Monday, April 25, 2011

Road Rage and Traffic Problems


I live in Jacksonville, Florida and when in traffic I have noticed a few things that tend to ..... well get under my skin. I am normally a very calm and collected person, and let little if nothing bothers me, but lately I feel I must speak out.

I have noticed that when I drive down any road obeying the speed limit, I am confronted with high five middle fingers, seems I am slowing people up. They will ride my bumper until I either speed up, or I continue on my way within the laws limits, which then they will proceed seemingly becoming agitated and pass me quickly giving me unkind gestures. This I don't quite understand, what does it mean to "sets examples" , " obeying laws" apparently that doesn't apply anymore.

What is it when you driving down the interstate and again going the speed limit, and you find yourself among many cars that seem to be huddling together, really no space between them. They certainly aren't following the law that states to leave at least two car lengths between cars, and you just know if one of them in front of you stops quickly, that one riding your bumper behind you is going to cause you to have a really bad day. Accident waiting to happen!

How about the people that race down the road you see them coming in your rear few mirror, weaving in and out of traffic as though they are looking to get first place in some Indy 500 race. You then become concerned about the other drivers around you seeing this and wonder what their reaction will be, and whether you should pull over all together due to someone wanting to compete. Where are the police officers in times like this? They are always there if I make a mistake! Most of my few mistakes have been due to those that don't obey the law, by me trying to get out of the way and have gone a bit to fast.


How about that driver on the cell phone. Oh my gosh! I sustained a little sore neck and backache from one once. I was hit from behind, and jarred quite hard, only thing going through my mind was, is my car in one piece? I got out assessed the damage ( thankfully I had none really) the other driver approached me clinching his cell phone, so I asked him, " were you on your cell phone when you hit me?" He answered, "yes", as though I was intruding on his conversation. He apologized quickly as though he was in a hurry and needed to leave. What is that about? He hit me! I told him he was lucky it was me he hit, because I could have called the police and reported the accident, but due to no real evidence of harm done I would let the situation go. He thanked me, hurried to his vehicle and sped off again on his cell phone. ( The laws should change, where when we report someone for doing such things its valid, respected and investigated. Its a law in Florida that anyone driving with a cell phone in hand will be ticketed, however I have seen many a police officer just drive by without doing so? So who is going to help stop this from occurring, why have a law when no one will do a thing about it?

Imagine being at a stop light at an intersection, and across the way you see a someone in a car that wants to turn left. When the light turns green for both of you, you know you have the right away but they proceed to turn in front of you and the car behind them does that same. As you move forward, all start honking at you as though your in violation of interrupting their turn. Personally I think they are under impression from other intersections where they get to turn first with an arrow light at an intersection, why did the city allow that? ! Is it the same in your city? No wonder they think they can turn first, and if interrupted give unkind gestures. At intersections where no little green arrow is on a left turn, they still think they have the right to go turn first...... City of Jacksonville get this right please... change the lights where the person proceeding forward still has the right away, even when there is no little arrow for those turning left that are across from you. They aren't getting it right.... so this really needs to be corrected. So many accidents can be avoiding by changing it to the way the traffic laws are written!
Speed limit laws..... I think a lot of roads need to be re-evaluated on the speeds you can drive them. Many of these roads haven't been updated to the standards of today, they remain the same as before new construction changed the road conditions. In each state the speed limit laws are governed by the state or territory. Sometimes it seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.... sound familiar? I have seen lots of growth in this city road wise and as I said many road speed limits haven't changed, and perhaps someone needs to look into it.. far to many accidents have been happening since these new changes.

So many things are happening in the world today that can cause lots of stress, and one thing we can do without is Road Rage... its not productive and causes many people harm each day. Think about it, most drivers are just trying to get from point A to point B without harming themselves or anyone else. Some are slower than others, some perhaps don't need to be on the road any longer, but we are all only human and most of us are only trying to do our best. Stop pointing fingers at each other while driving, or yelling or being angry, it doesn't really help anything it only shows that you can try bully someone. If you could see how you look on camera, when you have a mean face and finger raised you might re-evaluate how you are managing yourself on the roads.... its really isn't a pretty site to us that view it.
These are just a very very few examples of the things that can and do happen on the road ways in my town, and I am sure in yours as well.... if you live in a populated area. Cities make traffic laws for a reason and I believe some of them should be re-evaluated by officials. When someone reports some violation they have seen, it should be recognized as important ..... it may save a life!


