chron http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for chron Copyright 2008 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:30:39 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/chron Are You Cursed If You Don't Tithe? http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-cursed-if-you-dont-tithe http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-cursed-if-you-dont-tithe#comments Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:34:59 +0000 israelite tribesstudy scripturespasture landreligious traditionslevitescubitslevite http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-cursed-if-you-dont-tithe study scriptures on your own, you run into a couple of problems.

#1. Scriptures that may challenge will often get left out of the normal rotation of scriptures that are studied (and everyone who has gone to church for a while knows that there is a specific rotation).

#2. The Second Problem that you run into when you don't study the bible on your own, is that the scriptures that DO get into the normal rotation often get taken out of context.

We've all heard, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse" Some people hear it every Sunday. But what does this really mean? Let us explore.

What is a tithe?

Believe it or not, most people don't really know what a tithe is! The word Tithe simply means 1/10th. That is all it means. So the word Tithing (or Tenthing) simply means to set aside a tenth. The word Tithe DOES NOT mean to GIVE a tenth of what you have. This may seem irrelevant, but in a minute you will see that it is not.

So how did tithing get started?

You see, in Genesis, God promised Abraham that his seed would inherit the Promised Land (Gen. 15:18). So the , after being freed from Egypt, inherited the land. But not all of the tribes inherited the land. The tribe inherited the tithe, instead of the land. Look at these verses. Deut. 10:8-9 and Num. 18:23-24. You see, the tithe was given to the as a substitute for the inherited land. But this was given on one condition. That condition was that they serve and minister to their brethren. Now, this was not the only thing that the Levites and/or Levite priests inherited. Look at Numbers 35:1-8. You see, the Levites also inherited 2,000 (about 3,000 feet) of and 48 cities! I'm glad that most preachers don't ask for all of that!

So how did the system of tithing work?

There is a good description in Deuteronomy. Look at Deut. 14:22-29. Also, look at Deut. 26:11-13. You see, this is how it worked. The people would tithe from the increase of their seed (FOOD) every year. Yes, they would share their tithe with the priests as they all ate the tithe in a place that was chosen by God. If they could not carry all of their tithes or if the place that God had chosen was too far away, they could exchange their tithe for money. Then they would take the money to the place God chose and buy whatever their hearts desired and eat before God.

They were instructed not to neglect the Levites because they didn't have any inheritance. But in the THIRD year (which is called the year of tithing), the people would bring the full tithe of that year and give it, so that it could be stored within the gates for the Levites, the strangers, the motherless, the fatherless and the widows to eat. See also, Amos 4:4.

Questions to all my Tithers out there.

1. The tithe was never, ever, money! It may have been exchanged for money, but it was not money. [ II Chron. 32:28, II Chron 31:5-6, Neh. 13:5] Do you bring food or money to your church?

2. The Israelites would consume their own tithes (1/10th of the food set aside), as they shared them with the Levites, at the place which God chose. Do you eat your tithe with the preacher? Do you spend your tithe with the preacher?

3. It was only in the THIRD year in which the Israelites were required to GIVE their tithes. How often does your pastor require you to give your full tithe for the church to keep?

Will you be exceedingly blessed if you tithe?

Malachi 3:10 clearly states, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

So this means you will be blessed right? Let's take another look at the phrase "open up the windows of heaven". Look at Genesis Gen. 7:11-12 and Gen. 8:2. Also, look at I Kings 8:35. You see, God wasn't promising blessings. He was promising RAIN! This is why God continued in Malachi 3:11 by saying, "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts".

You see, the Israelites inheritance was conditional also. If they obeyed God's commandments, He would continue to pour rain from the windows of heaven and their seeds would be blessed. If they disobeyed God's commandments, he would shut up the windows of heaven and stop the rain, causing a drought.

Was the nation cursed for not tithing?

Malachi 3:8-9 clearly states, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?" In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." Now the first thing one must ask of one's self is this. Who was God talking to? Was he talking to the nation of people, or the priests?! Think of this. Why would God say, "even this whole nation", if he were talking TO the nation?

