Getting Started on Container Gardening
Any gardening enthusiast will tell you that there is no place too small for you to create your own garden. With enough knowledge and creativity you can make turn any space into a beautiful garden. One of the best solutions to the lack of space is container gardening. Container gardening involves using containers to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits.
There are many benefits to container gardening the most important of which is that it requires less soil and takes up less space. People who live in apartment complexes, those with impaired mobility, and those who live in dry areas can still engage in gardening through this method. Container gardening also requires less time than growing and nurturing a big garden so those who do not have too much free time can start a container garden. Read More
People who are interested in container gardening can visit Simon Newman's blog-- container gardening This website will teach you everything you need to know about container gardening It also provides additional information regarding small or pocket gardens.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Friday, June 1, 2007
Joel Osteen - Keepinging strife out of our lives
Joel Osteen - Keepinging strife out of our lives
Joel Osteen - Keepinging strife out of our lives
Joel Osteen - Keepinging strife out of our lives
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Little Scoops
Little Scoops
SCORE Helps Entrepreneurs Turn Cool Idea into Hot Business
What could be more fun for kids than a party that includes games, dancing and making sundaes in a 1950s-style ice cream parlor? And what could be easier for parents than having somebody else handle all the planning, set-up and cleaning?
That’s the vision that Michelle Violetto had for Little Scoops in early 2001. Nearly five years later, she and business partner Tanya Ehrlich have hosted hundreds of parties and opened nine additional locations.
As one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Hot New Franchises for 2005,” Little Scoops is on its way to becoming something big.
None of this would have happened, Michelle says, without the help of volunteer counselors Peter Gordy and Marty Kahn of SCORE’s Rockland Chapter.
"We have lots of female friends who have started their own businesses. We refer them all to SCORE."
—Michelle Violetto, co-owner, Little Scoops
Peter and Marty helped them develop their business plan, set up finances and evaluate potential locations for the first Little Scoops shop, which opened in September 2002 in Blauvelt, NY.
As Little Scoops’ popularity grew, Michelle and Tanya began thinking about franchising.
“Peter and Marty put us in touch with people who helped us with the legal and management aspects of franchising,” Tanya says. “We’re now making preparations to go national, and we will exhibit at the International Franchise Association’s convention next year.”
Michelle adds that anyone interested in entrepreneurship will find everything they need at SCORE. “We have lots of female friends who have started their own businesses,” she says. “We refer them all to SCORE. It’s a great organization.”
SCORE Helps Entrepreneurs Turn Cool Idea into Hot Business
What could be more fun for kids than a party that includes games, dancing and making sundaes in a 1950s-style ice cream parlor? And what could be easier for parents than having somebody else handle all the planning, set-up and cleaning?
That’s the vision that Michelle Violetto had for Little Scoops in early 2001. Nearly five years later, she and business partner Tanya Ehrlich have hosted hundreds of parties and opened nine additional locations.
As one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Hot New Franchises for 2005,” Little Scoops is on its way to becoming something big.
None of this would have happened, Michelle says, without the help of volunteer counselors Peter Gordy and Marty Kahn of SCORE’s Rockland Chapter.
"We have lots of female friends who have started their own businesses. We refer them all to SCORE."
—Michelle Violetto, co-owner, Little Scoops
Peter and Marty helped them develop their business plan, set up finances and evaluate potential locations for the first Little Scoops shop, which opened in September 2002 in Blauvelt, NY.
As Little Scoops’ popularity grew, Michelle and Tanya began thinking about franchising.
“Peter and Marty put us in touch with people who helped us with the legal and management aspects of franchising,” Tanya says. “We’re now making preparations to go national, and we will exhibit at the International Franchise Association’s convention next year.”
Michelle adds that anyone interested in entrepreneurship will find everything they need at SCORE. “We have lots of female friends who have started their own businesses,” she says. “We refer them all to SCORE. It’s a great organization.”
An Act Of Kindness
An Act Of Kindness
He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.
He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out, this care still running.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.
She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me".
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much.
Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.
After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe."
He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.
He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out, this care still running.Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.
She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me".
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much.
Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.
After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe."
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
James Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor (May 21, 1832 – June 3, 1905), was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) (now OMF International) who served there for 51 years, bringing over 800 missionaries to the country and directly resulting in 18,000 Chinese converts to Christianity by the time he died at age 73.Taylor was known for his commitment to cultural sensitivity, wearing native Chinese clothing even though this was rare among missionaries of that time. Under his leadership, the CIM was singularly non-denominational in practice and accepted members from all Protestant groups, including individuals from the working class and single women as well as multinational recruits. Taylor has been referred to as one of the most significant Europeans to visit China in the 19th Century. The agency that he founded was responsible for the widest Christian evangelistic campaign since the first century when Paul the Apostle brought Christian teaching to Europe.[2] Ruth Tucker summarizes his accomplishments in her book "From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya".
The Great Commission is a command. Where we are to go is decided by God alone. Are you staying where you are because God called you to do so or because you assume that is where He wants you to be
Do You Know the Secret?Do You Know the Secret?
Do You Know the Secret?
If not, why not?
And what exactly am I talking about anyway?
I'm talking about the hot movie going around the internet called The Secret. It's available to be watched on the web or can be purchased on DVD at www.thesecret.tv. The movie is sweeping spiritual communities across the country, being shown in church after church, state after state. The buzz just keeps growing.
So what is The Secret?
It's the Law of Attraction.
Simply stated that means "like attracts like." The energy that you give out, is the energy that is returned to you. Or even, "what goes around, comes around."
You attract into your life whatever you focus on - whether it's negative or positive, whether you want it or not. That is the truth of the Law of attraction, plain and simple. It is a Universal Principle.
Let's say you're worried about not having enough money (a common complaint, to be sure) and you wish to have more in your bank account.
Well, focusing on NOT having enough invokes the Law of Attraction to continue your predominant thought - not having enough. As you think, so you receive. So what you must do is picture yourself, FEEL yourself, being prosperous. Yes, feeling is critical. It makes all the difference in the strength of your manifestation.
Feel what it would feel like to have a checking account filled seven figures … even better -- eight figures! Picture those numbers on your monthly bank statement. Visualize those numbers clearly in your mind, see the printed numerals on the page itself. Feel what it would be like to be that wealthy. Feel the freedom from burden, freedom from stress. Shift it further. Feel the excitement of being able to do ANYTHING you want. Cost is no longer an issue. Feel yourself starting to soar with your new potential.
But keep going. Visualize yourself using that wealth. Put it to good use. Maybe visualize driving a high-powered sports car, sailing on a yacht around the world, or holding extravagant parties at your chateau in the south of France. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. Not as long as yourdesire puts you in a high vibrational state. That's the key to manifesting whatever you want. Getting into the highest vibrational state you possibly can and holding that state for as long as you can. At first, this may seem difficult, but with time it will get easier. It will even become fun.
Now you may ask yourself HOW this new-found prosperity is supposed to occur? What do you have to do? That's the magic of the Law of Attraction. It is not your job to know how it will occur. It is your job to hold a clear vision of what it is you want and FEEL it into existence.
As you continue to so do, strange things will being to occur. People, places, and circumstances will show up in your life in ways that you couldn't have planned for. Opportunities will "fall into your lap." Your job is to watch for these opportunities, then follow them. Trust your intuition and take the steps necessary to move forward into your new life of prosperity. Follow the guideposts.
As the Bible states, "It is done unto you as you believe."
And that, my friends, is the secret of the Law of Attraction.
