2012-01-22T15:58:53Z User 228 http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/ OrgSpace NewsLog

]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000935.htm 2012-01-22T15:58:53Z 2012-01-22T15:58:53Z

Finally, another body of research has examined the idea of “affectionate writing.” It may come as no great surprise to learn that being in a loving relationship is good for your phys- ical and psychological health. However, are these benefits the result ...

Finally, another body of research has examined the idea of
“affectionate writing.” It may come as no great surprise to
learn that being in a loving relationship is good for your phys-
ical and psychological health. However, are these benefits the
result of receiving love, expressing love, or both? To find out,
Kory Floyd, from Arizbna State University, and his col-
leagues’8 asked some volunteers to think about someone they
loved and spend twenty minutes writing about why this per-
son meant so much to them. As a control, another group was
asked to write about something that had happened to them
during the past week. Each group repeated the writing exer-
cise three times over the course àf five weeks. Once again, this
simple procedure had a dramatic effect, with those who spent
just a few minutes engaged in affectionate writing showing a
marked increase in happiness, a reduction in stress, and even a
significant decrease in their cholesterol levels.
In short, when it comes to an instant fix for everyday happiness, certain types of writing have a surprisingly quick and
large impact. Expressing gratitude, thinking about a per-
fect future, and affectionate writing have been scientifically
proven to work_—and all they require is a pen, a piece of paper,
and a few moments of your time.


Monday: Thanksgiving
There are many things in your life for which to be grateful.These
might include having close friends, being in a wonderful relationship,
benefiting from sacrifices that others have made for you, being part of
a supportive family, and enjoying good health, a nice home, or enough
food on the table. Alternatively,you might have a job that you love, have
happy memories of the past, or recently have had a nice experience,
such as savoring an especially lovely cup of coffee, enjoying the smile of
a stranger, having your dog welcome you home, eating a great meal, or
stopping to smell the flowers, Think back over the past week and list
three of these things
Tuesday: Terrific Times
Think about one of the most wonderful experiences in your life. Perhaps
a moment when you felt suddenly contented, were in love, listened to
an amazing piece of music, saw an incredible performance, or had a
great time with friends. Choose just one experience and imagine yourself
back in that moment in time. Remember howyou felt and what was going
on around you. Now spend a few moments writing a description of that
experience and howyou felt. Do not worry aboutyour spelling, punctua-
tion, or grammar, Instead, simply commit your thoughts to paper.

Wednesday: Future Fantastic
Spend a few moments writing about your life in the future. Imagine
that everything has gone really well. Be realistic, but imagine that you
have worked hard arid achieved all ofyour aims and ambitions, Imagine
that you have become the person that you really want to be, and that
your personal and professional life feels like a dream come true. All of
this may not help you achieve your goals, but it will helpyou feel good
and put a smile on your face.

Thursday: Dear...
Think about someone in your life who is very important to you. It might
be your partner, a close friend, or a family member. Imagine that you
have only one opportunity to tell this person how important they are to
you. Write a short letter to this person, describing how much you care
for them and the impact that they have had on your life.


Friday: Reviewing the Situation
Think back over the past seven days and make a note of three things
that went really well foryou.The events might be fairly trivial, such as
finding a parking space, or more important, such as being offered a new
job or opportunity. Jot down a sentence about why you think each
event turned out so well.



back to Frank4zen.com]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000934.htm 2011-11-10T06:48:17Z 2011-11-10T06:50:08Z

When you experience an event that has the potential to make you feel angry. Try the following exercise to ease the pain and help you move on. spend a few moments thinking about the positive aspects of the events that you hurful.For example ,did the event help you.... ...

When you experience an event that has the potential to make you feel angry.
Try the following exercise to ease the pain and help you move on.
spend a few moments thinking about the positive aspects of the events that you hurful.For example
,did the event help you....
• grow stronger or become aware of personal strengths that you
didn’t realize you had?
• appreciate certain aspects of your life more than before?
• become a wiser person?
• enhance important relationships or end bad ones?
• become more skilled at communicating your feelings?
• bolster your confidence?
• develop into a more compassionate or forgiving person?
• repair and strengthen your relationship ,who with a person who
hurt you?


