Archive for September, 2007

Energize Your Relationship By Celebrating Hoodie-Hoo Day February 20th

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

By Nancy Wasson What is Hoodie-Hoo Day and what does it have to do with your relationship? The answers may surprise you. Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day is a holiday (copyrighted by Wellcat.com) celebrated annually on February 20th to chase away winter and bring in spring. At noon, you’re supposed to go outside, wave your hands over your head, and chant “Hoodie-Hoo!” Joining you will be other people who are tired of winter and want spring to hurry up and come. Every relationship gets bogged down with extra baggage that needs discarding periodically, and Hoodie-Hoo Day provides the perfect opportunity to do some pre-spring emotional housecleaning. If your relationship closets are filled to overflowing with anger and bitterness, for example, there’s no room for anything else. You have to clear out the old and familiar before you have space for the new and different. Take a moment to answer the following questions and find out what you need to discaard so that your relationship can feel less weighty: 1. Are you the relationship historian who can recite all your partner’s past mistakes without missing a single one? 2. Do you hold on to grudges and resentments and “keep score” in your relationship? 3. Do you focus on your partner’s faults? 4. Are you critical of your partner to family and friends? 5. Do you always have to be “right”? 6. Do you ever attempt to get even for perceived slights? 7. Do you tell “little white lies” or “fudge” on the truth and then have to remember what you’ve said or not said? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, consider getting rid of these relationship-destroying behaviors that drain your energy. Make space, instead, for teh good things that you want to come into your relationship such as forgiveness, honesty, tolerance, laughter, intimacy, and joy. Let your relationship be energized by your new “lightness of being” and positive approach. Out with the old, in with the new, and “Hoodie-Hoo” to your partner and you! Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says “I don’t love you anymore!” This is available as an e-book at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com , where you can also sign up for the free Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine. Nancy can be contacted at Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Wasson http://EzineArticles.com/?Energize-Your-Relationship-By-Celebrating-Hoodie-Hoo-Day-February-20th&id=14451 buy discount tramadol online purchasing tramadol online buy tramadol without prescription tramadol prescriptions

Save Big By Being Patient

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

By Jeffrey Strain When people claim they have saved money or found a great deal, you usually hear about the time, effort and research they put into getting the bargain. This gives the impression that getting good deals takes a lot of work. While good research and organization can go a long way to getting you great deals, the truth is that doing nothing is often your best resource when getting a great deal. The personal quality of patience is rarely mentioned when reading about how to get the best deal, but if you are a person who can simply wait, you’ll save yourself thousands of dollars a year. In this instant gratification society, having the patience to wait even a short amount of time can cut expenses dramatically. While the Jones’ are trading in for a new luxury car every 2 years and purchasing the latest and greatest gadgets as soon as they hit the retail stores, if you have the patience to wait, you can often get the same items at a fraction of the cost. People who don’t have patience end up paying premium prices. A recent example is Google Gmail email accounts. These are email accounts that are going to be free to anyone who wants them. When the trial for the accounts was first announced, however, you could only get them by an invitation from a friend. Many people considered them a must have item when they were first announced and paid as much as $100 for one less than a year ago. They now sell for less than a dollar on online auction sites and you can even find many places where the Gmail accounts are being given away for free. Another good example of where patience pays is with cars. You’re likely to pay near full price for a car when the new year model is released. If you have the patience to wait 9 months, you can get the same brand new car for a lot less as the dealer tries to sell out inventory for the next new car models coming in. If you have even more patience and can wait a couple of years (and don’t mind a slightly used car) you can save yourself thousands more. Patience can save is many small ways which together add up to a lot of money. You can pay $25 for the family to go to the movies to see the latest release or wait a few months and rent the movie for less than $5. That’s a 500% savings. You can pay full retail price for the latest Harry Potter book, or wait less than a month and pick it up on an online auction or used bookstore for a fraction of the price. If you have a little more patience, you can borrow it for free from your local library. While patience in combination with other traits like organization and research can multiply the saving benefits, those who have a hard time with those other skills can still save by merely being patient. All it takes sitting back, taking it easy and waiting a few months until all the hype around the product in question disappears. Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author’s information and an active link (where possible) are included - there is no need to include these guidelines. A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the website where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated. Copyright (c) Jeffrey Strain. He is owner of Debt Reduction 101 - a website dedicated to help you reduce your debt with your own means. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Strain http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Big-By-Being-Patient&id=24725 internet pharmacies buy levitra online prescription meds online online discount pharmacy

