Monday, August 31, 2009

Repair Holes in Your Wall From Door Knobs

Fixing holes in your wall can be a challenge if you have no idea how to repair the wall or even how it is built.

Have you ever slammed a door shut because you were a little mad a something of someone. Well now have you ever slammed a door open a little to hard and then hearing a sound like something just stuck to the wall.

Well now that would be the sound of your door knob going through the drywall or plaster. Oh crap now what do I do. And don't try to blame this one on the kids either. Right about now you are wondering how in the heck am I going to repair this and not let it happen again.

You should have a nice round hole in the door. Try to remove the piece of drywall without it falling into the wall. After you get this piece of drywall out set it to the side for possible reinstallation. Now get a measuring tape to see if the wall is framed with 2 x 4 or 2 x 6.

If the wall is framed with 2 x 4 it will measure three and one half inches in between the drywall or plaster. If it is a 2 x 6 framed wall it will measure five and one half inches in between the drywall or plaster.

We will use the 2 x 4 wall for our example on fixing the hole from the door knob. Cut a piece of 2 x 4 about 5 inches long and taper both ends of the 2 x 4 so you will be able to slide the piece of wood into the damage hole.

When you slip the wood into the hole set it on edge and screw the sides into the drywall. This will hold the2 x 4 in place. Next reinstall the piece of drywall you removed and screw it into the drywall. Now for the secret to finishing the wall.

Go down to your local home improvement store and purchase a round rubber door stop that glues onto the wall. These rubber and sometimes plastic door stops will be about 6 inches in diameter and work great for these holes.

You could also buy a few more of them to protect the walls from big bad door openers.
Keep Your Temper In Check and You Won't Have To Keep Writing Them

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Valley Center Remodeling

Visit us now for Drywall Ideas

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage

Are Your Prayers Being Answered

Building a Porch

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you probably don't want to call a contractor to build a porch onto your home; not when you know that building one is something you are perfectly capable of doing yourself. After all, it is something anybody can do, provided that they have the right tools, a high patience level, some people to help with the lifting and a good set of instructions or plans.

Building a porch is a fantastic project, but it requires a lot of work. It is a lot different than building a simple front stoop. After all, it is going to serve as an extended entry way to your home. You want it to be well built and have some character.

You will need to decide how big you want it to be. Go outside and measure out just how much square footage your porch will need. You will need to know this information when it comes time to buy the materials needed to complete the project.

Before you start building one, however, you will want to make sure that you have the legal right to do so. Adding anything onto your home usually takes permits from the city and sometimes the county. There are regulations that will need to be followed and you will need to have your property inspected before you even begin your materials shopping.

When you go to buy the materials make sure your materials are pressure treated or is wood that has been given some elemental protection so that it will be able to stand up to the weather for a long time. You might also think about getting some protective paint or stain. In addition to the flooring, you will also need to buy enough wood to build the frame and supports. This will take wooden beams in various dimensions. If you do not have experience in this sort of thing, a call to a contractor or an experienced lumber person will be able to tell you what you need.

Another option when it comes to building a porch is to build a concrete floored one. Of course, in order to do this you will want to have had some experience with mixing and pouring concrete. If you do not have experience with this, you will want to enlist somebody who does have experience to help you.

Depending on the size, building a porch can be a huge undertaking or merely a weekend project. Small side ones shouldn't take long, but one that is larger takes time, effort and a few permits. You will still be able to save a lot of money by building it yourself. After all, anybody can do it. It just takes the right materials, the right tools and a few people to help you lift the heavier materials. When you are done, you will have a porch that your family will enjoy for years to come.

For more information on how to build a porch and other porches related topics visit The DIY Home Guide at http://www.thediyhomeguide.com

How to Install Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is more than just an affordable way to have a great looking floor. It is also extremely easy to install, making it one of the most popular types of flooring in the United States. People are drawn to this inexpensive design because nearly everyone cannot tell the difference between laminate flooring and authentic wood. This is because it appears to resemble natural wood and it comes in hundreds of different patterns, such as stone and marble. Nonetheless, laminate flooring proves to be a great alternative for someone who cannot afford anything else.

According to Websters, laminate flooring is simply a hard surface covering utilizing a fiberboard core and melamine wear layer, which is available in blocks, planks, and squares. Although this definition makes the flooring sound tricky and bewildering, it is actually quite painless to install. It is a great do it yourself project for anyone who has the motivation and the time to do it.

The first thing you need to do is find out how to prepare your floor before purchasing the laminate flooring. Most businesses will tell you to make sure there is no dirt or dust present on your old surface. It is also wise to make sure the floor is level and there are no slants anywhere near where you are placing the pieces. This could make things very difficult when trying to install the laminate.

There are many different types of installation available. Therefore, after getting your old surface ready, you should ask yourself how much experience you have had with installing floors. If you know absolutely nothing, you should use the snap technique. This means that the laminate pieces are actually linked together and are easily snapped into place. However, this process may end up being more expensive. For that reason, it is smart to price everything before you pick an option. Another great way for beginners is to buy the pieces that already come with glue. All you have to do is just add water to the back of the pieces and place them wherever you would like. Most people go for this option, since it is the easiest and less expensive. Luckily, there are exceptionally simple ways to create great flooring.

No matter what you have as a floor covering, laminate flooring can be put over it. From concrete to wood, laminate is easily placed on top. The only thing to remember is that laminate cannot be placed over carpet. It is also great to remember that laminate flooring requires no hammers or nails. The only tool you need is glue, unless you buy the pieces that already come with it.

Another crucial step is to check your laminate flooring. Sometimes companies will accidentally send damaged or ghastly products. By carefully checking the entire laminate piece, you will be able to make sure that everything is accurate. If you have begun installation without noticing a flaw, chances are you wont be able to return it. Therefore, it is extremely important to check everything before you start.

Regardless of how experienced you are with installations, laminate flooring is piece of cake to put in your home. It is not only an inexpensive way to make your home look stunning, but it also will give you an abundance of pleasure for years to come.

Natalie Aranda writes on home and family. Laminate flooring is more than just an affordable way to have a great looking floor. It is also extremely easy to install, making it one of the most popular types of flooring in the United States. People are drawn to this inexpensive design because nearly everyone cannot tell the difference between laminate flooring and solid wood flooring. There are many different types of installation available. Therefore, after getting your old surface ready, you should ask yourself how much experience you have had with installing floors.

Consider Basement Renovation to Increase Value to Your Home

You can increase the value of your home with a good basement renovation. When you consider renovating your basement you need to determine why you want to renovate it. Maybe you want to make a basement room into a work out center, convert it to a television room, and make it into a kid's playroom or any of a number of other things.

Your project may be as simple as a new coat of paint on the dull walls or as extensive as a complete makeover into a new room. In any case there are some basic things you will need to consider and think about before you begin.

