So there's this video going around the internet called, "Where the Hell is Matt." A guy doing a wonderful crazy dance all over the world. He seems to be dancing non-stop, from Toronto to Timbuktu, inspiring the locals to join in, backed by a soundtrack for a SiSoMo (Sight Sound and Motion) experience that could rekindle your belief in the human race. I Googled Matt's profile. Learned that Stride Gum sponsored his video.

Stride Gum? Never heard of it. I linked to the Stride Gum web site, where there was a whole bunch of online content. Then something funny happened. I didn't have a lot of time. So I went first to a couple of Stride Gum TV spots posted on the site. Intuitively I knew those would be the QUICKEST way to get what Stride Gum is all about.

Those spots were good! Funny, entertaining, 30-second stories all built around the drama of the product. Stride Gum has cool flavors, and the taste lasts so long, Stride has to send out swat teams to force non-stop chewers to spit out the gum, so Stride can stay in business. Thanks for letting me know, 30-second spot! I must try some Stride Gum when I'm next in the States.

So here's the point. 30-second spots aren't inherently EVIL. In fact, they have one undeniable virtue. Their creators have fine-tuned the art of getting across a product or brand story in an incredibly short amount of time. And in the best examples of the craft, they tell that story in a way that delights, entertains and rewards viewers for their 30-second investment. No offense to the public relations profession, but show me a PR writer who can do that! The 30-second spot still works incredibly well, when it's well done, well integrated into a bigger whole, and when I decide, though connections I initiate, the terms on which I want to watch.

Many have said it - Kevin Roberts and Shel Holtz among others -- and to them I add my voice. We're living in the communications age of and-and, not either-or. The "cool" viral video of Matt's inspired global dance, hand in hand with the "traditional" 30-second, product-focused spot. Only now I'm invited, not forced, to watch it. The 30-second spot isn't dead. It just needed to find a better way to behave socially.

If you are suffering from gallstones, you have probably already been recommended gallbladder surgery. Most doctors do not think twice about recommending gallbladder surgery. In fact, this type of surgery is one of the most common surgeries in America with over a half a million procedures done each year.

However, as research has begun to venture into the natural health and remedies. Many doctors and researchers are scratching their heads at how effective natural gallstones treatments can be. In fact, many people are now flushing their gallstones without any surgical procedure.

And saving thousands of dollars in the process!

Natural Health and Gallstones

You might be thinking that natural health is only for hippies. Most people have false opinions about natural health and do not realize that even doctors use some alternative treatments to help fight various ailments.

Fact! Whenever your doctor recommends drinking plenty of fluids (water). They are suggesting a simple natural health remedy that holistically helps the body fight against disease.

And fortunately, water is not the only natural health secret! In the case of gallstones, you can use a simple gallbladder or liver flush to pass your stones. You might also want to watch your diet or lifestyle that could be hurting your health. You may even be vitamin deficient. Whatever the case, here are some things you should know about a simple gallstones treatment.

5 Ways to Flush Gallstones

1. A good place to start is to begin to supplement vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is used by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids. With less cholesterol and more acid, the risk of redeveloping more gallstones is greatly decreased. This vitamin will also boost your immune system.

2. You should also learn simple ways to prevent future gallstones from developing. Because gallstones are typically cholesterol based, you should begin to keep a close eye on your diet. You should avoid high fattening foods and high cholesterol foods. This Gallstones Remedy Report goes into extensive detail about your new diet.

3. Along with foods to avoid! You should also eat foods with high fiber content because its flushing capability. We recommend eating about 7 fruits or vegetables a day which will keep you regular and cleansed out. The fiber will naturally flush unneeded cholesterol and keep your gallbladder cleansed.

4. Flush your gallbladder and liver! Most natural health doctors recommend a gallbladder and liver flush every year. These flushes will allow your body to pass toxins, impurities, pollutants, cholesterol and plaque which can be stored in your gallbladder and liver. Most flushes last only a day and can usually pass the gallstone by the next day. A detailed step by step flush treatment can be found in this Gallstones Remedy Report.

5. Dissolution Therapy! One treatment that is gaining popularity is called the oral dissolution therapy. Medication for the treatment will actually act as the acid found in bile and naturally dissolve the gallstone. Unfortunately, the therapy could last for several months before showing results.