Jacksonville, FL —
Six Duval County students suffered minor injuries when a woman crashed her Mercury Grand Marquis into a school bus bound for Love Grove Elementary. The driver told WOKV's Adam Kirk she was changing lanes going through the intersection of University and Coronet and didn't see the bus in time to stop.
The woman, who didn't want to be identified, said her car bounced off the bus, hit a landscaping truck, then came to a stop on the side of the road. The driver was not injured.
Was she on a cell phone, or feeling she might be late for work, whatever it was .... isn't it hard not to see a school bus?

Lets each start thinking about changes we can make for the better on the roadways, let change the way we think about others and situations we may experience on the road. Is it worth possibly another persons life to have the last word, or to be angry you might not make it to work on time and take it out on someone else. Is it worth your life or someone elses to have a conversation on a phone... I am sure the person on the other end doesn't want to hear you have your last moments on this earth played out that way... what a legacy to leave someone..:(
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This might help you with anger issues please read below if you wish

1.) Face the real issues (Gal 5:13-26)

Can you admit to having a spirit of anger? Do you really want to live as God desires?
Do you want self-control?
Do you want to love one another?

We must accept the fact of our anger. Ask those around you if they sense a spirit of anger in you. Acknowledgment is the first step of overcoming anger. Why? Our pride does not make it easy to say that we were wrong in our actions, words and judgments.
Do I really want to live out God's love in my life?

Galatians 5:13-14

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only [do] not [turn] your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the [statement], "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
2. ) Deal with your anger (Jam 1:19-20)

Unresolved anger is always bad. I must not tolerate it.

We must acknowledge that man's anger will not accomplish God's work.

James 1:19-20
[This] you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak [and] slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Do remember that our apology does not mean that others did no wrong. Whether they apologize for their wrong or not, it really doesn't matter, we still need to go forward in straightening out our relationships.


Confess past anger

Anger from the past must be acknowledged and confessed. Amends need to be made. Apologies for silent or open anger must be made. We also need to apologize for not loving them as you should have.

Repent from present anger

Anger in the present and future must be cut off. You must recognize man's anger is not going to accomplish the righteousness of God. You will confess that you have been responding to your own selfish desires and have focused on your own will and life, not on God's will and purpose.

3.) Die to self; live by Christ (Galatians 2:20)

I have died to myself. I now live for Jesus Christ.

An open and deliberate decision to not live according to your old life and consciously to allow Christ to live out His life in you is a special and necessary part of deliverance from anger. When this is done, you open yourself to Christ's full work in your life.

There seems to be two aspects to dying to self. There is the initial dedication period which is like starting anew. There is also the regular daily dying to self - a daily morning prayer where we commit ourselves to the Lord. (Read more)

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
4.) Break the stronghold of anger (2 Corinthians 10:3-7 )

May God destroy every last lie of mine!

A stronghold is some hidden sin from our lives that we have given up hope on overcoming. We probably have tried to overcome anger in the past. Failure brings with it a disheartening and final cover up of our sin.

Truth, however, gives strength and confidence to do what is right. Lies block out the light and therefore strip us of any confidence in overcoming a certain problem.

From the verses quoted here and the many places exhorting us to deal gently with people rather than in anger, we are clearly responsible and able through Christ to overcome this stronghold of anger.

What common lies minimize the problem of anger and therefore prevent us from overcoming anger? Where in scripture did people cover up their anger?

"He deserves it."
"I was so hurt by him. I need to get back."
"I can't help it."
"I was always that way."
"My parents were that way."
"It's not too bad."
"My anger is better than before."

Hope comes when we are broken before God over our sin and welcome Him to overcome the sin in our lives. More than often our pride minimizes our anger's wrong and makes exceptions and excuses for our anger.


