WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2011

Conflict, Security and Development

The Challenge

Violent conflict and state fragility are major development challenges: conflict causes misery, destroys communities and infrastructure, and can cripple economic prospects. A quarter of states eligible for assistance from the International Development Association (IDA) are experiencing conflict, and poverty rates in these countries are far worse than in IDA countries as a whole. Many other IDA countries are considered fragile, and thereby at risk of violent conflict. Nor is conflict confined to poor countries: a number of middle- and high-income nations are affected by severe sub-national and crime-related violence. Conflict does not respect borders, with serious spillovers from conflict-affected countries contributing to regional destabilization, globalized terrorism, drug trafficking and refugee flows.


Addressing Conflict and Fragility
Building peaceful nation-states which respond to the aspirations of their citizens takes strong leadership, both international and domestic. The international community has an important role to play in assisting countries to avoid, contain and recover from conflict, and the recent past demonstrates how much can be achieved when global and national incentives align, and program implementation is appropriately designed and well-managed. Too often, though, efforts have failed to decisively address the motives and opportunities which help to mobilize violent conflict; to integrate political, security and development approaches; or to align local, national, regional and global actions. As a result, some areas have seen new waves of conflict and violence in recent years and some “post-conflict countries” have not yet managed to make a decisive shift to successful and stable development.


The goal of the World Development Report 2011 is to contribute concrete, practical suggestions to the debate on how to address conflict and fragility. Since solutions involve cooperation between a wide variety of actors at local, national, regional and global levels, the WDR process will invest considerable effort in reaching out to a range of different players and communities . ...Read more/less


The report will discuss:

• Trends, Causes, Consequences: The WDR will review key thinking on the evolution of violent conflict and fragility and on its causes; it will also assess the human and economic devastation caused by various types of conflict.
  
• Key Ingredients of Successful short and Medium Term Responses:Among the key contributors to stability and prosperity are strong leadership, popular legitimacy, and policy approaches which can successfully integrate security, justice, voice and opportunities for economic advancement. The WDR will analyze the evolution of policies designed to address conflict and fragility, and will assess the extent to which they have been effective in helping prevent or resolve conflict. This involves paying particular attention to:

.Short-term confidence building in the political, development and social spheres. While each context is different and there is no blueprint, the WDR will look for general lessons on short terms actions which help to generate confidence (and, importantly, those which undermine confidence); adaptation of programs to political goals; and delivery of results on the ground in decentralised locations.

.Medium-term confidence building to prevent risks of lapse or relapse through institutional and state-building approaches. To facilitate a long-term exit from fragility and sustain peace and development, two elements emerge as requiring further consideration. These are building the institutions which can sustain productive citizen-state engagement, and decreasing the opportunity to mobilize financial, human and other resources for purposes of conflict, crime and violence.

• Gaps in Policy and Implementation, and Proposed Remedies: Among the issues likely to be addressed are more effective ways to support responsible local leadership, develop conflict prevention strategies at both national and regional levels, improve coordination between policy communities (in particular, security, state-building and development actors), nurture institutions suited to specific local contexts, implement critical but under-funded interventions and focus attention on the decentralized provision of basic services and economic opportunities.
  

Approach and Methodology
In addition to reviewing the state of research and policy-formation on fragility and conflict, the WDR will research a series of case studies of historical and ongoing conflicts. Given the multiplicity of stakeholders, several complimentary approaches will be used to ensure that a sufficient number of actors are consulted over the 12-month WDR cycle. The consultation process takes account of the progressive engagement on these issues by the regional institutions and middle income countries, which now play important roles in conflict response, peace-keeping and state-building.

• A WDR Advisory Council will be formed to offer guidance and comment on emerging WDR thinking; the Council will consist of leaders and individuals of global repute from countries and organizations across the globe.
• While carrying out case studies, the WDR team will hold a series of in-field roundtables and colloquia, thereby capturing a broad spectrum of informed local experience and opinion.
• A series of expert brainstorming sessions will be held in locations in different regions, to which prominent academics, practitioners, policy-makers and civil society representatives will be invited in order to share their knowledge and discuss WDR perspectives.
• The WDR team will interact intensively with international and bilateral organizations involved in peacekeeping, state-building and the economic development of fragile and conflict-affected states, including the United Nations, regional political and economic organizations, international financial institutions, NGOs and the private sector. This will help the WDR reflect new interagency approaches to conflict and fragility.

With the report itself as the centerpiece, this WDR is aiming to stimulate a wide-ranging debate on issues considered critical at this juncture of history, and to capitalize on the current surge in attention to this topic. Key to this will be an intensive communications strategy, designed both to help the WDR team access a range of good thinking and to increase popular access to the subjects under discussion. To enrich the WDR’s empirical base and to communicate with diverse audiences, the WDR will make use of the web and social media, will conduct and publish interviews with leaders and individuals impacted by conflict, and will use video and film to underline the realities of conflict and the development challenge it poses.

THE WORD

"Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." (Haggai 1:9)

Churlish souls stint their contributions to the ministry and missionary operations, and call such saving good economy; little do they dream that they are thus impoverishing themselves. Their excuse is that they must care for their own families, and they forget that to neglect the house of God is the sure way to bring ruin upon their own houses. Our God has a method in providence by which He can succeed our endeavours beyond our expectation, or can defeat our plans to our confusion and dismay; by a turn of His hand He can steer our vessel in a profitable channel, or run it aground in poverty and bankruptcy. It is the teaching of Scripture that the Lord enriches the liberal and leaves the miserly to find out that withholding tendeth to poverty. In a very wide sphere of observation, I have noticed that the most generous Christians of my acquaintance have been always the most happy, and almost invariably the most prosperous. I have seen the liberal giver rise to wealth of which he never dreamed; and I have as often seen the mean, ungenerous churl descend to poverty by the very parsimony by which he thought to rise. Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it frequently is with the Lord; He gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed the Lord makes the little much by the contentment which the sanctified heart feels in a portion of which the tithe has been dedicated to the Lord. Selfishness looks first at home, but godliness seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, yet in the long run selfishness is loss, and godliness is great gain. It needs faith to act towards our God with an open hand, but surely He deserves it of us; and all that we can do is a very poor acknowledgment of our amazing indebtedness to His goodness.