Pass Your Gallstones by Tomorrow

These five tips will hopefully make you aware that you can dissolve your gallstones and pass them effectively. Unfortunately, most people naively remove their gallbladder only to regret it 15 years down the road. But if you are willing to be proactive (for at least one day), you can naturally dissolve and pass your gallstones with a simple gallstones treatment.

Take a moment and visit our website and see how our 100% guaranteed Gallstones Remedy Report has helped thousands of people keep their gallbladder and flush their stones in less than 24 hours.

Gallstones Treatment

Researched! Guaranteed! Natural! Joe Barton and Barton Publishing offer 22 years of natural health expertise and thousands of hours in gallstone research to offer the only 100% guaranteed gallstones treatment.

Gallstones Treatment

How to Choose Healing Music
Kay Gardner

How is it that some music can lift our spirits? And how is it that other music can make us nervous and irritable, even physically ill? What is the power in music that can alter listeners on all levels - body, mind and spirit?

For the full article, click here.

Fact! It is reported that 1 and 10 Americans will deal with kidney stones at some point in their lives. If you are a male, your chances are even greater.

Fact! Most stones will pass out of your body without any help from a doctor. You have most likely already passed a kidney stone and didn't realize it.

Fact! Most doctors will recommend drinking plenty of water to pass your stones. Some will recommend an unneeded surgery.

Fact! Though water is very important, there are other kidney stone flushing tips you should know before you visit your doctor.

Natural Health and Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones and Natural Health are often associated with each other. Many natural health believers became awakened to natural health and remedies because of their success with it while being diagnosed with kidney stones.

The reason why so many people find success with kidney stones and natural health remedies is because kidney stones are typically caused because the body is not getting enough water (dehydration). As the body deals with the stress of dehydration, many functions begin to run inefficiently. In the case of renal calculi, your body is not able to flush itself effectively. Resulting in calcium based kidney stones!

Fortunately, you most likely do not need surgery to remedy your problem. The miraculous body will typically be able to heal or cure itself if running at 100%. Here are some simple tips to remember when trying to pass kidney stones.

How to Pass Kidney Stones

Most people want a 'magic pill' to cure their latest ailment but this is typically never the case with natural health remedies. You have kidney stones because your body is trying to tell you that you need to change something. In most cases, many our customers were not drinking the correct beverages, eating the right foods, not taking the correct vitamins or simple not taking care of their body.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent and treat kidney stones is water. Water naturally flushes the body and kidneys. Many stone sufferers are people who are not drinking enough water or live in hot, humid climates (often associated with dehydration). Therefore, the best thing you can do is go and get a tall glass of water and drink it down! Try to drink at least 12-14 glasses of water a day if you are dealing with kidney stones.

Another holistic tip would be to add lemons to your water. Lemons can give your water a little taste but can also give your body natural acids (citric acid) that have been shown to dissolve calcium based stones. We also suggest drinking fruit and vegetable juices because of citrates. Some of the newest research has shown that citrates reduce the amount of uric acid and can eliminate calcium deposits from the kidneys.

Finally, many people are not eating fruits and vegetables like they should. You should be eating at least 5-7 fruits or veggies because they provide your body with fiber. Fiber has been shown to flush your body and possibly your kidneys. You will notice more trips to the bathroom and feeling tons more healthy!

Flushing Your Kidney Stones by Tomorrow

These tips are an excellent way to start your natural treatment! If you are sick of dealing with the pain and would like to pass your kidney stones by tomorrow, please visit our How to Pass Kidney Stone website. Our latest research has shown that one specific secret acid (found in some beverages) can naturally dissolve kidney stones in hours.

If you are serious about your health and would like a guaranteed way to pass kidney stones, please visit our site today!

Pass Kidney Stones Naturally

Guaranteed! Researched! Natural! Joe Barton and Barton Publishing combine 22 years of natural health expertise to offer you the best researched natural remedy for kidney stones. Learn how to pass kidney stones by tomorrow,

How to Pass Kidney Stones

"There is never enough food to feed a hungry soul."
—Gabriel Cousens, MD

Gabriel Cousens, holistic medical doctor and best-selling author, was recently interviewed on Janette Merrill’s Birthing Soul podcast about his newly released book, There is a Cure for Diabetes. The book follows Cousens’ specialties of live-food diet, natural and holistic approaches to health, and the intimate connection between mental, emotional and physical well being, and then applies them in a practical and effective approach to curing the pandemic of diabetes. He asserts that a mere twenty-one days of following the Tree of Life program described in the book can make significant progress in curing diabetes. This diet is more than a program; it is a lifestyle. As Merrill aptly puts it, “what you are telling people is that you have an option, it’s not a death sentence, diabetes… a quality of life beyond your imagination is [possible].”

