Fleet Maker

Stand Out as a Leader, Do 5 Things Better! Number One: Improve the Quality of Your Decision Making!

The manager administers, the leader improves;
the manager maintains, the leader develops;
the manager relies on systems, the leader relies on people;
the manager counts on controls, the leader counts on trust;
the manager does things right, the leader does the right thing.
-Fortune Magazine

The intentions of our decisions are our brand of fertilizer that enables our results to flourish and amplify with time or, fade and wither! You got the record crop (number/result) this year. Can you do it again next year? At what cost? Is that acceptable?

What legacy did you sow to enable it to happen again? Did you strip the resources and need to start from scratch and build up the soil again? Or did you harvest sustainably so you can let it rest for a season, come back and crop it hard again?

The intention of our decision-making is the quality of the fertilizer we prepare to apply to our next crop!

Decisions made in fair times can be duly considered, socialized and delivered. They can readily add great fertilizer to a great team with outstanding results!

However, few of us work in these environments. Most of us have too many decisions to make in too little time, with out due consideration or thought. Most of us need to select what we think are the ‘big ones’ and focus on delivering these well. The quality of our selection gives critical feedback on our assumptions and therefore leadership style.

What “big ones’ do you select? Why? What are you seeking to create in these attributes, something positive or avoid something negative?

Most leaders rate themselves poorly, they have little objectivity in their assessment of the impact of their performance. Their boss is generally more objective and their direct reports most objective!

What would your direct reports say about you? Do you know? Have you collected any information? Well corporate life is about to!

IBM have an impressive management development tool that gives direct reports an opportunity to rate managers biannually. Managers that have a poor report are counseled to address the issues. Those that have two bad reports are usually removed, certainly three strikes and they are out! This is a very powerful message about leadership: that it is best assessed by those that are led!

In an effort to give leaders realistic feedback about their performance many corporations have offering 360 degree feedback. Often clients take the management feedback as more important, and pragmatically this can be true in the short term, than subordinate feedback. Is management going to continue to find this acceptable?

Staffing is most companies biggest expense. Leadership development, given 2 to 3 are developed for every one retained and placed, is therefore its greatest investment in this expense. The literature suggests 30-50% of external appointments fail. Now we are stuck between a rock and a hard place!

Corporate life is keen to assess a leaders talents and develop these, however if it can identify self limiting behavior - such as career de railers, maybe it will decide to be more cautious in the development of these individuals.

Hogan and Hogan, the most sought after leadership analysts in the USA’s Fortune 100 companies, indicate they are the inability to form a team, and a lack of understanding of your leadership style! (1)

Leadership-style is one of the most searched topics in leadership on the Internet. Now we know why! Leaders are being told to appreciate their leadership style so that they can consistently develop and apply it, thus avoiding the traps of leadership de railers!

However, leadership is intimately tied to personality, with sincerity of style being one of the most critical factors in allegiance being given! If it is personality based, how can the results of generic tools give us appropriate clarity and sense of contribution compared to what we know inside ourselves?

The answer lies in crafting our action-based leadership values into a foundation of our behavior for the ‘tough’ times. That we become the beacon of integrity we intended to be in these circumstances by doing “the right thing.”

It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.
Roy Disney

(1) Hogan and Hogan, International Journal of Selection and Assessment, Vol 9, No 1/2, Mar/Jun 2001.)

This article may be reproduced in printed or web format, provided the resource box below is included.

Rosemary Johnston is a professional corporate and personal coach. Working with executives from some of Australia’s largest and most successful companies for over 15 years.
Rosemary’s new book, “How To Develop Your Leadership Style and Skills to Take Charge of Your Career and Life” is now available to download at her web site. Read about how you can share some of the success Rosemary has had coaching leaders in Australian blue chip companies. http://www.leadershipfirst.com.au

Protecting Your Yoga Teaching Business

When or if, you want to become a Yoga teacher - would you be thinking of litigation and Yoga? The old saying, “the truth hurts,” applies to legality, ethics, and teaching Yoga. You can always “bury your head in the sand” and hope that you are never involved in a legal battle. After all, what kind of a student would sue his or her Yoga teacher? Doctors must ask each other this question every day. Sorry, but denial will not help you in a court of law.

Instead of denying the obvious, you can take action, by learning how the law applies to your Yoga business. You can also start creating policies that protect your students, and insure that you are giving quality Yoga instruction for the rest of your life.

It has been said that “Knowledge is Power,” and this could never be more true than when it comes down to knowing the “Letter of the Law.” Just like when a Yoga student first learns to develop his or her awareness from Yoga and meditation practice - Yoga teachers must develop an awareness of legality, as it pertains to their Yoga businesses.

