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Life News February 2001 |
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Welcome!Welcome to Resources for Life News for February 2001. If this is your first visit, please sign our guest book before continuing. IndexClick on a title below to go directly to that heading on this page.
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From The Iowa Wilderness
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15 February 2001 Dear Friend, I hope you are doing well. This month's newsletter comes to you from the wilderness of Iowa where we have setup our mobile operations unit near the Coralville Lake. In the past 30 days the Resources For Life website has grown dramatically. Our site now has over 900 images, about 1200 files, and more than 12,000 links! |
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There are now over 4200 links to external sites. As you can tell, I've been very busy. I hope you enjoy the site. For an introduction, I'd recommend visiting the following links from the main page:
 | About Resources for Life |
| Map |
| Life University |
| Feedback |
This past week, millions of people around the world celebrated Tu B'Shevat, which means "the 15th day of the Biblical month of Shevat." A central theme of this celebration is "Tikkun," a Hebrew word meaning to repair, heal, or restore. For many people, Tikkun is more than just an idea, it is a way of life. Tikkun Atzmi (repairing oneself), Tikkun Kehilah (repairing one's community), and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) are all expressions of this idea of Tikkun.
Because Tikkun Olam expresses the Mission Statement of Resources For Life, February is a very special month for me. At this time last year I sent out a special edition of Resources For Life News discussing Tikkun and began to personally consider how I might repair my own little corner of the world. Well, such efforts can have surprising results! A year has gone by since last February and I've had all kinds of opportunities for repairing, healing, and restoring.
I'm reminded of the time when I worked with my brother to repair an engine from a car. Half way through the project, with parts all over, it was difficult to imagine the engine ever getting repaired. It seemed like we'd done more harm trying to fix it than if we'd just left it alone. We began to wonder why we even started the project. It was a mess. Eventually we got the engine back together, but it took perseverance and a belief that it could be done.
Perhaps you have something in your life that needs repairing, but you're not sure where to start. Maybe you've been procrastinating. Perhaps you're afraid what might happen once you begin. Like the car engine, you're worried about what will happen once the parts are all over the floor. Maybe you won't be able to get the pieces back together. It might cost you everything. Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. It requires courage and faith to take the first step.
Once again, this February, in recognition of Tu B'Shevat, and in the spirit of Tikkun, this month's newsletter is a special edition and contains some exciting news I'm sure you'll appreciate.
I hope that through the Resources For Life web site and PC DOC computer services I can help you be more effective at what you do. I'm very thankful for the kindness and support that I've received from so many people in recent months. I've received donations of office equipment, computer hardware, some beautiful calendars, and various financial contributions. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be of help to you.
Best Regards,
Gregory
P.S. Please don't overlook item #12 below. You can have this beautiful "like new" home just by taking over the payments! A home with these amenities would normally cost about $150,000 to build (we looked into it). However, if you take over the payments, we'll hand over the keys! It's that simple. And you can forget about a 20 or 30 year mortgage. This home has less than 14 years of payments to go. Visit the virtual open house at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/forsale/house/
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WELCOME
Welcome to the February issue of 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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- HEADLINE NEWS: Is the Pope Catholic? Maybe Not! (A Resources For Life Exclusive!)
- ISRAEL NEWS: "The Lion of God Sings His Song and Prevails with God"
- TIKKUN OLAM RESOURCE GROUP: Repairing the World
- US POLITICS: Beating Around the Bush
- PC DOC NEWS: New Services, Welcome New Clients
- WHAT'S NEW: Resources For Life Changes and Additions
- BOARD OF ADVISORS: Don't Be Bored - Get on Our Board of Advisors
- PROPHECY RESOURCE GROUP: The Lion Shall Graze Like the Ox and Other Unusual Events
- HEART SONGS 2001 SPRING
- FAITH & RELIGION: A Prayer
- SCOTT'S FURNITURE STRIPPING & REFINISHING
- HOME GIVEAWAY: Beautiful New Home located in Cedar Rapids' Southwest side
- MEETING RABBI GOLDMAN: He's Unlike Any Rabbi You've Ever Met!
- THANK YOU
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1. HEADLINE NEWS: Is the Pope Catholic? Maybe Not! (A Resources For Life Exclusive!)