You will need to decide if the renovation to your basement will be easy enough for you to do yourself or if it will require the services of a professional basement contractor. Either way, you will have to prepare a budget.

One aspect in basement renovation that is extremely important is evaluating the quality of the air flow in the existing basement area you want to renovate. If your basement is moist, it will be prone to mildew. You will need to focus on getting the basement dry so it will be a place that you to go instead of a smelly place you avoid.

If your primary goal is to make your home a more comfortable place with the addition of quality space or improving the existing space, you need to consider basement renovation to accomplish this goal and add value to your home.

Considering basement renovation? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Success Starting in Your 40s

You're going to find it hard to believe, but very seldom does an individual peak with creativity until they reach the age of 40. The average individual usually makes the most money between the age of 40 and 60. This doesn't have anything to do with retirement. Most highly creative people keep producing until they die.

If you're 55 years old and looking for a new career or can't seem to find a job in the profession you have worked at your whole life, don't be alarmed or fearful. Do you think you could start your own business? Is there something, you have always wanted to do but have put it off until retirement, or until you had enough time to do it?

Why wait, if you can't find a job in a business you never truly enjoyed, maybe you can find a new job doing something you love.

I have worked in construction for 30 years and at 44 years old started to pursue a career in writing and plan to create award winning websites and best selling books, for the rest of my life. This doesn't mean, I won't work in construction ever again, but I will become a best selling author within the next 20 years.

Most people don't take the time required to learn a new profession. If you're sincerely interested in another career, and you're 50 years old, there is plenty of people out there to give you hope and inspiration.

If you would like some proof, here's a couple successful American businessman who succeeded after the age of 40. Henry Ford is probably one of the most popular and became extremely successful after the age of 40. Andrew Carnegie, an American industrialists who transformed the steel business and did not start reaping the rewards of his efforts until he was well past the age of 40.

I gathered this information from the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. There is a section in the book where he talks about people after the age of 40 with phenomenal success. Anyone who's interested in gaining wealth through spirituality or finances should read this book.

I've often heard the statement, "People Often Over Estimate What They Can Do in a Year and Often Underestimate What They Can Do in a Decade." If you want to accomplish something after the age of 40, I would advise you to start with a plan and then put that plan and the action. Your plan could take five to 15 years to achieve or longer but think about the rewards, whether spiritual or financial.

Gregory Vanden Berge is working to promote personal development ideas and spiritual reform. He has started a web site for videos and articles based on current information about subject he is very familiar with.

"Education has freed me, to pursue other ideas and release me from the bondage and fear of organized religion."

Gregory Vanden Berge

Wrong With Bible Verse

Home Improvement Contractors Vary So Only Choose the Well Qualified

By being very careful about whom you hire as a home improvement contractor you can ensure that at the end of the project you will have a comfortable home in which you can relax and enjoy spending quality time with your family and guests. It is their ability that will eventually govern how much success you get out of the home improvement project and so you need to choose wisely.

There are certain things that you must consider before hiring a home improvement contractor. For one, you need to be sure that the builder will be able to properly schedule and coordinate as well as plan and implement the home improvement plans you present to them and in addition you also need to be sure that you get the project finished in time and in the most efficient manner as well. It cannot be overemphasized enough that the final outcome of a home improvement project will depend on the expertise and honesty of the contractor that you hire to accomplish the task on hand.

You can start your search by checking a number of online sites and by also checking with home improvement centers as too by asking your neighbors. In fact, before you decide on a particular home contractor it makes sense to have more than a few prospective people in mind and to then scrutinize each one's resume till you find the most reasonable and best qualified one.

Also, you need to provide each of the prospective home improvement contractors with an identical set of plans to see how they respond. You can compare their offers before deciding which one seems to be best suited for the job.

Another important aspect to hiring a builder is checking that they hold a license is in order because this license helps to ensure that the person you hire is qualified to do the job on hand. In addition, you should ask for and check references and also check with the Better Business Bureau and compare the timeline they give to complete the work. Finally, you can also assess a home improvement contractor's qualifications from the type of quote they present to you and also by the amount they are charging.

Percy Troughton runs his own garden center as well as running several home improvement based websites. Check out these great Living Rooms ideas articles and guides for decorating, interior design ideas for the most lived in room. http://www.123-living-rooms.com

Blinding Speed To Make Money From Adsense

The net is full of small tiny web sites and blogs with very little traffic whose owners log onto their Google Adsense accounts every morning hopeful for some sort of miracle.

It really is sad because while there is nothing wrong with dreaming of making big money, one cannot just dream without taking any concrete action or steps to make their dream come true. And logging into your Google Adsense account hopefully every morning (having done nothing new) does not quite qualify to be called concrete action towards making your dream of healthy Adsense revenue come true.

While miracles still do happen all the time in this world filled with skeptics, the truth is that you would be better off creating your own miracles rather than waiting for them to be instigated by outside forces.

There are a few basic truths about making money with Adsense which you will need to be aware of as a site owner or blogger, if you want to start generating some serious Adsense money. Incidentally, all these factors have to do with speed.

i) The Speed With Which New Pages Are Created At Your Site Will Impact On Your Adsense Earnings In A Big Way
The speed at which new pages are created at your site will have a direct and dramatic impact on your Adsense earnings. The number of indexed pages at your site will have a direct bearing on the amount of traffic you receive through search engines. The higher your traffic, the higher the chances of your Adsense ads being clicked. And of course the more pages you have at your site with Adsense ads displayed, the higher the number of clicks you will end up with.

Just try out this small experiment. If you currently usually make 1 post or so daily, change and start making five to seven posts a day. You should see an immediate difference in your Adsense revenue. Of course most of the impact will come over a longer period of time as your posts get indexed. But you can imagine how powerful it is bound to be if within a few days of doing more posts, you impact your Adsense earnings.

It is important to note here that it has been proven that traffic from search engines is usually the most ideal for Adsense ads and it is the sort that will always get you more clicks.

So the big question here, is how does one small site with no budget to hire teams of writers to rapidly create pages of content, ever hope to make any money from Adsense? We will examine this question in more detail later in this article and see how some smart bloggers and webmasters are solving this problem in a very creative way.

ii) The Speed With Which You Can Create New Blogs Can Make You A Fortune
I am not talking about splogs or spam blogs which annoy everybody (except those who create them) and which Google are ruthlessly clamping down on currently. Anybody can create hundreds of splogs (with nothing on them except keyword phrases and Adsense ads) within a short space of time. But few know what to do to be able to create hundreds of quality blogs quickly with quality useful content and the right keywords to get attention from leading search engines.

One strategy that involves creating new blogs quickly, used very effectively by bloggers, is to create blogs based on news and new developments that are bound to generate increased public interest in the days to come. When you do this, you have a head start on keywords and keyword phrases that you know will be extremely popular in the near future. This can mean hundreds pf thousands of hits from search engines.