For the average Yoga teacher, the thought of litigation, as a result of a student entering his or her Yoga class, is depressing. Many Yoga teachers and interns pursue the rewarding career of teaching Yoga as “Good Samaritans.” Yoga teachers are very often generous with their time, effort, and services.

It is “heartbreaking” for me to tell “giving people,” with the best of intentions, that they can be sued at any time. In this climate of litigation, anyone, even a Yoga teacher, can have a lawsuit filed against them. Defending yourself, in a court of law, can and does, create physical, spiritual, mental, and financial exhaustion.

As a result of this reality, this requires protective action on the part of all Yoga teachers. Look at this as a prevention program and a compliment to your current liability insurance policy. “I didn’t know,” will not save any of us from the wrath of the law.

Review your liability insurance and your release forms. Most Yoga teachers should have their attorney review their release forms. The days of a simple one page waiver form are over. A documented health questionnaire may help you to prevent a sudden legal catastrophe. This is not required, but serves as a tangible document to know each Yoga student a little better.

Just remember that a potential Yoga student has the legal right to refuse to fill out a questionnaire, if they so desire. This does leave you “flying blind,” when teaching Yoga classes to students whose current health condition is a mystery.

Therefore, always mention contraindications for asanas. It would be prudent to have an information packet, with contraindications, and prenatal warnings included. You could also include a slip for Yoga students to sign, which indicates that they have read, and understand, that Yoga can be a risk for some health conditions.

Lastly, it is better to lose a potential Yoga student, than to teach one at the risk of his or her health.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Voice Activated Word Processing for the Online Writer

How good is voice-activated software these days? Some say it works rubber while, although it is not quite used as he could be. For instance I am using voice-activated software here in you can already see some mistakes. I suppose with a little bit of editing that it is usable. Having hand typed some 4100 articles, I can certainly see the need for a good quality voice-activated word processing system for online writer’s.

I have been searching for the perfect voice-activated word processing program. Originally I had purchased one of the very first IBM voice types and out software was over $500, yet today we see some of the software is low as $150 in fact the one which is writing this article is only one and $149. Next paragraph

Once you get the voice-activated software training done, it works substantially better. He eventually as you train it, it is said to become quite accurate. That is a good thing for me. One thing I like is a voice active in work processing program assists me in my spelling and punctuation to a limited degree. So far this article I have spent a good three minutes so far and as articles go it is not so bad. You can see in the second sentence there is a mistake in another in the third sentence. But generally you could say it is about 90 percent accurate and we are told that once you completely train it; but the accuracy will improve to almost 99 percent. Of course you’ll still have to go back and edit it. But, he would have to do that anyway wouldn’t you? Something to consider if you’re planning to switch to voice activated software. This way you do not have to buy a new computer what you wear off all the keys, which I have. Consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Love, Marriage and Money

The f-word. Finances. Combining love and money may be the biggest stumbling block on the path of true love, creating more rifts in relationships than in-laws, drug and alcohol addiction, or infidelity.

Financial power struggles challenge even the most solid partnership. Unfortunately, money too often equates to control in a relationship. The delicate balance of power between you is dependent on the successful combination of love and money.

In the majority of relationships today, both members contribute financial resources. Despite the strides women have made toward financial equality on the job, though, men still have greater earning power. In general, with more disposable income, men invest more money and take greater risks than women. Women as a whole are more conservative in their investments because it takes them longer to earn the money. Money attitudes are also influenced by age, family upbringing, religion, and each person’s own unique financial trials and errors.

Everyone has opened a bank account, paid the rent or mortgage, kept the telephone and electricity turned on. When you make the decision to share your life with someone, though, such mundane issues suddenly become complicated.

Do you keep separate bank accounts or do you put all the money in one account? How do you split monthly expenses? Do you each pay a portion or do you pay bills out of a joint account? Should you be able to sign on your partner’s bank account? Did one of you bring assets to the relationship that the other uses, such as a car or a home, for which expenses should be shared?

Financial advice for couples over fifty varies significantly depending on age, economic status and dependents. Every situation is different, but the following is general advice for everyone.

Many modern couples keep their finances separate, while others opt to pool all their funds. Making the decision on the day-to-day handling of what was formerly “his” and “her” money can be a tough one.

There are benefits to keeping separate property funds separate and maintaining certain assets in one name only, which we’ll explain in more detail in the next chapter. Keeping other monies separate may create logistical problems, though, along with a diminished sense of common goals for the future. Combining your funds also gives a couple greater borrowing and investment power.

Determining a financial plan that works might take months; many couples struggle for years before reaching a balance. Defining and discussing your money styles is the first step, setting goals is the second.

