The Living Lights

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GLENN CAMPBELL (1936 – 2017) – American Singer
“There’s no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.” In other words, when one has a clear conscience one can sleep like a baby because there is nothing to hide, and nothing to fear. There’s a lot of truth to Glenn Campbell’s statement.

GLENN CAMPBELL (1936 – 2017) – Cantante Estadounidense
“No hay almohada tan suavecita como una conciencia limpia.” En otras palabras, si uno tiene la conciencia limpia uno puede dormir como un bebecito, porque no hay nada que esconder, y nada a que temerle. Hay mucha verdad en la declaración de Glenn Campbell

TED CRUZ (1970 – Present) – American Lawyer, Politician and US Senator.

“If you hate the Jewish people, you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ.” Truer words have not been spoken. He is right on target. How can a person say he is a Christian, and hate the Jewish people – God’s chosen people? We are to love them and pray for them on a daily basis. Read Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 122:6.

TED CRUZ (1970 – Presente) – Abogado, Político y Senador Norteamericano

“Si odias a la gente judía, no reflejas las enseñanzas de Cristo.” Son palabras de sabiduría. Él tiene toda la razón. ¿Cómo puede uno decir que es cristiano, y al mismo tiempo odiar a los judíos – el pueblo escogido de Dios? Debemos amarlos, y orar por ellos todos los días. Lee Génesis 12:3 y Salmo 122:6.

ALBERTO MORAVIA (1907-1990) – Italian Novelist and Journalist

“It is what we are forced to do that forms our character, not what we do of our own free will.”

Problems, trials, challenges and difficult times form our character. Without them we would not really know who we are.

ALBERTO MORAVIA (1907-1990) – Novelista y Periodista Italiano

“Lo que estamos forzados a hacer es lo que forma nuestro carácter, no lo que hacemos por nuestro propio albedrío.”

Los problemas, las pruebas, los retos, y los tiempos difíciles forman nuestro carácter. Sin ellos ni sabríamos quienes somos.

DONALD TRUMP – President of the United States of America

“I like thinking big. If you are going to be thinking, you might as well think big.”

Small minds think small, and for that reason they really never accomplish anything big. In order to succeed, one has to think big, have a dream, have vision, and act. Those elements need to be present.

DONALD TRUMP – Presidente de los Estados Unidos de América

“Me gusta pensar a lo grande. Si vas a estar pensando, más vale que pienses a lo grande.”

Las mentes pequeñas piensan a lo pequeño, y por esa razón casi nunca logran algo grande. Para triunfar, uno tiene que pensar a lo grande, tener un sueño, tener visión, y actuar. Esos elementos tienen que estar presentes.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743 – 1826) – American Statesman, Diplomat, Lawyer and Third President of the USA.

“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”

You are not necessarily what you think or what you do, but you are definitely what you do. Your actions speaks much louder than your words. Let your actions do your talking.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826) – Político, Diplomático, Abogado y Tercer Presidente de los Estados Unidos de América.

¿Quieres saber quién eres? No preguntes. ¡Actúa! La acción te delineará y te definirá.”

No eres necesariamente lo que piensas o lo que dices, sino sí eres definitivamente lo que haces. Tu acción habla mucho más fuerte que tus palabras. Habla por medio de tus acciones.

FRANCISCO DE QUEVEDO (1580 – 1645) – Famous Spanish Author

“He who spends time repenting about his past, loses the present and jeopardizes the future.”

He was correct in saying that. Some people spend so much time worrying about the past, which they cannot change, and fail to enjoy the present, much less the future. The past is good to learn from it, but not to dwell in it. Not much good comes from reliving old memories.

FRANCISCO DE QUEVEDO (1580 – 1645) – Escritor Famoso Español.

“El que pasa tiempo arrepintiéndose del pasado, pierde el presente y arriesga el futuro.”

Tenía toda la razón en decir eso. Algunas personas pasan su tiempo preocupándose del pasado sin poderlo cambiar, y no disfrutan el presente mucho menos el futuro. El pasado solamente es bueno para aprender algo de él, pero no para revivirlo. No se gana uno nada con ir al pasado. No se puede vivir de puras memorias.

CHARLES DE GAULLE (1890-1970) – French Army Officer and President of French Republic.

“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.” Looking at the Congress of our nation, the United States of America, I believe he was one hundred percent correct.

CHARLES DE GAULLE (1890-1970) – Oficial en el Ejército Francés y Presidente de la República Francesa.

“He llegado a la conclusión que la política es un asunto demasiado serio para dejárselo a los políticos.” Al ver el congreso de los Estados Unidos de América tenemos que concluir que estaba cien por ciento correcto.

SEAN CONNERY (1930 – Present) – Scottish Actor and Producer

“Nothing is impossible, only mathematically improbable.” He almost agrees with the Bible. In Mark 10:27 Jesus said: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” In Mark 9:23, Jesus said: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The key, of course, is to have faith and truly believe.

SEAN CONNERY (1930 – Presente) – Actor y Productor Escocés

“Nada es imposible, simplemente matemáticamente improbable.” Él casi concuerda con la biblia. En Marcos 10:27, Jesucristo dijo: “Para los hombres es imposible; mas para Dios, no; porque todas las cosas son posibles para Dios.” En Marcos 9:23, Jesucristo dijo: “Si puedes creer, al que cree todo es posible.” La clave, desde luego, es tener fe y realmente creer en Dios.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU (1949 – Present) – Israeli Politician, Current Prime Minister of Israel.

“The truth is that if Israel were to put down its arms there would be no more Israel. If the Arabs were to put down their arms there would be no more war.”

The Arab world wants to destroy the Jewish state and race forever. They have nothing but hatred for the Jewish people, who just happen to be God’s chosen people. God will always protect them because of the covenant He made with them.

BENJAMÍN NETANYAHU (1949 – Presente) – Político Israelita y Primer Ministro de Israel.

“La verdad es que si Israel dejara las armas no habría más Israel. Si los árabes dejaran las armas no habría más guerra.”

El mundo árabe quiere destruir al estado israelita y a la raza judía para siempre. Tienen puro odio hacia la gente judía, quienes han sido escogidos por Dios. Dios siempre los protegerá por el convenio que él hizo con ellos.

RABBI A.Y. KOOK (1865-1935) – Orthodox Rabbi, Jewish Thinker and Torah Scholar
“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to be silent.”
His statement and philosophy are very a propos for our time. The way the American government is right now, we should not keep quiet. One political party is doing its best to take us into “socialism.” Socialism has not worked anywhere else in the world, so why would it work here?

RABÍ A. Y. KOOK (1865-1935) – Rabí Ortodoxo, Pensador Judío y Erudito en la Torá
“No hablo porque tengo el poder de hablar; hablo porque no tengo el poder de mantener el silencio.”
Su declaración y filosofía son perfectas para estos tiempos. Cómo está nuestro gobierno estadounidense, no deberíamos mantener el silencio. Un partido político está haciendo todo lo posible para llevarnos al socialismo. Éste no ha dado buenos resultados en ninguna parte del mundo, ¿Qué nos hace creer que funcionaria bien en nuestro país?

RICARDO MONTALBAN (1920 -2009) – Mexican Actor

“Politics is too partisan, and sometimes patriotism is cast aside. Patriotism is honor and love of your country and your brothers and sisters. With politics I get the impression that it’s all about what’s good for the party and not necessarily what’s good for the country.”

Although he wrote this quite a few years ago, it hits the nail right on the head. Right now we are living almost completely under partisan politics, and love of our country and patriotism have been cast aside and maybe even completely discarded. It is sad, but true.

RICARDO MONTALBÁN (1920-2009) – Actor Mexicano

“La política es muy partidaria, y a veces el patriotismo se echa al lado. El patriotismo es el honor y amor a nuestro país y a nuestros hermanos. Con la política me da la impresión que todo se trata de lo que es bueno para el partido y no necesariamente lo que es bueno para el país.”

Aunque lo escribió hace muchos años pasados, le da al clavo en la pura cabeza. Actualmente estamos viviendo completamente bajo una política partidaria, y el amor hacia nuestro país y el patriotismo se han echado al lado, y tal vez hasta se hayan descartado. Es triste, pero muy verdadero.

MARIO MORENO CANTINFLAS (1911-1993) – Mexican Actor and Comedian

“I don’t suspect anybody, but I distrust everyone.”

Basically what he was trying to say is that we should be careful and not trust everyone because many people have wrong intentions. An ounce of preventions can go a long way, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

MARIO MORENO CANTINFLAS (1911-1993) – Actor y Comediante Mexicano

“No sospecho de nadie, pero desconfío de todos.”

Básicamente lo que quería ensenarnos es que debemos tener cuidado en quien confiamos, porque mucha gente tiene malas intenciones. Prevenir es mucho mejor que lamentar. Una onza de prevención puede librarnos de un fracaso grandísimo.

MARIO MORENO CANTINFLAS (1911-1993) – Mexican Actor and Comedian

“We are in an era, in which man, scientifically and technologically …is a giant, but morally…is a pigmy.”

Truer words have not been spoken. Although he said this quite a few years ago, it is even more true today than then. Technologically we are making tremendous strides, but morally we are moving farther and farther away from God.

MARIO MORENO CANTINFLAS (1911-1993) – Actor y Comediante Mexicano

“Estamos en una era, en la que el hombre, científica y tecnológicamente …es un gigante, pero moralmente…es un pigmeo.”

Palabras más verdaderas no se han hablado. Aunque hace muchos años que lo dijo, es más verdadero hoy que entonces. Tecnológicamente vamos haciendo tremendo progreso, pero moralmente nos vamos alejando más y más de Dios.

ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955) – German-born Theoretical Physicist

“Giving an example is not the main way to influence others, it is the only way.”

He was correct in saying that. People may listen to what one says, but they actually do what they see one do. Actions speak a lot louder than words.

ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955) – Científico Judío Alemán

“Dar el ejemplo no es la única manera de influir sobre los demás, es la única manera.”

Tenia toda la razón cuando dijo eso. La gente puede escuchar lo que uno dice, pero hace lo que uno hace. Las acciones hablan mucho más fuerte que las palabras.

