Elie Goldschmidt, a fellow acupuncturist, has recently come out with an e-book that I think all acupuncturists should have if they want an easy way to more effectively monetize their practice.
The e-book is called The Secret to Acupuncture Insurance Billing: The Secret to How I Earn Up to $300 Per Treatment and So Can You!
This is a short, to-the-point manual that you can read in about an hour and start making money from pretty much right away. The e-book is about $30, but could easily add thousands to your bottom line year in and year out in your private practice.
Normally I encourage my coaching clients to do as much as possible to build a cash-based private practice. But if you can eliminate most of the negatives of dealing with insurance AND you can ethically and honestly make $3-400 per treatment, I say, why not??
The beauty of this approach is that it works best if you are out-of-network with the insurance companies. That is perk #1 because being in-network is pretty much an awful ordeal a lot of the time. Perk #2 is that you can outsource your medical billing to an expert who will only take a small percentage of paid claims. This will eliminate all of the hassle involved in paperwork and follow up, which can be tedious and very time-consuming.
Perk #3 is that you really can make this much per treatment! I used to bill as Elie recommends when I took some insurance in my practice and it definitely works.
Check out Elie's ebook and learn how to monetize your practice more effectively. This will help you bring more new patients in the door and make quite a bit more money in the process.
You can learn about acupuncture insurance billing on my blog by following this link. You can also learn more about acupuncture marketing at my membership site. Kevin Doherty, L.Ac. is a practice-building coach for acupuncturists around the world.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1320947_15.html
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Saturday, February 6, 2010
Pregnancy Miracle Book Review - Pregnancy Miracle by Lisa Olson
I being one of them who was not convinced and when I dug further with a friend who successfully conceived after a lot of pain, I was astonished to hear that they are taking the advice of a lady called Lisa Olson thorough a e-book called Pregnancy Miracle. Since this arose a hope as well as suspicion in me, I decided to delve further.
Once I got home, I switched on my computer and went on to the e-book's website. At first, it looked like any other web page that sells wares on the internet. As is a habit I scrolled right to the bottom and found the price of the e-book was $39 and it comes with a lot of bonuses as thought it was not selling. After going through numerous experience testimonials and speaking to a few of them myself, I was convinced that this was not a scam or a hoax.
The longing for a child got the better of me here. I have been married for 12 years and after all the efforts could not conceive a child. All our visits to the doctors have turned out no evidence as to the reason. This instilled hope and I began at the beginning to read the e-book. It took me the better part of my time everyday to read and understand what Lisa was trying to say.
It all made sense and then I began to look at Pregnancy Miracle by lisa olson is different light. All the points discussed were relevant and Lisa would not know a lot of these things unless she has sailed in the same boat. I found out that she has and has been researching this field for about 14 years, in fact she has dedicated her life to the cause of women who are infertile, to cure them and get them to conceive.
After reading, understanding and following her advice, I followed the five step process and in a very short period of four months and in fact, three years down the line, I am a mother of two healthy children, a boy and a girl. As parents, me and my husband have been thrilled.
To Download Pregnancy Miracle Book by Lisa Olson Visit Website Below:
Click Here to Download Pregnancy Miracle Book By Lisa Olson
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1220913_61.html
Once I got home, I switched on my computer and went on to the e-book's website. At first, it looked like any other web page that sells wares on the internet. As is a habit I scrolled right to the bottom and found the price of the e-book was $39 and it comes with a lot of bonuses as thought it was not selling. After going through numerous experience testimonials and speaking to a few of them myself, I was convinced that this was not a scam or a hoax.
The longing for a child got the better of me here. I have been married for 12 years and after all the efforts could not conceive a child. All our visits to the doctors have turned out no evidence as to the reason. This instilled hope and I began at the beginning to read the e-book. It took me the better part of my time everyday to read and understand what Lisa was trying to say.
It all made sense and then I began to look at Pregnancy Miracle by lisa olson is different light. All the points discussed were relevant and Lisa would not know a lot of these things unless she has sailed in the same boat. I found out that she has and has been researching this field for about 14 years, in fact she has dedicated her life to the cause of women who are infertile, to cure them and get them to conceive.
After reading, understanding and following her advice, I followed the five step process and in a very short period of four months and in fact, three years down the line, I am a mother of two healthy children, a boy and a girl. As parents, me and my husband have been thrilled.
To Download Pregnancy Miracle Book by Lisa Olson Visit Website Below:
Click Here to Download Pregnancy Miracle Book By Lisa Olson
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1220913_61.html
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Three Cups of Tea - A Book Review
Author: SusanO
Three Cups of Tea
One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
VIKING Hardcover 2006 ISBN 0-670-03482-7
PENGUIN Paperback 2007 ISBN 978-0-14-303825-2
TANTOR Audio 2007 ISBN 1-4001-0251-0
TANTOR MP3 Digital 2007 ISBN 1-4001-5251-8
WHEELER Large Print 2008 ISBN 978-1-59722-624-0
You're stranded in the bitter cold of the Karakorum mountain range in
Pakistan. You're separated from your guide and friends, alone, and without proper gear. What do you do? You keep moving! "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the story of how one man kept moving.