Review your financial picture. Are you both satisfied with your knowledge and control of “your” money and “our” money? Are you both knowledgeable about banking, insurance, investments, credit cards?

The routine business of a new life together should include the following:

• Reevaluation of life, health, auto and other insurance coverage

• A change of beneficiary on insurance policies and company pension plans

• Notification to social security of your marriage to ensure eligibility for your spouse’s benefits and change of W-4 withholding

• An assessment of the impact of remarriage on alimony or pension/retirement benefits from a prior marriage

• A consultation with an accountant to learn the impact your marital status will have on your federal or state income tax obligations

• In a remarriage, be aware that the income of a new spouse may impact eligibility for financial aid of college-age children from a prior marriage.

You may need to consult your banker, your employer, your insurance agent, your accountant, your attorney or other professionals to accomplish these tasks.

Your goal in tying the fiscal knot is to protect your spousal rights and save money. Begin your research before the wedding and make sure you follow through. Loveandthelaw.com should be your first stop - it’s an easy and inexpensive way to stay informed.

About The Author

Johnette Duff is the author of The Spousal Equivalent Handbook: a legal and financial guide to living together, The Marriage Handbook: a legal and financial guide to your spousal rights, and Love After 50: the complete legal and financial guide. Nationally, she has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and in The Wall Street Journal, Self, Smart Money, New Woman and Modern Maturity promoting information on love and the law. Ms. Duff has recently opened a web site titled, love and the law.

rauspitz44@comcast.net

Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Effects of hurricane Katrina has been devastating.

Mayor of New Orleans is saying thousands may be dead already. Damages to property and economy has been enormous. Not to mention
the millions of dollars being spent on the rescue efforts now and
rebuilding efforts that will be undertaken later.

But the sad part is, most of the suffering was avoidable. It was
know well ahead of time, the hurricane was coming and would be a
strong one. It wreaked havoc even in south florida where it was
barely a category 1 hurricane.

In the face of these facts, some questions come to mind.

• When it is known that New Orleans is so vulnerable, should
  not the leevees built stronger? When it is know that if they break the effect would be devastating, I would have made them 5 ft taller and 2 ft thicker.
• Shouldn’t the shelters such as super dome buit so that it can withstand the strongest storm? One idea is to make them so that
  it can be lowered underground. I am not a civil engineer, but
  with todays technology it is not that impossible, I would think.
• Same thing can be said about highway over passes. During the storm, one can make them slidable and pillars can be slided
  into the ground as well. The parts that are over ground (bridges, over passes, etc) are slided to move on the ground, no storm can inflict much damage to them.
  Guess how much suffering and rebuilding
  would be saved, if we make these investments in the beginning.
• One can even imagine to build a small city underground.
  This may sound over kill now. But if they can do the above mentioned things, one can even think of this.

To donate to the cause, please go to http://www.redcross.org or
call 800-HELP-NOW.

Telepathic Communication With Animals

Animal Communication, or telepathy with animals, is as common an occurrence in some people’s lives as it is an oddity in the lives of others. Telepathy is an energetic exchange between two sentient beings for the purpose of communication. Combined with body language and sometimes vocalizations, animals use this form of communication among themselves and even across species.

Only humans in Western Civilization in the last 2500 years have rejected this form of communication. Indigenous peoples all over the planet consider messages from animal guides a natural part of life, and shamans or medicine men and women, rely on their animal helpers in their spiritual service to their communities.

Native peoples around the world consider themselves part of the “web of life”. This web includes the subtle energetic pathways that allow for intuitive and psychic energy exchanges. This includes our auric field and the subtle energetic pathways known as meridians, as well as the ley lines of the Earth, who is thought of universally as our Mother, a part of us and of whom we are all a part.

Thus, shamans and other healers among native peoples expect to work with animal spirit guides. Hunters call on the spirits of the animals they hunt to ask for offerings of their physical bodies to feed the tribe. Young men and women being initiated into adulthood may expect to receive a communication or lesson from an animal.

Telepathic communication, then, is as natural as breathing. Many small children in our culture who have animals in their families communicate telepathically with them even in infancy. It is only in response to the pejorative comments of adults and older siblings, and eventually of their peers, that we either stop using our telepathic abilities or relegate them to the realm of imagination, i.e., outside reality.

Telepathy can be thought of as an expansion of intuition, which even in our modern culture is considered anathema, unless you are a top dollar CEO who is willing to admit that your best decisions are those you made based on intuition. For the rest of our society, intuition is often relegated to a place not remotely related to intelligence or sound decision-making. We live in a culture which teaches us to take pills when we are sick and ignore the subtle and not-so-subtle messages of our body telling us we need to rest and re-create itself. We rationalize that we must do this to pursue the almighty dollar. Being so out of touch with ourselves is a symptom of being out of touch with others.