But again, how does a small single penniless blogger pull this one off? There is a way that doesn't upset Google and it is being done all the time. More on that later.

iii) The Speed With Which Back Links Pointing At Your Site Are Generated Will Impact On Traffic And Your Adsense Revenue
Back links, we all know, are extremely important. The speed with which they are generated will directly impact on your traffic and ultimately your Adsense earnings.

Lots of back links or one way links pointing at your site, will not only bring lots of traffic, but will also improve your search engine rankings which will bring even more traffic.

Anybody who finds a way of to generate this quickly has the whole world at their feet. Keep reading and you will discover how others are doing it.

Solution: Key To Unlocking Adsense Fortunes
The solution and key to unlocking Adsense fortunes (and indeed any other affiliate program revenue) is in being able to speed up any of the three key aspects I have mentioned above. Site owners are coming up with all sorts of ingenious ways of doing this. Here are some of the most popular.

Read the full version of this article at my make money from Adsense blog.

Finding Homes Using the Internet - Home Shopping

You can simply type the words real estate or homebuying into any search engine on the World Wide Web and you will come up with hundreds, maybe even thousands of websites that are extremely helpful and full of great information. Like the one you're on right now.

Finding homes with the internet, combined with a skilled real estate salesperson, provides you with the most effective technology available today. Most websites start out, having you select a state you would like to search in and then, select a city, with your price range.

By answering their questions, this narrows the search down to all of the homes available in the area. The internet has made home shopping very simple. Considering what you had to go through in the 1970s. You found a realtor or by looking in the yellow pages, sometimes you found a good realtor and if you are lucky, maybe you would find you a good home.

Most of the time, the first homes you would look at, were owned by the real estate professional you were working with.

There are however a couple of problems with using the internet to find your dream home. Some of the verbage used and photographs taken can create a wonderful illusion of a tropical paradise but the reality, it's a regular home in a decent neighborhood.

Some of these photos are taken by skilled photographers who take advantage of every angle and tend to give an illusion of grander. When you actually start driving around and looking at these homes, only then will you get a reality check, of what the home actually looks like. You'll get used to it.

After you've looked at a few of your future dream homes, you will get a better idea of what I'm talking about with these wonderful pictures and the extraordinary home descriptions like "Beautiful Three Bedroom House with an Ocean View." When reality it's a two-bedroom house with an extra closet for the third bedroom and the ocean is 45 miles away, but you can see it on a clear day if you actually climb to the top of the largest tree on the property.

Take your time when searching for your dream home and don't let any one push you into making a decision if you're not ready. If you find your real estate professional a little too aggressive or pushy, get out of your contract, if you've signed one and find another, more helpful real estate salesperson to help you with your home purchase.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Find other real estate tips and great advice, from another one of the Internet's best website creators.

Ask And You Might Receive Or Ask

Drywall Repair - Home Repair Tips

Drywalls are common finishes used in the interior of homes whether in New York, or other cities in the U.S. No modern home could ever have been built without it. Though the building material has been manufactured to be tough, it is still not totally safe from any damage. Different levels of finishing, thickness and treatments that come with it offer various levels of soundproofing, fire resistance as well as impact tolerance. The extent of the drywall repair will be dependent on the degree of damage.

Also known as gypsum board, any damage to it is commonly remedied through homeowners doing the drywall repair themselves or hiring a pro. Though both options do have their benefits, they also have drawbacks. So when faced with any damage, it pays to carefully consider which alternative is best for your circumstance.

DIY Drywall Repair

Other than saving on the overall cost of the project, what drives many homeowners to do things themselves is the feeling of satisfaction upon finishing off the task successfully. Resources on the topic are abundant and you can easily look up helpful articles ad instructional videos about it in the World Wide Web, and even offline through magazines and books. The task is fairly easy if you are dealing with minor drywall repair involving slight dents, or small holes.

Just like other home improvement and maintenance project, the problem you would have to face if you try to handle the drywall repair on your own is the risk. Without any experience and skill, the risk of committing any mistake and thus sacrificing the quality of the result is huge, especially in cases where the damage is extensive. So if you think you are not up to the job, then better let the pros handle the work.

Drywall Repair Specialist

The factor that makes many homeowners cringe at the thought of acquiring professional help is the cost of labor, making up for the considerable difference when you think about how much the materials would cost. A hired drywall repair specialist, though, would save you time which you could choose to spend doing more important things. Equipped with the right tools and quality materials, you would not have to bother rummaging through the shed to look for tools.

In areas where guests are entertained like the living area or the kitchen, it pays to maintain their attractiveness. The smallest flaw could really take a toll in the area's appearance, and what more if there is a gaping hole on the wall? With a drywall repair specialist to do the job for you, the project results would be seamless and noticeably better; and a lot faster letting you enjoy the results in the shortest wait.

Drywall repair takes some practice and ample skills to produce results wherein the damage would seem to not even have existed. So when faced with any drywall damage, you have to weight your options carefully. The thing that you think might save you more could even cost you more.

Eugene Makeev of Craftsmen Network helps New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls with Brooklyn, NY drywall installers by matching their needs with prescreened drywall contractors NYC.

Please feel free to use our drywall estimator.

Words and Truths That Will Challenge the Hearts of Leaders and Those Who Aspire to Be Leaders

I vividly remember that night when our Professor of New Testament, James S. Stewart was preaching in Lothian Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, and his powerful and animated declaration, "Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn the Bible loose. It will defend itself." It was only recently that I learned that it was Charles Spurgeon who first spoke these penetrating words.

Everything which relates to God is infinite. We must therefore, while we keep our hearts humble, keep our aims high. Our highest services are indeed but finite, imperfect, but as God is unlimited in goodness, He should have our unlimited love. Do these words not challenge our hearts?

We have the truth and we need not be afraid to say so. It was another strong Christian leader who spoke these words and they are so very relevant in 2009 for those of us who are in Christ and who believe the Bible.

Having a full life is not necessarily a long life. I have just been re-reading the memoirs of Robert Murray McCheyne of Dundee, and his influential ministry certainly supports these salutary words.

The world isn't reading the Bible. The world is reading Christians like you and me, and if they don't like what they see in us, they're not going to want what we have, and we have what everyone so needs, Jesus Christ. Again, that will not be popular in certain places in 2009, but it just happens to be true.

Only one life will soon be past and it is only what is done for Christ that will last. Let that sink in deeply!

Inner purity results in outer power. We see that so perfectly clearly in the life of Jesus Christ and to a lesser degree in the life of the early Church. But what a challenge it is to me! Is it a challenge to you?

