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April 2001

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Welcome to Resources for Life News for April 2001. If this is your first visit, please sign our guest book before continuing.

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Introduction

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8 April 2001
Sunday

 

Dear Friend,

I hope you are doing well. This past month was a big one and there's much to report. However, I want to keep my introductory message concise out of respect for those of you with busy schedules.

As we head into April, weÕve reduced our overhead and operating costs by a whopping 30%. Subsequently, our ÒsuggestedÓ hourly rate for computer support has now dropped to the lowest it has been in over 7 years: $30 per hour for personal support or $60 per hour for commercial support. In addition, we are launching our AnyRate program. With the AnyRate program, you can pay any rate you like! WeÕve actually found that the AnyRate program results in more income for two reasons: (1) people who couldnÕt afford support are now able to get it, so we gain previously lost sales, (2) many people are able and willing to pay more than our suggested hourly rate. Analysis: Everybody wins! However, I need your help to make this new program fly. Get in touch with me during the month of April to help get this new initiative off to a good start.

During the month of March, my sister and I had an opportunity to do quite a bit of traveling. We visited a Jewish Orthodox community where we ate authentic Israeli falafels and dined with an inspirational Òview of the Western Wall.Ó We visited an authentic Mexican market and eatery where I practiced my Spanish. We also traveled to a Dominican Sisterhood (Catholic) convent and retreat. You can read all about it in this monthÕs newsletter.

Also in this monthÕs newsletter . . . We have introduced four new Resource groups: Family Life, the Financial Resource Group, Adonaikido Life, and Har Tikvah Outreach. The introduction of Har Tikvah Outreach is very encouraging news. It ties together the entire Resources For Life site and mission into one innovative outreach program.

This month youÕll also read some of the latest news on Judaism and Israel. (1) You will read about encouraging real-life encounters with Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and people of Islamic faith. (2) We also have a very uplifting report from Israel about lives being saved by medial care that will definitely surprise you! (3) Reports in this weekÕs national news indicate that world-wide interest in Judaism is on the rise. (4) This weekend, millions of people around the world, who follow Biblical traditions, celebrated Passover.

The Resources For Life site map has been update to include important content that was recently added. Be sure to visit the site map if youÕve not done so for a while.

And thereÕs much more, so I hope you can take time to read this monthÕs exciting news.

My thankfulness continues to grow in response to the support and kindness that everyone has extended to me. Please let me know if there is anyway I can serve you better.

Have a wonderful April.

Best Regards,
Gregory

 

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WELCOME

Welcome to this monthÕs issue of the Resources for Life e-news. Remember that you can easily scroll past one topic to read the next. Just look for the numbered heading that is of interest to you.

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CONTENTS

  1. PC DOC

  2. FAITH SERIES ø An Adventure with My Big Sister

  3. JEWISH LIFE

  4. CHRISTIANS FOR JUDAISM

  5. ADONAIKIDO

  6. FAMILY LIFE

  7. THE FINANCIAL RESOURCE GROUP

  8. HAR TIKVAH OUTREACH

  9. THANK YOU

 

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1. PC DOC

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As mentioned in the introduction, this month we are rolling back our hourly rates and introducing the AnyRate program. Our ÒsuggestedÓ hourly rate for computer support has now dropped to the lowest it has been in over 7 years: $30 per hour for personal support or $60 per hour for commercial support. And, with the AnyRate program, you can pay any rate you like! WeÕve actually found that the AnyRate program results in more income for two reasons: (1) people who couldnÕt afford support are now able to get it, so we gain previously lost sales, (2) many people are able and willing to pay more than our suggested hourly rate. Analysis: Everybody wins! However, I need your help to make this new program fly. Get in touch with me during the month of April to help get this new initiative off to a good start.

This month we are also introducing ÒJust in Time Training.Ó Get personally tailored computer training delivered to your home or business. Group training and one-on-one training are available. Get the specific training you need without all of the extra fluff and confusing clutter you donÕt need. With over 500 training courses to choose from, weÕre bound to have what you need. We offer training in: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and programming, as well as time management, and general business training. Plus, after your training is over, you still can have unlimited access to hundreds of online courses for a whole year. Contact us for more information, or visit Life University at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/lifeuniversity/

As some of you know, I attended a seminar this past month on Internet security. What I found most interesting was that computer security is much like healthcare. With a little training, most security problems, like health problems, are easily preventable. While it helps to have firewalls in place and virus protection, most security problems are a result of human error or carelessness. If you are interested in learning more about security, let me know. There are some free resources available which can help make your system more secure.

