Info-Leeches and other E-Invertebrates

Were you once a successful, professional woman who had a significant status level and received adequate remuneration for your work?

Have you re-located to a new country where the educational degree you worked so hard to achieve is neither recognized nor considered valid?

As a result, have you now settled for a job for which you are overqualified and living paycheck to paycheck?

If you once had a successful professional career and answered yes to the above, you probaby understand how frustrating it is, to be unable to practice your profession in a new country.

The decision to immigrate to another country is a courageous act which involves leaving everything that you know and everything that makes up who you are. It usually means starting over, making changes and finding a new job or career.

As a skilled professional woman, you already have a unique combination of marketable skills and experiences, optimism about your future prospects in the new country, education, commitment and motivation to work in your field of expertise, language ability and a desire to learn new things expertise…so, it’s really puzzling and shocking when you suddenly find yourself unemployed or unable to find a job in your field.

It is therefore important that you wake up from your slumber and do something about making your life a success.

To start making something of your life in a new country, you need to:

1. Stop being in denial.

Accept change and be ready to change! Your past successful life is always going to be a part of you and no one can take that away from you. However, the rules of the game in the new country may mean that you may no longer be the successful, lawyer, doctor, CEO or professional you once were.

As painful as it may be to accept…don’t spend your days talking about who you were in the past and dwelling in the glory of your past success. Don’t live in denial any longer than you must. Accept the fact that your circumstances have changed and start looking for constructive ways to make the best of your life in the new country.

2. Take a stand for your life.

When people move to a new country, they usually want to live in a place where they have some contacts, relatives or friends. However, some of these people you know, may have resigned themselves to living unfulfilled lives and may try to prevent you (by their comments or actions) from expecting more for yourself.

If you want to make a success of your life, you must take a risk, go against the negative majority, choose to be different and take a stand for a positive future. The decision to get out from among people, who will hold you back from doing something with your life, is worth it!

3. Don’t lose your sense of self-worth.

Your professional occupation is a large part of your identity and an integral part of your life. However if you have settled for less and are now overqualified for your job, you may feel that the work you are doing is not a valuable contribution to society. As a result, you may start questioning yourself and feeling worthless.

You are not worthless! Find meaning and purpose in what you want to do and begin to pursue it with vigor. After counting the cost, make the decision to do what you have to do to make your life a success. Stop settling for less than you deserve, start standing up for yourself and for your dignity.

4. Stop being invisible.

If you were used to being recognized by members of your community who were aware of your professional merits, you may be feeling very “anonymous” in the new country.

If you were previously a highly active, social and professional woman, don’t chose jobs that will relegate you to the back office and hide you behind a pile of meaningless paperwork. Look for a job that projects your social qualities and allows you to interact more visibly.

Find a career that allows you to fully utilize your skills. This could mean starting your own business, finding a new career, going back to school or finding means and ways to become actively involved with people in your profession in the new country or abroad.

5. Be informed about the work culture of the new country.

This may seem pretty basic but it should not be taken for granted. If you want to get ahead you must stop running around like a headless chicken and begin to familiarize yourself with the lifestyle, culture and work ethics of the new country. For instance, do you understand the work place terminology? What kind of transferable/employable skills do you need? Do employers require curriculum vitae or resumes? What is the academic equivalent of the professional qualification you hold?

Sometimes the hardship you are facing is not brought about by you as a person but by your lack of research on the basics. Make the adjustment easier for yourself by tailoring your life to fit into the new place and not vice versa.

6. Increase your social networks.

There is always a close connection between one’s occupation and social status. When you are unable to transfer the occupation that you once held to the new country you now live in, you also lose social status. It is therefore important to have a network of people that you can trust and depend on.

You can have personal networks like friendship groups and social organizations and also join and actively participate in professional associations, community networks and support groups that are involved with issues that interest you. These networks also play a useful role in combating the feeling of being alone in a new place and can also be good idea or lead generators for a new job.

7. Don’t be complacent…do something!

Don’t wallow in self-pity. Hold on to your dreams and your goals. Work steadily and take risks to achieve them. Persevere and be resilient. Do what you have to do, to ensure that you make a success of your new life.

