Jesus’ ‘miracles’ have always been heralded as examples of his supernatural status and the power of God. But were they really supernatural, and if not, what do they tell us about how we should live?

One particular miracle – the feeding of the 5000 – has always had an unknown quantity to it. In the story there are 5000 people who are hungry, a boy produces 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus is there, everyone eats till they are full. Miracle? Certainly. But let’s examine the story more closely. A natural assumption is that Jesus somehow made the boy’s food feed everyone, a very supernatural thing indeed.

However, another interpretation of this story would be that when the boy produced his food to share in fellowship with others, others also produced their food to share in fellowship. If Jesus facilitated this generosity of people in giving their food to others who had none then that would be a miracle, as people are often most reluctant to share their property with others, especially when they have little to start with.

It seems to me that to make 5 loaves and 2 fish feed 5000 people would have been a neat magic trick, but so what? A more powerful thing for me would be for a person to inspire those around him to share what they had with those who had nothing, to overcome their natural selfishness and think about others. That would be a true miracle in my mind. What’s more, it is a miracle that we can all take part in – we can all be the person who gives.

So the next time you’re thinking about Jesus’ life, ask yourself whether he performed miracles or magic tricks. Then ask yourself whether you are following his teaching, whether you are doing the what Jesus would do. For me, Jesus wasn’t teaching us to just pray and hope that God works some magic to make everything better, but rather that each person needs to do their own bit and practice what they preach and believe.

A true miracle seems to be overcoming our human selfishness. Selfishness is a powerful, natural instinct that we all have as humans. Overcoming it is divine.

If you want to see a true miracle, then be a true miracle. Forgive those who no-one else will. Care about others whilst all those around you are only caring about themselves.

Life has been made easier with the internet. Products made available to people with the few clicks of a mouse. One of the better ideas I have seen is the ability to rent movies online. When I first heard of this idea, I thought about how much time I could save from driving to my local Blockbuster a few times a week. So I went online and signed up for Netflix. I never really had a problem with them. They provide a good service. I just felt that Blockbuster Online offered me a better deal with the amount of movies I rented . They have a plan no matter how much you are willing to spend per month.

For $3.99 a Month

This is Blockbuster Online’s cheapest plan. You are allowed to rent two dvd’s a month but you are only allowed to have one dvd at a time. You may also exchange a movie at a local Blockbuster if you choose for the low price of $1.99.

For $8.99 a Month

You are allowed to rent an unlimited amount of movies from Blockbuster Online with this plan. The kick is that again you are only allowed to have one dvd at a time. You have to keep in mind that it takes about 2 weeks for a dvd to arrive. This plan also offers two $1.99 in store exchanges.

For $9.99 a Month

This is one of the most commonly selected plans at Blockbuster Online as it is a real deal. For $9.99 a month you two dvd’s a month but only allowed one dvd at a time. However, you do not have to pay for the two in store exchanges with this plan. If you have a low budget, I would definitely recommend this plan over the previous plan.

For $11.99 a Month

With this plan, Blockbuster Online allows you rent an unlimited amount of dvd’s via mail. You are also allowed two free in store exchanges. If you have a few extra bucks, it maybe worth it to select this plan instead of the previous one.

For $13.99 a Month

I feel that this plan is a good value.  Again, You are allowed to rent an unlimited amount of movies from Blockbuster Online. However, with this plan you are allowed to rent two dvd’s at a time. This plan also offers $1.99 in store exchanges as well.

For $15.99 a Month

This plan is the same as the previous plan except you are allowed to rent three movies from Blockbuster Online instead of two. $1.99 in store exchanges still apply.

For $16.99 a Month

This is another favorite plan of mine. Blockbuster Online offers unlimited dvd’s through the mail as well as three free in store exchanges. You are only permitted to have 2 dvd’s at a time.