How To Find a Good Church
How To Find a Good Church
As Christians, it is very important for us to find a good church. However, there are so churches around today that it can be hard to make a decision. So, how do you go about finding a good church for you and your family? Here are some things that you should do whenever you are looking for church to join.
1. Before you do anything else you should take some time to pray. Take time to seek the Lord’s directions. After all, the Bible does teach us: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
2. Find a church that is in a good location according to where you live. Looking through your local newspaper or phone book will help you locate nearby churches. Another option is to ask a good Christian friend. Find out where they worship and what they like and dislike about it. Ask if they've worshiped anywhere else in the area and, if so, why they moved. Recommendations are usually the best way to get a list of good potential churches.
3. Spend some time visiting the churches that you have selected. Go and worship with them to find out more about the congregation and their beliefs. While you're there keep an eye out for things you're looking for in a church and things you know you want to avoid. Make sure to stick around after the service to talk with members of the congregation. See if you get along with them and whether you share the same beliefs.
4. Learn about the church’s history. You should ask how and where the church began. This will help you understand any affiliations that they may have. After all, you want to make sure that the church is accountable to someone so that you are sure that you're not joining a cult.
5. Be certain that you know and understand the church’s government and discipline. This should be Biblical and you can see what that means by reading Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3; 1 Timothy 1:19-20 and Titus 3:10.
6. Take some time to meet with the minister. Since the minister is the leader of the church, you should ask him about the congregation's beliefs. While you can discover this simply by reading the church’s statement of faith, it is much better if you and the church’s pastor can sit down and talk for a while before you join the church. This way you will get to know the pastor outside of the church setting. While this is not the first thing that you should do, if you're seriously considering joining a church it is a must. You do not want to blindly follow someone.
7. Do not rush into joining a church. Instead, spend some time fellowshipping with the church members. Remember, a church is not a building; it is a body of people who make up the body of Christ. These are people that are going to need to love and accept you and, of course, you are going to have to love and accept them too. So you will want to make sure that this is the right place for you and your family before joining the church.
Once you have found what you believe will make a great church home for you and your family, it is time for you to pursue joining that church. Of course, this should be a decision that you make only after going through each and every one of the above steps. Good luck and God bless!
As Christians, it is very important for us to find a good church. However, there are so churches around today that it can be hard to make a decision. So, how do you go about finding a good church for you and your family? Here are some things that you should do whenever you are looking for church to join.
1. Before you do anything else you should take some time to pray. Take time to seek the Lord’s directions. After all, the Bible does teach us: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
2. Find a church that is in a good location according to where you live. Looking through your local newspaper or phone book will help you locate nearby churches. Another option is to ask a good Christian friend. Find out where they worship and what they like and dislike about it. Ask if they've worshiped anywhere else in the area and, if so, why they moved. Recommendations are usually the best way to get a list of good potential churches.
3. Spend some time visiting the churches that you have selected. Go and worship with them to find out more about the congregation and their beliefs. While you're there keep an eye out for things you're looking for in a church and things you know you want to avoid. Make sure to stick around after the service to talk with members of the congregation. See if you get along with them and whether you share the same beliefs.
4. Learn about the church’s history. You should ask how and where the church began. This will help you understand any affiliations that they may have. After all, you want to make sure that the church is accountable to someone so that you are sure that you're not joining a cult.
5. Be certain that you know and understand the church’s government and discipline. This should be Biblical and you can see what that means by reading Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3; 1 Timothy 1:19-20 and Titus 3:10.
6. Take some time to meet with the minister. Since the minister is the leader of the church, you should ask him about the congregation's beliefs. While you can discover this simply by reading the church’s statement of faith, it is much better if you and the church’s pastor can sit down and talk for a while before you join the church. This way you will get to know the pastor outside of the church setting. While this is not the first thing that you should do, if you're seriously considering joining a church it is a must. You do not want to blindly follow someone.
7. Do not rush into joining a church. Instead, spend some time fellowshipping with the church members. Remember, a church is not a building; it is a body of people who make up the body of Christ. These are people that are going to need to love and accept you and, of course, you are going to have to love and accept them too. So you will want to make sure that this is the right place for you and your family before joining the church.
Once you have found what you believe will make a great church home for you and your family, it is time for you to pursue joining that church. Of course, this should be a decision that you make only after going through each and every one of the above steps. Good luck and God bless!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Secret to Attracting an Overflow of Abundance, Blessings, and Success in Life
The Secret to Attracting an Overflow of Abundance, Blessings, and Success in Life
If you want to attract fortunes, luck, blessings, or the so called good things in life, then you've to follow 3 simple yet overlooked rules.
1) Show Gratitude.
My editor and friend named Jones (I call her JK because she aims to be the next JK Rowling), told me that she's itching to buy the Hypnotic Library Package, but she doesn't have a credit card. I told her she could use mine.
I bought her the package and told her we can share in its cost (my share is slightly bigger), and that I'll just offset her share from her salary.
What happened next is something unbelievable.
She cried tears of joy because she said she has never met anyone "as kind as me."
"Huh??!?" I thought to myself, "It's no big deal."
At that time, she has just started editing for me, and said she can't believe I trusted her enough to buy a high ticket item for her, and that I even proposed to offset her share from her future salary.
I couldn't believe her either, because I have never met anyone who has shown such appreciation in exchange for a small favor I just did.
Appreciation. Gratitude. Giving thanks. You can attract good things in your life by temporarily cutting off any negative thoughts or problems from your mind, and start counting your blessings. Thank God/the Universe/people around you for all the wonderful things you've received.
By doing this, you are acknowledging that you are indeed blessed and flowing with abundance. And by showing gratitude and giving thanks, you are befriending the Universe to give you more.
2) Give Unconditionally.
I bet you've often heard that what you're giving will come back to you many times over. It's true. If you want more money, give money to those who need them more. You want to have lots of friends, be a trusted friend to everyone you meet. It's a simple rule.
But the most important thing is not to expect anything in return. Don't give a gift to your boss with the expectation that he will give you a promotion. Give because you want to and because it makes you happy, not because you have a hidden agenda in mind.
3) Receive Gratefully.
If someone says, "You're a genius for coming up with this idea," what is your response? Many people would say something like, "No, I'm not that good."
If your response is similar to the above everytime someone praises you, then you're blocking positive energy from entering your life. Instead, just say, "Thank you."
I know someone who has such a big pride that he never accepts any gift or help from others. I tried to give him something many times, but he refused to accept every single one of them.
Guess what his status in life now? He's lonely, friendless, and poor.
It's not bad to receive. In fact, it's a blessing that you deserve to have. And by being grateful and appreciative to the one who has given something to you, you are attracting more blessings and abundance into your life.
If you want to attract fortunes, luck, blessings, or the so called good things in life, then you've to follow 3 simple yet overlooked rules.
1) Show Gratitude.
My editor and friend named Jones (I call her JK because she aims to be the next JK Rowling), told me that she's itching to buy the Hypnotic Library Package, but she doesn't have a credit card. I told her she could use mine.
I bought her the package and told her we can share in its cost (my share is slightly bigger), and that I'll just offset her share from her salary.
What happened next is something unbelievable.
She cried tears of joy because she said she has never met anyone "as kind as me."
"Huh??!?" I thought to myself, "It's no big deal."
At that time, she has just started editing for me, and said she can't believe I trusted her enough to buy a high ticket item for her, and that I even proposed to offset her share from her future salary.
I couldn't believe her either, because I have never met anyone who has shown such appreciation in exchange for a small favor I just did.