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| RLI NEWS - Jerusalem, Israel. Recent Biblical and archaeological evidence now confirms that Jesus was, in fact, Jewish. For approximately 2000 years, followers of this first century Rabbi were apparently unaware that their leader was Jewish. This amazing discovery was made by Dr. Hadassah Hillel of the Zion Historical Research Institute. |
In 1986, Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit a Jewish synagogue. There he spoke of how he deplored the "hatred and persecution" of the Jews throughout the centuries. In 1993, the pope presided over the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel. |
| When asked about the discovery, Dr. Hillel explained, "It wasn't that difficult to figure out. Both his parents were Jewish going back many generations. He grew up in a Jewish community, and after he was of age, he continued to attend Synagogue and pursue Judaism as an adult. So, he was not only Jewish by birth, but someone who chose Judaism as a way of life. It's hard to believe nobody noticed this until now." Representatives of various Protestant and Catholic organizations have now made official statements apologizing for the oversight. |
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Is the Pope Catholic? Maybe not! Apparently the Vatican was aware that Jesus was Jewish, but did not make the information public. This would explain why the Pope wears a Yarmulke (Jewish head covering). |  |
Jews who were in the process of converting to Christianity are being told to return to Synagogue, while many devout Christians are now in the process of converting to Judaism out of respect for their Jewish leader. "It's all very confusing," exclaimed one Baptist minister. Rabbi Ariel Cohen has seen his congregation increase dramatically, "It's really quite amazing. Jews who had left Synagogue to join churches are returning to Synagogue and bringing their Christian friends with them." A professor of Hebrew at a local university commented, "Part of my rejection of Jesus at any level was because he didn't seem to do much for Judaism or Jewish community. Historically his followers have been indifferent or even hostile toward Judaism. That's not a very good track record for someone who wants to be the Messiah of the Jewish people. It will be interesting to see what develops in light of this recent discovery." The North American based organization Christians for Judaism was also instrumental in this discovery. [Some journalistic liberties were exercised in the writing of this news article. Some of the names, places, and events, are fictitious.]
RELEVANT LINKS
| Christians for Judaism |
| The News Room |
| The Ruth Project |
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2. ISRAEL NEWS: "The Lion of God Sings His Song and Prevails with God"
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This past week Ariel Sharon was elected as the new Prime Minister of Israel. We've created a very detailed Fact Sheet on Ariel Sharon available on our web site (see link below). Unlike English, the Hebrew language is a complex and multi-layered language that can express a colorful mosaic of ideas. For example, consider the statement, "Bob was elected as the Mayor of Chicago." This statement only has one meaning. However, a similar statement containing Hebrew names or words can communicate much more. |
Consider the statement, "Ariel Sharon was elected as Prime Minister of Israel." While Ariel is someone's name, it is also a combination of two common Hebrew words, "Ari" which means lion (or light, or altar), and "El" which refers to God. The name Sharon means his song (or his plain). So, the name Ariel Sharon can be interpreted to have many meanings, such as:
| The Lion of God Sings His Song |
| The Altar of God on His Plain |
| The Lion of God on His Plain |
| The Light of God upon His Plain |
The name Israel is also a combination of two common Hebrew words, which when combined mean to struggle with God, or from the scriptural context, to prevail with God. Israel also refers to the patriarch Jacob who was given the name Israel after he wrestled with God and prevailed. Israel also refers to the people who are the decedents of Jacob (Israel). Israel also refers to the land that belongs to the people by the same name.
It's incomprehensible that there is confusion today regarding the land of Israel and who it belongs to, since the name Israel is the name given to the Jewish people. To ask, "Who does the land of Israel belong to?" is like asking, "Who is buried in Grant's tomb?" The land, the people, and their patriarch, have all shared the same name for thousands of years. One would presume this would clear up any confusion. Apparently not.
RELEVANT LINKS
| Ariel Sharon Fact Page |
| The News Room |
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3. TIKKUN OLAM RESOURCE GROUP: Repairing the World
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We now have a Tikkun Olam Resource Group at Resources For Life. Find out what you can do to help repair the world. There's also a special Tikkun map to Resources For Life, and many interesting Internet links.
RELEVANT LINKS
| Tikkun Olam Resource Group |
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4. US POLITICS: Beating Around the Bush
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There was much talk in the news about President Clinton's "11th hour" in the White House. Clinton seemed determined in his final days to follow-through on many of the campaign promises that were made 8 years ago, especially with regard to the environment. George Bush's "first hour" in the white house was a similar display of determination, showing a commitment to follow-through on the conservative goals presented in his campaign. Among the highlights of Bush's first days were: |
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| President Bush declared a day of prayer as the President and top government officials agreed that our entire nation should "seek the face of God." |
| President Bush restored restrictions on federal funding of abortion that had been in place under Reagan and Bush Senior declaring that "the Declaration of Independence applies to the unborn." Restrictions were also placed on fetal tissue research and partial birth abortion. A letter of support was drafted and delivered to a national rally of pro-life marchers. |
| President Bush declared that federal funding of public schools will be redirected to private and religious schools if the public institutions don't meet specific educational standards. |
| President Bush initiated a proposal to fund faith-based social programs. |
RELEVANT LINKS
| George Bush Reference Page |
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5. PC DOC NEWS: New Services, Welcome New Clients
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PC DOC now offers additional services. Now we can:
| Convert your handwriting into a computer font that you can view on screen and print out. |
| Create CDs of music and data. Great for backups. |
| Provide research services and publish the information directly to our web site. |
For a complete listing of services, see the Feedback. [Feedback]
We want to welcome all of our new computer customers. We are thankful to have you joining with us. Please continue to pass the word about PC DOC.
