Death is coming

The closer death creeps up upon me the less I am able to understand the reasons for life or living.

Yes I have experienced a close family member dying and unlike television it takes decades to handle such a thing. To think I am going to put my family through such a thing when I finally leave is more horrific to me than the thought of death itself.

My life was and is still a learning experience but when all said and done what am I to do with all this accumulated learning over my lifetime if I just die. There is no logic or reason to this.

Long ago I became aware that the God story that is sold to the majority is just a nice story to give mankind with a message of a basic layout of how nice life could be if everyone followed these ideas. Not many in life do and if one thinks about it the good and evil structures actually depend on each other. The good that can be experienced in life is only understood as good when there is it's opposite to compare it to. This is not rocket science only common sense in reality. I am not saying we need to experience bad but understanding in it is needed to appreciate the great things many of us can have in our lives. From birth to death there are many ways mankind helps his fellow man. How many ways can you help?


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Prophecy In The News Today For Everyone

By Shanna McNeil


Every time a person turns on the television set they are sure to see some kind of prophecy in the news today. Millions of people really believe in these predictions that are made by modern day fortune tellers. Some of these items that they share with people are usually terrifying and this will make anyone afraid to leave the house.

If you are someone who would believe anything then this story would really grab your attention. It was predicted by the Mayan calendar some time ago that the world would end on December 21, 2012. Many people took hold of this belief and they prepared to find a way to survive. They took most of their money and purchased fabulous underground homes that no one could enter. Many of these individuals also gave away the rest of the money they had after making the purchase.

Luckily this event never happened and these same people were made to look foolish because of their belief in the world coming to an end. There was also a pastor who advised his followers to join him at a retreat in order to survive the oncoming disaster. These people also gave all of their money and valuables to others.

Some years ago there was another cult leader who advised his group to take poison because of an asteroid that would eventually impact the earth. Unfortunately they all listened to him and drank the liquid poison. The asteroid never crashed into the planet but his group of people all died from the poison.

Anyone who knows the Devil has already heard that he has a son who will inherit the earth. This of course is the world famous Antichrist who will gain power through the world of politics. In America people and mediums had stated that one of the country's Presidents was this sinister man who would do the planet harm. There was never any proof to back these accusations.

Faithful church people are eagerly awaiting the return of Christ. This is a prediction that is stated by many mediums each year. In the year 2012 desperate individuals gave away all that they had because they believed the great man was making a return. They decided to live a life of poverty in order to be closer to Christ.

The state of California was supposed to fall into the ocean decades ago according to some of the wilder predictions. People thought that one of the earthquakes would eventually swallow the state whole. This has not happened yet but individuals are still betting money on it to occur very soon.

The most unusual prophecy in the news today was predicted by a man who exhibited strange powers centuries ago. This man was Nostradamus and he stated that a duo of tall structures would fall flat. Little did anyone know that he was talking about New York City's world famous Trade Center.




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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Bible's Account Of Jesus Genealogy

By Shanna McNeil


Jesus genealogy is an account of Jesus earthly parents and how they contributed to his existence on earth. Prophecies about His first coming were indicated in the Old Testament and before his birth, the New Testament tried to show His tribe and family backgrounds. The books of the New Testament where this can be found are Matthew and Luke. From the Bible's accounts, Christ's earthly fathers were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Tarmah, Perez, Hezron and Ran.

Abraham was known as Abram before God called him out of his father's house at the age of 75. His wife was Sarai and although they had been married for several years, they had no child. God's promise for a son later came to pass about 25 years later (at the age of 100), when his wife was 90 and people would have thought that it would be impossible. Abraham called his child Isaac.

Isaac was born a year after the parents were visited by angels who dressed like strangers in the land. The angels had proclaimed that they would deliver exactly a year after their visit but due to Sarah's unbelief, she laughed in the secret. Her laughter did not stop the fulfillment of this promise as they delivered exactly one year later. The child was therefore named Isaac, which means laughter. Isaac was blessed with two boys, Jacob and Esau. Esau was the older one but God decided to use Jacob to fulfill the promise he made to Abraham.

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob. It was from his tribe that the Lord Jesus came to earth. He suggested that Joseph (his brother) should be hidden in a pit after his brothers had already decided to kill him.