Be strong! Although there are many barriers to be overcome in a new country, let not your spirit be tarnished. Look within yourself for the strength to move forward with your life. With a positive attitude, you will find that there are a lot of things that can bring you ultimate success.

Caroline Jalango is a life coach for unstoppable women who are willing to step up to the plate and take a shot at living exceptional lives wherever they are.

www.motivationzone.com

Caroline@motivationzone.com

From the time the first coca beans were harvested by the Mayans, there has been the belief that chocolate has a euphoric impact on the body’s senses. The conquistadores saw the Emperor Montezuma of the Aztecs consuming a large quantity of cocoa in the form of a beverage called chocolatl before entering his harem. The invading Spaniards spread the Emperor’s belief that cocoa was an aphrodisiac and brought it to Europe. This belief was also shared by one of history’s most famous lovers, Giacomo Casanova.

Since then, the use of chocolate as part of the mating ritual has been firmly established. . More recently it has been shown that not only does chocolate increase the sexual appetite but also produces a sense of elation similar to an orgasm.

It has only been in recent times that scientists have unravelled chocolate’s psychotropic properties and the effects it has on us. Chocolate has been found to contain modest amounts of the stimulants caffeine and theo-bromine, (much less than in coffee or tea) Chocolate is also known to generate increased levels of serotonin, a chemical naturally produced by the brain, which is known to reduce anxiety. Serotonin is most commonly associated with the effects of marijuana or getting ‘stoned’ (you would have to eat 25lbs of dark chocolate at once to achieve the same effect).

Neither of these properties by themselves provides the connection between eating chocolates and heightened sexual pleasure. It is in fact the rush of endorphins produced by eating chocolates, particularly dark chocolates, which is most similar to the bliss associated with a healthy sexual relationship. Chocolate also contains phenyl-ethylamine which is known to stimulate the release of dopamine into the pleasure centers commonly associated with an orgasm.

In addition to this scientific evidence, a great deal of behavioral research has been done to study the sexual behavior of women who eat a lot of chocolate and those who don’t. The conclusion of this is that women who consume large quantities of chocolate have more satisfying sex lives. However the reverse correlation could also be assumed where women with satisfying sex lives tend to eat more chocolate.

Despite the fact that the relationship between sex and chocolate can’t be proven with 100% certainty, the scientific evidence combined with behavioral studies provides a compelling argument for cocoa’s impact on our sexual drive - it is convincing enough for chocolate to have become a part of my daily diet!

I recommend that you buy chocolate with a high cocoa content which taste better and do not contain extra sugars and oils like candy bars found in most shops. My personal favorite, Neuhaus chocolates, is an example of where you can get dark chocolate with a high cocoa content and a resulting surfeit of pleasure. To paraphrase the Song of Solomon, ‘Stay me with flagons and comfort me with chocolates, for I am sick with love’.

I can be contacted by submitting a query at http://www.neuhaus-chocolates.com

Think 60s fancy dress. What do you see? What do you imagine yourself wearing? No matter if you were with it during that time or not, you are sure to know what the 60s look is all about. So, take it to the next level and dress yourself to look just as if you stepped out of a time machine from the bold and beautiful 60s! Throughout the web you will find all sorts of great 60s fancy dress options. You are sure to find a wide range of products like those that really will turn your head! For many, it is all about the music and the style. For others, it is about who was in power and how that came to be. What you need to do, and do this now, is to look at all of the options that are available to you and choose something that will fit your every need. Let’s take a look at what a typical 60s fancy dress would look like!

Okay, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a 60s fancy dress is probably color and lots of it! If you have the chance, go and dig around in your mother’s closet. If she is like most people who were young and hip during this time frame then she is likely to have a wide selection of clothing pieces for this era. Do you see flowers and groovy bell bottoms? Do you see the colors of pink, red, orange and green in their brightest shades? These are the images of the 60s fancy dress. You too can find things to wear to a party or just to dress up by looking for these outrageous looks right here on the web. You may find some flared bottom pants and some ruffled shirts to go with your look. Don’t forget to get the accessories of hats with wide brims and sunglasses. Remember to put on the red lipstick as this too was a great flower power look. Does this sound like the perfect 60s fancy dress or what?

