Saturday, January 30, 2010

A Prophetic Word Of Hope For Haiti

In view of the ongoing crisis in Haiti, I would like to share some words of hope, with prophetic relevance,  with the people of Haiti.

To the Haitians, Jesus is saying:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18).
     I have heard your cries and moanings.  For too long you have suffered under oppression, want and neglect.  I have waited patiently all these years desiring a change in your circumstance, but to no avail.  Your cries for help have largely gone unnoticed by the world, and thus I had no choice but to make an end to the systems in place which were the cause of your oppression.  I know many have died, but those who have died in Me, are now saved and free.  Those of you who have been spared death will live to see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living.  I love you with an everlasting love, and only desire the best for you.  Now is your chance to throw off the shackles of religious and political oppression and walk with renewed purpose in Me.
"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer"(Isaiah 54:8). "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry" (Jeremiah 31:3,4).
     Continue to put your trust in Me.  Do not look at your circumstance, neither let not anyone despise your circumstance.  Those who put their trust in Me will NEVER be ashamed.  Look, I have sent all of heaven and earth  to be your aid.  Be strong, and continue to be courageous, and I will lift you up, says the Lord.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Sleep Challenge 2010

Arianna Huffington, of the online newspaper Huffington Post, has issued a Sleep Challenge 2010, with the goal of getting 8 hours of sleep per night.  Well, I have my own suggestions, which I think are pretty good.  Personally, I have no problem sleeping, and I get 8 hours and even more per night!  Here are some suggestions based on my professional experience as a Physical Therapist/Health Coach, and my own personal experience.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:2).

God in His love for us has created our bodies to enjoy rest and repose, and a good nights' sleep.  There are certain things which we can do that will either prevent that or enhance that.  I am going to concentrate more on things to do that WILL ensure a good night's sleep.

1. Exercise
Exercise is a good way to ensure a good nights' sleep.  Exercise causes the body to release hormones and neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin respectively, which cause the mind and body to relax, and also produce an euphoric state.  The key however is that you do exercises that are pleasurable to you.  Forcing yourself to walk on the treadmill or ride a stationary bike will help your waistline, but will fail to release sufficient sleep-positive hormones, if you do not enjoy these exercises.  Try different types of exercises until you find something that you enjoy.  Personally, I enjoy dancing, zumba, yoga, and boot camp.  These exercises  I do enjoy, and I feel refreshed and energized afterwards, but not so fatigued that I cannot sleep.   The release of endorphins and serotonin associated with these exercises put me in a good mood, and cause my mind and body to relax and feel rejuvenated.
The biggest mistake that people make with exercise is that they exercise themselves to exhaustion, thinking if they are exhausted, that they will fall asleep.  The truth is that when we are exhausted, we have even more difficulty falling asleep, and we toss and turn all night trying to get comfortable.  So, find exercises you like, preferably something aerobic, and do not exercise yourself to exhaustion.  Your exercise routine should leave you feeling invigorated, and refreshed, and not tired and worn out.

2. Massage
As someone who has given a lot of massages, I must say this really works!  Massage works to relax tired and achy muscles and the human touch of another person has a very soothing quality to it - whether done by a professional or loved one.  A good non sensual massage such as the Swedish massage is very relaxing to the mind and body.  The movement of the massager hands over your body causes your body to release endorphins - those feel good hormones that relaxes you and puts you in a state of euphoria.  This effect is multiplied even more when one is massaged in a quiet room, filled with soft music or nature sounds, with the lights dimmed.

3. Warmth
I have found in my profession that when I put a hot pack on a patient for pain, they invariably fall asleep.  Heat is such a good facilitator of sleep, but the person receiving the heat must perceive that the heat is comfortable.  If it is too hot, the person will feel discomfort and not sleep at all.  In the same way, if the environment is too cold, one will have difficulty falling asleep. A room that is too warm/hot or too cold interferes with sleep.  The sleep environment must therefore have enough warmth that is comfortable for sleep.  Snuggling up in bed under the covers, and getting cozy and comfortable in bed, is a sure way of falling off to sleep peacefully. 

4. Sexual activity
Sex is a good way to ensure a good nights' sleep.  Sex which climaxes in orgasm causes the release of the hormone oxytocin, which relaxes you and causes you to sleep.  It  is that same hormone that causes your husband to just roll off you and fall asleep! 

These are just a few of my tips for a good nights' sleep.  Oh yes, there are other 'rules'  to follow such as don't eat late at nights, don't stay up past midnight, take a warm bath or hot shower, and so on.  The tips I have provided above are tips based upon my speciality - physical wellness/exercise.  Let us all therefore try to get a good nights' sleep.