Identify any of your own shortcomings that may stand in the way of your happiness?
Write down how you have benefited from the experience and how your life is better as a result of what happened. Do not withhold anything and be as honest as possible

back to Frank4zen.com]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000933.htm 2011-11-10T06:31:22Z 2011-11-10T06:38:27Z

So here’s a list of things he’s done since he’s been in office. Remember: He was elected President. He wasn’t elected Jesus! The list is still growing. Let me know if I missed anything. 1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailin...

So here’s a list of things he’s done since he’s been in office. Remember: He was elected President. He wasn’t elected Jesus!

The list is still growing. Let me know if I missed anything.

1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry

2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along

3. Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world

4. Signed order to close the prisoner “torture camp” at Guantanamo Bay

5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation

6. Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part.

7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize

8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

9. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court

10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles

11. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans

12. Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues.

13. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.

14. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

15. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales

16. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan

17. Closed offshore tax safe havens

18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

19. Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information

20. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts

21. . Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB.

22. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules

23. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings

24. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports

25. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09).

26. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions

27. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back

28. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

29. . Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology.

30. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices

31. Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

32. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources

33. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

34. Established a new cyber security office

35. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children

36. Expanding vaccination programs

37. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses

38. . Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans.

39. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

40. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools

41. Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti

42. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters

43. . Launched Business.gov – enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy.

44. Improved housing for military personnel

45. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals

46. Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan.

47. Improving benefits for veterans

48. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect

49. Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits.

50. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program

51. Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market.

52. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel

53. Increasing student loans

54. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones

55. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.

56. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000

57. Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House

58. Protected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost.

59. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

60. Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured.

61. Lower drug costs for seniors

62. Making more loans available to small businesses

63. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration

64. . Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis

65. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals

66. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans

67. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care.

68. New federal funding for science and research labs

69. New funds for school construction

70. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending

71. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

72. . Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals.

73. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

74. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions

75. Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America’s working families.

76. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic

77. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

78. . Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush’s presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24

79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel

80. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

81. Provided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles.

82. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

83. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy

84. Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

85. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program

86. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

87. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced

88. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job

89. The FDA is now regulating tobacco

90. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date.

91. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

92. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying

93. The “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

94. US financial and banking rescue plan

95. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast

96. . Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system.

97. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

98. Improved relations with Iran

99. Improved U.S. policy on climate change

100. Set timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops)

101. Improved relations with Russia

102. Improved relations with the Islamic World

103. Made progress towards greater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation

104. Economic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing)

105. Drastically slowed down the recession

106. Saved Wall Street

107. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_Ledbetter_Fair_Pay_Act_of_2009

108. HEALTH CARE REFORM

Once again, this is a lot to accomplish in such a short amount of time. He was elected President, he wasn’t elected Jesus.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000932.htm 2011-10-26T15:22:53Z 2011-10-26T15:22:53Z

Teenagers who drink large amounts of soft drinks are more likely to be aggressive and violent, US researchers claimed Tuesday. Drinking more than five cans of soda a week was linked to significantly higher levels of violent assaults, scientists from the University of Vermont found after survey...

Teenagers who drink large amounts of soft drinks are more likely to be aggressive and violent, US researchers claimed Tuesday.

Drinking more than five cans of soda a week was linked to significantly higher levels of violent assaults, scientists from the University of Vermont found after surveying 1,878 teenagers aged 14 to 18 from 22 schools in Boston.

Participants were asked how many non-diet soft drinks they drank during the past week, with a higher consumption increasing the likelihood of them being violent.

Just over 23 percent of those drinking one or no cans had carried a gun or knife, rising to just under 43 percent of those drinking 14 or more cans.

Writing in the journal Injury Prevention, the researchers suggested that sugar or caffeine could lead to aggression.

"There was a significant and strong association between soft drinks and violence," study leader Sara Solnick said.

