Welcome to Australia, mate! This beautiful country is known for its stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and friendly locals. In this travel blog post, I’ll be sharing with you some of the must-visit destinations in Australia.
Next, let’s head to the Outback. This vast desert landscape covers most of the Australian continent and is home to some of the most unique wildlife in the world. Take a guided tour through the red sand dunes of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and witness the stunning Uluru rock formation, also known as Ayers Rock.
If you’re looking for a more tropical destination, head up north to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. This World Heritage Site is the largest coral reef system in the world and is home to an array of marine life. Take a diving or snorkeling tour to experience the reef up close.
For a taste of Australia’s culture and history, head to Melbourne. This vibrant city is known for its arts and culture scene, with galleries, museums, and street art lining the city’s laneways. Be sure to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Federation Square, and the Queen Victoria Market.
Last but not least, let’s not forget about Australia’s wildlife. Head to Kangaroo Island, just off the coast of South Australia, to see kangaroos, wallabies, seals, and koalas up close. The island is also home to stunning beaches and natural landscapes, perfect for hiking and exploring.
Australia truly has something for everyone. From stunning beaches and landscapes to unique wildlife and vibrant cities, this country is a must-visit destination. So pack your bags, put on your sunscreen, and get ready to experience all that Australia has to offer!
What Russian Weapons of Mass Destruction Can Teach Us About Modern Warfare
Bad part of War
The Russians have had their hands in many areas of warfare, but are often overlooked as a major influence on our modern way of war.
A Russian weapons expert says that, in the past two decades, the world has witnessed “the rise and fall of three distinct military systems: the Cold War system; the post-Cold War system; and the system we now live in.”
In the wake of the Cold War, the US military is now preparing for the next war – with Russia. To understand the motivations of Russian leaders and the country’s capabilities, the US military must look back at its past mistakes.
The United States has long been the world’s most powerful military. But it was not always so. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Americans celebrated a “peace dividend” of billions of dollars in defense cuts and the end of a conflict they had fought for 25 years. The US military, which had been almost completely rebuilt after World War II, was poised to make new advances in technology and expand overseas, while spending a fraction of the money it once took to wage war. Yet, the US military’s technological and operational capabilities failed to keep up with the rest of the world. The United States lost the Cold War, but the gap between itself and Russia and other potential adversaries has never been wider. The US military is now preparing for the next war – with Russia. To understand the motivations of Russian leaders and the country’s capabilities, the US military must look back at its past mistakes.
I’m sure you’ve seen it before, the headline that you’re about to read. A picture of a scary looking missile with a countdown timer on it. If you haven’t, you probably will soon. There is a war on, and if we don’t do something, the weapons of mass destruction that our enemies have are going to start falling over Europe and America. And so we’re about to tell you what Russia has and how you can use it to become a better commander in the war on terror. It’s a very dangerous world out there. You can never be too careful. But some weapons of mass destruction are more lethal than others. In this article, we’ll take a look at four of these weapons, and how they could be used in modern warfare.
The world is more dangerous than it was when the U.S. and Russia fought the Cold War, and so the United States has a lot of catching up to do to regain the military advantage that it once had over the Soviet Union.
1. The Russian Military’s New Weapon of Mass Destruction
The Kh-35 missile system is a long-range anti-ship missile designed to destroy large surface ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruise ships and other naval vessels. The missile is capable of carrying a large payload and is capable of being launched from submarines and aircraft.
Laser weapons are the future. Laser weapons, also known as lasers, are extremely powerful tools that can be used for a wide variety of purposes. From precision targeting to destroying other weapons and even ships, lasers are the ideal choice for a wide range of military and commercial applications.
2. Why Putin Uses Terror
Vladimir Putin has been president of Russia since 2000 and is not likely to leave office anytime soon. The man who took over from Boris Yeltsin in 2000 is considered the longest-serving leader in modern history.
But he has been around a long time. And a lot of people know him. This means that some of them may have forgotten about the early years of his career.
3. How to Protect Against Terrorists in Your Business
The following is an excerpt from The Terrorist Next Door by Stephen M. Walt and John M. Schulz.
Russia has not allowed American troops to remain stationed near its borders. Russia’s defense minister says that his country will not allow NATO to have military bases on Russian soil.
In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said that Moscow is prepared to use military force to protect its interests in the former Soviet Union and added that Russia is also prepared to use nuclear weapons if necessary.
Shoigu’s threats have placed the Obama administration and the Pentagon on the defensive.
The first decade of the 21st century is drawing to a close. We’re looking back at a decade in which the world’s most powerful nation was attacked on a scale never before experienced.
4. The Cost of Terrorism
The following is an excerpt from The Terrorist Next Door by Stephen M. Walt and John M. Schulz.
Russia has not allowed American troops to remain stationed near its borders. Russia’s defense minister says that his country will not allow NATO to have military bases on Russian soil.
In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said that Moscow is prepared to use military force to protect its interests in the former Soviet Union and added that Russia is also prepared to use nuclear weapons if necessary.
Shoigu’s threats have placed the Obama administration and the Pentagon on the defensive.
The first decade of the 21st century is drawing to a close. We’re looking back at a decade in which the world’s most powerful nation was attacked on a scale never before experienced.
5. Why Russia Wants to Fight America
If we think of the United States as a collection of states, it’s easy to understand why Russia wants to fight us. The United States is a collection of 50 states with different cultures and languages.
The Russian language is not even one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It ranks #85 in the list of the top 200 languages spoken on Earth..
And they have many different religions. Russia is a country with very little diversity, unlike the US.
Russia is a big country. It is a land of vast diversity and deep contrasts. You have the cities, and the great, wide, flat steppe – a great plain that stretches for hundreds of miles.
6. Why the U.S. Wants to Fight Russia
The United States is a collection of states. Each state has its own culture and language. So, why would Russia want to fight the United States? It’s a collection of states with different cultures and languages.
Russian is not even one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
And they have many different religious beliefs. Russia is a country with very little diversity, unlike the United States.
The Russian Federation is one of the most diverse countries in the world with its enormous land mass and variety of people and cultures.
7. Where Russia Is Going in the Future
If we think of the United States as a collection of states, it’s easy to understand why Russia wants to fight us. The United States is a collection of 50 states with different cultures and languages.
The Russian language is not even one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It ranks #85 in the list of the top 200 languages spoken on Earth..
And they have many different religions. Russia is a country with very little diversity, unlike the US.
Russia is a big country. It is a land of vast diversity and deep contrasts. You have the cities, and the great, wide, flat steppe – a great plain that stretches for hundreds of miles.
8. Is the U.S. Winning or Losing?
The United States is a collection of states. Each state has its own culture and language. So, why would Russia want to fight the United States? It’s a collection of states with different cultures and languages.
Russian is not even one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
And they have many different religious beliefs. Russia is a country with very little diversity, unlike the United States.
