It S Your Love Faith Hill

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

Almost everyone has butterflies in their stomach when their big or their wedding day gets nearer. All their preparations and practices will now become reality. The people dear to the couple will be there to witness the solemnity of the exchanging of vows. Others would hire country singers to sing their chosen country music love songs in their wedding. This is the option couples have especially if both of them are fans of the country music genre. When you have to budget for this, go for it since you have to make your day a very special one.

If you are considering playing country music love songs in your big day, why not consider these five songs and make your wedding day truly spectacular.

1. From This Moment On – Shania Twain and Brian White

You can use this song when the bride and groom said their “I do’s” already.

2. It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Playing this song when the bride is walking down the aisle can make the moment even more serene.

3. For the First Time – Kenny Loggins

This song is those which you can play during the reception when the couple dances for the first time as husband and wife.

4. I Love You More And More Everyday – Al Martino

When you want people to realize how much the couple are in love, you can also play this at the reception when the two are going around their guests and greeting them.

5. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder

Since one of the highlights in the wedding is the father-daughter dance, you can use this song for that.

You may notice that the five songs have their own “stories” to share. These country music love songs are not only for the bride and groom but for their families as well. The couple can always incorporate country songs in their special day depending on which activity it is for. Relying on a country music blog for ideas is okay also.

If you still have not decided on what country music love song you will include in your playlist, you can also try to find a credible country music blog. Going to the record stores and asking the staff on what they would prefer played for a wedding is another way to choose your wedding songs.

It is very important that you select the wedding songs depending on what you and your partner wants. When you find a nice country music blog, show it to your better half and work things out whether you want to include the song/s on your big day. However, do not stress yourself too much also in choosing the songs since there are plenty more other more important things you need to focus. The wedding songs are only part of the enhancement of the preparation for the wedding. The music will be able to set the mood so that people will know how much the two of you are in love.

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God We Trust

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

The US House few days ago passed a resolution reaffirming ‘In God We Trust’ as the country’s national motto. The measure which was sponsored by Republican Representative Randy Forbes from Virginia was approved with 396 for, 9 against and two abstentions. According to him, the measure was necessary to check “a disturbing trend of inaccuracies and omissions, misunderstandings of church and state, rogue court challenges, and efforts to remove God from the public domain by unelected bureaucrats’. He further stated that as the United States faces challenging times that, “it is appropriate for Members of Congress and our nation-like our predecessors-to firmly declare our trust in God, believing that it will sustain us for generations to come,’ True! Sure, this measure couldn’t have come at a better time. This indeed has been a trying period for the Americans – terrorism threats, loss of jobs, moral decay, homosexuality, atheism, Satanism, etc.

‘In God We Trust’ first appeared on the US coins during the Civil War in 1864. It officially became the nations’ motto in 1956 by an act of congress, and began appearing on her paper money the following year – 1957. The phrase is also found in the last stanza of the US National Anthem, public buildings, schools and also displayed above judges’ chairs in courts. There is no doubt that America was founded on Christian principles and this was clearly demonstrated by the founding fathers all over Washington D.C buildings, in official documents and historic speeches. God is also mentioned in her constitution and Pledge of Allegiance. So, what has gone wrong? Why did Rep. Forbes sponsor the resolution to reaffirm this belief?

According to him, his action was propelled by the present efforts to remove God from America’s public domain, rogue court challenges, the necessity to declare the country’s trust in God, etc. Wonderful! This is very refreshing, coming from the same congress that once failed to approve the bill seeking to prohibit same-sex marriage sometime ago. Yes, America has backslidden. They have deviated from the dreams and beliefs of their founding fathers. They have taken the cherished liberty to a very ridiculous level. They have taken liberty and thrown away the one that gave it to them. President Thomas Jefferson succinctly captured this when he wrote, “”The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?’”

Today, Americans gladly champion causes that are contrary to the principles and foundation that brought them to be the most powerful and most prosperous nation on earth. And this is what Forbes’ sponsored resolution seeks to correct – to remind them of their root and the source of their strength and prosperity. “Remember it is God that gives you the ability…” I can hear him saying.

Yes, this move is critical at this point in time because America has abandoned the very foundation on which it was built. They have abandoned the vision and belief of their founding fathers. The legacies, labors and prayers of their fathers are about going in vain. Would the founding fathers of America have believed that their cherished nation would one day champion ungodly and ignoble causes like homosexuality, same-sex marriage, atheism and occultism? Today more many states in the US have legalized same-sex (gay) marriage. Even the congress failed to pass the bill to stop this anti-God, anti-marriage, anti-American madness. Could the founding fathers have imagined that an American president would be dancing around such fundamental national issues like gay marriage and leading the erasing of God in American public consciousness? President Obama’s statement on his trip to India in December is one the reasons cited by Mr. Forbes for sponsoring his resolution. He called ‘E pluribus unum’ (meaning ‘from many one’) the national motto, and prompted its addition to the new Capitol Visitors Center. Can you imaging that? But the Congress has since ordered for the correction.

