-screening? Marketing studies demand that we plan ahead to create enough sick people to keep our medical profession gainfully employed in years to come. The fear of prostrate or breast cancer is a great scare tactic. An inconclusive diagnosis calls for more tests which of course mean more income for the people who make those tests. A conflict of interest if there was ever one.

"I thought there was a shortage of nurses in hospitals?" No, that only applies to public hospitals. In private hospitals you can ask (and pay) for a private room where nurses wear revealing outfits. (It increases the recovery rate in males I am told but also the incidence of heart failure for some unknown reason...)

Market studies have found that as people live longer there is a growing population of geriatrics consumers that euthanasia would seek to eliminate.

People get plenty of time in retirement homes to ponder on our reason for living on earth and how to prepare for a second, third or fourth life in outer space.

The incidence of mental illness is on the rise as this secret is not so well kept and the working classes discover to their horror the bleak future that awaits them.

As the birth rate drops to an abysmal low there won't be enough taxpayers in the future to fund this looming medical bill. So governments open wide the doors of immigration hoping enough people will agree that the grass is greener on our side of the fence.

If you follow the money trail you will find that dentists are the major shareholders in candy manufacturers, neurosurgeons in mobile phones, pulmonologists in cigarettes, toxicologists in peanut butter and orthopedic practitioners in sports sponsorships.

Nevertheless there are many dedicated doctors who put their patients welfare ahead of their own interest. How can you spot them? Simple: Make a dash to the reserved car spaces where physicians have their name plate. If you spot a regular vehicle rather than the lastest flashy whiz-bang luxury model then you will feel more confident in submitting to that scalpel.

Dr Dolittle commented:
If you are a medico you are bound to be offended by this. If your quality of life has been improved by those technological advances you will beg to differ. Humour is a dicey thing. You can't get everyone to laugh at your jokes all the time. Stand up comics know the time to sit down.

Is the Bible more Up-to-date than your Newscast?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100

News can only tell us about things that have already happened. Even though the report about Osama Bin Laden assassination spread like a wild fire nobody had foreknowledge of it apart from a restricted few.

Now you can join the inner circle, read Psalm 83:

O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish."Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more."With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you - the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like refuse on the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, "Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God." Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD-- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Hordes of Muslims are gathering to march into Israel on May 15th. Israel will be scrutinized and blamed for any mishap in their handling of the situation.

For the record after the January 2010 targeted killing of senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, one of the group's founders and its top weapons buyer Israel was vilified by numerous countries around the world for the killing. But when the US nabs Bin Laden people dance in the streets. Isn't that double standard?

Never mind - we know that Israel will be left alone to fend for itself. The Jews will learn to put their hope in Jehovah. Their Messiah is unflustered, working things out for them to a tight schedule. Israel is the apple of God's eye. Touch Israel and you unleash the fury of God. Take your seats, folks we are in for some fireworks - or rather get on your knees and travail into intercessory prayer.

William commented:
The event passed without registering much interest in the media. Still about 20 poeple paid with theyr lives for being so brazen as to challenge Israel territorial sovereignty.

Powder Keg in the Middle East

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Young adults throughout North Africa and the Middle East are revolting against decades-old dictatorships. They aspire for a western lifestyle and democratic values. Unfortunately the only democracy that has existed for 50 years in the Middle-East is Israel. Democracy is a foreign concept to a Muslim mindset. In politics like in physics there is no such thing as a vacuum. If you overthrow something - it has to be instantly replaced by something else.

What would be cause for celebration and jubilation could also turn into a nasty nightmare. The Jews in Tel-Aviv are sitting tight wondering what may come out of all of this. Iran might be very busy in the wings propping-up the Muslim Brotherhood to take power in countries like Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Syria - we know of their influence in Lebanon.

So instead of opening up to the West those Muslim countries might be thrust into Islamic theocracies were Iran seeks to duplicate itself and encircle Israel. A much worse scenario than turning a blind eye to abuse of human rights as long as we can buy cheap petrol...

Europe is aghast at the migration flow crossing the Mediterranean Sea with anything that can float. The civil war in Libya drags on and NATO plays it safe by not getting involved on the ground.

Are things getting better or worse? The US dollar is plummeting. Another earthquake, another tsunami, another tornado, another blizzard, another flood, another volcanic erruption and re-insurance companies will become insolvent. Is this the future we wanted our children to inherit? Can young couples afford a home of their own? As consumers we were lured to consume - suddenly we are told to stop consuming energy; supposedly the weather depends on it... The divorce rate is at its highest, mental illnesses are on the rise. The perfect storm for people to cry out to God and say enough is enough - we can't bear it anymore.

This could be the scene for the last wholesale revival before the return of Jesus Christ to earth as promised in the Old Testament prophets. God seems to use Jerusalem as a beacon for what takes place spiritually in the church at large.

In the meantime the Palestinians are being used as political football to portray Israel in the worst possible light. There is enough wealth and opulence in Dubai to relocate them all. Instead labour comes far and wide all the way from India, Pakistan and the Philippines to build the highest tower and an air-conditioned ski slope in the middle of the desert.

No - obviously the issue is a protracted land claim over Jerusalem where the Jewish temple will eventually be rebuilt so that the Antichrist can setup his abomination there.

eMania Tag Cloud

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Just stick the character e or @ in front of a name and instantly create your own keyword for instant recognition!

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Lawlessness looming

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100

How far can authorities go before they push us over the edge? It seems that the goal of local, state and federal governments is to regulate and interfere with 100% of our lives.

If you think you own a block of land - think again: who really owns it? You cannot burn rubbish in an incinerator, you do not own the minerals below the ground, you can be fined for not walking your dog, and you cannot modify your home or build an extra room without running foul of a myriad of regulations!