Seena Fazel, senior lecturer in forensic psychiatry at the University of Oxford, added, "It does suggest that a trial of an intervention to reduce high soft-drink consumption may be worth considering in high-risk populations."

Critics argued that the study was too simplistic and claimed that social factors were a more likely cause.


Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2011/10/25/soft-drinks-make-teens-more-violent-us-researchers-claim/#ixzz1bngipe42]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000931.htm 2011-10-25T13:38:49Z 2011-10-25T13:38:49Z

Going trick-or-treating? Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Examine all treats for choking haz...

Going trick-or-treating?

Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.

Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.

Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.

Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000930.htm 2011-10-23T08:59:38Z 2011-10-23T09:02:29Z

– Neil Patel is a serial entrepreneur that blogs about business at Quick Sprout and is the co-founder of KISSmetrics. The views expressed are his own. – Steve Jobs will be remembered as one of the greatest visionaries ever. What he did for the technological as well as entrepreneurial world...

– Neil Patel is a serial entrepreneur that blogs about business at Quick Sprout and is the co-founder of KISSmetrics. The views expressed are his own. –

Steve Jobs will be remembered as one of the greatest visionaries ever. What he did for the technological as well as entrepreneurial world, will never be forgotten.

Although I’m young and haven’t been following Jobs’s career as intently as others, he has taught me a lot about business in the last five years. Here are 11 things I’ll never forget that Steve Jobs taught me:

People Matter, Not Features

Everything Jobs built made life easier for you. It was rare to ever hear him babbling about features he created, instead he focused on how these products made life easier for others.

For example, the iPhone enabled you to talk on your phone, watch movies, record movies, and listen to music. As simple as that may sound, without an iPhone you may have to had to carry around a cell phone, mp3 player, and a video recorder. Because of him your pockets are much lighter.

He taught me, along with many others, not to focus on just adding features or creating products. First and foremost, you need to focus on solving problems that people are experiencing. If you can do that, you’ll stay ahead of the curve.

There’s Nothing Wrong With Pre-Selling

Most companies launch products and then sell them. Jobs didn’t do that with Apple. He let the public know what he was going to sell them, how it solved their problems, and that they could pre-order the product online.

You can do the same thing. Don’t wait for your product or service to be released. Start selling it now. The money you earn today will help cover your costs and it will help solve any cash flow issues you may encounter during distribution.

Keep it Simple, Silly

I switched from a PC to a Mac because Macs are much easier to use. Or at least they are for my dad and 1-year-old nephew. Every Apple product I bought during Steve’s tenure was simple to use.

He also created cool looking devices, but above all else his products were simple to use. For example, the iPad was the first device I was ever able to give my dad that required little to no instruction. There are no shut down or start options, you just click on applications and start using them.

If you want more applications, you just go to the App Store and download them.

Don’t try to make your solutions complicated. Keep it simple… even if that means you have to strip off the bells and whistles. If you aren’t creating usable solutions, it will be harder to gain traction.

Think BIG

If you are in business, you are there to make money. If not, you shouldn’t be an entrepreneur. If you are going to create a business, create one that changes the world.

Apple isn’t just a technology company, Steve Jobs changed the world. His products are used all around the world and by everyone. This is why Apple is the largest company in the world.

You won’t be able to create a big company unless you solve big problems. Although you can make a nice living by conquering a small niche, you wont make billions doing it.

Focus, Focus and Focus Some More

When you look at Apple’s website, it seems like they have a lot of products, right? Well, for being a hundred-billion dollar company, they actually don’t.

Jobs was smart, he always focused his energy on a few big products instead of trying to create thousands of small ones. In other words, he went for big wins instead of looking to hit singles and doubles.

With your business you shouldn’t try to do multiple things. Just focus your time and energy on one product or service. As long as your core business continues to grow, you shouldn’t do anything else. The moment your growth slows down and flattens, that’s when you should expand.

Create an Ecosystem

I never really understood the power of creating a platform until the iPhone was released. When the phenomenon hit the market and companies started to create applications, Apple grew to have a huge ecosystem.

Not only were they selling their products, other companies started to build products on the Apple platform and their customers were encouraged to buy and use Apple products.