I know those great men would be ‘groaning’ in their graves by knowing that the country they founded, fought for and nurtured to greatness by their prayers, handwork and trust in God is now directly involved in Satanism. I mean people proudly, public flouting their worship Satan the devil. Incredible! Yes, today you have church of Satan in the US. This is besides other very demonic and dangerous secret societies and cults. Most having their headquarters in that country. Consulting psychics and witches, mediums and other agents of Satan is now the order of the day. Before, it was a tradition for the authorities to consult men of God on pressing national issues including going to war, but today all that have changed. Worse, millions of ‘God Own Country’ citizens presently do not believe in the existence God at all. They say that God is just an illusion or a myth. They believe that the universe just happened. They believe more in science and technology. I watched one of them on television recently. He was laboring to prove to the whole world that his creator does not exit. He has even written books on that. Yes, an American? Everything about and around God is presently being ridiculed, questioned or threatened by this same people that He has favored most.

America is fast deviating from its roots, history, source of strength and place in prophecy. They are busy instituting democracy, handing out aids, policing the world, but left their own hedge broken. And the word of God says that if you break the hedge, serpent will bite you. It is quite unfortunate that they are by their actions and inactions on the above enumerated issues throwing their flanks open for an imminent and monumental divine abandonment, defeat and destruction. They also look like that army general called Naaman; who was powerful, wealthy, influential, but leprous. It is indeed sad that the Ephraim (America) and Manasseh (UK) are both abandoning the God that made them great. The God that they once preached to the whole world. Today, Ghana, Tanzania and other countries are resisting the UK government on their gay for aids policy. The UK authority wants them to legalize homosexuality or have their aids cut. What a shame! I remember that it was just a pamphlet of the report on Azusa street revival in the US that triggered off the now great move of God in my country and in other parts of Africa from the 1930s. They indeed have abandoned the God they once zealously forced to us.

America like the biblical Ephraim is highly favored, but is also foolishly going deeply into idolatry, Satanism, whoredom, making sinful altars and apostasy. And this has been depleting her hedge of divine protection, waiting for an imminent defeat and destruction. But if you will repent and return to your source – God, He says that He will heal your wounds and have compassion on you. Once again, we thank the Republican Representative Randy Forbes (Virginia) for sponsoring this timely resolution. Share this message.

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Why Is Religion Not Allowed In School

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

I have always noticed that there was supposed to be a separation of church and state. Well, if religion is not allowed in school then why is Wicca or witchcraft being allowed in schools in the form of a fiction book. Children are being forced to read these witchcraft books. I remember in grade school that one of the parents made their child leave the room when we read “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.” by C.S. Lewis. The witch was always the antagonist, the villain, the bad guy. Now the witch or warlock is the good guy and the protagonist.

The claim is that “Interview with a Vampire” invited this concept by making an anti-hero or protagonist out of the vampire. Vampires were usually the enemy the bad guy now they are being touted as the heroes. This is confusing the concept of good and evil. If a vampire is just someone drinking blood then it is not that bad, but if a vampire is a demon by choice then perhaps this concept is forcing the reader to like an evil character and root for them. I would prefer to feel sorrow for the villainous character and hope that they find redemption.

Is religion completely absent from modern movies with vampires and witches or is it creating a new religion that distracts away from traditional worship? What is worship? Worship is to give your time, money, love, affection, praise, and to obey the lifestyle choices of a certain faith, obey commandments. Worship in a traditional way would include: giving valuable good or money to the faith (to the poor), singing praise or speaking praise, praying (asking for favors), reading or hearing the rules (the commandments, laws), acknowledging the existence of power greater than yourself (higher power) and remembering self sacrifice.

Worship can be misconstrued for idol worship inadvertently, or by mistake. People that celebrate Christmas think that they have done their part as Christians; for the rest of the year they don’t murder, steal, or commit a lot of sexual indiscretion because in the back of their mind they believe that they will get caught and be punished either by the police or just by fate, (God or the angels). This is a generalized belief system that keeps the world from being complete chaos. Religion is the foundation of the civilized world, otherwise no one would obey the law and everything would be in upheaval all the time.

However, so-called Christians are being fooled into liking alternative religion, involving pop culture movies, books and movies. There is always the ancient verse that says in Titus 1:15 that if you have a pure heart then you can see good and purity in everything good intentions. However, if you have a defiled or corrupted heart your view of the world would be defiled and corrupted and you will never see goodness or the good in anything. Those who can see the good in everything are said to have a pure heart in Matthew 5: 4-10.

