Understanding the Bible - Help for Your Bible Study

The Bible is not always easy to understand. And we are held accountable for how we absorb it into our lives. Proverbs 4:23 makes it clear that each of us is responsible for his own heart. Consequently, many of us begin our study by reading comments and articles by those who we figure should know what they are talking about. These supplementary studies can be very valuable, if we adhere to a few simple rules at the outside.

First and foremost, beware of opinions presented as truths. The views of men can and do end up becoming the teachings of men, which then become the traditions of men and the traditions of men render the Word of no effect (Mark 7:13; Romans 4:14; Mark 7: 8,9; ). * Begin with prayer, a good place to begin any endeavor! Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to understand (Ephesians 1:18) and your heart to receive the incorruptible Word (1 Peter 1:23). Pray for wisdom (James 1: 5) to rightly divide the Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15).

* Now read everything the Bible says about the subject, or the particular Scripture you are attempting to rightly divide, by following any references to supporting Scriptures in both Old and New Testaments and using your concordance. At this point, you are filling your spirit with the Word. Do not make the mistake of being angry about understanding all of it at this point.

* Be sure to read the passage precedent and following each Scripture to gain an awareness of the passage's context.

* Be diligent in your word studies, using your comprehensive concordance to understand the nuances of the original Bible languages.

* Finally, formulate a statement in your own words, a paraphrase based on your study. Check and recheck to make sure you have not put your own spin on it. This exercise alone may be enough to illuminate the study for you, to open up the confusing Scripture or to provide you Biblical continuity of teaching. If not, and you are looking for some supplementary teaching on the subject, continue reading.

* Now read what others have to say. Stay with teachers who consistently stand firmly on what the Word has to say and who do not veer off into the realm of opinion, those who have shown to be careful in their study and trustworthy in their interpretations.

* Immediately discount any comments based on negativity or criticism of others. There may be a germ of veracity, sincerity or authenticity buried underneath, but those who resort to a negative approach pass along with it a spirit Christians do not need to embrace. Their approach will absolutely tear down any truth and sincerity they may have begun with.

* Be wary of absolute attitudes relating areas of Scripture that are in question among trusted Bible scholars. It is necessary for each of us to remain teachable, open to the Holy Spirit giving us interpretation beyond what may have become (disputable) denominational doctrine.

* Make it a rule never to argument Scripture. The Word of God is not debatable; it is revelatory. God does not need your abilities as a disputer to bring about revelation in another. He says, for I am watching over My Word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12). He only needs you to speak the uncompromised Word, to say what He says - the Holy Spirit will reveal to others (Ephesians 1:17) and God will perform it (Isaiah 55:11)

Above all, do not become discouraged by any lack of understanding or by discrepancies among Bible teachers. The Word of God is meant for you and with the help of the Holy Spirit, spending time each day in the life-giving, delivering, encouraging, empowering, comforting Word of God, will lead you to understanding. Know that God has promised it will accomplish His will and He Himself will bring it to pass.

Copyright 2006 So-lu'shunz Leadership Services

Best Friend Gift Ideas For Christmas and Beyond

Has there been an individual in your life that has crossed the threshold of the common into the exclusive realm of "Best Friend"? Is there someone a breed apart from the ordinary that has had a unique effect in your life above all others? If so, there might now be a need to get best friend gift ideas by Christmas Day or beyond.

Are you at a standstill regarding this opportunity to show your gratitude for being associated with this noble friend above friends? Have you hit a roadblock trying to find a gift that is particular to the recipient's sphere of interests or hobbies? Well, there is a unique category of gifts that cover a wide territory of themes that could include a bulls-eye idea for you. What is it?

Gift Baskets can be the answer to the riddle that you are trying to solve. These can display the desired best friend gift ideas that are unique to your ol 'pal's individuality. There are gift basket examples that include the interests of golf, gardening, NASCAR, casinos, spa, movies, picnics, cigars, motorcycles, handyman and more.