If the economy wasn't bad enough, if the turmoil in employment was abating - but no - the authorities have decided to increase the pressure on us rather than easing our pain.

This is exactly the scenario which led to the sovereign debt default in Greece. The government sector became so out of touch with those who had to produce value to make a living that tax evasion and corruption became rampant.

There is a real danger in the western world that over-regulation will bring down the local authorities and everybody will do as they please.

It's all a grab for money as local governments are struggling to manage their budget. Some local councils have doubled the proceeds from parking fines in just one year. Speed cameras were also notorious to add to government coffers. To make sure you get it wrong there are speed limits at every 10 km/h from 40 km/h to 110 km/h. How can you remember which speed zone you currently are in? Can the cruise control in your car synchronise with it?

Add to that the ineptitude of some town planners who turn our suburban street into an obstacle course. More and more concrete appears in the middle of the road. Speed humps, roundabouts, yes your head is spinning...

The reason there are so many dogs around is not that people love pets and get closure with man's best friend - the real reason is for personal safety. Women feel safe being escorted by a hound. Folks sleep peacefully thinking a bark will prevent them from being murdered in the night.

Once upon a time there were government-owned enterprises. (Some countries do not levy taxes because they have enough revenue of their own. They are called tax heaven and it's very hard to take up citizenship there). These monopolies provided income for the authorities, employment for some, every taxpayer was a shareholder.

The irony is that as people have become more and more selfish and expect the government to fix every possible issue they will have to wake-up to the chaos and meet their neighbours. Once someone becomes passionate enough about an issue and a groundswell of concern snowballs through social media a rally will take place. There has been some remarkable success stories along those lines but don't expect everything to be sorted out like that all by itself. The abdication of governments in handing over social and welfare programs to charities as well as selling utilities to private concerns is a clear sign of trouble ahead.

What is micro-finance?

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100

"Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for one day. Teach a man how to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime." Poverty does not mean that people are clueless, lazy slobs who deserve to remain so. Poverty can come unexpectedly through natural or personal tragedy. Every poor person still has the breath of life and some human dignity which can bounce them back into a worthwhile existence. Micro-finance can be such a trigger.

Banks are by nature risk-adverse and like to give loans to those who knock on their door and already have money. On the other hand micro-finance providers seek out those who need to be pulled out of poverty and offer them the cash and expertise to reach an achievable goal. 97% of micro-finance clients repay their loan on time which would leave the banking sector green with envy if they knew what goes on beyond their marketing radar. When you live in the mist of abuse, corruption, loan sharks and the like you want to make a good impression in the community who reached out to you with such a lifeline. Suffering causes people to appreciate opportunities that come their way.

Micro-finance stands out from charity because it's not an open-ended transaction devoid of accountability. It is an investment in a community where funds are being recycled again when loans are being repaid. Paying off your loan puts you in good standing with yourself and the community. It also gives a chance for someone else to have a go with the same capital that got you out of your hole.

Micro-finance has its enemies where it exposes and upsets cosy arrangements of slavery, abuse and exploitation. Women turn to micro-finance to escape forced prostitution. Displaced minority groups bounce back into a normal existence.
Corrupt government cronies hate it because they cannot take their cut. They resort to tactics of slander to cast a slur on the white man who comes to colonise and alienate local institutions with his Judeo-Christian values.

Micro-finance takes its name from the ridiculously low amounts lent by western standards. US $50 to $100 can allow someone to buy a goat and have an ongoing supply of milk and cheese to feed their family and sell the surplus on the market. Those loans are usually repaid within 6 months. Another reason why traditional banks stay well clear of that market is because whether the loan is for $100 or $10,000 their processing costs are the same. Traditional lending without collateral is the realm of credit cards. We can guess how many divorces have been caused by encouraging wild spending and so the social responsibility of the established banking sector is something shareholders do not care about.

Micro-financiers on the other hand have a vision to seek out those lost in a woeful plight. They are experts in operating through local churches who identify the needs on the ground. They are highly creative in coming up with schemes that involve local channels of authority. They boost local productivity through simple technical advances or basic hygiene and nutrition standards. Micro-loan clients are not left to their own devices but are being supported and monitored through their local community.

Find out more at www.opportunity.org.au

What Will Tomorrow Bring?

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Can the world continue merrily like this or are we on the brink of the abyss? Let me take 10 key factors that converge in the start of this 21st century and may point to the fact that our merry-go-round may eventually jam up in the next few years.

I would even go further and state that there is nothing we can do about our poor state of affairs and that the aftermath is to be embraced rather than feared. This is not a "doom and gloom" message but a "watch this space" message.

1- Family under attack

Birth rates so low western civilisation extinct in 20 years
Divorce so high one child in two raised in broken home

2- Steady increase in natural disasters

Floods, droughts, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis
Epidemics HIV, SARS, swine flu

3- Rampant lawlessness

Powerful organised crime syndicates
Corporate regulators asleep at the wheel
Piracy at sea

4- Fear mongering

Weapons of mass destruction
Global warming
Dieting and cancer fads

5- Apostasy in the church

Doctrinal tangents
Homosexuals appointed as clergy
Clergy caught in child abuse

6- Moral decay

Legal system devoid of Judeo-Christian values
Litigation as a lifestyle
Employees replaced by contractors
Lavishing on pets and ignoring people
Sport, entertainment and leisure as life pursuits

7- Tampering with life

Race for the human genome
Genetically modified crops

8- Lack of leadership

Minority rules - everyone as they please
Weakened western democracies
Scene set for a totalitarian regime coup

9- Nuclear threat

Iran double minded attitude
North Korea's brinkmanship
Pakistan instability

10- Meddling in Middle East affairs

Western leaders eager to score a peace treaty
Israel neighbours reject Israel right to exist
Temple Institute ready to rebuild Solomon's temple

It is pretty obvious by now that we are on a collision course and that several things have gone well past the point of no return.