Ultimately the occult is a belief system that says that you don’t need Christianity to be civilized or good nature. The concept of friendship and loyalty is instilled into the occult movies, but where did this concept of good and the concept of evil come from? Really because the movie came from a person raised and educated in Western Civilization. Western Civilization is based on Christian concepts the concept of good and evil must have come from a Christian/secular view of the world.

However, the movie and book producers started with Christian concepts then used witchcraft and hero worship of blood drinking demons to replace the traditional good guys with what used to be considered bad guys (the lesser of two evils). Both characters are traditionally considered evil because they are both witches or vampires. The producers of the books and movies claim that vampires and witches are just misunderstood and made villains when they are really good guys.

The ancient verse says that people will be punished for leaving their first love. Some of these book producers and movie producers started out as traditional Christmas Christians then they decided to give praise or recognition to witchcraft and praise to vampires. If vampires were depicted as Christians that drink blood like the Holy Sacrament or Christians that fell into a bad circumstance then maybe the reader could feel sorry for them and hope that they find a cure for their vampire characteristics. However if the root of vampire characteristics is evil or based in devil worship then it must be vilified and seen as evil no matter who the vampire is. If vampire characteristics represents sin or the consequences of sin and disease then it should not be celebrated it should be treated like a disease or a curse.

Ultimately the focus of the books and movies should be based on a firm Christian concept of good against evil as the basis of the storyline. If the origin of the good is not established as Christian God, of Christmas and Easter, then the origin of good for these books and movies might be assumed to be pagan gods such as the Greeks and the Romans or Wicca gods.

There was another concept of God, that God upgrades himself and updates himself according to popular culture. If popular culture determines where God is present then some people say that God is using these pop culture occult movies and books to reach people and then somehow bring them back to God, which is what I would hope happens in the end.

The appeal of the occult is mysterious, the unexplained is being explained with mysticism. My aim would be to try and explain these unexplained phenomenon with traditional religion. Traditional religion strays away from paranormal phenomenon and ignores it when it should try and offer an explanation. Psychology also has presented itself as a religion with a belief system, with the new god of psychology being Freud or Jung.

Some people claim that God speaks through whoever is the most popular at the time; some people even say that celebrities are messengers of good and these new popular books are approved by a higher power. They claim that Jesus was like a pop star or an popular actor and nothing more than a celebrity with a book out. However, life after death is not promised by celebrities and their books and movies.

Others believe that if the books and movies do not confess their faith and loyalty to their Christian faith in some form like Christmas or Easter or a cross or a prayer in the books and movies then they are not God’s messengers. Many people also believe that the most popular books and movies are evil because in Matthew 7:14-16 it says the path to heaven is a narrow path and very few people ever find it. The path to destruction is a broad path and many people follow that path instead.

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Losing My Religion Grey’s

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

Tate Modern is a great art gallery but it is very easy to lose your way in it. If you’re not careful you can spend all afternoon dashing up and down the stairs as this power-station-turned-gallery has seven different levels, which mount up from the huge ramp of the main entrance.

I wouldn’t suggest going to Tate Modern with a guidebook in hand, aiming to see the “top ten” before lunchtime.

Part of the joy of this gallery is finding completely unknown works that challenge your view of what art does or ought to do, that make you stop and think: whether that thought is “wow, that’s interesting” or “a chimpanzee could do better” is determined by your personal taste.

Still, if you would like to have something to go by, I have a personal top ten – so if you want to track down some of the more interesting works, here are my suggestions. Please note though that the Tate Modern changes its displays quite often, so not all the works mentioned here are guaranteed to be on display at any one time.

- Max Ernst – La Ville Entire (The Entire City). This is a primary school collage made into great art. Ernst’s grattage uses the same technique as brass-rubbing to create a nightmarish image of a bunker-like city under a ring-shaped moon. It’s oppressive, threatening and impossible to forget – painted in 1934, it’s an uncanny prophecy of Fascism.

- Giacometti - Walking Woman. The sculpture has the mysterious appeal of archaic Greek sculpture; elongated, arm-less, headless, slightly slanted, it’s both dreamlike and a radical simplification of reality. His sculpture always remains mysterious in its effect – hinting at something not quite understood.

- Gilbert & George – Deatho Knocko. Another surrealist dream, this is a huge black-and-white picture in which G&G dress up as knights in armour complete with spiky mace and sharp sword, attacking each other in a jungle with a fly and spider bigger than they are lurking above them. The title suggests we’re meant to see the work as a jokey fantasy, but the nightmarish insects and the stark portrayal are slightly sinister.

- Paul Klee – Walpurgisnacht. If you look carefully you can see the almost cartoon-like figures of the witches at the Sabbat, but the real interest of this painting lies in the wormlike, labyrinthine lines of paint, picking up the paint handling from Van Gogh but turning it into an obsessive tic. Cold blue and grey shimmer oddly giving it a psychedelic feel.

