War! by Edwin Starr- music
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Israel seeks to save ancient sites from earthquake
AP, Jan 21, 2014
JERUSALEM (AP)—With Israel situated in one of the world’s earthquake-prone areas, officials are taking action to protect the Holy Land’s most important ancient treasures so they don’t come tumbling down.
After a series of five moderate earthquakes shook the country in October, experts installed a seismic monitoring system at the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s most important—and most visible—historical sites.
The project is Israel’s first attempt to use such technology to determine structural weaknesses in the countless ancient edifices that dot the Holy Land. The efforts, however, have been slowed by authorities’ reticence to publically declare sites as vulnerable, as well as the explosive geopolitics surrounding ancient Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites at the heart of the Mideast conflict.
“We have to remember that this is the Holy Land,” said Avi Shapira, head of a national steering committee for earthquake preparedness. “We have some responsibility not only to preserve the historical monuments of our personal heritage … but also for the rest of the world.”
Most of Israel’s historical sites “have not been checked,” said Shapira. “We have them on the map, but an engineer still hasn’t visited them.”
Israel sits along the friction point of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, and is prone to small tremors. The earthquakes in October caused no major damage, but made Israelis jittery. About once a century throughout history, a large earthquake has rattled the region, often damaging key historical sites. The last major quake occurred in 1927.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, was destroyed in an earthquake shortly after it was built in the 8th century and was damaged and repaired multiple times since due to quakes. The 1927 quake, which was over 6 in magnitude, caused hundreds of deaths and damaged Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried.
Israel has been bracing for another major earthquake for years. But those efforts have focused on retrofitting existing schools and hospitals and apartment buildings, and improving standards in new construction.
The country is just getting around to surveying its historical sites, and the assessment process has turned out to be sensitive.
Government experts have not published any findings on historical sites at risk, and it is unclear which government authority would be compelled to take responsibility for sites should they face earthquake damage.
In the past, Israeli involvement in the Old City’s ancient buildings has sparked protest from Palestinians who seek sovereignty there in their quest for an independent state.
The only site in the Old City that Israeli officials say is being checked for a possible earthquake risk is the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s most ubiquitous symbols. The minaret-topped stone tower stands in the corner of an ancient citadel fortress, and six major cracks in the tower have the staff worried if it can withstand an earthquake.
“This is the symbol of the city, the symbol of Jerusalem, for more than 2000 years. So that’s why this is a real nightmare for us,” said Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David museum.
Researchers from the University of Padua in Italy installed sensors throughout the tower to determine what kind of earthquake-proofing it might need.
Accelerometers along the tower measure small movements caused by wind and traffic, in order to predict how an earthquake would impact the structure. At the very top of the minaret, thin bars affixed to the stones slide like bicycle tire pumps to measure the movement of cracks. Data collected by the equipment will be analyzed to determine any structural flaws in the tower and if needed, to suggest engineering solutions to stabilize the site.
Initial assessments for the Tower of David are good. Claudio Modena, a University of Padova engineer, said the tower seems to be capable of withstanding an earthquake because its ancient foundations sit on bedrock. Three steel rings that hug the cracked minaret, installed during earlier British rule in the city, have helped save it from collapse, he said.
Orna Cohen, chief conservator of the Tower of David, said that in the event of an earthquake, Jerusalem’s most ancient structures of massive stones might actually be the city’s most dependable.
“If they still stand after so many earthquakes during the last 2000 years, they must be good structures,” Cohen said.
JERUSALEM (AP)—With Israel situated in one of the world’s earthquake-prone areas, officials are taking action to protect the Holy Land’s most important ancient treasures so they don’t come tumbling down.
After a series of five moderate earthquakes shook the country in October, experts installed a seismic monitoring system at the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s most important—and most visible—historical sites.
The project is Israel’s first attempt to use such technology to determine structural weaknesses in the countless ancient edifices that dot the Holy Land. The efforts, however, have been slowed by authorities’ reticence to publically declare sites as vulnerable, as well as the explosive geopolitics surrounding ancient Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites at the heart of the Mideast conflict.
“We have to remember that this is the Holy Land,” said Avi Shapira, head of a national steering committee for earthquake preparedness. “We have some responsibility not only to preserve the historical monuments of our personal heritage … but also for the rest of the world.”
Most of Israel’s historical sites “have not been checked,” said Shapira. “We have them on the map, but an engineer still hasn’t visited them.”
Israel sits along the friction point of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, and is prone to small tremors. The earthquakes in October caused no major damage, but made Israelis jittery. About once a century throughout history, a large earthquake has rattled the region, often damaging key historical sites. The last major quake occurred in 1927.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, was destroyed in an earthquake shortly after it was built in the 8th century and was damaged and repaired multiple times since due to quakes. The 1927 quake, which was over 6 in magnitude, caused hundreds of deaths and damaged Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried.
Israel has been bracing for another major earthquake for years. But those efforts have focused on retrofitting existing schools and hospitals and apartment buildings, and improving standards in new construction.
The country is just getting around to surveying its historical sites, and the assessment process has turned out to be sensitive.
Government experts have not published any findings on historical sites at risk, and it is unclear which government authority would be compelled to take responsibility for sites should they face earthquake damage.
In the past, Israeli involvement in the Old City’s ancient buildings has sparked protest from Palestinians who seek sovereignty there in their quest for an independent state.
