The Blind Man

He was a man like you and me,

But he was blind and could not see.

One day he heard the Lord come by,

And then it was he gave a cry.

“Oh Lord help me I want to see,

Blind I no longer wish to be.

Help me, oh Lord, I beg of Thee,

To see is what I ask of Thee.”

Jesus said, “Bring that man to me,”

And asked, “Why do you call on Me?”

The man said, “Lord I want to see,

For blind I can no longer be.”

Jesus said, “By the power in Me,

Oh blind man you shall surely see.”

And so the man received his sight,

And praised the Lord with all his might.

“The Lord healed me now I can see,

Praise Thee my Lord I do thank Thee.

Saviour and Lord forever be,

My sight is what You gave to me.”

This story is for you and me,

To know He died upon that tree.

He gave His life for all to be,

Saved from our sin eternally.

We too are blind and cannot see,

So let us seek Him earnestly.

He waits for us so patiently:

Give Him our hearts submissively.

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If you enjoyed this poem, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Lorna Kirstein

http://kirsteinonline.com

FREEDOM’S QUEST

Freedom is what the vast majority cry for

And what the liberating military vie for

It’s what the dictators primarily lie for

And what the oppressed silently die for

Freedom receives sociological definition

And reveals philosophical vision

It conceives theological exposition

And conceals political ambition

Freedom is by authors romantically portrayed

And by actors brilliantly displayed

By orators it’s poetically conveyed

And by believers religiously prayed

Freedom’s quest is fervently sought

And professed most zealously fought

Its best can never be eternally bought

But its rest is ever thankfully caught

(C) Emil Kirstein, April 2006

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

Dear Diary: What a Weak Week

Monday:

Dear Diary,

We don’t live in the same house anymore. After reading in a newspaper that most accidents happen within a 20 km radius from home, we moved 21 km away.

Tuesday:

Dear Diary,

I’m sorry. I can’t give you my new address. The previous occupants took the numbers with them. They wanted to keep their old address!

Wednesday:

Dear Diary,

My wife was so excited about our new house that she locked the car keys in the car. It took her more than three hours to get me out the car! She couldn’t even phone for help as I had the phone.

Thursday:

Dear Diary,

Now that we know that most accidents happen within a 20 km radius from home, we’re seriously considering buying a motor-home and just keeping on driving!

Friday:

Dear Diary,

All our problems are over! The case is solved! We’re moving in with the kids in THEIR home, so all the accidents that happen within a 20 km radius from home will be THEIR problems. We’ll be safe!!!

Saturday:

Dear Diary,

Oh, dear! My son’s dog ate my dictionary, so I had to take the words right out of its mouth. My son just nonchalantly said it was an accident! I think we’ll have to move again.

Sunday:

Dear Diary,

We’re back in our old house. To effectively safeguard ourselves against most accidents that happen within a 20 km radius from home, we simply got rid of our GPS. So, now we don’t know where we are and neither do those pesky accidents!

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Please scroll down to view our accident free home.

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Keep on scrolling, you’re nearly there.

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You’re most welcome to stop by for a cup of tea when you’re in our vicinity.

