The Psychology of Cooking

Why do you cook? Is it simply because you "have to"? We have been bombarded through time with the idea that someone in the home, usually the woman, has to cook the family's meals. The above idea presents the concept of cooking only as one of "obligation".

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OK. Who likes an obligation? Certainly no one I know. Work is the most important obligation of all, and even if some of us like what we do, still the idea of working because one has to does not please anyone. Just having to get up in the morning and interrupt the wonder of sleep is annoying enough. Then again, at the end of the day, when one arrives home tired from working, the simple facing the fact that there is a meal to be prepared, besides all the other "obligations" of every home can send chills up anybody's spine.

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Coming home is supposed to be "going back to our castle", to that place on earth where we reign in peace. Who said peace? Kids running around or calling for help with their homework, and a partner who either gets home very late or decides that the news or any other TV program is important enough for him/her to be disconnected from everything else are not necessarily signs of peace. That's when facing the kitchen becomes a burden and the person reacts with stress and rejection.

We are creatures of thought. What this really means is that everything in the human being begins with a thought. There is nothing going on in the world without an idea having been the origin of it all. And we are definitely going to feel according to how we think. Not only that...we are going to act accordingly too. This very simple reality is forgotten all too frequently by us.

That being said, let's go back to the kitchen . Try to imagine the thoughts going through the above imaginary, but very real person, in the example. Pleasant? Relaxing? Leading to the idea of pure enjoyment? Heck, no! On the contrary.

Ah! But what about changing that thought? What about facing the kitchen as a place for unwinding while you cook? The place where you can channel all your frustrations while creating something wonderful, even if simple, not only for yourself, but for those around you, who will thank you both for the meal and for the attitude?

That may seem utopian to many. I know.

Not everyone is a renowned chef, with the knowledge and the experience to make something fantastic out of any ingredients presented to him/her. We also know that.

But...we can , if we want to and decide so, make their attitude towards cooking our own. That we can do, because all it takes is a change in our process of thinking about it. When you look at them in the kitchen, you can feel their passion and pleasure even when they are under heavy pressure. You can see the spark in their eyes.

We can become creators and people who enjoy, who savor and delight. We can make the "obligation" a therapeutic moment, in which we decide to put that stress to work for us , pouring it into the art and enjoyment that cooking can be.

We start thinking about ingredients: maybe we have the illusion of being able to cook specialty and gourmet foods. Why not? Even though finding everything we require may not be easy, there are always places where we can, because they specialize in providing the customer everything he/she may need to make those dreams come true. Probably the store around the corner does not carry those articles, but we do not have to throw in the towel. Think internet!. All one may need in the kitchen is there, waiting to provide us with the necessary tools to make those illusions a reality: ingredients like, truffles,special oils, hard to find meats and sea products, international chocolates and cheeses, herbs and spices of all sorts, seasonings that really complement what we cook, caviar from all over the world, etc. They are there... just waiting to help us.

And what about the equipment? Perhaps it is time to check our pots , pans, grill or whatever we believe will be necessary for us to cook like a real pro. Again, going to a mall and visiting stores that sell that sort of thing may be successful...and maybe not. So, the internet comes to the rescue one more time. It is fantastic being able to pick what one wants and have it delivered to one's door, probably at a better price, too. No hassle there.

As we can see now, there is really no excuse for not being able to change our mind and jump into a new adventure at the kitchen.

The Psychology of Cooking
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Baking Homemade Bread - Not As Hard As it Sounds

In a world of instant mixes, frozen dinners, and fast food, the simple pleasure of baking bread has almost been forgotten. From early childhood, I have pleasant and cherished memories of my mother and grandmothers baking yeast breads and batter breads-hearty breads for meals, sweat breads for desserts. Baking bread, much like sewing, crochet, and knitting, is fast becoming a lost art, but the truth is that baking batter breads doesn't take much longer than a bread mix.

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Hmm, fresh yeast bread! The aroma fills the entire house, causing all within to follow the fragrance to the kitchen in hopes of getting a slice of hot, buttered, yeast bread. For as long as I can remember, the smell of bread baking has been a comforting sign of home.

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There are so many things that come to my mind when I think about bread: my grandmother's old stories of times when bread and cheese, or worse, bread and water, were all that was available to eat; the five loaves Jesus blessed and fed to 5,000 men (the women and children were not counted); the unleavened bread of remembrance for the body the Christ sacrificed that the world might have peace with God; the buttered bread toasting in the oven on a cold winter morning; the first time I punched down the yeast dough, then baked the loaf and served it to my new husband. . . So many things come to mind that I can spend an entire, serene morning just thinking while enjoying the scent of rising and baking bread. Even batter breads (breads leavened with baking powder or a combination of baking soda and buttermilk rather than yeast), such as the cornbread my mom served with hot brown (pinto) beans, lend a sense of home and belonging.

Grocery stores have long sold boxes of cake mixes on their shelves (I confess that I occasionally use one of them.). For some time, now, they have also sold different types of bread mixes, biscuit mixes, cornbread mixes, and frozen yeast breads and rolls. While these are usually ok, they just don't have give your home the ambience of handmade, fresh breads. Nor do the pre-made, brown-in-the-oven varieties.

Think you don't have time to bake bread? While it is true that yeast breads take some time, after all, they need to rise, many bread recipes don't take much, if any, longer than using a mix. For instance, to use a cornbread mix, you open the package and pour it into a bowl, add egg, oil, and milk. To make cornbread from scratch, you measure cornbread, flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, and then add egg, oil, and milk. While it might, maybe, take two extra minutes to measure four items, the taste difference is incredible! Another example would be homemade biscuits. To make biscuits from scratch, measure flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, add oil and milk. Depending on the biscuit mix you buy, you can open the package and pour it into the bowl, or open the container and measure the appropriate amount into the bowl, then add oil and milk. Not much difference, is there?