2 Corinthians 10:3-5

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..."

Other Key Verses

Proverbs 14:29

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly."
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered..."
5.) Replace anger with acts of kindness (Ephesians 4:31)

Anger must go, but I will replace it with fruits of love.

Peace and fullness of love will not be activated unless we replace our angry spirit with a loving spirit. We must not focus on what we should not do but on what we should do. Be practical. Write down a few things you can do for that friend you have wounded.


Regulate your conversation by polite statements and well-intentioned motives. For example, I will not interrupt another. I will wait for them to finish what they are saying before I speak.

Ephesians 4:31

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
6.) Fully deal with each day's anger (Eph 4:26)

Make sure before I go to bed, I deal with my anger.

Unresolved anger turns into wrath. We have a command from the Lord to heighten the importance of settling quarrel before we sleep.

Have you and your spouse made a commitment to resolve anger before going to bed?

As a parent, have you committed yourself to make peace with your children before they sleep?

One step at at time we can heal our woe's and worries our anger and sadness, resentments and begin to change the world even if it must be one person at a time! Let's set good examples for the new drivers to the road ( Our Youth)....
Blessings,
Butterfly

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter To All With Many Blessings

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."



May God bless you this day and all the days of your life. Have a wonderful Easter.

Butterfly Laa

Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba dies at 85




PUTTAPARTHI, India, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Sathya Sai Baba, one of India's most popular and influential spiritual leaders, died Sunday at age of 85 at a hospital in his home town of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh.

Sathya Sai Baba's body will be kept at the Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi for two days -- Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan (last glimpse) Sunday evening at the hall.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Geeta Reddy said that Sai Baba's body would be buried Wednesday in Puttaparthi.

Sai Baba's response to medical treatment had been slow, doctors attending him said Sunday.

He was on intermittent hemodialysis and on assisted respiration until Saturday evening at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medial Sciences at Puttaparthi.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has left for Puttaparthi to pay homage to the Baba.

Sai Baba was admitted to the super-specialty hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs. Doctors treating him said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.

Sathya Sai Baba was born in 1926 into an ordinary family at Puttapathi village in Andhra Pradesh. He was named Sathyanarayana. As a child he was unusually intelligent and never showed any interest in worldly things. When he was just 14 years old, Sathyanarayana announced that he was a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

His miracles like creating Ash and gold rings from vacuum made him a household name across India soon. His ashram at Puttaparthi became a famous religious center within just 20 years.

From prime ministers, presidents, kings, ambassadors, sports stars, movie stars and ordinary people, millions thronged his ashram seeking his blessings for over 50 years. He founded over 1, 500 Sathya Sai Centers in 114 countries across the globe.

One of India's most famous spiritual leaders, Sai Baba led a life dedicated to philanthropy marred by the occasional controversies.

Thousands of devotees had gathered in his hometown since March 28 to pay their last respects.
Editor: Tang Danlu
Blessings sent

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Need Hope?


Hope helps us to hold tight throw life's storms be that they are great or small, with out hope we have nothing, we lose sight of how to get through the rough times.
Hope helps us to remain calm during the roughest possible storms it keeps us grounded and secure no matter what happens around us. If we believe in hope then we know that God is right there with us even in the darkest of times holding our hand and guiding us forward. It is said that people with no hope can be possibly depressed, or become ill in other ways, they have more or less given up. There are ways to prevent yourself from finding yourself hopeless, to go on with hope in your heart.

Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This verse at the beginning of the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) carries with it all of the confidence that comes with knowing for sure, with no question, what we have been promised by God in His Word.



Below are Somethings That Might help You Keep or
Develop Hope

1. Be hopeless. If you are not in a tough spot where things look like they cannot get any worse, you do not need hope. Also, if you still have hope, you do not need to read this article.
2. Have a good friend. It is nearly impossible to build up hope without a positive voice in your head.
3. Fight back when things get rough. As you develop your ability to have hope, you must never give up. Hang on to anything you can while you ride out the difficult times.
4. Notice what happens to people who do not have hope. Bad things happen. You do not want to end up like them. The alternative of not having hope is ugly. Do not end up like that.
5. Help others. There are few feelings as rewarding as being an individual who makes the lives of others better. Once you begin filling your life with positive thoughts about yourself you can have hope for better things.
6. Devise a plan. You cannot just sit around and wonder why things do not get better. You must figure out a way to get out of your rut. Once you have hope, you need to do something with it. Make sure your plan includes you ending up in a happy place.
7. Go to your happy place. After you learn to have hope and use it to execute your plan, make sure you end up in your happy place.