When Greg Mortenson failed to make the summit of K2, he was devastated, but worse than that he was lost. He had been separated from his guide twice, but managed to make it to the tree line alone. Once there, he soon wandered into the village of Korphi. Hospitality is not an option in this part of the world. You take in strangers. In spite of extreme poverty, Mortenson was taken into the village and nursed back to health in the home of the village elder Hajii Ali. Little did he know that Hajii Ali would become a close friend and a type of mentor as he did his work in Pakistan.
Living among these simple people, Mortenson was impressed by their friendliness and fortitude in the face of a difficult existence. Even though he was a nurse, the people of Korphi and surrounding villages began to call him Dr. Greg because of the basic medical care he dispensed. The people suffered from goiters, cataracts and malnutrition. One out of every three children died before reaching the age of one. And the nearest doctor was a week's walk from the village.
Dr. Greg was also impressed by their hunger for knowledge. Although the teacher only visited Korphi three days a week, the students gathered every day for their lessons. Seventy-eight boys and four brave girls gathered to practice multiplication tables with sticks in the dirt. The village couldn't afford a teacher of their own so they shared with a neighboring village. It cost one dollar a day for a teacher! When Mortenson left, he promised to return and build them a school.
As in many other parts of the world, the only way out of the desperate life of village survival is education. This was an option for a few fortunate boys, but for girls it was not an option in Pakistan. At least not in the mountains. For a girl to be educated, not only did she have to have money to leave the mountains, but for a male relative to accompany her. But girls, unlike many boys, if educated would return to the village and help improve the life of the villagers. This is what Mortenson wanted to see.
Three Cups of Tea is also about our approach to the world. In accepting the villagers exactly as they were Mortenson gained an acceptance that is very rare for a westerner in an Islamic country. This acceptance comes from the fact that he got to know them, their desires and needs, in the context of the life that is precious to them. He didn't try to change them, just added value to what they already had.
Mortenson kept his promise. He did return, and the journey back to Korphi was in some ways as challenging as the ascent of the mountains. Through raising money, arranging for materials, and negotiating physical and political obstacles, Mortenson didn't give up. And once the school was built, the need was still there, so he didn't stop.
Beginning in the village of Korphe, Pakistan and continuing today in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Morentson and the organizations he founded, Central Asia Institute and Pennies For Peace, have continued to build schools. As of 2008, they have completed 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, many of which are specifically for girls.
The writing in this book is excellent and the story inspiring. In my
opinion, this is a must read for anyone who is interested in making our world a better place.
For more information see the following:
http://www.ikat.org (Central Asia Institute)
http://www.penniesforpeace.org
http://www.threecupsoftea.com
One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
VIKING Hardcover 2006 ISBN 0-670-03482-7
PENGUIN Paperback 2007 ISBN 978-0-14-303825-2
TANTOR Audio 2007 ISBN 1-4001-0251-0
TANTOR MP3 Digital 2007 ISBN 1-4001-5251-8
WHEELER Large Print 2008 ISBN 978-1-59722-624-0
You're stranded in the bitter cold of the Karakorum mountain range in
Pakistan. You're separated from your guide and friends, alone, and without proper gear. What do you do? You keep moving! "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the story of how one man kept moving.
When Greg Mortenson failed to make the summit of K2, he was devastated, but worse than that he was lost. He had been separated from his guide twice, but managed to make it to the tree line alone. Once there, he soon wandered into the village of Korphi. Hospitality is not an option in this part of the world. You take in strangers. In spite of extreme poverty, Mortenson was taken into the village and nursed back to health in the home of the village elder Hajii Ali. Little did he know that Hajii Ali would become a close friend and a type of mentor as he did his work in Pakistan.
Living among these simple people, Mortenson was impressed by their friendliness and fortitude in the face of a difficult existence. Even though he was a nurse, the people of Korphi and surrounding villages began to call him Dr. Greg because of the basic medical care he dispensed. The people suffered from goiters, cataracts and malnutrition. One out of every three children died before reaching the age of one. And the nearest doctor was a week's walk from the village.
Dr. Greg was also impressed by their hunger for knowledge. Although the teacher only visited Korphi three days a week, the students gathered every day for their lessons. Seventy-eight boys and four brave girls gathered to practice multiplication tables with sticks in the dirt. The village couldn't afford a teacher of their own so they shared with a neighboring village. It cost one dollar a day for a teacher! When Mortenson left, he promised to return and build them a school.
As in many other parts of the world, the only way out of the desperate life of village survival is education. This was an option for a few fortunate boys, but for girls it was not an option in Pakistan. At least not in the mountains. For a girl to be educated, not only did she have to have money to leave the mountains, but for a male relative to accompany her. But girls, unlike many boys, if educated would return to the village and help improve the life of the villagers. This is what Mortenson wanted to see.
Three Cups of Tea is also about our approach to the world. In accepting the villagers exactly as they were Mortenson gained an acceptance that is very rare for a westerner in an Islamic country. This acceptance comes from the fact that he got to know them, their desires and needs, in the context of the life that is precious to them. He didn't try to change them, just added value to what they already had.