- Hans Arp – Constellation According to the Laws of Chance. This painted wood relief in black and white is difficult to grasp; it’s like an attempt to carve a lava lamp, oozing and bulging shapes contrasting with the stark presentation. I find it quite fascinating, like a game in a box – almost as if you could push your finger in and move the shapes around.

- Jake and Dinos Chapman – Exquisite Corpse. The name comes from a game similar to “Consequences,” but played by artists who take it in turns to draw a part of a human figure, then fold the paper over so the next artist can’t see what has been done already. The Chapmans’ usual macabre humour is at play here – skulls, eyeballs, dripping intestines, animal heads; they have created strange totems, part gods, part comic book characters, part nightmare. I want one.

- Paul Delvaux – Sleeping Venus. A sensuous work of erotic suggestion; a skeleton guards the sleeping Venus, while a crescent moon lights the classical porticoes behind. It’s a beautiful but disturbing scene; impossible to work out what is going on or to relate the different figures to each other.

- Rothko – Black on Maroon. At first, all you see is black. Then you begin to distinguish the dark maroon background and the three huge stripes of absolute black. Which colour is the foreground? Which is the background? The fuzzy edges suggest one colour is seeping into the other but which is winning? The stripes at first look solid but they are not – the appearance of strength disappears as you see how tenuous the painting of the edges is. You end up with the colours swirling in your eyeballs – Rothko is messing with your head.

- Richard Long – Small White Pebble Circles. Just circles of pebbles laid on the floor. But they are very exact, very centred circles. And the pebbles are ones he collected during his walk. It’s not a hugely assertive piece, even though it’s a big one; it could be swept away tomorrow. That for me is the joy of Long’s work – but then, either you get it or you don’t!

- Matisse - The Snail. Immensely vivid gouache-painted paper shapes are stuck in a rough spiral (hence the title). Colours clash, shapes contrast; it is an abstraction, yet it seems to have life and movement within its yellow frame. Matisse may have turned his back on the neo-Impressionism of his youth by the time he created The Snail, but he always had an eye for colour and the joy of this work is undeniable.

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Unitarian Church Brooklyn

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

It has been almost 100 years since 52 people, most of them prominent American leaders in their own right, issued a call for action on Feb. 12, 1909 that launched what has since become the oldest, best and most successful civil rights organization in the world.

This call for action developed in response to an article by William English Walling, a Kentucky-born southerner who wrote: “Either the spirit of the abolitionists, of Lincoln and Love-joy, must be revived and we must come to treat the Negro on a plane of absolute political and social equality, or Vardaman and Tillman will soon have transferred the race war to the North . . .Yet who realizes the seriousness of this situation and what large and powerful body of citizens is ready to come to their aid?”

Those 52 men and women who “came to their aid,” included journalists, college presidents and other prominent educators, members of the clergy, at least one judge, other lawyers and social reformers. You might recognize two or three of the names in this group if you know almost anything about United States history. Consider, for example, Susan P and Mrs. Rodman Wharton, members of one of Philadelphia’s most prominent families who gave millions of dollars to the University of Pennslyvania. Yes, that’s the same family for whom the Wharton School of Finance is named. Another name you might recognize is William Lloyd Garrison, son of the famous abolitionist. Other names, also signers of this call to action, while not nearly as well known historically, were also mostly leaders of various reform movements in this country–from labor unions to women suffrage.

So, unlike other organizations, including civil rights groups, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was launched from the work of a relatively small group of American leaders. Most of them were white. A few were Jews, and at least three–Ida Wells Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois and Rev. Francis J. Grimke–were African Americans. Professionally, this group of leaders included great educators such as John Dewey; renowned journalists, such as Samuel Bowles and Oswald Garrison Villard, publisher and editor of the New York Post; well known religionists, such as Grimke, John Haynes Holmes and Bishop Alexander Walters; and quite a number of social reformers, such as Jane Addams, founder of the US Settlement House movement in this country; Harriot Stanton Blatch, a feminist activist and suffrage strategist and writer, Kate H. Claghorn, one of the founders of the American Sociological Association, and a judge–Wendell Phillips Stafford, a former member of the Vermont State Supreme Court.

The leader of these leaders was Mary White Ovington, a suffragette, socialist, Unitarian and journalist. She’s listed in many books on US history as a co-founder of the NAACP. She became involved in the campaign for civil rights in 1890 after hearing Frederick Douglass speak in a Brooklyn Church. During her work as a fellow of the Greenwich House Committee on Social Investigations, she met W.E.B DuBois and was introduced to the founding members of the Niagara Movement.

Ovington, Walling and Dr. Henry Moskowitz, a member of the New York mayor’s administration, met in January 1909, and decided to issue the call for action on February 12th that year, the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday, by having a national conference on the Negro question. These three solicited and received help from Oswald Garrison Villard, president of the New York Evening Post Company, who actually drafted the call, and publicized it widely in his newspaper and others.