By this point Apple didn’t have to sell their products, other companies were doing it for them.

Steve Jobs created an ecosystem and he was able to do it around Apple products. If you want to grow a brilliant idea, you have to create an ecosystem for that idea to flourish.

There’s Always Room for Innovation

The iPod wasn’t the first mp3 player. There were hundreds of others that were already out before Apple released the iPod. That didn’t discourage Jobs from entering the space… he just one upped everyone by creating a better product.

These days if you are looking to buy a music player, the first thing comes to your mind is the iPod, right? And what’s the second brand that comes to your mind?

Ummmmm…

That’s right, they demolished all of their competitors. The only other device that I can think of is the Zune, which kind of sucks.

Don’t be afraid to enter a saturated market… you just have to be willing to stir things up. If you can innovate, you will win. If you decide to create another me-too company, expect to be crushed.

Be Passionate

Did you know that Steve Jobs had a salary of $1 a year? That’s right, he didn’t care for money and he stated it publicly. He cared about the company, their products, and changing peoples’ lives.

If you love what you are doing, you are going to work harder and be more likely to succeed. Heck, Jobs even worked hard when he was sick… that’s how much he loved what he was doing.

Don’t just do things for the money, do things because you love what you are doing. You aren’t going to live forever, so enjoy your life while you can.

Never Lose Your Investors Money

Although Steve Jobs wasn’t the CEO throughout all of Apple’s history, he always took care of the company. He came back, and turned the company around. In other words, he grew shareholder money and took care of his investors.

As I stated earlier, Apple is the biggest company in the world. It’s very difficult to create a decent size company without taking money from investors… so make sure you take care of them. And if you do so, they’ll always take care of you.

Another great leader who also has a very similar rule is Warren Buffett. If you can take care of the people who are feeding you, they’ll constantly be willing to reciprocate.

You’re Nothing Without Your Team

Apple has a ton of benefits: from onsite fitness centers to tuition assistance, they even have cafeterias with organic food. Why did they do all of this? To take care of their employees.

A big part of being a good leader is realizing that you have to have a good team. It’s impossible to do everything yourself. If you don’t take care of your employees and show your appreciation, you’ll quickly lose them.

If you take care of your employees they’ll put their blood, sweat and tears into your company.

Don’t Forget About Your Friends and Family

As an entrepreneur when you work so hard for so many years, you tend to forget about your friends and family. All you do is live, sleep and breathe business.

At the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with that, but you also have to spend time with your friends and family. Money will always be there, but your friends and family won’t.

When Steve Jobs got sick, he left Apple to spend his final moments with his friends and family. He knew what was important to him. You too need to figure out what’s important to you no matter how much time your business or job takes from your life, don’t forget about what’s important.

Conclusion

It’s tragic that Steve Jobs passed away during his prime. He was a great entrepreneur and leader. We’ll never forget what he did for this world.

My condolences go out to his family and friends and may he rest in peace.

Feel free to share any lessons you’ve learned from Steve Jobs.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000929.htm 2011-10-23T07:57:39Z 2011-10-23T07:57:39Z

ll Christian books are worthy of your investment, but it is better if you will have the best Christian books. Christian books are written by popular Christian writers and leaders around the world. You can choose international or local Christian books. There are lots of options especially i...

ll Christian books are worthy of your investment, but it is better if you will have the best Christian books. Christian books are written by popular Christian writers and leaders around the world. You can choose international or local Christian books.

There are lots of options especially if you want the best Christian books ever written. It is better to hunt for these kinds of books in specialized Christina bookstores in your area. You can also locate these books on the web. There are popular Christian bookstores on the internet. All you have to do is to search the net by using different search engine such as Yahoo and Google.

If you want to have the top ten best Christian books, you need to search for the list first and locate some online bookstores. You simply need to type the title plus the author of the book. Majority if online bookstores nowadays are offering great discounts for all their consumers. Here are the lists of top ten best Christian books you need to have:

1.Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis this books will touch your heart and you will be blessed by the Holy Spirit as you read. This is the main reason why this book falls on this lists. It is meant for all people who have genuine desire to become better Christians and who also need to draw closer to Jesus Christ.

