The Refresh Orlando Heirs

As consumers upgrade their computers and laptops and are discovering the convenience of wireless computing, they may also be opening themselves up to attacks from random hackers. If you have a home network and it has wireless capabilities one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself, your computers and most importantly your data, is to secure your network. You may think you are doing a good thing leaving your wireless network open for your neighbors to use, but you may also be allowing people to use your network to download pirated music or movies (which you will be responsible for), send unsolicited commercial email (aka spam) or launch viruses.

Securing your network is fairly easy and can be done by just about anyone, even if you aren’t computer savvy. If you are using a laptop you may want to connect your computer via ethernet cable to your router, while you are making the configuration changes. The first thing you should do is log into your wireless router and change the administration password and username if possible. Leaving the default settings is like locking your door and hiding a key under the mat. Next you want to enable WEP (wireless equivalent privacy) security on your router. If your router has 128 bit encryption use it, it’s more secure than 40 bit encryption. If you have an older router you may only have 40 bit encryption, 40 bit encryption is better than no encryption so if that’s all you have use it. You will need to enter the corresponding WEP encryption key on all of your computers that connect wirelessly. Reboot the router and verify you can still connect with the network cable removed. It would be easier to make all of the changes at once and the reboot, but if you make a mistake doing it step by step helps you find your mistakes easier.

The next step is changing the SSID (Service Set Identifier). The first thing you should do is change the name from its default setting. If your router lets you disable the SSID broadcast you should. Again make the corresponding changes on each of the computers that connect wirelessly and reboot the router. Once the router reboots make sure you can still connect to the network.

Your next step is to allow access via Mac addresses. Every computer has a unique Mac address that looks like 0A-3C-2A-55-E4-A0. Get all of the MAC addresses of all of the computers that connect wirelessly and restrict access on the router to only those Mac addresses. Reboot the router and verify you can still connect.

While these tips won’t keep out sophisticated professional hackers they will keep out casual snoopers. Lastly on each computer make sure you are sharing only the folders that you want other people to be able to see.

© Computers.6ln.com, All Rights Reserved.

Jim Faller is an author for http://computers.6ln.com which has information about computer security, viruses, spyware, data recovery and backups

At 50, I decided to revisit the Carlos Castaneda Don Juan adventure series. I had delved into the Yaqui way in my 20’s, but now Don Juan seemed to call to me from the bookshelves and I could sense that immersion was near. I checked out Another Reality from the library, and a few days later, a friend dumped the next four books of the series in my lap from a garage sale…a pretty obvious confirmation.

After a several weeks of intimate study of the material, I began to wonder if there was going to be an embodiment of a sorcerer/teacher showing up in my life. The crows were swirling and squawking, squirrels were coming up to my feet, and the wind had a funny twist to it. All signs seemed to portend an arrival of some sort, so I was on the lookout.

Then appeared Frank Coppieters. It was as a result of a conversation about Reiki with Shay, who had been a student of Frank’s. It just so happened Frank was having a shamanic gathering at his studio, and so we went, partly because Shay wanted to renew her connection, and partly because she felt I needed to meet him. The kicker was he used drumming as part of his gatherings. I am a professional drummer myself. This was certainly getting interesting!

The experience was fabulous. Frank was socially highly gracious, but when we went into his “light shamanic trance,” as he calls it, he was positively otherworldly. His primal vocalizations conjured images of mystical worlds and cosmic places. And with the hypnotic drumming accompaniment, punctuated with an array of bell and rattle sounds, I was whisked away on a magic carpet ride.

The two-and-a-half-hour session seemed like 15 minutes, and the time distortion continued as I found myself driving and arriving home in what seemed like moments.

I reconnected with Frank again for a personal shamanic session, and was so blown away, I asked if he would be open to some freelance journalistic coverage. He was all game, and I sat with him for 90 minutes, covering his background and how he came to do what he was doing.

Frank’s approach to his particular brand of shamanism had its roots in experimental theater. During his tenureship at the University of Antwerp, he had the good fortune of meeting up with Jerzy Grotowski, considered one of the most influential forces in fringe theater. He also was a bit of a shaman, absorbed with the concept of “ritualistic theatre,” where the audience becomes an active participant in improvisation by the actors. Later, one of Frank’s students decided to do his master’s thesis on the work of Carlos Castaneda, which gave Frank the opportunity to read all of Castaneda’s works. The focus ended up leading to a meeting with a real-live shaman.