It doesn't even take too much longer than "whampum" biscuits (store-bought refrigerator biscuits in a roll can). Even with those, you have to open them and put them in the pan. Frozen biscuits might be faster, but again, the difference in taste is definitely noticeable.

I have memorized three bread recipes: the yeast bread I use for both pizza crust and table bread, the cornbread my mother taught me to make, and the biscuits my husband loves. The following three quick bread recipes, with full instructions, will help you recapture the aromatic art of baking bread.

Yeast Bread

Can be used to make 2 loaves or to divide and use as the crust for two pizzas.
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons dry baker's yeast
4 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
5 cups flour

In a 2 cup measuring cup, add the yeast to the warm water and mix well. Add the sugar, salt and oil. Stir liquid and let sit for 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease two pans (loaf pans or pizza pans, depending on which you are making) with 1 tablespoon of oil for each.

Pour yeast liquid into a mixing bowl. Add half the flour and stir gently with a fork until moistened, then add the rest of the flour. Stir with fork until dough forms ball around fork (about 25 stirs). Flour hands and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Divide dough into two balls.

For bread loaves, roll each ball into an 18" X 9" rectangle. Starting at the small end, roll dough into a log shape. Pinch edges together, and tuck ends under. Place into oiled pan, cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

For pizza crust, press each ball into a 12" to 14" oiled pizza pan. Make sure that the dough is distributed evenly. Top each with ½ cup pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. Bake for 20 minutes until toppings are done and bottom is lightly browned. After 10 minutes, I trade places with the two pans, moving the one on top to bottom, and the one on bottom to the top. This prevents one being overdone and the other underdone. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Biscuits

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
¼ cup oil
¾ cup milk

Preheat oven to 420 degrees F. Measure the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. In a glass, liquid measuring cup, measure ¼ cup of oil. Into the same cup, over the oil, pour in milk to the 1 cup mark (mixture will bubble). Pour all at once into the dry ingredients. Using a fork, stir until dough follows fork, then stir 10 more times. Flour your hands, and knead dough ten times. Roll or pat dough onto a cutting board or clean counter. Cut into squares or use a floured glass to cut round biscuits. If you are in a hurry, you do not have to roll the dough. Pat it out and tear off biscuit size pieces and put them into the pan. If you want the biscuits to be crispy, butter or oil the pan. Otherwise, just place then in the pan. If you prefer the sides to be crusty, place the biscuits 2" apart on the pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until light golden brown.

Mom's Cornbread

2 cups cornmeal (yellow is best, for the color)
1 cup flour
2 tbsp. aluminum free baking powder
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Enough milk to make medium dough-should not be as thin as cake dough, but not as thick as cookie dough.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 12" baking pan. The best pan to use in baking cornbread is an iron skillet. Pre-heat oiled pan. This allows the cornbread crust to crisp nicely.

Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add eggs and oil and stir to make a crumbly mixture. Add enough milk (start with 1 cup, and add a little more at a time until you have enough), to make a medium dough-dough will pour, but not very fast. Do not over-mix. Pour dough into iron skillet. Bake for 20 minutes. Delicious with bean soup of any kind, corn and ham chowders, or just crumbled into a large glass of milk for breakfast!

Whichever bread you prefer, the aroma of baking bread will bring your family running to the table. Spend a few extra minutes to create some special memories for your children, or even better, let them help measure the ingredients and roll out the dough! Bread making, once a common, daily activity, is not almost a forgotten art. Learn to bake bread, make some memories, and help a tradition that spans thousands of years to survive!

Copyright 2008, Linda Pogue

Baking Homemade Bread - Not As Hard As it Sounds
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Keep Your Parrots Safe this Holiday Season

It's that time of year again and Christmas will be here before you know it. How time flies! Here is your friendly reminder to help keep your parrots safe as we enter another holiday season. Don't forget to share this with your friends!

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A little planning, some supervision, and a few things to watch out for can go a long way toward both you and your bird having a happy holiday. If I have forgotten anything, please let me know and I will build on this article for next year!

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Stress

We all know Christmas can be a stressful time for us humans. Our parrots must think we have lost our minds. New people around, strange decorations, etc. Stick to your bird's regular schedule as much as possible, don't forget the lovin' and playtime. Oh, and make sure there is plenty of time for a good night's sleep for both you and your bird.

Decorations

Be careful of Angel Hair, it's spun glass and that just can't be good for anyone that eats it. Tinsel and garland are another big concern, it can cause intestinal obstructions if ingested. I don't know what kinds of decorations you have at your house, but just be aware that they are unfamiliar to your bird and they may or may not panic at the sight of some of them. Many decorations are made of toxic or potentially toxic materials like different plastics, scented pinecones, hidden wires made of who knows what, stuff that is sprayed on so decorations look "fresh" longer. And don't forget the common everyday things lying around that could cause problems such as rubber bands, string, ribbon, tape, tacks, little nails, glue, etc.

Candles and Smelly Stuff aka Fragrances

Candles with lead wicks can be toxic, usually you will find them in cheap imported candles. Burning candles with fragrances is very irritating to your bird's sensitive respiratory system. Those candles with "essential oils" in them that smell great to you are HIGHLY TOXIC WHEN BURNED. Try 100% beeswax candles instead. They are more expensive, but burn five to seven times longer, are not scented and burn cleaner. One other word of caution - burns and wax spills have been known to happen when a wayward bird collides with a candle so ALWAYS watch your candles and your bird, don't leave either one of them without supervision. I have a rule, IF I light a candle it's 100% beeswax and the parrot gang has to be in their cages.

Potpourri, air fresheners, and a host of other smelly spraying things irritate the daylights out of your bird in so many ways. (They also irritate me, so it is not a problem for my birds because I don't use them in my home.) Try and go for something more natural if you feel the need to "scent" your house. Heat up some water in a pan on the stove and throw in a few organic cinnamon sticks, that smells yummy. Oh yes, can't forget this one NO SMOKING AROUND THE BIRDS - PERIOD!