The only site in the Old City that Israeli officials say is being checked for a possible earthquake risk is the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s most ubiquitous symbols. The minaret-topped stone tower stands in the corner of an ancient citadel fortress, and six major cracks in the tower have the staff worried if it can withstand an earthquake.
“This is the symbol of the city, the symbol of Jerusalem, for more than 2000 years. So that’s why this is a real nightmare for us,” said Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David museum.
Researchers from the University of Padua in Italy installed sensors throughout the tower to determine what kind of earthquake-proofing it might need.
Accelerometers along the tower measure small movements caused by wind and traffic, in order to predict how an earthquake would impact the structure. At the very top of the minaret, thin bars affixed to the stones slide like bicycle tire pumps to measure the movement of cracks. Data collected by the equipment will be analyzed to determine any structural flaws in the tower and if needed, to suggest engineering solutions to stabilize the site.
Initial assessments for the Tower of David are good. Claudio Modena, a University of Padova engineer, said the tower seems to be capable of withstanding an earthquake because its ancient foundations sit on bedrock. Three steel rings that hug the cracked minaret, installed during earlier British rule in the city, have helped save it from collapse, he said.
Orna Cohen, chief conservator of the Tower of David, said that in the event of an earthquake, Jerusalem’s most ancient structures of massive stones might actually be the city’s most dependable.
“If they still stand after so many earthquakes during the last 2000 years, they must be good structures,” Cohen said.
Renee Farwell aids children in Ghana because the ‘reason we are here [is] to love each other’
By Rich Polt, Talking GOOD, January 21, 2014
When asked for a favorite inspirational saying, Renee Farwell cites author/artist and fellow Iowan Brian Andreas: “There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…”
It’s only once you know the life path which Renee Farwell chose for herself that you can fully appreciate how profound and auto-biographical that saying truly is.
“… they may make no sense and they may make no money …”
I wonder what Renee’s parents said when she first told them that she would be returning to Ghana, the West-African nation where she took her semester abroad while attending Chicago’s Roosevelt University? Did they think her decision was misguided? Were they supportive?
Perhaps better than anyone, Renee’s parents recognized their daughter’s propensity for doing good and foresaw the seismic impact she would have in a community halfway around the world.
A few years earlier at the University of Ghana, Renee had met a young man named Eric Kwame Agoe. Kwame, a native Ghanaian, lost his father at a young age and was forced to drop out of public school due to his inability to pay the required fees. As he grew, Kwame saw other young children in his Kissemah Village also suffer from an inability to afford schooling.
After talking for a while with Renee at the copier, Kwame invited her to visit his village and help with the seven children being home schooled at Kwame’s mother’s house. She accepted his invitation. The experience changed her life.
Within a year, Kwame and Renee together established a free education and care facility in Kissemah Village. By January 2010, Mawuvio’s (God’s Children) Outreach Programme became a registered nongovernmental and social welfare organization in Ghana.
In November 2011 Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme (MOP) became a registered 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. MOP provides educational and development services to orphans and disadvantaged sons and daughters on the streets who cannot afford the required fees to attend government schools in Ghana.
Mawuvio’s Outreach operates under the Ghana Education Service providing nursery through primary 6 basic education: English, Math, Science, Religious Moral Education (RME), Information Communication Technology (ICT), Citizenship Education, and Creative Arts to children free of charge.
“… and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…”
According to MOP board member Elena Arosemena, “Renee embodies the spirit, courage, and conviction of following your heart! She is an example to the world [of] what can be accomplished if you stick with your dreams and goals. She has overcome cultural, language, age, [and] gender barriers, and is providing hope, opportunity, and education to amazing children who otherwise would not have a chance.”
This coming September, after a multiyear fundraising and construction effort, Renee, Kwame, and their team will finally open the Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme school building (classes are currently held outside). With the new facilities in place, their student population will grow appreciably. Now, their top priority will be to secure ongoing funding to keep the new school open and operating.
What began with just seven children on the porch of Kwame’s mother’s home has grown into a major operation that provides education, opportunities, and purpose to so many people; no one more so than Renee. As she says below, “I cannot imagine any other life than the one I am currently living.”
Thanks for speaking with us Renee!
IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?
To inspire youth to use education as a means to excel themselves, their families, and their communities out of the impoverished situations they come from and help them become successful, contributing members of society.
HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU?
Because of this work, I have found my purpose in life. Now, I cannot imagine any other life than the one I am currently living. It has made me more appreciative of everyday luxuries—from running water to having access to education. Most importantly, I am single-handedly assisting in, and witnessing, the development of the next generation of leaders in Ghana and the world at large.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING?
Seeing my students make steps in their education, making sense of letters and numbers—putting them into words, sentences, math problems, and being able to understand what they have just learned—is a huge reward for me. Listening to students, who once had no dreams or purpose, as they talk about becoming a doctor, a teacher, president gives me hope for the future—both for these children and the children Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme has yet to reach out to.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL SAYING?
“There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other.”—Brian Andreas
TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC?
My father recently suddenly passed away. I was in Ghana when it happened and had to quickly travel home to the states. A lot of family and friends felt very bad that I was so far away at such a difficult time. However, I feel differently.
The community I work in in Ghana has become a second family to me, they have met both my parents and care for me in the same way I am cared for by the family that raised me. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to grieve with both of my families during such a difficult time in my life.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS?