Appreciation. Gratitude. Giving thanks. You can attract good things in your life by temporarily cutting off any negative thoughts or problems from your mind, and start counting your blessings. Thank God/the Universe/people around you for all the wonderful things you've received.
By doing this, you are acknowledging that you are indeed blessed and flowing with abundance. And by showing gratitude and giving thanks, you are befriending the Universe to give you more.
2) Give Unconditionally.
I bet you've often heard that what you're giving will come back to you many times over. It's true. If you want more money, give money to those who need them more. You want to have lots of friends, be a trusted friend to everyone you meet. It's a simple rule.
But the most important thing is not to expect anything in return. Don't give a gift to your boss with the expectation that he will give you a promotion. Give because you want to and because it makes you happy, not because you have a hidden agenda in mind.
3) Receive Gratefully.
If someone says, "You're a genius for coming up with this idea," what is your response? Many people would say something like, "No, I'm not that good."
If your response is similar to the above everytime someone praises you, then you're blocking positive energy from entering your life. Instead, just say, "Thank you."
I know someone who has such a big pride that he never accepts any gift or help from others. I tried to give him something many times, but he refused to accept every single one of them.
Guess what his status in life now? He's lonely, friendless, and poor.
It's not bad to receive. In fact, it's a blessing that you deserve to have. And by being grateful and appreciative to the one who has given something to you, you are attracting more blessings and abundance into your life.
Touching Hearts
“In all that you do, avoid grumbling and disputing, so as to be blameless and innocent, faultless children of God in a crooked and perverse generation where you shine like stars in a dark world ... ” (Philippians 2 14,15, Moffatt).Dr. Charlotte Kasl wrote something that really touched my heart and made me realize that we take too much for granted in our lives: “So next time you sit down to a simple supper, crawl into a cozy bed, have a warm chat with a friend--Imagine that you are at the end of the rainbow...this is life, and it’s wonderful....”
We lose sight of so many blessings--rainbows--in life. I think it’s because we have so many that we no longer even recognize what a blessing is. A few years ago I started thanking God for the hot water each time I take a shower. That sounds a bit silly, perhaps, but at least it makes me aware that hot water is a gift we take for granted every minute of the day to wash self, children, clothes and dishes. Just think if we stepped into the shower and--no hot water! Just think if there were no water at all!
Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote one of the best books I’ve read on the character and characteristics of our Lord Jesus. It’s titled The Manhood of the Master, published in 1913. From the chapter titled “The Master’s Endurance,” I quote: “[Jesus] made the best out of one of the most un-ideal situations that ever faced a great soul. He did not demand a different farm to labor on; he went to work on the farm that he had, and grew harvests on that, which have been feeding the world ever since. His life sounds a courageous call to all of us: Stop whining; stop pitying yourself; see what you can do, by the help of God, with your un-ideal situation, for God never would have given it to you without some fine possibilities in it.”
I do believe we’d all be happier if we had fewer demands and if we worked on our marriage and our situation and our farm that we already have. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 16:6: “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.” What a promise that is when we become discontented.
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (pronounciation (help·info), April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath: scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, and writer.
He was born and raised near Vinci, Italy, the illegitimate son of a notary, Messer Piero, and a peasant woman, Caterina. He had no surname in the modern sense, "da Vinci" simply meaning "of Vinci". His full birth name was "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci", meaning "Leonardo, son of (Mes)ser Piero from Vinci."
Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the "Renaissance man", a man whose seemingly infinite curiosity was equalled only by his powers of invention. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived.[2]
It is primarily as a painter that Leonardo was and is renowned. Two of his works, the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper occupy unique positions as the most famous, the most illustrated and most imitated portrait and religious painting of all time. Their fame is approached only by Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Leonardo's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also iconic.
As an engineer, Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, conceptually inventing a helicopter, a tank, the use of concentrated solar power, a calculator, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics, the double hull, and many others. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or were feasible during his lifetime.[3] Some of his smaller inventions such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire entered the world of manufacturing unheralded.
He greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and the study of water. Of his works, perhaps 15 paintings survive,[4] together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams, and notes.
He was born and raised near Vinci, Italy, the illegitimate son of a notary, Messer Piero, and a peasant woman, Caterina. He had no surname in the modern sense, "da Vinci" simply meaning "of Vinci". His full birth name was "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci", meaning "Leonardo, son of (Mes)ser Piero from Vinci."
Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the "Renaissance man", a man whose seemingly infinite curiosity was equalled only by his powers of invention. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived.[2]
It is primarily as a painter that Leonardo was and is renowned. Two of his works, the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper occupy unique positions as the most famous, the most illustrated and most imitated portrait and religious painting of all time. Their fame is approached only by Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Leonardo's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also iconic.
As an engineer, Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, conceptually inventing a helicopter, a tank, the use of concentrated solar power, a calculator, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics, the double hull, and many others. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or were feasible during his lifetime.[3] Some of his smaller inventions such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire entered the world of manufacturing unheralded.
He greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and the study of water. Of his works, perhaps 15 paintings survive,[4] together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams, and notes.
Thank God for Small Blessings Like Ice Cream
Thank God for Small Blessings Like Ice Cream
The blazing heat of summer as well the frequent heat waves that racks the state has brought back the popularity of ice cream as a way to escape the heat. Not only that, it seems that sugar free and fat free ice creams are losing ground in favor of the old tasty, sweet and full ice creams we liked so much when we were kids. This is not really so surprising. With the increasing problems we are having with the economy and the increasing pressure to manage our finances, ice creams represents a cheap and effective way to chase away the blues. This is the reason why ice cream manufacturers and ice cream vendors are having a field day selling the old style ice cream with some relatively new additions like the smoothies that includes frozen custard, a variation of the old style ice cream with egg as an additional flavoring.
These relatively new ice creams production process reverts back to the old fashioned way of ice cream production which is hand mixed and home made. As always, ice creams are popular because not only are they delicious, there are also a lot of things different in the ice creams of today.
One remarkable thing in the ice cream business is the general mood of people when they come inside an ice cream parlor. As people look for ice cream when they are in the mood to treat themselves, people buying these desserts are often a happy bunch. Indeed a bonus to all the ice cream vendors out there. Today, instead of going on a vacation, eating an expensive meal in a restaurant or splurging their hard earned cash on shopping sprees, people are settling for ice creams as a way to regain some sense of equilibrium, celebrate a good day or forget about a stressful day.
As the popularity of ice cream grows, competition popping out of everywhere only seems to fuel the public’s desire to have!
The blazing heat of summer as well the frequent heat waves that racks the state has brought back the popularity of ice cream as a way to escape the heat. Not only that, it seems that sugar free and fat free ice creams are losing ground in favor of the old tasty, sweet and full ice creams we liked so much when we were kids. This is not really so surprising. With the increasing problems we are having with the economy and the increasing pressure to manage our finances, ice creams represents a cheap and effective way to chase away the blues. This is the reason why ice cream manufacturers and ice cream vendors are having a field day selling the old style ice cream with some relatively new additions like the smoothies that includes frozen custard, a variation of the old style ice cream with egg as an additional flavoring.
These relatively new ice creams production process reverts back to the old fashioned way of ice cream production which is hand mixed and home made. As always, ice creams are popular because not only are they delicious, there are also a lot of things different in the ice creams of today.
