Awareness is Traffic Building

Creating awareness and providing information is one of the most important aspects of the internet. Helping visitors understand something is the absolute best way to build traffic to enormous numbers. People are like sponges and are eager to learn everyday, especially when they are shopping around for a product or service. They want to have the information to make an informed decision and when the site owner can create this informational environment they have built a great marketing tool.
Advice or sharing experiences is huge in the marketing network of companies.

Since most people are looking for the truths, good and bad of products they use the internet to read what others are saying. If your site provides these testimonials, people will come and they will bring others with them. It is almost like visitors look for the low down before they commit or make a purchase. So if the site has informational content that provides them this, site statistics will soar. Taking the time to report or find others that can share their feelings about the particulars of the site can really boost traffic as well.

Awareness can also be entwined with a website through current events, news and other information that is pertinent to society as a whole. Look at the readership of the recent storms or failing economy. This is because sites are putting the information out there for people to read and most of the time they are actually advertising or building another venture in the meantime. Now this means keeping up with the times, but if you are looking to generate revenue it is well worth the effort.

Are you really interested in driving massive traffic to your website?

Here's the answer:

Secrets Of Article Marketing - Download your free ebook now.

Would you like to know more about the magical marketing techniques that have helped me to quit my day job? I have just completed my new ebook.

Secrets To Make Money Online - Download your free ebook now.

Mark Abrahams is a full time internet marketer who has helped others to earn a living online.

Inerrancy Of The Bible

3 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship With Your Horse

Would you like to have a better relationship with your horse? Because horse people "love" their horses, they want to feel like their horses love them back. If you want unconditional love from an animal, get a dog. Humans and dogs have a more similar social organization than horses. Horses don't want your love. They want safety and security. They need to be able to trust and respect their herd mates, and particularly the herd leader - the alpha - to provide safety for the entire herd. Here are 3 simple steps you can take to gain your horse's respect, build the foundation for trust and become your horse's herd leader.

1. Awareness - Develop constant awareness of yourself, your horse and your environment. In the wild, horses' survival depends upon their level of awareness. As prey animals, they need to be aware predators before they are too close. The top horse in the herd is the most aware horse. Not the biggest or the strongest. The most aware of potential danger so that she can tell the rest of the herd to move. The herd communicates through body language. When the alpha horse says there is danger and it's time to move, there is no dispute or discussion.

2. Boundaries - Set appropriate boundaries that tell your horse where not to go. Horses do not pull each other around, they push each other. The horse that pushes another horse into a boundary is the better horse. A horse pushed into a boundary cannot run away. Not a good place to be for a prey animal. Use "contact" to create boundaries that tell your horse where not to go. Whether working with your horse in a halter or bridle, leading, lunging or riding, contact through the rope or reins creates boundaries. Respect your horse's personal space (the head and neck) and ask that she respect yours. The alpha horse does not get bitten or kicked, pushed or blocked by any other horse in the herd. The alpha horse can go anywhere, take the best food, drinks first and all without challenge or question. If your horse nips you, threatens to lift her foot to kick or strike, pushes you with her head or shoulder, leans into you or pins her ears when you go into her stall, she is not seeing you as her trusted leader.

3. Consistency - Horse's feel secure when the rules stay the same and they know what to expect. Whether you on the ground or in the saddle, apply the same rules every time you are with your horse. Horses are reading us as soon as they can see us not just when we are working with them. They don't know that we don't know their language. If we don't make sense to them they will tune us out, push us around or be terribly insecure and flighty around us.

Riding starts with ground work. Your relationship with your horse starts the moment your horse can see you. They don't miss a thing. In the wild, their survival depends on their level of awareness of their herd mates, their ability to communicate through body language and their awareness of their environment. If you want to develop a better relationship with your horse, start applying these 3 simple steps - Awareness, Boundaries and Contact - and you will create a trusting and respectful relationship. Your horse will love you for it.

Anne Gage is a Gold Level trainer certified in the Chris Irwin method of horsemanship. She teaches adult riders to confidently work with their horses, improve their riding skills and bring the joy back into their riding experience. Her training and coaching methods are based on building mutual trust & respect between horse and human. Anne coaches and trains clients out of High Point Farm near Orangeville, Ontario, Canada and also travels to other locations giving one & two day clinics, workshops and private sessions. For more information, visit her website http://www.annegage.com

Goal Setting For Success

It's Easy If You Try

Imagine There's No Heaven, It's Easy If You Try, No Hell below Us, above Us Only Sky, Imagine All the People Living for Today. Imagine There's No Countries, It Isn't Hard to Do, Nothing to Kill or Die for, and No Religion Too. Imagine All the People Living Life in Peace. Think about It.

It's hard to imagine, with the information today and even 50 years ago that most people still believe in religions all over the world, just because they were raised to believe in them. Religions of the future will have to adapt to change, a little faster as more people read articles like mine to promote education within your religion.

