Saturday, February 22, 2014

Anxiety... and what NOT to say.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com

Yes,  there are some good, valuable answers and help here in this article,  BUT....  the Bible has been the best medicine for me, and millions [NOT TRILLIONS!] of other people who know the power of the BOOK !!   The KJV Bible has ALL the answers for humankind,  but few go there...   and fewer apply it !    I am still working on things in my old age, and I am a "work in progress."   I am sure that the pastor is disappointed in my slow progress --- but that is now an incentive for me to work harder.    BEEP !!  Wrong answer !!  I [we] should be doing things for God in heaven !!  Actually, Father God is the only One we should be concerned and worried about. offending!  

One thing for sure:   I intend to treat my wife, Terri, to a really good time tomorrow!!

Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman



7 Things You Shouldn't Say To Someone With Anxiety



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If you’ve ever suffered from severe anxiety, you’re probably overly familiar with the control it can have over your life. And you’re not alone -- it affects approximately 40 million adult Americans per year.
Anxiety and panic disorders can cause ceaseless feelings of fear and uncertainty -- and with that suffering often comes comments that are more hurtful than helpful. According to Scott Bea, clinical psychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, while it usually comes from a heartfelt place, a lack of understanding from others can make working through a panic attack incredibly challenging.
“So many of the things you might say end up having a paradoxical effect and make the anxiety worse,” Bea tells The Huffington Post. “Anxiety can be like quicksand -- the more you do to try to defuse the situation immediately, the deeper you sink. By telling people things like ‘stay calm,’ they can actually increase their sense of panic.”
Despite everything, there are ways to still be supportive without causing more distress. Here are seven comments you should avoid saying to someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder -- and how you can really help them instead.
1. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
spilled milk
The truth is, what you consider small may not be so minute in someone else’s world. While you may be trying to cast a positive, upbeat light on a tense situation, you may be diminishing something that’s a much bigger deal to another person.
“You have to enter the person’s belief system,” Bea advises. “For [someone with anxiety], everything is big stuff.” In order to help instead, try approaching them from a point of encouragement rather than implying that they “buck up” over something little. Reminding them that they overcame this panic before can help validate that their pain is real and help them push beyond those overwhelming feelings, Bea says.
2. “Calm down.”
calm
The debilitating problem with anxiety and panic disorders is that you simply can’t calm down. Finding the ability to relax -- particularly on command -- isn’t easy for most people, and it certainly can be more difficult for someone suffering from anxiety.
In a blog post on Psychology Today, psychologist Shawn Smith wrote an open letter to a loved one from the viewpoint of someone with anxiety, stating that even though there may be good intentions behind it, telling someone to calm down will most likely have the opposite effect:
Let’s acknowledge the obvious: if I could stop my anxiety, I would have done so by now. That may be difficult to understand since it probably looks like I choose to [panic, scrub, hoard, pace, hide, ruminate, check, clean, etc]. I don’t. In my world, doing those things is only slightly less excruciating than not doing them. It’s a difficult thing to explain, but anxiety places a person in that position.
According to Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, your words don’t have to be your most powerful method -- offering to do something with them may be the best way to help alleviate their symptoms. Humphreys says activities like meditation, going for a walk or working out are all positive ways to help.
3. “Just do it.”
When someone with anxiety is facing their fear, a little “tough love” may not have the effect you’re hoping for. Depending on the type of phobia or disorder someone is dealing with, panic can strike at anytime -- whether it’s having to board an airplane, speaking with a group of people or even just occurring out of nowhere. “Obviously if they could overcome this they would because it would be more pleasant,” Humphreys says. “No one chooses to have anxiety. Using [these phrases] makes them feel defensive and unsupported.”
Instead of telling someone to “suck it up,” practicing empathy is key. Humphreys advises swapping pep-talk language for phrases like “that’s a terrible way to feel” or “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“The paradox is, [an empathetic phrase] helps them calm down because they don’t feel like they have to fight for their anxiety,” Humphreys said. “It shows some understanding.”
4. “Everything is going to be fine.”
While overall supportive, Bea says that those with anxiety won’t really react to the comforting words in the way that you may hope. “Unfortunately, telling someone [who is dealing with anxiety] that ‘everything is going to be alright’ won’t do much, because nobody is going to believe it,” he explains. “Reassurance sometimes can be a bad method. It makes them feel better for 20 seconds and then doubt can creep in again.”
Bea suggests remaining encouraging, without using blanket statements that may not offer value to the situation. Sometimes, he says, even allowing them to embrace their worry -- instead of trying to banish it -- can be the only way to help. “They can always accept the condition,” Bea said. “Encouraging them that it’s okay to feel what they’re feeling -- that can be a pretty good fix as well.”
5. “I’m stressed out too.”
secondhand stress
Similar to “calm down” and “don’t sweat the small stuff,” you may be accidentally trivializing someone’s struggle by creating a comparison. However, if you are stressed or suffering from a mild anxiety or panic disorder, Humphreys warns that camaraderie after a certain point can get dangerous. “It’s important not to obsess with each other,” Humphreys advises. “If you have two people who are anxious, they may feed off each other. If people have trouble controlling their own anxiety, try not to engage in that activity even if you think it might help.”
Research has shown that stress is a contagious emotion, and a recent study out of the University of California San Francisco found that even babies can catch those negative feelings from their mothers. In order to promote healthier thoughts, Humphreys advises attempting to refocus the narrative instead of commiserating together.
6. “Have a drink -- it’ll take your mind off of it.”
drink at bar
That cocktail may take the edge off, but when dealing with anxiety disorders there is a greater problem to worry about, Humphreys says. Doctors and prescribed treatments are more of the answer when it comes to dealing with the troubles that cause the panic. “Most people assume that if someone has a few drinks, that will take their anxiety away,” he said. “In the short term, yes perhaps it will, but in the long term it can be a gateway for addiction. It’s dangerous in the long term because those substances can be reinforcing the anxiety.”
7. “Did I do something wrong?”
It can be difficult when a loved one is constantly suffering and at times it can even feel like your actions are somehow setting them off. Humphreys says it’s important to remember that panic and anxiety disorders stem from something larger than just one particular or minor instance. “Accept that you cannot control another person’s emotions,” he explains. “If you try to [control their emotions], you will feel frustrated, your loved one suffering may feel rejected and you’ll resent each other. It’s important not to take their anxiety personally.”
Humphreys says it’s also crucial to let your loved ones know that there is a way to overcoming any anxiety or panic disorder -- and that you’re there to be supportive. “There are ways out to become happier and more functional,” he says. “There is absolutely a reason to have hope.”
Did we miss any? What’s one thing you shouldn’t say to someone suffering from anxiety? Share it with us in the comments below.

