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With all the recent discussion of the Swine Flu and possibility of it’s swift transmission through the world’s population, it seems a good idea to consider another type of virus – one that most people could stand to be “infected” by and would be better off for it.

The thing I find most interesting about viruses is how rapidly they can overtake a population. Moreover, each individual that is infected with a particular virus strain tends to show similar symptoms to others that have been infected with the same virus. It is these two characteristics that I want to focus on with regard to infecting the world’s population this new “virus”.

Why Would You Pay it Back When You Can Pay it Forward?

Quite some years ago I saw a wonderful movie called Pay It Forward, to which many people attribute the phrase of the same name and the “good deed” mentality that accompanies it. In the movie, the phrase “pay it forward” referred to doing a “good deed” for three NEW people, so as to pay FORWARD a good deed that was done for you.

Of course, this “pay it forward” idea is certainly not new (nor was it when the book was penned). It actually pre-dates even the well respected Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” with the following words:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It is also useful to recognize, in my opinion, that “paying it forward” should not always have to involve the giving of financial assistance or doing physical labor, although, in many cases, it does. A much simpler approach to “paying it forward” is described in great detail on my new website WhyTheCards.com, but here is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Appreciation & Encouragement – The Currency of Relationships

Nearly a century ago, Charles Schwab was hired by Andrew Carnegie to be the president of the new United States Steel Company. Schwab’s starting salary: $1,000,000 per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (at a time when $3,000/YEAR was considered to be an excellent wage).

This immense salary was a result of Schwab’s impeccable ability to effectively deal|deal|effectively interact) with people, according to Schwab himself. He had this to say:

“I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people,” said Schwab, “the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The newly launched WhyTheCards.com website is all about applying the “pay it forward” ideal to this oft ignored idea of encouragement and appreciation, but via a simple and unique method that infects people like a virus until it, literally, touches hundreds of thousands or even millions of people – hopefully (it’s success depends upon individuals such as yourself).

As Easy as Sending a Postcard

Most people would likely be amazed to discover what a positive impact a simple postcard can have on a friend who’s just had a ridiculously hard day or is wrestling with a serious personal or family tragedy – or even on a person who’s just had an exceptionally good day. As an example, just a note to point out something special about their personality that really makes them stand out. Thank them for something nice they did for you or someone you know. Congratulate them for a recent success or just let them know you’ve been praying for them.

Drop them a note to invite them out to lunch or to tell them that you’ll be bringing THEM dinner this Friday. Better yet, encourage them to do something nice for someone else as well. It’s amazing, when you’re going through a difficult situation in life, just how much it can encourage YOU when you’re able to help someone else.

Send a card just to remind someone that THEY have value, that THEY have talents and abilities that NOBODY else has and that they ought to use those gifts to help people. Just a simple card can mean so much. And, it doesn’t have to take alot of time or cost alot of money to do it.

Here are seven techniques of astral projection available to help people who want to try and use astral projection. People being as individual as they are means what works for some may not work for others. Some people have had difficulties with different methods. Because the method requires you to relax or it doesn’t work. If you can’t relax then you will have difficulty with astral projection.

Complete and total relaxation is essential to making any astral projection techniques successful. Part of the reason for the inability to relax is fear. This is very common with those that are just starting to relearn how to astral project. This fear comes from false beliefs that a person could die or be harmed because of the astral projection. In an effort to help squash those fears the Canterbury Institute, who is known for their occult studies, conducted a research study.

The study was performed on two thousand individuals, all of these people were involved in doing astral projection. The institute discovered was that no person was harmed following astral projection techniques. What is more interesting is that they did follow up on the people for the last 3 years. Not one have had any problems.

Now that any concerns or fears should be gone, let’s examine several different types of astral projection techniques, which are quite simple and have worked for several people. The 1st one is called the Monroe Technique. There are 7 primary steps to this particular astral projection technique.

* Relaxing mind and body is a must. Many techniques for learning to relax are available for you to use. Deep breathing is a simple one to use and is just deep breathing, slow and calm. Inhale deeply and exhale deeply. Relax all your muscles bodily, one at a time, alternately tensing and relaxing them. You can start down at your toes and work your way up.

* Go into what is called the hynagogic state. This is where your body and mind are almost asleep. You don’t desire to go to sleep. Use the gazing method to accomplish this. As you lie in bed focus on an object and remain staring until when your eyes close that you still can picture the object.

* Once you can visualize the object when your eyes are closed you will need to take the state you are in deeper. A good method of doing this is glance around (with closed eyes) and notice what you are able to see. Its possible that you may see light patterns that are different, you may notice the room is veiled in purple. Don’t take too much notice of this, once you cease seeing this light you will have successfully deepened your state. You are so totally relaxed now that you are no longer aware of your body physically. This is vital as per the Monroe Technique of astral projection.

