Great Video For Opening Your Christian Minds

I was reading a book on advertising when the author mentioned, "All Advertising Is about Hope."

This got me thinking about other people's dreams and aspirations, most of this is wrapped around them hoping to accomplish something or do something. I never gave it much thought but hope is one of the most important things in our lives. Some people go around hoping that they will keep their job, when the economy is in bad shape. Others go around hoping for forgiveness for their sins or other bad deeds they have done in the past.

What is it you're hoping for? There's got to be something. Are you hoping to become a multimillionaire or even the world's first trillionaire. Are your dreams big or small? Are you the kind of person who is happy living a simple life with very little possessions like a Buddhist monk or are you one who is seeking the lifestyle of the King.

Hope supplies us with the will to continue through hopeless obstacles during our lifetime.

Most people seeking hope are looking for a way out of something or a way toward a better life. These people often fall easy prey to large religious organizations, as they take them under their wing and slowly start to brainwash them. They seek the weak minded, helpless, poor and trusting people and build their organizations using them. I once believed in Christianity, but it no longer offers me true hope, the more I study Christianity and other organized religions, I noticed certain similarities based on inspiration.

I hope I live the good life, so I can go to heaven, the promised land, our ultimate enlightenment.

I hope I am living the true will according to God, Buddha, Krishna or other supreme beings.

I hope that the Bible is wrong about the 144,000 people from the 12 tribes.

I hope I'm living a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

If you're part of an organized religion, ask your religious leaders, any questions that you have about your religion. If they can't answer these questions, try to find them on your own. Books, videos, and the Internet are great sources for information. If you're living your life for the sole purpose of going to heaven one day, you could be disappointed, when that day arrives.

Ask a couple of questions and I hope you will get honest answers to them.

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

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

A Thief's 3-Point Message

Did ever a messenger of the pulpit deliver a more eloquent all-inclusive recounting of the Gospel of Christ than the thief anguishing with Jesus on the day that lives in infamy? Through the grace given only by the Spirit, illumination filled his dying soul. He saw the Truth. The other thief saw the man in pain, the flesh and bones and blood flowing out, the nastiness and hopelessness of it all. But this one saw the Truth, and saw it in a Man, the man Christ Jesus.

HIs first conviction, and the one which must be the starting point of our own entrance into the Way, was the admitting of the fairness of His judgment. I preached weekly in jail for several years. Almost never did someone say to me that he deserved to be in that place. Regularly I heard the justifications of men who just didn't get it, just couldn't be wrong. But this thief got it. "We are receiving the due reward of our deeds," he shouted to the other thief, who was demanding human justice of the One Who could have given him God's righteousness. He cursed Christ, and using his limited logic reasoned, "If this Man were some sort of Messiah, He would first take care of Number One, then sweep through a suffering world and set everybody free, starting with me of course." He said as much to Jesus until he was cut off by the greater - the heavenly - revelation given to his comrade.

But the "good" thief, pardon the expression, wasn't wallowing in his sin, only recognizing it. And he recognized something else. The only one who can save a drowning man is one who is not drowning himself. The only one who can rescue a straying lamb from the mountain must be a shepherd, and a compassionate one at that. And the only One Who can take my sins away must be One Who has no sins of His own. "This man has done nothing wrong," he argued. Perhaps in his mind he was thinking only of the facts of the present punishment. The trial had been a scam, the mob had been herded into a place of false accusations; he knew what was going on. This Christ was innocent. But the thief had touched unwittingly upon the greater truth, that here being sacrificed on a high place of Rome, an unlikely but real altar lifted to the glory of God, was a spotless Lamb, the sinless One Who takes away the sins of the world. The thief somehow understood this.

Many men have seen it through the years, when the facts have been explained. "I am a sinner. Jesus is a Saviour." Good as far as it goes, but thus far only undeniable history. The action the thief took next is what sealed the deal. He made it his own. In what we might want to call a brash move he approached this One against Whom he had sinned, though unknowingly, this One Who had no sin of His own, though perhaps the thief did not have a perfect understanding of the theology involved, but in desperation, in hope planted by the Spirit, the thief reached out to the Truth, the Way, and asked for Life. He saw the whole picture. He wanted it. And that is the key to having something from God. Wanting it. "Remember me, when" - not if - "when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus, I believe you are a real King, with a real kingdom, in a real place, for real people, even people like me, maybe especially for people like me, totally unworthy but oh so needy and desiring. I've blown it in this life but I truly believe there is another. I feel pain and am in anguish right now, but I believe that somehow there's more. Remember me when it all materializes."