One remarkable thing in the ice cream business is the general mood of people when they come inside an ice cream parlor. As people look for ice cream when they are in the mood to treat themselves, people buying these desserts are often a happy bunch. Indeed a bonus to all the ice cream vendors out there. Today, instead of going on a vacation, eating an expensive meal in a restaurant or splurging their hard earned cash on shopping sprees, people are settling for ice creams as a way to regain some sense of equilibrium, celebrate a good day or forget about a stressful day.
As the popularity of ice cream grows, competition popping out of everywhere only seems to fuel the public’s desire to have!
Thomas Edison - Inspiration And Perspiration
Thomas Edison - Inspiration And Perspiration
Almost everyone knows who Thomas Alva Edison is.
Does anyone know that Thomas Alva Edison created more than eight hundred light globes before he made one that finally worked? By a small carbonized filament and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was finally able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light on lower current electricity.
When Edison was seven years old, he has already developed a fascination for anything involve mechanically and chemical experiments. At the local schoolhouse, after enduring his persistent questioning and self-centered behavior, his short-tempered teacher eventually declared that his brains were either addled or scrambled.
His furious mother quickly took him home and began to tutor him herself. She was convinced that her son unusual demeanor and hyperactive behavior were just signs of his remarkable intelligence.
Although Edison had only three months of formal schooling, it did not deter him from finding ways via independent self-instruction to appease his ever huge appetite for knowledge in contemporary mathematics, physics and engineering.
Before he began his career as an inventor, he sold newspaper and candy on trains running from station to station. He became a skillful telegrapher after being trained for only three months. Telegraphy related inventions were some of his earliest master pieces.
Armed with an immeasurable patience and a kaleidoscopic mind teamed with photographic memory, his highly individualistic style of acquiring knowledge led him to scores of experiments and eventually his own related theories.
By the turn of the 20th century, Thomas Alva Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history. He had developed hundreds of devices and gadgets that improved lives around the world. In addition, he was often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory which was build in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Among Edison's most famous inventions is the first practical and long-lasting light bulb. He also refined and developed other gadgets such as the phonograph, typewriter and the motion picture projector/ camera.
All these happened despite being partially deaf. In fact, his handicap did not hinder him from pursuing his dreams to invent. Instead, his deafness allegedly aided him because it blocked out noises that disturbed him and his work.
How often are we faced with difficulties and problems in our daily life? And how often did they slow us down in our progress? Did we treat them as challenges and play them to our advantage like the way Edison has done? Or did we stop what we are doing and give up trying?
Almost everyone knows who Thomas Alva Edison is.
Does anyone know that Thomas Alva Edison created more than eight hundred light globes before he made one that finally worked? By a small carbonized filament and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was finally able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light on lower current electricity.
When Edison was seven years old, he has already developed a fascination for anything involve mechanically and chemical experiments. At the local schoolhouse, after enduring his persistent questioning and self-centered behavior, his short-tempered teacher eventually declared that his brains were either addled or scrambled.
His furious mother quickly took him home and began to tutor him herself. She was convinced that her son unusual demeanor and hyperactive behavior were just signs of his remarkable intelligence.Although Edison had only three months of formal schooling, it did not deter him from finding ways via independent self-instruction to appease his ever huge appetite for knowledge in contemporary mathematics, physics and engineering.
Before he began his career as an inventor, he sold newspaper and candy on trains running from station to station. He became a skillful telegrapher after being trained for only three months. Telegraphy related inventions were some of his earliest master pieces.
Armed with an immeasurable patience and a kaleidoscopic mind teamed with photographic memory, his highly individualistic style of acquiring knowledge led him to scores of experiments and eventually his own related theories.
By the turn of the 20th century, Thomas Alva Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history. He had developed hundreds of devices and gadgets that improved lives around the world. In addition, he was often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory which was build in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Among Edison's most famous inventions is the first practical and long-lasting light bulb. He also refined and developed other gadgets such as the phonograph, typewriter and the motion picture projector/ camera.
All these happened despite being partially deaf. In fact, his handicap did not hinder him from pursuing his dreams to invent. Instead, his deafness allegedly aided him because it blocked out noises that disturbed him and his work.
How often are we faced with difficulties and problems in our daily life? And how often did they slow us down in our progress? Did we treat them as challenges and play them to our advantage like the way Edison has done? Or did we stop what we are doing and give up trying?
Stop Talking About Other People
Stop Talking About Other People!
Why is everyone not talking about you? Why is the world not interested in what you are doing? Why are you not being interviewed by the media like all the other famous personalities?" Four years back my ten year old nephew asked me this question. He was desperate to see me getting popular.
"I don't care about the world ! " I said. I lied. I did want to get popular. I did want to get interviewed. I wanted people to talk about me. But the fact was i was not doing anything interesting to be written about....
I was spending my precious talking about other famous personalities, about every other external event in the world. I was spending hours reading newspapers,surfing websites and had an opinion about every other person and event. I only thought about my goals and ambitions once a week !
However, I used to go to quiet room and pray to God to fulfill my wishes. That day four years back when i went to that room... I was in for a surprise. A clear,soft and powerful voice spoke to my heart and i have since then followed every bit of it with my heart. Here is what i heard....
"Stop talking about other people." The voice was stern. It was as if God was slapped me in the face." Your life is more precious than your thoughts and opinions about the world. You have a dream, a goal and you have to nourish it,water it and take care of them very deligently. You have to grow a beautiful garden filled with the choicest of flowers in your mind. You have been given a great responsibility and you are accountable to me and not to anyone else... If you can do this all your wishes will be fulfilled. This would be your greatest gift to me. " The voice went on .....
I fulfill most of the wishes of the people. If they want a dream house, a beautiful car, a lovely wife, a nice husband, wonderful children... I bless them and grant them everything in due course of time. All these people want an increase in their standard of living and i fulfill their wishes. But there are very few people who are close to my heart. They come here to increase their quality of life. They know that an increase in the standard of living has nothing to do with the increase in the quality of their life.To these people I reveal all the hidden secrets of life... These people do not ask for anything .. They come here to pray and they want Me to set their goals, their ambitions, their plans. They want Me to enter into their mind and body and willingly i do... because they are committed to living a quality life and not so much bothered about the increase in their standard of living.... These people eventually end up many times richer than those who ask... Such are the ways of life my dear child... I am happy to give you a car, a house, and all that which you desire but I am more happy to grant you My vision, My dream of your role in this life..... "
I nailed those words in my mind from that point on ..... I worked on myself , in increasing the quality of my life. I became a serious student of life. I paid attention to every small thing i was doing.. The thoughts i was thinking, the language i was using, the words i was speaking, the articles i was reading, the channels i was watching, the food i was eating and slowly but surely i corrected each of them. The way i did it was I asked myself :
" Is there a better choice of words i can use ....
" Can i think about something more powerful than the thoughts that are coming to me...
Why is everyone not talking about you? Why is the world not interested in what you are doing? Why are you not being interviewed by the media like all the other famous personalities?" Four years back my ten year old nephew asked me this question. He was desperate to see me getting popular.
"I don't care about the world ! " I said. I lied. I did want to get popular. I did want to get interviewed. I wanted people to talk about me. But the fact was i was not doing anything interesting to be written about....
I was spending my precious talking about other famous personalities, about every other external event in the world. I was spending hours reading newspapers,surfing websites and had an opinion about every other person and event. I only thought about my goals and ambitions once a week !
However, I used to go to quiet room and pray to God to fulfill my wishes. That day four years back when i went to that room... I was in for a surprise. A clear,soft and powerful voice spoke to my heart and i have since then followed every bit of it with my heart. Here is what i heard....