We now have a toll-free number for voice messages. It is not checked as frequently as our direct line, but you may want to use the number for less urgent messages and save on long-distance.

Call 1-800-699-2466, Press # When Prompted and Enter 52408-8708-1 (this is the extension)

Let us know if you would like a toll-free number for your personal or business use at no cost to you.

For a review of available PC DOC services, visit us on the web at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/pcdoc/

 

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2. FAITH SERIES ø An Adventure with my Big Sister

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As I mentioned in the introduction, my sister and I had an opportunity to do quite a bit of traveling this past month. We visited a Jewish Orthodox community where we ate authentic Israeli falafels and dined with an inspirational Òview of the Western Wall.Ó We visited an authentic Mexican market and eatery where I practiced my Spanish. We also traveled to a Dominican Sisterhood (Catholic) convent and retreat. From this brief description, you would think we traveled around the world to experience so much cultural diversity. Yet, we didnÕt leave the Midwest!

The adventure began on Friday evening, where we met at a Native American art exhibit in Iowa City and listened to folk music.

On Sunday morning, we attended an African Methodist Episcopalian church that was very upbeat and dynamic. I had not visited an AME church for over a year and it was refreshing to join in such a lively expression of worship.

Later, on Sunday evening, while channel surfing, we discovered that the film ÒThe HurricaneÓ was going to be on, so we stayed up and watched it. I really like Denzel Washington, who played the part of ÒHurricane Carter.Ó I think he is one of the best actors of our day. The film was riveting and life changing for me. I would highly recommend it. When I was young, I remember hearing the Bob Dylan song about Hurricane Carter (the boxer) back in the 1970s. The song presented a compelling social commentary about the failings of our justice system with regard to racial bias and inequality. I never knew what happened to Hurricane Carter. Last month, in watching the film, I discovered what happened to this innocent man who sat in prison for 20 years, from the 1970s until sometime in the 1990s. The real life story, and the movie itself have been embarrassingly under rated and underreported or even unreported.

A couple of weeks later I saw the Spike Lee film ÒMalcolm XÓ also staring Denzel Washington. This film is another Òmust seeÓ production. It addresses a plethora of social issues including: racial equality and inequality, racial reconciliation, theological discord and reconciliation, civil disobedience, the power of faith to change lives, and our justice system. It offers a compelling, respectful, and balanced presentation of Islam. Spike Lee is a world-class Director of cinematography with few equals and this all-star cast rose to the occasion to deliver a truly artistic and authentic masterpiece.

Both of these films, ÒThe HurricaneÓ and ÒMalcolm XÓ are available for checkout in DVD format from the Resources For Life library.

According to my sister, the Òpearl of great priceÓ for our week-long adventure was to be found in a little Iowa town which will remain nameless in this story. I must say, a vacation to a sleepy town in Iowa seemed like a mistake, however, I donÕt remember my big sister ever making any mistakes and I couldnÕt imagine that she would begin now. So, with complete faith, I agreed to go on this mystical journey.

As we pulled into town, we saw what appeared to be a welcome sign in someoneÕs yard. How delightful! Yet, upon closer inspection, we discovered the sign looked more like a tomb stone. It read, ÒHere lies the last dog that pooped on my lawn.Ó We continued driving.

As we drove around town, we concluded that this was a typical small Iowa community.

However, as we checked into our room at the small town motel I knew something was a little different when I saw a Mezuzah on every doorframe of the motel. Placing Mezuzah on doorframes is a Biblical tradition that is based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:18-21. I was reminded of the Hotels in Israel that have Mezuzah on the entryway to every room.

Well, from this point on, there were so many stark contrasts from moment to moment that it is difficult to provide much in the way of a transitional story line, so IÕll just describe various ÒsnapshotsÓ from our week-long excursion.

