Probably one of the worst addictions to have is an addiction to pain pills. In this article I am going to tell you my own story of pain killer addiction and how I personally got over it. Hopefully, this will give you the courage and the strength to do the same.

First of all, I am speaking from personal experience. This isn’t something I got from a medical journal. Many years ago I had terrible sinus problems. Well, they got to the point where one morning I woke up with such a blinding headache that I had to take 2 extra strength Bufferin to rid myself of the pain. Little did I know, that was the start of a 10 year addiction to pain killers.

The next morning I woke up, same headache, but not as bad. I decided to run for the pain killers before my headache got any worse. Instead of going to a specialist for sinus problems, and getting to the root of the problem, I decided to just treat the symptoms.

Well, over time, I started to notice that even though the headaches were not as bad, and sometimes even ever so slight, I would immediately run to the pain killers at the slightest hint of pain, even if it was almost non existent. I was starting to wonder if the pain itself was in my head, no pun intended.

Long story short, I was on these pills for 10 years until I had become so anemic from them, due to internal bleeding from them, that I had to stop cold turkey or I would have died. Oddly, the fear of death literally killed the “phantom” pain that was in my head. It was then that I realized that I was indeed addicted.

It has now been quite a few years since I have taken an aspirin. It wasn’t easy at first. My allergy symptoms, which were under control because of the aspirins, became quite severe, to the point where I had to start taking allergy shots. Over time, however, the shots began to work, which was something I should have done long ago, and the allergy symptoms were gone as well as the headaches.

Combining that with a healthy new way of living, new diet, and new outlook on life, I have been pain free and pain killer free for years now. By simply saying no to pain killers, you can lick this terrible addiction. It won’t be easy, but it just may save your life.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner has been pain free for many years now because of a clean way of living. Why not visit his website at http://www.natures-healing-remedies.com/ and get your free report on how the drug companies are killing us. You will also get a weekly series on a number of natural treatments for a number of ailments.

Google Adwords is a powerful tool that you can use to drive large amounts of qualified traffic to your website within a short period of time. There are also a number of benefits to be gained from using a company that is Google Adwords qualified. You will often deal with a consultant who is very experienced with the company. If you have a website that is still in the Google sandbox, Adwords is the method you will want to use to get targeted traffic to your site. Once a website has been placed in the sandbox, it can take months for it to begin getting targeted traffic from Google. If you have invested a great deal of time and money in your site, this is time you don’t want to waste.

By hiring a company that is experienced with Adwords, you can get results within a short period of time. You must understand that it is not simply enough to start a Google Adwords campaign and hope you can convert your traffic into sales. In most cases, this will not work. The situation is much more delicate, and while you have the option of going through headaches trying to figure out how to use Adwords successfully, you also have the option of hiring an experienced company that has a track record of success. This company should be able to deal with all the aspects of your Adwords campaign. Another thing that you will want to become familiar with is the bid prices for Google.

The Ads from your campaign will be showcased based on the prices you bid for the keywords. These keywords will often come in the form of phrases. Generally, the prices for keyword phrases will range from 30 cents to one dollar. However, the cost could be much higher depending on the keywords you use. It should also be noted that the prices will change on a daily basis. Before you hire a Google Adwords, company, they will require you to first have an Adwords account. Once the account is set up, you will need to give the necessary information to the company, and you can then pay for their services.

The company will charge you for consultancy services. You may be required to pay a one time fee for setup, and you may also be required to pay a management fee monthly. The prices for each company may vary. The company will spend time analyzing you keywords to make sure only the best are used. If you choose the wrong keywords, the success of the campaign will be decreased.

Adwords Qualified Company you need the experts. SEO Toronto

If you are thinking of starting your own search engine marketing company, or you are looking to use a company for your own website, it is crucially important for this company to be Google qualified. There are a number of reasons for this. First, Google is one of the most prominent search engines on the web. It is also a global leader in various forms of advertising. By being qualified through Google, a company will have the necessary foundation to earn large revenues from their clients. Most importantly, these companies will have a great deal of confidence from their customers.

A company that is Google qualified is one that has a great deal of experience. They are also able to meet the rapid changes in the market whenever they occur. In the last few years, search engine marketing has become one of the most competitive industries on the web. Due to the fierce competition, you must have up to date information on the latest advances that are occuring in the SEM industry. Google can’t make changes to its structure overnight, and if a company is not ready for these changes, it will be difficult for the company to succeed. If you are looking to use the services of a Google qualified company, it is important for you to make sure they have inside experience. They should be able to show you a track record of success.