Frank relates, “I did end up with what I would call a personal teacher–Joska Soos is his name, from Hungary. So he’s the one that I have worked most with and whose presence I feel the most when I do my work. I’ve also studied with other lineages and other teachers over the years. But Joska himself came from a shamanic lineage. In Hungary there are apparently 108 clans, and one clan is the shamanic clan. They are called the Bacsa. So he was born into the clan, and was taught from when he was a kid of five or six by the local blacksmith, who was a shaman, which is a typical shamanic profession, you know–dealing with metal and fire and all that. Apparently he was a great shaman–his name was Tomas Bacsi. Joska was born as a shaman with the cowl [a birth cowl: layer of skin over the face traditionally a mystical sign of extraordinary psychic powers. The skin must be surgically removed]. It was meeting Joska that had the biggest impact on me of remembering. There was this immediate shock that I seem to know this. It seems to invoke something in me that is so profound. I couldn’t not see Joska for a while. I had to go there every week. I just jumped on the train and every week I was there–very faithful. But I had no idea that I myself would do that work one day. That was then still so foreign from my own way of manifesting myself in the world.”

Frank says it took him eight to nine years to comfortably make the transition from “daily rational awareness” to shamanic awareness. “There was no longer a battle inside my own mind about that,” Frank says. “It was just like two aspects of the world as I knew it, and of parts of myself–the way I knew myself to be.”

I asked now, as a full-time shaman, if he was in shamanic consciousness all the time. “Oh, no, it would be too draining. It is very intense work. In fact, I consider normal daily consciousness as a break from the shaman work.” Frank stressed the need for balance between the types of consciousness, with that balance making both more meaningful and multi-dimensional.

Visit Frank on the web at www.livinglightcenter.com, where he lists his upcoming events and workshops.

GRAPHICS/LINKS: http://www.subtleenergysolutions.com/newsletter-frankcoppieters.html

About the Author

Boyd is the webmaster of www.subtleenergysolutions.com and the newsletter writer for that site. He enjoys a wide range of experience both in the ways of the internet, alternative health, environmental issues, and in freelance writing. An active, professional drummer, Boyd performs in the Portland area with several area blues and R&B bands. Boyd is also an avid, daily practicing Bikram Yoga student.

Whether it’s the word processor, spreadsheet, or
financial package that isn’t working, most people do not know
that Microsoft Windows XP has a built in feature that just may
come and save the day. That feature is called “System Restore.”

Basically, System Restore is like a little hound that runs behind
the scenes taking “snapshots” of various parts of the Microsoft
Windows XP operating system. So, if a part of Microsoft Windows
XP stops working one day, the System Restore utility is able to
reference one of the “snapshots” it took and restore your system
from a previous day (a day when your computer worked). It’s kind
of like going back in time to a day when your computer worked.
All your current data (Microsoft Word files, etc.) are still
retained, so you don’t have to worry about losing any present day
files.

In order to restore your computer just follow these simple
steps:

1. Close any open programs.

2. Click on the Windows “Start” button (normally located on the bottom of your computer desktop)

3. Click on “All Programs”

4. Click on “Accessories”

5. Click on “System Tools”

6. Then click on “System Restore”

7. At this point the System Restore wizard will launch. You will have two options:

a. “Restore my system from an earlier date”

b. “Create a system restore point”

If you just need to restore your system and get it working
correctly again, just select option “a” and click “Next.”

8. On this screen you can select a date from the calendar that
you would like to try and restore from. So, if you knew that your
computer worked fine two days ago, just pick that date on the
calendar and click “Next.”

9. The next screen is the confirmation window. Just verify the
information on the screen and click “Next.” Windows XP will then
reboot and try to restore your system with the settings from the
date you selected.

The System Restore process can take anywhere from 10 to 30
minutes depending on how much reconfiguration Windows XP needs to
do and how fast of a PC you have. When System Restore is done, a
screen will popup with the results of the restore. If it was
successful, you can then log into the system and start using the
computer again. Any quirky issues that you were having are now
hopefully gone.