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

ODE TO THE ACCOUNTANT

You are the keeper of the BOOKS

My name is written in your LEDGER

In red you wrote a CHEQUE

Drawn on the love in Father’s BANK

You did not consider it too great an EXPENSE

To once for all pay my entire DEBT

To sin and death I had been SOLD

‘Tetelestai’ you wrote on my RECEIPT

It is finished—it is PAID IN FULL

The blood requisite PURCHASE PRICE

Without using a farthing in the PETTY CASH

None of my own works and hard earned INCOME

To life eternal I have been BOUGHT

Now I make daily entries in my JOURNAL

And nightly I settle my ACCOUNTS

Before I am even INVOICED

You grant me REMITTANCE

You continuously inspect my INVENTORY

And erase all errors—negligible or GROSS

Your mercy is not FOR SALE

It is freely obtained without any COST

Worthless you count my CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS

And useless you reckon my DEPOSITED FUNDS

Where none is deserved you give me CREDIT

As a pearl you hold me as your priceless ASSET

And as the apple of your eye I am APPRECIATED

You certify my growing NETT WORTH

And keep my mansion room in RESERVE

An inheritance I will never TRADE

I reflect you in all my STATEMENTS

But the world sees my commitment as a LIABILITY

And suggests wiles for INCREASED REVENUE

Wicked ways that will only lead to LOSS

Such as unscrupulous INVESTMENT SCHEMES

But your name soars my MARKET VALUE

In your eyes I will never DEPRECIATE

And by grace secure unseen PROFITS

While you set me free of burdens TAXING

I accumulate heavenly treasure and WEALTH

You issue me with everlasting EQUITY

And offer GUARANTEED DIVIDENDS

I eagerly await your imminent due RETURN

And the compiling of the closing BALANCE SHEET

When you will represent me at the final AUDIT

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

PUNCTUATION

I was digging through some old emails the other day and discovered this precious snippet illustrating the importance of punctuation. I would love to give credit to the original source but unfortunately that genius is unknown to me. I adapted it somewhat, and so here it goes…

A grammar teacher handed a piece of unpunctuated text to her grammar students, told them that it was a letter, and instructed them to punctuate it correctly. Two completely different versions emerged as winners in that exercise.

VERSION 1:

Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours?
Gloria

VERSION 2:

Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria

AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY?

Incorrect punctuation can get you into deep, deep doo-doo!

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

THE WAITING ROOM

“Come, Penny! Come an’ sit here with Mommy.” Her gentle voice reached out across the waiting room to the little girl pushing the magazines around on the table. Some patients looked at the little girl playing with the magazines, whilst others briefly glanced at the petite mother before continuing to browse through their magazines.

The baldheaded old man who sat opposite the mother, frowned, glared at her and grunted, “Penny! Umph! What a name to burden the child with!”

All eyes were immediately focused on the grumpy old man. He surely got everybody’s attention. The mother looked rather bewildered and sheepishly responded with a soft, “What do you mean?”

The old man went into a coughing fit—a serious congested cough. Some patients put hankies in front of their mouths and noses—swine flu being the buzz word. Settling down after the coughing episode, the old man started his tirade, “Do you know what a penny’s worth? It’s absolutely worthless! Worthless, I tell you!

“In my day a penny had value, but today—it’s worthless, worthless. Do you know what the recession has done to my savings? The stock market has crashed and every penny I’ve saved over a lifetime has become worthless—worthless, I tell you. And inflation! Do you realize what inflation has done to my pension? Every time I go into a supermarket I get less stuff in my trolley for my weekly allowance. My money has become worthless! And then you name this little child, Penny! Do you realize that every time you call her, you’re calling her ‘Worthless!’ Shame on you!”

There was a stunned silence in the waiting room. All who had to cough suppressed it. All who had to sneeze kept it in. The atmosphere seemed more like that of a funeral parlor than a doctor’s waiting room. The silence was broken as the old man went into another coughing fit.

The petite mother was taken aback and her complexion swayed between shocked pale and embarrassed pink. Tears started to role from her eyes as she softly muttered, “Penny is short for Penelope.”

The old man discharged the second barrel of his double gauge barrage, “Penny—short for Penelope! Umph! Why didn’t you rather use ‘Elope’ as a short name. Then she would’ve been able to run away from this mess we’re all in, instead of being worthless in the middle of it!

“Woman, don’t you know the importance of a name? If your name’s ‘Stupid’ and everybody calls you by your name, you start responding to ‘Stupid’ and eventually you not only believe you’re ‘Stupid,’ but you actually start behaving ‘Stupid.’ And then finally, you simply are ‘Stupid!’ Do you understand what I’m saying? What’s your name, anyway? No, rather don’t tell me. By you calling your child ‘Worthless’ I can easily guess your name, personality and character.”

The receptionist interrupted the spectacle, and said, “Mr. Spike Thorne? The doctor is ready to see you now. You may go through.”

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They talked about their wives and families, their jobs and where they had been. And every afternoon when the man in the bed at the window could sit up, he would pass the time telling his roommate all the things he could see out of the window.

The man in the other bed would live for that hour when his world was broadened and enlivened with all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water, whilst children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape with the city skyline in the background.

As the man described what he saw, the man in the other bed would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. The man grew envious of his roommate’s position at the window. He thought it unfair that he never got to be at the window and he became resentful. Late one night, as he was lying staring at the ceiling, the old man at the window began to cough. He turned his head and watched the old man struggle to breathe as the fluid filled his lungs. He knew he could press the button to call the nurse, but did nothing. After about five minutes the coughing subsided and the room was quiet. The next morning the nurse arrived to find the man’s lifeless body and took him away.