The Russian Federation is one of the most diverse countries in the world with its enormous land mass and variety of people and cultures.
9. Is Russia Winning or Losing?
The New York Times published an article by John Mearsheimer that says the United States is losing to Russia.
It’s a provocative and, at times, misleading piece that does not adequately account for Russia’s military modernization and the many risks that are involved in relying on it. But the article’s underlying argument makes sense:
The Trump administration’s decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats has opened old wounds and put relations between the U.S. and Russia on edge once again. But there is one thing that Russia and the U.S. can agree on:
10. How to Prevent Terrorism
James Woolsey was a former CIA Director and Pentagon adviser on national security issues. He said it’s important to work more closely with Muslim nations to prevent terrorist attacks.
Woolsey, an author, has written a book on the dangers of Islam in America. Woolsey believes that Americans tend to conflate Islam and terrorism.
GUY RAZ: I’d like to begin by talking about your book. The goal of this is to find the best title for the book.
He goes on to explain that the Cold War was based on the Soviet Union and America’s use of massive nuclear arsenals, and the result was a series of wars fought across the globe. Post-Cold War wars were marked by low levels of conventional conflict and an increasing reliance on technology, he explains.
The third, and most influential, system is the one we’re in right now. According to the expert, it’s this system that has been most influential in the development of contemporary military conflicts, as well as how those conflicts are waged. “This system, he explains, “is based on asymmetrical warfare — or rather, the use of force in combination with non-military means to achieve its goals.”
“All of these systems have their roots in the past, but it is the post-Cold War system that has most influenced the modern way of war,” said Dmitry Gorenburg, a visiting scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, in Washington.
1.The Cold War started in
2. The Soviet Union was part of the Allied forces in WWII. In 1946, Stalin was declared the leader of the Soviet Union. He was against the United States. He wanted to take over Europe and take over the USA. Stalin’s goal was to control the whole world. In 1950, the Korean War started. The United Nations was made. China and North Korea was on the U.N. side. The United States was on the side of South Korea. There was fighting in the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War ended in
3. In 1954, the Geneva Conference took place. The conference was to decide about the borders of the Korean peninsula. But the result was not a peaceful agreement. In 1959, Fidel Castro and his rebel army took over Cuba. He wanted to be free from the United States. He wanted to make a revolution in Cuba. Cuba is a part of Latin America. The United States was supporting the Batista regime in Cuba. Castro wanted to make a revolution. He wanted to free the Cubans. In 1960, John F. Kennedy became the president of the United States. He wanted to make peace with the Soviet Union. In 1961, there was the Cuban Missile Crisis. It happened because of a misunderstanding. The United States and the Soviet Union were about to use nuclear weapons. But they didn’t. A misunderstanding took place. They made a deal. It was called the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended in
4. In 1963, the Vietnam War started. The United States was on the side of South Vietnam. But North Vietnam wanted to take over South Vietnam. The Vietnamese War ended in
5. The United States wanted to make peace with the North Vietnam and South Vietnam. So they made a deal. In 1993, the United States and Russia were at war. But in 1995, they made a peace treaty. This is called the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
Now, the main reason why you don’t know how to deal with challenges is that you don’t understand them. You don’t understand how they affect us and you don’t know what to do to overcome them. This is why you are not able to deal with them effectively.
We should understand them before we can try to deal with them. We need to understand the nature of challenges before we can effectively deal with them.
To overcome challenges, you need to think about what you want and why. For example, if you want to be a successful runner, you should focus on running. You should also think about the reasons why you are doing this. For example, when you run, you are going to get in shape. You are also going to enjoy it. If you don’t have any goals, you might become disinterested and quit.
This guide will help you get clear on what it means to lead and help you understand what you need to do in order to get there.
You’re not a leader if you’re not leading! There are plenty of leaders out there, but the ones that are really successful tend to be those who understand leadership is about inspiring others, teaching them, and setting the example.
You’re not a leader if you’re not leading! There are plenty of leaders out there, but the ones that are really successful tend to be those who understand leadership is about inspiring others, teaching them, and setting the example.
Leadership is one of the most complex, yet important roles in any company. How can you be an effective leader if you don’t know how to do it? What are the different types of leadership? What skills do you need to be a good leader? I’m going to break down each type of leadership, the traits that are required for each role, and what you need to do to become an effective leader. This guide covers every type of leadership you can think of: from being a boss to being a mentor, and even being a leader in your own family.
The way you lead is the way you treat people. If you lead by fear or guilt, you create an environment of distrust and negativity.
Leaders: When you lead by example, you set an example for those around you. You are a role model and your followers will learn from you. They’ll look to you for leadership and you’ll be a leader in their eyes.
Leadership: The difference between a leader and a boss is that a leader has more influence than a boss. A boss can be the head of the department, but it doesn’t mean they have as much power and authority. A boss might be able to tell you what to do, but they don’t have the power to make the decision themselves. That is where a leader steps in.
Bosses: There are two types of bosses: those who are good at getting their employees to do what they want and those who are good at doing what they want. If you’re the former, you’ll have your work cut out for you. If you’re the latter, you’ll have no trouble getting your people to do what you want.
Leadership vs. Boss: A leader is not a boss, but a boss is not a leader. In a leader, your people will follow you. If you have a good leader, they will also lead your team.
Leadership: A leader does more than just manage and oversee others. A leader is an inspiration and a model for their people.
“Leadership is a learned art and, like any other art, it takes time and effort to learn.” – Anthony D. Williams, author of The Leadership Pipeline and CEO of Leadership Dynamics.
You can be a leader. You don’t have to be a boss. And if you’re looking for ways to improve your leadership skills, here are five proven steps to help you move up a notch or two.
1. Create a Vision: The Big Picture
2. Create a Mission: The Big Objective
Leadership: A leader takes
3. Develop Goals: The Small Steps
4. Set Expectations: The “Yes/No” Questions
5. Manage the Team: The Players
6. Implement the Plan: The Tools
7. Measure Progress: The Numbers
8. Reward Success: The “Thank You”
What if your leadership skills were just a little stronger? What if you had more of the skills you need to become a better leader? Are you starting to feel like you want to learn more? If so, then this guide will help you get clear on what it means to lead and help you understand what you need to do in order to get there.
You’re not a leader if you’re not leading! There are plenty of leaders out there, but the ones that are really successful tend to be those who understand leadership is about inspiring others, teaching them, and setting the example.
If you want to take your leadership skills to the next level, there’s no time like the present. Get started today with this free e-book by reading the Introduction, and then read the remaining chapters one at a time as they’re released over the next few weeks.
If you want to take your leadership skills to the next level, there’s no time like the present. Get started today with this free e-book by reading the Introduction, and then read the remaining chapters one at a time as they’re released over the next few weeks.
