Are teas bags the same as loose teas?
No
Why not?
Teas are a generic name that is given to any form of herbs, or leaves in multiple forms, and processing conditions. The key element is which are the, really good leaves? Which ones can deliver the especial flavour, aroma? Which one can provide the nutrients and natural elements that will benefit the health and well-being?
So how can one go about and choose the best tea?
Easy, follow the three steps;
1. Buy Teas that are closer to its natural form as possible
2. Buy Teas which have no manufactured or industrial process involved.
3. Buy teas, which are pure, with no added flavours or gimmicks to look or taste different from its original form.
Its like eating an apple from the tree ; the purest, the fresher and without any additives , it’s the best one as far as taste and nutrition. Teas are no different.
So how Tea bags and Loose Teas compare to the three steps to a good cup?
Bag teas, are cooked, crushed, and mixed with all sorts of additives and most of the time through an industrial process, which really means that this drink is really far from what I would consider, real Tea. If one just give it a try, anyone will notice that one is aromatised processed herbs, while loose teas, you can see, smell and taste what you are drinking; Not to mention the wealth of great nutritional health benefits that only Tea, in its pure form can provide.
When we go to the shop, how can we find the good organic pure Tea?
The word organic is rather confusing since the definition has now been so much altered that leaves the consumer at loss as far as the quality of the Tea is concern. The best way is to try to find the simpler and the most natural leaves that one can find. Labels can be highly deceiving so one must look to what it is inside the box not in what it’s written outside. Let the Tea speak to your mind and body, and then you will know.
Master Wu
www.innteas.com
Sunday, March 25, 2007
New website launched to help parents in custody fights with Jehovah's Witnesses
A website has been launched to Assist in Child Custody Disputes
It is cliamed that within Jehovah’s Witnesses 90% of 1,000 Custody Cases fought Each Year are Lost Due to Manipulation of the Legal System .
A new organization has been launched to assist parents in custody disputes with Jehovah’s Witnesses. William H. Bowen founder of silentlambs, inc. is working with key experts to provide legal strategies to assist law firms in winning child custody disputes with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Associates with JW child custody have over 86 years experience as active Jehovah’s Witnesses and have served in key positions throughout the organization. Their experience will be used to assist caring parents to protect their children from cult mind control.
It is estimated that over 130 Jehovah’s Witness children die each year due to the religion’s application of religious doctrine to health care. Children are alienated from their non-JW parents and family as well as isolated from society due to mind control use of church doctrine.
“We feel this is a long overdue service for parents that wish to give their children a normal life,” states William H. Bowen. “At silentlambs we protected children from sexual abuse, now we can expand that work to help kids have a happier future.”
JW Child Custody will offer expanded services to assist attorneys with legal consulting for a variety of issues surrounding Jehovah’s Witness legal entity “Watchtower.” They will also have a “Child Custody Packet” to educate parents and attorneys in preparing for custody cases. Recent cases involve such issues as wrongful death and tax evasion.
Bowen states, “Due our detailed knowledge of the inner workings of Watchtower we can enable litigants to overcome the practice of ‘Theocratic Warfare,’ which is perjury approved by God according to Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.” (see JW Child Custody Booklet) The website www.jwchildcustody.com offers a toll free number to set up a free consultation as well as email correspondence for specific legal issues.
(NOTE: I wonder if it would be useful for ex-Mormon lawyers to create a similar service for ex-Mormon and never-Mormon parents and family members?)
It is cliamed that within Jehovah’s Witnesses 90% of 1,000 Custody Cases fought Each Year are Lost Due to Manipulation of the Legal System .
A new organization has been launched to assist parents in custody disputes with Jehovah’s Witnesses. William H. Bowen founder of silentlambs, inc. is working with key experts to provide legal strategies to assist law firms in winning child custody disputes with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Associates with JW child custody have over 86 years experience as active Jehovah’s Witnesses and have served in key positions throughout the organization. Their experience will be used to assist caring parents to protect their children from cult mind control.
It is estimated that over 130 Jehovah’s Witness children die each year due to the religion’s application of religious doctrine to health care. Children are alienated from their non-JW parents and family as well as isolated from society due to mind control use of church doctrine.
“We feel this is a long overdue service for parents that wish to give their children a normal life,” states William H. Bowen. “At silentlambs we protected children from sexual abuse, now we can expand that work to help kids have a happier future.”
JW Child Custody will offer expanded services to assist attorneys with legal consulting for a variety of issues surrounding Jehovah’s Witness legal entity “Watchtower.” They will also have a “Child Custody Packet” to educate parents and attorneys in preparing for custody cases. Recent cases involve such issues as wrongful death and tax evasion.
Bowen states, “Due our detailed knowledge of the inner workings of Watchtower we can enable litigants to overcome the practice of ‘Theocratic Warfare,’ which is perjury approved by God according to Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.” (see JW Child Custody Booklet) The website www.jwchildcustody.com offers a toll free number to set up a free consultation as well as email correspondence for specific legal issues.
(NOTE: I wonder if it would be useful for ex-Mormon lawyers to create a similar service for ex-Mormon and never-Mormon parents and family members?)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A service the Mormon church will NEVER use!
Recent studies show that sexual offenders are turning to God in increasing numbers and attending church in secret; "Keeping Kids Safe Ministries" (www.KidsSafeMinistries.com) is helping churches discern who is attending church for the right or wrong reasons.
Here are some hard-core facts regarding sexual offenders:
Registered offenders attend church to worship and spirituality is part of their recovery. * Non-convicted offenders are turning to God in desperation to quit their sin before they are discovered.
Churchgoing men who are in secret sexual sin are going deeper and darker into sin, leading to sexual crimes, followed by shame, guilt, and a temporary return to God.
In an effort to deal with sexual offenders who have turned to God, two therapists, Greg Sporer and Steve Vann, quit their jobs to develop "Keeping Kids Safe Ministries."
"Neither of us could sit idle with the knowledge that sexual offenders may be attending church for the wrong reasons," Sporer said. Sporer worked in prison sexual offender treatment programs and Vann was employed as a treatment provider for adolescent offenders. Both men are concerned about children's safety.
They now use their 40,000 hours of combined experience working with sexual offenders to keep kids safe at churches. They have biblical solutions to deal with offenders who attend church for the right or wrong reasons.
According to Vann, God offers forgiveness for all sinners including offenders. He explains that it is good news that offenders are turning to God; however, the bad news is that most church leaders are not prepared for the increase in offenders who worship at church or the church members who are there to offend children.
Sporer, who has specialised in church sexual offenders since 1989, believes that churchgoers continue to be naive about their own church members - most church sexual abuse cases involve members of their church.
Some churchgoers will witness suspicious behaviors, but not report it because the behaviors do not match up with their perceptions of a sexual offender. Church offenders display Christian character, and are often married, and use their spotless criminal record to gain positions working with kids. So, are churches defenseless with hidden sexual offenders in their congregation? "Absolutely not," Vann said. "Church sexual abuse is preventable. All church offenders have two weaknesses that are on display prior to any offense: boundary violations with a teen or child; and suspicious behaviors."
Vann continues that it is too risky for a hidden church offender to stay in a church that is skilled in dealing with boundary violations and suspicious behaviors. "Keeping Kids Safe Ministries" invests in church leaders and church youth workers to create an environment where an offender's behavior is questioned and dealt with appropriately.
The ministry has a team of experts who help churches better discern which offenders are praying to God or preying on kids. They assign a professional with years of experience working with sexual offenders to churches to enable them to better deal with problem situations before children are harmed.
Both Sporer and Vann are passionate about serving church leaders so all kids can be safe at church. For more information about this important ministry visit: www.KidsSafeMinistries.com.
Here are some hard-core facts regarding sexual offenders:
Registered offenders attend church to worship and spirituality is part of their recovery. * Non-convicted offenders are turning to God in desperation to quit their sin before they are discovered.
Churchgoing men who are in secret sexual sin are going deeper and darker into sin, leading to sexual crimes, followed by shame, guilt, and a temporary return to God.
In an effort to deal with sexual offenders who have turned to God, two therapists, Greg Sporer and Steve Vann, quit their jobs to develop "Keeping Kids Safe Ministries."
"Neither of us could sit idle with the knowledge that sexual offenders may be attending church for the wrong reasons," Sporer said. Sporer worked in prison sexual offender treatment programs and Vann was employed as a treatment provider for adolescent offenders. Both men are concerned about children's safety.
They now use their 40,000 hours of combined experience working with sexual offenders to keep kids safe at churches. They have biblical solutions to deal with offenders who attend church for the right or wrong reasons.
According to Vann, God offers forgiveness for all sinners including offenders. He explains that it is good news that offenders are turning to God; however, the bad news is that most church leaders are not prepared for the increase in offenders who worship at church or the church members who are there to offend children.
Sporer, who has specialised in church sexual offenders since 1989, believes that churchgoers continue to be naive about their own church members - most church sexual abuse cases involve members of their church.
Some churchgoers will witness suspicious behaviors, but not report it because the behaviors do not match up with their perceptions of a sexual offender. Church offenders display Christian character, and are often married, and use their spotless criminal record to gain positions working with kids. So, are churches defenseless with hidden sexual offenders in their congregation? "Absolutely not," Vann said. "Church sexual abuse is preventable. All church offenders have two weaknesses that are on display prior to any offense: boundary violations with a teen or child; and suspicious behaviors."
Vann continues that it is too risky for a hidden church offender to stay in a church that is skilled in dealing with boundary violations and suspicious behaviors. "Keeping Kids Safe Ministries" invests in church leaders and church youth workers to create an environment where an offender's behavior is questioned and dealt with appropriately.
The ministry has a team of experts who help churches better discern which offenders are praying to God or preying on kids. They assign a professional with years of experience working with sexual offenders to churches to enable them to better deal with problem situations before children are harmed.
Both Sporer and Vann are passionate about serving church leaders so all kids can be safe at church. For more information about this important ministry visit: www.KidsSafeMinistries.com.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
New online green news magazine now published
The That’s News organisation in association with AFJ Media Services and MelaMedia have launched a new online magazine called That’s Green.
A spokesman said: “The new channel is aimed at complementing our range of other online magazines. We are very aware that green issues and the environment are a major concern for most people these days, and we want to do our bit to ensure that green issues and environmental stories are given the prominence that they so rightly deserve.”
He went on to say: “We will cover a wide range of issues, from new, greener heating systems for domestic and commercial use, new green technologies and green campaign groups, That’s Green will bring you the environmental and green news that matters, news that will help keep you up-to-speed and aware of what is happening.”
You can either reach That’s Green direct at http://thatsgreen.blogspot.com, or via the Thatsnews portal at www.thatsnews.org.uk.
That’s News now publishes nine different news channels from books to entertainment, from business news to construction, from food and drink to health, from the environment to education.
A spokesman said: “The new channel is aimed at complementing our range of other online magazines. We are very aware that green issues and the environment are a major concern for most people these days, and we want to do our bit to ensure that green issues and environmental stories are given the prominence that they so rightly deserve.”
He went on to say: “We will cover a wide range of issues, from new, greener heating systems for domestic and commercial use, new green technologies and green campaign groups, That’s Green will bring you the environmental and green news that matters, news that will help keep you up-to-speed and aware of what is happening.”
You can either reach That’s Green direct at http://thatsgreen.blogspot.com, or via the Thatsnews portal at www.thatsnews.org.uk.
That’s News now publishes nine different news channels from books to entertainment, from business news to construction, from food and drink to health, from the environment to education.
Monday, March 12, 2007
New film about Mormons set in London
Piccadilly Cowboy Rides In with Special Screening
A new romantic comedy, ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ (www.piccadillycowboy.com), will be given a special screening in London on Saturday ahead of this month’s release in the United States. The 100 minute film has been shot on location in London and the Scottish Highlands on a budget of less than £300,000, by Utah based Ford Films (www.fordfilms.com).
The screening of ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’, which will take place at 6pm on Saturday, March 17, at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London, WIJ 9LN.
‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ is a classic ‘fish out of water’ romantic comedy about a Montana cowboy, living in London, who can’t marry the girl he falls in love with until he first finds a suitable husband for her older sister.
Jaelan Petrie plays Carson Wells, the 30-year-old who has never been a real ladies’ man until his cowboy hat, boots and American charm win the heart of beautiful British girl Lucy Armstrong (Kate Foster-Barnes). Everything seems to be going well for Carson in the big smoke, and after three months of dating he asks Lucy’s grandfather, Mr Armstrong (James Greene), for her hand in marriage.
The unexpected reply is that he must first find a husband for Lucy’s older sister, Gemma (Sophie Shaw). While finding her a potential mate, Carson’s life changes for ever… ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ will be released in Salt Lake City, Utah, this month. It has been directed, produced and co-written by Mormon filmmaker Tyler Ford, who started the project after graduating from the London Film School in 2004.
“I wanted ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ to be light-hearted, and watchable, and I hope cinema-goers will find it an entertaining alternative to the kind of violent gangster movies a lot of British filmmakers seem to be preoccupied with,” says Ford.
“As an independent production. we were able to get some great discounts on London services and equipment hire, enabling us to shoot this film on a budget of less than £300,000. Although it was a struggle at times, I’m extremely happy with the film, and confident it will be well received.”
‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ was shot on high definition video at 3 Mills Studios, in East London, as well as on location in the capital and in Scotland. Ford recruited Daniel Shantakumar, a fellow Mormon from Utah, to act as executive director.
It is the first film to be made in England with Mormons as the main characters since ‘Trapped by the Mormons’ was made 1922, and the filmmakers hope to find their core audience in the mountainous US States around Utah. Jaelan Petrie has previously starred in ‘Handcart’, and James Greene was in both ‘Empire of the Sun’ and ‘Johnny English’.
Other principal cast members include Gwyneth Powell (‘Back to the Secret Garden’, ‘Face of Darkness’), Tom Butcher (TV’s ‘Doctors’ and ‘The Bill’), Dermot Keaney (‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3’), Sophie Shaw, and Kate Foster-Barnes.
The film was shot by English director of photography Gareth Pritchard, and casting director was Lucy Jenkins. ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ features music by Alan Hawkshaw, who was nominated for a ‘Best Drama Score’ BAFTA for the TV series ‘Love Hurts’, and awarded ‘Best Arrangement’ by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for ‘I Honestly Love You’. A re-recording of the song, originally sung by Olivia Newton-John, was produced for ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’. Hawkshaw’s ‘Move, Move, Move’ featured in ‘Nacho Libre’, and was on the soundtrack.
Ford Films is an independent production company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company was launched in 2005 to develop and produce high-quality and commercially viable productions for film and television. It recently completed ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’, its first feature film.
www.piccadillycowboy.com Ford Films 8415 South Colene Drive Sandy Utah 84094 USA Tel:+ 801-674-9591 www.fordfilms.com
You might also like to check out the following links to the film that the producers proudly mention, Trapped by the Mormons (a UK-made anti-Mormon film from 1922) www.imdb.com/title/tt0013705
Nobody seems to have told Ford Films that in Britain a Piccadilly Cowboy has another meaning. fortunately nothing too distasteful. A member of the British Household Cavalry is referred to as a Piccadilly Cowboy.
Incidentally a remake of Trapped by the Mormons has been made. But for some reason the producers decided to have an undead Zombie Joseph Smith strutting his funky stuff which was certainly NOT found in the original film. Although maybe it should have been...
It seems that Cherry Red, an experimental theatre group, makers of the remake (whew! THAT was clumsy done by yours truly!) were responsible for other such exciting and interesting projects as: "Cannibal Cheerleaders on Crack" and "Baked Baby".
You can link to the remaked film at www.trappedbythemormons.com
And for those of you who have not seen the Ausie Atheist John Saffren, you can find his film/movie/programme/program at www.ifilm.com/video/2798459
A new romantic comedy, ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ (www.piccadillycowboy.com), will be given a special screening in London on Saturday ahead of this month’s release in the United States. The 100 minute film has been shot on location in London and the Scottish Highlands on a budget of less than £300,000, by Utah based Ford Films (www.fordfilms.com).
The screening of ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’, which will take place at 6pm on Saturday, March 17, at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London, WIJ 9LN.
‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ is a classic ‘fish out of water’ romantic comedy about a Montana cowboy, living in London, who can’t marry the girl he falls in love with until he first finds a suitable husband for her older sister.
Jaelan Petrie plays Carson Wells, the 30-year-old who has never been a real ladies’ man until his cowboy hat, boots and American charm win the heart of beautiful British girl Lucy Armstrong (Kate Foster-Barnes). Everything seems to be going well for Carson in the big smoke, and after three months of dating he asks Lucy’s grandfather, Mr Armstrong (James Greene), for her hand in marriage.
The unexpected reply is that he must first find a husband for Lucy’s older sister, Gemma (Sophie Shaw). While finding her a potential mate, Carson’s life changes for ever… ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ will be released in Salt Lake City, Utah, this month. It has been directed, produced and co-written by Mormon filmmaker Tyler Ford, who started the project after graduating from the London Film School in 2004.
“I wanted ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ to be light-hearted, and watchable, and I hope cinema-goers will find it an entertaining alternative to the kind of violent gangster movies a lot of British filmmakers seem to be preoccupied with,” says Ford.
“As an independent production. we were able to get some great discounts on London services and equipment hire, enabling us to shoot this film on a budget of less than £300,000. Although it was a struggle at times, I’m extremely happy with the film, and confident it will be well received.”
‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ was shot on high definition video at 3 Mills Studios, in East London, as well as on location in the capital and in Scotland. Ford recruited Daniel Shantakumar, a fellow Mormon from Utah, to act as executive director.
It is the first film to be made in England with Mormons as the main characters since ‘Trapped by the Mormons’ was made 1922, and the filmmakers hope to find their core audience in the mountainous US States around Utah. Jaelan Petrie has previously starred in ‘Handcart’, and James Greene was in both ‘Empire of the Sun’ and ‘Johnny English’.
Other principal cast members include Gwyneth Powell (‘Back to the Secret Garden’, ‘Face of Darkness’), Tom Butcher (TV’s ‘Doctors’ and ‘The Bill’), Dermot Keaney (‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3’), Sophie Shaw, and Kate Foster-Barnes.
The film was shot by English director of photography Gareth Pritchard, and casting director was Lucy Jenkins. ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’ features music by Alan Hawkshaw, who was nominated for a ‘Best Drama Score’ BAFTA for the TV series ‘Love Hurts’, and awarded ‘Best Arrangement’ by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for ‘I Honestly Love You’. A re-recording of the song, originally sung by Olivia Newton-John, was produced for ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’. Hawkshaw’s ‘Move, Move, Move’ featured in ‘Nacho Libre’, and was on the soundtrack.
Ford Films is an independent production company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company was launched in 2005 to develop and produce high-quality and commercially viable productions for film and television. It recently completed ‘Piccadilly Cowboy’, its first feature film.
www.piccadillycowboy.com Ford Films 8415 South Colene Drive Sandy Utah 84094 USA Tel:+ 801-674-9591 www.fordfilms.com
You might also like to check out the following links to the film that the producers proudly mention, Trapped by the Mormons (a UK-made anti-Mormon film from 1922) www.imdb.com/title/tt0013705
Nobody seems to have told Ford Films that in Britain a Piccadilly Cowboy has another meaning. fortunately nothing too distasteful. A member of the British Household Cavalry is referred to as a Piccadilly Cowboy.
Incidentally a remake of Trapped by the Mormons has been made. But for some reason the producers decided to have an undead Zombie Joseph Smith strutting his funky stuff which was certainly NOT found in the original film. Although maybe it should have been...
It seems that Cherry Red, an experimental theatre group, makers of the remake (whew! THAT was clumsy done by yours truly!) were responsible for other such exciting and interesting projects as: "Cannibal Cheerleaders on Crack" and "Baked Baby".
You can link to the remaked film at www.trappedbythemormons.com
And for those of you who have not seen the Ausie Atheist John Saffren, you can find his film/movie/programme/program at www.ifilm.com/video/2798459
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Why the Mormon Church will NEVER admit Brigham Young was wrong!
There's a simple reason why the Mormon Church (Utah offshoot) will never, ever admit that Brigham Young was in the wrong, about anything, ever.
If they admit that Young introduced and practiced the evil blood atonement doctrine (and that people were subjected to what amounted to ritualistic killing for "crimes" like having a Mormon leader covert your wife and or goods) and admitted that Young ordered and covered up the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and that he made millions of Dollars by ripping off the handcart pioneers, and that he ordered and covered up the murder of dozens of outsiders in case they might be government spies and that he almost certainly 'stole' the presidency of the Mormon Church, tThey would then have to admit that Young was not only a "fallen prophet" but that he stole the leadership by subterfuge and criminal acts.
So, therefore in admitting that Brigham Young was not the rightful successor to Joseph Smith, they would have to acknowledge that the RLDS (or one of the other offshoots) was the rightful successor to Joseph Smith.
That will not happen anytime soon. Although I suppose there is a Small chance that such a rapprochement might occur some time within the next 50 years, though this does very muh depend on how the Utah Mormon leaders react and if they can take the majority of the people with them. Some diehard Utah Mormons wold probably seek out the polygamous sects to join.
If they admit that Young introduced and practiced the evil blood atonement doctrine (and that people were subjected to what amounted to ritualistic killing for "crimes" like having a Mormon leader covert your wife and or goods) and admitted that Young ordered and covered up the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and that he made millions of Dollars by ripping off the handcart pioneers, and that he ordered and covered up the murder of dozens of outsiders in case they might be government spies and that he almost certainly 'stole' the presidency of the Mormon Church, tThey would then have to admit that Young was not only a "fallen prophet" but that he stole the leadership by subterfuge and criminal acts.
So, therefore in admitting that Brigham Young was not the rightful successor to Joseph Smith, they would have to acknowledge that the RLDS (or one of the other offshoots) was the rightful successor to Joseph Smith.
That will not happen anytime soon. Although I suppose there is a Small chance that such a rapprochement might occur some time within the next 50 years, though this does very muh depend on how the Utah Mormon leaders react and if they can take the majority of the people with them. Some diehard Utah Mormons wold probably seek out the polygamous sects to join.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
New study shows black tea helps with stress relief (Sorry, Mormons!)
Drinking tea can help you recover more quickly from the stresses of everyday life, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers. New scientific evidence shows that black tea has an effect on stress hormone levels in the body.
The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who drank a fake tea substitute. The study participants - who drank a black tea concoction four times a day for six weeks - were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event, compared with a control group who drank the placebo tea for the same period of time.
In the six week study, particpants gave up their normal tea, coffee and caffeinated beverages, then one group was given a fruit-flavoured caffeinated tea mixture made up of the constituents of an average cup of black tea whilst the control group was given a caffeinated placebo identical in taste. Both groups were subjected to challenging tasks, while their levels of stress were measured.
When measured both groups showed evidence of similar stress levels, however, 50 minutes after the task, cortisol levels had dropped by an average of 47 per cent in the tea drinking group compared with 27 per cent in the placebo tea group.
Bill Gorman of The UK Tea Council said; "This new research adds to the evidence that drinking tea is good for you. Not only does tea hydrate and offer some protection against heart disease and some cancers, it's now proven to de-stress too. It's great to know that a cuppa, one of life's great comforts, can be enjoyed not just for the taste but also for its health benefits."
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Something very good from Utah. Grow your own vegies training videos for free
First ever availability of FFEF new Vegetable Gardening Training videos as digital downloads
The Non-Profit Food For Everyone Foundation (FFEF) www.foodforeveryone.org, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is pleased to announce the first ever availability of their new Vegetable Gardening Training videos as digital downloads, via the internet.
These videos constitute a college-level agronomy course that is being used in many countries around the world to create highly successful family growers of gardens of all sizes, including commercial enterprises, that are models of productivity and sustainability. The packages are as follows:
Package I - Soil-Bed Gardening Basics
Package II - Grow-Box Gardening Basics
Package III - Recognizing and Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies
Package IV - Greenhouse Vegetable Production Training & Examples Package V - Successful Gardening in Any Soil or No Soil - Worldwide #1
Package VI - Successful Gardening in Any Soil or No Soil - Worldwide #2 The foundation is also excited to offer an affiliate program through “RightCart”, so that interested online website owners can help the foundation spread the word about highly productive vegetable gardening, and also share in the income generated from sales of these valuable materials.
Information on the digital training materials can be found on http://www.howtoorganicgarden.com/videos.htm Foundation humanitarian training projects have been conducted for 43 years in 31 countries around the world, first by Dr. Jacob R. Mittleider, and most recently by current foundation President, Jim Kennard.
Locations for humanitarian assistance are chosen on the basis of need and willingness of the governments and people to accept and implement the improved methods. Examples of lives changed by the Foundation’s work are inspiring.
From Papua New Guinea to Africa and Madagascar, and from Russia to America’s Indian reservations, it is reported that many thousands of families have been empowered to improve their lives dramatically and permanently by following these improved growing methods. Questions, requests for, and offers of assistance can be directed to Jim Kennard, Foundation President at 848 Woodruff Way, SLC, UT 84108 – (888) 548-4449, or to Jim(at)Foodforeveryone.org
The Non-Profit Food For Everyone Foundation (FFEF) www.foodforeveryone.org, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is pleased to announce the first ever availability of their new Vegetable Gardening Training videos as digital downloads, via the internet.
These videos constitute a college-level agronomy course that is being used in many countries around the world to create highly successful family growers of gardens of all sizes, including commercial enterprises, that are models of productivity and sustainability. The packages are as follows:
Package I - Soil-Bed Gardening Basics
Package II - Grow-Box Gardening Basics
Package III - Recognizing and Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies
Package IV - Greenhouse Vegetable Production Training & Examples Package V - Successful Gardening in Any Soil or No Soil - Worldwide #1
Package VI - Successful Gardening in Any Soil or No Soil - Worldwide #2 The foundation is also excited to offer an affiliate program through “RightCart”, so that interested online website owners can help the foundation spread the word about highly productive vegetable gardening, and also share in the income generated from sales of these valuable materials.