Jesus shows us Who He is by His response to this appeal. No hesitation. Time is running out. Both men will appear to be dead shortly. But both men will also be in bliss shortly. "Today you will be with Me in Paradise."

I realize that most of those who come to this site come with a testimony already. Christ has entered into and changed your life. But if you have happened onto this place today without a Saviour, without a hope, filled only at present with your own wretchedness, I wish to hold before you the crucified but now risen Savior Who still calls out to those who will reach for Him, "You will be with me in paradise. After the pain, after the suffering, after a life that seems to have no purpose at times, you and I will share glory together forever."

Feel free to contact me for further instruction if you wish to follow the crucified Messiah.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Christian Salvation - Understanding the 7 Basic Attributes

The intimate fellowship Christians can enjoy with God is only possible because of some very specific principles that are activated every time a person confesses faith in Jesus Christ.

These principles are called the attributes of salvation and they are:

1) Redemption - This is the literal re-purchase of a human soul from the devil, so that, instead of being under the dominion of Satan we're now under the dominion of God, paid for with the very blood of Jesus.

We were once owned by God through creation, became lost to Him through rebellion but now are re-owned by Him through redemption! We are adopted back into the family of God, ransomed with the blood of Jesus. "God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children," Eph. 1:5. (CEV)

Definition:

Redemption is the buying back of a human being from the control of the devil with the blood of Jesus, so that the entire person is now completely owned by God; spirit, soul and body!

2) Remission - Remission means forgiveness. Being now owned by God, He can literally do with you whatever He wants. And the first thing He does is to forgive you for all your sins, past, present and future.

Definition:

Remission is the complete forgiveness of all a person's sins, those he committed in the past, his present sins and those that he will commit in the future. Complete forgiveness!

3) Justification - This is a further step in the same direction as remission. Where remission is the forgiveness of sins, justification is the actual removing of all the evidence of sin. So that the person accused of sin can now be legally declared not guilty! Why? Because there is no evidence! The evidence is gone!

That's what the blood of Jesus does; it takes away the evidence of sin. It's as if the person had never sinned... at all! They are justified from all accusation of sin and declared... innocent!

Definition:

Justification is the declaration of complete innocence and re-instatement in good standing with a clear conscience of one who was formerly judged guilty, through the complete removal of all the evidence of sin with the blood of Jesus Christ!

4) Regeneration - This is the pivotal point in the process of salvation! It's where your nature is actually changed from Sinner to Saint. Unrighteous to Righteous! Profane to Holy!

A person's nature is synonymous with the condition of his spirit. Regeneration is the recreation of your spirit and the releasing of the life of God in you!

Regeneration is when your separated and corrupted spirit ceases to exist and in its place a new spirit is instantaneously re-created and re-connected to God! The Holy Spirit then takes up residence in your new spirit and continues to release the life of God in you. You're once more in the image and likeness of God! This is what being 'Born Again' means! It's awesome!

Definition:

Regeneration is the instantaneous recreation of a human spirit in the image and likeness of God and the releasing of the life and Nature of God in that spirit.

5) Reconciliation - You are now re-purchased by God, forgiven, declared innocent and now possess a recreated, connected spirit stamped with the nature of God. Now, you can finally have peace with God! That's what reconciliation is... peace with God!

Reconciliation means restoring a broken relationship. It is the resolving and dissolving of enmity between those that were once closely related but found themselves in opposition. (Rom. 5:10)

Definition:

Reconciliation is the complete tearing down and removal of everything that stood between you and God, so you are now reunited with your Father in complete peace!

6) Sanctification - Sanctification is the core principle of the salvation of the human soul or mind! Sanctification means consecrating yourself to God by pursuing and attaining a Christ-like character.