One thing you will notice about many of these companies is the high prices they charge. While the prices are not necessarily a bad thing, it is important for the company to back up their fees with real results. Too many search engine marketing companies charge large amounts of money without being able to show a track record of success. It is these companies you will want to avoid. One thing that you will also come across on the Internet are consultants. These consultants may be freelance, or they may be affiliate with a company. These consultants will essentially charge you money to show you how to use SEM to your advantage.

While some of these consultants have a great deal of experience, many do not, so it is important for you to differentiate the good from the bad. No matter which company you choose, it is important for you to make sure they have established credentials. They should be able to proof they are Google qualified, and having a fancy website is not enough. Their training and strategies should come from the leading search engine companies, and these are MSN, Google, and Yahoo.

Google Adwords Qualified Company you need the experts =>SEO Toronto

This quaint gold mining town at the edge of the Sierras has much more to offer the passerby than a node on the history ruler. Groveland is coming around as a cultural Mecca for quality art, music, theater and food all served in a setting that could be described as off-off-Broadway! We hope that this series of articles will entice some folks to stop for a bit, a bite or an overnight.

In search of Art, we start with our new art gallery in town. Opened less than a year, the White Wolf Gallery is popular with artists and art aficionados for their ever rotating selection of pieces from photographs to sculptures and nature oils with homemade frames that are as much about the piece as the picture itself. They carry works from every price range from under-a-$1 postcards to sculptures in the 4 figures. In season White Wolf Gallery is open later on the weekends providing a great pre-dinner activity for those passing through. You can contact the gallery at 209.962.0342.

Mountain Sage, on the west side of town, is not only the home gallery for owner-artist, Rob Hirsch and his brilliant photographs, but the business itself a work of art. Husband and wife team, Regina and Rob, have dedicated five years to creating a setting that is a destination; from the eclectic Hammock Garden to the natural outdoor amphitheater, the map room, crafts center, book nook, free WiFi access, organic coffee and so much more. One can quickly lose themselves nestled here with vision of Rob’s photographs, a few daydreams and a Frisbee.

Another place you could look for art in Groveland is at the Hotel Charlotte. Lynn and Victor don’t just care for overnight visitors and dining guests but now attend to providing pleasing visuals to accompany your Charlotte experience. Local artists have come to find the Hotel Charlotte “The Place to Hang” for exposure and sales. Guests who have dined at the Charlotte will recognize the crisp photographs of local scenery by Terri Metz. Terri regularly rotates her images to match the seasons. Last week she retired a series of winter snowscapes and installed an aerial pictorial that follows from Moccasin through Groveland and over Pine Mountain Lake.

The Hotel Charlotte is the permanent gallery of Sierra Professional Artists. The monthly rotation in the front lobbies of works by various member artists of the Sierra Professional Artist association has yielded some lovely original watercolors, oils and collage pieces. The Hotel Charlotte website, www.hotelcharlotte.com/art-bios.html, provides a sampling of the artists’ works and background information on those who have shown and those who are coming up in 2007. We encourage our rotating salon artists to host an open house for one Sunday of their monthly show and post information on the online calendar when these are scheduled by the artists.

Expanding on Art in the Charlotte, with the backing of the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce, Lynn orchestrated the first Groveland Art Stroll (GAS). This event was held on the Sunday of 4th of July weekend and matched local artists with retailers and with a good marketing blitz, got folks out and about mingling, browsing and buying. The event was given 5 stars by participating retailers, artists and participants. In 2006 the program was expanded to include all the Sundays of our big holiday weekends: Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.

For the 2007 season this tradition continues on the Sundays of May 27th, July 1st and September 2nd. With White Wolf Gallery in their unique position of drawing on a broader field of artists, visitors can expect more artists, bigger canopies & tents, refreshments and specials from local restaurants and retailer discounts. Interested artists, crafts persons, jewelers, sculptors and retailers are encouraged to get involved. Please phone 208.962.0342 for an information packet.

The success of the Art Strolls has fostered an additional downtown event using the retail district for the core theme. On June 9th the Quilters guild is hosting their first Groveland Quilt Stroll (GQs). The 80+ member group has enough artistic quilts to hang the town from end to end. What a colorful day this will be. Demonstrations and food will also be available in the lower park.

So, put Groveland on your list of things to do, either as a special event day or on the way to Yosemite and remember, when strolling through downtown Groveland, Lynn and Victor invite you make a stop at the Hotel Charlotte to see what’s hanging; on the walls, in the halls, around the dining rooms.