ARISTOTLE (384 BC – 322 BC) – Classical Greek Philosopher

“The wise man never says everything he thinks, but he always thinks everything he says.”

We should always think before we talk or act, but we should not always say everything we think. That is the wisest way to act because all of us have bad, harming, and unproductive thoughts that can get us in trouble.

ARISTÓTELES (384 AC – 322 AC) – Filósofo Clásico Griego

“El sabio no dice nunca todo lo que piensa, pero siempre piensa todo lo que dice.”

Siempre debemos pensar bien antes de hablar o actuar, y no debemos decir siempre lo que pensamos. Esa es la manera más sabia de actuar, porque todos tenemos pensamientos malos, dañinos que no son productivos. Esos pensamientos pudieran causarnos problemas.

ARTHUR SCHNITZLER (1862-1931) – Austrian Author and Dramatist
“To be prepared is important, to know how to wait for it is yet more, but to take advantage of the proper moment is the key to life.”
If we do not take advantage of an excellent opportunity when it arises, we may never see it again. That could be the difference between success and failure in our life.

ARTHUR SCHNITZLER (1862-1931) – Autor y Dramaturgo Austriaco
“Estar preparado es importante, saber esperarlo es aún más, pero aprovechar el momento adecuado es la clave de la vida.”
Si no aprovechamos una excelente oportunidad cuando se nos presenta, es posible que jamás volvamos a tenerla. Eso puede ser la diferencia entre nuestro éxito o fracaso

GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ (1927-2014 – Colombian Novelist

“I have learned that a man only has the right to look down at another man when he has to help him get up.”
We should not look down on people because of their job, car, house, religion, sex, age, race, nationality, educational level, financial status, physical appearance, political affiliation, or for any other reason. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) of people and we should do the same.
GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ (1927-2014) – Escritor Colombiano
“He aprendido que un hombre sólo tiene derecho a mirar a otro hacia abajo cuando ha de ayudarle a levantarse.”
No debemos mirar hacia abajo a las personas por su trabajo, coche, casa, religión, sexo, edad, raza, nacionalidad, nivel de educación, estado financiero, apariencia física, afiliación política, ni por ninguna otra razón. Dios ve el corazón (1 Samuel 16:7) de la persona, y nosotros debemos hacer lo mismo.

MARY LOU COOK (1908-1944) – American Actress, Singer and Dancer

“Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within.”

She was correct, because the Holy Spirit lives in us if we are born-again Christian people. Many people look everywhere for God, except within themselves.

MARY LOU COOK (1908-1944) – Actriz, Cantante y Bailarina Norteamericana

“No busques fuera de ti, el cielo está en ti.”

Tenía razón porque el Espíritu Santo vive en las personas quienes han recibido a Jesucristo como su Señor y Salvador. Mucha gente busca a Dios por dondequiera, menos en su propia vida.

ALBERT CAMUS (1913-1960) – French Philosopher, Author and Journalist

Albert Camus said: “La vie est la somme de tous vos choix,” which of course means, “Life is the sum of all your choices.” It simply means that the choices we make today are the ones that dictate how our future will be. We have to be careful with the decisions we make, as all of them have consequences – those consequences may be positive or negative.

ALBERT CAMUS (1913-1960) – Filósofo, Autor y Periodista Francés

Albert Camus dijo: “La vie est la Somme de tous vos choix,” lo que significa, “La vida es la suma de todas sus elecciones.” Simplemente significa que las elecciones que hacemos hoy son las que deciden nuestro futuro. Tenemos que tener mucho cuidado con las decisiones que hacemos, porque todas ellas tienen consecuencias – ya sean positivas o negativas

ANAXAGORAS (500 B.C. – 428 B.C.) – Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher.

“If you deceive me once, it is your fault; if you deceive me twice, it’s mine.”

He hit the nail right on the head. We should learn from our mistakes and not keep on making the same mistake over and over.

ANAXÁGORAS (500 A.C. – 428 A.C.) – Filósofo Griego

“Si me engañas una vez, tuya es la culpa; si me engañas dos, es mía.”

Le dio al clavo en la pura cabeza. Debemos aprender de nuestros errores y no volver a cometer el mismo error.

CONCEPCION ARENAL (1820-1893) – Spanish Writer and Activist
“Love is to the child as the sun is to the flowers; bread is not enough: he needs to be caressed, so he can be good and strong.”
She is correct! A child needs attention, love, caresses and assurance, so he can grow up to be a well-rounded person. Unfortunately many children do not receive that from their parents or adults who are around them.

CONCEPCIÓN ARENAL (1820-1893) – Escritora y Activista Española
“El amor es para el niño como el sol para las flores; no le basta pan: necesita caricias para ser bueno y fuerte.”
¡Tiene toda la razón! El niño necesita recibir atención, amor, caricias y seguridad para que pueda crecer a ser una persona bien equilibrada. Desafortunadamente muchos niños no reciben eso de sus padres ni de las personas quienes los rodean.

C.S. LEWIS (1898-1963) – British Writer and Theologian

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

We are not righteous because of our own efforts, but rather because God is righteous and He bestows that righteousness on us. By the same token, we do not receive salvation because of our goodness, holiness or righteousness, but rather because of God’s grace to us.

C.S. LEWIS (1898-1963) – Escritor y Teólogo Británico

“El cristiano no piensa que Dios nos amará, porque somos buenos, sino que Dios nos hará buenos porque nos ama.”

No somos justos o buenos por nuestros propios esfuerzos, sino porque Dios es justo, bueno, y él nos bendice con su justicia y amor. Igualmente, no recibimos la salvación porque la merezcamos, sino que la recibimos por la bondad, el amor, la dignidad, la santidad y la gracia de Dios.

SUNDAY ADELAJA (1967 – Present) – Christian Pastor in Kiev, Ukraine

“The misconception that foreigners are impoverished and under privileged give rise to arrogance and feeling of superiority.”

Unfortunately, many Americans are totally ignorant of how other people are in other countries and how they actually live. To speak a foreign language in public in our country is frowned upon by many people, while in Europe many people speak several languages and are proud of it. We definitely need to correct our misconceptions about foreign people.

SUNDAY ADELAJA (1967 – Presente) – Pastor Cristiano en Kiev, Ucrania.

“El concepto equivocado que los extranjeros son empobrecidos y están muy necesitados le da permiso a la arrogancia y a un sentido de superioridad.”

Desafortunadamente muchos norteamericanos ignoran totalmente cómo viven las personas en otros países y cómo son. Hablar una lengua extranjera en nuestro país no es bien visto, mientras que en Europa muchas personas orgullosamente hablan tres, cuatro o cinco lenguas. Definitivamente tenemos que remediar ese concepto erróneo que tenemos sobre los extranjeros.

TONY EVANS – American Pastor y Autor

“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”

Many people think they have to clean themselves and make big changes before they can come to God. That is not true. God will meet you where you are, and then He will help you change to make you the person He wants you to be.

TONY EVANS – Pastor Estadounidense y Autor

“Dios te encuentra donde estás para llevarte adonde él quiere que vayas.”

Muchas personas piensan que tienen que limpiarse y cambiar antes de venir a Dios. Eso no es verdad. Dios te encontrará donde estés, y luego él te ayudará a cambiar para que seas la persona que él desea que seas.

ALISTAIR BEGG (1952-Present) – American Pastor, Born in Glasgow, Scotland

“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”
God has a purpose for each and every one of us. We are important to Him, and we should help Him accomplish His mission. His mission is that every person should come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The apostle Peter explains it this way in 2 Peter 3:9 – “ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Do not belittle yourself because you are very important to God.

ALISTAIR BEGG (1952 – Presente – Pastor Estadounidense, Nacido en Glasgow, Escocia
“No hay nadie quien sea insignificante en el propósito de Dios.”
Dios tiene un propósito para cada uno de nosotros. Somos importantes para él, y debemos ayudarle a cumplir su misión. Su misión es que cada uno se arrepienta y acepte a Jesucristo como su Señor y Salvador. El apóstol Pedro lo explica así en 2 Pedro 3:9 – “El Señor no retarda su promesa, según algunos la tienen por tardanza, sino que es paciente para con nosotros, no queriendo que ninguno perezca, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento.” No te menosprecies eres muy importante para Dios.

ARISTOTLE

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
In other words, an educated person should be able to look at different philosophies, religions, dogmas, fads and ideas without accepting them if they do not meet a sound criteria already established.

ARISTÓTOLES

“Es la marca de una mente educada de poder entretener un pensamiento sin aceptarlo.”
En otras palabras, una persona educada debe poder mirar, escuchar, y pensar en diferentes filosofías, religiones, dogmas, e ideas sin aceptarlas si no cumplen con un sano criterio ya establecido.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
When one has a vivid imagination, one seeks the needed knowledge to accomplish what one has imagined. Most, if not all, inventions come from a vivid imagination. Dreams, before becoming realities, are products of the imagination. If you cannot imagine your dreams becoming realities they never will.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

“La imaginación es más importante que el conocimiento. El conocimiento está limitado. La imaginación rodea todo el mundo.”
Si uno tiene una imaginación viva, uno busca el conocimiento necesario para lograr lo que uno ha imaginado. La mayoría, o tal vez todas, las invenciones vienen de una imaginación viva. Los sueños, antes de hacerse realidades, son productos de la imaginación. Si no puedes imaginar que tus sueños se conviertan en realidades jamás se realizarán.

ARISTOTLE

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
Although this is extremely important, it is not the beginning of wisdom. The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom – Proverb 9:10 and 1:7, Psalm 111:10. Knowing God, and knowing who we are in Him that is the best wisdom we can have.

ARISTÓTELES

“El conocerse a uno mismo es el comienzo de la sabiduría.”
Aunque esa declaración es de suma importancia, no es el comienzo de la sabiduría. La biblia nos dice que el temor de Dios es el comienzo de la sabiduría – Proverbios 9:10 y 1:7, también el Salmo 111:10. El conocer a Dios, y saber quiénes somos en él, esa es la verdadera sabiduría.