2.My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers this book will create a great impact in your life. After reading this book, you will never forget its lessons for life.

3. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis this book is about intense passion and love for Christ. If you want to increase you faith in God you must read this book.

4.Pilgrim s Progress by John Bunyan this is about the journey of a protagonist Christian.

5.The Confessions of St. Augustine by St. Augustine this is one of the greatest autobiographies ever written.

6.The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer this book tells about the unfailing works of God in our life.

7.The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonheoffer the book will tell you about the relationship between you and the teaching of Jesus. This book is perfect for first time believers.

8.Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster this spiritual guide book sold over a million copies worldwide. Many believers who have read it say that it was the best book of the twentieth century.

9.The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin this was the leading reference book to people who wants to study cult culture.

10. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler & Frank Turek this will help all atheists to have different perspective in life and God. It can'turn every atheist towards worshiping God.

These top ten best Christian books will benefit all Christians. You can still discover more. Grow your faith in God and Jesus as you read these wonderful books.

back to frank4zen.com]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000927.htm 2011-10-18T17:54:56Z 2011-10-18T18:14:14Z

Paul McCartney, himself an avowed Macintosh devotee, has issued a statement saying he was privileged to know Steve Jobs. "Steve was a great creative artist. He was also a loving husband and father and I feel privileged to have known him," he said in the statement issued on his website. "I...

Paul McCartney, himself an avowed Macintosh devotee, has issued a statement saying he was privileged to know Steve Jobs.

"Steve was a great creative artist. He was also a loving husband and father and I feel privileged to have known him," he said in the statement issued on his website.

"I enjoyed his quick sense of humour and his love of music. He came to quite a few of our concerts and it was always a pleasure to see him bopping on the sidelines. I once said to him that he must be extremely proud of what he had done. He agreed but said he was even prouder of what he had not done."

McCartney ended his statement by calling him, "A great man who will be missed by me and many others."

Jobs was a Beatles fan and praised McCartney and the Beatles when iTunes announced last year the Beatles would be featured on the service.


Continue reading on Examiner.com Paul McCartney says knowing Steve Jobs was a privilege - National Beatles | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-national/paul-mccartney-says-knowing-steve-jobs-was-a-privilege#ixzz1aASbZhR4]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v228/__show_article/_a000228-000926.htm 2011-10-08T06:12:03Z 2011-10-08T06:12:03Z

Introduction The following are simple, yet powerful practices that can give you new ways of looking at your life circumstances, and in that, create new possibilities for making choices that will bring you greater alignment with your personal integrity. These exercises are developments of "The Wor...

Introduction
The following are simple, yet powerful practices that can give you new ways of looking at your life circumstances, and in that, create new possibilities for making choices that will bring you greater alignment with your personal integrity. These exercises are developments of "The Work(TM)" which Byron Katie offers in seminars to provide clarity of mind and honesty of heart which ultimately leads to peace.

1. Reversing Judgements
Practice noticing when you judge or criticize someone or something. For example, in a grocery store line, you might be impatient and think the person in front of you is disorganized and rude. Quickly turn your judgment around and ask yourself: "Is it just as true about me? Am I rude? (Am I rude sometimes; to others - or to myself?) Am I being rude inside of me when I think they are rude?"

This exercise takes your attention off the "other" and places your attention on you. Forgiveness naturally results. Placing the blame or judgment on someone else leaves you powerless to change your experience; taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them.

Remember, beyond the appearance of who it is you are looking at, it is always God disguised, standing in front of you so that you can know yourself. Reversing judgments allows complete forgiveness. Forgiveness leads to awareness of one’s self, and reestablishes personal integrity.

2. The Three Kinds of Business
Notice when you hurt that you are mentally out of your business. If you’re not sure, stop and ask, "Mentally, whose business am I in?" There are only three kinds of business in the universe, mine, yours, and God’s. Simple! Whose business is it if an earthquake happens? God’s business. Whose business is it if your neighbor down the street has an ugly lawn? Your neighbor’s business. Whose business is it if you are angry at your neighbor down the street because they have an ugly lawn? Your business. Life is simple, it is internal.