Find out a little bit more about Your Religious Freedom

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religous help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

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Hooray For Little Ones

Life is full of challenges and some heartache. We can't always have what we want all the time and there are some things that just seem to pass us by. But, one of the greatest moments in life isn't that promotion at work, or getting that first pension check, it is the birth of a grandchild.

It is just that moment that we have been waiting for as we peddle our way through the various streams of life anxiously awaiting the arrival of our grandchild; in fact, our first grandchild.

My niece recently gave birth to a cuddly, little girl and we became a great aunt and a great uncle. We were absolutely delighted for her and her husband and welcomed this little grand niece to the loving family. As much as we extend our love to her, there is still the expectation of our own first grandchild.

For me, what lies ahead will be more than delight; more than love alone; and more than sharing in the care of a grandchild whether that be a granddaughter or a grandson. The more, to me, is cherishing the responsibility for demonstrating the love and commitment that is an integral part of an extended family. It is the on-going desire to help, give advice, and to be part of the up bringing a fantastic gift.

For many grandparents, it is the chance to give again without the daily stress of going to work and to have to leave a child in the care of a non-family member. For other grandparents whether they are called a nanny or grandfather, or a host of other nicknames, it is the offering of a safe haven for both new parents and grandchildren. It is a home that extends the responsibility without undue concern from parents of raising a grandchild to be the best they can, to be cared for beyond just providing toys, or someplace to drop a child while parents go about other business.

The 'hooray' for little ones is to be needed, to be fondly and lovingly beckoned by that little voice as they toddle within protected environments, where they frolic and play within a secure home, and where attentiveness is combined with adoring love. It is the chance to share all over again hopefully a little wiser; the opportunity to play again as if you were younger and full of fantasy where the wonders of the world unfold in make believe games, or where a simple cardboard box provides hours of make believe castles, or a little tea house, or a grand home filled with all kinds of adventure.

And, all through this time of joy is the opportunity to provide unquestioning love and to share in being part of the rising bubbles of life as a grandchild grows into maturity.

Looking for nicknames to call Grandmothers, here you will find names for your grandchildren to call you. Browse our list and pick one that best describes you as you become a grandparent. Nicknames for Grandmothers.

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Grandparenting Activity Suggestions - Build a Great Cross Generational Relationship

Calling all parents and grandparents: Are you stuck for a suggestion for activities grandparents can do with their grandchildren? Look no further -- you have found a big list of things to do. Surely there will be at least one of these things that captures someone's imagination. This is only a jumping off place, to spark you to think of many other ideas. If you know of a great activity for grandchildren and grandparents to do, please write to me: I'd love to hear it. Here is my list:

• trip to a lake or the beach
• if Grandma or Grandpa are tech-savvy, try a cross generational blog!
• digital photography
• excursion to the zoo
• a movie (good or bad) but if it's bad, the G.P may wish to host a "bad movie party" (I have a whole article dedicated to bad movie parties)
• amusement park
• a big jigsaw (with snacks of course!)
• shopping
• produce a video
• if Grandma or Grandpa have any musical skills they can play music with the kids
• baking cookies or doing crafts at the grandparents' house
• have them come to your house and make a meal that you can all eat together
• visit an old folks home. If the kids play any music have them perform. Most old folks home residents love this
• ancient arts such as knitting, crocheting
• involve the kids in volunteer work such as a soup kitchen
• depending on the age of the kids, Grandma and Grandpa can take them on a weekend camping trip and make you a bit of couple time
• golf, croquet, other games that arent too strenuous or risky for older folks
• let Grandma/Grandpa plan and host a child's birthday party
• help Grandma and Grandpa with cleaning or home improvement projects and get an excellent meal out of it.
• gardening
• a hike to a nearby natural place, assuming Grandma/Grandpa are up to it
• a trip to the park
• fishing, boating, swimming and other water sports
• a trip to a museum appropriate for children
• scrapbooking
• a trip to a spectator sport such as a baseball game
• let Grandma and Grandpa take the kids to their soccer or baseball game
• some Grandmas and Grandpas might even want to coach kids' sports
• state or county fair -- extra special if grandparents help the kids prepare an entry in it
• a train or bus trip is always fun
• hunting (older kids, of course)
• music or art festival

I hope you were able to find at least one idea on this list that is appropriate for you and thanks for reading.

Colleen Kitchen has lifehacks galore at Hub Pages and also offers many healthy recipes at her Dork Chow Food Blog.

Attic Repairs

Caribbean Food - A Little History

The Arawak, Carib, and Taino Indians were the first inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. These first inhabitants occupied the present day islands of British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica. Their daily diet consisted of vegetables and fruits such as papaw, yams, guavas, and cassava. The Taino started the process of cooking meat and fish in large clay pots.

The Arawaks are the first people known to make a grate of thin green wood strips on which they slowly cooked meat, allowing it to be enhanced by the flavor of the wood. This grate was called a barbacoa, and the word we know today as barbeque is taken from this early Indian cooking method.