As we entered the antique shop, it was as if we had gone Òback in timeÓ some 120 years. The date was 1877, and I was listening to the words of Reverend Bernard OÕReilly from his book ÒThe Mirror of True Womanhood - a book of instruction for women in the world.Ó My sister was reading aloud, with astonishment, about how women should conduct themselves, how women were supposed to run their homes, and what was considered appropriate and inappropriate reading for women. Before us were many books that dated back about 100 years. There was a box camera from the early 1900s. On the floor was a cobblerÕs working stand for making and repairing shoes. Even the shop owner dated back to the early 1900s.

Later, we found ourselves in an authentic Mexican shop / restaurant. People were speaking Spanish with a Mexican accent. I could understand most of what they were saying. My Sister and I browsed the shelves. We discovered clothes, music, magazines, candles, groceries, and religious products. Most of the labels were in Spanish. We decided to eat lunch there. The authentic Mexican food was wonderful.

We were browsing a small but impressive Jewish grocery store and restaurant when an orthodox Lubavitcher Rabbi approached me. ÒYou are from Cedar Rapids,Ó he exclaimed, reaching his hand out to greet me. I had never seen the man before in my life. I shook his hand and politely said hello. Then he immediately asked if my Jewish friend was with me, mentioning my friend by name. How did he know my Jewish friendÕs name? He told me that he had spoken with my Jewish friend, and this friend of mine would be arriving at any moment. This was very confusing. The only explanation I could think of was that by some amazing coincidence, my friend had actually planned to be in the same small Iowa town, in the same shop, on the same day my sister and I were visiting and that my friend perhaps knew this Rabbi. In any event, it was an interesting exchange. When I looked up and saw 32 clocks on the wall (one from just about every time zone), I realized it was time to go. I felt a little like Alice in Wonderland.

Later in the same shop, I met a young Israeli man. We shared our love for the land of Israel and visited about various places we had been. ÒShalomÓ we said as we departed. My sister and I sat down to eat. From our table we had a stunning Òview of the Western WallÓ through an archway. This view was so authentic! It was hard to believe it was a hand painted mural. As much as possible, I explained the various details of the Western Wall to my sister as we ate authentic Israeli falafels and sampled from about 10 other authentic Israeli salads, meals, and foods that stretched the length of our table. As I examined the Western Wall, I realized it looked different than I remembered it from my visit to Jerusalem. I knew this was Jerusalem, but when? Was it from the past? I asked the chef, who explained that the mural was created by an artist who took some creative liberties in painting it. I decided that the mural showed Jerusalem of the future. There were pine trees growing on the top of the wall and only a few stones remained of the ÒDome on the Rock.Ó The division between men and women had been removed in the plaza. There were many people in the plaza, all in prayer facing the wall.

As we entered the Dominican Sisterhood (Catholic) convent and retreat, my sister and I went to the bookstore first. I purchased a wonderful book by Thich Nhat Hanh, a world-renowned Buddhist teacher. The title of the book was ÒLiving Buddha, Living Christ.Ó It was a very positive presentation of Christianity from a Buddhist perspective. Thich Nhat Hanh, who had seen a very unpleasant side of Christianity, describes how he came to forgive Christians later in life:

ÒIt was only later, through friendships with Christian men and women who truly embody the spirit of understanding and compassion of Jesus, that I have been able to touch the depths of Christianity. The moment I met Martin Luther King, Jr., I knew I was in the presence of a holy person. Not just his good works but his very being was a source of great inspiration for me. And others, less well known, have made me feel that the Lord Jesus is still here with us. . . . Through men and women like these, I feel I have been able to touch Jesus Christ and His tradition.Ó

Thich Nhat Hanh is not a Christian, he is a Buddhist who has been able to slowly restore his respect for the Christian faith that at one time had harmed him and his loved ones. Quite surprisingly, within a week after purchasing this book by Thich Nhat Hanh, I received two other books from two different people that had very similar titles: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers (by Thich Nhat Hanh) and Jesus and Buddha the Parallel Sayings (by Marcus Borg).

As my sister and I entered the sanctuary at the convent, we saw several elderly nuns in quiet prayer and meditation. Ornate stained glass circled the sanctuary as light from every angle created a hovering rainbow of promise over this wonderful place of worship.