Mortenson kept his promise. He did return, and the journey back to Korphi was in some ways as challenging as the ascent of the mountains. Through raising money, arranging for materials, and negotiating physical and political obstacles, Mortenson didn't give up. And once the school was built, the need was still there, so he didn't stop.
Beginning in the village of Korphe, Pakistan and continuing today in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Morentson and the organizations he founded, Central Asia Institute and Pennies For Peace, have continued to build schools. As of 2008, they have completed 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, many of which are specifically for girls.
The writing in this book is excellent and the story inspiring. In my
opinion, this is a must read for anyone who is interested in making our world a better place.
For more information see the following:
http://www.ikat.org (Central Asia Institute)
http://www.penniesforpeace.org
http://www.threecupsoftea.com
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1089281_22.html
The Buffett System - Book Review
Author: Stock Market Success Online
The Buffett System
The Buffett system is developed to show exactly how Warren Buffett invests. This man is an investor who has gained the respect and awe of the entire investment community with his soldier like discipline, rocketing success and his constant battle with Bill Gates as the richest man in the world.
The Introduction of this book boasts that it is a “step-by-step guide – complete with a worksheet to assist you” which will show you “exactly how to invest like Warren Buffett… RIGHT NOW!” This sets high expectations from the start, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. It does focus on the US with American sites to get info. However, the actual system could be replicated on any market in the world.
The book starts off with some concepts including visualising your stocks as companies, not just symbols and prices, diversification and your company’s “moat” as well as the three biggest mistakes investors make. There were a number of “value screeners” offered so as to find a place to start. This is extremely important as a journey is difficult to end if there is no starting point.
“Crunching the Numbers” covered the actual roadmap of picking out the important numbers lending to fundamental analysis and processing them. This was the part that really did it for me. There absolute clarity as to where to find these crucial “numbers”. Due to the importance of this section, several screen shots are included to hold your hand completely through sifting your way to find the information required.
“Valuation “ summed up the preceding chapters and led us right to the decision of whether or not to invest with some minor computations, with the aid of a particular online calculator designed to facilitate us.
With reference to selling, I quote “we won’t be offering any vague advice here” and it’s true – the book gives another simple process to make it possible for you to decide whether to hold or sell. The book finishes with some appendices i.e. a worksheet which provides the template for one’s investments, suggested reading etc.
For the advanced investor, I would suggest writing far out of the money calls to increase your income and perhaps do better than the Buffett System.
Overall, I found this an excellent book and would highly recommend it to either a novice or experienced seeking a worthwhile, profitable system for picking out stocks to include in your portfolio.
The team at stockmarketsuccessonline.com are dedicated to spreading the word about how the greatest investor in the world chooses his stocks - this great man deserves a legacy! If you would like to learn more about the book, you can do so at www.stockmarketsuccessonline.com.
The Buffett system is developed to show exactly how Warren Buffett invests. This man is an investor who has gained the respect and awe of the entire investment community with his soldier like discipline, rocketing success and his constant battle with Bill Gates as the richest man in the world.
The Introduction of this book boasts that it is a “step-by-step guide – complete with a worksheet to assist you” which will show you “exactly how to invest like Warren Buffett… RIGHT NOW!” This sets high expectations from the start, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. It does focus on the US with American sites to get info. However, the actual system could be replicated on any market in the world.
The book starts off with some concepts including visualising your stocks as companies, not just symbols and prices, diversification and your company’s “moat” as well as the three biggest mistakes investors make. There were a number of “value screeners” offered so as to find a place to start. This is extremely important as a journey is difficult to end if there is no starting point.
“Crunching the Numbers” covered the actual roadmap of picking out the important numbers lending to fundamental analysis and processing them. This was the part that really did it for me. There absolute clarity as to where to find these crucial “numbers”. Due to the importance of this section, several screen shots are included to hold your hand completely through sifting your way to find the information required.
“Valuation “ summed up the preceding chapters and led us right to the decision of whether or not to invest with some minor computations, with the aid of a particular online calculator designed to facilitate us.
With reference to selling, I quote “we won’t be offering any vague advice here” and it’s true – the book gives another simple process to make it possible for you to decide whether to hold or sell. The book finishes with some appendices i.e. a worksheet which provides the template for one’s investments, suggested reading etc.
For the advanced investor, I would suggest writing far out of the money calls to increase your income and perhaps do better than the Buffett System.
Overall, I found this an excellent book and would highly recommend it to either a novice or experienced seeking a worthwhile, profitable system for picking out stocks to include in your portfolio.
The team at stockmarketsuccessonline.com are dedicated to spreading the word about how the greatest investor in the world chooses his stocks - this great man deserves a legacy! If you would like to learn more about the book, you can do so at www.stockmarketsuccessonline.com.
Astral Projection Book Review
Author: Rin
If you are looking for an astral projection book that will teach you everything you need to know about astral projection, then you need not look any further after reading Astral Projection Underground by Abhishek Agarwal. In this 350 page book, he reveals some of the most closely guarded secrets from India about astral projection. In fact, what he teaches in this book is so powerful that you are guaranteed to have your first astral projection in 30 days or less.
You may be wondering what exactly does Agarwal teach in this book that makes it so special? Well I will try my best to break it down for you.