For $19.99 a Month

Okay, I realize these prices are getting a little higher  but the higher the price, the better value they are. If you can afford the extra three dollars a month, I would definitely choose this plan over the previous one. This plan from Blockbuster Online allows you two more free in store exchanges for a total of five. It  also allows you to have one more dvd at a time.

For $21.99 a Month

This is the plan I currently have. I feel it is the best value if you utilize the plan to your advantage. It is true that Blockbuster Online only allows you to have one dvd at a time with this plan, but you are allowed unlimited dvd’s through the mail and unlimited free in store exchanges. If you live close to a Blockbuster, I would definitely select this plan.

For $29.99 a Month

This plan is the same as the previous plan offered by Blockbuster Online. The only difference is that it allows you to have two dvd’s at a time instead of one. If you are thinking about selecting this plan, just ask yourself one question is eight dollars a month really worth having one more rental at a time?

For $34.99 a Month

This is Blockbuster Online’s most expensive plan. I wouldn’t recommend getting this package unless you are a real movie buff. This is the same as the previous two plans except for the fact that you are allowed to have three movies at a time.

Well, these are the plans that Blockbuster Online currently offers. I think I made it  pretty clear which plans I thought were more of a deal. I hope I helped you make your decision.  More information may be found on Blockbuster’s website at http://www.blockbuster.com . Then click on rent.

Plans are current as of November 13th, 2008.

There aren’t too many reality shows that catch my interest.  There is something about a show where people do anything possible to get money.  Sure there are some good reality shows out there that change lives like the Biggest Loser and Extreme Home Makeover.  VH1 has jumped on the reality show ban-wagon and seem to have the most reality shows than any other network.  From shows like Flavor of Love and Rock of Love to Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  I have to admit some of their shows has caught my attention and I don’t miss them for anything.  The two that I watch each week are Rock of Love Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  Both are come on on Sunday nights Charm School at 9 o’clock eastern and Pick up Artist at 10 o’clock eastern.

The Rock of Love Charm School is hosted by Sharon Osborn, no one is better to whip rocker chicks into shape than her.  They take the girls who acted the worst and could use the most help from the show Rock of Love where girls compete to win the love of rock star Bret Michaels.  These girls get lessons each day from people from the business teaching them different things such as style and grace to how to manage a band which is what many of these girls want to do.  After the lessons, they have a task to complete and of course the winners get immunity while the losers are on the chopping block.  Each week as they learn new things someone goes home and less girls get to move on a learn how to become better women and how to act like women with class and grace while working in the rock and roll genre.

Rock Of Love Charm School is a great show to watch because you watch these girls grow from what some circles would call trash or other inappropriate words for an article.  Sharon takes them from dressing like strippers to dressing like fashionable women.  Sharon said it was a place where women could change themselves for the better and become the women they need to be.  There is everything that makes a great show great: drama.  There is honestly more drama than in a soap opera.  Girls are constantly fighting with each other, trying to manipulate each other without even trying to change their lives.  Some don’t even want to change and see this as an opportunity to either get on television or earn money at the end of the show.  Sharon makes the show one of the best shows on this season.  She sets the rules and doesn’t take crap from anyone.

The Charm School had another season, which was done with the Flavor of Love girls that really needed the work.  One girl didn’t even really make it to the show because she got into a fight with another girl.  The girls that come on the show surprise you and shock you at times because they do not act like women.  One even admits she wants to be a trophy wife and wear bikinis everywhere she goes while her friend wears lingerie wherever she goes.  Sharon does her best to whip these girls into shape.  If you like shows like Jerry Springer where there is a fight at every corner, then Rock of Love Charm School is a good show for you to check out.  There are one or two girls that may not need the charm school because they seem like they have grace and class already, but don’t let looks and sweetness deceive you.  It’s the quiet sweet ones  that need to be looked out for the most.