There are many looks that you can imitate from using the products that you find around your home. If you are very lucky, you may have some of these fashion statements still available in your closet or in your parent’s. Go ahead, slip on those clogs with three inch heels. Go ahead and see if your bell bottoms fit. Don’t forget your peace sign chain hanging from your neck. All of these things will surely bring you back to that era we so loved. The 60’s fancy dress can be found among some of the best fancy dress choices out there. You will find a wide selection to choose from in them on the web. You may find something that you just have to have too! Go ahead and slip it on and enjoy your 60s fancy dress.

60s Fancy Dress

YOUR GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL GROUPS

AS OF 2004

Intro: This guide will attempt to classify and organize ALL High School social groups in an organized, encyclopedic manner. They are listed in order alphabetically, following with a summary and description of all physical, mental, monetary and other such traits. Also what will be found is references to groups that may fit under more than one group and/or mixes of groups. As is follows:

Average People

Average people are obviously average in most or all aspects of their overall appearance and manner. They are neither rich nor poor, cool nor uncool, etc. Average grades in school work are another obvious trait. So all in all, average people are average.

Gangsters

Gangsters are gangsters. They hang out all grouped together, wearing the same colors, blue or red most prominently. There are also wannabe gangsters and stoner gangsters.

Goths

“Goths”, short for the people who dress and act gothic, are people who do just that, dress and act gothic. Obvious traits are spikes, chains, studs etc., all or mostly black clothing and other dark fashions, and pale skin in some cases. Wannabe and stoner goths also exist.

Hicks/Hillbillies

Hicks, also known as hillbillies, are mostly the people who openly like country music, live/work on a farm, wear hick type clothing like tight pants, truck driver hats, and shirts that say things like “Joe Bob’s Towing Company” or “Jimmy’s Welding”. Other such traits may include the possesion of a big ol’ truck or other beat up, dirty vehicle that could be used on a farm or out in the country. Stoner hicks are also present.

Jocks

Jocks are those that are into sports, obviously. They are on all of the teams every year and think they’re all bad and stuff. Sports most associated with jocks in order from greatest to least are: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, etc.

Losers

See “Not Smart Nerds”

Nerds

Nerds. Wow. Nerds are usually considered as socially inept. There are two main types of nerds: Smart ones and Not Smart ones.

Smart Nerds

Smart nerds are just that, socially inept losers who are accademically superior to most around them. Sometimes the social clumsiness is caused from the pressure of being smarter than others. Other times, they just don’t know how to talk with a lot of people and would rather just hang out with their good friends.

Not Smart Nerds

Not smart nerds consist of just that, people who are considered low on the foodchain, unpopular, weak, and otherwise small and insignificant and are not accademically superior to many.

Preps

Preps are the elite of the elite. They are all rich and think their better than everybody. Most are found in groups and teams such as: Cheerleaders, and Football players(which can also be construde as jocks) and other such things as the student body organizations and other stuff like that.

Psychos

Psychos are those people that sit all by themselves at lunch and plot world domination and other freaky stuff. Some also literally have mental or social problems and could kill you for the smallest thing. So that’s why they are psychos.

Punks

Punks are just those people who aren’t stoners or gangsters, but they just aren’t going anywhere in life and get in trouble for stuff like lifting cars and doing graffiti and other vandalsim and theft.

Rockers

Rockers evolved from wannabe goths. They’re the people who if you call ‘em goths they get all pissed off. They dress in black and spikes and stuff too, but they’re just called “rockers” instead. No one knows why.

Skaters

Skaters are obviously skaters. Skateboarders that is. No one roller blades anymore it seems like so the Skaters category is made up of a majority of skateboarders. Most noticeable trait: T-shirt, hat, sweatshirts etc. covered with a skate brand logo.

“Special” People

Literally special people are the people who are in the Special Education program.

Stoners

Drug users.

Wannabes

Wannabes come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are just weenies who pretend to be what they’re not. Another term that seemed to be started by skaters referring to wannabe skaters is “posers”. There are wannabes for just about every group imaginable.

About The Author

Jacob Jacobsen - Lives in a dark basement in New Hampshire.

No doubt you have seen and had a laugh at stories by Help Desk operators. The user who thought the CD drive was to hold his coffee cup, and other amusing tales.

I don’t know if this is an urban myth or not, but in my experience of tech support and helpdesk operations, users are mostly intelligent, but maybe not used to taking a logical approach to problems.