Follow your instincts and do not overthink things. Everyone has a purpose in this life, and if you are patient and open to things, your purpose will find you.
At what point did you know this was the work for you?
The first day I visited Kissemah Village and met our initial group of 15 children. One little girl, Mary, held my hand asking me question upon question for the entire four hours I was there. Although I left with an extremely sweaty hand, I knew that I would return and continue returning to Kissemah to answer as many questions as I could.
When asked for a favorite inspirational saying, Renee Farwell cites author/artist and fellow Iowan Brian Andreas: “There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…”
It’s only once you know the life path which Renee Farwell chose for herself that you can fully appreciate how profound and auto-biographical that saying truly is.
“… they may make no sense and they may make no money …”
I wonder what Renee’s parents said when she first told them that she would be returning to Ghana, the West-African nation where she took her semester abroad while attending Chicago’s Roosevelt University? Did they think her decision was misguided? Were they supportive?
Perhaps better than anyone, Renee’s parents recognized their daughter’s propensity for doing good and foresaw the seismic impact she would have in a community halfway around the world.
A few years earlier at the University of Ghana, Renee had met a young man named Eric Kwame Agoe. Kwame, a native Ghanaian, lost his father at a young age and was forced to drop out of public school due to his inability to pay the required fees. As he grew, Kwame saw other young children in his Kissemah Village also suffer from an inability to afford schooling.
After talking for a while with Renee at the copier, Kwame invited her to visit his village and help with the seven children being home schooled at Kwame’s mother’s house. She accepted his invitation. The experience changed her life.
Within a year, Kwame and Renee together established a free education and care facility in Kissemah Village. By January 2010, Mawuvio’s (God’s Children) Outreach Programme became a registered nongovernmental and social welfare organization in Ghana.
In November 2011 Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme (MOP) became a registered 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. MOP provides educational and development services to orphans and disadvantaged sons and daughters on the streets who cannot afford the required fees to attend government schools in Ghana.
Mawuvio’s Outreach operates under the Ghana Education Service providing nursery through primary 6 basic education: English, Math, Science, Religious Moral Education (RME), Information Communication Technology (ICT), Citizenship Education, and Creative Arts to children free of charge.
“… and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…”
According to MOP board member Elena Arosemena, “Renee embodies the spirit, courage, and conviction of following your heart! She is an example to the world [of] what can be accomplished if you stick with your dreams and goals. She has overcome cultural, language, age, [and] gender barriers, and is providing hope, opportunity, and education to amazing children who otherwise would not have a chance.”
This coming September, after a multiyear fundraising and construction effort, Renee, Kwame, and their team will finally open the Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme school building (classes are currently held outside). With the new facilities in place, their student population will grow appreciably. Now, their top priority will be to secure ongoing funding to keep the new school open and operating.
What began with just seven children on the porch of Kwame’s mother’s home has grown into a major operation that provides education, opportunities, and purpose to so many people; no one more so than Renee. As she says below, “I cannot imagine any other life than the one I am currently living.”
Thanks for speaking with us Renee!
IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?
To inspire youth to use education as a means to excel themselves, their families, and their communities out of the impoverished situations they come from and help them become successful, contributing members of society.
HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU?
Because of this work, I have found my purpose in life. Now, I cannot imagine any other life than the one I am currently living. It has made me more appreciative of everyday luxuries—from running water to having access to education. Most importantly, I am single-handedly assisting in, and witnessing, the development of the next generation of leaders in Ghana and the world at large.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING?
Seeing my students make steps in their education, making sense of letters and numbers—putting them into words, sentences, math problems, and being able to understand what they have just learned—is a huge reward for me. Listening to students, who once had no dreams or purpose, as they talk about becoming a doctor, a teacher, president gives me hope for the future—both for these children and the children Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme has yet to reach out to.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL SAYING?
“There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other.”—Brian Andreas
TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC?
My father recently suddenly passed away. I was in Ghana when it happened and had to quickly travel home to the states. A lot of family and friends felt very bad that I was so far away at such a difficult time. However, I feel differently.
The community I work in in Ghana has become a second family to me, they have met both my parents and care for me in the same way I am cared for by the family that raised me. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to grieve with both of my families during such a difficult time in my life.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS?
Follow your instincts and do not overthink things. Everyone has a purpose in this life, and if you are patient and open to things, your purpose will find you.
At what point did you know this was the work for you?
The first day I visited Kissemah Village and met our initial group of 15 children. One little girl, Mary, held my hand asking me question upon question for the entire four hours I was there. Although I left with an extremely sweaty hand, I knew that I would return and continue returning to Kissemah to answer as many questions as I could.
4 Habits Of Punctual People
By Stephanie Vozza, Fast Company, Jan. 20, 2014
Plan any event and chances are one in five of the people you invite will be late.
A study done at San Francisco State University found that about 20% of the U.S. population is chronically late—but it’s not because they don’t value others’ time. It’s more complicated than that, says lead researcher Diana DeLonzor.
“Repetitive lateness is more often related to personality characteristics such as anxiety or a penchant for thrill-seeking,” she says. “Some people are drawn to the adrenaline rush of that last-minute sprint to the finish line, while others receive an ego boost from over-scheduling and filling each moment with activity.”
In her book Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged, DeLonzor says our relationship with time often starts in childhood and becomes an ingrained habit.