The Carib Indians added more spice to their food with hot pepper sauces, and also added lemon and lime juice to their meat and fish recipes. The Caribs are said to have made the first pepper pot stew. No recipes exist since every time the Indians made the dish, they would always add new ingredients. The Carib had a big impact on early Caribbean history, and the Caribbean sea was named after this tribe.

Then the Caribbean became a crossroads for the world . . .

Once the Europeans brought Africans slaves into the region, the slaves diet consisted mostly of food the slave owners did not want to eat. So the slaves had to be inventive, and they blended their traditional African foods with staples found on the islands. The Africans introduced okra, callaloo, fish cakes, saltfish, ackee, pudding and souse, mangos, and the list goes on.

Most present day Caribbean island locals eat a present diet that is reflective of the main ingredients of original early African dishes, and includes cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, plantains, bananas and corn meal.

African men were hunters in their homeland, and often away from home for long periods of time. They would cook spicy pork over hot coals, and this tradition was refined by the early slaves in Jamaica. The technique is known today as jerk cooking , and the secret involves a slow meat cooking process. Jamaica is famous for jerk chicken and pork, and youll find jerk all over the island.

After slavery was abolished, the Europeans went to India and China for labor, and more cooking styles were introduced. Much of the Indian cooking culture remains alive and well in the Caribbean of today with the introduction of curried meats and curry powder. Indians call it kari podi, and we have come to know this pungent flavor as curry.

The Chinese introduced rice, which is always a staple in home cooked island meals. The Chinese also introduced mustard, and the early Portuguese sailors introduced the popular codfish.

Most visitors to the Caribbean have no idea that the fruit trees and fruits so familiar to the islands were introduced by the early Spanish explorers. The fruit trees and fruits brought from Spain include orange, lime, ginger, plantains, figs, date palms, sugar cane, grapes, tamarinds and coconuts.

Even the Polynesian islands play an important role in Caribbean cooking. Most of us remember the movie Mutiny on the Bounty, but do not know that particular ship carried breadfruit, which was loaded on board from the islands of Tahiti and Timor. In the movie the crew took over the ship, forced the captain into a small boat to fend on his own, and they threw the breadfruit, which they considered strange fruit overboard. Another ship was more successful in bringing breadfruit from Polynesia to Jamaica and the St Vincent and the Grenadines. Breadfruit is a staple diet in the current day Caribbean

America is responsible for introducing beans, corn, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and chili pepper to the Caribbean. In fact these particular foods had never been seen in Asia, Europe or Africa, so America actually introduced these foods the rest of the world via the Caribbean.

So it's no wonder Caribbean cooking is so rich and creative with the flavors of Africa, India, and China, along with Spanish, Danish, Portuguese, French and British influences. Food served in the Caribbean islands have been influenced by the cultures of the world, but each island adds its own special flavor and cooking technique.

Linda Thompkins is a Caribbean travel consultant and owner of Travel 2 the Caribbean online agency. Linda and her husband reside in Indianapolis, Indiana and have traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean.

Travel 2 the Caribbean has been in business for seven years and offers secure online booking, and travel agent booking.

http://www.travel2thecaribbean.com

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Feng Shui In Dining Room Arrangement

Furniture designers are paying much attention to make furniture not only practise but also comfortable and beautiful. Also new materials are being used to make furniture look modern. Very popular are unique custom handmade furniture. And as much important as having unique furniture is good arranging them, which might have a great impact on the standard of living, working and also on our mood.

Helpful in doing that might be one of elements of ancient Chinese philosophy of nature and art, Feng Shui.

It focuses on energy called chi. Chinese believes that this force also consider our personal energy. For a well-being chi must be encouraged to flow freely.

Nowadays, Feng Shui is widely known and used as a practise of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony. There are several tips written about arranging space in the office and at home (for example putting beds or dining tables in a right place). A few things to remember when arranging dining room:

There must be special paths for chi to flow freely. For example chi likes smooth rounded surfaces. Rounded edges, softened corners. Mirrors and glass surfaces are helpful as well cause they reflect an energy to other parts of the house. Following this advice, having a tables as a example, it is better to furnish home with oval glass tables, rounded glass dining tables, round coffee table rather than having it rectangular. Also having a wooden one is good.

When arranging the dining room ensure that dining chairs do not restrict doorways. There should be ample space for guests to walk around dining room tables without having to manoeuvre around any other piece of furniture or decoration that might also be in this room as coffee tables, console tables, chairs, vases, sofa tables. There should be an even number of dining chairs and remember to seat an honoured guest facing the doorway.

There are even advices to colors of furniture. A big mistake is having a red sofa set, as red is a color of fire. It is very powerful color for Feng Shui and in this sector it gives rise to heavy work pressure and troubles.

Some people criticize Feng Shui but for some taking its advices it brings a good mood and a great appetite while eating at their dining rooms.

Tom Faulkner - handmade metal furniture and glass furniture.

