Locker Combinations and Living as a Believer

My coworker, the other day, had something of mine in his locker.  I asked for his combination ... and his answer was "I dunno.. I just turn the padlock out of habbit... I think its..."

This got me thinking ... what if we are like this in our daily lives as a Believer and Follower in the Lord Jesus... we are so use to the motions that we forgot the deeper concept of it, or what the actually answers are to our problems.

So this is a simple analogy to share with you, but to apply it to my life it made me think even harder.

Very Important:  I get so caught up with life that I start losing my joy...and when I'm singing hymns of praise and worship... am I singing it because I know it well and it sounds pretty?  Those words... they usually are powerful... to stop and think about it, changes some perspective...

So my challenge is to you that you don't grow knumb to what you've learned, be open and alert.. don't do things out of habbit.

Trying to copy from the ORIGINAL artist

have you ever see this ad before:

People try to see how well you can draw these images.. closest to the prime example.  Some people get it spot on, while others get an "E" for effort.

Its fascinating how an artist has their "MARK" or their "STYLE" or "SIGNATURE" when you see their work.  I can look at a Van Gough and tell its a Van Gough.  His brush strokes and use of color are unique and with a particular purpose.

our MAKER is the ORIGINAL artist.  Many stories are made up of deities, and many proclaim to be the Messiah, but there is only one and that is Christ Jesus.  Some people might be close in trying to be like HIM , but what they don't realize is that they are WAY off. 

You might be trying to say you are perfect and without flaws...but you are WAY off.  But just like the ORIGINAL ARTIST, we can learn to be like HIM, to design life around us like Him.

Watch out for the wanna-be's and look to the original artist.

Children's Easter...well and Grown ups too :D

To start out this time of Lent and leading up to Christ's Ressurrection, here are some of my personal recommendations for children's and adult easter books to read along with some books that I've heard can be of use.

Kids books/dvds

Books/dvds for Grown ups



Journey that Helps you grow

We are all on a journey

a journey that Helps you grow

so you may know

Shalom

But where does it start

in the heart?

yes indeed

please heed

what the Creator

is saying to you.

Follow Him

climb that mountain

and maintain

the stamina

to go on

Keep climbing up

up to the top

and when he says stop

you listen again

crawl through that valley

if He says so

because He goes

too

And in this journey high and low

you know

that Shalom

you seek it

you find it

in the LORD.

So the journey you take

is the peace you make

grow more

as you

journey more

And your ventures through thick and thin

lets you begin

the outward spiraling of PEACE

and you grow

as you KNOW

the LORD more and more each day

Connect with Creation

There is this app I have on my phone called "Creation Moments". I came across it on the radio on 89.7 Power FM and there is a gentleman, Ein Taylor, who talks about nature, its mulecular structure, space, why girrafes have long necks, the language of bugs, the generousity of God through his designed creation, etc..  Its amazing the many things we don't know.  From the time we walk outside and then get in our cars and drive to work, or shopping.  There are things you see in your own backyard that are happening to glorify God, and functioning to bless you.

I say we start now by "connecting with creation". (and please don't take this out of context)  When you sip on your coffee, go on your porch and watch the sunrise, thank your Creator for His splendor.  When you walk through a park, look at how the trees provide shade for you, fruit for you, and homes for the birds and squirells.  When you take an evening walk or drive, glance at the stars and ponder on the thought that the stars are endless, and God placed them in a certain pattern to direct us with time, harvests, and direction.

I could go on.  Connect with HIS creation and say thank you. Enjoy it!

waking to birds

The other night I fell asleep with my windows open since the weather was so nice.  With this, I woke to the sounds of birds singing and the wooden chimes dancing in the wind...

It was the most pleasant thing I woke up to in a while.  Usually its just my alarm and the cat meowing for breakfast.  This time the outside world woke me, and my alarm was still at rest and the cat was cuddled at my feet.

The rest of the day was wonderful.  Why? because I set my mind on the good things.  The "things" that the Creator made for our pleasure.  Very thoughtful of HIM

So my encouragement to you world is to surround yourself by things that are beautiful and fully of mystery (in a good curious of splendor kind of way).  Do this and your day will start out spectacular!