How to Retain Your New Customers

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

By Michael Fleischner Okay, so your marketing has paid off - you have new customers. The key to growing your business is to effectively communicate and leverage these new customers into advocates for your products and services and purchasers of additional services. This can be done in a variety of ways. However, some basics steps must be followed to ensure retention. Here are a few tips you can use to develop long-term relationships with newly acquired customers. 1. Proactively shape impressions about your business. Whether you’re sending a welcome message, making the first contact via phone, or sending a letter, be sure to position you company for the long-term. Often times, individuals buy products without knowing a whole lot about the company their buying from. A popular tactic is sending a welcome kit or an overview letter that introduces your company, your values, and the additional resources you have available for your customers including a support email address, 1-800 number and so on. This lets you control your company’s image among newly acquired customers. Otherwise, your customers are free to form their own opinion without any guidance whatsoever. 2. Categorize your customer. Is your customer a high potential? Are they a transactional buyer that will likely never buy from you again unless you offer the lowest price? By segmenting your buyers based on your existing database or known behaviors, you can develop customized communication plans to retain them for years to come. Some communication plan may be focused on up-sell while others may only be focused on retention. The communication plan you implement should be based on the proper categorization of your customer. 3. Show your thanks. Once you’ve acquired a customer, don’t forget to thank them. This may seem trite, but done properly, this goes a long way. Often a hand-written note or personalized email from a company president can do the trick. The real key is to make the customer feel good about the purchase they’ve made and the company they’ve chose. 4. Provide consistency among all touch points. Once you’ve acquired a new customer, you must make sure that you provide a consistent user experience. For example, if the prospect contacts your technical support rep the first day after they’ve purchased a product and receive an answer to their question, then call the following day only to receive a different answer, they’re going to lose faith in your company’s ability to provide consistent and reliable support. You can benefit greatly by developing procedures that can be documented and delivered consistently - meeting customer expectations. This builds trust in your business and can minimize defections. If the consumer knows they can count on you to give them what they need/want, they’ll be willing to forgo a better price or promise of a better deal elsewhere. 5. Share customer testimonials on future marketing pieces. Many marketers believe that testimonials are only for prospects. The truth is that testimonials can help retain customers, especially new ones, when they are exposed to positive experiences of individuals just like them. In addition to sharing testimonials, it is always a best practice to ask newly acquired customers (within 30 days of purchase) for their feedback/testimonials. The benefit of reaching out to your customers is that if a problem exists, you can react to it and if they have something positive to say about your product or business, it can be used to reinforce your brand. (Note: be sure to get permission to publish a customers testimonial). These techniques are very effective for maximizing lifetime customer value. By shaping the image of your company, providing a consistent experience, and sharing testimonials for similar customers, you can develop a positive, lasting impression with your marketplace. Most importantly, keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm your new customers with tons of email, or direct mail. Develop a well thought-out communication plan that has a definite purpose. And most importantly, remember to thank your customers for choosing your company, product or service. Michael Fleischner is a marketing expert with more than 12 years marketing experience. He has appeared on The TODAY Show, Bloomberg Radio, and other major media. For more free marketing articles like this one, visit http://www.marketingscoop.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Fleischner http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Retain-Your-New-Customers&id=363135 online pharmacy fioricet order fioricet online fioricet migraine fioricet prescription online

