Life After Death

By Bill Newcott, September & October 2007
If life is a journey, what is the destination? We asked people 50 and over to share their most deeply held beliefs. The result is an illuminating glimpse into America’s spiritual core

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am I ....

as i near the end of life's journey
i ask myself
am i a succes or a failure?

i always tot i was a failure
my classmates are holding top positions in top MNC's

they have plenty money
posh cars and
posh women

and i am broke


but then on second tot
I gott good friends
and many lovers

I gott a firm which is not making much money
but I enjoy the work I am doing

i gott a few small clients
who value my services

but they cant pay
does it matter?

is money the only reward?
one day some of these small time clients will make the big time
perhaps after i die

I am happy
but am I successful?

u tell me

Oh God!

I never realized the amount of work a housewife does
Now that Maria cant do it
we have to do it

Tony is at a loss
more than any one

he does not even know how to change a light bulb
operate the washing machine
the micro wave
fry an egg
make coffee

He will learn now
God works in mysterious ways

Praise the Lord

A long way from home
A long way from home

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long way from home
A long way from home

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Way up in the heavenly land
Way up in the heavenly land

True believers a long way from home
A long way from home

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long way from home

I am 57
my wife is 54

on our siver wedding anniv

i told my wife
lets go to GOA for honeymoon

she said Not Now
we have no money to splurge

today we have plenty money, but
today my wife has Parkinsons
she cant walk properly

she cant travel
she needs help in dressing

she needs plenty help

...

...

One of the most difficult challenges in life is learning not to take things to heart and hold on to it. Especially when we’re younger, or if we’re very sensitive, we take so much of what comes our way to heart.

This can be overwhelming and unproductive if it throws us off balance on a regular basis. When we are feeling criticized or attacked from all directions, it becomes very difficult for us to recover ourselves so that we can continue to speak and act our truth.

This is when we would do well to remember the old saying about letting certain things roll off us, like water off a duck’s back. Most of the time, the attacks and criticisms of others have much more to do with them and how they are feeling than with us.

If we get caught up in trying to adjust ourselves to other people’s negative energy, we lose touch with our core. In fact, in a positive light, these slings and arrows offer us the opportunity to strengthen our core sense of self, and to learn to dodge and deflect other people’s misdirected negativity.

The more we do this, the more we are able to discern what belongs to us and what belongs to other people. With practice, we become masters of our energetic integrity, refusing to serve as targets for the disowned anger and frustration of the people around us. Eventually, we will be able to hear the feedback that others have to offer, taking in anything that might actually be constructive, and releasing that which has nothing to do with us. First, though, we tend ourselves compassionately by recognizing when we can’t take something in from the outside without hurting ourselves.

This is when we make like a duck, shaking it off and letting it roll off our back as we continue our way in the world.This is a copy from my lovely book "...Inspirational Thoughts..."/Madison Taylor/.
At 11:30 PM, g-man said...

delete my blogs?

why do u want me to delete my blogs?
u became violent with me at Lalus house

kaktose dude to me show details 12:04 PM (7 hours ago)

Reply
In deletion of your silly blogs, you will realize that your time is better spent on healing Maria and stabilizing your life financially, at least to a certain extent.

In addition, deleting your blogs will detach you from the severe attachment that you have created for yourself in the virtual world.

For most people in the virtual world, who are basically blogging on relationships, such as you, Keshi and many more others, there seems to be a need to "connect" and a need for recognition and there is nothing wrong with that.

Others seek out new friends through social networks, and to keep in touch with existing ones too. Nothing wrong with that either.

Unfortunately many times that "connect" leads to a "disconnect" with the real world as it is pretty obvious in so many cases. (See some of the recent posts of you-know-who to get an idea :)

If you can understand this, then Jesus has spoken to you through one of his vehicles. The wisdom of Jesus may land in your lap through the words of people who love you and Maria, and your children.

Sometimes violence is an answer to snap people out of their illusions and is commonly used. Violence is as important an instrument as is non-violence.

Post this piece of honesty.
Pithaly

coming home

Vile and sinful tho' my heart may be,
Fully trusting Lord, I come to Thee;
Thou hast pow'r to cleanse and make me free,
I am coming home.

Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;
I'm coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.

Like a father seeks a wayward child,
Thou hast sought me o'er the desert wild,
Sick and helpless, by my sin defiled,
I am coming home.

Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;
I'm coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.

Pleading tenderly, His voice I hear,
Why should I refuse a friend so dear?
He will take away my guilt and fear,
I am coming home.


Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;
I'm coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.

Precious blood of Jesus, may its flow
Cleanse from evil, wash me white as snow;
There is hope alone in Thee, I know,
I am coming home.


Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;
I'm coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.


Tell my mother what her boy has done,
God has spoken to her wayward son;
To be faithful till my crown is won,
I am coming home.


Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;

I'm coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.

Most people greet each other with a "Hi, how are you?"

or a "How ya' doing?" Sometimes it is even expressed with enthusiasm or kindness. Jesus, on the other hand, greeted his friends differently: "Peace be with you" (Luke 24:36; John 14:27; 20:19,21,26).

The early believers continued this practice. Paul, in his New Testament letters, regularly sent blessings of grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:16). Society has made various expressions of peace trendy. "Peace, brother" was often said in the cultural revolution of the sixties/seventies. "Peace out!" has been heard more these days.

Perhaps some people say it with meaning and sincerity, but my suspicion is it's more often just a catch phrase. The peace Jesus gives is not the same as ours. In fact, he tells us in so many words. Read John 14:27 — " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

There is something significant here Christ is giving us His peace and this peace is not given to us the way the world gives it. It is the "peace that passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). These thoughts are present with me of late. The drums of war are beating loudly in the United States and Great Britain. There is a great deal of evidence and justification being presented for military action against Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein.

Granted, the world is in a precarious situation if evil men with weapons of mass destruction are allowed to use them. However, as a Christian it is not so easy to jump on the bandwagon.

Struggling over the concept of war is something we all should do. Everyone recognizes that the death and suffering caused by war is atrocious. Still, wars happen. And, unfortunately, there will be more war. The reasons behind them will sometimes sound justified and other times absurd.A Better Way? I was reading about St. Francis of Assisi recently. His feast day is October 4th. You probably know that this once medieval playboy rejected a life of wealth and egotism and took to heart the Gospel message to deny his self and follow Christ. He was very humble and lived a simple life.

He loved and respected all of God's creatures. He's even considered the patron of animals. I discovered something I never knew about him. Francis lived during the time of the Crusades. Christian European armies were warring with the Muslim forces in the Middle East. Francis' response was to go on a peace-seeking mission.

In 1219 he traveled to Damietta, Egypt, near the mouth of the Nile, and met with the Sultan of Egypt, Malek-el-Kamel. He delivered a sincere and earnest message of the Gospel Good News and the love of Jesus. The Sultan was impressed with the courage and faith of this messenger and listened with courtesy and admiration. It didn't result in conversion, but at least it was heard out. The ruler was impressed enough to guarantee Francis safe passage home.


A Prayer for Peace A good daily reminder of what we are called to do as a follower of Jesus is aptly summed up in St. Francis' Prayer of Peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


Does this prayer accurately reflect my attitude? I have a long way to go. However, the truth of those words cannot be denied. We are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of all truth. Like the Sultan of Egypt in 1219, at the very least I can hear these words with courtesy and admiration. Perhaps they will even enter my heart and help change me.

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