Watch this video, its really nice and can help instill in you some hope!Very Nice Video on Hope
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Never Give Up Hope

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Spiritual Gatherings; Forgiving


Hi everybody, glad you still come to visit at times, I know its a bit difficult to want to stay and read when there is no new material for the longest.. I have been staying pretty busy lately with Second Life and my Real Life! Just when you think life is getting better evolving and growing, down comes another bump in the road. Doesn't it seem to happen that way? Well the best thing I have found is to just climb right over that bump which can seem like a mountain at times, and continue on life's journey. While I am experiencing those bumps in the road I am constantly trying to learn from them and I usually learn some positive thing to carry with me.

I started a group several months ago that is very sweet. Its a closed group but if you ask and your in Second Life you can come as a guest and test it out to see if it fits your needs, and you like the content. Its a spiritual group called Spiritual Gatherings, one where people from many faiths have come together to learn from one another and to share our experiences. We have learned along the way that all of us share a common goal, and that is to be closer to God, and to live in his love. I think that is pretty amazing really when you consider that we come from all over the world, and have lived life in so many different ways.
We all have a great connection though in our faith and our inner beliefs spiritually. We may not believe everything one or another might believe in as far as some principles go but all in all we are a tight knit group, and bottom line belief in God.

This week and will continue next week, we are talking about forgiveness. Most of us would say well that is easy, you say your sorry or someone says sorry to you and its a done deal. It runs much deeper than that, there are so many facets to forgiving, and in some cases very hard to really forgive someone. One thing the group all agreed on is that if you just forgive with your brain/mind and not with your heart as well, you may not have really forgiven at all, or at least not totally. Letting go of hurt feelings is very hard at times, especially when it comes to very serious matters such as war crimes, slavery, murder or rape, leaving a spouse for another and so on. Sometimes the hurt can run so deep that we cover it with other feelings/emotions that keep us from seeing the real cause of our pain, and feeling lack of forgiving. We think we have in some ways forgiven and perhaps we have to a point. If you think about an incident that occurred that upset you or hurt you deeply after you thought you forgave, and you still feel the pain of it, then most likely you haven't really forgiven with your heart. Its a hard task to do, and it can takes many tries sometimes in many cases before you really can do it. The group also strongly agreed that when something is done and over with, you cannot change what has occurred, and that continuing to feel hurt or be upset at the one who caused you this grief only really hurts yourself not them in anyway. For all one knows they have gone on with life and living well. So many though continue to feel the pain of a hurt that person caused, and it just clouds the mind and heart day after day night after night with anger, fear, resentment, and pain. It is a proven fact that this is all part of stress caused by something traumatic that happened in ones life, and that it can also causes post traumatic stress, that can linger for a life time. All of that in turn can cause us to become ill, lowering our immune system, making us susceptible to very harmful diseases. Harboring those emotions keeps one a prisoner to it, learning to let go of it frees us to be ourselves once again. How do you let go? How to you finally find peace? There are several ways to do this and many fine people have written on this subject. I have learned personally to let God handle it, and what I mean by that is, I pray to forgive that person, every moment the ill feelings come to me about a circumstance that caused me this grief. Instead of falling into, oh my they did this or that, I turn it over to God I pray to him to release it from me and I pray in my heart to let myself let it go as well. There is a couple sections of someones writing on the subject on the net I found that really put it into a nutshell,

Maya Angelou wrote:

“I have forgiven myself; I'll make a change. Once that forgiveness has taken place, you can console yourself with the knowledge that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure. Less pressure is crystal, less than that is coal, less than that is fossilized leaves or plain dirt. Pressure can change you into something quite precious, quite wonderful, quite beautiful and extremely hard.”