Above is the story of two men reacting differently to the same circumstances they are trapped in. Despite the situation, the man at the window had made a conscious choice to see beauty instead of bricks and in so doing was able to find joy and share it with his roommate thereby lighting up his life. The roommate, however, was not content with what he heard. He was envious and resentful of the man’s joy which he attributed to the position at the window. He wanted it all, so he callously watched the man’s death without lifting a finger in order to obtain that position for himself. Finally, when he had what he had coveted, he was rudely awakened to the harrowing truth and ended up with nothing.

Someone once said, “The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice. It is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered on our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window.”

Our circumstances do play a significant role as regards to what makes us joyful, but if we wait for them to become perfect, thinking that will bring true, lasting joy, we will be gravely disappointed in the end. We live in an imperfect world where there is much sadness, suffering, pain and poverty, and this situation is not getting better. However, when we know who Christ is, what He has done for us, and we choose to allow His Spirit to dwell in us, true joy flows from within giving us strength to face and overcome life’s many challenges, and at the same time touch the lives of those who come in contact with us.

Paul had discovered this joy and strength in Christ. That is why he could say, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:12)

May our knowledge and understanding of Christ and His love for us grow in the year that lies ahead as we allow Him to dwell in us and give us joy and strength to face and overcome whatever obstacle or challenge lies ahead.

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Lorna Kirstein

http://kirsteinonline.com

HALLOWEEN – A CHRISTIAN POINT OF VIEW

Many people believe that Halloween is just a fun time, especially for children. Halloween parties are held for small children, whilst the older ones roam the streets on the night of October 31, dressed up as witches, demons or ghosts, knocking on the doors of homes, and playing “trick or treat.” Adults, not wanting to spoil the children’s fun, play along and hand over candy or other nice things to eat. The people who do not play along could find themselves the victims of some or other mischief carried out on their possessions – for example broken eggs or some other messy substance discarded on their cars or homes. There are even adults who involve themselves in Halloween by attending Fancy Dress parties where they dress up in different demonic costumes. All this is said to be just innocent fun.

There is however, much more to Halloween than most people realize, and one needs to go right back to the origin and roots of this ceremony to understand more fully what it is all about.

Halloween has its origin in Babylon where the worship of the false god Baal was carried out. After the fall, where Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of the Garden of Eden, mankind turned away from worshiping God Almighty (the Creator) and instead began to worship creation. The Assyrians started a complex system of sun worship, and this spread throughout the world from Babylon. The Celts of France, Britain and Ireland developed their own system of worship and called their sun god Samhain. (Some research articles refer to Samhain as the lord of the dead). The priests were known as Druids and they sacrificed humans, usually first-born babies, to this god of theirs. These sacrifices occurred in places in the UK, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Generally priests are allowed to eat the sacrifice after offering it as a blood offering to their god. In the case of the Celts, where they offered humans, they actually ate human flesh afterwards. (The word “cannibal” comes from the priests of Baal or “Cahan-Bal” who ate human sacrifices).

When Britain was conquered by the Roman Empire in AD 52-3 Caesar issued a decree banning human sacrifice.

In the 5th century, in Celtic Ireland, their new year officially began on November 1 with the festival of Samhain. November 1 was the beginning of a long cold winter. Summer officially ended on October 31 and Druids believed that on this night the spirits of dead sinners were released by Samhain from their place of torment, and roamed the earth. It was believed that they returned to their own homes to be entertained by the living. To ward them off, food offerings were put outside the homes and frightening lanterns were made in pumpkins and turnips to scare them away. It was believed that if the evil spirits were not satisfied, they would cause havoc, and create terror as they haunted the living or put spells or curses on them. This was a demonstration of demonic activity carried out by Satan and his demons to which people, who were uninformed and ignorant of the devil and his evil ways, reacted – trying to solve the problem in the best way they knew how.

The Samhain celebration used nuts, apples, skeletons, witches and black cats. Divination, accompanied with signs about what would happen in the future was practiced as well as magic to seek answers for the future. Black cats were considered to be reincarnated beings with the ability to divine the future. Because of this involvement in divination and witchcraft during the festival, Satan and his demons were given the legal right (or permission), and opportunity to participate, and these supernatural demonic beings (masquerading as spirits of the dead) then terrified the people of the particular areas.