GOVERNANCE

WHAT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE?
Recently the terms "governance" and "good governance" are being increasingly used in development literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that reforms that ensure "good governance" are undertaken.

This article tries to explain, as simply as possible, what "governance" and "good governance" means.

GOVERNANCE
The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.

Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.

Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential land lords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions political parties, the military etc. The situation in urban areas is much more complex. Figure 1 provides the interconnections between actors involved in urban governance. At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors, multi-national corporations, etc. may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process.

All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the "civil society." In some countries in addition to the civil society, organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making, particularly in urban areas and at the national level.

Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the national level, informal decision-making structures, such as "kitchen cabinets" or informal advisors may exist. In urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the "land Mafia" may influence decision-making. In some rural areas locally powerful families may make or influence decision-making. Such, informal decision-making is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices.

Figure 1: Urban actors

GOOD GOVERNANCE
Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

Figure 2: Characteristics of good governance

Participation
Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.

Rule of law
Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.

Transparency
Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media.

Responsiveness
Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

Consensus oriented
There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.

Equity and inclusiveness
A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.

Effectiveness and efficiency
Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

Accountability
Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to who varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it should be clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality.

LOVE

QUESTIONS FOR YOU;

#1   What is it? ...........................................................................................

#2   Its Origin? ...........................................................................................

#3   How it Works? ....................................................................................

#4    What it Does? ....................................................................................

#4   Its Destination? ..................................................................................



FROM ME
"Love is any of a number of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection[1] and attachment. The word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure ("I loved that meal") to intense interpersonal attraction ("I love my boyfriend"). This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states."


As an abstract concept, love usually refers to a deep, ineffable feeling of tenderly caring for another person. Even this limited conception of love, however, encompasses a wealth of different feelings, from the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love to the nonsexual emotional closeness of familial and platonic love to the profound oneness or devotion of religious love. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.

What you owe?
So long as we love we serve;/ So long as we are loved by others,/ I would almost say that we are indispensable;/ And no one is useless while they have a friend.

I must need tell you that you are indebted indeed! To me, someone besides you, your boss, Your surbodinate, your world, and @ large to GOD................ if not your reasons...........
Submit @ http://www.bodylonnetworks.blogspot.com/


Gift
I dont know best gift to give you out there, kindly accept this hearty gift of LOVE....
"Some gifts are big, others are small. Gifts from the heart are the best gifts of all."

Impatiently, waiting to read you... in love as you contribute to this ...........
Paul.

ADVERTISING! MAKE IT NEW

The Evolution of Online Advertising Technology – More Targeting, Less Privacy

Even with the cookie-type behavioral advertising technology, there was a way for users to prevent these ads from targeting them. They could set their machines not to accept any cookies at all by setting their browser security setting to high. This solved the privacy issue, although many websites would (intentionally or not) render improperly with this setting on. In recent news on the behavioral advertising technology front, Microsoft announced that its newest Internet Explorer, version 8, would have a mode called "InPrivate Blocking" that would prevent cookies from being placed on any machine. At first glance, it would seem that either: A. Microsoft is genuinely concerned about online privacy, to the point that the company would allow users to block ads that come from the Microsoft network as well, or B. Microsoft realized that the paltry share of the ad serving market that it currently controls is not as important as inflicting serious damage to Google, which owns a much more significant slice of the online advertising pie (in actuality, at this point, Google's "slice" looks more like Pac-Man, but I digress). Whatever happens with this flavor of behavioral advertising, there was recently a new type of advertising technology that raised some serious eyebrows, and this one could have been the most nefarious of all. This latest behavioral advertising technology, brought to the surface by a company called NebuAd, is aimed at tracking user behavior at the ISP level. In other words, there ain't really a whole lot you can do about it. You need your ISP to get online, so your ISP has access to the information that you are accessing when you are online. They don't need no stinkin' cookies, so you can erase them to your heart's content and they'll happily keep tracking along. For the unscrupulous ISP, this is a no-brainer. You allow NebuAd to install its platform at your service hub and then you split the profits. And this is exactly what some of the smaller firms did in several "trials" of the behavioral advertising technology in the U.S.

Of course, there is a caveat – even a firm with cash flow problems and without an iota of ethics would probably want to create an opt-out system before unleashing this behavioral advertising technology platform on its users (you know, the people that already pay them and probably assume privacy). However, there's something very interesting about how these behavioral advertising trials were done – in just about every case, the ISP seemed interested in keeping the opt-out information as obscure as possible from its users.

