Mark Twain's Secret to Getting Things Done

Mark Twain said:

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting
started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small
manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

Toil and Blood and Treasure

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means..." John Adams

Pray for those that are in Military Service for our Country

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier
and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the
love and thanks of man and woman."

-- Thomas Paine (The American Crisis, No. 1, 19 December 1776)

Reference: Thomas Paine: Collected Writings , Foner ed., Library
of America (91)

Ben Franklin said...

Ben Franklin said.

We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist.

In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men.

And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is
it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? Sir, in the sacredwritings,
that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that buildit."

Amen

Thomas Paine

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
Thomas Paine, 1776

Christos anesti

Today the Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter - Christos Anesti...lets celebrate with them and understand the history.

Introduction

Greek Orthodox Easter corresponds to the Biblical series of events leading to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

The Date of Orthodox Easter: Since AD 1582 October (when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted by much of Catholic Europe), the Orthodox Easter usually falls on dates different than the Western Christian Easter, although apparently the Churches are discussing using the same formula to determine Easter -probably a formula different than that currently used by either Church.

Easter

Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the Orthodox Church is:The authentic and original Christian Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles. Easter begins on the Saturday of Lazarus (the Saturday before Palm Sunday, 1 week before Easter Sunday) with children going from door to door singing the hymn of "Lazaros" and collecting money and eggs.

Date

Easter Sunday is the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (PFM) date for the year.

Every few years, "Western" (Catholic and Protestant) Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter coincide; these years are indicated by (same) following the date. For example, this occurred in 1990 because the Western Easter Sunday date of (Gregorian calendar) April 15, 1990 is the same as the Orthodox Easter Sunday date of (Julian calendar) April 2, 1990.

Holy

Holy Thursday is the day for dyeing eggs. Holy Saturday is the only Saturday of the year where a strict fast is kept. Then they will go to a priest for confession, and are so allowed to partake in the Holy Communion. At midnight the priest announces the resurrection of Christ ("Christos anesti") and lets the people light their candles of the Holy Flame taken from Christ's nativity cave in Jerusalem. This is because all of these churches were originally one church calling itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Historically and theologically, Orthodox Christians use the adjective "Catholic" or "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" to refer to the Church body which holds to the Orthodox faith. Large Christian Orthodox communities exist in the middle eastern countries of Israel (and West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon, Syria and Jordan (some families can trace their ancestry to the earliest Christians of the Holy Land). [9] The faith taught by Jesus to the apostles, given life by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and passed down to future generations uncorrupted, is known as Holy Tradition.

Russian

The personal, idiosyncratic and creative traditions of Western European religious art are largely lacking in Orthodox iconography before the 17th century, when Russian iconography was strongly influenced by religious paintings and engravings from both Protestant and Catholic Europe. An article by a Russian Orthodox Father that states several reasons for the use of the Old Calendar.

Getting Rich in these Uncertain Times

Getting Rich

We live in turbulent economic times and the headlines are full of alarms. Of course, that's what sells newspapers and attracts attention. After all, the networks won't sell many ads for a broadcast that headlines, "Nice Day, Millions are Safe and Happy!"

At the same time, I've received an astounding number of calls and emails from people facing real panic over home foreclosures, lay-offs, health or education costs. I have no idea why I'm suddenly getting these emails--it's a new thing compared to past years--but they concern me. While I hope the fear is largely based on media hype, for individual families, the anxiety is real.

Obviously, millions around the world (this is not just an American problem) are faced with rising prices, especially for food. We're faced with economic uncertainty and in too many cases, with real emergencies. Some of us are losing our jobs, our homes, even our hope. This is not acceptable!

Fortunately, history shows that over time things tend to get better, but what about the family who needs help today? As individuals and as groups, I think we should be upset about this. We need to get involved.

We need community conversations about globalization, housing costs, health care and job training. Fortunately, most TIPS subscribers live in democracies where we can voice our opinions. We can agree, or disagree. We can share our point of view--especially if we are willing to listen to opposing viewpoints. In this election year, get involved. I'm not suggesting any particular candidate, party or perspective, but I think democracy is a good thing and it works best when people get in the game.

