Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
Below 8 short points why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
Russell Bishop from the Huffington Post on why it doesn’t work. Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work. Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist on the subject. Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem. None of these writers addresses the ‘faith factor.’ About the ‘believe’ factor. It is written men shall not live by bread alone. Perfect Peace.
Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
I make no secret of my love for the Word of GOD. Last week I wrote how my faith and reliance on the Word of God helped my family when we had to move house and weren’t able to find suitable accommodation. After praying and relying on the Word of God we received so much more than we ever imagined possible.
I like to share with you a little more about my history. I used to study Wicca, mythology, mysticism, various Eastern religions as well as every New Age practice under the sun, particularly the New Age positive thinking kind.
What I discovered is that positive thinking is the only way to go as long as this goes hand in hand with regular reality checks. But the crucial factor is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work. Well it didn’t for me. Why doesn’t positive thinking on its own work? The following is what people in the know have to say about this.
Russell Bishop, author of ‘Workarounds that Work,’ wrote for the Huffington Post ‘Why Positive Thinking Just Doesn’t Work.’
Our friends at Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work and what to do instead.
Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist tells us that the trick is finding the balance between being optimistic and being realistic.
Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem in her book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.
All of these writers came to the same conclusion and that is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work.
None of these writers address the faith factor.
Interestingly enough, none of the writers mentioned above address the faith factor. What it boiled down to for me in my life is that I discovered that many of the ‘New Age Thinking’ is as ancient as the earth but has been rehashed and regurgitated without the faith component. This may indeed work for some but it does not work for me.
About the ‘believe’ factor.
For instance the ‘believe’ factor is huge in New Age positive thinking and religious faiths alike. My book shelves were littered with dozens of how-to manuals telling me to ‘Believe and it will be so.’ Believe in what? Myself? That goes without saying doesn’t it? The universe? Believe in who or what?
What this kind of positive thinking is lacking is the support of HE Who is in Charge. If your objectives and endeavours aren’t blessed by our Creator you’re simply wasting your time. That is if you plan to ultimately end up in a good place.
Jesus says ‘Whatever you believe in your heart will be so.’ He says this to His followers, the people who believe in Him.
See, that’s the kind of instruction manual I can work with. Jesus says, follow me and then when our heart is being remodeled to do good for humanity as opposed to be self centered, we can ask Him for anything at all and the promise is that our Father will hear and respond.
How will our heart be remodeled? By following the prophet’s teachings and Jesus’ example, through prayer and by reading and applying the Holy Word.
It is written men shall not live by bread alone
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
True wisdom and knowledge is found in The Holy Word and without this, no amount of positive thinking will get you anywhere you want to go. Yes, it may do so for you in this lifetime and if that’s all you’re after, all is good in your hood. If you believe in an afterlife however, I doubt that positive thinking on its own will show you the way.
Wordly wealth is not that hard to obtain but if you’re after a different kinda profit prophet, you’ll find that just the positive thinking on its own is not going to cut it.
Perfect Peace
Why do we utilise the power of positive thinking and prayer? Because we’re either trying to get away from a situation we’re in, or we’re aiming to go to, or we’re trying to attract to ourselves a more desirable place or situation. On the odd occasion we may utilise prayer to give thanks for all our blessings. Ultimately we all want peace, love and happiness in our life and we’re either actively working to achieve that or actively working to get away from where we don’t want to be.
It is without a doubt that some people become hugely successful in life without having a faith of any kind.
When I say that positive thinking does not work, I’m am talking for myself here and for me no amount of positive thinking ever got me the result I was after. Relying on God’s Holy Word however, is a different ballgame altogether. It has taken the anxiety out of everything because ultimately I pray that in all things God’s will be done. That means that all is in good order in my life because He is in charge.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
I’d love you to share with me if positive thinking works for you and how.
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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.
About loving one and other
The following joke by Emo Philips has been voted the funniest religious joke of all times.
Loving each other
Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!”
He said, “Nobody loves me.”
I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”
He said, “Yes.”
I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?”
He said, “A Christian.”
I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?”
He said, “Protestant.”
I said, “Me, too! What franchise?”
He said, “Baptist.”
I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”
He said, “Northern Baptist.”
I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.”
I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.”
I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.”
I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.
Believers are commanded to love one and other
Believers are commanded to love one and other. The Commandments tell us this and Jesus summed it up just as His Father did, by saying, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Jokes are usually funniest when they resemble real life. Many religious people find it easy to love each other when they are in agreement on the doctrine, but as soon as there is the slightest disagreement many of us are happy to threaten each other with hell fire.
My teacher taught me to continue loving people when I’m in disagreement with them too. In Scripture we are not asked to love each other, but we are ‘commanded’ to love one and other. Jesus said that his disciples can be recognised by the love they have for one and other.
And yet one of the scariest things for me is to share my love of Scripture with others. Why is it scary to share my love of Scripture particularly with other believers? Because many believers think that the only right way to believe is ‘their’ way. This is beautifully illustrated by Elmo’s joke as mentioned above.