“Looking back, you were probably late or early all of your life—it’s part physiological and part psychological,” she says. “Most chronically late people truly dislike being late, but it’s a surprisingly difficult habit to overcome. Telling a late person to be on time is a little like telling a dieter to simply stop eating so much.”
DeLonzor says the majority of people have a combination of late and punctual habits—usually on time, but with a frantic rush at the last minute—but we can all learn from those who are chronically punctual. DeLonzor shares four traits that always on time share:
1. They’re realistic thinkers. Punctual people know how long things take. Chronically late people, however, engage in what DeLonzor calls “magical thinking.”
“If once, 10 years ago, they made it to work in 20 minutes, they believe that’s how long it should take,” she says. “They forget about the 99% of the times that took 30 minutes.”
To develop realistic habits, DeLonzor suggests relearning to tell time. Write down how long you think it takes to shower, get ready in the morning and drive to work. Then for a week, track how long those things really take. Chronically late people are often off of their time estimates by 25% to 30%, says DeLonzor.
2. They give themselves buffer time. Punctual people are usually early, says DeLonzor. “Being late makes them stressed out and they don’t like feeling rushed,” she says. “Late people get stressed out from being late, too, but they don’t strive to be early; they tend to time things to the minute.”
For a 9 a.m. meeting, for example, a punctual person would try to arrive by 8:45 a.m. or 8:50 a.m., allowing enough time for an unexpected delay, such as traffic or a full parking garage. A punctual person reviews directions online, checks traffic reports before leaving, and some will even drive to an new location the day before to understand the route. To be punctual, plan to arrive early.
3. They’re organized. DeLonzor says that 45% of everything we do on a daily basis is automatic: “Our lives are filled with habits—from the way you brush teeth to how you get dressed and leave for work,” she says, adding that they’re necessary. “If we didn’t do things automatically, it would take us forever to get through our day.”
The habits of people who are always on time are highly structured. They analyze their daily activities, set routines, and stick to them on regular basis. Chronically late people, however, don’t have structure and often fall on the attention deficit disorder spectrum, says DeLonzor.
“Instead of thinking about why their routines don’t work and trying something different next time, chronically late people simply hope that tomorrow will be better,” she says.
To become punctual, DeLonzor suggests putting more routines and structure into your life. For example, do everything you can to prepare for the morning the night before.
4. They’re comfortable with downtime. Being punctual often means getting to meeting or an appointment early. Punctual people use the extra five or 10 minutes as a chance to catch up on emails, read over notes, or simply enjoy the solitude.
Chronically late people, however, hate downtime. They enjoy the thrill of that last-minute sprint to the finish line and crave stimulation. To be more comfortable with downtime, bring along something to fill those spare moments.
“Knowing that you have something to occupy your time will help,” says DeLonzor.
Lean Harder on Me
Jesus, speaking in prophecy
It’s not as if you can or should ignore pressing matters regarding your work and pretend that they don’t concern you in order to stay stress-free. However, when there is more than normal on your to-do list, you’d do well to follow the advice of many great men of God who have gone before you, who, throughout their lives of service for Me, learned the secret of effective leadership: lean harder on Me. The key at such times is to draw closer to Me and spend time with Me. With so much to do, the key is in relying more on Me, trusting in Me, spending time with Me, and praising Me—not in trying to handle more in your own strength.
When circumstances require you to take on more responsibility or a bigger workload, do not neglect your relationship with Me. That still comes first; nothing should change in that regard. This priority should always remain the same.
Rather than pushing yourself harder to accomplish more, push to lean harder on Me. If you commit the added work to Me and ask for My Spirit to empower you, rather than trying to take it all on in your natural strength, it can help you to stretch and grow. It can cause you to draw closer to Me and become more dependent on Me.
Keep your appointments with Me. Don’t try to squeeze too much into your days. Don’t let yourself become so rushed or pressured or pushed by circumstances or by the needs of your work or ministry that you forgo your time with Me.
Hear from Me about your priorities. If you concentrate on the majors and commit the rest to Me in prayer, then you will be able to focus on the most important matters and avoid feeling overly burdened or pressured.
*
When work is pressing, the problem with taking the demands on your own shoulders—aside from you feeling unnecessarily stressed and pressured—is that you may end up doing things that you think are most important but neglecting things that I know are most important. At such busy times, there is only so much you are physically capable of doing. So in order to know your priorities and do first things first, to get the most essential things taken care of in the time you have, you need to lean on Me and My wisdom as you go. Otherwise you risk not only burnout and undue stress and pressure, but also forgetting or not being able to fit in things that I know are most important.
Of course, the temptation is to just go, go, go! After all, there’s so little time and so much to do. But remember that the busier things get, the more important it is to be connected with Me. That doesn’t always mean that you need to take more hours reading My Word—although I might occasionally ask that of you. It means that your focus should be more on Me as you go about your work, making sure that your priorities are right, your goals are defined as I want them defined, and your schedule is in sync with My plans for you. It doesn’t take more time to do this; it just takes availing yourself of the power of My Spirit that is available to you, rather than leaning solely on your own strength and power.
As you depend on Me, look to Me, and commit your work to Me, I promise that I will help you and anoint you. If you’re depending on Me, then you’ll be able to handle your work without feeling frazzled. You’ll have a perfect peace in your heart, knowing that you did what you could, and you’ll have the trust in Me to know that I’m going to provide all that you need.