Information on the digital training materials can be found on http://www.howtoorganicgarden.com/videos.htm Foundation humanitarian training projects have been conducted for 43 years in 31 countries around the world, first by Dr. Jacob R. Mittleider, and most recently by current foundation President, Jim Kennard.
Locations for humanitarian assistance are chosen on the basis of need and willingness of the governments and people to accept and implement the improved methods. Examples of lives changed by the Foundation’s work are inspiring.
From Papua New Guinea to Africa and Madagascar, and from Russia to America’s Indian reservations, it is reported that many thousands of families have been empowered to improve their lives dramatically and permanently by following these improved growing methods. Questions, requests for, and offers of assistance can be directed to Jim Kennard, Foundation President at 848 Woodruff Way, SLC, UT 84108 – (888) 548-4449, or to Jim(at)Foodforeveryone.org
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Reverand Craig X Rubin and family to be rendered homeless by LAPD?
When Reverend Craig X Rubin was arrested at his house of worship he asked the lead LAPD officer for the special rights accorded to clergy under California Penal Codes 1524 and 1525, but was told by the officer that his Bible-based Judeo-Christian organization, that was recognized by the state of California, was "not practicing a real religion."
Temple 420 is a registered religious organization with the State of California (CA Corporation #C2791851) and Reverend Rubin has been ordained by a church that has passed the State's organizational test in court. Members of the congregation use cannabis in their temple - a practice that has gotten them into trouble with the LAPD.
People know Reverend Craig X Rubin for the role he plays, as the owner of the medical marijuana club, on the hit show "Weeds" on Showtime; but what people don't know is that he is a messianic Jewish preacher on the weekends.Temple 420 on Hollywood Blvd.
(http://www.temple420.org/) has services every Saturday and Sunday at 4:20 p.m. The Old Testament is taught on Saturday and the New Testament on Sundays. The unusual thing about Temple 420 is their faith that cannabis is the "Tree of Life," spoken about in several places in the Bible; most notably the Book of Genesis and the Book of Revelation, where it describes the leaves of this plant as being, "for the healing of all nations" because cannabis, sometimes called hemp, is so versatile as a natural resource.
"Ending the prohibition on cannabis will get us out of the Middle East sooner," claims Reverend Rubin, "because we can use cannabis to make fuel, thus making us more energy independent. The President keeps talking 'switch grass' and I know which grass he should switch. Henry Ford built a hemp car that ran on hemp fuel back in the 1930s."
(Photo Caption: Image of Henry Ford and his hemp car.) The congregation feels burning the Tree of Life reminds them to follow the Laws of God, the Ten Commandments, that emanated from a burning bush. Further, they use the smoke of the plant as an intercessory to carry their prayers to God.
Both Jewish and Christian members of the sect agree that cannabis is the Biblical Tree of Life and wonder why they are treated differently than the Catholic Church who actually did recently commit crimes and allegedly covered them up.
"Could you imagine the type of paramilitary force that invaded our temple, kicking down the doors of the Catholic Church to get information on alleged pedophile priests? Yet that is exactly what they did in our house of worship."
Officers kicked their way into the sanctuary with weapons pointed, without the slightest thought or care of putting their paramilitary boots on the Holy Cross and Star of David on the custom made temple doors.
The Reverend continued, "I was taught in California public schools all the way through graduating from UCLA. I have seven children, have no criminal record, and yet without a conviction the LAPD has seized all of my personal assets, leaving my family penniless and about to be homeless."
On February 13, 2007 the Reverend responded as the City of Los Angeles tried to permanently seize control of the Reverend's life savings. He had 30 days to respond or his worldly assets became their property.
When filing his response and requesting a quick resolution he was told by Sharon Terry of the District Attorney's Office, "Not to expect a hearing anytime soon" as the City was busy. Meanwhile, the Reverend and his family are being evicted, as their assets are held for an indefinite period of time, and the Temple's only income comes from donations via the Internet.
According to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the authorities can only use "the least restrictive means necessary" if they feel a religious organization is violating rules of general applicability.
That is why Reverend Rubin has filed a complaint with the LAPD (CF07-000151) and has given notice to the city of his intent to sue for religious discrimination and violations of his civil rights.
The complaint alleges that Officer Trayce Fields knew on August 25, 2006 that Reverend Rubin was an ordained minister teaching the Bible at his Hollywood Temple and she did not give that information as required by law to the judge who issued the warrant."
American churches should be concerned about religious freedoms at this time in our history. That is why I took this case. Temple 420 is reaching people other churches don't," says defense council La'Chelle Woodert, as she represents Reverend Rubin, who is facing seven years in prison for his religious beliefs.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Celebrate the ' Year of the Pig ' with Tetley Green Tea!
On 18 February, 1.3 billion people in China and around 160,000 Chinese residents in the UK begin a 15-day celebration of Chinese New Year.
A truly global celebration, Chinese NewYear includes many centuries-old customs. Red envelopes containing money are given to unmarried adults and children and there is the ritualistic serving of green tea on the ninth day to pay respect to an honoured person.
But there is also more widespread drinking of green tea throughout the celebrations (and, of course, throughout the year), making New Year's drinks a rather healthier option in China than they tend to be in the UK!
And now you can join in the celebrations and welcome the 'Year of the Pig 'with a cup of authentic Tetley Green Tea. With leaves gently steamed to preserve the delicate flavour of the Camellia Sinensis plant it comes from,Tetley Green Tea gives a great taste of this ancient Chinese tradition.
Tetley green teas are naturally rich in antioxidants, hydrating like waterand without any calories or fat whatsoever. If you want to extend your New Year celebrations, remember there are fourdifferent varieties from Tetley to try.
As well as Green Tea Pure, thereis Tetley Green Lemon which is a perfect pick me up, Tetley Green Mint with extra zest thanks to its real mint and even a Decaffeinated Green tea. Whichever one you choose, you'll open a treasure-trove of flavour and benefits to your health.
So go out, wish your friends and family good health, good fortune and prosperity - and share with them a cup of Tetley Green Tea.
Overview of Britain's favourite tea maker: Tetley is the biggest manufacturer and distributor of tea in the UK. It has exactly one quarter of the country’s £530m-a-year tea market, and its main brand tea bags are regularly bought by over eight million UK households.
The four popular varieties of Tetley Green Tea make it a strong contender in the UK’s fast-growing green tea market, currently worth £14.8m.
Tetley are experts in tea, and have a huge range of other brands of teas and infusions, and these are becoming an increasingly important part of its business. Some, such as luxury teas Earl Grey and English Breakfast or old favourites Quick Brew and Lyons Red Label, are aimed at more traditional markets.
Others address the growing demand for alternative, overtly healthy hot drinks. Tetley already has a strong range of herbal and fruit infusions, and it is expanding its offering still further with new brand like Tetley Redbush and Tetley Organic.
Combining tradition with innovation in this way, Tetley is well placed to consolidate its place as Britain's favourite tea maker. Tetley really is ‘Everyone’s cup of tea!'
Just think! All those poor faith Mormons missing out on the benefits of green tea. It is quite sad, isn't it?
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A letter to the Mormon President
I found this on a press release service and decided I just had to share it on Notamormon
A letter to the Mormon President requesting a name to be removed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DANIEL EVANS dano@open.org (Please feel free to write) Nov. 15, 1993 Ezra Taft Benson, President The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Dear President Benson: This letter is to inform you that I wish to be removed permanently from membership in, and the rolls of, the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
I request that this be done immediately. This is not an action that I take lightly, but it is something I do gladly, as I have found great joy, peace and freedom in my Lord Jesus Christ. I wish the members of the Mormon church well, and will always think of them as fine, upstanding, and loving people.
I was an earnest and faithful Mormon for many years. I got married in the Temple, believed in the Church wholeheartedly, and sacrificed for it. The following are a few of my reasons for leaving the Mormon Church. I know they will not be easy for you to read, but please try to do so with an open mind.
I am concerned about discrepancies between what the Church teaches, and the teachings of the Bible. The Mormon church teaches that there are many Gods. The Bible teaches that there is one only. Joseph Smith taught "that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father," and that "you may suppose that He had a Father also." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) Orson Pratt said, "If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds." (Journal of Discourses, vol.2, page 345)
The Bible teaches throughout it's pages of there being only one God. Even the Book of Mormon teaches monotheism: "And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? And Amulek said: Yea there is a true and living God. Now, Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No." Alma 11:26-30 "...I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." 3 Nephi 9:18 "so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD and there is no other." Isaiah 45:6 " ...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9 "...Is there any God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8
"Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein..." Nehemiah 9:6 The God who made the universe says he is LORD alone. I believe he leaves no room for doubt. If God had a father wouldn't he know of him? If there really were other Gods why is there no mention of them in the Book of Mormon or the Bible? The message God sends time and time again is that he is the only God.
The Mormon Church teaches heretically that man can become a God, and that God was once a man. Joseph Smith taught, "First God himself who sits enthroned in yonder heavens, is a man like unto one of yourselves, that is the great secret.... I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined that God was God from all eternity.... God himself; the Father of us all dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did,... You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves;...No man can learn you more than what I have told you." This teaching is one of the root evils of Mormonism. Think about it- isn't this very idea, that man can work his way up to being a God, a major tenant of humanism and new age belief?
Think about it again- where is the first place in the Bible that one finds the idea of a man becoming like God? It was whispered by the serpent to Eve; saying eat of the apple and "...ye shall be as gods..."(Genesis 3:5) This was not whispered as a good thing, but as an enticement by the father of lies himself! The Bible does not teach about a changing God who once was a man, once died, and once sinned. I
t does not teach that a man can become a God. It teaches exactly the opposite. Again the Book of Mormon is in agreement: "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." Moroni 8:18 "For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting,.." Moroni 7:22 "Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" Mormon 9:8,9 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 "(God has)...no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 " ...I am God, and not man..." Hosea 11:9 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6 "God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind..." Numbers 23:19 "O LORD are you not from everlasting?..." Habakkuk 1:12 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psalms 90:2 "I the LORD do not change..." Malachi 3:6 "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." Isaiah 43:10 This is clearly the first and last God. We have not "imagined" that God was God from all eternity, the Bible says so definitively. The Bible leaves no room for other "Gods" to be formed.
It emphatically states throughout its pages that God has always existed as God and has never changed. How could the Bible have made it more clear? God is God alone, and there never were, nor will there ever be any others. Also see Mosiah 3:5, Alma 11:39, Psalms 41:13, 93:2, 103:17, Proverbs 8:23, Revelation 1:8. It is important to note that when you study one of these passages in Hebrew, the case is made even more unambiguous. In Isaiah 43:10 for example, the word used for God is El meaning " mighty one".
Once this is understood, it is obvious that the scripture is not talking about idols per Se, but about Gods. Thus read the scripture would say: "... Before me there were no 'mighty ones' formed, neither shall there be after me." The Mormon church does not understand grace, faith or salvation, and in fact teaches doctrine turned 180 degrees from the Biblical truth. The Mormon church teaches that "
There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come...(Sermon by Brigham Young given Sept. 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54) It teaches a works oriented salvation that "puts the cart before the horse" in its approach. It denies the power of Christ and exalts the pride of man. I learned as a Mormon to try to "make myself perfect".
I learned that I needed to follow a laundry list of do's and don'ts. I believed that I needed to follow a highly organized system of men placed between me and my maker to obtain God's forgiveness or work within his authority.
I learned that these men had control in my life, and that when one of them in authority spoke I was to take it as having come from the mouth of the LORD. When my ears were open enough for me to really understand the New Testament I understood that you had lied to me. Men are sinners- born into it- and cannot make themselves perfect. The Bible teaches that men are accepted by Christ in their sins, that he loves them, and takes them how they are. It teaches that this is a result of faith in him.
It says that though their nature still remains sinful, Christ changes them from the inside as a result of faith, but not as a result of their works. The Bible teaches that Christ's infinite atonement covers all sin of all men who believe in him. It teaches that the Old Testament order of having to have an intermediary between man and God is done away with, and that Christ is the only way to God. All through the New Testament the pattern of faith preceding an unwarranted action is set. Jesus never says anything like, "you've done very well in your keeping of the word of wisdom - therefore I'll heal you."
But he frequently says things like, "Take heart, daughter...your faith has healed you." (Matthew 9:22) When a woman who "was a sinner" came to see Jesus, and washed his feet with her tears, he did not say, "That's a good start, now go and undo all the sins you've committed, clean up your life, clean up your thoughts, do some worthy work and when you are finished come back to me and I'll appoint some people to see about forgiving you."
No, he very simply said, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." You see, she was already forgiven. Nothing she could do could earn it, and she didn't have to; Jesus gave it to her freely because of her faith. Can't you see how simple and beautiful this is? Jesus has done this for me also and I weep when I think of it because I am so very grateful. I plead with you to let him take you just as you are too.
Please see Matthew 8:10-13, 9:2, 9:29 and 15:28. The Bible teaches plainly that we are saved by grace through faith. It teaches that no one will be saved by their good works. Truly, faith that produces no good works is a dead faith, but when there is a real faith it produces its work as a result of Christ and the changes he makes in the believer.
The Bible is definitive in its argument for faith as being the ingredient for salvation: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:20-24 "THEREFORE BEING justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1 "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works..." Romans 9:30- 32 "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 It fits well within Mormonism's humanistic model that they have put the emphasis on becoming perfect.