* From what Monroe says, this is the most vital of the seven techniques of astral projection. The state of Vibration is the next to accomplish. People who have practiced the techniques of astral projection have noticed they feel these vibrations early into the projections. These people believe the feelings experienced is believed by them that this is the feeling when the astral body leaves your physical body. Nothing to be alarmed about, it is the vibrations you feel.

* Now control the vibration while in this state. Focus, make the vibrations move through your body. This is done with your mind. You want to feel the vibrations through your whole body. Like waves washing over you. Practice this until you can feel the waves anytime you want them. When you can create waves on demand successfully you are ready to leave the body.

* A vital component to successful astral projection and astral travel is control. Having control is that the one in power, is your mind . Monroe recommends practicing a “partial separation” to strengthen this control. Keeping mentally focused on leaving the physical body. Starting with a part of the body, like a foot or hand. Let it go the astral body. Stretching it to reach an object near you, maybe the wall, floor or another familiar object. Push your hand or foot through. After accomplishing this return your foot or hand back to the physical body Now you start to slow the vibrations and end the session. Lay down until your body has returned fully to an awakened state.

* With this step you will finally leave your body. Follow steps one through six. This time your whole body will be used, not just a foot. Move completely into your astral body. A simple adjustment to step six is required. This time you are focusing on releasing the astral body instead of one appendage. Focus on releasing the astral body Thinking how light it feels. As weightless as a cloud, you can float like a feather in a light breeze. Now the astral body should move out and away from the physical body, you feel as though you are floating, or even flying.

There are more ways you can attempt this, as in the Gazing Method, the Anchor Technique, and the Rope Technique. Try out some different methods to discover which one will be best for you. An astral projection technique exists for everyone.

You will see though that not all people are able to do astral project right off the bat using the techniques listed and a lot of practice is required for some of these.

There is a shortcut luckily! Through recent sound technology developments, audio tools exist that can assist you. These recent techniques utilize special frequencies of sound call Binaural beats, which balance the brain’s two hemispheres, instantly placing you into a state of meditation, required for astral projection.

You can also get into the totally relaxed state needed by listening to quality astral projection techniques hypnosis recordings. These reinforce to the subconscious mind that it is okay for your astral body to leave your physical body.

Astral projection truly is a life changing experience for everyone who tries it and by using these techniques it is possible for anyone who wishes to, to experience it.

Freemasonry is by far not a new organization or religious group. Its been around for many many years although having slight variation in names according to the country and state they are related to. It’s an organization that has always had a mysticism attached to it as the participants do not openly discuss the intricate workings of their organization.

They started off as a simple group of Masons who were responsible for the spectacular building of the old abbeys and castles that were famous for their grandeur during the 17th century. They formed their own guilds and called themselves Operative Masons which was fitting being as to the type of work them were in. Then there was a reduction in the building of cathedrals which played a large part in their work. This led the Operative Masons to open their doors for membership for non Masons. They were given the name of Speculative or Accepted Masons. The groups became mostly made of the Accepted Mason and their groups were officially known as Lodges. There were several groups or lLdges and in 1717 there were four of these groups that held regular meetings in London England. They amalgamated and formed the first Grand Lodge which was sphere headed by one Grandmaster. This was the beginning of the Freemasonry as it stands today. Not only has this organization withstood the passing of time they have grown where they now boast of having around 150 of these Grand Lodges throughout the world. Their total membership is in excess of four million Masons.

Their organization is built on the concept of all men are brothers and come under the rule of a Supreme Being, although they do not promote themselves as a religious group. They serve no one denomination but expect their members to serve the God of their choice according to their personal beliefs. Although there are Grand Masters for each lodge there is no Supreme Master that rule over the whole body of lodges. In order for a lodge to be considered a true freemasonry lodge it must adhere to the code that has been set for the mason. Most often one Grand Master will preside over several lodges that reside within a specified jurisdiction.

Their general function is somewhat like any men?s club. In fact some have been known to refer to the Freemasonry as a fraternity. The men have regular meetings as a form of companionship. They encourage strong moral ethics. The mysticism comes into play with their well known secrecy. They are known to have rituals that center on the purpose of life and where morals take the lead. The whole basis of this organization is self improvement center on brotherly love, and truth. They must put every effort into applying this to their daily lives. They put heavy emphasis on charitable acts.