Lynn Upthagrove, along with her husband Victor, own the Hotel Charlotte, in Groveland, on the way to Yosemite. http://www.HotelCharlotte.com

I’m a Workplace Chaplain by profession. Like an ol’ Methodist Circuit Rider Preacher, I range all over the Great State of Texas for a company with ten facilities and over 500 employees. I have put nearly 20,000 miles my brand new car in six months. I thank God that I’m able to serve in this way; it was not that long ago that such a job would have been impossible for me.

At age 28, I was diagnosed with an incurable, hereditary spinal disease called ankylosingspondilitis (A.S.). Say that three times fast! I learned that my great grandfather had to quit working in his 40s because of arthritis in his back. Perhaps he had A.S. and they hadn’t assigned to it a fancy name yet. All I know is that my kindly Jewish doctor warned me that it was incurable and he assured me that, by the time I turned 50, I would probably not be able to walk because A.S. has the tendency to turn one’s spine into a bamboo pole.

Thanks, Doc…now, how much do I owe you?

From that point on, my back would “lock up” on me as well as my hips with excruciating pain moving from hip to hip and up and down my back. In time, I wound up walking with a cane and, eventually, had to quit my job. I “slept” sitting up. I referred to my own bed as The Chamber of Horrors. I felt as though I hadn’t slept for years. I couldn’t carry a laundry basket or bend over to load my dishes. I gained 40 pounds by sitting around doing nothing but trying to get comfortable and was not enjoying life all that much.

Somewhere along the line, I became a believer that Jesus still heals the sick. I began requesting prayer, asking to be anointed with oil. I recall a minister having an altar call for healing and I desperately asked if HE would mind coming down to where I was sitting. When I was up all night, I would begin praying for other Christians and situations around the world. I felt directly responsible when the Berlin wall came down, something I’d been praying for fervently. Fortunately, I had this new, growing online ministry to keep me focused on OTHERS rather than always on my own pitiful situation.

I took meds for pain. Lots of ‘em, like the woman with the issue of blood who spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by anyone (Luke 7:6-8). I claimed verses on healing and how God gives sweet sleep to those He loves. I did warfare all the time and prayed for others who were sick and saw THEM get healed. Sure, I had moments of deep despair. I almost filled out the papers for Medicaid twice and looked into nursing home care.

The healing was gradual over a 3-year period as little by little, about 6 years ago, I caught myself bending and moving in ways I’d forgotten that I could. These days, I keep my cane as though it were a crutch left at the healing waters of Lourdes, a silent testimony to what God had brought me through.
Last Summer, while sheetrocking my ceiling, I sprained my back. When I told my Christian chiropractor about the A.S. diagnosis, he was amazed because, he told me, I had a “textbook spine” with no sign of any disease at all. Well, I’m 47 now and strong as an ox. I carry things I probably shouldn’t, swing hammers, dig post holes and load and unload trucks as my wife and I have physically done home repairs, remodeling and landscaping on three houses in nearly as many years.

So, take that, devil!

EXPERIENCES WITH HEALING

In Mark 16:19, Jesus declared, “In my name…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
In Matthew 10:1 we read,” And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.”

Luke 4:18-19, Jesus reminds us of what was prophesied in isaiah 61:1,2 when He says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Let me get this straight…the Spirit of the Lord is upon HIM - the SAME Spirit that now dwells within us (Rom 8:11). Therefore, since Jesus was anointed to do all those things, so must we be, yes? I’ve seen far too many miracles to believe, as is the manner of some, that all miracles ceased with the passing of the last apostle. As I made the drive home from Paris, Texas yesterday - a round trip that’s nearly as far as a drive to El Paso - I began to recall all the miracles I’d seen and been a part of over the years. Here’s a partial list:

A 10-year old granddaughter of a coworker whose hips were not in their sockets. We prayed the night before surgery. The doctor was amazed the next day when he X-rayed her as the hips were suddenly in their sockets.

A 7-year old boy from my church was healed of leukemia.

An 86-year old Baptist preacher attended our House Church asking for prayer and was healed of liver cancer.

Breast lumps have been healed with some regularity.

A single woman I know rolled her small car, crushing the roof down to the back of the seats. Her kids in the back were fine. Her back was broken. She returned to her job as a hard working landscaper. God provided her with an outpouring of finances from the community, a house and a car as well.

My own son’s hands and feet were covered with warts as a child. As a new Christian, I prayed and anointed him with oil. All warts disappeared within 2 weeks.

After God gave me an incredible vision, I ran to tell a Christian neighbor. She dropped the apple she was eating in amazement and exclaimed, “God told me to let you pray for me” that morning as she prayed. I did and her neck, broken as a young girl, was healed. She quit smoking, too.