According to Anick Jesdanun from the AP:1 1. CenturyTel Inc. rolled out the platform to 20,000 of its subscribers. To inform them of the new advertising technology, the company sent an email letting these subscribers know only that the privacy policy had been updated and had added a paragraph about NebuAd to the privacy policy. 85 out of 20,000 opted out. 2. Embarq Corp. rolled out the platform to 26,000 of its paid subscribers. Embarq didn't bother sending any emails to its subscribers; the company merely put a general notice within its privacy notice online. A whopping total of 15 out of the 26,000 people opted out. 3. WideOpenWest (or WOW) rolled out the NebuAd platform on 330,000 customers. The only notification before the fact was a posting on the company's website, along with a reminder in billing statements to review privacy policies online. They did email the 330,000 customers to tell them about the advertising technology trial – after it had concluded. 3,355 people opted out, but that figure may be inflated, because they aren't sure how many came from a single customer. WOW indeed. 4. Bresnan Communications, LLC, tried the platform on 6,000 of its customers. Unlike the other three providers above, the company did send an email directly to its users about the trial itself (although I have no idea how it was presented and whether the info was buried in a footer somewhere) and posted notices on its website. 18 people opted out. There were two other participants in the trial - Cable One, Inc. and Knology, Inc. For the purposes of my numbers below, I've left them out – not because they don't support the general theory, but because they don't fit the parameters. Knology won't reveal how many customers were involved and how many opted out, although the company did post a notice on its website. Cable One, Inc. ran the test on 14,000 customers, but did not give them the chance to opt out.

ADVERTISING-MAKET IT NEW

The Evolution of Online Advertising Technology – More Targeting,


Please bear with me as I go through a brief history of basic online advertising. The evolution of targeted online advertising is interesting, because I believe the perceived harmlessness of early advertising technology and targeting tactics lulled many people into a sense of complacency or perhaps even false security.

In the beginning of targeted online advertising, there were banner ads. As many people recall, these were supposed to drive the Internet marketing industry in its infancy. Scads of publishers paid scads of money based on a CPI (cost per impression) model or simply paid huge dollars for banner ads and other targeted online advertising on well-trafficked sites.

Then something crazy happened – nothing. It turns out that the banner advertising technology on the Internet was not the magic bullet it was purported to be. The old way of making money based on providing content (the way magazines and newspapers ran advertising) just didn't seem to work in this context.

This new advertising technology was part of the reason for the collapse of the dot-bomb era. All the talk was about "eyeballs," "stickiness," "bleeding edge," "cradle to grave," and several other terms that, in retrospect, would have sounded more at home in a Wes Craven movie than in an emerging industry. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of business models depended on a traditional marketing strategy working more or less the same as it always had when introduced into a non-traditional setting.

All the while, one company, originally called GoTo, then Overture, and finally bought by Yahoo!, actually formulated a targeted online advertising system that worked – keyword advertising. Companies could bid on a per-click basis for certain key terms, which sent valuable traffic to its website.

Obviously, the improvement in advertising technology had to do with the model itself, which was perpetuated on relevance. By only bidding on keyphrases that you wanted, you could only pay for visitors who had already shown an interest in your products or services. This targeted online advertising model was soon copied by Google, who tweaked it and made it better.

There were not many raised eyebrows at this time, in terms of privacy. After all, the user was the one entering the query, and nobody suspected at the time that search engines might one day actually create individual profiles on users. We were all just really enjoying "having the information at our fingertips" without the potential hazards of ink stains and paper cuts that traditional research required.

Google then took a similar idea a step further. Instead of just serving up targeted online advertising on its home page, the company created a content distribution network called AdSense. In this program, owners of websites could sign up to have the ads placed on their sites. Google would then use a "contextual" logic to determine which ads to place where. In other

words, Google would "read" the content on a page and then serve up targeted online advertising in the area provided by the site owner that was relevant to the content.

There were a few missteps with this new advertising technology (one classic example was when the online version of the NY Post ran a story in 2004 about a murder victim whose body parts had been packed into a suitcase. Running alongside the story was an ad that Google served up for Samsonite Luggage). Yet this targeted online advertising service also caught on, with nary a cry from privacy people. After all, you don't have to visit the sites. And the site owners don't have to sign you up for the service, right?

Suddenly, Gmail was offered and that raised some eyebrows. Gmail, of course, is Google's free email-based platform. Gmail gave people an (at that time) unprecedented 1 gigabyte of email space (Yahoo!, if memory serves, offered 4 megs for free email accounts and charged people for more memory). The only caveat – Gmail would use a similar advertising technology platform as AdSense, but it would decide which ads to serve up by reading through your emails.

Well, this new approach to advertising technology creeped some people out, and privacy advocates were a bit more vocal about using targeted online advertising by parsing through people's emails. A California lawmaker tried to introduce some legislation preventing the practice. International privacy groups chimed in with their own concerns. In the end, however, the fact remained that one had to sign up for a Gmail account and everyone that did was (presumably) aware of how the service worked before they did sign up. So it was an opt-in system – If you didn't want Google parsing through your email and serving up relevant, targeted online advertising, you didn't have to use the service.

So there we all were, happily surfing away, not a care in the world. What most of us didn't realize was that enough free cookies were being distributed to each of us to turn the otherwise docile Keebler elves into tree-dwelling Mafioso erroneously plotting a turf war.

These cookies, of course, are the ones that websites place on your computer when you visit – little packets of information that record your visit, and sometimes, your activity there. Certainly, there's a legitimate reason for this. When you return to a website, it can help if it remembers your last visit and you can pick up where you left off. Assume, for example, that you were making multiple purchases from an e-commerce site and had a bunch of stuff in your shopping cart but were forced to abandon the site before completion. It's nice to go back and pick up where you left off without having to do it all over again.

Digital advertisers, however, saw another opportunity for targeted online advertising. They invented advertising technology that would scour through the cookies on your personal machine, figure out what you liked and disliked by looking at the types of sites you went to, and then feed up highly targeted online advertising based upon your browsing history. These companies included aQuantive, DoubleClick, ValueClick, and others. Of the companies I mentioned, only ValueClick is still independent. Google snapped up DoubleClick, while Microsoft snapped up aQuantive. Clearly, these companies believe in the future of Internet advertising technology and also believe in the long-term legality of this technology.