Now, on step 7b above, I mentioned the “Create a system restore
point” option. This option is for when you want to force Windows
XP to take a snapshot of your system just before you install a
program or alter any system settings that you are not sure of. It
is like a safety net for when you install any internet programs
(sometimes riddled with spyware) or system drivers (video, audio,
etc). If you want to revert back to a virgin state just create a
restore point “before” installing any software. This way, if your
machine starts acting weird, you can just restore your settings
from the selected point.

With a little practice, the System Restore utility is easy to use
and a great way to help ensure the safety of your computer.

Cell Phones have become a mainstay for every earthling. Right from 8 to 80 this has become a part and parcel of every day life. Cell Phone manufacturers understand this and have come up with clever ideas to make it Hip as well as functional. Have you seen the “Do you hear me now…” advertisement? Are they really going to do that type of testing everywhere at different points in time. The signals are really dependent on how near you are to the tower. This along with how good is the equipment you use dictates voice quality. Not all phones are made alike. Manufacturers want to include a differentiation factor to the high end models hence they put in all their high profile research results in the high end model. This includes the higher quality of reception.

For the folks who cannot yet upgrade to the high end equipment, “Shout Out – Listen Intensely” is an everyday mantra. They have lower signal strength and they start hearing the person at ghost whispers. “Make life a little Simple folks”. One of the hot selling items in market today is the Cell Phone Boosters. These products advertise to solve the “Shout Out – Listen Intensely” problem. These have a simple sticker that fits into the battery compartment and claim to improve the signal strength. They are able to amplify the signals and make the cell phones receive better signals than they would with the default antenna. I have seen many folks who agree or disagree to the product’s claim. The jury is still out there. Except for some small research findings that suggest they do help it is left to the cell phone user to judge whether they help or not. The doubter’s main question is if it was so simple a sticker with a printed circuit why the cell phone manufacturers are not including in all phones. The reason I am writing this article is raise doubt about the doubter’s logic. What if the manufacturers are adding this feature only to the high end Phone! Let me give an analogy adding a word saying an auction is featured is so simple in HTML but does EBAY offer this to every auction, they offer only to those who pay well.

The benefits are higher if the claim does work. All you need is one phone call with a good client when closing a deal and the signal gets weaker. Panic, lost deal, a cell phone booster might have helped. In doing some research the boosters work well in analog phones than the digital one. The research is inconclusive for digital models. The problem is, voice quality is largely dependent on the perception of a human mind. You might have heard of the MOS Factor way of calculating quality, I have not seen any numbers so far. Use the comment section to discuss about this cell phone boosters. In order to know if it really works or not the best way to find is to add one to your cell phone and test out. While we are at it, if you are a seller the current trend in promotional giveaway is a free booster with any product. You may want to try this marketing gig as well. In conclusion the booster’s benefits outweigh the doubt and cost to acquire one. May be they will help you when you wanted that “Special call” to finish without any signal problems.

Here is one place to find one.
Boost your cell phone signal fast with the Generation 2 cell phone antenna booster As Seen On Tv - goto cell-phone-antenna-booster-wholesale.com

Author does freelancing for many websites through the no fee free freelance website FreelanceFree.com.

I am addicted to technology. I will admit it without shame. My
coffee maker wakes me up with the rich aroma of home brewed
sweetness at the precise moment I stumble out of the shower and
my car comforts me at the end of a long day with the
self-adjusting lumbar support and air jets to cool or heat my
feet. I depend on technology to help me through my day. Gadgets,
gizmos and doohickeys decorate my life with an amazing array of
convenience not found in my parents’ age. Naturalists want me to
return to a simple way of life but I could not imagine myself in
an era as recent as twenty years ago without the technological
advances that we see today.

The progress that the medical field alone has made in the last
twenty years is amazing. I can now go to the store and buy a
drug that can reduce my swelling, alleviate my pain, and assuage
my fever in two simple, easy-on-the-stomach, gel caplets. I have
received vaccines against childhood diseases such as chicken
pox, measles, mumps and rubella. I have been taught over the
years not to let children eat lead-containing paint chips, not
to use asbestos in my home, or rub alcohol on infants to bring
down a fever. I can perform CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, and
basic first aid. My doctor can see my heart valves with an
ultrasound, diagnose my ailments with an Open MRI, and tell me
that my child does not have Down’s Syndrome by using a form of
gene-mapping. Also, if a problem ever arises that requires
surgery, forget the invasive procedures of yesteryear. The
techniques of microsurgery have become so refined and so common
that my father’s six-inch scar from his two kidney surgeries
would have been non-existent if performed just ten years later.