Lights and Electrical Cords

Make sure these are concealed as well as possible so little birdie brains don't get any smart ideas and want to play with them. They could get shocked (as in probably killed) or burned by chewing on them. If they are loose, they could get tangled in them.

Plants

I think most people with parrots know by now that Poinsettias and Holly are dangerous if eaten, but did you know that Philodendron, Ivy and Mistletoe are also. In case you didn't there's is no excuse now. These plants have the potential to cause life threatening problems for your parrot if eaten!

Dressing up Birdie

Not that you would do it, but watch those little ones. They seem to think it's a good idea to stick bows on (ouch) or drape ribbon over and around birds. Talk about a strangulation hazard. Ribbon or string may cause intestinal obstructions if they eat it.

Food and Drink

Alcoholic drinks, hot chocolate, coffee, and the ever-present eggnog are popular drinks at Christmas time. If your place is anything like mine, there are yummy fattening human goodies everywhere like cookies, candy, cakes and deserts. Watch that your birdie doesn't get into the holiday spirit this way! I like to put some water in a dark coffee mug (a duplicate of mine) and give the fids sips out of that. I don't know what they think it is, but it's in a coffee mug like mine and they are happy to drink it. Keep some nice fresh treats on hand for your birdies to munch on. I like pea pods, birdie bread, almonds and a little fruit. That way they won't feel left out and I have to keep Zeke (African Grey) from saying "Mmmm, want some?" all night long.

Non-Stick Coated Surfaces

Be extra careful not to overheat any non-stick cookware or anything with a non-stick surface! Those toxic fumes can kill birds in no time flat. I know this warning has been around for a long time, but with extra cooking going on, I thought I would remind you all again.

People

Having guests over? I know you would never feed your bird anything it's not supposed to have or subject it to extra stress, but watch your guests. Make sure they don't give your bird anything to eat or drink that could cause a problem. Of course, for us bird lovers, it almost goes without saying to make sure they are not causing the bird any undue stress like poking their fingers in the cage or just generally annoying your bird. Show them where the acceptable bird treats and give them a rule run down about being nice to parrots.

Fire

Want a nice warm fire in the fireplace? Is your fireplace in good shape or is this the first time you will be using it this year? What type of wood are you burning? Is the damper open? Check those "instant fire logs" and make sure they do not contain lead or arsenic. DO NOT BURN WRAPPING PAPER OR PRESSURE TREATED WOOD EVER! It's fine to have a fire as long as your fireplace is working like a should, has some type of guard across the front, and is being vented properly.

Wrapping Paper

Wrapping "paper" is a stretch. Lots of these innocent looking colorful papers contain toxic substances. Do not allow your bird to eat it and DO NOT burn it in your fireplace. If you are going to wrap a present for your bird, please use plain paper. If worst comes to worst, use a sheet of a black and white section of a newspaper.

Trees

May scare the daylights of your feathered friend. Take it slow and never place the tree where your parrot can chew on it.

Artificial Snow or Flocking

I couldn't find anywhere that said these were definitely a hazard, but they are not meant to be ingested and I am pretty darn sure they are not good for your bird if they inhale the fumes of that stuff either. When if doubt, just skip it. It's just not worth it.

Open Doors / Windows

With all the extra commotion going on around the holidays a little extra precaution about open doors seems to be in order. People going in and out, packages and food being carried in and out, point is that your door will probably get a workout. Not only that, but new things like trees or big boxes, might startle your bird and they may panic and fly. Just make sure you little feathered friend is out of harm's way and not in the direct path of the chilly air.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season

Please, I don't want to hear about any accidents this holiday season. You all know what to do. And a message to your bird: (It's not you. The humans really ARE out of their minds for a couple of weeks a year.) Remember, a little precaution and supervision go a long way in keeping everyone safe and happy!

Keep Your Parrots Safe this Holiday Season
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Armageddon - Who What Where When Why How And Why the End Will NOT Come in 2012

This is the key - making decisions based on love - not fear, and having hope for the things to come. Why are these words the first in an article about Armageddon? Hope for what? What really is Armageddon? Will the earth be destroyed? What about the people on it? Why do so many cultures point toward a time of world destruction? Is nuclear war the same as Armageddon? Is it really coming in 2012? What happens after Armageddon? How can my family and I be safe? Is there anything we can do right now? What happens after Armageddon? These are important questions to consider, since you and your families are probably involved in the fulfillment of many of the inspired prophecies about this world shift.

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We are now living in the Great Tribulation, which precedes Armageddon. These changes have been foretold by many cultures for the last several thousand years. Similar to hearing thunder and sensing rain before the storm, the Great Tribulation is a prelude of distressing cycles of terrible events we are currently experiencing and seeing in the news today. Like the waves on the sea, these cycles will ebb and flow. There will not be a constant downward spiral, but also times the beach can rest from the pounding of the surf. But as Armageddon gets closer the cycle speeds up, and the time of catching one's breath will be less and less. This means, for example, that the economy will get better but the time of it being so will not last long; then it will fall back down again, rise back up for even a shorter time, then crash back down, etc.

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Seeing this unrelenting ebb and flow of difficulties, many people will be misled into thinking that this is the "new normal," that this is how life is. During this time, there will be people who are stimulated to great anger, unreasonableness and destructive pursuits. Others will go about their daily lives by trying to distance themselves from other people and minutely controlling every aspect of how the world outside affects them. And because of the difficulties and high emotion of the constant surges of trauma, a kind of shock will set in, where vast amounts of people will go to great lengths to ignore what is going on because facing it seems overwhelming. This is why less people are watching the news, or getting involved in helping their neighbors or the community around them. Some are isolating themselves from the reality of what is going on, even to the point of pursuing self-contained lifestyles or storing commodities and the weapons to defend them. (Luke 17:26-30) (Matthew 24:3-35) These are all decisions based on fear.