After all, they have put the emphasis on becoming a God. When we seek goodness through our works we try to say to Christ, "I know you couldn't pay the whole debt - here let me pay it too." We deny his power to accept us as what we are. We say, "hands off- I can change myself into what you ( I ) want."
But the fact is that HE makes the changes in us through faith. The Bible teaches the simple truth on this matter: When we believe in Christ he sets us free. When God looks upon us in judgment he sees only an imperfect man, but one saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Please see Acts 15:8-11, 26:18, Romans 1:5, 4:1-10, 4:14-16, 5:7-9, 10:4, 10:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:15-16, 3:22-25, Philippians 3:7-9, Titus 2:11-12 The Book of Mormon is a largely plagiarized document with no historical, anthropological, ar archaeological basis in reality. The Mormon church claims that the Nephites had the Old Testament books which were written prior to the time they left Jerusalem (around 600 B.C.).
Therefore it comes as no surprise that the Book of Mormon contains many quotations taken right from the Old Testament (over 18 chapters of Isaiah alone). What is surprising is that many of these passages were quoted word for word from the King James version of the Bible. What is more surprising still is that the Book of Mormon authors were able to quote from books written after 600 B.C.
Let's think about this: How could Joseph Smith have translated exact word for word quotes from "reformed Egyptian" into King James style English? Why would these match word for word with the King James translation of the Bible which itself had been translated from Hebrew and Greek? The King James translators who unfortunately lacked the "Urim and Thummim" did very well to produce the exact translation Joseph Smith did!
The Book of Mormon contains many examples of stories and ideas lifted from the Bible (see Alma 19 and John 11). The Book of Mormon proves itself a forgery when it quotes from King James version New Testament verses word for word: "...to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life..." 2 Nephi 9:39 "... to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life..." Romans 8:6 "...O wretched man that I am..." 2 Nephi 4:17 "O wretched man that I am..." Romans 7:24 "...steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works..." Mosiah 5:15 "...steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work..." 1 Corinthians 15:58 "...seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Moroni 7:45 "...seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
There are many more examples of plagiarism in the Book of Mormon. One study found over four hundred. Remember, these are New Testament scriptures that the Nephites did not have. How could they have gotten into the Book of Mormon word for word? Not only does the Book of Mormon use the exact same wording (even unusual wording like "stinketh" found in Alma 19:5 and John 11:39) as the New Testament, but it frequently uses it in exactly the same order! Mark Twain, in his book Roughing It remarked that the Book of Mormon "seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the Old Testament for a model; followed by a tedious plagiarism of the New Testament."
I think he hit the nail right on the head. The Book of Mormon condemns itself. The Book of Mormon purports to be the record of ancient Jews who came to the new world. This being the case, where in its text is there evidence of Jewish religion and tradition such as Passover, Circumcision, any of the Jewish festivals, etc.?
These things were very important to the people of that time and are mentioned frequently in the Bible. Why not in the Book of Mormon? Also, why would these Israelites have written their record in Egyptian? Lehi had lived all his life in the city of Jerusalem, where they only spoke the Hebrew language. The Jews hated the Egyptians, and even if he could have written in their language (highly unlikely) he certainly wouldn't have; The Jews were known to have an unusual love for their mother tongue. Also, is there any biological evidence connecting the American Indians with the Jews? There is none.
In fact the genetic evidence suggests quite the opposite. When a city, a sight of battle, person's name, or even a type of coin is written about in the Bible, there is archaeological evidence to support it. I have seen coins mentioned in the Bible with my own eyes, right here in Salem, Oregon. When the Bible talks of the city of Jericho - there is evidence to support that it existed; namely Jericho itself!
The Bible states that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and an inscription has been found with the name of Pontius Pilate in theater excavations at Caesarea. There are mountains of physical evidence to support biblical archaeology.
Why is this not the case with the Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon talks about names and places. It contains the story of entire civilizations, and their cities, their battles, their leaders names, their religion, even the value and names of some of their coins. In all this mass of civilization, where is even one single piece of anthropological evidence to support the claims of the Book of Mormon?
There are no coins. There are no inscriptions of leaders names. There is no evidence of the huge battles mentioned in its text. There isn't even evidence of the cities mentioned in The Book of Mormon! Where are Zarahemla and Bountiful?
There is plenty of anthropological evidence of the civilizations that really were present during Book of Mormon times. Unfortunately, none of this evidence even suggests a Christian civilization present in America. Many Mormon anthropologists have dedicated their lives to finding Book of Mormon archaeology, and the Mormon church has financed many expeditions and much research to prove its case. Still, there remains not one piece of evidence in support of the Book of Mormon.
Why not? Because it simply is not there. The Mormon Church's history, doctrine, and even scriptures have been changed many times to suit the present needs of its leadership. There have been many deliberate changes in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, History of the Church, etc. The Church has made a deliberate effort to distort its own history, and keep its members in the dark.
As a Mormon I learned about Joseph Smith's martyrdom. I learned that he went to his death "like a lamb to the slaughter." I was taught that he went humbly and without resistance just as Jesus did. Can you imagine what a shock it was to me to learn that he had in fact died in a gunfight, doing his level best to kill his attackers?
The following accounts from the History of the Church are given of Joseph Smith's death: Immediately there was a little rustling at the outer door of the jail, and a cry of surrender, and also a discharge of three or four firearms followed instantly...Joseph sprang to his coat for his six-shooter, Hyrum for his single barrel.... When Hyrum fell, Joseph exclaimed, "Oh dear, brother Hyrum!" and opening the door a few inches he discharged his six shooter in the stairway (as stated before) , two or three barrels of which missed fire. (History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 617- 18) John Taylor, who was to become the third president of the Church, added his testimony concerning Joseph Smith's death: He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Whellock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged.
I afterwards understood that two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom, I am informed died. (History of the Church, vol. 7, pp.102-3) This was not the Joseph Smith you had taught me about. He did not go like Jesus Christ, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not..." (1 Peter 2:23)
No, Joseph Smith went out shooting. Why don't you teach the truth about this? I learned as a Mormon that while the Bible was not reliable because it had been changed, (with later study I learned it was indeed reliable) the Book of Mormon was reliable and, "the most correct of any book on earth." Why then has it been changed over three thousand times? Many of these changes are grammatical, or spelling errors, but this book was supposed to have been translated directly by the power of God.
I remember the missionaries asking me how a boy could have written such a book without mistakes, without to help of God. Well, the first editions of the Book of Mormon are chock full of mistakes!
All one has to do to prove it to themselves is compare. My wife Stacey, was surprised when she looked up 2 Nephi 30:6 in a copy of The Book of Mormon that her grandmother had given her, and then in a newer copy of mine, and found that it had been changed. There is no footnote to explain why, no asterisk, or anything else. At the time of this change the church had been embarrassed by their teaching that the Indians who received the Gospel would turn white! Stacey's edition reads, "...and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people."
My edition reads, "...save they shall be a pure and delightsome people." This is just a recent change. There are other important doctrinal changes in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
For more information see The Changing World of Mormonism by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Moody Press, Chicago. Where are those good old doctrines of the early Mormon Church like Blood atonement, and the Adam-God doctrine? How come they aren't taught with the zeal that the "prophets" had for them?
As a Mormon I knew nothing about things like Blood atonement. You taught me that a prophet would never lead his people astray. That God would prohibit it. Well, lets look at what the "Prophet" Brigham Young taught: There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins... (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54; also published in the Desseret News, Oct. 1, 1856, p.235 ) J.M. Grant, a member of the first presidency under Brigham Young, followed up on this idea: ...there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.49-50)
Brigham young proposed this situation in which Blood atonement might occur. As you read it think to yourself if it in any way relates to the Savior of love and compassion written about in the Bible.
The "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" Savior. The Savior who is powerful enough to save all men from all sin, and paid the ultimate price to do so for you. (1 John 1:7-9) Let me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God.
I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands... There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt.
The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it... (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p.247) Is this true? If we are to atone for our own sins, then Jesus died for nothing!
What is our blood worth to God? What good does it do for our salvation? If it is true, then why isn't the Mormon church teaching and practicing "God's doctrine" of blood atonement today? No, the Bible totally repudiates this heretical teaching of blood atonement, and Brigham Young led his people astray.
One need only read it to find out. Brigham Young also taught that, "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world.
He is MICHAEL, the Arch-angel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken - HE is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, pp. 50-51) Brigham Young reaffirmed this doctrine and taught it many times.
It is even found in the journals of the Mormons of that time. If this "Prophet" didn't lead people astray, then why does the church teach that this is a false doctrine today? There are those who believe, or say they believe, that Adam is our father and our God,... The devil keeps this heresy alive... It is contrary to the plan of salvation...and anyone who has received the temple endowment and who yet believes the Adam-God theory does not deserve to be saved." (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, talk given at the BYU Marriot Center on June 1, 1980)
Okay, who's lying? The "Prophets" and "Apostles" of Brigham Young's time, or the "Prophets" and "Apostles" of today? I was married to Stacey in the Seattle, Washington temple on May 3, 1984.
I attended that temple with the belief that I would be instructed in sacred and ancient ceremonies, right from the Lord himself. As was expected of me, I obediently promised to slit my throat etc., rather than reveal the secrets of the temple. I was very surprised to learn in 1989 from a Mormon who wanted me to "come back to the temple, because I would like it better now" that the Lord had changed his mind yet again, and redone his sacred temple ceremony.
Even as a Mormon who did not yet understand that the temple ceremony is really a Masonic ceremony copied word for word, I knew that something was wrong! Why would God just suddenly change his mind about his own "sacred ceremony", eliminating the "penalties" and other sacred portions? Maybe God is rather a "politically correct" God. When confronted with opposition on the issue of polygamy, he simply changes his stance on it.
When confronted with Civil Rights he ignores his "prophet" who said, "If there was one drop of Negro blood" a black man could never hold the Priesthood, and caves in under the pressure. When people like me are made uncomfortable with the temples' bloody oaths, God just rewrites the program.
How convenient for the leadership of the Mormon Church to have such a changeable, malleable, saleable God. The God of the Bible is a much different God. He doesn't change his mind. He doesn't change. I hope you get to know him. (John 17:3) In closing I wish to tell you my greatest reason for leaving the Mormon Church.
It is in finding Jesus Christ. He also found me. He pulled me toward him and made me ready to listen. I tell you, reader of this letter, that he will do the same for you. I pray this for you. It will be my great joy to bring his message to all the people (including Mormons) I can.
The Gospel is simply that Christ lived, was crucified for each and every one of every man's sins, and was resurrected on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Galatians 1:8-9) Those who take away from this Gospel; who mock Christ's suffering on the cross by saying that it was not sufficient for all men and all sin; and those who would add to this Gospel legalism, secret (not sacred) ceremonies and signs as condition for salvation are terribly wrong. They are making a literally hellish mistake.
Jesus is my hope and my joy. I love him with all my heart, and am glad to let him make of my life what he wants. This is the truth, and I leave it with you in His name. Thank you, Dan Evans dano@open.org"
I am not quite sure why it was posted up so many years after it was written, but, there is is, I hope you found it interesting.
A letter to the Mormon President requesting a name to be removed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DANIEL EVANS dano@open.org (Please feel free to write) Nov. 15, 1993 Ezra Taft Benson, President The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Dear President Benson: This letter is to inform you that I wish to be removed permanently from membership in, and the rolls of, the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
I request that this be done immediately. This is not an action that I take lightly, but it is something I do gladly, as I have found great joy, peace and freedom in my Lord Jesus Christ. I wish the members of the Mormon church well, and will always think of them as fine, upstanding, and loving people.
I was an earnest and faithful Mormon for many years. I got married in the Temple, believed in the Church wholeheartedly, and sacrificed for it. The following are a few of my reasons for leaving the Mormon Church. I know they will not be easy for you to read, but please try to do so with an open mind.
I am concerned about discrepancies between what the Church teaches, and the teachings of the Bible. The Mormon church teaches that there are many Gods. The Bible teaches that there is one only. Joseph Smith taught "that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father," and that "you may suppose that He had a Father also." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) Orson Pratt said, "If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds." (Journal of Discourses, vol.2, page 345)
The Bible teaches throughout it's pages of there being only one God. Even the Book of Mormon teaches monotheism: "And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? And Amulek said: Yea there is a true and living God. Now, Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No." Alma 11:26-30 "...I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." 3 Nephi 9:18 "so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD and there is no other." Isaiah 45:6 " ...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9 "...Is there any God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8
"Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein..." Nehemiah 9:6 The God who made the universe says he is LORD alone. I believe he leaves no room for doubt. If God had a father wouldn't he know of him? If there really were other Gods why is there no mention of them in the Book of Mormon or the Bible? The message God sends time and time again is that he is the only God.
The Mormon Church teaches heretically that man can become a God, and that God was once a man. Joseph Smith taught, "First God himself who sits enthroned in yonder heavens, is a man like unto one of yourselves, that is the great secret.... I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined that God was God from all eternity.... God himself; the Father of us all dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did,... You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves;...No man can learn you more than what I have told you." This teaching is one of the root evils of Mormonism. Think about it- isn't this very idea, that man can work his way up to being a God, a major tenant of humanism and new age belief?