A toddler was diagnosed with leukemia in Michigan. Our Texas House Church group laid hands on a pink blanket and mailed it to her. She was cured. Acts 19 all over again!

A Catholic grandmother requested prayer at a Bible Study. Her grandson was in emergency and the doctors didn’t know what was wrong. We prayed and he was healed. The grandmother not only testified about God’s healing power but she bought a Bible and joined the Bible Study.

As I prayed before a Bible study, I felt led to lay hands on a man whose father had cancer and was in the hospital. The outlook was grim. A week later, the doctor could find no sign of cancer and the man testified that his father was mowing the lawn and raking leaves again.

I was driving home when a man called me to request prayer. He had heard that I believed in the laying on of hands. He emphasized that he was a member of the Church of Christ, a group that doesn’t usually lean in the direction of divine healing. He shared how his mother was dying in her hospital bed when her doctor informed the family that she wouldn’t make it through the night. Two women came along asking if they could anoint her with oil. The family agreed out of desperation. In the morning, the man was walking toward his mother’s room when the doctor exited with tears in his eyes. As he recognized the woman’s son approaching, a smile came to his face and he hugged the man like a long lost brother. “She’s alive!” he exclaimed. That was ten years ago, he told me, and she’s doing fine.

Robert Fitts told of a woman whose grandmother needed prayer. He prayed over a scarf and the woman took it. A year later, he returned to that same place and was told that the grandmother was healed when the scarf was applied.

I could go on and on. Just last night, a landscaper that my wife and I had prayed for because of back pain (a back which was once broken), testified that there was no more pain, no more pain killers, and that the doctor OK’d her return to work. Diseases healed, legs lengthened, reconstructive miracles, gold fillings in my own daughter-in-law’s teeth, exorcisms that always result in healing…I’ve had acid blow into my eyes and rusty nails sink into my feet as well as a bad knee that would click so loudly when I played football in high school that a coach told me he could hear it on the sideline when I ran past. Not one of these has had a long-lasting effect.

But I still need glasses to see more than ten feet away. I’m trusting God to heal my eyes, too! Why shouldn’t I?

Why wouldn’t He?

INSTANTANEOUS MIRACLES

Not all miracles happen in an instant as you may have noticed. When we read how Jesus healed the Blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), many wonder what exactly was going on there. The verses describe the following occurrence: “…some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” [Apparently, he hadn't ALWAYS been blind.]

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly…”

Was Jesus demonstrating to us all that some healing is not instantaneous but requires patience?
Why wasn’t the blind man healed right away?

According to Scripture, healing is always contingent on the faith of the recipient (Mark 5:28-30; Mark 5:33-35; Luke 13:13-15, etc.) - UNLESS the recipient is dead, unconscious, or unable to understand (a child, demon possessed). Apparently - and God only knows why - some healings happen right on the spot while others take hours, days, weeks, months or even years to manifest. It seems that the Lord will at times, require a cleansing of our soul first; such as for unforgiveness or hatred. Jesus lamented that the people needed to see signs and wonders before they would ever believe. Why? Because He wished they had more faith? He seemed to get so excited and always made mention of those who exhibited great faith. In Matthew 9;29, He said, “Be it unto you according to your faith.”

This blind man’s healing was progressive, not unlike our own faith and our own sanctification process. When we read about His healing of the ten lepers, Scripture says “they were healed AS THEY WENT” (Luke 17:11).

THIRD WORLD MIRACLES

It was when I would read Voice of the Martyrs Magazine or watch the 700 Club that I was the most impressed by the total faith of poor, ignorant people who were miraculously healed. Why not us, Lord?

It’s crystal clear to me these days. We who claim to be Kids of the Kingdom are much too affluent to see the REAL need for a King. We westerners can’t seem to relate to a King or a kingdom. Good Kings take care of their subjects, especially those that are relatives. Such is the case with King Jesus. I have asked people what they had the faith to believe for - a divine miracle or a successful surgery and, in most cases, they want prayer for their doctor’s skilled hand. That’s Ok. God can heal through medicine or saliva. He knows what we need. In developing nations, however, where medical care is poor at best - if it exists at all - THAT is where we are most likely to see divine healing miracles. A quick read of Megashift by Jim Rutz reveals story after story of incredible healings and even resurrections, each supported by contact names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. Marvelous acts are taking place all over the world by people who don’t know any better than to trust in Jesus.