Our educational system also rejects the intuitive, creative aspects of our intelligence as soon as budget cutting is required. Even in healthy economic times, we are taught to develop our logical, sequential, analytical thinking, focusing on mathematics and science as the most valued subjects, with the arts and music at the bottom of the pile.

How, then, can we restore our natural talents to include our birthright of telepathic communication? Spending time with animals and in nature is a beginning, but not sufficient. Learning to communicate telepathically requires breaking down limiting assumptions and beliefs that have caused us to reject this aspect of our Being.

Animals are spirit in physical bodies, just as humans are. The bodies they inhabit are very different in form and sensory systems from the human body, and that has a lot to do with how they experience the world. It also affects how humans and animals communicate with each other.

For example, if a dog is unhappy, he may whine or he may just look sad. He can’t cry with tears as a human would and he can’t speak the words to tell you that he’s unhappy. In the same way, if a cat has a urinary tract problem, the cat can’t tell you in words, “Hey, I’m in pain and need help.” Instead, the cat may start urinating outside the litter box to let you know that something is wrong. Animals have to improvise because humans, from their perspective, are “deaf” and “dumb” to telepathic messages.

Telepathic communication includes a wide variety of vibrational frequencies that allows for full communication at many levels. As a professional Animal Communicator, I receive information in a number of ways, including mental images or pictures; physical sensations; words, phrases, and even whole sentences; knowings; intuitions; and emotions. I actually experience in some way what the animal is experiencing. To communicate the message to another human requires that I translate what I receive into spoken language, which for me is English.

While animals who live with humans often learn to understand specific words in the preferred spoken language of the human, animals are simultaneously receiving our thoughts and emotions, which we broadcast unconsciously all the time. If our thoughts are jumbled and confused because of our frenetic lifestyles and mental states, the animal may not understand the message completely.

In contrast, animals tell me that the sounds they make when communicating with other animals are usually a form of emphasis or punctuation for a telepathic message which the sound accompanies. It is natural for animal mothers to speak this way with their young and for the young to continue to use telepathy for the rest of their lives.

Today can be your moment to awaken to the idea that the animals who live with you are more than child substitutes, more than “pets” kept for our amusement or our personal companionship. All animals are, in fact, sentient beings - conscious and intelligent, with life purposes and goals. They are aware of themselves and of their situations. They are capable of feeling the entire range of emotions we so arrogantly have labeled “human”. They make life choices. They often express unconditional love for the humans who are part of their families.

Rev. Nedda Wittels, M.A., M.S., is a telepathic Animal Communicator, Spiritual Counselor, and Shamballa Master/Teacher, offering private sessions in communication and healing for humans and animals. She teaches workshops in Animal Communication, Communication with Nature, and Shamballa Multidimensional Healing. She can be reached at 860.651.5771, NeddaW@aol.com, and
http://www.raysofhealinglight.com

What You Should Know Before You Buy Hoodia Weight Loss Pills

While many people lose weight with hoodia gordonii dietary supplements, they do not work for everyone. The question is what exactly caused the lack of results for those people. Hoodia weight loss pills should work as an appetite suppressant, if they contain genuine hoodia gordonii. Research by Phytopharm (the company which owns the patent for the active molecule in hoodia gordonii) and at Brown University supports the effectiveness of hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant. So, how does the consumer know if the product they are about to purchase contains genuine hoodia gordonii?

Many governments in South Africa (country of origin for hoodia gordonii) have placed strict limitations on the exportation of hoodia gordonii. Manufacturers of hoodia weight loss pills must be licensed by these South African governments, if their products contain genuine hoodia gordonii. Those manufactures who are licensed will display a CITES certification on their websites or product package. Those consumers who are hoping to lose weight with hoodia should look for this certification, but beware, there are companies which say that they have a CITES certificate, but will only make it available for inspection upon purchase. One such company is being investigated for selling counterfeit hoodia weight loss pills.

Hoodia gordonii is expensive and quantities are limited. The hoodia weight loss pills sold “off the shelf” in discount pharmacies probably contain little or no hoodia gordonii. Reputable manufactures may offer discounts and free shipping on multiple bottles, but if the price is too low, then the consumer should beware. Genuine herbs of all kinds are relatively expensive. Anyone who purchases herbs for other health benefits and wants to lose weight with hoodia has an advantage over those who are unfamiliar with herbs. They know that a quality product does not come cheaply.

