http://www.factsvault.com/ Articles at FactsVault.com en-us http://www.factsvault.com/christian/our-god-is-omnipresent.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/our-god-is-omnipresent.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:39:38 -0500
In contrast, we read in Colossians 1:17 that God is present in every minute particle of matter. He is present in every tiny grain of sand, every particle of dust, and even the most microscopic element for it is He who holds it all together. Big or small it was all created by Him and His is separate and distinct from it all.

There is no way the human mind can fully comprehend the fact that our God can be present everywhere at the same time. As humans, we are limited in both time and space, but God is not. Although I do not really understand how it is possible, I know that it is true.

Whenever I need God's help or comfort I can call out to Him and He hears me. That is not just a privilege of mine, every follower of Christ can do the same. Even though at any given time there are tens of thousands of people praying to God from all over the world, He has the ability and the concern to focus on each one individually.

There are bound to be times you feel alone and like no one cares. Even during those times God is right there with you. Let His presence and His care for you be a comfort during these difficult times. He will not leave you.

God, you amaze me with your omnipresence, which I cannot fathom. I thank You for always being with me, it is a tremendous comfort to know that You are here. I know You will guide me and protect me through all of the challenges that I face in this life. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/5-priorities-after-a-new-illness-diagnosis.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/5-priorities-after-a-new-illness-diagnosis.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:52:10 -0500
Now I knew: at the age of 24, my life would perhaps never return to where it was "before illness." The word "normal" would be redefined. Simple activities like staying out late with friends, driving my car, sitting on the sand at the beach, or carrying a cup of coffee, would become an event and sometimes one I would be unable to complete. The carefree attitude and lifestyle that I had lived would always be overshadowed within the fog of chronic disease.

Recently, I received an e-mail from a woman who I went to small high school with of about 300 students--over 25 years ago. She had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and while surfing the Internet to find information and encouragement, she stumbled upon Rest Ministries website and discovered that I was the founder.

We wrote back and forth through e-mails and I hope that my words were encouraging to her. When I think back to when I was first diagnosed, I think these are the five most important factors for one to consider upon receiving his or her own diagnosis.

[1] Get in touch with the national foundation or organization that is dedicated to supporting people who live with a chronic illness that you have recently been diagnosed with. Explain to them that you have just found out about your diagnosis and that you would like the most basic information. They may drop some brochures to you in the mail or send you to their website.

Despite the fact that you may have not had a chance to grieve your diagnosis yet will likely make this to seem discouraging, and if you begin to get things in the mail and are not ready to read them, put them aside for later. The important thing is to know that this organization will likely be the one that will provide you with the most current and objective scientific treatment options and you will want to be "in the know." As your doctors are making suggestion for medications for you to start, and you are torn about them because of the long list of side effects, these organizations will be your best source of objective information.

[2] Set boundaries with yourself about how much you will read about your disease. There are millions of websites, books, podcasts, and magazines, which will tell you how to treat it, cure it, and what alternative treatments to try. Spend a short period of time looking over credible health organization websites so that you know where to go to find helpful information when you need it.

You will want to be informed about symptoms that may occur due to your illness or the medications you are taking. So that if they do occur, you'll be able to attribute them to the actual disease, instead of having a different doctor treated as a separate condition. However, do not be tempted to bury yourself in trying to read everything you can find because it will become depressing, and many of the things you read may never even occur in your illness experience.

[3] Don't lose hope. As with my illness, rheumatoid arthritis, and most others, there are daily scientific discoveries that can change the of the disease. I have lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 16 years and just recently had four joints replaced in my left hand. My medical team, which includes a hand surgeon, rheumatologist, and physical therapist, all have commented that they rarely see these kinds of surgeries anymore due to the new family of drugs in the last 10 years that has slowed down the progressiveness and destruction of the disease.

Even if your disease did not have an immediate cure, even just knowing your exact DNA, which is on the verge of discovery, will be able to help you pinpoint exactly which drug will best treat your disease without having to switch from one drug to another and lose money, and sometimes years, while figuring out which one works best. Having consistent help and a positive outlook on living life fully despite your illness will have a profound effect on your level of contentment.

[4] Think about who you would like in your life to be able to talk to about what you are emotionally and spiritually experiencing due to the recent diagnosis. The person may be someone you meet in an online forum for your disease, it could be a pastor, mentor, counselor, or even a good friend who is able to listen without trying to fix it. The most important thing is that you have an oasis where you can share what you are experiencing without feeling like you may be judged or where you will receive ignorant comments such as "no pain, no gain." Check out your local support groups for your illness, or other support environments such as HopeKeepers, which is a unique small group Christian support environment for those who live with illness or pain.