Think about it again- where is the first place in the Bible that one finds the idea of a man becoming like God? It was whispered by the serpent to Eve; saying eat of the apple and "...ye shall be as gods..."(Genesis 3:5) This was not whispered as a good thing, but as an enticement by the father of lies himself! The Bible does not teach about a changing God who once was a man, once died, and once sinned. I
t does not teach that a man can become a God. It teaches exactly the opposite. Again the Book of Mormon is in agreement: "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." Moroni 8:18 "For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting,.." Moroni 7:22 "Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" Mormon 9:8,9 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 "(God has)...no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 " ...I am God, and not man..." Hosea 11:9 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6 "God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind..." Numbers 23:19 "O LORD are you not from everlasting?..." Habakkuk 1:12 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psalms 90:2 "I the LORD do not change..." Malachi 3:6 "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." Isaiah 43:10 This is clearly the first and last God. We have not "imagined" that God was God from all eternity, the Bible says so definitively. The Bible leaves no room for other "Gods" to be formed.
It emphatically states throughout its pages that God has always existed as God and has never changed. How could the Bible have made it more clear? God is God alone, and there never were, nor will there ever be any others. Also see Mosiah 3:5, Alma 11:39, Psalms 41:13, 93:2, 103:17, Proverbs 8:23, Revelation 1:8. It is important to note that when you study one of these passages in Hebrew, the case is made even more unambiguous. In Isaiah 43:10 for example, the word used for God is El meaning " mighty one".
Once this is understood, it is obvious that the scripture is not talking about idols per Se, but about Gods. Thus read the scripture would say: "... Before me there were no 'mighty ones' formed, neither shall there be after me." The Mormon church does not understand grace, faith or salvation, and in fact teaches doctrine turned 180 degrees from the Biblical truth. The Mormon church teaches that "
There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come...(Sermon by Brigham Young given Sept. 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54) It teaches a works oriented salvation that "puts the cart before the horse" in its approach. It denies the power of Christ and exalts the pride of man. I learned as a Mormon to try to "make myself perfect".
I learned that I needed to follow a laundry list of do's and don'ts. I believed that I needed to follow a highly organized system of men placed between me and my maker to obtain God's forgiveness or work within his authority.
I learned that these men had control in my life, and that when one of them in authority spoke I was to take it as having come from the mouth of the LORD. When my ears were open enough for me to really understand the New Testament I understood that you had lied to me. Men are sinners- born into it- and cannot make themselves perfect. The Bible teaches that men are accepted by Christ in their sins, that he loves them, and takes them how they are. It teaches that this is a result of faith in him.
It says that though their nature still remains sinful, Christ changes them from the inside as a result of faith, but not as a result of their works. The Bible teaches that Christ's infinite atonement covers all sin of all men who believe in him. It teaches that the Old Testament order of having to have an intermediary between man and God is done away with, and that Christ is the only way to God. All through the New Testament the pattern of faith preceding an unwarranted action is set. Jesus never says anything like, "you've done very well in your keeping of the word of wisdom - therefore I'll heal you."
But he frequently says things like, "Take heart, daughter...your faith has healed you." (Matthew 9:22) When a woman who "was a sinner" came to see Jesus, and washed his feet with her tears, he did not say, "That's a good start, now go and undo all the sins you've committed, clean up your life, clean up your thoughts, do some worthy work and when you are finished come back to me and I'll appoint some people to see about forgiving you."
No, he very simply said, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." You see, she was already forgiven. Nothing she could do could earn it, and she didn't have to; Jesus gave it to her freely because of her faith. Can't you see how simple and beautiful this is? Jesus has done this for me also and I weep when I think of it because I am so very grateful. I plead with you to let him take you just as you are too.
Please see Matthew 8:10-13, 9:2, 9:29 and 15:28. The Bible teaches plainly that we are saved by grace through faith. It teaches that no one will be saved by their good works. Truly, faith that produces no good works is a dead faith, but when there is a real faith it produces its work as a result of Christ and the changes he makes in the believer.
The Bible is definitive in its argument for faith as being the ingredient for salvation: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:20-24 "THEREFORE BEING justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1 "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works..." Romans 9:30- 32 "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 It fits well within Mormonism's humanistic model that they have put the emphasis on becoming perfect.
After all, they have put the emphasis on becoming a God. When we seek goodness through our works we try to say to Christ, "I know you couldn't pay the whole debt - here let me pay it too." We deny his power to accept us as what we are. We say, "hands off- I can change myself into what you ( I ) want."
But the fact is that HE makes the changes in us through faith. The Bible teaches the simple truth on this matter: When we believe in Christ he sets us free. When God looks upon us in judgment he sees only an imperfect man, but one saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Please see Acts 15:8-11, 26:18, Romans 1:5, 4:1-10, 4:14-16, 5:7-9, 10:4, 10:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:15-16, 3:22-25, Philippians 3:7-9, Titus 2:11-12 The Book of Mormon is a largely plagiarized document with no historical, anthropological, ar archaeological basis in reality. The Mormon church claims that the Nephites had the Old Testament books which were written prior to the time they left Jerusalem (around 600 B.C.).
Therefore it comes as no surprise that the Book of Mormon contains many quotations taken right from the Old Testament (over 18 chapters of Isaiah alone). What is surprising is that many of these passages were quoted word for word from the King James version of the Bible. What is more surprising still is that the Book of Mormon authors were able to quote from books written after 600 B.C.
Let's think about this: How could Joseph Smith have translated exact word for word quotes from "reformed Egyptian" into King James style English? Why would these match word for word with the King James translation of the Bible which itself had been translated from Hebrew and Greek? The King James translators who unfortunately lacked the "Urim and Thummim" did very well to produce the exact translation Joseph Smith did!
The Book of Mormon contains many examples of stories and ideas lifted from the Bible (see Alma 19 and John 11). The Book of Mormon proves itself a forgery when it quotes from King James version New Testament verses word for word: "...to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life..." 2 Nephi 9:39 "... to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life..." Romans 8:6 "...O wretched man that I am..." 2 Nephi 4:17 "O wretched man that I am..." Romans 7:24 "...steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works..." Mosiah 5:15 "...steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work..." 1 Corinthians 15:58 "...seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Moroni 7:45 "...seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
There are many more examples of plagiarism in the Book of Mormon. One study found over four hundred. Remember, these are New Testament scriptures that the Nephites did not have. How could they have gotten into the Book of Mormon word for word? Not only does the Book of Mormon use the exact same wording (even unusual wording like "stinketh" found in Alma 19:5 and John 11:39) as the New Testament, but it frequently uses it in exactly the same order! Mark Twain, in his book Roughing It remarked that the Book of Mormon "seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the Old Testament for a model; followed by a tedious plagiarism of the New Testament."
I think he hit the nail right on the head. The Book of Mormon condemns itself. The Book of Mormon purports to be the record of ancient Jews who came to the new world. This being the case, where in its text is there evidence of Jewish religion and tradition such as Passover, Circumcision, any of the Jewish festivals, etc.?
These things were very important to the people of that time and are mentioned frequently in the Bible. Why not in the Book of Mormon? Also, why would these Israelites have written their record in Egyptian? Lehi had lived all his life in the city of Jerusalem, where they only spoke the Hebrew language. The Jews hated the Egyptians, and even if he could have written in their language (highly unlikely) he certainly wouldn't have; The Jews were known to have an unusual love for their mother tongue. Also, is there any biological evidence connecting the American Indians with the Jews? There is none.
In fact the genetic evidence suggests quite the opposite. When a city, a sight of battle, person's name, or even a type of coin is written about in the Bible, there is archaeological evidence to support it. I have seen coins mentioned in the Bible with my own eyes, right here in Salem, Oregon. When the Bible talks of the city of Jericho - there is evidence to support that it existed; namely Jericho itself!
The Bible states that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and an inscription has been found with the name of Pontius Pilate in theater excavations at Caesarea. There are mountains of physical evidence to support biblical archaeology.
Why is this not the case with the Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon talks about names and places. It contains the story of entire civilizations, and their cities, their battles, their leaders names, their religion, even the value and names of some of their coins. In all this mass of civilization, where is even one single piece of anthropological evidence to support the claims of the Book of Mormon?
There are no coins. There are no inscriptions of leaders names. There is no evidence of the huge battles mentioned in its text. There isn't even evidence of the cities mentioned in The Book of Mormon! Where are Zarahemla and Bountiful?
There is plenty of anthropological evidence of the civilizations that really were present during Book of Mormon times. Unfortunately, none of this evidence even suggests a Christian civilization present in America. Many Mormon anthropologists have dedicated their lives to finding Book of Mormon archaeology, and the Mormon church has financed many expeditions and much research to prove its case. Still, there remains not one piece of evidence in support of the Book of Mormon.
Why not? Because it simply is not there. The Mormon Church's history, doctrine, and even scriptures have been changed many times to suit the present needs of its leadership. There have been many deliberate changes in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, History of the Church, etc. The Church has made a deliberate effort to distort its own history, and keep its members in the dark.
As a Mormon I learned about Joseph Smith's martyrdom. I learned that he went to his death "like a lamb to the slaughter." I was taught that he went humbly and without resistance just as Jesus did. Can you imagine what a shock it was to me to learn that he had in fact died in a gunfight, doing his level best to kill his attackers?
The following accounts from the History of the Church are given of Joseph Smith's death: Immediately there was a little rustling at the outer door of the jail, and a cry of surrender, and also a discharge of three or four firearms followed instantly...Joseph sprang to his coat for his six-shooter, Hyrum for his single barrel.... When Hyrum fell, Joseph exclaimed, "Oh dear, brother Hyrum!" and opening the door a few inches he discharged his six shooter in the stairway (as stated before) , two or three barrels of which missed fire. (History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 617- 18) John Taylor, who was to become the third president of the Church, added his testimony concerning Joseph Smith's death: He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Whellock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged.
I afterwards understood that two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom, I am informed died. (History of the Church, vol. 7, pp.102-3) This was not the Joseph Smith you had taught me about. He did not go like Jesus Christ, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not..." (1 Peter 2:23)
No, Joseph Smith went out shooting. Why don't you teach the truth about this? I learned as a Mormon that while the Bible was not reliable because it had been changed, (with later study I learned it was indeed reliable) the Book of Mormon was reliable and, "the most correct of any book on earth." Why then has it been changed over three thousand times? Many of these changes are grammatical, or spelling errors, but this book was supposed to have been translated directly by the power of God.
I remember the missionaries asking me how a boy could have written such a book without mistakes, without to help of God. Well, the first editions of the Book of Mormon are chock full of mistakes!
All one has to do to prove it to themselves is compare. My wife Stacey, was surprised when she looked up 2 Nephi 30:6 in a copy of The Book of Mormon that her grandmother had given her, and then in a newer copy of mine, and found that it had been changed. There is no footnote to explain why, no asterisk, or anything else. At the time of this change the church had been embarrassed by their teaching that the Indians who received the Gospel would turn white! Stacey's edition reads, "...and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people."
My edition reads, "...save they shall be a pure and delightsome people." This is just a recent change. There are other important doctrinal changes in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
For more information see The Changing World of Mormonism by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Moody Press, Chicago. Where are those good old doctrines of the early Mormon Church like Blood atonement, and the Adam-God doctrine? How come they aren't taught with the zeal that the "prophets" had for them?
As a Mormon I knew nothing about things like Blood atonement. You taught me that a prophet would never lead his people astray. That God would prohibit it. Well, lets look at what the "Prophet" Brigham Young taught: There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins... (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54; also published in the Desseret News, Oct. 1, 1856, p.235 ) J.M. Grant, a member of the first presidency under Brigham Young, followed up on this idea: ...there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.49-50)
Brigham young proposed this situation in which Blood atonement might occur. As you read it think to yourself if it in any way relates to the Savior of love and compassion written about in the Bible.
The "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" Savior. The Savior who is powerful enough to save all men from all sin, and paid the ultimate price to do so for you. (1 John 1:7-9) Let me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God.
I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands... There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt.
The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it... (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p.247) Is this true? If we are to atone for our own sins, then Jesus died for nothing!
What is our blood worth to God? What good does it do for our salvation? If it is true, then why isn't the Mormon church teaching and practicing "God's doctrine" of blood atonement today? No, the Bible totally repudiates this heretical teaching of blood atonement, and Brigham Young led his people astray.
One need only read it to find out. Brigham Young also taught that, "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world.
He is MICHAEL, the Arch-angel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken - HE is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, pp. 50-51) Brigham Young reaffirmed this doctrine and taught it many times.
It is even found in the journals of the Mormons of that time. If this "Prophet" didn't lead people astray, then why does the church teach that this is a false doctrine today? There are those who believe, or say they believe, that Adam is our father and our God,... The devil keeps this heresy alive... It is contrary to the plan of salvation...and anyone who has received the temple endowment and who yet believes the Adam-God theory does not deserve to be saved." (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, talk given at the BYU Marriot Center on June 1, 1980)
Okay, who's lying? The "Prophets" and "Apostles" of Brigham Young's time, or the "Prophets" and "Apostles" of today? I was married to Stacey in the Seattle, Washington temple on May 3, 1984.