In Cousens’ Birthing Soul podcast, he details many aspects of There is a Cure for Diabetes and the choices that it promotes. He touches on a variety of aspects including: how he became part of the live-food movement; the extent to which diabetes is affecting the world’s population; a general description of what the Tree of Life philosophy and lifestyle promote and include; a general history of live and raw food; and the big picture of this pandemic. He not only explores the crippling effects of diabetes in emotional, mental, and physical ways, but also explains how the threat of this disease reaches beyond its individual victims and to the global population as a whole. He also discusses the way in which the human actions that often result in diabetes affect the environment and other, non-human populations of the world.

Cousens’ approach is geared toward the root of the problem rather than toward its medical manifestations. “The essence is that you’ve got to connect to your soul… If you don’t connect with your soul what you’re doing is trying to feed your soul with food and there is never enough food to feed a hungry soul.” In particular, he emphasizes diabetes as a symptom of the ‘culture of death’ that must be cured. In exchange, the ‘Culture of Life’ must be seized in order for people to “fulfill [their] destiny which is to uplift the consciousness of the planet and also to uplift [one’s] own consciousness and therefore become one with the divine”… healing diabetes along the way.

The prescription of Cousens’ book— as well as his spoken words in this interview—is larger than a doctor’s diagnosis. “This is a social action, this isn’t about getting a few people in a private clinic… when we create a social thing about loving yourself, loving the planet, then it’s a social movement… I think we’re going to really touch on the healing of diabetes on a pandemic level.”

CLICK HERE to listen to Cousens' Birthing Soul podcast interview.
CLICK HERE to visit Cousens’ new Culture of Life web site, a social-spiritual media designed to promote conscious living and the transition from the culture of death to the Culture of Life.
CLICK HERE for more information about the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center.
CLICK HERE to learn more about There is a Cure for Diabetes.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (mo dern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just l ike the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Please read the following article, you will clearly see that there  are a serious conflict of interest by members of the Board of the North Carolina Animal Rabies Control Association who oversee the laws and use of Gas chambers in shelters.

One of the manufacturers of gas chambers in North Carolina is Dr. Ralph Houser, DVM

The very same Dr. Ralph Houser, DVM, a North Carolina resident and member of the state's Board of the North Carolina Animal Rabies Control Association.

If you feel this barbaric process of killing animals sickens you as much as it does me, please make your feelings known.

Explosion in North Carolina Gas Chamber

- Will the State Finally Ban Them?

"...I'm looking at the whole person..."

Holistic Psychiatrist and author, Dr. Hyla Cass discusses natural therapies for depression and other mental ailments. Read an excerpt from her book: Nutritional Approaches to Mental Health

Official Website: Hyla Cass, M.D., Natural Solutions for Body, Mind and Spirit

The following are my thoughts on a similar topic:

We are blessed.  Having the technology, time, and money to access the internet and view this post means that you are blessed.  I probably don't even have to convince you regarding how much you are blessed.  Just look at the clothes you're wearing, the things in your house, the fact that you have a roof over your head, the people in your life, etc.

As a result, there are a few different types of people.  There are those who don't even consider themselves blessed, in comparison to others, and have this insatiable desire for more.  These people don't feel like they have enough as it is, and are always thinking about what else they could buy.

On the other hand, there are those who consider themselves blessed, but still want more regardless.

We hear and read about all the people in the world who are suffering.  The fact that one child dies every five seconds from hunger related causes (that's 16 000 children everyday).  The fact that 12 million people have been orphaned by AIDS, across sub-Saharan Africa, by the end of 2005.  The fact that 10.1 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday in 2005.  And the fact that approximately 30 000 people go to bed hungry everyday.

Sure we read and hear about these facts, but is our heart moved? Are we compelled to act?  Maybe...maybe not.