Think about your five sense... what are good things that relate to your senses?  or things that connect to good memories..
i.e.

1. Sight:  rainclouds with contrast of sunlight coming in
2. Smell:  coffee brewing, rain, fresh baked bread
3. Sound:  birds, leaves rustling in wind, creek trickling with water, a fan
4. Taste:  coffee, bread, ice tea, juicy orange
5: Touch: wind, sunlight, toes in sand

I hope you get to "wake to birds" each day.


strive to.

Taking the first step

"Just take the first step..."

That can be the hardest thing to do! But afterwards.... you  gain strength, you gain a new ability to proceed forward greater than you were before! 

Diligence

Wisdom

Strength

Patience

I will use a couple of examples:  I've been trying to save money and plan a future with my current boyfriend (such things like: marriage, family, etc.).  With that comes buckling down with my financial budgeting.  ... cutting coupons, no impulse buying, not eating out so much...  These are some things that I have had to take a "first step" in.  After taking that first initial step... the other steps become easier, and if not easier, I feel strengthened and more ready to take on the next challenge.  I haven't perfected it yet, but my boyfriend and I will cook together, and when we sit down to eat, we point out how much it "cost" us to make dinner in comparison to eating out to Whataburger or IHOP etc.  It encourages us that our choices are working for the good of our budgeting.

Working out is another challenge that I think a lot of us face everyday.  I love to workout because of how I feel afterwards, ...rejuvenated, energetic, alert.  Taking that "first step" is the hardest part.  Just the other day, I "made" myself workout on the wii fit plus for 30 minutes.... I loved it so much I wanted to keep going, but I was running out of time. 

So I ask you what challenges are you facing? 
What first steps do you need to take?
Take a challenge and "take the first step"

HELPER

Have you ever asked for help and guidance and you will get good helpers, ones that help you to the best of their abilities; the okay helpers, there are usually strings attached; and the helpers that aren't helpers at all?

People can help, but I will tell you even a greater HELPER..

When Jesus spoke about HIM leaving soon, HE said "And I will ask the Father, and HE will give you another Helper to be with you forever" John 14:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT   aka  THE HELPER

This past week I can testify that when I broke down my pride and started asking for HIS help and guidance, it has come at me like a freight train.  .. in a good way..  But I say this because HE will never let me down, HE will never leave me, HE won't forsake me. 

I was just a whispered plea away... and HE came to my aid!

Have you ever asked THE HELPER for guidance and help?  I promise, your outcome will be the best for God's Glory.

Afraid to Ask...

Have you ever been afraid to ask questions?

This issue is something I'm not so gentle with (as far as if its a waste of time to ask questions or forbidden).  There are questions always to be asked.  There is always room to grow.  There are always moments you want to know the truth so you feel complete. 

Nothing wrong with it, and I will stand up to anyone who believes differently.

Okay, now for the GENTLE part of this issue.  We must be gentle with each other when questions ARE asked.  This means not incorporating anger and degrading looks when the questions begin. 

For example, I have always been taught some moral standards to stand by according to the church body... along the road I've had a few questions about what the bible says, and what the christian says.... with this intrique I am not out to be angry or spiteful towards anyone, but when I have asked certian questions in the past, I have gotten replies back in anger, or "how dare you doubt" looks.  All I was looking for was more council and wisdom to know what is right and wrong. 

A part of me wonders if that is our instinct when confronted with something out of the norm... we start to take defense right away.  ... our duty is to be GENTILE and COMPASSIONATE towards the person asking.

Another example right now:  I have a lot of questions about "missions" and "being a missionary" and being "missional".  Because I have these questions, I'm not in doubt where I'm abandoning all hope or something, I'm simply asking questions that I don't have answers to... with hopes that I'm not judged for asking.

So my question for you is, ... Have you ever been the one asking the questions (which challenge the faith), or Have you ever been the one presented with such challenging questions?  if so on ether end, how have you delt with it?  please share.

New Year, New Day

Happy New Year to everyone!  The holiday schedule kept me away from my regular scheduled blogging, but I'm Back!