ADDENDUM (added 1/23/10 @ 2:49 am)

Well, how could I have forgotten to add these final two tips?  These are so essential for a good nights' sleep, which by the way, I was awoken from to write this!

5. A Clear Conscience
One tends to sleep better if one has a clear conscience versus a troubled conscience.  Many people lose sleep at night because they have done something or someone wrong, and the guilt from their conscience keeps them up at nights.  The solution to this is not always simple, because sometimes the damage has been done and cannot be simply reversed; however, as the saying goes, "confession is good for the soul."  If you have wronged anyone, the Bible says  that you should confess your sins to the person whom you have wronged, so that you can be healed of your mental affliction, and possibly even some physical affliction caused from a guilty conscience (James 5:16).

6. Dependence upon God
This tip is very important, if not the most important tip of all.  Jesus wants us to take all our problems, whether sleep problems, health problems, financial problems, and any other problems all to Him so He can solve these problems for us.  Many times we look to ourselves and our own wisdom to solve our own problems, and are up at nights rehearsing our problems in our minds and robbing ourselves of sleep.  Put your trust in Jesus, and trust Him to solve the problems that are keeping you up at night.  Don't try to do this all on your own.  You will just wear yourself out.  Jesus can help, and you will end up getting a good nights' sleep!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).

Thursday, January 21, 2010

CNN Videos of Haiti

As we continue to pray for Haiti and help whenever we can, we can get inspired by watching CNN videos of Haiti. Let us all do whatever we can to help Haiti overcome this crisis. It is the godly thing to do.

Romans 8:9-21, NIV:

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality
.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.] Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord.

20On the contrary:


"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."


21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Avatar: The Movie

Well, I went and watched this movie in the midst of controversy surrounding this movie, and I have nothing but high praise for this movie.  Good job Mr. Cameron!  Avatar is a feast of wonder for the eyes, and is well worth watching, especially in 3-D.  The special effects and sounds all come alive in 3-D, and many times you felt as if you were transported to Pandora, the world of the Navi people.

The story line is especially touching and will resonate with people on many levels, for it is a re-telling of the story of the fight of native peoples against invading conquerors who seek to rape their land of valuable resources.  As an ethnic minority myself, I was transported back into history to the time of place of my primitive ancestors, and their struggles against extermination by oppressive invaders, whose only goal was to rape the land of its resources.

Some however are offended by the overt nature-loving spirituality depicted in the movie, as in the case of the Vatican.  We need to remember however that before the organized religion of civilized man, the religion of ancient, primitive man (before the flood) was nature-based.  Even the followers of Yahweh adhered to a nature-based religion, with the only difference being that the followers of Yahweh studied nature to learn more about God and to worship Him, while the others studied and worshipped nature as God.  This nature-based religion continued even after the flood, with the establishment of new civilizations, and was a big part of the Hebraic religions - Judaism and Christianity.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

People are Suffering! This is Not the Time for Bad Theology!

Pat Robertson has been reported to have said that the people of Haiti are suffering because they have made a pact with the devil. 

MR. ROBERTS, NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR BAD THEOLOGY!  YOU ARE WRONG!  FYI, Haiti is a Christian country with 80% of the population being Roman Catholic and 16% Protestant as per wikipedia.  Yes, some vodoo is practiced there, but Haiti is not the only place in the world where witchcraft is practiced.  It is practiced right here in the U. S as well in many forms - psychics, tarot card readers, mediums, magicians, and so on.  There is no  pact with the devil in Haiti, and even if there were, the great majority of people are god-fearing people who would rather suffer affliction with God than serve the devil.  You need to get your theology straight!  As a representative of the Christian faith, you are doing of POOR JOB of representing God.  Who appointed you as God's mouthpiece anyway?  Concentrate on doing good and leave the matter of judging others to God.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Earthquake!

Nature is in turmoil.  Haiti was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 today.  Let us pray for their safety and that they will get all the help they need to recover from this calamity.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Unseasonably Cold Weather a Portent of Climate Change?

I tell you these last couple of days have been really cold.  Brrrrr!  Here in Florida we are hunkering down for the winter.  We have traded in our usual jeans and T-shirt garb for coats, jackets, sweater, gloves, mittens, boots, and scarves.  I must say that I am having fun dressing up in winter clothing, which I rarely get to wear, but this is no fun for our neighbors in the upper 48.