However, there are also people who recognize these as signs and are remembering who they are as children of God, and are feeling a need to expand their spiritual pursuits now more than ever. Part of this is a gnawing feeling that they're not doing all they should be, and that they need to start doing it soon. As they seek God, he allows himself to found by them; and in doing so they find themselves. In questioning who they are, why they are here, who God is, what is going on, etc., the true answers will resonate within them. With this expanded awareness they will often see God differently than they originally believed, and a personal Divine connection of confidence and faith begins to grow. They begin to remember it is all about unconditional love, and that love is the core quality of the essence of God. Their discernment will sharpen between what is of love and what is not; and therefore what is of God or not. They will shake off any negative choices of panic, anger, or apathy and replace them with hope, faith and peace. They begin to hold conversations with God in their minds, and flourish in this undertone of prayer. Many of these connected people will be gifted a strength beyond themselves to be Divine instruments blessed by God to be his hands and mouth for incredible transformations and miracles of all forms. These miracles are another opportunity to help people have less distress during the great shift of Armageddon. For as the dark gets darker, the light gets brighter, and we can have hope for the things to come because love wins. This is why as we go through the tribulation and on toward Armageddon, we do not have to be afraid. (Daniel 12, Joel 2:28-32) But what really is Armageddon?

The word "Armageddon" literally means "God's War," it is not brought about by mankind, and it is not nuclear war. During God's war the earth will not be destroyed, but the world will be. What does this mean? If you are familiar with the Bible, you may have read some verses that seem to contradict themselves in this regard, since in many versions the words "world," "land" and "earth" have been haphazardly exchanged with each other, but by doing that the original meaning is lost. However, this is not the case when the original meaning of the Greek and Hebrew words are accurately translated, since some words are to be rendered "world," and some are "earth." There is a big difference - for example, one of the words translated "world" is from "cosmos," which is where we get the word "cosmetics," which means "surface arrangement of things." This will help Bible students understand that when God promises "the meek shall inherit the earth," (Psalms 37:11) and "the earth abides forever," (Psalms 37:29) it is no contradiction to places that reference the world being destroyed, "the world is passing away." (1 John 2:17) (1 Corinthians 7:31) For those who read the scriptures, remember that reading Holy books are like a big jigsaw puzzle. Looking at one piece is not enough to figure out the image, but as more and more pieces are filled in, the entire picture can be clearly seen. This is also why many inspired references are symbolic, and not literal, though often the real meaning behind it is given in another text. God made the planet earth as a beautiful and treasured creation, but the surface arrangement of how things are done will be absolutely changed, and this shift is called Armageddon.

We were made as reasoning, thinking beings. We are aware of the continuing desolation of the earth and how humankind now stands at a critical crossroads with the environment and with itself. All signs show we are at the brink of many different catastrophes, and something needs to be done quickly. If you were God, what would you do? You might liken the situation to owning a beautiful series of condominiums, which you took great pride to build just so. Each unit is completely furnished - even to the point of the refrigerator being fully stocked - and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. Because of your great wealth and generosity, you have also given all electricity, commodities, and even the rent for free. All you have asked in return of your tenants is to cultivate an attitude of love toward their landlord, their neighbor, and themselves. (Mark 12:28-31) But, tenants in one of your units decide to throw waste all over the grounds, destroy their unit, beat up their neighbors, and even bad-mouth you, the landlord. What would you do? You would not destroy the condominiums - you would simply oust the bad tenants and restore the damaged unit. This is God's plan too, except that he has repeatedly shown great patience with the tenants; giving them free 24-hour access to his home phone number, offering information, booklets and self-help classes, sending personal representatives to help, and suggesting group meetings for community support. As a perfect and loving landlord who wishes none to be homeless, he continues to give these opportunities to stay and work things out before the eviction notice finally goes up on the door. But who are these bad tenants, and how did they get that way?

In the beginning, all was of God; there was not a place that Divine Love was not. He was complete and whole within himself, lacking nothing. But like a happy couple who decides to have children to share their love, God chose to create. In order to do this he had to make a bubble separate from himself so the thoughts and actions would not be governed by him. God did not want clones or robots simply acting out a program, but individual opportunities for love to grow and expand. This bubble was free will. Angels were the first creations, and each has free will. Each knew from the beginning the difference between kindness and wickedness, between light and dark, and between good and evil. Mankind was also created with free will, and in the image of God. "In the image of God" does not mean the same as God, but rather an image like a mirror reflection. In each of us our spirit has the ability to reflect kindness, forgiveness, generosity, sharing, and all the facets of Divine Love. But besides free will, there is the misuse of free will. Free will works like this: if a person desires ice cream they may drive to a parlor and choose between any number of flavors in any number of cones, with any kind of candies or toppings. The misuse of free will is a person driving to the parlor, taking out a gun and shooting the attendant. Just as there are laws in place in our towns and countries to us help us keep and enjoy our freedoms, there are also healthy perimeters on free will. During the Great Tribulation, and especially during Armageddon, humankind will find it harder to discern what the healthy perimeters are, and many will be injured or killed. Why is this so? There are basically six reasons why people will perish:

(1). God and what he loves has enemies. Some of the Holy Angels decided to misuse free will and made themselves unHoly Angels, and they are bent on causing mistrust and slander of the Great Landlord. This includes trying to destroy all that God holds dear, which includes humankind and the earth. The demons detest a kingship based on the law of love, preferring a dictatorship of fear instead, with them in charge. The demons' focus has been to prove their point in three original issues regarding humankind's interactions with God. That humankind: (a). can rule themselves successfully without God, (b). comes to God only for what they can get out of him, (c). will turn against God if it means saving themselves.