Out of Judah's five children, two of them, Perez and Zerah were born to him by his daughter- in-law, Tarmah. Tarmah was the wife of Er but Er had no child before God forcefully took him. Judah's act with Tarmah was in line with the customs that ensured that each man should have an offspring. Perez was older than Zerah and was favored to continue the link that brought Jesus to earth.

Perez was among the ancestors of King David. Perez means the first to come from the womb. St Matthew's gospel also acknowledges Perez as a part of the genealogy of Jesus.

Hezron and Hamul were the sons of Perez. Hezron, the younger brother gave birth to Ram and Ram gave birth to Amminadab. Amminadab gave birth to Nahshon and Nahshon gave birth to Salmon. Salmon and Rahab (the harlot in Jericho that saved the spies) got married and gave birth to Boaz. Boaz married Ruth, the daughter- in-law of Naomi after the death of her children. Boaz and Ruth were blessed with Obed, father of Jesse and grandfather of David (the king of Israel).

Joseph joined the descendants of David along the line. He got engaged to Mary who became pregnant by the help of the Holy Spirit. This means that although Jesus had a line of earthly parents, his birth was divine and supreme. Jesus genealogy shows that God can use any man to do his purpose as long as the person presents himself or herself for His use.




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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tips For Comforting The Bereaved

By Amanda Griffin


While it's true that funeral customs in Singapore are very systematic, it doesn't mean that families of the deceased can actually handle the loss very well. Death in the family is not easy to bear and it is true for many cultures. Fortunately there are certain things that you can do to bring comfort to a friend who is suffering from grief. It's important to know these tips so that you know what to do during the time of bereavement.

The Dos

Read a book about grief in order to widen your understanding about it. This way, you'll be able to assess the depth of your friend's suffering. Among the best things to do is to show that you care and to express your sympathy. You do not need to use many words. Just sitting beside your friend will be sufficient to make him or her feel your support and sincerity.

Listen to and share stories about the departed. Make sure that you listen to the family even if they tell the same thing over and over again. If it is your turn, share your amusing stories about the deceased. If you are not directly associated with each other, you can share a funny story that the deceased's relative shared to you. Joyful memories will help remove the emotional burden from the family.

funeral services in Singapore are usually held in funeral homes which typically provide private rooms for the family of the deceased. This is also true for the Crematorium Singapore funeral service providers offer. In these rooms, you'll find a space where you can let your friend cry out. Always remember that a grieving person will only find a way to move on if he or she can express all those feelings. When this moment comes, be ready to give a hug.

The Don'ts

According to experts you must avoid telling clichs like "it is God's will," "I understand how you feel," or "Everything will be healed in time." Never stop listening to the family when they tell stories and don't tell them to stop crying. As you know, crying is an instinct and it is done to remove all sadness from a person's heart. So allowing your grieving friend to cry while consistently expressing your sympathy can help them feel relieved.




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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Funeral Home Singapore: Comforting Those Who Suffer Loss

By Anne Sanders


While it is true that funeral customs in Singapore are quite systematic, it doesn't mean that families of the departed can actually handle the loss very well. In most known cultures, death brings sorrow to families. That holds true for people in Singapore as well. Therefore, you have to think of ways to comfort a friend during their time of grief. Fortunately, there are some common tips that you can learn and follow to comfort a grieving friend.

The Dos

Read books about grief so that you can widen your understanding about it. Before doing anything, you have to understand how your friend suffers. Other emotions related to grief are anxiety and hostility. If your friend shows these signs, then it means he or she is totally stricken with grief. This is when you have to show your sympathy and you should let your friend know that you care. Using too many words is not necessary.

Listen to and share stories about the dead. Make sure you listen to the family even if they tell the same thing over and over again. If it is your turn, share your entertaining stories about the deceased. If you are not directly related to each other, you can share an amusing story that the deceased's relative shared to you. Happy memories will help remove the emotional distress from the family.

funeral services in Singapore are often held in funeral homes which typically provide private rooms for friends and family of the deceased. It is also true for the Crematorium Singapore funeral service providers offer. In these rooms, you can find a space where you can let your friend cry out. Always remember that a grieving person will only find a way to move on if he or she can express all those feelings. When this time comes, be ready to give a hug.

The Don'ts

Experts say that you should avoid telling clichs like "It is God's will," "I understand how you feel," or "Everything will be healed in time." Don't discourage your friend from telling stories. Moreover, don't advise your friend to stop crying. Allowing your friend to simply cry out can be one of the greatest things that you can do.