Plaster Wall Moisture Problem

Bathroom Remodeling Costs and Concepts - Carlsbad Home Repairs

The economic crises, busy career driven lives and environmental impacts around us usually prevent us from tending to our own personal home needs. As the rising costs of products everywhere, clashing with our busy schedules, taking time off to redecorate much more remodel our own homes, especially the bathroom, might be a little bit more taxing. But still, the bathroom should be given attention it deserves as using it is a very essential part of our lives. One should give bathroom remodeling costs a thought and consider it a pleasant task to beautify your home.

Budget is the most important factor for bathroom remodeling costs. One should have a specific budget on how much you want to achieve. It depends on whether you want a small-scale or large-scale remodeling of your bathroom. Thus, mapping out the clear concept of the design should be made in order to determine the kind of budget you have to save.

When you have a clear idea of what you want your bathroom to be like, canvassing materials should be the next task. These materials and fixtures is the determinative element whether to cut-off or expand your budget for the bathroom remodeling costs. If you must, research first about the materials, its durability, prices, warranties and its performance. Additional information about its power or energy saving qualities to help cut cost of your bill and help in saving the environment will be a great advantage.

Also, considering the safety of your bathroom, electric wires and plumbing connections must be checked as part of bathroom remodeling costs. These connections must be double-checked to ensure maximum safety and convenience for all. It still depends if your bathroom is few years old or older than your grandmother. Then, it should be made sure that it shall meet the standard requirements for safety measures.

But as remodeling is not really limited to the confines within your bathroom, additional plans should be made whether extensions are going to be constructed in your bedroom, hallway or kitchen, depending where the proposed bathroom is located. So adjustments will be made to accommodate your plans and might actually balloon your bathroom remodeling costs. So it is good to really plan ahead for at least a period of time.

Thus, as this is not a simple task, services of contractors and designers will be needed. Give the complete details of what your concept should be so they can give you a correct and accurate amount of your bathroom remodeling costs. They can give you quotations about the prices, mark-downs, and other costs you need to know. Don't stick to one opinion, though. Compare their opinion with other contractors or designers or architects which will provide you with other options and perspectives to help you achieve the kind of bathroom you truly want and feel.

For more information on bathroom remodeling costs and bathroom lighting fixtures visit http://www.lightingbathroomfixtures.com for helpful insight.

How to Make a Wooden Gate

There are some simple home projects which you do not need to go out and hire some expensive contractor or carpenter. One of these which you yourself can do is a wooden gate for your yard.

Relax, making a wooden gate all by ourselves is an exciting adventure and doesn't need to be hard or impossible. If we do everything systematically it shouldn't be too hard. To build a wooden gate we need the right design for a specific purpose.

In making a wooden gate ourselves the first thing we need to do is design it. This means we take exact measurements based on the width of the opening where we want to put up the gate. We also consider the height of the fence around it. Everything must be complementary, after all we want form and functionality, right?

Then we buy the needed wood pieces-4 by 4 inches latch and hinge posts, gate frames measuring 2 by 4 inches and picket wood pieces measuring 1 by 2 inches. These are mere suggestions; wood sizes may vary depending on our wooden gate design. We also need screws, some nails, 3 to 4 hinge sets, and the latch. The sizes and number of pieces depend on the size of the wooden gate.

We dig holes for the latch and hinge posts. A depth of 3 feet, more or less, ought to do. Insert one end of the posts into the holes and reinforce with rocks and earth intact at the sides to keep it from moving. Or pour concrete at the sides. Then we install horizontal frames for the wooden gate fitting the gateway. We also fix the gate hinges permanently to the hinge post.

Then we install the diagonal frames. Measure them to accurately fit the horizontal frames. To attach, drill holes through them and the horizontal frames and insert long screws. Mark spots, which are evenly spaced, allotted for the pickets. Use a square. Then attach them to the wooden gate using nails or screws at their bottom side. Two screws or nails each would do.

Finally, re-mount the wooden gate. Detach the gate to render the wood to a smooth finish and accurate fitting by scraping extra wood thickness. Then re-mount by attaching again to the hinges permanently. Make sure the wooden gate opens and closes to and from its jamb or latch post smoothly.

It is best to make the wooden gate right where we intend to install it. This enables us to get the actual measurement needed and base the wooden gate dimensions from it. Handle carpentry tools and materials with the greatest care and make sure to wear fitting gloves when hammering nails, driving screws, or cutting with a saw.

Make sure all tools are in good condition, like ensuring that the chisel or plain blades are sharp. Sharp tools make the work easier and safer. Wear a carpentry apron if necessary.

It's exciting to make our own wooden gate. We can start experimenting with our garden gate.

John Grant is a the author for a how to site where he is writing articles about how to build a gate.

Dangers of Walking on a House Roof

Here's some things to think about before walking on the roof of a house. If you slip and fall off the roof you could get hurt seriously. For your own safety if you have no experience walking on a roof use extreme caution. I would even suggest using a ladder and moving the latter around the perimeter of the house if you are inspecting the roof for damage.

Here's some things to keep in mind before walking on a house roof.