Issues That Foreign Investors May Face When Entering China Market

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

By Alina Hoon China has stirred up lots of foreign investment for their economy. Having a population of 1.3 billion and a land area slightly smaller than the USA, China is indeed a good opportunity to develop into an investment port. Over the years, China has been booming into the worlds factory with industries ranging from manufacturing, telecommunications, automobiles and etc. Now, China has received the most coverage compared to any other developing nations around the world. The advancement of China market has been increasing in such a rapid rate that nobody wants to give a miss at a chance to jump the bandwagon of Chinas prospering economy. Chinas Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said that Chinas government had approved 44,001 new foreign-invested ventures in 2005 and China had a trade surplus of $177.5 billion in 2006. Chinas sound and steady economic growth continues to attract international funds into the capital markets in the region. said Frank Lyn, China market leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers. However, even though there is an increasing number of a foreign investment in China, the government is also supporting the growth of their domestic industry. As China develops into a global market, the government is also encouraging the growth of domestic industries to take the chance to go global especially with the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. However, this may not be a piece of good news to other foreign companies who are planning to enter into China market. Not only would the foreign companies have to establish their brand presence in China, they will have stiffer competition from the local companies. In the other hand, with the increasing financial economy of China, the Chinese consumers are becoming more affluent compared to the past and thus the purchasing power of the locals have increased over the years. The Chinese no longer seek for just basic products but they are purchasing more luxurious products such as automobiles and higher-end fashion. Domestic competition would not be the end of foreign companies problems when they try to enter into Chinas market. With the main issue of language barrier, many foreign investors do not have the ability to communicate with the locals which causes frustration for both parties. Hence, foreign companies would need to be familiar with the Chinese language and culture before entering China market. China may be a fountain of opportunities but foreign companies need to put in a lot of effort to ensure that their entry to the China market would not end up a huge loss to their company. Many successful foreign investors have worked with business consultants and research firms to ensure that their marketing strategies would be apt for the China market. Many articles online have featured on the topic of guan xi According to Le Figaro September 1997,Guanxi: literally “locked system” or “relations”. Personal and friendly relations, without it nothing is possible in China. Guanxi takes time to build and calls for constant attention. The Chinese regard Guanxi as the foundation of a successful business deal. Thus, foreign companies often have problems with business negotiations as they do not have the network with the locals. Thus engaging locals who are well-versed with both the foreign and domestic culture will be a bridge for those foreign companies. These locals would have the ability to communicate better as they are more familiar with the Chinese culture. Any problems with the higher authorities would be resolved when a local party is able to help with the paperwork. Alina Hoon is a consultant of Starmass International. Starmass provides professional consulting services to assist foreign companies to enter the China market, from China market research, competitor study and China market analysis till export to China. Visit more business resources at: http://www.starmass.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alina_Hoon http://EzineArticles.com/?Issues-That-Foreign-Investors-May-Face-When-Entering-China-Market&id=476690 xenical slimming pill buy cheap xenical online online xenical buy cheap xenical online

Why Not Try An Indoor Herb Garden

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

By Percy Troughton Gardening is not something that comes easy to me. You see, I am much better at killing plants then at keeping them alive. If they ever start a business for plant assassins, I am the man. All I have to do is try to take care of a plant for a week, and it is dead within a day. Nonetheless, I have been trying to grow an indoor herb garden for the past several months, and have finally met with a bit of success. It was not natural to me, but I am so glad that I have done it. It is one of the most rewarding projects I have ever undertaken. I would not have come up with the idea of indoor herb gardening except for a friend who is an amazing chef. I thought I was a decent cook, but my food tastes bland compared to hers. One night, she had me over for dinner. After a particularly excellent feast, I asked what her secret was. She told me that it was her indoor herb garden. She should be some of her herbs, and let me smell them. They had delicious fragrances. There is no comparison between them and the freeze dried herbs that I usually used. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to grow garden. She gave me some advice, but it did not really help that much. I do not know what it is. I followed all of her watering advice, I kept the plants that were supposed to be in the shade in the shade, and the plants that were supposed to be in the sun in the sun. Nevertheless, my indoor herb garden was not coming along. It took me months and months to figure it out, and by then anyone else would have given up. I am more persistent than most, however. When I decided to have an indoor herb garden, I would have an indoor herb garden come hell or high water. Finally, my efforts paid off. I cooked my first meal with indoor garden herbs yesterday. It was Rosemary chicken, and it was absolutely delicious. I put a sprig of time in the potatoes, cooked the chicken with the rosemary, and even made a salad complete with sage and lavender. Indoor herb gardens are the most rewarding gardening project that there is. There are many plants that look beautiful, but how many plants also taste beautiful? Percy Troughton’s runs his own garden center as well as running several shopping based websites. His particular speciality is gardening equipment. Visit his website which is full of Garden Resources and articles. http://www.gardenresourcesworld.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Percy_Troughton http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Not-Try-An-Indoor-Herb-Garden&id=458444 buy phentermine with no prescription order phentermine online without prescription buy phentermine no script phentermine 37.5 online prescription

Are UK Secured Loans A Part Of Your Financial Portfolio?