Thus nowadays, children who roam the streets playing trick or treat, represent the evil spirits demanding food from the homes they visit. Those who do not comply with the demands and do not give a “treat” receive a “trick” which is usually some sort of mischief or damage done to the property of the non-complying. This is representative of the curse or spells that were placed on the home by the evil spirits. Halloween is therefore a tribute to, or an act of respect and admiration of the devil and his demons, as the activities associated with Halloween condone, remember and imitate – be it in a small measure, but nevertheless – their demonic activities on this day.

Satanists consider October 31 to be one of the most important nights of the year. It is believed that on this night Satan and his witches have their greatest power. Attempts are made to remove the barrier between this world and the spiritual world of darkness. Blood is shed and sexual rituals are carried out. Sexual association with demons takes place. Animals and humans are sacrificed to Satan on this night.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory the third changed All Saints’ Day (a day when all the dead Roman Catholic saints were remembered, honored and prayed for) from May 13 to November 1, and in the year 834 Pope Gregory the fourth extended this celebration to the entire Roman church. This event was called Allhallowmass, and there was a celebration on the evening before on October 31, called All Hallow E’en, “all hallow” meaning all of the hallowed (or holy) ones. Halloween is derived from the words “hallow” and “e’en.”

The Samhain celebration, All Saints Day (All Hallows Day), Halloween and All Hallows Eve are events that have become interlinked. Catholicism originally used force and bribery to “Christianize” this joint event of remembering the dead. For example, sacrifice was allowed, but only the sacrifice of animals, and not of humans. Catholicism tried to replace the pagan rituals by substituting them with their Catholic practices and beliefs.

Furthermore, although it is not wrong to remember the dead, to pray for the dead is against Scripture.  In Hebrews 9:27 we read that it is appointed for all to die once and after that to face certain judgment. This means that man does not receive a second chance after death. Man’s destiny after death depends on his way of life and decisions made while he was alive.  Jesus said to the repentant man on the cross next to him, “Truly, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43 The Amplified Bible) Jesus Christ died once for all. He is the perfect sacrifice; he paid the full price for all the sins of mankind and nothing more is required from man except true repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (John 3:16) To continue with other sacrifices or to pray for the dead would mean that Christ’s death was just not good enough or sufficient to save man from his sins. A born again Christian does not pray for the dead and has no place for the celebration of either All Hallows Day or Halloween.

During the middle Ages there was open practice of witchcraft – of which there is a revival nowadays in many countries. Certain cults held periodic meetings known as witches’ Sabbaths. One of the highest of the witches’ Sabbaths is the High Sabbath or the Black Sabbath of witches on October 31. Much of the Halloween folklore of today such as black cats, broomsticks, cauldrons and spells come from the Black Sabbath. It is said that in Germany the occult (the use of magic powers and things that cannot be explained by reason or science), is considered to be more common today than in the Middle Ages.

Halloween has spread to many different countries in the world where it is celebrated on October 31. Traditional Halloween symbols appeared in the U.S. during the late 1800′s. Witches, black cats, death’s heads cut from pumpkins, candles, masks, parties and pranks were used. The jack-o-lantern, also known as will-o-the-wisp, fox fire and corpse candle, among other things, was believed to be a wandering soul who could not find refuge in either heaven or hell because of a particularly evil deed committed in its lifetime. A corpse candle is said to be a small flame moving through the air in the dark and is believed by the superstitious to be an omen of the observer’s imminent death. According to ancient folklore from many places, a will-o-the wisp wanders about swamp areas, enticing victims to follow. These strange fires were also known as “foolish fire” because only a fool would follow them. Today’s pumpkin face is symbolic of that mocking, wandering spirit.

The uninformed Christian is usually not aware that there truly are demonic spirits that are contacted and activated as people dabble with the occult or associated activities.  They do not realize that by participating in this so called “harmless fun” they are giving Satan the permission (or legal right) and opportunity to exert a certain amount of control over them and even harm them. When Satan gains certain control over persons it means they have lost control in certain areas of their lives to Satan. Satan now uses that control to influence them to think and do bad things that they would never have allowed themselves to do before. Because they have lost control, they cannot stop themselves and so they are forced to submit to Satan’s evil demands. Satan can start using these persons as his instruments, and slowly and surely he will gain more and more control over them until they eventually become obedient slaves of his. Once caught in Satan’s grip, it is not easy to get free. Every act around Halloween is in honor of false gods, which are spirits (or demons) in the realm of the satanic.  Those who have been deeply involved in witchcraft and who are now free, (no longer under Satan’s control) state that even by worshiping spirits of nature, one opens the door to satanic influence. This is because demons often attach themselves to, or enter things that are being worshiped. Some research articles state that the Celts did not worship demons but that they believed in the presence of fairies. Scripture however, only refers to angels as other supernatural beings. These are divided into God’s angels and Satan’s angels (also known as demons). God does not make use of fairies. Satan and his demons however, use whatever and whoever is available. They are expert masqueraders – even as fairies. People need to beware!