Also, consider your personality and how you are best encouraged. Would you feel most refreshed by sharing what you are going through with just a friend, one-on-one, at a coffeehouse? Or are you homebound, and signing onto a website every day to receive encouragement and prayer would be beneficial? Remember, whatever works best for you at this time, may not best meet your needs in six months, so do not feel like you are stuck with a particular group or mention. Be willing to try new forms of support to find which best works for you.

[5] Ask yourself a poignant question: "What foundation do I have in my life that will help me through the darkest moment that I may face while living with this disease?" Although your illness may not significantly impact your life immediately, the daily pains and aches that you may experience long-term can put you on a roller coaster of emotions you never prepared for. Spiritually, you may find yourself asking "Why me?" types of questions. Even if you have not come to a conclusion that there is a God, you may find yourself speaking to Him more than usual. I agree that a new cozy blanket or a cup of hot tea can bring temporary relief, however, for those darkest moments I do not fully understand how people find strength to continue and they do not know the Lord.

This is what keeps me together: believing that my pain is never wasted, and that God always has a purpose and plan for it; acknowledging that God is always in control of my life and that of my circumstances come as a surprise to Him; and firmly surrendering to the fact that He has any specific purpose for my life and that any limitations I have experienced because of my illness will not hinder His plans. Even if you are not a spiritual person, you will likely find yourself facing those middle of the night blues, and I encourage you to look up a biblical websites like Bible Gateway and read through some of the Psalms. If you are unfamiliar with them you may find yourself pleasantly surprised to see that most of the people who live during these times faced severe hardships, deep depression, many doubts, and yes, even chronic illnesses and disabilities.

So in conclusion, be informed, set boundaries for the amount of information you will research, stay hopeful, find support through people, and search for what will get you through the most difficult of times when information and people disappoint you. Search for whatever purpose you are supposed to be discovering within this pain, and the passion for that will get you through one day at a time. And don't stop living. Keep being true to yourself, even if it's in tiny ways. As the late John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/church-hosting-some-the-best-companies.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/church-hosting-some-the-best-companies.html Sun, 28 Mar 2010 06:49:17 -0500
Nowadays there are various church website hosting service providers who will give you the best of services, so that you get a great website design for your church. The Christian churches are considered among the best sources and mediums of great culture and knowledge, so its needs to be shared with the whole world.

Being a user, you will get an opportunity to get all the information related to the church. Also, you will be fortunate to be able get all the knowledge, teachings, services and functions of the various churches with the help of this websites.

If you search a bit on the internet, you will get all the names of the best church hosting companies in the world. You will also get other information related to the companies you search through the various websites.

All of these companies will offer you services like video sharing, chat rooms, forums, contact forms as well as blogs and feedback forms. These services will help you to spread the information about the church in a much better way.

So with the help of the church hosting companies you can not only spread the various information related to your church, but you can also get in touch with the users directly. The users too can take the help of this medium to sort out their queries and doubts. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/making-sure-your-church-chooses-the-right-web-hosting-company.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/making-sure-your-church-chooses-the-right-web-hosting-company.html Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:40:03 -0500
The internet is not this way. You may type in "Christian hosting for churches" in your browser and be taken to a site that looks legit and is really located on some remote island somewhere. While that may not always be a negative, it usually is. The web is a very interesting place and with it comes great opportunity and great chance for aggravation.

There are some warning signs you can look for when making your decision for a church web hosting service. Churches often get scammed in the process so here is a quick list of things to beware of.

Be weary of: -Web hosting companies that register your domain in their name -Ones that only offer one plan... unlimited ...with very little explanation or documentation -We hosting sites that are very cheezy in their design...if they cannot put money or time into their storefront they wont put much into your site support either -Sites that try to get you to sign up for 3, 4, or even 5 years in advance as they wont know what their expenses will be that far in the future so they are playing Russian roulette with your domain... -Hosting sites that hide the owner info of their domain name... -Those who do not post a phone number and even those who do not offer a toll free number...

You can make a good decision if you go through the process. Check them out by the criteria listed above. Don't jump on something just because it says Christian on it. Some of those sites are owned by other companies that are not even Christian owned. A great hosting company will have great support through phone and tickets.