With complete consecration comes perfect peace, and these words were breathed by a saintly Chinese believer in Jesus called Watchman Nee, whose teaching and writing has inspired many. He was a leader who continues to lead today as disciples of Jesus Christ study his writings.

No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language. Now, that is almost too strong but I know what the writer is getting at. Do you?

It's not the parts of the Bible I don't know that worries me, but the parts that I do. That statement from a leader is a very different field has something profound to say to each of us.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is losing interest in what is familiar. Again this can happen almost without our noticing as we search for something fresh to say and at times perhaps even novel. It is better to say what is true than what is new!

Tell me what you do with your time and money and I will tell you where your heart is. How vitally important that is in these times of financial crisis.

We can have no power from Christ unless we are persuaded that we have none of our own. I need to remember that frequently. Would that not be true for us all?

Sandy Shaw.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Finding Homes Using the Internet - Home Shopping

You can simply type the words real estate or homebuying into any search engine on the World Wide Web and you will come up with hundreds, maybe even thousands of websites that are extremely helpful and full of great information. Like the one you're on right now.

Finding homes with the internet, combined with a skilled real estate salesperson, provides you with the most effective technology available today. Most websites start out, having you select a state you would like to search in and then, select a city, with your price range.

By answering their questions, this narrows the search down to all of the homes available in the area. The internet has made home shopping very simple. Considering what you had to go through in the 1970s. You found a realtor or by looking in the yellow pages, sometimes you found a good realtor and if you are lucky, maybe you would find you a good home.

Most of the time, the first homes you would look at, were owned by the real estate professional you were working with.

There are however a couple of problems with using the internet to find your dream home. Some of the verbage used and photographs taken can create a wonderful illusion of a tropical paradise but the reality, it's a regular home in a decent neighborhood.

Some of these photos are taken by skilled photographers who take advantage of every angle and tend to give an illusion of grander. When you actually start driving around and looking at these homes, only then will you get a reality check, of what the home actually looks like. You'll get used to it.

After you've looked at a few of your future dream homes, you will get a better idea of what I'm talking about with these wonderful pictures and the extraordinary home descriptions like "Beautiful Three Bedroom House with an Ocean View." When reality it's a two-bedroom house with an extra closet for the third bedroom and the ocean is 45 miles away, but you can see it on a clear day if you actually climb to the top of the largest tree on the property.

Take your time when searching for your dream home and don't let any one push you into making a decision if you're not ready. If you find your real estate professional a little too aggressive or pushy, get out of your contract, if you've signed one and find another, more helpful real estate salesperson to help you with your home purchase.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Find other real estate tips and great advice, from another one of the Internet's best website creators.

Spiritual Dictionary

Christians Against Proselytizing Among Israel

CAPAI -- Christians Against Proselytizing Among Israel -- is an organization headed by Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden. Is there an equivalent organization of Jews against Jewish proselytizing among Christians? I doubt it.

I am opposed to anybody - Jew, Israelite or Gentile - becoming a convert to the counterfeit Christianity of "traditional Churchianity." Such popular error misrepresents true Christianity with its Babylonian mystery religion dressed up in the drag of "Christianity."

True Christianity, as taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, merely announces the soon coming Kingdom of God to be established by King Messiah, Yeshua. We don't seek converts or believe it's our responsibility to "save" the world. If God wants to save the world, it will be saved. There's no contest between God and the devil, contrary to traditional myths.

I encourage Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden and others to call upon Jews not to be hypocrites against "Christian" proselytizing while remaining in a self-imposed exile, far away from the Jewish homeland, and having the chutzpah to preach against Jesus in such professing countries, as I've seen on too many forums. Mind you, these forums I refer to were not legitimate Jewish responses to efforts to convert them.

Jews Should Follow Judaism to Israel!

May faithful Jews not confuse ersatz New York with Eretz Yisrael. Israel needs American Jews and American Jews need Israel! Such a great influx of American Jews into Eretz Israel could help sweep away the suicidal peace process and restore Israel to its right mind.

A Jewish Homeland

Weren't the Jews prophesied to return to Israel? Are the Jews ethnic Jews or merely converts? How should Israel treat their resident Arabs? Why does the world focus on Jerusalem for all the wrong reasons?

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.

What Does God Say? What Are Dreams?

Sleep accomplishes much more than resting the physical body. The spirit within us never sleeps - we are sparks off the Divine Flame, does God ever sleep? No, and neither do the Angels. Our spirit inhabits our bodies like electrical wiring in a house. And while we sleep, no lights may be turned on, but that does not mean the current isn't active. Dreams are often remembrances of the rich and wonderful spiritual life that we accomplish while our physical body sleeps. There are seven main categories that dreams fall into, and most of them achieve fantastic work.

(1). Night School: Called a school because there are many participants with you in a classroom setting, this is a time of being taught a lesson and then trying it out for yourself. These are often choices not between right and wrong, but about good and greater good. After the teacher shows the variables of the lesson, the student is then placed into a scenario in which they can apply what they have learned and see for themselves what works. Similar to a test pilot using new skills in a simulator. Although very few people remember the classroom part of their dreams, many people do remember the scenarios.

(2). Guidance for others: This is where we get to actively use what we have learned at night school in real life situations. This is where most of our remembered dreams come from. When our body sleeps, our spirit is not in it, but is tethered by what is often termed an umbilical or silver cord. It is there until we die, and is the same one seen by near-death experiencers. During this time, we get to act as guides for others who are awake. Not all guides are still attached to physical bodies, some have died and are assigned specific people to help, similar to a guardian Angel. Compassion is a very big incentive in bringing out our best effort; so often God will choose for us to see our loved ones in these situations instead of the people that are really there.

For example: I had a dream where my teenage daughter had become pregnant and had run away from home. She was seen living under a bridge with other homeless people, so I got in our station wagon with our family dog and her grandpa and a friend, and went to bring her home. When I opened the car door, the dog ran up and found my daughter. She was afraid, but I carefully pulled her hair out of her eyes and she looked up and smiled, and said yes to coming home. I then awoke with a start, not knowing if this was a prophetic dream of things to come or not, so I asked in prayer, and was given the answer. I was actually helping find a black girl who was a pregnant runaway, a family abuse situation. The station wagon was a police car; the dog was a police dog. Yes the girl was afraid, and I was helping a social worker to calm her down, wiping the hair from her eyes, saying comforting words, and giving the worker inside information as to what was going on in the girl's life and additional compassion to help her choose the best way to help. The girl gained confidence that she would not be sent back to her abusive family and went with the social worker. Often in these dreams we feel like we are really there because we are.