The first thing I thought I should mention is that this astral projection book has been written based on 15 years of research and experience. It is not based on myth or any personal beliefs, it is based on the author's personal experiences and the techniques he has used to master this almost lost skill.
Just a few of the things you will learn include:
*The basics of astral projection (covered in Chapter 1)
*There are actually benefits from astral projection that you might not have been aware of. (covered in Chapter 2 )
* In Chapter 3, all the myths and misunderstands regarding astral projection are set straight for the record.
*8 Tips that will help prepare you and get you ready for astral projection
*22 techniques for astral projection
and much more! I have just covered a few of the things included in this astral projection book.
If you would like to learn more about Astral Projection Underground, you can download the first 2 chapters for free at AstralProjectionRevealed.com.
Also, you can read another review of this book by visiting Astral Projection Book
You may be wondering what exactly does Agarwal teach in this book that makes it so special? Well I will try my best to break it down for you.
The first thing I thought I should mention is that this astral projection book has been written based on 15 years of research and experience. It is not based on myth or any personal beliefs, it is based on the author's personal experiences and the techniques he has used to master this almost lost skill.
Just a few of the things you will learn include:
*The basics of astral projection (covered in Chapter 1)
*There are actually benefits from astral projection that you might not have been aware of. (covered in Chapter 2 )
* In Chapter 3, all the myths and misunderstands regarding astral projection are set straight for the record.
*8 Tips that will help prepare you and get you ready for astral projection
*22 techniques for astral projection
and much more! I have just covered a few of the things included in this astral projection book.
If you would like to learn more about Astral Projection Underground, you can download the first 2 chapters for free at AstralProjectionRevealed.com.
Also, you can read another review of this book by visiting Astral Projection Book
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_880497_51.html
Monday, July 6, 2009
Book Review: The Shack
An associate at work insisted I read "The Shack." He wouldn't give me many details of the book but did say it revealed God's grace in personal tragedy. After a few false starts, I was able to finally start the book.
Not being a great fan of Christian novels, I was immediately disappointed but endeavored to continue reading. I confessed I was entertained by Young's prose in that he gave so much detail in visualizations of descriptions. I did become distracted as I begin to analyze his style and forgot about the message. However, all authors have their own distinct style and I should leave it at that. In chapter 7 he became C.S. Lewisesque with the transformation of the lead character's reality (Mark) into a fantasy land. Ugh..., Lord of the Rings here we go. (I enjoyed the movies but just couldn't hang with the books.)
If you have ever read C.S. Lewis, "The Chronicles of Narnia" or John Bunyan's "Pilgrim Progress," you understand how the authors use the power of metaphor and association to illustrate the character and attributes of God. Young uses contemporary metaphor to reveal God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. He lets the dynamics of the family relationship describe his understanding of the trinity. The reader can immediately identify the three persons of the Godhead by the roles Young has assigned to them. I'll admit that God cast as an Aunt Jemima type threw me for a loop at first. However, "God" explained that "She" appeared in the form that Mark identified with or needed most, i.e., a nurturing mother. Jesus was portrayed as handyman fisherman good ole' boy. I never did figure out the Holy Spirit.
Leaving Young's entertainment value behind, I began analyzing his theology. I easily concluded that Young believes in classic Pelagianism. Which is what, you ask? Let me quote from Wikipedia, "It is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without Divine aid. Thus, Adam's sin was "to set a bad example" for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences imputed to Original Sin. Pelagianism views the role of Jesus as "setting a good example" for the rest of humanity (thus counteracting Adam's bad example). In short, humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for its own salvation in addition to full responsibility for every sin (the latter insisted upon by both proponents and opponents of Pelagianism). According to Pelagian doctrine, because humanity does not require God's grace for salvation (beyond the creation of will) Jesus' execution is devoid of the redemptive quality ascribed to it by orthodox Christian theology."
Young unfortunately in his attempt to personalize the Godhead did so at the expense of the Godhead sovereignty. Young's god is similar to the one theorized by Pelagius. God created the world and sits back and observes life as it acts itself out--only occasionally intervening, but doing so as to not interfere with man's so called "freewill." Of course, God often resists the temptation to intervene because of His love for His creatures. This is not unlike a clockmaker who winds up a clock, places it on the mantle, and watches time go by. The clockmaker’s only chore is wind it up from time to time.
Young’s casual approach to illustrate the sovereign God described in the Bible leads me to think he was influenced by Harold S. Kushner's book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." This little book was published in the early 1980's and was a big seller. In it, Kushner trashed God’s omnipotence and omniscience. Kushner stated, "If God can't make my sickness go away, what good is He? Who needs Him? God does not want you to be sick or crippled. He didn't make you have this problem, and He doesn't want you to go on having it, but He can't make it go away. That is something which is too hard even for God." Of course, I have no idea if Young ever read Kushner, but the thought did pass my mind.
I'll give Young high marks for his description of lead character’s encounter with the judge. Young captured the key cause of our character's continued remorse and brooding over his personal loss. Our hero was blaming God for his loss and angry at God for not intervening. People murmuring and complaining about how life has "dealt them a bad hand of cards" is a stab at God.