But let's backtrack. Look at Neh. 10: 37-39. This describes the process in which the Levites would collect the tithe from the Israelites. They would first take the tithe and then they would bring 1/10th of the tithes brought to them, up to the storehouse. In verse 39 it says that the children of Israel and the Levites would bring the tithes to the storehouse. So, my point is, whenever the bible says, "Bring tithes into the storehouse" it doesn't necessarily mean the people. It could mean the Levites and/or priests.

So who was robbing God? Could it have been the priests? Well, it wouldn't have been the first time. If you read Neh. 13:3-14, you'll see what I mean. You see, a few priests were always put in charge of the storerooms. It was the job of those priests to distribute the tithe to all of the rest of the priests and Levites. In this case, the priest Eliashib was in charge. He was crooked, and he had formed a partnership with Tobiah. Tobiah was an Ammonite. The Ammonites were known for worshipping the pagan-god Molech. Eliashib was letting Tobiah get some of the tithe that the priests' should have been getting, so the Levites had to go out into the fields and work in order to survive. More trustworthy priests had to be put in charge of the storeroom.

Now, I would suggest that everyone read the entire book of Malachi, but I will highlight a few verses. Look at Malachi Mal. 1:6-7 and 2:1. You see ladies and gentlemen, this entire book is God's message to the priests! As a matter of fact God tells the priests specifically in Malachi 2:2, "If YE will not hear, and if YE will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon YOU, and I will curse YOUR blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because YE do not lay it to heart." God had ALREADY told the priests that the curse was because of their doing!

You see, this is very simple in my opinion. It was the priests who were robbing the tithe. God said to them, "YE have robbed me, even this whole nation." Even the nation was suffering under the curse due to the actions of the priests. So, God's message to the priests was this. Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in MY house. If you do this, I will then free the nation of the curse, by letting it rain and ending the drought.

Why would God be talking to the priest the entire book of Malachi, and then suddenly in chapter 3 and verse 8, start talking to everyone? And what does the word rob mean? Does it mean not to give what is owed? Or does it mean to take what has already been begotten?

Now, the last point I want to make about the tithe is a very obvious one, but for some reason, nobody notices it. The tithe was set up for the Israelites under the Mosaic law. All Christians should know what I am about to write by now. We are not under the Mosaic law anymore! Jesus fulfilled (or accomplished) the law, when he died on the cross! The old covenant was passed away and has been replaced with the new covenant (Luke 18:31-34, Luke 24:44, Acts 13:27-33). Now why would we pick one mosaic law (out of all of them) and just decide that we wanted to keep doing that one?

In the new covenant, Heaven is the promised land (our inheritance), we are all priests (1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9, Rev. 1:6), and we all are entitled to our share. Here is a description of the original church. Acts 4:32-37, Acts 2: 42-47. You see, in this church, there was no such thing as a person in church that was in need. People sold their possessions and divided them amongst everybody! Since they were all priests, they all got their cut. So the people that were in need were not giving, they were receiving!

Nowadays you have churches where the pastor drives a Royce and lives in a mansion, but if a person is struggling and asks for help, they often times can't get it. They are just told to "keep tithing" and you will be blessed. Sounds like politics to me. If you are in church and you are struggling, and you are being told to tithe, you have to realize that there is something wrong! Your church should be helping you. You deserve your cut!

The point of this article is not to give people an excuse to give zero money to the Church. As I wrote before, the people of the church sold their possessions and divided them amongst members. I believe that they gave their entire surplus. I don't think they were out of house and home because in Luke in talks about people giving alms (charitable donations Luke 11:41).

What I'm saying is this. If you are living on the brink, paycheck to paycheck, almost bankrupt and you are giving 10% of your money to your church because you have been intimidated into believing that you are cursed if you don't, or blessed if you do, you are not being a good steward of your money. You are not being Godly. You are not giving of your own free will (II Cor. 9:7). You are being a bad steward and not taking care of home first!