When there’s so much to do, it’s a human tendency to try to do it all yourself and not cast it on Me. But remember that when you cast your burdens on Me, your load will grow lighter, and when you take on My yoke, it will make things easier for you to bear. Your work is not going to disappear and your yoke is not going to be effortless—but the burden will be lighter and the yoke will be easier to bear if you are casting your cares, burdens, and to-dos on My shoulders.
My shoulders are broad enough to carry any load. My Spirit can empower and guide you with any task. As you do things My way, you’ll have success and peace of mind, knowing you’ve done the best you could and accomplished all that was possible with My anointing, and you’ll be able to trust Me for the rest.
Call on Me and I will give you My peace, which will lift you above the stress and pressure and bring you to the place where My will is known, My plan is clear, My priorities are your guidelines, and My strength and power are available to you.
Originally published October 2003. Adapted and republished January 2014. Copyright@TFI.
It’s not as if you can or should ignore pressing matters regarding your work and pretend that they don’t concern you in order to stay stress-free. However, when there is more than normal on your to-do list, you’d do well to follow the advice of many great men of God who have gone before you, who, throughout their lives of service for Me, learned the secret of effective leadership: lean harder on Me. The key at such times is to draw closer to Me and spend time with Me. With so much to do, the key is in relying more on Me, trusting in Me, spending time with Me, and praising Me—not in trying to handle more in your own strength.
When circumstances require you to take on more responsibility or a bigger workload, do not neglect your relationship with Me. That still comes first; nothing should change in that regard. This priority should always remain the same.
Rather than pushing yourself harder to accomplish more, push to lean harder on Me. If you commit the added work to Me and ask for My Spirit to empower you, rather than trying to take it all on in your natural strength, it can help you to stretch and grow. It can cause you to draw closer to Me and become more dependent on Me.
Keep your appointments with Me. Don’t try to squeeze too much into your days. Don’t let yourself become so rushed or pressured or pushed by circumstances or by the needs of your work or ministry that you forgo your time with Me.
Hear from Me about your priorities. If you concentrate on the majors and commit the rest to Me in prayer, then you will be able to focus on the most important matters and avoid feeling overly burdened or pressured.
*
When work is pressing, the problem with taking the demands on your own shoulders—aside from you feeling unnecessarily stressed and pressured—is that you may end up doing things that you think are most important but neglecting things that I know are most important. At such busy times, there is only so much you are physically capable of doing. So in order to know your priorities and do first things first, to get the most essential things taken care of in the time you have, you need to lean on Me and My wisdom as you go. Otherwise you risk not only burnout and undue stress and pressure, but also forgetting or not being able to fit in things that I know are most important.
Of course, the temptation is to just go, go, go! After all, there’s so little time and so much to do. But remember that the busier things get, the more important it is to be connected with Me. That doesn’t always mean that you need to take more hours reading My Word—although I might occasionally ask that of you. It means that your focus should be more on Me as you go about your work, making sure that your priorities are right, your goals are defined as I want them defined, and your schedule is in sync with My plans for you. It doesn’t take more time to do this; it just takes availing yourself of the power of My Spirit that is available to you, rather than leaning solely on your own strength and power.
As you depend on Me, look to Me, and commit your work to Me, I promise that I will help you and anoint you. If you’re depending on Me, then you’ll be able to handle your work without feeling frazzled. You’ll have a perfect peace in your heart, knowing that you did what you could, and you’ll have the trust in Me to know that I’m going to provide all that you need.
When there’s so much to do, it’s a human tendency to try to do it all yourself and not cast it on Me. But remember that when you cast your burdens on Me, your load will grow lighter, and when you take on My yoke, it will make things easier for you to bear. Your work is not going to disappear and your yoke is not going to be effortless—but the burden will be lighter and the yoke will be easier to bear if you are casting your cares, burdens, and to-dos on My shoulders.
My shoulders are broad enough to carry any load. My Spirit can empower and guide you with any task. As you do things My way, you’ll have success and peace of mind, knowing you’ve done the best you could and accomplished all that was possible with My anointing, and you’ll be able to trust Me for the rest.
Call on Me and I will give you My peace, which will lift you above the stress and pressure and bring you to the place where My will is known, My plan is clear, My priorities are your guidelines, and My strength and power are available to you.
Originally published October 2003. Adapted and republished January 2014. Copyright@TFI.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Iran's military nuclear bid 'will be stopped': Israel
By John Davison
.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Iran's atomic drive "will be stopped", a day after an interim agreement bringing sanctions relief for Tehran took effect.
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West, Iran activate landmark nuclear deal Reuters
"Iran's military nuclear programme must be stopped, and Iran's military nuclear programme will be stopped," Netanyahu said at a joint news conference with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, without saying how.
Israel has long warned that a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat to the Jewish state, and has refused to rule out a military strike to prevent that from happening.
Netanyahu fought a major diplomatic campaign against the so-called Geneva Agreement which was hammered out in November between world powers and Iran, and on Monday he said the agreement would not succeed in stopping Tehran.
"The interim agreement which went into force today does not prevent Iran from realising its intention to develop nuclear weapons," he told the Israeli parliament.
His remarks came just hours after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran had halted production of 20 percent enriched uranium, marking the entry into force of the landmark deal with the P5+1 group of world powers.
Unidentified IAEA inspectors and Iranian technicians disconnect the connections between the twin cas …
The international community also kept its part of the deal, with both the European Union and United States separately announcing they were easing crippling sanctions on Iran.