Remember that while in spirit you will experience everything as a spirit does. You can fly, go through things, objects and light looks different, you can't see distance the same, you can't stare at your feet, time is not important, you can see other spirits, ghosts, Angels, unHoly Angels, etc. These dreams may find us in different countries, or even in different times, as God decides where to utilize us and time does not move just in a linear fashion; by ripple effect this changes the future or present time. In these dreams we may also help with storms or wildfires, or any number of things with the planet or its animals. And even though we feel is it happening to us, we are there helping others. If you remember to look in a mirror while in these dreams, you will see it is not you. Also, not all outcomes will be good, people will still die, or end up in poor situations. This is because you are not there in place of the free will of the person you are helping, but only to assist them with a subconscious awareness of opportunities and choices.

The combined experiences of real life and night school qualify us to be there to help, and you were sent by Divine direction to do this. This also means that you have your guardian Angel with you, and are directly wired to greater help which will be there instantly if the thought crosses your mind that you need it. This means Holy Angels are called to help you and the situation.

(3). Items from the stream of consciousness: Living on earth encases us in a vibratory soup of subatomic particles - we are intrinsically linked together, every part of us resonating with everything else. But the connection goes even further than that; we emotionally feel subtle and tremendous inflections in our very soul. It is that same place that mystics have been saying throughout time, that "we are all One." It is that same connection that we have with one another at all times, it makes no difference whether we are asleep or awake. When we are just about to sleep, or just coming out of it, there are opportunities to be very conscious of this stream, and to literally see it in front of our eyes; sometimes like sheets of rain in a storm, or big and little dots layered together. It is like a newsreel that runs day and night, with all information from all over the world on thousands of TV sets. All with their volume up and playing out the most dramatic and emotional scenes - which means the biggest bad things, and the best good things.

Why do we have this in us? The same reason we are called to help in guiding dreams - to make a difference in the world. The stream of consciousness is a place of awareness for us, and connection to God and one another. It is not technically a dream, but we may think it is when we are half-way in between awake and asleep; we see many situations and very quickly move between them. Remember that when we see things that are not the way they should be our desire to make it better helps it to do just that. There are children born who work in this picture-within-a-picture all the time, and depending on how big the picture of the stream is, decides how much they can function in the "real" world versus the one they are actively participating each moment. What we consider day-dreams can come from here too

(4). Visits from the other side: You would probably feel scared if your dead great-great grandmother appeared in front of you right now; and because of the fear, the bigger picture for the visit may not get through. This is the reason why Angels and spirits (different than ghosts who have not yet gone to God) do not appear very often, since they do not want to make us afraid. When we are asleep is the best time to say "Hi!" and tell us what we need to know, or even to have full conversations. This is also why most visitations occur shortly after a loved one's death, because they want to let you know they are OK, so you can be comforted that they are not really gone. Visits can also occur from the other side in negative ways, with visits of beings that want to scare us, make us feel helpless or hopeless or make us think that if we don't do certain things that bad will befall us. These will sometimes even appear like a loved one or a Holy Angel or even God. But these are fallen Angels, also called unHoly Angels or demons. When God made Angels he made them with free will, and some unplugged from his Love. How can you tell the difference? There are things that you can do.

Before you go to sleep at night, include in your prayers that no unHoly Angels may come near you, talk to you or cause any harm. Also, if you forget, simply remind yourself in your dream to ask one question of them, and no matter what they appear to be, the truth will be known. No matter what religion you are, ask "Do you love Jesus Christ now?" It is important to add "now" because at one time they all did, as part of one big Angelic brotherhood. The one who came to be known on earth as Jesus Christ had a pre-human existence, and was the firstborn son of God. All the Angels know who he is, what responsibilities he was given, how they were fulfilled, and the expanded power and authority he has now. If they are truly who they appear to be, they will answer "yes," if not, they will give all kinds of excuses, or curse, or try to scare you, and all you have to do is call in the Holy Angels who will protect you.

(5). Prophetic Dreams or Messages from God: These can be prophetic dreams telling of something coming up that we need to be aware of or make certain choices in (there is no such thing as fate). Or they can be outright messages to us from an Angel, from Jesus or an appearance of God himself. These are usually very BIG feeling dreams, and are rarely seen as anything else than what they are by the dreamer. A person may have none or several in a lifetime, but they are always considered life-changing and very real. They are easy to remember even years after they occur. They also happen to people who may not consider themselves very spiritual or religious, or to people who think they never dream. But when they happen they know it, and recognize that it is different than anything else they have ever experienced.

(6). Memories from previous lives: These can happen in two different ways. We are born with a veil in place that does many different things; one thing is a cover over our previous lives so that we can concentrate on the one at hand and not fret about what we should have done in a past one. When God lifts the veil, it is to reveal times of encouragement for us of our successes even in the midst of great difficulty. But if we have gone to someone for "past life regression," we have opened a big can of worms and can have all sorts of things come up that are distressing and distracting. Openings in the veil are most clear during sleep, and the memories are seen as dreams. These can occur as day-dreams as well.

(7). Scattered downloads and sorting from the day and memories from this life: This category is where you will find written all the self-help books about deciphering dreams. And though this is where most of people's energies seem to go, it is actually the least important category of all. The purpose of these dreams is simply to help sort, shuffle and organize the mind's input and connection. It may be a mixture of all kinds of things - TV, worries, stories, etc. Although these dreams are a linking between mind and spirit, there is little here worth remembering or applying to our conscious lives, and are really just remnants we may or may not remember viewing; mostly jumbled scenes which make very little sense.

So there are basically seven kinds of dreams that we have, and most are remembrances of the rich and wonderful spiritual life that we accomplish while our physical body sleeps. And we can also experience whatever is Divinely in place for us for the night, or we may also ask for a specific kind of dream. For example, we may request to have a "fluffy" dream that is light, joyful to help us shift more easily from the often stressful "guidance" dreams, so that would be the last thing on our minds before awakening. Never feel that you are not doing enough in your life, the bigger plan is already in place; God can utilize us even while we rest. Dreaming is hard work but wonderful, so never feel guilty that you need your sleep!

About the Author: Tiffany Snow carries the 5 marks of the Holy stigmata, and is a documented miracle healer, award-winning author, NDEr and public speaker. Her latest book: "God's Workbook - Shifting into the Light" is available on Amazon.com. Distant healing, deliverances, classes, live teleconferences and more articles are offered through the websites. This article may be reprinted and shared in any form without permission: please list websites - http://www.TiffanySnow.com, 800-535-5474 God's L.A.W. Love Always Wins!

Property Inspections Are Important

Purchasing a home is quite possibly the biggest physical investment the average person will make in their lifetime. We pay mechanics to examine the insides of our cars, so why not pay an expert to examine the insides of our properties (certainly a far more valuable asset)? The cost is generally in the low hundreds, but could end up saving you thousands. A pre-purchase building inspection could also see the price tag lowered on your dream home.