In my counseling ministry most people seeking solutions for their problems are unhappy that God didn’t give them a better break. Whether it is a better set of parents or a more loving and responsible spouse, counselees are disappointed with God that He hasn’t given them a hassle free life. They fail to see the purpose of suffering, and certainly don’t appreciate Romans 8:28-29: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." How can "all things work together for god to them that love God?" I believe trials and tribulations ("things") help us to be more Christ like in our character and behavior.
I've met several people who have read or are currently reading The Shack. Young's talent has captured the minds of many and some are riveted to his book. It's unfortunate that they will be left with an image of God not of the scriptures. For instance, why did God create Pharaoh of Egypt? What was the purpose of the book of Job? How did Judas Iscariot glorify God? What is Romans chapter 9 talking about? The scriptures are loaded with themes and illustrations that demonstrate God's power. These events display His attributes and how they interact to create His perfect plan.
For whatever reason, Young seeks to feminize the Godhead by making two of the persons of the trinity women. On page 93, Papa says, "I am neither male nor female." That is a great stretch especially when you consider that of all the appearances of a deity to a human, or to a divine disclosure in the Bible (known as Theophany for God's appearance and Christophany for Christ), not one is feminine. If God made man in His own image, why was Adam created a man? Why not something else?
So why did Young want God to appear as a female? It’s possible with his exposure as a missionary, Young wanted to introduce diversity; whether it be in sex, races, or culture. It’s also possible he wanted humankind to identify more with God if Young could be successful in making God appear more human. If God used Christ’s appearance in the Bible as Middle Eastern man to build the His bridge, why not introduce African and Oriental women to enhance the identification? Let’s not quibble. At least when CS Lewis created the lion, Aslan, to personify Christ, the Lewis reader had no problem comprehending the comparison of a Lion to Christ.
My greatest problem is with Young’s lack of understanding of sin and salvation and the Gospel message. Let me quote on page 225, Papa says "I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship." And later, "When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment."
Then what condemns a person to eternal damnation? In context, Young apparently is teaching it is the lack of a relationship that sends a person to hell. If this be true, then a relationship can only exist when one believes. So, if a person doesn’t believe, then it must be the sin of unbelief that condemns a man.
The Puritan John Owen (1616-1683), posed the following question, "For Who Did Christ Die?"
1. All the sins of all men.
2. All the sins of some men, or
3. Some of the sins of all men.
In which case it may be said:
1. If the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved.
2. That if the second be true, then Christ, suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world.
3. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?
Some may answer, "Because of unbelief (or lack of relationship)."
I would ask, is this unbelief (i.e., lack of relationship according to Young) a sin, or is it not? If it is, then Christ suffered the punishment for it, or He did not. If He did, why must that sin condemn them more than their other sins for which Christ died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins."
The Bible clearly teaches that grace is what saves and uses faith as the means. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that even the faith is a gift of God so we can’t boast. Furthermore, Young’s theology leaves no room for the doctrine of Justification by Faith. How is a person declared righteous before God? Young needs a clear reading of Abraham’s account in Romans.
Overall, The Shack is an entertaining read and I would put it on a shelf next to the Christian romance novels genre which my oldest son refers to as "Christian smut." It certainly doesn’t belong near Pilgrim’s Progress or near any good books on the nature of God.
If one is looking for a solid Biblically based book on how to deal with personal suffering, I strongly recommend Jerry Bridges book, "Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts" Bridges shows how we must learn about God's sovereignty, wisdom, and love if we want to know Him better. You won’t be disappointed.
Johnny is an instructor and counselor at the Gateway Biblical Counseling and Training Center, located at Edgemont Bible Church, 5100 North Illinois, Fairview Heights, Illinois, 62208.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_952290_51.html
Not being a great fan of Christian novels, I was immediately disappointed but endeavored to continue reading. I confessed I was entertained by Young's prose in that he gave so much detail in visualizations of descriptions. I did become distracted as I begin to analyze his style and forgot about the message. However, all authors have their own distinct style and I should leave it at that. In chapter 7 he became C.S. Lewisesque with the transformation of the lead character's reality (Mark) into a fantasy land. Ugh..., Lord of the Rings here we go. (I enjoyed the movies but just couldn't hang with the books.)
If you have ever read C.S. Lewis, "The Chronicles of Narnia" or John Bunyan's "Pilgrim Progress," you understand how the authors use the power of metaphor and association to illustrate the character and attributes of God. Young uses contemporary metaphor to reveal God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. He lets the dynamics of the family relationship describe his understanding of the trinity. The reader can immediately identify the three persons of the Godhead by the roles Young has assigned to them. I'll admit that God cast as an Aunt Jemima type threw me for a loop at first. However, "God" explained that "She" appeared in the form that Mark identified with or needed most, i.e., a nurturing mother. Jesus was portrayed as handyman fisherman good ole' boy. I never did figure out the Holy Spirit.
Leaving Young's entertainment value behind, I began analyzing his theology. I easily concluded that Young believes in classic Pelagianism. Which is what, you ask? Let me quote from Wikipedia, "It is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without Divine aid. Thus, Adam's sin was "to set a bad example" for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences imputed to Original Sin. Pelagianism views the role of Jesus as "setting a good example" for the rest of humanity (thus counteracting Adam's bad example). In short, humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for its own salvation in addition to full responsibility for every sin (the latter insisted upon by both proponents and opponents of Pelagianism). According to Pelagian doctrine, because humanity does not require God's grace for salvation (beyond the creation of will) Jesus' execution is devoid of the redemptive quality ascribed to it by orthodox Christian theology."