So, count, in five minute intervals, how many times you are in someone else’s business mentally. Notice when you give uninvited advice or offer your opinion about something (aloud or silently). Ask yourself: "Am I in their business? Did they ask me for my advice?" And more importantly, "Can I take the advice I am offering and apply it to my life?"

3. Being in Nobody’s Business
After working with the practice of staying out of other’s business, try to stay out of your own business as well. Hold lightly whatever you think you know about yourself. "I am contained within this physical body. Is it really true? Can I really know that it’s true? What do I get by holding that belief?" There is a widespread belief that we are our bodies, and we will die. "Who would I be without the belief?"

4. "Detaching" from Your Body/Your Story
Try speaking about yourself, for a period of time, in third person, rather than as I or me. Instead of saying, "I’m going to lunch", say "She’s going to lunch", (referring to yourself), or "This one is going to lunch." Do this with a friend for an hour, the afternoon, or the entire day. Eliminate the use of all personal pronouns (I, me, we). Refer to yourself and the other in third person. For example, "How is that one (or this one) today? Does he want to go to the park?" Experience impersonally the body, the stories and the preferences which you think you are.

5. Speaking in the Present Tense
Become mindful of how often your conversations focus on the past or future. Be aware of the verbs you use: was, did, will, are going to, etc. To speak of the past in the present is to reawaken and recreate it fully in the present, if only in our minds, and then we are lost to what is present for us now. To speak of the future is to create and live with what is but a fantasy in our minds. If you want to experience fear, think of the future. If you want to experience shame and guilt, think of the past.

6. Doing the Dishes
"Doing the dishes" is a practice of learning to love the action that is in front of you. Your inner voice or intuition guides you all day long to do simple things such as doing the dishes, driving to work or sweeping the floor. Allow the sanctity of simplicity. Listening to your inner voice and then acting on its suggestions with implicit trust creates a life that is more graceful, effortless and miraculous.

7. Listening to the Voice of the Body
The body is the voice of your mind, and it speaks to you in physical movement as muscular contractions - as twitches, twinges, tickles and tension, just to name a few. Become aware of how often you move away from peace or stillness. Practise stillness and let your body speak to you of where your mind contracts, no matter how subtle the flickering contraction may be. When you notice a sensation, inquire within, "What situation or contracted thought is triggering this physical sensation? Am I out of alignment with my integrity in this circumstance, and if so, where? Am I willing to let go of this belief or thought that causes my body to contract?" Listen and allow the answers to guide you, and return to the peace and clarity within.

8. Reporting to Yourself
This exercise can help in healing fear and terror. Practice reporting events to yourself as if a circumstance you find yourself in is actually a news story and you are the roving reporter. Announce exactly what your surroundings are and what’s happening "on the scene" at that very moment. Fear is always the result of projecting a re-creation of the past into the now or the future. If you find yourself fearful, find the core belief and inquire: "Is this really true that I need to be fearful in this situation? What is actually happening right now, physically? Where is my body (hands, arms, feet, legs, head)? What do I see (trees, walls, windows, sky)?"

Impersonalising our stories gives us an opportunity to look at circumstances more objectively, and choose our responses to what life brings. Living in our minds, believing our untrue thoughts is a good way to scare ourselves to death, and it can appear in form as old age, cancer, degeneration, high blood pressure, etc.

9. Literal Hearing
Practise listening to others in the most literal sense, believing exactly what they say, and do your best to resist falling into your own interpretations about the information they share with you.

For example, someone might compliment you on how beautiful you are, and you interpret that as an implication that the person has ulterior motives. Our interpretations of what we hear people say to us are often far more painful or frightening than what people actually say. We can hurt ourselves with our misconceptions and our thinking for others. Try trusting that what they say is exactly what they mean: not more, not less. Hear people out. Catch yourself when you want to finish a sentence for someone either aloud or in your mind. Listen. It can be amazing to hear what comes out when we allow others to complete their thoughts without interruption. And, when we are busy thinking we know what they are about to say, we are missing what they are actually saying.