1. If the building is above two stories hire a contractor especially if you think the roof has building damage.

2. If the roof is too steep stay off. This could be extremely hazardous to your health.

3. If the roof is severely damaged and has loose shingles or tiles, this could create a safety hazard as you slip on one of these loose shingles and possibly fall off the roof.

4. You should stay off the roof at all costs if there is snow or ice. Ice obviously is extremely slippery and would be difficult to walk on. The difficulty would be increased if the roof has a steep slope.

5. Now last but not least if the roof is wet you should avoid walking on it until it is dry. I have been on wet roofs before and personally slipped myself losing my balance but not falling off of the roof.

Climbing up on a roof and walking around is not child's play and should be left to an experienced professional . If you feel comfortable walking around on any roof please use caution. If you slip in the middle of the roof there is a good chance you will be able to regain your balance or have time to stop yourself before falling off.

I would suggest using caution near the edges of the roof. If the roof is too steep or you don't feel comfortable, why risk serious injury. Use common sense along with the proper ladders to ensure your safety and "Think before walking on a house roof."

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Enhancing Your Self-Image

Success is an inside job. Even if your body and mind are ready, willing, and able to learn and do whatever is necessary to get the job done, a negative self-image may stop you.

Although we create many outward images of ourselves-so we can interact with or impress others and sell our ideas or services-we only have one self-image. The way we view ourselves determines the level of success we attain in anything. To achieve more success, some parts of our sense of self will have to change.
Your inward impression of yourself controls much of what you create in your life. When someone says, "Good morning, how are you?" you probably answer, "Fine," regardless of any troubles you may be having. The image you project is often very different from your true sense of self.

Because your level of success and happiness is controlled by your interior self-image, you must try to ensure that your exterior image and your interior image are in sync. If you can't match your self-worth with your exterior image, your ability to achieve at the highest levels will be restricted.

Try this exercise. Put the palms of your hands together with the fingers aligned as if in prayer. These hands pressing gently together represent you. Now twist your wrists, keeping your hands together, until the back of your right hand is facing away from your face. The right hand with its back facing out is the side of you that you want and allow the world to see. In fact, you present it to the world all the time. You put your best foot forward. It is the side of you that is happy, fine, capable, reliable, strong, honest, trustworthy, caring, sensitive, and thoughtful. This is your positive side.

Your left hand is the one only you can see. It's the side of you that isn't so good. This is the side of you that's not strong, that is lonely or hurting, that has faults, is afraid, unhappy, easily angered, and not confident. This is your not-so-positive side.

Which side is the real you-the positive side or the not-so- positive side? The truth is, you are both. One side does not negate the other. Just because you have faults, failures, or insecurities doesn't negate the fact that you have strengths, wonderful attributes, and abilities to get things done. Yet most people tend to let their not-so- positive side reduce the strengths on the positive side. They focus on the not-so-good side of themselves, saying, "I know I'm a good person, but . . . ."

If the image you have of yourself consists of only undistinguished and unexceptional qualities-or all the things you are not-then your self-image is discrediting your positive attributes. You can be-and in fact are-both at the same time. For example, if you get a pimple on your nose, isn't that all you see when you look in the mirror? Even though the rest of your face is just fine, you worry about the one blemish. But your pimple does not negate the wonderfulness of all your other features.

You can choose to put the not-so-positive side into proper perspective by no longer making it your focus. Once you have the right perspective, you are free to see all the good things about yourself. You can see that you have a profusion of strengths and abilities.

When people operate from the not-sa-positive side, they give themselves negative labels, saying, "I don't really have what it takes," or 'Tm not cut out for this." Often these labels are not true, but if they are your truth, a negative self-image results and affects your confidence, performance, and happiness.

To better understand how both sides are valuable to you, try another exercise. Put your hands in front of your chest, as if praying. Press them together as hard as you can, having someone hold your wrists at the same time. Now have them quickly pull your hands apart, moving one hand toward yourself and the other toward your partner. No matter how strong you are, or how hard you try, you will not be able to keep your hands together. Just as you are weak in trying to hold your hands together, you will be weakened if you consider your inner and outer selves as two separate beings.

Try this exercise again, this time interlocking your fingers. In this position, your hands cannot be pulled apart-you are strong now. As you can see, our weaknesses can actually make us stronger. Weaknesses tend to make us more humble and teachable. If you can believe that a weakness is truly a gift from God, then you must also believe that God will show you your weakness and make it your strength.

As a child, my weakness was my cowardice. That weakness prompted me to excel at karate. My lack of self-esteem as a young boy living on the Navajo reservation was one reason I decided to become a professional speaker and help others-so I could feel better about myself. My weaknesses have made me stronger.

If you are prone to take charge of a job and do it well, you are most likely driven by a weakness. This weakness could be a feeling of inferiority that makes you go out of your way to do well. Your feelings of inadequacy may cause you to be a top performer. In order to control the outcome, you have to take charge. Perhaps you have a need to be noticed, praised, or acknowledged that causes you to excel.