Here is the next one;

“What could you want forgiveness cannot give? Do you want peace? Forgiveness offers it. Do you want happiness, a quiet mind, a certainty of purpose and a sense of worth and beauty that transcends the world? Do you want a quietness that cannot be disturbed, a gentleness that never can be hurt, a deep, abiding comfort, and a rest so perfect it can never be upset?
All this forgiveness offers you, and more.” - A Course in Miracles

Isn't that put so well? It helps us to see that yes, we may never forget horrible things that happen to us, but with forgiving what happened to us at the hands of another who caused us pain and suffering we are able to release ourselves from the hurt and pain we suffer from.

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Here is a little worksheet that might help you if you are suffering from not being able to forgive another persons wrong doings, or if you haven't yet experienced it at all this might help prevent you from having to go through it as well;

I have provided the link to this source of information about Letting Go Of Past Grievances ?
and the exercise, I think we could all benefit from looking at it and perhaps doing them:)


http://www.forgivenessandhealth.com/html/exercises/5steps.pdf

Highland Park, Illinois 847-433-8535
LETTING GO OF PAST GRIEVANCES


Step One:
Begin with an intention to forgive.

Write down the name of the person whom you intend to forgive.
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Step Two: Acknowledge the pain caused by the grievance.

(The goal is not to forgive and forget, but rather “remember fully and forgive”.)
Describe the grievance. What were the circumstances? (Be as specific as possible.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
How did you feel at the time? Where in your body did you feel it?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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What have you done to take care of yourself?

If you are forgiving someone else, list the ways you have attempted to empower yourself.

If you are forgiving yourself, list the ways you have attempted to make amends.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________


How do you feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually, when you think about the
grievance today?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________


Step Three: Evaluate the gains and losses that comes with
forgiveness.
If I forgive, what would I gain?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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If I forgive, what would I give up?
________________________________________________________________________
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Step Four: Assess your attitudes and beliefs around forgiveness.
(You may not be responsible for what happened-but
you are responsible for your long-term
attitude.)


Underline any statements that have the most significance for you:


If I forgive, it doesn’t mean I am…


condoning or absolving the hurtful behavior.

forgetting.

being a victim or losing power.

surrendering my right to justice.

required to reconcile with the offender.

getting the other person to do something different.

refusing to make amends.



If I forgive, it means I am…


recognizing I have a choice about my perceptions and my thoughts.

choosing peace of mind.

freeing myself from the past and choosing to live in the present moment.

choosing empowerment over victim hood.

choosing to connect to my spiritual loving self.


STEP FIVE: Practice Letting Go Exercises.


1. Practice empathy: Forgiveness is the recognition that people who harm others
are expressing their own unresolved pain.

2. Meditation/prayer: Asking God or a Higher Power for help can be a
shortcut in the forgiveness process.

3. Visualization: Visualize the person you have decided to forgive. Imagine that
an energy cord connects you. Affirm, “I am calling my energy back.” Then
unplug the cord.

4. Journal Writing: Express your feelings to the person you are forgiving (or
asking to forgive) by writing a letter (that you may or may not send).
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
5. Affirmation: Write a daily affirmation that states your decision to forgive.

6. Monitor your Thoughts: Listen to your inner self talk to ensure that it reflects the true ?
meaning of forgiveness. Ask yourself, “would I rather be right or would I rather be happy?”

7. Practice Patience: Remember that forgiveness is an ongoing process; it’s rarely
completed on the first attempt.
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HERE IS A YOUTUBE YOU CAN WATCH TO HELP WITH FORGIVING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS HURT YOU, ITS A MEDITATIVE VIDEO BUT JUST LOOK AT THE WORDS AND PRACTICE IT OVER AND OVER, IN TIME IT MAY HELP YOU!

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I may write some more on this topic here soon, it is a vast one and most of us have suffered being hurt, or have hurt others, or even ourselves. If the world would give up hatred, and learn to love one another, we wouldn't even need explore this subject. We would live by standards of love and compassion for one another, and in that we would feel only happiness. God bless See you next time!