This is done through the application of the principles of God's word to your life! Every day, in every situation, you choose, as an act of your will and through the power of the Holy Spirit, to obey God rather than your flesh or the dictates of the world around you.

Definition:

Sanctification is the process of consecrating oneself to God by developing a Christ-like character. This is done through consistent employment of the principles of God's word and submission to the will of the Holy Spirit in your life! It terminates in separation from the effects of sin and the empowerment over it's influences!

7) Glorification - When we allow Christ's nature within us to have dominion over our flesh, the holiness of His presence begins to manifest externally through a Godly radiance that is perceived rather than seen.

His Spirit within, glows with the glory of God and this spiritual light attracts others and exposes them to the character of Christ! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Mt 5:16

Here, the process of glorification begins! It will escalate during the Rapture when God eliminates our tainted physical body and instantly recreates a brand new, perfectly sinless body.

Depending on our quality of service to God and our fellow men, we will radiate different levels of the glory of God in heaven! Some will shine like the sky, some like the stars and some like Sun in its intensity? This is Glorification!

Definition:

Glorification is the process where the holy nature of God on the inside of a Born Again person manifests itself as a divine outward glow, so that while on earth others can perceive it but when in heaven they can literally see it.

These are the basic attributes of salvation.

Everest John Alexander is a Minister/Author/Entrepreneur in public ministry for over 17 years, Pastoring for 4 years. He's married to his best friend, Loraine and together they have two children, Andrew and Jade. His first book is called, "Understanding The 3 Levels of Salvation: Spirit, Soul & Body". You can listen to his Voice Blog, read his Articles and download his free Ebooks at: http://www.Kingdomlearning.com

Pema Chodron

Is Your God Better Than Mine

If you're part of a religious organization, and were asked this question, "Whose God Is Better" meaning of course, is your God better and stronger or smarter and better looking than the religious competition. Is this something that you believe or were taught while you were young? Obviously you wouldn't think that the Hindu god Brahma is better than Yahweh or Jesus, if you're a Christian. It just wouldn't make any sense to belong to a religion that was weaker than the competition.

It seems like most religions around the world have gods or even one almighty God that is the biggest and baddest god in the neighborhood, maybe even the entire universe.

If we look at the numbers, the Christian God Jesus of Nazareth is the strongest by far. A survey that was done in 2005, showed Christians 2.1 billion strong and growing. With numbers like this, their God must be doing something right. Do you think these numbers are large because of their financial influences in poor countries? Something to think about, how did Christianity become such a large religious institution. They've got plenty of money and pay relatively little taxes. Remember the golden rule, the person with the most gold makes all the rules.

Second on our religious scale are the Muslims, the Islamic religion has over 1.1 billion followers and that puts it at almost half the size of Christianity, but more than doubled the size of the third largest religion by the numbers.

The third largest religion in the world is Hinduism and most of India which is second only to China as the most populated countries in the world are Hindus. Hinduism ranks around 800 million followers.

I'll stop right there. I wanted to give you an idea of religion by the numbers, realistically the Christians and the Muslims believe in the same God but the Muslims recognize Jesus as a prophet and the Christians don't recognize Mohammad at all and Mohammad is the number one prophet for the Islamic religion. But if we put the two of them together, it would be the largest religion by far with almost no competition economically or with military strength.

So to answer our question," Whose God Is Actually Better", I would have to say the Christian God is the most popular and powerful God and the universe. The only problem is, there's no actual proof that Jesus, Mohammed, Yahweh, Krishna or any other supreme being is real. People follow these religions and base almost everything on faith with very little facts that can actually be proven.

I'm not talking about small facts, I'm talking about big ones like, how the world was created, you can choose to believe, anything that you want but until we have some facts or at least something that sounds pretty good, you should probably stop thinking, that your religion is the only way and your God the best. Show some compassion for other religions around the world, their beliefs are no better or weaker than yours.

Hope in Religion

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

Cost Effective Stair Constructio

Success is All in Your Mind

How do you measure success? It's probably not exactly the same for any two people. While athletes measure success by wins or their personal best, a business owner may measure success by the amount of money their business nets every year.