Young unfortunately in his attempt to personalize the Godhead did so at the expense of the Godhead sovereignty. Young's god is similar to the one theorized by Pelagius. God created the world and sits back and observes life as it acts itself out--only occasionally intervening, but doing so as to not interfere with man's so called "freewill." Of course, God often resists the temptation to intervene because of His love for His creatures. This is not unlike a clockmaker who winds up a clock, places it on the mantle, and watches time go by. The clockmaker’s only chore is wind it up from time to time.
Young’s casual approach to illustrate the sovereign God described in the Bible leads me to think he was influenced by Harold S. Kushner's book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." This little book was published in the early 1980's and was a big seller. In it, Kushner trashed God’s omnipotence and omniscience. Kushner stated, "If God can't make my sickness go away, what good is He? Who needs Him? God does not want you to be sick or crippled. He didn't make you have this problem, and He doesn't want you to go on having it, but He can't make it go away. That is something which is too hard even for God." Of course, I have no idea if Young ever read Kushner, but the thought did pass my mind.
I'll give Young high marks for his description of lead character’s encounter with the judge. Young captured the key cause of our character's continued remorse and brooding over his personal loss. Our hero was blaming God for his loss and angry at God for not intervening. People murmuring and complaining about how life has "dealt them a bad hand of cards" is a stab at God.
In my counseling ministry most people seeking solutions for their problems are unhappy that God didn’t give them a better break. Whether it is a better set of parents or a more loving and responsible spouse, counselees are disappointed with God that He hasn’t given them a hassle free life. They fail to see the purpose of suffering, and certainly don’t appreciate Romans 8:28-29: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." How can "all things work together for god to them that love God?" I believe trials and tribulations ("things") help us to be more Christ like in our character and behavior.
I've met several people who have read or are currently reading The Shack. Young's talent has captured the minds of many and some are riveted to his book. It's unfortunate that they will be left with an image of God not of the scriptures. For instance, why did God create Pharaoh of Egypt? What was the purpose of the book of Job? How did Judas Iscariot glorify God? What is Romans chapter 9 talking about? The scriptures are loaded with themes and illustrations that demonstrate God's power. These events display His attributes and how they interact to create His perfect plan.
For whatever reason, Young seeks to feminize the Godhead by making two of the persons of the trinity women. On page 93, Papa says, "I am neither male nor female." That is a great stretch especially when you consider that of all the appearances of a deity to a human, or to a divine disclosure in the Bible (known as Theophany for God's appearance and Christophany for Christ), not one is feminine. If God made man in His own image, why was Adam created a man? Why not something else?
So why did Young want God to appear as a female? It’s possible with his exposure as a missionary, Young wanted to introduce diversity; whether it be in sex, races, or culture. It’s also possible he wanted humankind to identify more with God if Young could be successful in making God appear more human. If God used Christ’s appearance in the Bible as Middle Eastern man to build the His bridge, why not introduce African and Oriental women to enhance the identification? Let’s not quibble. At least when CS Lewis created the lion, Aslan, to personify Christ, the Lewis reader had no problem comprehending the comparison of a Lion to Christ.
My greatest problem is with Young’s lack of understanding of sin and salvation and the Gospel message. Let me quote on page 225, Papa says "I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship." And later, "When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment."
Then what condemns a person to eternal damnation? In context, Young apparently is teaching it is the lack of a relationship that sends a person to hell. If this be true, then a relationship can only exist when one believes. So, if a person doesn’t believe, then it must be the sin of unbelief that condemns a man.
The Puritan John Owen (1616-1683), posed the following question, "For Who Did Christ Die?"
1. All the sins of all men.
2. All the sins of some men, or
3. Some of the sins of all men.
In which case it may be said:
1. If the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved.
2. That if the second be true, then Christ, suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world.
3. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?
Some may answer, "Because of unbelief (or lack of relationship)."
I would ask, is this unbelief (i.e., lack of relationship according to Young) a sin, or is it not? If it is, then Christ suffered the punishment for it, or He did not. If He did, why must that sin condemn them more than their other sins for which Christ died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins."
The Bible clearly teaches that grace is what saves and uses faith as the means. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that even the faith is a gift of God so we can’t boast. Furthermore, Young’s theology leaves no room for the doctrine of Justification by Faith. How is a person declared righteous before God? Young needs a clear reading of Abraham’s account in Romans.
Overall, The Shack is an entertaining read and I would put it on a shelf next to the Christian romance novels genre which my oldest son refers to as "Christian smut." It certainly doesn’t belong near Pilgrim’s Progress or near any good books on the nature of God.
If one is looking for a solid Biblically based book on how to deal with personal suffering, I strongly recommend Jerry Bridges book, "Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts" Bridges shows how we must learn about God's sovereignty, wisdom, and love if we want to know Him better. You won’t be disappointed.