The deal, which was signed in Geneva, came about after nearly a decade of failed negotiations over its disputed nuclear programme, which the West believes is a front for building a military capability.
Tehran has denied the charge.
"A nuclear armed Iran would not just endanger Israel -- it would threaten the peace and security of our region," Netanyahu said on Tuesday.
"It would give Iran's terrorist proxies a nuclear umbrella.
"It would launch a multilateral nuclear arms race in the Middle East, it could turn the Middle East into a nuclear tinderbox," he said.
Netanyahu said the Iran nuclear issue, and the rise of Islamism across the Middle East, had united Israel and many Arab countries in their efforts to face these "twin challenges".
"Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and the aggressive designs of the Muslim Brotherhood is what shapes many of the Arab world's leading countries today," he said.
"In meeting those twin challenges, these countries do not see Israel as their enemy but as being on the same side of a difficult conflict," he said.
Commentators say the diplomatic effect of direct talks between Israel's sworn enemy Iran and Western powers could see the Jewish state finding more in common with traditional Arab allies of the US, particularly Sunni Gulf kingdom Saudi Arabia.
A importância da eternidade
Uma compilação
A eternidade é importante porque somos seres eternos (apenas temporariamente operando com base no relógio). Não surpreende que a eternidade esteja presente em quase tudo que Jesus tinha a dizer sobre a vida na terra. Como nós, aqueles agricultores, pescadores e donas de casa que O escutavam perto do lago estavam obcecados com o agora —com justiça, cura e felicidade agora. Mas para ajudá-los a entender o presente, Jesus lhes falou do no futuro.
Bem-aventurados são vocês, Jesus disse, quando perseveram e buscam desfazer o mal de todos os tipos, porque, então, em Meu reino, sua vida será bela e eterna. Você pode até saltar de alegria agora, Ele disse, “porque grande é sua recompense no céu.”
Lembra como era quando você estava lutando na faculdade ou no Ensino Médio, almejando a graduação? Você ralou nas aulas, fez um monte de deveres de casa, ficou acordado até tarde se preparando para exames. Mas, às vezes, seu pensamento se desviava para uma paisagem que enchia você com esperança. Nessa imagem, você está na passarela toda bonita, com um sorriso bobo no rosto, os flashes das câmeras disparando sem parar e sua mão se entendendo para receber seu diploma. Todo o trabalho concluído e sua recompensa à sua frente.
Se você for um seguidor de Cristo, o céu é a imagem de sua recompensa futura. É o que por fim vai fazer tudo fazer sentido. E é real —tão real quanto a luta que você trava diariamente. O céu é o que você pode esperar com cada fibra do seu ser, porque então todo o trabalho terá acabado e toda a recompensa estará diante de você. —Rick McKinley[1]
*
Mesmo nas piores situações, que parecem além das nossas capacidades, Deus sabe quanto nossos corações podem suportar. Creio que nossa vida aqui é temporária e nos prepara para a eternidade. Quer a vida seja boa ou má, a promessa do céu permanece. Nos momentos difíceis, alimento a esperança que Ele me dará a força para suportar os desafios e as dores de coração, e que dias melhores aguardam, se não nesta terra, certamente no céu. —Nick Vujicic[2]
*
David Livingstone, chamado o Apóstolo da África, nasceu na pobreza e lutou desde a infância para estudar, enquanto se sustentava e à sua família. Quando decidiu, ainda jovem, dedicar a vida ao trabalho missionário, sofreu zombarias, foi ridicularizado e até os que o amavam tentaram dissuadi-lo. Quando finalmente chegou à África, deparou-se com uma dificuldade após a outra-não só as típicas da vida diária e os perigos naturais, mas também muitas provas espirituais.
Livingstone, entretanto, viu além das circunstâncias em que se encontrava, conforme escreveu em seu diário no final de sua vida: "A ansiedade, a doença, o sofrimento e o perigo, de agora e de antes, assim como a privação de alguns confortos desta vida podem nos fazer vacilar, perturbar o nosso espírito e deprimir a nossa alma, mas que seja apenas por um momento. Tudo isso não é nada em comparação com a glória que em nós há de ser revelada [no Céu]. Jamais fiz um sacrifício!” —David Brandt Berg[3]
*
“Combati o bom combate, acabei a carreira, guardei a fé.”[4] Paulo pensa em sua vida … como uma corrida: “Acabei a carreira.” A meta está à frente e o juiz espera com uma coroa para o vencedor. Ao longo da pista estão as testemunhas, assistindo à competição, torcendo pelos seus favoritos. Paulo estava prestes a terminar o circuito. E bem próximo da linha de chegada viu a coroa brilhando, pronta para ser assentada sobre sua cabeça. O corredor força cada músculo e põe toda sua força na corrida. Assim Paulo havia vivido. Devemos fazer o melhor ao nosso alcance se quisermos vencer na corrida da vida.
A vida também é um depósito feito em confiança, algo que alguém nos deu para proteger, guardar, usar e levar para casa em ordem. “Guardei a fé.” Cada um de nós foi confiado com a vida —algo do que daremos conta. Tudo que Deus nos dá é um depósito feito em confiança. A parábola dos talentos ilustra isso. Os jovens devem pensar na vida e seus privilégios não como propriedades deles. Tudo que têm receberam das mãos de Deus, não para ser consumido em seus prazeres, mas para abençoar os outros. E cada dará conta disso —não dos talentos em si, tais como os recebeu, mas dos talentos aumentados pelo uso. A história do homem com um talento é uma advertência permanente para todos que não fazem o máximo possível com seus dons e oportunidades.