A property inspection involves a qualified professional thoroughly examining the building for defects and structural problems. Such defects could include water damage as a result of shower leaks or any other leaks, termite damage, timber decay, moisture in sub-floor, poor brickwork, cracks in bricks and walls, roof and footing defects and any other structural problem that may exist. A property inspector can also check for illegal building practices.

All potential home buyers should arrange a building inspection before purchasing property. Of course there are already enough costs associated with buying a house, but it works out a lot cheaper in the long run if you discover a termite infestation or shonky brickwork before signing anything. Building inspections are also useful for settling disputes between neighbors about possible construction work damage, as well as buyer and seller disputes.

Quality property inspection companies will also offer additional services such as pest inspection. A pest inspection may reveal unwanted guests such as cockroaches, mice and wasps nesting in a hidden location. Or worse: termites. Termite damage has the ability to destroy houses before a problem is even realised. Unfortunately they are usually not visible to the naked eye. This is where additional pest inspections can really come in handy.

All good inspection companies will use moisture meters, listening devices, and most importantly, a thermal camera to seek out potential termite infestations. Basically, this camera will detect higher temperatures within the walls of your home, which indicates that termites may be nesting in these areas. Pest inspections will also reveal whether there has been past termite activity in the building.

Some things to check for before buying a house include moisture and mold on walls and ceilings, flaking paintwork, rotting timber and cracks in brickwork and walls. However; arranging a building inspection is the best way to get definitive answers and repair quotes. A good building inspection company will offer a detailed report citing the damage found and estimate repair costs. Images of the defects and expert advice are an added bonus. Make sure that the property inspectors you hire are licensed and have their own indemnity insurance.

This article was provided by Childs Property Inspections: Professional building inspectors who provide a wide range of property inspection reports for Australian homes including Dilapidation Reports Pre-purchase Building Inspections and Termite Inspections.

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?

Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?

When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.

Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?

Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.

Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.

If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.

It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.

If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.

Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .

Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.

If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.

This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Questions To Ask Your Pastor

Getting the Right Contractor For Constructing Your Deck

When planning to build a deck, most people find it difficult to select a reliable contractor, more so when they have no past experience in this area. To overcome this hurdle, what you can do is to look around at the decks that seem attractive to you and then find out who the contractor of these decks are. In this way, it will be possible to build a list of contractors about whom you can be confident as to their expertise in the deck building arena. Another way to select a good contractor is to apply to your local chamber of commerce for suggestions. Whichever way you obtain a list, make sure to interview the potential candidates personally before you arrive at a decision. During the interview process, give a correct idea to the contractor of all the things you want him to build on the deck so that he can provide you an accurate estimate of the cost that you will incur for constructing your deck.

Hiring an experienced person is always a wise course to pursue. You should look for a minimum of three years' experience in your contractor as this will have provided him all the skills needed to do a satisfactory job with your deck. Apart from this, it is essential that you work with a licensed contractor to avoid legal problems that may occur later. It is also crucial that the firm you hire has a good insurance coverage which can come in very handy in case of accidents caused to the workers during construction or any harm to your property. Taking precautionary measures like checking up with the insurance company after having taken a copy of the insurance policy of the firm will further help you avoid future complications.

Another thing that will help you choose the right contractor is to ask for references and personally ensure that other people who have hired your contractor have a good opinion of him. In this way, you can also verify whether the contractor has a reputation of meeting deadlines and staying within the prescribed budget. When formulating the contract, make sure that the contractor specifies every aspect of the deck like the materials that will be used, how the payment will be made etc.

After having finalized on the correct person for the job, you should arrange a place in your yard for storing the lumber required for the job. You should also see to it that utilitarian aspects of your house like the gas lines, water lines, electrical wiring, drains etc. do not come to any harm when constructing the deck. Obtaining all the necessary permits that are required for the job so that the work can be carried out smoothly without any hindrances is a must. Finally, you should take care to periodically inspect the progress of work so that you end up having the deck that you have always dreamt of.

Adam Peters is an online entrepreneur and writes for many consumer magazines. Gather more information and resources on starburst deck railing at http://www.deck-porch-railings.com/starburst.html

The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle

Jim Rohn has been writing and speaking on success for over 40 years. He has been called America's Foremost Business Philosopher. He does not disappoint in his little book, The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle.

For those familiar with Rohn's work the themes and stories in this book will be mostly familiar. Even if you have heard Rohn speak you will benefit from reading this book.

Rohn approaches success through five factors, or pieces of the puzzle. They are Philosophy, Attitude, Activity, Results and Lifestyle.

Jim Rohn's chapter on Philosophy can be summed up in his quote: To have more we must first become more". He teaches that we make our own future. Like many other authors of note he stresses taking responsibility for our lives. He teaches that to have more we must be more. He reminds us to work on ourselves first and foremost to make ourselves more valuable in the market place and to achieve more. He then takes the reader down a road teaching how you can and should improve yourself so you can be more.

In his chapter on Attitude he stresses the importance of our attitude in all things. He teaches the value of being present, of learning from the past, and of applying those lessons to the future. He teaches how to plan for the future building on the lessons learned in Philosophy.

In Activity he tells us that no matter how well we plan and how clever we are if we do not act on our plans no progress can occur. All achievement is the product of our action. He stresses the need for sound planning and discipline.

In Results he discusses the measurement of what we do to learn how to improve on our results. He then discusses the importance of expanding our capacity and improving our results.

In Lifestyle Rohn points out that you do not need to be rich or powerful to enjoy life and live with a touch of class. He gives good examples of this and how to enjoy life without the need for conspicuous consumption.

In his conclusion Rohn discusses the importance of a sense of urgency in what we do. Our time is limited and our opportunities are numbered. He stresses that we must exploit that time and opportunity for once it passes it is lost. He also compares the level of success of those who have a sense of urgency with those who do not.

In these 121 short pages Jim Rohn teaches many of the most important principles of success and achievement. This little book is worth its weight in gold.

1991 Jim Rohn
Dickinson Press Inc.
Southlake, Texas

Daniel R. Murphy -- helping people build wealth through self education and development. For more Free Special Reports and other information leading to personal success and financial independence visit http://www.books2wealth.com.

Check out what we have to offer. Sign up for the free ezine, Creating True Wealth, bringing you book reviews and helpful articles twice per month to help you build wealth, manager your time and achieve success. You will secure your future through your continued education and self improvement.

Surviving As A Contractor In California

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.

Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.

Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.

I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.

These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.

Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.

Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.

Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

When Do We Get To Meet God

Law of Attraction Frustration

The law of attraction has frustrated many people and they will say that it doesn't work. You may have seen the movie, The Secret, or one of the specials on TV done by Oprah or Larry King. Have you tried using its principles? There are usually very specific mistakes that are made by someone just learning to attract the things they want. Those mistakes are easily corrected.
  • The Law of Attraction always works

This universal law is an energy that is available to everyone, all the time. You have used it since forever. Maybe what you have attracted is not what you prefer, but the law has followed your instructions to the letter. Then why hasn't it worked the way you want?The rules are that what you focus your attention on, will come into your reality. So what you experience today, has been caused by what you thought about and talked about long before this. What you complain about and worry about today, will be what you are drawing to you for your future.
  • So what blocks what I want?