What if your leadership skills were just a little stronger? What if you had more of the skills you need to become a better leader? Are you starting to feel like you want to learn more? If so, then this guide will help you get clear on what it means to lead and help you understand what you need to do in order to get there.
1. Hack: How to get people to follow you and do what you ask.
2. Hack: How to deal with underperformers in your organization.
3. Hack: How to lead an employee to get better results.
4. Hack: How to manage your time and your team.
5. Hack: How to give and receive feedback.
6. Hack: How to inspire your team.
7. Hack: How to build an effective team.
8. Hack: How to be a great boss.
9. Hack: How to keep your team focused and motivated.
10. Hack: How to lead a team without micromanaging.
11. Hack: How to motivate employees to do their best work.
12. Hack: How to be a great leader.
13. Hack: How to be a good manager.
14. Hack: How to create a culture of excellence.
15. Hack: How to set goals and achieve them.
16. Hack: How to manage stress.
17. Hack: How to empower your employees.
18. Hack: How to lead effectively.
19. Hack: How to get the best out of your team.
20. Hack: How to make people happy.
In conclusion, There are many things you can do to make your career path more challenging. First, don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things, whether they be professionally or personally. Second, be confident in your abilities and your decisions. Lastly, always remember that you are the person who decides what kind of work and experience you have, and how you spend your time on the job. You are the one who holds the key to your success and happiness. Don’t allow anyone else to limit it for you.
In Penticost we celebrate and reflect upon the Holy Spirit, who is God and the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Today we will also reflect upon what the Day of Pentecost itself signifies for the Church as a whole and for us as individuals. Moreover, we will see that after we come to believe in Christ as our Savior, as our Lord, and as our God that the Holy Spirit empowers us through the Sacrament of Confirmation to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all people if we are obedient to Him.
The feast of Pentecost is the third most important holy day celebrated within the Church, with the first most important being Easter and the second being Christmas. It is considered to be the birthday of the Church because it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church and empowered the Apostles and the other disciples of Jesus to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. In essence, Pentecost is ultimately the celebration of the Holy Spirit Himself because of who He is, what He does for us as individuals, and what He does for the Church as a whole.
This essay will provide you with enough information to help you meditate upon why Pentecost is so important to the Church. It will not be exhaustive, for a lot more can be written about this subject, but there is a lot of information provided here that will help you come to understand and appreciate this very special holy day.
WHO AND WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? The Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost) is the third Person of God in the Blessed Trinity; for God is ONE in Essence/Substance and He is also THREE Persons. He was active in the Creation (Gen. 1:2, 26), was an active force throughout the Old Testament, and He continues to be of central importance in the New Covenant. He is the manifestation of the love of the Father and of the Son that they have for one another, which is why the Catholic form of the Nicene Creed says that He proceeds from the Father and from the Son. (In reference to the Holy Spirit coming from both the Father and the Son and not just from the Father, refer to Acts 15:5-7, Galatians 4:6, 1 Peter 1:11, among other examples.)
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In essence, the Trinity is this: God is perfect Love (1 John 4:8) and perfect Good (1 John 1:5; Matthew 19:16 – 17; Psalm 107:1, 119:68; and elsewhere)). As Love and Goodness personified, God the Father, the First Person of the Trinity, knows and loves Himself perfectly and He can think of a perfect image of Himself. This love and Thought/Word [Logos] (John 1:1) is manifested/begotten but not made (John 3:16) as the Second Person of the Trinity, God the Son who is Jesus Christ. The Father and the Son love each other so perfectly that their love for each other manifests into the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. It thus is the Love and Goodness that God is, the love that He has for Himself, along with the fact that He is Existence Itself (Exodus 3:14) that unites the Three Persons of the Trinity as ONE God. For this reason Jesus had said to the Apostles in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Although this explanation does not truly explain the Trinity in an adequate manner, for it is a great mystery that we will always meditate upon, it does provide us with some level of understanding to meditate upon this concept that we will never fully understand.
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The Holy Spirt is thus a real Person and not just a force of God, as some heretical Christians do attribute Him to be. Although God does not have a gender because He is an eternal Spirit (save for Jesus who is God Incarnate and does have a body), we refer to Him in the masculine form and not as “It” or “She”. This is clearly seen about God the Father throughout the Bible, it is seen about Jesus, and it is also true about the Holy Spirit. This can be demonstrated in John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-8, 12-15; 20:21-23. In addition, paragraphs 683 and 685 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (among others) and the Church Fathers refer to the Holy Spirit as “He” as well.
JESUS’ PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT On Holy Thursday, the day before His Crucifixion, Jesus, during the Last Supper in the upper room, promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them:
JOHN 14:16-17: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you k.o. him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. Note: The auténtico term that Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit was Paraclete. From this word we see four different translations and meanings that are all true: Counselor, Advocate, Helper, and Comforter.
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JOHN 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Note: This promise was specifically given to the Apostles and not to all believers so that they could accurately remember and teach the message that Jesus taught them.
JOHN 15:26-27: But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.
JOHN 16:7-8: I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…
JOHN 16:12-15: I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
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Then on Easter Sunday, after His Resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to the Disciples (minus Thomas) in the upper room and reinforced these points:
JOHN 20:21-23: Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Note: This was to prepare them for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was to soon come in full later.
Finally, forty days later, before Jesus ascended into Heaven, Acts 1:4-8:
To them he [Jesus] presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to pasmado times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
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During the three years of His Ministry, Jesus was teaching and preparing His Disciples (the 12 and the others who followed and learned from Him) to become Apostles (those who are sent out) to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation not just to the Jews and the people of Israel, but also to the entire world. Jesus was (and is) often called Master, not just because He was a great and wise Rabbi (teacher) and not just because He is God incarnate (John1:1-3, 14), but because was truly training His followers to perform a great work and vocation. For this reason, discipleship of Jesus really means a Master and Apprentice relationship, which reflects how people learned a trade skill back then and even now with modern our vocational training.
The fictional Star Wars universe reflects this concept with the religious practices of both the Jedi and the Sith in how they trained their Padawans (Jedi) and Apprentices (Sith) in the ways of the Force. The Jedi, who were good and served the light side of the Force, would train Padawans personally in the ways of the Force so that they could become Jedi Knights in service to the Force and the Jedi Order. merienda these Knights were ready to train Padawans of their own, they became Jedi Masters and they would teach their Padawans for years, much like Jesus did with His Disciples, until they were ready to become Knights. Over time, if these Masters proved themselves worthy and wise, they could become one of the twelve Masters who would serve in the Jedi Council to lead the Order.