The Bible tells me that God knows the heart and that we are not to judge each other. Many people turn away from religion because of the hypocrisy. Just the other day I read a lovely quote by a religious man who said that he ‘put all the books aside.’ And now his religion is “Never be the source of anyone’s misfortune and never pass up the opportunity to perform a charitable deed.” That is all. By Carl D’Agostino. I think that sums the teachings up just nicely.
A star rating is just someone’s opinion and beauty is in the eye of the beholder
The above joke by Elmo tells us that religion is no joke and that there is a lot of room for improvement. The following three scenarios highlight the inanity to expect others to see anything at all the same way as we do ourselves.
Scenario one
Whenever I go to Amazon books and read the reviews about any given book, it never ceases to amaze me how many different opinions are given for any particular book. Whilst many people may hit the five star button, there’s usually also a fair few who hit the one or two star button. And all that this shows me is that human beings tend to have different opinions about the same thing.
The five star opinion nor the one star opinion make the book necessarily a good or a bad book. The star rating is just a measure of someone’s opinion about the book.
Scenario two
A friend brought in her new puppy dog the other day and the neighbour’s child ran out crying after the puppy jumped up at her and licked her. The child thought that the dog attacked her whilst in reality the dog was trying to make a new friend.
A little later, whilst my daughter was sitting on the floor playing with the puppy, the child’s mum walked in and asked if this was a guide dog in training.
The first person thought that the puppy was an vicious monster, the mum thought that the dog was a guide dog and my daughter saw the same animal as a playmate. Could they all be right at the same time?
Scenario three
Standing on the shore line one day my cousin pointed to a boat in the distance and said that he could see the coast guard. My brother who was standing next to him and expecting one of his sailor friends to drop by, insisted it was a yacht. His ten year old son peering through his new binoculars could only see a pirate ship.
All three of them were looking at the same boat at the same time.
Please don’t push me off the bridge
Considering the three above given scenarios; what makes us think that we are ever going to be in agreement over religion, denominations or churches, temples and synagogues? We all have different viewpoints and different religions, yet we are all human beings who share this planet and our stories in order to be of benefit to one and other.
I’ll be talking about God’s Word and how it has impacted my life and why it works for me and my family. What I have learned in the process is that everyone will give their own interpretation about their own religion or lack thereof. Yet in the end it is all about what is in a person’s heart.
I love GOD’s Word because it has given me a template to live by and it answers every single question I’ve ever had. I am very grateful and keen to share this with anyone who wants to hear because God’s Word kept me alive and has given me hope for a new life and new future and I know it will do the same for others too.
I am tentatively taking my first few new steps.
Please don’t push me off the bridge.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014
A lawyer asked Jesus, Is it possible to live forever? What do I need to do if I want to live forever?
And Jesus answered, What do you think? What does the law tell you?
And the man said, The law tells me to love God with all my heart and soul and strength and mind and to love my neighbour as myself.
And Jesus said, Well done. If you do this, then you shall live.
Who is my neighbour?
Then the lawyer said to Jesus, Who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answered; a person was traveling from a town called Jerusalem to another town called Jericho. And as he was traveling, a bunch of thieves attacked him; they took his clothes and beat him up so bad that he nearly died.
And when this poor man was laying on the road, half dead, a priest saw him there and quickly walked across to the other side of the road pretending not to see the poor man.
A little bit later a minister/pastor (levite) did exactly the same thing. He also saw this poor man who desperately needed help and then this minister also walked over to the other side of the road continuing his journey, without helping the wounded man.
So here were two religious people, possibly leaders of churches and neither one of them helped the person who had been beaten up and robbed by thieves.
But a man called a Samaritan saw the man laying on the road and he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He cleaned up and covered his wounds and put him on his own animal to take him to a motel where the traveler continued to took care of this wounded man.
And the next day when he had to continue his journey the Samaritan went to the person in charge of the motel, gave him some money and said please look after this man. And if you have to spend more money than what I am giving you now, then next time when I visit I will pay this money back to you.
After Jesus told this story He asked the lawyer, There were three people who all passed this poor man on the road which had been beaten up and robbed of everything he had by thieves. Now which of the three do you think was acting like a good neighbour? Was that the priest or the minister who saw the man laying on the road but pretended not to see him and crossed the road so that they wouldn’t need to help him? Or was it the Samaritan who cleaned his wounds and took him to a motel to look after him and make sure that he would recover?
Who was the good neighbour?
And the lawyer who had asked Jesus the question about eternal life answered, The good neighbour was the kind man, the Samaritan, who took care of the poor fellow who had been robbed and beaten up.
And Jesus said, You are absolutely right. Now you go and do the same.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014 reprinted with permission
Australian version of the Good Samaritan story Luke 10:25-37
Who are the children of Israel?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
video courtesy www.babesandlittlechildren.com
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
Who are the children of Israel?
According to my friends the Karaite Jews, anyone who
- Is circumcised (males only),
- Accepts the God of Israel (YHWH) as their own God, and
- Accepts the People of Israel as their own people
is a full-fledged Jew or Israelite.
