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The “Lord’s Prayer” is one of the most well-known portions of the Bible. It occurs in both the “The Sermon On The Mount” in Matthew 6:9-13 and “the Sermon on the Plain” in Luke 11:1-4. Many people who recite this prayer don’t realize that economic matters are central to the prayer.

Even though every Christian church uses the Lord’s Prayer, following Matthew’s version rather than Luke’s, there are variations in the exact wording.

Most Protestant churches end the prayer with the words, “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.” Roman Catholics omit this phrase. Some churches use the archaic English “thy” and “thine.”

The most significant difference between various churches is that some churches use the language of “debts,” some use “trespasses,” and some use “sins.”

When Jesus taught his followers to pray for daily bread and forgiveness of debts, it was more than a prayer for spiritual sustenance and forgiveness of sins. He was first of all referring to real bread and real debts.

The most basic meaning of the Greek word for “debts” is financial. This meaning is consistent with the approach of Jesus to the social and ethical injustices of his society against the poor and dispossessed. In the prayer, he makes explicit the need for real bread and for payment of debt.

The most critical element of the prayer is the reference to the Kingdom of God, which does not refer to an afterlife in Heaven. When Jesus prays, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” he is expressing his belief that God will end oppression, poverty, and suffering on earth. The Kingdom of God refers to the rule of God on earth.

The economic foundation of the prayer is lost when the words “bread” and “debts” become spiritual metaphors with no connection to real food and economic debt

No one who heard Jesus speak would have limited his words about bread and debts to spiritual metaphors. Jesus spoke to a population who were underfed and overtaxed. Most of the peasants were in debt, because the king and the elite class owned the land. They claimed proprietary rights to the land and everything grown on it. The demands from the ruling class were so high that the peasants were deeply in debt. In addition, many of the beggars were people who had been forced off the land because they could not pay their debts to the ruling class.

When you read the gospels, you can see that Jesus continually spoke about the real human needs of people in a society divided between the haves and the have-nots. He condemned the rich for their exploitation and oppression of the poor. He also condemned a religious system which identified so many groups of people as “unclean” and cut off from God’s blessing.”

Jesus saw hunger, poverty, sickness, and suffering endured by most of the population. He saw how the rich landowners grew rich at the expense of the poor. He saw people who were homeless because they had been driven off their land by high rents and taxes. He saw the result of high taxes on the people who had to turn over most of what they grew, made, or caught. He also knew what it was to live under Roman occupation. Roman soldiers could force people to do whatever they wanted. He saw how the Temple system collaborated with the Roman occupiers to bleed the people of their money and their power.

It is also true that Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer preserves an Aramaic idiom. Aramaic writings show that the language of “debt” and “debtors” was used regularly for “sin” and “sinners.” Jesus spoke Aramaic and clearly intended that the word “debts” in the prayer refer to both money debts and sins.

In Luke, the prayer uses the word “sin” rather than “debt.” This loses the financial reality behind the metaphor and obscures the underlying concern with real bread and real debts.

If Christians want to pray as pray as Jesus intended, it is essential to recover the literal meanings of the words that have been treated as spiritual metaphors. Especially in these times, when basic staples such as wheat, rice, and corn are in short supply, prayer for daily bread is not simply a spiritual exercise. And prayer for forgiveness of debt is a reality for those facing foreclosure and bankruptcy, because they cannot pay their economic debts.

Jesus intended his words to refer to suffering and injustice in his own society. His prayer for bread and debts referred to real bread and forgiveness of real financial debts.

Since almost everyone nowadays has a mobile phone, telephone dating services are growing in their popularity. The mobile phone companies offer these services not only in the United States but also all over the world including Europe, Australia and Asia. More and more people are turning to the telephone dating service to help them find good quality dates.

In fact, the mobile phone companies are the ones that host this type of dating service. You can start by registering a screen name and then create your profile. Afterwards, your profile is added to an existing database that other members also access. A list of names is sent to you once you have typed in keywords describing the type of person you might feel comfortable in dating.

You can be assured that your mobile number will not be given out to other people. They only information they see is the user name that you have created. Therefore, you can chat with anyone over the phone without them knowing your mobile number. After speaking with each other over a period of time you may feel comfortable in not only exchanging phone numbers but setting up a date as well.

Telephone dating agencies hit the market about ten years ago. Often times you would see their advertisements on TV or in the yellow pages. Then you would call a number and leave a message describing yourself. Other people could then dial that number and listen to all of the messages that were left. Then if you liked someone you were able to give him or her a message in his or her personal voice mailbox. It was kind of like sending emails back and forth to each other except it was by voice messages.

Then the development of video dating agencies came to life. Now you can make videos instead of just leaving voice messages. Most find video dating a much better option because now they can see what the other person looks like. Physical attraction is still the number one factor in choosing a new partner.

As you can see, many people are using dating agencies to assist them in finding their soul mate. Dating agencies have really made it a lot of fun and convenient to meet people rather than the traditional way of getting together.

So, if this is something that interests you then pick up your mobile phone and contact one of your local dating services. You can begin today to meet someone new by calling him/her or sending him or her a message. Although you may connect with someone over the phone but it is not a guarantee that this person is your soul mate. You will need to meet in person before making any conclusions.

You still have to exercise caution when speaking with somebody that you really don’t know. Take the necessary steps to be safe and have fun at the same time. Happy dating!

Wedding rings are the seal of a marriage and as far as a couple is concerned, the most important aspect to get right; this is a special part of the marriage process and should have great meaning. Try to find a pair of rings that will complement you both; rings should be a reflection of the couple that wear them. Quality wedding rings are what are required for your wedding day; local malls will have jewelers but they may not have the range that is required when you are looking for something special.

If you are lucky you might find enough variety but these stores often only carry a small selection of rings; it is in your best interest to find a jeweler that specializes so you will have enough styles and materials to choose from. Of course the man’s ring will be like his bride-to-be, which will need to complement the engagement ring she already has.

The wedding ring should be attractive, but by the standards of the engagement ring - understated; but if this is not the case it is important to ensure it complements the other ring at the very least. Alternatively you will just need to spend time trying new wedding bands until you find one that matches the engagement ring.

Metals most often used are: (1) Yellow Gold, (2) Silver, (3) Titanium and (4) White Gold; recently however, platinum has become the metal of choice because of its durability. For men, durability is a contributing factor and why platinum is so effective. Men can be harder on rings; especially those with jobs that include manual labor so be sure the rings you choose will last and look beautiful for years to come.

Finding rings of your choice that fit rarely happens so make sure you have your wedding ring fingers professionally measured; after all the expense involved, you need the rings to fit correctly! It can be embarrassing if the rings are too loose or too tight; no-one wants to lose their ring.

If you want to make sure your rings are ready in good time for the wedding, give your jeweler plenty of time to complete any adjustments; he may have a number to complete and you do not want a problem on the wedding day. There is a huge variety of wedding bands available these days; choosing the right one can take quite some time and a number of visits to the jeweler.

Never forget why you are wearing a wedding ring and what it stands for; perhaps this is why they are used in so many cultures around the world.

Young couples who plan to marry should spend some quality time when it comes to choosing their wedding rings, or the designer who they will select to design a wedding ring for them. This is something a couple will do alone as it should be a special time. Quality jewelers are not always easy to find and those that specialize in wedding rings are even harder. Many people, however, make the mistake of going to a jewelry store in a mall.

If you are lucky you might find enough variety but these stores often only carry a small selection of rings. It is in your best interest to find a jeweler that specializes so you will have enough styles and materials to choose from. Of course it should go without saying that the wedding ring you choose must complement the engagement ring that your partner is wearing.

Do not allow yourself to be swayed by a wedding ring that will, as soon as it is worn, spoil the look of the engagement ring; some rings have been made to complement each other and these should be the type you seek. Try on different wedding bands and sit them next to the engagement ring to see how they look together.

Despite the huge range of materials that can are used these days, the most popular are yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum. Titanium is gaining in popularity, and silver is also occasionally used for wedding rings.

Whilst it might not seem that important, the wedding rings will probably need to be adjusted,so make sure that you get professionally sized instead of making a guess. You want to be sure the ring will fit correctly and this will prevent it from being too tight or too loose and slipping off. Of course, if you have someone design a wedding ring for you, these problems should be taken care of as the ring is designed and made specifically for you.

If you want to make sure your rings are ready in good time for the wedding, give your jeweler plenty of time to complete any adjustments. He may have a number to complete and you do not want a problem on the wedding day. There are many different styles and materials to choose from when picking your wedding bands; it may take you some time to find the perfect one.

Wedding rings represent the love two people have for one another. Perhaps now, the reason for the time spent choosing a ring has been made clearer.

There has been a huge movement in the last few years for Americans to buy American made items. It is partially because when you purchase goods made in a specific country - it’s that country’s economy that benefits from the purchase. In these days of economic hardships in the United States, it only makes sense for Americans to buy American to help bolster our own economy. Soy candles are a terrific way to buy American.

Soy candles start with a plant - the soybean plant. Soybeans are grown by American farmers. After planting the seeds in the spring and carefully nurturing the crop during the summer, the soybean is ready for harvesting by the farmer each fall. The beans are then transported to facilities which crush the bean, separating the meal from the oil. The soy meal (or meat) is used by many manufacturers in the production of both human and animal food. The soy oil is sent through a partial hydrogenation process that turns the soy oil into soy wax. The was is extremely soft.

Pure soy wax is extremely soft so it will not produce quality freestanding candles such as pillar candles or taper candles. In order to produce such candles, soy wax must be blended with an additive that will produce a firmer candle. The additive is almost always some other wax. Paraffin wax is very commonly blended with soy wax because it is relatively inexpensive. Vegetable waxes such as castor, palm, rice, jojoba and candelilla, can also be blended with soy producing an all natural candle made from renewable resources.

Soy wax candles are non-toxic so they are safe for humans as well as pets. Soy candles are extremely clean burning, producing at least 90-95% less soot than paraffin wax candles. The soot which is produced by burning a soy candle is black like it is with paraffin wax candles, but mostly a white color which may not be noticeable to the naked eye. There is very little black soot produced with a pure unscented soy candle. Adding fragrance and other additives to preserve color or to form freestanding candles can create more of the black soot. Soy candles also burn at a cooler temperature than paraffin wax candles which results in 20-30% longer burn time.

Soy wax is famous for accepting any fragrance that is added to it with incredible ease. Pound for pound, soy wax can hold more scent than paraffin wax. This means that your unlit soy candle will throw scent just as well as the burning soy candle, potentially filling your entire room with delicious fragrance. The fragrance is evenly distributed throughout the candle, so the scent at the end is the same as at the beginning.

Let’s combat all of the bad American economic news by purchasing American made soy candles. Support the American farmer, wax manufacturer, and candle makers who are your friends and neighbors by buying the soy candle. In addition to being a healthy contribution to the American economy, soy wax candles are also a healthy, natural alternative to the paraffin wax candles.

A wedding between two people although it can be religious, is also a legal contract that both partners agree too. Although the service may be quite lengthy and involved, it is not complete until the legal aspect is fulfilled. So although you may think the most important aspects are the religious requirements, or that the wedding ceremony readings are appropriate, the law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. So the wedding ceremony decorations and wedding ceremony music, although important to many of us, are not essential!

Getting Married in a Church

As soon as you look outside of your own race, religious and social group, the wedding tradition can become very complex. Many people, whether religious or not, still prefer to have a traditional ceremony performed by a recognized religious minister in a Church of their choice. The traditional white wedding as we know it is really only a service that is popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and some other Commonwealth countries.

Twin Ceremonies

A rare type of marriage is where two separate couples decide to marry at the same time. Typically, a person with a brother or sister might plan this type of occasion with that sibling, or more usually two sisters or two brothers. A double wedding saves on many aspects of both the ceremony and the reception. In terms of the ceremony, you’ll probably need to decide on the wedding ceremony music between the four of you, and likewise the wedding ceremony readings and the all important wedding ceremony decorations. So make sure you have similar tastes before sending out invitations for a double wedding.

Foreign Resort Weddings

You will probably already know of a couple that decided on a destination wedding and asked the guests to travel to where they were intending to honeymoon. Destination weddings automatically conjure up exotic countries but it could just as easily be a themed wedding in Las Vegas to qualify for that title. Wedding ceremony decorations are likely to suit the destination, or the theme, and wedding ceremony music can be selected for similar reasons.

Activity weekend Weddings

Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having theirs over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. Special activities, such as spa treatments and golf tournaments, are scheduled into the itinerary for guests’ enjoyment throughout the weekend. Accommodation for these is normally arranged at the place where the service is going to take place and where the other events are also being held.

Online Marriages

Internet weddings seem to be something that has come about recently and a number of people are now using this method to seal their vows; There are already a number of companies based online can help you find out more information about his unusual type of ceremony. An online wedding also refers to where a couple decides to have their marriage ceremony broadcast live on the internet.

Civil Weddings

Civil weddings have to be carried out by a local justice of the peace, judge, even a mayor can carry out the ceremony and most places out side of a church will use one of these people. Religion doesn’t normally play a part in these ceremonies because they are purely a legal requirement. Owing to the brevity of these ceremonies, the persons getting married do not mind if they are carried out in a city hall or even a courtroom.

If you live in a Christian country then you will recognize many of these wedding traditions but there are many more types of ceremony available around the world, and wedding ceremony music and wedding ceremony decorations may be important, or they may not.

I can’t tell you how many times dismayed lovers have said to me: “I just couldn’t help it! I fell in love and I just stayed too long. I knew s/he wasn’t the one… we had so many problems! But I just couldn’t help it!”

The frequency of that statement leads me to believe that when it comes to love, too many of us listen with our hearts rather than our heads. Think about it. We comparison shop and investigate schools for our children, the car offering the best value and gas mileage, and we squeeze the tomatoes for ripeness.

But when it comes to choosing a mate, too many of us repeatedly make the wrong choices by settling for any person that comes along and shows the slightest interest. Approach your next committed relationship with a clearer idea of who is right and who is just for right now by utilizing a few of these tips!

Hold Off On Commitment. I recently received an advice request letter from a woman who had been “seeing” a man for 8 months. Their relationship was maintained largely via telephone, as they spoke on the phone a mere 2-3 times per month. He lived a few states away, and traveled to her region of the country every 4-6 weeks. Her question: “How should I approach him about a commitment?”

Thinking about a commitment in this situation made absolutely no sense. Dating seriously and seeing each other at least twice a week for 6-9 months might work. But if you argue and fight all the time, WATCH OUT! Breakup to makeup could be establishing a pattern that is likely to continue once you are serious or married.

Alternatively, if you DO have a serious committed relationship but have postponed taking it to the next level for years, you need to closely examine your motives for stalling. Are you hanging onto your independence due to fear?

Look For The Similarities. Numerous surveys demonstrate that people have a tendency to marry those who are like them. Yes, some “opposites attract” marriages do work, but living together under the same roof without a lot of upset is much easier for couples that have similar interests, values and attitudes. Couples that are closer in age tend to do better as well.

Sexual and Emotional Compatibility Counts. Sex is a pleasurable experience, which helps a couple to openly share feelings and emotions in the most intimate way. However, if your feelings about sex are very different from your partner’s, sex will not be the binding glue that should be, and these differences may cause frustration and resentment.

Sexual compatibility is not just a matter of technique, because that is something that the two of you can learn as you grow together. Instead, you and your partner need to be truly attracted to one another and demonstrate this attraction with touches, caresses, kisses and creative lovemaking.

An emotionally cold person usually finds it hard to give or accept physical affection. These people are risky prospects for a deep, rich and fulfilling relationship.

Emotional Maturity Counts Even More! Some personality traits or behaviors are just plain bad news for long-term relationships. My Dad told me to watch how a man reacts when he is angry; that observation would tell me a lot about how he handles frustration and disappointment.

Does your guy handle anger reasonably and appropriately, or does he take it out on you? Does she accept responsibility for negative outcomes, or does she usually blame someone else? Domineering, aggressive or critically sarcastic people are destructive to a loving union.

Immaturity and low self-esteem also spell trouble. Emotionally immaturity is usually demonstrated in jealous behavior, a noted lack of trust, and a need for constant reassurance. An overly dependent whiner makes a mature relationship impossible to achieve.

Flexibility And Willingness To Compromise. Compromise is not one of my favorite words, but compromise, along with a willingness to change are two of the most important attributes to look for in a partner. Nothing stays the same.

A mate that finds it difficult or impossible to compromise will be challenged by the adjustments and negotiations required to maintain a successful long-term partnership. If you have doubts about the relationship, don’t fool yourself into ignoring your uncertainties and believing that your partner will magically change “later after we’re married.”

If you find yourself hoping that he or she will be less moody, less extravagant, less angry, less violently jealous, more affectionate, more attentive, more sexual - you are running a considerable risk by ignoring these feelings. If the potential for change and a willingness to freely adjust to change is important to you, look for a flexible partner BEFORE you commit yourself to the relationship, not after.

The primary ingredient for lasting success in a relationship is this one thing: your absolute certainty that this is the right person, and your unwavering determination to make it work. If you have reservations, doubts or concerns, they’ll prevent you from giving your relationship the 100% commitment it needs to survive and thrive.

Online dating can be fun. But don’t neglect safety and common sense when you try to hook up with a mate. At minimum, take caution in the following areas.

Protect Your Computer

Take care of your equipment and systems before you head out into the Internet realm. You need to have a firewall and anti-virus protection for your email and for when you search websites and interact online. At the bare minimum, you may want these two solutions that are offered at no charge to home computer users (i.e. not for commercial use):

Free Firewall Download: ZoneAlarm www.zonelabs.com Free Anti-Virus Download: AVG Anti-Virus www.grisoft.com

Protect Yourself

Take care of yourself, too, by choosing appropriate dating sites. Seek and choose a reputable online dating service. How? Begin by asking around with friends, neighbors, co-workers and others you may know who have tried online dating, and see which places they recommend. In addition, search “online dating services” and keep a notebook of their URLs or website links, the fees, rules and regulations, complete contact information of each and any other useful information that spikes your interest. Then compare each place. Try only those places where you feel safe. Avoid the others.

So take care. Arm your computer - and yourself- with the correct tools and knowledge!

There’s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive; the average cost of a wedding today is 20 to 25 thousand dollars with an industry estimated at 25.3 billion dollars per year. Just because a wedding is expensive does not mean it will be a success; although you may not believe it now, a cheap wedding can be arranged which everyone will enjoy. Here are a few suggestions to help you save some money on the more expensive areas; perhaps using the savings on something more worthwhile.

1. Low Cost Bridal Gown - The wedding dress is one area where huge amounts of money are spent; this is something that will only ever be worn once so a previously owned dress is worth consideration. The huge cost of a new wedding dress cannot always be justified these days; many bridal shops carry a large number of previously owned dresses that can be hired or bought for considerably less than new.

2. Your Wedding Reception - The largest single cost is that of the wedding reception but even here savings are possible; when you start to arrange your cheap wedding, pay careful attention to the number of guests you want to invite. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum: ask yourself if you really need to invite family members you haven’t seen for years; instead, opt for a three course meal or a hot and cold buffet.

The venue of the wedding reception can also be somewhere less expensive than the local golf club or hotel; using a small club for example will mean the drinks bill is less by only catering for wine, beer and soft drinks at the bar.

3. Your Wedding Pictures - The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but look at hiring the photographer just for the service; ask family members and friends to take photos of the reception - most will be more than happy to do this. Although it may sound like an unusual idea, you always have the option to not use a professional photographer at all; there is no reason why the photos can’t be taken by your guests and you will find yourself saving many hundreds if not thousands, of dollars.

4. Home Made Personalized Invitations - Cutting down on costs can also mean creating your own wedding invitations and seating cards etc; a personal computer combined with a home printer means it is quite easy to produce very professional looking results. The quality of printers available combined with sophisticated programs means it is quite easy to do; in fact very professional looking results can be achieved on a home computer.

5. Floral Arrangements - Cost cutting measures can also be found in the area of flowers and their arrangement; these can actually be purchased in large quantities from wholesalers or even from your own garden if you have the capacity. Many people have friends who are very capable cooks and love to bake so why not let them bake a two or three tier wedding cake; this can be made from sponge or even a chocolate cake which tends to be favorite amongst people these days.

6. Wedding Transportation - Savings can also be made by not hiring that expensive limousine and using a friend’s vehicle; given a good clean and polish it can make an acceptable substitute.

Cheap weddings are possible without the wedding seeming it has been cost driven; the point is that guests enjoy the day!

The choice of wedding rings a couple makes has great significance, and this is something a couple will do alone as it should be a special time. Do not rush this as they are more than a symbol of love and are for the couple alone too choose. Quality wedding rings are what are required for your wedding day. Local malls will have jewelers but they may not have the range that is required when you are looking for something special.

Your local mall jeweler may not stock a variety of metals, styles and finishes, and may not have the experience to design a wedding for you that you’re going to love. You would be better off spending time at jewelers that will be able to provide what you are looking for, and expertly design a wedding ring to your specifications. Using a specialist should also make it easier when you are trying to find a ring that works well with the engagement ring so the two do not conflict.

Couples should not purchase wedding rings that overpower the engagement ring as these rings are meant to be understated; try to find a jeweler that stocks both types of ring, especially those that are designed to go together. Alternatively you will just need to spend time trying new wedding bands until you find one that matches the engagement ring.

Despite the huge range of materials that can are used these days, the most popular are still Titanium, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Platinum and even Silver. Recently however, platinum has become the metal of choice because of its durability. Choosing a ring that is made of durable material is especially important for the groom’s ring and platinum is an ideal choice. Why men? Well they are more likely to damage their ring whilst working; a greater number of men still work in manual industries than women.

When you are spending a large sum of money on wedding rings, you want to be sure that they fit perfectly. That’s a benefit of having an expert design a wedding ring for you. You really don’t want the rings to fit poorly after all the planning that has taken place. And correct fitting is not only preventing it from being too tight or too loose and slipping off. It includes fitting your particular finger shape.

It is not uncommon for couples to leave having the rings adjusted until close to the wedding day. This can cause the jeweler problems because he may have others to adjust for the same day, so allow plenty of time for this. Choosing wedding bands you will both like and that match the engagement ring may take some time. Allow for this as it is not uncommon for couples to choose in haste and then regret their decision later.

The wedding ring is primarily a bond between two people in love, so it’s not uncommon to have a designer design a wedding ring for the happy couple. It should, after all, be something you are proud to wear and display.