Now some real red flags were raised. I've written about this advertising technology before, so I'm not going to go over it all again here. Suffice to say that some government regulators were pretty skeptical about this new form of advertising technology and there have been numerous suggestions for regulation. The lack of uproar from the public, however, has not really created any backlash for the companies in question. It could be because there is widespread ignorance about Internet advertising technology (and I believe there is, based on conversations with people of average Internet experience). Perhaps a part of it is also that privacy has been eroding on the Internet one incremental step at a time.

To be continued in part two….

.

HAPPINESS PROTECTS AGAINST COLDS

No reason to feel optimistic



People who are energetic, happy and relaxed are less likely to catch colds, research has found.

Conversely, those who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain about cold symptoms - whether or not they get bitten by the cold bug.

A team from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, found people who had a positive emotional attitude were not infected as often and experienced fewer symptoms than people with a negative emotional style.

There are a lot of interactions going on in the body which we just don't fully understand



Dr Nigel Higson

The researchers interviewed 334 healthy volunteers three evenings a week for two weeks to assess their emotional states.

After their assessment, each volunteer got a squirt in the nose of a rhinovirus - the germ that causes colds.

The researchers kept the subjects under observation for five days to see whether or not they became infected and how they manifested symptoms.

Tests showed that positive people were no less likely to be infected with the virus.

However, infection seemed to produce fewer signs and symptoms of illness.

Lead researcher Dr Sheldon Cohen said: "We found that experiencing positive emotions was associated with greater resistance to developing a common cold.

"But a negative emotional style had no effect on whether or not people got sick."

Immune system

Dr Cohen believes the findings suggest that a positive outlook may impact on how effective the immune system is at fighting disease.

He said that a more upbeat attitude may also help to reduce the risk of other infectious diseases.

Dr Cohen told BBC News Online: "The symptoms of a cold are caused by the release of chemicals such as cytokines, histamines and bradykinins.

"The release of these chemicals is to some extent under the control of hormones that are produced when we experience various emotions.

"We think that the levels of these hormones in happy people may partly protect them from developing symptoms of cold when infected by a cold virus."

Dr Nigel Higson, a GP and chairman of the Primary Care Virology Group, said there was a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that stress had an impact on the immune system.

He said: "It seems that the immune system is affected by your wellbeing, and if you are free from stress it is able to fight disease more rapidly."

Dr Higson said it was possible that chemicals in the brain may have a direct impact on the functioning of immune system chemicals.

However, he said: "There are a lot of interactions going on in the body which we just don't fully understand."

The research is published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

NIGERIA TOPS HAPPINESS SURVEY

A new study of more than 65 countries published in the UK's New Scientist magazine suggests that the happiest people in the world live in Nigeria - and the least happy, in Romania.

People in Latin America, Western Europe and North America are happier than their counterparts in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people followed by Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico, while Russia, Armenia and Romania have the fewest.

But factors that make people happy may vary from one country to the next with personal success and self-expression being seen as the most important in the US, while in Japan, fulfilling the expectations of family and society is valued more highly.

The survey appears to confirm the old adage that money cannot buy happiness.

The researchers for World Values Survey described the desire for material goods as "a happiness suppressant".

They say happiness levels have remained virtually the same in industrialized countries since World War II, although incomes have risen considerably.

The exception is Denmark, where people have become more satisfied with life over the last three decades.

The study was carried out in 1999-2001 and published for the first time by New Scientist this week.

Consumerism

Researchers believe the unchanging trend is linked to consumerism.

"New Zealand ranked 15 for overall satisfaction, the US 16th, Australia 20th and Britain 24th - although Australia beats the other three for day-to-day happiness," New Scientist says.

The survey is a worldwide investigation of socio-cultural and political change conducted about every four years by an international network of social scientists.

It includes questions about how happy people are and how satisfied they are with their lives.

Although such surveys are not new, they are being increasingly taken into account by policy makers, the magazine says.



HAPPINESS AROUND THE WORLD

• The happiest

Nigeria

Mexico

Venezula

El Salvador

Puerto Rico

• The Least Happy

Russia

Armenia

Romania



PATH TO HAPPINESS


Genetic propensity to happiness

Marriage

Make friends and value them

Desire less

Do someone a good turn

Have faith (religious or not)

Stop comparing your looks with others

Earn more money

Grow old gracefully

Don't worry if you're not a genius

MARKETING A NATION

Nigeria is a country which has suffered more than most from a reputation for corruption, fraud and criminality. Now, on the 50th anniversary of independence, Nigeria is in the throes of a re-branding campaign, intended to create a new positive image. A British-based firm, is helping to 're-brand' Nigeria in an effort to attract investment and tourism.

Join Henry Bonsu as he follows the many steps of this charm offensive. He looks at the publicity campaign and other examples of image enhancement - including adverts on CNN, the launch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and efforts by HITeleVision to polish Nigeria's image by beaming to the global audience a reality show that highlights the country's cultural values.

Re-branding Nigeria starts 21 October

BBC E-mail: Call for rethink on data storage

concern group saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you
should see it.

** Call for rethink on data storage **
A Microsoft official says new trading rules are needed for the movement of electronic data around the world.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8308490.stm >

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LEADERSHIP

How Do You Demonstrate Leadership?

”If there is a trait which does characterize leaders it is opportunism. Succesful people are very often those who steadfastly refuse to be daunted by disadvantage and have the ability to turn disadvantage to good effect. They are people who seize opportunity and take risks. Leadership then seems to be a matter of personality and character.”

- John Viney





Fundamental principles underlie the thinking and conduct of all true leaders, and these principles are even sharply defined for leaders within the kingdom of God. From time to time those whom the Lord has chosen for leadership need to examine themselves in the mirror of thought- provoking maxims. These proverbs are designed to help Christian leaders move forward in administrative excellence.



Responsible leaders do not make irresponsible statements.