THE MIRACLES THAT WEREN’T

There are no Biblical accounts of Jesus or His disciples ever asking God to heal an afflicted person. Jesus never said, “Pray for the sick.” His directive was, basically, “You GO, you PREACH, you DISCIPLE, you HEAL the sick.” To me that means that we should minister healing until the healing manifests itself.

I have ministered to many people who have received healing. In some cases, the manifestation came quickly, like a woman I laid hands upon last summer. She had a disease that kept her from eating anything that included wheat in its ingredients. As I ministered, she jolted. I didn’t pray that God would heal her; I spoke to the infirmity in His authority and under His anointing, she believed and she was healed. Seven months later, she tells me she is STILL healed.

I have received reports LATER that “something” happened when I spoke to an infirmity, exercising the Authority of the Name of Jesus but it was a while - days, weeks - before the healing manifested itself and the sickness never returned. In my own situation regarding that painful spinal disease, it took several years before I experienced a manifested healing, though I was “healed by His stripes” 2,000 years ago at the cross. Though I love the smell and beauty of roses, when I look back at those days, I can embrace the thorns because they made me a stronger Christian.

On two occasions, I have ministered healing to people who actually died shortly thereafter. While some unbelievers may gloat because my efforts appeared to have failed, all I can say is, “They’re healed now!” It was a revelation to me the day that I realized that EVERY person that Jesus ever healed, died. Even those who were resurrected, died for good, eventually. It’s all to the Glory of God. Keep in mind, Jesus said, “…whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (Jn 11:26) and ” Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My Word he shall never see death.” (Jn 8:51). This life is simply not “IT.”

Jesus Himself couldn’t always hit a home run where healing was concerned. Matthew 13:58 says, “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” This was in Nazareth, His own hometown. The United States often seems to me like Nazareth on steroids. Rare are the occasions when I encounter a Christian who truly believes what Jesus taught and is willing to exercise the Authority they’ve been given to do the things He requires of, and empowered us, to do.

Mark 5:38-41, “Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly…”Why all this commotion…The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out…He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around…” Notice how He spoke to the girl, not to God in Heaven.

Mark 6:5 reads, “Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Our House Church group prayed for a young man who was in a coma after an automobile accident. His non-believing family saw no option but to pull the proverbial plug.

He didn’t die.

We felt led to lay hands upon him, sing over him and anoint him with oil. These days, he’s walking and talking, improving every day. Some day, he will die and stay dead, too, though dying is not a bad thing for the Believer in Jesus. But he’s not dead today. God’s not finished with him.

DON’T TRY TO HEAL ANYBODY!

If I can offer one piece of advice to any Christian who desires to heal others in Jesus’ Name, it would be this: DON’T try to heal anybody.

You see, it’s Jesus who heals the sick THROUGH YOU with His Authority and anointing.

It’s Jesus who casts out demons THROUGH YOU with His Authority and anointing.

It’s Jesus who manifests the spiritual gift needed at that moment THROUGH YOU with His Authority and anointing.

All YOU must be is AVAILABLE and OBEDIENT. The rest is up to Him.

If you’re like me, you have been exposed to many ministers and many healing opportunities, perhaps you have become downright professional in your technique. By doing something repeatedly, one cannot help but develop, after all.

Not long ago, we prayed for an infant who was screaming with pain. While my friends laid hands on her, I found myself praying, “Lord, what should we do?” What I heard in my spirit was that we were to sing to her. I whispered this to a friend who grabbed his guitar and we sang. She got quiet. Though she had been crying like this quite frequently, we were told, so badly that her young mother was hardly sleeping at all, she has been doing great ever since that night when we sang.

I have fond memories of a Baptist preacher who would start off every prayer meeting with, “Lord, show us how to pray…” followed by, sometimes, a few minutes of total silence. Before we knew it, Words of Knowledge, Scripture verses, visions, all kinds of spiritual gifts would spring forth. In every case SOMEBODY got blessed. Usually, everyone in the room.

When the disciples failed their attempt to heal a demonized boy (Mark 9:17-29), they asked, “Why could we not cast it out?”(v. 28). Jesus had just referred to them as part of a “faithless generation” (v. 19). They apparently did not yet believe in the Authority of His Name and that His anointing was with them. We do know that this was not always the case as their minds were renewed to the truths about healing, the Authority of His Name, and the anointing. We read (Luke 10) that His disciples were casting out demons and healing the sick even BEFORE the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost.

Since we, too, are His Disciples, we must learn to decrease so that Jesus can increase. The paradox is this: we must get out of His way so that He is ABLE to use us.