I know many people who appear to be very strong-they look and act like confident, make-it-happen, take-charge people. They get the job done, reach out to others, and are there to help whenever they can. Many are known for their caring hearts. But if they stop helping others, they feel empty and much of their joy goes away. On the surface, they seem fine, but inside they just aren't happy. For these people, helping others is like getting an emotional fix. They must help others to feel okay inside.

When I ask, "Who takes care of you?" I frequently hear, "No one." Such people feel lonely and are either unaware of their need to be taken care of or try to ignore it and meet their needs by helping others. Often the reason they reach out to others is because they know how bad it feels not to be taken care of. Because of our weaknesses-or needs-we feel powerful or compassionate, but we can still be left searching for our own happiness. When we are just givers, our own emotional resources quickly become drained.

By Jack M. Zufelt
"Mentor To Millions"
Jack M. Zufelt is a bestselling author and has achieved worldwide recognition for teaching people the true cause of all achievement. His life's mission is to impart the truth about-and dispel the myths surrounding-success and achievement.

Want to achieve better results?

How about live a fuller life with more happiness, joy, and satisfaction? Discover Jack's DNA of Success and live the life you've always wanted...

Click Here - http://www.DNAofSuccess.com

Modular Homes - Total Cost of Construction

So you are looking at property and have decided to build a modular home. You may have even decided to act as your own general contractor. You are now putting together a budget. It is fairly easy to get the prices for the land and the modular home, but it is not as cut and dry to piece together everything else that will be needed at your job site.

I built a modular home about two years ago and went through the same process. I had a difficult time finding ballpark figures for many things when trying to budget my project. Below is a list of things to keep in mind when putting together your budget:

1. Utility hooks ups and your distance from existing utilities (electric, natural gas, propane, water)
2. Excavation for foundation/basement
3. Foundation and basement
4. Driveway costs
5. Electrician to wire up basement
6. Plumber to do rough plumbing under basement floor prior to setting house
7. Concrete flatwork (basement floor)
8. Plumber to do finish plumbing (hook home to rough plumbing)
9. Electrician to hook house to utilities
10. Plumber and electrician for a septic tank (if needed)
11. Carpenters for a deck
12. Contractor for a patio

It is important to get multiple bids when costing your project. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should not necessarily choose your contractors because they are the cheapest. You must check with references, view previous work they have done, verify that they are insured and licensed to work in your city. I met with my foundation contractor at a job site he was working on and was so impressed that I chose him even though he was the highest of my three bidders. I could have saved a couple of thousand dollars with someone else but I doubt it would have been worth it.

If you do not feel that you have the time or expertise to manage the contractors involved, many modular home builders will act as your general contractor for a fee. This may be the route to choose if you do not have time to meet with all of your contractors at the job site.

Tim Montey is a modular home enthusiast who built his first modular home two years ago and detailed that experience, lessons learned and costs at http://www.modularhomechoice.com

Find more detailed information on the total cost of a modular home at the above link on the Financing page.

Who Do People Say I Am?

There is a story about a Lutheran minister, a Catholic priest and an Anglican priest who dies and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. When they arrived, St. Peter was on his lunch break, so Jesus was on duty at the Pearly Gates. He decided to test the three men of the cloth, so he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" The Lutheran minister was first in line, so he spoke up first and said, "The Bible says..." Jesus interrupted him and said, "I don't care what the Bible says. Who do YOU say I am?" The Lutheran minister replied,"I don't know..." Now the minister was standing on a trap door, so when Jesus pulled a lever, the door opened up, and the Lutheran minister was on his way to hell.

The Catholic priest was next, and when Jesus asked him, "Who do you say I am?" the Catholic priest replied, "The Pope says..." Jesus interrupted him and said, "I don't care what the Pope says. Who do YOU say I am?" The Catholic priest replied, "I don't know..." Jesus pulled the same lever, the door opened, and the Catholic priest was on his way to hell. The Anglican priest stepped up and Jesus asked him the same question. The Anglican priest replied, "You are the Christ". Jesus was very pleased, so he threw open the Pearly Gates. When the Anglican priest started to step forward, he said, "But on the other hand..."

You have to feel sorry at times for Peter. His intentions are often for the best, but like most people he often ends up putting his foot in his mouth. For example, he cut off a man's ear with a sword when he tried to prevent Jesus' arrest before his crucifixion. He also wanted to build houses when he saw Moses, Elijah and Christ together on the mountain at Christ's Transfiguration. When Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter did the right thing when he said "You are the Christ", but when Jesus mentioned his upcoming trials and crucifixion, Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for what he said. Peter's intentions were noble, but he was ignorant about what it really means to be a Christian.

Like many of us, Peter didn't really understand the true nature of Christ's kingdom. Knowing Jesus is key to understanding the Gospels. Ignorance about what it really means to be a Christian is a second, central key to Mark's Gospel. When Christ asks us to take up our cross and follow him, we have to be prepared to pay the price just like he did. We must be prepared to face scorn, ridicule, ostracism, etc. We must be prepared to embrace the will of God, whatever it may be and whenever he decides to reveal his will. When we become a Christian and take up our cross, we must do four things:

1. Embrace Christ voluntarily
2. Renounce all prejudices, sins, etc.
3. Submit willingly to Christ's will
4. Be faithful, even unto death

Mark's view is that knowing Jesus is important, just like it is for us. It allows us to trust him, to transform our way of thinking, to tell others about Christ and to take our identity from him. Our faith in God and our belonging to Jesus Christ are the foundation of our comfort, strength and courage to face the battles of this world.

