Feb 232013
 

Flames_from_Fire_Wallpaper_18

In Part one of this 8 part article, we will go over a basic run through to which will serve as a basis to establish the wisdom of what GOD actually is.. However,  I recommend visiting the following link to which contains further scripture and evidence that I did not include in this article. This article and this following supporting evidence page will be updated as I find the time to add more information to it:


—>:SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:<—

Includes scripture from:

 Micah, Judges, Ezekiel, Jobs, Daniel, Isaiah, Timothy, Genesis, Hosea, Kings, Revelations, Theologians, Leviticus, Numbers, Amos, Zachariah, Samuel, and much much more..

 

Yahweh: The worshiping of a Volcano / fire GOD of War:

 


 

I have given much thought about posting this Satanical and blasphemous article, and it has been a while since I have posted such an article of evil. One may believe I have been tempered in the light, but yet I have a scorching urge to post such darkness of the flaming tongue. This to which I can not ignore or resist as it burns to erupt from within. And thus I have felt in the end that this volcanic subject deserved a bit of attention for a bit of candle lit enlightenment, flickering out from the ash shadows of darkness from which this volcanic beast hides. Though as I am sure I will possibly get much scorn, threats of hellfire, or the telling of I will be dammed. However the evidence and context to which supports the basis of this article is beyond what we can call coincidence, translation errors, or even beyond anything other than the attaching of a GOD persona, the anthromorphism to the worshiping fear and wonder of a volcano cracking its master whips of lightning and thunder in demanding of your subservient love and obedience. Some of my friends might be wondering what I’ve been up to for the last few months, and this wonder will be presented before you in the fiery pits of this seemingly everlasting article of volcanic hell. So get a drink of water as I will outline the Volcanic God in which has been worshiped since Polytheism gave birth to the Monotheistic GOD of Judah. A war god, and a rather fiery volcanic one to which pours its spirit out on to us, and burns in the minds of those whom tell us we will burn in hell should we not believe and obey its supposed commands. A God often not well understood even by those whom worship it as the many of them likely have never actually read their bibles, or come to understand the historic fact that their polytheistic roots include the worship of mountain GOD’s. There is a deep history, and an understanding of the names in which are given to this deity. Yahweh, and El Shaddai being the seen by many as the proper names of this deity, but all as not what it seems as we explore how they are very important when it comes to understanding what and who exactly this GOD is in ancient mythology. And thus in this sulfuric article, we will examine these proper names, and examine many areas of scripture to which tells us the tale of a Volcano GOD, and that theme which spans throughout the entire bible. So let us put this to flame and let it burn it’s own light! :

 

— PART 1: THE WISDOM IN THE QUESTION — 

 

QUESTION:

IS CHRISTIANITY ACTUALLY A VOLCANO CULT?

Well, that is quite a hot question to ask in these days of religious extremist turmoil, upheaval, and self exploding terrorism.  let’s explore that hot topic question as I had already written a scalding response to a volcanic disciple to whom goes by the alias “Spaceguy”, and to whom posted scripture in regards to proverbs 1, and in regards to dealing with our “wisdom”.  You can find this burning response in the link below.:

http://eslrobert.newsvine.com/_news/2012/01/01/9870066-my-last-day-as-a-christian?threadId=3309234&commentId=61233469#c61233390

 

 

SpaceGuy’s reply:

           Actually, true Christianity is the opposite of this, as is the old testament.

Interestingly enough the spirit of wisdom is feminine……..

I find it interesting the search for the negative when the point of the book is exactly the opposite, though make no mistake, God is in charge.

20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street;

She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse;

At the entrance of the gates,

In the city, she uttereth her words:

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

And scoffers delight them in scoffing,

And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof:

Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;

I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye have refused;

I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel,

And would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity;

I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as a storm,

And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge,

And did not choose the fear of Jehovah (name for Yahweh to which is actually just it’s pronunciation):

30 They would none of my counsel;

They despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,

And be filled with their own devices.

32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,

And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,

And shall be quiet without fear of evil.


Well of course we can expect such use of this vulcan piece of scripture for an argument on “Wisdom”, like a cloud of smoke screening us from the heavens of our reason. However, there is thus something burning here to which doesn’t quite smell right, and that is apparent when giving Spaceguy didn’t seem to see his volcano GOD burning in the scripture he used. As this is actually about having wisdom of a Volcano GOD and not about wisdom in the general context of education.  Thus I felt the need to respond, and that I did, and did in order to really express the actual contextual meaning of the scripture he so thought was a great tool for debate. What I found interesting is outlining how his scripture is directly in reference to the nature of a Volcano GOD, a nature in which we will be deeply exploring here in this article.  So lets see how his posting of Proverbs 1 relates to a Volcano GOD in question:

 

Quote:

23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;


And the following:

 

Quote:

27 When your fear cometh as a storm,

And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish come upon you.

 

Well, for him to really understand these verses he really needed to first take the time to actually read the Deut, Exodus, and the Psalm entirely. This also includes needing to read the following from Acts as it’s in similar context with a calamity of a whirlwind, a storm, and the “pouring out my spirit”:

Acts 2

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

 

So When we examine this scripture, we see that they are talking about a volcanic eruption. We can see “tongues” being of course lava flows streaming down a volcano to which everyone can understand. Hence, GOD speaks through wind, fire, Earthquakes, thunderings, and lightnings…But of course this is not evidence enough, so we are forced to but take a further look at this blood red and smoking darkness:

 

17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]

Firstly, You can see how the religion is born in regards to people prophesying of a Volcano as a GOD, and that pouring out of this God’s spirit means spewing lava.  2ndly, we can ask the question of what exactly are we supposedly being saved from. Is it this GOD’s volcanic Wrath?. Well, that is exactly what we see in the above scripture, and why you have Christians telling us of damnation and supposed burning in hell ect. We can see the attaching of a persona to a Volcano here as a typical example of Anthropomorphism. But that is not all to which this above quoted scripture tells us as the Moon here is a very important clue due to that it is supposedly turned blood red. You might ask me why is this so important?  Well, the moon turning blood red has a lot to do with volcanic ash as we can see here in this link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2003046/Lunar-eclipse-Chile-volcanic-ash-turns-moon-blood-red.html

This is very typical phenomenon when dealing with volcanic activity and especially in volcanic eruptions. The scripture is practically erupting before our eyes here! But I know some may argue other possible causes, or say I speak blasphemy… Well, as stated on wisdom in Proverbs 1, I can simply state that “I turn you at my reproof”  in part 2 of this hell fire article to further examine the evidence to which the clues above taunt and challenge us to explore.

 

 

— PART 2: YAHWEH: THE WORSHIPING OF A VOLCANO GOD OF WAR —

 

The worship of Yahweh by many scholars will state that it may have originated  in the pre-Israelite people of the Levant region, or more specifically in Midian.The Hebrew Bible mentions that this is where Moses meets God, and where he gets the 10 commandments. There is also an Egyptian inscription to which relates the Shasu, who are described as living south of Palestine that is regarded as a place with the name YHW. This is the same nomad groups that worshiped a GOD pronounced as Jahve (see: [1] , [2], [3], [4], [5]) . This location is important because it most likely places YHW on the Eastern Shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern regions of the Red Sea. This deity of course, giving the further evidence further into this article, likely originated from the Egyptian moon GOD Yah to which has become the Volcano deity described here in the bible through the process of usurping the Cannanite, Sumerian, and Amorite deities, religions, and cultures.. So why the is this location of interest when addressing Yahweh as Volcano GOD, or what we can also refer to as a Moon Mountain GOD? Well, Let’s look at where the Active Volcanoes are:

http://www.cccarto.com/ne_volcano/index.html?COL=2+ROW=10+ZOOM=d+GPSX=-1+GPSY=-1

Though It’s likely that this Volcano GOD is associated with all the Volcanic activity in the region…, the most interesting is that Midian (YWH) sits right along where many volcanoes sit. One in particular is mentioned in the bible to which many believe to be the real MT Sinai.. This being Mt Harrat:

http://books.google.com/books?id=IM-yNiUXwO4C&pg=PA312&lpg=PA312&dq=Harrat+in+the+bible&source=bl&ots=iEcSrOpy7s&sig=h0KUuoEF06uAkEh-CoZAWJA25fE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=mMJIT_G0Acrl0QG8wIy6Dg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Harrat%20in%20the%20bible&f=false

NUMBER:   0301-01=
Name:       Rahah, Harrat ar
Location:   Arabia-W
Lat:           27.8
Long:        36.17
Type:        Volcanic Field

 

This location is pretty interesting, but If you read the bible, and Read it carefully, you can establish this that the Christian religion is what you can consider very much on a volcano cult that includes the typical aspects of Pagan mythological mountain god worship we see a lot of in Mesopotamia. Fire is regarded as divine, and that which holds the spirit of GOD. But at some point Yahweh ceased to be a moon GOD and became a Volcanic war god known to be described as the “Devouring fire”  You can reference this:

 A proto-Sinaitic mine inscription from Mount Sinai reads ?l?‘lm understood to be vocalized as ?il ?? ‘ôlmi, ‘??l Eternal’ or ‘God Eternal’.

So just imagine seeing a violently erupting volcano from their perspective in the biblical era in question. An era that had no understanding of what a Volcano actually was, or even what Earthquakes, thunder and lightning actually were.. It seems to be no wonder in why they would worship a Volcano. We even still see this here in the 21st century.

Further more, and to add more to the above, MT Sinai is the mountain of GOD in the Bible, a mountain to which contains Yahweh, and this is where this GOD of war dwells. However, the origin of Yahweh was likely derived from the Sumerian and Egyptian moon gods “Sin” and “Yah” which tells us that Yahweh wasn’t always a Volcano GOD, and tells us this Deity has evolved over time. Now while Yah is referenced to the Egyptian moon GOD Yah, we can see that Mount Sinai literally means “Moon Mountain [1] in reference to the Arkadian / Sumerian Moon GOD “Sin”, as noted in the below sources. Here to which gives us a clue to the evolution of this deity deriving from being a moon GOD to a Volcano GOD, or to a Moon Mountain GOD described as a Volcano god:

Horeb is thought to mean glowing/heat, which seems to be a reference to the sun, while Sinai may have derived from the name of Sin, the Sumerian deity of the moon,[2][3] and thus Sinai and Horeb would be the mountain of the moon and sun, respectively.[2]

^ a b c “Mount Horeb”. Jewish Encyclopedia.
^ a b Matthew Black and H. H. Rowley, ed. (1963). “Exodus”. Peake’s Commentary on the Bible (second edition ed.). Thomas Nelson. pp. section 178c.

Yahweh when traced really seems to have had originally nothing to do with El, El ELyon, or El Shaddai as those are Canaanite / Amorite deities as you will find noted as we progress through this article. This invokes a lot of confusion to the identity of this deity due to completing religions such as they yahwist cult movement often used usurping as a means to take over and destroy their competition. This included destroying their cultural identity by method of burning books, and destroying any remaining reminders of the worship of those competing cultures and religions. We see this still happening today, especially in dealing with Islamic extremists who also what to destroy the pyramids for the very same reasons.  So for example, The Amorite deity Shaddai is said to be likely the same GOD “EL” of the Canaanite Pantheon giving the evidence you will find presented in this article, and along with the compound use of “EL Shaddai”.  However, Shaddai and Yahweh’s origins are far different when we actually trace these deity’s histories. Hence the Shasu of YHW were likely Egyptians, or possibly the evicted Canaanite Hyksos who based their religion around a version of this Egyptian moon GOD. To whom of course likely found the Arkadian/Sumerian moon GOD “Sin” a deity they can associate to, or had previously associated to before taking up power in Egypt fore which the Egyptians evicted them for. Either way, they seem to have confided in both the Egyptian Moon GOD and the Sumerian moon GOD, and It is known that these people adapted their beliefs according to the lands they lived in. When we take a deep look into this, it seems the Yahwist monotheistic cult movement started to usurp the Canaanite Pantheon into the persona of Yahweh after the collapse of the Canaanite civilization and the eviction of the Hyksos from Egypt. But there is more telling evidence to this other than Mount Sinai, or the root word “Sin” being in reference to the Sumerian Moon GOD Sin. Far more telling evidence indeed as we can note and address the popular phrase to praise this deity to which we all have come to know as: “Halleluhjah, Halleluliah. Halleluyah.. This to which we can note from Wikipedia:

“Hallelujah,also spelled halleluiah, halleluyah, and the Greek and Latin form alleluia are transliterations of the Hebrew word הללו ×™×” (Modernhalleluya, TiberianhallÉ™lûyāh) meaning “Praise ye Yah” or “Praise Jah, you people”.[1][2][3] The last syllable is from the first two letters of the name of God, YHWH (also transcribed JHVH).[4] “Praise Jah” is therefore a shortened form of “Praise Yahweh”[5][6][7] or, in another transliteration of the name, “Praise Jehovah“.
Hallelujah is found primarily in the book of Psalms. The word is used in Judaism as part of the Hallel prayers, and in Christian prayer,[8] where it is used in various ways in liturgies.[9] It has been accepted into the English language and has a similar pronunciation in many other languages.”