WHAT HINDERS HEALING?

Is God the problem? After all the promises we read in Scripture that have to do with healing His children, shall we blame Him because Aunt Martha is still sick? No, God is not a man that He should lie.
Some folks have not received a revelation on healing. Their religious exposure did not include many teachings on this biblical truth. Many were taught that such things no longer take place. On a scale of ten, their own programming won’t get them past zero. Though they may desire to be healed by God, they simply aren’t capable of getting desperate enough for Him to do so. I often wonder if my own pain FORCED me into a position to start to trust God to actually heal me, moving me from unbelief to complete restoration.

Some cannot receive their healing because the fear of opening old wounds is seemingly too hard for them. When Jesus takes them to Ground Zero, as He did with the Woman at the Well (Jn 4:1-26), the healing begins. It’s there that they can exchange the lie for the truth and begin to heal.

According to Matthew 18:34-35, forgiveness or repentance may be necessary before healing can begin as well.

Sadly, many Christians are running to the altar in search of healing, anxiously anticipating and sincerely believing that, maybe today, they’ll get zapped by God and be healed. Some go so far as to travel around seeking a healing touch from various ministers. I believe there are seven hindrances to healing. If you would like to read more on that subject, send an email and type “HEAL” in your SUBJECT Bar.

Every blessing,

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
http://www.YourTown4Jesus.org
team1min@our-town.com

His mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since ‘99, he has broadcast over 600 inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects sure to interest the thinking Christian and accelerate the process of spiritual development.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries. An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” are read around the globe. Subscribe at team1min@our-town.com.com

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is the Workplace Chaplain for a Texas firm, overseeing the Spiritual Development of over 500 employees at ten facilities throughout the state. He is a strong advocate for the House Church Movement, readily available to assist Christians feeling that same inclination. A Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network, he may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

I believe that all of us want happiness and success in life. However, very few can actually admit that they have got there. Many didn’t know why they aren’t successful, so few knew why, but didn’t do anything about it. I have the privilege to come across a list of reasons why most people couldn’t achieve happiness or success in life. As I read through, I too discovered that some of the reasons here have been standing in the way between success and me. As you go over the list now, check yourself by it, point by point, to find out how many of these causes-of-failure stand between you and success.

Lack of purpose in life - Before I start taking my life seriously, I have no major purpose in life. All day long, I would either play games at home, or after work, chill out with my friends. There is no sense of responsibility to my family, no commitment at work and of cause, no purpose. Life was pretty much a routine. A routine that I hate, a routine that I want to get rid of.

Many people I have come across are leading the life that I have led years ago. And gradually I discovered that lack of purpose in life (or anything else for that matter) is always and will always be at the top of the list of failure.

Lack of ambition to aim high - People who are not happy at where they are and yet are unwilling to aim high above mediocre and pay the price of success, will never be happy. I have seen them, they will whine about their work, about their boss, about everything and anything under the sun. But they aren’t willing to work on it, to find out how to get ahead of the pack.

When told of what they could have done so that they could get out of the rug, they will come up will excuses for not able to do it. No success will ever befall on those who lack the ambition to aim high above the mediocrity.

Insufficient education - This is a handicap, which can be overcome with ease. How many times have you read or heard of successful people having little or no educational background? Experience has proven that the best-educated people are often those who are known as “self-made” or self-educated. In times like these, college degree alone is no longer sufficient to bring you to the top.

Education consists, not so much of knowledge, but of knowledge effectively and persistently applied. We are paid, not merely for what we know, but more particularly for what we do with which we know.

Lack of self-discipline - Self-discipline comes from self-control. This means you need to control all the negative qualities you believe you have. Self-control, though is a skill, will be one of the hardest skill you will ever learnt. However, if you do not conquer yourself, yourself will conquer you.

Ill health - No one can enjoy outstanding success without good health. Many causes of ill health is the result of poor self-control. Some of the examples that contribute to ill health are

–Overeating
–Wrong habits of thought
–Smoking
–Lack of proper physical exercise
–Drinking

Unfavorable environmental influence - Most people who have tendency to commit crime acquire them as the result of bad environment and improper associates during childhood.

Procrastination - One of the most common causes of failures. Procrastination is the deferment or avoidance of an action or task and is often linked to perfection. Most people failed in life because they are waiting for the ‘time to be right’. The thing is, the time will never be right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

Lack of persistence - There are many good ’starters’, but very few finishers of everything they begin. They will begin something with high hopes and enthusiasm but loss that excitement when they are facing the first sign of defeat. But we ought to learn that nothing substitute the lack of persistence. And those who know this discovered that failure has no way in coping persistence.