Another show that has caught my attention is The Pick-up Artist hosted by the pick up artist himself: Mystery.  The basis for the show is Mystery takes ten men who are relationship challenged, meaning they have a hard time getting close to women, getting them to talk to him let alone getting their number or even a date.  He gives them lessons of course to teach them different things about picking up women.  Mystery shows the guys how to gain the confidence they need to be able to walk up to a women they find attracted to even talk to her and open up the possibility to get a phone number and a date.  These guys are shy, awkward and so many other things.  Some would call them geeks or freaks but by the time Mystery is done with them they are master pick up artists.

The Pick Up Artist is probably my favorite reality show because it isn’t all about playing a game.  It has more to it.  You see the guys growing and becoming more confident and better men through the experience.  It is fun seeing how they react to different situations and some of the tasks that Mystery has them do throughout the weeks.  Some can be a little rough while others seem to the viewer something so simple.  I first caught The Pick Up Artist in a marathon of the first season.  They take the guys and give them makeovers to help them look their best and I have to say, they do a great job, some of the men I wouldn’t consider dating, then the makeover happens and many of them get cuter and don’t look as creepy as they did when they came into the show.

The end of each show is the final task, the task where if they win they get immunity.  They go into a club and try to pick up women.  The change the guys have from the first show to the fourth show is drastic.  They go from constantly being shut down to getting numbers and even a kiss from a girl or two.  When the guys talk in like a video you can see the change and sometimes the pain in their voices.  One of the guys even cry when he realizes he is failing a little or when he gets frustrated.  I honestly think he could go far as long as he is able to get past his own insecurities.  Another guy is too energetic that creeps women out and then they turn him down.  This is a great show because other guys who are in the same situation can learn from them and see what they can do to change things and become men that women would want to be with, and be interested in at least getting to know better.

Reality shows seem to be the big thing in television.  As they start to lose their cool and go to more change based shows like Biggest Loser, VH1 keeps the cut throat reality show alive with all of their shows.  If you like shows that women or men compete for the love of someone there are shows like that, if you like shows where people learn how to better themselves them Charm School and Pick Up Artist are for you.  Even if you like seeing celebrities doing something different and tough, Celebrity Fit Club is a good show to watch which is something like Biggest Loser, but for celebrities.  Vh1 has seemed to start stretching for shows to keep their audiences entertained and they are really keeping them entertained with shows like these.

To avoid being stranded out on the road with your vehicle now is the time to take a few easy precautions to make certain that your vehicle is in the best condition to face winter.

• Make sure you have a can of de-icer spray in the vehicle, preferably a new or recently purchased can.
• If your vehicle is due for a service during the winter months think about getting it done now. Cold weather will show up any failing battery, starter motor, alternator, cooling system thermostat, water pump, and hoses. Any money you may save from not bringing forward the vehicle’s service may be more than offset by recovery costs if you get stuck out on the road and/or a hefty repair bill.
• Check your vehicles cooling system to verify that it contains the correct mix of antifreeze and water; most vehicles need a 50/50 combination of water and antifreeze to be safe throughout Winter. If your vehicles cooling system hasn’t been checked in the last two years it’s worthwhile checking or renewing the coolant, because antifreeze looses its protective power as it gets older. This last point is overlooked by a great many motorists, and yet it is vital. If your cooling system is not up to the job serious and expensive damage to the engine is likely. If you’re unsure how to check or renew the cooling system on your vehicle a garage or service center can do it for you.
• Make sure your vehicle’s windshield wipers are in excellent condition. If they leave smears or marks in your line-of-sight, or make a scraping noise as they move across the glass, renew the blades, not forgetting the rear window wiper if your vehicle has one, and while you’re at the back check that the rear window demisting element works satisfactorily.
• Is your vehicles interior heater working efficiently? Does it de-mist the windshield properly? If it blows cold air, the cooling system may be blocked or thermostat failed. This problem needs to be addressed now.
• Confirm that ALL lamps on the vehicle are operating properly. Pay particular attention to the lenses. Replace any that are cracked, broken or discolored.
• Road-salt and snow churned up by traffic soon turn a windshield dirty so don’t overlook your vehicle’s screen wash system, or be fooled into believing that it won’t freeze; it will. This will this mean you won’t be able to clear your windshield properly when you most need to. It’s also likely that the frozen water will split the reservoir. Top up the screen wash reservoir with proper screen wash additive in the correct proportion. Do not add engine antifreeze to your vehicle’s screen wash, it may damage wipers, rubber seals, and paintwork.