Sometimes it is good if a hosting company is a branch from a larger company. A good managed hosting service will go a long way especially with a church. Church web hosting can be tricky for some clients and present specific needs and support issues that should be placed in the hands of a company that knows what the needs are before you even ask. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/free-christian-library.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/free-christian-library.html Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:37:01 -0600
Locating in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the Christian Library is a non-profit library. Like its counter part the public library, you simply register and receive a library card.

Once you have your library card from the Christian Library you are free to check out any book or resource material for 2 weeks. If 2 weeks isn't enough time to finish then you can re-new your check out material by calling the library during regular operating hours. Can't call during regular business hours? Don't worry, you can call after-hours and leave a message with your name, the titles of your books and their due dates.

The Christian Library offers a variety of books for your reading pleasure. We have books from fiction, biographies, children's and youth books, learning/study books on a variety of subjects like prayer, healing, family, marriage, stewardship and witnessing.

You may have though about how to start your own Christian Library. Good. We have quite a variety of resources with information on everything you would need. Information like where to buy supplies or where to buy library computer software. The informaiton is provided either in a handy spiral booklet or on a CD. This information covers everything you need to start up your own libarary. We provide suggestions on where to get books, how to catalog your library. We even provide information on how to set up your own non-profit organization. In addition, there are sections covering computer software to inventory your books and checking materials in and out. There is also information provided on how to select a building location, room arrangements and a whole lot more. Plus, there are links and addresses to supplies and reference material sources.

The idea for THE CHRISTIAN LIBRARY started in 1991 when I saw the need for new Christian converts to have access to learning materials for their continued spiritual growth and development. We established an operational library as a non-profit organization in 2000.

The Christian Library started as an idea in 1991 when we saw a need for new Christians to have learning materials available for their continured spiritual growth and development. Finally in 2000 we were able to establish a fully operational non-profit organization. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/victory-is-near.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/victory-is-near.html Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:28:58 -0600
During these days the disciples no doubt had to have been excited about the great and wonderful things that were happening, and they had to be filled with tremendous excitement about what would come next. Throughout this time Jesus told them on a few occasions that He would be going to His Father and leaving the disciples. Although the disciples didn't truly understand what was about to happen, they knew Jesus was the Messiah and that He was there to save them.

The exciting days of promise quickly turned to fear and tragedy. Christ went from being treated like royalty to being treated like a criminal within a matter of days.

Certainly the disciples went through a very difficult time as the watched Jesus, the man they had followed so closely, die on a cross. Their days had been filled with so much excitement and promise, but now tragedy had taken its place. Jesus had said to the disciples that they would live because He lived. But now that he was dead, how could that be?

Unknown to the disciples, victory was just a few days away and Christ would fulfill not only all the promises He made to them, but those spoken by the prophets of old.

Jesus still lives today and He promises that we will have victory! There are times when I don't understand why things are happening a certain way, but I remember that He is the Christ who was sent by His Father.

When I face those times of struggles and confusion in my life, I can turn to Him and know that He has the answers and the power to get me through it. He will lead me to victory.

Lord, I ask that you would not allow me to forget that victory through You is coming. Help me to find hope and courage in You. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/how-to-properly-deal-with-your-anger.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/how-to-properly-deal-with-your-anger.html Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:50:07 -0600
Anger can be managed or dealt with in five different ways, which we will discuss here. The first three that we will look at will typically only make the situation and anger worse.

SUPPRESSION is when you pretend or deny that you are angry. Holding in your feelings of anger can actually even lead to health problems in addition to emotional struggles. Also, when you suppress your anger you are setting yourself up for a blow up.

OPEN AGGRESSION includes yelling, stomping, complaining, arguing, criticizing, blaming, throwing things and even physically harming someone else. Basically it's a rude way of saying, "I want my own way!"

PASSIVE AGGRESSION is not outwardly aggressive but it is still a destructive way of handling anger. With passive aggression you basically shut down. You may also gossip or talk about people behind their back or sulk. Passive aggression is not healthy or effective because it avoids conflict, and therefore the source of the issue is never addressed or corrected.

ASSERTIVENESS is a healthy way to handle anger, and it's how God would have us to deal with our anger. The person who is assertive will address the issue with others involved, but will do so constructively and respectfully rather than with open or passive aggression.

When you can use assertiveness properly you will be able to work towards solving your problems and issues that come up in your life. An assertive person can work well with others to communicate effectively and work together towards a suitable solution.