According to my friends at the Biblical Foundation Academy, children of Israel are
- Children of the stranger that join themselves to the LORD
- Who love the name of the Lord
- To be his servants
- Who keep his Sabbath
- Take hold of His covenant
Part of GOD’s posse
The above descriptions of children of Israel is according to biblical principles. Scripture does not tell us that in order to be considered part of GOD’s posse one needs to be of Jewish heritage, be signed up with a church, synagogue or denomination.
GOD says; Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him … Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Jesus, who is of Jewish heritage, says where two or three are gathered in his name, there am I in the midst of them.
And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.
all rights reserved myemmanuel 2014
Jewish people are excellent record keepers
Jewish people are excellent record keepers. In fact there is not a nation comparable when it comes to chronicling the history of a people. The bible or TORAH as the Jewish people call it, is this history book. The bible records in minute detail the birth of the Jewish nation within a certain time frame and contains in depth documentation of the genealogy of the Jewish nation. If you don’t believe me check out the Books of Numbers in the bible which lists endless names and lineage of the Jewish people.
Why does any of this matter in the context of living for ever?
I tell you why this matters. It matters because within the first few chapters of the bible we are told why no-one automatically receives eternal life. The bible is the only history book on the planet earth which explains how this happened.
It was not always so. In the days of the garden of Eden, both Adam and Eve took living in paradise for granted as if it were their birth right. When they refused to obey God however they were thrown out of the garden of Eden, so that they would not automatically live for ever. From this we can see, that eternal life is not for free. There is a price. What price? The price is obedience. You have to follow what God commands you to do.
Church heaven
If your church tells you that all you have to do is believe and have faith .. I’m telling them to pull the other one. Maybe you’ll go to church heaven if you follow their doctrine. If you like your church buddies you’re already living in paradise and all is good.
If you’re like me however, and the church threw you out because you decided to follow the bible and refused to sign up for church doctrine, then simple faith on its own won’t get you there. Not according to my bible.
Sorry to be the one to burst your bubble. But I think that eternal life is not something to be mucking around about. It is something I take seriously.
Noah’s Ark
Adam and Eve and Joshua and Caleb aren’t the only people showing us where obedience or disobedience gets us.
The majority of American people believe that Noah’s ark is a true story and literally happened. And up to nearly a third of non-believers agree with those sentiments. What about Noah? Noah also taught us that GOD loves obedient people.
At some stage early on in our history humanity had so lost the plot that GOD decided to destroy his creation altogether. It was only because of Noah that he decided to keep a handful to try again. Eight people were saved because of Noah’s obedience to GOD. The rest of humanity was wiped out because of their disobedience.
GOD loves the obedient
When people say that GOD loves us all no matter what … nah, not according to the bible I’m reading. God loves his obedient children and He patiently waits for the disobedient to (re)turn to Him. From reading His Word as well as personal experience I know that he continuously nudges us in the right direction. But if people don’t want to play by the rules … eventually, He’ll pull the plug.
That is what the bible tells us according to Adam and Eve, Noah and his family and Joshua and Caleb.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014
The rest of the story.
One of my fellow bloggers and new found friend, Meredith, asked; “Please tell me the rest of your story, where you were baptised.” I could respond by saying; “Stay tuned, I’ll get to that eventually.” But I said that already to another fellow blogger Inspiring Max who said that she’ll be interested in hearing about it (my story) and laughing with me.
I don’t want to be seen as someone who is fobbing people off so I will answer the question regarding baptism next and I promise to tell later why God hath made me to laugh.
Click here if you haven’t read the first part of our baptism story.
The bible is the authority on things religious.
Our planned baptism was for me one of the most significant events in my life. To be baptised was more momentous to me than it had been to get married or give birth; precious and special as these occasions were. The events surrounding our planned baptism left us bewildered and in turmoil. At the time we did not understand what was going on at all and felt confused and rejected and abandoned. These emotions were quickly followed by clarity and elation as soon as we understood that the church is not God. Nor does the church always represent God.
I am convinced that the majority of religious leaders mean well but I also know that the Bible is the Word of God and therefore, as far as I’m concerned, the Bible is the authority on things religious and not the church nor their leaders.
Church doctrine and politics
What my daughters and I had gotten caught up in is just your regular church doctrine and politics. There were issues playing in the background of which we were completely unaware at the time. For instance we discovered later why we had to ‘sign up’ with the church and agree to abide by their doctrine in order to be baptised. Most churches expect their members to contribute ten percent of their income to the church and we would no longer have been in charge ourselves as to where to make our donations. In hindsight this could have been a smart move because in those days I was going into debt at a rate of around ten grand a year. Had I partnered with the church, they could have carried some of this. That’s meant to be a joke btw to lighten this tale up a little.
As an aside .. feed the hungry
As an aside, our favourite charity feeds one hungry child for a whole month for only six bucks. We don’t think it gets any better than that. If the only thing any of us would do is feed one hungry child each month for just six bucks, I wonder if that could prevent children all over the world dying from hunger?
Back to church doctrine.
Back to church doctrine. The other thing, which we did not realise at the time either is that there are quite significant disagreements between churches for instance with regards to keeping the Sabbath or not keeping the Sabbath, baptizing adults or not baptizing adults and so on and so forth.