A user of a PC can be anyone from a design engineer to a receptionist. They specialise in designing or greeting visitors, they expect their computer to do what it is supposed to do, every day, without fail, just like their car, and so they should!

When the computer doesn’t start, what should you do? The best approach, if at all possible, is to compare the ‘dead’ machine to a working one! See further down the page.

In an office setting this is usually possible, but not so easy at home. We look at a Desktop PC here, laptops or notebooks are a little different.

Before we start let’s clarify what a computer or monitor is. When I refer to the computer I mean the box that holds all the workings, it usually has several cables attached to it and has drawers to insert CDs or DVDs maybe floppy drives and USB connectors - the main box. This is not the ‘Hard Drive’ as some refer to it. The hard drive is contained in the computer box.
The Monitor is the thing you look at, also called a ‘Screen’ or ‘Display’.

Computer ‘not working’ or ‘won’t start’ First thing to check is power. Are there any lights on the front or rear of the computer? How about the monitor? or the keyboard?

No lights or noises from the computer or monitor? A very common problem is the power cable connection.
Maybe the cleaner (or your Mom or wife) plugged in the vacuum cleaner, and forgot to replace it.
Is it plugged in securely - at both ends? Yes you may have to get in among that tangle of cables behind your desk!
Be sure you are checking the correct cable! Is the wall outlet switched on? Does another device, for example a lamp, work in that outlett?
Make sure you plug the power cable to the computer into an outlet you have just tested!
Check the power switch, there is probably a main switch at the rear of the box near the power cable connector, as well as a push button on the front to start the computer.
If this sounds like nit-picking, maybe you would like to give me a dollar for all the times I’ve found this very problem. I could get a very nice meal in a fancy restaurant on the proceeds! This fixes an estimated 80% of ‘not working’ problems!

If you now have a light somewhere on the computer, or a noise like a fan, we are making progress.
Check the monitor, there should be a light on this too, normally green or yellow. Green means it is getting something from the computer. Yellow means it is powered on but not getting data. We need to do the same check with the power cable for the monitor, to make sure we have a light on, also is it switched on? The switch may be at the rear. Sometimes the monitor cable is connected to the main computer power supply from an outlet next to the computer’s power cable. If this is the case try connecting it directly to a wall outlet.

If there is a yellow light on the monitor check the data (vga) cable from the monitor. This is the other cable, that is not the power cable. It should be connected by a small 15 pin plug to the computer usually to a blue colored connector. There may be two such connectors (for the technical, one on the motherboard, one on the video card), if you’re not sure which one, try them both, it will only connect to the correct type of connector. The data cable may be permanently connected to the monitor, or it may have the same 15-pin connector as the computer end. Make sure it is connected. Another 15% of ‘not working’ problems are fixed right here - maybe a Big Mac for this one!

Still not getting anywhere? If at all possible swap your monitor with a colleague’s on the next desk, which one works now?
This same principle can be applied to other problems. Another common one is ‘my computer wont read my cd’. Try another CD, try your cd in a colleague’s computer, try a cd that works in his computer in yours. This will tell you if you have a bad cd or a bad drive or driver.

If you only have one computer at home, you can’t swap withe the next desk, but maybe you can try your monitor on a notebook, or on a friend’s computer?

What about the other 5% of problems? The BSOD, the corrupted hard drive, etc. etc., well that’s a story for another day, as they say!

Tony is an experienced computer engineer. He is currently webmaster and contributor to http://www.what-why-wisdom.com.

Whether you are looking for a weekend away from the rat race or a little pampering, Alabama has a lot to offer in lush lodgings.

Lush Vacation Lodgings in Alabama

Whether you have been screaming you brains out at the annual Iron Bowl or just working way to much, it is easy to get run down these days. Fortunately, you can find plenty of places to relax and get a little pampering in Alabama.

Ross Bridge is a luxury hotel that will wipe the stress accumulated through daily life off of your body. Imagine a Renaissance luxury hotel surrounded by the natural beauty and lush landscape. You can lounge around at the pool or go in for a relaxing massage. For those who are golf enthusiasts, there luxury hotel is located on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail championship golf course. Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail opened in August 2005. If you are looking for a little golf or pampering, you can find it at 4000 Grand Avenue in Birmingham, Alabama. Reservations can be made by calling (205) 916-7677. Make sure to book ahead as this paradise on earth is popular.