On a personal level, however, I think we also need to be dramatically more aggressive about individual responsibility. I'm going to say some very blunt things, and some of you will disagree. Good for you! But here's my point of view:

1. Debt is bad. Most of us live beyond our means. As individuals and as a nation, we are addicted to spending money we don't have. Consumer and credit card debt is nuts! Pay off debt and set yourself free.

2. Greed is bad. Many (not all!) foreclosures happen because buyers got caught-up with brokers and took "leverage" to ridiculous extremes. People bought homes, cars, vacations, and other things counting on rising incomes and luck to bail them out. Like any form of gambling, over time the casino wins and the players lose. Every time.

3. Ambition is good. I love setting goals and having big dreams. A healthy desire to create, to have more and live better is good and it's best when based on solid plans, hard work, and patience. In building a great life, some boredom and routine are good. Adrenalin is usually a bad sign.

4. Saving is good. The hardest part of getting rich is accumulating the first $20,000 in savings. Week by week, putting money in a savings account is something any child can learn, and it's the first step to wealth. Live below your means, save a little every month. Getting rich fast is exciting, but rare. Getting rich slowly is easy and absolutely reliable.

5. Investing is good. The second step to getting rich (after learning to save) is investing for growth. I'm talking about Warren Buffet's attitude of steady, predictable growth over a lifetime. If you want to speculate with some of your hard-earned savings, I suppose that's alright, but never confuse speculation with investment. They are different games and have different results.

These are turbulent times and the news media may bring bad news for a long time to come. I don't know about that. But I do know each of us is in charge of our own decisions. We have the power to live well and we can encourage others to do the same. We can do our work and build a great life. We can save for the future and make a difference in our community. And along the way we can love well, and maybe have some fun!




Written & Published by Philip E. Humbert, PhD

Visit our website at:
http://www.philiphumbert.com

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm first appeared in English in 1603 with the meaning "possession by a god." The source of the word is the Greek enthousiasmos, which ultimately comes from the adjective entheos, "having the god within," formed from en, "in, within," and theos, "god."

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“Is enthusiasm important in selling? Yes, genuine,
heartfelt enthusiasm is one of the most potent factors of success in
almost any undertaking.”

- Dale Carnegie

This is Your Life!

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The One-Minute TIP

This is your life. Don't blow it! It's been said that time is the only resource any of us truly has, and once it's gone, it's gone forever. Work as hard and as much as you choose, then quit! Work can be rewarding and delightful, but don't let it be an addiction. Earning money, building our businesses and "getting ahead" are things we DO, not something we ARE. Remember the distinction.

Written & Published by Philip E. Humbert, PhD
Visit our website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com
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Resurrected Christ

Provided by Pastor Wilson:
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One way to meditate on Christ during this Easter season

is by looking thoughtfully at artists' depictions of the events
surrounding Christ's death and resurrection.

I have been greatly blessed by seeing these events through the eyes of James J. Tissot
(French painter and illustrator, 1836-1902). He was a well-known French impressionist painter, who in his later years produced a series of 700 watercolors to illustrate the Old and New Testaments -- and helped develop his own Christian faith. I hope you enjoy Tissot's exquisite work as much as I have.
Pastor Ralph
http://www.joyfulheart.com/
James J. Tissot, 'Resurrection' (1896)
Brooklyn Museum, watercolor.

IChThUS IMPRIMIS

IChThUS IMPRIMIS

“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” —Matthew 28:1-9
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“[I]f the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” —Romans 8:11

God's Promise to You Today

"Call Unto Me and I will answer you,and show you great and mighty things, which you knowest not..." Jeremiah 33:3

Norman Vincent Peale comments in his daily devotional - Positive Thinking for Every Day of the Year - that:

"The Christian religion is far greater than anyone realizes. It tells weak people they can become strong. It tells defeated people they can become victorious, It tells unhappy, mixed up people they can become organized. It teaches that we can become great persons. There is nothing else like it in the whole wide world."