MARK CAINE – Author

“The first step of success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.”
Unfortunately many people stay trapped in their original environment. Then they blame the environment for their lack of success. We should rise above our environment and our circumstances if we want to succeed. Success belongs to those of us who have a vision, seek it, prepare for it, and work hard to achieve it.

MARK CAINE – Autor

“El primer paso hacia el éxito se toma cuando uno se niega a ser cautivo del ambiente en el cual uno se encuentra inicialmente.”
Desafortunadamente mucha gente se queda atrapada en su ambiente original. Luego culpan al ambiente por su falta de no tener éxito. Debemos exaltarnos sobre el ambiente y las circunstancias si queremos tener éxito. El éxito nos pertenece a los que tenemos visión, la buscamos, nos preparamos, y trabajamos duro para cumplirla.

MARK ZUCKERBERG (1984-Present) – American Technology Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk…In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
If a person wants to succeed, he has to embrace change, and cannot be afraid of taking risks. If you want to fail, do not accept change, and do not take any risks.

MARK ZUCKERBERG (1984-Presente) – Empresario en Tecnología y Filántropo Americano

“El mayor riesgo es no tomar ningún riesgo…En un mundo que va cambiando rápidamente, la única estrategia garantizada a fracasar es no tomar riesgos.”
Si una persona quiere tener éxito, tiene que abrazar el cambio, y no puede temer tomar riesgos. Si quieres fracasar, no aceptes cambios, y no tomes riesgos

OSCAR WILDE (1854-1900) – Irish Poet and Playwright

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.”

This life is a learning process, and the best way to learn is when we go through trials and tribulations. There is no better school than the school of hard knocks. Bitter struggles make us stronger, wiser and more practical.

OSCAR WILDE (1854-1900) – Poeta y Dramaturgo Irlandés

“Lo que nos parece ser pruebas amargas frecuentemente son bendiciones disfrazadas.”

Esta vida es un proceso de aprendizaje, y la mejor manera de aprender es cuando pasamos por pruebas y tribulaciones. No hay mejor escuela que las experiencias duras de la vida, porque nos hacen más fuertes, sabios y prácticos.

CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882) – English Naturalist, Geologist and Biologist

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
Of course, he was referring to evolution. I don’t believe in evolution because I believe in creation. However if we apply his statement to human beings, it is true. The people who are most responsive to change will succeed, and the ones who are not will encounter difficulties along the road of life.

CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882) – Naturalista, Geólogo y Biólogo Inglés

“No son los más fuertes de las especies los que sobreviven, ni los más inteligentes, sino los respondientes al cambio.”
Desde luego que él se refería a la evolución. Yo no creo en la evolución, sino en la creación. Sin embargo, si le aplicamos su declaración a la humanidad es verdadera. Las personas quienes son más respondientes al cambio llegan al éxito, mientras que las que no lo son encuentran dificultades en los caminos de la vida.

LEONARD COHEN (1934-2016) – Canadian Poet, Song Writer, Singer and Novelist

“Love has no cure, but it is the only medicine for all ills.”

A life without love is a worthless one. All of us need to love and to be loved. The Bible tells us that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

LEONARD COHEN (1934-2016) – Poeta, Compositor, Cantante y Novelista Canadiense

“El amor no tiene cura, pero es la única medicina para todos los males.”

Una vida sin amor no vale nada. Todos necesitamos amar y ser amados. La biblia nos dice que el amor cubre una multitud de pecados (1 Pedro 4:8

COCO CHANEL

COCO CHANEL (1883-1971) – French Fashion Designer and Business Woman.

Coco Chanel said: “Combien de soucis on perd quand on décide de ne pas être quelque chose mais d’être quelqu’un,” which of course means, “ How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.”

Everyone is trying to be something, but it is much better just to be someone, and for that someone to be ourselves. Just try to be you, not something, and definitely not someone else.

coco chanel (1883-1971) – Diseñadora Francesa y Mujer Negociante.

Coco Chanel dijo: “Combien de soucis on perd quand on décide de ne pas être quelque chose mais d’être quelqu’un,” que desde luego significa, “¡De cuántas preocupaciones nos desprendemos cuando decidimos dejar de ser algo para ser alguien!”

Todos tratamos de ser algo, pero es mucho mejor simplemente de ser alguien, y que ese alguien sea uno mismo. Trata de ser tú, no algo, y definitivamente no otra persona.

HELEN KELLER (1880-1968) – American Author, Political Activist and Lecturer

“When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don’t see the one that has opened for us.”

We focus so much on the past and on situations that have come to their conclusion that we fail to see the opportunities staring us in the face.

HELEN KELLER (1880-1968) – Autora, Activista Política y Lectora Estadounidense

“Cuando una puerta se cierra, otra se abre. Pero solemos quedarnos mirando a la puerta cerrada por tanto tiempo, que no vemos a la otra que se nos ha abierto.”

Nos enfocamos tanto en el pasado, y en situaciones que ya han llegado a su conclusión que no vemos las oportunidades en frente de nosotros.

FRIDA KAHLO (1907-1954) – Mexican Artist

“Feet, what do I want them for if I have wings to fly.”

In other words, she was confident in her abilities to succeed. We too should have confidence in ourselves and in our God. We faith, confidence, abilities, and perseverance everything is possible for us. The Bible tells us in Mark 9:3 that everything is possible for us if we believe. The question for you is…Do you really believe in yourself?

FRIDA KAHLO (1907-1954) – Artista Mexicana

“Pies, para qué los quiero si tengo alas para volar.”

En otras palabras, ella tenía confianza en su habilidad de sobresalir. Nosotros también debemos de tener esa confianza y seguridad en nosotros mismos y en Dios. Con fe, confianza, habilidad, y perseverancia todo es posible. En Marcos 9:23, la biblia nos dice que todo es posible para nosotros si podemos creer. La pregunta para ti es…¿En realidad, crees en ti mismo?

ALLAN BLOOM (1930-1992) – American Philosopher

“Education is the movement from darkness to light.”

A person who has no education is living in the dark. He or she needs a quality education to learn many, many things that are extremely useful for him or for her to succeed in this society and to reach his or her God-given potential. Learning should be a never-ending experience for every single one of us.

ALLAN BLOOM (1930-1992) – Filósofo Estadounidense

“La educación es el movimiento de la oscuridad a la luz.”

La persona sin educación vive en la oscuridad. La educación es muy necesaria para aprender muchas cosas que se necesitan no solamente para vivir, sino que también para tener éxito en esta vida. Una persona no puede lograr su potencial sin la educación necesaria. El aprendizaje debe ser un proceso continuo en nuestras vidas.

FRIEDRICH HEGEL (1770-18310 – German Philosopher

“Being independent from public opinion is the first formal condition to achieve something great.”

If we have a great idea or an invention, we cannot worry as to what other people may think or say. By the same token, if we have a special given talent in any given area we should develop it without worrying as to what other people may or may not think. For a variety of reasons people may try to dissuade us from fulfilling and achieving our true potential.

FRIEDRICH HEGEL (1770-1831) – filósofo Alemán

“Ser independiente de la opinión pública es la primera condición formal para lograr algo grande.”

Si tenemos una idea o invención excelente no podemos mortificarnos por lo que piensen o no piensen otras personas. Igualmente, si tenemos un talento especial en cualquier área, debemos desarrollarlo sin preocuparnos de lo que piensen o no piensen los demás. Por una variedad de razones otras personas pueden tratar de desanimarnos de lograr nuestro verdadero potencial.

MICHELANGELO (1475-1564) – Italian Sculptor, Painter, Architect and Poet

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aims too high, but on setting our aims too low, and achieving our mark.”

Most of us do not reach our full potential because for lack of vision we simply set our goals too low. We even make excuses to justify why we do not accomplish more, and that makes us feel good about ourselves.

MIGUEL ANGEL BUONARROTI (1475-1564) – Escultor, Pintor, Arquitecto y Poeta Italiano

“El mayor peligro para la mayoría de nosotros no es que nuestra meta sea demasiado alta y que no la alcancemos, sino que sea demasiado baja y la consigamos.”

La mayoría de nosotros no logramos alcanzar nuestro verdadero potencial, porque por falta de visión fijamos nuestra meta muy baja. Luego, para sentirnos bien, hacemos excusas para justificar por qué no pudimos lograr más.

                                                                   ÉMILE ZOLA (1840-1902) – French Novelist, Playwright and Journalist
“L’artiste n’est rien sans le don, mais le don n’est rien sans le travail.” That, of course, means: “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” In other words, if we have a special gift we have to work hard at it to become a master at it. Without using it our gift goes to waste.

ÉMILE ZOLA (1840-1902) – Novelista, Dramaturgo y Periodista Francés
“L’artise n’est rien sans le don, mais le don n’est rien sans le travail.” Desde luego que eso significa, “El artista no es nada sin el don, pero el don no es nada sin el trabajo.” En otras palabras, si tenemos un don especial tenemos que trabajar para mejorarlo. Sin trabajarlo el don es inservible.

MALCOLM X (1925-1965) – Black American Muslim Minister

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

Although I do not believe in how he lived or what he espoused, I sincerely believe in this statement. Education is the key to success. Education is the great equalizer, violence is a deterrence to equality and to stability.

MALCOLM X (1925-1965) –Afro-Americano Ministro Musulmán

“La educación es el pasaporte hacia el futuro, el mañana les pertenece a aquellos que se preparan para él en el día de hoy.”

Aunque yo no estoy de acuerdo como vivió ni en su modo de pensar, concuerdo cien por ciento con su declaración. La educación nos lleva a la igualdad, la violencia es una amenaza a la estabilidad y a la igualdad

ALBERTO MORAVIA (1907-1990) – Italian Novelist & Journalist

“Ignorance is the mother of fear.” Many, many times men fear what they are not acquainted with, what is unknown to them, what they do not understand, and change. Fear of the unknown is always present with most human beings. Yet to conquer new horizons, to get out of the rut, and to succeed we have to embrace change.

ALBERTO MORAVIA (1907-1990) – Novelista y Periodista Italiano

“La ignorancia es madre del miedo.” Muchas veces los hombres temen a lo que no están familiarizados, a lo que desconocen, a lo que no entienden, y al cambio. El miedo de lo desconocido siempre está presente con los humanos. Sin embargo para conquistar nuevos horizontes, dejar de estar estancado, y para tener éxito es menester abrazar al cambio.

LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA (4 B.C. – 65 A.D.) – Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman & Dramatist

“Homines dum docent discunt,” which means, “Men learn while they are teaching.”

A teacher learns much more than his students. One becomes a master of any subject by teaching it. I taught several subjects to high school students for over thirty years, and I know Seneca’s statement is right on target.

LUCIO ANNEO SÉNECA (4 A.C. – 65 D.C.) – Escritor y Filósofo Romano

“Homines dum docent dicunt,” que desde luego significa, “Los hombres aprenden mientras enseñan.”

El profesor aprende mucho más que sus alumnos. Uno se convierte en maestro en cualquier materia al enseñarla. Yo hablo de experiencia siendo que enseñé varias materias en la escuela secundaria por más de treinta años. Séneca estaba en lo cierto

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712-1778) – Genevan Philosopher, Writer and Composer

“A good father is worth one hundred teachers.”

The first and foremost teachers of the children should be their parents. There is no substitute for good parenting.   Good manners and good principles are taught by the parents, not by the schools.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712-1778) – Filósofo, Escritor y Compositor ginebrino

“Un buen padre vale por cien maestros.”

Los primeros y los maestros más importantes de los niños son sus padres. No hay substitutos por la buena crianza que los padres le pueden dar a sus hijos. Los buenos modales y los buenos principios se enseñan en casa, y no en los colegios.

LEONARDO DA VINCI

“As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well-spent brings happy death.”

If we know we have been a blessing to others and have done well with our life, when the time comes for us to leave this world, we leave it with a satisfied mind, with no regrets, and with a peaceful heart. What type of legacy will you leave?

LEONARDO DA VINCI

“Así como una jornada bien empleada produce un dulce sueño, así una vida bien usada causa una dulce muerte.”

Si sabemos que hemos sido bendición para otros, y hemos hecho el bien en nuestras vidas, cuando se nos llegue el tiempo de partir de este mundo, lo dejaremos satisfechos, sin reproches, y con un corazón lleno de paz y de armonía. ¿Qué legado

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1643-1727) – British Mathematician, Astrologer, Theologian, Physicist

“What I know is a drop of water, what we don’t know is an ocean.”

There is a lot more that we do not know compared to what we do know. That is the way it has been, that is the way it is, and that is the way it will be. The only one who knows everything is God, that is because He created everything, and because He is omniscient.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1643-1727) – Matemático, Astrólogo, Teólogo, y Físico Británico

“Lo que sé es una gota de agua, lo que no sabemos es un océano.”

Hay mucha más que no sabemos comparado con lo que en realidad sabemos. Así ha sido, así es, y así será. El único quien sabe todo es Dios, y eso es porque él es el Creador y es omnisciente.

MARILYN VON SAVANT (1946-Present) American Magazine Columnist, Author, Lecturer and Playwright

“To acquire knowledge one must study, but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

One cannot acquire wisdom without thinking, meditating, investigating, observing, reading the Bible and asking questions. There is much wisdom in the word of God found in the Psalms and in the Proverbs.

MARILYN VON SAVANT (1946-Presente) Columnista de Revistas, Autora, Conferencista y Dramaturga Estadounidense.

‘’Para adquirir conocimiento uno debe estudiar, pero para adquirir sabiduría, uno debe observar.”

Uno no puede adquirir sabiduría sin pensar, meditar, investigar, observar, leer la biblia, y hacer preguntas. Hay mucha sabiduría en la palabra de Dios, y especialmente en los salmos y en los proverbios.

AYN RAND (1905-1982) – Russian – American Novelist, Philosopher, Playwright, Screenwriter

“You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.”

Yes, she knows what she is talking about. Many people think and say that drugs are addictive, but they get hooked on them and cannot quit. One can deny the reality and the facts, but the consequences will come sooner or later. Not only is that true for drug use, but the same goes for other vices, such as drinking, smoking, gambling and so on. People who get engaged in those activities wind up paying the consequences.

AYN RAND (1905-1982) – Novelista y Filosofa Ruso-Americana.

“Puedes evitar la realidad, pero no puedes evitar las consecuencias de evitar la realidad.”

Desde luego que tiene mucha razón. Muchas personas piensan y declaran que el uso de drogas no es adictivo, pero no pueden dejar de tomarlas. Uno puede negar la realidad, pero no se puede escapar de sus consecuencias. Los mismo que ocurre con el abuso de las drogas ocurre con otros vicios tal como tomar licor, fumar cigarrillos, participar en la jugada, y muchas otras deficiencias que pueda tener la persona. Cuando todo se haya dicho y hecho la persona paga las consecuencias.

                                                                               LEONARDO DA VINCI
I am combining two Leonardo da Vinci’s quotes because they go together well. “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.” In other words, you must have a plan before doing any worthwhile project. “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.” It is not good enough for you to have an idea or a plan, you must put it in practice.

                                                                              LEONARDO DA VINCI
A propósito estoy combinando dos citas de Leonardo da Vinci, porque van bien juntas. “El que ama la práctica sin la teoría es como el marinero que embarca la nave sin timón ni brújula y nunca sabe adónde llegará.” En otras palabras, necesitas un plan antes de embarcarte en cualquier plan que valga la pena. “He sido impresionado con la urgencia de hacer. El saber no es suficiente; debemos aplicar. Estar dispuesto no es suficiente; debemos hacer.” No es suficiente que tengas una idea o un plan, tienes que ponerlos en práctica.

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LOVE IS NOT BLIND

We have a popular saying that states that love is blind. Of course it makes a lot of sense, and especially when you see an ugly man or an ugly woman married to a good looking spouse. It also makes sense when we see a person with vices married to a person who is far from them. In those particular cases and in a few others, love does seem to be not only blind, but deaf and mute at the same time.
God, as is stated quite well in the Bible, has a different take on it. For Him love is not blind, but kind, compassionate, merciful, humble, sincere, patient, understanding, of course loving, and much, much more. The reason for that is that God is love (1 John 4:8), and since He cannot change because He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) He will always be love.
Let us go directly to the Bible to a few scriptures written by the apostle Paul to see what he has to say about love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” I believe he made it extremely clear that love is the most important attribute a human being can have.
When we truly love someone we choose not to see their faults, their mistakes nor their misses, but rather we choose to see their good points. That is not blind love, but love at its finest. In 1 Peter 4:7-8, the apostle Peter tells us: “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” In other words, many mistakes we make or somebody else makes are overlooked because of the love we have for one another. Think of how many times your loved ones have overlooked your mistakes or you have overlooked theirs. You may be able to come up with a few valid reasons for that, but the bottom line is that it was done out of pure love and nothing else.
Although love covers a multitude of sins, and many times people tend to overlook our wrongs or we tend to overlook somebody else’s mistakes that does not mean we ought to take advantage of other people or that they should take advantage of us on purpose. Nobody is a rug to be stepped on. To be a loving person is one thing, and to be an enabler is a totally different story. Be a loving person, but do not be an enabler.
http://thelivinglights.com rlsalvation@sbcglobal.net (9/22/2019)

THE SCAPEGOAT

From the beginning of time, one way or another, everybody always puts the blame on a scapegoat. They find a person, a religion, a race or something to put the blame on it. Somehow by putting the blame on somebody else or something else the people will not blame them – the real evil doers. The saying, “Look who is calling the kettle black applies quite well here.

When Adam and Eve sinned, he blamed the woman (Genesis 3:12), and she blamed the serpent (Genesis 3:13). Because the serpent, who was actually the devil in disguise, had deceived Eve God cursed it (Genesis 3:14-15). That curse will never be reversed.

The word scapegoat actually comes from the Bible. The high priest would appoint a man to release the chosen scapegoat into the wilderness. The scapegoat supposedly would carry away the sins of the people, and the people would be clean. In Leviticus 16:7-10 the Bible explains it this way: “He (the High Priest) shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting. “Aaron (the High Priest) shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. “Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the LORD fell, and make it a sin offering. “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.”

According to the Pharisees – the religious leaders of the time – Jesus was full of blasphemes and sin. He truly became the scapegoat for all of us sinners. He carried our sins to the cross. He paid for all the sins of the world including from the beginning of time to the end of the age. All we have to do is repent, ask God to forgive us, receive Him as our Lord and Savior, and try to live a life according to God’s principles. Read John 3:3, 3:15-17 and Romans 10:9.

As history repeats itself there are always people who are looking for scapegoats. The Pharisees had Jesus Christ, Hitler had the Jewish people, Fidel Castro had the American people, Nicolas Maduro has Colombia and the American people, the Democrats have Donald Trump, the Islamic people have the Christians, and so on. The bottom line is that people who want to take and have control of society always find a scapegoat.

Regardless of the race they may belong to, some people are using the words race or discrimination as a scapegoat. In other words, they accuse other people of being racists. In some cases, of course, it is true, but in others they just use it to excuse their poor performance or their bad behavior. It is always easier to blame somebody else – a scapegoat – instead of admitting that we are not up to the test.

If you are always making excuses or blaming people for your poor behavior, you are looking for a scapegoat. Accept responsibility and if you have to blame somebody, blame yourself. After all, we are a product of our own experiences, and we are the ones who decide what experiences we will have. Our failure or success depend on us, not on anybody else

IT’S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CHILDREN

As the centuries, generations and decades go by it is becoming more and more difficult for young children. I know that many people will disagree with me citing that all the modern inventions, conveniences and the knowledge we are acquiring help us make it much easier for our children. To some extent that is exactly true, but there are some effects of our so-called progress that we should consider.

Because of our progress drugs are more readily available, and consequently more people are consuming them. That not only affects their lives, but it tremendously affects the lives of their children and other people around them. As a result many children are born with physical or psychological defects. Many of them see violence in the home. Their parents were never married, but even if they were, they separate or get a divorce the first chance they get.