However, and more importantly, Wiki doesn’t mention or discuss what that actually translates to as we can note the following:

“One of the false gods the Jews worshipped was Yah. This pagan idol has its roots in Babylon and in Egypt. This is the lunar or moon god. In Babylon the moon god is called “Ia” or Ya. It has both a female and a male identity. In Egypt the Babylonian female “Ia or Ya” was changed into a male god and the female god was named “shua” and made the sky god. When a person then combines these forms into Iashua or Yahshua they have made the moon god the sky god. This Babylonian/Egypt deity is also called Baal throughout the Scriptures. The Jews did worshiped the moon god when they apostated into idolatry from the true God Ehyeh asher Ehyeh (Elohim/Adonai). Look up the word moon in Hebrew and it is “yareah” which is the same as “Yahweh.” Modern Hebrew spells it different now to distort the real identity of their ancient Yah god. They now spell it “yareach.” The Yah moon god remains controversial, but the evidence of the Jewish god Yah as the same god as the Babylonian god “Ia-ya” and or the Egyptian moon god Yah is pretty robust.

“yah, jah, ia” is nothing but the moon god. Saying hallelu-jah means praise the moon god.”

And we know this to be a fact because we have the archeological evidence to which includes the following:

What’s interesting about this GOD Sin is something we all have come to know about the percieved Nature of EL and Shaddai in regards to being the father of the GODs, and the Creator of all things ect..And these which interestingly get attributed to Yahweh as the Yahwist cult movement continued to Usurp these Deities into the persona of Yahweh:

“Sin  (Akkadian: Su’en, Sîn) or Nanna (Sumerian: DŠEŠ.KI, DNANNA) was the god of the moon in the Mesopotamian mythology of Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia. Nanna is a Sumerian deity, the son of Enlil and Ninlil, and became identified with Semitic Sin. The two chief seats of Nanna’s/Sin’s worship were Ur in the south of Mesopotamia and Harran in the north.He is commonly designated as En-zu, which means “lord of wisdom”. During the period (c.2600-2400 BCE) that Ur exercised a large measure of supremacy over the Euphrates valley, Sin was naturally regarded as the head of the pantheon. It is to this period that we must trace such designations of Sin as “father of the gods”, “chief of the gods”, “creator of all things”, and the like.”

As well as supported by the Hieroglyphic dictionary:

Aah (Yahh): The Moon-God (Yareach – Hebrew)
excerpted from E.A. Wallis Budge Hieroglyphic Dictionary Vol. I. p.29b

http://nuwaubian-hotep.net/docs/yah/hebrew_egyptian_moon_god_yah.jpg

But as see we here, lit by the glow of an erupting volcano, we see that the moon GODs sin and Yah became associated to a Moon Mountain we have come to know as Mt Sinai, the descriptive volcanic burning abode and house of Yahweh to whom is referred to as the “devouring fire”, and the “God of the Armies”.  It is here where the evolution of this deity occurs.. However let us overview the names of the Mesopotamian mountain GOD(s) as we also have El Elyon and El Shaddai. These names are attested to the Canaanite and Amorite Pantheons, and they had long existed before the name Yahweh. This to which is strong evidence of a recent cult movement usurping the Sumerian, Cannanite, and Amorite GOD’s into the persona of Yahweh. It might even be a case where the Eygptian GOD was also usurped and that the Yahwist cult was a mere attempt to usurp them all into a monotheistic religion. Besides the case,  if you are going to, as a monotheistic cult movement, establish monotheism and the belief of a single deity in that Era, you would have to try and usurp while demonize all other Pantheons and GOD’s. And this is exactly what we see to have happened even though we don’t quite know “how” it exactly happened. The clues tell us a grand story with missing piece as we see as we move along here.  So lets start with addressing some of these names..! We can see that El Elyon means “God Most High” while El Shaddai means “God of the Mountains”, And “God Almighty”. El Elyon of which are attested to the Cannanite GOD’s EL and Baal, and both El Elyon and El Shaddai fit well for a the establishment of a Volcano deity. Especially one that plumes fire and smoke high into the Atmosphere, forms land from sea, an represent an object or entity that can cause what would seem like biblical floods, or what regularly is depicted cleansing and destroying the wicked with fire and brimstone. Furthermore, it is known in that Era that El Shaddai was dually used as both GOD Almighty, and as GOD of the Mountains. Another important thing to note is the Shin ” ? “, to which is the Hebrew alphabet letter for fire in Kabballah, or is translated directly as “tooth” in Aramaic/Hebrew  . This symbol / letter is more importantly a root name and symbol for Shaddai. This to which is attested specifically as a name for the Ammorrite deity Amarru:

“Shaddai is a derivation of a Semitic stem that appears in the Akkadianshadû (“mountain”) and shadd?`û or shaddû`a (“mountain-dweller”), one of the names of Amurru.

Amurru/Martu was probably a western Semitic god originally. He is sometimes described as a ‘shepherd’ or as a storm god, and as a son of the sky-god Anu. He is sometimes called bêlu šad? or bêl šadê, ‘lord of the mountain’; dúr-hur-sag-gá sikil-a-ke, ‘He who dwells on the pure mountain’; and kur-za-gan ti-[la], ‘who inhabits the shining mountain’. In Cappadocian Zin?irli inscriptions he is called ì-li a-bi-a, ‘the god of my father‘.[1] Accordingly, it has been suggested by L. R. Bailey (1968) and Jean Ouelette (1969), that this Bêl Šadê might be the same as the Biblical ’?l Šadd?i who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the “Priestly source” of narrative, according to the documentary hypothesis.

Amurru also has storm-god features. Like Adad, Amurru bears the epithet ram?n ‘thunderer’, and he is even called b?riqu ‘hurler of the thunderbolt’ and Adad ša a-bu-be ‘Adad of the deluge’. Yet his iconography is distinct from that of Adad, and he sometimes appears alongside Adad with a baton of power or throwstick, while Adad bears a conventional thunderbolt.

Amurru’s wife is sometimes the goddess Ašratum (see Asherah) who in northwest Semitic tradition and Hittite tradition appears as wife of the god ?l which suggests that Amurru may indeed have been a variation of that god. If Amurru was identical with ?l, it would explain why so few Amorite names are compounded with the name Amurru, but so many are compounded with Il; that is, with ?l.

  1. ^ The Targum from the Beginnings: “Tablet 1.” Retrieved on September 12, 2010
  • Bailey, L. R. (1968). “Israelite ’?l šadday and Amorite Bêl šadê“, Journal of Biblical Literature 87, 434–38.
  • Cross, Frank Moore (1973). Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, pp. 10, 57–58. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-09176-0.
  • Jordon, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002
  • Ouellette, Jean (1969). “More on ’?l Šadday and Bêl Šadê”, Journal of Biblical Literature 88, 470f.
  • ETSCL: Narratives featuring deities: Other deities, including “The Marriage of Martu” in Unicode and ASCII.
  • Iconography of Amurru (PDF-article)

This is where El Shaddai comes from, and it’s relationship with the “God of the Mountains”, and “God Almighty”. Not only is this Ammorite deity associated with common “GOD of my Father” in the bible,  Also attested explicitly to the GOD of Abraham, and the city of Shaddai.. Hence Abtraham worshiped “the GOD of Shaddai”.

Shaddai was a late Bronze Age Amorite city on the banks of the Euphrates river, in northern Syria, as well as the name, or a signifying epithet of a West Semitic deity, whose name was attached by the Hebrews to that of El as one of the names of God in Judaism.

The site of the ruin-mound of Shaddai is called Tell eth-Thadyen, “Thadyen” being the modern Arabic rendering of the original West Semitic “Shaddai”. It has been conjectured that El Shaddai was therefore the “god of Shaddai”. According to Exodus 6:2, 3, Shaddai was the name by which God was known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Shaddai thus being associated in tradition with Abraham

It is odd that Yahweh is associated with Pagan deities while Yahwists protest to be so anti-Pagan. And the above is direct evidence of the Yahwist monotheistic cult movement usurping the various Pantheons and GODs into the Personal of Yahweh.  So without a doubt, this is the process of usurping the Pagan deities into the Persona of Yahweh by the Yahwist cult movement, and we can see the Yahwist monotheists doing this by the added passage that claims Yahweh was the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Exodus 6:2 – 6:3. And we know all these deity names can not be the same deity since EL, El Elyon (only attested to EL and his son Baal), and El shaddia all have different roots apart from Yahweh.. It is possible that EL and El Shaddai might be different names for the same deity, but Yahweh most likely, by the evidence above,  was originally a desert demon GOD closely associated with the Egyptian moon GOD “Yah”, and the Sumerian moon GOD “Sin”. This to which “Yah” is likely associated with the Shasu of YHW.., a semi-nomadic tribe to which I further lit a torch to in this article: Mountain God Worship: Yahweh, God of The Mountains on Newsvine.com, an article to which I am currently still editing thanks to Newsvines formatting face lift on Feb 7th that created a mess of problems such as spacing, quotes not being quoted ect..

However, speaking in flaming destructive tongue regarding El Shaddia, we can see in the flickering of the flame the root word “shadad” (???). A root word that means to “over power”, or ” to destroy”. This comes into importance because the Teachings of Kabballah, the Shin is the “symbol or letter of fire” that is often referred to as the “eternal flame”. This belief of the eternal flame is said to contain and represent the spirit of GOD, and is a prominent aspect in the Jewish and Christian faith.  The Shin ” ? “ is also sometimes regarded as the symbol of the burning bush to which Yahweh speaks to mosses from within the fire, as well as a symbol we often see in Greek Mythology regarding the Trident.  Despite all the symbolism, if we take into context many of the verses in the bible regarding the nature of Yahweh, we can understand the Shin and the  Shadad root to El shaddai to contextually mean, in regards to Yahweh’s volcanic wrath, “to overpower with fire”, or “to destroy with fire”. So in the Yahswist religion we can start to see an erupting volcanic picture. But some will say that this is not enough evidence to suggest the Christian GOD was a Volcano GOD. So let’s press on and see what we can further establish. Let’s look at the “Shin” symbolism:

“Shin stands for the word Shaddai, a name for God. Because of this, a kohen (priest) forms the letter Shin with his hands as he recites the Priestly Blessing.  The letter Shin is often inscribed on the case containing a mezuzah, a scroll of parchment with Biblical text written on it. The text contained in the mezuzah is the Shema Yisrael prayer, which calls the Israelites to love their God with all their heart, soul and strength. The mezuzah is situated upon all the doorframes in a home or establishment. Sometimes the whole word Shaddai will be written.

Quote:

Genesis 17:1:
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (The Hebrew word used here is “shaddai”)”

So how do we know that this is a mountain GOD / Volcano GOD? Well, so far we can Reference Meanings of Shaddai:

A. almighty, most powerful
B. Shaddai, the Almighty (of God)
C. God of the Mountains
D. Shaddai is a derivation of a Semitic stem that appears in the Akkadian shadû (“mountain”) and shadd?`û or shaddû`a (“mountain-dweller”)

The evidence continues to mount up, phun intended as this God is seen as inhabiting a mythical holy mountain, a concept not unknown in ancient West Asian mythology (see El). It is also evident (quoting wiki) – “in the Syriac Christian writings of Ephrem the Syrian, who places Eden on an inaccessible mountaintop.” This actual location is unknown, but  we can better understand the GOD of the Mountains here:

“God of the mountains,” referring to the Mesopotamian divine mountain.[1] The term was one of the patriarchal names for the tribal god of the Mesopotamians.[1] In Exodus 6:3, El Shaddai is identified explicitly with the God of Abraham and with YHWH.[1] The term appears chiefly in the Torah. This could also refer to the Israelite camp’s stay at Mount Sinai where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.”