Every Year ..by the time its October, and I know there is Halloween candy, then Thanksgiving Dinner, then Christmas Dinner, then New Years Dinner... my first resolve is that I'll let myself go in my eating habits til new years and then make a resolution to diet, eat right, exercise more.  By the time May or June hits my commitments to the right diet have started to deteriorate for the year and I'm back in the cycle of October again.  I hate that I do this, but I'm trying to change it!  Have y'all ever done this?

We start something, start it well... and then.... ............. ... we start to ease up on the discipline.  What if we treated each day like New Years day?  wake up.... say its a new day... and I'm going to do .... (fill in the blank).

What if...
1.   we celebrated "Happy New Day"!?  That would totally change our perspective!

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new EVERY MORNING; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3: 22-23)

2.  Its good to make change each year (or day)

(Romans 12:2) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

3.  Follow through..... FINISH

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4: 7)


So whatever your new year's resolutions are make them your NEW DAY's resolutions starting now. :D




*Note:  I'm back on schedule as of Monday.  Apologies for the missed blogs.**

traditions: Christmas time

Christmas is just around the corner, well for some people anyway.  A lot of families celebrate it early or later depending on their traditions and/or the people and places to see.

Some of you might be heavy on the santa theme and light on the nativity story... or vise versa

My family tradition growing up was heavy on the santa, and we had a figurine we set up of the nativity, and I think here and there we would try to go to church for Christmas (kind of like Easter).  Christmas Eve would be a day of small treats and snack food to partake throughout the day...family starts showing up at my grandmother's house, and by the time everyone has arrived...we all sit in the tiny living room of about 15 people or so, and unwrap presents.  On occasion here and there, my sister would dress like santa's helper (with me on occasion being "her helper") and we would pass out everyone's presents to them.  After gifts everyone goes home

Then at night my sister and I would put out oatmeal cookies (maybe fudge) and some coffee for santa and go straight to bed "trying to sleep", then by 3 or 4am my sister and I would be up again and see what santa brought us under the tree and on occasion lay under the tree afterwards. 

Once the real daytime came on Christmas Day, my grandmother would be awake asking, "What did santa bring you girls?" and we would show he in detail all the "cool and wonderful things", then later on in the day then the rest of the family would start trickling in one by one to come see what santa brought them (since it was the grandmother's house he brought the whole family stuff and left it there).  Then we would all have our Christmas Dinner (lunch...or whenever my grandmother would say "It's time to eat").

After that we would play with all our toys and hug our family and talk and drink coffee. :D

Tradition:  this is an important thing.  It establishes a memory to revisit each time, an even to remember through routine celebration... just like I talked about smells in my previous blog, it triggers and understanding of the celebration time.

So what's your tradition?

Gift Giving

So I know that Gifts is not what Christmas is all about but...

The cool thing about shopping for gifts brings out a character that we tend to put on the backshelf during the rest of the year.  GIVING.

I must be honest and say that christmas shopping can be stressful, due to crowds of people, or the fact that you just don't know what to get "so-and-so" for chirstmas.... maybe just a gift card.

But the effort to sit and think of others and what they like, and what they ARE like, brings the side effects of compassion and putting others first.  And while this is still focusing on gift giving, there is a particular story that I love during this time of year called "The Gift of the Magi"

Its a story of giving a gift that sacrifices one's own best to give to the other.

In a sense, GOD did that for us.  Continue to dwell on others, and to think about the FATHER's love for us and what HE gave.

When the COLD comes

Just the other day it snowed here in Texas, enough to cover the windshield of the car, and then melted when the sun came up.  We rejoiced in it though it doesn't compare to what I experience in Moscow, RU.

THAT WAS SNOW!! :)

Something interesting about snow that some don't think about is the fact that it works as an insulator, or a blanket.  While the winter may seem like a harsh one, the snow that comes with it is a protector for the ground from the freezing temporatures.

walking area near Kremlin (Moscow,RU) early spring

In Russia, while the fall had not yet seen snow, the city workers rushed around to get bulbs planted in the ground...then when the snow came and blanketed them from the major cold, spring would come and the Tulips with their vibrant colors would burst forth through the snow while it was still melting!

You know where I'm going with this?

The Lord sends times like this in your life to make you bundle up in His stillness and be protected and close to Him, and strengthened and then burst forth with all your colors when "spring" comes.