God doesn't promise a life free of suffering, trouble, problems, persecution or danger. These forces can and often do bring us pain and suffering, but when we endure them in faith for Christ, he will be with us always, for as Paul wrote in Romans 8:39, "...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus". No one knows why God allows suffering and pain, but we do know that when we believe in him by faith, he identifies with our suffering, because Christ suffered and died for our sins. If we believe in him and acknowledge him as Christ, He will give us strength in times of need, even to the point of carrying us through the deep, dark valleys of life.

Our answer to the question, "Who do you say I am?" can reveal our struggle as to what it means to be part of a Christian community of faith. If we answer, "You are the Christ" like Peter did, our answer reveals two things:

1. A view of a life of compassion and justice as a vivid experience
2. A deep trust in God through Christ

Our lives have to be lost so that they might be saved. Preoccupation with saving life is a sure way to lose it. Fulfillment is found in denial of ourselves. Doctrinal knowledge of Christ is not enough to save our lives. We need to have a personal encounter with, and a vivid experience of, the crucified and risen Lord. This only happens when we receive the spirit of the Lord. Belief is necessary to know Jesus. We have to accept his words by faith. Jesus asks us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. His suffering led to God's peace. Anyone who refuses to suffer for doing God's will loses the very life they cherish. Those who willingly suffer for his sake will save their eternal life and soul.

Jesus was the model of courage. He had the courage to face a difficult task of suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. He is the source of our courage and competence when we believe in him by faith. Christianity is also the means by which courage is demonstrated. Christian courage seeks opportunities to put life and faith on the line. Christians have the courage to always seek loads or crosses to carry. Christian courage also means fighting the desire to avoid pain. Pain is sometimes necessary in order to follow Christ. Change is necessary and sometimes painful, and often involves short term pain for long term gain, but the process can and often does result in something bigger and better that fits in with God's plan.

Christian courage also means accepting the power God gives us to change the world. When we accept him as Christ, we are called by God to live as people who can make an impact on others by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we use the gifts he gives us to make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, communities, churches, schools or community groups, we are showing Christ's love while at the same time acknowledging that Jesus really and truly is 'the Christ".

German theologian Dietrich Bonheoffer is a good example. He was a Christian dissident in Nazi Germany. He was tired of both Nazi persecution and colleagues who compromised with Nazi philosophy. He decided to go to the United States to escape the Nazis, but he returned when he believed that God called him to be involved in the reconstruction of Germany once the Nazis were defeated. He felt that he could not take part in the process unless he shared the trials of the people-just like Christ shared our trials during his lifetime. Dietrich Bonheoffer paid the ultimate price when he was hung from the gallows at the Flossenberg concentration camp-just like Christ paid the ultimate price on the cross.

This story reminds us that our struggles with ourselves are often more dramatic than our confrontations with others. We are designed in the image of Christ, but we are also marred by the stain of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. We are often torn between our desire to obey God's will and our own human weaknesses. The only way this struggle will end is for us to submit to God's higher calling.

Jesus asks the disciples to tell him who others confess Jesus to be. We should consider their answers carefully, for we can apply them to what people confess concerning Jesus today. We need to know who he is in order to follow him and continue his work. The importance and necessity of Christ's teaching and the proclamation of Christ are derived from our understanding of modern answers to the question "Who do you say I am?"

Those who refuse to acknowledge Christ by not attending church at all without good cause, or by only attending church on special occasions, or who refuse to attend when the Eucharist is not being celebrated, or when the service is not from the Book of Common Prayer, or when the service is not from the Book of Alternative Services, or because they do not like the celebrant are in effect stabbing the church and Christ in the back. When we come together in humility and humbleness in public worship, we admit that we are not better than God. We are all part of God's family. When we submit to him, we do so in the same way we submit to our parents' authority, or to another authority figure. When we say, "You are the Christ" we acknowledge God's authority. If we run away from him by not attending church, we are in effect running away from him and his family.

There are two sides to Christ. One side represents Christ's love for us, and the other side represents his wrath when we refuse to accept him and submit to his will. This might seem like a contradiction. After all, how can a God of love also show fierce anger? It's simple. God does love us, but that doesn't mean his wrath isn't real or that he lets us get away with sin. There is a price to pay when we don't take him seriously. All one has to do is remember the stories of the Great Flood, or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the drowning of the Egyptian army after Moses parted the Red Sea, and one will realize what happens when God unleashes his wrath. We need to know the fierceness of God's wrath in order to understand the wonder of his love. He showed us his love by providing a way out of our sinful ways-namely, Christ's death on the cross.