Basically, the demons are saying that love doesn't work and no one wants it, thereby putting the source of love out of the picture. God could have destroyed these rebellers in the beginning, but he had confidence in humankind and Love's right to rule, and allowed these questions to be answered in front of all Angels and other beings in the universe. This is a major case, and the answer will stand to time indefinite. If the question about Love's right to rule is ever brought up again it will not have to be settled, but only the previous proof and verdict recited. Similar to a wise judge in a court case, God in his patience has allowed time for the evidence to be gathered and all voices to be heard, and this is why several thousand years of struggle had to go by. This means the world has been under the temporary rule of Satan all this time, although the One in charge is God. (Matthew 4:1-11). Now here we are at the culmination of that great court case, and the jury has just handed the verdict over to be read. The conclusion? History has proven love is the better way - and God is vindicated on all counts. This is what we are praying for in familiar verses of The Lord's Prayer "...Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, let your kingdom come..." (Matthew 6:9,10) Meanwhile, like convicted criminals on death row, Satan and the unholy Angels know they have only a short period of time and want to create as much devastation, manipulation and death as possible before they are put out of commission. (Job 1:8-12; 2:4) (Revelation 12:7-12)

(2). Bad upbringing - Adamic generational bondage. Our original parents Adam and Eve chose to side with the unHoly Angels and made themselves "bad tenants" and all of us were born into their household. Yet this is not a death sentence - it does not make us all bad tenants, because we each have free will and can make our own choices on how we behave. However, each of us are now born missing the mark - we do not naturally come in with the God-given clarity and perfection we were created to have, and we have to consciously decide to pursue the better way. It is similar to an aluminum cake pan being dropped and getting a dent in it; now every cake made in that pan will have a dent in it and be imperfect. This makes it crucial to search outside of our own understanding and be open to receiving Divine help and guidance, because we can't figure it all out on our own. But we have a spark within us from the Great Candle, and that flame will grow stronger and brighter as we add fuel. We just have to take action and choose to do so, and in this way we remember who we are and who we were meant to be, beyond the darkness that we see. (Romans 5:12-19) (John 16:5-11)

(3). Personal attack. Our personal bubble of free will may have holes in it by having been targeted by unholy Angels and people easily manipulated by them. This can occur through physical, emotional or sexual abuse, addictions, willful sin, some medications, severe lack of self-confidence, overwhelming grief or depression, unforgiveness towards self, others, and situations, and choosing fear over love. These holes can be healed by recognizing what is creating them and asking for specific help by closing them with a Deliverance prayer. Just like a mechanic needs a variety of tools to fix a car, there are also specific prayers for some things that cause people to be broken. Calling the Landlord's "telephone number" and utilizing "information, booklets, self-help classes, representatives and meetings of community support" gives us prayer, inspired information, help from Angels, and specific Holy words to heal all wounds. This includes not only the Deliverance prayer, but the Divine Decrees and other information to encourage us. We can also choose to go to places of fellowship where the love of God is highlighted, and gather with others for prayer and support as well. (1 Peter 5:6-9) (Hebrews 10:23-25)

(4). Generational bondage. Repetitive difficulties or what seems to be "bad luck" may cloud a person's life or an entire family because of generational bondage. Centuries of family problems can be passed down this way; stimulated by evil intent, dabbling in the occult, or curses, hexes or negative prayers sent toward certain family members.. This problem can be recognized by pervasive physical, mental or emotional troubles recurring down through family lines. It might present itself as a repetitive physical disease such as cancer or diabetes, or an emotional one such as depression or anger. We will recognize it as a number of recurrent unhealthy things in ourselves, our parents, grandparents or great grandparents. This problem also has a tool to fix it, called the Prayer for Breaking Generational Bondage, which not only helps the person saying it, but breaks the bondage going forward and backward throughout time. This allows one person to be a healer for all their blood line, including any children not yet born. Cutting this bondage helps a person have more clarity and peace, and to identify the things of God much easier; thus making better choices and feeling a better spiritual connection without the additional cloud of negativity hanging over their heads. (Exodus 34:6,7)

(5). Inability to discern between right and wrong. One-third of mankind cannot truly recognize and discern what is a choice of love, and what is not. This is because lifetime after lifetime one out of three people have continually made choices wholly based on fear instead of love. So instead of learning and polishing the facets of love and expanding upon them, they have stagnated and truly cannot discern the difference between right and wrong. And now with the full-court press upon them by the unholy Angels, it is too late to figure it out. They are under more manipulation than ever before and it is not possible for them to understand what the better choices are. "...the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." (Daniel 12:,9-10) This means not all bad tenants are going to change, and they will end up being evicted. During Armageddon, much manipulation will occur to this group of people, and through this group of people to others. It is as though their bubble of free will is as cheesecloth, and they become pawns of the unholy Angels to sicken and destroy as much as possible, which also means some of the 2/3, which is their main target, will be killed by their hand. Much of the destruction that occurs during Armageddon is a partnership between the visible third of mankind and the invisible unHoly Angels as they act out against God and what he has created. The rest of the destruction is supernatural cosmic events that the unHoly themselves directly perpetrate upon the earth, but all of this is allowed by God for only a short period of time.

(6). Not asking and not listening. If a person does not ask for directions, they cannot be guided, and no human has a map in their hands for what is coming. During Armageddon, everything will continue to change very quickly, and what seems to be a safe plan now may not be in five minutes. There will be earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, severe storms, rampant sickness and disease, and out of control people looking to perpetrate harm upon each of us. But God has a plan of his own, with myriads of Holy Angels and all Divine information to lead us safely through the mine fields. Our path is not to rely upon our own understanding, but to follow through on what God says, without delay. "As the arrow leaves the bow for your destruction, you will be told to move right, or to move left, and you must do so without hesitation and without question." This is inspired information for all of us, and each person is encouraged to ask God and hear for themselves what to do in any situation, and to have the discernment to recognize if another person's inspired answer is for them as well. For God continues to bless individuals with different gifts that glorify him, including leadership in difficult situations. This is the time to nurture your faith, and to recognize it within others, so your clarity will not only help guide yourself, but others. (Hebrews 3:7-19)

Think of the war of Armageddon as a boxing match. God is the referee and always knew who would win - but because of free will he allows the contender to have his day, step into the ring, and try to prove himself against his opponent. But the contenders are unevenly matched - Satan, his unholy Angels and the manipulated 1/3 of mankind against the tested and proven son of the referee - Jesus Christ, his Holy Angels and the 2/3 of mankind. God has allowed the match, oversees it, and rings the bell. So the boxing match would actually be considered God's, but he is not the one throwing the punches. Without God's authority, the match would not have happened at all, and then all onlookers would forever be wondering who would have won if the fight had occurred. So God allowed the fight to happen, and the answer will stand to time indefinite. In this way, Armageddon is God's war, but he is not the one who does the destruction, but it is by his authority that the seals are broken, the trumpets blow, and the four horseman ride; while his champion son successfully defends his title and awaits his Father's instructions and timing for the final knock-out. (Revelation chapters 5-9) The winner is announced: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15) How long will this fight go on?