The Standard: Truth and Compassion

Some friends and I were discussing in a bible study about the difference between the TOLERANCE and the VALIDATION of other religions (with the thinking that what you believe is the TRUTH).

I say we should set the standard, while leaving room for compassion.

The next question is... WHAT IS THE STANDARD?
The answer to that is found in that book on the shelf with dust on it that says "Bible" or the one that we hold in our hand but rarely open.  That is the Standard.  When we read it and read it some more, we will find the standard, the TRUTH.

The second thing you have are events in your life that whisper, and sing, and shout out WHO GOD IS.

With those two things hand-in-hand how could I deny HIM?  But still people do. So now we go back to the question at the beginning:  What's the difference between tolerance and validation of other religions?

While having the responsibility to set the standard (expressing the VALIDATION of TRUTH), Compassion is mandatory to TOLERATE other "proclaimed truths"  I have to say when I hear the word tolerate it makes me think of myself as being lazy and simply leaving them alone and saying "its okay to worship your gods too", but COMPASSION changes everything.  Compassion reaches out with the earnest heart for sharing the TRUTH while exercising PATIENCE.

I was sharing with my friends with a picture example:

picture by Jamie Cook

You have a man standing in the distance and he is to choose his wife from a crowd of ladies.  If the one lady destroyed all the others around her, the man would have no other choice but to choose her, but if she displays her elegance and beautiful and captivating manners and moral standings and her inner strength and light, then she will outshine all the others in the crowd, and therefore she will be chosen from him seeing the truth.

We should be like that woman in the crowd.. to show others (the gentleman and women) what true beauty is, then we are showing the other ladies (other religions) the WAY without destroying, and winning over the man (the lost) without force.

Under Construction

For my viewers, there are a few updates that are going to happen to this blog its going "UNDER CONSTRUCTION".  I'm in the process of trying to become more consistent with entries for you guys.  The idea is to have a post for each category once a week. i.e.

Monday:  Artist's Reflections

This category covers an expression of a topic, event, opinion, etc through poetry, pictures, and videos.  This is a time for you to reflect.  Treat it as your weekly visit to the "museum" or "concert" or your "library"  Relax and enjoy!

Wednesday:  Barefoot Child

We must always conclude that thinking like a child is so much fun!  There is a sense of innocence, adventure, and childlike faith that doesn't let the world bog us down.  This category takes you to that childhood through personal stories, or reminders of things we did when we were a child, playing in the dirt and making mud pies.

Friday:  Bring it Home

With Life being so big, "In My Backyard" its  brought "Home" to the basics and to the intimacy of our very souls.  Where does your heart reside?  Where do you take a stand in those big decisions in life this will hopefully help you drive HOME your thoughts, opinions, and ways of doing things, and take your place in the idea of INTEGRITY and change this world one decision at a time.

I am sorry for my sporadic postings in the past.. as of now this will change.  I just recently started another blog along side this called "On a Mission", discussing and dissecting the idea of what missions and missionaries are all about.  That blog is under construction as well. 

 Look for me within the month of November or the beginning of December.  I will see you again soon "In My Backyard: barefoot in the grass bringing to heart what the BIG world is"

Christians religiously rebelling

Trying to fit in during middle school on was hard to do... I remember being watched by every eye to see if I would join in on the "cussing"... simple thing... but the temptation to do it was there, and the eagerness to fit in was wanted... and to be honest, I joined in a time or two.

When I became a "new creation", a child of God saved by His grace,...things changed.  I started understanding that I couldn't be what I was before.  The lifestyle wasn't easy... trying to say something good about somebody instead of trash talking them and tearing down their character, was very challenging... I started to realize that it was not so bad if I asked for help from the Holy Spirit (my saviour).

Being set apart, being holy, would not be easy in the coming years, it would only get more difficult and challenging...which would urge me to lean more and more on my Jesus for strength and help.

But now... I see it is most difficult to set ourselves apart, to be holy, when we are surrounded by believers, with no challenge.  Its as if we are hungry for social entertainment:  we grow closer and closer to wanting to be "like the world".  Its as if we are setting our journey out to make peace with division among Christians and worldly ways by "religiously rebelling" against our own teachings... because we have a small understanding that we are FREE, but this is what Paul says:

"Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.  But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."  -1 Corinthians 8:8-13

So we are free to do many things, but we don't want to cause another to stumble and grow week from not understanding.  And especially an unbeliever.