“Desde agora, a coroa da justiça me está guardada.” Os antigos corredores recebiam uma coroa de louros quanto cruzava a linha de chegada, mas, os cristãos receberão uma coroa eterna e imaculada. Por isso, a vida é mais que o prazer do sucesso neste mundo. Os que escolhem a vida de fé receberão a coroa. Uma pessoa pode até falhar nas lutas desta vida, sem atingir o sucesso, segundo a visão de vida dos homens, mas ser maravilhosamente exitosa no verdadeiro sentido e ganhar uma recompensa eterna. Vivamos bem no tempo presente e acumulemos para nós mesmos tesouros no céu. —J. R. Miller[5]
*
Moisés considerou o desprezo de Cristo superior às riquezas no Egito, que poderiam ter sido suas. Isso fez porque buscava a recompensa.[6] Ele olhava além dos seus dias, seus problemas, tentações e via Jesus. Estava atento à eternidade, suas grandes recompensas e considerava as riquezas de Cristo superiores a todas do Egito, a nação mais rica e ponderosa na Terra naquela época, sobre a qual ele poderia ter sido faraó.[7] —David Brandt Berg[8]
*
Jesus disse que onde estiver seu tesouro, aí estará também seu coração.[9] Algumas pessoas costumam citar de outra forma: “Onde estiver seu coração, aí estará o seu tesouro.” Mas não é assim. O Senhor disse que onde estiver seu tesouro, aí estará também o seu coração.
Esta é outra passagem bem conhecida: “Não se turbe o vosso coração. Credes em Deus, crede também em mim. Na casa de meu Pai há muitas moradas. Se não fosse assim, eu vo-lo teria dito. Vou preparar-vos lugar.” Isso está em João 14:2. E em Mateus 6:19–21 lemos: “Não ajunteis tesouros na terra, onde a traça e a ferrugem destroem” —poderíamos acrescentar aqui “e o fogo queima”— “e onde os ladrões arrombam e roubam. Mas ajuntai tesouros no céu, onde nem a traça nem a ferrugem destroem e onde os ladrões não arrombam nem roubam. Pois onde estiver o vosso tesouro, aí estará também o vosso coração.”
O que você mais valoriza? Você tem acumulado tesouros no céu? Você pode ser pobre aqui e não ter nenhum tesouro no céu. Não é uma questão de pobreza e riqueza, mas de você acumular seu tesouro no céu. —Virginia Brandt Berg[10]
Publicado em Âncora em janeiro de 2014.
[1] This Beautiful Mess (Multnomah Books, 2006).
[2] Life Without Limits (Doubleday, 2010).
[3] Superando Obstáculos (Aurora Produções, 2010).
[4] 2 Timóteo 4:7.
[5] Paul's Message for Today (Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), adaptação.
[6] Hebreus 11:26.
[7] Hebreus 11:24–27.
[8] Força Diária (Aurora Produções, 2004).
[9] Mateus 6:21.
[10] http://virginiabrandtberg.org/meditation-moments/mm132_the-mansion-just-over-the-hill.html.
A eternidade é importante porque somos seres eternos (apenas temporariamente operando com base no relógio). Não surpreende que a eternidade esteja presente em quase tudo que Jesus tinha a dizer sobre a vida na terra. Como nós, aqueles agricultores, pescadores e donas de casa que O escutavam perto do lago estavam obcecados com o agora —com justiça, cura e felicidade agora. Mas para ajudá-los a entender o presente, Jesus lhes falou do no futuro.
Bem-aventurados são vocês, Jesus disse, quando perseveram e buscam desfazer o mal de todos os tipos, porque, então, em Meu reino, sua vida será bela e eterna. Você pode até saltar de alegria agora, Ele disse, “porque grande é sua recompense no céu.”
Lembra como era quando você estava lutando na faculdade ou no Ensino Médio, almejando a graduação? Você ralou nas aulas, fez um monte de deveres de casa, ficou acordado até tarde se preparando para exames. Mas, às vezes, seu pensamento se desviava para uma paisagem que enchia você com esperança. Nessa imagem, você está na passarela toda bonita, com um sorriso bobo no rosto, os flashes das câmeras disparando sem parar e sua mão se entendendo para receber seu diploma. Todo o trabalho concluído e sua recompensa à sua frente.
Se você for um seguidor de Cristo, o céu é a imagem de sua recompensa futura. É o que por fim vai fazer tudo fazer sentido. E é real —tão real quanto a luta que você trava diariamente. O céu é o que você pode esperar com cada fibra do seu ser, porque então todo o trabalho terá acabado e toda a recompensa estará diante de você. —Rick McKinley[1]
*
Mesmo nas piores situações, que parecem além das nossas capacidades, Deus sabe quanto nossos corações podem suportar. Creio que nossa vida aqui é temporária e nos prepara para a eternidade. Quer a vida seja boa ou má, a promessa do céu permanece. Nos momentos difíceis, alimento a esperança que Ele me dará a força para suportar os desafios e as dores de coração, e que dias melhores aguardam, se não nesta terra, certamente no céu. —Nick Vujicic[2]
*
David Livingstone, chamado o Apóstolo da África, nasceu na pobreza e lutou desde a infância para estudar, enquanto se sustentava e à sua família. Quando decidiu, ainda jovem, dedicar a vida ao trabalho missionário, sofreu zombarias, foi ridicularizado e até os que o amavam tentaram dissuadi-lo. Quando finalmente chegou à África, deparou-se com uma dificuldade após a outra-não só as típicas da vida diária e os perigos naturais, mas também muitas provas espirituais.
