The relationship between those who have been abused and the church itself are not always what Christ would have them to be.

Paul and Silas were escorted to the lowered dungeon, uncomfortable, in chains, mistreated, hurting and still probably bleeding from the beatings. One would expect them to be belligerent, angry, complaining but instead we find them singing and rejoicing. At midnight when it would seem they would have been trying to rest and soothe themselves, they prayed and sang praises to God.

Shamans tend to be men {Women have more of these abilities in their natural state and require less altered consciousness.}, though women also can become shamans; some women shamans are extraordinarily powerful. In some cultures, shamans are involuntarily chosen by the spirits; they realize their calling in a transformational experience, often a serious illness that brings them close to death {For example Damion Brinkley of today.} and is self-cured. In other cultures, persons with natural shamanic gifts are selected at a young age, trained and initiated.

To help set the stage for the proper evaluation of information and events that will doubtless fall on many unbelieving minds at times; let me quote Herbert Spencer for you. “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance – that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

We are being called upon to find “The Way” to navigate through life’s ever-shifting experiences with more peace, compassion and acceptance. Simple practice, like returning to the calm place within ourselves, helps us find more peace in life – despite the ever-changing fortunes of time. Herein, we grow our beings and our connection to our God.

A humorous look at the author's experience at the Crosswalk.com forum.

The spiritually dead church. In my life, as a minister's son, I have seen many spiritually dead churches. There is no love, or working of the spirit. Some churches, have become a haven, for social gatherings, gossip meetings, and condemnation.

Let us grasp from the outset that success as understood in the usual secular sense of the word is not promised in the kingdom of God. God never promised anybody a star-studded career. He never promised achievement in the worldly understanding of the word. In fact, He seem to promise the exact opposite.

Our True Selves are from Heaven, and they are all equal. Why is there the distinction of good and evil in human character?

Gush Katif are the Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip area of Israel. This land was specifically given in the bible to the tribe of Judah. Today Israel is in a battle against the world, and against their own government trying to hold on to their biblical inheritance.

From the moment we are born, we are talk to be selfless, to think about others first and deny ourselves at our own expense. How can one give if we have nothing to give, if we are not allowed to collect abundance, whether it is love or money? It is our nature to be selfish and to...

Rarely do two individuals agree on what is morally right or morally wrong. We are adrift without answers. No single authority rules our conduct. We are free to be prejudiced or promiscuous, to cheat and chisel.

The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds us of David who became so angry and indignant when he heard about the awful behaviors of a rich person described to him by Nathan.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Surely this is a question all of us ask from time to time. Some of Jesus’ listeners asked Him the same question.

I said something last week I haven't said in years. Where it came from, I really don't know. It's funny, you're tooling along minding your own business for weeks, maybe months at a time, and then something you haven't thought about for years pops into your noodle.

Forgiveness is a tough thing for us to offer and yet God forgives us such a huge debt. How can we then NOT forgive?

Lexie Chihuahua is a very special little chihuahua girl that came to me through a series of miracles that I believe were orchestrated by my son, Brian Michael, before his passing on February 22, 2003.

Here they are, our Ladies of Mercy and Divine Benevolence. Petitioning the Saints for Special Favours has been a big subject in the chat rooms lately, so in the spirit of Christmas and the Goddess energies associated with these martyrs and popularized pagan deities, I have compiled a list that tells you how to use candle burning to request favours.

Trainers and sports doctors impress upon us the importance of stretching and warming up before strenuous exercise. Every runner knows to vital role warming up has. But you can only warm up so long; then you must run the race.

To avoid becoming yet another statistic of stress and anxiety symptoms, take heed of the following stress facts, because not knowing how to prevent stress can kill you.

All day it's been non-stop - the tv was on, then the radio, then people were talking to you all day long. Even when you're alone the thoughts crowd in and ceaselessly chatter in your mind. The simplest thing can help the busy mind to chill out... just a minute.

Don't worry over panic attacks, learn to deal with them as they come and gain control over them. Take your life back again and stop panic attacks once and for all.

The benefits of exercise and fitness to your general state of health is well know but the benefits of exercise in combating stress, and the reasons for these benefits, are certainly not as well understood.