I entered the labyrinth room and noticed the 10 commandments were written separately on framed parchment panels, entirely in Hebrew, hanging on the walls. The letters of the Hebrew alphabet were artistically hand drawn. As I walked the labyrinth, various panels would come into view, as sacred music filled the room and surrounded me. I ended up in the center of the labyrinth and our adventure was at an end.

 

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3. JEWISH LIFE

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There is much to report this month on Judaism and Israel: (1) You will read about encouraging real-life encounters with Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and people of Islamic faith. (2) We also have a very uplifting report from Israel about lives being saved by medial care that will definitely surprise you! (3) Reports in todayÕs national news indicate that world-wide interest in Judaism is on the rise. (4) This weekend, millions of people around the world who follow Biblical traditions will be celebrating Passover.

 

(1) Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and people of Islamic faith.

Over the past 12 years IÕve had an opportunity to meet various Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and people of Islamic faith in the United States and in the Middle East. My experience has been a very positive one. Of all the Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and people of Islamic faith that I have met in my life, all were peaceful, kind, considerate, thoughtful, and devout. Some were professors, some teachers, some religious leaders, some business people, some were students. None were violent. None were terrorists. I do recognize that my experience is somewhat anecdotal. However, I take issue with the current media propaganda that refers to ÒPalestinian TerroristsÓ or ÒMuslim Extremists.Ó This kind of reporting is inaccurate and irresponsible. If a terrorist appears to be Arab, claims to be Arab, or even is Arab, that personÕs ethnicity or religious affiliation is statistically insignificant with regard to reporting the news. What percentage of Arabs, Muslims, or Palestinians are terrorists? 90%? 50%? 10%? 1%? If I had to guess, IÕd say less than 1%. There are millions of Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians in the world who are very peaceable. So the ethnicity of a terrorist is about as insignificant as their hair color or favorite flavor of ice cream. It really doesnÕt matter, and it borders on slander. Terrorists are terrorists. They are their own religion, nation, and people detached from any other. They are separate from the billions of people in the world who would like to live together in peace. This is why, whenever I discuss terrorism in the Middle East, I do not mention the ethnicity, religion, or nationality of the terrorist. It is simply irrelevant. With regard to religion, It would be more accurate to describe a terrorist as Òone who was previously associated with the _______ (fill in the blank) religion before they began acting in ways totally contrary to the teachings of that religion and the people who practice it.Ó This is the only wording that might be acceptable to describe a terroristÕs religious background or other affiliations. Do your best not to let news in todayÕs popular media shape your view of entire ethnic or religious groups.

 

(2) Saving Lives in Israel.

My e-mail program automatically shows the contents of messages as they arrive in my inbox. I was startled and upset recently when a picture arrived in my inbox showing the Israeli infant that was shot by a terrorist sniper. The infant was in a hospital receiving blanket, barely holding on to life. I wasnÕt sure how to respond to this image. I quickly moved on to something else. Suddenly there were more photos showing up in my inbox from a separate source in Israel. More infants in hospitals began to appear in my inbox, but these were infants whose lives were being saved and restored by Israeli doctors. For the past 3 years I have received regular reports from Israel about doctors and volunteers who go into very dangerous places to rescue dying children where appropriate medical treatment is not available, and even if it were available it would be unaffordable. These Jewish doctors save the lives of Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim children even as their own children are being shot. This struck me as quite amazing. I remember hearing stories of how the Israeli peace-keeping authorities use rubber bullets against people who are shooting real bullets at them. I believe that something is unusual and different about the Israeli people. What kind of people use rubber bullets? It is a known fact that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has been known to telephone their enemies prior to bombing them. They tell their enemies when they are going to bomb and exactly what targets they are planning to bomb. They do this in an effort to minimize any possible injuries. Out of a passion for peace, rather than fighting, they prefer to skip armed conflict altogether and just give land away to their aggressors. Interestingly, their dovish policies seem to have resulted in a world-wide groundswell of support for Judaism and Israel.

 

(3) Increasing World-Wide Interest in Judaism.

This week in the news it was reported that Judaism is experiencing a revival. Shops and stores that provide books, music, and other Jewish resources are being effected by the increasing demand. Artisans are having trouble keeping up.

 

(4) Passover.

As I arrived at my job site early Friday morning, I discovered the parking lot was covered with worms! It had rained through the night and this drove the worms out all over the sidewalk and parking lot. I had never seen so many worms. I had to step carefully. They had even crawled up to the entrance of the building where I was to work for the day. The scene reminded me of the plagues of Egypt. I imagined what it might have been like to have frogs everywhere.

