An interesting principle of life is that those who are thankful, those who acknowledge the good that comes into their life, those who recognize life’s miracles (even the small ones), these people get more of what they show gratitude for.

By looking for miracles, we find miracles. Perhaps this is simply because we notice them more. Yet, it seems that good things increase for those who show appreciation. The story below of the Baal Shem Tov illustrates this principle.

This story is reprinted here courtesy of Chabad Rabbis Avremel and Chaya Blesofsky who are based in Iowa City and offer a weekly newsletter.

In the shtetl communities of Eastern Europe, there were often sages who would seclude themselves in houses of study and spend the entire day in prayer and contemplation of the Talmud and its commentaries.
The Baal Shem Tov once entered a room where one of these self-styled saints was sitting. “How are you feeling?” the Baal Shem Tov asked. “Did you have a good breakfast today?”

The scholar looked at the Baal Shem Tov in confusion. What did he want from him? Didn’t he see that he was studying?

The Baal Shem Tov, however, persisted: Do you have warm clothes? Do you have a comfortable home?”

The scholar finally erupted in anger. “Why are you disturbing me?” he asked the Baal Shem Tov.

“You’re making a mistake,” the Baal Shem Tov replied. “Any simple Jew would respond to these questions by saying ‘Boruch Hashem’ or ‘Thank G-d.’ By not responding in this manner, you’re taking away G-d’s dwelling place. For the Psalms describe Him as ‘sitting on the praises of Israel.’ For G-d to rest within our world, we have to acknowledge Him through praise.”

The Baal Shem Tov could have asked the scholar whether his studies were proceeding well. It would have been far more likely that he would have answered him then. Instead, he asked him about physical things. For the intent is that G-d be praised – and thus caused to dwell – within the physical realm, that we bring the awareness of Him into our basic material activities. Hence the questions asked by the Baal Shem Tov.

Summary. Below is the full version of the movie adaptation of the book 1984 by George Orwell.

Summary. This page offers general information about Nainital, India. This is part of a series studying Indian culture and urban planning.

“I was very impressed during my time in Nainital, India with how clean the area was. This is partly the result of stiff penalties for littering. Plastic bags are illegal in Nainital, so they won’t be found in use at local shops. Lake Naini is meticulously cared for, including a complete aeration system to ensure freshness of the water. As a result, the lake is full of fish. From what I could see, there was nobody fishing. This is probably due to the predominant Indian culture of compassion toward all living creatures. From casual observation, there were very few people smoking, and most of them were smoking what seemed to be a natural chemical-free rolled tobacco. I’m usually bothered by second-hand smoke because of the chemicals and toxins in commercial cigarettes, but I wasn’t bothered by the second-hand smoke here. It’s not hard to find nutritious and delicious vegetarian food here since that’s the standard diet of most people. As a result, the restaurants were plentiful and quite good.” ~ Gregory Johnson

Photos. Follow the links below to photo galleries of Nainital, India.

• 20100728we – Day 1 – Going to Nainital
• 20100729th – Day 2 – Hike to Snowview Point
• 20100730fr – Day 3 – Governor’s Estate and Rainy Day Photos
• 20100731sa – Day 4 – Streets, Food, and a Small Van

Video. Below is a video tour of Nainital, India hosted by Gregory Johnson.

Summary. Below is a humorous video inspired by the teachings of The Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (pictured here).

The video offers an inspiring presentation of transcendent Judaism, which reaches deeper and broader than past expectations and experiences to transform every area of life.

Religions with traditions and teachings that date back thousands of years can be viewed as “old world” and something that simply doesn’t apply in any practical or relevant way today.

However, as this video conveys, in a fun way, the organization Chabad is a very relevant and engaging Jewish organization that reaches out to inspire all who are looking for fulfilling growth in their religious journey.

“I’m really interested to see how video can be used in a variety of capacities to educate, inspire, and entertain. I found this video interesting in that it accomplishes all three of these goals. It’s creative and well produced. The Rebbe, is able, through analogy and allegory, to use words to paint memorable pictures that convey a message. It was fun to see this message conveyed through video. I’m often surprised by Chabad’s creative use of contemporary technology, media, and video to convey ancient lessons. Chabad is a good organization for others to study and emulate – both how and what they teach. Their creativity and passion are inspiring.” ~ Gregory Johnson

This video is republished here courtesy of Chabad Rabbis Avremel and Chaya Blesofsky who are based in Iowa City and offer a weekly newsletter.

“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” ~ John Cage

Summary. Many of life’s most valuable feelings, experiences, and treasures can’t be seen, measured, or studied using purely scientific methods.

Like a cloaking device from Star Trek, their invisible nature is a barrier that prevents access for many people who abide by the philosophy that seeing is believing.