This is a challenge to be embraced with both arms. A chance to make every day we have left count. It is appointed for each to die once and then give an account of our life. Will you have a good story to tell? Who will be your attorney? Mine is Jesus Christ to find out more check out witness4christ.net

God tells us in the Bible about a period of time called "the last days". It has an uncanny similarity to the 10 points above. It also mentions it is futile to try to guess the exact time. Rather we are supposed to continue to do good and remain in a state of readiness. Are you ready?

Desperate for purpose and significance

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100

Have you ever had a job interview only to discover that the employer spent the allocated 10 minutes only to focus on your negatives? The name of their game was 'last person standing' and in order to thin down a shortlist of 10 applicants they were quite willing to waste the time of nine people and humiliate them to pick that so-called perfect candidate who may only stay in the job for a short while...

People question "Can you do this?" or "Can you do that?" really treating you like a gizmo trying to see if you would fit with their style of furniture. I'd prefer if people ask me "Would you like to do this?" or "Would you like to do that?" implying "Would you be challenged and motivated by our corporate goals and would you like to walk some of the journey with us?"

Today's corporate goals pale into insignificance in the light of the values we had some time ago. Today's business ethos is like "Maximizing corporate profits (at the expense of customers, suppliers and employees if we can get away with it)"

20 years ago corporate goals were just like "To release our workforce full potential and be a beacon of strength and reliability in the marketplace as a result". In this by-gone era people had the concept of a social balance sheet. Employers took full responsibility for the welfare and professional development of all those who gave them their working life.

Large companies provided not just employment but also education, housing and health services. The human resources department was planning people's careers from teller to director. Promotion was awarded to acknowledge the good and reliable service of long standing employees. Newcomers had to prove themselves and did not bypass the ranks.

Then greed moved in and strikes took place. The unions demands pushed many manufacturing jobs offshore. Consumers bought foreign goods never questioning why they were cheaper than locally made ones. Nobody dared to say out loud that is was so because labour rates in third world countries were so low it was equivalent to slavery. (Child labour in India is still an issue).

To finish full circle now we are facing significant illegal immigration in the US, Europe and Australia supposing we could offload our labour market issues offshore. Only it's coming back with a vengeance.

Is God in the earthquake and the tsunami?

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1100

If God is full of love and compassion as the Christian Gospel claims how come He kills innocent victims through natural disasters?

Fair questions - but not every question bears a direct answer. There are the things that we know - and the things we do not know.

We know that our sojourn down here is limited. So whether you die in an earthquake or tsunami or fire or epidemic or quietly in your bed in a retirement home - the fact is: you have to die of something.

We also know that just as our parents could not predict precisely our date of birth - we are powerless to know when is our time to depart - unless we commit suicide, which is not a good idea (I'll explain why later...) So you either die when your heart naturally stops beating or your depart with a bang in some accident - only two choices...

We also know that where our treasure is, there our heart is also. So if you labour all your life to get a better car, a better house, a better superannuation - those things have the knack to cling onto you and you are in bondage to them. On the other hand if you build a treasure in heaven for yourself where rust doesn't corrode and moths do not eat away, then you are looking forward to the time when you will step into eternity and it will be a celebration - not a lament.

We know from those who had a near death and an out of the body experience that the moment your soul departs from your body you feel no pain. We also know that Jesus Christ went ahead of us into heaven to prepare a place for us. We are told that God will give us the desire of our hearts.

Quite frankly you'd better do your homework and find out everything you should know by now about heaven and what the preconditions to get there are. I can assure you it is a much, much, much better place that here and you should do your utmost to get your citizenship there for eternity.

In the meantime we have work to do down here. Work to do good and as the body of Christ on this earth it is our corporate duty to reflect God everlasting love and compassion to our fellow man. That will build up your bank account upstairs. Not that anyone can buy their salvation by good deeds - it is a free gift by faith. But once you are on the winning team you want to put your shoulder to the wheel and help give people a glimpse of heaven by displaying altruistic motives.

Oh, by the way, did you know that when God created mankind, we screwed up and handed over our dominion of the earth to the devil, the enemy of our soul? So get insurance companies to re-write their fine-print contracts by crossing out "acts of God" when they mean to exclude natural disasters from your policy!

So by now you understand that God does not kill innocent people through natural disasters. Instead people are called to give an account of their lives at a time they do not control. That's why we tell you to get ready and get right with God. If you think it is unfair for children to be snatched away you have no clue what God has in store for them. You should trust Him implicitly because the divine exchange that took place at the cross of Calvary is a perfect sacrifice that provides everything.

Because we are creatures of God our own lives do not even belong to us - committing suicide is the fastest way to go to hell. People do it when they are driven to utter despair (what the enemy of our soul wants to achieve). Instead you should throw yourselves into the arms of a loving and merciful God who didn't even spare His own Son to die a death we should have died so that in exchange we could partake in His eternal life.

So is God in the earthquake and the tsunami? He is everywhere at once and nothing escapes His knowledge. God is sovereign which means He is not accountable to us - instead we are accountable to Him. Denying that is called rebellion and is the root cause of our condition as human beings. We have a built-in propensity to turn our back on God and dare to be independent of Him. That condition is called sin. Our challenge here on earth is to overcome this separation and come back into the right relationship with God. Wouldn't you like to have as a friend no other than the One who created the universe? Don't you think it would take you eternity to ask Him questions and for Him to show you a few tricks? So start that relationship on the right foot today.