Also on HuffPost:

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Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
"The symmetry we experience in practicing balancing poses helps us turn away from the mind's business and towards the body's recalibration and healing," says Brower.

The Eagle Pose can be particularly beneficial for quieting the mind and bringing the attention to the body. Try holding standing pose for 30-60 seconds on each side.
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Friday, February 21, 2014

The Prophectic UN Agenda 21.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com

Hi Friends,
     Like I've always said,  'The best revenge is massive success !'   And how sweet the taste of victory --- when extremely smart, Bible educated, honored gentlemen, like Hal Lindsey agrees with the same things that I post in my humble blogs!   This a 'feel good time' for me, the day after my mile stone, 65th birthday.   An anti-climatic, gentle, fun, super relaxed time for my fine, beautiful soul mate, wife, Terri,  and me to rest up and savor, after all her HARD work to make the party a huge success !!   I tell her I love her every day, and try to be as generous and kind as I can be,  old sinner that I am --- BUT SAVED.   I just told her a few hours ago that 'I will NOT ALLOW ANYTHING to break up our "kind streak" that we are both working on, as I am working hard not to say things that are insulting or stupid...  LOL !  [hey,  I'm only a man, and we men need  the dots closer together... please]   I wish I were a nicer guy by nature, but it seems that some things just come hard for me, just as some folks have a hard time studying the Bible, we all have something to work on, with our inherited sinful natures that we got from Adam and Eve.....  Hummmmm.     I'll tell you all one thing for sure....   once that  you admit that you ARE a sinner needing the daily help from the Holy Spirit to walk the life of a Christian --- good things start to happen for you !!