It is my understanding from reading the Bible that in Jesus’ day all followers kept the Sabbath and all people joining themselves to the LORD were baptised. Jesus himself kept the Sabbath and was baptised.
All my daughters and I wanted was to be baptised and celebrate this with our whole town. Whilst we were washing and ironing our pretty white dresses and shopping around for cake and flowers, all our pastor and his mates seemed to be focused on was to preserve the status quo. To them this meant that we had to sign on the dotted line and our non-denominational pastor seemingly was not considered ‘worthy’ to baptise us because he was not registered with a church.
In addition, baptisms are apparently meant to be quiet private church affairs, not to be opened to the public.
But all our friends are ‘the public.’
We had never distinguished between believers and non-believers and we certainly didn’t intend to start doing so now.
The Bible on baptism
The three of us continued reading the Bible and discovered that the Bible does not tell us that we need a years worth of indoctrination before we are baptised. Quite the contrary.
The Bible does not tell us that baptism needs to take place in a quiet secluded place either. Jesus was baptised in the Jordan river, at a public place by his cousin.
The Bible does not tell us that we need to sign up with a church or denomination to be baptised. Nor are we to be baptised in the name of a church or denomination.
What the Bible does tell us with regards to baptism is that we are to be baptised in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost.
41,000 different Christian denominations
The Bible is very clear on what baptism entails. It is not complex at all. What is complex however is that there are approximately 41,000 different Christian flavours (denominations) and each of these churches has their own doctrine. If all churches were to follow God’s Word there would be no need for a church doctrine because the Bible would be their doctrine.
In Jesus’ day ‘congregations’ were named after the place name not after a particular religious flavour.
We follow God and His Son
My family follows God’s Word and his Son Jesus. We don’t do any of the flavours because as we discovered with our baptism, church doctrine often enough is not in agreement with God’s Word.
Jesus prayed for his disciples to be as one. Not 41,000 different flavours, but one.
Jesus also said, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
In addition Jesus said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Our Baptism
My daughters and I make three, with Jesus is four and this is how we were baptised at that lovely place, the nice bright open clearing at our town’s river mouth where we originally planned for our baptism to take place. In the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
– all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014 –
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ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications. Occasionally I partner with people because I like their products and you can read about that here.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.
MY BOOKS AND A FREE VIDEO COURSE – To download a copy of MY STORY OF SURVIVAL click here. For a copy of MIMI’S BOOK LAUNCH PLAN, click here. For a copy of GOD HEALED ME click here. For a copy of THE HOLY GRAIL OF BOOK LAUNCHING click here. For a copy of LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE click here. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.
NEW BOOKS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS, AND REVIEWS – As a member of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance and as a member of the Christian Indie Authors Reading Group and as the current Administrator of Christian Authors Worldwide, This is FUN! Mimi’s Launch Party and co-administrator of OMEGA nonfiction writers I share new book releases, interviews and reviews with my readers. Stay tuned!
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Also read:
Welcome – Welcome
Qualifications – Qualifications
Copyright and partners – Copyright and partners
Mimi’s Favourites – Mimi’s Favourites
About – About
Please don’t get me into trouble – Please don’t get me into trouble
Thank you!
One of my mentors is a children’s author and I am much indebted to her. Thank you, Jenny, for your wonderful guidance and exhilarating workshops. I treasure the hours and days we spent mucking around with the letters of the alphabet, dipping chocolates in our drinks and just lazing about enjoying each others company and the English language. Jenny told me that when writing anything I need to have an audience in mind. Who are my readers and who would be interested in what I have to say? I have been rather confined for the last decade or so and therefore I imagine my immediate audience to be the people closest to me.
Dedication.
I haven’t read too many blogs so I don’t know if it is usual to dedicate a blog to anyone but I dedicate this blog to my brothers and sisters whom I love much and to my cousins and their families in memory of Les who told me that he will live forever.
Hey Monica,
This blog ‘Live For Ever how to’ (Mimi’s blog, this and that) is for you who tells me that the stories in the Bible are fairy tales, even though you’ve never read them. Sis, much as I disagree with you on that, I love you and yours much and can’t wait for your next visit.
This blog ‘how to’ is also for my sister Andrea.
Hi Annie, I know that you and yours are devout church-going Christians. And whilst we differ in our understanding of God’s Word versus church doctrine, GOD knows our heart and I love you and your wonderful husband and children too.
This blog ‘Live For Ever’ is for my brother Charles.
and his wife who both don’t want to talk about any of it. Love you, bro and sis.
This blog is for my brother Rick and his family.
Not being a churchgoer nor ‘believer,’ your warm heart arranged for an ambulance to take me on a five-hour ride from Noosa to the Gold Coast just so that I was able to attend a church healing event. I wasn’t able to make it to this gathering because of health concerns, but your compassion more than healed whatever needed healing at the time, all those years ago. In my heart bro, For Ever.
For good measure also dedicated to my husbands.