Membership is not granted easily. They do not advertise for new members but that doesn?t mean they aren?t approachable. Any prospective member must be at least 18 years of age and possess the expected character and reputation that all Freemasonry members do. They must be morally strong and believe in a higher being. This group is so adamant about their requirement they actually investigate the character of anyone being considered for membership. When one looks upon Freemasonry it depicts a very high standard way of life. Having a membership in a Lodge means that a learning experience will begin. Not only does a mason have to talk morally but must live what they believe. Patriotism is essential by respecting authority figures. He must also possess a willingness to stay active in his Lodge and participate in whatever endeavors that particular lodge takes on.

“We should celebrate all things spiritual! Afterall, all religions basically teach the same thing: respect and love for one’s neighbor and doing good to human kind.”

This isn’t just a “man on the street” belief. Lawyers, doctors, and scientists hold to this as well. It is murmured in quaint coffee shops around the world and shouted from the couch of your favorite talk show. Oprah has made a career on this brand of pluralism.

Before we throw our lot in with the pluralist crowd, though, we should pause and think. Is it really true that all religions are fundamentally the same?

A moment’s reflection will tell you this notion is hopelessly bankrupt. For starters, some religions don’t have the golden rule. Others don’t stress loving one’s neighbor. In fact, goodness isn’t even on the radar screen with some religions. Past that, even among the religions that have something like the golden rule, it isn’t central. If you analyze the central tenets of the world’s major religions, for example, you will see they are worlds apart.

Christians believe Jesus was crucified on a cross. There is no Christianity without that belief! Muslims, however, reject that; what’s more, to Muslims, holding to the crucifixion of Jesus is no small thing–it’s a big no-no! Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was the archangel Michael, and Christians reject such a thing. God is a personal creator who is separate from His creation in Christianity, whereas all is one in Hinduism. All these beliefs are main pillars of each faith. Even each faith’s beliefs in the afterlife are worlds apart–heaven, reincarnation, nothing, etc.

If you reflect further, you’ll see that these can’t all be true! God is either personal or impersonal. He either exists or He doesn’t. In no case can God be both personal and impersonal, real and fake. Jesus either is the Messiah or He is not. In no case can He be both the Messiah and not the Messiah. When you die, you either are reincarnated, go to heaven, rot in the ground, or hitch a ride on a comet…but you can’t do it all!

Some might object by saying “what’s true for you might not be true for me.” Jesus rose from the dead “for me,” but not for you. What does that even mean? Again, we are not talking about ice cream. With ice cream, preference reigns; personal tastes are subjective. But the resurrection of Christ is a claim not about preference, but about history, and therefore it is either true or false, not true “for me” or false “for you.” Denying this makes about as much sense as saying, “Lincoln was shot for me, but not for you.”

Another objection is that all this reflects a western way of thinking. In the west, so the argument goes, it is either this OR that, but in the east, many people are comfortable embracing contradiction. A more common way to think in the east when it comes to contradicting beliefs is “both/and.”

Is this a good response? No. As Ravi Zacharias often notes, even in the streets of Shanghai, they look both ways when crossing the street, because they understand that that it’s either them or the bus, not both. Also, when thinking about spirituality, they choose the both/and way of thinking *instead of* the either/or, not both. No matter how you twist things, you can’t get away from the either/or at the end of the day. There’s a good reason–it is tethered to reality.

The next time you are discussing religion with your buddies and one of them starts waxing eloquent about pluralism, don’t buy the hype. As my favorite author commonly says, aspirin and arsenic might be both small, white, and round pills, but please don’t stop there when choosing which to take for a headache!

This article is mainly focused on true christianity

I have heard Christians say that there is no joy like the joy found at church during a Sunday service. Some even quote from Psalms 133. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Ps. 133:1).

I agree that there is a special beauty when we gather together with other believers and are united in worshipping God through song, prayer, communion,and the Word of God.

They say that God does not care about sports so an athletic activity cannot be spiritual. I disagree with statements that sports can’t be spiritual. The word “whatever” of the above verse encompasses sports, shopping and entertainment.

In the Bible, Daniel showed great consistency in his behavior at all times. He served God regardless of circumstances.

If before I shop I ask God to give me discernment and self-control in my shopping, then my shopping can be God honoring. These things are ordinary, but God can be right there as I engage in them.

God has been teaching me to honor and thank Him for the ordinary things in life. I recently lost a piece on my glasses. After finding the support, I found myself thanking God again and again for the simple fact that he helped me find the piece.

We can reflect God’s holiness by not using dirty language and not laughing at dirty jokes at work. These are ordinary, everyday things, and they can be just as spiritual as reading the Bible and praying.

Our mind can be on God during the ordinary, not just during a great church service or during a time of devotion. Those who believe that God is only honored through a church service or a time of prayer are greatly limiting themselves in the presence of God.