• Make absolutely certain that your vehicle’s tires are in tip-top condition. This means no bulges, splits, cracks, or uneven wear, and that they all have at least the specified legal minimum amount of tread on them, oh, and don’t forget the spare. Check the tire pressures at least twice a week through the winter months, the extremes of temperature make the rubber expand and contract much more than in mild weather.

Winter can be a severe time for all, but with appropriate preparation you and your vehicle should be able to battle the elements and keep going.

My office has been playing “Dirty Santa” each year for 8 years.  It’s a lot of fun, we all laugh and enjoy gifts in the price range provided.  Since there is a Recession this year - I suggested a different gift exchange.

We are going to draw names and buy a gift for the person, but, a gift we think they would enjoy as a child.  The gift will be wrapped, and we will still laugh at the choices - but, after all the fun, we will donate the gifts to our local Toys for Tots charity.

Here is how you can do this with your office or church group.

• DRAW NAMES - You may set price limits or offer suggestions, but it is more fun if you buy thinking specifically of things they would have enjoyed as a child.
• IF YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO EXCHANGE GIFTS - Add an ornament, pins, or Christmas jewelry to the package for your friends to keep.  You may want to include that one the wrapping.
• IT WORKS WELL BECAUSE - You should get a range of gifts for all ages, and Toys for Tots and other organizations usually provide gifts up to children who are 18 years old.

Best of all - this should be a lot of fun.  Laugh and play, celebrate the season of Christmas.

Introduction

There are countless ways on how you will build your own portfolio. Some of the things that you need to know before making a move on creating a portfolio is to prepare an Oral Presentation. When we say oral presentation, it is referring to a descriptive writing that is rich of detailed topics like having a illustrations, props, back ground sound and more to enhance your reading ability and then to to share your work to the audience on how did you made it.

Inspire yourself by asking yourself how did you do it and it will come up with many questions like how did you review your subject and its changes? Did you enjoy making it? Create some questions that you can answer on your own with full of information.

Organize - You need to demonstrate to the audience clearly your work so make them understand what you want to say about your work.

Prepare all the things that you need and start the presentation to the audience. Make sure that all of it are well organize and neat to put some good impression to the presentation.

Before you design your business card you should read up on a few designing tips, here are the main points that you should consider before making designing your business cards.

1) How many people will you be giving these cards out too?

This is because you will need to know how many business cards to order. This is because most websites where you can buy your business cards ask you how many business cards you want before you design them on the designing web page. So if you do not know how many you will be needing before you design them you will not be able to order or design your business card.

2) if you were looking at the business card from someone else’s point of view would you like it?

The main key to this is put yourself in someone else’s shoes, if you think how the people your giving the cards to think then you will have the answer to all your questions.

3) If you were looking at the business card from someone else’s point of view can you read it?

You also have to think about if the person reading your business card can read it. For example if you have dark blue background with black font, the person reading your card will not be able to read the business card.

4) The placement of the description on your card.

You must place the description on your card well, for example you should now have all of the different details (name, business name, website, phone number, email) all bulked up into the middle as this makes it harder to read. You should think carefully and preview your business card as you add new details to it.

Using the above tips you will be well on your way to designing your business cards.

Do you have a hard time getting your nails to grow? I use to bite my fingernails so short they use to bleed! Then I finally came up with a way to help grow your nails out long, and strong! Would you believe me if I told you that you could have nice, long, strong, nails for just one dollar a week?

That’s it, I spent one dollar and learned how to kick my nail biting habit! I now have nails that most people pay to have on their hands!  I haven’t bit my nails in over ten years now! I told my best friend how I did it, and she finally tried it and it worked for her too!