I believe that if we do the following and make a paradigm shift in our thinking, our actions will follow suit:

We need to realize that God has blessed us with all that we have (not just material possessions, but relationships and experiences as well).  He has blessed us with it all so that we could bless others.  He didn't just bless us so that we could enjoy life and keep it all to ourselves.  He blessed us so that we could go out and be His hands and His feet.

Do you want to know how we can end extreme poverty (see Jeffery Sach's The End of Poverty)? It's not by praying that God drops money and rescues all those who are suffering.  BUT, it's by getting out of our seats, taking out our wallets, and giving to others what God has blessed us with.

In my personal experience, I have found that the more that I give, the more that God actually blesses me.  I believe God chooses to do this because he knows that I won't just spend all of the extra money on myself, but because he knows I will give it to others.

What are you doing with your money and time?

Check out the following links.  These are places that I actively give my money to:

• Compassion Canada
• World Vision
• Your Local Church
• Power to Change

Health Benefits From Aloe Vera Juice Or Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera Benefits For Heart Diseases

Holistic Aloe Vera Store Forever Living Product Health Benefits

Soundtrack to Life album by 7th films.

music therapy in the news:

Adena turns to music to reach those with mental health needs
Chillicothegazette
July 22, 2008

...The musical therapy concept is one that traces back to the writings of Aristotle and Plato. Most recently, the introduction of music as a healing influence began in the 20th century during World Wars I and II when musicians were brought to hospitals around the country to aid with the physical and emotional trauma of soldiers. The notable responses to music led doctors and nurses to request musicians as therapy for the healing and benefit of their patients.

What music therapy allows for those with mental health needs is the opportunity to explore personal feelings, make positive changes in mood and emotional states, have a sense of control over their life through successful experiences, practice problem solving, and resolve conflicts leading to stronger family and peer relationships. In addition, it provides an avenue for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.

For the full article, click here.

The decidely neighborhoodly feel of Wild Oats was complemented fairly naturally, if you will, by the 365 brand a la Whole Foods. It is amazing how seamlessly even private-label brands can assimilate with other stores following mergers and acquisitions.

We also encountered some really special brands. Some new. Some familiar. They all have something to teach us about a topic we touch on a few posts ago: It's better to be first than better.

Exhibit A: Pet Food

This brand takes it to an all new level. It says, "It's not about taste, it's not about health, it's not about all-natural ingredients. It's about wellness, Mr. and Mrs. Cat Owner. A holistic approach to food your cat deserves."

It's an "everyday" brand of cat food, but one that promises the all-around, no-compromise lifestyle your cat expects. After all, you expect to be able to "indulge" routinely on a moment's notice without having to sacrifice health or convenience.

Your feline friend should get the same treatment. Wellness cat food promises just that.

So for being the no-compromise brand of cat food for unpretentious, yet discerning kitties, Wellness wins the Get Your Kicks Award in the pet food category.

Exhibit B: Beverage

The market is flooded with tea of all varieties and brands nowadays, and teas promising medicinal and antioxidant effects are among the most popular.

So what is a brand of tea to do? Obviously "first" has been claimed long ago by Lipton, Nestea, Republic of Tea and HonestTea, among others.

The beauty of innovation is that one can be first by creating a category or sub-category, staking out a unique position and value proposition.

GT's Organic Raw Kombucha Muli-Green tea has established a convenient bottled, refrigerated tea for the serious imbiber determined to replenish and rejuvenate everything from digestion to immune system to healthy skin and hair.

It's all thanks to the power of a "handmade Chinese tea that is delicately cultured for 30 days. During this time, essential nutrients form like: Active Enzymes, Viable Probiotics, Amino Acids, Antioxidants and Polyphenols."

Those attributes appeal to tea and health aficionadoes, along with a price of $3.99 for 16 ounces that separates the serious from the casual. GT's Kombucha, you win for taking tea to a whole new level.

Exhibit C: Snack Food

This one is proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. For a long time, Terra was the first and only exotic vegetable chip.

Recently, the latest iteration of the health food craze has spawned other vegetable chips, along with regional chip-makers, kettle-cooked chips and other "gourmet" offerings.

This new bag of snacks from Terra is called Stripes and Blues. Just in time for the dog days of summer, it's a break from the brand's traditional taro chips and other mainstays. These chips are also seasoned with sea salt, leveraging another popular item. What's more, they have zero trans fat.

All this to say that the brand is always looking for brand-appropriate product line extensions to stay ahead of intruders into its market space.