Find out more about Christian values at http://witness4christ.net

Creation Without a Creator - The Deception of Ignoring God

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1100

If you ever get a chance to get out of your high rise building and get away from all the trappings of man-made things you will encounter a peculiar experience. There are things out there that grow, thrive and reproduce without money or electricity. There is an infinite variety of species - none is trademarked or copyrighted.

God doesn't have to prove Himself to us. He transcends time and travels eternity. Only those who reach out to Him find Him. You can delude yourself and miss out on the relationship of a lifetime.

Yet some have invented some clever theories to backup their unbelief. Evolution is tantamount to saying that if you try enough times you can reproduce the complete edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica by detonating a bomb in a print shop.

Others have erred the other way saying that any scientific discovery that's not found in the bible is a fraud. The issue is that the bible is God's love letter to mankind - not a treatise on thermo-dynamics. Surely God would want to keep a few things to Himself so that we don't wreck the planet ahead of time...

As it turns out some recent assessments on the nature of particles within the atom (the smallest form of matter), have concluded that matter is essentially a vibration. So we have gone full circle since Genesis tells us that God spoke and then the world was made.

Try to speak your next car into existence. Yet this is exactly what some Christians are doing with various degrees of success. The power of proclamation is to understand that God's word in your mouth is as powerful as God's word in His mouth. Jesus gave us a stark demonstration of this as He spoke to the wind and waves to calm the storm.

The trick there is to understand what is involved in the power of proxy when we utter a prayer in Jesus' name. This comes naturally when we spend time in worship basking in the presence of God. All selfish motives are burned up and we have a new prayer language to utter inexpressible things back to God. If you have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues this is something to eagerly seek after. God is sovereign as to how He deals with people. Some folks had that experience at salvation, others while being water baptized, others still after years of opposition to the experience chose to let down their guard and let God invade their world.

To find out more about Christian values check out http://witness4christ.net

Greenhouse gas emissions - the issue of global misguidance

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1100

How long shall we put up with bureaucrats and pseudo-scientists who want to save us from the end of the world? When shall we be taxed for the air we breathe?

So the world temperature is rising? You should be pleased you're going to save on your heating bill.

There is a conspiracy to tax farmers for each head of cattle unless they are carbon neutral. What does carbon neutral mean? Carbon comes in two forms: graphite and diamonds. A carbon neutral person doesn't mind either way. Try to propose to a woman with a pencil instead of a diamond ring to find out her neutrality...

The media is working overtime for mass indoctrination. We are all world citizens now. And if we fail there is a spaceship to take us to Mars.

There are still cracks in the environmentalists' agenda. How come they can't get the petrol lobby on board? Where is that ever prevailing electric car that was supposed to clear the air and cancel our dependence on foreign oil? People put solar panels on their roof but where are the batteries to store the power during daylight and consume it at night? There are scores of new building regulations everywhere but where are the incentives to provide power points in parking lots to recharge our commuting vehicles? Where is the smart business mogul with the marketing flair to provide a network of service stations with hot battery swap for long haul travellers?

Listen to the pundits' skewed rationalizations at the next earthquake, tsunami, eclipse of the sun, flu pandemic, bushfire, flood, meteoric attack, etc... The show has just started. Make sure you have a good seat. The program says "I will shake the heavens and the earth so that what cannot be shaken will remain."

So should we just watch and laugh at them? No, we should offer compassion to the victims and support to the dislocated. There are enough casualties of unemployment, divorce and homelessness to keep us busy. Some will return to God, others will wave their fist in defiance. This generation has not known the horrors of World War II or the despair of the Great Depression. If history has a habit a repeating itself we are heading for a showdown. A new church will arise out of a great revival as people's experience of God will be so real. The only person who can save us from our sins is God Himself. Nothing takes Him by surprise and He provided the perfect answer in the person of His Son Jesus Christ.

To find out more about Christian values check out http://witness4christ.net

For more insanities like this check out the author's website at BrunoDeshayes.com

Rotund and podgy - tipping the scales with abandon

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1100

In the future you will recall with wonder the bad old days when you used to push your weight around the place. But right now, what about some more mash potatoes? Or some beef sausages with gravy?

In your kingdom people refer to you as "Your Fatness" or "Your Roundness". Wherever you go you cannot be conspicuous. You could have a car especially modified for you. It could be a pickup truck with a 3 seater bench seat. The dashboard would be re-engineered so that the steering wheel would be in the middle. That way the car would not lean to one side because of the weight of the driver inside.

When you travel by train you can buy two tickets so that you can use up two seats.

When you visit a backyard swimming pool party you offer to be the last one to enter the pool. People marvel at your ability to displace water as you immerse yourself. The host delights at the overflow which waters the surrounding grass.

One day you became self-conscious at the little hippopotamus tattooed on your flabby arm. You made the decision it wasn't worth entering the Guinness Book of Records. Instead of carrying your supplies wherever you go, you chose to save on your food bill. You were confronted with the photos of starving children in Africa.

You felt convicted when you heard about greenhouse gas emissions. To be politically correct you painted your outside dunny green.

Suddenly the day of reckoning took place. One day you will have to give an account for your life. Being a slave to your appetite was a bondage worth breaking. Jesus Christ came into your life and re-arranged the furniture around. You snapped out of a destructive mindset. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus comes that you may have life and have it more abundantly.