As the name indicates, Perdido Beach Resort gives you and the family the opportunity to take a break on the beach. Relax and play in paradise at their full-service hotel located directly on the sugar-white beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Perdido is located at 27200 Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach, Alabama. You can make reservations by calling 251-981-9811. Specials and seasonal discounts are available.

Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa provides you with pretty much what you would expect given the Marriott name. The Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa is all about de-stressing and shaking off the toxins of daily life. It offers water-inspired treatments as well as a variety of traditional spa services to rejuvenate you and send you back to society with a smile on your face. Shoals Hotel offers over 6,000 square feet of bliss. It is located in Florence, Alabama at 800 Cox Creek Parkway South. You can make reservations by calling 256-246-3600.

In these modern times, the rat race can get you down. Now you know where to go for a pit stop in Alabama.

Richard Rspad is with ResortSpaDestinations.com - reviews and articles on resorts. Visit us to read spa articles as well.

Does your Web site talk about your company? Yes, I know, it’s your company Web site! But the last thing it should talk about is your company.

Yes, I’m sure you’re all cool, interesting people, with fantastic skills, but trust me, that’s not what you need to lead with on your Web site - or mailing or brochure.

*The bigger the corporate, the less likely they’re even going to blink an eyelid*

There’s a lot of truth in the picture of corporate person under siege. I probably don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to get through to people in companies any more. But they’re not just hiding behind voice and e-mail because they can. They’re often just too busy to respond.

So the same applies to your mailshot or brochure, or when they visit your Web site. They don’t have time to wade through reams of material that doesn’t tell them how you can *ease their pain*. How you can solve their problem - or the one their boss has placed in their hands.

*Tell your readers something they need to hear*

Telling people ‘we’re the leading Megacorp Platinum Reseller in the South West’, doesn’t cut the mustard. Hit your prospects with what they need to know right away. What problem can you solve? How quickly? And - *if* it’s relevant - how your product or service does it.

I was taught to think of most prospects as being like car buyers. They want the glamour and good feelings, but aren’t interested in the gudgeon pins!

So you should be clear in your own mind how much you have to say to move the sale along. Later on, if they’re really interested, they’ll want to know about your company. So put corporate information near to last.

Your prospects will read about you and your company when the time is right.

About the Author

David Rosam cut his teeth writing for IBM’s EMEA division. Since then, he has written copy for small enterprises through to Microsoft, Oracle and Hewlett Packard.

David’s direct mail experience rolled itself on to the Web a decade ago, and now he writes online copy, Search Engine Optimized copy, direct mail, brochures and newsletters.

He also publishes Technology Marketing Tips - see http://itcopy.com/tmt.html

“Come out of the
circle of time and
into the circle of love.”

Jelaluddin Rumi.
Mystic Poet

In Corrogue there is synchronicity – “meaningful co-incidence.”

I am reminded of this fact in an email I received this week. This was an email from others engaged in the dynamic I practice as an Anamcara. As a practitioner of “soul friendship” I am no longer surprised at the way in which we as beings of light connect with each other.

On this frosty morning at this “place of the briars” the receipt of this email warms this heart.

As an Anamcara I am getting to meet more regularly with the Divine in others. This is the beauty of heart sharing. This is beyond social convention, beyond small talk. It is a meeting of two that becomes as one in the silence between words. This silence between words was lived as Love by one of my dearest soul friends. This soul friend is the beautiful Jelaluddin Rumi.

He was born in 1207 and seven hundred years later, Rumi is the bestselling poet in America. Day by day he becomes a deeper and deeper resonance in this Anamcara`s heart. He teaches me the great lesson of balancing discipline with surrender. Rumi is a fierce friend. He wants me to work for the grace of the Beloved. Yet he knows that there is no other delight worth working for.

Rumi was a Sufi mystic. Sufis practice prayer, meditation and companionship. They practice deep soul friendship. In this 21st Century of noise and haste there is a lack of friendship. I recall the writer Thomas Moore author of “Care of the Soul” being asked what was the one thing that would make a difference in one`s life and in the life of the workplace. His reply was in a word, “friendship.”