RELEVANT LINKS
| PC DOC |
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6. WHAT'S NEW: Resources For Life Changes and Additions
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As was mentioned in the introduction to this month's newsletter, the web site has grown and now has over 900 images, about 1200 files, and more than 12,000 links! Here are just a few highlights:
| Map. We now have a graphic map of our site based on Tikkun Olam to make it easier to get around. [Map] |
| About Resources For Life. We now have a page that tells all about Resources For Life. [About] |
| Navigation. It's now much easier to get around our site. |
| Faith Series of Resource Groups. We've expanded our Faith Series of Resource Groups to include some old favorites and new additions including Christians for Judaism, The Ruth Project, Unitarian Life, Jewish Life, Christian Life, and Messianic Life. Unitarian Life and Messianic Life our the most recent additions and provide a comprehensive resource for information. [click here] |
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Advertising Quarantine. Advertising has been moved to the Direct Shopping area. You'll find a complete shopping mall with hundreds of merchants and thousands of products available. [click here] |
| Life University. We now offer hundreds of online courses through Life University. Many of the courses are free. This is a very unique educational institution. [click here] |
| Foreign Language. You can now view our main page in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. |
| News Room. We now have a News Room where you can find interesting news from around the world. [click here] |
For a complete list of significant additions and changes, please visit our "What's New" page. [click here]
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7. BOARD OF ADVISORS: Don't Be Bored - Get on Our Board of Advisors
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We are currently expanding our Board of Advisors. Please let us know if you'd like to help us in this special way. Apply using our handy Feedback form. [Feedback]
RELEVANT LINKS
| About Resources for Life |
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8. PROPHECY RESOURCE GROUP: The Lion Shall Graze Like the Ox and Other Unusual Events
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The Bible speaks of a time when the Lion shall graze like the Ox. Such claims would normally be discarded as poetic fantasy, however, there is evidence to suggest this phenomenon has begun to take place in recent years. Cats have been observed eating grass, nuts, coconut, trail mix, and vegetarian beans. In addition to cats becoming vegetarians, there are also news stories of jails being shut down and converted into music schools. People in various parts of the world are beating swords into plowshares.
Some people have predicted war, famine, plague, or other catastrophic disasters that will bring about the "end of the world." However, a significant body of Biblical prophetic writings suggests the world will improve as we head into the future, and that the "Kingdom of God" will emerge in our midst. It was Jesus who taught that, "The Kingdom of God is near." We prefer to believe and work toward the more peaceful predictions of the future. Please let us know of any news stories that would substantiate that the world is in fact improving and moving toward peace rather than destruction.
RELEVANT LINKS
| The Prophecy Resource Group |
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[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]
We are working on the production of Heart Songs 2001 Spring. We currently have music from Brazil, Israel, Thailand, and Native American music. More information is available on our About Resources for Life page. Please let us know if you have any music you would like considered for the Heart Songs project. [Feedback]
RELEVANT LINKS
| About Resources For Life |
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10. FAITH & RELIGION: A Prayer
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Holy and awesome God, we stand in Your presence filled with regret for our many sins and failings. Though there is greatness in us, and a deep longing for goodness, we have often denied our better selves and refused to hear Your voice within us calling us to rise to the full height of our humanity. For there is weakness in us, as well as strength. At times we choose to walk in darkness, our vision obscured. We do not care to look within, and we are unwilling to look beyond at those who need our help. O God, we are too weak to walk unaided. Be with us as a strong and wise Friend, and teach us to walk by the light of Your truth.
A Jewish Prayer, Taken from Gates of Prayer, Page 391
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11. SCOTT'S FURNITURE STRIPPING & REFINISHING
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We want to welcome a new client to the Resources For Life community. We developed this site and think you'll find it interesting:
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12. HOME GIVEAWAY: Beautiful New Home located in Cedar Rapids' Southwest side
[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]
| This beautiful 1800 square foot 3-bedroom home is fully equipped with every amenity you can imagine, including: ceiling fans in every room, sky lights in kitchen and bathrooms, large oversized kitchen with extra cupboard space, spacious dining room, huge living room with wood burning stone fire place, high vaulted ceilings, extra large master bathroom has two sinks with shower and Jacuzzi tub, guest bathroom has tub and shower, large sliding glass doors off of dining room, large window area in living room for extra light during the day, exceptional natural lighting conditions. Complete with stone landscaping. Located on very unique and spacious corner lot in an exclusive living community. |
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Includes very nice custom made Mennonite "play house" design shed with real shingle roof and louver windows with plenty of storage space for gardening supplies and wood.
A home with these amenities would normally cost about $150,000 to build (we looked into it). However, if you take over the payments, we'll hand over the keys! It's that simple. And you can forget about a 20 or 30 year mortgage. This home has less than 14 years of payments to go.
| Visit the virtual open house at: http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/forsale/house/ |
| For more information, send an e-mail to: beautifulhome@resourcesforlife.com |
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13. MEETING RABBI GOLDMAN: He's Unlike Any Rabbi You've Ever Met!
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I've never met a Rabbi like Rabbi Goldman. And neither have you! Visit his web page to find out more!
RELEVANT LINKS
| Rabbi Goldman Home Page |
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14. THANK YOU
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This year has started off well thanks to you! I greatly appreciate your support and encouragement. Let me know if there is any way I can serve you better.
Sincerely,
Gregory Johnson, PC DOC
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