Successful Christians do not measure success by the amount of wealth or physical possessions that they acquire but by the depth of their relationship with Christ and the understanding of God's Wisdom, The Holy Bible.

Regardless of how you measure success, it all starts in your mind...your subconscious mind, to be exact. While most people are familiar with the concept of the subconscious mind, few truly understand how to use its power to create the success (and happiness) that they desire. Remember that we are told in Philippians 2:5 (NKJV), "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," and in Romans 8:6 (NKJV), "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." All of use function on a physical level and our conscious mind. We also have the advantage of the influences on a spiritual level in our subconscious minds. What some call the subconscious, a successful Christian knows to be a powerful functioning spiritual mind influenced by 'the mind that was in Christ' or the Holy Spirit of God who gives us the power to succeed and offers us eternal happiness.

To take advantage of this incredibly powerful presence, you must first ready your subconscious mind for the success you are seeking. Without a clear, consistent "picture" of the results you seek, your subconscious mind can actually sabotage even your best efforts. Where do we get this consistent "picture". We are able to form that picture through constant and diligent study of the Wisdom of God, His Holy Written Word.

Any time there is confusion, your subconscious will strive to help you achieve your goals. That's why the more concise your goal and your mental image of its results, the better the chances you'll achieve it. By focusing on the diligent study of God's Word and a concise concept of what you want to achieve, you're helping your subconscious mind with the help of the Holy Spirit of God to manifest that result in your physical reality.

It's very important to monitor what you tell your subconscious verbally and silently. Most people are surprised to find when they actually start to "listen" to the words they use on a daily basis that they are issuing counterproductive "requests" to their subconscious.

Make sure to use positive descriptions when speaking aloud or to yourself silently about your goals. Instead of saying "I won't be tempted anymore", phrase your request in a positive way: "I am strong through the strength that Christ gives me." Our words hold the power of life or death.

Also, it's important to use a present tense, not a future tense like "I will be strong" as your subconscious takes everything literally. If your request is in the future, you will subconsciously think that nothing needs to change now. You, physically and spiritually, live in the present. "I am strong because I have the strength that Christ gives me."

Be careful not to use negative words accidentally: such as "I'm not going to be poor any more." Your subconscious mind doesn't understand words like "not", "doesn't" or "won't". It will automatically delete those words from your request which will almost always create the opposite meaning and results of your goal!

There are many techniques you can use to create clear pictures of your completed goal. Most find that imagining a movie in their mind of what it will be like when you achieve your goal to replay in your thoughts to be very effective. For example, if you're trying to wipe out your credit card debt, imagine yourself receiving statements from your credit card companies with a $0 balance on the payment section.

Remember, what you focus on expands. You must focus on Christ. "Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and then everything else will be added to you." If you constantly see yourself overweight, or in debt, that's what your subconscious mind will continue to create for you in your reality. Study and concentrate on the promises that God has made to you. It's very simple and takes very little time to mentally produce a "movie" that gives your subconscious a clear idea of what results you expect. With consistent attention and effort toward what you DO expect, you'll be amazed at the results you can create with your mind!

Rev. Bobby Keating is an Evangelist, teacher, author, addiction counselor and director of the Christian Success Institute ( http://christian-success-institute.org ). He has a strong conviction that through the diligent study of The Holy Bible and an intense study of Solomon's Proverbs that everyone can learn that God wants His children to be successful and shows then how to be successful in His Holy Word. Rev. Bobby has written thousands of articles and Bible studies and has written an intense study of Solomon's Proverbs which can be found at the Christian Success Institute.

St Francis of Assisi - The Tao of the Tau Cross

St. Francis of Assisi is my favorite saint of all time. Born the son of a wealthy merchant, he wanted for nothing during his misspent youth. St. Francis knew sin, and enjoyed drinking and parties. An extremely likeable young man, he caroused nightly with a large group of friends who indulged in vice and debauchery.

However, St. Francis' life was destined to belong to God, and several events in his life, including a serious illness, greatly changed him. He renounced sin, and began to live in abject poverty, putting no store in material things. He founded the order of the Dominican Friars, and his symbol was the Tau Cross.