"Stop talking about other people." The voice was stern. It was as if God was slapped me in the face." Your life is more precious than your thoughts and opinions about the world. You have a dream, a goal and you have to nourish it,water it and take care of them very deligently. You have to grow a beautiful garden filled with the choicest of flowers in your mind. You have been given a great responsibility and you are accountable to me and not to anyone else... If you can do this all your wishes will be fulfilled. This would be your greatest gift to me. " The voice went on .....I fulfill most of the wishes of the people. If they want a dream house, a beautiful car, a lovely wife, a nice husband, wonderful children... I bless them and grant them everything in due course of time. All these people want an increase in their standard of living and i fulfill their wishes. But there are very few people who are close to my heart. They come here to increase their quality of life. They know that an increase in the standard of living has nothing to do with the increase in the quality of their life.To these people I reveal all the hidden secrets of life... These people do not ask for anything .. They come here to pray and they want Me to set their goals, their ambitions, their plans. They want Me to enter into their mind and body and willingly i do... because they are committed to living a quality life and not so much bothered about the increase in their standard of living.... These people eventually end up many times richer than those who ask... Such are the ways of life my dear child... I am happy to give you a car, a house, and all that which you desire but I am more happy to grant you My vision, My dream of your role in this life..... "
I nailed those words in my mind from that point on ..... I worked on myself , in increasing the quality of my life. I became a serious student of life. I paid attention to every small thing i was doing.. The thoughts i was thinking, the language i was using, the words i was speaking, the articles i was reading, the channels i was watching, the food i was eating and slowly but surely i corrected each of them. The way i did it was I asked myself :
" Is there a better choice of words i can use ....
" Can i think about something more powerful than the thoughts that are coming to me...
How to Quickly and Easily Deal With Rude People
How to Quickly and Easily Deal With Rude People
Where I live there seems to be a a growing population of rude and
vulgar people. And no matter how hard I wish for things to change
it is not going to happen. It is up to me to change how I think
and feel about these people. The same applies for you.
1 What does it mean when someone is rude?
Your initial angry reaction may be to think the person is a moron
but that only makes matters worse as it will comes across in the
way you talk.
I prefer to view such behavior as evidence that the person is
doing the best he can with what he has. This belief makes it
easier for you to accept the person even though you may not like
his approach.
Look for the good in people and you are a lot more likely to find
it.
2 Is it your fault?
When you encounter vulgarity it is worth pausing to ask yourself
have you encouraged this behavior. Maybe you played along with
this gutter talk in the past so the person thinks you do not mind
it.
Or perhaps you have done something that has annoyed the person so
much they cannot control their anger and annoyance.
In either of these cases it is best to slowly lead the person
back to a polite discussion. You can do this by asking highly
specific questions that force the person to slow down and think
before replying.
If you honestly did not do anything to encourage the rudeness
you are clearly dealing with someone who habitually talks in this
way.
Unless you can change the person you just have to accept him as
he is.
3 What can you do?
Ultimately you have a choice - avoid dealing with vulgar people
where possible or join them! Only joking!
Seriously though if you cannot avoid them you need to remember
how to take charge of conversations. Plus you need to ensure you
remain strong and unaffected by their manner.
In the meantime you can achieve quite a lot by distinguishing
between the person and the way they deliver their message to you.
Look beyond their words to the real message they are trying to
convey.
We all have a bad day now and again maybe you just bumped into
them while they were stuck at a low point.
Thought you might like this one as well:
Where I live there seems to be a a growing population of rude and
vulgar people. And no matter how hard I wish for things to change
it is not going to happen. It is up to me to change how I think
and feel about these people. The same applies for you.
1 What does it mean when someone is rude?
Your initial angry reaction may be to think the person is a moron
but that only makes matters worse as it will comes across in the
way you talk.
I prefer to view such behavior as evidence that the person is
doing the best he can with what he has. This belief makes it
easier for you to accept the person even though you may not like
his approach.
Look for the good in people and you are a lot more likely to find
it.
2 Is it your fault?
When you encounter vulgarity it is worth pausing to ask yourself
have you encouraged this behavior. Maybe you played along with
this gutter talk in the past so the person thinks you do not mind
it.
Or perhaps you have done something that has annoyed the person so
much they cannot control their anger and annoyance.
In either of these cases it is best to slowly lead the person
back to a polite discussion. You can do this by asking highly
specific questions that force the person to slow down and think
before replying.
If you honestly did not do anything to encourage the rudeness
you are clearly dealing with someone who habitually talks in this
way.
Unless you can change the person you just have to accept him as
he is.
3 What can you do?
Ultimately you have a choice - avoid dealing with vulgar people
where possible or join them! Only joking!
Seriously though if you cannot avoid them you need to remember
how to take charge of conversations. Plus you need to ensure you
remain strong and unaffected by their manner.
In the meantime you can achieve quite a lot by distinguishing
between the person and the way they deliver their message to you.
Look beyond their words to the real message they are trying to
convey.
We all have a bad day now and again maybe you just bumped into
them while they were stuck at a low point.
Thought you might like this one as well:
Monday, May 28, 2007
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu IPA: (August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997), was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. For over forty years, she ministered to the needs of the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying of Calcutta (Kolkata). As her religious order grew she expanded her ministry to other countries. By the 1970s she had become internationally famed as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless, due in part to a documentary, and book, Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge.
Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and designated Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. However, she and the order she founded have attracted criticism in latter years with respect to care of the sick and destination of financial contributions.
Agnes Bojaxhiu was born on 26 August, 1910, in the center of Uskub, in the Kosovo Province of the Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, Republic of Macedonia). Her parents were Albanians; her father, Nikollë, was originally from Mirëdita (North Albania) and her mother, Dranafille, came from Đakovica (Gjakovë). Raised as a Catholic by her parents, her father died when she was about eight years old. During her early years, she was fascinated with stories of missionary life and service. By the time she was twelve, Agnes was convinced that her vocation should be a religious life. She left her home at age 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. Agnes would never again set eyes on her mother or sister.
She initially went to the Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Ireland in order to learn English, which was the language nuns used to instruct India's schoolchildren. Arriving in India in 1929, she began her novitiate in Darjeeling, near the Himalayas.[8] She took her first vows as a nun on 24 May 1931, choosing the name Teresa after the patron saint of missionaries. She took her solemn vows on 14 May 1937 while serving as a teacher at the Loreto convent school in eastern Calcutta.
Although Teresa enjoyed teaching at the school she was increasingly disturbed by the poverty surrounding her in Calcutta. A famine in 1943 brought misery and death to the city; the outbreak of Hindu/Muslim violence in August 1946 plunged the city into despair and horror.
On September 10, 1946, Teresa experienced what she later described as "the call within the call" while travelling to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling for her annual retreat. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith."[14] She began her missionary work with the poor in 1948, replacing her long, traditional Loreto habit with a simple white cotton sari decorated with a blue border and then venturing out into the slums."[15] Initially she started a school in Motijhil; shortly thereafter, she started tending to the needs of the destitute and starving.[16] Her efforts quickly caught the attention of Indian officials, including the Prime Minister, who expressed his appreciation.
Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and designated Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. However, she and the order she founded have attracted criticism in latter years with respect to care of the sick and destination of financial contributions.
Agnes Bojaxhiu was born on 26 August, 1910, in the center of Uskub, in the Kosovo Province of the Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, Republic of Macedonia). Her parents were Albanians; her father, Nikollë, was originally from Mirëdita (North Albania) and her mother, Dranafille, came from Đakovica (Gjakovë). Raised as a Catholic by her parents, her father died when she was about eight years old. During her early years, she was fascinated with stories of missionary life and service. By the time she was twelve, Agnes was convinced that her vocation should be a religious life. She left her home at age 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. Agnes would never again set eyes on her mother or sister.
