NCarolinian

            Much, if not all, of what gets planted in the natural world does not have a choice in the matter. The Seed does not have any choice in when it is planted, where it is planted, how it is planted, who plants it or the purpose of its planting.     Now a tree or any other healthy plant will contain a strong root system. There are usually tells or signs in nature if a tree or plant is healthy and this reflects on the root system. The environment the seed developed under - the favorable conditions that kept the growth process flowing, proper soil and few weeds are all contributors to a healthy tree or plant.      The human being has Seeds that he/she can deposit every day - words and actions. The difference here is that people have the power of the deposit or the planting. Once our word-choice or act has been decided and seeded, either on purpose, casual conversation or in jest - the seed is planted.    ...

            I was sitting in on a business class recently where the professor mentioned organizations usually don't have leaders that are good managers and managers that are good leaders, you most likely will have one or the other and hopefully you have the right role in the correct business position (i.e. CEO, Program Dir., Staff Manager, etc..).      Although it may be rare, I believe leadership and managerial qualities can both reside within a person of the highest authority and responsibility at any organization.       A leader coming from a previous managing background or position would seem healthy and supportive for the leadership role. Managing before leading means delegating responsibilities within a team, assuring cohesiveness on the squad and supplying the group with the tools to keep them productive. All these managerial duties are hands-on or personal and are an important foundational element as a leader....

     The King James Version of the Bible speaks about Faith by saying, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)      The New International Version translates that same verse - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."      One can break this topic of faith down by having a question and answer session with this verse.      What do we "hope for" ? God's promises for our lives to be fulfilled.      How are God's promises connected to our faith? The tangible, track record of God or God's faithfulness is the "substance" of faith. Having these two in tandem - God's track record of faithfulness in our lives and His future promises is the first half of Faith.      The second half of Faith is very similar to the first - "the evidence of things not seen" . What are the "things not seen" ? Now-a-days,...

  One of the problems this world has and Christianity has that can be remedied immediately is the lack of Confidentiality. Anybody can observe this issue in relationships of friends, family, the government, but dare I say - The Church. I would like to strongly recommend to Christians who regularly pray that you NOT mention another person in prayer concerning a Confidential matter.  Some churches and Christians use prayer groups and "Prayer Requests" as a Gossip Line within the community. This has potential for emotional and relational damage, especially if someone uses private information as a personal advantage.  Many times the stigma of just having a "Major Concern" can return to the person with the problem because a believer shared an "unspoken need" of another. Again, I would strongly encourage you NOT to do this because this is just as bad, at least in my book, as violating an agreed upon Keep of Confidentiality.  Stop the potential damage to relation...

  "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. Performed on Twitch Sings platform by me and Joliet4. Enjoy.

The following is a video I want to share of the song "Hero" by Mariah Carey. This was done on the Twitch Sings platform where one person (usually on the left) records their half of the song and the other person comes to that person's presence on Twitch Sings and completes the other half (usually on the right). This is me and BatSam. Hope you enjoy.

In the movie "Shawshank Redemption" Red says to Andy - "Hope is a dangerous thing my friend, it can kill a man." Andy replies, "Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things. And good things never die." God gave the world Hope thousands of years before Christ arrived. Many Christians who study the Scripture know of Old Testament passages that reveal the prophetic word of Jesus' miraculous birth, His life, suffering and death for the redemption of all.  However, how many of us know or research the Old Testament passages that foretell Christ's resurrection? Paul mentions this prophetic support  of Christ's resurrection in the O.T. in his letter to the believers in Corinth. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, . . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in ...