I’m sure you would like to know what you could buy for a dollar that will actually help you to grow your nails out right?  The first week I bought a pack of disposable emery boards, for one dollar. I placed one in every room of the house, a few in my purse, and one in the car so I would always have one handy. Every time that I had the urge to bite my nails, I grabbed a file, and filed them lightly instead! With-in two weeks, my nails had already started to grow. It was way easier to grow your nails, than I thought it would be! I had bitten my nails my whole life, and all of a sudden I no longer needed to!

You may also want to purchase a file called a buffer, also about one dollar! When you grow your nails out for the first time, there may be some damage from all of the prior nail biting. Using a buffer will help to correct this type of nail damage. This is also a great way to strengthen your nails.

Filing your nails will help you grow your nails out long, hard, and strong. It may take three months or so before your nails actually start looking really nice, but you will begin seeing results with-in the first week. I would not advise painting them for the first three months. Some times when polish starts to chip, this may make you want to put them in your mouth, or it could prevent you from wanting to file. If you would like to grow your nails out, give this a try it may work for you, too!

Who decides when a parent needs to let go?  We recently ran into this situation a few weeks ago.  Our daughter is 22 years old and she just moved out.  She took ill one day and needed to go to the ER.  She does not have a car, so she called mom and dad.  We ended up sitting for many hours in the ER with her.  My husband was scheduled to work that day, so, from the ER, he called his supervisor to let her know that he would be late as he is in he ER with his daughter and the docs can’t figure out what is wrong with her.  The supervisor said fine, just keep me updated.  When we finally got out of the ER and were on our way home, my husband called his supervisor again to let her know that since there was only about 2 hours of work left, he would take this as a vacation day.  You see, we live an hour from his work, so by the time he would have gotten there, he would have worked an hour then turned around and went home.

My husband went in to work the next day and was called into the office.  He was told that if it has nothing to do with his wife or handicapped son that lives at home, he is not to take off of work.  They said that “your daughter no longer lives at home and is an adult now and has to learn to take care of herself.”  I was appalled when my husband came home and told me this.  So, in other words, if my other two kids who do not live at home anymore are dying, then he can go to them and take off of work to care for them.  Yeah right!

Who decided that they were the authority on parenting.  Who are they to tell me when to let go of my kids?   l love my kids and they mean the world to me.  They always will.  If they are sick or not, I am going to go to them whenever they need me.  Yes, they have to learn to live on their own, and they are, that doesn’t mean that I can’t help them out once in a while.  Especially when it comes to their health.  I think was my husband supervisor did was uncalled for.  Let see what she does the next time one of her kids gets sick and has to go to the ER.

We are in the process of planning a very large Thanksgiving celebration with my husbands family.  When all of our children were little, we would get together every year for every holiday.  Then as all the kids grew up, some went their own way.  We have some on each side of the country and some with significant others that require their attention at the holidays too.  So, this year, we found out that the ones who no longer live near home are able to come home for Thanksgiving.  We have decided to plan to have everyone together again to celebrate the holiday like we used to.  We used to number around 12.  Now we grew to almost 30.

My mother-in-law called me last week to talk to me about this planned dinner.  We are renting a hall because no one has a big enough house to hold everyone and cook.  What my mother-in-law wanted to know is if we have ever had ham for Thanksgiving?  I do remember a time or two when we did.  She was happy to hear that as she is hungry for ham and wants to go out and buy a ham.  Now my sis-in-law found out about this and was not happy.  She said “no ham because no one will eat turkey.”

Now, I don’t see what difference it makes.  Ham or turkey is fine with me.  Sure turkey is tradition, but whats more important, holiday tradition or family tradition?  Eating ham instead of turkey is not going to make it any less Thanksgiving than eating turkey.  Besides, I think just being together again is the highlight of the holiday.  I don’t care if I eat mac and cheese, with all the people I love around me, I am more than thankful.