There are stories on the web written by people who have been unable to get a refund on hoodia weight loss pills. These stories are written by people who say that they were not able to lose weight with hoodia. This situation is easily avoidable. Reputable companies display return information on their websites. It may seem like a lot of trouble to read this information about return authorizations and other limitations, but it is worthwhile. Only a few companies will accept returns of opened bottles if a customer is unable to lose weight with hoodia. Hoodia XR is one that does.

Reputable companies will not make claims about their products that are “too good to be true”. Anyone who wants to lose weight with hoodia must reduce their daily caloric intake and increase their activity. Hoodia weight loss pills are appetite suppressants. They may help dieters stick to their plans and achieve their goals, but they will not work in any other way. Hoodia weight loss pills do not burn fat off while we sleep or “melt” the pounds away as some products are advertised to do. Some may ask, “If I have to eat less and exercise, then why should I take hoodia?” The answer to that question is, “If you can stick to a low calorie diet and exercise regularly without feeling deprived, hungry and exhausted, then you are probably not overweight.”

In conclusion, to those who are interested in trying to lose weight with hoodia weight loss pills, buy genuine hoodia gordonii from a reputable company that sells other health supplements or herbs and openly displays their return policy in writing.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor at the Hoodia Info Blog.

For more information about hoodia weight loss pills visit the Hoodia Info Blog.

Free ISP

Is There Such A Thing As Free ISP?

As a matter of fact, there really is such a thing as a free Internet Service Provider or free ISP, for short. Most Internet service providers offer service for a small monthly charge. Most people are surprised to learn that there are companies that offer free Internet service. This is much more than the free trials offered on the discs everyone receives in the mail. These ISPs actually offer free Internet service, and not for just a trial period.

You might wonder how it is that these ISPs can offer free service when everyone else is paying for it. The answer to that is really no surprise at all. It is advertising, the funding that is behind nearly every free product. For example, there are a variety of sites that offer free MP3 downloads. The catch is that these downloads arrive with a ton of pop-up advertisements, just like the free ISPs. These pop-ups can create a real problem on free Internet service because there are so many of them. They can even cause your computer to freeze up and generally make it extremely difficult to navigate the Internet.

Another concern with these free ISPs is that they may not offer the free Internet deal in your area. If there is no local dial-up number for you, it can turn into big charges on your telephone. Some of these free ISPs also put a limit on the number of hours you can spend on the Internet. Also, the features available with commercial ISPs are often lacking in the free ISPs. An ISP that charges for their service is always coming up with new and better features for their customers. Free ISPs do not make that kind of effort. The quality of the connection can also be a problem with free ISPs. You may find you have poor connections with constant interruptions.

Still, you may want to find an ISP that is a step up from the free ISPs. The answer may actually be with the free ISP company. Many of them offer a better package for paying customers. This is often at a lower cost than other commercial ISPs. Many companies offer free Internet service as an incentive to try out their service. What they are hoping is that customer will like their service more than a competitor and decide to upgrade to unlimited Internet access.

It is always a good idea to read and fully understand the terms and conditions of any ISP before you sign anything. This is especially true when you are making an agreement for free Internet access. Make sure that they are offering exactly what they say they are, and you are aware of any conditions. Double-check any time limits on your Internet access, and know the fees for going over your limit. Last of all, make sure you know ahead of time about any long distance charges or other charges that may actually apply for your free ISP.

Neil Shevlin is the owner of www.eukbroadband.com which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles. For more information go to: www.eukbroadband.com.© Copyright 2005 www.eukbroadband.com This resource box must be left 100% intact.

15 Sales Incentives To Get More Orders

We all are looking for more sales, below are some sales incentives that you could use to get more customers or repeat customers. People love deals!

1) Give a % off an order.

2) Give a free gift with order.

3) Do a drawing among orders on a certain day. Make sure everyone knows the drawing is going on.

4) Give a rebate back.

5) Give a free gift for referring a customer.

6) Give a gift certificate for the next order.

7) Give a customer appreciation card to regular customers.

Offer a complimentary product for a discount or free

9) Give FREE Shipping

10) Have a numbered sale - like a $0.99 sale or a $2.99 sale. The emphasis is the 99 on the end.

11) Create a treasure box to give to the highest order of the month.

12) Have a ticket contest, giving all orders an x amount of tickets. Then draw among the tickets for prizes.

13) Do a Dollar Tree Sale

14) Find a complimentary product and sell the 2 together at a discounted price.

15) Give a certain $ amount off a $20 order.

These are just a few selling incentives you can use for your business. Try to think outside the box, give your customers an extra special reason to order from you. Use your imagination; let your mind run wild. Think of the seasons and holidays that are coming up, get creative!