Johnny is an instructor and counselor at the Gateway Biblical Counseling and Training Center, located at Edgemont Bible Church, 5100 North Illinois, Fairview Heights, Illinois, 62208.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_952290_51.html
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Book Review of West's Time Machine, A Novel for Youth.
Foreword Magazine called it, "a fascinating adventure through time." West's Time Machine is an exhilarating novel that is jam packed with 187 pages of never-ending action. For those who love the thrill of time travel and those who love Einstein, this book combines the two to create the adventure of a lifetime.
A year after the tragic car accident that killed West and Gina's parents, the kids come across some old boxes in a shed. The boxes belonged to their parents and to their amazement, one of them contained the parts of a 1955 Harley Davidson. West felt that his parents would love to have put that old bike together, so as a tribute to them, he and his baby sister begin to piece together the motorcycle until they at last finish it in all its glory.
The old shed that contained the box of motorcycle parts also held many other boxes with the bold white letters ‘Property of NASA,' written across them. The kids catch sight of these and asked their grandmother about them. As it turns out, their father bought them long ago at a NASA auction and thought he could build something useful from all the parts. West and Gina decide to search through the boxes to see what fun treasures they might find. They find a mysterious brown folder marked TOP SECRET. They opened the folder and found the plans for building an actual time machine. They quickly set upon themselves to build this machine from the parts in the boxes. Once built, they attached it to the side of the motorcycle.
When trying out the motorcycle, they accidently activate the time travel box, which transports them back in time to the August 5th, 1948. Here they meet Albert Einstein. He becomes fascinated by the motorcycle and takes it for a joy ride. West and Gina jump on behind him and shoot through time until they find themselves safely back at home in 2008.
The two kids teach Albert Einstein about the many technological marvels of today, like laptop computers and on-line chatting plus much more. When West's teacher takes a small break to have her baby, Einstein gets the chance to take over. Albert takes the time machine box off the motorcycle and brings it to class with him in hopes of learning more about it. When Albert isn't paying attention, one of the students begin messing with the time machine and in avertedly ends up sending the entire classroom and its contents into the past to 1875. The students are taken aback at first, but then decide that they should take this opportunity to look around a bit at their surroundings.
West encounters Billy The Kid in a jail cell window and gets talked into reaching in the adjacent window to grab the jail keys off the desk. He hands them to Billy, not wanting to leave a kid behind bars. After some interesting interactions with the local towns folk, Einstein leads them back to their classroom and turns on the time machine taking them all back to the present. This causes the students to go home, raving about the great Mr. Albert and how he caused them to become more interested in science and history. The school principal is so taken aback that he offers Mr. Albert the chance to teach West's classroom for the rest of the week.
Gina and West beg Albert to help them rescue their parents who died in a devastating car crash one year earlier. When Albert is certain that he has learned how to control the time machine, all three of them get on the motorcycle and begin traveling through time. Suddenly West and Gina's argument breaks out into a hitting and kicking fight while on the bike. They accidentally hit some of the time machine controls, sending them not to the past, but sprawling forward into the future! More than 2300 years into the future, where they find the last city left on Earth, Atlantis. The three of them get shrunk down to size of raisins so that they can enter the miniature city of Atlantis, where they find the only food sources are insects and fungus. Trying to save the people of Atlantis, they strap the time machine box to both the motorcycle and the tiny city in an attempt to bring them back to the year 2007, when food and life on Earth is plentiful and their parents were alive. When they arrived, they had only minutes to prevent their parent's car accident. The people of Atlantis offered to pay back his kindness by helping to save his parents.
It is a captivating book with adventure around every corner. They travel through time not once, but many times, encountering many oddities and wonders that stimulate the creativity and imagination of the reader. This is a must have for any library. This novel can be found at any on-line bookstore like Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
--
Please have a look at novels West's Time Machine, and George's Pond.
West's Time Machine Novel:
http://www.amazon.com/Wests-Time-Machine-Scott-Waring/dp/0595418872
George's Pond Novel:
www.amazon.com/Georges-Pond-Created-Tradition-Charlottes/dp/0595421350
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_799510_32.html
A year after the tragic car accident that killed West and Gina's parents, the kids come across some old boxes in a shed. The boxes belonged to their parents and to their amazement, one of them contained the parts of a 1955 Harley Davidson. West felt that his parents would love to have put that old bike together, so as a tribute to them, he and his baby sister begin to piece together the motorcycle until they at last finish it in all its glory.
The old shed that contained the box of motorcycle parts also held many other boxes with the bold white letters ‘Property of NASA,' written across them. The kids catch sight of these and asked their grandmother about them. As it turns out, their father bought them long ago at a NASA auction and thought he could build something useful from all the parts. West and Gina decide to search through the boxes to see what fun treasures they might find. They find a mysterious brown folder marked TOP SECRET. They opened the folder and found the plans for building an actual time machine. They quickly set upon themselves to build this machine from the parts in the boxes. Once built, they attached it to the side of the motorcycle.
When trying out the motorcycle, they accidently activate the time travel box, which transports them back in time to the August 5th, 1948. Here they meet Albert Einstein. He becomes fascinated by the motorcycle and takes it for a joy ride. West and Gina jump on behind him and shoot through time until they find themselves safely back at home in 2008.