Some children grow up with homosexual, lesbian or transgender parents. To each his own, so I am not condemning those people, but they should not be allowed to adopt children.   The kids are normally doomed from the start. Chances are they will choose the same lifestyle. Although it is legal, and society praises that type of community, it is not normal, moral, or even consistent with other members of the mammal world. Have you ever seen a transgender lion? Or maybe you have seen a homosexual cat! A lesbian cow may refuse to give milk.

By the time a child is five years old he or she has been programmed for violence because he or she has seen plenty of it on television. He or she has witnessed thousands upon thousands of murders on the different television programs. By then he or she has already learned that violence is the way to resolve problems. Then when a young adult goes up the deep end, and commits mass murder people are looking for answers, and have no idea why it happened, but to any intelligent human being it is obvious.

It is quite unfortunate, but many innocent young children have died at the hands of some of these deranged people who have used an assault rifle to kill children in schools, shopping centers, public gatherings and so on. Young parents are afraid to take their children to some amusement parks, or other places where there will be crowds of people. If we do not take action fast the carnage will continue.

The news media is spewing so much hatred toward the President that some of our children already hate him without any reason for them to do so. The Republicans and Democrats instead of working together for the betterment of the country are too busy fighting each other, and in the meantime they are accomplishing nothing. One way or another, some of our children are capturing this.

God created humans in His own image. That means we are very important to Him. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. That means God lives in us. We defile the temple by using drugs, getting drunk often, having sex with every Tom, Dick and Harry, and even by eating ourselves to death. Obesity and lack of exercise are major problems in our country. Many people die prematurely because of that. Unfortunately many of the obese people also have obese children. What does that mean? We are sending them to an early death.

Basically what is happening is that our country is out of control. Everything goes. It may come to the point where a man can marry a robot or an animal. I know it sounds farfetched now, but everything else that I have mentioned that is happening now seemed farfetched in the forties, the fifties, and even in the sixties.

If you do not agree with me, it’s OK. It is it just that I have seen this country changed for the worse spiraling downward at a tremendous speed, and nobody knows where will end.

IN DUE TIME

There is a time and a place for just about everything. Our task is to discern when it is the right time, where is the perfect place, and who are the right people. The wrong decision can bring us dire consequences. Many people have paid dearly for taking the wrong decision. Do not let it happen to you.

Most adolescents want to grow before their time. They want to do all the wrong things that adults do, but there is a small problem – they are not adults. They want to smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, use drugs, and have sex among other things, and consequently they wind up getting in trouble with their parents and with the law in many cases. All of those things are bad when done indiscriminately, but can be harmless or even good when done in moderation, at the right time, at the right place and with the right people.

The young people now days are called “millennials.” When joining the work force, most of them want to start at the top. In other words, they want high wages, and high positions with responsibility over other workers who have a lot more experience and know-how than them. In reality they have not learned the trade nor the ins and outs of the game. One has to work his or her way to the top by starting out at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, and in due time one will reach the pinnacle by climbing one rung at a time.

Many times young couples want to live the American dream. They want to have their own home, a boat, a motorcycle, a swimming pool and a few other amenities. They use the credit cards to the max, and they wind up going bankrupt, or getting a divorce. All the things mentioned in the second sentence can be good to own, but it is much better to wait for due time. Due time is when they can afford them without using credit cards, getting a loan on their house, sacrificing their family, or putting their health in jeopardy.

Some people retire too early, and then they spend their old age with very little extra money. They do not plan correctly. Because of inflation a nest egg does not last very long. Not only do we have to take inflation into consideration, but also the fact that there will be no more additional money coming in, and that the economy may take a turn for the worse. A downward spiral in the economy could adversely affect our possessions and our investments. Therefore, we should retire in due time, and not one minute before.

There is a time for everything. By paying close attention to the signs of the times, in most cases we should be able to discern when it is the right or due time to act on any given situation. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Solomon, the son of King David, tells us that there is a due time for all things: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, And a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Life has a pace of its own. Do not try to hurry it! Live it to the fullest enjoying every moment for what it is. Live it in such a way that when it is over you will have no regrets. You only have one life – don’t waste it!

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (8/1/2019)

YOU NEED A KINSMAN-REDEEMER

All of us need a kinsman-redeemer, and that includes you. A kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the responsibility or privilege to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or had a need he or she could not meet. In other words, the kinsman-redeemer would come to rescue the relative.

The Pentateuch consists of the first five books of the Bible. They are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy respectively. Those five books or the entire Old Testament are sometimes also referred to as the torah. All of them were written by Moses as it was given to him by God. Those books are the foundation and the basis for the rest of the Old Testament, and, of course, the New Testament too.

So you may have a better idea as to what a kinsman-redeemer was to the Jewish people during Bible times, I will give you some examples. Leviticus 25:25-28 – “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.  Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his posses.”

Another example: Leviticus 25:47-49 – “Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren (a Jewish person) who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself.” That person would have become a slave, and by

the kinsman-redeemer paying off the debt or him the man would gain his freedom.

Yet another example: Ruth 2:1-2 – “There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.  So Ruth (Naomi’s daughter-in-law) the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Ruth 2:17-20 –“So she (Ruth) gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.  Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” In Ruth 3:12, Boaz told Ruth: “Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.” There was a closer kinsman-redeemer than Boaz, so they are negotiating in Ruth 4:5-10 – “ Then Boaz said to the other kinsman-redeemer: “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.” And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.  And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.  Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”

Ruth was a young woman who was destitute, but Boaz a wealthy relative of her deceased husband redeemed her.

All of us need a kinsman-redeemer to rescue us from our sins. All of us sin, and if those sins are not paid for, and if we are not redeemed we are headed for hell, and later on after the final judgment we would be headed for the lake of fire to spend eternity there. Ecclesiastes 7:20 – “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.” Romans 3:9-10 -“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one.” God is holy, and just one sin would send us to hell.

We need a kinsman-Redeemer to rescue us from our sins. That Redeemer is Jesus Christ. John 1:28-29 – “All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Yes, Jesus is not only the lamb of God, but He is our Kinsman-Redeemer. When He shed His blood on the cross, died there, and resurrected from the tomb on the third day, He paid for our sins. If we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, which is the same as our Lord and Redeemer, we receive His salvation.

If you are not a Christ follower – a Christian – you have not been redeemed, which means you will not go to heaven when you die. However if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, as your Kinsman Redeemer, you will spend eternity with Him. If you want to be redeemed, in all humility and sincerity pray aloud the following prayer to God. He will hear you and accept you as His child.

“Father God, I repent of all my sins, and ask You to forgive me. I believe, declare and confess that Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave up His life to pay for my sins. I accept Him in my life as my Lord and Savior, as my Kinsman Redeemer, and also ask You to allow the Holy Spirit to live in me. Thank You Father God. Amen.”

If you sincerely prayed that prayer, God has forgiven all your sins, and you are now as clean as can be. Keep coming back to my blog, and may our Lord bless you in every area of your life.

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (7/25/2019)

GOD IS PERFECT, BUT WE ARE IMPERFECT

We have a perfect God who is working through imperfect people. That is one of the reasons why things go wrong in this world. A perfect God created a perfect world (Genesis 1:1-25) with perfect people (Genesis 1:26 -28). Being that He is perfect, He did not want us to be robots, so He gave us free will, which means we can make our decisions and mold our own destiny. Because of that we cannot blame anybody, not even God, if things have not gone too well for us. We make our own bed, and we have to sleep on it.

Free will is a blessing if used properly, but it can be a curse if used improperly, and unfortunately that is what Adam and Eve did. They disobeyed God (Genesis 3:1-7), and because of that God cursed the planet (Genesis 3:17-19), and sin entered the world. Because of their sin, God took them out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24), and this planet which was a paradise was cursed by God, and became what it is today.

In the days of the Garden of Eden this planet was a paradise, which means there was no death, no violence, no illness, no jealousy, no hatred, no evil, and nothing negative or threatening to the human race. That is the way God had intended it to be, but when Adam and Eve sinned sin entered the world with all its consequences and ramifications. All those things that make life miserable for some of us came in through sin, and come from the devil, not from God. Do not blame God for them!

Sometimes people say, “Why would a good God allow this to happen?” or “Why do bad things happen to good people?” The answer was, is, and will always be because of Adam and Eve’s sin and because the devil is the prince of this world (John 12:31). The devil was behind Adam and Eve’s disobedience, and he is behind all the bad things that happen in this world. If anything bad happens to you, do not blame God. It could be because of a poor decision you made, a poor decision somebody else made that affects you, Adam and Eve’s disobedience, or the devil’s doings. Because of our free will, God our Creator allows them, but He is not the cause of them.

Spiritually God is here, but not physically. That means He has to work through imperfect people. Those imperfect people could be pastors or evangelists. Therefore you have to screen everything they say through the word of God in the Bible. Do not accept it just because a pastor or an evangelist said it. An evangelist may say: “God just spoke to me that there are fifty people watching, and each one is going to donate ten thousand dollars.” I can assure you that they heard their greedy-self talking and not God. No, they are not representing God – they are representing themselves.

Since God works through imperfect people many of them are going to lie to you, let you down,

and even hurt you. Some of the evangelists or pastors may tell you that your best days are ahead of you, that many blessings are coming to you, that there is a breakthrough coming in your life, or that grace (unmerited favor from God) covers all your sins, and you that you can sin all you want because it is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. People like to hear that, but it is not true.

The Bible tells us that God can blot out our name from “The Book of Life.” – Exodus 32:32-33, Revelation 3:5 and Psalm 69:27-28. If your name is blotted out from that book you have no salvation, and you will spend eternity suffering in the lake of fire. Do not take any chances! Be a Christ followers by living by His principles written in the Bible. If you are not a Christian yet, you may become one by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you have no idea how to begin, read the following prayer, and when you, more or less, understand it, pray it to God aloud with all sincerity and humility. He will hear you and accept you as His child. Your name will be written in “The Lamb’s Book of Life,” which means you will enjoy being with God eternally.

“Father God, I repent of all my sins. Please forgive me, as I believe and declare that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He suffered, died, and resurrected on the third day to pay for my sins. I ask Him to be my Lord and Savior, as well as asking the Holy Spirit to live in me, so He can guide me and protect me. I believe and ask all this in the name of Jesus! Thank You Father!”