Be a good steward of your money. Look through the illusion of the Tithe Matrix! Matt Mason is the expert and founder of Free Your Mind Online, which is designed to empower individuals to take control of their finances and achieve wealth. For free info, as well as this FULL article, go to http://freeyourmindonline.net and subscribe to the free online monthly newsletter. ]]> Coping With An Ileostomy Due To Crohns Disease http://www.artwoo.com/article/coping-with-an-ileostomy-due-to-crohns-disease http://www.artwoo.com/article/coping-with-an-ileostomy-due-to-crohns-disease#comments Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:27:13 +0000 small intestinelarge intestinecrohns diseasepouchesstomaabdomenwafer http://www.artwoo.com/article/coping-with-an-ileostomy-due-to-crohns-disease small intestine (the ileum) through an opening surgically created in the known as a .

An ileostomy is a procedure given to those who require their colon () and rectum to be removed, because the disease and injury that has infected the large intestine has rendered it incapable of safely processing waste.

Since the small intestine is no longer attached to the colon to pass waste on, the stoma created connects the ileum to the outside surface skin of the abdomen. A special bag known as an appliance is securely attached to the opening and collects waste from the small intestine. Most ilesostomies are located on the right side of the abdomen just above the groin.

Living with an ileostomy

An ileostomy is an operation that usually improves symptoms of Crohn's disease. However, living with an ileostomy can be a struggle at first. The following are some tips on how you can cope and make the most of your new lifestyle.

The Pouch -- All , regardless if they are open or closed ended, are designed of lightweight plastic and are attached by an adhesive to the skin. The wafer should fit snuggly to avoid leakage.

Due to the way modern ileostomy pouches are designed, they usually remain inconspicuous under regular clothing. This is because pouches lie flat to the body. Pouches can be worn inside or outside of underwear, so you can wear it in the way that is most comfortable for you. Just make sure that you don't apply pressure to the stoma by wearing tight clothing or belts over it.

Activities -- As soon as you have your doctor's permission and are feeling up to it, you can engage in all of the activities and sports you enjoyed prior to surgery. This includes swimming, jogging, skiing, tennis, etc. However, you will want to avoid rough contact sports (IE football) and heavy lifting.

Work -- to give yourself peace of mind when you return to work, make sure you keep an extra pouch and a change of clothing on you at all times.

New Diet -- Even though you can eat virtually any food after you have your ileostomy, it's a good idea to continue avoiding foods that had a serious impact on your Crohn's condition and maintain a healthy diet. Furthermore, you should lower your intact of tough and high-fiber foods such as raw vegetables. These types of food are hard for your small intestine to digest and this could lead to blockage.

Emotional Repercussions - At first, living with an ileosotomy can be hard to deal with. Many people feel embarrassed about their ileostomy and are afraid to start new relationships, or open up emotionally to others. The best way to make these feelings of shame and insecurity pass is to share your feelings and educate others about your condition. You'd be surprised at how understanding people are who love and care about you.

If you have a hard time talking to your family, friends, spouse, or partner, at first, consider joining a support group and talk with other people who live with ostomoies.

Keep in mind, an ileostomy does not stop a person from engaging in sexual activity, sports, traveling, or most activities. The only thing holding a person back from doing the things they enjoy are their thoughts and attitude. If you are looking for more help for Chron's Disease symptoms please visit http://www.natural-crohns-disease-relief.com and sign up for a free newsletter. ]]> The Importance Of Backing Up Your Blog http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-backing-up-your-blog http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-backing-up-your-blog#comments Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:27:04 +0000 blogbackupsphpmyadminfrantic rushcomputeranything goesmaxtor http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-backing-up-your-blog Backups in every computing endeavor just make good sense. Without your good, reliable backups, you're likely to go through the hell of data loss and the to recover everything at least once and probably more than that in your lifetime. Data loss can happen for many reasons: the degradation of a hard drive, an upgrade, a hostile hacker, even a catastrophic power surge. Whatever the reason, it happens even to the best systems.