About the Author

Written by TBA. TBA stands for Tricia Billie and baby Ashley. We are a mother, daughter, & granddaughter WAH team. We own and operate TBADeals.us

Weather is Not God’s Judgement… It’s Weather

In the COG’s, as with all Christian Fundamentalism, whenever there are major hurricanes, volcanoes, a day of tornadoes, earthquakes, storms, hail, drought, fire and frogs upon the land….it is God trying (does God have to try?) to tell us all something. We don’t think that the God that can verbalize…. “I blasted you with blight and mildew [from too much rain]. When your gardens increased, your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees, the locust devoured them; yet you have not returned to Me,’ says the Lord” (Amos 4:9) could also say:

“Hello, I am God, I’m here in person because it’s really important we have a talk. I want you to be happier than this so let’s have a chat and I’d be happy to answer any and all questions you might have about why and how and when anytime. Now if you are a fundamentalist I will ask you let others who don’t know all the answers be allowed to ask their questions first…”

But alas, God only threatens humans, and always does it through the minds, voices in the heads of, and observations of mortal humans who think they know. All that a Bible literalist can say is that God “could” do it that way, but he chooses not to. I say that something that important deserves clear and concise communication with humans and to definitely not leave us with so much doubt and confusion.

The same God who “spanked” nations and empires in centuries past is still very much in charge. He says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6) And as we will see, God is punishing us through various natural disasters. Even as our personal and national sins are increasing, so are floods, tornadoes, severe snowstorms and earthquakes. Thus, many of today’s so-called “acts of God” are, in fact, just thatthe active intervention of Almighty God. And it is just beginning. Natural calamities are going to get much worse unless we as a nation repent and turn to the true God in heartfelt obedience. Roderick Meredith-Who Controls the Weather

On the other hand…

Because hurricanes form over warm ocean water, it is easy to assume that the recent rise in their number and ferocity is because of global warming.

But that is not the case, scientists say. Instead, the severity of hurricane seasons changes with cycles of temperatures of several decades in the Atlantic Ocean. The recent onslaught “is very much natural,” said William M. Gray, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University who issues forecasts for the hurricane season.

Weather, especially as observed by the superstitious and uneducated, either by choice or circumstances has always been the tool of the angry God of history who is “trying” to get mankind’s attention before He simply has to destroy him once and for all. So much for the idea that after man’s creation, “behold it was very good.” The Deity needs to make up his mind about us or rethink His original design. It’s not our fault! Perhaps we are the one proof of Unintelligent Design….

All through human history, the weather has puzzled humans. Lightning was the result of some activity of the gods. Zeus threw it around at his enemies and his voice was the thunder. Baal was the rain god to whom allegiance must be pledged or there would be drought. …it is this superstitious use of natural cycles and phenomenon of weather that is still being used to beat and drive people fear- ridden into the arms of waiting churches and pastors who will motivate their loyalty with the same tirades of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who we know were mistaken not a few times

Listen very carefully. Weather is weather. One more time - Weather is weather. It’s normal and natural. It is NOT a Deity doing its BEST to get in touch. That idea is simply leftover from a time when men did not understand the forces that governed their world and assigned them meaning that worked at that time, but is NOT the way to motivate sincere humans who have enough on their plate learning to coexist with what is.

Hurricanes always happen where they are prone to happen based on natural cycles and conditions generated by the planet. The SE United States has a coastal profile that shows how many millions of years this erosion has been going on - quite naturally and I dare say before humans ever spent a night in the SE United States. Back then, I suppose Cat. 5 Hurricanes were not tools the gods had thought of using to get the wildlife to come to their senses.

The SE United States has a coastal profile that shows how many millions of years this erosion has been going on - quite naturally and I dare say before humans ever spent a night in the SE United States. Back then, I suppose Cat. 5 Hurricanes were not tools the gods had thought of using to get the wildlife to come to their senses.

Volcanoes are very natural and are not tools of the gods. They just are the natural result of plate tectonics as are earthquakes. Unfortunately, when humans live on their slopes, or where plates shift, or where tornadoes form, or droughts are wont to occur, we have to find a reason other than the simple fact that we are living in harms way that for the most part does not visit us. I feel deeply for the suffering that all must be going through in New Orleans after this recent hurricane Katrina. But we also have to know that EVERYONE knew that if this ever happened… then this would happen!

When a city or house sits on the sand or in a bowl 20 feet below sea level, next to the sea, someday it will find itself in deep trouble as the normal forces on this planet play out their dance.