By Saturday morning the sun had thoroughly dried up all of the worms and an unusually strong west wind had blown all of the dried up worms away!

Those who celebrate Christmas expect the snow that is supposed to accompany that holiday. I hadnÕt imagined that Passover could be accompanied by a plague of worms, scorching sun, and high winds. It was an amazing reenactment that made this Passover even more realistic and memorable for me.

This year my, Passover Seder was somewhat less traditional than usual. I had to improvise with some of the foods, and the meal itself Òstretched over several daysÓ and was shared with various friends and family. On Friday, I had some very bitter onions for lunch with a friend. In the evening I had some leafy vegetables. On Saturday for lunch I ate a Thai meal with vegetables and Tofu. Saturday evening, I ate an orange rather than an apple. I later discovered the orange for Seder is symbolic of the important influence and voice that women have in Judaism. This morning I shared some Chai (Yogi Tea) with someone from India and we talked about Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. IÕm not sure how that fits in with the Seder. Although, Chai does contain cinnamon, so it isnÕt totally irrelevant. I ate only a few almonds because I recently discovered they are very high in calories. I didnÕt have the heart to kill a lamb, and if I had, I wouldnÕt know what to do with it because IÕm vegetarian. However, I was able to visit a Virtual Seder on the Internet and click on the Seder plate where the lamb bone goes. I didnÕt have an egg either, so I had to click on the plate a second time for the egg. This evening, I ate the bread of the Seder, but rather than the traditional matzah I ate Ezekiel 4:9 bread which is called ÒlivingÓ bread because it contains organic sprouted grains. Finally, as I put the finishing touches on this monthÕs newsletter, I am concluding this Passover with a diminutive serving of Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon Kosher wine from the Golan Heights Winery in Israel. The wine was bottled in 1997, the year I visited Israel. I purchased it at the Jewish Kosher market in Iowa this past month.

As the sun sets on this yearÕs Passover, there is much to be thankful for. While IÕve experienced my share of ÒplaguesÓ this past year, I am grateful to have gone through them essentially unscathed. Thanks be to Adonai.

Links of Interest:

Ezekiel 4:9 Bread
http://www.food-for-life.com

The Orange in the Seder
http://www.aplacefortheorange.com/

The Seder Site
http://www.seder.org/

Virtual Seder
http://uahc.org/congs/nj/nj006/seder/plate.html

 

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4. CHRISTIANS FOR JUDAISM

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Extra content has been added to the Christians for Judaism page. If you are following this global phenomenon, you will want to check out the latest additions under the headings ÒWhat Would Jesus Do,Ó and ÒVisitor Comments.Ó I want to share a few of the additions here.

This past month I was watching a Christian broadcast from Israel on Cable Television in which a native Israeli Messianic Christian was interviewed. The gentleman being interviewed runs a very large Christian publishing business in Israel. His comment to Christians was that Judaism and Christianity are both good religions, and that Christians shouldnÕt get into debates with Jewish people to explain why Christianity is better because, in this manÕs words, ÒChristianity as a religion is no better than Judaism.Ó The man went on to explain how he felt that Christians shouldnÕt try to convert Jewish people away from the religion the Jesus lived. He said that Christians should limit their religious discussions to the character and message of Jesus, since the simple belief in Jesus that is the essence of Christianity anyway. Very interesting.

The film ÒMeet the ParentsÓ by producers Nancy Tenenbaum and Jane Rosenthal features Ben Stiller (a Jewish comedian) who, at one point in the film, meets up with a man who happens to be a follower of Jesus. When Stiller is introduced as Jewish, the follower of Jesus exclaims, ÒSo was JC (Jesus Christ). Wow! YouÕre in good company,Ó and they end up becoming friends. To hear the audio clip from the film, visit Christians for Judaism and look under the Visitor Comments section.

The ÒJesus was JewishÓ theme is gaining in popularity and we plan to continue covering this world-wide phenomenon. Please let us know if you are aware of any stories that might be useful contributions.