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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Face To Face With Death And Bereavement

By Sandy Carter


Many individuals perceive that death is mostly a painful ordeal to handle. The bereavement of a cherished one, regardless of whether predictable or unpredicted, normally leads to melancholic emotions of anguish and grief. Lots of people dislike the thought of death, possibly because the very sense of it describes a mournful conclusion.

Persons who come into contact with a loss of a loved one may possibly go through several kinds of emotions. These feelings, more often than not more intense and more powerful than in normal circumstances, are generally exceedingly burdensome to manage. Most individuals become gloomy, irritated, anxious, frightened, reprehensible, fatigued, confused, unprepared, terrified, enraged, ferocious, emotional, begrudging or just plain empty. Some individuals find it hard to focus, enjoy, dine and accomplish daily activities. Certain people divert their attention toward immoderate quantities of alcohol, food and games. Several individuals face adverse physical effects like impatience and nausea. A large number of individuals notice themselves skeptical about their spiritual views because of disappointment. A few people appear alone and meaningless, lacking enthusiasm in any kind of pastime. Some people may find this hard to believe as true, but all of these are normal methods to react to death.

The sorrowful course generally takes time. Countless methods and guidelines have been created to help bereaved people. To help the bereaved deal with the death of a buddy or family member, encouragement and relations must continually be available. Children should receive ample caretaking and communication. Adolescents, on the other hand, must retain regular involvement in different social activities.

If you're going through a recent loss of a cherished one, there are other valuable things, besides encouragement and communication, which can help you get through this complex stage. Bear in mind that it is okay to cry. It doesn't matter if you're a man. It's normal and natural to cry. Allow the pain to leave you. Talk about your cherished one. Communicate your emotions with other people. Let your associates and family know what you're going through. Find time to heal. Healing your wounds will not happen overnight. Don't rush the process.

Going through a loss of a loved one can be really demanding. Good thing you can actually lessen this almost impossible loads of strain with the help of professional casket services. With their help, you don't have to go through the heartbreaking process of choosing the casket that is right for your decedent. Almost all people might think the thought is absurd, but hiring proficient casket services can actually help you decrease your strain levels during this hard time. You aren't alone for the reason that the professional provider of funeral services Singapore like Buddhist funeral Singapore can actually help you go through the death of a loved one with less stress. They have a team of experienced funeral consultants that will be with you every step of the way.




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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Benefits Of Grief And Loss Counseling NJ People Need To Know About

By Corinne Hyde


Life is quiet interesting due to the challenges and happy moments that people go through. It is almost impossible for one to have a very smooth life without any kind of challenges. Inability of dealing with the challenge can make someone to lose hope and feel like there is something very wrong with them. There are various challenges that one may face in life. They include financial challenges, family challenges among other things. There are different gains associated with grief and loss counseling NJ residents need to know about.

One can have suicidal thoughts once they feel like it is impossible to deal with the pain one may be going through. Such a person can feel like there is no reason in leaving since someone important to them has left them. This individual needs to visit a counselor in order to overcome this problem and not have such thoughts.

Apart from thinking about committing suicide others can even think of causing harm to other people. Some of the shoot outs that have been happening in the United States may be attributed to lack of people dealing with pain. This is because sorrow can make someone do crazy things.

An individual has a role to play in the society and they can only do this if they are in the right state of mind. Grief interferes greatly with the psychic of someone such that they cannot even work and earn a living due to the pain they may be going through. The person therefore needs to visit a counselor who can assist them in dealing with the issues.

When one has gone through grief and they go through the counseling sessions and they are okay, they are in a better position to assist another person who may be going through the same sorrow they went through. In addition a person who is suffering is more likely to listen to the advise of someone who went through the pain and conquered it. This is because they feel they can relate with the person.

Some individuals turn to substance abuse once they are faced with difficult situations in life and they are not able to handle them appropriately. Visiting a counselor is important for one to overcome the issue. After successful sessions one is in a position not to turn to substance abuse for solace.

When one loses someone that they really loved, they are greatly traumatized. It takes a lot of time and counseling in order to deal with the trauma. Inability of dealing with the trauma can lead to one even developing health complications like having a heart attack, high blood pressure and ulcers among other illnesses. These illnesses are very serious and may even lead to death of an individual.

There are various benefits one can get by using the service above. Due to the benefits associated with grief and loss counseling NJ residents are visiting the counselor every time they need to deal with pain. This has made people overcome their concerns and sorrows thus becoming better members of the society.