Terra Stripes and Blues demonstrate that even if you're first, you still have to stay fresh. So they're the King of the Road in snacks.

Why are Cholesterol Drugs Being Recommended for 8 Year Olds?

For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that some children as young as 8 should be given cholesterol-lowering drugs to ward off future heart problems.

Dr. Stephen Daniels, who is on the academy's nutrition committee, says the new advice is based on mounting evidence that damage leading to heart disease, the nation's leading killer, begins early in life. The drug treatments would be targeted at kids at least 8 years old who have too much LDL, or "bad," cholesterol along with other risky factors, including obesity and high blood pressure.

Cholesterol screening is also now being recommended for kids with a family history of high cholesterol and those who are overweight, obese or have other heart disease risk factors. Screening should take place after age 2 but no later than age 10, according to the AAP.

Sources:

• ABC News July 7, 2008

• Pediatrics July 2008, Vol. 122 No. 1, pp. 198-208

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It never ceases to amaze me just how far the drug companies push the limit of what they can get away with. Simply an absolutely amazing testimony to the effectiveness of their brainwashing and manipulation by investing in key non-scrupulous professionals and organizations. Every few years, the number of people who “need” cholesterol-lowering (statin) drugs is suddenly expanded. At this rate, it won’t be very long before someone suggests that everyone take them, cradle to grave. The companies that make the drugs would certainly approve of that idea. Although the AAP maintains that these new guidelines have nothing to do with any commercial entities, the New York Times uncovered some pretty glaring connections. For starters, the AAP has received contributions from several drug makers, including: $433,000 from Merck $835,250 from Abbott Laboratories’ Ross Product Division $216,000 from the Bristol-Myers Squibb company Mead Johnson Nutritionals Meanwhile, several members of AAP’s nutrition committee, which developed the new guidelines, also have ties to drug makers: Dr. Stephen Daniels has consulted for Merck and Abbott Laboratories (although not on cholesterol drugs) Dr. Nicolas Stettler of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia worked on clinical trials for Merck’s Mevacor and a failed Pfizer cholesterol drug Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chief of neonatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, has listed financial relationships with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Mead Johnson unit, Abbott’s Ross Products and Dey Laboratories, which is affiliated with Merck Cholesterol-lowering drugs are already the most used prescription drugs in the United States, so their makers really didn’t need to target the youngest members of society to increase their bottom lines, but they did anyway. Five cholesterol drugs have already been approved for kids with genetic cholesterol disorders: Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Pravachol Pfizer’s Lipitor Merck’s Zocor and Mevacor Novartis’s Lescol But the new guidelines push it even beyond kids with a genetic disorder; they also include children who have high “bad” cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure and other factors. Why Cholesterol Drugs are Bad for You … and Even Worse for Your Kids You should know that among the many dangers of statin drugs is an increased risk of heart disease. This is because patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which leads to fatigue, muscle weakness, soreness and, ironically, heart failure. The FDA has had a petition to label statin packages with a warning about statin-induced CoQ10 depletion for years, but nothing has been done about it. Some of the other risks of statin drugs include: Weakness Muscle aches An increase in cancer risk Immune system suppression Serious degenerative muscle tissue condition (rhabdomyolysis) Potential increase in liver enzymes so patients must be monitored for normal liver function These, of course, are the risks to adults. But when you give drugs designed for adults to children, anything can happen because children metabolize drugs differently. At least one expert has expressed concern that statin drugs may impact a child’s endocrine system, which regulates growth and development. And there is absolutely no long-term data showing that statin drugs are safe for kids, who will likely be put on the drugs for many years, if not a lifetime. If You are Worried About Your Child’s Cholesterol … First, keep this in mind: It is VERY rare for anyone to need cholesterol-lowering drugs. Among the more than 20,000 patients who have come to my clinic, only four or five of them truly needed these drugs, as they had genetic challenges that required it. If you or someone you know is taking them, odds are very high, greater than 100 to 1, that you or they don't need it. And this applies to children too. Most often, cholesterol becomes high as a result of excess inflammation in your body. Far from being harmful, the cholesterol is released into your bloodstream to help repair damage by producing new cells. So the solution is not to lower your cholesterol, it’s to address what is causing the excess inflammation. In kids, this is caused largely by the very same things it is in adults: 1. Eating too many sugar and grains 2. Eating trans fats 3. Not exercising 4. Emotional stress If these items sound familiar in your family’s lifestyle, now’s the time to change it. You do not need drugs to get healthy, you just need to follow these eight steps: 1. Make sure you and your kids are getting plenty of high-quality, animal-based omega3-fats. I prefer those from krill oil. 2. Reduce, with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars in your family’s daily diet. 3. Eat the right foods for your nutritional type and make sure your kids are eating right for theirs. 4. Make sure your family eats a good portion of their food raw. 5. Get the right amount of exercise. When you exercise you increase your circulation and the blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of fighting an illness before it has the opportunity to spread. 7. Address your emotional challenges. I particularly love the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for stress management. EFT is also easy for kids to learn and use. 8. If you are having troubles following this advice (exercising regularly, staying away from sugars, and eating right for your type) then you might want to try the hypnosis program I recommend for diet and exercise adherence.