In soul-stirring language, reminiscent of many fiery abolitionist speeches, one paragraph of this “call to action” said: ” . . .the spread of lawless attacks upon the Negro, North, South and West, even in the Springfield made famous by Lincoln, often accompanied by revolting brutalities, sparing neither sex nor age nor youth, could but shock the author of the sentiment that ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people should not perish from the earth.’ “Silence under these conditions means tacit approval. The indifference of the North is already responsible for more than one assault upon democracy, and every such attack reacts as unfavorably upon whites as upon blacks. Discrimination once permitted cannot be bridled; recent history in the South shows that in forging chains for the Negroes the white voters are forging chains for themselves . . .Hence we call upon all the believers in democracy to join in a national conference for the discussion of present evils, the voicing of protests, and the renewal of the struggle for civil and political liberty.”

Then comes, according to an account written by Ovington, the signatures of the 52 leaders who helped give birth to the NAACP.

Despite the power of the call, and the power of the outcomes, sadness permeates this story because research reveals that many of these men and women have become forgotten heroes in U.S. history.

This notwithstanding, it appears that the trend that bodes the most danger for this organization does not come from without but within. Maybe as we continue this countdown to the organization’s 100th anniversary, we need another call to action. Maybe we need to ask, as English Walling did: “Who realizes the seriousness of this situation, and what large and powerful body of NAACP members stands ready to turn this organization to the true north of its purpose, the founding foundation of its resolve and the enthused energy of its resolution?

Who will issue this new call? More importantly, will anyone answer? In 1909, 52 American leaders answered. In 2009, if and when the new call goes forth, who will answer, or will deafening silence peal the impending doom of an organization birthed by leaders, designed to lead and with a sterling record of responding to the call?

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Women Of Faith Bible Study

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

Are you a Christian woman looking for a way to meet and interact with other women who share your faith?

If so, starting a women’s bible study is a great way to fellowship with other Christian women and to share the how God has moved in your life. But more importantly, a bible study is a good way to hold yourself and others accountable to read God’s Word on a consistent basis.

Working Out the Logistics of the Study

Before getting started, be sure you are committed to the idea of a women’s bible study. If you are interested in starting a bible study then you should be prepared to oversee the process. This does not imply that you must do all of the work yourself, but a fruitful bible study needs a leader to organize the particulars. This leadership role is a big responsibility that needs to be considered carefully and prayerfully.

Once you are ready to commit yourself to leading the study, it is time to consider the logistics:

o Are you willing to host a bible study in your own home? If not, you will need to find someone else who is willing to play hostess. Don’t forget about childcare.

o You will need to identify a discussion leader either yourself or someone else. This role could also be shared by a few different women to avoid having one person being overburdened.

o Choose on a format. Consider how often the group should get together. Every other week may be a schedule to start.

o Decide on your study curriculum. Will use an established women’s bible study guide or just walk your way through a book of the bible?

If you decide on using an established bible study guide you will need to locate a recommended resource. Do some research online and check your local Christian bookstore. Once you have identified some study guide candidates, schedule a meeting with your Pastor to get his input on your ideas.

Final Preparations and Invitations

Once you have worked out the logistics and received your Pastor’s approval you are ready to start recruiting participants. Talk to some of your friends at church and ask them to spread the information around. Ask your Pastor to make an announcement after your church service and put a notice in your church bulletin with your contact information.

Also, don’t overlook inviting some of your friends and neighbors who are unbelievers. You may think that unbelievers would be uncomfortable at a bible study, but you would be surprised how many stay at home moms are interesting in making new friends.

Stay committed to your plans and pray that God would bless your efforts. You may be surprised by how encouraging and fruitful a women’s bible study can be.

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Free Islamic Books

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

Islamic Books are an integral part of learning about the religion of Islam. However, many books are available to readers that do not contain accurate information about the subject matter. Thus it is exceedingly important to purchase books that are published by renowned publishers and by recognized authors. Religion is not a matter that can be taken lightly and for this very reason, it is importnt books are accurately published. The leading publisher of Islamic Books in Pakistan is a company called “Dar-us-Salam Publications”.

Dar-us-Salam is a Multilingual International Islamic Publishing House and offers its clientele with a wide range of authentic books on all Islamic matters. These include a number of books on Hadith, the principles of Islam, the pillars of Islam and many more. They publish books that are free of any sectarianism and are written in light of the Quran or Sunnah. The concept of this was to produce exceptional Islamic books in an assortment of languages including Arabic, English, Urdu, Spanish, French, Hindi, Turkish, Indonesian, Russian and Albanian languages. The owners of Dar-us-Salam wanted to create an organization where books could be published that illustrated the basic doctrines of Islam as stated in the holy Quran and interpreted by the most acclaimed Islamic scholars of the world.