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Monday, December 24, 2012

Discover the secret to more time than you ever wanted

By Andy Jensen


We have an age old problem, don't we? We never seem to have enough time. Time is an essential resource that governs everything we do. We consider time so fundamental that we assign its measurement to sophisticated atomic clocks. Yet though we're well into the 21st century, we still have no effective means to save, store or extend it. Time ticks away, whether we like it or not, until our precious reservoir runs dry. Then, life as we know it, is over.

How can something as pleasant as life, be ruled by something as cruel as time? The Bible says time is not a mistake. In fact, God considered it to be ideal, in the beginning. Most of us recall the words that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God designated the beginning as the point at which he set up everything in heaven and on earth. From that point onwards, time existed. God went on to establish light, the universe, fish, birds, animals, and of course us. When he reviewed everything, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). The key here is that "very good" in ancient Hebrew means things were perfect. So nothing needed any improvement. Not even time.

So when did things fall apart? Not long after the creation. By then, "the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed" (Genesis 2:8). Sadly, Adam refused to live according to God's instructions. As a consequence, "the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Genesis 3:23). But things soon became much worse! God said "Cursed is the ground because of you; ... it will produce thorns and thistles for you" (Genesis 3:17, 18) Even today this curse adversely affects everything we do. Outside of God's care in his perfect garden, work efforts are hindered. God says, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19). Things are difficult now. We cannot get as much done. Everything is hard work. Finally, death awaits us when time runs out.

Thankfully, that is not the whole story. God plans to restore his universe to its former glory. Because of his great love for us, he wants us there with him. He has already sent Jesus to start the rescue. Jesus lived and died and rose to life again, in full and final payment for mankind's rebellion. As a result, our original friendship with God can be restored. Take a moment to read about it in Romans chapter 5. Soon, in a remarkable way, God will use the thing we fear the most, death, to bring new life. Just as we pass away, this present heaven and earth has an expiry date. John saw in a vision there will be "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Revelation 21:1). Just as there is an afterlife for us, a perfect new heaven and new earth will rise from the ashes too, but this time without the curse.

What implications are there for time? Will it affect things in heaven? Will we even do anything in heaven? The Bible says, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Now nothing says we cease to be God's workmanship or stop doing marvellous works when we reach heaven. But everything will be hugely different. For the first time, unhindered by the curse, we'll experience the pleasure of wholesome and rewarding accomplishment. Imagine the satisfaction of unrestrainedly completing all we seek to achieve. Teamwork will be a delight, unimpeded by glitches and poor communication. Individual responsibilities will freely benefit from our full and passionate attention. Perhaps we'll be able to deliver extravagantly like the master craftsmen and women of old.

Surely, welcome news like that is widely received and understood, right? Actually, many misunderstand the importance of time to God and his universe. A common quote is "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8). This does not indicate time to be irrelevant. Instead it reveals God's patience and decisiveness. He doesn't want anyone to perish, yet can still be trusted to deliver judgment day. It's not a description of what we can expect in the new earth. Not surprisingly there is someone with a vested interest in confusing the issue. Try as he might to ignore it, the devil is scheduled to be "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur ... for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). He will leave no stone unturned to mislead us into believing eternity is a timeless wasteland. Because without time, just about everything we understand would be unbearable. For example, what if nothing had a beginning? Imagine never attending another party or concert because nothing ever started. Imagine never meeting a new friend. Or worse, what if nothing ever ended? Imagine a life playing a harp (pick your pleasure), forever. Time allows for fresh beginnings and change. Time itself is not the enemy.

What is time like in heaven? Much like it is now, only without limitations. The Bible has many references that show how time operates. First, John records that, "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour" (Revelation 8:1). Half an hour is a period of time. Also, the martyrs "called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" ... and they were told to wait a little longer" (Revelation 6:10-11). The requirement to wait presumes a finish time. That point is reached upon announcement in heaven that, "the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:14). For a more concrete reference to time, we need only consider the description of the tree of life. It produces "twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month" (Revelation 22:2). Our future paradise clearly operates by a regular and timely schedule. We can look forward to a comforting and dependable rhythm of life.

The answer to not having enough time is clear. Eternity will provide a rich and inexhaustible supply. Though life here is spoiled and thwarted by the curse, life in the new earth will provide an abundance of opportunity, success and fulfillment. We'll finally have time to shine.




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