LETTING GO OF ANGER is what you'll need to be able to do when there is no other solution. For situations where you have tried to make things better but it is simply outside of your control, letting go of your anger is necessary. You may choose to accept the situation and the differences that you have with others, or forgive that person if they have done something wrong towards you.

Sometimes something that happens may bring back old feelings of hurt or anger. Remember that forgiveness is your choice and that you can move beyond the situation if you are willing to. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/christian-anger-management.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/christian-anger-management.html Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:42:50 -0600
The instructions are not plentiful, but from place to place the wording is different. However, the meaning of what is said is not changed.

We will look quickly at six of them.

Stay away from anger

As you read the Bible you will see why this instruction is a part of the Christian anger management plan. Two immediate reasons that are given are that firstly, anger leads to sin, and second it puts you in danger of God's judgment.

Let things pass

Just let people get away with things. Fix the damage that they have caused you, and put them in the hands of God and let him get even with them. He will allow them to reap what they sow. But remember that a huge part of the plan for us is to be forgiven as we forgive those that trespass against us.

Yes it is sin

Let's say that someone makes you as mad as a hornet and you go and cuss them out, or do some other thing to relieve your hurt feelings.

The truth is that something wrong in God's eyes has just taken place. The fact that these people bothered with you first and made you angry does not matter. You are expected to be cool all the time, and losing your cool can get you into trouble.

Pray

Christian anger management like all Christian effort needs to start with prayer. There are things that can be done without prayer, but for it to be a successful Christian attempt, God has to be included and that happens when a Christian prays.

Don't keep it for long

The first course of action when angry is to get away from the angry feeling. The guidelines are that the sun should not go down before the Christian is calm.

This does not mean that you are to pray or do whatever to stop the sun from moving. It means that before the sun gets out of sight for the day the Christian's best interest are served by having gotten rid of the anger while the sun was still noticeable. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/6-ways-to-use-christian-anger-management.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/6-ways-to-use-christian-anger-management.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:50:33 -0600
The instructions are not plentiful, but from place to place the wording is different. However, the meaning of what is said is not changed.

Right now we will look quickly at six of them.

Keep away from anger

Reading the Bible, you will realize why this is included in the Christian anger management plan. The two big reasons are that anger leads to sin, and anger has the effect of putting a person in danger of the judgment of God.

Let things pass

Just let people get away with things. Fix the damage that they have caused you, and put them in the hands of God and let him get even with them. He will allow them to reap what they sow. But remember that a huge part of the plan for us is to be forgiven as we forgive those that trespass against us.

Yes it is sin

Let's suppose that they just made you furious today so you went and cussed them outor you did something else to calm your hurt feelings.

You have just done something that wrong in God's eyes. Don't mind that that the people you attacked made you mad first, you are expected to be cool. When you lose your cool, you get yourself into trouble.

Pray

Christian anger management like all Christian effort needs to start with prayer. There are things that can be done without prayer, but for it to be a successful Christian attempt, God has to be included and that happens when a Christian prays.

Don't keep it for long

When angry, the first thing to do is to get rid of the angry feeling. The given instructions are that the Christian's anger is to be put away before the sun sets for the day.

This does not mean that you are to use faith to stop the sun from moving. It is telling you that as a Christian, it is in your best interest to get rid of your anger before the sun goes down. ]]> http://www.factsvault.com/christian/factors-to-keep-in-mind-while-selecting-a-casket.html http://www.factsvault.com/christian/factors-to-keep-in-mind-while-selecting-a-casket.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:08:16 -0600
Firstly, you should check out the material of the casket you are planning to buy. The essential choice that you have is between wooden caskets that can be made of mahogany, cherry or maple, and the metal caskets, which are usually built out of stainless steel and later applied with a coat of paint of your choice. While finally deciding on the type of casket, you should keep in mind not only the appearance but also the money that you'll have to spend.

In terms of make, you can opt for half couch or full couch, which determines the type of lid provided on the casket. A full couch casket allows mourners to be able to view the entire body, whereas a half couch casket design allows them to see only the upper half.

These caskets can be found in different sizes as well. Hence, you have to be certain about the exact dimensions, so that you can get the casket altered or customized to suit the size of the deceased.

Another important thing to consider is the place to buy the casket from. You can purchase it from a reputed casket dealer or funeral home in your locality. Generally the prices are much higher in funeral homes. It would be considerably cheaper to purchase it from an offline or online store which deals in caskets. However, you will need to keep in consideration the transportation charges that you might have to pay when purchasing from a store outside your town. ]]>