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Lakie]Jeff Lakie Over time, youll assemble a portfolio that provides you with income opportunities (such as investments), insurance for peace-of-mind, estate and tax planning contingencies, and retirement income strategies. As part of your financial portfolio, a UK Secured loan may be the best option for you. Many people are deciding to acquire a UK Secured loan to add to their financial portfolio. Why do people add UK Secured loans to their financial portfolio? There are several reasons why you might do so. One reason is to get control of debts that have gotten out of hand. If your spending has increased beyond your income, you may be racking up debts faster than you can pay them off. Getting a UK Secured loan is way to consolidate your debts into one monthly amount that you can handle. Another reason that people are turning to UK Secured loans is for leverage. Perhaps they are looking to put an addition on their house but do not have the cash to readily do it. A loan can fill the gap and provide the funds necessary to put the addition on the house. Thats leverage for two reasons: your home will suddenly become so much more useful to you, but also, when it comes time to sell, you will have increased the value of your home and enhanced how sellable it is to potential buyers. A third reason that people are turning to UK Secured loans is to get the nice things they deserve. Perhaps there is a car youve always wanted, or youd like to fill your house with nice things. It would be great if your job provided you with the financial means to get them, but for many people, thats not the case. Instead, you may have to turn to loans in order to get the items you want. Its still an investment, though. Its an investment in the enjoyment of your life! While getting a UK Secured loan is simple, and there are many providers out there can get you a loan, it should not be approached lightly. Just as you probably consider very seriously all of the other factors in your financial portfolio you should also consider your UK Secured loan with equal seriousness. After all, its a financial tool just like your investment and insurance strategies. Is a UK Secured loan the right financial strategy for you? Jeff Lakie is the owner of http://instant-car-loan.co.uk providing Uk homeowners with a free loan quote service. Visit us today for a free no obligation quote. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Lakie http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-UK-Secured-Loans-A-Part-Of-Your-Financial-Portfolio?&id=166610 lowest prices viagra silagra cialis gnstig viagra woman levitrainfo levitra