"...your physical health does impact your mental health."

Official website: Nutrition by Natalie

Besides our personal traits and convictions that caused this friendship, we later found out we are both one generation out of Iowa.

The creators of this documentary were also two friends with family ties to Iowa.

"Have you been wondering why Americans are so overweight? Or why certain foods are so cheap? Have you heard our average life expectancy is headed down, not up? Two college friends set out with director Aaron Woolf in search of answers to these questions and were surprised by what they discovered. You will be too as this film follows a crop of corn from seed to your dinner plate."

The short clip:

The 33 Min clip:

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=210289532636522988&q=king+corn&ei=-TmFSNyDH4OOqwOskKybBQ]

The whole documentary is available on netflix

Ryan Doran, reporter for the Fairfield County Business Journal, wrote a wonderful article about my upcoming retreat. It featured on the front page of this week's edition. Click the link above to read the entire piece. Thank you, Ryan!

]]> http://aionios.wordpress.com/?p=98 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:29:14 +0000 kbone4real http://aionios.wordpress.com/?p=98 It’s easy for me to view things only in spiritual terms, to care about how I am doing spiritually. Then I read this verse in John's 3 letter...

3 John 1:2
Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you're doing well in every other way and that you're healthy. (GNT)

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.(KJV)

• Healthy-in the Greek hugiaino (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no) meaning to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body), to be uncorrupt- true in doctrine, be in health, be safe and sound, be wholesome.

It’s easy to get caught spending hours on my spiritual condition; spiritual experiences and spiritual knowledge but little time on the other areas of my life. I can spend hours reading, hour studying, and in prayer...but minutes on working on relationships or my body.

What could a correct view of our entire lives look like?

• Spiritual-our connection with God
• Body- our body health
• Mind- learning is living
• Heart- our purity and our passion
• Others- our relationships with others

Ask yourself these questions to see if your life is truly healthy?

1. When was the last time I spent an hour doing something for a friend without expecting a thank-you? (Relationship)
2. When was the last time I ate less and worked out? (Body)
3. When was the last time I turned off the noise, the technology, and got alone with God? (Spiritual)
4. When was the last time I learned something new (not something spiritual) and now use it on a regular basis? (Mind)
5. When was the last time I cried for the wrong things I've done? (Heart)

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Colonics in Los Angeles"][/caption]

Colonics in Los Angeles:

In Los Angeles colonics detox services are available at: the Ventura Center for Healing (19525 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana), Colon Hydrotherapy Services (2520 West 8th Street, no. 102), Holistic Medical Center (8264 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood), and Oasis Colon Health (12114 Venice Blvd).

SOURCE: Colonics Los Angeles

Before you spend thousands of dollars to get your organ, the gallbladder, removed; have you tried passing your gallstone(s) with a healthy dieting plan.

Why Dieting Works?

Dieting is a lifeline to great health. The old saying, "you are what you eat" might have some truth to it. Did you know that most gallstones are caused by eating high fatty and high cholesterol foods?

You can prevent and sometime flush gallstones with using some holistic and natural health tips. Holistic health has been increasing popular in the past decade after scientists have found that your 'whole' body's health has an impact on the smallest organ, like your gallbladder.

Instead of treating the gallbladder to flush your gallstones; many natural health doctors recommend treating your 'whole' body with your diet which will treat your body and your gallbladder.

Here are some tips to help you keep your gallbladder and naturally pass your gallstones.