This war will be much shorter than the Great Tribulation. It will only be allowed to go so long - since God is in control and will step in and save, cupping the majority of humankind in his protective hand. (Matthew 24:21,22) When this happens the unholy Angels have none left to slaughter, and will fight against one another through those left of humanity that they still control, to the death. It is at this time Jesus Christ and the warrior Holy Angels defeat the demons and bind and encapsulate them until the end of the first thousand years of God's kingdom. This ushers in the beginning of God's kingdom of great peace upon the earth, with the majority of humankind being saved right through Armageddon and stepping into the new world, having never died. No matter their age, in the kingdom their bodies will now start to change to a state of perfect youth, which individually may be between the ages of mid 20s to early 30s. Then a great resurrection occurs of the rest of the 2/3 who were killed during Armageddon, and others who have been in the heavens. The 1/3 will enter into the new kingdom of God through being born into family units, with a loving mother and father to nurture them, for God continues to show his mercy upon those who fell into subjection. There is a great teaching program on the other side of Armageddon, where all humankind, including those who where once of the third, will have additional chances during the course of a 1,000 years to learn about love without any negative influences to distract them. This opportunity is one of the benefits of the redemption of Christ for all of humankind (not just Christians) for we have been adopted back into God's family, and no blemish of our previous bad upbringing will remain. This is a breaking of the Adamic generational bondage, which mankind could not do for themselves. And it is for all of humankind, including the third who were the unwitting pawns of evil. (Hebrews 1:1-14; 2:1-18)(Revelation 5:1-14; 6:1,2)

So when does Armageddon occur? Not in 2012. Why? Because God will not choose what the world thinks it knows as the mind of God. The day and hour is unknown to all but him. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8) Nevertheless, we are given a season to recognize the shift is at hand. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it (the end) is near, right at the door." (Mark 13:28,29) It is one of the things that the Angels themselves long to look into. (1 Peter 1:12)

What comes after Armageddon? New leadership will guide all of humankind in perfect love. Governments are often referred symbolically as "heavens," and what is referenced to as old heavens have "disappeared with a hissing sound." (2 Peter 3:10) A new government is formed, with Christ as king and 144,000 others beside him as kings and priests to help guide all of humankind to grow to perfection and make the earth a paradise. The teaching program includes witnessing the lives of each person, how their choices for love or fear affected themselves and others, and what was going on behind the scenes by God offering Angelic help. Think of it as a kind of "reality TV;" or a life review that others are watching too. At the end of the 1,000 years all humankind and the earth will be at a state of perfection, which includes being able to physically see and hear God, Angels and other spirit beings with our faultless eyes and ears. This is the same place of perfection that Adam and Eve once were, and each person will have the opportunity to answer whether we wish to live under the Landlord's law of love or not, instead of being subjected to the choice of our original parents. How will that happen?

God is always fair and continues to uphold individual choice and to respect free will, and this includes not forcing anyone to live a life they do not wish to. Yet at the same time, God will not allow his creation to be harmed again, and the outcome of choices against love were clearly recognized as detrimental. At the end of the 1,000 years Satan and the demons are loosed from their bonds and released again upon the earth, to state just one more time their reasons for rebellion and why love doesn't work. This time is very, very short and they are powerless to harm. Each person, grown to the state of perfection and fully aware of the history of love versus fear, will make their individual choice to live in a world of love or not. At the instant of their decision, God grants them their choice. For those who choose love, they will receive everlasting life on a paradise earth as God intended from the very beginning. For those who do not choose love, they and the unholy Angels have the same outcome - their spirit will be physically changed. What does this mean? The spirit is energy, and energy cannot be destroyed, but it can be changed between two things: wave and particle. So these waves now become particle, and become part of the earth itself, thereby physically adding to something they were once bent on destroying. It is possible that none or very few humans will choose this; but the unHoly Angels have already made their choice, because the time for them to make new choices and come back to God had already expired when Armageddon began. Now, Christ hands back the reins of his government to God as a beautiful pearl, and the fullness of the Kingdom of God truly begins. This is officially the end of time, the beginning of timelessness, and the fulfillment of God's word in behalf of humankind. "So is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

In the kingdom of God, all that we have hoped for in our hearts comes true. Why have people had visions and dreams of a utopian world? Because we were created to live in such a place, that is what has been placed in our hearts from the very beginning. (Genesis 1:27-31) Nothing beneficial will be kept from us; we will know all good things. (Genesis 3:22) This includes developing amazing inventions, traveling this world, and also visiting other places in the universe. As humans, we are living representatives of the answered original issues, and proof that love always wins. No matter where we go, we will be able to tell the story of God's love and eagerly share the stories of how it all went down in the final days. Will you have a paragraph in that story? How much more exciting to choose to be a pen in the hand of God, and actively involved in this final chapter. Also, knowing about these deeper things of Armageddon and sharing them with others increases hope for the things ahead and helps us persevere by keeping our eyes on the prize. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...and the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

Armageddon - Who What Where When Why How And Why the End Will NOT Come in 2012
Peace Sign Cake Pan

I Love You, You Love Me, We're a Happy Family

All you need is love- The Beatles

Peace Sign Cake Pan

When my nephew became a father, I told him that I think we bring our children to life to learn to love ourselves.