Let's also not forget the favored one's choice of food or beverage. There are best friend gift ideas of gift baskets packed with products relating to coffee, tea, and beloved chocolate to consider. The ultimate may be found with those baskets that are filled with nothing but gourmet food to satisfy the most discriminating of palates.

The occasions of Christmas and even birthdays can also be met with gift baskets that express your best wishes specific to those very special dates of the year. You may even engage in some good-natured ribbing by sending an "Over the Hill" birthday gift basket to somebody who would know what you really mean behind the innocent prank.

Take the advice of aGiftbasketParadise.com and find yourself a worthy online purveyor of high quality gift baskets that has a generous variety of best friend gift ideas to choose from. Pick the one that says it all for you without you saying a word. Fill in the billing, shipping and credit card information and make it all happen for the one that would do the same for you.

Do not let this chance slip away for you never know if tomorrow will give you another!

How to Choose a Study Bible

What is a study Bible and what are the reasons to purchasing one? A study Bible is a Bible that has various footnotes and other study helps to explain verses of scripture or shed more light on a certain word that is used. Study bibles do not explain an entire passage or book, that is reserved for Bible comments, but do help when reading through the Bible and a simple question comes to mind.

Perhaps you've been reading through the Bible and saw that something measured ten cubits. You surprised what cubit was but did not know where to look it up or you did not have the time. If you are reading from your study Bible, you can look beneeth the passage at the footnote and find that a cubit is approximately 18 inches. Suddenly you have a great understanding of the passage because you can picture the size of an object when before you had no clue.

There are a number of things that should be factored when selecting a Bible. Probably the first decision that needs to be made is for what Bible version are you looking. There are numerous different translations of the Bible available and each one has their own strengths and weaknesses.

After you select which version you are looking for, you should decide how you will use your Bible. Most people just want a general study Bible such as the Life Application Study Bible or Zondervan's NIV Study Bible. However your options go far beyond general studies if you desire. There are now study Bibles for children, teens, men, and women. Each Bible has notes that are meant to specifically help the group it is focused on.

Or you may prefer study notes by a particular person. There are numerous study Bibles with notes written all by one person. Some of the popular versions are ones written by John MacArthur, Charles Ryrie, and CI Scofield.

Finally you must choose whether you want a hardback Bible or a leather bound Bible. Your cover options may be more limited with a study Bible as these Bibles tend to be bigger than ones without the notes. Many general study Bibles also are available in large print and some are offering a smaller personal size but you should look out for tiny print in these. Depending on the publisher and the overall popularity of the Bible, some Bibles may only be available in hardcover. A limited number of study Bibles are available in paperback as well.

After you have an idea of ​​what you are looking for start shopping for the best study Bible prices. With a bit of searching you will find a Bible that not only meets your needs but also your budget.

Wedding Cakes for Your Big Day

One of the most important events for any couple would be their wedding. This is the start of a new journey for the both of them and their wedding day is when they exchange vows to love and cherish and stick with each other through the tests of time. That is why it is just fair to make this event memorable for the two of them. Every detail of the wedding should be perfected and one thing that should not be missed is their cake. Wedding cakes have been a part of every marriage as this symbolizes a charm for their good fortune for their happy married life and fertility to produce beautiful kids.

Getting married is definitely a big day for couples, most especially for the women. As most people say, women only gets married once and this big day should really be unforgettable and really one of a kind. Preparation for this day may take months as the couple should look for the perfect venue, fit their gowns and the groom's clothing, decide who will be included in their entourage, create their souvenirs and invitations, distribute their invitation cards, and of course, find the perfect catering service and wedding cakes.

There are several kinds of wedding cakes that a couple can choose from. Couples can also find a design that they want to match the personality of the both of them. Different sizes and tiers are also available depending on what they want. Couples can choose from white cakes, chocolate flavored cakes, marble cakes, lemon cakes, and carrot cakes. For most weddings, white cakes or vanilla flavored cakes are preferred.