I also dedicate this blog “Live For Ever how to,” (Mimi’s blog, this and that) to my husbands, William the atheist and Roger the Buddhist. As it stands neither one of them expects to Live For Ever. At least not according to their belief and religion.
And no, I am not a bigamist nor adulterous. I have returned to my first love, am head over heels .. forever after.
And finally I also dedicate this blog to my friends, neighbours and children.
Live For Ever how to (Mimi’s blog, this and that) blog is also dedicated to all my friends and buddies. Many of them are either atheists, agnostics or what I would call good Samaritans with no religious affiliation but caring human beings with warm beating hearts and loving kindness pulsating through their veins.
I count my kind and supportive neighbours amongst my buddies. It is their lawns and paddocks which have fed my daughter’s ponies throughout droughts as well as floods, both of which we get plenty of here in Queensland, Australia. One of their pools allowed me to follow up on the hydrotherapy recommended by my physio. It is their gluten free, and sugar/dairy-free cakes that allow me to indulge in sweets every now and then. Their helping hands and generous gifts have made me feel embraced and supremely cared for throughout the years.
Last but not least, listen up my Godchild and daughters who are better to me than seven sons each; God’s Word tells us to teach our children. So here goes.
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Also read:
Welcome – Welcome
Qualifications – Qualifications
Copyright and partners – Copyright and partners
Mimi’s Favourites – Mimi’s Favourites
About – About
Please don’t get me into trouble – Please don’t get me into trouble
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WEBSITE – You can find my website at www.mimiemmanuel.com
ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all. To be one of the first people to receive a free kindle at my next book launch you can click here. You can find my current books here.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications. Occasionally I partner with people because I like their products and you can read about that here.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a copy of my Story of Survival click here.
NEW BOOKS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS – As a member of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance and as a member of the Christian Indie Authors Reading Group and as the current Administrator of Christian Authors Worldwide as well as OMEGA WRITERS non-fiction, I share new book releases, interviews and reviews with my readers. Stay tuned!
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014 – names and places may have been changed for privacy reasons
Praying is Good
There’s nothing like a bout of misfortune to bring a person to their knees and inspire them to say a little prayer. I’ve done more than a little praying, I’ve done a lot. On my knees? More like flat on my face. Praying is good. It takes a lot of worry of our minds and puts it in the care of those who are way more capable than us to deal with our dumb decisions, stupid mistakes and regular uphill battles. Spending time praying gives us a chance to smell the roses, enjoy the breezes and be super duper grateful for all the blessings in our lives.
Once I realized how much smoother my life rolls with a little help from my friends up High, the next most obvious step was to get baptised. To be honest I had no idea what it meant really, I just knew that I wanted to be baptised. A couple of near death experiences helped point me in the right direction. Despite my ailings and failings I felt totally reborn and the idea of baptism felt just right.
Our ‘Non-Denominational’ Pastor
At a health resort during one of my more notable failed attempts for better health I asked the ‘non denominational’ pastor at the resort if he could baptise me. He said, that he had a better idea. How about he would come over to my house and teach me the Bible? I didn’t know. Thought I’d run it past my kids who were teenagers at the time. We all know what teenagers are like.
After I viewed my Catholic upbringing with a fair dose of skepticism my kids had been brought up to believe that the Eastern religions with the regular secret initiations and silent retreats were the bees-knees. As well as sharing Jesus’ parables I’d thrown in regular servings of New Age stuff and esoterism, mixed with Wicca, sprinkled with Taoism. All their lives my children dined on Syncretism Supreme a la Maison served on fancy occult platters.
I asked my kids what they thought about this pastor coming over to our house and teaching me the Bible. My kids said, ‘cool.’ So I told the pastor, ‘cool.’
The pastor came and taught us for more than a year. All three of us LOVED the Bible. We weren’t always 100% sure about the interpretation he gave to it. But we LOVED God’s Word. It made sense to us and put a lot of things in perspective for each of us. After a year it was time to get baptised.
Time To Get Baptised
We had big plans. We were going to invite the whole of town including the Mayor and we did. We chose a really lovely spot to be baptised at the river’s mouth. It was so exciting. We found in our combined wardrobes three nice long white dresses to wear on the day. A little lace but not too much, just right. We ordered the biggest chocolate cake in town and we had huge chocolate letters put on it. My little 5-year-old nephew who came over to visit for this big occasion all the way from the lower end of the Gold Coast to our place at the top of the Sunny Coast, said that it was the best cake he had ever tasted in his life. We could only agree.
The cake read, O, Taste and see that the LORD is good.
My bed spread doubled as a beautiful white damask tablecloth to dress our ‘cake table’ on which we also placed a few brochures on baptism. Because by then I had discovered what baptism is all about. The Bible is very clear on it.
It all felt holy and right. Jesus said, No one can enter into the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
I had been baptised as a little baby in the Catholic church and really had not much an idea of what this involved. This time around it was like a very strong inner urging which made me want to be baptised even before I had read much Scripture and understood what it all meant.
The date was set, the weather beautiful, our minds relaxed and at ease with a hint of excitement of what was to come.