A more down-to-earth example of the two sides of Christ is to remember a child's relationship with his or her own parents. The parents love the child like Christ loves us, but when the child misbehaves or does something to make the parents angry, they unleash their wrath through various forms of punishment. God is the same way. He loves us because he is our heavenly Father, but when we displease him and refuse to accept and acknowledge Christ, LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church is where we can devote ourselves to the apostles' teachings. These teachings will provide us with the answer to the question, "Who do you say I am?" They teach us about who Jesus is, what he did and what he taught. They teach us what it means to follow Christ is our own life and congregation. Those who substitute attendance at worship services with listening to radio or TV evangelists do not receive the benefit of this "local touch". People who go to church are not perfect, and even the celebrants are not perfect, but when a church member faces the tough times that all believers will sometimes face when they take up Christ's cross, the entire church pulls together to share the burden.

Those of us who remember Christ's words from the Sermon on the Mount will remember the phrase "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven". This phrase refers to those who are humble, those who recognize the incompleteness or poverty of human resources, and those who realize their utter dependence on God. If we humble ourselves to God, and if we put our trust in God's plentiful resources, and if we put our trust in him, he will reward us with eternal life and a place of honour in his heavenly kingdom.

Craig Condon, Lay Minister, Anglican Parish of South Queens, Liverpool, NS Canada. He can be reached by email at craig.condon2@ns.sympatico.ca.

House Inspection - Windows Problem

House inspection windows problem is an issue that affects most home owners especially those who do not have some experience with windows. I have seen how low grade contractors offer the cheapest prices just to get a job and instead of making a house look better they mess it up and make it look terrible.

Before I provide you with a solution on where to find the help that you need for your house inspection windows problem let me provide some few tips to avoid encountering any problems with your windows in the future.

How To Avoid windows problem

Do not try to install the windows yourself - hire and expert.

Hire a replacement window company that has installs windows that have a good NFRC rating. That is National Fenestration Rating Council.

It is also a good idea to make sure that the windows are Energy Star approved.

Do not just go for the cheapest windows buy consider other factors such as weather conditions in your area, make of your house, durability etc.

Read some consumer reports online before you make any purchase.

Have an expert come over to your home for an obligation free consultation before engaging on the project.

Help with house inspection for windows

There are a number of ways to get a contractor to come over for a house inspection for your windows problem. One thing I must tell you is that there is usually no need to even pay them. Here is what you do:

Simply find a company that is located within your area and contact them. Tell them you are thinking about replacing your windows because of the problems they are giving you. Ask them if they can send someone over for an inspection in order for them to give you a quote. This is usually an obligation free consultation. If they try to make you pay, then you are probably being scammed.

Find a list of pre-screened window companies that are located within your area at:

http://www.findreplacementwindowcompanies.com

These are usually 10, 20 or 50 miles. I know for a fact that these can offer an obligation free in-home consultation.

Click here > obligation free replacement windows inspection for instant access!

Understanding the Chinese Calendars

Chinese calendars have been around since 2600 BC. This makes the Chinese New Year the longest record of time in history. In fact, it is even the largest chronological record. It began when Emperor Huang Ti first introduced the cycle of the zodiac, which is still in place today. The Chinese calendar is actually quite similar to the Western calendar. Known specifically as the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it is a yearly record of time. As the name suggests, it is based on the cycles of the moon.

One of the main differences between the Chinese and Western calendars is the naming of the years. Under the Lunar calendar, the twelve years are named after an animal. There is a legend which states that, before leaving the earth, Buddha had all of the animals come to them. However, only twelve came to say good bye to him. He rewarded them by naming a year after each one. They were named according to the order in which they arrived.

Thus is the reasoning behind the Chinese zodiac, which is tied in with the calendar. Many Chinese beliefs maintain that the animal names connected to the calendar are hugely influential for the people who were born in those years. It can affect everything from personality to preferences.

Over a quarter of the world's population is Chinese. That is how many people celebrate the Chinese New Year and ascribe to the associated calendar. Mind, they do not solely rely on the Lunar calendar. The Gregorian system a majority of the rest of the world uses is used by the Chinese for civil purposes. At its most basic point, the Chinese calendar determines the timing of the culture's various festivals.

The calendar is also based around certain astronomical factors. Specifically, it is based around the precise longitude of the sun, as well as the phases of the moon. As such, despite the fact that it is the oldest time piece in the world, the Chinese calendar has been impacted by modern science.

On one hand, the Lunar calendar bases its dates on the dates of the cycles of the moon. The cycles for the new moons are used specifically. Whenever the new moon occurs, it indicates a new month. The longitude of the sun is also used. It determines the Principal Terms of the Chinese calendar. Those in turn determine the actual numbers of each month.

In closing, as mentioned, each year corresponds to an animal. 2009 is the year of the Ox. The year of the Ox occurs every twelve years. The same can be said for the Dog, Rat, Snake, et cetera.

Henry Fong
Feng Shui Consultant.
Feng Shui Absolutely