A godly leader speaks out of the presence of God.

A humble leader never makes light of eternal truths, but esteems them with reverence.

A wise leader resolves conflicts peacefully, not forcefully.

An enduring leader withstands insult without anger.

A wholesome leader is characterized by tolerance, which saves him from hasty decisions in crisis, and retaliations in the face of contrariness.

The good leader attempts to make friends, not enemies.

Dealing harshly with opponents causes more aggravation and hostility. A polite leader uses gentleness and kindness.

A leader who listens well to his subordinates manages them well.

The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before man.

A devoted leader gives himself totally to the ones he is leading, helping them to develop their undiscovered potential.

A patient leader remembers that people’s responses vary according to their nature, temperament, and level of development. Undiscovered potential.

A mature leader shows highest respect for others, irrespective of race or rank. Undiscovered potential.

A wise leader guards himself against the pitfalls of success, self-assertiveness and over- confidence. Undiscovered potential.

Broken promises quickly destroy confidence in leadership. undiscovered potential.

A wise leader inspires and motivates rather than intimidating and manipulating. Undiscovered potential.

A weak leader retreats in the face of rising difficulties and loses the respect of his followers. Undiscovered potential.

Severe trials open the door to new revelation. undiscovered potential.

The path of leadership is always lonely.

The greater the leader the greater his fall when he succumbs to temptations. Undiscovered potential.

A teachable leader eagerly probes for truth learned by others regardless of their status. undiscovered potential.

A relaxed leader relaxes his followers. undiscovered potential.

The self-righteous leader lives in a cell made of blocks of deception, hypocrisy, and lies. undiscovered potential.

A stubborn leader is a menace who cannot be trusted by his colleagues.


PAUL...............

BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America reports $1bn loss

Bank of America has reported a $1bn (£612m) net loss for the three months from July to September, which was worse than had been expected.

The figure compares with a net profit of $3.2bn in the previous quarter and $1.2bn in the same period of last year.

But the bank's boss Kenneth Lewis said he was "heartened by early positive signs", referring to the levelling-off of bad debts from its credit cards.

Bank of America is the fourth major US bank to report third-quarter results.

The news sent European shares negative and was expected to lead to a lower opening on Wall Street.
Credit costs

On Thursday, Goldman Sachs announced profits for the period of $3.19bn, a four-fold increase from the same period in 2008, while Citigroup reported profits of $101m.

I don't think it looks as bad as the market is painting it out to be

Weston Boone, Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets

Earlier in the week, JP Morgan revealed net profits of $3.6bn.

It was announced on Wednesday that Mr Lewis, who is retiring as chief executive at the end of the year, would not receive any pay or bonus for 2009.

He said in the results statement that the figures had been hit by a number of "non-core items" and that "excluding those items, our revenue continued to hold up well".

The report said that although the rate of debts going bad was slowing, "credit costs remained high as most economies around the world remained weak".

Bank of America set aside $11.7bn to cover credit losses, which was down from $13.4bn in the previous quarter but up from $6.5bn in the same period last year.

Mortgage losses

The credit card business by itself reported a net loss of $1bn.

The net loss on mortgages and insurance widened to $1.6bn from $54m in the same period last year.

But there was a stronger performance from its global markets division, which was inflated by the acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Net income from global markets came in at $2.2bn, compared with a loss of $588m in the same period last year.

"I don't think it looks as bad as the market is painting it out to be," said Weston Boone at Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets in Baltimore.

"Their provisioning is down $1.7bn, and they're making comments about levelling in card delinquencies."

NIGERIA JOINS THE CLIQUE OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS ON EARTH

Nigeria, Bosnia, Brazil, Gabon and Lebanon yesterday easily won seats on the Security Council of the United Nations most powerful body to serve two-year terms.

Unlike most previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won easy election on the first ballot in voting by the 192-member General Assembly.

Assembly President Ali Treki announced the results — 186 votes for Nigeria, 184 for Gabon, 183 for Bosnia, 182 for Brazil and 180 for Lebanon — and declared the five countries elected to terms beginning January 1, 2010 as diplomats burst into applause.

“We have two large countries in Brazil and Nigeria who carry the weight of being a regional power. We have two countries in Lebanon and Bosnia that have been through conflict and can bring their own national experiences to the Security Council,” Britain’s U.N. Ambassador John Sawers said.

Information and Communications minister Dora Akunyili said the election of Nigeria into the council is an endorsement of President Yar’adua’s leadership qualities.

Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Jibril Aminu said the election proves that Nigeria is not a pariah state and is respected on the international scene.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Professor Ibrahim Gambari said it is an opportunity for Nigeria to prove to the world in the next two years that it is a respectable member of the comity of nations.

Ten of the council’s 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year stretches, and five non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year. To win, candidates must get a two-thirds majority of the assembly members voting by secret ballot.

The five other Security Council seats are occupied by its veto-wielding permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The five countries newly elected council members will replace Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Libya and Vietnam. The five countries elected last year — Austria, Mexico, Japan, Turkey and Uganda — will remain on the council until January 1.

LEADERSHIP HELPS

LEADERSHIP HELPS

IN THIS ISSUE WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING;

1.    BACK ROW BULLIES
2.    WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT TITHLING?
3.    EIGHT WAYS TO SAVE TIME
4.    HOW DO YOU DEMOSTRATE LEADERSHIP?