As provided by all the Evidence below:

* Exodus 18:5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.

* Exodus 19:3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:

* Exodus 19:17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. (see also Deuteronomy 4:11)

 

 * Exodus 24:17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

Exodus here is pretty descriptive here, and it’s important to note Exodus 19:17 in regards to meeting GOD, standing at the foot of the mountain, and it’s relationship with Detueronomy 4:11 where everyone came near and stood under the mountain of fire and smoke..Here meeting GOD is meeting a Volcano… And you can relate that to something like:

“14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.”

This alone is irrefutably consistent with a Volcano GOD here. Yahweh, the “God of the armies”, The God that delivered the Israel people from Egypt, is this GOD as a Fire / Volcano GOD. And in Genesis 12, in regards to the story of Abraham, Yahweh became the main god of worship for some time:

“Exudus 18:11 “Now I know that Yahweh is Greater than All other GODS”

But after war and arriving in the promised land accoding to the story, actually archeology and Anthropology have shown that the Hebrews began once again to worship Baal and Asherah (Yahweh’s wife) as they began to prosper in peace. And since they no longer needed help in war, Yahweh simply just became just one of the other GODS.. The cult of Yahweh almost became extinct in around 597 – 538 BC after it was officially established as the GOD of Judah. This is the same time the Hebrews were exiled to Babylon when the Temple was destroyed. The GODs of this era were associated with territories of land, and after their defeat you get this:

“Psalm 137:4 How can we sing the song of Yahweh when in a foreign land?

Thus If it were not for The Second Isaiah, the cult of Yahweh would have gone extinct, or Christianity would look very different today. This is the point where Monotheism really begins to hold and take root. The cult of Yahweh is where Jesus and Moses come from. So in regards to the Second Isaiah, this is where you finally get actual monotheism :

“* Isaiah 44:6 “I am the first and I am the last. Besides me, there is no GOD”

So in understanding the above, we come to another key thing to note. All the different names for GOD is claimed by Yahwists that they are all the same GOD. So In Exodus 6:2-3, it states that Yahweh, Elohim, El Elyon (GOD Most High), and El Shaddai are stated as being the same GOD here:

Exodus 6:2

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.

Exodus 6:3

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.

Exodus 6:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
Exodus 6:3 See note at 3:15.

This is an attempt by Yahwists to state that they are just different names for the same GOD so they can usurp them into the persona of Yahweh… It’s where monotheism solidifies and parts away from it’s polytheistic roots and smashes all the supposed false Idols including EL’s wife Asherah to which Yahweh was once associated to after being equated to “EL”. Asherah by the evidence was the toughest one for the monotheist movement to shake off. And to do that, all they thought they needed was the common male dominance mentality of the Kenites to where women are seen weak and should obey the will of man. And thus at some point making Asherah a false idol, an idol that never really went away as we can see with Isis and the virgin Mary.  So what all this means is that Judaism and Christianity were born from a monotheistic cult movement to which came from their polytheistic roots. These Yahwehists are those who worshiped a Volcano / fire GOD as the most powerful of all GODs, and as symbol of mans Power.  And it’s no wonder why they had worshiped a Volcano as a GOD of the armies. All of this above gives us a foundation for further evaluation, so let’s look at this in Exodus, the Deut, Psalm, and many others and take a deeper stare into the flame shall we?

 

— PART 3:  EXODUS: THE VOICE OF GOD —

 

The Pillar of Cloud by day and fire by night with thundering and lightning upon a burning shaking mountain of the Lords spoken will.  Dare not touch this mountain of knowledge for you surely in the dark-ages would have been put to death in exposing such blasphemous volcanic reality!:

–EXODUS–

* Exodus13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

* Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

* 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death.

* 16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

* 18 And mount Sinai (the real MT Sinai and city of sodom likely existed in Jordan) was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

In starting with Exodus, here is a pretty good description of a Volcano, and in which many people often tend to use on the internet to infer that Yahweh could have been a Volcano GOD. But Some theist in a defensive fury will say the Bible doesn’t mention the word “Volcano”. That seems to be a good point, but why is that? Well, lets examine why that is with Exodus 20:18. Here will will examine why the term “Volcano” isn’t used. It’s also important that we need to pay close attention to “Noise of the Trumpet”, and the “Thunderins and Lightnings” to get a better understanding what it is the bible is describing as GOD.

“* Exodus 20:18: And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.”

This description is that of a volcano..But they didn’t have the word Volcano back then to use for a description. And this is because the term Volcano did not exist in that era. We get the term volcano from the Romans as you can see here:

“‘Volcano’ comes from the roman god of blacksmiths and fire, Vulcan. When a volcano erupted in Roman times, the people explained it as Vulcan being angry, and hitting the anvil in his forgery (the volcano) with extra strength, sending up the sparks.”

Most notably, remembering we should pay close attention to the noise of the trumpet, and the thunderins and lightnings,  we can establish how these types of Volcano /fire Cults refer to the thunderous noises and lightnings coming from the mountains as being considered the “Voice of GOD”. We can demonstrate this in the following link below.. And it’s amazing how that directly relates to Moses’s description of GOD, and how GOD speaks to him.

http://books.google.com/books?id=KnIYRi3upbEC&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=term+vulcan+in+the+bible&source=bl&ots=b9Dnh1jA_i&sig=_QWkxSVSbzujBygm225sI-HE0To&hl=en&ei=sFauTcHeOMPcgQey8ImRDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=term%20vulcan%20in%20the%20bible&f=false

Thus even though the term “Volcano” is not in the Bible, the term Mountain is, and that is more than good enough for describing a mountain as a volcano.  But let’s continue on and get more into the bible and it’s description of GOD. In part 4 Below, we will examine the face to face jealous talking, all consuming,  and smoking mountain of fire in the Deuteronomy :

— PART 4:  THE DEUTERONOMY —


So to keep this article short as possible, HEH YEAH RIGHT!, I will address some further evidence below in dealing with the Deuteronomy and Psalms as prime material and examples for establishing Yahweh as a Volcano GOD, and the Christian religion as a fire / Volcano Cult.. So am going to play Satan here and burn more of your precious remaining time here on this good Earth. I THUS COMMAND THEE TO READ TILL THE EYES BUUURRRN~!  >:)

 

– THE DEUTERONOMY —

“* Deuteronomy 4:11: And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. (see also Exodus 9:17)

* Deuteronomy 12:2: Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree

* Deuteronomy 5:23: And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

* Deuteronomy 5:4: The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

* Deuteronomy 9:21: Also I took that sinful thing of yours, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust and threw the dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain.

* 9 But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children— 10 how you once stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, “Assemble the people for me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me as long as they live on the earth, and may teach their children so”; 11 you approached and stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain was blazing up to the very heavens, shrouded in dark clouds.

* 12 Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

* 23 So be careful not to forget the covenant that the Lord your God made with you, and not to make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.”

The Deuteronomy also references Egypt:

* 19 And when you look up to the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, do not be led astray and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples everywhere under heaven. 20 But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron-smelter, out of Egypt, to become a people of his very own possession, as you are now.

* 33 Has any people ever heard the voice of a god speaking out of a fire, as you have heard, and lived? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by terrifying displays of power, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 To you it was shown so that you would acknowledge that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, while you heard his words coming out of the fire.

 

* Deuteronomy 4:32-34: “For ask now of the days that are past … whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is? … Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials (R.V. margin), by signs, and by wonders … according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?”

This part is interesting considering many say there is no such evidence of volcanic destruction in Egypt. Many say there are no volcanoes in Egypt.. However, there is Archeological evidence of such a Cataclysmic event from the Therah Eruption that happened around the same time period Exodus was written:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_v128/ai_4016484/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070402-egypt-volcano.html

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/culture-places-news/atlantis-volcano-vin/

Abstract:

“Ancient Egypt Cities Leveled by Massive Volcano, Lava Find Suggests
Dan Morrison in Cairofor National Geographic News April 2, 2007

Egyptian archaeologists today announced that they have unearthed traces of solidified lava on the northern coast of Sinai that date to around 1500 B.C.—supporting accounts that ancient Egyptian settlements were buried by a massive volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean, they say.”

And as noted, this is also consistent with Minoan Eruption:

“The Minoan eruption of Thera, also referred to as the Thera eruption or Santorini eruption, was a major catastrophic volcanic eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or 7 and a Dense-rock equivalent (DRE) of 60 cubic kilometres (14 cu mi),[1] which is estimated to have occurred in the mid second millennium BCE.[2] The eruption was one of the largest volcanic events on Earth in recorded history.[3][4][5] The eruption devastated the island of Thera (also called Santorini), including the Minoan settlement at Akrotiri, as well as communities and agricultural areas on nearby islands and on the coast of Crete.

There are no clear ancient records of the eruption; the eruption seems to have inspired certain Greek myths[6], may have caused turmoil in Egypt

The radiocarbon dates have significant implications for the accepted chronology of Eastern Mediterranean cultures.[22][23] The Minoan eruption is a key marker for the Bronze Age archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean world. It provides a fixed point for aligning the entire chronology of the second millennium BCE in the Aegean, because evidence of the eruption is found throughout the region. Despite this evidence, the exact date of the eruption has been difficult to determine. For most of the twentieth century, archaeologists placed it at approximately between 1500 – 1627 BCE,[15]

You can only imagine the horror in the minds of primitive biblical era civilizations at such a volcanic eruption. Truly it must have been GOD himself! But let’s get out our sticks and sacrificial marshmallows to celebrate part 5′s volcanic hymns of the Psalms as we sing and around our raging campfire in the glory of the all consuming fire ROCK…Lord? :

 

 

— PART 5:  THE PSALMS —

For the lord is thy ROCK erupting example, and what better source of pumice ejecta than where Psalms 18 starts out specifically with this verse:
 

Pslams 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Well that is quite the metaphor we expect to see in regards to Mountain GOD worship as that right there is direct and clear cut evidence of Yahweh being a Mountain GOD. But is this verse in reference to Yahweh being a burning and all consuming volcano fire GOD of War? Well lets see deeper into the hidden darkness of this mystery by adding more wood regarding Pslams 18 to this campfire:

“* Psalms 18:6-15 (word-wrapped to condense space)

6In my distress I called to the Lord;  I cried to my God for help.  From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.  11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. 10 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered [the enemies], great bolts of lightning and routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.”

That’s pretty obvious…Well, we shouldn’t surprised now should we? And that gives you and understanding and the meaning to other verses in the bible such as we find in Matthew 16:

“Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

For Pete’s sake, phun intended, it’s written on the burning mountain walls all over the bible! It’s even in Genesis to which brings us back to that example of “GOD of your Father” regarding El Shaddai, and the Moon GOD Sin to whom where we discussed above, and discussed regarding the GOD of Abraham:

* Genesis 49:24 -25
24
But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayedk limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you

Thus after you really read Psalm, as I outlined, you can then really understand the context of the rest of the bible in regards to Yahweh, and such burning hymns as these:

“* Psalms 11:6:
On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 


* Psalm 50:

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes
    and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
    and around him a tempest rages.
He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”


* Psalm 96:
1Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3Declare his glory (see Psalm 97) among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9Worship the Lord in the splendor of hisa holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13they will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.


* Psalm 97:

1The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. 4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7 All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad  because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.


Psalm 99:

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. 2 Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy. 4 The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. 5 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israela a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. 9 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.”

The evidence is clear, your eyes are burning in torment and hell just from reading this forsaken article! Thus what more proof does one need to establish the hellish reality that the lord worshiped is clearly a Volcano GOD?  Perhaps the threat of torture, torment, and flaming brimstone will kindle your spirits in screams of agony!  So lets dive into the pit of fire together and move on to outlining fire, torment, and brimstone in Part 6:

 

 

 — PART 6:  FIRE, TORMENT, BRIMSTONE, AND HUMAN SACRIFICE —

 

* Mark 9:48 “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”

* Revelation 14:10 “he will be tormented with fire and brimstone”

* Revelation 14:11 “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night”

* Revelation 20:14 “This is the second death, the lake of fire”

* The man in Luke 16:24 cries: “. . .I am tormented in this FLAME.”