I attended that temple with the belief that I would be instructed in sacred and ancient ceremonies, right from the Lord himself. As was expected of me, I obediently promised to slit my throat etc., rather than reveal the secrets of the temple. I was very surprised to learn in 1989 from a Mormon who wanted me to "come back to the temple, because I would like it better now" that the Lord had changed his mind yet again, and redone his sacred temple ceremony.
Even as a Mormon who did not yet understand that the temple ceremony is really a Masonic ceremony copied word for word, I knew that something was wrong! Why would God just suddenly change his mind about his own "sacred ceremony", eliminating the "penalties" and other sacred portions? Maybe God is rather a "politically correct" God. When confronted with opposition on the issue of polygamy, he simply changes his stance on it.
When confronted with Civil Rights he ignores his "prophet" who said, "If there was one drop of Negro blood" a black man could never hold the Priesthood, and caves in under the pressure. When people like me are made uncomfortable with the temples' bloody oaths, God just rewrites the program.
How convenient for the leadership of the Mormon Church to have such a changeable, malleable, saleable God. The God of the Bible is a much different God. He doesn't change his mind. He doesn't change. I hope you get to know him. (John 17:3) In closing I wish to tell you my greatest reason for leaving the Mormon Church.
It is in finding Jesus Christ. He also found me. He pulled me toward him and made me ready to listen. I tell you, reader of this letter, that he will do the same for you. I pray this for you. It will be my great joy to bring his message to all the people (including Mormons) I can.
The Gospel is simply that Christ lived, was crucified for each and every one of every man's sins, and was resurrected on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Galatians 1:8-9) Those who take away from this Gospel; who mock Christ's suffering on the cross by saying that it was not sufficient for all men and all sin; and those who would add to this Gospel legalism, secret (not sacred) ceremonies and signs as condition for salvation are terribly wrong. They are making a literally hellish mistake.
Jesus is my hope and my joy. I love him with all my heart, and am glad to let him make of my life what he wants. This is the truth, and I leave it with you in His name. Thank you, Dan Evans dano@open.org"
I am not quite sure why it was posted up so many years after it was written, but, there is is, I hope you found it interesting.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Get Real with Blue Banyan Courses and Events in 2007
Blue Banyan (www.bluebanyan.co.uk/realtime), one of the UK’s most renowned suppliers of meditation, yoga, Reiki and other mind-body-spirit products, is launching a programme of courses and events throughout 2007 that help people develop alternative skills and 'get real'.
In line with the company's reputation for quality and value for money, the courses will be held in a beautiful rural location some ten miles from Chester (in Mold, Wales) in Blue Banyan’s own venue, and will cover a wide range of practical and spiritual topics including: crystals, Reiki, setting and achieving goals, organic growing, herbs, keeping chickens and pigs, textile, crafts and many more.
Laura Carstensen, co-founder of Blue Banyan and courses director for Blue Banyan Real Time, says: "Our programme follows the traditional Wheel of the Year. The courses are designed to integrate with the turning of the seasons and the natural cycles of life.
"On January 27, for example, we explore ‘Imbolc: Renew and Re-energise’ and the programme will include crystals, cosmic ordering and feng shui."
She adds: "We promise high content and high quality experiential learning in a great location. Through the courses, Blue Banyan’s reputation for excellence will certainly be maintained." For more information, see www.bluebanyan.co.uk/realtime or call 01352759111 and request a brochure.
Blue Banyan Ltd was incorporated in September 2003 when it acquired the Devon-based meditation products supplier, Meditation Designs.
Since then, the business has expanded into numerous new areas, launched its online store in spring 2005, and relocated from London to dedicated office/distribution premises in Mold, North Wales.
Blue Banyan owns and operates Bluebanyan.co.uk, the UK’s leading online supplier of meditation products and a premier supplier of mind-body-spirit products in the domestic and international markets.
The company also runs the Blue Banyan Healing Centre in Mold (www.bluebanyanhealingcentre.co.uk) - a regional centre for excellence in complementary and alternative therapies.
In line with the company's reputation for quality and value for money, the courses will be held in a beautiful rural location some ten miles from Chester (in Mold, Wales) in Blue Banyan’s own venue, and will cover a wide range of practical and spiritual topics including: crystals, Reiki, setting and achieving goals, organic growing, herbs, keeping chickens and pigs, textile, crafts and many more.
Laura Carstensen, co-founder of Blue Banyan and courses director for Blue Banyan Real Time, says: "Our programme follows the traditional Wheel of the Year. The courses are designed to integrate with the turning of the seasons and the natural cycles of life.
"On January 27, for example, we explore ‘Imbolc: Renew and Re-energise’ and the programme will include crystals, cosmic ordering and feng shui."
She adds: "We promise high content and high quality experiential learning in a great location. Through the courses, Blue Banyan’s reputation for excellence will certainly be maintained." For more information, see www.bluebanyan.co.uk/realtime or call 01352759111 and request a brochure.
Blue Banyan Ltd was incorporated in September 2003 when it acquired the Devon-based meditation products supplier, Meditation Designs.
Since then, the business has expanded into numerous new areas, launched its online store in spring 2005, and relocated from London to dedicated office/distribution premises in Mold, North Wales.
Blue Banyan owns and operates Bluebanyan.co.uk, the UK’s leading online supplier of meditation products and a premier supplier of mind-body-spirit products in the domestic and international markets.
The company also runs the Blue Banyan Healing Centre in Mold (www.bluebanyanhealingcentre.co.uk) - a regional centre for excellence in complementary and alternative therapies.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Close encounters facing the self
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy presents an equality and diversity matters conference 'Close encounters - facing the self' 1 February 2007, The Hilton Coventry Hotel.
Yet again diversity is making the headlines with accusations of racist behaviour being levelled at the contestants in the Big Brother house.
Channel 4 is unable to decide whether racism has occurred, or if social differences are to blame for disputes between contestants. 'What constitutes racism is a complex question', Andy Duncan, chief executive, Channel 4.
This specialist conference will challenge delegates to examine their ownviews and to identify what diversity and equality really means to them.Leading thinkers from the fields of business and counselling will besharing their thoughts on diversity.
This year BACP is delighted towelcome Linda Bellos (OBE) and Professor Andrew Samuels as keynotespeakers in addition to a host of specialist workshop presenters.Linda Bellos, Director of Diversity Solutions Consultancy Ltd, will examine the ever-changing nature of diversity and whether what isconsidered relevant and topical now will remain so in the future.
Andrew Samuels, is an author and professor with over thirty years ofexperience, he will discuss how counsellors can get in touch with their"inner politician" and by doing so explore the possibilities andlimitations of equality and diversity.
The day will also feature a number of thought- provoking workshopsessions:
* Embedding diversity into personal and professional self
* Deconstructing sex and gender
* Identity development and identity recognition: who we are,particularly inrelation to 'they' and 'them'?
* Facing the self creatively
* Disability - how the self sees it
* Understanding the self- the lens through which we view our world
After gaining an insight into their own relationships on mattersconcerning diversity delegates will be invited to discuss how differenceimpacts on the counselling relationship - does it in fact provide more opportunities for change than challenges?
For further information about this event please visit the BACP website www.bacp.co.uk
To book place(s) please contact Richard Smith in the BACP EventsTeam on: 0870 143 0945 or email: richard.smith@bacp.co.uk
Yet again diversity is making the headlines with accusations of racist behaviour being levelled at the contestants in the Big Brother house.
Channel 4 is unable to decide whether racism has occurred, or if social differences are to blame for disputes between contestants. 'What constitutes racism is a complex question', Andy Duncan, chief executive, Channel 4.
This specialist conference will challenge delegates to examine their ownviews and to identify what diversity and equality really means to them.Leading thinkers from the fields of business and counselling will besharing their thoughts on diversity.
This year BACP is delighted towelcome Linda Bellos (OBE) and Professor Andrew Samuels as keynotespeakers in addition to a host of specialist workshop presenters.Linda Bellos, Director of Diversity Solutions Consultancy Ltd, will examine the ever-changing nature of diversity and whether what isconsidered relevant and topical now will remain so in the future.
Andrew Samuels, is an author and professor with over thirty years ofexperience, he will discuss how counsellors can get in touch with their"inner politician" and by doing so explore the possibilities andlimitations of equality and diversity.
The day will also feature a number of thought- provoking workshopsessions:
* Embedding diversity into personal and professional self
* Deconstructing sex and gender
* Identity development and identity recognition: who we are,particularly inrelation to 'they' and 'them'?
* Facing the self creatively
* Disability - how the self sees it
* Understanding the self- the lens through which we view our world
After gaining an insight into their own relationships on mattersconcerning diversity delegates will be invited to discuss how differenceimpacts on the counselling relationship - does it in fact provide more opportunities for change than challenges?
For further information about this event please visit the BACP website www.bacp.co.uk
To book place(s) please contact Richard Smith in the BACP EventsTeam on: 0870 143 0945 or email: richard.smith@bacp.co.uk
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
102 black African slaves rescued from Arab slave masters
Last week, 102 Black African slaves were liberated from Baggara Arab masters and returned to their homeland in Southern Sudan in an action supported by Christian Solidarity International (CSI - http://www.csi-int.org).
Most of the liberated slaves - mainly boys and young men - had been captured by Sudanese government-sponsored militias during two decades of civil war, pitting the Arab-Muslim dominated Government of Sudan against the predominantly Black African Sudan People's Liberation Front (SPLA).
Interviews reveal a strong pattern of physical and psychological abuse. The overwhelming majority of the liberated slaves had been subjected to beatings, racial and religious insults, forced labour and denial of the freedom to practice any religion other than Islam.
Most of the girls and women had been subjected to sexual abuse. Among the slaves were: 16-year-old Agor Deng. Agor was repeatedly raped by her master, and his associates. He and his wife excised her finger nails with a knife after she failed to obey an order to grind grain.
They also forced her, using death threats, to pray like a Muslim. 30-year-old Garang Akot Wiir. Garang's right arm and leg were partially paralysed after having been beaten and tied up tightly for 24 hours as punishment for attempting to escape. He was renamed Abdelrazik Ezzadin by his master.
45-year-old Achol Loc Wiel. Achol was shot in her leg during a slave raid. She also lost her husband and three children during the slave raid and forced march to Northern Sudan. Achol was gang raped by her master's friends. She was also forced to abandon the practice of her Christian faith and pray like a Muslim.
The liberation and documentation of the 102 slaves was the result of cooperation between Arab-Dinka Peace Committees, the civil authorities in Aweil State, local churches and CSI. The Sudanese Episcopalian priest, Rev. Tito Athian - a longstanding local CSI partner - expressed joy at the liberation of the slaves, stating: "Thank you for helping bring back our people from slavery. Now they are free to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and choose their own religion."
After witnessing several CSI slave liberation actions, including last week's, anti-trafficking consultant and author of The Jubilee Prophecy, Aaron Cohen, said: "I have seen first hand, in 23 countries, the positive changes good programmes can have in the lives of enslaved people. CSI has created in Sudan a sustainable and effective programme which has liberated thousands of slaves, inspired anti-trafficking legislation, and brought hope to people in bondage. CSI's pioneering work in Sudan is an excellent example to all abolitionists."
(ED: And there was us, thinking slave trading was a thing of the past...)
Most of the liberated slaves - mainly boys and young men - had been captured by Sudanese government-sponsored militias during two decades of civil war, pitting the Arab-Muslim dominated Government of Sudan against the predominantly Black African Sudan People's Liberation Front (SPLA).
Interviews reveal a strong pattern of physical and psychological abuse. The overwhelming majority of the liberated slaves had been subjected to beatings, racial and religious insults, forced labour and denial of the freedom to practice any religion other than Islam.
Most of the girls and women had been subjected to sexual abuse. Among the slaves were: 16-year-old Agor Deng. Agor was repeatedly raped by her master, and his associates. He and his wife excised her finger nails with a knife after she failed to obey an order to grind grain.
They also forced her, using death threats, to pray like a Muslim. 30-year-old Garang Akot Wiir. Garang's right arm and leg were partially paralysed after having been beaten and tied up tightly for 24 hours as punishment for attempting to escape. He was renamed Abdelrazik Ezzadin by his master.
45-year-old Achol Loc Wiel. Achol was shot in her leg during a slave raid. She also lost her husband and three children during the slave raid and forced march to Northern Sudan. Achol was gang raped by her master's friends. She was also forced to abandon the practice of her Christian faith and pray like a Muslim.
The liberation and documentation of the 102 slaves was the result of cooperation between Arab-Dinka Peace Committees, the civil authorities in Aweil State, local churches and CSI. The Sudanese Episcopalian priest, Rev. Tito Athian - a longstanding local CSI partner - expressed joy at the liberation of the slaves, stating: "Thank you for helping bring back our people from slavery. Now they are free to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and choose their own religion."