You discover that the smell of French fries and charcoal cooked meat puts you off as you now munch on a carrot and a celery stick. Worshipping God is the one thing that truly satisfies. Your life now has a purpose since you are no longer living for yourself but to serve Him who redeemed you from the clutches of addiction. As you spend time reading the Scriptures you gather recipes to make your life count in a hurting world. You have re-connected with your Maker. Creator and creation in one accord.

Things to Learn From the Recession

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1100

The last World War finished in 1945. Baby boomers are entering retirement. Who is left to teach us how to cope with adversity?

Advertising puts words in our mouth that say: "I want it - and I want it now!" do you realise there was a time where credit cards were not around. When you wanted to buy something beyond your weekly budget you had to save for it. Like a home or an automobile. You had plenty of time to sort out in your mind what was a worthwhile goal as opposed to the "I-want-it-now" impulsive desire.

Take a sabbatical. Sometimes it's good to shut down the clamour and get to listen to your own silence. Move up to a higher plane and sort out the trash from the important.

It is difficult to save when you don't know what your weekly or monthly budget is. It is impossible to maintain your resolve against all the temptations flying your way. You have to do your homework and be quite certain in your mind why a given goal is important to you and why it deserves the resources set aside for it.

It is amazing how creative and diligent people become in their time of lack. Likewise it is sickening to see how people are sloppy and degenerate when they have too much. There is also a law at work here. The more tight-fisted you become, the more your resources seem to dwindle. The more aware of the plight of others around you, then the more you seem to be able to channel help through your hands...

The recession is a wake-up call for many. You can no longer assume that the good times will keep rolling on just because you think you deserve it.

Living in abundance is easy although somewhat unchallenging. Real men are to be found wherever there is a challenge to meet. Real women are to be found sticking by their mate through what may come. If she left at the first sign of disruption then she probably didn't belong to you in the first place.

Adversity has the knack of sorting out the real people from the fakes. Reading the biographies of great achievers you find many were not born with a silver spoon and had their share of hardship.

So if things just do not pan out the way you want - brace yourself and stand-up. Your opportunity might just be in seeing yourself through it...

Don't just wish for things. Make them happen. Wise Accounts is an online tool to manage your finances while
Goal Setter is another online tool to document and track your progress towards your goals. Take advantage of these resources.

The Cost of Globalisation

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1100

To forfeit your sovereignty as a nation is something people used to go to war about. Today it is happening all around the world in nibble-sized bites. People don't even realise we have given away our independence.

The deception is quite subtle. Inflation erodes our purchasing power. Workers demand higher wages. Factories close down. Manufacturing goes overseas. Foreign labour is cheap and abundant. We import what we used to make ourselves.

Globalisation is not just an economic issue. Have you noticed the trend to amalgamate all religions into one? If you don't stand for something, you will accept anything. People are becoming worn-out by perpetual tensions and may give up their traditional values for the sake of keeping the peace. But you would not really call that peace - more like bullying, intimidation, pressure, power play, etc...

There has been a massive influx of migration into the western world. The argument is that since our birth rate is so low that we face extinction in the next 20 years, governments have resolve to borrow new taxpayers from overseas to pay for our looming old age pensions.

Never mind what sort of work they will find when they get here. Labour governments indulge in a massive civil service. Or they might re-create a new cottage industry to cater for their own traditional needs. There is a booming market for Islamic clothing in Britain.

In turn this creates a melting pot of civilizations. You can travel the whole world without leaving your home city. Restaurants of all persuasions will train you to foreign tastes and exotic flavours. Unheard of music permeates through our suburbs.

Sport and art are used to mend disparate cultures. The world soccer cup in South Africa and the Commonwealth Games in India have showcased how nations will live together in harmony in the new world order.

The volcanic eruption in Iceland which closed all of Europe's airspace has demonstrated what an intertwined economy we live in. Because certain parts made in Ireland were unavailable the Nissan car plant in Japan stopped to a standstill.

This is the great global village we were promised. This is even so visible on the internet where one player in a given market can quickly rise to prominence at the expense of everyone else in that field.

We know we should not trust politicians - yet their agendas go unchecked. You would think different interests would counter-balance each other yet they all seem to pull in the same direction - the direction where we don't want to go.

You are witnessing the birth pains of a new civilization, a new world order. When you finally see what it is, I don't think you're going to like it - but it will be too late.

For an expose of Christian values click here

Contentment - the antidote to the rat race

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1100

More is better, so you think. But why are you never satisfied? Why is the goal post changing all the time? Taking stock and enjoying what you have now might save you some headaches later on.

Responding to every stimulation that comes you way is a sure way to lose control of your life. If you do not have set goals in writing the world around you is sure to get you to chase after the wrong things - ultimately at a cost you cannot afford (time and money).

Why not be happy with what you have now? Why not enjoying your existence and foster your relationships (something you cannot buy with money but with time only).

You only get one crack at living your life on earth - and as you already have noticed, life flies like an arrow. So you might as well make the most of it. Setting some directions and some goals is not as difficult as you might think.

It just happens that each one of us is wired to resonate with certain issues which we were created for. Due to your upbringing or your environment there are things in this world that you can become passionate about. Some achievement you would like to be remembered for.

Short of entering politics or climbing the ranks of the trade union there are worthwhile goals you can dedicate your life to - raising children in a safe and uplifting environment would be one!

You may not have the right connections but doors do open if you care to knock. Have you considered donating your time as a volunteer and serve your community? People will respect you for your choices and your altruistic motives.

Suddenly what used to shine as a must-have in your mind now fades away in comparison to something more fulfilling and more long term.

Another by-product of being focused for something worthwhile is that you will start to mingle with like-minded people. Do not neglect fellowship with folks who share your ideals.