A week or so before the big event, another pastor ‘mate’ came and visited. He wasn’t our ‘mate’ he was our pastor’s mate.
Signing On The Dotted Line
These mates had collectively decided that there were going to be a couple of changes. The suggestion was that it was not going to be our pastor who would do the baptizing but it was going to be the pastor’s mate, his mate’s dad and his mate’s granddad. The granddad was a retired pastor and the other two were both pastors in a local church. And could we please sign on the dotted line that we were going to join this church and follow their doctrine?
We thought about this for a fraction of a second and decided, no. We like non-denominational, that’s why we picked the pastor we picked.
Apparently, according to our pastor, he’s one of only three non-denominational pastors in the whole of Australia. So we said, ‘thank you that is a really nice offer to have us join your church and all that. And to have your dad and granddad go out of their way for us and come, risk getting seaweed tangled up in their shorts to baptise all three of us in one go, but you know what? We’ve been listening to this ‘non-denominational’ pastor’s Bible studies for over a year now and this has never been brought up before. We would just like to go ahead as agreed and be baptised by our pastor whom we know, as agreed at the river mouth with the whole of town invited to the ceremony.’
Think About It
They told us to think about it. We told them we thought about it. And liked it as had been agreed. They left. Then a few days before our baptism our pastor indicated that he had a better location for our baptism in mind. We had chosen a nice bright open clearing at our town’s river mouth with enough space to accommodate many friends and visitors. As I said we’d invited a lot of friends.
Only days before our baptism our pastor and his wife drove us around murky rivers in an adjoining town to entice us to change our mind re the location. It caused their four year old grand daughter who joined this little impromptu trip to exclaim, ‘yuk I would not go in there, there could be crocodiles.’ Our thoughts exactly. So we declined the offer of a murky river baptism.
The next day, the day before our baptism, this time after an invite for an impromptu boat trip by the pastor and his wife, we declined the offer of baptism at a tucked away little corner of a little inlet, which would not accommodate the crowd we anticipated.
Needless to say that our baptism was cancelled.
Who Baptises?
We did a bit more reading up about baptism and the Bible tells us that if someone wants to be baptised, you stop then and there and baptise that person. Got that? One does not need a years worth of indoctrination to be baptised. That is not how it works according to the Bible.
It is not the church either, which does the baptizing. Nor the pastor nor the denomination.
We are baptised in the name of The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.
This could happen in a bathtub in your home or the dam or pool in your back yard. If any one tells you differently, ask them which church they are with or what denomination.
Baptism is between you and God and His Son and the Holy Ghost. If someone asks you to sign on the dotted line before your baptism, ask them about their church doctrine. And if their answer is not, ‘Our Bible is our church doctrine’, I suggest you run. Unless you want to get sucked in or unless you actually like the church doctrine they present you with. That’s totally fine.
Just don’t confuse it with God’s Word.
If occasionally my finger slips and you’ll read demonation and church doctoring, you’ll forgive me, won’t you. We all bare our scars.
God Is Awesome
What did this teach us? God is awesome. His Word and His Son, I’m just head over heels. There’s no church doctoring or demonation that will be able to touch that.
Be aware of false prophets. They are literally everywhere. And come in any shape or form, particularly the one you expect the least such as pastors and health workers. If you read or hear anything anywhere which is not in line with God’s Commandments or His Son’s Word and actions, that means there is no light in it. God, His Word and His Son, they are the Light.
Alleluia
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2012 reprinted with permission from the LORDsPub
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ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
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Far Out!
For a number of years I’ve struggled with serious health problems. So much so that whenever my daughters phone one of my previous doctors for health advice or a chat, he invariable says, ‘What … is your mum still going? Really? Far out!’
More than six years ago he told me that I was by far the worst patient in his practice and he pretty much begged me to go to hospital so that ‘when’ I died, he would not be investigated.
As a family we prayed instead.
We love this doctor dearly, he has been very good to us.
What I learned from having health challenges is to never ever give up. And never ever accept a death sentence handed out to you by people in white coats with stethoscopes around their neck. Medico’s overall have treated me very well and been very kind to me but, like all of us, they are mere mortals and their knowledge and expertise is limited.
There is only One who knows all.
With My Right Hand Will I Hold Thee
‘With my right hand will I hold thee’, says my favourite author from my favourite book. In against all odds and medical and scientific evidence, ‘With my right hand will I hold thee.’ That’s all that matters to me. That is what keeps me going as well as two smiley faces beaming at me as I’m served my breakfast in bed.
Don’t Give Up
When people give up, everyone loses. Lives are lost and good friends and family members are lost when people give up. Whatever you do, don’t give up!
A transcript of the best advice and most inspiring speech about not giving up is pasted below. If you prefer to listen to it here is the link to do so.
Speech by by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven, ninth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, at the University-wide Commencement at The University of Texas at Austin a few weeks ago on May 17, 2014 from the University website.
“President Powers, Provost Fenves, Deans, members of the faculty, family and friends and most importantly, the class of 2014. Congratulations on your achievement.
It’s been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT.
I remember a lot of things about that day.
I remember I had throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend, whom I later married—that’s important to remember by the way—and I remember that I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.