Negative personality - There is no hope of success for a person who repels others through negative personality. Not many realize this; success is attained through the cooperation efforts of other people. A negative personality will not induce cooperation.

Above are 10 reasons that may have stopped you from achieving happiness, attaining success. Look through it and see if you have possessed any of them. If you have, ask yourself “what will you do to overcome them?”

Inspired by a personal encounter with a millionaire while working as a retail sales assistant five years ago, he transform his own life from being a person who lack of purpose in life into someone who have big dreams ahead.

Currently pursing a course in NLP, he is looking forward to one day shared the platform with distinguished speakers around the world. Roderick intend to share the stories, techniques and experiences that have impact his life on his personal blog.

“I believe that with a plan, everything is possible”
- Roderick

Visit his blog and get a free ‘Think and Grow Rich Action Guide’ When you subscribe to the mailing list mindchic.blogspot.com

Are you having trouble keeping a positive attitude because of problems in your life? You are among many people in this world today. Even those with highly positive attitudes struggle at times when faced with adversity.

KEY POINT 1: Your problems shape your character.

While it may sound absurd, it’s very true-your problems mold your character. They make you who you are. Character can be defined as, “A complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions.”

If you allow your problems to break you down, causing you to give up or throw up your hands in frustration, what does that speak of your character? It says that you will break with every ounce of hardship that comes your way. Alternatively, if you push forward despite adversity, your character is shaped by strength and persistence.

KEY POINT 2: Your problems make you stronger.

In the middle of troubles, it’s often difficult to see through the fog that clouds your mind and vision. This is when the true test of your strength and courage comes into play. Will you stand strong, chin forward and keep walking anyway?

Once you make it through to the other side of this wall, you will have gained untold strength. You’re flexing and using your muscles through all those dilemmas. So keep up your pace and don’t slow down. Victory is ahead!

KEY POINT 3: Your problems strengthen your will.

Not only do problems make your stronger mentally, but they serve the purpose of strengthening your will, too. As you motivate yourself to keep forging ahead, you build great resolve and determination. Your character, in turn, is reinforced and you become stronger than ever before.

No matter how difficult the situation is that you’re going through, you can keep a positive attitude, despite it all. Keep your mind focused and stay on the well-beaten path. You will make it through to the other side a better person.

Hope Wilbanks publishes Nurtured Soul, an online inspirational magazine for women. You can find more inspirational articles at Nurtured Soul: http://www.nurturedsoul.com/

Last week a friend of mine asked what all the letters and abbreviations after my name were after I sent him an e-mail. For reference, my e-mail signature looks like this:

Brian Block, Esq., REALTOR / Attorney

ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI, SRES

Block Real Estate Group, LLC

So here’s an explanation of all of these designations:

Esq. — This is short for Esquire. In the U.S. it generally may be assumed that, when “Esq.” appears on business cards or stationery, the man or woman so identified is a member of the bar. I am a licensed Virginia attorney and a member of the Virginia State Bar.

ABR — short for Accredited Buyer Representative. To achieve this designation, Realtors must complete and pass the exam for a two full day course on all aspects of buyer representation and document a qualifying number of buyer transactions. ABRs maintain membership in the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council and keep up to date on important developments in buyer agency.

CRS — short for Certified Residential Specialist. This is like the graduate degree of the real estate industry. Less than 4% of Realtors nationwide have earned the CRS designation through significant experience, rigorous educational requirements (over 60 hours of classes), and demonstrated sales volume. The training involves all aspects of real estate with a strong focus on technology and customer service. CRS Realtors can attend the yearly Sell-a-Bration conference to continue their education and learn from other experienced CRS Realtors.

e-PRO — denotes an Internet Professional Realtor and signifies that the Realtor completed extensive training on using the web and is prepared to employ the latest techniques and services fro the benefit of clients.

GRI — short for Graduate Realtor Institute. To earn the GRI designation, Realtors must complete over 90 hours of specialized real estate courses. A Realtor who earns the GRI designation has shown his or her commitment to the industry and towards serving the client.

SRES — short for Seniors Real Estate Specialist. This specialized course of study focuses on real estate issues that are important to senior citizens, including retirement, reverse mortgages, downsizing, health care, and IRAs. After completing this course, an SRES Realtor is uniquely suited for helping senior citizens and their families with their specialized real estate needs.

When choosing a Realtor to help you with your real estate needs, it is important to look at their designations and ask about their continued education and commitment to keeping up to date with the latest news and practices.