Have you called and asked God recently for great and mighty things?

If you want daily motivations about how God can be part of your daily life you can click the image above and get it from Amazon. These devotionals are no longer in print, but contain timeless, motivational messages from the Bible that will ignite your enthusiasm for life.

Why a Fish?

One of the most significant statements the early Christians used was "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior."

Because Greek was the universal language then (the New Testament books were written in Greek), Christians often said and wrote. "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" in Greek.

That phrase, if printed as an acrostic (using the first letter of each word), looks like this:

I = Jesus
CH= Christ (anointed)
TH=God
U=Son
S=Savior

The acrostic forms the word ICHTHUS which is Greek for fish! If Christians needed to know where to gather for worship, they could look for a fish and perhaps an arrow pointing in the right direction. Persecuted Christians, seeing a fish on the door of a home or business, knew it was a safe place occupied by fellow Christians.

Interview with God

Have you ever dreamed of having an interview with God?

Do not fear,
for I am with you;
do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Ten Simple Words to Remember for Your Success

Ten Simple Words
by Jim Rohn

My first mentor, Mr. Shoaff, taught me—over a five-year period of time before he died—some extraordinarily simple things...

Mr. Shoaff only went through the 9th grade. He never finished high school, never went to college, and never went to a university. So he put his experiences and ideas into very simple language, which, I think for me—a farm boy from the state of Idaho—was so important.

When I would say, "This is all the company pays." Mr. Shoaff would say, "No, that is all they pay YOU." I thought, "That is a new way to look at it." I told him things cost too much. But he said, "No, you can't afford them." Well, that too was a new concept for me. And he also promised me, if I would improve, then I would be able to earn more money. So one of the first lessons I learned was, I didn't need to work on the company, I needed to work on myself.

If his advice to me had been technical, I might have missed it. If it had been mystic, I would have backed away. But it was just basic, blunt, "a-b-c" familiar stuff that I hadn't thought of before. For me it was the beginning of what he called, personal development.

Mr. Shoaff also taught me that life puts some of the more valuable things on the high shelf so that you can't get to them until you qualify. If you want the things on the high shelf, you must stand on the books you read. With every book you read, you get to stand a little higher.

Mr. Shoaff only needed to use ten simple words to forever shift my thinking when he said, "Success is something you attract by the person you become." That phrase changed my life. It's true! Success is not to be pursued... Success is to be attracted by the person you become.

Therefore, if you want to do something remarkable, put your energy into becoming a better you—the best you. Learn the skills. Practice the skills. Apply the skills.

Those ten simple words, "Success is something you attract by the person you become" helped change my life, forever, and for the better. Thank you, once again, Mr. Shoaff.

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

© 2008 by Jim Rohn International. All Rights Reserved.
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Jim Rohn is considered to be America's Foremost Business Philosopher, with a career that has spanned over 37 years and touched the lives of over three million people worldwide. He has been internationally hailed over the years as one of the most influential thinkers of our time and has helped motivate an entire generation of personal development trainers as well as hundreds of executives from America's top corporations. He's been described as everything from a master motivator, to a modern day Will Rogers, to a legend!

God is Awake

"When you have accomplished all that you can,
Lie down and go to sleep.

God is awake"

--Victor Hugo---

The Rich and Poor: Questions?

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Rich and poor are first created in the mind.
A poor man asks, "How much will it COST me?" A rich man asks, "How much will it MAKE me?"
Which one are you? ~ Author Unknown
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Technorati Tags: rich and poor, rich asks, poor asks

Ruth Peale - Than You for all the Positive Memories

Thank you for all the memories.



Click for biography and memoriam

Ronald Reagan- Worth Memorializing and Memorizing

"And whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way. My fondest hope for each one of you — and especially for young people — is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill." —Ronald Reagan

How Far Will You Go in Life?

A great quote from George Washington Carver that sums up how we should relate to one another.

How persons will you encounter today that will fit the profile in this statement?

How and what will you do to make their life better at that moment...a smile is free and so is an encouraging word...

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."
-George Washington Carver