At one point, Saint Francis stretched out his arms and announced to his Dominicans that their religious habit, or tunic, was in itself the Tau cross, and represented their lifelong devotion to God. In his mission of administering the gospel to the lepers, the least of society, the Tau Cross became known for its protection against the plague and other diseases. A great believer in the compassion of Christ, and known for his rapport with animals, St. Francis adopted the Tau Cross - which looks like a Greek "T" - as his crest, representing his pledge to serve God and man.

Saint Francis lived to be only 44 years old, and during the last years of his life he was almost blind and very ill. Two years before his death, he was to receive the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.

Click to see the beautiful selection of Tau Cross Pendants in 14K Gold or Sterling Silver at Cross Pendants Online.

Melisa Moore is an SEO Marketing Specialist at Lifetime Jewelry in Wichita, Kansas.

Develop Self-Esteem Via Self-Improvement Skills - Develop Self-Esteem For Leadership

Aristotle, who is among the best known classical Greek philosophers, wrote about how important it is to develop self-esteem. Founders of religions also have had an influence on personal development techniques as we know them today. I talk about self-improvement skills that are used to build self-confidence with confidence-building methods, which are based on ancient ideals, in this commentary.

"Humility: Imitate Jesus Christ and Socrates." Benjamin Franklin

Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher who helped provided the foundation for Western civilization. Plato's work is the most reliable source of records concerning his mentor Socrates. Plato portrayed Socrates as a man who listened to a "divine voice in his head." Some philosophies of Socrates and Jesus Christ were very similar.

"Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others." Socrates

The position of Socrates is similar to a commandment, which Jesus expressed in the Sermon on the Mount; and it is one of the central ethical values of Jesus Christ. Notice the philosophical similarity of what Socrates recommended with the well-known Golden Rule, which was put forth over some 400 years after the execution of Socrates.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law of the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 KJV)

The life of Socrates is generally considered a paradigm of philosophic life; and it is generally a good model for anyone to imitate. Socrates has been admired and emulated on a par with founders of religions like Jesus Christ and Buddha. This is a paradox because Socrates was tried, convicted; and executed on the grounds of being irreverent toward the Greek gods.

Aristotle, who was a student of Plato and therefore received many of his values indirectly from Socrates, did more than simply intellectualize a theory about how people should behave. He created written instructions in his book, Nicomachean Ethics, which extolled the value of having high self-esteem; and there are self-improvement skills, which are included in confidence-building methods to develop self-esteem in order to help you produce a leadership quality personality, which are based on that ancient document.

Self-Improvement Skills

The best self-improvement skills, of which I am aware, to develop self-esteem and build self-confidence are confidence-building methods that I call "behavior strategies."

The behavior strategies are 3 premeditated and deliberate self-improvement skills to develop the core values, as described in Aristotle Ethics, and to develop self-esteem. The behavior strategies are used to condition your subconscious mind; and therefore you can change your subconscious thoughts, which actually control your behavior 90% of the time.

Let me be clear about this, you never even "hear" your subconscious thoughts; but they control your behavior a vast majority of the time. Ergo, you can develop self-esteem by developing your subconscious reaction to your environment. You do not have to allow the bad things in your past control your subconscious thoughts, which trigger your behavior most of the time.

You can control your personality, and not the other way around, simply by conditioning your subconscious triggers. You can develop self-esteem and build self-confidence by using self-improvement skills to change your thoughts on the subconscious level, from negative to positive thinking. You can control your power of positive thinking on the subconscious level.

You only need to put into practice the easy-to-do confidence-building methods and develop behavior that is consistent with Aristotle Ethics. Dedicate a total of about 60 minutes a day; the exercises are divided into 10 and 20-minute simple procedures, and so it will not interrupt your schedule.

You can do it while you are in your underwear & reclining in an easy chair; or even while you are relaxing on your bed. You can develop self-esteem, build self-confidence, get poise, willpower & faith, and; actually, you can get anything that you really want by using the self-improvement skills of the tried and proven confidence-building methods.

I was able to change my life simply by having desire to improve myself and by utilizing the strategic premeditated actions, which are self-improvement skills. It made a world of difference for me.

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