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The Safest Prayer

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 13, 2008 at 10:46am

The Safest PrayerDr. Creflo A. DollarHave you ever prayed and wondered if God really heard you? Have you ever tried praying to God without really knowing what to say? If you've ever experienced a challenge in the area of prayer in your walk with God, you are certainly not alone. But don't be discouraged; there is a fail-proof way to pray that guarantees results every time. It is through praying in the Spirit, or praying in tongues. When you tap into this awesome spiritual gift, not only are you able to pray the perfect prayer, but you have a tool of intercession that baffles and bewilders the devil!First, it is important to understand that the ability to pray in tongues is from God. There is a difference between your personal prayer language of tongues and the gift of tongues, whereby a person prophesies in tongues. In such cases, the Bible says that an interpretation is needed (1 Corinthians 14:5). When you pray in tongues in your personal prayer time, however, you are communicating with God directly in your heavenly language.First Corinthians 14:14-15 says, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Your prayer in the Spirit is just between you and the Father, so you don't have to worry about giving an interpretation to anyone else, although you can ask God to give you the interpretation of what you just prayed.Scripture also reveals that praying in the Spirit is a tool of intercession. Romans 8:26-28 says:Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.This passage is often misunderstood. Religion has used it to justify the bad things that happen to people, saying that "all things work together for good." While God can take your mess and turn it into a masterpiece, I don't believe that catastrophe, disaster and tragedy happen for your good or to teach you something. This scripture is talking about prayer and, specifically, praying in the Spirit.Since the Spirit of God knows the mind and will of the Father, when you intercede in tongues, you pray the perfect will of God. Satan can't interfere with your prayers when you pray in the Spirit because he doesn't know what you are saying! As a matter of fact, not even you can get in the way of your prayers when you pray this way. Since you don't know what you are saying, fear, doubt and unbelief can't stop your prayer from coming to pass. That's why the Apostle Paul says that all things work together for good to those who are called according to God's purpose-to those who pray the perfect will of God.Don't let anyone talk you out of your God-given right to pray in tongues. It is not a gift that passed away with the last apostle, and it is not spooky or weird. The disciples all received the gift of tongues on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and this gift is available to you, too! Just pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and open your mouth in faith, speaking whatever comes up out of your spirit. You'll begin to pray more confidently and more effectively, secure in the knowledge that God will hear and answer your prayers.

God's Thoughts

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 13, 2008 at 10:11am

God's ThoughtsLORD you have done such great things! How deep are your thoughts!Psalm 92:5 (NCV)God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours. We aren'teven in the same neighborhood. We're thinking, Preserve the body; he'sthinking, Save the soul. We dream of a pay raise. He dreams of raising thedead. We avoid pain and seek peace. God uses pain to bring peace. "I'm goingto live before I die," we resolve. "Die, so you can live," he instructs. Welove what rusts. He loves what endures. We rejoice at our successes. Herejoices at our confessions. We show our children the Nike star with themillion-dollar smile and say, "Be like Mike." God points to the crucifiedcarpenter with bloody lips and a torn side and says, "Be like Christ."From: The Great House of GodCopyright (Word Publishing, 1997)Max LucadoStay FocusedandBlessed.........................Jan

IKE Making his arrival!

Posted by MizDee on September 13, 2008 at 4:30am

We're on generators, hunkered down & praying!((((smile)))Pray this is NO KATRINA!11:32pm heavy rain and powerful winds!And to think Ike has not landed yet!!Send up some prayers for H-Town andGalveston which most partIs flooded!I'm sending this blog via my iPhone.Blessed Less StressedMizDee

Fallen Angel (Coming Soon)

Posted by Diane Martin on September 13, 2008 at 2:40am

Fallen Angel is the story of a man. He’s someone who walks among us everyday. On the outside, he's the picture of perfection, but on the inside there's a war going on. His name is Izrael, biblically, the angel of death. He just wants to be left alone as he struggles to deal with the demons of his past - his fears, his guilt, and his regrets. Everyone wants him – to be a part of his world whether willingly or by force. He fights daily to destroy the frightening thoughts that wreak havoc on his ability to find balance and peace of mind. He realizes that in order to survive - a part of him must die. His survival – his redemption depends on it. Join me as we take a journey with Izrael as he delivers his message with contempt and conviction.

Grab A Friend For Faster Weight Loss Results

Posted by Black doctor. org on September 12, 2008 at 4:10pm

(BlackDoctor.org) -- Are you having trouble keeping the weight off? Turns out, your lack of willpower could be due to solo dieting.According to a recent study in the British Medical Journal, dieters are more likely to stick with the program and keep the weight off in a group setting. To prove these findings, researchers followed around 232 dieters on four weight loss programs. At the end of six months, all the dieters had lost roughly the same weight. However, those who participated in programs that involved dieters meeting face-to-face with other dieters (such as the ever popular Weight Watchers) were more likely to keep the weight off after one year.If you’re having trouble sticking with your dieting program, try joining a weight loss group. Or, if a group setting isn’t your thing, grab a buddy who is also on a diet and create your own support system.By Nicole Smith, BDO Staff Writer