Back Row Bullies

They may not sit in the back row.  In fact many times they sit closest to the front.  Most would say they are "Faithful" as they seldom miss a service.  They appear to be the backbone of the church.  They pay their tithes.  They dress right.  They look right, but once you really get to know them, you find that they are the Back Row Bullies of the church.
These people all too often run the church.  They decide who is going to do what.  They decide how loud the music is and what color the walls of the sanctuary are going to be.  Little happens in the church that they don't know about and don't in some great way influence the out come of.  Theirs is a mission.  Theirs is a job that nobody else will do.  Without them they know that the church would fall apart.   They are the Back Row Bullies.
No one is quite sure how they gained such influence.  Maybe it has to do with the amount of money they gave at one time or even still.  They may have family within the church whom they have great influence over.  Their measure of sacrifice is probably great, but nonetheless, they are Back Row Bullies.
We all know what a bully is.  It's someone who pushes their weight/influence/resources around to cause you to do something you would not ordinarily do.  Let me break that down a bit.  You ordinarily would not put up with someone creating division in the church behind your back, but since they give so much money...  You otherwise would not allow them to have the position in the church that they have, but because their influence over so many in the church is strong... 


What Did Jesus Say About Tithing?

It began with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost in Acts chapter two, but was continued and maintained, in part at least, by the giving and sacrifice of the first century church!
The bible says that they gave their all and laid it at the Apostles feet. They sold houses and land, possessions and goods, and parted them to those who had need of them.
Were these new, born again, Christians giving of their all, simply out of faith, or was there some precedent that had been set by the words and actions of the Jesus and His disciples?
Obviously, these Christians did not yet have the New Testament writings to refer to...but they were there in person when Jesus taught, instructed, and acted as their example in all things.

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God’s Wisdom for Living

Proverbs Day 285 (KJV):
Proverbs 26:4-5 (KJV): 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:4-5 (AMP):4 Answer not a (self-confident) fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.5 Answer a (self-confident) fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes and conceit.

Thoughts for the Day
These verses from Proverbs tell us how to address a self-confident, conceited person who is acting foolishly. Verse 4 tells us when a person is acting conceited and haughty, that we are not to stoop to their level and act the same way. If we do, then we are no better than they are. Sometimes people will challenge us with an attitude that is not Christian, hoping we will respond in like manner. For example, if someone yells at us or is angry with us, we should not respond in the same tone. Many married couples fall into this trap of the devil, when one begins to rail, then the other will come back railing also. The Bible tells us to refrain from this, and keep our tongue from yelling evil and hurtful things at the other one. If fact, we are told that if we want to have our prayers answered and see good days, then we must not give a tongue lashing to our mates.

1 Peter 3:8-12: 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
We are told to seek peace and harmony with each other. In fact, if someone comes against us with angry words, we are told to come back with a soft answer. We are not to answer a fool according to his folly or we will be just like him.
Proverbs 15:1: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
So how do we answer a fool? According to Verse 5 in today's study, we are to address his folly, not stoop to his level of temperament. We are to speak the truth in love, when someone is acting foolishly and needs correction. We are not to just ignore it, as then, they will become puffed up in their own conceit. Our motive should be to help them see their folly so they can be spared the consequences of it.
Ephesians 4:14-15: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your wisdom as to how to deal with so many issues in life situations. The book of Proverbs is a wonderful book that addresses so many relationship problems. I am grateful that You are not silent about how we are to relate with one another. Help me to take Your advice to heart and apply it to my relationships with others. May I respond in love and with Your wisdom, when challenged by those who would want to argue. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may be an example of how You would deal with difficult people. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

GIVING THANKS
FOR THE HAY AND THE CORN AND THE WHEAT THAT IS REAPED, FOR THE LABOR WELL DONE, AND THE BARNS THAT ARE HEAPED, FOR THE SUN AND THE DEW AND THE SWEET HONEYCOMB, FOR THE ROSE AND THE SONG AND THE HARVEST BROUGHT HOME— THANKSGIVING! THANKSGIVING!

FOR THE TRADE AND THE SKILL AND THE WEALTH IN OUR LAND, FOR THE CUNNING AND STRENGTH OF THE WORKINGMAN'S HAND, FOR THE GOOD THAT OUR ARTISTS AND POETS HAVE TAUGHT, FOR THE FRIENDSHIP THAT HOPE AND AFFECTION HAVE BROUGHT — THANKSGIVING! THANKSGIVING!

FOR THE HOMES THAT WITH PUREST AFFECTION ARE BLEST, FOR THE SEASON OF PLENTY AND WELL-DESERVED REST, FOR OUR COUNTRY EXTENDING FROM SEA UNTO SEA; THE LAND THAT IS KNOWN AS THE “LAND OF THE FREE” — THANKSGIVING! THANKSGIVING!

LET PRAISE AFFECTS YOUR LIFE...... AND ENJOY GOD GOODNESS....
MORE TO COME.......

THANKFUNESS

WHY I AM THANKFUL . . .
When I came across the Gospel, I was desperate to recover from spinal meningitis. I often took drugs for this condition. Someone who was working for a drug store and went to the Apostolic Faith Church told me that, if I would believe, God would help me. I went to their church service, but the message preached was on salvation, which I did not know about. I wanted to die in the right condition with God, so instead of praying for healing, I prayed for salvation. Instead of giving salvation, God healed me. Then I put my trust in God, so I put away my medicine and professions. I had made a decision, and I trusted God so much that I prayed through to salvation in two days. God also sanctified me and baptized me with the Holy Ghost.
At times, when I was a sinner, I was in pain and was desperate. When I went into deeper problems but had my God, I had peace in my heart. I thank God for all my blessings. � Maurine Mwanza, Lusaka , Zambia