Livingstone, entretanto, viu além das circunstâncias em que se encontrava, conforme escreveu em seu diário no final de sua vida: "A ansiedade, a doença, o sofrimento e o perigo, de agora e de antes, assim como a privação de alguns confortos desta vida podem nos fazer vacilar, perturbar o nosso espírito e deprimir a nossa alma, mas que seja apenas por um momento. Tudo isso não é nada em comparação com a glória que em nós há de ser revelada [no Céu]. Jamais fiz um sacrifício!” —David Brandt Berg[3]
*
“Combati o bom combate, acabei a carreira, guardei a fé.”[4] Paulo pensa em sua vida … como uma corrida: “Acabei a carreira.” A meta está à frente e o juiz espera com uma coroa para o vencedor. Ao longo da pista estão as testemunhas, assistindo à competição, torcendo pelos seus favoritos. Paulo estava prestes a terminar o circuito. E bem próximo da linha de chegada viu a coroa brilhando, pronta para ser assentada sobre sua cabeça. O corredor força cada músculo e põe toda sua força na corrida. Assim Paulo havia vivido. Devemos fazer o melhor ao nosso alcance se quisermos vencer na corrida da vida.
A vida também é um depósito feito em confiança, algo que alguém nos deu para proteger, guardar, usar e levar para casa em ordem. “Guardei a fé.” Cada um de nós foi confiado com a vida —algo do que daremos conta. Tudo que Deus nos dá é um depósito feito em confiança. A parábola dos talentos ilustra isso. Os jovens devem pensar na vida e seus privilégios não como propriedades deles. Tudo que têm receberam das mãos de Deus, não para ser consumido em seus prazeres, mas para abençoar os outros. E cada dará conta disso —não dos talentos em si, tais como os recebeu, mas dos talentos aumentados pelo uso. A história do homem com um talento é uma advertência permanente para todos que não fazem o máximo possível com seus dons e oportunidades.
“Desde agora, a coroa da justiça me está guardada.” Os antigos corredores recebiam uma coroa de louros quanto cruzava a linha de chegada, mas, os cristãos receberão uma coroa eterna e imaculada. Por isso, a vida é mais que o prazer do sucesso neste mundo. Os que escolhem a vida de fé receberão a coroa. Uma pessoa pode até falhar nas lutas desta vida, sem atingir o sucesso, segundo a visão de vida dos homens, mas ser maravilhosamente exitosa no verdadeiro sentido e ganhar uma recompensa eterna. Vivamos bem no tempo presente e acumulemos para nós mesmos tesouros no céu. —J. R. Miller[5]
*
Moisés considerou o desprezo de Cristo superior às riquezas no Egito, que poderiam ter sido suas. Isso fez porque buscava a recompensa.[6] Ele olhava além dos seus dias, seus problemas, tentações e via Jesus. Estava atento à eternidade, suas grandes recompensas e considerava as riquezas de Cristo superiores a todas do Egito, a nação mais rica e ponderosa na Terra naquela época, sobre a qual ele poderia ter sido faraó.[7] —David Brandt Berg[8]
*
Jesus disse que onde estiver seu tesouro, aí estará também seu coração.[9] Algumas pessoas costumam citar de outra forma: “Onde estiver seu coração, aí estará o seu tesouro.” Mas não é assim. O Senhor disse que onde estiver seu tesouro, aí estará também o seu coração.
Esta é outra passagem bem conhecida: “Não se turbe o vosso coração. Credes em Deus, crede também em mim. Na casa de meu Pai há muitas moradas. Se não fosse assim, eu vo-lo teria dito. Vou preparar-vos lugar.” Isso está em João 14:2. E em Mateus 6:19–21 lemos: “Não ajunteis tesouros na terra, onde a traça e a ferrugem destroem” —poderíamos acrescentar aqui “e o fogo queima”— “e onde os ladrões arrombam e roubam. Mas ajuntai tesouros no céu, onde nem a traça nem a ferrugem destroem e onde os ladrões não arrombam nem roubam. Pois onde estiver o vosso tesouro, aí estará também o vosso coração.”
O que você mais valoriza? Você tem acumulado tesouros no céu? Você pode ser pobre aqui e não ter nenhum tesouro no céu. Não é uma questão de pobreza e riqueza, mas de você acumular seu tesouro no céu. —Virginia Brandt Berg[10]
Publicado em Âncora em janeiro de 2014.
[1] This Beautiful Mess (Multnomah Books, 2006).
[2] Life Without Limits (Doubleday, 2010).
[3] Superando Obstáculos (Aurora Produções, 2010).
[4] 2 Timóteo 4:7.
[5] Paul's Message for Today (Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), adaptação.
[6] Hebreus 11:26.
[7] Hebreus 11:24–27.
[8] Força Diária (Aurora Produções, 2004).
[9] Mateus 6:21.
[10] http://virginiabrandtberg.org/meditation-moments/mm132_the-mansion-just-over-the-hill.html.