You will discover that life is not a shopping mall but a fight for the control of your mind. Forces are at play to get you to compromise your standards and get sidetracked on all sorts of make-me-feel-good side issues.

Like a sailor at sea you need to keep your bearings through hail, rain or shine. Reaching your first destination will be a boost to your self-esteem and your self worth. Having completed your first achievement, do not rest on your laurels. Take a sabbatical, look around for the next worthy cause and take the challenge.

For a tool to reach your goals by managing your time and resources click here

Fred B. commented:
Taking stock of where you spend your time will reveal what are the things you value the most - be it relationships, making yourself feel good or just hoarding money...

Are We Sitting on a Volcano Waiting to Erupt?

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1100

There are some telling signs that people at large are being pushed to the limit. Some are shrugging it off saying that sunshine always comes after the rain. But is that good enough?

How much can a man bear? How much nonsense, how much rejection, how much misfortune can you handle?

People drink themselves to a stupor, drugs abound, pornography is everywhere. What are people running away from?

By and large people are trying to escape from an unfulfilled life - a life of put-downs, violence, unfair competition, disloyalty and betrayal. In the 1950s people would settle a real-estate transaction on a handshake - that was the level of trust then. Sounds surreal, doesn't it?

Politicians have demonstrated their ineptitude at addressing poverty - and now they would have us believe they can change the weather?

So what is the missing ingredient? It is man trying to run his life independently of God. There is a direct correlation between our social and moral woes and the systematic removal of Judeo-Christian standards from our institutions.

Without the inspiration of Scripture there is no longer a plumbline to build our lives. Everyone do as they please. God will respect your choices. You no longer want to live under His blessing? Fine - see how you go when He removes His hand of protection over us. That works for individuals and nations just the same.

There is some hope though in this scenario. People can no longer sit on the fence. They will have to make a choice for God or against God. As people's priorities are being exposed those who have altruistic motives are standing out like beacons in the darkness.

When I committed my life to serve the Lord Jesus Christ some 20 years ago I was shocked that by implication there was an enemy of my soul, the devil who was out there to destroy me. In fact if I did nothing I was already playing his scheme as I was missing out on the redemptive work of Christ on Calvary.

Christians are not going to be immune from the upheaval unfolding. But at least they know why they are going through this. They can focus on the prize which makes it all worthwhile. They know there are not on this earth by accident but they have their role to play to be a reliable witness of the treasure they have inside.

To find out more about Christian values check out http://witness4christ.net

Healing Power of Laughter

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1100

If you can cut through the noise of New Age vendors peddling their latest fads in Vanity Fair you will find that God gave us a great circuit-breaker: laughter. Indeed something to laugh about.

Besides what a chuckle can do to your body it has some profound ramifications for our soul. Recently a woman was instantly healed of a chipped bone in her knee at a John Mellor healing service and she laughed out of control under the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is interested in stretching us to build up our faith. The soul kicks up a fuss demanding reasons and logical explanations. God wants us to laugh with Him at our pitiful frame of mind.

Humour has its victims. It's great to laugh at political figures in a satirical magazine but don't try it on your spouse or children unless you have their consent. Too much teasing and you can ruin a relationship. The best jokes are the shortest. The best pranks are those where the victim chooses to laugh too.

So why do we take ourselves too seriously? What prevents us from laughing at ourselves? Probably pride and a misplaced sense of self-worth.

How do comedians come up with their one-liners? The ability to look at the same reality as us with a different set of eyes.

One ingredient missing in many people's lives is joy. Being one of the three tenets of Christian living (love, joy, peace), joy allows us to see a situation from a higher plane.

Humour occurs when we identify the plight of someone else bound by fears we do not have. Seeing a woman standing on a table, armed with a broomstick and screaming is laughable when you consider her ordeal was caused by a little rodent escaping from the pantry.

She might not enjoy your delight as you witness her time of distress. If you depend on her to raise your children and cook your meal you might have to go into damage control.

For her the breakthrough would come when she realises how her reaction is overbearing compared to the threat of a mouse. You could earn some brownie points by buying her a cat.

How can we so readily laugh at others but not at ourselves? There must be some spiritual mirror out there that could disclose our condition to ourselves. In fact there is indeed such a book inspired by our Maker. It's called the Bible and it is full of epics, poetry, adventures, treatises. It's God's love letter to mankind where He shares with us a piece of His mind about our pitiful behaviour. It is good reading in case you don't know what sort of mouse you are going to encounter next.

To find out more about Christian values check out http://witness4christ.net

Bangles and high heel shoes - how women like to bring attention to themselves

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1000

Making a discreet noise to get yourself noticed in a social setting is one way to go about it. But does the sought-after male respond to those clues anymore?

There will be a time when the best talked about strategies will stop to work. What will you do then? Are you striving so hard that you have lost your identity and don't know who you are anymore? Trying to emulate the top models in glossy magazines might work if your field is fashion, but what about real life?

In your attempt to land Mr Perfect you will come across many duds. What is your definition of love? Here is one that comes to mind (I will let you guessing for a while as to where it comes from):

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

If love has failed you in the past the paragraph above seems to come from another planet. It does not mention about bangles and high heels though. In fact it seems to negate everything about self-promotion and highlight the benefits of having a servant heart. Would that be what every real-man out there is desperate to find?

Would it be that you have been searching in all the wrong places? Have you been fishing with the wrong bait, in the wrong stream, ignoring the tides and the currents?

The way to find true love is to see it in action. A real man will wear his values on his sleeve. Check out those who offer their time and labour as a volunteer with altruistic motives. The best way to come across men with a big heart is to mingle in your local community looking for opportunities to do good. Do you hear of people who go out of their way to help someone in need? Handing out cash is easy, giving of your time and substance is what is building bridges.