My vehicles have become much more posh and luxurious since I
have reached the age where I could own and operate a car. I can
choose from a list of options that include air conditioning,
power windows and locks, power and heated seats, heated mirrors,
and self-tinting rearview mirrors, Global Positioning Systems,
keyless entry, CD/cassette player, TV with a VCR/DVD player, and
even A/C outlets to plug in my portable hair dryer and my
laptop. Also, today’s sedan can save my hard earned money by
averaging over 30 miles-per-gallon on the highway even while all
these options are running at full blast. My little portable home
also includes space-age tinted windows that slow the baking
process of the black interior in the hot sun and more nooks and
crannies for storage than my new closet organizer.

Automobile manufacturers are also seeking to ensure my peace of
mind. The 2003 model vehicles are boasting dual front airbags,
canopy airbags that fall from the ceiling upon impact, and more
durable frames with more efficient crumple zones all meant to
guard my family and me against our companion drivers. If an
accident does occur, the OnStar system will automatically notify
the local police and medics of my position while calling the
cell phone of my choice to check on my health and condition.
Also included with OnStar is a roadside assistance service that
will send a handy man to change my flat, free my keys from
inside the locked car, jump start my car after I have left the
light on the vanity mirror on all day, and tell me that my
self-inflicted acts of stupidity are perfectly acceptable as
long as I continue to pay their monthly fee.

Once I arrive home, a plethora of devices await to provide and
enhance my comfort and ensure convenience for my daily
activities. I can stay connected with my cell phone, personal
computer, email, Internet, pager, and my very own Palm Pilot. My
central heating and air keeps the house at a constant 72
degrees. I am never bored while connected to the Internet 24
hours a day and if I do reach the ends of the net, I always have
my Digital Cable TV and a Nintendo 64. My tennis shoes are
engineered to make my jumps higher, my running faster, and my
back hurt less. My dishwasher scrubs even the nastiest dishes
that are caked with microwaved-on food, while my self-scooping
litter box cleans up after my cats.

I try to imagine myself staying at home without the ease that my
toys and appliances bring. I would start my morning by brewing
my coffee in a percolator and watching it to ensure the gas
flame did not burn the bottom of the pot. Once this was
completed, I would go take my lukewarm shower and get dressed in
my freshly starched and ironed clothing. Once I was ready for
work, I would go crank the Chevy and drive it to the gas
station. After it was full, I would head to work fifty miles
away. To complete a hard day at the office, I would massage the
cramps out of my hand so that I could put down the pencil I have
been tallying numbers with all day and walk out to that blasted
Chevrolet. I would have to remember to take off my suit jacket
so that I don’t fry in the infernal Atlanta heat and smog on the
way home. Finally, I would get home and pull off my high heels.
I would start boiling the water and turn on the oven so that I
can cook dinner. For the cats, they could live for another day
if I don’t scoop their box. Somehow, I am not overcome with
nostalgia and I manage to shake myself out of my daydream.

After all, we do live in an era of convenience. Our tools and
toys help us to achieve goals that a nation of over-achievers
has set for us by giving us more time to work. However, I don’t
have to worry about all this convenience making me fat and lazy.
I have an exercise machine to help me avoid that.

Millions of Americans use credit cards, take out money from
savings and checking accounts, write checks, and open new bank
accounts everyday. By completing these everyday tasks, many
Americans put themselves at risk for identity theft. However,
there are many steps that one can take to protect oneself from
being an identity theft victim. In addition, knowing how an
identity thief gets his or her information will allow a person
to be safer.

How Do Thieves Get Their Information?

An identity thief can do many things to retrieve things like
your Social Security Number, and credit card number. Some
thieves steal mail, which often has bank statements and credit
card numbers. Thieves may get information from an institution or
business by stealing records while they are on the job. Some
thieves use false advertising to get victims to give out their
credit card numbers over the phone. Thieves can also implement a
process known as “skimming,” This process is where a thief uses
a computer to track what buttons you pushed at an ATM machine.

How Do They Use the Information?