* In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: “And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

* In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE,. . .”

* Revelation 20:15 “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”

* Numbers 16:32-33: And THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive INTO THE PIT, and the EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM
* Isaiah 33:14 :14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

* 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

* Revelation 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

MATTHEW 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One God who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

What we have here is damning to say the least. Damming to a hellish torment, or damming to a fiery end of our bodies and souls should we not embrace the lord Jesus as our savior from the one god that can destroy both the body and soul. So why not just toss in animal burnt offerings, and even a human sacrifice as a burnt offering and call it toasty!:

 

Jephthah Burns His Daughter

 

“At that time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and led an army against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD the first thing coming out of my house to greet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering….

“….So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory.  He thoroughly defeated the Ammonites from Aroer to an area near Minnith – twenty towns – and as far away as Abel-keramim. Thus Israel subdued the Ammonites.  When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter – his only child – ran out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy.  When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish.  “My daughter!” he cried out.  “My heart is breaking!  What a tragedy that you came out to greet me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and cannot take it back.”  And she said, “Father, you have made a promise to the LORD.  You must do to me what you have promised, for the LORD has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites.  But first let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin.”  “You may go,” Jephthah said. And he let her go away for two months.  She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children.  When she returned home, her father kept his vow, and she died a virgin.  So it has become a custom in Israel for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah’s daughter.”

Such sacrifices can be seen clearly as evidence of a Volcano/Fire cult. It seems so obvious that it gives one first degree burns infected with disease swarmed in pestilence on a biblical Volcanic scale! So boil your water before proceeding to consume the following!:

 

 

— PART 7:  PLAGUES, DISEASE, AND PESTILENCE  —

 

 
Curious about disease, famine, pesty insects ect?.. Well, that all relates to Volcanic Activity and it’s aftermath as well:

“(exodus 7:14–25?) water turned to blood killing all fish and other water life.”

Like the blood red moon, blood red water and the killing of fish are also directly related to volcanic activity. We can see this fact of nature here:

http://elainemeinelsupkis.typepad.com/earth_news/2006/05/elaine_meinel_s.html
http://scientopia.org/blogs/thisscientificlife/2006/05/30/seeing-red-the-lake-atop-a-vanuatu-volcano/

But what about Pestilence as mentioned below?:

1. (exodus 8:16–19?) lice (Kinim)
2. (exodus 8:20–30?) flies (Arov)
3. (exodus 9:1–7?) disease on livestock (Dever)
4. (exodus 9:8–12?) unhealable boils (Shkhin)
5. (exodus 9:13–35?) hail and thunder (Barad)
6. (exodus 10:1–20?) locusts (Arbeh)
7. (exodus 10:21–29?) darkness (Choshech)

Well, disease and pestilence is a very common occurrence after a volcanic eruption. The dead will attract pests and cause outbreaks of disease. So it’s no surprise that it’s in the bible, or a commonly known thing in a region of the world that has lots of volcanic activity.

http://www.africanews.com/site/DRC_Volcanic_eruptions_lead_to_disease_outbreak/list_messages/29104
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/volcanoes/facts.asp

And with this disease, I pest you further with Songs 8:6 in leading you to a concluding curing end in the flashing of the unquenchable flame :

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.”

 

— PART 8:  THE CONCLUSION —

 

 

The evidence is quite explosively eruptive, and has a rather pyroclastic flow to which engulfs the awe and fears of ancient civilizations.. And I have barely touched the scalding subject as my article here can’t hold much of a candle in the light of the erupting angry GOD of War itself. I dare not challenge it by jumping in it’s lakes of fire, but I sure can stand afar and admire it’s glory as it pours out it’s spirit in an act of violent destruction and renewal. Thus as toast surely pops out of my four slice toaster, we can conclude that there is more to support the Christian GOD Yahweh being a volcano GOD than there is to support Pelee being a volcano GOD. And she was a fiery one at that!:

In the Hawaiian religion, Pele (pronounced [?p?l?], English: /?pe?le?/pay-lay) is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes.

And amazingly enough, the Hawaiian religion even has a flood myth to go with it..:

“A sea! a sea!
Forth bursts the sea,
Bursts forth over Kanaloa (Kaho?olawe),
The sea rises to the hills. . . .”
“Thrice” (according to the chant) the sea floods the land, then recedes. These floodings are called The-sea-of-Ka-hina-li?i.[2]:158

This really shows us how some primitive people understood volcanoes.. And it seems that such people can come up with similar religions based around volcano/fire gods. Pelee has a lot in common with Christianity and how they viewed their GOD. They attached a persona to that which they did not understand and then believed it to be a GOD. Well, eventually we have come to know that Volcanoes are not GOD’s, and thus the Abrahamic Religions have evolved into the concept of some sort of deity outside the realms of our space time continuum while ignoring what exactly their religious doctrines and texts actually state. And who can blame them since it’s a hard swallow of fiery swords to admit it the modern Abrahamic religions derived from a moon worshiping cult to a volcano cult.

So Cheers, and may the truth burn in your hearts! :)

Update:

If you enjoyed this Article I had finished writing the follow up to this article surrounding Yahweh and Mountain GOD worship here.. And do note I am still trying to edit it due to Newsvines redesign on Feb 7th.:

Mountain GOD Worship: Yahweh, God of the Mountains.

 

Related Posts:

Nov 232012
 

Sightseers

This article titled “Sightseers: Alice Lowe and the secret terrors of caravanning” was written by Alex Godfrey, for The Guardian on Friday 23rd November 2012 14.00 UTC

It’s 1pm on a Wednesday, and the cafes of Bethnal Green Road are rammed. Which is all well and good if you want cheap pasta and East End ambience, but ruinous for dictaphone chinwags. Somehow, Alice Lowe still manages to spot a dining establishment utterly devoid of character, and, indeed, customers. During the 90 minutes we spend in there, it’s just us. Which is perfect for a discussion about murder.

The juxtaposition of the humdrum and the grisly is apt. Sightseers, British director Ben Wheatley’s third and funniest film (after the less chucklesome horrors of Down Terrace and Kill List), finds a downtrodden couple enjoying a revelatory first holiday together, a caravanning trip where barbaric violence tracks their rapidly developing relationship. Think Nuts In May meets Badlands, although comparisons don’t do the film justice: Sightseers is a beast all of its own, a fantastically unique black comedy that’s more exhilarating with every viewing.

“That was one of our aspirations,” says Lowe, who co-wrote and stars in the film with Steve Oram. “Withnail And I was one of our influences, and we always hopes that people would want to watch it again because they want to spend more time with the characters.”

Indeed, Sightseers succeeds because Tina and Chris are so immensely watchable: complex, nuanced messes, her full of wonder, him full of rage, at a loss as individuals but ready to take on the world as a couple. Lowe and Oram dreamed the characters up seven years ago after meeting at regular comedy night Ealing Live; they developed from talks the pair had about their Midlands backgrounds and family holidays. “We couldn’t afford to fly, so we’d get on a ferry and my dad would drive us around Europe, and we’d have all these weird experiences,” laughs Lowe. “The weirdness of travelling, carrying your house on your back, turning up somewhere where you’re supposed to develop new rules in this artificial community. Camping in someone’s orchard with some creepy farmer coming on to my mum. I remember this Dutch family, all blond and beautiful on their bicycles. The dad was still barbecuing in the rain, in a really capable, athletic way, and my dad was just scowling at him. There’s something really hilarious about all the little prejudices and jealousies.”

Lowe’s career as a comic actor was kickstarted a decade ago, after Richard Ayoade saw her in a play and cast her in the stage production of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. After that graduated to TV, her CV quickly became a journey through 21st-century UK TV comedy, taking in Boosh, Little Britain and The IT Crowd. She and Oram filmed a Sightseers TV pitch, but it was unanimously rejected for being too dark. “Everybody was coming back to us and going, ‘It’s really funny, but we can’t possibly commission it,’” says Lowe. Encouraged by the positivity, they put it online, and Lowe, who had appeared in Hot Fuzz, sent the link to Edgar Wright. He saw its cinematic potential, hooked them up with production company Big Talk, and became the exec producer. Lowe and Oram threw themselves into the murky world of serial killer literature and – in character and accompanied by a cameraman – went on a caravanning research trip around the Lake District and Derbyshire, taking in such tourist hotspots as the Crich Tramway Village, the Keswick pencil museum and the Ribblehead viaduct. The film, which is geographically authentic, follows the same route.

At its heart, Sightseers is about a couple exploring each other and, more to the point, themselves. Tina and Chris are damaged, confused and dangerously repressed loners who find euphoric solace in each other, for better or worse. “A lot of the dynamic between them is based on observing your parents over a long period,” says Lowe. “Seeing what people will put up with, and what compromises people make to be together. That was what we wanted people to get from the film: why do people stay together? The first time you go on holiday is the test of a relationship, when you really find out if you’re compatible or not. You find out what’s annoying about that person, and whether or not you’re willing to put up with that because you love them and you don’t want to be alone. Tina goes, ‘OK, you kill people, that’s all right, I can live with that!’ Chris is a psycho but he doesn’t want to be alone, and to me there’s pathos in that; he’s a serial killer who wants love, and he finds his perfect woman, in some ways.”

It’s this kind of gleeful perversity that elevates Sightseers, that makes it resonate, that makes you want to watch these reprehensible characters who are so heartless yet long so achingly for each other’s acceptance. “You find your way into the film with Tina because you follow her realisation that her boyfriend is violent,” says Lowe, explaining how they found the humanity in the characters. “She gets mesmerised by it. It’s almost romantic for them, and sexy. We did a lot of research about psychopathic personalities, we tried to really get our heads around that.”

‘I probably revisit in my work the moment at which I realised that dreams couldn’t be reality. I find the bathos of that disappointment painfully funny’

Lowe talks in depth about their research, particularly the work of criminal psychology researcher Robert Hare, and talks even more passionately about Tina’s strength, about cliched female characters in cinema, and how she wouldn’t allow hers to join the list. “I felt really strongly that Tina might superficially think that she wants the usual things – marriage, babies – but deep down in her core she’s much more capricious and has a much stronger will than that. I hope we got that across in the film. She has an individualistic drive. I studied classics, and I find it mystifying that we had Medea and Electra and Antigone and all these amazing characters, and they don’t really exist in cinema now. The only person who’s really doing it, and he gets loads of criticism for it, is Lars Von Trier. He has these incredible female protagonists, and he gets criticised for being sexist, but if those female characters weren’t flawed they’d be boring and there’d not be a film about them. That informed Tina a lot, her not doing the expected thing.”

She describes Tina as being in a state of suspended animation. Still living at home, she’s shackled to her hysterically domineering mother. It’s quite the Freudian relationship, with shades of Hitchcock’s Psycho, which Lowe briefly acknowledges before enthusing for some time about Grey Gardens, the wonderful Maysles brothers documentary about Jackie Onassis’s eccentric relatives, the Beales.

“I’ve always wanted to do something about a mother-daughter relationship,” she explains. “Women often have a fraught relationship with their mothers, even though that’s the most important relationship in their lives. Also, Chris is the first person who’s really said to Tina, ‘I think you’re gorgeous,’ and that’s blown her mind, because everybody else has ignored her in the past. I think possibly with her mother there’s some sexual jealousy, she doesn’t want Tina to find happiness. There are loads of women in my family, and those dynamics between women really fascinate me.”

Lowe’s currently working on her next film, Lily, which she plans to direct herself. She’s described it as Madame Bovary meets Trainspotting. Lowe excels at the off-kilter, and throughout her career has performed both heightened, surrealist comedy, and much straighter, naturalistic (albeit twisted) material. Lily will combine the two, a domestic drama with fantasy sequences, she says, veering off to talk about her obsession with Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. “I think it’s something to do with my childish wish that magic and fantasy existed, and then the contrasting crushing pathetic reality,” she says. “I probably revisit in my work the moment at which I realised that dreams couldn’t be reality. I find the bathos of that disappointment painfully funny.” Sightseers, for all its absurdism and ultra-violence, somehow always rings true. “I’ve put my heart and soul into it, and that’s as much as you can do,” she says.