If you prayed that prayer and meant it, God has forgiven all your sins, and you are now part of His family. Find yourself a good born-again Christian church where they teach directly from the Bible. I update this page every Wednesday. Come back to it, so you can learn even more. God bless you!

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@sbcglobal.net (7/18/

S   O   C   I   A   L   I   S   M

The word “socialism” is being thrown around today in our country mostly by the politicians. In reality many people do not really know what it is. Some people think it is good, while others think it is bad, but nobody really knows what effect it would have in our country. In the hopes that it may help some of you, I will try to explain what it is as best I know how.

According to the dictionary socialism is: “A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the community as a whole should own and control the means of production, distribution and exchange.” To me that means that people would give up their individual rights. It sounds like communism more than anything else.

The community, as I understand it, would be the government. In other words the government would be the one that would make most of the decisions affecting our lives. We would have no say as to what would be taught in our schools and universities, what health program we would have, what retirement packages we should choose, where the funding would be spent or anything else. Everything would be taken care by the government.

A socialist country is where the government provides for most of the needs of the people. It is a welfare system. It can be ideal if each person contributes to the best of his/her ability, and if the people running the government were elected for a certain term. If people shared their money, possessions, time, talents and everything else socialism would truly work. During the first days of the Christian church the people did exactly that, and all the needs of the people were met.

Fortunately in just about every society there are those who contribute as much as they possibly can, but unfortunately there are also those who just go along for a free ride, and contribute as little as possible or nothing at all. They become a burden to society. In any society we will always have those two types of people. If the second group were nonexistent we could have a utopia the way God intended it.

Because many of the so-called “millennials” belong to the second group mentioned in the previous paragraph, having the government do everything for them sounds like the perfect solution to them. They do not stop to think that, in essence, it is unrealistic. They do not realize that they would be giving up their individualism, sovereignty and self-determination. They would become puppets of the government. Just as puppets are manipulated, they would be too.

Something they do not realize is that if everything would be given to them for free, and they did not have to work for it, someone would have to work extra hard to pay for them. There are no free lunches. When one part of the population does not work or pay for what it is receiving, another group has to pay for it. That puts an extra burden on the latter group. Facts are facts, and there is no getting around them.

Do not take my word for what I have stated in this article, look at the countries where the people depend on the government to meet their needs. Some of those countries are China, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela and a few others. How are the people living in those countries? How much freedom do they really have? Do they have freedom of choice? Can they travel freely within their country and can they travel to other parts of the world? Is everybody really treated equally?

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (7/11/2019)

Jewish worshippers wrapped in prayer shawls, participate in the special “Blessing of the Sun” prayer at sunrise on the Eitam Hilltop near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Efrata, Wednesday, April 8, 2009. Devout Jews around the world on Wednesday observed a ritual performed only once every 28-years, saying their morning prayers under the open sky in the “blessing of the sun”, called the Birkat Hachamah in Hebrew. (AP Photo/ Kevin Frayer)

THE CHOSEN PEOPLE

Of all the nations in the world, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the Jews are the people God chose to be His people. They are God’s chosen people. They were chosen from their inception. God Himself started the Jewish race and kept them separated from other people.

Abraham is not only the father of our faith in God, but he is also the father of the Jewish nation. It was through him that God started the Jewish race. Abraham was living with his father and wife in Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31). It has not been clearly established if that was in Syria or Turkey, or some other place, but wherever it was, it was not in Israel. The Jewish nation and the Jewish race did not exist yet. Of course that means that Abraham and Sarah were not Jewish.

The Lord told Abram, whose name He changed to Abraham, to leave his father’s house and to go to Canaan. Genesis 12:1-5 – “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai (Later on God changed her name to Sarah) his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.”

In the previous paragraph you can clearly see that God took Abraham out of the land of Ur of the Chaldeans because they worshiped other gods. They were not believers in the true God who created heavens and earth. It is very possible that Abraham had no religion and no relationship with God, but God looks at the heart of man (1 Samuel 16:7). He chose Abraham because he was a man of integrity.

Genesis 17:1-9 – “ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.  And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”  Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.  No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.”

God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and with his descendants – the Jewish people. God does not break His covenants. If He were to do so, He would not be God. He would be no different than any human being.

The Lord and two angels appeared to Abraham, Genesis 18:9-14 – “ Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He (The Lord) said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him). Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Sarah did not know that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

Abraham and Sarah did have a son as the Lord had promised. She was around ninety years old, and Abraham was one hundred when their son Isaac was born. Genesis 21:1-3 – “ And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.  For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac.”

In essence Isaac was the first Jewish person, because as we have read Abraham and Sarah were not Jewish.

In Deuteronomy 7:6-9, God said this to the people:  “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

Yes, God chose the Jewish people, but do not dismay if you are not Jewish. Since in Jesus’ time the Jews rejected Him – the Messiah – now anybody who accepts Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior or Redeemer will spend eternity with God. If you need convincing, read John 3:3, 3:15-17, 14:6, Romans 10:9 and 1 John 1:9. Whether you are Jewish, brown, black, white or any other color you can be one of the chosen ones by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Being of the Jewish race, belonging to a certain religion or doing good deeds will not get you to heaven.  

If you want to be “a chosen one,” read the following prayer, and when you understand it, pray it to God aloud, in truth and humility. He will hear you, and will accept you as His child.

“Father God, I repent of all my sins. Please forgive me. I believe, confess and declare that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He suffered, shed His blood and died on the cross to pay for my sins. I accept His sacrifice, and I accept Him in my life as my Lord and Savior. I also ask the Holy Spirit to live in me, so He can guide me and protect me at all times. Thank You Father. Amen.” Come back to my blog on a weekly basis, so you can learn more and more. God bless you!

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (7/4/2019)

PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN THERE’S A DIFFERENCE

Most societies around the world are spiraling down into sin at a record pace. There is no sense of right or wrong anymore. What is wrong they call right, and what is right they call wrong. There is no longer any criteria for what is right and for what is wrong. Whatever people want to do they justify it in their own eyes. If enough people start to do it, at first it becomes a fad, and then it becomes a norm. After it becomes a norm the government makes it legal. It has happened time after time that way.

For the most part “democracy” is good, but it has at least one bad part. The bad part is that what the majority wants, the majority gets. It does not matter if its immoral, indecent or illegal somewhere else. All they have to do is get the majority to vote on a bill favoring it, and if it passes it becomes a law. Look at alcoholic beverages, marihuana, gambling, prostitution, same-sex marriages, and even euthanasia. In some states some of those or all of those are legal. The people voted saying they wanted it, and they got it. Unfortunately, right or wrong had no say in the matter whatsoever.

The sinful people justify their actions by criticizing the people who still have a sense of right and wrong. The people who are doing what is right and correct in the eyes of God have become the scapegoats and the bad people in the eyes of the sinful ones. They are called intolerant, close-minded, ignorant, and even evil. People have totally discarded morals, scruples, and most of the laws that are actually based on biblical principles.

The news media used to be very reliable. Even when they made a mistake they would rectify as soon as possible. Now days what they report in many cases is “fake news.” Everything is distorted, biased, and in many instances completely false. Normally there are always two sides to every story – sometimes more, but the so-called news media only presents one side, and it is totally biased according to their views. They do not report news, they tell the public what they want it to believe.

Although we are a democratic republic there is a radical political party in the United States that actually wants to take us into socialism and maybe even communism. They want the government to provide everything free for its citizens as well as for illegal aliens who have never ever paid a cent into our governmental system. In theory it sounds like an excellent idea, and of course the millennial generation embraces it. In practice however it is a completely different story altogether.  If a group of people get something for free without doing one ounce of work for it, somebody else has to work extra hard and pay more than his/her share of taxes. In the USA the two groups that would have to be taxed heavily would be the working class and the extreme wealthy people. Even if the latter paid ninety per cent of their income, which is what that political party wants, they could afford it, but the working class cannot pay more taxes. They are already having a difficult time making ends meet.

If that socialist-bound political party were to have its way, and I hope it does not, then the wealthy entrepreneurs would leave our country in droves, and would invest their money in other countries. We would lose jobs, which means that many working families would lose their employment. The middle-class workers would get taxed even harder. They would be the ones that would carry the burden for this country. Eventually our country would become like Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. That should give you a very good idea as to why we should not head toward socialism.

Instead of calling abortion murder what it really is, the new generation calls it women’s choice. In other words, women lawfully have the right of ending a fetus’s life at any given point. A fetus is a human being, whether people admit it or not. Denying that a fetus is a life does not change the fact that it is. God is the only entity that has the right to give life or to take it away. Anybody else who takes away a life is going completely against God’s will and will have to give an account to Him on “Judgment Day.” Yes, all of us will be judged by a righteous God who shows no partiality.

I do not know about other societies, but here in the United States a child or his/her parents can decide what sex that child wants to be. That, of course, is utterly ridiculous. A person is either male or female. There is nothing in between. All the child has to do is look at his/her organs. That will tell him/her immediately what sex he or she is. There is no such a thing as a transgender. Does a newborn horse decide whether it wants to be a colt or a mare? They accept what they are. Other animals do the same. Too bad some humans cannot learn from the animals.

I know homosexuals, lesbians and transgender are going to disagree with my previous paragraph. Let us see what God has to say in His word. Romans 1:24-27 – “ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Leviticus 20:13 – “ If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 –   “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” If you do not like this paragraph, do not argue with me, argue with God, but before you do, read the next two paragraphs.

People have forgotten that it does make a difference whether we spend eternity with God in heaven or with the devil in the lake of fire. I know I have brought to the light quite a few cold hard facts, but unfortunately it is a sign of the times. Those signs are stated in the Bible quite clearly. I will not give you any scriptures for the sake of time and space, but nevertheless they are there.

I will end this article by stating that God is a loving God. He hates sin, but loves the sinner. If a sinner, regardless of his sin or sins, repents, asks God to forgive him/her, receives Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior, and leaves that life style (2 Chronicles 7:14), whatever it may be, God will forgive, and make that person His child to live with Him forever. That is great news!!!

You can be that person!!!!!!!