How an identity thief uses the personal information is a whole
different ballgame. Identity thieves may change account numbers,
or access all the money in your account electronically or
otherwise. Identity thieves may also open up various credit card
accounts and run up charges. Some identity thieves go so far as
top change the billing address for a credit card account, so
they can run up the bill, and it will be some time before you
realize it because the bills are being sent to a different
address. Some thieves get jobs, or file false tax returns using
someone else’s name and Social Security Number.

How To Protect Yourself

Now, all this identity theft seems mighty scary, but there are
many ways to protect yourself. It is very important to get rid
of all unnecessary documents. When throwing out bank statements,
or anything with personal information on it, many people make
use of paper shredders. This is a very good idea. Rarely give
your credit card number out over the phone unless you are
positive that it is a trustworthy business, and even in that
case, exercise caution. Finally, keeping track of wallets,
purses, and any important documents is key to successfully
defending yourself from identity theft.

If identity theft does occur, there are many steps you can take
to make sure you are not harmed financially. Canceling a credit
card is the obvious choice. However, you can also put out a
“Fraud Alert” on your credit card. This will allow you to review
your credit card statements as much as you like. You can look
for any strange purchases, or account openings, or anything out
of the ordinary. The two types of alert are “initial alert” (90
days) and “extended alert” (seven years). Other steps you can
take are closing accounts that you believe have been tampered
with. You can also notify the police.

Conclusion

Identity Theft is a serious crime, with serious consequences.
However, if you take precautions, and know what to do in the
event of identity theft, you will be safer. The key to
protecting yourself is knowing what you’re up against.

Stress in small doses, and linked to positive events, helps you be more productive, active and happier. However, when stress reaches a certain level, it starts to have adverse effects. Adrenalin floods the body, breathing becomes shallower, your thoughts become less clear - everything is framed in terms of fight-or-flight responses. If this state persists for extended periods of time, irreversible physical damage starts to happen in your body - including the brain.

Some sources of stress you can avoid, but many you unfortunately can’t. However, you can make sure that you regularly and actively reduce your stress level, so that you don’t suffer its adverse consequences.

The first key to stress management is good sleep. Yes, it does make a difference: If you sleep enough, you will be able to better handle things that come your way, and your stress response will be muted. So make sleep one of your priorities, and avoid late nights at work as much as possible.

The second key is to weekly make an appointment with yourself for at least a couple hours a week, devoted to relaxation. It can be going to the gym, practicing a sport you love, getting a massage (on this subject, see this month’s spotlight), sit down and read an entertaining book, do some knitting, whatever works for you. The key is that this is an activity that you enjoy, that you practice on your own (i.e. no co-workers to talk business while having a tennis game, no children interrupting you while you are reading your book, etc.) and that makes you feel refreshed once you’re done.

The third key is to make sure to have mini de-stressing sessions throughout the day. It can be as easy as taking a few minutes to breathe deeply; stand up and do a few stretching moves; get out and walk around the block; or use some of the de-stressing tools on the market (see This Month’s Product for examples). Ideally, experts recommend to take a 3-to-5-minute break every hour. It is especially important if you spend most of the day at a desk, and your body is stressed by the mere fact of not being able to move freely for hours in a row. I am in no way, shape or form a proponent of smoking (I don’t smoke, don’t like the smell of smoke, and definitely don’t want you to suffer the side-effects and consequences of smoking), but the cigarette breaks were good in the sense that they provided those necessary breaks both body and mind. So introduce your own non-smoking breaks in your day!

Now is your time to plan: Open your calendar, and figure out when you can include an hour or two of relaxation time in your week, every week until the end of the year. Then ask yourself the following questions: How will you organize your breaks during the day? When can you take a 10-minute break? Which relaxation exercises do you want to focus on?

Karin Vibe-Rheymer-Stewart, Ph.D., helps busy women reclaim time and achieve work/life balance through whole-life time management, in other words everything that affects your use of time. She has helped numerous clients find balance and peace of mind, through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, seminars and talks. For free resources and to contact her, go to http://www.superwomanrelief.com.

“…And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9: 27)

It has been said that the best deception Satan has accomplished is making people believe that he and Hell do not exist. People are quick to say, “I don’t believe in Hell. How could a God of love send people to Hell? I’m a good person.” That is a fallacy of inverse reasoning. What people fail to understand is that God doesn’t send anyone to Hell—people who reject Christ as their Savior unknowingly choose a path paved directly to Hell.