According to a recent poll sponsored by , though, almost half of U.S. users don't back up data to external devices. Most don't do it because they aren't sure about how to back files up. Another large group doesn't think it's important enough to worry about. Others don't want to spend the time on it, or think that backup devices cost too much money. These aren't good reasons; you can back up to your own computer or to a different one, not a device; or you can burn data to CDs (replacing these every year or two, as we now know they degrade over time). And backing up is simple as well as easy to automate.

While there are online archives and caches that can help you recover your data if you work fast, it's still a better idea to ensure that you have the backup to begin with. For one thing, recovering blog data from other sources can never replace your file structure or any of the alterations you may have made to your blog system. For another, your most recent posts and comments will still be lost. In some cases, this can be a major blow.

Once you get into the habit, backing up your blog becomes second nature, not a hassle. You should back up at regular intervals, making it a habit or finding a way to automate it. You should also back up everything just before you do an upgrade or otherwise work with your blog system directly. This way, if wrong, it's not hard to restore your database and other files from the backups.

There are a variety of things you can do to create a backup. For instance, is a popular choice for many bloggers, including those who use WordPress. phpMyAdmin uses a simple menu-driven system to back up your WordPress databases (though it may not catch your special modifications and certain standalone files, and your file structure and images are also high and dry).

For very large databases, straight MySQL code may be necessary; phpMyAdmin can't handle the largest databases. This involves using a special command, mysqldump, or going to the graphical interface MySQL Administrator, provided by many blog hosts. For MySQL solutions, you'll need to know what you're doing with that program as well as with WordPress, and you will almost certainly have to download some extras from the MySQL website.

In one other case, you may need a different solution. If you're using Mac OS X, you should consider using Cocoa MySQL as your MySQL client; this version of SQL is specifically designed to work with Mac computers.

The WordPress Database Backup Plugin

The above solutions are inelegant and often complex to use. Fortunately, Skippy has created a plugin for WordPress users that will do the backup work for you on WordPress databases. This plugin is included in all WordPress versions from 2.0 forward, or you can download it from the http://Skippy.net plugins page from the wp-db-backup files.

If you need to download the plugin, be certain to follow the directions in the included text file so you're certain of installing the plugin properly. To activate it, make sure that the CHMOD is set properly on your wp-content folder so that you can write to it with the server, and then go to the Administration | Plugins | Plugins Panel to activate the plugin.

Backing up your files with this plugin is simple. You navigate to the Administration | Manage | Backup Panel. Then select all tables in addition to your main WordPress tables that you want backed up. Select the option for where to back up; your choices will be to save the backup to the server, to download the files to another computer, or to email the backed up files somewhere else.

Once all your options are selected, click the Backup button to perform the backup. If you've got the wp-Chron plugin installed, you can even set it to backup your files every day, or at an interval you prefer. The backup you will have created is a standard SQL file. It should be simple to follow directions for restoring your SQL database from backup.

Backing Up -- More Information

The frequency of your backups should depend on how often you blog and how much irreplaceable data you could lose in case of failures. If you only post once a week and don't really care if you lose a week's worth of comments on your posts, a weekly backup should be fine. If you're more worried about losing daily data, you should back up every day. If at all possible, automate your backups so you don't have to worry about missing one.

When you back up your databases, be certain you back up everything possible. Special modifications done to your WordPress files of any sort may be as irreplaceable as a dozen posts, but may not be captured when you back up databases. Check with your administrator if you're not certain what else should be protected; he or she will have a very good idea.

Sometimes you'll find that you have enormous database backups; this can be a real problem if you email your backups to yourself and sometimes even if you just download them or pay for that server space. Statistics plugins and anti-spam plugins may be your culprits. These plugins gather data constantly, and may increase the size of your backup beyond what is acceptable. Because this data is not usually critical, try skipping these tables when you're backing up and see how your size comes out. http://www.theinternetone.net ]]>