The R-U -- Reformers group ministry  [in many Baptist churches] that has something like a 90% success rate, compared to  the AA --Alcoholics Anonymous, a  much lower success rate, for example,  relies on the Fact/ Truth, that Jesus is the main reason that people can kick an addiction, weather it be  drugs, drinking, smoking, eating too much, cussing, gambling, or whatever!!   We learn to rely on the  real 'higher power' ---strictly on Jesus Christ to help us win the war against evil things that we do.  Not just drinking, but much more.   Personally, I have prayed for patience and long suffering, most  of the time, and my temper.....   duh.   And then, there is the old adage:   'Choose your battles well.'   That means,  don't sweat the small stuff !   Don't get bent out of shape because of something small or insignificant.   And how about the 'Golden Rule ?'   But  the RU CHAPTER/ ORG., IS TOTALLY BIBLE ORIENTED, AND IT WORKS!!

I have said so many times....   'I wish I would have been brought up with a good, extended, intensive, Bible education !!!'   Then I would not have made so many stupid mistakes and poor judgments in my  past life time.   But we can  not do that, or change our birth ,  or up bringing, so once we do find the Lord, we ought to 'make hay while the sun shines.'   The time we have RIGHT NOW is so precious, as things... the whole world is falling apart today!   The world stage is being set for the Anti-Christ to enter, and take over.   I personally, honestly believe that Obama is preparing a lot for this "Man of Lawlessness -- the Anti-Christ" to enter the End Times, and soon.   Our Freedoms are vanishing, and very few have what it takes to 'right the ship' at this point.   Too many cowards, and too many on the welfare rolls, also having concurring, 4th generational welfare Mama's !!    50% of Americans supporting the other 50% who WILL NOT WORK!!!   Black punks beating up and killing old white folks, just for kicks, with the Obama Gov't nodding at it and doing nothing.    This, of course, is a run away train headed for a washed out bridge and disaster, but that is just what this Gov't and Congress wants, and half of America is either too stupid, too lazy, or too complicit to care, or do anything about it !   Friends,  this thought may be very unpopular,  but we all ought to be praying for, GOD'S WILL TO TAKE PLACE.... instead of, 'God blessing America' -- which may NOT be His Will.  America used to be the greatest land on the earth, a true, Christian nation that protected Israel and the Jewish people.   But the term, 'America' is never mentioned in the Bible !!  We may be conquered, extinct, defunct, or just another bankrupt 3rd world country in a year or so....   but God's Will WILL be done, in heaven and on the Earth.  Period.
      The world is so violent, so vulgar and immoral, corrupt, and greedy, that the only way God can clean it up is to burn down the house and build a NEW ONE !!   But the Lord  promised to 'SAVE' the true Believers / Followers of His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,  by sending them to a 'safe place' before He cleans up the new heavens and the new earth.   I hope to be in that number, and like the pastor said, 'the Lord is still working on me',   ---Tom Schuckman.    I know that I still have a lot to work on... with God's help, care and love.
      Many times we think that we are doing/ progressing better/ faster than other Christians, but we all have secret sins that  we are working on, I fear, and repent from.   I find myself 'cleaning house' often enough, or find out that I still have not conquered personality flaws after many years, or some evil revisits me again after I thought I nailed it down for good.   But never lose heart, friends, Jesus is forgiving us all the time,  from the Cross until now.    Don't ever feel that your sin, or sins are too nasty, or too great for God to forgive.   That is the devil talking to you !!   And that is why knowing the KJV Bible well is so important, because, "The truth will make you free!"  