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The Sith, who were evil enemies of the Jedi and served the dark side of the Force, had a similar practice in their history until Darth Bane came, destroyed the Sith Order as it was, and founded a new Sith Order based upon the Rule of Two, in which there would only be two Sith Lords, a Master and Apprentice; no more, no less. Even though he destroyed the old Sith Order because of the weaknesses that he saw in it, Darth Bane also wanted to destroy the Jedi. However, he knew that it would take a long time to accomplish this and he wanted his Sith Order to hide in the shadows to gain strength and power so that when the Sith later revealed themselves to the Jedi it would be too late. Darth Bane thus chose an Apprentice whom would not only share this same vision but would also powerful and wise to continue on his legacy so that the Jedi Order would be destroyed. He chose Darth Zannah, who did continue on Darth Bane’s bosquejo and legacy, but only after many years of training. Darth Zannah later chose an Apprentice of her own, killed her Master, and trained her Apprentice for many years. The cycle continued on for a thousand years until Darth Sidious (Emperor Palpatine) made Darth Bane’s vision a reality, destroyed the Jedi Order, and established the Sith/Galactic Empire over most of the known galaxy.
It might seem that I have gone on a tangent here by going into the details of a fictional science fantasy story, but I did so with great purpose. The Master and Apprentice relationship seen with the Jedi and Sith reflects what true discipleship to Christ means: Christ is the ultimate Master who trained His followers to be true Knights in service to the Kingdom of God. And if the Sith Lord and Master Darth Bane was patient and expected his anteproyecto to take years to accomplish and carefully chose and trained his Apprentice to carry on his legacy, how much more do you think that the Lord of Lords and ultimate Master, Jesus Christ, would train the Twelve Disciples, as well as the other disciples, to perform His work? Darth Bane sought to bring forth a Sith empire; Jesus prepared the coming of the great Kingdom of God with Himself as King forever. Jesus thus chose and trained His Disciples to be true Apprentices to spread the Gospel, to found the Church, to lead it, and to pass it on to their successors. We see this Master and Apprentice relationship carried on by the Apostles themselves (St. Peter and St. Mark; St. Paul and St. Luke, St. Timothy, etc.). And we see throughout the Church’s history that discipleship of Christ continued on with this Master and Apprentice relationship. This is a theme emphasized by Dr. Edward L. Smither throughout his book Augustine as consejero: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders.
However, as the true Master training His Apprentices to not just be disciples but also apostles, Jesus not only taught them what to do, but He also prepared them to do it. In the context of the same passages quoted before, Jesus told the Disciples in John 14:12:
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
Jesus told them these words and then proceeded to explain to them the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and that it was advantageous for them that He would leave them so that the Holy Spirt could come and empower them to continue on with the next phase of bringing forth the Kingdom of God to people of every nation and culture of the Earth. And that is why in Acts 1 we see that Jesus commanded them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would come to empower them. Jesus then ascended into Heaven, and the Disciples, the Virgin Mary, and others totaling a hundred and twenty people waited in Jerusalem in prayer to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the end, Jesus’ words were proven true because in terms of teaching and geographical location, Jesus only spent three years in ministry limited to the territory of what was ancient Israel, whereas the Apostles later spent decades in ministry and spread the Gospel throughout the known world and their successors spread their work even further in the centuries to come.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST Ten days after the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead), the 120 were in the same upper room of the Last Supper waiting in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This was the Jewish feast of Pentecost (also called Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks). This Jewish feast commemorated the decent of the Holy Spirit on Mount Sinai after the Hebrew exodus from Egypt and the institution of the Covenant that God instituted there with them through Moses (Exodus 19). When the Holy Spirit descended upon Sinai, He did so in the form of a cloud of smoke, thunder, lightning, and fire. And on this Day of Pentecost, we see the Holy Spirit descending upon those in the upper room in a semejantefashion; according to Acts 2:1-4:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Day of Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church since this was when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church to empower the Disciples and the others who were present to truly become Apostles. For this reason, the Catholic Church and many other Christians continue to celebrate Pentecost every year on Pentecost Sunday, seven weeks after Easter Sunday, which along with Easter Sunday brings about the Easter Season to last a general of fifty days.
We see an immediate change in the Apostles at this point. On the night of Holy Thursday when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all fled in fear and abandoned Him. Peter later had the courage to follow Him from a distance, but he betrayed Jesus by denying Him three times and then he hid himself in shame and fear. None of the other Disciples came to Calvary when Jesus was crucified except for St. John, but he only did so in the company of the Virgin Mary and the women who had the courage to go, which the men did not have. And after the Death of Jesus, all of the Disciples (save for delator, who killed himself after betraying Jesus) continued to hide in fear because they expected the Jewish leaders to round them up and execute them in a manner semejante to how Jesus had died.
However, from the Day of Pentecost on, they were no longer afraid. We see St. Peter and the others filled with the Holy Spirit openly preaching about Jesus to all of the Jews and throughout the known world without fear and rejoicing when they had the chance to die for Christ. In fact, all of them and all of the writers of the New Testament except for St. John died as martyrs for Christ. St. Peter was crucified upside down in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero Caesar, St. Paul (who went from persecutor of Christians to a leader of the Church) was beheaded in Rome, St. Andrew was crucified in Greece, St. James was killed by King Herod in Jerusalem, St. Thomas was martyred in India, and the others met parecido fates. Although St. John lived a long life until the end of the 1st Century and died of razonable causes, he still faced martyrdom too and was put into a cauldron of boiling oil, but was miraculously saved.
These men, the women in their company, and their disciples and successors faced imprisonment, being beaten, being tortured, and being killed for the Faith. The first centuries of the Church had numerous persecutions of Christians who suffered and died for Christ and the Christian Faith. Even afterwards the persecutions continued and do so to this day throughout various parts of the world. The Catholic Church now honors thousands of martyrs as Saints because they died for Christ and for the Faith without compromise and they did so, and continue to do so, because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to not be afraid to die for Christ.
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have two Sacraments through which the Holy Spirit descended upon us: Baptism and Confirmation. (For a greater explanation of Baptism, refer to my essay THE CATHOLIC TEACHING ON BAPTISM.) The two are separate because they have separate functions. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the Grace of God comes upon us through the Holy Spirit who descends upon us, cleanses us from sin, and makes us Children of God. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are later empowered by the Holy Spirit to not just become children, but soldiers of God; true Knights of the Kingdom of God. As Saint Thomas Aquinas said:
…in this sacrament man receives the Holy Ghost for strength in the spiritual combat, that he may bravely confess the Faith of Christ even in face of the enemies of that Faith. Wherefore he is fittingly signed with the sign of the cross on the forehead… because he is signed with the sign of the cross, as a soldier with the sign of his leader… (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Third Part, Question 72, Article 9)
But why is it that Baptism and Confirmation are two separate Sacraments if the descent of the Holy Spirit is involved in both? It is because the Bible itself demonstrates that they are two separate rites and Confirmation completes what is begun in Baptism. As already noted, in Acts 2 the Apostles and the others in their company of 120 received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost even though they were already believers and had been baptized previously. Moreover, for every believer in Christ who was not present on the Day of Pentecost, this Sacrament makes Pentecost present to us and is a perpetuation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for generations to come. We see this evident in Acts 8:4-17 when Philip, who is a different Phillip than the Apostle Phillip, went to the city of Samaria, preached the Gospel there, and baptized the new believers. However, when these new believers were baptized, they did not receive the power of the Holy Spirit so the Church sent St. Peter and St. John up to Samaria from Jerusalem to lay their hands upon them so that they could receive the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul reinforces this point to Saint Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:1-14 that it was through the laying on of hands that Timothy received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation is thus a seal of the Holy Spirit that grants us the power of the Holy Spirit, it is an imprint upon our character that helps change us, and it is a seal of God upon our souls. The Sacrament is usually given by the Bishop to those who have been raised in the Faith around the time of Pentecost each year. However, in the case of converts to the Faith, it is usually given by the priest during the Easter Vigil after the initiates have already visited the Bishop for the Rite of Election. In both cases, those who receive this Sacrament are anointed with oil on their foreheads to symbolize the sealing of the Holy Spirit upon our minds and our souls. In Revelation 7 we see a reference to this sealing (this mark that you belong to God) on the foreheads of the believers of Christ. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:
1288 “From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ’s will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews [6:2] the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church.”