The books that they offer are unique in their content, as they do not publish anything without authenticating and reviewing all submitted materials by their own board of scholars first. This provides them with the advantage of being able to offer books that are accurate and valid in all Islamic subject matter. In addition to the previously printed books, they are also compiling a series of books on Islamic history which will provide reliable and genuine information regarding all historical incidents of the Muslim world.

Even though Dar-us-Salam is a Saudi Arabia based publishing house, their books are valued all over the world because of their authenticity. All major bookstores that carry Islamic Books in various countries are sure to carry a range of books by Dar-us-Salam. Dar-us-Salam has its own offices in over 15 countries including the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and more. Their world famous website dar-us-salam.com provides Islamic books to all Muslims as well as Non Muslims who are interested in learning about Islam. Islamic Impressions is another excellent online source for purchasing Islamic Books published by Dar-us-Salam. They carry a wide range of Islamic books for the interested reader.

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Sikhism Birth

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

India is the land of spirituality which calls religious inclined people and spiritual seekers from several parts of the globe. This place is often quoted as the land of gods and several religions. It is the birth place of various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Large number of tourists comes here to feel the pulsating vibes of several religions which are intact in its temples, shrines and holy destinations. Millions of devotees as well as tourists from across the globe prefer India Pilgrimage Tours to discover the charm and fascination Indian religions. The well known Indian pilgrimage which are preferred by devotees as well as tourists are:

Hindu Pilgrimage

India is the most popular and the most preferred destination for Hindu pilgrimage tour. Millions of tourists as well as devotees from several parts of the India and world visit several holy sites of India. Each religious destination is steeped in deep mythology and has interesting legend behind it. Religious destination of India is situated across the country which is visited by scores of tourists throughout the year. Although each religious destination has its own glory but still some are the most popular. The major Hindi pilgrimage destinations are Haridwar, Vaishno Devi, Char Dham, Mathura, Amarnath, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Vrindavan and many more.

Buddhist Pilgrimage

India is the birthplace of Buddhist religion. There are number of sacred Buddhist sites which are related to the life Lord Buddha. These sacred sites are popular among the follower of Buddhism and tourists. There are four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations which include Lumbini the birth place of Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya the place of his enlightenment, Sarnath is the place where he delivered his first teaching and Kusinagar the place of his death. These four Buddhist holy sites are the best places to feel the mystic charm of Buddhist religion. The other well known religious sites of Buddhism are Rumtek Monastery in Gangtok, Dharamsals in Himachal Pradesh, Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh and Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra.

Sikh Pilgrimage

Sikhism is another most popular religion which emerged during the early 16th century in the state of Punjab in North India. This religion was founded by the Guru Nanak which was later mentored by nine successive guru. Thousand of Sikh as well as non Sikh devotees flocked to number of Sikh pilgrimage sites to feel the charismatic charm and glory of this religion. The popular Sikh sacred sites include Golden temple, Anandpur Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and Hemkund Sahib. The Golden temple is the most famous Sikh pilgrimage located in the holy city of Amritsar.

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Word Of Faith Lake Mills

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

Charlotte, commonly known as the Queen City of the South is nestled in the western Piedmont, or foothills of North Carolina. Charlotte and its resident county are named in honor of the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, who had become queen consort of British King George III the year before the city’s founding. It is the largest city in the State of North Carolina with a population of about 756,000 as per US census bureau, making it the 18th largest city in America.

Charlotte is in Mecklenburg county and bordered by Cabarrus, Union, Gaston, Lancaster SC and York SC Counties. Charlotte is conveniently intersected by Interstate 85 and 77 providing easy access to travelers. Charlotte has the busiest US Airways hub and is the 8th largest airport in the nation, and ninth in the world with daily flights to most parts of the country as well as international flights to various continents.

Charlotte is the second banking center in America after New York with two of the largest banks in the nation-Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. The city is home to some of the fortune 500 companies like Family Dollar, Goodrich Corporation, SPX, Lowe’s, Duke Energy, Nucor, Sonic Automative, as well as the two big Banks.

Charlotte offers the best mix of a burgeoning city: vitality, opportunity and livability. It’s a region steeped in history and tradition yet young and exuberant, open to change, accepts and embraces newcomers with warmth southern hospitality and its temperate comfortable climate.

Whether you’re relocating to Charlotte or any of our neighboring counties, you’ll find there is a lot to like about this region. Charlotte’s tremendous growth rate is reflected in the housing market which has been steadily growing for years, and yet still affordable compared to other housing markets in the nation. The city offers an array of homes from cozy bungalows, modest ranch houses or two-story Georgians, to custom-built mansions, ginger-breaded Victorians or contemporary condos, both existing and new construction, giving people a large varieties of homes to suit the most discriminating buyer. The same variety abounds in residential lifestyle from Uptown living or suburban locations, to comfortable old towns or new-home communities, urban homesteading and prime Piedmont countryside.