When Thomas Moore answered thus there was a long silence. Then followed the question, “Is that all?”

For this Anamcara friendship is the beginning. Friendship is greatly needed. Friendship needs to be allowed to enter deeply into the heart. This is a friendship of one’s being. This friendship is what we are. It is not something we do. It is the natural expression of the soul beyond the defensiveness of the ego.

Rumi, this poet of love is fierce.

He calls us to pull down our own house. He calls us to do the work of love and come to the grace of the Beloved. He tells us that the treasure of soul friendship is underneath the house. This is the house of illusion. This is the house of separateness and non-connection with all that is. This is the house we have erected that says “I am me and this is mine.”

This work we do is in order to come out of the circle of time and into the circle of love is work we do alone. This is so even though we are never in truth alone. Our real longing is simple “to be.” We also long “to know who we are.”

Longing is an experience of open heartedness.

It is surrender. It is not an intellectual discussion but a deep vulnerability. It is a willingness to enter into the other room of unknowing. We are required to go emotionally naked into that other room. We are required to cross the threshold between the world of the visible and the invisible. We are asked to enter naked into the magical and mystical land of Tir Na Nog.

This is a state of timeless beauty.

In the Sufi tradition longing is surrendered through discipline. This is the discipline of prayer, meditation and soul friendship. This soul friendship is the deep communication of words and the silence between words.

This communication is “the breaking of bread together.” This is what a companion and soul friend does. They do this together. The word “companion” originates from the French word “pain” (pronounced “pan”). The New Oxford Dictionary of English translates “companion” as “one who breaks bread together.”

An Anamcara is not a teacher but one who trusts the beauty of unfolding.

They are trusting of their inner beauty and so they are trusting of your inner beauty. They know their purpose and they write their purpose. They do this in words and through love in action. The purpose of this Anamcara is simple. It is to be an instrument of peace. The best that this Anamcara can ever be graced is the peace of the Beloved. This is the peace that passeth understanding.

This peace is the miracle. As the wonderful Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “The miracle is not walking on water. The miracle is walking peacefully in this world.”

We think we are so small. We think we can make little difference in manifesting beauty in our world. An Anamcara tells you that you have the greatest opportunity to make a “real” difference. With your knowing of the Beloved all is possible. This is because you are already one with the Divine and can never be other than at one ment. You become the perfume of the Divine through love in action. Nothing is ever lost. Love is and never will not be. All else is transient.

We are each wounded healers in a world upon which we visit our woundedness.

Our real wound is the illusion of separateness from this oneness. In order to heal this wound we are required to follow the instruction of the beautiful Jelaluddin Rumi. This is the instruction to, “Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of love.” This circle of love is timeless. It has no beginning and no end. It is the timeless state of that place we in Ireland refer to as “Tir Na Nog.”

Tir Na Nog is a metaphor.

It is not an island somewhere off the West Coast of Ireland beyond the mist. It is a state of being beyond the mist of ego. Beyond this mist lies the true friend of the soul. The Beloved is ever waiting for you to surrender to this joy. John O`Donoghue, author of the wonderful book “Anam Cara” calls the surrender “at-one-ment.” This is the best work you can ever do because it is work beyond the limitation of time and space.

Out of this state of being and out of this surrender synchronicity happens. This is meeting with others through meaningful co-incidence. It is the miracle of connectivity. It is the Universe saying, “YES, this is a way to go.” This is the experience of the unity of consciousness that says,” This is a path to follow without regard to outcomes.”

So I am off to contemplate a reply to an email from other Anamcara`s. These are other healers, other beings of light who are willing to serve beauty via love in action. In words of appreciation I wish to send the perfume of the Beloved. This is the best that I might ever be allowed to gift.

This week I leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Osho.

A man of peace is not a pacifist; a man of peace is simply a pool of silence.

He pulsates a new kind of energy into the world. He sings a new song. He lives in a totally new way. His very way of life is that of grace, that of prayer, that of compassion. Whomsoever he touches, he creates more love energy.

The man of peace is creative. He is not against war, because to be against anything is to be at war. He is not against war; he simply understands why war exists. And out of that understanding he becomes peaceful. Only when there are many people who are pools of peace, silence, understanding, will war disappear.