She initially went to the Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Ireland in order to learn English, which was the language nuns used to instruct India's schoolchildren. Arriving in India in 1929, she began her novitiate in Darjeeling, near the Himalayas.[8] She took her first vows as a nun on 24 May 1931, choosing the name Teresa after the patron saint of missionaries. She took her solemn vows on 14 May 1937 while serving as a teacher at the Loreto convent school in eastern Calcutta.
Although Teresa enjoyed teaching at the school she was increasingly disturbed by the poverty surrounding her in Calcutta. A famine in 1943 brought misery and death to the city; the outbreak of Hindu/Muslim violence in August 1946 plunged the city into despair and horror.
On September 10, 1946, Teresa experienced what she later described as "the call within the call" while travelling to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling for her annual retreat. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith."[14] She began her missionary work with the poor in 1948, replacing her long, traditional Loreto habit with a simple white cotton sari decorated with a blue border and then venturing out into the slums."[15] Initially she started a school in Motijhil; shortly thereafter, she started tending to the needs of the destitute and starving.[16] Her efforts quickly caught the attention of Indian officials, including the Prime Minister, who expressed his appreciation.
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden (born October 14, 1910, in Hall, Indiana) is a retired American basketball coach. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. He is widely regarded as the greatest college coach in history and his 10 NCAA National Championships while at UCLA are unmatched.
As a high school student, Wooden played in Indiana where he led the Martinsville High School team to the state championship finals for three consecutive years, winning the tournament in 1927. He was a three time All-State selection. After graduating in 1928 he entered Purdue University, where he was a three-time All-American guard and a member of Purdue's 1932 national championship team.[1] John Wooden was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern (1930-32) while at Purdue University. He was also selected for membership in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Wooden was nicknamed "The Indiana Rubber Man" for his suicidal dives on the hardcourt. He graduated from Purdue in 1932 with a degree in English, and later earned his Master's Degree at Indiana State Teacher's College (now Indiana State University) where he spent 1946-48 as athletic director and basketball coach.
After college, Wooden spent several years playing professionally with the Indianapolis Kautskys (later the Indianapolis Jets), Whiting Ciesar All-Americans, and Hammond Ciesar All-Americans while teaching and coaching in the high school ranks. During one 46 game stretch he made 134 consecutive free throws. He was named to the NBL's First Team for the 1937-38 season. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy where he gained the rank of lieutenant during World War II.
Wooden coached two years at Dayton High School in Kentucky. His first year at Dayton would be the only time he would have a losing record (6-11). After Dayton he returned to Indiana, teaching English and coaching basketball at South Bend Central High School until entering the Armed Forces. His high school coaching record was 218-42.
After the war, Wooden coached at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1946 to 1948, succeeding his high school coach, Glenn Curtis, who became head coach of the professional Detroit Falcons. Wooden also coached baseball and served as athletic director. In 1947, Wooden's basketball team won the conference title and received an invitation to the NAIB National Tournament in Kansas City. Wooden refused the invitation citing the NAIB's policy banning African American players. A member on the Indiana State Sycamores' team was Clarence Walker, an African-American athlete from East Chicago, Indiana. In 1948 the NAIB changed this policy and Wooden guided his team to the NAIB final, losing to Louisville. That year, Walker became the first African-American to play in any post-season intercollegiate basketball tournament. John Wooden was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame on February 3, 1984.
During his tenure with the Bruins, Wooden became known as the “Wizard of Westwood” and gained lasting fame with UCLA by winning 665 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles during his last 12 seasons, including 7 in a row from 1967 to 1973. His UCLA teams also had a record winning streak of 88 games, four perfect 30-0 seasons, and won 38 straight games in NCAA Tournaments. In 1967 he was named the the Henry Iba Award USBWA College Basketball Coach of the Year. In 1972, he received Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. Wooden coached his final game in Pauley Pavilion March 1st, 1975 in a 93-59 victory over Stanford. Four weeks later he would surprisingly announce his retirement following a 75-74 NCAA semi-final victory, over Louisville, and before his 10th national championship game victory, over Kentucky.
UCLA had actually been Wooden's second choice for a coaching position in 1948. He had also been pursued for the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota, and it was his and wife Nell's (whom he was married to for 53 years until her death in 1985) desire to remain in the Midwest. But inclement weather in Minnesota prevented Wooden from receiving the scheduled phone offer from the Golden Gophers. Thinking they had lost interest, Wooden accepted the head coaching job with the Bruins instead. Officials from the University of Minnesota contacted Wooden right after he accepted the position at UCLA but declined their offer because he had given his word to the Bruins.
Year Record Final Opponent Final Score Notes
1964 30-0 Duke 98-83 John Wooden gets his first national title in his seventeenth season at UCLA. Walt Hazzard stars for UCLA as the Bruins easily defeat Duke.
1965 28-2 Michigan 91-80 UCLA becomes one of the few schools to win two in a row. All-American Gail Goodrich stars for the Bruins as they upend Michigan and Cazzie Russell.
1967 30-0 Dayton 79-64 The start of the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) era. Unranked Dayton and Don May are no match for UCLA in title game.
1968 29-1 North Carolina 78-55 UCLA's 47 game winning streak came to an end in January when the Bruins were beaten by Houston in the Astrodome 71-69. In a rematch in the NCAA semi-finals, UCLA won 101-69. The UCLA Bruins become the only team to win consecutive NCAA championships twice.
1969 29-1 Purdue 92-72 UCLA becomes the only school to win three NCAA Basketball Championships in a row. Rick Mount of Purdue (Wooden's alma mater) is no match for Lew Alcindor as he takes a triple crown. Wooden becomes the first coach to win 5 NCAA championships.
1970 28-2 Jacksonville 80-69 Even with the graduation of Alcindor (Abdul-Jabbar), UCLA wins again; its fourth in a row. Sidney Wicks outshines Artis Gilmore in title game.
1971 29-1 Villanova 68-62 Five in a row. Villanova hangs tough in title game, but is later disqualified when it is learned that Howard Porter had signed a pro contract.
1972 30-0 Florida State 81-76 The start of the Bill Walton era. UCLA wins its sixth in a row. The Bruins have a rough time with Florida State and their great ball handler, Otto Petty.
1973 30-0 Memphis State 87-66 Seven in a row. Only team in history with back-to-back undefeated seasons. Bill Walton hits 21 of 22 field goal attempts and scores 44 points.
1975 28-3 Kentucky 92-85 Wooden ends his career with one final NCAA title. Coach Wooden announces his retirement during the post-game press conference of the semi-final game, and the UCLA players give him a going away present with a win over Kentucky.
The John Wooden era at UCLA is unrivaled in terms of national championships (the next-closest school, Kentucky, won 7 championships over a 50-year period; the next-winningest coach, Adolph Rupp, won four; Bob Knight and Mike Krzyzewski have three titles each) and undefeated seasons (Wooden had four; no other coach has more than one).
Since 1977, one of the four college basketball player of the year awards has been named the John R. Wooden Award.
Two annual doubleheader men's basketball events called the "John R. Wooden Classic"[2] and "The Wooden Tradition"[3] are held in Wooden's honor.