When it comes to frosting, couples can choose from butter cream frosting, fondant, gum paste, and royal icing. The most common frosting used before was the butter cream frosting which is, of course, tastes buttery and sweet. If the couple wants a more smooth finish for their frosting, then they should opt for fondant wedding cakes. At present, this is the most in demand type of cakes or frosting as this gives it a perfect satiny finish compared to other frostings and the colors for this kind are lighter.

Apart from the flavor and frostings, the design of the cake can be personalized. Couples can decide if it will be a simple 1-layer cake or tiered cake. They can also opt for a different shape depending on their want. For most couple, how their wedding cake looks like is important as this is one of the highlights of the event.

There are several bakers who can do cakes for your wedding. Most of the time, these are already included with the package you get from a wedding coordinator. You can also find cakes for wedding over the internet which will definitely fit your budget.

A wedding reception without a wedding cake is somewhat boring as it has already been a tradition to have it. No matter how small or simple the cake is, your wedding will never be complete without it. So whenever the occasion is just a simple one, find the perfect cake that will match your wedding.

Comments: Tips On How To Plan A Fun Theme Birthday Party For Kids

How to Get Powerful Answers Online From a Trusted Psychic on Love, Money, Destiny and Problems

Uncertainty surrounding us all and as recent events have shown, the energy in the world continues to pull in different directions. We can regain some control and clarity however, by seeking strong answers to our questions from a psychic.

One way is to visit a psychic and have a reading done in person. This can involve traveling and intensive research. I've seen several alternative wellness exposures with large numbers of psychics in attendance, but depending on the size of the event, the psychic can either be relaxed and focused or harried and distracted.

An increasingly popular alternative is to consult online with a psychic.

No travel is involved and the internet allows access for all people. Another great advantage is the convenience of writing and submitting your questions in advance, which gives the psychic ample time to prepare. There is no closing time to contend with.

With this in mind, here are some great tips to ensure the psychic can get a strong sense of your energy and you get the powerful answers you want.

* Always include your Christian name and date of birth.
* Provide a photo image.
* Provide the name / date of birth of any other person you are asking about.
* Concentrate on what, why and how questions. Psychics can provide advice on how to deal with the situations you face both currently and in the future.
* Do not get stuck on when / where questions. A psychic can not guarantee dates or times for things to occur.
* Make your questions understandable, with no room for confusion or them having to interpret some hidden meaning.
* Provide as much other information as you feel is necessary.

Now you have a great approach for asking your questions, let's look at how you can utilize the information in your reading in the best possible way.

The biggest thing to remember here is that you have the ultimate power in your life and the information from the psychic is designed to help you with the situations you face in life. The power of choice is still very much yours and the information is there to help you make better choices.

Finally, if you notice some elements of the information from the psychic are negative, keep in mind 2 things.

1. The situation may result if no changes are made by you.
2. The choices you make with regards to the information acquired can create a whole new arrival.

In this respect, seeking guidance from a psychic is a powerful way to identify and implement the positive changes you want in life.

How to Buy Bitcoin - Step One

The best way to learn about bitcoin, is to jump in and get a few in your "pocket" to get a feel for how they work.

Despite the hype about how difficult and dangerous it can be, getting bitcoins is a lot easier and safer than you might think. In a lot of ways, it is probably easier than opening an account at a traditional bank. And, given what has been happening in the banking system, it is probably safer too.

There are a few things to learn: getting and using a software wallet, learning how to send and receive money, learning how to buy bitcoin from a person or an exchange.

Preparation

Before getting started, you will need to get yourself a wallet. You can do this easily enough by registering with one of the exchanges which will host wallet for you. And, although I think you are going to want to have one or more exchange wallets eventually, you should start with one on your own computer both to get a better feel for bitcoin and because the exchanges are still experimental themselves. When we get to that stage of the discussion, I will be advising that you get in the habit of moving your money and coins off the exchanges or diversifying across exchanges to keep your money safe.