You might want to consider these questions: "What can be threatened if I listen and hear literally? Do I interrupt because I don’t want to really know what they have to say? Do I interrupt to convince them I know more than they do? Am I attempting to portray an image of self-confidence and control? Who would I be without the need to possess those qualities? Is there a fear of appearing unintelligent? Would people leave me if I heard them literally, and no longer engage in manipulative games?"

10. Speaking Honestly and Literally
Speak literally. Say what you mean without justification, without any desire to manipulate, and without concern about how another may interpret your words. Practice not being careful. Experience the freedom this brings.

11. Watching the Play
See yourself in a balcony, watching your favorite drama about you and what distresses you. Watch the story on the stage below. Notice how you have seen this drama performed hundreds, perhaps thousands of times. Watch this until you find yourself becoming bored. The performers are having to exaggerate their parts to keep your attention. Notice when you get honest with your boredom, you get up from your seat, leave the balcony, exit the playhouse and step outside. Always know you can re-visit. Who would you be without your story?

12. Watching a Second Version of the Play
Write your story from the eyes and mind of another. Write as many different versions with as many different outcomes as you like. Notice what you notice.

13. Exercising Polarity
If you find yourself dwelling on a negative thought, practice going to the opposite positive extreme or polarity. When you catch yourself slipping back into negativity, choose again to return to the positive polarity and be present with your conscious choice; feel the truth of it. There is only love, and what doesn’t appear as love is a disguised call for love. It is your birthright to live in the positive polarity of love and truth.

14. Self Loving Process
Make a list of everything you love about someone and share it with them. Then, give yourself everything that is on the list. You may also recognize that what you love about someone else is just as true of you. Then allow the fullness of it to be expressed in your life.

15. Coming from Honesty
Practice moving and responding honestly. Laugh, cry, scream, and speak as it is genuinely true for you in each moment. Be a child again; act in full integrity with your feelings. Don’t let beliefs compromise your integrity. For example, practise leaving a room honestly without manipulating those you leave behind with a polite excuse. Live your truth without explaining yourself.

16. Asking for What You Want - Giving Yourself What You Want
Ask for what you want, even though it may feel bold or awkward. People don’t know what you want until you ask them. The act of asking is a validation of the awareness that you deserve to have what you want. If others are unable or unwilling to accommodate your request, give it to yourself.

17. Awareness of You
Recognize that the one in front of you is you. Beyond all appearances and personalities is the essence of goodness, which is you. Remembering your presence in all form will bring you immediately into the present moment, in awe of the fullness therein. The person before you will become an opportunity to know yourself. The heart overflows with love and gratitude, humbly saying, "Oh yes, this person or situation is here for me to learn about who I am."

18. Self Gratitude
For a simple twenty-four hours, stop looking outside yourself for validation. On the other side of that you become the experience of gratitude.

19. The Vanity Mirror
If you want to see who you are not, look in the mirror. Use the mirror once a day only. Who would you be without your mirror?

20. Beyond Justification
Begin to notice how often you explain or justify yourself, your words, actions, decisions, etc. Who are you trying to convince? And what is the story you are perpetuating? Become aware of your use of the word "because" or "but" when you speak. Stop your sentence immediately. Begin again. Justification is an attempt to manipulate the other person; decide to be still and know, and BE CAUSE.

21. The Gift of Criticism
Criticism is an incredible opportunity to grow. Here are some steps on how to receive criticism and benefit from it. When someone says you are "wrong, terrible, sloppy", etc, say, either in your mind, or aloud to that person, "Thank you". This thought immediately puts you in a space where you’re available to hear and to use the information in a way that can serve you.

After the criticism, ask yourself, "Do I hurt?" If the answer is "yes", then know somewhere within you, you believe the criticism also. Knowing this gives you the opportunity to heal that portion which you find unacceptable within yourself.

If you want to cease to be vulnerable to criticism, then heal the criticisms. That is the ultimate power in letting go of every concept. Being vulnerable means you can no longer be manipulated for there is no place for criticism to stick. This is freedom
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