1295 By this anointing the confirmand receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of fragmentario authority, or ownership of an object. Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates a juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret. Note: The SPQR symbol (Senatus Populusque Romanus “The Senate and People of Rome”) was found on nearly every Roman military banner and was also tattooed onto the Roman soldier on his arm, as seen with Maximus from the movie Gladiator.
1296 Christ himself declared that he was marked with his Father’s seal. Christians are also marked with a seal: “It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our general belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial. Note: Refer to Revelation 7.
1302 It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
1303 From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: – it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”; – it unites us more firmly to Christ; – it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; – it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; – it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross: Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.
1304 Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.
Like the water of Baptism, which is a visual sign used by God to demonstrate the cleansing of sin, the oil of Confirmation is a ocular sign of this sealing by the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Old and New Testament we see the power of the anointing with oil used by God for healing, for a seal that one is to be king, and for a seal that one is to be consecrated as a priest or prophet. In 1 Samuel 10 we see this triple sealing with oil on King Saul and in this passage we read that the Holy Spirit had descended upon him and gave him the ability to prophesy along with the prophets. Of course, Saul later turned against God and the Holy Spirit left him, so let this be an example to all believers to not turn away from God after He has anointed us with our mission of service to Him.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES
The power of the Holy Spirit is not ours to wield as the Force is for the Jedi and the Sith in the Star Wars universe. Moreover, it is not a superpower that we gain or an “empowerment” that those who practice magic attempt to acquire for independiente gain. Rather, we become conduits of Grace; the Holy Spirit works through us to better our fragmentario lives, to proclaim and live the Gospel of Christ, and to help and inspire others with our teaching and example. In essence, we as believers become as the waters of Baptism and as the oil of Confirmation through which the Holy Spirit ministers and bestows Grace to others.
Nevertheless, although it is not our own power to wield and use as we please, it is cierto power that changes our lives. As previously demonstrated in Acts 2 and 1 Samuel 10, the power of the Holy Spirit can empower us to not have fear to profess the Gospel of Christ and as a result we can become prophets through which God speaks through us to others. To certain believers, God gives certain gifts of the Holy Spirit; some believers may have many of them although some might only have some of them. The purpose of these gifts is not merely for the edification of the personal who has been given them, but for the edification of the Church as a whole when that person uses them.
According to Isaiah 11:2, the Seven [main] Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord, and Piety. (Piety is not listed in Isaiah 11:2 as one of the gifts but was added by the Church.)
Romans 12:6-8 tells us that other gifts include Prophecy, Faith, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation (Encouragement), Giving, Leadership, Mercy.
Ephesians 4:11 tells us that some of us are given the gifts to become Evangelists (Preachers) and zagal-Teachers (Shepherds).
Finally, there are special things that the Holy Spirit continues to do for the Church as a whole: the Holy Spirit works to keep Jesus’ promise that not only will the Church not be destroyed but also that she will never teach any false doctrine (Matthew 16:18); the Holy Spirit is the author of Sacred Scripture (1 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21), He guided the Church to close the norma of the Bible, and He continues to guide the Church in how to properly interpret it; and the Holy Spirit helps us pray (Romans 8:26).
Holy Spirit
In addition, for those of us who believe and strive to live the Gospel in our lives, our walk with God is evidenced by the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, which according to Galatians 5:22-23 are Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-adiestramiento. However, Galatians 5:19-21 tells us that in order to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit we cannot be attached to sin, which are the works of the flesh:
Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that we will be recognized by the fruits that we bear. In order to bear the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and to allow the Holy Spirit to change us, we must first be willing to change. This is not an easy process, but it is a necessary one for if we remain attached to sin it can damn us to Hell, our sins impact others, other people can be drawn into sin by our example if we are teaching the Faith but are not following it, and we can push people away from accepting the Faith if we ourselves are not bearing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and are instead walking hypocrites. (Refer to my previous essay REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SIN.) To paraphrase what G.K. Chesterton once said, the number one argument against Christianity is Christians themselves.
Nevertheless, when we are willing to change and strive to become free from our attachments to sin, the Holy Spirit gives us efectivo Grace to become motivated to strive for this change and Sanctifying Grace to cleanse us from sin. In the end, the Holy Spirit can do wonders for us and through us, but we need to become willing to make that happen. Our goal should be for ourselves to change for the better, which is one of the main themes of Christianity, and to change the world as a whole. We can change the world by being obedient to Christ and by not being afraid to preach the Gospel; the Holy Spirit is the one who ultimately works through us to make this happen.
CONCLUSION
God Himself is Love, embodied and manifested, exemplified by the Trinity Himself. He loves us so much that He as the Second Person of the Trinity (Jesus Christ) became one of us to die for us and redeem us from the power of sin. Moreover, He loves us so much that the Third Person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit) comes upon us, dwells within us so that we become His living temples (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), changes us, sanctifies us, and empowers to profess and teach the Gospel of Christ to all people without fear. The Holy Spirit also makes us Children of God and Knights in the Kingdom of God.
When we make the choice to give our lives to Christ and to become His servants, the Holy Spirit empowers us so that He can do great things for us and through us for others. However, this itself is also a choice and requires us to want the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. The choices that we make not only affect the salvation of our own souls, but they can also impact the salvation of others. Are you willing to make these right choices? You will still fail along the way; you will stumble and sin over and over again, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38). Nevertheless, God is merciful and is not only willing to forgive your sins but He also wants to help you overcome them, but you have to want His mercy and you have to want to change. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the Grace and strength we need to do that.
In closing, meditate upon this prayer and make its words your own:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).
To download a FREE lecture that I have done previously on this subject, as well as some of my other lectures, click HERE.