Most likely, it is old beliefs of not being worthy of having it. Your value and self-esteem has been established for years by situations and people around you. They haven't done it on purpose; their own self-esteem has not been very high, so they couldn't help but teach you as they were taught--that YOU aren't enough. A belief is only a thought that has been repeated over and over until your mind accepts it as true. It doesn't have to BE true.
  • Holding onto old ideas doesn't help

Holding onto those old beliefs is no longer supportive of what you want to accomplish today. Those beliefs were chosen by you to protect your emotions in the past. The key word here is CHOSEN. You made a choice--a decision about what happened. It doesn't follow that the decision you made was actually true. But thinking about it over and over and talking about it has allowed your mind to accept it as true, and this is what is blocking you from being able to attract your desire.
  • You have an inner guidance system

By listening within, to the promptings and guidance you receive, you will find answers to help you remove those old beliefs and blocks and create the life you desire to lead. Life flows easily for you when you learn how to program and listen and obey your inner whisperings. Walls that you keep hitting your head against, will crumble and you walk free.

If you want to learn to listen within, you can download a free ebook, Learn Listening Within

Mareen Robinson, a published author, columnist and teacher of the Law of Attraction is offering tips, techniques and other goodies to learn to accelerate the Law of Attraction. Visit her at her website: http://yourmagicwanda.com

Repairing Your Speech

Damaging verbal filler words are terms used in speech that are not necessary such as, "um, like, ya know, uh-huh", tongue noises, lip smacking, throat clearing or a bodily movement not related to your message. Any type of non-meaningful verbal noise made during speech is a damaging filler word. Teenagers commonly use this type of terminology and who wants to discuss business or make critical decisions with someone who presents like an adolescent? These behaviors cause disruption with the flow of speech and discount your credibility and level of confidence.

Why are damaging filler words used during speech?

1. Nervous Behavior

When distracted by the effects of nervous behavior, speech will be impacted as a result of anxiety. Filler words are injected as the speaker is coordinating their thoughts, speech and anxiety at the same time.

2. Reinforced Habit

When speakers are excited about what they want to say or their thoughts are moving faster than what their speech mechanism can accommodate, habitual filler words may be used. They are not necessarily being used due to nervous behavior but became habit at some point. Often the habit is used as a "filler" to buy time to organize thoughts. Filler words become injected such as, "you know" or "sure" to buy a moment of time while thoughts are being arranged. Many speakers are not even aware they use those terms.

Regardless if the cause is due to nervous behavior or reinforced habit, filler words damage the reputation of a well-intended speaker and serve no purpose in professional situations.
Increasing your Awareness

1. Identify Your Personal Filler Words.

Is it a nervous behavior or reinforced habit? Create a list of your filler words and the situation when they are being used. Having awareness is 80% success.
Words/Phrases Situations

2. Keep a Tally

This is to improve your awareness of the behavior. If you are unaware of the frequency these words are used it will be difficult to end the habit. Keep scratch paper near by and each time you use any term not necessary for your message, add a tally mark. People are astounded at the amount of tally marks found on their paper. This is a good strategy for increasing your awareness so you can discontinue the behavior.

State your plan for keeping a tally.

3. Find Support

Elicit support from a trusted friend or colleague who can give you a signal or monitor every time you use a filler word. This is a good approach for learning how many times filler words are actually used.

These are people I can use for support:

Eliminating Verbal Filler Words

Real World Practice

Strategy Training

1. Rephrase It

When you catch yourself in error, repeat or paraphrase the statement without the filler word. This
will reinforce your awareness, which will make you one step closer to eliminating the habit.

2. Use Carrier Phrases

A. Try a carrier phrase to transition you toward your next thought. If you find yourself using the term "ummmm" frequently, use another word or phrase to transition you toward your true message such as: "well, actually or as a matter of fact".

*Vary your carrier phrases or you will have a new damaging verbal filler word!

B. Often filler words are used as an immediate response to a question or to confirm specific information. The words are used automatically as filler while thoughts are being organized. Plan carrier phrases to use in advance and practice it instead of using that old, "ya know".

Suggestions:

"Good question, Interesting point, To clarify, To confirm, As a follow up"

Plan a few personal carrier phrases to replace verbal viruses:

3. Predict Questions and Plan Your Responses in Advance

If you are going to speak on a topic or lead a meeting chances are you can predict a question someone may want to ask you. Predict 2-3 questions that people may want to ask and plan your response in advance that will allow your speech to flow and be free of verbal viruses. This activity will make you better prepared and automatically increase your confidence.

4. Intentional Pausing

When you feel the need to say "ummm" resist the urge to use a filler word and replace it with a silent pause. In addition, this strategy will allow you to control your rate of speech while allowing time to generate the real word or thought needed to clarify your point. It is a misconception that pausing will be noticeable by listeners and create awkward moments. Most filler words are caused by a fast rate of speech where words and thoughts are competing to come out. Adding a pause will improve your thought organization as well as rhythm and intonation.

5. Say It in your Head

If resisting the urge to say, "ummm" is too great go ahead and say it! However, say it in your
head silently the verbally continue with your message. This is a win-win solution because you can use your verbal virus freely but your listener will never hear it.

Liz Peterson

sritsol@gmail.com

22344 E.Kenyon Place

Aurora, Colorado 80018

Phone: 303-330-3309

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.

I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.

I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.

The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.

Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.

Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.

My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.

About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.

The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.

The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.

The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.

That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.

Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.

Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.

I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.

Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.

I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.

The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Religion Articles

How to Refinish Coffee Tables

Coffee tables, due to their size, are great to keep around and use for many years. They receive a good deal of punishment, though, as they can be used for a variety of activities. Serving drinks, playing cards, and eating while watching television are all suited to coffee tables. A quality finish will stand up to regular wear and tear, but you may find that the day comes to strip the old finish and apply a new one. Coffee tables are good to work with as they usually don't have a large surface area and are fairly simple in design. Many of them don't feature tricky corners or ornaments.

The first step is to remove the old finish. A bristle brush, a good mask, and a chemical strip will be necessary. The chemicals will give off powerful fumes, so be sure to invest in a high quality mask. Apply the strip with the brush and scrub vigorously. Most coffee tables will require this step to be repeated once or twice.

After letting the fumes evaporate, move in with a paint scraper. Be careful here, as you do not want to damage the wood. Doing so will create another problem that is not remedied quite as easily (coffee tables can be fixed with filler, usually). After the old finish is stripped completely, you can start the next step.