After witnessing several CSI slave liberation actions, including last week's, anti-trafficking consultant and author of The Jubilee Prophecy, Aaron Cohen, said: "I have seen first hand, in 23 countries, the positive changes good programmes can have in the lives of enslaved people. CSI has created in Sudan a sustainable and effective programme which has liberated thousands of slaves, inspired anti-trafficking legislation, and brought hope to people in bondage. CSI's pioneering work in Sudan is an excellent example to all abolitionists."
(ED: And there was us, thinking slave trading was a thing of the past...)
Monday, January 22, 2007
Amusing, even if you are not religious? The Great American Book of Church Signs
This newly released book by Donald Seitz is getting attention from all over the USA. And beyond, too...
From coast to coast, in newspapers on the Internet, and on radio and TV, there's a buzz about The Great American Book of Church Signs.
It seems everybody loves talking about those quirky and inspirational roadside messages captured in this brilliant new full-color book by Donald Seitz.
Three years in the making, The Great American Book of Church Signs, takes us on a photographic journey of faith from California to Virginia, from Michigan to Georgia.
"Americans may not wear their faith on their sleeves," as Seitz says, "but they love to show it on the road."
In Seitz's beautiful book, every sign tells its own story--encouraging us to live better lives, to love more deeply, and to pray more often. And with the turn of every page, we're reminded to laugh along the way.
One sign of encouragement reads, "Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case."
"The average church sign is eight words long," says Seitz, and it's amazing how a few words of faith can touch us, challenge us, or even change our lives." One such sign inspired his pilgrimage to create this book.
"Driving home from a tough week at the office," he recalls, "I passed a church sign that said, "He who kneels before God can stand before anyone." At that precise moment, it was exactly the message I needed to hear.
"With his camera, his wife, and his three year old son, Seitz crisscrossed the country, covering more than twenty thousand miles to capture the heart and soul of faith on the road. The book's 100 signs, drawn from more than a dozen denominations, cover such topics as faith, forgiveness, prayer, love, and eternity.
Featured in the book are such gems as, "Life is fragile. Handle with prayer" (Nashville, TN); "Love God with all your heart, then do whatever you want" (New York City, NY), and "Where will you be spending eternity--smoking or nonsmoking?" (Stromsburg, NE).
The Great American Book of Church Signs is a wonderful celebration of the practice and art of the church sign. With his keen eye for detail, his exquisite photography, and his love for the subject matter, Donald Seitz has created the definitive work on church signs.
For more information on The Great American Book of Church Signs, please visit www.thisisyoursign.com.
What's YOUR favourite sign church or non-church? Please tell me, Matt!
From coast to coast, in newspapers on the Internet, and on radio and TV, there's a buzz about The Great American Book of Church Signs.
It seems everybody loves talking about those quirky and inspirational roadside messages captured in this brilliant new full-color book by Donald Seitz.
Three years in the making, The Great American Book of Church Signs, takes us on a photographic journey of faith from California to Virginia, from Michigan to Georgia.
"Americans may not wear their faith on their sleeves," as Seitz says, "but they love to show it on the road."
In Seitz's beautiful book, every sign tells its own story--encouraging us to live better lives, to love more deeply, and to pray more often. And with the turn of every page, we're reminded to laugh along the way.
One sign of encouragement reads, "Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case."
"The average church sign is eight words long," says Seitz, and it's amazing how a few words of faith can touch us, challenge us, or even change our lives." One such sign inspired his pilgrimage to create this book.
"Driving home from a tough week at the office," he recalls, "I passed a church sign that said, "He who kneels before God can stand before anyone." At that precise moment, it was exactly the message I needed to hear.
"With his camera, his wife, and his three year old son, Seitz crisscrossed the country, covering more than twenty thousand miles to capture the heart and soul of faith on the road. The book's 100 signs, drawn from more than a dozen denominations, cover such topics as faith, forgiveness, prayer, love, and eternity.
Featured in the book are such gems as, "Life is fragile. Handle with prayer" (Nashville, TN); "Love God with all your heart, then do whatever you want" (New York City, NY), and "Where will you be spending eternity--smoking or nonsmoking?" (Stromsburg, NE).
The Great American Book of Church Signs is a wonderful celebration of the practice and art of the church sign. With his keen eye for detail, his exquisite photography, and his love for the subject matter, Donald Seitz has created the definitive work on church signs.
For more information on The Great American Book of Church Signs, please visit www.thisisyoursign.com.
What's YOUR favourite sign church or non-church? Please tell me, Matt!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Maio Offers Repeat Tea Seminar
Owing to the huge success of her December seminar, Joyce Maio will offer a repeat Tea Tasting and seminar at Kiva's Cafe in New York on January 28, 3007. Tea in A Bowl...Tea in a Cup (sm) will offer an entertaining, interactive look at tea throughout history, from different countries, and explain today's health benefits associated with drinking the beverage.
December's tea tasting and lively presentation by Joyce Maïo, tea consultant and advocate, was a great success and led to an encore engagement by New York's Kiva Café.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, January 28, 2007, from 4 - 6 p.m. and will be hosted by Tribeca's culturally acclaimed meeting place, Kiva Café, 139 Reade Street, (between Hudson and Greenwich), Manhattan.
Reservations for the $35 event are limited, and may be made by calling (212) 362-9074. At the request of its customers, Kiva Café is seeking to offer more information on tea, while expanding its offerings of fine quality loose leaf tea.
Joyce Maïo presents a stimulating, interactive two-hour presentation during which she notes the role of tea in its historical and cultural traditions, discusses characteristics of different types of tea grown from around the world, various methods of processing the tea and intersperses her lecture with anecdotes and myths.
She also focuses on the benefits of tea in health and beauty from old recipes and new scientific studies. "The name 'Kiva' is an ancient Native American term for a gathering place where people come together for meetings and ceremonies," Kiva Café's owner Beebe Oyoke stated after the highly successful event at the venue last month.
"What a perfect place to share the experience of tea!"Joyce Maïo was born in France and raised in diverse cultural traditions where tea is still revered as a "sacred moment".
She is currently writing a book on the cultural heritage of tea. Joyce organizes special cultural and educational events in the arts and most recently appeared on CBS Television to bring awareness to national viewers on the cultural & health benefits of tea.
December's tea tasting and lively presentation by Joyce Maïo, tea consultant and advocate, was a great success and led to an encore engagement by New York's Kiva Café.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, January 28, 2007, from 4 - 6 p.m. and will be hosted by Tribeca's culturally acclaimed meeting place, Kiva Café, 139 Reade Street, (between Hudson and Greenwich), Manhattan.
Reservations for the $35 event are limited, and may be made by calling (212) 362-9074. At the request of its customers, Kiva Café is seeking to offer more information on tea, while expanding its offerings of fine quality loose leaf tea.
Joyce Maïo presents a stimulating, interactive two-hour presentation during which she notes the role of tea in its historical and cultural traditions, discusses characteristics of different types of tea grown from around the world, various methods of processing the tea and intersperses her lecture with anecdotes and myths.
She also focuses on the benefits of tea in health and beauty from old recipes and new scientific studies. "The name 'Kiva' is an ancient Native American term for a gathering place where people come together for meetings and ceremonies," Kiva Café's owner Beebe Oyoke stated after the highly successful event at the venue last month.
"What a perfect place to share the experience of tea!"Joyce Maïo was born in France and raised in diverse cultural traditions where tea is still revered as a "sacred moment".
She is currently writing a book on the cultural heritage of tea. Joyce organizes special cultural and educational events in the arts and most recently appeared on CBS Television to bring awareness to national viewers on the cultural & health benefits of tea.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Could You Be Psychic?
Ever wondered why a place seems familiar or you think you have been there before? Do you sometimes get the sensation of knowing what’s about to happen next? Well you are not alone; you are probably just more in tune with your psychic powers or are one of the many thousands of people in the world who have extraordinary sensitivities to spiritual energies.
Sound a bit like hocus-pocus to you? Well, read on. Nowadays everybody seems to be looking for some kind of direction and many of us are tapping into our spiritual side to try and find peace, happiness and guidance in life.
It is fair to assume that we all have some level of psychic intuition but that some people are far more accepting of it and embrace these extraordinary powers. Those of us who use these skills carefully and wisely can help others in many ways such as giving reassurance, finding love, helping with the death of a loved one, or simply giving guidance in difficult times.
Spirit guides have been reported since the year dot, and have found mainstream acceptance through many religions, including Christianity.
Using their psychic abilities, mediums, clairvoyants, mystics and spirit guides have helped
thousands and thousands of people over the years, in everyday life and in times of great troubles. World Leaders, Famous Actors, Politicians and Sports Stars have all benefited from spiritual guidance of some kind.
In fact the term clairvoyance is a French word that literally translates as ‘clear seeing’ and this is exactly what mystics and mediums can help us to achieve. One of the UK’s leading mystics Paul Perris discovered his powers as a medium early in life at the age of 4 when he clearly witnessed the spirit of his deceased Grandfather sitting on his own coffin. From then on his
links with the spirit world developed and now Paul spends his life helping others by harnessing his energies and passing on messages from the spirit world.
“It is part of everything I do. Sometimes things can be distressing but mostly my work is of a positive and healing nature. If you have these natural skills why not try and use them? If you are meant to be a medium, at some point in your life you must accept your role and learn to love it.”
So next time you walk a familiar path or recognise something rather peculiar in an as yet unvisited place, take a step back and dwell on it for a moment - maybe there is more to you than meets the eye…
Paul Perris is one of the UK’s leading mediums and runs www.mysticalmediums.co.uk a team of mystics and mediums offering guidance on life, love, loss and career.
Of course, it might just be coincidence...
Sound a bit like hocus-pocus to you? Well, read on. Nowadays everybody seems to be looking for some kind of direction and many of us are tapping into our spiritual side to try and find peace, happiness and guidance in life.
It is fair to assume that we all have some level of psychic intuition but that some people are far more accepting of it and embrace these extraordinary powers. Those of us who use these skills carefully and wisely can help others in many ways such as giving reassurance, finding love, helping with the death of a loved one, or simply giving guidance in difficult times.
Spirit guides have been reported since the year dot, and have found mainstream acceptance through many religions, including Christianity.
Using their psychic abilities, mediums, clairvoyants, mystics and spirit guides have helped
thousands and thousands of people over the years, in everyday life and in times of great troubles. World Leaders, Famous Actors, Politicians and Sports Stars have all benefited from spiritual guidance of some kind.
In fact the term clairvoyance is a French word that literally translates as ‘clear seeing’ and this is exactly what mystics and mediums can help us to achieve. One of the UK’s leading mystics Paul Perris discovered his powers as a medium early in life at the age of 4 when he clearly witnessed the spirit of his deceased Grandfather sitting on his own coffin. From then on his
links with the spirit world developed and now Paul spends his life helping others by harnessing his energies and passing on messages from the spirit world.
“It is part of everything I do. Sometimes things can be distressing but mostly my work is of a positive and healing nature. If you have these natural skills why not try and use them? If you are meant to be a medium, at some point in your life you must accept your role and learn to love it.”
So next time you walk a familiar path or recognise something rather peculiar in an as yet unvisited place, take a step back and dwell on it for a moment - maybe there is more to you than meets the eye…
Paul Perris is one of the UK’s leading mediums and runs www.mysticalmediums.co.uk a team of mystics and mediums offering guidance on life, love, loss and career.
Of course, it might just be coincidence...
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Those poor, dumbed Mormons. Their church is dooming them to poor health!
“Coffee: The New Health Food?
Plenty of health benefits are brewing in America's beloved beverage.
By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Feature
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
“Want a drug that could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer? That could lift your mood and treat headaches? That could lower your risk of cavities?
If it sounds too good to be true, think again.
Coffee, the much maligned but undoubtedly beloved beverage, just made headlines for possibly cutting the risk of the latest disease epidemic, type 2 diabetes. And the real news seems to be that the more you drink, the better.”
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/80/96454.htm
And the following is a story on the health benefits of drinking tea. Not just Green “health” teas but ‘ordinary’ black teas, too.
“Tea Provides Nearly 90 Percent of the Flavonoid Antioxidants Per Capita in U.S. Diet
- Symposium Explores Health Benefits of Flavonoids -
DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Not only is tea refreshing and soothing, new research suggests that it may be a major contributor of health-promoting nutrients in the U.S. diet. At the Second International Conference on Polyphenols and Health held at the University of California, Davis, on October 4-7, scientists reported that tea provides more flavonoids to the average American diet than any food or beverage in the U.S. food supply.
Using data from the national nutrition monitoring surveys that are representative of the U.S. population, researchers from Exponent, a scientific research firm, calculated an average per capita flavonoid intake by U.S. consumers of approximately 134.0 mg/day. Based on the foods recorded in the surveys, the researchers also concluded that beverages contribute the most
dietary flavonoids, providing on average approximately 125.0 mg/day, with tea providing approximately 117 mg/day, or 87 percent of the dietary flavonoids on a per capita basis.
While there is no current recommended dietary intake for flavonoids, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of 600 to 1000 mg of flavonoids (3-4 cups of tea) are associated with potential health benefits and fit as part of a healthy diet.
Flavonoids are a major class of dietary phytonutrients, found predominately in fruits, vegetables, tea, cocoa and wine. They have been shown to be potent antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are scavenging cells that over time, are believed to damage the body's genetic makeup and are associated with various conditions relating to aging, as well as diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers.