What is your weakness when around others, that's easy to fall into?

I'll make a list of examples: (and I even fall under some of these categories)
1.  Gossip
2.  Bragging about your vices
3.  pushing to see how "bad" you can be while still being "good"

???

Let your standard be set high, and stop trying to always be cool... or fit in... or be accepted by the crowds.. you are not of this world, but a sojourner.  You have found the reason for truly living and are out now to set the example to others on how to find, accept, and live this same truth.

JUST SAY NO

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

FLEE FROM TEMPTATION

** Find a motto to follow and hold yourself (and here's the tricky part) and others ACCOUNTABLE.

...singing with the radio...

I love those moments when I'm in my car on my way to work and I'm at a stoplight and I look over to the left of me.  There is a mom belting out the words to a song, probably a love song or some country song... something mid-tempo to the looks of it, and a meaningful song frong the looks of her expression.

I look to the left of me and there is this young man maybe 16 or 17, and He reclined back some in his seat, cap to the side, and nodding his head to the beat of his heavy base music.

I look in my rearview mirror and see a car full of college kids, dancing and singing to what looks like some rock n' roll. 

This made me think of all the things we sing to on the radio.  Its fun... it passes the time... its entertainment... here is the challenge... have you ever sang a song directly to someone with the words ment actually for them, or a song where when you sang it, you meant what you said?  This hit me one day when I was cleaning my house and playing some 80's music, and Michael Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror" started playing, as I was cleaning I started singing the words to it and yes...sure enough I came across a mirror (perfect timing I know :D ) and realized the realness of this song...and I thought twice about the words I was singing.  I ment what I was singing.

Now here is another challenge:  If you have ever attended a church, or go regularly, or have sang a song in your car where it is about God, have you ever focused on singing that straight to the VERY CREATOR HIMSELF...the God of the universe and the One Who shaped your very being?  Its gets personal really quick. 

I haven't alway gone to church my whole life... but when I started going, and I understood what it was to have a personal relationship with the Lord, my understanding of "HYMNS" and other "church songs" gained a whole other meaning.  One song that is old but very special to my heart is the song "I EXALT THEE".. you should look up those words and sing that personally to HIM... its beautiful.

So the ultimate challenge is:  when you sing a song... think about the audience its directed towards and then sing it in a whole new light.  I leave you with the "Man in the Mirror"

Rob Bell, Francis Chan, and the rest of them

There is a man named Rob Bell who is a pastor at Mars Hill Church in Michigan.  He has come out with many books and has taught in a short film format called NOOMA.  I have seen some of his NOOMA videos and they are pretty good... they capture your attention from a different perspective.

Well not too long ago, He came out with a book called "Love Wins", it raised big contraversy amungst "believers" and "non-believers".  His topic was the issue of Hell, and if there really is one.  His topic was also with the idea that God will take everyone in the "end" even if they reject him. 

This was a reality hit for me that I can't just go to a store pick up a book and trust that it is right.  Most of the time, if we really admit it, there have been times we put our guard down and read something with full trust that it is correct.  Spite the comments from the masses concerning his book "Love Wins", I decided to read it myself and make my own decision instead of the crowd making it for me.


So I started to read, and there was a bump in the road that kept me from speeding through it.  Bell's demeaner was very arrogant, rebellious, and confusing (might I remind you that I still love many of his lessons that I have encountered).  I had to stop many times and research what he was writing, and finding out some things referenced were not correct, though he does pose some good challenging  questions. But his attitude towards the more concservative side of "believers" was like a smack in the face.  Thats when I lost all respect.  I say, if he wants to "win" me over with his book, his choice of words have to persuade me, not leave a bad taste in my mouth. And with that, I still think its okay to be BLUNT and REAL, but as the saying goes, "you can catch more flies with honey, than with vinagar"

Putting aside the manners of his book, He starts to dig into some good topics, but doesn't get anywhere with a conclusion or get a point across.  He leaves you confused.  Honestly I could go on about his book for a while, but that is not what I'm trying to bring home.