What is a wallet?

It is a way to store your bitcoins. Specifically, it is software that has been designed to store bitcoin. It can be run on your desktop computer, laptop, mobile device (except, as yet, Apple) and can also be made to store bitcoins on things like thumb drives. If you are concerned about being hacked, then that is a good option. Even the Winklevoss* twins, who have millions invested in bitcoin, put their investment on hard drives which they then put into a safety deposit box.

*The Winklevoss twins are the ones who originally had the idea for a social networking site that became Facebook. They hired Mark Zuckerberg who took their idea as his own and became immensely rich.

What do you need to know about having a bitcoin wallet on your computer?

Below you can download the original bitcoin wallet, or client, in Windows or Mac format. These are not just wallets, but are in fact part of the bitcoin network. They will receive, store, and send your bitcoins. You can create one or more addresses with a click (an address is a number that looks like this: 1LyFcQatbg4BvT9gGTz6VdqqHKpPn5QBuk). You will see a field where you can copy and paste a number like this from a person you want to send money to and off it will go directly into that person's wallet. You can even create a QR code which will let someone take a picture with an app on their phone and send you some bitcoin. It is perfectly safe to give these out - the address and QR code are both for my donations page. Feel free to donate!

NOTE: This type of wallet acts both as a wallet for you and as part of the bitcoin system. The reason bitcoin works is that every transaction is broadcast and recorded as a number across the entire system (meaning that every transaction is confirmed and made irreversible by the network itself). Any computer with the right software can be part of that system, checking and supporting the network. This wallet serves as your personal wallet and also as a support for that system. Therefore, be aware that it will take up 8-9 gigabytes of your computer's memory. After you install the wallet, it will take as much as a day for the wallet to sync with the network. This is normal, does not harm your computer, and makes the system as a whole more secure, so it's a good idea.

Bitcoin Qt

• The original wallet.







• This is a full-featured wallet: create multiple addresses to receive bitcoins, send bitcoins easily, track transactions, and back up your wallet.







• Outside of the time it takes to sync, this is a very easy to use option.







• Search for Bitcoin Qt wallet download to find their site.

Armory

• Runs on top of Bitcoi Qt, so it has all of the same syncing requirements.







• Armory allows you to back up, encrypt, and the ability to store your bitcoins off line.







• Search for Bitcoin Armory Wallet to find their site.

If you don't want to have that much memory used or don't want to wait for your wallet to sync, there are good wallets that do not make you sync the entire history of bitcocin:

Multibit

• A lightweight wallet that syncs quickly. This is very good for new users.







• Search for Bitcoin Multibit Wallet to find their site.

Electum

• In addition to being quick and light, this wallet allows you to recover lost data using a passcode.







• Search for Bitcoin Electum Wallet to find their site.

After you get the wallet set up, take a few minutes clicking around. Things to look for:

o There will be a page that shows you how many bitcoins are currently in your wallet. Keep in mind that bitcoins can be broken up into smaller pieces, so you may see a decimal with a lot of zeros after it. (Interesting note, 0.00000001 is one Satoshi, named after the pseudonymous creator of bitcoin).

o There will be an area showing what your recent transactions are.

o There will be an area where you can create an address and a QR code (like the one I have above). You don't need the QR code if you don't want it, but if you run a business and you want to accept bitcoin, then all you'll need to do to accept payment is to show someone the QR code, let them take a picture of it, and they will be able to send you some money. You will also be able to create as many addresses as you like, so if you want to track where the money is coming from, you could have a separately labeled address from each one of your payees.

o There will be an area with a box for you to paste a code when you want to send money to someone or to yourself on an exchange or different wallet.

There will be other options and features, but to start out with, these are the items that you should know about.

Getting Your First Bitcoins

Now that you have a wallet, you will, of course, want to test them out.

The very first place to go is http://faucet.bitcoin.st/.

This is a website that gives out small amounts of bitcoin for the purpose of getting people used to using them. The original version of this was run by the lead developer of bitcoin, Gavin Andreson. That site has since closed and this site operates by sending out one or two advertisements a month. You agree to receive those messages by requesting the bitcoins. Copy and paste your new bitcoin address and enter a phone number to which you can receive an SMS. They send out an SMS to be sure that people are not continuously coming back for more since it costs nothing to create a bitcoin address. They will also send out once or twice a month advertisement to support their operation. The amount they send it trivial: 0.0015 BTC (or 1.5 mBTC). However, they process almost immediately and you can check to see that your address and wallet are working. It is also quite a feeling to get that portion of a bitcoin. (Non-disclaimer: I have no connection with this site and receive nothing if you use them. I simply think they are a good way to get your feet wet).

Congratulations! You have just entered the bitcoin economy.

To get your feet a little wetter, you can go panning for gold. There are a number of services and websites out there that will pay you in bitcoin to do things like go to certain websites, fill out online surveys, or watch sponsored videos. These are harmless, and you can earn a few extra bitcoins this way, but it is important to remember that these are businesses that get paid when people click on the links on their sites. They are essentially kicking back a portion of what they get paid to you. There is nothing illegal, or even immoral about this (you might like what you see and make a purchase!), but they are frequently flashy and may not be completely straightforward. All the ones that I have tried (particularly bitvisitor.com) have paid out as advertised. It is interesting to experiment with these, but even with the likely rise in the value of bitcoin, you won't become a millionaire doing this. So, unless you are an advertisement junkie, I would recommend you move on. If you would like to try, simply Google "free bitcoins" or something along those lines and you will find numerous sites.

Buying Bitcoin Hand-to-Hand

Finally, this is going to be the real test of bitcoin. Can people easily trade them back and forth? If this can't happen, then there can't really be a bitcoin economy because retailers won't be able to use it. If retailers can't use it, what earthly good is it? Fortunately, this is not really a problem. iPhone is a bit of a hold out, but many smartphones have apps (mobile wallets) that will read QR codes and allow you to send bitcoin to whomever you want. You can also display a QR code of your address, or even carry a card in your wallet with your QR code to let people send bitcoin to you. Depending on what kind of wallet you have, you can then check to see if the bitcoins have been received.

A couple of things to note:

• When you set up your wallet, if you click around a bit, you will see an option to pay a fee to speed transactions. This money becomes available to a bitcoin miner as he/she/they process bitcoin information. The miners doing the work of creating blocks of information keeps the system up to date and secure. The fee is an incentive to the miner to be sure to include your information in the next information block and therefore "verify" it. In the short term, miners are making most of their money by mining new coins (check the section on What Are Bitcoins for more information about this). In the long term, as it gets harder to find new coins, and as the economy increases, the fees will be an incentive for miners to keep creating more blocks and keep the economy going. Your wallet should be set to pay 0 fees as a default, but if you want, you can add a fee to prioritize your transactions. You are under no obligation to pay a fee, and many organizations that process many small transactions (like the ones that pan for gold described above) produce enough fees to keep the miners happy.







• In clicking around your wallet, on the transactions page or linked to specific transactions, you will see a note about confirmations. When you make a transaction, that information is sent out into the network and the network will send back a confirmation that there is no double entry for that bitcoin. It is smart to wait until you get several confirmations before walking away from someone who has paid you. It is actually not very easy to scam someone hand-to-hand like this, and it is not very cost-effective for the criminal, but it can be done.

Where can you buy bitcoin like this?

• You may have a bitcoin Meetup in your area.







• You can check out localbitcoins.com to find people near you who are interested in buying or selling.







• Some are trying to start up local street exchanges across the world. These are called Buttonwoods after the first street exchange established on Wall Street in 1792 under a buttonwood tree. See if there is one, or start one, in your area.