Dieting and a Gallstone Natural Treatment

Most people who find success are those who are dedicated to seeing results. In many situations you can dissolve and pass your gallstones in 24 hours if you follow a strict plan. Take some notes on the following diet suggestions.

Since most gallstones are cholesterol based, it would only seem right that you should do everything you can to avoid foods with cholesterol, fat and sodium. The average diet in most western countries contains about 80 grams of fat per day. You should cut this in half and avoid processed foods for additional help. If you choose to splurge on meat than you should always choose lean, white meats or fish (grilled!).

It is also important to do the fiber thing. Research everywhere is pointing that a high fiber diet is always the healthiest diet because it flushes the body. (Look at the labels!) A general rule of thumb would be to eat at least 6-8 fruits or vegetables a day. We also recommend whole grain foods (wheat bread) with high dietary fiber content. You will notice more bathroom trips but this is good!

Dairy is a big subject when it comes to gallstones. Dairy provides your body with tons of vitamins and minerals which your body needs. However, you need to be drinking fat-free (skim) dairy products. Dairy foods offer all the minerals you need but it also offers you loads of cholesterol. Switch to skim today!

Finally, you will notice that a simpler diet usually equals better health. That is why you should be drinking as much water as possible. Always follow your morning coffee with a tall glass of water. I live by the rule: drink half your body weight in water ounces per day. If you weigh 200 pounds then you should drink 100 ounces of water.

Is There More?

Yes! These 5 or so suggestions are a great place to start if you would like to keep your gallbladder. And if you choose to keep your gallbladder you will also NOT have to deal with the chance of getting bowel or colon cancer which is often related with cholecystectomy surgeries.

And finally, if you would like to naturally pass your gallstones in less than 24 hours, please visit our Gallstone Remedy website. We offer the only research-based Gallstone Remedy Report that is guaranteed to work in 24 hours or less. Start fresh tomorrow and check us out today by learning about an effective liver and gallbladder flush!

Natural! Researched! Guaranteed! A beacon of 22 years of natural health knowledge, Joe Barton and Barton Publishing offer the only Gallstone Remedy Report that works in 24 hours or less. Get yours today!

Flush Gallstones Naturally

Problem: so many books - so little time.

Solution: google and blogs.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with all the good books and clearly unrealistic to read very many of them.  But when we don't read we place ourselves in a vacuums place - detached from the world of ideas and I think from an important lens to see the activity of God in our broader culture.

I came across a few thoughts about a book titled A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight (©2007) on Paul Littleton's blog.  In his book Scot tackles the meaning of the atonement in a more holistic way (regarded by some as inflamatory because he challenges (the limitations of) some long held perspectives).  Here's a short quote from the book before the thoughts from Paul Littleton:

"To be forgiven, to be atoned for, to be reconciled - synonymous expressions - is to be granted a mission to become a reciprocal performer of the same: to forgive, to work atonement, and to be an agent of reconciliation. Thus, atonement is not just something done to us and for us, it is something we participate in - in this world, in the here and now. It is not just something done, but something that is being done and something we do as we join God in the missio Dei." (p. 30-31)

(A)ny theory of atonement should keep the end in mind - what was atonement meant to produce? In answering that question McKnight notes that the atonement was not just meant to produce forgiven people, but that "the work of God is to form a community in which the will of God is done and through which one finds both union with God and communion with others for the good of others and the world." Thus, the atonement was meant to produce a certain kind of community. I like his approach. I think it is very helpful in formulating a well-rounded and holistic view of the atonement. It avoids getting "stuck" in one particular place, overemphasizing one aspect of atonement to the neglect of others. In fact, he mentions the various views of atonement and likens them to a bag of golf clubs. A golfer might make it through a round with just one club (I think there are even friendly golf games that might involve just such a feat), but don't expect to shoot par, or probably even close.

Perhaps McKnight's approach would benefit our understanding of the church as well. Ecclesiology, or the study of the church, is becoming pretty popular these days. One age-old question about the church is, "What are the distinguishing marks of a true church?" Historically the answer to that has been 1) one, 2) holy, 3) catholic and 4) apostolic. To that the Reformers added that a true church is one in which the word is faithfully preached and the sacraments are faithfully practiced. Books on the church tend to proceed from there, describing what one, holy, catholic, apostolic, the word and the sacraments mean. In addition, there has been added to those things such as the fourfold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4. Those are all valid questions and worthy of our attention and serious thought, but we might be helped in asking the question, "What does God intend to produce in this thing we call the church?"

this point  was raised recently by someone who posted a question in the comments section recently.