My Fashion Week

Posted by Lila Polite on September 12, 2008 at 4:00pm

Last week, two key things happened: Football season started and Fashion Week kicked off. I'm in heaven and a bit of hell. As the daughter, mother, sister, niece, granddaughter of fashionistas (and some sharp brothas)--fashion fuels me. Not just shopping and imprinting my own style, but the colors, fabrics, energy and creative energy involved. It's a way of life. It is life. And right now, life is good.And then we have sports. My other passion (I have many, and that's...okay). Favre came to NY. Phelps reigns supreme (I was a swimmer and lifeguard). Brady got injured (sniff) and Michigan will always be numero uno to all (!) So, that part of my spirit is in a good place too.But what to do when both worlds call, and I need to answer professionally and personally to both? So just when this could have been the best week EVER, I was too busy to truly grasp what it meant to me and for me. And in many ways for my being Black in America. I've had opportunity to do some cool things in my days; And for all my fussin' and cussin' and stressing over getting things just right and getting my due--I worked on two significant releases this week: the site redesign of the NFL/United Way Agency's partnership microsite, and the launch of a fashion and shopping online digest InsideTheTents.net. Next week, after all the pieces have been tested and all the modules function like a well coached team, one of the coolest sites on the web will hit the virtual field. When folks log on and see the moving timeline, players profiles that jump of the page, trading cards that flip and all the other bells and whistles, I'll be quietly on the sidelines saying: "Not bad for a little girl of color who wanted to be in the Olympics and be a sports agent, but the timing wasn't right". Uhn...And then when Italian Vogue published an all Black model edition of their magazine this year, and the catwalk at Bryant Park is bright, but light on the usage of sistas and brothas, I pulled a coup that those in their Ivory-fashion-mag-Towers would never suspect: I go inside the tents and have captured the moments and brought access before others did and will. And it won't stop there--London, Milan and Paris are next and there's Tokyo too. For all their money and seeming power, I relied on good ole fashion Black girl-get it done ingenuity (and years of business know how and relationships), and did my thing. From behind the scenes: I walked the walk. Uhn...So my head is still pounding (no real sleep in weeks), and my fingers numb. My still heart torn between two loves (alas, there is TV, film and music too and those projects to deliver), I still have tweaks so that the work is perfect, but in the end, I realize I did good this week and made a mark on America in my own small, but significant way. What was all the fuss?Carry on and pass the remote...

Prophecy Revelation

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 12, 2008 at 1:11pm

Prophecy RevelationObadiahThe vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; that they eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.Stay FocusedandBlessed.........................Jan

The Ministry of the Believer

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 12, 2008 at 11:23am

The Ministry of the BelieverBishop Keith A. ButlerFinally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. II Thessalonians 3:1 (KJV)Every believer has a ministry. When you were born again, you received the ministry of prayer. Your prayer is vital if you are going to get all that God has for you when you hear the Word preached. Even the apostle Paul desired that the people would pray for him so that he could preach what the people needed. Hence, if you don't pray for your pastor, you won't get all that you need from his ministry. You want the Word of God to have free course so that you can get all that God has for you.There is so much to pray for. That is why a believer should have a prayer life that consists of praying for others. If you are an individual who prays for other people, that ministry is as effective, if not more effective, than ministers preaching in the pulpit. And God is going to give you credit for all the lives that were changed, all the people that were helped, all the healing that took place, all the Christians who were enlightened as a result of your diligence to pray. For all the people that had something good happen in their life, you get the credit because of your prayer. I am well convinced of that.I am well convinced that when we get to heaven, the Father will not be calling the big named ministers first to receive the biggest crown. He is going to call grandma first. She's the one that sits at the very back of the church. Nobody saw her, but that woman was praying before she got to church. She prayed all the time the minister was preaching. She prayed when she left the church. She prayed for this sister, and that brother. She is always being used by God to pray.The one who gets the greatest reward is the one who is available to be used by God whenever He needs them to pray. This is what that praying grandma is like. Every time you turn around, the Holy Ghost can use her to pray. And she's the one who caused the big named ministers to be able to have the revelation in their preaching. And she is the one who operated in the ministry of the believer, and prayed and caused many to be delivered and saved. God is going to call that little woman up while all the rest of the big time ministers say, "Who is she? I never heard of her before." But God says, ''I heard of her! And I am giving her the biggest crown.''Scripture Reference: Matthew 19:27-30Stay FocusedandBlessed.........................Jan