In 2003, UCLA dedicated the basketball court in Pauley Pavilion in honor of John and Nell Wooden. Wooden also has the gym at Martinsville High School and the student recreation center at UCLA named in his honor. Named the "Nell & John Wooden Court," Wooden asked for the change from the original proposal of the "John & Nell Wooden Court," insisting that his wife's name should come first.[4] In January 2007, UCLA announced that it was in the planning stages of renovating Pauley Pavilion, with the goal of opening the renovated facility on Wooden's 100th birthday, October 14, 2010.
December 18, 2005, Congressman Brad Sherman introduced a legislation that would rename a San Fernando Valley post office in honor of Wooden. The post office near Wooden's long-time home in Encino had already been named in 2002 for Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn. However, Coach Wooden's daughter, Nancy Muehlhausen, lives in nearby Reseda. On August 17, 2006, it was announced that President George W. Bush had signed the legislation[5] enacting Sherman's proposal into law. The post office at 7320 Reseda Boulevard was named the Coach John Wooden Post Office on October 14, 2006 - Wooden's 96th birthday.
To this day, Wooden retains the title Head Men's Basketball Coach Emeritus at UCLA[6], and attends most home games.
On November 17, 2006, Wooden was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of five, along with Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Dean Smith and Dr. James Naismith, selected to represent the inaugural class[7].
Many would argue that subsequent UCLA coaches have been plagued by the success of Wooden. Wooden's heir at UCLA, Gene Bartow, went 28-5 in 1976 and lost in the national semi-finals, won 85.2% of his games (compared to Wooden's 80.8%) in two years, yet received death threats from unsatisfied UCLA fans. Wooden himself has often joked about being a victim of his own success, calling his successors on the phone and playfully identifying himself ominously as "we the alumni...". In his biography, Wooden recounts walking off the court after his last game coaching in 1975, having just won his tenth title, only to have a UCLA fan walk up and say, "Great win coach, this makes up for letting us down last year" (UCLA had lost in the semi-finals in 1974)[8]
Four coaches left UCLA in the nine years following Wooden, and none of the seven former UCLA coaches since Wooden have left the school on positive terms.
One former UCLA head coach, ESPN analyst Steve Lavin (fired from UCLA in 2003), has called this post-Wooden phenomenon a "pathology," and believes that every basketball coach will eventually be fired or forced out from UCLA.
UCLA Basketball went 20 years after Wooden's retirement before winning another national championship, finally hanging a banner again in 1995 under coach Jim Harrick. Harrick was terminated by UCLA for an NCAA violation 18 months later.
In 2006, Ben Howland led the team back to the national championship game for the first time since the 1995 title game. On April 3rd, John Wooden was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for "non-life-threatening" reasons. He was released to go home on April 14th and his daughter was quoted as saying her father was "doing well".
John Wooden's Seven Point Creed, given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school:
* Be true to yourself.
* Make each day your masterpiece.
* Help others.
* Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
* Make friendship a fine art.
* Build a shelter against a rainy day.
* Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Wooden also has authored a lecture and a book about the Pyramid of Success. The Pyramid of Success consists of philosophical building blocks for winning at basketball and at life. He is also the author of several other books about basketball and life.
John Wooden Quotes
* "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."
* "Be quick, but don't hurry."
* "Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
* "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."
* "Sports don't build character, they reveal it."
* "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
* "Don't mistake activity for achievement."
* "Goodness Gracious sakes alive."
* "The worst things you can do for the ones you love are things they could and should do for themselves."
* "You don't know our coach. He doesn't see color. He just sees ballplayers."
* "Little things make big things happen."
* "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
As a high school student, Wooden played in Indiana where he led the Martinsville High School team to the state championship finals for three consecutive years, winning the tournament in 1927. He was a three time All-State selection. After graduating in 1928 he entered Purdue University, where he was a three-time All-American guard and a member of Purdue's 1932 national championship team.[1] John Wooden was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern (1930-32) while at Purdue University. He was also selected for membership in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Wooden was nicknamed "The Indiana Rubber Man" for his suicidal dives on the hardcourt. He graduated from Purdue in 1932 with a degree in English, and later earned his Master's Degree at Indiana State Teacher's College (now Indiana State University) where he spent 1946-48 as athletic director and basketball coach.
After college, Wooden spent several years playing professionally with the Indianapolis Kautskys (later the Indianapolis Jets), Whiting Ciesar All-Americans, and Hammond Ciesar All-Americans while teaching and coaching in the high school ranks. During one 46 game stretch he made 134 consecutive free throws. He was named to the NBL's First Team for the 1937-38 season. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy where he gained the rank of lieutenant during World War II.
Wooden coached two years at Dayton High School in Kentucky. His first year at Dayton would be the only time he would have a losing record (6-11). After Dayton he returned to Indiana, teaching English and coaching basketball at South Bend Central High School until entering the Armed Forces. His high school coaching record was 218-42.
After the war, Wooden coached at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1946 to 1948, succeeding his high school coach, Glenn Curtis, who became head coach of the professional Detroit Falcons. Wooden also coached baseball and served as athletic director. In 1947, Wooden's basketball team won the conference title and received an invitation to the NAIB National Tournament in Kansas City. Wooden refused the invitation citing the NAIB's policy banning African American players. A member on the Indiana State Sycamores' team was Clarence Walker, an African-American athlete from East Chicago, Indiana. In 1948 the NAIB changed this policy and Wooden guided his team to the NAIB final, losing to Louisville. That year, Walker became the first African-American to play in any post-season intercollegiate basketball tournament. John Wooden was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame on February 3, 1984.
During his tenure with the Bruins, Wooden became known as the “Wizard of Westwood” and gained lasting fame with UCLA by winning 665 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles during his last 12 seasons, including 7 in a row from 1967 to 1973. His UCLA teams also had a record winning streak of 88 games, four perfect 30-0 seasons, and won 38 straight games in NCAA Tournaments. In 1967 he was named the the Henry Iba Award USBWA College Basketball Coach of the Year. In 1972, he received Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. Wooden coached his final game in Pauley Pavilion March 1st, 1975 in a 93-59 victory over Stanford. Four weeks later he would surprisingly announce his retirement following a 75-74 NCAA semi-final victory, over Louisville, and before his 10th national championship game victory, over Kentucky.
UCLA had actually been Wooden's second choice for a coaching position in 1948. He had also been pursued for the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota, and it was his and wife Nell's (whom he was married to for 53 years until her death in 1985) desire to remain in the Midwest. But inclement weather in Minnesota prevented Wooden from receiving the scheduled phone offer from the Golden Gophers. Thinking they had lost interest, Wooden accepted the head coaching job with the Bruins instead. Officials from the University of Minnesota contacted Wooden right after he accepted the position at UCLA but declined their offer because he had given his word to the Bruins.
Year Record Final Opponent Final Score Notes
1964 30-0 Duke 98-83 John Wooden gets his first national title in his seventeenth season at UCLA. Walt Hazzard stars for UCLA as the Bruins easily defeat Duke.
1965 28-2 Michigan 91-80 UCLA becomes one of the few schools to win two in a row. All-American Gail Goodrich stars for the Bruins as they upend Michigan and Cazzie Russell.
1967 30-0 Dayton 79-64 The start of the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) era. Unranked Dayton and Don May are no match for UCLA in title game.
1968 29-1 North Carolina 78-55 UCLA's 47 game winning streak came to an end in January when the Bruins were beaten by Houston in the Astrodome 71-69. In a rematch in the NCAA semi-finals, UCLA won 101-69. The UCLA Bruins become the only team to win consecutive NCAA championships twice.