I have always enjoyed the Hal Lindsey Report, and hope you will too.  you might even share this humble post of mine with your friends,  if you are not too ashamed...

Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman







February 21st, 2014
This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
If you've been watching coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia, you've seen Russian President Vladimir Putin from time to time. He's been playing host to the world, commiserating with his fellow countrymen when they lose, celebrating with them when they win, and putting on a good sport's face when their rivals win.

Overall, pundits and analysts are suggesting that he's doing a good job of selling Russia to the world, even though the weather hasn't been terribly cooperative and some of the facilities and services have garnered criticism from visiting journalists.

Of course, the Games started with a slap in Putin's face from quite a few western leaders when they refused to attend because of Russia's law forbidding homosexual "propaganda" and recruitment. President Obama went so far as to send a delegation of gay former athletes and Olympians to Sochi before the Games to emphasize his commitment to the rights of homosexuals around the world.

But apparently Putin wasn't impressed. The law is still on the books, the Games have gone on, and no terrorist attacks have interrupted them thus far. Overall, things seem to be going Putin's way.

And they seem to be going his way in other parts of the world, too. Particularly the Middle East.

After the Egyptian military removed President Mohamed Morsi, arrested the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and stopped Egypt's headlong plunge into sharia law and Islamic statism, the Obama administration decided to withhold promised aid to the Egyptian government and deal with the new regime at arm's length. It's quite reminiscent of the tack America took in the late 1950's that drove Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser into the arms of the Soviet Union.

Well, the USSR no longer exists, but Russia does and its president longs for the old days when the USSR exerted enormous influence in the world, particularly in the Middle East. And he has open arms.

So the de facto leader of Egypt, General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi paid Russian President Vladimir Putin a call in Moscow recently. And he was lavishly received with those open arms. In fact, in some of the news video, I saw Putin break into a smile - twice! Now that should warm al-Sisi's heart, indeed.

So now Egypt and Russia are working out a 3 billion dollar arms deal for MiG-29s, Mi35 helicopters, and inland and coastal defense systems. And who knows what else? In fact, in Egypt, Putin is now viewed as somewhat of a "savior."

President Obama, on the other hand, after delivering such exalted promises in his infamous Cairo speech, then pressing to see the Muslim Brotherhood installed in power and refusing to acknowledge that Egypt is better off without the thugs, is now reviled across the Middle East - especially in Egypt.

The world's media basically ignored the visit Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas paid to Moscow in late January. While there, he essentially dumped Secretary of State John Kerry's peace plan and sought Putin's backing for Palestinian statehood.

And if that's not enough, Iran has now begun making fresh overtures to Russia. They want to buy arms (I suppose the cash they're getting from the West since the sanctions have been eased is burning a hole in their pocket) and stage joint naval games with Russia (maybe in the Atlantic?).

But, as country picker Jerry Reed used to sing, "When you're hot, you're hot." And Putin is hot. Just as the prophets predicted.

In 1672, John Dryden wrote a play in which he extolled the virtues of the "noble savage." European elites loved it.

Over time, they began to see civilization itself as the great destroyer of human values. They began to believe that if humans were just left to their own devices, with no one preaching right or wrong to them or imposing ideas like marriage or justice, the innate goodness of humans would always rise to the surface and triumph.

Significantly, they saw Christianity as the main culprit in corrupting man's natural moral excellence.

In the fantasy, and in the movies, the "noble savage" is full of wisdom and goodness. In reality, though, if you showed up hungry on the doorstep of the "noble savage," he might serve you an entree or he might serve you AS the entree. But through the generations, the idea of the "noble savage" persisted.

Christians value each person as made in the image of God, but we also recognize humanity's fallen nature. The Bible says that man sins because we are sinners by birth. (See Romans 5:12 and on.)