Related Categories:FaithLIVING CATHOLICBible StudyMass & SacramentsMary & The SaintsOpinionHistoryEducation About the Author Alex Brittain Alex Brittain website Alex Brittain is a convert to Catholicism. He was raised a Fundamentalist anti-Catholic Evangelical Protestant by his mother and grew up in various Evangelical Christian traditions during his time growing up in foster care. He loved the Bible, taught Sunday school, and was a preacher from a very young age.
However, when Alex studied history in college, he was exposed to the real historic roots of the Faith that he loved. After more years of study and prayer, he was received into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil of 2011. Since being received into the Church, he has shared his conversion story numerous times and has given numerous lectures about the Faith. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife Kayla and daughter Audrey.
Being in a toxic relationship is over bearing and overwhelming
This is My story……
You’ll never live life until you have learned valuable experiences. There are experiences that nurture you and some are just a life lesson that I believe God let it happen, so I can learn a valuable lesson about myself and the blessing I received during that time and that I keep receiving. I always give honor and glory to God because due to this I became strong and guarded. I met this person online through Facebook in November 2017. Likewise, I was like any person that was yearning to have a relationship at that time I only had one ex and the experience was great. In that time, we started talking and converse daily everything started to go well and let’s say I feel for this person not knowing that this will be the worst.
Then a couple of months into the long-distance relationship I get a call back from him being very aggressive without any reason. I asked as to why and all because he called on Christmas day and I couldn’t pick up the phone since I was celebrating with my family. In that point I was confused, but I brushed it off. My though was that the fight was petty and unnecessary when I’m with my family. All he could say was that I was “cheating” on him and that I slept with someone, but anyway I brushed it off. We kept on talking to each other. The next day he was fine, and he never talked about the incident or did he apologize.
We spoke for 2 months we spoke over the phone and send pictures to see what each other were doing. Since at the time I was working and paying my own bills. I thought everything was going great till one day he calls me at night at midnight while me and parents were asleep. I pick up the phone to find out if something bad had happened and to my surprise. He calls aggressive again this time he was drinking and now drunk. This time he accuses me of cheating on him with his ex. May I say that his ex and I live across the country from each other and never met. So, in my mind I was confused and getting yelled at from the person that I though cared for me. I was told so many things over the phone and what I did was tell him to go to bed and that we will talk the next day.
From the day I started to watch out for more red flags, but the relationship kept going till the day I went to meet him for the first time. I flew across the country just to meet this person to see how this person is. Since we met everything was fine till, I learned he had a Disability. This person is bipolar. I’m like ok it can be managed with the right medication. The only thing he was taking was creational pot. So, we got to stay in a hotel for the week I stayed there. When I got there everything was fine until I went to sleep in my own bed. Here is another surprise for you guys, guess what he did he woke me up from my sleep aggressively, and he started to shout at me all the profanities and then the scream matches started between us. That’s when my hell started, I’m like he must have something else, and then I see that he is also hallucinating, and he is schizophrenic.
I guess love was blind and just the thought of not having another attack. I went back home from my trip and a few months after that I made the decision to move in with him. Yeah, I know it was the worst decision I ever made. I was deeply in love and me though he will be fine if I just help him. But all well. I left my comfort and moved in with him and by the beginning of the next year we decided to move almost close to Canada. Everything was fine until he had one of his attacks, and it was frequently since he had no treatment. I was praying to God a way to leave, but I had to be strong. When he gets aggressive, we have that screaming matches and I was tired of it and that relationship was already toxic, and I was crying a lot.
So that night on January 2018 that I was sleeping, and I woke up, so I picked up my phone to see what time it was and suddenly, he gets one of his attacks once again and this time was when the last drop fell from the cup. What happened was we were having arguments the whole week, and I was already tired mentally, physically, and mostly emotionally. He started to argue with me, and I was tired, so I also started to argue and what broke the camel’s back was that he was going to hit me in the face but since I didn’t let him. What he did was hit me in the back of my head. We argued aggressively, and I pick up all my luggage’s with all my clothes and I took off on midnight.
I thank God I Got the courage to take off my promise ring and throw it at him and ended my relationship of 9 months. It was 9 months of evilness and joules, verbal abuse and I would never a loud physical abuse. I took my stuff got on a mini-van (taxi) and went to the nearest airport. I bought a flight and flew across the country to go back to my parents’ home. Likewise, I blocked this person on all social media platforms. I was depressed for 3 days. I cried to release the pain and hurt I went through, but I was happy I got out of a toxic relationship. Then I noticed that this person started to write about me all over social media to some of my friend and family members.
All I learned was if your relationship is turning Toxic and you see red flags and if your intuition tells you something is going wrong. Please know that kits probably are, and you had to stop everything there before it gets physical. I want you guys to know that your body is a temple and if someone you love violates your temple and your aura. Then that relationship is not worth dying for. I know love is blind but never doubt your instincts if red flag surface, then it’s not worth it as well.
Have you ever been in a toxic relationship? How did you get out of it? Did you take the same approach as I did? Please comment below
April 14, 2016, was the day that marked my life. This date marked the day of the end of a chapter and the start of another chapter. On this day, I felt so lonely and about to hit a low point to depression. In my mind there were two options and for a week I asked God to prepare me for the moment when it arrived. My options were to not say anything and stay depressed or to talk and live happy and glad that I won’t be able to hide myself from my family and friends.
My mom noticed I was feeling very differently and not the same person as before. So I sat down on my computer and I started writing a 1-page letter to my parents. In the letter, It stated that I have been feeling down for months and that something has been bothering me for years. In that letter, I noted that I have known for years that my preference has been to men. I stated that I was sorry for keeping this a secret for a long time. It’s a wall that is build due to beliefs and personal judgment, doubts and concerned of not having the support of the people you love.
So, the next day I went home for my lunch break and my mom wasn’t home, so before I went back to work, I left the letter in her bed. So, I went back to work and finished up my day. As soon as I got home, my mom was waiting for me with the letter in her hand and asked me that if it was true, and I said a very sad “YES”. She said that she knew something was going on because I am looking different for the last week, and she thought something is going on. She somewhat knew something was on my mind, and she never asked, but she knew that when it was the right time, I would have told her. Furthermore, She stated that doesn’t care about what my preference is just to be careful and not to get very wild. Also, she also stated to take my time to get to know people first and not to rush.
She stated that is the same as dating a girl or guy just to take your time a day-by-day process. So right after my mom and I had our heartwarming conversation. We both cried and a feeling of relief overwhelmed me and huge baggage left my shoulders and my heart. I felt so Awesome I just felt free are years of social Pressure and thinking about what other people think. This is not real life. I felt empty for over 27 yrs. That feeling of relive. That was just the first step the next step was to open with the rest of the family and to my surprised everyone was very supportive and some even became very overprotective of me. I guess I could say I was blessed.
If You have any questions please leave it at the comment section….