I praise God today for His grace and mercy. That was not always so in my life but I thank God that He looked beyond my faults and reached out to my soul. I was out in the world doing my own thing, having my own way. God had spoken to me on many occasions, but I continued to rebel.
One weekend I went from Friday night right to Sunday night partying and dancing. I remember that I went from St. Thomas over to another island to dance. We had to catch a boat to go over. During the dance, the band rested for a few minutes, and while I sat waiting, the Voice of the Lord said to me: �What if Jesus would come tonight?� I knew that there was a Heaven and a Hell, and I said, �Well, I will go to Hell,� because I knew that I was not right with God. In my ignorance, I did not really know the depths of Hell, and that it was eternal. But thank God that He is merciful. When the dance was over and I was going down to go over the water again to St. Thomas, a fear gripped my heart. I said, �Lord, take us over safely.� Thankfully, He did.
However, I still continued going my own way and doing my own thing. One afternoon, I was on my porch, and as I sat there, it seemed that in the clouds I saw a hand opened wide and beckoning. I said, �Lord, is that You calling me? Or are You coming to take Your people home? Let it be that You are calling me, because if You are coming to take Your people, I am not ready.�
Sunday morning I went to church and the power of God was real. People were being baptized in the water. When I looked at them the Holy Spirit said to me, �At the next water baptism, you will be there.� The Spirit of God was witnessing to my soul and conviction was upon my life. When the service was over I went outside but it seemed there was a thick, heavy cloud upon me. I couldn't stand it. At last I said, �Lord, if You will spare my life and take me home and bring me back tonight, I will not leave this building without You saving my soul.� I kept my commitment, and that Sunday night the Lord delivered me from the hands of the enemy. Today I have victory in the Name of Jesus. � Thelma Blyden, St. Thomas

I am so glad I know who Jesus is. I don't know what people do without Him. I am thankful that my spiritual roots go way back. I was saved when I was seven years old, and I have had many years to prove the Lord.
Some time back, I had a �thorn� come into my life�the most severe I have ever faced. When you have a wonderful loving husband, who has been with you for forty-seven years, and he is pinned under a three thousand pound machine in the hills, you had better have an Anchor that holds. You had better know who Jesus is. How grateful I am that God was with me after my husband went Home to be with Him.
I am so glad for what Jesus has done for me and for what He is going to do. I am not discouraged or dissatisfied with the Gospel. I love the Lord more today than I ever have. Heaven is much more dear and precious. I know this is not the end of the story. I thank the Lord that someday I am going to live forever with Him. � Joy Burton, Grants Pass, Oregon

I want to thank God for saving me when I was sixteen years old, and that has been ten years ago now. He sanctified me and filled me with the Holy Spirit. I thank God for leading me through my education. My life was going on smoothly until things started turning bad. Still, I thank God for both the bad times and the good times.
Last year, I lost my job all of a sudden, and my future was bleak. I was trying to figure out how I was going to make it when God opened the way for me to come to the United States from my homeland of Zimbabwe . God brought me to New York , and He has blessed me there. I am enjoying the fellowship with the saints in Brooklyn . They love me and I love them too. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to come to Portland for the camp meeting. I really have had a beautiful time worshiping God in one Spirit with the saints. � Hardwork Mugota, Brooklyn , New York

From an early age I knew that you had to be a Christian in order to make Heaven your home. I want to skip over the part of my life where I wasn't serving the Lord. Suffice it to say that I spent a good part of my life out in sin rejecting what I knew was right. But I am thankful that the Lord got me to a spot, just a few weeks before my twenty-fourth birthday, where I found myself heartbroken. I had just ended a long relationship with a girl. I was hurting and nobody could take that hurt away.
At that point in life, I realized that the Lord was speaking to me, and I found myself out of excuses. I went to a Sunday night young people's meeting in Roseburg, with the intention of getting saved. I had tried praying at home, because I was too proud to let anyone see me cry. I thought I was too tough for that. But I got to the point where I knew that the only thing holding me back was my pride. I went to church that night, and after the service, I got down on my knees to pray. I don't even remember what I said, but my heart was speaking for me. The Lord saved me right there. He took out all the wrong desires that I had and those things that I couldn't seem to get away from.
About a year later, He sanctified me when I was in Portland. I came for a young people's meeting, and there I ran into that same young girl who had broken my heart. I got a chance to tell her what had happened to me. She saw the difference in my life, and the very next day she came down to Roseburg, and in my mom's living room, she gave her heart to the Lord. A couple of years later we were married, and the Lord has given us two wonderful children. We have the opportunity and privilege now to raise them in the Gospel. God has led and guided our lives, and I thank Him for all He has done for me. � Matt Chasteen, Roseburg, Oregon

I didn't get far in this life before the Lord started dealing with my heart. As a girl in high school, I was wondering about all of these things: why am I here, where am I going, and what is the point of all of this? Life didn't make a whole lot of sense without the Lord. On top of that I had a lot of problems and I felt trapped and hopeless. Really, there was nowhere else to turn except the Lord.
One night, I just cried out to God to help me, if He was really up there. I knew that God listened and that God cared. Shortly after that, I found myself in God's house with God's people, where I could get the help that I needed. I just prayed and prayed. One morning, as I was seeking Him, the Lord came down and He took my sins away. That was my problem; my sins were separating me from God. All of a sudden life made sense. I knew that God was my Creator; I knew that Jesus was my Savior, and I knew I was going to Heaven someday. Until I get there, He holds my hand.
I want to praise God for all the marvelous things that He did for us recently. He answered my prayers and I feel if I could just thank Him a million times that wouldn't be enough. � Kathy Green, Portland, Oregon