So instead of trawling facebook checking out your so-called friends relationship status why not entering the real world. Relationships come naturally to those who share a common goal, a common purpose. The way someone treats strangers and people in need is the way he is going to treat you also in the long run.

To find out more click http://witness4christ.net

(The passage above is found in the Bible, book of First Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 4 to 7.)

Tattoo mania - is it pointing to something else?

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000

Wearing a tattoo is a casual thing these days but has it some spiritual connotation? The practice found in Polynesia by explorers spread through the maritime community back to Europe.

Inmates in Nazi concentration camps were tattooed for identification. Cattle are branded with a hot iron on their hide for the same reason.

Tattoos are a rite of passage for motorcycle gangs, and organised crime in Russia and Japan.. It is widespread in the US and British military. Because of its permanent nature it is used as a mark of allegiance or as a memorial (deceased loved one initials). Women like to wear airbrushed temporary stencils tattoos to attract the gaze of males onto their body.

The Bible prohibits tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 yet Christian in Egypt wear a Coptic cross on their right wrist and children in Bosnia during Turkish occupation were tattooed to prevent conversion to Islam.

Tattoos had a resurgence through the pop culture with Janis Joplin. In 2004 it was found that 36% of Americans ages 18-29 had a tattoo.

Could a form of tattoo be used as a biometric authentication? It is already done for cats and dogs as a microchip implant under the skin.

It is plausible that the current craze with tattoos could be a worldwide softening of the public opinion to usher in the famous mark of the beast - a form of identification imposed by a future world leader (the antichrist). Without it you are barred from electronic banking. That could easily happen when the completion of globalization will usher a single world currency.

It is noteworthy that the 3 religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism all oppose taking a mark on your body. So this antichrist will have a very compelling argument indeed since he will finally make Israel sign a 7 years peace treaty with its neighbors - something that scores of American presidents or European leaders have never been able to achieve despite trying so hard...

The worldwide fear mongering about terrorism is another trend that could force authorities to clamp down on credit card fraud and identity theft. You can see how the proponents of a universal identity scheme could have an easy ride. People change names through marriage and divorce, people change addresses so often, people change email addresses and telephone numbers. Impersonating someone else has never been so easy. Entire databases have been compromised. False passports become more sophisticated. Everything is pointing to some resolution of the human identification issue. Will you be still around when the antichrist has his way, or will you be a candidate for the rapture?

To find out more click http://witness4christ.net

Are you angry with God?

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000

"If God is who he is, how come there is such misery in the world?" But why not say: "If the devil should be exposed for what he does, how come we are not all annihilated by now?" Like it or not, like every one of us you were born in the midst of a spiritual conflict in a grand scale. Believing in nothing is by default towing the enemy's line - the enemy of your soul that is.

Blaming God for the bad things that happened to you is a sure way to alienate yourself from a worthwhile relationship with no other than the creator of the universe. Ponder that for a little while...

"Where was God when I needed Him?" You are a widow or a widower, a divorcee, a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, a blind person groping in the dark, or just a human being with an unfulfilled existence - things didn't quite work out for you...

It is quite easy to dismiss what you don't understand. Yet the existence of God is so obvious that a young child can grasp it. Furthermore, the innocence of a child is the fertile ground for that relationship to blossom...

So what is the cause for plight of mankind? Enters a three letter word starting with S. Not sex, sorry to disappoint you but SIN. Yes sin is what causes us to wallow in our own spiritual vomit. Sin is that something ingrained into every human being that seeks rebellion from God and the desire to do our own thing.

That is the root cause of all evil and while you can't do much about the sin of other people you can do something about your own. God in His compassion has provided a full remedy for our predicament. The fulfilment of which takes place in eternity - not in the finite earthly age we live in, hence the confusion.

Have you noticed how time flies? What is the point of being wealthy and at ease in a world that is falling apart before our very eyes? Would you rather be transposed in a world where there is no sickness, no theft, no mistrust, no accident, no pain, no loneliness, no anger, no upheaval - and yes, no unbelief?

Enters another five letter word starting with F. Not fame, not fight, not forgery but FAITH. Faith is your rite of passage from this world we'd rather forget about onto the next. So how come those who believe are still here rather than being transported overnight?

Again the corporate body of believers in Jesus Christ are called "the body of Christ". If they operate under the influence of the Holy Spirit (the third person in the Godhead) they are here to do God's work to witness, disciple, fellowship and worship according to their calling.

So back to the beginning. The Bible is God's love letter to mankind. He will wipe out every tear and comfort every burdened soul that calls on Him. Read it for yourself. Don't trust the commentaries of mis-informed folks. Remember the devil is the father of lies. God is able to make the Bible plain to you. There is no other chance of salvation. Will you choose to rebel forever and be destroyed - or will you call on your Saviour and be born-again into a new spiritual life?

For an expose of Christian values click here

The nuts and bolts of divine healing

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000

Why is divine healing such a hit and miss affair? Some have dismissed it altogether while others know that God is willing and able to heal His people but can't explain why they are missing out.

If you think a proper execution of the gospel of Jesus Christ would drive hospitals out of business - fear not, your job as a health professional is safe...

The issue is that healing is never an end in itself. It is one of several compassionate acts of God and a demonstration of His power. God is sovereign which means He knows better from an eternity stand point and He does not owe anybody an explanation.

People who have ministered healing in the name of Jesus Christ report having tingling feelings as they lay hands on the sick person. Those receiving the blessing report intense heat on the part of their body where healing takes place.