Low Carbohydrate Diet Revolution — A History

Friday, September 21st, 2007

By Elleth Faewen Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear the phrase low-carb. Indeed, Dr. Robert C. Atkins is the author of a number of low carbohydrate ketogenic diet books. The first one was published in 1972, and his pioneering efforts revolutionized the dieting world we see today. For everything that you hear; however, Dr. Atkins did not create low-carb dieting. William Banting published pamphlets in the 1860s extolling the health benefits of the low carbohydrate diet he was put on by his medical advisor, Mr. William Harvey, F.R.C.S. The basic tenet of his diet was to consume as little as possible bread, butter, milk, sugar, beer, and potatoes due to his belief that these contained starch and saccharine matter, which tended to create fat. Mr. Banting found that his indigestion disappeared, his umbilical rupture was cured, he lost 50 lbs, his sight and hearing were surprising for a man in his 70s, he slept better at night, and he basically felt in better health than he had for the previous 26 years of his life. Mr. Banting revolutionized dieting in his time, and he received thousands of letters from readers thanking him and telling him how his low carbohydrate diet had changed their lives for the better. The Johns Hopkins University and Mayo Clinic devised a diet to treat epilepsy in the 1920s. The diet requires high fat consumption and a low intake of carbohydrates in order to induce ketosis. They studied how the diet worked with children who were unsuccessful in treating their epilepsy with medication, and they found that 55 percent of the original patients remained on the diet and 27 percent had a greater than 90 percent decrease in their seizures. There were some children who had no seizures for two years while on the diet, and they appeared to be cured of the epilepsy even after stopping their low-carb ketogenic diet. Walter Lyons Bloom and Gordon Azar did a study in 1963 comparing carbohydrate restrictive diets to fasting diets. They concluded that eating a diet adequate in calories, protein and fat, but deficient in carbohydrate, resulted in weight loss similar to that of fasting patients. The first truly popular low-carb diet was popularized in the book The Doctors Quick Weight Loss Diet by Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman in 1967, and the low carbohydrate revolution began. The diet consisted primarily of protein sources like meat, fowl, fish and eggs while curtailing the consumption of carbohydrates to close to nothing. The book sold 2.5 million copies from 1967-69 and large numbers of people lost a lot of weight on this controlled carbohydrate diet. Dr. Robert C. Atkins opened his practice as a cardiologist in New York City in 1960. When he was in his 30s and overweight, he ran across a 1963 article by Bloom and Azar. Their article said you do not have to go hungry to lose weight; instead, you can lose weight by cutting back on carbohydrates. This convinced Dr. Atkins to try the diet, and to his amazement it worked very well. After his success with the diet, he began recommending it to his patients and found that not only did they lose weight; other health problems they were fighting with either had greatly improved symptoms or went away completely. These included high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, heartburn, diabetes, acid reflux, and arthritis. The vast majority of his patients also reported that they slept better, had more energy, got sick less often, and basically felt better overall. Dr. Atkins published his original book, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, in 1972; however, the revolution was off to a slow start. His low carbohydrate diet countervailed what had been taught in the mainstream medical institutions and was attacked by the likes of nutritionists, dieticians, physicians, and the Journal of the American Medical Association; however, other doctors were also now aware of the connection between carbohydrates, disease and obesity. In 1983 Dr. Richard Bernstein, a type 1 diabetic since the age of nine, opened his highly controversial clinic to treat diabetics with a very strict low carbohydrate approach to the disease. Bernsteins ideas were ridiculed at first by the medical establishment, but the low-carb revolution picked up steam. In 1992, Dr. Richard Heller wrote his first diet program called The Carbohydrates Addicts Program for Success: Taking Control of Your Life and Your Weight, which blamed high carbohydrate consumption for the increased obesity being found throughout the USA. He found a fast growing audience for his ideas as the revolution continued to grow. The first edition of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution was published in 1992, and another came in 1999. These two editions sold over 10 million copies and the editions combined to become one of the 50 top selling books of all time. The year 1999 was a breakthrough year for low-carb practitioners and the low-carb revolution steamed full speed ahead. Dr. Richard Bernstein published his book Diabetes Solution, and it was an instant hit selling upwards of a million copies. Today the latest 2003 Edition has a preface by none other than the president of the American Diabetic Society, quite a victory for a man who when he first preached his controlled carbohydrate approach to the disease was regarded as a crackpot and eccentric by the American Medical Association. Also in 1999, Dr. Richard Heller teamed up with his wife, Dr. Rachel Heller and Dr. Frederic Vagnini to publish The Carbohydrate Addict’s Healthy Heart Program: Break Your Carbo-Insulin Connection to Heart Disease, a newer version of his first book that documented very clearly the relationship between high carbohydrate consumption and the plethora of Syndrome X diseases as well as, of course, obesity. This book and several related ones by this group of authors sold and continue to sell millions of copies. One low-carb diet; however, was much more successful and popular with the public than the others; that was Dr. Robert Atkins diet. Literally millions of people succeeded in losing weight and improving their overall health by following the programs put forth in Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution. Dr. Atkins nutritional approach spread primarily by word of mouth as people successful on the diet introduced it to others. The medical establishment was stubbornly against the Atkins approach and tried their best to discredit it. The debate over the Atkins nutritional plan grew into a roar as millions tried and succeeded losing weight and improving their health while the experts claimed it was wrong and could not be done. The real testament as to the validity of Dr. Atkins program is that while a large majority of the medical & nutritional establishment claimed his diet was just plain wrong, the number of people following the program continued to grow at a faster and faster pace as successful individuals motivated and encouraged their friends and others to try the Atkins Nutritional Plan. As more and more people found the diet worked for them, other successful low carbohydrate diets quickly followed such as The Zone, Sugar Busters!, The No-Grain Diet, and The South Beach Diet, to name a few. The revolution took off at amazing speed when Dr. Atkins published an updated version of his book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, in 2002. The new edition incorporated slight changes in his program based on his last 30 years of research. This edition of his book was soon followed by a plethora of published research findings validating the weight loss and health benefits of a low carbohydrate diet. Some people in the groups that previously attacked his diet were now considering the possibility that low carbohydrate consumption was a safe, effective way to lose weight and eat for life. Now millions of people are doing Atkins, and the revolution has skyrocketed. Companies have begun putting out a myriad of low carbohydrate foods, which have quite literally flown off the shelves. More and more restaurants are providing low carbohydrate menus or net carbohydrate counts on their existing menu items. Even fast food companies have jumped on the bandwagon with low carbohydrate hamburgers, wraps, and breakfast bowls. What the future holds for low carbohydrate diets is anyones guess. They have entered the mainstream, and the results of current research will certainly have a major impact on the continued acceptance of low carbohydrate diets. I am certain that Mr. Banting would be pleased to see the low-carb revolutionized world of today. Elleth Faewen and Frank Arnade, co-authors, both began the Atkins diet in 2003, and they made low-carbohydrate dieting a way of life. They provide support for those interested in low-carb dieting at http://www.lowcarbbulletinboard.com Elleth Faewen also provides support for women at http://www.babytalkzone.com, an Internet company dedicated to helping women who are trying to conceive, pregnant, or adopting. Frank Arnade has an MBA and now runs his own business selling high quality herb ingredients at http://www.vitalysis.com, an Internet company dedicated to providing the best quality ingredients and excellent customer service. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elleth_Faewen http://EzineArticles.com/?Low-Carbohydrate-Diet-Revolution—-A-History&id=63193 increase semen amount alcohol and male infertility male secondary infertility increase semen levels