The two kids teach Albert Einstein about the many technological marvels of today, like laptop computers and on-line chatting plus much more. When West's teacher takes a small break to have her baby, Einstein gets the chance to take over. Albert takes the time machine box off the motorcycle and brings it to class with him in hopes of learning more about it. When Albert isn't paying attention, one of the students begin messing with the time machine and in avertedly ends up sending the entire classroom and its contents into the past to 1875. The students are taken aback at first, but then decide that they should take this opportunity to look around a bit at their surroundings.
West encounters Billy The Kid in a jail cell window and gets talked into reaching in the adjacent window to grab the jail keys off the desk. He hands them to Billy, not wanting to leave a kid behind bars. After some interesting interactions with the local towns folk, Einstein leads them back to their classroom and turns on the time machine taking them all back to the present. This causes the students to go home, raving about the great Mr. Albert and how he caused them to become more interested in science and history. The school principal is so taken aback that he offers Mr. Albert the chance to teach West's classroom for the rest of the week.
Gina and West beg Albert to help them rescue their parents who died in a devastating car crash one year earlier. When Albert is certain that he has learned how to control the time machine, all three of them get on the motorcycle and begin traveling through time. Suddenly West and Gina's argument breaks out into a hitting and kicking fight while on the bike. They accidentally hit some of the time machine controls, sending them not to the past, but sprawling forward into the future! More than 2300 years into the future, where they find the last city left on Earth, Atlantis. The three of them get shrunk down to size of raisins so that they can enter the miniature city of Atlantis, where they find the only food sources are insects and fungus. Trying to save the people of Atlantis, they strap the time machine box to both the motorcycle and the tiny city in an attempt to bring them back to the year 2007, when food and life on Earth is plentiful and their parents were alive. When they arrived, they had only minutes to prevent their parent's car accident. The people of Atlantis offered to pay back his kindness by helping to save his parents.
It is a captivating book with adventure around every corner. They travel through time not once, but many times, encountering many oddities and wonders that stimulate the creativity and imagination of the reader. This is a must have for any library. This novel can be found at any on-line bookstore like Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
--
Please have a look at novels West's Time Machine, and George's Pond.
West's Time Machine Novel:
http://www.amazon.com/Wests-Time-Machine-Scott-Waring/dp/0595418872
George's Pond Novel:
www.amazon.com/Georges-Pond-Created-Tradition-Charlottes/dp/0595421350
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_799510_32.html
A Book Review: Great Resource for Group Facilitation
Anyone who is a leader or member of a group and wants to get things accomplished knows that there are many issues and challenges that groups commonly face as they seek to find creative solutions, launch new initiatives, and create high performing teams.
The Book Leading Groups to Solutions addresses how team leaders and team members can collaborate, problem solve, plan, organize, and make decisions by exploring models and tools that enable facilitators to help groups achieve their goals.
This book is not about meeting management, nor is it about how to present or speak in front of a group. It is not about how to train or teach people, though this can be part of the process.
This book is about the collaborative process of building consensus, creating synergy, and harnessing collective energy to create innovative solutions. The practical ideas guide group facilitation through combining the best individual thinking into one focused effort and creating shared commitment so that the implementation of solutions is supported and sustained long term.
With 55 combined years of experience, in research and client work, we've observed group facilitation and behaviors in many situations and have learned a few things about what makes an effective team. We also put our own facilitation skills and process to the test as we discussed, debated, and argued the merits of various approaches and theories. Even the writing and editing of the book required that we "walk our own talk" as we resolved differences, defined priorities, and created a coherent message.
We believe that the principles and suggestions in this book will help everyone who spends time in teams. Whether leading, participating as a team member, or both, you will find that this book provides a practical framework for facilitating effective teams.
"A solution is the result of many ideas coming together."
To order the book "Leading Groups to Solutions" or learn more about group facilitation and other CMOE programs, visit their website or phone one of their Regional Managers at (801)569-3444.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_2104_22.html
The Book Leading Groups to Solutions addresses how team leaders and team members can collaborate, problem solve, plan, organize, and make decisions by exploring models and tools that enable facilitators to help groups achieve their goals.
This book is not about meeting management, nor is it about how to present or speak in front of a group. It is not about how to train or teach people, though this can be part of the process.
This book is about the collaborative process of building consensus, creating synergy, and harnessing collective energy to create innovative solutions. The practical ideas guide group facilitation through combining the best individual thinking into one focused effort and creating shared commitment so that the implementation of solutions is supported and sustained long term.
With 55 combined years of experience, in research and client work, we've observed group facilitation and behaviors in many situations and have learned a few things about what makes an effective team. We also put our own facilitation skills and process to the test as we discussed, debated, and argued the merits of various approaches and theories. Even the writing and editing of the book required that we "walk our own talk" as we resolved differences, defined priorities, and created a coherent message.
We believe that the principles and suggestions in this book will help everyone who spends time in teams. Whether leading, participating as a team member, or both, you will find that this book provides a practical framework for facilitating effective teams.
"A solution is the result of many ideas coming together."
To order the book "Leading Groups to Solutions" or learn more about group facilitation and other CMOE programs, visit their website or phone one of their Regional Managers at (801)569-3444.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_2104_22.html
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