Our Creator gave us the mountains and the valleys so that we can worship him as we enjoy them.

If after the Sunday morning service I never have God in my conversations my mind then my eyes are not fixed on Jesus; I am not an everyday Christian.

To live Everyday Christianity you must have your eyes set on Jesus everyday.

Here are seven techniques of astral projection available to help people who want to try and use astral projection. People being as individual as they are means what works for some may not work for others. Some people have had difficulties with different methods. Because the method requires you to relax or it doesn’t work. If you can’t relax then you will have difficulty with astral projection.

Complete and total relaxation is essential to making any astral projection techniques successful. Part of the reason for the inability to relax is fear. This is very common with those that are just starting to relearn how to astral project. This fear comes from false beliefs that a person could die or be harmed because of the astral projection. In an effort to help squash those fears the Canterbury Institute, who is known for their occult studies, conducted a research study.

This study was done on 2000 people, all of whom participated in astral projection. What the institute found was that there wasn’t a single person in that followed astral projection techniques were harmed in anyway. What is even more important is that they followed those people for the last three years. Not a single participant have complained of any problems.

Now that any concerns or fears should be gone, let’s examine several different types of astral projection techniques, which are quite simple and have worked for several people. The 1st one is called the Monroe Technique. There are 7 primary steps to this particular astral projection technique.

* Relaxing mind and body is a must. Many techniques for learning to relax are available for you to use. Deep breathing is a simple one to use and is just deep breathing, slow and calm. Inhale deeply and exhale deeply. Relax all your muscles bodily, one at a time, alternately tensing and relaxing them. You can start down at your toes and work your way up.

* Enter into the hynagogic state. This is simply the where your mind and body are bordering going to sleep. You don’t want to go to sleep. You can use the gazing method to do this. Focus on an object as you lay in bed, and keep staring at it until your eyes close and you are still able to see the object.

* You see the object, your eyes are closed and now you need to move to a deeper state of relaxation. Look around, with your eyes closed and try to see other images in the room. The possibility is that you may see different and varied light patterns. The room may be clothed in a purple light, ignore it. But once you have seen the purple light, you will know you have entered a deeper state of relaxation. Completely relaxed, the awareness of your physical body will no longer be there and an important technique of astral projection, according to the Monroe.

* From what Monroe says, this is the most vital of the seven techniques of astral projection. The state of Vibration is the next to accomplish. People who have practiced the techniques of astral projection have noticed they feel these vibrations early into the projections. These people believe the feelings experienced is believed by them that this is the feeling when the astral body leaves your physical body. Nothing to be alarmed about, it is the vibrations you feel.

* Control the state of vibration. To do this focus on the vibrations and make them move through your body. Do this with your mind, you want your entire body to feel the vibrations, as if waves are washing over you. Keep practicing this until you are able to bring these waves on when you want to. Once you are able to create these waves on demand you are ready to leave the body.

* A vital component to successful astral projection and astral travel is control. Having control is that the one in power, is your mind . Monroe recommends practicing a “partial separation” to strengthen this control. Keeping mentally focused on leaving the physical body. Starting with a part of the body, like a foot or hand. Let it go the astral body. Stretching it to reach an object near you, maybe the wall, floor or another familiar object. Push your hand or foot through. After accomplishing this return your foot or hand back to the physical body Now you start to slow the vibrations and end the session. Lay down until your body has returned fully to an awakened state.

* This is when you totally leave your body. Do steps 1 -6, only instead of just releasing a foot or hand from the physical body do your whole body into the astral body. You only have to make an easy adjustment on step number 6. In place of concentrating on releasing only on body part, you are now going to concentrate on the release of the astral body, do this by imagining how light it feels, also your weightlessness as if you were light like feathers being blown in the breeze. The astral body should leave the physical body, you should have a feeling of flying or floating.

There are different methods for you to try. One method is the Rope Technique, also the Gazing Method, and then the Anchor Technique. Spending time trying these method to find which is suited to you. There is an astral projection technique for everyone. You just need to find one that is best for you.

However, you should be aware that not everyone is able to astral project instantly using the above techniques and some of these require a lot of practice.

However, a shortcut is available. Because of recent developments in the field of technology, there are many audio tools which can help you. New special sound frequencies known as Binaural beats, can synchronize the brains two hemispheres allowing an instant state of meditation, when needed for astral projection.

You can also get into the totally relaxed state needed by listening to quality astral projection techniques hypnosis recordings. These reinforce to the subconscious mind that it is okay for your astral body to leave your physical body.

Astral projection truly is a life changing experience for everyone who tries it and by using these techniques it is possible for anyone who wishes to, to experience it.