Is Speed Dating for You?

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

By Dylan Miles Speed dating, as the name suggests, is a fast, organized dating scheme, set up for the purposes of making new friends or finding that ideal romantic partner. Speed dating usually occurs as a party, where a selection of men and women, usually around 30, meet and chat for about 8 minutes before they are rotated to the next person. Once all potential partners have met one another, they submit a list of the people they’d like to see again. The organizers then check for matches and those who have chosen each other are put into contact. Speed dating is based on the idea that first impressions are usually permanent impressions. With this in mind, speed dating organizers believe that 8 minutes is all one needs to determine whether they make a good match or not. Speed dating parties, are basically formal matchmaking parties. Matchmaking parties have always been around in social circles in one form or another. Some say that speed dating is a shallow pursuit that doesn’t really allow people to get to know each other at a deeper level. For these people, the source of a good and long-lasting relationship, is found in the slow and patient getting-to-know another person. But for those in the dating game, the ease of speed dating parties puts the pressure off trying to sustain a bad date. At a speed dating gathering, there is no pressure to perform past those quick 8 minutes. Whatever the pros and cons, speed dating is the latest matchmaking craze. It is fun and totally safe. Speed dating parties are normally held in stylish venues, where people can dress up, have fun and get to know each other in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Dylan Miles, journalist, and publisher, is the owner and co-editor of http://www.foolforlove.info on which you will find more a detailed version of this article. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dylan_Miles http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Speed-Dating-for-You?&id=106256 where to buy tramadol tramadol without prescription free shipping cheap ultram online buy ultram tramadol

What Does It Mean To Fall From Grace?