The natural mind and the elites of the world hate that. We've been educated to believe that we are blank slates and that any bad characteristics we exhibit have been taught us by society, our parents, or the church. However, some recent studies show that the Bible was right all along.

In fact, Dr. Paul Bloom of Yale University commented, "Humans are born with a hard-wired morality, a sense of good and evil is bred in the bone."

Science, at last, may be starting to get it right, but those of us who trusted the Bible have gotten it right all along.

Archeologists from Tel Aviv University recently published research from an excavation in the Negev desert. They found some camel bones that carbon-dating suggests are from the 10th century B.C. In the press release, they mention that the Bible says that Abraham had camels even older than these, by more than a thousand years.

No big deal, right? Wrong. In the fevered, anti-Christian, and, perhaps delusional minds of the world media, that little statement suggests that this otherwise obscure find might bring into question the accuracy of the Bible. They were giddy with delight.

I'll share others on the show, but here's an example of how some respected publications abandoned their objectivity in reporting this "discovery." The Smithsonian headlined its article: "Here is Proof the Bibles Tales were Tweaked."

They insist that proof that domesticated camels existed in one part of Israel in the 10th century B.C. means they did NOT exist anywhere else in Israel before then. And that Biblical references to earlier camels are nothing more than a fiction. Which means that the Bible is lying and cannot be trusted.

Apparently, many of them do not understand that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."

A writer for The Guardian of London even speculated that the discovery of "the old Testament's made-up camels are a problem for Zionism." Unbelievably, he used the discovery of some 3,000-year old camel bones to undermine Israel's right to exist!

I'm not making this up. Welcome to the end-times, folks.

For years now, conservatives and some moderates have been warning about the danger inherent in a United Nations initiative called Agenda 21. Though I covered this on my old television program on TBN in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I've not discussed it recently.

As we see growing chaos across the world, much of it exacerbated by an out-of-control environmentalist mindset (of which the bogus "man-made" climate change hoax is just the tip of the iceberg and the death of farming in America's most fertile valley is a result), the bizarre and draconian effects of Agenda 21 will become more apparent.

In fact, it is such a threat to our own national sovereignty that I want to quote just a portion of a statement by an organization called Democrats Against UN Agenda 21: "The plan calls for governments to take control of all land use and not leave any of the decision making in the hands of the private property owners. It is assumed that people are not good stewards... and the government will do a better job.... Individual rights in general are to give way to the needs of the communities as determined by the governing body. Moreover, people should be rounded up off the land and packed into human settlements, or islands of human habitation...."

And to show you I'm not just quoting the opposition, here's what Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer, one of the prominent scientists promoting Agenda 21, recently admitted: "Developed countries have basically expropriated the atmosphere of the world community. But one must clearly say that we redistribute de facto the world's wealth by climate policy."

Had the ancient prophets predicted that one day the elites of the world would seek to control the world by regulating the air we breathe and then taxing each breath, they would have been laughed out of the prophets' club. Once again, welcome to the end-times, folks.

Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.com

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

An Example of what to Do.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com

I have a new buddy, also a Veteran, and we have challenged each other in a way, with different scriptures, and so far things have been interesting, at least for me.   I like what he sent me and intend to study it more.  Remember:  "Iron sharpens Iron."  ---Proverbs 27: 17.  Actually,  I hunger for others like me with whom I can have an intelligent conversation U.P. here.   I find it stimulating,  refreshing, and challenging.  

We all have our favorite speakers, pastors, writers, etc.,  but real Christian try not to 'follow' other human beings.   We follow ONLY Jesus Christ, and the Bible !   Human make mistakes ----  God does not.   But if some humans follow a godly, biblical path, we do well to emulate their actions.   Just like, a relative named his son,  Tyger,  [and what a beautiful boy !!]  -- I think, because he loves golf.   But just look what happens when another human with a certain name falls flat on his face, or does a serious crime ??  Then goofy people are reminded of the wrong person, and poke fun at the innocent guy or gal.  Pity.  One of my favorite uncles was named Adolph, and he was good, hard working, moral man, who was well loved in this world and did a lot of good things....   but his name may have made people wince.   You see what I mean?  