But of all the things I remember, I don’t have a clue who the commencement speaker was that evening and I certainly don’t remember anything they said.
So…acknowledging that fact—if I can’t make this commencement speech memorable—I will at least try to make it short.
What Starts here Changes The World
The University’s slogan is,
“What starts here changes the world.”
I have to admit—I kinda like it.
“What starts here changes the world.”
Tonight there are almost 8,000 students graduating from UT.
That great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their life time.
That’s a lot of folks.
But, if every one of you changed the lives of just ten people—and each one of those folks changed the lives of another ten people—just ten—then in five generations—125 years—the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.
800 million people—think of it—over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation and you can change the entire population of the world—8 billion people.
Generations are saved by one decision—by one person
If you think it’s hard to change the lives of ten people—change their lives forever—you’re wrong.
I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad and the ten soldiers in his squad are saved from close-in ambush.
In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses something isn’t right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500 pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers.
But, if you think about it, not only were these soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children yet unborn—were also saved. And their children’s children—were saved.
Generations were saved by one decision—by one person.
But changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it.
So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is…what will the world look like after you change it?
Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better, but if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better a world.
And while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform.
It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status.
Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all.
Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California.
I have been a Navy SEAL for 36 years. But it all began when I left UT for Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California.
Basic SEAL training is six months of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water off San Diego, obstacles courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep and always being cold, wet and miserable.
It is six months of being constantly harassed by professionally trained warriors who seek to find the weak of mind and body and eliminate them from ever becoming a Navy SEAL.
But, the training also seeks to find those students who can lead in an environment of constant stress, chaos, failure and hardships.
To me basic SEAL training was a life time of challenges crammed into six months.
So, here are the ten lesson’s I learned from basic SEAL training that hopefully will be of value to you as you move forward in life.
1. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed
Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centred just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — rack — that’s Navy talk for bed.
It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors; tough battle hardened SEALs. But the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.
If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.
If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
2. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle
During SEAL training the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy.
Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surf zone and paddle several miles down the coast.
In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in. Every paddle must be synchronised to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously tossed back on the beach. For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle.
You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers
Over a few weeks of difficult training my SEAL class which started with 150 men was down to just 35. There were now six boat crews of seven men each.
I was in the boat with the tall guys, but the best boat crew we had was made up of the little guys — the munchkin crew we called them — no one was over about 5-foot five. The munchkin boat crew had one American Indian, one African American, one Polish American, one Greek American, one Italian American, and two tough kids from the mid-west. They out paddled, outran, and out swam all the other boat crews.
The big men in the other boat crews would always make good natured fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim. But somehow these little guys, from every corner of the nation and the world, always had the last laugh, swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us.
SEAL training was a great equaliser. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your colour, not your ethnic background, not your education and not your social status. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
4. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward
Several times a week, the instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection. It was exceptionally thorough. Your hat had to be perfectly starched, your uniform immaculately pressed and your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges.
But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat, or pressing your uniform or polishing your belt buckle — it just wasn’t good enough. The instructors would find something wrong.
For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surfzone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand. The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day — cold, wet and sandy.
There were many a student who just couldn’t accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right — it was unappreciated. Those students didn’t make it through training. Those students didn’t understand the purpose of the drill.
You were never going to succeed. You were never going to have a perfect uniform. Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie. It’s just the way life is sometimes. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
5. If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses
Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events — long runs, long swims, obstacle courses, hours of callisthenics — something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards — times you had to meet. If you failed to meet those standards your name was posted on a list and at the end of the day those on the list were invited to — a “circus.”
A circus was two hours of additional callisthenics — designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit. No one wanted a circus. A circus meant that for that day you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue — and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult — and more circuses were likely.
At some time during SEAL training, everyone — everyone — made the circus list. But an interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list. Over time those students who did two hours of extra callisthenics got stronger and stronger. The pain of the circuses built inner strength-built physical resiliency.
Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core. But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
6. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first
At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course. The obstacle course contained 25 obstacles including a 10-foot high wall, a 30-foot cargo net, and a barbed wire crawl to name a few.
But the most challenging obstacle was the ‘slide for life’. It had a three level 30 foot tower at one end and a one level tower at the other. In between was a 200-foot long rope. You had to climb the three tiered tower and once at the top, you grabbed the rope, swung underneath the rope and pulled yourself hand over hand until you got to the other end.
The record for the obstacle course had stood for years when my class began training in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable, until one day, a student decided to go down the slide for life — head first. Instead of swinging his body underneath the rope and inching his way down, he bravely mounted the TOP of the rope and thrust himself forward.
It was a dangerous move, seemingly foolish, and fraught with risk. Failure could mean injury and being dropped from the training. Without hesitation the student slid down the rope perilously fast. Instead of several minutes, it only took him half that time and by the end of the course he had broken the record. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks
During the land warfare phase of training, the students are flown out to San Clemente Island which lies off the coast of San Diego. The waters off San Clemente are a breeding ground for the great white sharks. To pass SEAL training there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim.