The citizens of Herculaneum at the foot of Vesuvius learned this the hard way as well. Today one can see the casts left of where humans died, in detail, covered by the ash that so quickly ended their lives. It’s nice to live on the coast with beautiful beaches. It’s nice to live at the foot of cone shaped mountains with incredibly fertile soil. It’s nice to live in the Midwest United States and grow corn. It’s nice to live in Southern California….ok, it used to be nice, or Hawaii, or in the Ring of Fire. But when the earth, which has it’s own maintenance system does what it does, there is a chance humans might somewhere find themselves in harms way. It is just that simple. Reaching out to explain natural phenomenon, humans have always imagined the motives of the gods for bringing such things upon them and taking natural processes way too personally. We do this because humans have consciousness they have to work with. Consciousness makes us ask “why us?” Animals don’t tend to wonder about such things at their level of consciousness.

We know this and I suspect you know this too, but our superstitious natures combined with believing the Bible speakers must be really really speaking for a real God who does such things, gets in the way of our common sense and vastly improved understanding of such things. We still can’t let the facts of what humans know in 2005 AD override the sacred texts of thousands of years gone by. In our heads we know that science has shown us a better way to view things, but in our hearts we just can’t let go of the Act of God attitude.

Volcanoes were the homes of the gods for most of human history. Volcanoes are impressive. And we are so very small in relation to them. Earthquakes were the shaking of the earth by the gods. Hail was the throwing of rocks at mankind by the gods. Droughts, quite normal on the planet in their cycles, come and go, but in most of human thinking were the gods way of getting even or pounding humanity into obedient submission. I suspect the priesthood has something to do with the interpretation of events even then.

The assigning of a wrong theological meaning to a natural event for the way the planet works, is a serious mistake in our fundamentalist society. It misleads and frightens people into behaviors that are not helpful and beliefs that are not true.

I’m reminded of some of the biting humor of Sam Kineston who noted that people in the Sudan, starving and standing in nothing but blowing sand did not need food and water…they needed luggage….they needed to mooooooooooooove! as he would yell.

I would also be more impressed with the “Ten Plagues” of the Exodus story were they not common phenomenon to the region. If you have ever been to the Middle East, plagues of flies, frogs, lice, cattle diseases and such are part of normal daily life at times. Water to blood, not so much, but that’s another story. And of course killing firstborn was a way of life in one sacrificial form or another in that day and time. Nothing really all that special.

Now if one is to be really impressive let them be:

1. The plague of Polar Bears

2. The plague of Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snakes

3. The plague of angry Kangaroos and Dingoes

4. The plague of LA Smog

5. The plague of biting Chimps

6. The plague of South American Capybara

7. The plague of South Carolina Humidity

8. The plague of being forced to listen to a sermon in LCG, PCG, RCG, okay even WCG, but I suspect that sermon would be very nicey nicey!

9. The plague of a Buffalo, NY Blizzard

10. The plague of ….. ummmm, well you make one up…

Making religious plagues out of common local phenomenon is not very plaguey. It’s just more dramatic every day stuff and the things the locals are aware of in their small world.

Through the pages of the Bible we are told that God will bless those who obey Him, with rain in due season and abundant harvests and peace in the land (Lev. 26:3-6, Deut. 28:12). In fact, we’re told that because of obedience to God, our blessings will actually “overtake” us (Deut. 28:1-2). Conversely, we are told that if we disobey God, he will negatively affect the weather; withholding rain (Zech. 14:16-17) and even His “tender mercies” - which can include his protection (Ps. 40:11). God promises to punish the world and the wicked for their evil — even shaking the heavens (Isa. 13:13). From the writings of King David, we understand that God will chasten or correct those that He loves. David requested that God “remove” His plague (or punishment) from him (Ps. 39:10). Ibid

Yes, this is true, the Bible does say these things. But they are not really true just because the bible says so and this is where the fighting starts in the minds of most. We simply have a terrible time getting past the idea that ideas about why things are as they are, or have occurred as they have occurred as seen through the eyes of people from past ages, uneducated in how things really work on the planet and long dead, are wrong.

We forget that the same book calls a bat a bird (Lev. 11:13-19, and yes, I know the apologetics) and tells us the sun functions from “it’s rising in the East until it’s setting in the West,” is simply wrong. (Ever notice how all “unclean” animals are middle eastern animals or simply those known to the locals? They left a lot of things off the list I might not choose to eat on other parts of the planet, had they known there were other people and parts of the planet.)

Of course these things appear to be so, but the authors had no clue that a bat was a mammal and not a bird and I guess he never looked. I suspect had they ever seen one, a flying squirrel, or snakes that glide from tree to tree, might also have made the bird list. And, of course, they had no clue the earth rotated, or the planet was not the center of the solar system. This little scientific correction would cost some their lives.

So here we have the “God loves us so much he has to spank us when we go astray” mind virus. It is a mantra we simply say when we aren’t thinking. A repeat of a meme that has been pumped into our being when bad things happen to people.

So from the Bible we learn weather is ….