So,  we need to be seeking the Holy Spirit when we study the Bible in it's context, to get the correct jest and meaning, and then we can apply that knowledge and share the Gospel with others.   There are many "Good Things" that we COULD be doing with our time, but in this wicked age of time, so close and into the 'End Times', what OUGHT WE TO BE DOING ??   Well,  if you had the power to heal someone, or had the cure for cancer, wouldn't you share it with others??   We DO have the power to lead other people to Salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ, by just opening up our mouths !!    I also vote to put the right people in gov't over sight, and I never voted for Obama.   This is not something only reserved for a pastor, or minister.   All Christians are actually commanded to help preach / share the Gospel, until God says to stop.   A great start would be to read and study the books of John, and Romans, and that will prepare you learn all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you don't think you know enough, read them AGAIN !!   And then read the whole Bible too.   I hope that I have helped some body today.    Comments?   Not too many people have figured out to comment yet....  but I comment on other blog sites.   I'm not the only smart kid on the block, am I ?  Ha!

We are going to get another snow storm U.P. here where I live, and maybe up to 6 inches.   But it's the ice and slippery side walks that bother me.






The Daily Jot

Daily reporting and analysis of current events from a biblical and prophetic persp
ective.  
 

NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus--the actual original names and the true nature and character of them. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014 
 
An example of what to do
 
Everyday I receive dozens of emails about what to do. Daily Jot readers recognize the condition of our society here in America and really do want to do something, but many don't know what to do. Really, my calling is to provide you with information about how news events relate to the Bible, Biblical prophecy, and Biblical principles that you might take action--equip, encourage, evangelize. The reason I do not often tell you what to do is because I believe you need to be seeking the Holy Spirit, studying your Bible in its context and true meaning, and determining your course of action. For myself, I speak out. I find people at the grocery story, gas pump, athletic gatherings, etc., to use the news to speak out.
 
Last night, I saw an example of it worthy of your attention. Now before you chastise me for watching a hedonistic show such as American Idol, please note that I also watch Congress and the White House very carefully--and there is nothing in our culture more ungodly than that--so American Idol is tame in comparison. But last night was kind of a defining moment for those who are wondering what to do about our society. I believe that Jesus would want us to engage--He engaged the woman at the well. He engaged the young rich man. He engaged the people at the Sermon on the Mount. Because he engaged society about righteousness, he changed the world. You can do the same. But I digress.
 
I don't know much about Harry Connick, Jr., but he gave us a great example of how to engage without offending--and he did it on the big stage in front of millions of television viewers. Idol contestant Emily Piriz just turned 18 this week. She chose the song "Paris (Ooh La La)" to sing. She had sung it before in auditions and Connick had remarked that it wasn't appropriate for her age (then 17). Connick asked her after she sang the song if she could repeat the lyrics of the first two lines of it. She said, she could and proceeded: "You got me down on the floor, So what'd you bring me down here for?" Connick made a point to tell her that this was not appropriate for a girl her age to be singing. 
 
He asked her if that was the type of image she wanted to promote of herself. Her answer was that she wanted to appear as a strong woman who wanted to get what she goes after. Connick asked again if this was the image she wanted to portray.  Host Ryan Seacrest stepped in and tried to lighten things up by saying Harry was having a fatherly moment with Emily. Fact is, my brothers and sisters, we should all be having fatherly and motherly moments with the people in our society. We need to speak up. Connick did it in a non-offensive way, but with authority. He made a statement. He had an Ephesians 6:19 moment, "that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel"--whether he knew it or not, he shared a bit of the gospel. WE need to engage, not shrink back. This was an example.
 
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Ignorance.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com


The term, ignorant means that we are not aware of something, and should not be seen as an insult,  right off the bat.   I consider myself well educated in many areas, yet still "ignorant" in many more.  No big deal.  It just translates to how we are raised, encouraged, educated, rich or poor, etc., and what we are willing to do.   And, the HUMBLE man has a great advantage in that he has the 'right stuff' to learn from a learned man, and God Himself !   Paul so instructed Timothy, in the Bible,  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."  ---2nd Timothy 3:16.     So, therefore, as  far as finding out the 'mind of God' and doing His Will, we don't have to look, or read any other place but the KJV Bible !!  Don't you just love things that are simple and uncomplicated ?  I do !   And too, we all learn the truth of the Bible at different stages in our life, and so it would be  wrong for any of us to think that we are 'one-up' on some one new just learning the Gospel.  We all ought to have the basics in bible knowledge, but just being "Saved" is the most important part, IMHO.  

Some good folks think that just following the 10 Commandments are all a person needs to do as a Saved Christian.   But the fact is that such a person probably has never studied the Bible ---making an erroneous statement like that, because the "OLD Mosaic Law Covenant is NOT binding on Christians !! !!  Jesus, Himself, changed all of that when He died on the cross for all of mankind, once and for all.  Jesus instituted the "New Testament/ Law" which is that we must love the Lord God with all our strength, power and vital force, and also love our neighbor as ourselves.   I didn't know and understand all these things from the get-go either, friends, but while  there is still breath in me, I will share these things will everyone I meet, God willing.    Too,  the Bible, and God's Laws supersede/ change,   any other human laws or decrees.  PERIOD.   And not everyone can, or should be teachers,  because there is a lot of serious weight on that job, and we must get things right!   When I was a kid who made mistakes in my speech and beliefs, and humiliated by someone older who knew a little more than me,  I didn't just quit.   I doubled down hard and studied twice as hard so as not to make the same mistake twice.   So that now at my present age,  I feel comfortable talking about certain subjects.   And when I hear someone else speaking about something I do not know --- I shut up and listen to him, and if I am interested in his speech, I do more research on that subject until I figure I know enough on that subject.

But we can't possible know everything while we are on Earth, so we must pick and choose what has the highest priority.  To me, heaven and hell seem very worthy of my time and effort, and since we all may die sometime....  IF the Rapture doesn't come in our time.    So then, I NEED TO KNOW THE ABSOLUTE  TRUTH of the matter, of where we [I] am going after I die.   After all,  Jesus said, 'what does it profit a man to win the whole world [or riches], and then lose his very soul ?'     I am happy to enjoy a good standard of living now,  but I well know just how mortal I am today !!   I have had too many close calls on my life, and doctors/ surgeons have told me just how 'lucky' I was to still live.   I broke way too many bones in my body, including my neck in 1997,so that my two years in Vietnam: 68-70, seemed like a 'walk in the park !!'    And I won't soon forget all the pain and agony, also heart break and tears of losing those very close to me.

Many kind people have emailed me to say that they really enjoyed reading and sharing my humble blog posts.   Thank you very much, guys and gals !   I only want to share the good things I have, that took me so long to learn, and Feb. 20th I will be age 65 !!   I am hoping to buy some more Life Insurance, in case I die too soon, so that my wife can continue to live and survive in good manner.    But God will take care of her, someway, somehow.... I just want her to be OK, and relatively happy.   I tried to teach her how to invest, etc., and take care of herself, since we've been married.

I would be happy to help or share more Bible stuff with anyone who is serious about learning.  Learn to use the COMMENTS area.   And I know that my pastor would help out too.

Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman

Help and Info for Vietnam Veterans.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com


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In This Issue February 14, 2014
10 Actions for Responding to a Vet in Crisis
FacebookFAO - FacebookYouTube Logo
Special Notice:
If you are a veteran in emotional crisis and need help RIGHT NOW, call this toll-free number 1-800-273-8255, press 1, available 24/7, and tell them you are a veteran. All calls are confidential.

VA Caregiver Hotline
Military Sexual Trauma
Donate to VVA
Holiday Stress

Support Senate Bill 1602

Documents: Judgments Random in Military Sex Crimes

Judgments Random in Military Sex Crimes
In a February 9 AP story filed from Tokyo by Yuri Kageyama and Richard Lardner, at U.S. military bases in Japan, most service members found culpable in sex crimes in recent years did not go to prison, according to internal Department of Defense documents. Instead, in a review of hundreds of cases filed in America's largest overseas military installation, offenders were fined, demoted, restricted to their bases, or removed from the military.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/judgments-random-military-sex-crimes-documents-article-1.1608452#ixzz2t9eiPO7V
From the American Institute of Stress

10 Actions for Responding to a Vet in Crisis

10 Actions for Responding to a Vet in Crisis
From the American Institute of Stress by Alison Lighthall on February 1: Telephone calls from a combat veteran in crisis require different approaches, skills, and tactics than other subjects. 
Read about some basic strategies that can be used by crisis call responders here
VVA Video

2013 VVA Excellence Awards Banquet

VVA Excellence Award Video
At every National Convention, VVA honors those who served in Vietnam and their supporters for their achievements both during and after the war. VVA National President John Rowan was thrilled to present Excellence Awards to Bill Nelson, Dr. Guion Guy Bluford, Jr., H. Lee Barnes, Dr. G. Reid Lyon, U-Haul International, Inc., and Arlo Guthrie.
Watch on YouTube
As Reported by US News & World Report HealthDay

Study Shows Vietnam Vets Exposed to AO Have High Risk of Skin Cancer

Agent Orange Spray
In a February 7 US News & World Report HealthDay post, reporter Robert Preidt writes about a study which demonstrates that Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange may be at increased risk for skin cancer. 
Read the complete story
As Reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal

Half of Nevada's VA Claims Sent Out-of-State

Half of Nevada’s disability claims sent out of state
In a February 8 post on the Las Vegas Review-Journal by Keith Rogers, the VA’s benefits office in Reno was so overwhelmed by disability claims last year that it sent half of them to out-of-state offices for decisions.
Read the complete story
Town Hall Meeting

Faces of Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting

February 20th 2014
Mooresville, North Carolina
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2013
Time: 1 pm
Town Hall Meeting: Mooresville, North Carolina
Place: Richard's Coffee Shop, 165 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115
Contact: Pamela Scheffer: 704-425-5573
To view calendar with upcoming town hall meetings, http://www.vva.org/Committees/AgentOrange/TownHall.htm
As Reported by the Stone Hearth News 

Great Majority of Americans Don't Know Correct Heart Facts

From a February 7 post on the Stone Hearth News, despite the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., about three-quarters (74 percent) of Americans do not fear dying from it, according to a recent survey by the Cleveland Clinic.
See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/heart-health-facts-unknown-to-majority-of-americans/heart-health/#sthash.altLTiNu.dpuf
Vet Court Con 

OEF/OIF Vets Needed for Comparative PTSD Studies

National Intrepid Center of Excellence
Researchers at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, are currently recruiting for a study in which they provide free evidence-based therapy to OEF/OIF military veterans, service members, guardsmen, and reservists experiencing combat-related PTSD.
The study is comparing Prolonged Exposure to Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) with or without cognitive enhancers. The study is offering 9 free sessions of individual treatment to eligible individuals, and all participants receive exposure therapy. The study also offers 2 free functional MRI (brain scans) to assess recovery in those receiving VRE therapy and comparing them to healthy veterans, those with history of blast exposure and those with PTSD receiving usual care. If you are interested in participating, please contact the Study Coordinator, Ms. Patricia Taylor, at 240-507-6339.
                                   
NOTE: this study’s I.R.B. documentation has been filed and reviewed by VVA’s I.R.B. research officer and judged to be in compliance with all applicable human subjects research guidelines.
Silver Spring Community Day 

**NEW DATE**
Veterans Against Drugs Hosts
3rd Annual All Skate Free

VAD Skate Free Flyer