In the Bible, there are countless references made to Hell. The most descriptive one is given by Christ discussing the parable of the rich man and Lazarus:

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment’ (Luke 16: 22-28).

In reading this passage, one is aware that in Hell, the rich man had all of his five senses. Even in Hell, his eternal spirit remembered his brothers and Lazarus. Hell is a literal place and once the soul is there nothing can be done, for the judgment has been rendered. Although the rich man begged Abraham for mercy, Abraham was unable to help him even if he wanted to. Hell is a place of eternal torment. Forever. In Hell, those who do not accept Christ will be fully conscious of

Remorse and despair.

Eternal desire for the good that they know has damned their souls.

Memory of lost opportunities in life that could have caused them to be redeemed.

Regret over deeds committed.

Absolute hopelessness of escape from eternal misery.

Eternal separation from loved ones and of the love of God.

Ever deepening remorse for not listening to the Word of God and for not spending their time, talents, and money to spread it, so that many others could escape torment (Dakes Annotated Bible)

The Bible gives clear details on the location of Hell. Hell is located in the lower parts of the earth. In describing His upcoming conquer over death and taking the keys of Hades from Satan, Christ prophesied, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40). Also, Apostle Paul confirms Hell’s location as in the lower parts of earth. “But He ascended? Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from the heights of heaven into the depths, the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest)” (Ephesians 4: 9-10).

It may seem pointless to believe in something that is not currently affecting reality. However, tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. In her book, A Divine Revelation of Hell, Mary K. Baxter describes her experiences of going to Hell. In one instance, she witnessed: “The old woman cried out to Jesus, Lord Jesus, please forgive me now. I’m sorry that I didn’t repent while I was on earth. With great sobs she cried out to Jesus, If only I had repented before it was too late! Lord, help me out here. I will serve You. I will be good. Haven’t I suffered enough? Why did I wait until too late? Oh, why did I wait until your Spirit quit striving with me? Jesus said to her, You had chance after chance to repent and serve Me. Sadness was written all over Jesus’ face as we walked away.” After her terrifying experiences Baxter commissioned those who read her book to repent of all their sins and ask Jesus to save them.

There are more documented cases of people going to Hell before being resuscitated back to life. Cardiologist, Dr. Maurice Rawlings documented in his book, Beyond Death’s Door, what his patients said during and after he resuscitated them back to life. The most life-altering story, which personally changed Dr. Rawlings life, mentions a forty-eight year old white male who dropped dead from cardiac arrest: “Each time he regained heartbeat and respiration, the patient screamed, I am in hell! The patient was terrified and pleaded with me to help him. I was scared to death. In fact, this episode literally scared the hell out of me! It terrified me enough to write this book. Then still another strange thing happened. He said, Don’t you understand? I am in hell. Each time you quit I go back to hell! Don’t let me go back to hell!” In addition, Rawlings recounts Kenneth Hagins’s experience.

Mr. Hagin wrote, “My spirit departed from my body…I went down, down, down, until the lights of the earth faded away…The further down I went the blacker it became, until it was all blackness. I could not have seen my hand if it had been one inch in front of my eyes. The further down I went, the more stifling it was and the hotter it was. Finally, way down below me, I could see lights flickering on the walls of the caverns of the damned. They were caused by the fires of hell. The giant orb of flame, white crested, pulled me…drew me like a magnet draws metal unto itself. I did not want to go! I did not walk, but just as metal jumps to magnet, my spirit was drawn to that place. I could not take my eyes off it. The heat beat me in the face. Many years have now gone by, and yet I can see it with my eyes just as I saw it then. It is just as fresh in my memory as though it happened last night…” Hagin’s experience led him to a life of ministry to share his story with others.

There is a controversy among people who don’t believe in Jesus, saying once they died and were brought back to life, they all saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Did you know that Satan has the ability to appear as an angel? “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Jesus. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2nd Corinthians 11:13-14). Remember, Satan is Father of lies; his greatest deception is making people believe that there is no need to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ—our only mediator between God.

There have been both pleasant and terrifying accounts of near-death experiences. People who went to heaven described seeing their past loved ones, an over-whelming feeling of love, and a place of indescribable beauty. For as 1st Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of the man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Many followers of Christ who are near-death have a serene, even anticipated feeling towards death—knowing that their spirit and soul will return home to be with the Lord.