Although money, status, fame, success, power, and material possessions can make people feel good for a time, the feelings themselves aren’t measurable or visible.

Below is a story from the teachings of The Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (pictured here). This story is reprinted here courtesy of Chabad Rabbis Avremel and Chaya Blesofsky who are based in Iowa City and offer a weekly newsletter.

Everywhere in the world, parents play peek-a-boo with their children.

It is a major discovery of life, a cornerstone in human development: To realize that something is there even when you cannot see it, that the world is not defined by your subjective perception, that there is something that absolutely is–whether you know of it or not.

All our life, all of the world, is  G-d playing with us that same game. He peeks with a miracle and then hides behind nature.

Eventually, we look behind nature to find Him there.

Summary. CityPrayz is a Christian ministry that offers live worship events as well as online devotional readings and inspiring worship music videos.

Prayer and Praise. The name CityPrayz appears to be a fusion of the words city, prayer, and praise and offers a formula for personal and community renewal and revival.

Power of Praise. In the same way that there are super-foods in the human diet, there are superfoods in the Christian diet. Praise and Worship music is a spiritual superfood (or complete food) because it contains all the various faith nutrients from each of the spiritual food groups: community, scripture, fasting, fellowship, meditation, singing, and prayer. [source] For this reason, the outreach and activities of CityPrayz have an effective impact on individuals and communities.

Praise and Worship Music Videos. Below are some examples of the praise and worship music of CityPrayz.

Salvation. The basic Christian message of salvation is beautifully conveyed in the poem found in the two-minute video below.

Summary. The song What About Now by Daughtry has been hugely popular for it’s inspirational and motivational message about making a difference in the world.

At a time when the world is in crisis on a large-scale level as well as down to the individual level, this video paints a picture of the challenges we face, yet it also presents hopeful solutions and images of people who are making a difference in the world.

Video. The music video (below) has had over 3 million views. Use the volume control as needed to adjust the sound level. You can click the [x] in the upper right corner of the advertisement in the video to close it and move it out of the way.

Lyrics. Below are the lyrics to What About Now by Daughtry.

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading,
From all the things that we are
But are not saying.
Can we see beyond the stars
And make it to the dawn?

Change the colors of the sky.
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it’s too late,
What about now?

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it’s too late,
What about now?

Now that we’re here,
Now that we’ve come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?

What about now?
What about today?
What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it’s too late,
Baby, before it’s too late,
Baby, before it’s too late,
What about now?

Summary. The song How to Save a Life by The Fray was influenced by band member Isaac Slade who worked as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens. The song was the title song for the album How to Save a Life.

The song has sold over two million downloads. The music video of the song (below) has been viewed over 10 million times. It is one of the fifth longest charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100, at 58 consecutive weeks.

Music Video. The music video of the song (below) shows images and videos of troubled youth combined with words and other images that convey how delicate life is. The green caterpillar shown here on the piano keyboard is juxtaposed to the image of a butterfly elsewhere in the video. You can click the [x] in the upper right corner of the advertisement in the video to close it and move it out of the way.

Lyrics. Below are the lyrics to How to Save a Life by The Fray.

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it’s just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you’ve told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you’ve followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he’ll say he’s just not the same
And you’ll begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life

Summary. The music video Some People Change by Montgomery Gentry is an inspirational video about how people can turn their lives around.

One examples given in the video is of a young man who’d been raised to have racist beliefs.

The other example is of a woman (pictured here) who turns away from a life of alcohol addiction. At the moment when she makes this decision, she opens the window and bright white light rushes into her life.

The lyrics to the song, and the music video are included below.

Video. Below is the music video of Some People Change by Montgomery Gentry. You can click the [x] in the upper right corner of the advertisement in the video to close it and move it out of the way.

Lyrics. Below are the lyrics to the song Some People Change by Montgomery Gentry.

His old man was a rebel yeller:
Bad boy to the bone.
He’d say: “Can’t trust that other fella,”
He’d judge ‘em by the tone of their skin.
He was raised to think like his Dad:
Narrow mind full of hate.
On the road to no-where fast,
Till the Grace of God got in the way.
Then he saw the Light an’ hit his knees an’ cried an’ said a prayer:
Rose up a brand new man; left the old one right there.

Here’s to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don’t give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.

She was born with her mother’s habit:
You could say: “It’s in her blood.”
She hates that she’s gotta have it:
As she fills her glass up.
An she’d love to kill that bottle,
But all she can think about,
Is a, a better life, a second chance,
An’ everyone she’s letting down.
She throws that bottle down.

Here’s to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don’t give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.

Thank God for those who make it:
Let them be the Light.

(Let them be the light)
(Some people change.)
Here’s to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don’t give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.
Some people change.

(Some people change)