You can visit Christians for Judaism online at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/christiansforjudaism/

 

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5. ADONAIKIDO

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Adonaikido is a new expression of spirituality that combines ancient Asian wisdom and the graceful forms of Asian dance and marital arts along with the wisdom and spirituality of various Biblical and world religions.

In Adonaikido, East meets West, and they serve a common goal. Mind and body work together. Old and new complement one another. At the center of Adonaikido is balance and harmony of body, spirit, and soul (mind, will, emotions).

Adonaikido attempts to utilize all known and available universal energy, creation, wisdom, form, knowledge, motion, thought, education, and resources to serve and benefit all life on earth.

The name Adonaikido interestingly contains two words, Adonai and Aikido. As the name suggests, it is not just the joining of two thoughts which remain separate, but a theological and philosophical alchemy and blending which produces an entirely new paradigm in thought and spirituality. In this way, the theology and philosophy of Adonaikido are actually extrapolated from the name itself. LetÕs take a look at these two words in more depth.

 

The Meaning of Adonai

Adonai is the Hebrew word for Lord which fondly refers to the God of the Bible. Adonaikido recognizes the God of the Bible, and, as such, builds upon Biblical wisdom and teachings. Additional techniques, forms, teachings, and wisdom from other world religions are selectively combined with Biblical methods in a complementary and effective way. Specific teachings that are inconsistent with the Bible or other world religions are given little or no attention in Adonaikido. For example, while most religions have many positive characteristics, letÕs say a certain religion does not respect or honor women. This aspect of the religion would not be compatible with the Bible and other religions that respect and honor women. For this reason, the incompatible element would be rejected. Yet, the other beneficial and compatible aspects of the religion would be retained and utilized.

 

The Meaning of Aikido

Aikido is a word with Asian etymology that popularly refers to a Japanese martial arts form. Aikido is a martial art in which the practitioner becomes highly skilled at not harming anyone or anything - even the most threatening attacker. Central to Aikido is the idea of being in harmony with your opponents, rather than in conflict with them. Various techniques allow the Aikido practitioner to capture and / or redirect an opponents energy for defense in a way that doesnÕt harm the attacker. In the highest forms of Aikido, the practitioner would study Chiropractic methods and attempt to give the assailant an adjustment during the course of a confrontation. The assailant is to go away unharmed, and preferably, in better shape than before. Aikido is a science of capturing and / or redirecting all energy, whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, to create something positive from all energy and experience. It is not difficult to see how this philosophy could apply with regard to our interaction with all beings and creation.

The word Aikido can be expressed in English as "The Way (Do) of Unity (Ai) with the Universal Force (Ki)." A further analysis of the word Aikido reveals: Ai (harmony, unity, balance) ø Ki (life, spirit, energy, force) ø Do (the way or path).

When these two words are combined, Adonai + Aikido, we arrive at a new meaning, "The way of unity with the universal force of Adonai" - the essence of Adonaikido.

 

Adonaikido Hermeneutical Model

Because Adonaikido uses a hermeneutical model for Òhigher teachingÓ analysis, brief mention should be made here with regard to that hermeneutical method. Consider that animal sacrifice was common in the Old Testament. Yet, this practice is actually incompatible with the clearly expressed higher teachings of the Bible (see Isaiah), so, for this reason, it is Òoverruled.Ó In this way, even the Bible is subject to its own higher teachings. In higher teaching analysis, teachings or practices which express kindness, gentleness, grace, reconciliation, and mercy always will triumph over teachings or practices that express violence, selfishness, pride, fear, revenge, or the like. With this in mind, a fairly simple hermeneutical model is used to compare seemingly conflicting practices and teachings. Practices and teachings which rely on the positive attributes mentioned previously are given precedence over practices and teachings that follow the negative attributes mentioned previously. In much the same way that pieces of a chess game have greater power than others, kindness is greater than cruelty and violence, forgiveness is greater than resentment and revenge, and reconciliation is greater than bitterness and selfishness. Based on this Biblically derived hermeneutical model, it is fairly simple to accept or reject various teachings and/or assign a weighted value to express and evaluate their effectiveness and compatibility.

 

How Does Adonaikido Differ from Other Martial Arts?

Adonaikido differs from other martial arts in the following ways:

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Our dojo (school) is the world.

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Our Sensei (teacher) is life itself.

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Our tournaments are daily and moment by moment.