You have a lot of freedom here, as there are a number of stains and finishes that can be applied to modern coffee tables. Determine what look you want for the table, and decide on a product that matches it as closely as possible. Some even contain a finish and sealant together. These can be very useful. Whatever you ultimately choose, determine if a sealant will be necessary. If the finish you use does not contain one, purchase and apply it separately. Follow the instructions on the product label, as there are specific methods for various substances. Some are even designed for coffee tables.

FeelMoreHuman.com offers a wide selection of coffee tables, console tables, and other coffee tables at great discount prices. Visit RogueStatus' blog for details.

Spirituality Information - Murder Your Motivation

For ten years i made the same mistake again and again.... I cannot recall a single morning when i got up full of energy and raring to go. There was nothing which motivated me. I used to work for the best companies across the world but they mattered very little deep down within me. I wanted to do something else, something so big and so unique that has never been done before. The biggest mistake i made was I thought that i can achieve all my dreams only if do it full time and quit my job.... I did not have the guts to quit my job and so i just thought and thought about my dream and did nothing else about it ... One fine day however ....

It was Jan 12th 2004. I was doing very well as an employee. Great salaries,top position and it was all looking very good for me from the outside. But my deepest intention of being a full time motivational writer remained only a thought and nothing more.... I can still recall that day . I was so frustrated that i locked myself in a room and screamed to my dreams within" Never again bother me . Get out of my life and let be be the ordinary man i always was.Get lost right now !" I stabbed my dreams a dozen times and murdered it so that it never troubled me again....

By evening of that day i was feeling very light as if a huge responsibility had been taken away from my shoulders. I killed my dreams and now i was free.. I had no pressure. It seemed to me that I was carrying a mountain of dreams for the last seven years without fulfilling any of them. I felt as if it was the best thing to happen to me.. Now watch what happened during the next two weeks...

Jan 13th 2004.... I get up at 4.30 am . I am so happy . I dont know why.... I listen to my favourite music and then I sit for meditation. I head to my workplace after having breakfast..

Jan 14th 2004.... I get up again at 5.00 am and am feeling very calm within. I dont know why....

This continued for two weeks and then on ....

Jan 28th 2004.... Something very strange happened in my morning meditation. It was as if someone entered into me from outside and was not willing to go out..... The experience was very strange....That someone i later realised was my Inspiration, my real goal, my dream, my life and my purpose in this world.That was my real intention and God was kind enough to reveal it to me. From that day on a voice within spoke continuously to me that my real purpose in life is to build centres where Life changing thoughts are preached and that help will come as i gain strength and momentum in my internal world... This experience did not leave from then on... It caught me by the neck and reminded me of my real intention every day.... Slowly but surely i made progress in my internal world. I did not experience any frustration.... Now i had a great dream, and the plans for achieving those dreams were revealed daily to me from a source far greater than me which was genuine. These plans did not come all at a stretch but they came in bits and pieces as was necessary . I was warned from that day on that i will listen to two voices and i should be capable of recognising the force of God...

Within one year i quit my job. I did not try hard to quit my job . My job disappeared all by itself.. I am still far of from reaching my goals but i have a dream and it just does go out not even if i scream or stab it a dozen times. This dream is genuine and rock solid .....

The two most important definitions you have to learn in life are Motivation and Inspiration. Motivation is when you go after a goal,or a dream and set plans to achieve it.... This could be many times frustrating and on most occassions even after you achieve your so called dreams you are not happy. But inspiration is something totally different... In the case of Inspiration the dream gets hold of you instead of you going after the dreams. It works its way inside of you and just does not leave you. You are forced to take action.... Inspiration is genuine and is the force of God ... Motivation is good but is man made...

Don't go after things in circle. Murder your motivation today to allow Inspiration to take over. It could be the best thing that could happen to you.... Motivation is cheap, inspiration is genuine. When you are motivated you have to run after things, when you are inspired things work in your favour. Both good and bad events take you to your dreams... It might take a while for you to experience all this but this knowledge should be nailed at the back of your mind....

There are three basic steps you could take starting today as you proceed to murder your motivation.

Lecturer, entrepreneur and Fortune 500 business consultant, Vish Writer is the author of the Amazon No 1 bestseller, "The Joy of Becoming God" For more information, visit: http://www.spiritual-simplicity.com http://www.vish-writer.com

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The Art and Science of Painting Your Home Interiors

So you want to have your home painted right? But you're not sure who to contact and how much you should pay, as well as what services to expect from the painting contractor you hired? In that case, you should do your homework first about what to expect when you undertake painting your home as a home makeover project.

First of all, you have to understand that painting your home is not one all-in-one job done by a one-size-fits-all contractor. Painting your home can be subdivided into the areas of interior and exterior painting, which are two very different fields altogether. As their names suggest, an interior painting job will involve painting the internal parts of your house while an exterior painting project encompasses all the external parts of your home.

For this article, we will focus on interior painting, which is more complicated than exterior painting.

First, in interior painting, your contractor and his team will remove all the furniture from the room they will be working on so that no paint splatters on them. Then, your contractor will tell you what paint brands he plans to use for your room, and present certain color schemes that he hopes you will like as the color schemes for your room. Some clients like to use different color schemes for every room, while others like to have a common theme throughout the interiors and exterior part of the house.

It would be great if the painting contractor is skilled in using paint software to visualize the house before choosing paint color, under your watchful eye of course. This then leads you to the problem of what kind of finish to choose for your interiors you can choose between the gloss, semi gloss, eggshell, flat paint types, among others. The rule of thumb to follow is that the better the sheen of the finished product, the more durable it actually is under regular wear and tear.

A gloss paint finish may also refer to the satin paint finish, which is a good type of paint to use if your contractor is not that experienced, or if you are painting children's rooms or trim which may require a degree of washing to clean them from crayon or pencil scribbles. Gloss paint is also used for furniture painting as well, due to the durability and modern appearance it gives to chairs and tables. Semi gloss and high gloss paint finish reflect more light than a gloss paint finish. Semi gloss alone is advisable for use on kitchen and bathroom walls which require a lot of exposure to water during periodic house cleaning blitzes.

Eggshell does not have much of a sheen to it since it absorbs much light, kind of like a matte finish. You can use eggshell paint finish on interior walls that may need it rather than flat paint which does not allow surface dirt and substances to be washed off as well. Flat paint, on the other hand, is generally used to cover up surface defects or application imperfections (like when the painter uses the brush in the wrong direction from his previous applications.)

Remember that the function or purpose of the room you will be painting should dictate what finish you finally use it for. When the interiors are done, you can then move on to exterior painting of your home.

Extreme Makeover Pros is your affordable contractor serving Orange County, Ca. for nearly 25 years. Specializing in Home Improvement For more details visit http://www.extrememakeoverpros.com