– Osho

Blessings upon you and all those you love and do not love.

© Tony Cuckson 2005

Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means “Soul Friend.” He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony’s Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.

Get your free report called “7 ways to it’s a wonderful life” at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.com/, or go to Tony`s Blog at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.info/
where you will find links to information related to spiritual guidance, spiritual coaching and spirit in business.

The apostle Paul gave a clear command that Christians should work in II Thessalonians 3:10-12:

“10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” (KJV)

Failure to obey the command to work leads to the breakup of families, the neglect of children, and disorderly conduct. This article explains the importance of obeying the command to work and the consequences of refusing to work.

God and Jesus Christ Work

God worked before he rested. He made the heaven and earth in six days before he rested on the seventh day. How can we rest if we do not work? Jesus Christ clearly stated that he worked and his father worked in John 5:17:

“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (KJV)

If we are to be the children of God, we must follow the example of God our father and Jesus Christ our elder brother and work.

Paul’s Judgment About People Who Refuse to Work

The apostle Paul indicated that anyone who refused to work was in a very bad spiritual condition. Here are his words from
1 Timothy 5:8:

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (KJV)

An infidel is an unbeliever–one who does not believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible. Being a true believer in Jesus Christ requires a great deal more than just passive belief or acceptance of Jesus Christ as savior.

As the apostle James wrote, we show our faith by our works (James 2:18). While the book of James focuses a great deal on works of compassion for others who are truly in need, Paul shows that providing for one’s family is one of the most basic works of faith.

Why Are We Are to Work?

We should work to provide for our own needs and not be a burden on other people. The apostle Paul gave this command to the church in Thessalonians 4:11-12:

“11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (KJV)

We should also work to have the resources to give to the work of God and to other people. In addition, we should work to reduce the temptation to sin.

Idleness is the devil’s playground. If we become idle, we can fall into many temptations. Some people might even be tempted to steal to meet their physical needs.

There is a riddle that asks “when is a door not a door.” The answer is “when it is ajar.” When is a thief not a thief? A thief is still a thief when he is not currently stealing because he is between jobs. A thief is no longer a thief when he has had a change of heart and wants to give to others.

There have been former thieves in the Church of God. The apostle Paul gave instructions to former thieves in
Ephesians 4:28:

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (KJV)

Again the writings of Paul and James fit together very well. Paul shows that Christians should work not only to provide for one’s family, but also to have the resources to give to those who are in need. The writings of James also emphasize providing for others in need. For example, here is what James wrote in James 2:15-17:

“15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (KJV)

Even people who are retired and healthy need to keep busy doing such things as volunteer work. We need a sense of purpose in our physical lives as well as in our spiritual lives. Hobbies and recreation such as fishing and golf are not as fun when they become a daily routine instead of occasional recreation from a life of work.

Conclusion

God works. He rules the universe from his throne. God does not have an eternal retirement plan. We will work as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 5:10). We must learn to work in this life to provide for ourselves and our families, to give to the less fortunate, and to support the work of God.

Alan D. Campbell lives in Brandon, Florida. For more good news, please see his blog The Good News of the Kingdom of God at http://goodnewsofthekingdomofgod.blogspot.com

If you have seen the new movie with Will Smith then don’t confuse the movies with the new robotic vacuum. The robotic vacuum will do the cleaning for you. Wow what a great invention something to do what most of us don’t prefer. Many people are using alternate methods of cleaning to avoid the hours of not so fun work around the house. Check out the Roomba with many satisfied customers. People are raving about this invention. Imaging house cleaning without the hard labor, sweat and tears. What will be thought of next?

Also known as a floorvac the robotic vacuum has a self-charging base. Believe it or not this unit will return home by itself to recharge when it has completed the cleaning duty. It is amazing where household technology has taken us from and going to. Hopefully these mini bots do not take over the world.

For instance the three times dustbin will hold more than previous models. These little guys are on wheels and capable of cleaning up the messes you would normally reach for the upright to finish the job. Now you have an alternative option with the new robotic vacuum will amaze you. With the new dirt detect intense cleaning feature. This will roam the living or dining room while you cook or do countertops. It is only thirteen inches in diameter and lighter than a bowling ball. You will be impressed with the amount of cleaning packed into these mini little helpers.

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners