LOVELIGHT

Magazine

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October 2007***Vol. 4, no. 10

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Managing Editors:  Richard Shining Thunder Francis and Adamaria Francis

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Contributors to this issue: Co-op America, Jim Dwyer, Mark Franzen, Greentips, Pat Helms, Becky Rogero, Ty Scharrer, Frank Tyrrell.

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LOVELIGHT MAGAZINE:  WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT

 

     Lovelight magazine is free, coming directly to your inboxscreen once a month.  We love to laugh.:)  So, if you discover any jokes that make you roar, please send them along to the efamily.:)  But no bigoted, prejudiced, scatological, geruntological, low-quality, or poor-taste humor, please. 

     But life is not all laughs.  So, we hope also to share with you some pleasant and happy thoughts.  Lovelight wants to promote peace and harmony, and to aid you.  If you are working on any religious, psychological, or spiritual issues, we encourage you to write to us at rmfrancis@juno.comm 

     Also, if you come across any wise or touching pieces, not copyrighted, fairly short, please share them with the efamily.  Also welcome are practical tips, short pieces on personal philosophies, interesting facts, wordplays, and general spirituality (but no religion or "preachy" dogma, please.:).  We reserve the right to make whatever changes we deem necessary or desirable before inclusion in Lovelight.

      As a subscriber, your email name/address will not be shared.  Please share, send, or copy, this magazine, or any parts of it.  Share it as widely as possible, with all your friends, and all others.  Please use it on  your websites and bulletinboards.  Also, please have friends send us their emailaddress and subscribe.  Subscriptions are free.

     This is a "light" introduction to spirituality.  And it is also great, fun reading.  A collection of magazines is produced once a year.  We have published three volumes, and this would make a sweet gift for a loved one.  Happy reading!:)

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TEQUILA AND SALT, sent in by Pat Helms

 

This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where you

could read it every day.  You might not realize it, but it's one hundred percent true:

 

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.***2. At least fifteen people in this world love you in some way.***3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because she wants to be just like you.***4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if she doesn't like you.***5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you  before she goes to sleep.***6. You mean the world to someone.***7. You are special and unique.***8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.***9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.***10. When you think that the world has turned its back on you, take another look.***11. Always remember the compliments you received.  Forget about the rude remarks.

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And always remember:  When life hands you Lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!  Good friends are like stars:  You don't always see them, But you know that they are always there.

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I would rather have one rose and a kind word  from a friend while I'm

here than a whole truck load when  I'm gone.

 

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God (Love) keeps You Going!

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PUMPING GAS WITH MINDFULNESS, sent in by Becky Rogero

 

I've been in the petroleum pipeline business for about

Thirty-one years, currently working for the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline in San Jose, CA.

     We deliver about four million gallons in a twenty-four-hour period from the pipeline; one day it's diesel, the next day it's jet fuel and gasoline.  We have thirty-four storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

 

Here are some tricks to help you get your money's worth at the pump: 1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is still cool.  Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline.  When it gets warmer, gasoline expands; so if you're filling up in the

afternoon or in the evening, what should be a gallon is not exactly a gallon.  In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are significant.  Every truckload that we load is temperature-compensated so that the indicated gallonage is actually the amount pumped.  A one-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations don't have temperature compensation at their pumps.  

 

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want gas, do not fill up; most likely, dirt and sludge in the tank is being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be

transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car.

    

3. Fill up when your tank is half-full, because the more gas you have in your tank, the less air there is and gasoline.  It evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm.

   

 4. If you look at the trigger you'll see that it has three delivery settings: slow, medium and high.  When you're filling up, do not squeeze the trigger to high.  You should be pumping at the slow setting, thereby minimizing vapors created while pumping.  If you are pumping at high, the agitated gasoline contains more vapor, which is being sucked back into the underground tank, so you're getting less gas for your money.  Hope this helps!

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GIGGLES AND SNORTS: HUMORTHERAPY

 

Water please, sent in by Jim Dwyer

 A fleeing al Qaeda guerrilla, desperate for water, was plodding through the Iraqi desert when he saw something far off in the distance.  Hoping to find water, he walked toward the object, only to find a little old Jewish man at a small stand selling neckties.

The Arab asked, "Do you have water?" 

The Jewish man replied, "I have no water.  Would you like to buy a tie?  They are only $5."

The Arab shouted, "Idiot Jew!  Israel should not exist!  I do not need an over-priced tie. 

I need water!  I should kill you, but I must find water first."

"OK," said the old Jew, "It does not matter that you do not want to buy a tie and that you hate me.  I will show you that I am bigger than that.  If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will find a lovely restaurant.  It has all the water you need.  Shalom."

 Muttering, the Arab staggered away over the hill.

 Several hours later he staggered back, near collapse, and said, "Your brother won't let me in without a tie."

 

SPOONS AND MANHOOD, sent in by Ty Scharrer

 

I took some friends out to dinner, and noticed a spoon in the shirt pocket of our waiter.  It seemed odd, but I dismissed it.  Until our busboy came.  He too, sported a spoon in his breast pocket. I  looked around, and all the servers Had spoons in their pockets.  I just had to ask, "Why the spoons?"

     "Well," he explained, "our parent company recently hired some consulting efficiency experts, and they concluded that our patrons drop spoons on the floor 73% more often than any other utensil.  By preparing, in advance, we can cut our trips to the kitchen down and save time." 

 

Just then, a "ch-ching came from a table, and he replaced the fallen spoon with the one from his pocket.  That's when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a thin, black thread protruding from our waiter's fly.  Sure enough, when I checked, there were other waiters and busboys with strings hanging out of their trousers.  I had to ask, "Why that string?"

     "That same efficiency group found we could save time in the men's room, too.  By tying a string to the end of our manhood, we can pull it out hands-free and thereby eliminate the need to wash our hands."

     But then I asked, "If the string helps you pull it out, how do you get it back in?"

     "I use my spoon."

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 Works hard for the punchline; hope it was worth it!

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TEXAS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, DISHONESTY BUILT IN, sent in by Ty Scharrer

 

Three contractors-- a Floridian, a Kentuckian, and a Texan-- were bidding to fix a  broken fence at the White House.  They went together with an  official to examine the fence.  The Floridian took out a tape measure and did some measuring, then worked some figures with a  pencil.  "Well," he said, "I figure the job will run about $900-- $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."

     The Kentuckian also did some measuring and figuring, then said, "I can do this job for $700-- $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."

     The Texan didn't measure or figure, but leaned over to the official and whispered, "$2,700."

     The official, incredulous, said, "You didn't even measure like the other guys!  How did you come up with such a high figure!?!?"

     The Texan whispers, "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the Kentuckian to fix the fence."

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 Taking unfair advantage of the poor will gobble you up in the end, when your karma inevitably finds you!

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HELP SAVE OUR FORESTS, from Greentips:

 

Forests provide habitat for more than half of all species living on land, help filter pollutants out of the air and water, and prevent soil erosion.  They also play a major role in regulating global temperatures by absorbing heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in their cell walls.  Unfortunately, the global benefits provided by trees are threatened by deforestation.

Earth loses more than 18 million acres of forestland every year-- an area larger than Ireland-- according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  When trees are cleared, their stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere.  As a result, tropical deforestation is responsible for about 20 percent of total annual global warming emissions, making it second only to fossil fuels in terms of climate impact.

The best way to reduce emissions from tropical deforestation is to help ensure that these trees are not cut down in the first place.  Your purchasing decisions can play a role in this effort:

Paper: While most U.S. papers are not made from tropical woods, reducing overall demand for virgin paper can have a global impact.  You can support forest-friendly paper by buying paper made from sustainably harvested timber, a high percentage of post-consumer, not recycled content, or wood-free fibers such as kenaf.

Planting trees, while not a substitute for deforestation, can provide important climate benefits, especially in urban areas.  In addition to absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, trees cool the air by providing shade and transpiring water from their leaves, which help reduce air conditioner use (and subsequent emissions from electricity production) during the summer months.

Related Links:

Union of Concerned Scientists-- Forests and Climate Change

Yale University-- Forest Certification Programs

Urban Tree Planting and Greenhouse Gas Reductions (pdf)

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WAR AND TEARS, DEEP SADNESS OF GREED, sent in by Jim Dwyer

 

I just wanted to get the day over with, and go down to Smokey's for a few cold ones.

Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655.  Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.

     My full dress was hot in the August sun.  The Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever -- the heat and humidity at the same level -- both too high.

     I saw the car pull into the driveway; it was a  '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville.  It looked factory-new.  It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.  An old woman got out, so slowly that I thought she was paralyzed.  She had a cane and a sheaf of flowers,

about four or five bunches.  I couldn't help myself.

     The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste:  'She's going to spend an hour, and this old soldier's hip hurts like hell  and I'm ready to get out of here right now!'

     But, for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.  Kevin would lock the 'In' gate; and if I could hurry the old biddy along , we might make the last half of happy hour at Smokey's.

     I broke Post Attention.  My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step

and the pain went up a notch.  I must have made a real military sight; a middle-aged man with a small pot-gut and half a limp, in Marine Full Dress Uniform,

which had lost its razor crease about 30 minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

     I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk.  She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

     "Ma'am may I assist you in any way?"

     She took long enough to answer:  "Yes, Son.  Can you carry these flowers?  I seem to be moving a tad slow these days."

     "My pleasure, Ma'am."

Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.  She looked at me again.  She said, "Marine, where were you stationed?"

     "Vietnam, Ma'am.  Ground-pounder. '69 to '71."

     She looked at me closer:  "Wounded in action, I see.  Well done, Marine.  I'll be as quick as I can."

     I lied a little bigger:  "No hurry, Ma'am."

She smiled, and winked at me:  "Son, I'm 85-years old  and I can tell a lie from a long way off.  Let's get this done.  Might be the last time I can do this.  My name's Joanne Wieserman,  and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time."

     "At your service."

     She headed for the World War I section,  stopping at a stone.  She picked one of the bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone, murmuring something I couldn't quite make out.

     The name on the marble was  Donald S. Davidson, USMC, France 1918.

     She made a straight line for the World War II section,  stopping at one stone, a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek.  She put a bunch on a stone;  the name was

Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.

     She went up the row a ways  and laid another bunch on a stone,  Stanley J. Wieserman USMC, 1944.  She paused for a second.  "Two more, son, and we'll be done."

I didn't say anything, but, "Take your time."

She looked confused:  "Where's the Vietnam section, son?  I seem to have lost my way."

I pointed.  "That way, Ma'am."

She chuckled quietly:  "Son, me and old age ain't too friendly."  She headed down the walk.  She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted.

She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman USMC, 1968,  and the last on Darrel Wieserman USMC, 1970.  She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.  "Okay, son , I'm finished."      

"If I may ask," I said, "were those your kinfolk?"

     "Yes, Donald Davidson was my father; Stephen was my uncle; Stanley was my husband; Larry and Darrel were our sons-- all killed in action,  all Marines."

She stopped, whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know.  She made her way to her car, slowly, and painfully.

     I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.  "Get to the 'Out'-gate quick.  I have something I've got to do."  Kevin saw the look I gave him.  He broke the rules to get us there down the service road.

We beat her.  She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

     "Kevin, stand to attention next to the gate post.  Follow my lead."

I humped it across the drive to the other post.  When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges  and began the short straight traverse to the gate,

I called in my best gunny's voice:  "Ten Hut! Present arms!"  I have to hand it to Kevin;

he never blinked an eye.  Full dress attention  and a salute that would make his DI proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing Duty, Honor and Sacrifice.

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We can, we must, disrespect an obscene and murderous war.  But let us not forget to honor the young-- very young-- boys and girls who gave, and are giving, the ultimate human sacrifice.  Let us honor them, and their memory.  Let us pray for the well-being and healing of all people.
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NOTES ON "A COURSE IN MIRACLES"

 

I read A Course In Miracles several times, and have given it many years of concentrated thought and quality-time.  So, ideas about the book are not superficial or knee-jerk responses.

 

The book is fine.  It has much common sense.  It reminds irresistibly of a Twelve Step meeting.  It seems to have been written by a person taking many and careful notes.  In some psychological "pop" jargon, it gives good advice that is workable.

 

The book, not surprisingly, was written by a couple of psychologists.  That in itself is neither a plus nor a minus!  But most psychologists do have a fairly good grasp on the normal, healthy functions of the human mind; so, they can help others.  Nevertheless, it is important to keep psychology in its place, spiritually.  If it becomes a "religion," it can no longer be viewed reasonably as "psychology."

 

Still, as the absurdities of the Freudian era so convincingly demonstrate, psychology is never perfect.  So, I do have several questions about the book:

 

First, it is clearly over-named.  The book says nothing about "miracles" as that term is generally understood in religious history or spiritual psychology.  And it gives no clue, of course, as to how to "do" miracles!  It was given this captivating name to grab attention, and it did.  But it definitely needs a title that promises less, for it does not deliver anything promised by this attention-grabbing title.  It does not "teach miracles."

 

Second, the good book has become the recent center of a cult.  There are several "true believers" who see the book as the "new Bible."  If acim says it, it must be true; if acim does not say it, it probably does not matter!  This cuts true believers off from all future growth.  For no one can live her life most effectively by "living by the book," following only one book-- even one as fine and eloquent as the Bible.  For if a person believes that she has finished with growth, she will prevent further growth.  And a person does this if she substitutes understanding a book for real, personal spiritual growth.  The two are not nearly the same.

 

We always need to be open to other resources, other sources of truth.

 

True believers in acim as a "Bible" think themselves "enlightened" over all others.  I went through this spiritual disease, called "superiorism," while in the cult.  It is a very dangerous mindset, for it tells you that you are getting better as you become sicker.

 

Is the book good reading?  Yes!  But was it written by Jesus Christ, channeled?  No, it was, like all other books, written by human beings.  The book can be wise, but it is not infallible.  It has good, but not great, ideas.  It is well-written, but probably does not contain a single original thought.  Every idea in the book can be found in other books.

 

Read it, enjoy it, take notes and learn from it.  But please try to exercise common sense and avoid the cultism that has accreted around certain groups.

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"Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men."-- Ayn Rand, sent in by Frank Tyrrell

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TWENTY-ONE THINGS THAT YOU CAN RECYCLE, from coop america.com

 

1.  Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances, www.goodwill.org, or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them. 800/YES-1-CAN, www.recycle-steel.org.***2.  Batteries: Rechargeables and single-use: Battery Solutions, 734/467-9110, www.batteryrecycling.com.***3.  Cardboard boxes: Contact local nonprofits and women's shelters to see if they can use them.  Or, offer them up at your local Freecycle.org listserv or on Craigslist.org.  If your workplace collects at least 100 boxes or more each month, UsedCardboardBoxes.com accepts them for resale.***

4. CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: Send scratched music or computer CDs, DVDs, and PlayStation or Nintendo video game disks to AuralTech for refinishing, and they'll work like new: 888/454-3223, www.auraltech.com.***5.  Clothes: shirtsWearable clothes can go to your local Goodwill outlet or shelter.  Donate wearable women's business clothing to Dress for Success, which gives them to low-income women as they search for jobs, 212/532-1922, www.dressforsuccess.org.  Offer unwearable clothes and towels to local animal boarding and shelter facilities, which often use them as pet bedding.  Consider holding a clothes swap at your office, school, faith congregation or community center. Swap clothes with friends and colleagues, save money on a new fall wardrobe and back-to-school clothes  – then donate the rest.***6.  Compact fluorescent bulbs:   Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling:  www.ikea.com.***7.   Compostable bio-plastics: You probably won't be able to compost these in your home compost bin or pile.  Find a municipal composter to take them to at www.findacomposter.com.***8.  Computers and electronics:  Find the most responsible recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.***9.  Exercise videos: Swap them with others at: www.videofitness.com.***  10.  Eyeglasses reground and given to people in need.  Your local Lion's Club or eye care chain might collect these.***11.  Foam Packing peanuts: Your local pack-and-ship store will likely accept these for reuse.  Or, call the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site: 800/828-2214.  For places to drop off foam blocks for recycling, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 410/451-8340, .*** 12. Ink/toner cartridges: Recycleplace.com pays $1/each.***

13. Miscellaneous: Get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them. Offer them up on your local Freecycle.org or Craigslist.org listserv, or try giving them away at Throwplace.com or giving or selling them at iReuse.com.  iReuse.com will also help you find a recycler, if possible, when your items have reached the end of their useful lifecycle.***14. Oil: Find Used Motor Oil Hotlines for each state: 202/682-8000, www.recycleoil.org.***15.  Phones: cell phoneDonate cell phones: Collective Good will refurbish your phone and sell it to someone in a developing country: 770/856-9021, www.collectivegood.com.  Call to Protect reprograms cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims: www.donateaphone.com.  Recycle single-line phones: Reclamere, 814/386-2927, www.reclamere.com.***16.  Sports equipment: Resell or trade it at your local Play It Again Sports outlet, 800/476-9249, www.playitagainsports.com.***17.   “Technotrash”: Easily recycle all of your CDs, jewel cases, DVDs, audio and video tapes, cell phones, pagers, rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs, and ink/toner cartridges with GreenDisk's Technotrash program.  For $30, GreenDisk will send you a cardboard box in which you can ship them up to 70 pounds of any of the above.  Your fee covers the box as well as shipping and recycling fees. 800/305-GREENDISK, .***18.  Tennis shoes: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring.  www.nikereuseashoe.com.  One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. www.oneworldrunning.com.***19.  Toothbrushes and razors:toothbrush  Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor from Recycline, and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber.  Recycline products are made from used Stonyfield Farms' yogurt cups.  888/354-7296, www.recycline.com.***20. Tyvek envelopes: Quantities less than 25: Send to Shirley Cimburke, Tyvek Recycling Specialist, 5401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Spot 197, Room 231, Richmond, VA 23234.  Quantities larger than 25, call 866/33-TYVEK.***21.  Stuff you just can't recycle:  When practical, send such items back to the manufacturer and tell them they need to manufacture products that close the waste loop responsibly.

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RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY, by Frank Tyrrell

 

     The PURPOSE of this Topic is simply to take a closer look at the world of endless religion & philosophy.

A close look at the world of "endless religion & philosophy" reveals several billion people doing their best to approach the divine Reality via the techniques of their various cultures.  And they are quite sincere in their search.

Against this backdrop of a quite universal urge to find and worship their creator, we have various micro-minority religious cults screaming that everyone else is wrong and only they have it right. Among this group we find Scientology, The Mormons, The Way International, The Amish, the former Jim Jones cult, and many others including Jehovah's Witnesses-- who infamously claim that the universal God of Love and mercy is soon to swoop down from the heavens and murder off 99.99998% of his erring, but ignorant, children on this planet because we do not cleave to their falsity.  This is error-- and, as such, is evil.

Worship God in Spirit?  Isn't it possible that we are created in his "image" in that we are each indwelt by an actual spark of the infinite deity?  Jesus said that this is the case.  And to worship God "in Spirit," we should strive to do so from that Spirit-- as opposed to attempting to do so from the human mind.

Worship God with truth?  Isn't it possible that "truth" does not consist of the correct arrangement of words, but that truth does consist of unconditional love, peace, joy, goodness and all those other beautiful characteristics of a spirit-dominated life?

     For those of us who have left the religious cults, didn't we do so just because we did not find these "fruitages of the Spirit" that we were promised there?  [Compare Gal. 5:22, 23]  The organizations which we left were in service to themselves, not to us.  We knew there had to be more.  And we were willing to sacrifice all to find it.

Gathering together in groups every time one turns around, singing songs, listening to leaders delivering the same old information in the same old way, peddling worthless literature from door-to-door and reporting the time; sacrificing love, marriage, children, an education; giving up our own lives and that of our children to absurd and false ideas contained in cult-demanded medical practices; shunning the very ones who should be loved unconditionally; and forced allegiance to a system of teachings requiring the belief in things which are spiritually repugnant, unholy, and untruthful-- these things cannot constitute truth, much less divine truth.

I do not believe that for entry into the Kingdom, God requires that our own sense of mercy, justice, and truth should be outraged by submission to an outworn system of religious forms, meaningless beliefs supported by specious logic, and empty ceremonies.

     And sincerely searching for the right direction-- asking - searching, seeking-- to know God's will, and then, attempting to do it, is a superior form of worship.

     And the greatest act of worship?  Since God is Love, then the expression of this Love to all others who chance to be in our sphere becomes the very highest form of worship.

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11 Items You Don't Have to Buy Organic, sent in by Mark Franzen

The best way to reap the health benefits of fruits and vegetables without exposing yourself to potentially harmful pesticides is to choose organic produce whenever possible, especially those varieties which are more likely to be contaminated. But if organic produce is cutting into your budget, it's okay to buy non-organic varieties of the fruits and vegetables listed below, which tend to contain the least amount of pesticides. However, make it a habit to wash them thoroughly before eating or cooking, to remove dirt and bacteria.  

  1. Asparagus
  2. Avocados
  3. Bananas
  4. Broccoli
  5. Cabbage
  6. Corn (sweet, frozen)
  7. Kiwi
  8. Mangos
  9. Onions
  10. Pineapples
  11. Peas (sweet, frozen)

 

JEWELS FROM THE WISDOMVAULT

 

"Live simply, love extravagantly." --  Author unknown

 

"With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy." -- Max Ehrmann  "Desiderata"

 

"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them." -- Richard L. Evans (1906-1971)

 

"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart."  -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Holidays"

 

"An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness.  No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it." -- Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949)

 

"We must be purposely kind and generous or we miss the best part of life's existence." -- Horace Mann (1769-1859)

 

"A five-word sentence that could change the world tomorrow is 'What would love do now'" -- Neale Donald Walsh

 

"He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough." -- Lao Tzu (c. 6th century B.C.)

"I always went into an area that was in last place, with a philosophy, 'You can't fall off the floor.'"  -- Michael D. Eisner

 

"Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out.  You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day.  You cannot touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything.  Without love you would not be happy or want to play."  -- Anne Sullivan (1866-1936)

 

"It now costs more to amuse a child than it once did to educate his father." -- Jean Westcott

 

"A cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives.  His heart is set on pleasing and cheering him to whom the gift is given."  -- Julian of Norwich (1342-1443)

 

"As long as you live, keep learning how to live."  -- Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 B.C. - A.D. 65)

 

"There is a secret person undamaged in every individual."  -- Paul Shepard (1925-1996)

 

"There is never a wrong time to do the right thing."  -- Author unknown

 

"Conversation means being able to disagree and still continue the conversation."  - Dwight MacDonald (1906-1982)

 

"You understand human nature when you are never surprised by anything it does."  -- Vernon Howard (1918-1992)

 

"If your life is worth living, its worth recording."  -- Marilyn Grey

 

"If we are not to go to pieces or wither away, we all must have some purpose in life; for no man can live for himself alone."  Ross Parmenter (1912-1999)

 

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."  -- Ernest Benn (1875-1954)

 

"When your inner eyes open, you can find immense beauty hidden within the inconsequential details of daily life.  When your inner ears open, you can hear the subtle, lovely music of the universe everywhere you go."  -- Timothy Ray Miller

 

"The oldest wisdom in the world tells us we can consciously unite with the divine while in this body; for this man is really born. If he misses his destiny, Nature is not in a hurry; she will catch him up some day, and compel him to fulfill her secret purpose."  -- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975)

 

"True affluence is not needing anything."  -- Gary Snyder

 

"Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much."  -- Robert K. Greenleaf (1904-1990)

 

"A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding."  -- Marshall Mcluhan (1911-1980)

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Apples, ONE A DAY:  APPLE-NUTRITION   

 

Apples are a delicious, natural source of fiber and perhaps, the world's oldest fruit.  It is believed that this natural wonder was originally grown in Neolithic times.  It was the Egyptians and Romans who introduced the apple to Britain.  Shortly thereafter, early Americans brought apple seeds home from Europe and began planting trees.

The apple is a member of the rose family.  There are 2,500 different varieties of apples grown in the United States, and more than 7,000 varieties grown through out the world.  Ninety percent of the apples grown in the U.S., come from only 16 varieties of apples.

A single apple has more fiber than a serving of oatmeal or cold fiber-based cereal.  One medium size apple contains 5-grams of fiber, almost twice the amount of fiber in most high fiber cereals.  In fact, the apple contains 20% of the fiber your body needs a day.  Best of all, apples contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium.

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THE APPLES

 

GOLDEN DELICIOUS

are considered the perfect cooking apple because they retain both shape and taste when baked or cooked.  Have a rich mellow flavor and a tender skin.  Rated the best apple of choice for making cider and juicing.  Are also excellent eating apples.

 

APPLE BRANDY CUSTARD TART

1, 9-inch pie shell

3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, halved, cored

3/4 cup half-and-half

2 large eggs

1/4 cup sugar

1Teaspoon brandy

Nutmeg to taste

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Lightly prick bottom of pie shell with fork. Bake shell 8-10 minutes or until light brown.  Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.  Crisscross sliced apples, laying them into crust.  In medium bowl, combine half-and-half, eggs, sugar, brandy, and nutmeg.  Pour over apples and bake 40 minutes.

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GRANNY SMITH

 

A popular tart, crisp apple that works well in salads.  Excellent for fresh eating and cold salads.

 

APPLE PUREE

1 cup apple cider

sugar

2t cinnamon

1t cloves, ground

1/2t allspice

Grated rind and juice of 2 lemons

Cook apples in all liquids until soft.  Pass through a food mill, food processor or juicer.  Add 1/2 cup sugar for each cup puree.  Add remaining spices, rind and lemon juice.  Cook on low heat until thick and dark.  (Approximately 3-4 hours.)

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JONATHAN

 

Best cooked.  This tart, tangy treat has a rich, distinctive flavor.  Hold their shape and retain flavor when cooked.

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RED DELICIOUS

 

America's favorite snacking apple.  Best eaten fresh or in cold salads. This is also an excellent juicing apple.

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RED CANDIED APPLES

 

2 cups light corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cinnamon red hot candies

10 medium Red Delicious apples on skewers

Combine corn syrup and red hot candies in saucepan.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Cook covered 3 minutes or until crystals are dissolved.  Uncover and cook without stirring to a soft crack stage. (290-degrees) Dip apples in mixture to coat, then roll in nuts, if desired.

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ROME BEAUTY

 

If you like baked apples, you'll love the rich taste of the Rome Beauty. These are primarily cooking apples that need a touch of sugar or honey to enhance their natural flavor.