Have you ever felt an unexplained presence? Have you ever heard a voice that sounded like no one else or have you experienced something so unusual that it defied your ability to explain what happened? If so, then you’ve experienced paranormal activity and if you are not careful, you might be giving up your hard-earned money to some “psychic” charlatans. There is a growing belief in the world today that ghosts do exist, and they are here to stay. In this e-book
“Paranormal experiences, supernatural occurrences and the reality of ghosts…”
Introduction: If you’re looking for a little insight into the paranormal world, the topic of ghost stories has been the source of endless debate for years. From the ancient Egyptians to the early explorers and pioneers of the West, stories about encounters with ghosts have been passed down through generations of families. However, some people question the truth of these ghost stories and believe that they’ve been fabricated by the human mind to explain a variety of things that they can’t. But, are they really fabricated? Or, could there be some truth to these stories? And, is it possible for us to communicate with the dead? Let’s explore the truth about ghosts and learn more about what we know about the paranormal.
We all have supernatural encounters, sometimes they seem to be just plain unexplained, and often times people believe in ghosts. There is a world of difference between these events. It’s time to get to know them better, you will learn all about the various types of paranormal experiences, supernatural occurrences, and the reality of ghosts. Learn the difference between legitimate psychic experiences and the tricks people use to exploit people’s fears and make a quick buck.
It is a natural event that is unexplained by the scientific community and has been documented through a number of methods in which it happened. Any event or phenomena that is not explained by science is referred to as a “paranormal”. In this article, we will look at the meaning of the term “paranormal” in a more detailed manner.
1. Explore the Paranormal Phenomena That Define A Ghost
2. Learn How to Identify a Real Ghost
3. Understand What Happens When We Die
4. Learn How To Make Your Home Safe For Ghosts
5. Discover The Truth Behind Ghosts
6. Discover How To Stop Being Afraid Of Them
There is a difference between the paranormal and the supernatural. Most people think that the supernatural exists, but they don’t know what it is. The paranormal means that something unusual or unusual events happen in our daily life. You might have heard of the unexplained events such as ghost stories, UFOs sightings, haunted places, haunted houses, haunted things, etc. They are part of the paranormal. The supernatural means that there is some supernatural force, which can’t be explained by science, that affects our world. It might be something invisible or it might be something that cannot be explained by science, such as witchcraft, voodoo, and the occult. It might be something that’s beyond our understanding.
The paranormal is just a part of the supernatural. Even though there are so many paranormal and supernatural phenomena, they don’t have any physical proof to back them up. Therefore, we can say that there is no scientific evidence for the existence of paranormal and supernatural phenomena.
1. In an effort to avoid being a “crappy writer,” I try to avoid reporting on ghost stories. However, occasionally, one comes along that is so incredible and compelling that I can’t help but share.
2. I believe in ghosts and have personally experienced a few paranormal events, but there are many, many more people who have seen and heard things that they can’t explain.
3. Sometimes, we experience paranormal occurrences because we are sensitive to certain energies, or we have a heightened perception to these energies.
4. I’ve had many conversations with people who claim to have seen things, and even spoken to some of these people. The truth is, most of them probably didn’t see anything, but they do have vivid memories of an experience.
5. A true ghost story is one that comes from a place of truth and experiences. I don’t think you’ll find a more real and believable ghost story than one that comes from the heart.
In conclusion, I will leave you with two words, the ultimate reality of it all. “You have to believe before you can see.” As humans, we are very complex creatures, but our experiences are not that different from each other, we all experience emotions, love, hate, joy, sadness and fear. Our minds interpret and give meaning to our perceptions of life. We live in a universe where we all have free will, where we can do anything at any time. This means that if we want to change our lives, then we have to choose to do so, no matter what the circumstances are. We can create our own reality through the choices that we make. For example, you can go into debt and have to work long hours, or you can save up to buy your dream home. The choice is yours, it is your reality, and you can have whatever you want, as long as you are prepared to put the effort in. I believe that one day we will all wake up and realize that we have been asleep this whole time, when we come back, we will see that we all have a connection with one another, and we have all been sleeping, just like the people who have died. So, while we sleep, we are still dreaming.
The Carnival in the Dominican Republic is a Dominican celebration that takes place throughout February, and sometimes during Holy Week in March. Dominican Carnival is celebrated in most cities and towns in the main streets. Among its main characteristics are its flashy costumes and loud music. The one held in La Vega, which is one of the biggest in the country, and the national parade in Santo Domingo where the first Carnivals held in the Americas. Dominicans are usually most festive on February 27th, which is the Dominican Independence Day. In Santo Domingo, celebrations include a large military display with the Dominican air force, navy, and army. Festivities often include the wearing of colorful costumes that symbolize Dominican religious and traditional characters such as Calife, Guloya, and Diablo Cojuelo. Festivities take place all over the island, with each town adding its own twist to the celebration.
The timing of the festivals has grown apart from its original religious synchronization with the period of Lent. With National Independence Day on 27 February and the birthday of Juan Pablo Duarte, its founding father, on 26 January, the Carnival celebrations fill February regardless of the Lenten calendar.
The Spanish conquistadors who settled on the island brought the Carnival culture from Europe, though the Roman Catholic authorities of the time considered this to be a Pagan celebration, and therefore mixed Christian traditions into it and began to celebrate the event as well.
Evidence has been found in the ruins of La Vega Vieja (near the present day La Vega) showing that Carnival has been celebrated in the Dominican Republic since 1510. The celebration originally consisted of the residents of the island dressing themselves as Moors and Christians.
Though it is not known for certain, it is thought that the colony of Santo Domingo was the first place in the Americas to have a pre-Lenten costume. The celebration became a way to escape from the rigid religious traditions brought from the old world. By the late 1700s, the carnival had become a major celebration in the colony. Then on February 27, 1844, when the Dominican Republic won its independence from Haiti, the celebration grew even greater in popularity, as the country’s Independence Day celebrations were combined into the pre-existing carnival celebrations.
While there are many characters in the various versions of the carnival across the island, there are several prominent ones featured in most celebrations:
Diablo Cojuelo (Limping Devil): is the main character of the carnival. A tale on the island says that this devil was banished to earth because of his childish pranks. When he hit the earth he hurt his leg, causing him to limp. While most of the communities across the island represent this character in different ways, several common practices are the use of a mask, a satanic suit, sleigh bells, and a whip or “Vejiga” (an animal bladder filled with air) to hit people in the streets (other “Diablos”). A Dominican tale claims that the mask is meant to represent the Spaniards who came to the island and enslaved and whipped the natives.
Roba la Gallina (Steal the Chicken): is a festivity that satires the fact that some people used to steal chickens from farms. This often consists of a man dressing up as a woman who just stole a chicken. This character often carries a large purse with candy inside for the crowd and is meant to be one of the more comical characters.