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

By John Moneypenny You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.-Galatians 5:4 Fallen From Grace And I Can’t Get Up A number of years ago there was a humorous, yet memorable, commercial about a product for the home bound and the elderly. The product was a device that, with a push of a button, would alert a loved one or caretaker that the elderly person had become incapacitated in some way. The commercial featured a senior citizen who was shown laying on the floor of her home desperately calling out to anyone who might hear her, “Help! Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” I’m assuming the masses of viewers cried out in anguish as I did, ‘If only she had the XYZ alert buzzer!” Friends, there is another kind of incapacitation that has occurred in the body of Christ today. It is not, however, a physical condition. It is a condition of the heart and the mind in those who, of all people, should know “the peace of God, which passes all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7). The afflicted have also “fallen” like the elderly woman in the commercial, only theirs is not a tumble to the ground but rather a fall from grace. Let me reassure you that falling from grace does not mean that we lose our righteousness before God, for if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6). To say that Gods grace can be taken away from you, or forfeited by you through your actions and deeds, is to contradict the very definition of the word. Grace is no longer grace if it is initially attained, or perpetually kept, through our performance. The apostle Paul taught that it was impossible for those in Christ to lose their salvation (Romans 8:38-39), going so far as to say that nothing present or anything to come could separate us from His love. Who Has Fallen from Grace? So what does it mean to fall from grace? The answer lies not in religion, not in tradition, not in how you feel about it, but in the Word of truth. In fact, Paul tells us in no uncertain terms who the people are who have fallen from grace. He declares that you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4). Read it again. Who is it that has fallen from grace? Is it those who are living in sin (a.k.a. sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll) that we in the church so frequently condemn and point the finger at as those who have fallen? No, it is remarkably the opposite. Those who have fallen from grace are those who are seeking to be justified by the law! Thats right. To fall from grace is to knowingly or unknowingly revert back to thinking that you can do something to maintain the right standing you already have with God through Jesus Christ. It is foolishness that all of us have fallen into at one time or another and it is the greatest deception that the body of Christ has ever faced. If the grace of God is undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor with God, then how can you lose it? The answer is you cant. His grace was never something He rewarded you with because of your great performance. It was a gift that He lovingly bestowed upon us and then asked for nothing in return other than our thanks. And yet the gift is much more that that. There is life and power in Gods grace from one moment to the next as we rest in it. In fact, it is his grace that is instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present agezealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14). To Fall From Grace Is To Put Yourself Back Under Law Pauls letter to the Galatians was not dealing with their embracing a lifestyle of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. Just the opposite was the case. These dear folks had drifted backwards in their thinking about the gospel to which they had once so gratefully responded. The road they were sadly traveling back down again was the road of law-keeping for righteousness. Paul, therefore, was disappointed and perplexed that they were so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7). Read this letter very closely and you will quickly see the common theme that runs throughout. According to Paul, there were false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage (Galatians 2:4). Peter himself began to withdraw and hold himself aloof (from the Gentiles), fearing the party of the circumcision (Galatians 2:12) and the consequences he might face from them for enjoying his freedom in Christ. This in turn put others back in bondage to law as the rest of the Jews joined him (Peter) in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-13). The issue at hand continues as Paul writes that by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified (Galatians 2:16) and that if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly (Galatians 2:21). He goes on to ask several rhetorical questions juxtaposing the works of law against faith in Christ, perhaps for the purpose of waking the Galatians from their foolish state of mind (Galatians 3:1-5). Paul goes on to point out that those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer while those who are of the works of the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:9-10). Like a tenacious bulldog, Paul presses on with his mission of dispelling any notion that a man can be right with God through his performance. He reminds the people that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, that the law is not of faith, and Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Lawso that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:11-14). You Have Fallen From Grace If You Believe Righteousness Is Earned Folks, think about it. Why would Paul be bringing these things up if the Galatians were standing confidently in the finished work of their Savior? If their falling from grace was tied to a sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll debacle, why doesnt he address these issues? Ill tell you why. Its because they were not standing firm in the faith. Their bondage was to working for righteousness, not drinking Budweisers. The deception that the Galatians had fallen for was the same one that has plagued the saints throughout history. They were doubting the testimony of Paul concerning the righteousness they had in Jesus Christ. They, like so many through the ages, were going back to the law, back to their works, in an attempt to justify themselves before the Lord. And it is that very mindset that puts you, me, and anyone else into the miserable condition of having fallen from grace. Pauls impassioned plea to these confused saints in the first century is his same plea to us today: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Trying to work for right standing with God will do nothing but knock you down, put you on your back, and make you feel like there is no way to get up out of your misery. Friend, if you fall for that trap, the way you get right back up on your feet is by renewing your mind once again on the most comforting and reassuring message ever proclaimedthe gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)! Have You Fallen From Grace? Friend, because of what Christ has done for you, you are now seated high on the highest mountaintop of all that God has to give you. You reside on the peek of grace mountain, seated in fact in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). There is no loftier position a man can enjoy. Your righteousness is a gift that is now forever yours. There are no exchanges, no refunds, no recalls. Youre stuck with the gift whether you choose to believe it, enjoy it, or not. Have you fallen from grace? I hope not. But if you have, you will know it because your confidence will have switched from what Jesus has done to what you are doing. The peace and the joy that you once knew will be replaced by fear, anxiety, and condemnation day after day. Why? Because your doing can never measure up to the righteous requirements of the law. Heck, you can’t even measure up to your own standards or that of your neighbor! So what is the solution? It is to believe the gospel and to rest in knowing that “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Continually remind yourself of the righteousness that is now yours in Christ according to the gospel given to the apostle Paul by the risen, ascended Christ. Do not give in to the temptations all around you to work your way into right standing with God. Get up, my friend, and stand firm in the truth! He has made you right and to try to add to what He has done is to say you think He did not complete the taskand another fall from grace. Grace and peace to you, John Moneypenny Gospel For Today Ministries’ president, John Moneypenny, is an ordained minister with a Master of Divinity degree who has traveled across the country teaching and preaching the liberating message of God’s redemption of all mankind through the cross of Jesus Christ. John is the author of numerous teaching articles and the moderator of one of the most popular Christian Discussion Forums (Alexa Ranking: 52,000) on the internet. Visit Gospel For Today’s main website at http://www.gospelfortoday.org/ and the Christian Discussion forum at http://www.gospelfortoday.org/gftforum/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Moneypenny http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Does-It-Mean-To-Fall-From-Grace?&id=70758 prescriptions meds online generic prescriptions online prescriptions written online your prescriptions online