All this unseasonably cold weather has gotten many people wondering if this unusually cold spell is a consequence of climate change.  I must say,  that I have been thinking about this too, but I have only one answer - NO!  According to scripture, God does not do anything without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).  If there was going to be a climate change, then God would have informed us of this before it happens, and since no one was informed that we were going to have a unseasonably cold winter as a result of climate change, then this harsh cold weather we are having is in no way prophetic or related to climate change.  This is not to say that there will not be climate change in the future, but whatever climate change we experience, will not be of our own doing, but will be the doing of God.

Biblically speaking, the last time the earth experienced a climate change was in the days of Noah's flood.  Prior to the flood, the earth had a equitable climate, with no extremes in weather.  The earth was protected from extremes in extraterrestial radiation by the "firmament", and the earth was watered not by rain, but by a dewy mist which emanated from the earth (Genesis 1:6-8; Genesis 2:5-6).  In the pre-flood world, the earth orbited the sun in a perfect circle of 360 degrees, going around the sun 1 degree per day.  A year therefore consisted of 360 days.  I know this from various calculations of days and months found in the Bible.  In Genesis 7:11 we read that the flood started on the 17th day of the second month, and the waters flooded the earth for 150 days before the waters began to abate on the 17th day of the seventh month (Genesis 8:4).  Therefore, the flooding lasted for five months, and when you divide 150 days by 5, you get 30 days in a month.  Since there are twelve months in a year, then 12 months would give you 360 days in a year.

After the flood, weather patterns changed drastically.  For one, rain became a part of earth's weather/climate system.  Another thing that changed was the institution of the seasons.  We see in Genesis 8:21 where God promised Noah that He would never destroy every living thing off the face of the earth again, and that as long as the earth continues to exist, we would experience "seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).  Changes in the seasons are a natural part of God's plan, and we need not be alarmed, although conditions can get downright uncomfortable.  However, I have always believed that everything is always done with a divine purpose, the wisdom of which that will be revealed to us.

Let me now revisit the concept of the length of year being 360 days before the flood and how it relates to climate change.   As we all know, a year is 365 1/4 days long, yet before the flood it was 360 days long.  How did this happen?  How did the year go from being 360 days long to 365 1/4 days long?  As was said before, God does not do anything without revealing it to His prophets.  The earliest known recorded prophet we have in the Bible is Enoch, who lived prior to the flood.  In Jude 14 we read, "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these."  Not much is written about Enoch, but what we do know is very informative.  Enoch lived to be 365 years old (Genesis 5:23).  If we use the day-for-a-year principle of scripture (Numbers 14:34), then each year of Enoch's life would represent a day - the new number of days in the calendar year!  God therefore used the life span of Enoch to prophesy to us of the coming change in the length of the year from 360 days to 365 days!  If we take a look at the earth's orbit around the sun, we can see that the earth does not follow a circular path of 360 degrees but follows an elliptical path.  In this elliptical path, the earth is  higher up above the sun, during winter in the northern hemisphere, and  lower down below the sun during summer in the northern hemisphere.  The earth is at its peak height above the sun during the winter solistice and at its peak level below the sun during the summer solstice.  The biggest factor however that determines the seasons is the tilt of the earth on its axis.  The earth is tilted on its axis 23.4 degrees away from the vertical.  As the earth orbits around the sun, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun in summer, and away from the sun in winter.  It is this tilt of the earth that determines whether we have summer or winter.   

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalm 19:1). 

We can therefore see that God affected climate change after the flood by tilting the earth on its axis, and putting the earth on an elliptic orbit relative to the sun, giving us our seasons.  The question therefore is this:  When will be the next climate change?  What will it be?  That is a whole other discussion, but suffice it to say, that we should expect increases in earthquakes, and hail storms, and celestial fires (Revelation 6:12-15; and Revelation 8).  As God's coming approaches expect to see more portents of celestial wonders in the sky affecting the climate of earth.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Happy New Year

Happy new year everyone!!!  Sorry to be late with this, but I was offline for some time trying to update my internet service.   I pray that this will be a happy, healthy, and prosperous year.  I am feeling real good about this year.  I see major developments happening in the spiritual sphere in the kingdom of God.  It's time to get to know God even more guys!  He is seeking a real, living, intimate relationship with each one of us, and not just a bookish Christianity based upon Biblical trivia knowledge.  He is fed-up (can I say that?) with our meaningless rituals that have no bearing on reality.  He is seeking to have a real, spiritual experience with us, in a very real way.  He wants to be a part of our lives in every way.  We need to stop treating Christ as if He was someone we read about in a book - a fairytale or folk hero.  We need to experience Him every day as a living part of our lives.

This year you will see me digging and getting into more of the nitty-gritty of things in an even more spiritual way.  I started this at the end of last year, and more is to come.  I will not stop until Christ is seen and worshipped in spirit and truth.