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (6/27/2019)

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

If you sincerely want to succeed, you can, but you have to have a passion for whatever it is you want to do. If you have a passion for it, nothing will stop you from achieving it. Yes, you may have a setback here or there, but that will only delay you momentarily. It will not stop you from reaching your goal. True passion will not allow you to quit. The word “quit” should not even be in your repertoire.  

You need to have a dream, but that dream will only be that, unless you have a vision, and you put action to it. Not only do you have to envision the future, but you have to know how you will get there. That means you need something to guide you, and that something should be a plan well-thought out. Trying to do it without a plan would be like trying to go to a certain place without directions and without a map. Guess what? You would never get there.

In order to carry out the plan you need to educate yourself. It could be a university education, but it could also be educating yourself through the internet, by reading up on it, by being an apprentice to an expert in the field, or by recognizing a need in society and thinking of how to meet it and earn a good living while doing it.

Businesses succeed or fail according to supply and demand. A business can have the best product on the market, but if there is no demand for it, it will stay on the shelves, and that business will have to close its doors. Therefore before opening up any business or going into any profession, you have to know if there is a demand for that product or for that service. Failure not to take that into consideration could spell disaster for you.

Of course, it is good to have a passion for a career or a business, but it is always an excellent idea go get advice from professionals in that area. There is no substitute for experience, and you can gain from theirs. You may have a passion for it, but if there is no market for it, no demand for it, or if it is obsolete, you will fail. A good example would be going into the typewriter business after the computers came out. It would be a disaster.

To prepare for any career or to open up any new business will cost you a lot of money, and you may have to spend long hours at the beginning, because if you do not do that, it will not give you positive results. That is when you need passion, patience, dedication and perseverance. Without them you will not succeed. Very seldom is there what they would call “an overnight sensation.”

Sometimes people will say so and so is an overnight sensation. What they do not realize is that

the person has been preparing for years, and that finally he succeeded. The success may have come fast, but he had been preparing, working hard, and waiting for a very long time. In most cases the success is well deserved.

Before going into any profession or business, do your homework. Do some research, talk to experts in the field, look at the supply and demand now and in the future, and look at the resources at your disposal now, and the ones you may have later on. Take into consideration your resolve, dedication, perseverance, and passion

The four attributes mentioned in the previous paragraph can make the biggest difference. Examples: Dolly Parton was told by experts she would not make it as a singer. She is one of the most successful country artists. Michael Jordan was not considered good enough to play on his high school basketball team. He became an excellent players in the NBA.

You know yourself better than anybody else. Before undertaking any endeavor you should know if you have the passion, resolve, dedication, perseverance, resources, and expertise to succeed. If one or two of those are missing, do not even attempt to do whatever it is you want to do.

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (6/20/2019)

ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES IN THE PROPER ORDER

Most people have troubles in life because either they do not have any priorities whatsoever, or they have them in the wrong order. It is extremely important and essential for a person to have his top three or four priorities in the correct and proper order. Not doing it correctly can only bring chaos into a person’s life, and to the ones around him.

Whether you believe in God or not is irrelevant – He does exist. If you are an unbeliever look at the universe, every form of life, and look at yourself. Because it has been planned, everything is in the right place and in the right order. Who was the planner? God, of course! Things don’t just pop up by themselves in perfect arrangement.

To give you a better idea as to how life began as we know it, I will quote the Bible, Genesis 1:1-5 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void: and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Your first priority should be God because without Him nothing that exists would exist (John 1:3). Without God even you would not exist. He is your heavenly Father. You should respect, honor and worship Him. He should be above you, your friends, relatives, parents, wife and children. Not only that, but you should not have any idols that you worship. There is only one God, and that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You can make God a priority by reading the Bible, going to church regularly, praying to Him, and serving Him wherever and whenever possible. The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 110:11). The scriptures do not really refer to “a trembling fear,” but rather to a respect, admiration, worship, adoration, and exaltation of God.

After all, He is the Creator of life (John 1:2-5).

Establish an intimate relationship with God. Whenever you need to make a decision big or small pray to God to give you guidance. What seems wrong to you at the time could be the perfect thing to do, and what seems perfect to you could be totally erroneous. God can help you make better decisions than you have ever made. That is because He sees the now plus thousands of tomorrows. You see your immediate surroundings, but God sees the entire world all at once.

Your second priority should be your spouse because a marriage should be sacred. Many couples put their children before their spouse, and when the children grow up they divorce. Both husband and wife should honor God first, and then they should honor, respect and love each other. Other than God, you should put nothing or no one above your spouse. You should never ever put your job, hobby, friends, your parents or even your children above your spouse. This holds true even for blended families.

Let your spouse not only be your lover, but let him/her be your best friend, your faithful companion, and your confidant. Do not have any secrets between you two, and do not let anyone or anything come between you two. Secrets have a way of coming out of darkness to the light of day, and can bring destruction to any marriage. Do not let that happen to your marriage. Protect your marriage at all costs.

Following God and your spouse, your children should be your third priority. Children need to feel safe, be appreciated, be provided for, and loved. Both your spouse and you should work together to provide a safe and loving environment for your children. That means spending as much quality time with them as possible. Many parents work long hours and spend very little time with their children. That is a recipe for failure.

The three top priorities are vital and should be taken in that specific order. The fourth priority in most cases should probably be a person’s job. Unfortunately most of us have to work to earn a living. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to do well on our jobs. In many cases we cannot afford to lose our job because we are living from paycheck to paycheck. While it is important for us to do well on our jobs, we cannot be slaves to them. Men, more than women, have a tendency to do exactly that.  

In conclusion let me reiterate the main priorities in their respective order of importance and efficiency. One, God. Two, your spouse. Three, your children. Four, your job. Of course, there will be other factors in your life. Without affecting the first three or four priorities, arrange the other factors or issues in whatever order makes sense to you at the time.

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (6/13/2019

HOW TO LIVE A CAREFREE LIFE

Problems, worries and stress take many people to an early grave. If the former three have constantly been a pain for you, read this article. You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain. It will help you live a longer life, a more productive one, and a much more peaceful one too. Enjoy life because you will only live once on this earth. You will not have a second chance. There is no such a thing as reincarnation.

You are unique. There is not another person like you in the whole world. Ponder on that for a moment. Consider yourself special because you are. Not only think of yourself as being special, but treat yourself in that manner. People will start seeing you and treating you the way you see yourself and treat yourself. People are always watching to see how you treat others as well as how you treat yourself.

Remember “the golden rule” – treat others as you want to be treated. If you start treating others politely with kindness, love, respect they will start treating you the same way, and because God made you unique and special, you do deserve to be treated well. If you run into people who are rude, unkind, and just plain mean, do not lower yourself to their level. Consider the source, and do not let it affect you. No one has the right to ruin your day. They can only ruin it if you allow them.

Be happy with who you are. God created you like that for a reason. Do not try to be somebody else, they are who they are, and you are you. Take inventory of your positive traits, abilities, talents and resources available to you. Work on developing any skills you may already have, and strengthen your weak points. All of us are weak in some areas, but that does not mean we are less important than the ones who are strong in them.

Almost anything you learn will be beneficial to you, and an asset later on. The more versatile you are, the better you will feel about yourself. Some examples: learn how to swim, ride a bicycle, ride a horse, drive and fix cars, type, cut somebody’s hair, play sports, fix computers,

use power tools, and so on. Just about anything you learn can help you fit in this society by participating in it. If, for one reason or another, you are physically or mentally challenged and cannot do what others do easily, do not feel inferior.

Do not, and again I repeat, do not dwell on anything negative. Be positive at all times. Even in what may seem like a negative situation, look for the silver lining. Something good can always come out of something bad. Even if you make a bad mistake, use it as a learning experience, so it won’t happen to you again. You may even be able to teach others not to make that same mistake.

Care for people, love them, and help them whenever possible, but do not make the mistake of carrying their problems. Do not worry for them or about them. You have your own life to live.

If you are worrying about someone you know, or stressing over their problems, release that as fast as possible. If your help is needed, and you are able to do that, do the best you can, but sleep soundly, and do not let that person’s problem affect you or your family if you have one. Worrying will only bring you problems.

Do not worry about your own problems. Do not best you can under the circumstances, and have a free mind. Do not let the problems, worries or stress rob you of your joy, happiness and contentment. No problem has ever been solved by worrying or stressing out. The opposite is true – some times by doing that, they get worse. Do not let it happen to you!

Being happy, sad, angry, melancholy or having any other feeling is a state of mind and can be controlled.   Never go to bed angry, worried or stressed out. Release sadness, anger, anxiety, stress, lack of forgiveness and anything else at night and you will be able to sleep like a baby.   When you wake up in the morning decide that you will have a happy day, and that nothing that happens out of the ordinary will trouble you.

THE POINTS: 1. You are special and unique. 2. The golden rule. 3. Be happy with who you are. 4. Develop your skills. 5. Work on your weak points. 6. Learn to do several things. 7. Always be positive. 8 Look for the silver lining. 9. Do carry other people’s problems. 10. Do not worry or stress out. 11. Release your cares before going to sleep. 12. Do not let anyone or anything ruin your day. 13. When you wake up decide you will have a good and happy day.

In closing I would like to tell you this: “Don’t let anyone or anything rock your boat. You are the captain of your life, and you can control it.” If you are not a born-again Christian, receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He will help you cope with this life.

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (6/6/2019

THE PASTOR HAD A DREAM

A pastor of a small church, who had not felt the presence of God in a few months, had a dream in which Jesus told him that he would see Him the very next day. The next morning the pastor thought about staying home, so he could record the meeting with Jesus on his excellent camcorder. Just then the church secretary called him and told him that an elderly lady was in the office needing counseling.

As much as the pastor did not want to leave his house, he knew he had to fulfill his pastor’s duties, so he got in his car and started to drive toward the church. On his way he saw an older car on the side of the road with a flat tire. It was raining quite hard, and a young lady with four children in the car was getting soaking wet trying to change the tire that was giving her quite a bit of trouble. He knew the elderly lady was waiting for him at church, but he could not allow that poor family to fend for themselves.