How to Create the Hottest Sedu Hairstyles

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

By Talia Phillips Many of the most famous celebrities in both television and movies are sporting Sedu Hairstyles. Celebrity Sedu hairstyles are one of the many latest fashion trends to come out of Hollywood. What makes the celebrity Sedu hairstyles unique though? Why are the Sedu hairstyles so popular? The celebrity Sedu hairstyles are very popular for a lot of women who have naturally curly hair, or thicker and more course hair. Many celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Halle Barry, Angelina Jolie and many others do not have natural long smooth and flowing hair like you constantly see them sporting on television and in movies. The secret of many movie stars is their celebrity Sedu Hairstyles. Why would they choose Sedu hairstyles though? The celebrity Sedu hairstyles are very popular for a reason. The Sedu hairstyles are created using the Sedu Hair Iron. The Sedu hair iron is uniquely designed and patented using ceramic plates that are actually made of tourmaline crystals. These are combined with a negative ionic charge in order to remove static from the hair. This alleviates the problems of cling in their celebrity Sedu Hairstyles. The end result is a Sedu Hairstyle that will last longer and look better than any other. How do the celebrity Sedu hairstyles last longer and why? The patented ionic technology of the Sedu hair iron increases the hold in the hair. While this may not seem plausible at first, let us see why. Between the patented tourmaline ceramic plates and infrared heating technology the Sedu flat iron actually molds the hair. The celebrity Sedu hairstyles last longer because there is no need (On most Sedu Hairstyles) for hairspray or other chemicals, which often fail when exposed to heat or light. What about dyed hair? Actors and actresses frequently have to dye their hair and change their celebrity hairstyles in order to fit better in certain roles. The Sedu flattener Iron is designed so that there is no conflict with dyes or tints normally used in hair coloring. The celebrity Sedu hairstyles you see can be done with any color or variety of hair. Many ethnic actresses are big fans of the celebrity Sedu hairstyle. Often the desired result is simply to straighten curly, unruly or kinky hair. The Sedu hair irons unique patented design and construction make it ideal for this use. Many of the celebrity Sedu hairstyles you have seen are a direct result of using nothing more than the Sedu hair iron and little or nothing else. Whether the celebrity and the celebrity Sedu Hairstyle in question is on Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Pamela Anderson (Cmon, you didnt think her hair was naturally that way did you?) or one of the many other celebrity Sedu hairstyles being seen more and more among Hollywoods elite, you can be sure the Sedu celebrity hairstyle was created using a quality made Sedu Hair Iron. If you want to make your own hair style comparable to the many celebrity Sedu Hairstyles, the first step is get your own Sedu hair Iron. The possibilities for your Sedu hairstyles or even celebrity Sedu hairstyles really are limited only by your imagination. For more information about how to create your very own Sedu Hairstyle, please go to Sedu Hairstyles Talia Phillips is a Professional Writer & Researcher. For more information about Sedu Hairstyles, Pictures & Beauty Tips, please go to Sedu Hairstyles Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Talia_Phillips http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Create-the-Hottest-Sedu-Hairstyles&id=188474 buy generic soma buy fast online private soma free shipping buy soma cheap order cheap buy soma