When I came into the Gospel, I didn't know what salvation was all about. I thank God that He led me to a people who pray to God in Spirit and in truth. That was twenty years ago, and I thank God that He has kept me through the storms of life ever since. I can tell you many things of what God has done for me, and I thank God that He has preserved me and upheld me.
In 1990 my wife was sick unto death, and I made a promise to God that I would serve Him in whatever capacity He wanted. I didn't know what was ahead, but God remembered my vow. Two years later, our pastor passed away in Lusaka . I was in a little town a hundred and fifty-five kilometers from Lusaka at the time, but since I was a member of the church board, I had to go there to attend to that emergency. At the time of the funeral, God reminded me of the vow that I had made two years earlier. Then it was announced that I was to take the position of my late overseer. I was shocked, but I thank God He gave me the grace to assume that responsibility. I just had to submit to the will of God. I can tell you that God understands our hearts, and He will keep a record of whatever we say to Him.
When I received the letter of invitation to attend the Portland camp meeting, I didn't understand it either. It was not in my plans, although for many years I had a desire to come to Portland. I didn't have the means, and I was too involved in my particular employment, so when the letter came, I just prayed to God His will would be done. God opened the way for me. My coming here was not without hindrance. We had a lot of problems in getting a visa, but the Lord was there. When God opens the way, no one will close it. I thank God that I could attend the Portland camp meeting for the first time, and I pray that God will help us and uphold us in Zambia. We are seeking your prayers that the Word of God and the grace of God will continue to abound for us. � Timothy Kabula, Lusaka , Zambia

All the praise and honor belongs to God. I thank Him for His love to me and for how He saved me. As far back as I can remember, I went to Sunday school and church, and read the Bible. When I was about nine years old, I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive my sins. But growing up, I did things that were not right. I finally ended up in a life of adultery.
The day I prayed again to the Lord to forgive me and to change me, I wasn't in a prayer meeting or in a church. I was in the kitchen. I had finished the meal and was cleaning up. I just prayed out of my heart, �Lord, help me. I need help!� I am so thankful that He knows the heart. I didn't have to say a lot of words but He knew exactly what I meant.
I was living in Wichita, Kansas, at that time, and the Lord put it on my heart to move to Denver, Colorado. I did not know why, because I didn't have any relatives there. My son was living in Los Angeles, so I contacted him when I got to Denver. He told me what church I should go to. I don't remember who took me to the church, but I remember how the people of God befriended me. They helped me to really get strong in the Lord.
When I arrived in Denver, I had just two suitcases. The place I found to stay was a little room like a nursery off the landlady's bedroom. One day, I was complaining, �Lord, I don't have this, and Lord, I don't have that.� The verse came to me, �I will never leave you nor forsake you.� I didn't know where it was found in the Bible, but I got out the Bible and looked it up. I found out that the verse also says, �Be content with such things as ye have for I will never leave you nor forsake you.� I will always remember that verse, and it is not because I am so smart, but it is because the Holy Spirit brings it back to me occasionally. I haven't thrown a pity party since then.
Later, I received my sanctification and then the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for the love of God. I am so thankful that He is with me. I know that the Lord loves me and He cares for me. As long as the Lord gives me breath, it is my desire to live for Him and to please Him. � Luretha Reed, Anchorage, Alaska

Some time back, I was in Los Angeles and I had a chance to testify. We were asked to speak about our favorite song and I selected, �Jesus Loves Me,� because I am so thankful that I heard that Jesus loves me. I am so glad that when I was thirteen years old I prayed. I have to confess that I prayed because I wanted to escape Hell. It wasn't because I really understood the love of God, or particularly even wanted to go to Heaven so much as I wanted to make sure that I didn't go to Hell.
Since then, I have had a chance to learn about Jesus' love. It was not very long ago, at a camp meeting, when I was praying that I finally understood that Jesus really loves me and that I didn't have to strive to earn His love� I could just accept that He loves me and then serve Him in that love. It was such a blessed moment.
I also want to thank the Lord for the peace that He gives. When I flew to Los Angeles shortly after the terrorist attack on September 11, a lot of people asked me, �Are you nervous?� I said, �No, I am not. I really am not scared.� I had read in the papers, even if you are not scared, to be aware that when you get on the plane and the door closes you probably are going to have some fear. So I was prepared, though I didn't really think I would be. I had absolute peace, absolute confidence that my life was in God's hand, that I was where He wanted me to be, and that He would take care of the details. He certainly did, and I think this is a great time to be a Christian. There are people who are looking for the Lord and I want to be one that is going to be telling them about Him. � Yvonne Wilson, Portland, Oregon

If I were to take you to Medford, Oregon, right now, you will find a car lot there where the old Apostolic Faith Church used to be in that city. If you look around, you will find a spot underneath one of the pick-ups; it was about in that area where the Lord came down and made a wonderful change in my life.
I was raised in a Christian home and we had a lot of difficulties when we were younger. My folks got sick and passed away when we were fairly young. I seemed to blame God for a lot of things. I look back on that and realize that He deserved a lot of praise and not a lot of blame.
Life went on, and I married and had a family of my own. I wasn't doing right; I was uncomfortable; I was condemned. One Sunday morning in Central Point, Oregon, where we were living, my oldest daughter asked, �Dad, are you going to go to Sunday school with us this morning?� Those words seem to be so simple; they were like a dagger through my heart, yet I knew that I should be up and going to Sunday school and doing what I needed to do. Well, I got up and went with them.
At about four o'clock that afternoon, at the end of a Young People's meeting at Third & Central in Medford, the old weight of sin was so heavy that I just didn't know what to do. I was fed up with being miserable and uncomfortable. After the service I grabbed one of the old chairs there and pulled it against the outside wall of the Young People's Chapel. I got down and said, �Lord, You just have to help me. I can't go any further, and I don't know what to do. I need Your help.� He heard the cry of my heart and took that heavy load off my back. The Lord saved me!
He has been a Healer in my life, both spiritually and physically. He gives new life and joy. He leads and guides. I don't know what the next step is going to be sometimes, but the Lord knows. He is good and I am thankful today for what He has done for me. � Allen Friesen, Portland, Oregon.
PAUL.