• See if you have any friends who would like to try bitcoins out. Actually, the more people who start using bitcoin, the larger and more successful it will be come. So please tell two friends!

Some people ask if it is possible to buy physical bitcoins. The answer to this is both a yes and a no. Bitcoin, by its very nature, is a digital currency and has no physical form. However, there are a couple of ways that you can practically hold a bitcoin in your hands:

• Cascascius Coins: These are the brainchild of Mike Caldwell. He mints physical coins and then embeds the private keys for the bitcoins inside them. You can get the private key by peeling a hologram from the coin which will then clearly show that the coin has been tampered with. Mike has gone out of his way to ensure that he can be trusted. These are a good investment strategy as in the years to come it may be that these coins are huge collector's items.







• Paper Wallets: A paper wallet just means that rather than keeping the information for your bitcoin stored in a digital wallet, you print the key information off along with a private key and keep it safe in a safe, in a drawer, or in your mattress (if you like). This is highly recommended and cost effective system for keeping your bitcoin safe. Keep in mind, though, that someone could steal them or if your house burns, they will go with the house and there will be no way to get them back. Really, no different than cash. Also, as with Casascius Coins, they will not really be good for spending until you put them back into the computer.

* There is software to make printing your paper wallets easier. bitcoinpaperwallet.com is one of the best and includes a good tutorial about how to use them.

* The bitcoins are not actually in the wallet, they are still on the web. In fact, the outside of the wallet will have a QR code that will allow you ship coins to the wallet any time you like.

* The sealed part of the wallet will have the private key without which you cannot access the coins. Therefore, only put as many coins on the wallet as you want to be inaccessible. You will not be able to whip this thing out and take out a few coins to buy a cup of coffee. Rather, think of it as a piggy bank. To get the money, you have to smash it. It is possible to take out smaller amounts, but at this point the security of the wallet is compromised and it would be easier for someone to steal the coins. Better to have them all in or out.

* People who use paper wallets are usually security conscious, and there are a number of ways for the nefarious in the world to hack your computer. Bitcoinpaperwallet.com gives a lot of good advice about how to print your wallets securely.

Some people have also asked about buying bitcoins on eBay. Yes, it is possible, but they will be far overpriced. So, selling on eBay might seem to be a better option given the extreme markup over market value you might see. But, as with anything that is too good to be true, this is too good to be true. As I will explain in the next section, selling bitcoin this way is just way too risky.

How Not to Buy Bitcoin

In the next section, I am going to explain a couple of key points about buying from Bitcoin Exchanges. Before I do, let me give you a warning.

A short history lesson: When people first started setting up actual business based on bitcoin, they used all of the tools available to any merchant. They sold by credit card and PayPal. The problem with this business model was quickly spotted: bitcoin transactions are not reversible by anyone except the recipient of the money. Credit cards and PayPal have strong buyer protection policies that make it relatively easy for people to request a chargeback. So, nefarious individuals realized this and began making purchases of bitcoin and then sooner or later requesting a chargeback. And, since bitcoin is a non-physical product, sent by new and poorly understood technological means, the sellers were not able to contest this. Because of this, sellers stopped accepting credit cards and PayPal.

This was a big problem for the currency: How to move money between buyers and seller? Some business emerged that would credit you with bitcoin if you wired them money. Very often these businesses would give addresses in Albania, Poland, or Russia. The fact is that many of these did work and there are a lot of stories on the forums of people who bought bitcoins this way. But it took a lot of time and in the meantime the buyer just had to bite his or her fingernails wondering if they would get their bitcoins or kiss their investment goodbye.

I expect that as bitcoin becomes more acceptable and valuable, we are going to see a version of the Nigerian Prince scam. So the warning is this: we now have exchanges and other businesses that allow for moving money easily onto and off of exchanges. Never wire money for bitcoin. It was a short-lived, and well-forgotten, moment in the history of bitcoin.

Next, I will be talking about how to buy from a bitcoin exchange and give a review of the some of the best known exchanges.