A. Not natural but attention getters from the Deity.

B. Inflicted upon mankind because God loves us so much yet can’t take the time to personally chat with us without all the drama. God has few counseling tools at his disposal so simply throws tantrums to get our attention.

C. You ain’t seen nothing yet, so stay tuned to our literature and presiding evangelist.

D. Proof positive that, once again, Jesus is almost ready to return in YOUR lifetime.

E. Don’t try to explain it and don’t ask questions about “why does the Deity treat us this way” because He’s in world of think all his own and you are never going to get a straight answer in your lifetime. This is simply a human conclusion when, as conscious human beings, we tend to need to find reasons beyond “you were just in the wrong place when natural phenomenon occurred.” It is not, in fact, the truth of how life works. It’s difficult to say…”I guess I should not have built my house upon the sand.”

F. But don’t worry. It’s all part of a big plan and it’s all going to work out just fine and we’ll all live happily ever after once we get with the program, which I just happen to have for you, come join our happy throng and bring a 10% down payment - to bless our work.

You’ll learn that it’s mostly God, but sometimes Satan who controls the weather though the little stuff is just weather. Oh no, how do we tell the difference? I also have wondered if a Cat. 3 storm is from God to teach us a lesson, or does He only speak through Cat 4 and 5? Or if a volcano erupts in a remote area, is that just for fun, or is it considered a near miss? How many have to die in a natural cycle drought before it’s not just a drought but a warning. When it rains again and life goes on as before, is it because the Deity gave up on trying to change their evil ways and said “oh heck, let it rain, I’ve go to go bash some Europeans into obedience because I love them.”?

Ok, what’s the point? I fully understand those who adopt the idea that “God said it, I believe it, that does it for me.” That is how we have been so deeply programmed. We shudder to even think that anything in the Bible might simply not be accurate or true or relevant. We can’t wrap our minds around the idea that Ezekiel or the prophets were just humans, perhaps fairly normal, perhaps traumatized by the collapse of their temple worship cult, perhaps a bit daft or clinically unbalanced or not really inspired by some Deity of the day. It feels blasphemous to even consider the idea that prophecy is not really prophecy and or that what might be has no relevance to us today. I fully understand the reaction to taking a different view and challenging the mind virus that is such a part of our theological mindset. I simply believe that humans, who struggle to give meaning to every event in life on this planet, often assign it the wrong meaning and do as much harm to the human spirit and mind as natural phenomenon can do to us when we get in the way.

I also have grown to take exception with those who fill their coffers, pad their nests and boast their own egos with fear tactics that they have long since stopped realizing they are doing. It becomes such a habit to motivate the faithful with the “signs of the times” that one gets locked into doing it every time bad things happen to basically good people. Within HOURS of a natural disaster, meaning from the gods is assigned to the event and the conclusions are sent out post haste to motivate the faithful. After all, timing is everything in religious motivation techniques.

So… Who Controls the Weather? I guess it depends on what one needs to believe to better bring order to their world. That has always been the case in all of human history. No rain=God is mad at us. Rain=God is happy with us. Sunshine and cool breezes=God is happy with us. Cat 4 or better hurricane=Uh oh, God is mad at us and this is a spanking, you ain’t seen nothing yet, Jesus is coming soon, write for our free booklets, join our church, now your are protected and see it all works out nicely.

There is a Buddhist proverb that seems to sum up nicely what one tends to learn in the course of a normal life.

When I was young, mountains were just mountains, rivers were just rivers and trees were just trees.

But then I was told that mountains are not JUST mountains, and rivers are not JUST rivers, and trees are not JUST trees.

But now that I am older,

I know, that mountains are just mountains, rivers are just rivers and trees are just trees…

And I know it bites at our core sometimes with all the background we have had in Bible prophecy, the tribulation, vials, plagues, trumpets and the scenarios of the Second Coming, but in fact, and whether or not we understand it…weather is just weather. We live on a planet with natural meteorological and geological process that sometimes put our puny selves in harms way.

May we all find a way to extend comfort and help to those who need it and are in pain and afraid for their own futures. And may those so inclined to assign meaningless meanings to motivate the faithful, please stop and think for a change. Whether you understand or whether you do not - understand Weather.

Dennis Diehl is a former pastor of 26 years who has outgrown the box of conventional religion and fundamentalist theolgy. Dennis’ goal is to get Christians and people to think about the ideas that they have been brought up with to their harm and to reexamine them in the light of common sense and sound judgement.

Ideas have consequences and most of the worlds difficulties are due to wrong ideas for which we are dearly paying. Dennis owns a therapeutic massage practice in Greenville, South Carolina.

SCMassageTherapy@aol.com