The charlotte real estate region is a collection of towns and neighborhoods, including lakefront living that comes with its own unique personality and home styles. Nearby cities and small towns include Concord, Belmont, Mt. Holly, Matthews, Indian Trail, Fort Mill SC, Monroe, Pineville, Lake Wylie, Waxhaw, Mint Hill, Stallings, Huntersville, Wesley Chapel, Weddington, Rock Hill SC, and Lake Norman.

Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate is a great investment opportunity for future appreciation especially in the current market. With it’s tremendous growth trends, buying real estate in the Charlotte North Carolina area would be a smart decision! Charlotte Homes are priced well below the national average. You get more house for the money than in other fast growing cities.

Luxury Homes are located in North and South of I- 485 corridor. Beautiful luxury communities include Ballantyne Country Club, Providence plantation, Piper Glen, Dilworth, Myers Park, Providence country club, Skybrook just to name a few. You will find awesome schools and low property taxes in the fast growing Union County area! Some of the top Luxury Home Communities in Union County are Providence Downs South, Providence Downs, Longview, Kingsmeade, Stratford on Providence, Highgate, Firethorne, Chatelaine, Skycroft, Sedgefield, & Wyndham Hall and many more.

Lake Wylie area features elaborate waterfront luxury homes in gated communities such as Reflection Pointe, Woodland Bay, Misty Waters, Handsmill, River Hills, The Sanctuary and The Palisades.

Lake Norman offers many beautiful lakefront scenery in many high end residential communities on the lake such as The Point, The Peninsula, Sailview, The Farms, Skybrook, Birkdale and many more.

Like anything else, real estate prices in the charlotte region is a function of demand and supply. While new construction is the traditional driver of supply in real estate, foreclosures now have a strong impact on inventories in the Charlotte region. Rising inventories, through construction or foreclosure, place downward pressure on the median home prices, a great opportunity for buyers.

Charlotte NC Attractions, Businesses, Events and Sports

Charlotte Nc is one of the top relocation destinations in the country. Charlotte region offers lots of attractions, businesses, sports, and events in the area. Charlotte has The Billy Graham Library, US National Whitewater Center, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bank of America Stadium, Nascar Hall of Fame, Carowinds, Discovery Place, North lake Mall, Carolina Place Mall, South Park Mall, Mega Churches, All Faith worhship places, hundreds of outlet stores, upscale shops, dining, museums, parks, Golf Courses and more.

Charlotte NC Sports Teams

Carolina Panthers – NFL Football Team

Charlotte Bobcats – NBA Basketball Team

Charlotte Checkers – AHL Hockey Team

Charlotte Knights – Minor League Baseball Team

Charlotte Rugby Football

Charlotte Roller Girls

Charlotte Eagles

NWA Wrestling

Carolina Speed

Annual Events

BCS Meineke Car Care Bowl Game

CIAA Tournament, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Lowes Motor Speedway

Wachovia Golf Championship

Parades

For more information and a guided tour of Charlotte NC real estate, visit our site. You can also learn about the local real estate market from the our housing trends newsletter. Sound relocation and real estate decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information from a trusted source for Charlotte NC real estate.

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The Way Of Tao

January 17th, 2012 by admin | Permalink

The word Tao (pronounced dau) in Chinese means “way,” indicating a path of thought or life that is the essential unifying force of everything that exists in the universe. Taoism is following the way. Many martial artists embrace the idea of the Tao without actually understanding the basic principles behind it.

The Tao-te Ching is the earliest document in the history of Taoism. It is a viewpoint that emphasizes individuality, freedom, simplicity, mysticism, and naturalness. Considered one of the great philosophical works of ancient China, Tao-te Ching literally means “The Classic of the Way and Its Power.” The book is less than 5,000 words long and is very likely one of the oldest written texts in the world. Authorship of the Tao-te Ching is generally credited to a man named Lao-Tzu but knowledge of him is so scarce that only legends remain. Seeking to learn more about Lao-Tzu only distracts us from his teachings. His name itself, means “old master” or “wise sage” – which only leads back to his writings.

The Tao is all encompassing. Despite the appearance of differences in the world, within the Tao everything is one. Since all is one, matters of true and false or good and evil are irrelevant and only arise when people cannot see beyond their narrow perception of reality. Taoism is a system of philosophical thought that puts emphasis on the spiritual life instead of the material world. The Tao is considered unnamed and unknowable. Followers of the Tao avoid wasting their energies on the pursuit of wealth, power, knowledge and other distractions. Instead, they concentrate on the reality of life itself of breathing, moving and living in harmony with the natural world. Because all is considered one, life and death merge into each other and immortality can be achieved.

Living the Way of the Tao can be expressed by the term wu-wei which means doing – not doing. This concept does not signify non-action, instead it hints at action without attachment to the action, action without thought of the action. Sounds a little like Zen, doesn’t it?