Significant scientific research suggests that flavonoid antioxidants may confer myriad health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes, as well as bolstering the body's immune system.
With respect to heart health, ongoing research suggests that flavonoids may help lower harmful blood cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel endothelial function.
Other research suggests that flavonoids may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. There is also mounting evidence that the phytonutrients in tea stimulate the immune system and help maintain the balance of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
According to the USDA flavonoid database, brewed tea -- both black and green -- contains 150 to 190 milligrams of flavonoids per cup. Another benefit of tea is that, unlike many other popular beverages, tea contains virtually no calories, fat or sugar. Tea also provides trace amounts of healthful minerals such as potassium and fluoride.
"This is another piece of the puzzle that may help explain why tea drinkers tend to have a lower incidence of heart disease and other chronic conditions," said Joseph Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the USA. "The other good news is that drinking more tea is simple and tasty, so there's no compromising taste for health."
While consumers should certainly continue to eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, tea can be a healthy beverage selection offering beneficial phytonutrients in a healthful diet.”
“Tea And Cardiovascular Health
“For years, research in populations has suggested that tea drinking is associated with improved cardiovascular health. Recently, both clinical and population studies have found similar positive cardiovascular effects among people who include tea as a part of their daily diets.”
Read the rest of the article here http://www.teausa.com/general/204g.cfm
And there’s more!
“Masturbating may protect against prostate cancer”
“…the latest research has even better news for young men: frequent self-pleasuring could protect against the most common kind of cancer.”
Read the rest of the article here http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3942
There was even a report of a TBM who declared that when his doctor advised him to reduce his risk of prostate cancer by masturbation that he would rather die from prostate cancer than “polluting his body.”
The problem is, of course, not so much about polluted bodies but minds polluted with years and years of lying by Mormondumb.
Let's hear it for Joseph Smith and his Word of Wisdumb. (sic)
Plenty of health benefits are brewing in America's beloved beverage.
By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Feature
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
“Want a drug that could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer? That could lift your mood and treat headaches? That could lower your risk of cavities?
If it sounds too good to be true, think again.
Coffee, the much maligned but undoubtedly beloved beverage, just made headlines for possibly cutting the risk of the latest disease epidemic, type 2 diabetes. And the real news seems to be that the more you drink, the better.”
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/80/96454.htm
And the following is a story on the health benefits of drinking tea. Not just Green “health” teas but ‘ordinary’ black teas, too.
“Tea Provides Nearly 90 Percent of the Flavonoid Antioxidants Per Capita in U.S. Diet
- Symposium Explores Health Benefits of Flavonoids -
DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Not only is tea refreshing and soothing, new research suggests that it may be a major contributor of health-promoting nutrients in the U.S. diet. At the Second International Conference on Polyphenols and Health held at the University of California, Davis, on October 4-7, scientists reported that tea provides more flavonoids to the average American diet than any food or beverage in the U.S. food supply.
Using data from the national nutrition monitoring surveys that are representative of the U.S. population, researchers from Exponent, a scientific research firm, calculated an average per capita flavonoid intake by U.S. consumers of approximately 134.0 mg/day. Based on the foods recorded in the surveys, the researchers also concluded that beverages contribute the most
dietary flavonoids, providing on average approximately 125.0 mg/day, with tea providing approximately 117 mg/day, or 87 percent of the dietary flavonoids on a per capita basis.
While there is no current recommended dietary intake for flavonoids, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of 600 to 1000 mg of flavonoids (3-4 cups of tea) are associated with potential health benefits and fit as part of a healthy diet.
Flavonoids are a major class of dietary phytonutrients, found predominately in fruits, vegetables, tea, cocoa and wine. They have been shown to be potent antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are scavenging cells that over time, are believed to damage the body's genetic makeup and are associated with various conditions relating to aging, as well as diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers.
Significant scientific research suggests that flavonoid antioxidants may confer myriad health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes, as well as bolstering the body's immune system.
With respect to heart health, ongoing research suggests that flavonoids may help lower harmful blood cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel endothelial function.
Other research suggests that flavonoids may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. There is also mounting evidence that the phytonutrients in tea stimulate the immune system and help maintain the balance of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
According to the USDA flavonoid database, brewed tea -- both black and green -- contains 150 to 190 milligrams of flavonoids per cup. Another benefit of tea is that, unlike many other popular beverages, tea contains virtually no calories, fat or sugar. Tea also provides trace amounts of healthful minerals such as potassium and fluoride.
"This is another piece of the puzzle that may help explain why tea drinkers tend to have a lower incidence of heart disease and other chronic conditions," said Joseph Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the USA. "The other good news is that drinking more tea is simple and tasty, so there's no compromising taste for health."
While consumers should certainly continue to eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, tea can be a healthy beverage selection offering beneficial phytonutrients in a healthful diet.”
“Tea And Cardiovascular Health
“For years, research in populations has suggested that tea drinking is associated with improved cardiovascular health. Recently, both clinical and population studies have found similar positive cardiovascular effects among people who include tea as a part of their daily diets.”
Read the rest of the article here http://www.teausa.com/general/204g.cfm
And there’s more!
“Masturbating may protect against prostate cancer”
“…the latest research has even better news for young men: frequent self-pleasuring could protect against the most common kind of cancer.”
Read the rest of the article here http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3942
There was even a report of a TBM who declared that when his doctor advised him to reduce his risk of prostate cancer by masturbation that he would rather die from prostate cancer than “polluting his body.”
The problem is, of course, not so much about polluted bodies but minds polluted with years and years of lying by Mormondumb.
Let's hear it for Joseph Smith and his Word of Wisdumb. (sic)
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Turn to Tea for a New Year health kick
New Year will see people turning to tea for their post Christmas detox, if past trends continue, says the UK’s favourite tea producer.
Last year sales in green teas rose by around 40% and fruit and herbal sales rose by almost 15% during January reflecting the trend for healthy New Year resolutions. Ray Duffin, Marketing Controller, from the nation’s favourite tea producer Tetley says, “At this time of year people are thinking about their healthand wanting to choose a resolution which is easy to stick to and packed full of health benefits. Tetley Green teas can help you ease into your new regime as they are packed with goodness and a great way to kick off a healthy new year.
“Consumers in the UK are beginning to recognise the important health benefits of green tea. Tetley green teas are as hydrating as water, naturally rich in antioxidants and are a natural source of theanine. Early research suggests that antioxidants may help maintain the body’s defence systems and suggests that theanine may create a feeling of relaxation and alertness at the same time. This makes green teas from Tetley the perfect accompaniment to a healthy regime, particularly during the New Year.”
Tetley Green Tea Pure is made from only the best quality leaves and uses the gentle process of steaming to produce a tea that has a smooth and round flavour unlike the harsh taste consumers associate with other green teas.
Tetley has a green tea blend for everyone – apart from Green Tea Pure, there are three other varieties – Green Tea Lemon, Green Tea Decaf and Green Tea Mint.
Tetley also makes fruit and herbal teas which are in fact infusions, rather than tea, as they are produced from flowers, fruits, herbs and spices. They are naturally caffeine free and are traditionally believed to have added benefits, such as Tetley Peppermint Punch which is thought to aid digestion.
Tetley has a large variety of fruit and herbal teas ranging from the more traditional infusions of camomile and summer berry to the exotic tastes of lemon tangerine, redbush & vanilla and blackberry.
“We welcome the sales boost to newer varieties in the new year but know that all teas are ultimately healthy which is good news for Tetley tea drinkers,” Duffin concludes.
Tetley's green teas (99p for 25 bag pack) and fruit and herbal infusions (79p for a 20 bag pack) are available from larger branches of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrison's. All are packaged in Tetley’s unique stay fresh resealable canisters which ensure that the last bag of Tetley
remains as fresh as the first.
Overview of Britain's favourite tea maker Tetley is the biggest manufacturer and distributor of tea in the UK. It is the nation’s favourite tea brand with a 28% volume share of the total tea market, and its tea bags are regularly bought by about every third household in the UK.
Tetley has a range of Green, Fruit & Herbal and Speciality teas along with black teas including Decaf, Organic and Extra Strong. With a range of teas to suit every taste, Tetley is well placed to consolidate its place as Britain's favourite tea maker. Tetley really is ‘Everyone’s cup of tea’.
www.tetley.co.uk
www.tetley.com
www.teaexperts.co.uk
Tea (especially Green Tea) is also becoming increasingly popular in the USA, due to the ongoing research into the health-giving properties of both ordinary black tea and Green Tea.
Last year sales in green teas rose by around 40% and fruit and herbal sales rose by almost 15% during January reflecting the trend for healthy New Year resolutions. Ray Duffin, Marketing Controller, from the nation’s favourite tea producer Tetley says, “At this time of year people are thinking about their healthand wanting to choose a resolution which is easy to stick to and packed full of health benefits. Tetley Green teas can help you ease into your new regime as they are packed with goodness and a great way to kick off a healthy new year.
“Consumers in the UK are beginning to recognise the important health benefits of green tea. Tetley green teas are as hydrating as water, naturally rich in antioxidants and are a natural source of theanine. Early research suggests that antioxidants may help maintain the body’s defence systems and suggests that theanine may create a feeling of relaxation and alertness at the same time. This makes green teas from Tetley the perfect accompaniment to a healthy regime, particularly during the New Year.”
Tetley Green Tea Pure is made from only the best quality leaves and uses the gentle process of steaming to produce a tea that has a smooth and round flavour unlike the harsh taste consumers associate with other green teas.
Tetley has a green tea blend for everyone – apart from Green Tea Pure, there are three other varieties – Green Tea Lemon, Green Tea Decaf and Green Tea Mint.
Tetley also makes fruit and herbal teas which are in fact infusions, rather than tea, as they are produced from flowers, fruits, herbs and spices. They are naturally caffeine free and are traditionally believed to have added benefits, such as Tetley Peppermint Punch which is thought to aid digestion.
Tetley has a large variety of fruit and herbal teas ranging from the more traditional infusions of camomile and summer berry to the exotic tastes of lemon tangerine, redbush & vanilla and blackberry.
“We welcome the sales boost to newer varieties in the new year but know that all teas are ultimately healthy which is good news for Tetley tea drinkers,” Duffin concludes.
Tetley's green teas (99p for 25 bag pack) and fruit and herbal infusions (79p for a 20 bag pack) are available from larger branches of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrison's. All are packaged in Tetley’s unique stay fresh resealable canisters which ensure that the last bag of Tetley
remains as fresh as the first.
Overview of Britain's favourite tea maker Tetley is the biggest manufacturer and distributor of tea in the UK. It is the nation’s favourite tea brand with a 28% volume share of the total tea market, and its tea bags are regularly bought by about every third household in the UK.
Tetley has a range of Green, Fruit & Herbal and Speciality teas along with black teas including Decaf, Organic and Extra Strong. With a range of teas to suit every taste, Tetley is well placed to consolidate its place as Britain's favourite tea maker. Tetley really is ‘Everyone’s cup of tea’.
www.tetley.co.uk
www.tetley.com
www.teaexperts.co.uk
Tea (especially Green Tea) is also becoming increasingly popular in the USA, due to the ongoing research into the health-giving properties of both ordinary black tea and Green Tea.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
"Churches and temples are no longer safe in America" claims Reverend Craig X. Rubin
"Churches and Temples are no longer safe in America," claims the Reverend Craig X Rubin of Temple 420, who was arrested November 8, 2006, at his religious establishment by over one dozen 'heavily armed' officers of the LAPD.
"If they can do this to us, they can do it to any church that the government disagrees with." The Reverend known for his reoccurring role on Showtime's hit series "Weeds" said arresting officers did not treat Temple clergymen as required by California Penal Codes 1524 and 1525.
The Reverend Rubin (pictured) is known as the General Pharmer to his congregation.
The investigation of Reverend Rubin began only days earlier. An undercover officer joined Temple 420 on November 3, 2006, and immediately purchased 3.5 grams of sacrament, "PurpleErkle." This was the basis of the arrest warrant for defendant Rubin; the seizure of all sacrament and money from the church; and, the freezing of all financial assets before conviction. As a result, Temple 420 may be forced to close.
(Note: Video of the arrest is available at: youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8W4wJcGOg).
"What if this was my church?" Rubin's lawyer asked. A key tenet of Temple 420 is that members receive communion by burning a sacramental herb, marijuana. However, the plant contains THC, regulated under the Controlled Substances Act by the Federal Government; the sect is currently being barred from engaging in the practice of its religion on the grounds that it violates the California Health & Safety code.
Temple 420 claims the Religious Freedom Restoration Act affirmed by the Supreme Court for protection. By law the Government is prohibited from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion, unless the Government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person represents the least restrictive means of advancing a 'compelling interest.'
This was affirmed in the case of "Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal" when the church's Schedule I hallucinogenic sacrament was seized. But, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the church's sacrament being returned and them being allowed to continue their religious practices.
Temple 420 has retained civil rights attorney La'Chelle Monique Woodert, who plans not only to defend the church, but to then help the Temple sue the city for violating Temple 420's religious freedom rights when they beat the criminal charges.
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