Based on feeding 10 cats,  this is what I  do, it saves anything from $20-$40 per month.

This is just a rough guide as i forgot to ask what you budget each week, but this is what I would make up for 10 cats.

Hello All, I recently did some community service by hosting a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross by my office earlier this week.  This is the first time I actually hosted something of this nature and I make this post on behalf of the Red Cross.  They are extremely low on their reserves this time of year because most of their supply comes from High Schools and Colleges that are out of class for the summer.  Please visit www.pleasegiveblood.org so you can find a local blood drive to donate.  Just think, if something horrible happened to you and you needed blood and their wasn't any left, what would happen?  Other human beings are counting on you to give your help.

Doc

Educating oneself might not immediately result in the task one is assigned (like revenue for example). But greater knowledge leads to greater understanding, greater breadth of service and the ability to think laterally about problem solving.

Improving yourself, regardless of the direction or method you choose, will reflect positively on your career.

Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential.

The 10 Fundamental Components of Recovery

Self-Direction: Consumers lead, control, exercise choice over, and determine their own path of recovery by optimizing autonomy, independence, and control of resources to achieve a self-determined life. By definition, the recovery process must be self-directed by the individual, who defines his or her own life goals and designs a unique path towards those goals.

Individualized and Person-Centered: There are multiple pathways to recovery based on an individual’s unique strengths and resiliencies as well as his or her needs, preferences, experiences (including past trauma), and cultural background in all of its diverse representations. Individuals also identify recovery as being an ongoing journey and an end result as well as an overall paradigm for achieving wellness and optimal mental health.

Empowerment: Consumers have the authority to choose from a range of options and to participate in all decisions—including the allocation of resources—that will affect their lives, and are educated and supported in so doing. They have the ability to join with other consumers to collectively and effectively speak for themselves about their needs, wants, desires, and aspirations. Through empowerment, an individual gains control of his or her own destiny and influences the organizational and societal structures in his or her life.

Holistic: Recovery encompasses an individual’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community. Recovery embraces all aspects of life, including housing, employment, education, mental health and healthcare treatment and services, complementary and naturalistic services, addictions treatment, spirituality, creativity, social networks, community participation, and family supports as determined by the person. Families, providers, organizations, systems, communities, and society play crucial roles in creating and maintaining meaningful opportunities for consumer access to these supports.

Non-Linear: Recovery is not a step-bystep process but one based on continual growth, occasional setbacks, and learning from experience. Recovery begins with an initial stage of awareness in which a person recognizes that positive change is possible. This awareness enables the consumer to move on to fully engage in the work of recovery.

Strengths-Based: Recovery focuses on valuing and building on the multiple capacities, resiliencies, talents, coping abilities, and inherent worth of individuals. By building on these strengths, consumers leave stymied life roles behind and engage in new life roles (e.g., partner, caregiver, friend, student, employee). The process of recovery moves forward through interaction with others in supportive, trust-based relationships.

Peer Support: Mutual support—including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills and social learning—plays an invaluable role in recovery. Consumers encourage and engage other consumers in recovery and provide each other with a sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and community.

Respect: Community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation of consumers —including protecting their rights and eliminating discrimination and stigma—are crucial in achieving recovery. Self-acceptance and regaining belief in one’s self are particularly vital. Respect ensures the inclusion and full participation of consumers in all aspects of their lives.

Responsibility: Consumers have a personal responsibility for their own self-care and journeys of recovery. Taking steps towards their goals may require great courage. Consumers must strive to understand and give meaning to their experiences and identify coping strategies and healing processes to promote their own wellness.

Hope: Recovery provides the essential and motivating message of a better future— that people can and do overcome the barriers and obstacles that confront them. Hope is internalized; but can be fostered by peers, families, friends, providers, and others. Hope is the catalyst of the recovery process. Mental health recovery not only benefits individuals with mental health disabilities by focusing on their abilities to live, work, learn, and fully participate in our society, but also enriches the texture of American community life. America reaps the benefits of the contributions individuals with mental disabilities can make, ultimately becoming a stronger and healthier Nation.

Source: www.samhsa.gov