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WINESAP APPLES have a surprisingly fresh, spicy flavor.  They're great choices for cooking and eating fresh.  Applesauces and ciders made with the Winesap have an appealing, rich, aromatic taste!

 

MICROWAVE APPLESAUCE

 

8 Winesap apples, pared, cored and cut into chunks

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4t cinnamon

Dash nutmeg, ground

Combine apples and water in 2 quart microwave safe dish.  Cover and cook on high 12-14 minutes or until apples are tender.  Stir twice during cooking.  Blend in remaining ingredients, cover and return to microwave.  Cook on high 2-4 minutes or until sugar has dissolved.

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FUJI

 

Those who crave sweets will enjoy the delicate, mildly crisp flavor.  These are best eaten fresh, but can be used for apple crisp or simple baking.

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ELSTAR

 

Intense tangy flavor.  A favorite in fruit trays, salads and for snacking.  Holds up well during cooking, and is perfect for apple toppings.

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BRAEBURN

 

Blend of tart and sweet flavors.  Makes a delicious crisp and juicy snack.

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CRITERION

 

Dubbed the "candy apple," an extremely sweet, juicy, fresh snacking apple.  If using as a baking apple, add lemon juice to help enhance flavor.

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GALA

 

Rich in flavor and wonderfully aromatic.  Best used fresh or in salads. Small in size, they're perfect to tuck into a briefcase or lunchbox.

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JONAGOLD

 

Sweet and tart flavored.  Use this crisp, tender skinned fruit as a snack or in salads.

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NEWTOWN PIPPIN

 

A firm apple superb for cooking and baking.  Tart and hold their shape and rich flavor well when popped in the oven whole or sliced, diced and baked.

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HOW TO SELECT APPLES

 

When shopping for apples, press your finger against the skin to check for firmness.  Prime quality, ripe apples should feel hard and should not dent.  Larger apples are more likely to be overripe than smaller ones.

HOW TO STORE

Apples are ripe the minute they are picked, so they need to be kept cold to keep them fresh and firm.  At home, keep apples in a refrigerator, where they can be kept fresh for about 6 weeks.

When cutting apples for salads, you can prevent browning by rubbing the cut surfaces with lemon juice and water, dipping them into orange, lemon or pineapple juice.

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MYSTICAL WISDOM

 

     "A ray of sunlight shining upon a smudgy window is unable to illuminate that window completely, and transform it into its own light.  It could do this if the window were cleaned and polished.  The less the film and stain are wiped away, the less the window will be illuminated.  And the cleaner the window is, the brighter will be its illumination.  The extent of the illumination is… dependent… upon the window.  If the window is totally clean and pure, the sunlight will so transform and illuminate it that, to all appearances, the window will be identical with the ray of sunlight….The window the ray or light of the sun by participation.  The Soul upon which the divine Light of God's Being is ever shining-- or, better, in which It is always dwelling by nature-- is like this window.

     "A man makes room for God by wiping away all the smudges and smears of creatures, by uniting his will perfectly to God's.  For to love is to labor, to divest and deprive oneself for God of all that is not God."-- St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

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"This 'real world' and 'real self' are very far from being rock-bottom realities.  I cannot… leave the stage, either to go behind the scenes or to take my seat in the [orchestra] pit; but I can remember that these regions exist."-- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

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"God… is in all things…. God does all things, be they ever so little…. Nothing is done by chance or adventure, but all things by the foreseen wisdom of God…. We say that these are chances,… but to our Lord God, they are not so…. Our Lord God does all…. For He is in the mid-point of all things [creatures], and does all things."-- Julian of Norwich (1342-1420)

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"He [the mystic] renounces himself.  He gives himself up to God.  He loses himself in Him.  Happy loss!  For then, he finds himself without seeking.  He has no more interest in his own affairs, and everything prospers with him, for everything turns to good for those who know God."-- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)

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 If you have any comments on Lovelight magazine, we would love to hear from you.  Please send all comments, suggestions, and articles to:  rmfrancis@juno.com