Brian Block is a REALTOR in Northern Virginia and D.C. with RE/MAX Allegiance. For the most up to date real estate news and information about the metro-D.C. area visit his blog at http://blog.brianblock.com Brian can be reached directly at 703-626-0715 or by e-mail at brian@brianblock.com

In the world of Internet marketing and money making, running your own membership site is a popular way to go. However, unlike other forms of earning a living online, running a membership site requires membership site software if you are going to do the job correctly. In this article, we’re going to point out some key things that you are going to want to look for when picking out software for your membership site.

The first thing you want to look for is reliability, not only in the software itself but in the company that is supplying the software. You want to make sure that they offer support for their product and even free installation. Usually the companies that have this service are the most reliable. They usually stand 100% behind their software as well.

The next thing you want to look for in membership site software is the actual features that it has. Not all software is the same. Most will plainly display the list of features that their software has. If not, write to the company and ask questions. Don’t make assumptions.

Another thing you want to look for in membership site software is compatibility with your web hosting account. Some software requires that you run PHP on your server, so if you’re running an ASP server, that particular software isn’t going to run.

Probably the last thing you want to look for in membership site software is price. The reason I say this is because, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking at a piece of software that is selling for a very cheap price in relation to other brands, most likely is either has very few features or is not very stable. However, this is not always true as there is some very inexpensive software out there that is actually very good, surprised as I am.

In my signature, you’ll find a membership site software that is surprisingly excellent for the money. It doesn’t have all the features of the big boys, but at about 10% of the cost, it is very good. They have 24/7 support and do offer free installation. The software is weak in one area, that of affiliate management. However, since it supports 3rd party plug-ins, this is not an issue because one of the plug-ins is an excellent affiliate management program.

If you have the money, you may want to look into the higher priced software companies. The ones in the $4,000 to $5,000 price range pretty much have everything covered. But if $130 is all you can afford, then the site in my signature is probably the way you want to go.

Steve Wagenheim has been an Internet marketer for 4 years and now earns over $6,000 a month. One of the reasons is Amember’s great program. If you want to check it out you can read my review at the following web site at http://www.wagtunes.cashhosters2.com/biz/weekly_picks.html and check out some of my other best of the net picks while you’re there.

In this article you will discover:

• The facts about omega-3 fish oil
• How omega-3 fish oil helps to prevent gall bladder stones
• How much omega-3 fish oil to take to prevent gall bladder stones formation

The Facts About Omega-3 Fish Oil

The flesh of oily fish such as:

• Trout
• Sardines
• Salmon
• Pilchards
• Mackerel
• Herrings

are rich in omega-3 oils.

Omega-3 fish oil are rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs have a lot of beneficial health properties that can help to reduce the symptoms of the following health conditions:

• Ulcerative Colitis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Psoriasis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Asthma

How Omega-3 Fish Oil Helps To Prevent The Formation Of Gall Bladder Stones

Clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fish oils have compounds which prevent furring up and hardening of the arteries and can reduce high cholesterol.

The beneficial health properties in omega-3 fish oil makes it great at reducing heart and circulation conditions such as:

• Stroke
• Raynaud’s Disease
• Heart Disease
• Heart attack
• Atherosclerosis

The main ingredient in gall bladder stones is cholesterol, by reducing cholesterol, the formation of gall bladder stones becomes reduced.

Omega-3 fish oil has been proved to help in the reduction of high cholesterol.

How Much Omega-3 Fish Oil Should You Take To Prevent The Formation Of Gall Bladder Stones?

Dieticians and Nutritionist recommend that you should be consuming at least 100g of oily fish a couple of times per week in your diet.

This is not such a good recommendation if you do not like the taste of oily fish.

For those people who do not like the taste of fish, there is good news; you can buy omega-3 fish oil in supplement form from your local health store.

The fish oil which is typically in these supplements commonly comes from:

• Sardines
• Menhaden
• Capelins
• Anchovies

To help to prevent against the formation of gall bladder stones, it would be wise to take about 4g a day in supplement form.

So, to sum up…

There are many health benefits to consuming omega-3 fish oil. It is great at protecting your circulation, heart and lowering cholesterol.

The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fish oil makes it ideal for inflammatory health condition.

Clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fish oil can help to lowering high cholesterol which as a result helps to prevent the formation of gall bladder stones.

If you are prone to gall bladder stones and would like to prevent their formation, it would wise to include oily fish in your diet and take omega-3 fish oil supplements.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download ‘How To Beat Gall-Stones Naturally’ Free E-book

Website: NewBeingNutrition.com