In response to a follow-up email, Lowe jokingly wonders if anyone reading this article will actually know who she is. “I never get recognised, even when people have just seen the thing I’ve been in,” she writes. “It’s hilarious that Steve [Oram] is constantly getting recognised for Sightseers, because of his ginger beard, and I’m standing right next to him. I think it’s a compliment though, as Tina’s a bit of a minger. Also, the idea of being recognised everywhere is terrifying to me. So I think it’s for the best.”

Unfortunately for her, with the already acclaimed Sightseers in cinemas imminently, that’s about to change. A few days after sending that email, she wins Best Actress at Spain’s Sitges festival, with Sightseers winning best screenplay. She’s been nominated in the same two categories at the British Independent Film Awards, up against the likes of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench in the former. Sightseers is an utter joy, and it will get those repeat viewings. Fans will, Withnail-like, retrace Tina and Chris’s steps around the Lake District. Alice Lowe will get recognised. She’ll get used to it.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited

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Nov 232012
 

Sports Injuries

Sports Injuries

It is always exciting to start working out when you first join a gym. You may feel like you are ready to tackle anything and you probably will at first. But you should be careful to learn how to use the equipment correctly and learn to lift properly to prevent injury whilst working out.

You may want to show off how strong you are and how much you can do, but that can backfire in a heartbeat. Instead, learn the proper mechanics for a good, clean lift and recognize limitations that you as a new exerciser will naturally have in the beginning. It’s okay to start slow and work your way up to powerhouse workouts and bulging muscles. Instead of going full tilt try this method of building up to help you stay healthy whilst learning how to work out:

 

·         First things first, always get a check up with a doctor to make sure your body can handle your plan. Let your doctor know your goals and what type of work out you are planning. Not only will the doctor be able to monitor your health, but he or she may be able to help you create a complementary diet.

·         Start by lifting only slightly heavy heavier weight than you can easily manage. So that would mean that if 5 pounds is really easy, you can go up to 8 pounds rather than 10 or more.

·         Start with 1 set of 12 per exercise the first week or two, and then increase to 2 sets of 12 to 15, but with the same weight. After you are comfortable with 3 sets of 15 to 18 reps, you can increase the weight to the next slightly challenging weight and start the process over again with gradual increase in sets and reps.

·         Make sure to consult with a trainer or experienced person to assure your lift mechanics are sound. Improperly lifting is definitely a ticket to an injury.

·         Gradually warm up with a brisk walk and THEN stretch properly. After a good work out stretch again and then take a slow, relaxed walk to cool down.

 

Working out is always a great goal to have. You really need to be smart about it. Going into it without a plan or a proper diet is just asking for injuries that may set you back or even prevent you from carrying out your plan. If the injury sends you to the couch you may psyche yourself out of your dream of getting in shape. Don’t risk it. Consult your doctor, and then follow his advice to the letter. Slowly work up to the power house you wish to become. Learn from the pros how to do it right for greater success so you are less likely to suffer an injury that hurts the psyche as much as the body. Go! Have fun! Be safe!

Sharon Freeman is a freelancer who loves writing about health and wellbeing from Shoulder Reconstruction Surgery to sporting injuries.

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Dec 062011
 
thom-yorke-occupy-london--007

Thom Yorke was one of the musicians playing in solidarity with the Occupy London movement in the cellar of the USB bank in London. A 'pay what you want' album of the gig is expected from Occupation Records. Photograph: Tom Watkins/Rex Features


Powered by Guardian.co.ukThis article titled “Music world puts on ‘thank you’ gig in solidarity with Occupy London” was written by Shiv Malik, for The Guardian on Wednesday 7th December 2011 01.50 UTC

Music stars put on a gig in the basement of a London bank to raise money for the worldwide Occupy movement.

The gig featured DJ sets from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and 3D from Massive Attack, with members of the bank Unkle, was held in an abandoned complex owned by Swiss banking giant UBS in east London.

With an invited audience of 100, the gig was a “thank you” from musicians to the movement, said its organisers.

The complex was taken over by the Occupy London movement three weeks ago and transformed into the Bank of Ideas; it is being used by up to 30 groups who have faced cuts to their services.

Organisers added that the concert was recorded and would be put on an album and soon be available on a “pay what you want” basis from the Occupation Records label.

Money would be distributed to the UK Occupy movement and to encampments around the world.

Occupy spokesman Ronan McNern said: “Artists are doing this in solidarity with the Occupy movement. It’s tremendous … and hopefully it will be the first of many concerts.”

Poets, dancers and comedians also performed to a packed room, and during the electronica and dub set lasting for two hours the crowd held up a banner which read, “This is just the beginning”. Yorke had had to cancell a previous gig for Occupy Wall Street in New York when the crowd grew too large for him to perform.

Concert organiser Adam Fiztmaurice said the show had taken a fortnight to set up, but was just one jcultural response to economic injustice.

“Yesterday I was meeting with clergy [from the church], and today it is with rock stars. The Occupy movement has so many cultures and this is just a snap shot of what we are doing,” he said.

Today the Bank of Ideas will discover out whether they are to be evicted when judgment is delivered in the court of appeal in the Strand in central London.

In recent months, other celebrities such as Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, Russel Brand, ivienne Westwood and Alan Bennett have backed Occupy protests in the US and UK.

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Aug 112011
 

debt collector

I wanted to write this piece to give the public a little insight into the corporate practices of one of our country’s larger mortgage companies. If there is a way to inform the public of the lending/collection practices of Green Tree Servicing LLC, I hope this is it.  This is my personal account, and a summary of complaints found about the company on the internet.

My original lender was National City Mortgage, my mortgage was sold to Green Tree Servicing LLC.  You may have heard of this company, they were in the news for harassing collection calls to a disabled man in Florida; they called right up until his death:

Florida man harassed to death by mortgage company.

Within one week of my mortgage being sold the harassment started.  I began researching this new mortgage company online, and the stories I have read scared me.

I am not experiencing any hardship financially so to speak, I’ve never been in default or delinquent on my loan, yet this mortgage company, Green Tree Servicing LLC, insisted on treating me as if I am a habitual offender and a child, with threats and demeaning comments as to my ability to budget my money.

Green Tree Servicing called me repeatedly concerning my mortgage payment, a debt that has never been delinquent. When they called, they would immediately begin with a comment like “so when are we going to get you to pay this money…”, as if I was trying to not pay my mortgage.  Of course I would tell them the same thing every time, “I pay my mortgage through my bank, and you will get it shortly after the paycheck for that period comes in”, which is always between the 1st and the 16th of the month – I get paid bi-weekly.  This would only lead to being insulted and often times yelled at.

I have a legal mortgage “note” from the original mortgage lender, National City Mortgage, which states that my mortgage is due on the 1st of the month and that I will not be assessed a late fee until the 16th of the month. That same contract is in affect with Green Tree Servicing LLC, and I have spoken to them about this note.  They have responded every time – yes every time – with “your mortgage is due on the 1st, if you don’ want us to call and harass you, pay it on or before the 1st of the month…

During one of my conversations with a representative, I was yelled at for asking them to make a note not to call until my payment is late.  She insisted on transferring me to her supervisor, with a bit of relief I waited until the supervisor got on the line, thinking I’d speak with someone more experienced.  I was correct, she had more experience, but she had no intention of helping, it seemed she only wanted to get in on the yelling.  When I asked her if she was familiar with “The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”, clause 805 and subsequent clauses, she laughed at me and said, “oh, I’m very familiar, so what?”  Implying that it wouldn’t help me and it definitely would not stop them.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, clause 805 in particular tells the consumer to send a “certified letter” to the company telling them to cease and desist all communications about the debt with the consumer.  If they do not comply, you have a legal complaint.  Another clause in this Act specifies threats of foreclosure, calling of third parties, additional fees, etc… as illegal acts by debt collectors.

Upon researching a little more I found that Green Tree Servicing LLC has a work around for these laws to some extent.  Since the Acts primarily apply to third party collectors, Green Tree Servicing LLC has created their own debt collecting department.  This was the reason the supervisor I was speaking with didn’t care about my mention of the Fair Debt Collection Practices.

I later found out the “Supervisor” was actually my account manager and when I refused to be talked to the way she was talking to me, I asked to speak to her supervisor.  She transferred me to her manager; he took less than 15 seconds to start yelling at me and told me it’s my fault because I don’t know how to budget my money properly.  Once again, if you look at my credit report, I have zero, none, zilch in the department of 30 days past due for any credit, loan or bill in the past seven years.

I told him I’ve never missed a payment and I’ve never been in default or delinquent.  His response was, “you better make your payments immediately and start doing it by the 1st if you don’t want us calling”, and then hung up on me – To be fair, at this point I was yelling too, because none of them seemed to be listening to me, just yelling over me.

Here is an excerpt from one of the comments left on “measuredup.com”, a little insight:

“I was a Collections Supervisor at Green Tree servicing for sometime (years) and we were driven by end of the month results.  Upper management endorsed the idea of the ends justify the means.  For example 1 month (July/August 2005) the last day of the month was a saturday.  The office I worked in consistently made its goals.  At 1pm or so on that saturday afternoon it was obvious we were not going to be able to collect anymore delinquent balances/loan payments.  We (my regional manager and myself) sent the collection staff home and reported our numbers to corporate office.  By the time I got home (45 minutes away) I recieved a call at my home from my regional manager stating we had to go back to the office because the delinquency level for the company had not met it’s desired goals.  I was required to go back to the office and call all delinquent customers and collect on balances until 9pm that evening. (the types of calls were despicable) These orders came from Corporate

Our EVP actually came to our office one day and explained that these “types” of loans requires “hard ” collections.  When we had a side bar I asked about the comment “these types of loans” and he advised these are low credit scores and the homes are not built to last and we need to collect hard to avoid the anticpated high default rates…” (sic)

This comment on that site gives the consumer insight into the corporate mindset of Green Tree Servicing LLC’s management.  There are many others like it throughout the web, and I obviously can’t post them all here.

It seems simple enough, get my payments to them before the 1st of the month and they won’t bother me, right?  Problem is, I’ve read too many stories about this company and know that if they receive my payment before the 1st they start applying to the principal and then send you a bill for the month’s mortgage payment.  If you tell them you sent it, they give you the run around long enough to assess late fees.

Many complaints from their customers claim that the payments never get cleared up and nearly every incident ends with the consumer making an extra mortgage payment.  If they don’t, the phone calls start, they call you, co-workers, neighbors and other family members and they threaten foreclosure to all, trying to collect.  Please note, I have not been in this situation, this is merely concluded from reading other people’s stories.  I have decided to not have any payments before the 1st of any month.

I’ve also read about missing escrow money, to which Green Tree Servicing LLC will claim that there is no longer insurance on the home and they force an insurance purchase with, you guessed it, their home insurance branch.  How do they do this?  Law requires that your home be covered by insurance when there is a mortgage or a lien.  Green Tree Servicing LLC misplaces insurance letters from actual insurance companies, or doesn’t account for escrow money properly.

A quick Google search of “Green Tree Servicing LLC complaints” or “Green Tree Servicing LLC reviews” will lead you to an abundance of information on their practices and the amount of time they’ve been doing this to their customers.  I’ve also researched and discovered that this company is a potential recipient of TARP funds in the amount of $105 million for Modifications Loans, and every indication is that they make it near impossible to receive one.

Green Tree Servicing LLC is a classic “predatory lender” – they chose to lend to “high risk” borrowers just so they can collect more interest. If you read the complaints you’ll see that many people mention extra payments being put towards “interest” rather than “principal” – others mention paying well more than the average APR. This company preys on your money. Know your rights and defend your fellow consumer.

I am not writing this to get help from anyone.  I just realized after reading these complaints that many people do not know their consumer “rights” and I wanted to inform them as best as I can. Please, if you are being harassed by this company or any other, go to:

Federal Trade Commission

There is plenty of information there to assist you in your rights.  This company treats consumers like this because they know that no one will actually use the laws that are available to protect from this treatment.

I’d like to add that it is very important to keep all documentation from Green Tree Servicing LLC or any other predatory company.  Document the time and person in every conversation, check with your state Attorney General’s office to see what the laws are on recording telephone conversations, and be sure to visit as many sites as possible to leave complaints.

We, and the government, may not be able to shut them down, but we can stop them from receiving any more business.  We need to inform other prospective customers about the tribulations that come with this company and let these types of corporations know that consumers will not accept these practices.

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Jul 192011
 

coins

Most people dream of setting up a business of their own but very few are able to realize their dream as they’re turned down while taking out a business loan. The financial costs of setting up a business are huge and this can often be a challenge in front of the business owner. The financial institutions that particularly deal with lending business loans usually demand detailed description and calculation of the initial costs, a solid business plan, marketing ideas and probable profit-loss approximation before giving you a loan. If you’re someone who has already gone through the hassles of such crafty business loan lenders, you can leverage a second mortgage and use the proceeds in financing your business. With a perfect credit score and proof that you can pay the monthly installments on time, it is far easier to get home refinance loan than a business loan.

What are the kinds of home finance loans that you can take out?

Basically, there are two ways in which you can take out home finance loans and use the proceeds in setting up your new business organization. One is taking the help of a second mortgage and the other is opting for cash-out refinancing. Any of the aforementioned options will permit you to access extra cash and use it in financing your business. The money that you get from these sources may be utilized for any financial purpose and therefore you need not have any fixed plan to qualify for such a loan.

What are the basics of taking out a second mortgage?

A second mortgage is also known as a home equity loan and this is a loan that you take out by tapping the equity that you’ve accumulated in your home. For instance, if the present value of your home is $200,000 and the loan balance on your first mortgage is $150,000, the equity is $50,000 and you can thus take out a loan of this amount. As you are offering your home as collateral for such a loan, you must remain extra careful and stay on top of the payments.

How to utilize a cash-out refinance loan?

If you want to finance your small business by taking out a home loan, you can also opt for refinancing your present mortgage loan for an amount that is more than what you owe on your home loan and use the surplus funds for commercial purposes. This is known as cash-out refinance and you must make sure that the lender agrees to a cash-out refinance plan when the total debt on the home loan is either equal to or less than 80% of the value of the home.

What are the interest rates like on the these types of loans?

The interest rate on your second mortgage loan and the cash-out refinance loan will entirely depend on the market at the time of the loan, credit score of the borrower, the loan amount that you have borrowed, your present income and the amount of eqiuty that will be left in your home after your loan will be approved. You’ll also want to pay attention to your expected monthly payment as well as the length of the loan.

If you’re ready to open a new business and cash is tight, you can certainly make use of these home financing options but there are some pitfalls too. If you do not have a solid financial plan, you may later fail to make the monthly payments on time as you may not be able to make ends meet with your profits. Since you have already pledged your home as collateral, you run the risk of losing your home to foreclosure. Therefore, take into account your business goals and your repayment ability before resorting to a second mortgage or a cash-out refinance loan.

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Jul 182011
 

insecurity

I struggle with what can only be described as insecurity on a level that no one who knows me would believe. On the outside I portray myself as a very confident and open person, but on the inside I’m always telling myself that I’m not good enough for one reason or another. Often times I feel like a phony that has been able to pull the wool over the eyes of everyone who knows me, and until today, I don’t think I’ve ever come out and told anyone the extent of my insecurities.

Recently I told someone on a discussion board that despite my boldness on the site, I am truly very insecure, and when I typed the words and sent the message I felt a bit of relief sending it. That may sound weird to many of you, but it can’t be describe as anything else; just relief, small as it may have been.

I don’t know where all of my insecurity stems from at all. I’ve never had many major problems with…well anything. Worst I can say is that I’ve been slightly overweight – at least in my head – all my life. I moved or had new friends in and out of my life my entire life, so I guess that could be a factor as well, but for the most part I have no real excuse for feeling this way.

Though this has always been a problem for me, I can say it’s never been a problem for me as much as it has been in the past few years. I met my wife in 2005, started a new career in 2006, kids have come into the picture, and for the most part my life has completely changed from the way it was…you know, when all I cared about was me.

My new career was a confidence booster for around five minutes until after I walked into the office and realized that everyone in there was smarter than me, they all new exactly how to do their job better than I did, and I was pretty sure the boss was just waiting for me to screw up so I could be fired. Problem is, it’s been five years and I still feel this way; I feel this way on any job I ever do. I make it a habit of finding jobs and then looking for a reason to move on because I am so sure that any day they’re going to ask me to leave. Even the jobs I excelled at in the past – winning awards and recognitions – I was certain that it was just because I was able to pretend I am good at what I’m doing. And the Oscar goes to…

So sure enough, I’m constantly stressed about finding another job that I can do well. One that won’t make me fake job performance.

Friends are people that have come in and out of my life since as long as I can remember. If I actually tried to count the people I’ve considered “good friends” at one time or another I don’t think I could possibly do it…it would be in the thousands. If I tried to count how many I felt really knew me, and thought if they did really know would like me, it would be easy.

My kids…me as a father; I’ve written about this in the past and anyone who has read those ruminations can maybe now see where it stems from. No matter how much I try to tell myself I’m a good father and how hard I try to change my bad habits with parenting, I always fall short in my head. Coincidentally, I’m the one telling my wife constantly how good of parents we are in comparison to others, but I can’t help but feel that it’s actually just her that is worthy of being called a good parent. Me, I can’t seem to convince myself that I’m doing “okay”. I worry everyday that my son is going to grow up and hate me because I’m not nice enough to him today or my daughter is going to realize that daddy isn’t that fun.

I sat in my son’s room this past weekend – they’re in Kansas – and looked around and saw a child that is influenced by everything in the world right now. He doesn’t let a thing pass him up without taking in something he will later use. It hit me that I’m just that to him, an influence, and I panicked. Yes, I actually panicked, thinking it was too late to make sure he loved me when he grew older. I wanted to rewind time to when he was a baby trying to climb out of the crib and I would put him back in; instead I would have held him in my arms until he fell asleep. I wanted to go back and let him sleep in the bed with my wife and me all the way up until his sister was born. I wanted to hold him more, since now he doesn’t like it when I do.

My daughter I shower with love and affection, she rarely gets in real trouble with me, and loves being around her daddy. Yet, I still feel like I’m doing it all wrong with her too…I don’t understand at all why, but I can’t shake the notion. Things that go through my head range from not disciplining her enough – spoiling – to not being the way mommy is with her – doing crafts, library visits, regular playground trips. I give her T.V time, bedtime stories and the occasional family outing to the park or something. What does that add up to in the long run? Not much. I can just see her memories of me when she gets older.

Marriage, oh marriage…it has been a bear. I like to believe we have a healthy relationship that is strong enough to withstand many hardships, but I’ve also convinced myself that she doesn’t feel the same.

I married a woman considerably younger than I, who is, to say the least, beautiful, but I think most that know her would go as far as to describe her as stunning. She’s extremely intelligent beyond that of most women I’ve ever dated, and she is so strong willed and driven. I love watching her with our children; I don’t think there has ever been a time that I’ve not thought I would like to be just like her as a parent, and at times in other ways.

Since the beginning of our relationship I’ve been thinking she is going to snap out of it any moment and wonder why she is with a Joe like me. Of course I’m not good enough for her, of course there’s so much better she can have. I’ve created a world where no matter what, I’m an outsider and I can never be anything but one. Because of this, I’m always afraid she’s looking for better…or at the least, not concerned with me at all. Do you know how straining it is on a relationship to have one person be so insecure? Not to mention the strain on my psyche.

Recently, I even stopped calling my own mother as often as I used to because I began believing that I was bothering her by calling so much. I convinced myself that I could hear the annoyance in her voice when I called. And I rarely call my own brothers because I know they don’t want to talk to me, why would they? That’s what I think anytime I consider calling them…and I only will if I have something to talk to them about, I can’t just pick up the phone and call to say “hello”. As for my father, I get nervous talking to him face-to-face, I always end up saying something stupid and then wanting to back pedal out of the conversation. My own father makes me nervous…it doesn’t make any sense to me.

I certainly don’t know if things will change. I am always trying to work on things with my wife and kids, but I’m still convinced that I’ll never succeed. It is pretty fair to say that if I’m interacting with you at any given time, you can bet that in my head I’m reeling about how I’m coming off to you at that very moment.

I don’t know what to say about this, I don’t know why I’m like this at all. I didn’t intend to let all this out here on “World Free News”, I didn’t intend on letting it out at all. I definitely am not eliciting any sympathy or praise from readers, friends, and family, even that would seem …well elicited, and will feel undeserving to me. However, I’ve come to realize that writing has become an outlet for me. I’ve starting noticing that if I write it and read it I can actually understand it better. Better than just knowing in my head that it exist.

This goes for everything I write, not just this issue. And with only a tad bit of irony, this insecurity has become a problem for my writing. I’ve started to convince myself that I got lucky a few times and that I can’t ever match or exceed any of my past pieces, so I’ve stopped for the most part. It has become too stressful to write a piece without judging it harshly. I’ve written and deleted four articles or pieces like this in the past 2-3 months because I thought people would think I am an idiot. And they very well might after reading this, who knows.

I usually either start or end my writing pieces by explaining to the reader why I’m writing the particular piece, but with this one I can’t. I don’t know why I started writing this. I don’t have time to write today, but I just did. I opened up a word document to spell check the word “stupendous”, after I did that I stared at the blank word document and started typing. Maybe it’s self imposed therapy or maybe I just thought someone else feels the same way as me.

 

Writers note:  This piece was in no way meant to assess blame or responsibility on anyone mentioned or others that assume mention.  The feelings and thoughts written in this piece are a reflection on the writer’s inner-thoughts and perspectives based on a strictly emotional response.  The purpose of the writing is to portray the insecurities felt by a person that shows a confident demeanor in daily interactions.

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May 312011
 

Obama lays a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”Isaiah 6:8, King James Bible

Not likely will you hear this verse uttered at a memorial service by a Muslim, and it would be less likely that you would hear them spoken by someone who has contempt for the people they memorialize. But this was the verse that was quoted by President Obama this Memorial Day as he laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Why would I refer to the President as a Muslim or as someone who holds our soldiers and this country in contempt?  I wouldn’t, I’m merely offering a bit of satire to the propaganda that is often preached by a certain ilk in this country.  Propaganda claiming that the sole intent of our President is to undermine the strength and unity of this country because of his Muslim heritage.

Now, I’m not ignorant enough to believe this rhetoric, which is often repeated by those that are spiteful of our sitting President, but I’m amazed at how many people repeat this message as if it were true – or even believe it is true.

I’m no expert when it comes to religion, but even I realized that these were the words of a Christian, and one that meant to honor those they were spoken about.  Though, I do recognize that Isaiah is also a Prophet that is taught in the Muslim religion as prophesying the coming of both Jesus – yes the Muslims recognize Jesus Christ as a prophet – and Muhammad, I think it’s a far stretch to tie this quote to Islam since the Quran does not quote Isaiah or even include mention of Isaiah.

So, when hearing the President had quoted this verse, I asked myself, “Who could actually believe this man is a Muslim?”  I guess the answer can only be given by someone who thinks it.

I’m also reminded that those people can’t find it in them to act or speak as their Lord Jesus Christ would.  These people who fight against social programs that would benefit the less fortunate forget an important verse in the book of Matthew;

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” – (Matthew 25.35-40 ESV)

Jesus was not speaking of himself, he wasn’t saying, “give me what I need to survive and I will give you passage to heaven.”  He was saying when you serve others you serve Him.  So why is it that many of those who fight so dastardly against social programs often relish in their own holiness? – Not to say that all who are religious are this way, just that many that are this way are speaking as Christians.

I’ve written about the hate and intolerance often spewed out by these same people towards Muslims – not wanting a mosque near ground zero, or even in their city, and burning Qurans to defile the muslim religion.  Hell, the man that did that was a pastor…had he not read his own teachings?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – (Matthew 5.43-45 ESV)

This man prayed for the death of our President, he speaks words of hate for Islam and he burns their holy book.  Yet I didn’t see a public outcry by the Christian community to condemn his actions, and I remember some saying that it was “stupid that the Muslims are rioting over this…”  I’m not a religious man, to say the least, but I recognize that if I were, and people hiding behind the values of a nation and the virtues of a religion burned my holy book, I’d be upset by the action as well.

But speaking outside of this one man’s actions, think of how many people in this country blame Islam for 9/11.   - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” * – Think about how many people hold open-contempt for American Muslims or just Muslims in general over the actions of only a few men?  – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”* – How many of these people do you think claim Christianity as their religion?

I’m ready to see more Christians openly speak about the needs of the poor again and defend much needed programs.  I’d love to see more Christians come out and defend Muslims and Islam against the hate and persecution of the extremist…I’d love to see the real Christians regain their voice.  And for the record, you can remove the word “Christians” in this paragraph and replace it with “Muslims” or any other religion and I’d still love to see it.

President Obama stood before that memorial to the men and women who have died for this nation and he commemorated their sacrifice with Christian words, with honorable words, doing so without condemning the enemy of those fallen soldiers.  He reflected the true values of a virtuous Christian; yet, this man himself has been criticized by the Religious Right as an unholy man and enemy of this Nation…

…makes me think maybe that “snake” in their new party symbol has more meaning than “don’t tread on me”.

* Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5.3-12 ESV).

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May 272011
 

af447

France’s Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA) has released an update to the investigation of Air France flight 447 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing all 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on June 1, 2009.

The report shows that the passengers and crew literally fell out of the sky, suffering an agonizingly slow fall that took more than 3 full minutes from an altitude of 38,000 feet.  As a point of comparison, most roller coaster rides last 30-45 seconds.

According to the report, the aircraft prepared for and had an uneventful takeoff from Rio de Janiero.  At 1 h 55 min (UTC) into the flight, the Captain woke the second co-pilot and said “[…] he’s going to take my place”.

Between 1 h 59 min and 2 h 01 min, the Captain attended the briefing between the two co-pilots, during which the PF said, in particular “the little bit of turbulence that you just saw […] we should find the same ahead […] we’re in the cloud layer unfortunately we can’t climb much for the moment because the temperature is falling more slowly than forecast” and that “the logon with Dakar failed”. The Captain left the cockpit.

The airplane approached the ORARO point. It was flying at flight level 350 and at Mach 0.82 and the pitch attitude was about 2.5 degrees. The weight and balance of the airplane were around 205 tonnes and 29% respectively. Autopilot 2 and auto-thrust were engaged.

At 2 h 06 min 04, the PF called the cabin crew, telling them that “in two minutes we should enter an area where it’ll move about a bit more than at the moment, you should watch out” and he added “I’ll call you back as soon as we’re out of it”.

At 2 h 08 min, the PNF said “you can maybe go a little to the left […]“. The airplane began a slight turn to the left, the change in relation to the initial route being about 12 degrees. The level of turbulence increased slightly and the crew decided to reduce the speed to about Mach 0.8.

At 2 h 10 min, the autopilot then auto-thrust disengaged and the PF said “I have the controls”. The airplane began to roll to the right and the PF made a left nose-up input. The stall warning sounded twice in a row. The recorded parameters show a sharp fall from about 275 kt to 60 kt in the speed displayed on the left primary flight display (PFD), then a few moments later in the speed displayed on the integrated standby instrument system (ISIS).

The airplane’s pitch attitude increased progressively beyond 10 degrees and the plane started to climb. The PF made nose-down control inputs and alternately left and right roll inputs. The vertical speed, which had reached 7,000 ft/min, dropped to 700 ft/min and the roll varied between 12 degrees right and 10 degrees left. The speed displayed on the left side increased sharply to 215 kt (Mach 0.68). The airplane was then at an altitude of about 37,500 ft and the recorded angle of attack was around 4 degrees.

The PNF tried several times to call the Captain back.  The stall warning was triggered again. The thrust levers were positioned in the TO/GA detent and the PF maintained nose-up inputs. The recorded angle of attack, of around 6 degrees at the triggering of the stall warning, continued to increase. The trimmable horizontal stabilizer (THS) passed from 3 to 13 degrees nose-up in about 1 minute and remained in the latter position until the end of the flight.

Around fifteen seconds later, the speed displayed on the ISIS increased sharply towards 185 kt; it was then consistent with the other recorded speed. The PF continued to make nose-up inputs. The airplane’s altitude reached its maximum of about 38,000 ft, its pitch attitude and angle of attack being 16 degrees.

At around 2 h 11 min, the Captain re-entered the cockpit. During the following seconds, all of the recorded speeds became invalid and the stall warning stopped.

The altitude was then about 35,000 ft, the angle of attack exceeded 40 degrees and the vertical speed was about -10,000 ft/min. The airplane’s pitch attitude did not exceed 15 degrees and the engines’ N1’s were close to 100%. The airplane was subject to roll oscillations that sometimes reached 40 degrees. The PF made an input on the sidestick to the left and nose-up stops, which lasted about 30 seconds.

At 2 h 12 min, the PF said “I don’t have any more indications”, and the PNF said “we have no valid indications”. At that moment, the thrust levers were in the IDLE detent and the engines’ N1’s were at 55%. Around fifteen seconds later, the PF made pitch-down inputs. In the following moments, the angle of attack decreased, the speeds became valid again and the stall warning sounded again.

At 2 h 13 min, the PF said “we’re going to arrive at level one hundred”. About fifteen seconds later, simultaneous inputs by both pilots on the sidesticks were recorded and the PF said “go ahead you have the controls”.

The angle of attack, when it was valid, always remained above 35 degrees.

The recordings stopped at 2 h 14 min 28. The last recorded values were a vertical speed of -10,912 ft/min, a ground speed of 107 kt, pitch attitude of 16.2 degrees nose-up, roll angle of 5.3 degrees left and a magnetic heading of 270 degrees.

NEW FINDINGS

At this stage of the investigation, as an addition to the BEA interim reports of 2 July and 17 December 2009, the following new facts have been established:

  1. The composition of the crew was in accordance with the operator’s procedures.
  2. At the time of the event, the weight and balance of the airplane were within the operational limits.
  3. At the time of the event, the two co-pilots were seated in the cockpit and the Captain was resting. The latter returned to the cockpit about 1 min 30 after the disengagement of the autopilot.
  4. There was an inconsistency between the speeds displayed on the left side and the integrated standby instrument system (ISIS). This lasted for less than one minute.
  5. After the autopilot disengagement:
    1. the airplane climbed to 38,000 ft,
    2. the stall warning was triggered and the airplane stalled,
    3. the inputs made by the PF were mainly nose-up,
    4. the descent lasted 3 min 30, during which the airplane remained stalled. The angle of attack increased and remained above 35 degrees,
    5. the engines were operating and always responded to crew commands.
  6. The last recorded values were a pitch attitude of 16.2 degrees nose-up, a roll angle of 5.3 degrees left and a vertical speed of -10,912 ft/min.

Author’s Notes:

Depending on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the particular air carrier, PF = Pilot Flying, PNF = Pilot Not Flying.  These are of course, the individuals seated in the pilot and co-pilot seat, either of which could be the PF.

Being an ultralight pilot myself (lawn chair with wings), I have been in several real life in-flight emergencies, to include an inadvertent stall on approach. I have also practiced stalls on many occasion therefore, one line of the above report jumps out at me leaving a lump in my throat: “the thrust levers were in the IDLE detent.”

Regardless of the size of aircraft, a stall is handled in much the same way for all.  The stall refers to the wing(s) stalling (ceasing to fly) not the engine.  To recover you need to increase airspeed over the wing at the correct angle (front to back) so, you push the nose down and move throttle to 100% to get the most airspeed over the wings in the least amount of time.

Once the wing is again flying, you can level out and reduce throttle.  The vertical distance this maneuver requires varies on the size of aircraft, my ultralight needs 45 ft. to recover.  On a Cessna 150, it’s probably about 500 ft, 10 times as much as my ultralight.  On an A330 best guess is 5,000-10,000 ft.  You get the picture.

Why did the PF leave the throttle at idle?  With the distance required by an A330 to recover a stall, specially at altitude where the air is much thinner, why would the PF not have immediately moved the throttles to 100%?  If you are a pilot and can offer an explanation, please leave a comment.

A printable pdf copy of the full report is available: point.enquete.af447.27mai2011.en_.pdf

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May 272011
 

reaching out

Most of you remember me writing recently about my brother, Lum, and the tragic circumstances that led to his death.  Well, I was pleased to receive a letter from a reader, and friend, who gave me a great feeling of relief knowing I had touched at least one person with my brother’s story.  Though, I did receive a lot of feedback, none actually had told me how, or why it moved them the way this reader told me with the story they shared.

I asked permission to share the feedback with you all, and was given the thumbs up in hopes that it may help anyone else who is out there struggling with drugs and alcohol, as well as any other “inner” demon. Demons that very seldom release you to live a normal life with those who love and need you in their life.  This was my reader’s message with very little editing for anonymity:

“Travis,

I’ve wanted to write to you for a long time, but I’ve had no time for a thoughtful message. Your story about Lum pitched me into deep reflection. Because I knew Lum, and because I suffer the same illness, I’ve been contemplating so many of the aspects that your story touched in my heart.

My heart was heavy for you, your brothers, and your parents. The pointlessness of the alcoholic death, the seemingly connected dots leading from his abuse experience to the end, the bitterness over choices that might have diverted the tragedy, if only the players had taken other actions. There is such desperation to know, to understand, to explain and divert the alcoholic (or substitute drug addict, if you prefer) path.

Sadly, it is my experience that the alcoholic path stands alone and separate from the experiences we have. And, I do not in any way here minimize the abuse that Lum suffered. That abuse is criminal, it is evil. It was terribly, terribly wrong, and deeply sad that the perpetrator abused Lum, and undoubtedly, countless others, known and unknown. But I’ve wanted to write you from my perspective as a recovered alcoholic. I share only my experiences, and I am not making any commentary about what your path or your brother’s path has been.

I write to you, asking that you respect my anonymity, and share this email only as you think it would benefit someone who suffers from the disease, individually or through a loved one.

My experience is that my alcoholism is separate from the experiences, painful or loving, that I’ve had throughout my life. My repeated turn to the bottle had less to do with what was happening and more to do with how I reacted to my own life. Good, bad and indifferent, my response was to drink. Deep inside of me, I believed that I was inept, ugly, stupid, and unlovable. I remember feeling this way even as a young girl. I don’t know why I viewed myself with such loathing- it no longer matters why, or if someone was to blame. They were my emotions, and I silenced the inner tyrannical train of self hatred thinking with a drink. Sometime in my early adolescence, I discovered that alcohol washed me sweet with ease, joy, warmth. I could talk to people, fit in, feel lovely, clever, such relief! Sweet liquid relief.

So began the cycle at age 14 that wound me through eighteen years to a point of daily suicidal ideation, panic attacks, and dark, lonely depressions. These things happened to me, not in any particular sequence, and forgive my frankness, if it lacks censure: Arrests, DUIs, counselors, medications, psychiatrists, hospitalizations, evictions, homelessness, running away, unfaithfulness, treatments, lost relationships, teen parent, broken marriage, lost jobs, waking up in the beds of strangers, unfaithfulness – I stole, I slandered, I lied, I cheated, I fought, I judged, I starved myself skinny, I sold drugs, I manipulated.

It was a dreadful cycle of this vicious crazy, lonely mind, driving me into obsessive thinking and self-loathing, drinking for relief, behaving like a maniac while intoxicated (see above), waking up more shameful, angry, lonely, humiliated. I was crippled in a self-incarcerated cage. I tried many things to manage the drinking, but I couldn’t leave it alone for an extended time, so that I could do the much needed inner spirit work. I tried to exert control over people and circumstances, and always the alcohol. I cycled through beer to liquor to wine. I limited quantities. I established hours and days that drinking was acceptable. I tried changing places and people. I used prescription and illegal drugs to manage.

In the end, I drank daily, using sedatives and marijuana upon awakening, until 4 PM, the Self-Prescribed Drinking Hour (Unless it was the weekend, then I thought it was brunch, so it was acceptable to drink in the morning). I had daily panic attacks, I was suicidal. I hated myself, my life circumstances, and I had no idea how to get free of the trap I felt locked into forever. Terrible things had happened; I’d be unemployable for a long time, absent emotionally for my children, a wild screaming banshee when drunk, or I’d be passed out, blacked out, urinating on myself.

I don’t know why I was blessed with a moment of clarity, and I have no idea why me, and not others. But that is what happened. I had a spiritual experience. I hadn’t believed in anything in fifteen years. I prided myself on my human secularism. I thought God was for fools- sheeple who couldn’t think for themselves (I’m not advocating any spiritual path for anyone here; this has just been my experience).

I hunched over the steering wheel in my van, in a parking lot, screaming and crying out in pain. I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest, Indiana Jones style, because it was so chokingly, suffocatingly painful to wake up to reality. I whispered, “If there is a God, take this pain away from me!” (Arrogant to the end- just thinking about how I felt, and if God loved me, he’d make me happy!) My pain did not go away, not at all, not for a long time. But I instantly had the sensation of a presence with me, a loving kind spirit. My spirit was moved. I wept. In that moment, I knew I was not alone. What relief and hope that gave to me!

About two weeks later, I was led to Alcoholics Anonymous and I’ve been on this path since 2005. External clean-up includes being a present, loving parent to my children, completing grad school and becoming employable again, leaving a terribly sick relationship and learning how to develop healthy ones- friendships, familial relationships, romantic, paying the bills on time, even returning library books instead of keeping (stealing) them. ;-) The blessings have been heaped upon me!

But the inside job is what has blessed me most. I’m on a spiritual path, with a loving Creator that has a definitive, good purpose and future for me. I no longer hate myself. I can look in the mirror today. I couldn’t do that a few years ago.  I can stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of God’s kids.

I pray for peace and healing for your family, Travis. I don’t know why Lum had his path. I drank with your brother in his last few years. I do tell you that his experience and your family’s pain is not in vain. You gave me such a gift, for whatever it’s worth, Travis. You remind me that this disease is deadly and progressive, and your story serves to reaffirm my commitment to AA, and being for my children what I could not be drunk. Please continue to share your experiences. Those are the stories that renew my spirit to help new drunks coming into AA. It might not comfort much to know that others like me can benefit from your brother’s life. But, your story was a gift to me, and I am deeply grateful.

Much love to your family, and I will keep you all in my prayers.”(sic)

 

This one reader made this writing worth the pain it took to put into words my brother’s story.  When the reader mentioned that it might not comfort me to know that others can benefit from my brother’s life (and death), it could not have been further from the truth.  Knowing that his life, and tragic death, can be a wake-up call to any one person in this world, a child that is waiting on a mother or father to get sober and commit to being a parent, or to a parent that is hoping to feel the warm, loving embrace of a troubled child again…that to me makes my brother’s death much less tragic, and only adds to his legacy of selflessness.

Many of us hurt every day without giving those around us a clue that there is a problem.  More so, many of us ignore all the signs that a loved one is suffering.  It’s so much easier to join in on the charade that everything is alright.  Getting involved means you have to open up your own emotional barriers or, subjecting them to embarrassing scrutiny.  What we don’t realize is that not becoming involved usually makes that person feel less “normal” than the people in their lives.  They feel ostracized because they don’t feel the same internally as what people around them are displaying externally.  We are adding locks to their “self-incarcerated cage”  – to use the words of my friend.  Suffering comes in all forms, alcoholism, drug use, depression, anxiety, and many more.  All have one thing in common, the person feeling it usually feels alone in their battle.

I’m no expert on this matter, not in the least, and I probably only know as much as the next guy, but I want to open myself up to discussion with anyone who struggles with demons, or knows someone struggling and doesn’t know how to help.  Not because I can make it better, or have the end all solution for you, but because it’s time for you to make a change.  And if that change comes from me offering to help, so be it, if it comes from recognizing that the person you share your life with can offer you support, so bit, if it comes from theism, so be it, or if it just comes from recognizing that you are not alone in your struggles…so be it.

Make this existence about you, not your demon.  If you know someone struggling, do what you can to understand their problem, ask questions, research the problem and offer support.  Turning a blind eye is easy, but pain felt from loss is much worse than the pain of dealing with the problem.

As a person that is offering support, you may not be able to force a change, but you can be there when the time is right.  As a person that needs support, realize that we all hide our inner demons, you can change that demon into strength and go on to live the life you’ve always struggled to have.  If you open yourself up to the right people, someone will step up to help you on your personal path.

There is a solution to the problem; you just have to ask…

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May 202011
 

fashion show

Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. — Revelations 16:15

WELL, DARLINGS, this is it. Armageddon. All the signs are there, as glaringly obvious as fake Armani: wars, famine, plague and pestilence, and, of course, Old Navy. Would you think me horrid if I told you, right at the outset, that you’re going straight to HELL? Well, you are. Don’t get your Prada in a wada — it’s a compliment, love!

According to the authorities on such things — the loonies who stand about the sidewalks (wearing, yes, off-the-rack and, yes, praying) and that mind-numbing little rag known as the Bible — all the best people are Hell bound. Well, what did you expect? Have you ever READ the Bible? It’s dreadful, darling — damned if you do, damned if you don’t. For instance: That gorgeous silk top you’re wearing: do I detect a wee smattering of rayon around the cuffs? And those trousers: a cotton/poly blend? Lovely! You’re going to Hell. (Leviticus 19: 19.) Do you sport a smart little goatee, nicely sculpted and trimmed, or do you prefer a clean, scrumptious boy-next-door visage? Oops! Hell again! (Leviticus 19: 26.) And what is that alluring scent you’re wearing? Givenchy? Lovely! Hell. (Exodus 30: 34-38.)

You see? It’s simply unavoidable! Especially for those of us who spent lifetimes lurking around the Clinique counter and shopping at Barney’s. Besides, even if you could manage it, would you really want to go to Heaven? Jesus may love the little children, but Satan has Baby GAP. And just imagine that, by some colossal cosmic “oops!” you do skirt past St. Peter. What luck! Until you look around and UGH! This season in Heaven it’s all about togas and hair shirts. And there is only one season: Forever. And holy men aren’t exactly famous for their hygiene, dear (rumor: Gandhi bathed about as often as he ate). And originality? Sin! And those BEARDS! Yes, a smattering of chin hair is de rigueur these days and oh-so-sexy, but in Biblical law it’s forbidden for men to even trim their facial hair. Ever! So everyone in Heaven looks like Charles Manson at a frat party. And since perfume and makeup are big Biblical no-no’s too well, Paradise looks a lot like Woodstock — and smells just as bad. And there will surely be no Prada. Dismal.

So to Hell we go! At first, the idea of heading for Hades might be a little unnerving. I’m sure you’ve heard a host of dreadful rumors. Not to worry! Hell can’t be any worse than a gay disco: crowded, smoky, and covered in flames. Besides, it’s not really the heat — it’s the humidity. Your hair will probably go flatter than Old Navy stock after a quarterly earnings report, but your skin will simply GLOW! Hell should be a walk in the park for those of us who spent lifetimes hopping between sauna and tanning bed. Like a facial for all eternity. (Sublime!) Also, try to bear in mind that Hell, like everything else, is what you make of it. Even for the damned, the first rule of fashion is “If you look good, you feel good.” It’s so important to keep a positive attitude, after all, and being damned is no reason you can’t look your best or have a good time! So when the moon becomes as blood, and the sun as black as sack cloth, when the Four Horsemen ride abroad what are you going to wear? Let’s not get caught unprepared when the clock strikes 12 on May 21st and the you know what hits the cosmic fan. You will really want to shine, Shine, SHINE!

“But,” you may ask, “what difference does it make what I’m wearing if I’m just going to get smitten by the Wrath of the Lamb?” First of all, it always matters what you’re wearing. And second, whatever you have on when it’s your turn to walk down the runway of the damned will be your signature look for eternity. According to Thessalonians 4:16-18, “The dead shall rise first, then we who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” So, we have corpses rising from their graves (ugh) and everyone is scooped to the afterlife en masse, Versace and all!

So, while “Does this outfit make me look fat?” might be the last thing on your mind (literally), it is still a valid question. To guarantee a glamorous hereafter, it is wise to be dressed to the nines when the Angel of the Lord comes to cash in your chips! First of all, the Rapture promises to be loud and tacky. But why should you have to dress the part! Your ensemble has to last a while, so I say go with the classics. (No bell bottoms, body glitter, or athletic shoes with little lights in the heels — PLEASE!) “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls” (Revelations 14:4). See? The Whore of Babylon has the right idea: Go out with a little class — simply Dior! Sublime!

And the first angel blew his trumpet and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood.” A simply marvelous opportunity to bring back the hat! Hats are so elegant, aren’t they, and a rain of fire and blood (again, UGH!) is the perfect excuse to don an original creation! Philip Treacy’s spunky chapeaux are all the rage on the Continent, and what more appropriate way to meet your maker than sporting one of his surrealistic, wide-brimmed head-sculptures? Choose the black-feathered veiled number complete with Christmas tree lights. Striking and practical!

And the fourth Angel blew his trumpet and a third of the day was kept from shining and darkness descended.” Sounds like an ideal moment to make a dramatic entrance in semi-formal evening wear! Vintage Vivienne Westwood (long sleeves, please — there are rumors of locusts) or the asymmetrical and chunky full-length knits of Amer Kamal — available in flame-retardant latex — are your tickets to a dashing damnation. For the men, nothing says “Take me to my glory!” like a classic navy or charcoal double-breasted suit by Brooks Brothers or American designer Sal eserani — clean lines, sharp cut, flattering and timeless. Avoid the temptation to go with the baggy Italian numbers that are so en vogue. Dreadful, shapeless things, really, that can’t help but hold the heat. All eternity with sweat stains? Never!

And the fifth angel sounded, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as from great furnace and the dead littered the streets.” Sounds like some good sturdy shoes are in order! Opt for monk strap, square-toed slip-ons by Aldo — leather-soled, please, and the thicker the better. For women, the closed-toed “Deneuve” by Mezlan should have you high-stepping over the worst the Rapture has to dish out!

And I saw another sign in Heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Honestly darling, I haven’t a clue what that means — but wouldn’t a lovely timepiece by Joseph Abboud round out your ensemble flawlessly? There’s no time like the end of time to accessorize with a princess watch trimmed in rhinestones for her, or a charming classic pocket watch for him!

And so, my darlings, this is how the world ends — not with a bang, but with a fashion show. Bear in mind that the clothes make the damned, and no matter what our grumpy Grandpa in the Sky dishes out, remember: Being reunited with Gianni will make all the fuss worthwhile. Ahh…sublime.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at The Stranger.com and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.

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May 172011
 

surgery in progress

Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that affects every system in the body. A number of different diseases and conditions including hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer can produce liver failure so severe that a liver transplant becomes a patient’s central hope for survival. In 2005, just under 6,500 liver transplants were performed in the US – a number that continues to climb every year but is still nowhere close to meeting the needs of the 17,000 people on the liver transplant list.

There are far fewer prospective liver donors than there are patients with severe liver disease. How does the medical community determine who gets a liver transplant? By assessing a potential candidate’s need. An interdisciplinary team of specialists examines patients to see if they are appropriate candidates for the procedure and assigns them a score (the MELD score) predicting their risk of death. The higher the MELD score, the closer to the top that patient goes on the waiting list for scarce livers.

But there is another factor that determines whether a patient will get a transplant which has nothing whatsoever to do with that patient’s suitability for receiving one — and that is where that patient lives.

Patients with severe liver disease and prospective liver donors aren’t evenly distributed among the nation’s eleven transplant regions. The way liver transplant protocols work, donated livers are offered first to the most severely ill patients throughout a given region, and then if there is no good match, to patients who are less ill – in that same region. Livers donated within a given region are never offered to patients outside that region.

However, patients can travel among regions to shorten their wait for a new liver. In March 2009, when Apple CEO Steve Jobs needed a liver transplant, he traveled for the procedure to a hospital in Tennessee where the wait was much shorter than it was in his California home base (ABC News article). Of course, not everyone has the financial resources to maximize their choices in this fashion.

In a recent Associated Press article entitled “Where you live drives wait for liver transplants”, Dr. Sander Florman, chief hepatologist at New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital, asked a reporter, “If a patient can get on an airplane and go to Florida, why can’t the liver get on an airplane and come to New York?”

At least 2,500 people die every year while on the waiting list for a new liver, and there are dramatic differences among the eleven transplant regions in the median MELD scores of adults receiving new livers. In the region where Mr. Jobs received his liver transplant, for example, the average MELD score is between 23 and 24. But in California, where Mr. Jobs actually lives, the average MELD score is 37.

While it is true that livers don’t last outside the body as long as some other transplantable organs (for example kidneys), it is also true that a patient’s financial resources should be neither a direct nor indirect consideration in determining whether that patient receives a transplant. The current system of allocation may need to be reexamined. Is there a better way?

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