La Ciguapa: is a female character who comes out at night. She is naked with very long black hair, and her feet are backwards. She enchants the men she comes across.
Los Indios (The Indians): are a group of men and women dressed in the typical native Taino Indian attire. They travel together representing Dominican origins.
Introduction: “I’m so thankful that I have the greatest parents in the world. They were so good to me, and I don’t deserve it.” This thought crossed my mind a few weeks ago while watching a movie with my girlfriend. It was a movie I really enjoyed, but during the course of it, I noticed myself starting to cry. As I was sitting there in the dark theater, I realized I was just thinking about how much I love my parents. The more I reflected on this, the more I began to appreciate how grateful I am for the people who raised me. If you’re like me, you probably spend your time reflecting on the things you have to be grateful for.
It’s no secret that people who practice gratitude report more positive emotions and fewer negative ones.
1. Why We Should Practice Gratitude. In this article, I share my thoughts on gratitude. In my experience, I have found that practicing gratitude is an incredibly effective way to improve your life. I share three ways in which practicing gratitude can help you:
2. What Is Gratitude?
It can make you happier and healthier. It can help you avoid burnout. And it can give you the tools to live a life that’s meaningful to you. That’s what I’ve been learning in the last few years as I’ve spent time with people who are living their purpose and pursuing their passion.
3.Four Types of Gratitude.
It will give you more energy and enthusiasm, And it will make you feel younger. How? Because I’ve made the most of every single moment of my life. And I’ve never felt so alive. And you can too. The best part is, you don’t have to do anything different. All you need to do is follow my simple steps.
4. It will help you make better decisions I hope you find this article helpful!
We all know that we should have an emergency fund but we also know that it can be really hard to save money when we are living paycheck to paycheck. We have to plan ahead so we don’t get stuck in a cycle where we just spend our entire paychecks on the necessities of life and then when we get paid again we go through the same process.
4. How to Practice Gratitude
It will give you more energy and enthusiasm, And it will make you feel younger. How? Because I’ve made the most of every single moment of my life. And I’ve never felt so alive. And you can too. The best part is, you don’t have to do anything different. All you need to do is follow my simple steps.
5. Four Ways to Increase Your Gratitude
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about gratitude and how we can cultivate it. This is something I struggle with because I’m so focused on the bad things that happen in life that I forget to be thankful for the good. But there’s something that I really want to share with you today, and that is that we can increase our gratitude in four different ways: 1. Be Present.
In addition to the questions that you asked yourself, you can also ask a question about what you are grateful for. This will help you to change your perspective on the challenges you are facing in your life. This is very important to know because you don’t want to get in a negative mood. You don’t want to feel that you are not going to be able to make it through this challenge you are currently facing. You don’t want to go home feeling bad about yourself. So, you need to know what you are grateful for. If you are thinking about the good things in your life, you’ll have a positive attitude about yourself and your situation.
1. Be thankful for what you have already got.
2. Be grateful that you’re not suffering or dying of disease.
3. Be grateful for your health and the opportunity to live.
4. Be grateful that you are a human being and not an animal.
5. Be grateful for your life, including all its pleasures and pains.
6. Be grateful that you have the chance to know the world, see its marvels, and learn from them.
7. Be grateful for everything in life, from simple things like clean water and air to complex things like love and friendship.
8. Be grateful for the life you live today.
9. Be grateful for your past, present, and future.
10. Be grateful that you are not dead.
11. Be grateful for the chance to share your life with other people.
12. Be grateful that you are alive and living in this wonderful time of human history.
13. Be grateful for your own life, for it is a gift.
14. Be grateful that you can give thanks to God, who created the universe and everything in it.
15. Be grateful for every day.
16. Be grateful for your body and its amazing ability to heal.
17. Be grateful for your
Gratitude is the secret to happiness because it changes our perspective, giving us a new outlook on the things we have, the people around us, and the situation at hand. Gratitude improves health, increases personal wealth, improves relationships, creates optimism, and makes us happier. I have been doing this for the past 30 years, and I am still learning and evolving as a better person. In this video, I share with you 10 simple steps to increase gratitude in your life. Watch the video to see how you can also enjoy increased success in your life!
Motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular manner. It is the driving factor that expresses action , willingness and goals. It is said that motivation is from the word motive or the need for satisfaccion , all these are very much acquired by the changes in culture ,society, or lifestyle. These are divided into two parts (extrinsic) it’s a motivation that’s is inspired by outside forces or by themselves (intrinsic motivation) they state that the only difference between the both are the action behind it
It is said that motivation is the most important reason to grow and move forward nevertheless motivation is the result from both conscious and unconscious. Motivation is mastered by practice of high level achievement and choices that changes the forms of voluntary activity.
It is also said that motivation is the desire to accomplish a goal and completing our goals. It is the human behavior that fuels competition and moves for social connection. It brings a desire to move forward towards something meaningful, a purpose and it’s worth living.
The study of motivation in psychology revolves around providing the best possible answers to two fundamental questions: what causes behavior, and why does behavior vary in its intensity?
Motivational science is a behavioral science that seeks to construct theories about what constitutes human motivation and how motivational processes work.
Motivation, when seen in the real world, and when measured by science, becomes visible and detectable through behavior, level of engagement, neural activation, and psychophysiology. Some would also include self-report in this list, but studies show that self-reports have proven to be highly unreliable sources of information (Reeve, 2015).
For example, in a coaching scenario or a motivational interview, a competent practitioner will enthusiastically and generously contribute to the flow of conversation (agentic engagement), express interest and enjoyment (emotional engagement), process deeply and pay attention (cognitive engagement), and persist in these efforts as if time and the outside world didn’t exist (behavioral engagement). And yes, for many of us, we don’t have those kinds of conversations often .
Our motivation, when it originates from internal motives, as categorized into needs, cognitions, and emotions, is often experienced as more immediate and potent then extrinsic motivation.
Since we don’t appear in a vacuum, however, these internal experiences cannot take place without some degree of the external influence, be it in the form of consequences, incentives, or other forms of pressure arising out of the social context of our environment.
Our physiological and psychological needs drive us, our cognitions direct us, and emotions land intensity and energy to our pursuits. When the combination of antecedent conditions and the internal motives align, they create a new environment for engagement, which propels the action behavior.
Motivation is a dynamic process, and our motives vary over time. Raising and falling as circumstances change, and as time passes, motives contribute to the ongoing stream of behavior. To further complicate matters, we are driven by a multitude of different motives at any one point in time.
One motive, usually the one most situationally appropriate, will be strongest and dominate our attention while other motives will be subordinate and lie dormant. Although typically the strongest motive will have the most considerable influence on our behavior, as circumstances change, each subordinate motive can become dominant. The example below shows how a student’s motivation to read varies over time in strength, starting relatively strong then weakening when compared to the need to hang out with friends or to eat a snack (Reeve, 2015).
Thrive life with M 