You cannot treat God like a vending machine - repeating a glib prayer here and thinking that would be the mystic formula to get things fixed. The flip side is that also some people have received their healing without even asking for it (for instance while praying for somebody else on the same issue...)

Always look back at the ministry of Jesus in the gospels for a precedent. The woman with the issue of blood got hold of her own healing without Jesus help. In fact He was surprised when He felt power going out of Him, turned around to see who it was.

When Jesus healed many blind people He shifted the goal post by a different process each time. He said He was only doing what the Father told Him to do.

The apostle Paul pleaded 3 times about the thorn in his flesh (we don't need to know what the exact ailment was) and the answer was quite amazing; "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

We also know that without faith it is impossible to please God. We also know that sickness originates from sin - meaning as long as we live in our carnal body, sickness, ageing, etc... will abound.

Jesus stunned the crowd when he healed the paralytic who was lowered through an opening in the roof and said: "Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up, take your mat and walk?" Healing that man was an endorsement of Jesus authority as the Son of God walking on earth. Indeed that got people's attention.

Unfortunately most focused on the healing (the temporal present comfort) and missed out on the eternal (forgiveness of sin, salvation, justification and living in heaven for the rest of eternity).

So if you think you missed out on your healing, may I say in all kindness, that's not such a big deal after all. Maybe if you have forgiven all those who have done you wrong and are free from a consciousness of sin - have another go! Some people have been healed after coming forward a great number of times and approaching God with an attitude of worship, praise and thanksgiving.

The fact is, in our finite mind we cannot grasp God's higher purpose for our lives. We will not be tested beyond what we can bear. There is a cross just the right size for each one of us to bear. You cannot join into Jesus glory if you shy away from sharing in His suffering also.

For some good life directions click here

Cyberspace Mobility

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000

The growing impact of the internet combined with an increase in mobility is bringing about some fundamental changes in our lives.

People who no longer know where they belong want to have access to various services in cyberspace. I want to review here 4 interesting services Resume Digest, Wise Accounts, Goal Setter and Log Book. This all fits around the new buzzword of cloud computing.

The naysayers brandish the spectre of Big Brother and potential loss of privacy but to no avail. The overwhelming momentum of convenience wins the day. A number of services only know you by your email address and you can change it at will (you may lose some mail in the process but who cares about the spam you missed out).

The one event that established the convenience of cyberspace for ever was the rapid uptake of internet banking. Some diehards maintain they will never use their credit card on the internet yet the rate of online shopping is climbing exponentially.

Mobility in the workplace.

Resume Digest is a software coach to roll out a customized version of your cv for each job you apply for. Because it is a web based applications people use it in a wi-fi cafe to email a PDF resume during their lunch break. They hope to get shortlisted for an interview before applications close to stop the stampede. In job search time is the essence. You may not get a chance to apply for that good job if you wait to get back home.

Mobility in a distributed business model

Wise Accounts is a typical small business accounting package with a twist. It does not run on your PC but is available to you whenever you can get on the net - even with an iPhone! So what's the big idea? Well, if you are a club or a partnership where several people need to do the bookkeeping in a timely fashion that can make the difference between having a good cashflow and having a payment defaulting.

Mobility in life coaching

Goal Setter is a mentoring and goal tracking web application. Once people are motivated to commit to set goals the coach can login prior to their weekly assessment review and discuss why some milestones have been reached and others have not. No need for a trip around town. Having access to a management tool from any location gives clients the discipline and accountability they need to turn their life around.

Mobility in Customer Relation Management

Log Book is a web application where employees can fill their timesheets at the office, at home or on-site. Clients can log in to see who is working on their job and when. The boss has an up to date dashboard of who does what and where. Transparency to customers is a powerful public relation effort. Clients don't fall off their chair when they receive their bill because they are able to monitor the hours charged in a weekly timelog format.

La queue du chat balance

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1000

A very witty rhyme French Sunday school children would recite to themselves - squirming and giggling at their creative and rebellious insight. Wait, there is more (English translation at the end):

Silence, la queue du chat balance.
Le cure dance sur un bidon d'essence.
La messe commence.

Quiet, the cat's tail swings about.
The vicar performs a dance atop a barrel of gasoline.
The mass starts.

The fact I still remember this piece of poetry 40 years later is a testimony to its enduring value.

The inference here is that as a Sunday school child, you dare not making any noises during the performance of the church service.

And a performance it was. Instead of instilling in us the fear of God it made us seek avenues to ease our boredom. The vicar could control our behaviour - he could not control our minds.

No wonder it was in my late thirties that I finally made a decision to follow Christ. Children are no fools. They can see the discrepancy of what takes place in the home, the school and the church and come to their own conclusion as to whether or not this religion plastered onto them has any value or not.

Yet God is faithful. I remember clearly an occasion where I went to confess my sins and was told that I was forgiven by God. I went that day all the way back home hop-skipping along as if I was weightless. It was a spiritual experience God did not forget either as I worshipped Him along the footpath - literally set free from sin.

The bible has much to say about how children enter the kingdom of God. In fact it says that unless we take on their innocence we will not enter.

Children have a tempering effect on adults -not always their own parents. Their joy is soothing to the soul. Their ability to take on the gospel at face value is their drawcard. Adults try to rationalize everything. Children get the gist of a parable. They like to be taught through stories.

In fact they demand to hear a lullaby as they fall asleep. At that stage many women find that if they try they do have a singing voice. As the child grows older a bedtime story is a must. Mum and Dad can take turns. The bible is replete with great bedtime stories.

As we move into adulthood the challenge is to keep that spiritual connection intact and build it up. Unfortunately many have fallen away for lack of a good mentor or simply by not exercising their faith.