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Most often, our greatest opponent is self.

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The black belt is the furthest achievement, but it represents one who is servant to others.

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At times, lack of motion or action is the best response.

 

Aspects of Adonaikido

The Adonaikido practitioner works toward achieving and sustaining awareness, balance, and harmony of body, spirit, and soul (the mind, will, and emotions), in a state of oneness with the entire physical and non-physical universe. Here are some unique characteristics of Adonaikido:

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Clothing. The clothing of the Adonaikido practitioner is Amish in its modest simplicity.

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Eating Utensils. The Adonaikido practitioner carries organically grown bamboo chop sticks at all times, as Western eating utensils are discouraged.

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Earth Connectedness. Consuming foods and beverages from various countries can help the practitioner build their body into a living organic temple that is constructed of elements from around the world. The Adonaikido diet is based on a weekly nutritional cycle in which over 200 essential nutritional elements from around the world are consumed. For more information on Mega-Fitness, see the Health Resource Group.

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Greeting. Bowing is often preferred as a greeting rather than a hand shake.

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Nutrition. While there are no strict rules regarding diet, the Adonaikido practitioner seeks to benefit from natural and plant derived foods as reflected in the Biblical book of Daniel and stressed by other world religions. For more information on Mega-Fitness, see the Health Resource Group.

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Washing. Cleansing products, such as shampoo, should contain natural ingredients like Aloe, Chamomile, Indian Cress, Ginseng, Kangaroo Paw Flower, Kelp, Papaya, and Rosemary (as found in Aussie Mega Shampoo). For more information on natural products, see the Health Resource Group.

 

Adonaikido Adaptation of World Religions

As mentioned above, the Adonaikido practitioner seeks to benefit from various world religions.

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With regard to war as a means of resolving conflict, to be a Quaker.

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With regard to environmental stewardship and sustainability, to be a Native American.

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With regard to dying to self, to be a Christian.

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With regard to enlightenment and not eating cows, to be an observant Hindu.

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With regard to the Sabbath, to be an observant Jew.

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With regard to respecting other people's beliefs, to be a Unitarian.

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With regard to regularity of prayer, to be a Muslim.

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With regard to mindfulness, to be a Buddhist.

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With regard to a hopeful future for planet earth, to be New Age.

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With regard to simplicity of dress, to be Amish.

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With regard to love of the natural world, to be a Pagan.

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With regard to balance, a follower Tai Chi.

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With regard to breathing, a student of Yoga.

 

You can visit Adonaikido Life on the Internet at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/adonaikido/

 

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6. FAMILY LIFE

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Family Life is a new Resource Group that was just recently added to Resources For Life. YouÕll find links to the best destinations on the web for family, marriage, and parenting. Christian and Jewish links are also included.

You can visit Family Life on the Internet at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/familylife/

 

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7. THE FINANCIAL RESOURCE GROUP

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Finances greatly impact just about every area of our life. For this reason, we have added the Financial Resource Group to the Tikkun Olam Map of Resources For Life.

The Financial Resource Group contains information and links that you will certainly want to utilize to maximize your effectiveness.

You can visit the Financial Resource Group on the Internet at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/financial/

 

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8. HAR TIKVAH OUTREACH

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Har Tikvah Outreach is a new resource group at Resources For Life. It is a unique self-replicating model for personal outreach based on the Tikkun Olam Map of Resources For Life.

Har is the Hebrew word for mountain, and Tikvah is the Hebrew word for hope. So Har Tikvah roughly translates to ÒHope MountainÓ in English. The purpose of Har Tikvah Outreach is to give people hope by helping them climb to higher heights in life.

The Har Tikvah method centers around weekly one-on-one meetings with a volunteer mentor or Life Coach. These one-on-one meetings allow an individual to holistically address various interdependent areas of their life on a regular basis. Specific challenges and goals can be identified and worked on.

You can visit Har Tikvah Outreach on the Internet at:

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/hartikvah/

 

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9. THANK YOU

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Many thanks to all of you who provide support encouragement. Let me know if there is any way I can serve you better.

Sincerely,
Gregory

P.S. Mention that you read through the entire Resources For Life e-newsletter and weÕll wave the cost of our trip fee for one computer service call in April. ThatÕs a $30 value!

 

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