The roots of Zen are based in ancient Chinese philosophy. The Chinese word for Zen is ch’an. In Sanscrit, the ancient language of India, it is dhyana which can be roughly translated as pure human spirit. It can be imagined as the integration of the disparate aspects of the self into one complete and divine being. Zen was eventually brought to Japan where it was elaborated and “perfected” by the Japanese samurai. It is the foundation of the Bushido code, the way of the warrior. The samurai, who lived their lives at the edge of a sword and could die at any moment, were taught to concentrate on and immerse themselves in the here and now in order to connect with the fundamental core of their being. It helped them develop the powers of concentration, self-control, awareness and tranquility. If they approached each battle as if it were their last, they would be able to have every part of their being at their disposal.

Zen itself has no theory. It is not meditation. It is not thinking. It is not not-thinking. It is not something you learn. It is simply something you are. To practice Zen is to live fully and completely, not in the past or the future, but right here and right now. Zen is, in fact, the reflection of the moon in a mountain stream. It does not move, only the water flows by.

As with Zen, the power of the Tao is in simplicity, and yet it teaches one to become a master of all things by learning to go with the natural flow of the universe. Trying to walk upstream against the river is pointless. It is better to accept that change is inevitable, learn to embrace it and make the most of it when it comes.

The fundamental teachings of the Tao present basic wisdom to live by. They are as follows:

BE CAREFUL

-As if you were crossing a stream that is covered with a layer of ice. Stepping too hard on the wrong spot can lead to misfortune.

BE ALERT

-As if you were a warrior entering enemy territory. Spies and traps may be hidden anywhere. Pay attention.

BE COURTEOUS

-As if you were a guest. There is no reason for anger or hostility; it only clouds your judgment.

BE FLUID

-As if you were melting ice. Always ready to act or react as the situation or need demands.

BE SHAPEABLE

-As a block of wood. The shape is pre-existing, allow yourself to be carved.

BE RECEPTIVE

-As a mountain valley. Water flows down the mountain. Let things come to you. Be patient, warm and inviting.

BE CLEAR

-As a glass of water. Allow the mud of the mind to settle and see things as they truly are.

Absolute happiness comes from erasing the distinctions that separate the self and the universe. Union with the Tao is embracing a higher wisdom, freeing the mind and expanding into the fullness of existence.

EXPERIENCING THE TAO

Experiencing the Tao is about existing in the present moment. It is enjoying life regardless of the circumstances. Have you ever met someone who is unhappy with their situation and continuously gripes that if only they could change this or that they would be happy or feel that if they lived somewhere else things would be better? Unfortunately, a darkness of the heart is not cured by moving the body from one place to another. Chances are they would be just as miserable even if they got the change they were looking for.

Living the Tao is about finding the freedom to enjoy whatever you have at this present moment. True freedom is adapting to the infinite variety of life conditions without losing confidence in your ability to connect to the deeper spiritual essence within.

This philosophy is based on simplicity. If you have no expectations, then everything that happens is a surprising success. If you have no desires, then everything you get is a bonus.

This is Zen, the true meaning of following the Tao. It is being alive in the present moment, experiencing life as it happens and reacting to it in a calm and natural way. It is living fully and completely.

Defining the spirit is difficult because no definition can come close to the truth. The more it is defined the less it resembles the true spirit. Some attempt, however, at definition can help set you on the path toward greater awareness of it. From my personal perspective, I would define the spirit as the state of being totally conscious and alive. When you are living life and experiencing it at every moment, you are touching your spirit.

These ideas are not new. Chinese masters have spoken of it for years. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, one of India’s most widely respected spiritual teachers, calls it “aliveness.” It is a feeling independent of any outward forces. It is being happy without having a reason to be happy. The difficulty lies in reaching this state of being and experiencing it. It is easy to speak of it. Living it is another story.

Lao Tzu, in writing the Tao Te Ching, observed that plants, animals and humans are born supple and soft, yet when they die they are stiff and brittle. In order to experience the kind of “aliveness” Lao Tzu and Rajneesh are referring to, we must be supple and soft. We must be a disciple of life.

We need to learn to allow the soft and supple aspects of life to prevail. That which is hard and stiff will be broken. Fighting against the natural flow of life will only lead to difficulty and disaster. It is not the way. Relax and take the time to observe things as they are especially when you cannot control them. Allow things to take their course and happen naturally. And, of course, pay attention to the present moment. Then you will be well on the journey towards freeing your spiritual nature.

Any art is but one path to travel along on this journey. None of them can claim to be the only answer. Whatever art you choose may, however, assist you in understanding the question. In the words of Lao Tzu…These words here are like fingers pointing at the moon. If you concentrate your attention on the fingers, you miss seeing the moon.

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