Some may reply, “But we only do this in fun – we don’t practice witchcraft.” We need to remember that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Thus he will try to deceive people by camouflaging himself. In this situation it would be to hide behind “fun.” However, what seems to be harmless fun is in actual fact playing with fire, and one could get one’s fingers badly burnt. That which represents Satan and his domain can never ever be considered to be “fun.”  Such involvement places an individual in enemy and forbidden territory and that is very dangerous ground. The average person is ignorant and lost in this territory and unable to defend her/himself against the cunning tactics of the evil one. Before a person knows it, s/he is caught in Satan’s trap so as to be controlled by him.

Satan is also known to be a liar and a murderer (John 8:44). One of his most common tactics is to pretend that he does not exist. If he does not exist then surely this kind of celebration is just innocent “fun” – everyone is celebrating this event so it must be okay. It definitely is not okay and many can testify that Satan is a very real and deadly enemy. He hates and wants to destroy mankind, and will use whatever he can to entice people into his deadly web. Once caught, it is very difficult to get out of his trap and be free from his control.  Halloween is thus a very useful and powerful device in his hands.

To introduce this celebration to our children and encourage them to take part in it could cause them great harm, especially if Satan already has some control or influence over them. This control would usually be due to the child’s parents or grandparents having been involved in the occult, or in some sort of sinful activity that gave the devil power over them. This power or control, if not broken, could be carried down from generation to generation – thus affecting the children or grandchildren of the involved persons. Halloween would then serve as a tool to strengthen this influence to a greater degree and the child would be drawn deeper into Satan’s web of control without initially being aware of it. Later the adverse effects of this control would be experienced, and usually the trapped person, being ignorant of Satan and his ways, would not know how to get free and his life would be an absolute misery and torment.

Through the ages, Halloween has gone by various names but none give glory to the Living Almighty God. The child of God who seeks to walk in the light and freedom of Jesus Christ has absolutely no place for the celebration of Halloween with all its spiritual forces of darkness.

There are many other ways of having “clean fun” which are beneficial and safe to all who take part. If we want to celebrate – let’s celebrate the light, life and love of this world, not the darkness, death and destruction of the evil one.

We have a tremendous responsibility towards our children, and part of it is to ensure that they receive only what is beneficial and positive for their development. What is beneficial and positive about celebrating Satan’s day of murder and demonic rituals? What is beneficial about exposing oneself, one’s child or other children to satanic influence and even control? Is it beneficial to expose a child to the risk of a life of misery and torment? I think not! It is a risk we cannot and dare not take.

__________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

Lorna Kirstein, MDiv, ACoT(TESOL), MCollT.

© 2006, Soterion International, P O Box 1464, Somerset West, 7129. South Africa.

http://kirsteinonline.com

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Satanism – The Seduction of South Africa’s Youth, John and Helen Gardiner.
2. Halloween what it is from a Christian Perspective, Mrs. Gloria Phillips.
3. Understanding the Occult – Josh Mc Dowell & Don Stewart.
4. All Roads lead to Babylon – study 185 by R. C. Nickels  (Review of Babylon Mystery Religion by Ralph Woodrow).
5. Halloween’s Satanic roots exposed – A Christian perspective on Halloween, Colin Melbourne, English Missionary in Asia.
6. A Historical Perspective on the Origins of Halloween, The Rocky Mountain Family Council.

BIO-OPTIC ORGANIZED KNOWLEDGE

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade-named BOOK.

BOOK is a revolutionary break-through in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It’s so easy to use, even a child can operate it.

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere—even sitting in an armchair by the fire—yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.

Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKS with more information simply use more pages.  Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet.

BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

BOOK never crashes or needs rebooting—though, like other devices, it can become damaged if coffee is spilled on it and it becomes unusable if dropped too many times on a hard surface. The “browse” feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move backwards and forwards as you wish. Many come with an “index” feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.