Before the swim the instructors joyfully brief the trainees on all the species of sharks that inhabit the waters off San Clemente. They assure you, however, that no student has ever been eaten by a shark — at least not recently.
But, you are also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position, stand your ground. Do not swim away. Do not act afraid. And if the shark, hungry for a midnight snack, darts towards you, then summon up all your strength and punch him in the snout and he will turn and swim away.
There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
8. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment
As Navy SEALs one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy shipping. We practised this technique extensively during basic training.
The ship attack mission is where a pair of SEAL divers are dropped off outside an enemy harbour and then swims well over two miles — underwater — using nothing but a depth gauge and a compass to get to their target.
During the entire swim, even well below the surface there is some light that comes through. It is comforting to know that there is open water above you. But as you approach the ship, which is tied to a pier, the light begins to fade. The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight. It blocks the surrounding street lamps. It blocks all ambient light.
To be successful in your mission, you have to swim under the ship and find the keel — the centre line and the deepest part of the ship. This is your objective. But the keel is also the darkest part of the ship, where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship’s machinery is deafening and where it is easy to get disoriented and fail.
Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm, composed — when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
9. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud
The ninth week of training is referred to as “Hell Week.” It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one special day at the Mud Flats.
The Mud Flats are an area between San Diego and Tijuana, where the water runs off and creates the Tijuana slue’s — a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you.
It is on the Wednesday of Hell Week that you paddle down to the mud flats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive the freezing cold mud, the howling wind and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors.
As the sun began to set that Wednesday evening, my training class, having committed some “egregious infraction of the rules” was ordered into the mud. The mud consumed each man till there was nothing visible but our heads. The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would quit. Just five men and we could get out of the oppressive cold.
Looking around the mud flat it was apparent that some students were about to give up. It was still over eight hours till the sun came up … eight more hours of bone chilling cold. The chattering teeth and shivering moans of the trainees were so loud it was hard to hear anything.
And then, one voice began to echo through the night — one voice raised in song.
The song was terribly out of tune, but sung with great enthusiasm. One voice became two and two became three and before long everyone in the class was singing. We knew that if one man could rise above the misery then others could as well.
The instructors threatened us with more time in the mud if we kept up the singing — but the singing persisted. And somehow — the mud seemed a little warmer, the wind a little tamer and the dawn not so far away.
If I have learned anything in my time travelling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
Finally, in SEAL training there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the centre of the compound for all the students to see.
All you have to do to quit is ring the bell. Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o’clock. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims.
Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT — and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. Just ring the bell.
If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
You can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century
To the graduating class of 2014, you are moments away from graduating. Moments away from beginning your journey through life. Moments away from starting to change the world — for the better. It will not be easy. But YOU are the class of 2014 — the class that can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century.
Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today, and what started here will indeed have changed the world — for the better.”
end of speech.
Wow, some speech. Makes me think that we can all do with a touch of SEAL training in our youth.
Not everyone wants to change the world. I just want to share my story and let my readers know what I discovered about Living Forever. Regardless of what we’re about though, every single decision we make changes something and usually affects other people. So why not change for the better by resolving to never ever give up and inspiring others to do the same.
Below I’ve summed up Admiral William H. McRaven’s speech to print out and hang on my wall.
If you want to change the world … advice from Admiral William McRaven
Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up.
- If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
- If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
- If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
- If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
- If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
- If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
- If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
- If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
- If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
- If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
For help with or information on depression visit
beyondblue.org.au, the black dog institute, pressonaustralia
or phone Lifeline on 131 114.
all rights reserved copyright 2014 myemmanuel
Why would any one write a blog on Living For Ever?
That’s a good question and I’ll tell you why. Exactly ten years ago my favourite cousin Les asked me this question during one of his visits to my house: ‘How long do you expect to live for?’
To be honest I had never given it any thought. So I reflected on his question briefly and told him that a clairvoyant’s crystal ball once portrayed me at a ripe old age with hair as white as snow. ‘I’ll sign up for that,’ I said, at a time when I still believed in soothsayers.
‘What about you Les?’ I asked.
Les and I had great rapport, which may have had something to do with the fact that we were of the same vintage.
‘Me,’ he said, ‘I’ll be living forever.’
He grinned at me with a smile bigger than the sun, ‘Me,’ he said, whilst poking his finger at his chest, ‘I’ll be living for ever!’
A week later he had taken his own life. I wrote a small article about it in 2005 as part of a feature story on teenage depression, you can read about that below.
The concept of living for ever somehow sounded different to ‘heaven.’
Like most people I had heard about heaven but it was my cousin Les who introduced me to the concept of living for ever. The concept of living for ever somehow sounded different to ‘heaven.’
The passing of my favourite cousin combined with several near death experiences experienced by myself were some of the reasons that prompted me to study living for ever intensely for the next decade.
Les wrote poetry during his lifetime but this particular poem as printed above was artistic licence from the author to fit in with the story and convey Les’ mood on his last visit to his cousin (me). For help with or information on depression visit beyondblue.org.au, the black dog institute, pressonaustralia or phone Lifeline on 131 114.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014