Peace Sign Cake Pan

The birth of our first child is always the greatest opportunity to live our life again - a second childhood, only this time we're taller, more coordinated and a bit wiser. I remember looking at my newborn daughter with my heart full of feelings I'd never had and loving her with every cell of my body. She did nothing. She was tiny and her eyes were closed most of the time. She just had to be there for me to have that feeling. I remember Gal holding her the first time and saying, "I don't know you, but I already love you so much". It's funny how babies don't need to do anything to be loved. They just need to be.

I wonder when this rule fades or when we, parents, forget it. I remember in those moments I imagined my mum and dad looking at me like that and I knew, with 100% certainty, that love is born with the birth of your child and that I was loved, very much loved.

The perception of love, you see, changes when you become a parent. For me, it was a great realisation mixed with sadness. It was a great feeling knowing how much my parents loved me and it was sad that I only realized it when I became a mother. I couldn't stop thinking of all the previous years, when I needed that feeling during my schooling years - my fights, challenges, obstacles, my fears, failures and disappointments. Realizing my parents loved me when I was an adult was not enough to change the past. It's as if their "love account" was full but I didn't have the "access card" or they didn't provide a "withdrawal facility". In other words, I wasn't able to see it or they couldn't express it. Maybe because they didn't have the skills to withdraw from their parents' love...

Can you see the cycle? Love was there all around, but no one knew how to pass it on.

Do your children know how much you love them?

Do you ever say, "If they only knew how much I love them"? Especially in times of conflict, many parents feel like their kids just don't know, even though they love them dearly. The difference between parents' and children's definitions of love is natural. People form their definition of love thanks to their life experience and closest life agents - parents, family, friends and teachers. There's a 20-year of cultural, generational and experience gap between parents and children and the question is actually who is responsible? Do we need to give or do they need to receive?

Love is a give-and-receive relationship. Assuming the love account is full, the giving and the receiving must match. Yes, loving somebody else is not enough if they don't feel it. Frustrating as it is, knowing how to receive love is not genetic and it is also our responsibility to teach. So when you ask yourself "if they only knew?" think of the answer. How would their life be if they only knew? Just imagine them knowing you love them throughout their life, their challenges, their failures and fears.

I remember asking myself this question when my son was seven. I imagined him at the age of 16, going through the challenges of adolescence, and looked for an idea to establish a withdraw facility to my full love account and wrote him a love story waiting for him when he's ready.

Tell them how much you love them!

I love you!

I love you!

I love you!

Expressing love is paramount in our relationship with our children. Saying "I love you" is great. However, there are many ways to show them how full their "love account" is. Remember, if you don't tell your child how much you love them every day, you've wasted a day. Here are some ideas you can use:

I love you #1

Some of the first ideas were born with the birth of my "happy thought" - my daughter Eden. I started a love album with photos and love letters from me to her. From time to time, I see her going over them and reading, accessing my love.

I love you #2

I remember wanting to take a photo of every second of her life and Gal telling the kids "can you see my love in the photo? Dedicating an album to show your love is an asset to children. Make them an album.

I love you #3

Over the years, we came up with love songs, our own family love songs that we sing from time to time and every night before bedtime. Get creative or find a song you love expressing your feelings and sing it to them.

I love you #4

Lunch boxes are a great container of love. Put sticky notes full of love: hearts, kiss, encouraging words like "good luck on your test" or just plain, "I love you"

I love you #5

Dinner times are great opportunities to show love to each other. Play "what do you love about me?" games where every person needs to say two things he loves about the other family member. You start (be a role model).

I love you #6

Later in years, when the kids learned to touch type we started writing love emails to each other. Sometimes we sit next to each other, with different computers and write love to each other, funny, but written words you can keep for later.

I love you #7

A baking pan shaped like a heart can make kids really happy. It's the thought that counts anyway. It's easy to express your love by baking sweet, chocolaty, heart-shaped cakes for your kids.

I love you #8

Dedicate one evening a week to "my favourite food night". This night is dedicated to the kid's favourite food. If you have three kids, everyone gets to choose the meal once every 5 weeks (mum and dad get to choose too).

I love you #9

Touch is very important and is one of the best ways to communicate love. Remember: everyone needs 12 hugs a day, so make sure to give them all the hugs they need for a great feeling every day before bedtime.

I love you #10

Ask your children, "What can I do to make you feel loved?" You'll be surprised to hear what children have in mind. It is also wise to find out the value of every expression of love. Different kids like different things. You may be putting in a lot of effort to show love in one way when your child prefers other ways.

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return- from Nature Boy by Nat King Cole

Love is a precious feeling that can heal wounds and help cross rivers and mountains. To fill your child's love tank, remember to tell him/her every day of your life "I love you".

I Love You, You Love Me, We're a Happy Family
Peace Sign Cake Pan

Garlic Roasted Turnips

Turnips are a "starch" vegetable, but provide only one third the amount of calories as an equal amount of potatoes. Turnips provide an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and manganese. They also offer a very good source of thiamine, potassium, niacin, and magnesium. In addition, they are a good source of vitamin B6 and E, folic acid, and riboflavin.

Peace Sign Cake Pan

We just received turnips in our farm share and they were delicious. The turnips we received are much smaller than what you typically find at the grocery store. They are a sweet, creamy, crisp, mild Japanese variety called Hakurie. If you are able to find these, or other small/baby turnips, I recommend giving them a try.