You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with optional programming tools, Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Styli (PENCILS).

(Original source unknown)

___________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

All that I ask is that you include the copyright and URL of my website.

© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com

A Chinese man and a Jewish man were eating lunch in the same restaurant. Suddenly, without warning the Jew got up, walked over to the Chinese fellow and smashed him in the mouth, sending him sprawling. The Chinese man picked himself up, rubbed his jaw and asked, “What in the world did you do that for?” And the answer came back, “For Pearl Harbour!” His response was total astonishment, “Pearl Harbour? I didn’t have anything to do with Pearl Harbour. It was the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour.” The Jew responded, “Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese… they’re all the same to me.” With that they both sat down again, and before too long the Chinese man got up, walked over to the Jew and sent him flying with a hard smack to the jaw. The Jew yelled out, “What did you do that for?” And the answer came back, “The Titanic.” The Jew responded, “The Titanic? Why, I didn’t have anything to do with the Titanic!” Whereupon the Chinese man replied, “Goldberg, Feinberg, Iceberg… they’re all the same to me!”

Even though we can truly smile at the tenacious stupidity of prejudice portrayed in the above illustration, we have to admit that our own behaviour isn’t much different on many an occasion! Yes, the very same prejudice portrayed above finds its way into our very own lives in such a subtle way that we stand amazed when accused of such stupendous behaviour. And this happens in the sociological, political and economical spheres of life; in business, politics and church; in absolutely every area of our lives.

• Have you ever suffered harm or hurt at the hands of a person from another race (white, black, pink or green), and now you classify them all as…?
• Have you ever done business with a Christian (or Muslim, or Jew, or Greek, or Indian, or German), had a raw deal, and now you classify them all as…?
• Have you ever been molested by a man (or woman, or adult), and now you classify them all as…?
• Have you ever had a bad experience in your dealings with your bank (or church, or doctor, or municipality, or lawyer, or supermarket, or police), and now you classify them all as…?
• Have you ever … and now you classify them all as…?

The list is infinite. The common denominator is prejudice where the thinking is basically that all must pay for the sin of one. This is diametrically opposed to the message of the Gospel where One paid for the sin of all!

Prejudice is a luxury true leaders can’t afford. When policies, philosophies and practices are founded on prejudice, the vision is distorted, the mission is corrupted, the emission is hatred and the final conclusion is death.

Adolf Hitler orchestrated the rise of the Third Reich on racial purity and supremacy, amongst other reasons, which resulted in the extermination of “inferior” peoples like the Jews and the Gypsies. The basis of hatred, founded on prejudice, was well established. And the end result? Death of the vision… death of the mission… and death of the leadership…

In South Africa we have deep embedded prejudices. The government strives to “legislate equality, acceptance and tolerance.” However, prejudice is not a matter of the law, but a matter of the heart! The law is limited in function by only being able to punish offenders. But a change of heart, a change of thinking, a change of how we see other people, results in a permanent change of the attitudes of people, which will render the law irrelevant and immaterial. When we listen to the political rhetoric of certain of today’s firebrands, it’s quite clear that prejudice is alive and well in our society, and that a change of heart is desperately needed.

Leaders need beware of prejudice. Those who engage in it are merely emulating the behaviour of the Chinese and Jewish gentlemen in the illustration. Not only does prejudice prove personal stupidity, but also out of it is born diseases like racism, sexism, superiority, pride, and the like—which in turn lead to hatred, violence and those terrible diseases of the soul. And how the devil enjoys division! He actually specialises in this field. When a person falls prey to prejudice he’s a very effective tool in the hands of the devil in causing division. And this is regardless of the standing or position of the person concerned.

The process to eradicate prejudice starts with the leaders. There are normally more followers than leaders, and the followers emulate the example of their leaders. Leaders who advocate tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness, radiate a Godly love that changes people. However, leaders must have a first hand experience of receiving that Godly love, tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness prior giving it away—for one simply cannot give what one does not have.

As leaders it is imperative to determine whether there is any prejudice alive in our beings, and to remedy the situation in our own lives without delay—through the grace and love of God.

Where we all desire a better South Africa as far as business, government and Christianity is concerned, let each leader take up the challenge and act—having said, “It starts right here! It starts with me!”

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© Emil Kirstein

(Author of Quest for Freedom)

http://kirsteinonline.com