When a person dies, the soul (eternal being) will go to one of two places: Heaven or Hell. There are no in between places. Those who went to Hell have shared their experiences and were blessed have a second chance to accept Christ and not suffer eternity in agony. Once you take your last breath on this earth, you will not have an excuse for rejecting the truth. “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they have no excuse [when they stand before God at Judgment Day] (Rom. 1:19-20, The Living Bible). I ask that you don’t take that chance. Don’t gamble with your soul. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16: 26)

“…And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” You only have one opportunity. Read Romans 10:9 to obtain your soul insurance.

Finding the best cellular phone service deal can seem as frustrating and difficult as shopping for a new car. Nothing can be as vexing as trying to set up a new service plan that you’ll be locked into for two to three years of your life.

There are ways to get around all the headaches and stomach ulcers, though. Just follow these simple tips and just may be able to find the perfect cell phone plan for you.

First, ask around. Probably nine out of ten people that you know–maybe everybody you know!–has a cell phone and a plan. Talking with them about their plans will help you gauge which service plans offer the best deals and which offer the best service.

And don’t worry about people being secretive. Even coworkers, neighbors, and other people who don’t know you so well will be open about their cell phones usually.

If they’re having a hard time with theirs, they’ll want to vent. Or if they love their cell phone, they’ll want to brag about how smart they were in choosing it.

Either way, you’ll come out of it with a list of different providers and their pros and cons. Now to narrow this list down to find the best cellular phone service deal, you’ll need to do some research one your own.

Service plans and offers change monthly, if not daily, so even if you brother got a sweet deal a couple weeks ago, it may not still be available.

Plus, providers offer different plans depending on your location. You’ll need to call that service provider to find out.

Or go online. Many sites on the Internet offer services where you type in your address or zip code, and they provide a list of all the cell phone service providers in your area, as well as their offers, rates, and phones.

After only a few minutes on the Web, and a few conversations with friends, you could have your best cellular phone service deal.

Mike Long is the successful web publisher of Cell-Phone-SuperGuide.com providing valuable tips, advice, and info about a multitude of relevant topics including best cellular phone service deals.

Scrapbooking has quickly become a creative yet safe way to
preserve treasured photos and keepsakes. Scrapbooking can
increase the longevity of photos while at the same time
beautifully displaying life’s greatest moments to share with
future generations of family and friends.

Following are some simple steps and helpful hints for beginners
to make their first scrapbooking venture a success.

Collect photos. Put all photos into one place. Be sure to check
junk drawers, files, closets and old and new albums.

Organize. Organize all of the photos in the order they will be
displayed in the scrapbook. The most common way to organize is
chronological, but they can also be organized by events such as
holidays and vacations. Store them in archival quality photo
boxes.

Acid-Free and Lignin-Free. Any decorative papers, stickers, pens
or scrapbooks used in scrapbooking must be acid-free and
lignin-free to keep photos safe and from turning brown with age.
Any adhesives used to adhere photos to scrapbook pages must be
acid-free to prevent them from damaging and aging photos.

Shop. It is very easy to go overboard when purchasing
scrapbooking supplies for the first time. Buy the basics before
anything else: a scrapbook and page protectors, colored
cardstock, patterned paper, a few colored pens, decorative
scissors and adhesive. Stickers, diecuts or other embellishments
can be added, but beautiful layouts are possible without them if
the budget is tight.

Layout. The first page of a scrapbook should be reserved as a
title page. The next two-page spread is where to begin. Each
spread should have a theme. Decide what pictures to display and
lay them out.

Crop. If the background of a photo is not important, the photo
can be cropped (cut) in a shape so the focus is on the subject.
When cropping, use plain scissors as opposed to decorative ones,
which tend to take the viewer’s eye away from the photo.

Mat. After deciding on a layout, adhere all the photos, paper
and stickers to the scrapbook page using a roll-on adhesive.
Think of a catchy title and apply it to the page.

Journal. Journaling is one of the most important parts of
scrapbooking. Write about what is happening in the photos.
Include names and dates and explain what funny things happened.

With experience, scrapbooking can be a fun and relaxing hobby.
Not only will great-great-grandchildren see what their
relatives’ lives were like, but they will also see the
creativity that runs in the family.

Adam Daniels offers a Free Video on How To Scrapbook For Fun and Profit at http://www.ScrapbookProfit.com/