He stopped, asked the young lady to get in her car with the children while he changed the tire. When he finished, he was soaking wet, full of mud, and did not look like a pastor at all. The woman and the children thanked him and he was on his way. There was nothing much he could do about his clothes being dirty, but he did stop at a service station, and cleaned himself as much as he could.

When he arrived at the church parking lot there was an old homeless man soaking wet, dirty, and begging for food. The pastor gave him twenty dollars, and told him to go across the street to a restaurant and buy himself some food. The man thanked him, and told him that God would reward him for being so kind. The pastor thought nothing of it, shrugged his shoulders, and walked into the church.

When he entered the church he asked the secretary to prepare a cup of coffee for him and one for the senior lady who was waiting for him. As he started to talk to the lady, she told him that, for one reason or another, she had not received her social security check that month, and had not been able to pay the rent. She said that the landlord wanted the rent money within a week, or that she would have to move out of the apartment.

Also because she had not received her check, she had not been able to buy her medication. Since she had not taken it for the last two weeks, her body was reacting constantly to the lack of it. She was suffering the consequences, and had no place to turn other than the church. The pastor listened intensely while thinking what could be done to alleviate her situation.

The pastor feeling a deep compassion for the elderly lady, took out his wallet, and gave her sixty dollars out of his own money. He told her to come back in a day or two, and that the church would help her pay the rent. Crying almost uncontrollably, the lady told him that she had no way of repaying his kindness, but that God would.

When the pastor got back home he felt that his dream had just been a dream, and that there was nothing to it. He had not seen Jesus nor had he really felt the presence of God all day long. As he was falling asleep that night he told God, “God, don’t let me have any deceiving dreams tonight. I don’t want to be disappointed.” That night he had another dream. In it he saw Jesus. In his dream he asked Him, “You told me I was going to see You yesterday, and I just saw hurting people.” Jesus replied: “You saw me three times. I was the young lady with the flat tire, the homeless man in the parking lot, and the elderly lady at the church.”

The pastor woke up crying knowing that he had seen Jesus, but had been totally unaware of it. That happens to most of us, and yet we are still asking, “Where is God?” He is everywhere. All we have to do is look for Him in our everyday life.

http://thelivinglights.com  rlsalvation@gmail.com (5/23/2019)

LEDESMA, RAUL

2718 Decoy Drive, Sparks, NV 89436

Phone:  (775)762-6008 or (775) 626-4287

rlsalvation@sbcglobal.net or  rlsalvation@gmail.com

SYNOPSIS OF 5 MOVIE SCRIPTS

The Little Black Angel

The story starts in 1900 in a hospital in the deep segregated South, where Melinda, a white prejudiced woman who had seen the black people living and working as slaves all her life, gives birth to a black baby girl. She is completely surprised and mad at the same time because she cannot understand why this happened to her.  Immediately because of her hatred for black people, she rejects the child and makes life miserable for her husband, the child and everybody around her. The child turns out to be very sweet and talented, but suffers tremendously because of her mother’s complete indifference and rejection toward her. The only reason the marriage survives is because the husband is extremely benevolent and suffers in silence, not only because his wife rejects the child, but because she also rejects him blaming him for the child’s skin color.  Not being able to keep the secret any longer, Melinda’s mother on her death bed tells Melinda that years ago she had an affair with a black man and that Melinda is the product of that love affair. It takes Melinda completely by surprise knowing that her daughter is black because of her genes and not because of her husband’s.  She cries uncontrollably knowing that instead of being the innocent victim, as she presumed to be for so many years, she had been the guilty one.  As difficult as it is for her because of her character, she makes an attempt to sincerely repent.  She apologizes to her husband and daughter for being so mean to them all those years.  The husband and the daughter, who is now almost an adult, forgive her because all they have been seeking all along is for her to receive their love and to acknowledge them as her family.

Love Prevails

The story starts in Hollister, California in 1945 when Mary, a Christian woman, who has been trying to get pregnant for many years, has a dream and in that dream Jesus appears to her and tells her that she is going to have twin boys.  She does not know if it’s only a wishful-thinking dream or if it’s a real one from God. Within the next few months she has more dreams and God tells her to name the children Elijah and Elisha after the two prophets. The children are born and the couple is extremely happy. Then in 1947 many bikers come to town disrupting the peace and quiet of a sleepy town and putting the family in danger.  The movie, “The Wild One,” starring Marlon Brando was based on that. The story stays in Northern California going up to the 1970’s.  It focuses on the Christian upbringing the family gives their twin boys in which they teach them to live entirely by faith.  The first test to challenge their faith comes when the family doctor tells Jack, the father, that he has terminal cancer and that he has only a few months to live. The news is totally unexpected and Jack receives it almost in total disbelief.  He asks himself and God the usual question:  “Why is this happening to me just when everything was going so well?”  Doubts begin to crowd every other thought out of his mind.  Because of unconfessed sin, the demon of cancer has entered his body.

The twins, who are now attending the university, come home for the summer.  As they find out that the father has cancer, they begin to fast and pray with their parents.  One day, Elijah – one of the twins prays over his father.  He rebukes the spirit of cancer, who talks back to him, but has no choice but to come out in the name of Jesus.  Jack, the father, is completely healed leaving the doctor confused as to how he was healed from terminal cancer.

As the boys are returning back to the university ORU the plane crashes, but just before it does the boys pray for God to protect them.  Many passengers die, but as a miracle from God the boys are completely unharmed.   The story ends as both of the boys return home and establish their professional lives.  Good prevails over evil and love prevails over everything else.

From Spain To Israel

The story starts in 1492 when, because of racial hatred for the Jews because of their refusal to convert to Catholicism,  they are expelled from Spain. They are given three choices; convert to Catholicism, leave the country or be incarcerated. Some of them for not complying are killed or injured by the knights. Then the story continues in the 1920’s when a Jewish family, looking for a place to practice their religion and for better financial opportunities, leaves Spain and moves to Mexico.  In Ensenada, Baja California they succeed for a while as sheep ranchers, but then they encounter violence because the Mexicans have not forgotten that the Spaniards plundered their land.  On top of that, at that time, there are still many wealthy Spaniards raising sheep and paying the Mexican peasants very low wages for taking care of the sheep. The Mexican peasants resent that, but they have no choice since they are extremely poor.  Their child Aviel is taunted and beaten up by Mexican children because they consider him to be a Spaniard who does not belong to the Catholic religion.  The hatred against them grows to the point where the locals burn their house down and want to kill them.  As they see the locals approaching their house at night with torches, they flee for their lives. The family goes to Tijuana where the father is killed by a drunk. Eventually the wife, Chava, remarries.  A Mexican-American pastor, whom she met when they prayed for a dead Mexican child who had been run over by a car and as a result of their faith and prayer God revived him, asked her to marry him. She does and they move to the United States.  Aviel grows up in the United States and having seen hatred against his people most of his life and having seen God perform miracles, becomes a pastor in the US, gets married to a Jewish girl and by God’s will they relocate to Israel in 1948 where they see the birth of a new nation.  Together they start the first Christian church in the new nation of Israel.

The story is very realistic because it does follow history.  It has love, hatred, friendships, family relationships and miracles because of their faith in God.

The Unwanted Ones

In 13^th century England, a wealthy childless and unbelieving couple who has never heard from God hears from Him through dreams. At first they don’t know what to make of it, but as the dreams keep reoccurring they not only begin to believe and have faith in God, but they take action.   They are told to leave everything behind, to build a cabin in Sherwood Forest, to rescue twelve urchins from the streets of Nottingham and raise them in the woods as if they were their own, teaching them how to become productive Christian citizens by learning to be responsible, by loving themselves, loving others and loving God.  Each individual child as well as each adult goes through the growing process of learning how to live in a primitive environment,  how to work as a team,  who they really are, how to establish a relationship with God, how to grow in faith and how to depend on God for everything. In the process they encounter many challenges that brings out the best or the worst in each one of them. Some of the dangers they overcome are poisonous snakes, dangerous bears and bobcats. Other obstacles are:  Robin Hood and his men, who threaten them, but then become their friends,  hard work and a strong discipline.  Because some of the children are in danger and have not yet fully believed in God, Jesus appears to them to protect them and to let them know that He is real. This not only affirms the faith of the children, but it also reaffirms the faith of the adults, who are also going through the process of learning to live God’s way.

This story has everything:  Doubt, faith, lack of discipline, discipline, love, fear, grit, compassion, danger and much more.

God Has No Boundaries

God’s love, protection, forgiveness and authority have no boundaries as it is demonstrated in this story, which deals with a current situation that many families are facing today.  It starts in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico where an American pastor and his wife have made intimate connections with the local Mexican people. Because of the dire situation in Mexico, the pastor and his wife illegally and successfully smuggled a young Mexican family into the US.  If they had been caught they would be facing jail or prison time.  They would be considered “coyotes,” people who smuggle illegal aliens into our country. The young couple comes with two small children.  By borrowing birth certificates from parents of American children who had died, the parents are able to enroll the children in school with fake names. The children adjust quite well, but the parents are forced to live in the shadows, as if they were criminals.  Pastor Bill takes Memo, the Mexican man, to Utah where they are giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. On their way to Utah they find a man who has died in an automobile accident and has gone to hell.  They pray for him, his soul comes back to his body and his injuries are completely healed.  Once Memo has his license, he is able to use a pickup to do yard maintenance work. However, Memo and the family still live in constant fear of being deported. Tito, Memo’s oldest son, asks an American girl to a high school dance.  She goes with him because she likes him, but her grandfather is opposed to the whole thing because he is totally prejudiced against Mexican people, but since her grandmother likes the boy everything turns out OK.  After quite a few years of living in this country, Memo and his wife are caught by immigration officers and are sent to an immigration detention camp near San Diego.  Their two sons, who are now teenagers, with help from the pastor, his congregation and from God manage to get their parents released.

Many Hispanic families are facing similar problems right now.  Families are separated, children are left without their parents, wives are left without husbands and husbands are left without wives.  As long as Mexico, the Central American and the South American countries remain third-world countries the problem will remain.  There are no protagonists or antagonists, but there are many victims on both sides of the border.