Peace Sign Cake Pan

Garlic Roasted Turnips

Ingredients:
1 medium turnip or bunch of small/baby turnips.
1 TBS organic butter, cut into small pieces
2 cloves minced garlic
Sea salt

Cooking Instructions:
1. Wash and chop turnips into bite size pieces. (The smaller the pieces, the quicker they will cook.)
2. Spread in baking pan and sprinkle with pieces of butter and garlic.
3. Bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes.
4. Toss with sea salt to taste

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© 2008 Amy Lippmann, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Garlic Roasted Turnips
Peace Sign Cake Pan

Esoteric Compatibility Astrology: Finding the Mate of Karmic Choice

Finding what works. If as the old song declares, "Loves makes the world go round"; then, no doubt, compatibility is a big thing! Big enough to make the world spend more than 469.5 million dollars a year Wikipedia with various matchmaking services moving upwards to the tripling mark last year, alone. And, because human beings are naturally social creatures we certainly are geared toward finding a mate. Finding a mate, however, is not the key phrase, here. Finding the 'right' mate is.

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Compatibility able to exist, live, or work together without conflict according to Webster, does not adequately define the limits of true compatibility. Sharing the same bed in a gratifying manner takes awesome precedence! Experiencing genuine involuntary physical chemistry, as the number one need for sexual intimacy to occur and stay thriving and invigorating dominates the other requirements in a gratifying union! Where does this sensually elicited thrilling energy come from? The patterned configuration of clustered stars, where else?

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Because everything organic and inorganic, people, places, events, weather, plants, animals, air, food, water, universes, galaxies, etc. are intricately connected, nothing is exempt. Comprised of incalculably indestructible elements, minerals, nutrients, and gases; all fused cosmic particles star dust which never die but simply change form, and because we are we so sublimely constructed, we are affected, influenced and subjected to the inner combination's of these ultrasonic mixtures.

In other words, we are subconsciously celestially generated by various innate patterns of interacting combination's of stellar activity. Not unlike the variant combination's of patterns existing in the heavens on the precise moment of the hour we were born. These fixed starry blueprints contain a cosmic coded DNA antenna of sorts which precludes us to gravitate toward others who have similar interacting coded patterns that make for workable chemical relationships combination's.

It matters not whether one agrees, supports, disagrees, denies or rebukes the premise of astrological compatibility; as in the case of the patterned cosmic formula of, H 2 O which combines to form water. By adhering to the certain properties of delegated comparable patterns in relationships, certain usable, workable and practical formations can be wrought.

Where human involvements are concerned, physical pleasure, sexual holds a key place in motivation. That's why it's referred to as 'chemistry between the two.' Simply stated without going into the complicated physics' mechanics of how and why polar opposites attract, Unity is obtained by and through the initial seeking pleasure avoiding pain theory. Regarding various astrological configurations, opposites can be a significant attracting instrument, as can squares, conjunctions, triunes and quincunx patterns also assign transmitting frequencies of magnetism to locate compatible mates.

"Around the mulberry bush we go, to say so much and not to know". Even with the best available cosmic tools put to use, one must investigate, research, study and apply the interacting patterns of compatibility once the esoteric knowledge has been gained. Each one has the responsibility and opportunity to delve into the assorted interlocking patterns concerning the two potential mates, in addition to discovering unrevealed personality aspects. Everyone knows the one who has the knowledge has the power. It is written in ancient texts: "...Above all else get thee wisdom..."

Further insight into two individuals can instill illuminating data that will open untold avenues of sacred sensual sexual artistic creative expression to tap into and apply. Successful, lasting, gratifying, evolving Relationships demand constant work, attention and interest. Unless the two are sincerely excited, eager and involved in evolving through various issues of latent unconscious restrictive material, most likely the relationship will stagnate, disintegrate and finally decompose.

In life, there are no quick fixes. In the music business, there's a running joke regarding being number 1 with a bullet. No such thing! Like dedicated musicians, we have to continually work at our crafts relationships. It begins with obtaining essential knowledge.

The most fundamental craft one could ever devote himself/herself to is the committed study of delving into why people are attracted to certain people. What motivates, inspires, generates and causes people to do what they do. Even more so, what makes them desire one over another and why others who seem 'perfect for each other' break apart without explanation or recourse. Practical, relative, informative, enlightening, pertinent, and sensually sustaining workable methods of satisfying results will be demonstrated if studied and applied. Relationships are inconsistent creatures at best. Any information that can be gained to offset contradictory messages in various involvements warrants further investigation.

The intricately often confusing contrary difficult subject of astrology can be of great benefit should the individual be prepared to apply diligent practice. Like learning an instrument, it requires hours of continual study for proper understanding. But, what subject in life is worth more of one's time, effort and dedicated application than that of discovering why some relationships work and others don't? IF it's meant to be: why, how, when, where with whom?

It's especially helpful in those occasions where we end in precarious situations wondering, "Why on earth am I involved with this person? Will it last? Or on the other side of the 'not so blissful union', can I ever leave? What am I supposed to learn?" And what about those unexamined, unexplained, indefinable inescapable unavoidable romantic liaisons of inexplicable relationships that are fated but not necessarily socially accepted? Needless to say, the resolutions will not arrive instantaneously.

However, taken one step at a time, the querent is able to follow along the path of the relationships from the very beginning whether at a novice, intermediate, or expert level with the most astounding relatable available supplied esoteric information. Within the first page of serious study, a change in consciousness occurs. A certain sacred appreciation for the importance of connecting with the 'right' mate will show itself immediately.

In order to prepare a delicious cake, it's really a magical process one must gather together the 'right' ingredients, fill the properly oiled pans with the appropriately mixed batter, and then apply the correct amount of heat for a certain amount of time. Without either one of these vital steps, the cake will be ruined. So too are relationships 'established and maintained', in the same scientific creative magical manner with diligence and patience.

With all of the readily easily accessible astrological information available, there's no excuse for at least looking into the matter. What do you have to lose except for mind and heart emotional turbulence, physical dissatisfaction and a nagging unrelenting stirring inside nudging you to look into unexplored areas of possible uncharacteristic guidance? Not only that, it's fun, entertaining and surprisingly accurate!

Esoteric Compatibility Astrology: Finding the Mate of Karmic Choice
Peace Sign Cake Pan