I'm trying to point out that we can't put our trust in every author's book.  REALITY CHECK:  they are just as human as you, and just as human as me... not perfect, full of mistakes, sometimes full of ourselves, sometimes thinking we are without fault, and our nature is to always have our own 2 cents to put into a topic or conversation.

Francis Chan has just this past week came out with a book called, "Erasing Hell", to argue against some ideas that Rob Bell has put out there.  I have not read it yet, but I recommend you maybe reading both and pray for WISDOM when "ideas", "issues", "concerns" come to your thoughts and trouble your belief. 

In all things (including, reading books) Seek the Lord with all your heart, ask for His wisdom and He shall give it to you.

Standing in the Card Isle

As I was standing in the card isle I wondered....what could be going through people's minds as they are getting a card.  and more specifically for holidays like "Father's Day"

"should I get him a funny one?"
"...too mushy"
"we're not that close"
"what can I get for my father-in-law, that will have just the right words"
"my son and I are not on best of terms but this is his first child, what card will fit?"
"I don't talk to my dad, but maybe a card might shorten the gap..."
"This one's perfect!"

I will share a little bit about me so you might be able to relate or at least get something from the post on a more personal level.  Not too much detail going into this, but I've never known my dad.  I remember meeting him once as a child but didn't make the connection that he was my dad.  It wasn't until my senior year in college that I started writing letters back and forth with him.  My grandmother has raised me and my mom close by.  My mom remarried when I was a senior in highschool.  And so I have a step father.  Both I love, and I appriciate things about them...  but the ultimate figure I've always looked up to as a father has been my Heaveanly Father. 

So when I was on that isle today looking at cards, I was thinking:
"....oh this one's nice... (for my step father)... but it says dad, and I don't call him dad..... ooo... this one's nice....no.... too mushy.... grrr... I can't find a simple happy father's day card.... I want to tell him I appriciate him ... not that classic hallmark novel card...... guess I'll have to make him one... now to my (father).. .... hmm... all these talk about growing up together.... nope these aren't going to work... this one talks about how he's been there for me.... not going to work... guess I'll make them both a card"

Conclusion:  I am making them both a card- hand made is better anyway.

My point is that you never know what is going through ones mind when they are purchasing a card on the card isle.  Be sensitive to them. you've got the careless ones , and you've got the ones who will use the card as one of their most powerful tools of communication.

second point:  whether you celebrate fathersday or not.... the Creator of you is also FATHER to you.

Tough question.

Are there moments in life when you sit and ponder questions like...
What should I conclude with capital punishment?
What about Abortion?
Women in Ministry?
Does the Creator save all?

Tough questions that make you... cringe to have to face and think about.

I have a blog friend who is confronting these issues on their blog right now.  A series called  CHRISTIANITY THAT MAKES ME CRINGE (see following link for one of the posts): http://www.thescandal.org/2011/05/christianity-that-makes-me-cringe-women.html

I'm not say that their opinion is fact and is  agreeable or disagreeable... but these are questions that might pop up in your life and what do you conclude to?  Do you take the popular vote? Do you go with what the friend next to you says so you don't get flogged? 

Here are a few Survival Tips for Tough questions:
1.  Always ask questions and test all things (Acts 17:11-12; James 1: 2-3; 1Thess. 5:21-24)
2.  Ask for wisdom from the Lord (Proverbs 3: 5-6; James 1:5-6; Psalm 32:8)
3.  Pray for peace in the things you don't understand (Philippians 4: 6-7)
4.  Seek Scriptures (not out of context) (Colossians 3:16; Proverbs 2:1-7)
5.  Seek council, and give room for correction (Psalm 19:20; Proverbs 1:5)
6.  Grow forward: learn, apply wisdom and seek for more wisdom (Romans 12:2; James 1: 2-4)

Check out http://www.thescandal.org/ and comment on their blog your ideas, opinions, insights, help out all who are seeking these questions... I might even touch on these great questions in the near future on my blog.  DON'T FORGET YOUR SURVIVAL TIPS... you don't want to stumble or cause another to stumble.. stay strong my friends.