AUTHOR KEYSHA WHITAKER WEIGHS IN ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR DAUGHTERS

Posted by D.A.Sears on September 12, 2008 at 4:49am

Keysha Whitaker is a multi-talented young woman who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. I wanted to know more about the young woman who is telling us what’s going on with our daughters in her book Hickeys, Hiccups And HomeworkTM: A Teenage Girl’s Guide –Living and Loving – the first in a series of books that deal with the issues facing pre-teen and teenaged girls. Through her groundbreaking book, Whitaker is giving Fathers and Mothers the 4-1-1 on what our daughters think and feel and their perception on the world outside of their immediate environment and their place in it. In addition to being an author and a former morning show personality on New York City’s HOT 97 FM Radio, Whitaker is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).Where did Ms. Whitaker grow up? Where was she educated?“I grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I was educated at Catholic schools my entire life - from grammar school through college. I think private schools can be beneficial to a child’s potential success, especially in urban areas. In many of today’s public school systems teacher burnout and desensitization to the needs of students, especially urban students, is a common and unfortunate reality. In private schools – where it’s ‘pay to play’ – teachers are held to a higher level of accountability, which is passed on to students in the classroom,” Ms. Whitaker responded.I asked Ms. Whitaker to talk about the role models she had as she made the journey from childhood to adulthood.“Honestly, I didn’t have a ‘role model’ as a child. There isn’t a singular person that I emulated for any significant amount of time. Probably because my interests changed -- and still do -- just as fast as my underwear – from taking the piano in third grade, to the flute in fourth grade, to the trumpet in fifth grade, then back to the piano in sixth grade. Imagine me trying to model Elton John one year, flutist Julius Baker the next, then Miles Davis, then Elton! If I had to choose, I’d say creative expression in a multitude of forms was and continues to be my muse,” she remarked.So, who or what inspires her?“People definitely inspire me. I am always intrigued by someone’s life story. How did they get to be where they are? Where are they going next? If I find someone or something intriguing, I’m inspired to share that with people through my writing.”The discussion moved to Ms. Whitaker’s first book -- Hickeys, Hiccups, & Homework™ series: Living and Loving. What motivated her to write it?“The book actually wrote itself. I started writing poetry in my freshman year in high school because of the new feelings I began to experience. Each time something would happen that would perplex or upset me (which was most of the time) I wrote a poem. The first poem in the book, CRUSHED, is actually the first poem that I wrote in high school. It was my freshman year and this dumb girl at my lunch table, who was in my crew of new friends, told my crush I liked him. Flashback! Excuse me! The experiences kept happening and the poetry kept coming until I was about 18 or 19. I kept all my high school poems in journals. In the beginning of 2007, I was flipping through my old journals and got the idea to put them together in a book for teenage girls. I thought, ‘If I felt like this, I know girls today feel the same way.’ I decided the book would be the first in a series to help girls deal with the experience of being a teen and let them know they are not alone.”What’s going on with our daughters at school and at home that makes a book series such as Hickeys, Hiccups, & Homework™ necessary?“What I’ve seen since I’ve been working with youth -- I did career counseling at an urban high school, and was a summer camp director -- is that at school teens are getting the truth -- or lack thereof -- as told by their peers, no holds barred. At home teens are getting the truth as told by their parents, which is most likely one-sided in parental love in an effort to keep their daughters as innocent for as long as possible. Between peers and parents, teen girls are left with a disconnect. Hickeys, Hiccups, & Homework™ bridges the gap for teen girls by pinpointing common emotions girls experience and encourages teens to identify and work through their feelings by writing.”Is being a teenager stressful? Why?“Yes, I definitely think it can be. Being a teen is stressful because you’re trying to establish your independence, figure out who you are, who you want to be, or who you think society wants you to be. On top of all that, your body is going through hormonal changes that make you stinky, cranky, horny and hungry. For someone who was just watching Saturday morning cartoons the year before, yeah it’s stressful.”What are some of the issues – for example, academic achievement, peer pressure, self-esteem, etc. -- that our pre-teen and teenage daughters find themselves grappling with? How do these issues differ from the issues that pre-teen girls and teenage girls grappled with 20, 30, or even 40 years ago?“For the most part, I think that teens are grappling with the same issues that their parents and grandparents faced – academic achievement, peer pressure, self-esteem, dating and sexuality– except the pressure is more intense today. As a society, we have advanced socially, politically, and technologically. There are greater opportunities that were not available to previous generations. Greater opportunities mean increased pressure to make greater decisions. Increased pressure means more stress for teens who might then feel forced to turn to negative behaviors, such as drugs or alcohol, to cope. For example, forty years ago, higher educational opportunities for women were slim to none. The pressures of academic achievement were only relative to the limited range of socially accepted careers for women at the time. Today, that’s not the case. College and beyond is very much an option for women, as well as many career fields that were once restricted to males.”How does fatherlessness and the lack of a dominant male presence in the lives of preteen girls and teenage girls affect their self-esteem, academic achievement, and whether or not they succumb to peer pressure?“I believe there is a direct correlation between the presence of a father in the lives of pre-teen and teenage girls and the dynamics of an intimate relationship she chooses to pursue. Though there are exceptions to this theory, I think for the most part, women who grow up without fathers fall into two categories. The first category of women find it hard to emotionally expose themselves enough in order to make a substantial connection in an intimate relationship; while the second are ‘chronic emotional flashers’ -- - showing their private emotions to any man that walks by, in hopes of making a lasting connection. In regards to self-esteem, academic achievement, and peer pressure, I think there are a variety of other factors that play a significant role. I was very successful academically and didn’t grow up with my father in the household.”What messages are you conveying to preteen girls, teenage girls and their parents through Hickeys, Hiccups, & Homework™?“¬The main message of Hickeys, Hiccups, & Homework™ is that being a teenager doesn’t change. The same feelings teens experience today, are the same feelings their parents felt, and are the same feelings their grandparents felt. Teens should realize they are not alone in their struggles. Parents should use the poems as points of reference to open a dialogue with their teen. They might be surprised to find that they are not as far removed from their daughter’s teen life as she might lead them to believe”.What’s next for Ms. Whitaker ?“What isn’t? ” Ms. Whitaker responded with a smile.

MR. DeWAYNE McCULLEY HAS A MESSAGE FOR DIABETICS: "DEATH TO DIABETES!"

Posted by D.A.Sears on September 12, 2008 at 4:38am

He is an an Author and ex-diabetic. Ex-diabetic? Yes, that’s right! He is MR. DeWAYNE McCULLEY. His groundbreaking book “Death To Diabetes” (www.DeathToDiabetes.com) which chronicles his death-defying-stepping-out-on-faith-fight against diabetes is creating quite a stir in the medical community. McCulley, who had a blood sugar count of 1,337 and took insulin four times on a daily basis, and survived a diabetic coma, is making medical history by virtue of the fact that he has been “diabetes free” for the past four years. This accomplishment along with his book, “Death To Diabetes” has pushed McCulley into the spotlight. In the eyes of many, Mr. McCulley’s book “Death To Diabetes” is a critical life line. And the title of Mr. McCulley’s book, “Death To Diabetes” is quickly becoming the battle cry of diabetics nationwide.I asked Mr. McCulley to talk about the day he discovered he was a diabetic. Had he experienced any discomfort or symptoms attributable to diabetes – such as excessive thirst, excessive urination, dramatic downward shifts in energy levels – before his diabetic condition was diagnosed by his physician?“I woke up one morning -- March 20, 2002 -- and could hardly move.” Mr. McCulley began. “Just before I blacked out, I called 911, and the ambulance came and took me to the hospital. A couple of days later, I was told that I had gone into a diabetic coma and almost died. The doctors told me I had other complications including two blood clots that they were trying to dissolve with medication. At the time, I didn’t realize how serious everything was because I didn’t really know anything about diabetes. Then they told me that I would have to take four insulin shots a day to control my blood sugar. Because of my fear of needles they were very patient with me and showed me how to inject myself. At one point, I asked if the nurse could give me the four injections each day. But at $100 for each visit to my house, I quickly realized that I had to overcome my fear of needles. About a month or so before the coma incident, I did notice that I was thirstier and I was urinating more frequently. But at that time I thought I was having problems with my prostate, so I had scheduled a doctor’s appointment in the April time frame.”What exactly is diabetes?“Good question. There are basically three types of diabetes,” Mr. McCulley replied. “Type 1 is the autoimmune disease that attacks the pancreas, preventing it from producing insulin. Type 2 is the lifestyle-driven disease – it accounts for more than ninety-five percent of all diabetics. Gestational diabetes is a form of Type 2 that women obtain when they’re pregnant, but it usually goes away after pregnancy. Type 2 is the dominant form of diabetes. There are more than 21 million diabetics in the United States and over 170 million worldwide. The best way to describe Type 2 diabetes is to imagine that each cell in your body has a set of doors that open when the key – insulin -- is present, and, when the doors open, glucose from the bloodstream enters the cell to provide energy; and, your blood glucose level goes down. But, if you’re diabetic, the key doesn’t work and the doors don’t open to let in the glucose. this is known as insulin resistance. Therefore, you don’t have energy and the glucose backs up into your bloodstream causing your blood glucose, or blood sugar, level to rise. In the meantime, the pancreas recognizes that your blood glucose level is not coming down, so it pumps out more and more insulin to try to find enough doors to open and ‘push’ in the glucose. The extra insulin causes the body to produce and store fat. More importantly, the extra insulin makes it very difficult for the body to burn fat. So, although this is an oversimplification, the key to controlling and eventually beating diabetes is to reduce the amount of insulin resistance and repair the cells – by eating foods that regulate the production of insulin and repair the cells, such as vegetables; avoiding foods that cause the excess production of insulin -- refined, processed foods; and, exercising properly -- walking and carrying hand weights -- to increase the uptake of glucose into the cells and decrease the glucose in the bloodstream.”Upon being diagnosed with diabetes, Mr. McCulley’s physician placed him on insulin immediately. And how did his body react to the insulin? What were the side effects?“I was on Humalog and Lantus,” McCulley recalled. “I took five to seven units ofHumalog before meals 3 times a day and 45 units of Lantus once a day -- in the morning/ The insulin helped to keep my blood sugar below 200 mg/dl but I was having trouble getting it back to the normal range of 80-110 mg/dl. I was told that the average blood sugar for diabetics in my condition was 180 mg/dl and that trying to get to 80-110 would be fruitless and frustrating and would lead to depression. I didn’t have any side effects that I could notice, but I was getting heavier, even though I was eating less and exercising more. This didn’t make any sense and no one could really explain – except that I had missed a major bullet and should just be happy to be alive. During my research, I discovered why diabetics get fat and why it is so difficult to lose weight! The extra insulin triggers the body to produce and store more fat, which requires more insulin. Plus, when you exercise, it is difficult for the body to burn fat because the extra insulin inhibits fat from burning! It was disruptive trying to figure out how to plan around four injections a day. But, since I was on disability and couldn’t work, it was easier dealing with this at home versus if I had been working. When I returned to work, I purchased a small refrigerator for my office so that I could store my insulin. Actually, I didn’t mind the disruption because I didn’t really have a choice – take the insulin and live or don’t take the insulin and die.”Mr. McCulley is one of the few individuals who have lapsed into a diabetic coma and have lived to tell about it! I asked him whether the diabetic coma was caused by hypoglycemia. Shortly after his release from Rochester General Hospital in 2002 where he had spent days after lapsing into a diabetic coma, Mr. McCulley experienced what can only be described as an “epiphany”. One morning he was at home and noticed that his blood sugar levels were low. Usually, he remedied this situation by eating Cheerios. On this particular day, his usual remedy was not available. So, he ate a dish of Brussels sprouts. I asked Mr. McCulley to explain what happened next. What did he discover? How did this discovery change his life?“. . . One morning I was preparing my breakfast and noticed that I had run out of my favorite cereal. Because my blood glucose that morning had been a little on the low side --65 mg/dl--, I started to get weak and a little dizzy. I didn’t want to eat a candy bar, so I went to the refrigerator to see what my mother had prepared for me. I found some Brussel sprouts in a plastic container. I hated Brussel sprouts. However, because I was getting weaker, I didn’t have much choice, so I quickly heated the Brussel sprouts with some olive oil and a leftover piece of salmon. Surprisingly, when I measured my glucose level 2 hours later, I noticed that it had not spiked as it had in the past! I was very excited, but, then, I thought maybe it was a fluke because my glucose level had started at such a low level. Anyhow, I felt that I had nothing to lose so I decided to eat Brussel sprouts again for lunch, my mid-afternoon snack and dinner. Each time, my glucose leveled off 2 hours after the meal! A few days later when I went back to my favorite cereal, my glucose level returned to a higher level after breakfast. So, I decided to change my concept of breakfast and eat a green vegetable as my carbohydrate in place of the traditional cereal or other grain. With each passing day, my glucose levels were steadily coming down. I found out later during some research that the juice from Brussel sprouts and string beans is very nourishing for the insulin cell receptors and the body’s glucose management system. It didn’t take me long to modify the hospital’s diet plan and develop a healthy nutritional plan while slowly and methodically reducing my insulin injections, one to two units at a time. This, in turn, lowered my body’s resistance to insulin and reduced my average blood glucose level from 300+ to 200+ to 120+, and, finally to 88.5 mg/dl -- with less than a 10 mg/dl deviation -- within four months. Also, my hemoglobin A1C was reduced to 4.4%. The normal range is 4.2% to 5.5%. Interestingly, I discovered that many of the so-called ‘healthy’ foods recommended by the dietitian were ‘killer’ foods for diabetics! For example, cereal, rice, pancakes, bananas, toast, wheat bread, mashed potatoes, orange juice, and apple juice all caused my blood glucose to rise and remain high. Once I eliminated these foods, my cravings for refined carbohydrates diminished greatly and my blood glucose level stabilized. During those four months I was able to reduce my insulin dosage from 60 units to 0 units and, within another month, I was totally drug-free – no more Coumadin or Lipitor. Also, my energy level continued to grow while my need for food slowed down. Because my body was doing a better job utilizing the nutrients from the food I was eating, my body did not require as much food (fuel) to produce the necessary amount of energy that I required on a daily basis.”Mr. McCulley talked about proper nutrition and where a diabetic should start in order to improve his or her health:“Start with breakfast. Our mothers were right when they told us this was themost important meal. Here’s an example of what I refer to as a ‘super’ breakfast because it is superior and synergistic on several levels:-- 2 cups of lightly steamed broccoli or spinach-- 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil (place on top of the vegetable after steaming)-- 2 oz. baked wild salmon or sardines (or 1 Omega-3 egg)-- 16 oz. filtered waterFocus on eating healthy carbohydrates such as broccoli, spinach and oat; healthy proteins such as fish, nuts, seeds, beans, skinless chicken breast; health fats such as extra virgin olive oil and organic flax oil; and healthy liquids such as filtered water, green/white tea, and raw vegetable juices. These foods will help to cleanse and detoxify the body and give you the necessary energy to exercise and burn fat. If you are sick, you have sick cells in your body. To make yourself well, you need to make the sick cells healthy again. A cell consists of water, fat, protein, and carbohydrate. If you feed yourself healthy versions of water, fat, protein, and carbohydrate, it would follow that your cells will become healthy. I realize that this is an overly simplistic view of cell biology, but it does make some sense.”McCulley says that there are one or two things that diabetics can do without spending any extra money to gain better control of their diabetes:“Stop eating the bread, rice, and potatoes – replace them with green foods such asbroccoli, spinach and Brussel sprouts. Buy a steamer to steam your vegetables. Exercise every day, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes – consistency is the key, not intensity. Read more – educate yourself to empower yourself and free yourself from the dependency on too many unnecessary drugs and medications.”We know that heart disease is an offshoot of diabetes. Some diabetics that Mr. McCulley has met had some symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. I asked Mr. McCulley if there was a connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease.“Yes, some diabetics that I had met had some symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. They had stages of it although the stage that they were in was not full blown Alzheimer’s Disease. People have asked me if there is a connection and I tell them ‘Yes! There is a connection.’ Without getting into a detailed discussion, let’s look at the disease called diabetes. What is diabetes? In simple terms, it’s a rusting away of the body. The body is basically rusting away on the inside. It attacks the eyes and the kidneys initially because those are the organs that have small capillaries. Diabetes is an accelerated aging disease that attacks the arteries and capillaries and as the disease progresses it will eventually work its way to the bigger organs. It will attack the cardiovascular system and the brain. Obviously, the cardiovascular system feeds the heart and the brain. The arteries rust away first and they develop this plaque in the homocystein level in the endocrine. The high insulin level prevents your body from bringing down the homocystein so you have a higher homocystein level which leads to plaque formation in the arteries.. This can eventually spread to the brain if the brain starts rusting away so to speak. If you have high insulin levels as a diabetic and if the arteries feeding the brain becomes clogged and oxygen is not getting to brain and there is plaque formation on the brain, this can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s Disease. Basically, the point is that if you allow the body to continue to rust away, it will eventually get to every organ in the body, including the kidneys and the brain.”If we were to resolve the diabetes medical question, would that resolution be the key to resolving Alzheimer’s Disease and prostate cancer?“Yes,” says McCulley. “I have looked at the common denominator in some of the top seven diseases which include heart disease, cancer, stroke, arthritis, ostereoporosis, kidney failure and Alzheimer’s. In ninety percent of those cases, the common denominator is the existence of a nutritional deficiency. It’s a combination of the body not getting the proper nutrients to prevent that disease – and I’m going to preclude genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis – those are genetic driven diseases. I’m not talking about genetic driven diseases. I’m talking about diseases that are driven primarily by lifestyle. Okay? When you look at heart disease, stroke and diabetes – even though these diseases tend to run in families and it may appear that there is a genetic disposition for these diseases, it does not mean that you will contract these diseases unless you make the wrong choices. The number one driver is the body is not obtaining the nutrients to prevent that particular disease. That’s number. Number two is the body is consuming too much of the wrong nutrients – the toxins – the processed foods, is that simple. Either they are not getting enough of the right foods and/or the body is consuming too much of the wrong foods. And that combination tends to drive these diseases. And if you believe that, then you know the answer to resolving these health issues. The answer is, ‘Okay, maybe I’m not eating enough of the right foods. Therefore, I am not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that I need. I’m consuming too much of the toxins from other foods. Therefore, how do I resolve this? Do I take a pill? Do I take a drug? No! Once you understand the problem you realize that taking a pill, taking a drug, taking a medication is not going to resolve the problem as those two issues are still there. So, until you replace the bad food with food that has the proper nutrients and stop putting the poison in the body, you can’t get rid of the disease.”# # #

IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)--TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES

Posted by D.A.Sears on September 12, 2008 at 4:21am

Through IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES(www.amazon.com; www.xlibris.com; www.borders.com; www.fetchit.com), sixteen Men from diverse backgrounds and diverse geographic locations – STEPHEN BASKERVILLE, PH.D., MUHAMMAD NASSER BEY, RANDY L. COLLINS, LEONARD DANTZLER, WARREN FARRELL, PH.D., DALE FRAZA, THOMAS R. GOLDEN, LCSW, THE LATE L.T. HENRY, THOMAS HOERNER, GARY A. JOHNSON, JAMES KENNEDY, THOMAS LESSMAN, ALVIN F. POUSSAINT, M.D., MARTIN G. RAMEY, ALMAS JAMIL SAMI’ and JOEP ZANDER– in essays and interviews compiled by DIANE A. SEARS, speak from the depths of their souls about why Men – especially Men who are Fathers are redefining Fatherhood through the creation of “father-friendly” legislation and public policies and coalitions that extend beyond geographic boundaries and how Men are reshaping their parental roles and responsibilities.IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES is a “straight-no chaser” exploration of the challenges that confront Married Fathers, Single Fathers, “Stay-At-Home” Fathers, “Long Distance” Fathers, Custodial Fathers, and Non-Custodial Fathers in the Millennium throughout our global village as they struggle to shape the minds and souls of our children.IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES is recommended reading for Men and Fathers and the women and family members who love and care for them, Fatherhood Practitioners, family and marriage psychotherapists, lawyers, legislators, business leaders, ministers, educators, health care professionals and providers, social services professionals and providers, journalists, business leaders and community and social activists.IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES does not stop there. It also contains a Resources Directory for Fathers comprising organizations around the world that address the needs and issues of men – especially Men who are Fathers and a recommendation list of books that deal with Fatherhood and Men’s issues all of which were compiled by DIANE A. SEARS.WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)--TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES“In Search Of Fatherhood® -- Transcending Boundaries is a long overdue look at Fatherhood issues. In the well meaning effort to ease the problems of mothers and their children, Fathers and their issues have been overlooked. In Search Of Fatherhood® -- Transcending Boundaries is a welcome effort in correcting this situation.”HAYWARD FARRAR, PH.D. – ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY - VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY, Blacksburg, Virginia“ . . . All in all, page for page, you simply can’t do better than to pick up this superb collection.”J. STEVEN SVOBODA, ESQUIRE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATTORNEYS FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, Berkeley, California

How to relax on a tight budget

Posted by Erica Johnson on September 12, 2008 at 3:14am

How to relax on a tight budgetWe all need a break away from all the stress at work and not to mention the husband and kids. Being a mom, wife, cook, driver, gardener, cleaners, maid and don’t forget being a business professional is hard work and you need time to relax. You must take time for your self. When you are taking time for yourself you become a better mom, wife, and friend.When you are on a tight budget it’s hard to find $100 just to blow on fun with friends, but this cannot be an excuse. You have to strive to budget $150.00 a month for you to relax and not for your family fun time. Don’t make any excuses like little Johnny needs extra lunch money for the week or my husband needs a new briefcase. Let your husband use that same briefcase until there’s a holiday or when you need a birthday gift to buy. Making excuses is the beginning of your failure to meet the goal of relaxation.Being a mom we are nurturers by design and we always put our self last. For one day a month we have to push that aside and think of ourselves. Explain to your husband and family that you will be taking some me time out for your self each month. Also explain to hubby that negotiated in this agreement is that the kids and the house are his responsibility for the day. Now ladies, let me prep you on line of defense number one that will surely come from your husband. He will say, there’s no way I can make it without you. It may not be in those exact words but it will be in some derivative of it. You rebuttal should be to simply tell him that he will also be getting something out of it. You will become a much better person to be around.Taking time out for your self can be cheap. A few things you can do are:1) Get a 30min. massage. Massages are my favorite as they are a great stress reliever. You can also catch up on old times by having a friend join you for the massage. You can create friends night out spa party and invite all of your friends.2) Go to the park and feed the birds and fish for free, assuming that you already have the bread at home. Just being by your self can relieve a lot of stress.3) Take a drive around the town to clear your mind.4) Get a gym membership which runs you about $30 a month. Look out for specials here in Nashville where you can join for $1.00. Working out at your local gym is a great way to trim up and relax.These are just a few ideas that could help you stay healthy and have a balanced life. It’s imperative that you take time for your self. If nothing else lock your self in your room with a huge bowl of fruit and your favorite movie or book.Author Erica Johnson is a mother and wife that focuses on healing the body mind and soul. She is the owner of three business in Nashville, TN. Pampered Luxury Mobile Spa, Young Leaders Preschool and Warm Spirit. She is a business expert and her goal is to see women succeed. She helps mothers with taking care of themselves by helping them learn how to relax and achieve overall wellness. If you would like to contact Erica Johnson please contact her at www.pamperedluxurymobilespa.com

Achieve Home Business Success Through Careful Planning

Posted by Rhonda Jai on September 11, 2008 at 10:52pm

If you are considering starting a home business, it is crucial that you make the necessary preparations. It is surprising that year in and year out, several people who get the idea of running their own home business just jump into it without making any plans. This can be detrimental because the business may not provide sufficient income for the family and may have serious consequences. Becoming a small business owner does not have to be a roll of the dice or blind gamble, but rather it should involve careful planning that will help one to achieve home business success. The first step to starting any successful home business is to have a clear understanding of the nature of the business and the talents and skills that you bring.Click Here To Read The Complete Article Brought To You By The Home Based Business Guide

Remembrance!!

Posted by Shaliach (Apostle) Janet Brown on September 11, 2008 at 9:13pm

Improve Your Web Skills - I can help!

Posted by LaShanda Henry on September 11, 2008 at 9:10pm

As a web entrepreneur I am sure you now realize that starting a web business requires more than putting up a website. You need to have some basic web development skills so you aren't constantly struggling with a web designer. You need to understand internet marketing so that you can actually create a site that people go to. And you need to understand the fundamentals of web entrepreneurship, so that you can actually make money online. To meet your needs and answer the questions that many have asked, I have officially launched the Web Newbie Know How Network. BBWO is all about making connections and promoting your business, BUT this new network is about teaching you how to make your web business grow. From Internet Marketing Strategies to Web Design Tips and more, this space is THE Place for newbies and WEB OLDIES IN NEED OF NEW TRICKS to get step by step information and ASK the questions without DESPERATELY searching for the answers. Each Month You Will Learn Something New About How to improve your Web Skills and Build your Web Business. There will be a monthly Target Topic, how-to help focused on a series of web topics, some of which include: * Web Development * Internet Marketing * Social Media * Social networking * Blogging * Attracting New Clients * Tapping into Your Niche * Reaching Your Target Audience * Making Money Online * And More Featured topics for this month include How To Upload and Link to Images and Learn the Basic Principles of Building Your Web Business Online! Each Month Members Receive * One Free eBook by LaShanda Henry * A 50% Discount off all eBooks by LaShanda Henry * Access to LHenry's series of e-Courses * e-Projects that Members Can use to improve their websites and web skills * A Custom profile page * A Blog to Post Goals and Track Progress * Access to a listing of the Best Web Tools and eBusinesss Resources * Access to e-Industry Experts (Coming Soon) * Networking Opportunities with other Web Entrepreneurs * Unlimited Access to the Work and Web Women Audio Classes, create to help you learn how to work the web Click here for more details or join today! http://workandwebwomen.com/join/invite.php?ref=lhenry Registration is $25 to setup your account and for the first 30 days. A monthly subscription fee of $20 will be automatically paid via paypal if you choose to remain a member after the 1st 30 days. Site Screenshot:

It Takes a Global Twitter Village

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on September 11, 2008 at 3:26pm

A Call To Twitter Action

In her book, It Takes A Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us, Senator Hillary Clinton stressed the importance of a group approach to child rearing. She reminded us that, while a family is a distinct unit, each one forms a part of a whole, and that, when an individual unit is lifted, the entire group rises. While Clinton's message was specific to children and families, it also applies when it comes to Indie Business owners.

Village_402

This was brought home to me in a real way last Saturday when a member of the Indie Beauty Network emailed me in great distress. She's married and the mother of young children. Tina (not her real name) had emailed me several months ago to share that she and her husband were going through counseling in an effort to save their marriage. Things were on a good track for a while, but as of last Saturday, they had fallen apart.

Touching Through Technology

Tina reached out through email to me, a fellow sojourner, a part of her village. A part of her tribe. I responded to her email immediately: "Call me." She did, and while I could not solve her problems or go through her pain for her, I lifted her up and prayed with her because she was open to that. I also reminded her of her intelligence (she has a master's degree), capabilities (her business is going well and she's also home schooling) and encouraged her as a fellow Indie and mother. I reminded her that she is fully equipped to rear her children as a single mom if that is what she is called upon to do.

Like most other Indies, Tina runs her business from her home. She is also a home schooling mom in a community where separation and divorce are taboo subjects. As Tina put it, "Everything is supposed to be perfect." Tina felt especially isolated because she realized that, for years, she had pretended that everything was perfect. Now that she was accepting the fact that things weren't perfect, she was at a loss, afraid for herself and afraid that her children might be unfairly treated once their friends found out that they no longer lived with their father.

Could Twitter Make a Difference?

As Tina and I talked, I pondered the enormous potential of social media in her situation. I found myself suggesting that she join me at Twitter and meet up with some other home schooling mom Indie Business owners who could encourage her and lift her up. Tina is not ready for that yet. But I have seen the power of Twitter and other social media outlets when it comes to building up the global village of women, men and families who are managing homes and businesses at the same time.

I think Tina is a bit skeptical of Twitter and social media in general. I was too. Weren't you? Did you think that anyone who you didn't already know would care one iota how you answered the question, "What are you doing?" Did you think that your life was boring and that strangers couldn't possibly be intrigued enough to read about how you feel from moment to moment throughout the day as you tend to your home and your family simultanously?

How many of you, like me, just didn't get it at first?

Reach Out And Tweet Someone

Tina doesn't yet know about the women I met a few days ago over at Twittermoms. She doesn't know that there's a huge and growing community of Indie Beauty Network members and other Indie Business owners gathering every moring to start the day, discuss breaking news, take their kids to the dentist and do all the things that must be done in order to manage home and a business, without compromising either.

Each One Tweet One

Each of us can pay our social media successes forward by reaching out to at least one or two new people every week. Will you put Tina on your list today? Will you help me tell her about the power of social media? About people like you who are poised to connect and share?

Will you leave a comment below so Tina can know that you are an Indie Business owner on Twitter. Maybe you even home school. Maybe you can tell her that, divorced or not, she's welcome in our community. Please leave your Twitter link so Tina and all of us can connect with you more easily and perhaps even follow you.

And Tina, if you're reading this, there's a wide world out there ready to embrace you and your family and encourage all of you to be your best.

For more inspiring tips for Indies, home managers and business owners, subscribe to Indie Business Blog today. I'd love to get to know you better and know that you're coming back for more!

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Pray before you prey

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 11, 2008 at 12:27pm

Pray Before You PreyMilan FordI have a rather startling confession to make. I've been a cable television subscriber for many years now, and up until this month, if I were ever asked by someone what my favorite channels were, I would probably reply with the usual suspects: CNN, ESPN, TNT, MTV, BET, HGTV...(HGTV? Sorry, thought I'd try picking up a few brownie points in case my wife was reading this...)After some deep soul searching, I now realize I have a new all-time favorite channel. As a leader (and survivor) of ministry, I know of no other channel that provides the kind of programming that we as believers can learn from and be inspired by than (yep, you guessed it)...Animal Planet.I realize that may sound a bit strange, so please allow me to explain.Every week, the Animal Planet (channel) features incredible footage of several wild animals, ranging from sea lions to hippos, and how they seek out and target other animals to prey upon. While some of the footage can at times be gruesome to watch, the cheetah is a real thing of beauty.And a major source of conviction for me.Despite being one the fastest animals on land, I was surprised to discover that the cheetah will tend to prey on the weak, even though it is fast enough to prey on the strong. One would think with its incredible agility and speed, the cheetah would set its sights on larger animals or targets.But in fact, the cheetah does the exact opposite. Another interesting fact concerning the cheetah is that while in pursuit of its prey, nearly half of its hunting attempts actually result in failure.The reason? Because the cheetah exerts so much energy chasing after its prey, that when it finally catches up and drags its target to the ground, it has very little energy left to ward off other predators from stealing its kill. In other words, the cheetah's method of attack often makes its prey vulnerable to other predators seeking to attack.So why did I see this as a major conviction for me?Simply because Christians (myself included) are a lot like the cheetah. Instead of keeping our eyes on the targets God has given us the ability to pursue, we often turn our sights toward preying on the weak.In a land filled with people who are losing their faith in God and the local church, there are times when it seems we are often consumed with preying on the weak among us, specifically, other Christians. It is amazing how our mouths often salivate when we read the headlines of a fallen Christian leader or pastor. Or how our ears spring up when we hear the latest gossip of a family member or friend.When it comes to passing judgement and exposing the faults of another believer, we are often some of the fastest, wild animals alive. I'd like for us all to ponder a question that I had to ask myself recently:Why do we prey before we pray?Can you imagine what our world would be like if we would seek to cover one another in prayer? What would it take to grow a hunger within our hearts to look beyond the faults of our families, our churches, and perhaps, even those of our political leaders, in order to demonstrate the love that Christ has so equally shown to us all?Is it possible to forward kindness and support to one another at the same speed we can forward an email of gossip and of malice intent? Is it possible to find comfort in knowing that God's plans of acceptance are greater than our plans of discrimination?I encourage you today to begin to pray before you prey. May we all strive to support one another in such a way that this world cannot help but to ask how we do the things we do (1 Pet. 3:15).I assure you, it is only through the power of prayer that these things can be accomplishedStay FocusedandBlessed.........................Jan

We Will Never Forget

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 11, 2008 at 9:58am

Love The Least

Posted by Ladyjd721 on September 11, 2008 at 9:56am

Daily Devotional by Max Lucadothe One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaksSeptember 11Love for the LeastI was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave mesomething to drink.Matthew 25:35 (NCV)What is the sign of the saved? Their scholarship? Their willingness to go toforeign lands? Their ability to amass an audience and preach? Their skillfulpens and hope-filled volumes? Their great miracles? No.The sign of the saved is their love for the least.Those put on the right hand of God will be those who gave food to the hungrydrink to the thirsty, warmth to the lonely, clothing to the naked, comfortto the sick, and friendship to the imprisoned.Did you note how simple the works are? Jesus doesn't say, "I was sick andyou healed me....I was in prison and you liberated me....I was lonely andyou built a retirement home for me...." He doesn't say, "I was thirsty andyou gave me spiritual counsel."No fanfare. No hoopla. No media coverage. Just good people doing good thingsFrom: And the Angels Were SilentCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2003)Max LucadoStay FocusedandBlessed.........................Jan

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