1969 29-1 Purdue 92-72 UCLA becomes the only school to win three NCAA Basketball Championships in a row. Rick Mount of Purdue (Wooden's alma mater) is no match for Lew Alcindor as he takes a triple crown. Wooden becomes the first coach to win 5 NCAA championships.
1970 28-2 Jacksonville 80-69 Even with the graduation of Alcindor (Abdul-Jabbar), UCLA wins again; its fourth in a row. Sidney Wicks outshines Artis Gilmore in title game.
1971 29-1 Villanova 68-62 Five in a row. Villanova hangs tough in title game, but is later disqualified when it is learned that Howard Porter had signed a pro contract.
1972 30-0 Florida State 81-76 The start of the Bill Walton era. UCLA wins its sixth in a row. The Bruins have a rough time with Florida State and their great ball handler, Otto Petty.
1973 30-0 Memphis State 87-66 Seven in a row. Only team in history with back-to-back undefeated seasons. Bill Walton hits 21 of 22 field goal attempts and scores 44 points.
1975 28-3 Kentucky 92-85 Wooden ends his career with one final NCAA title. Coach Wooden announces his retirement during the post-game press conference of the semi-final game, and the UCLA players give him a going away present with a win over Kentucky.
The John Wooden era at UCLA is unrivaled in terms of national championships (the next-closest school, Kentucky, won 7 championships over a 50-year period; the next-winningest coach, Adolph Rupp, won four; Bob Knight and Mike Krzyzewski have three titles each) and undefeated seasons (Wooden had four; no other coach has more than one).
Since 1977, one of the four college basketball player of the year awards has been named the John R. Wooden Award.
Two annual doubleheader men's basketball events called the "John R. Wooden Classic"[2] and "The Wooden Tradition"[3] are held in Wooden's honor.
In 2003, UCLA dedicated the basketball court in Pauley Pavilion in honor of John and Nell Wooden. Wooden also has the gym at Martinsville High School and the student recreation center at UCLA named in his honor. Named the "Nell & John Wooden Court," Wooden asked for the change from the original proposal of the "John & Nell Wooden Court," insisting that his wife's name should come first.[4] In January 2007, UCLA announced that it was in the planning stages of renovating Pauley Pavilion, with the goal of opening the renovated facility on Wooden's 100th birthday, October 14, 2010.
December 18, 2005, Congressman Brad Sherman introduced a legislation that would rename a San Fernando Valley post office in honor of Wooden. The post office near Wooden's long-time home in Encino had already been named in 2002 for Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn. However, Coach Wooden's daughter, Nancy Muehlhausen, lives in nearby Reseda. On August 17, 2006, it was announced that President George W. Bush had signed the legislation[5] enacting Sherman's proposal into law. The post office at 7320 Reseda Boulevard was named the Coach John Wooden Post Office on October 14, 2006 - Wooden's 96th birthday.
To this day, Wooden retains the title Head Men's Basketball Coach Emeritus at UCLA[6], and attends most home games.
On November 17, 2006, Wooden was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of five, along with Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Dean Smith and Dr. James Naismith, selected to represent the inaugural class[7].
Many would argue that subsequent UCLA coaches have been plagued by the success of Wooden. Wooden's heir at UCLA, Gene Bartow, went 28-5 in 1976 and lost in the national semi-finals, won 85.2% of his games (compared to Wooden's 80.8%) in two years, yet received death threats from unsatisfied UCLA fans. Wooden himself has often joked about being a victim of his own success, calling his successors on the phone and playfully identifying himself ominously as "we the alumni...". In his biography, Wooden recounts walking off the court after his last game coaching in 1975, having just won his tenth title, only to have a UCLA fan walk up and say, "Great win coach, this makes up for letting us down last year" (UCLA had lost in the semi-finals in 1974)[8]
Four coaches left UCLA in the nine years following Wooden, and none of the seven former UCLA coaches since Wooden have left the school on positive terms.
One former UCLA head coach, ESPN analyst Steve Lavin (fired from UCLA in 2003), has called this post-Wooden phenomenon a "pathology," and believes that every basketball coach will eventually be fired or forced out from UCLA.
UCLA Basketball went 20 years after Wooden's retirement before winning another national championship, finally hanging a banner again in 1995 under coach Jim Harrick. Harrick was terminated by UCLA for an NCAA violation 18 months later.
In 2006, Ben Howland led the team back to the national championship game for the first time since the 1995 title game. On April 3rd, John Wooden was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for "non-life-threatening" reasons. He was released to go home on April 14th and his daughter was quoted as saying her father was "doing well".
John Wooden's Seven Point Creed, given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school:
* Be true to yourself.
* Make each day your masterpiece.
* Help others.
* Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
* Make friendship a fine art.
* Build a shelter against a rainy day.
* Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Wooden also has authored a lecture and a book about the Pyramid of Success. The Pyramid of Success consists of philosophical building blocks for winning at basketball and at life. He is also the author of several other books about basketball and life.
John Wooden Quotes
* "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."
* "Be quick, but don't hurry."
* "Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
* "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."
* "Sports don't build character, they reveal it."
* "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
* "Don't mistake activity for achievement."
* "Goodness Gracious sakes alive."
* "The worst things you can do for the ones you love are things they could and should do for themselves."
* "You don't know our coach. He doesn't see color. He just sees ballplayers."
* "Little things make big things happen."
* "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
History Of Memorial Days
History Of Memorial Days
Following the end of the Civil War, many communities set aside a day to mark the end of the war or as a memorial to those who had died. Some of the cities creating an early memorial day include Charleston, South Carolina; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Carbondale, Illinois; Columbus, Mississippi; many communities in Vermont; and some two dozen other cities and towns. These observances eventually coalesced around Decoration Day, honoring the Union dead, and the several Confederate Memorial Days.
According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.
The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.
General Logan had been impressed by the way the South honored their dead with a special day and decided the Union needed a similar day. Reportedly, Logan said that it was most fitting; that the ancients, especially the Greeks, had honored their dead, particularly their heroes, by chaplets of laurel and flowers, and that he intended to issue an order designating a day for decorating the grave of every soldier in the land, and if he could he would have made it a holiday.
Logan had been the principal speaker in a citywide memorial observation on April 29, 1866, at a cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois, an event that likely gave him the idea to make it a national holiday. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The tombs of fallen Union soldiers were decorated in remembrance of this day.
Many of the states of the U.S. South refused to celebrate Decoration Day, due to lingering hostility towards the Union Army and also because there were very few veterans of the Union Army who lived in the South. Many Southern States did not recognize Memorial Day until after World War I since many veterans of World War I were from the south, although they continued to have a separate Confederate Memorial Day, with the date varying from state to state. A notable exception was Columbus, Mississippi, which in its 1866 Decoration Day commemorated both the Union and Confederate casualties buried in its cemetery.
The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved four holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The holidays included Washington's Birthday (which evolved into Presidents' Day), Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971. After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply at the state level, all fifty states adopted the measure within a few years, although Veterans Day was eventually changed back to its traditional date. Ironically, most corporate businesses no longer close on Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and an increasing number are staying open on President's Day as well. The holiday has endured as one where most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season".
Given its origins in the American Civil War, Memorial Day is not a holiday outside the U.S.. Countries of the Commonwealth, as well as France and Belgium, honor members of the military who died in war on or around Remembrance Day (November 11), which has its origin in World War I. The U.S. uses that date as Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day) and honors all veterans, living and dead. In Ireland, the National Day of Commemoration commemorates all Irish men and women who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations.
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