The Bible's Power Over One Child

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.

Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.

We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.

Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.

One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.

I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.

That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.

I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.

I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.

It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.

Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Simple Words Create Powerful Beliefs.

What You Need to Know About Discount Ceramic Tile

Discount ceramic tile may be a way to save money. But it can actually cost you extra if you aren't careful. Watch out for the trap that will cost you extra and save money where you can. Here's how...

Cheap Tile Can Cost You.

High quality tile at a discount is a good thing. Sometimes however cheap ceramic tile is cheap for a reason. You see, often discount tile is inferior. That usually shows up as more variation in size from tile to tile. That's what will cost you. What happens is it takes more time to install.

The finished look of a tile surface is largely determined by how well the tile edges are aligned. If the size of the tiles varies quite a bit, it's impossible to align all the tiles well. The grout lines are going to wander around in spite of the best efforts of the installer. Those best efforts in an attempt to align the tiles is what costs you time and money. So look out for variation in tile sizes if you buy discount tile.

One Way To Get Discount Tile

Here's a money saving tile idea. Most of your tiles are alike. Most of the tiles are used to cover the larger areas of your surface. Those tiles are sometimes called field tile. But there are two other types of tile you may need. The first is trim tile, or the tiles that go along the borders. The other type are accent tiles. Those are pieces that have special features that make them attractive and decorative. You don't need nearly as many of either of these tiles as you need of the field tiles.

One way to look at many special tiles in a hurry is to shop online. Since you only need a few trim tiles and even fewer accent tiles, shipping cost isn't much of a factor. You can look at many special tiles without driving around and spending time and energy. Your choices are much larger online that you could see in days of driving from store to store.

Shopping online is a fast and cheap way to get accent tiles and trim tile. You can look at Mexican ceramic tile or Italian ceramic tile without spending time and money to drive all over. Maybe it wouldn't make sense to buy all your tile online and have it shipped. It might make really good sense to get the special tiles online.

Look out for excess variation in size of discount tiles. That variation will cost you.

Our website includes an Advanced Search Function that lets you look at discount ceramic tile very quickly. Shop online and save money.

You can also search just for ceramic floor tile at this link: http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for online floor tile choices.

Building Outdoor Kitchen and the Convenience it Offers

Convenience is what it is all about. Why do we need to have another kitchen when we already have one that is inside the house? It is because of convenience. Sometimes money spent is worth it because in the long run it will benefit not only you but the whole family. These days' people are always in the rush. So we do not have the energy or the time to shuttle back and forth to the kitchen and the living room or the dining room. The great thing about an outdoor kitchen is you can always entertain there.

You can build it in such a way where you can have chic and comfortable furniture where your visitors can sit and lounge for as long as they want. You no longer have to leave your guests while preparing food for them. Your guests can even help you with the preparation of the food. Bonding time is even longer. This is not only applicable with guests but with the whole family as well. Your kids can actually make a mess and they would not mess up the whole house.

One piece of advice though, when building your outdoor kitchen, keep it as close to your house as possible. So you need not shuttle back and forth from the house back to your kitchen. Do not make a convenience an inconvenience by building outdoor kitchen far from the main house. Consider the fact that you can hook up your outdoor kitchen with utilities that your main house has.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website http://www.outdoor-kitchen-concepts.com

Pick Perfect Bathroom Accessories

Any fashion-forward individual will tell you that properly accessorizing can make - or break- any outfit. This guideline does not just apply to fashion, however. When remodeling, redecorating or even rearranging furniture, adding accessories can complete the look you're going for. More often than not, however, many homeowners and renters overlook one of the most crucial rooms in their home: the bathroom. Providing unique, useful accessories can transform your bathroom instantly.

Down the Drain

Though this turn of phrase is usually applied to wasting money unnecessarily, when it comes to redecorating your bathroom, it is critical. Evaluate your current drain both in the shower stall, bath tub and sink. Is each drain functioning properly? Are any drains slow or may be clogged? One of the major reasons for slow drainage in showers and tubs is due to hair. To unclog your drain yourself, unscrew the screws holding the metal lid in place; remove the lid and check the piping to see what's literally causing the jam. Prevent future stoppage problems by purchasing a plastic hair stopper to slip over the drain.

Faux Faucets

Even if you're not a millionaire, styling your bathroom like you are does not necessarily cost much money. Check out your faucets; are they made out of plain, dull metals? Why not add a touch of elegance and class by replacing your faucet with a different, less ordinary metal? If you like shine-opt for chrome, polished brass and satin nickel finishes. Contrarily, oil rubbed bronze gives off a luxurious, rich tone to any bathroom.

Soothing Showers

Admit it; you've got a shower problem. Whether it's too little or too much water pressure, too small a showerhead or just simply an old, rusted shower unit, your shower set could use a makeover. It's time to admit this problem and replace it! Installing a new shower set can instantly transform your bathroom from boring to fantastic. Consider shower units that offer detachable or moveable shower heads; these models combine cleaning with a relaxing water massage, making your everyday shower experience all the more thrilling.

If you have replaced your faucets and drains with a new finish, be sure to match your bathroom set completely by installing the same or complimentary finish. Shower set finishes typically include a dark bronze, chrome and satin nickel.

Trendy Towels

If you're just not ready to throw in your ordinary white towels, that's okay. While hanging bright towels in unique patterns or designs does add flair to any bathroom, white towels are just fine. Consider replacing your towel bars instead. Typical bathrooms utilize the space on the back of the door. While this is convenience and space-saver friendly, it does not add much to the overall design.

By installing multiple towel bars in a ladder-like pattern on your wall, you can not only hang more towels, but also create plush wall art. When purchasing your new towel bars, remember what other fixtures you have already replaced. While most of the finishes in your bathroom should match or be the same, do not be afraid to go bold when it comes to your towel hardware. Matte blacks, browns and greens offer a rich tone, while polished chrome and satin nickel and chrome provide a more sterile, clean feeling.

For the ultimate upgrade, choose towel bars that have a heating function. This way, you'll never shiver as you emerge from your 90 degree steam shower again!

Soak in the Suds

Naturally, any good bathroom must have the proper soaps, shampoos and fragrances on hand. While shampoos and conditioners tend to be more sweet-smelling, your hand soap should not. No guest likes to spend the rest of their day smelling like a watermelon. Instead, choose a softer scent that is fresh, clean and light. No matter what soaps you choose, ensure they are gentle on your hands, especially if you wash your hands frequently throughout the day.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of towel bars, and shower heads to help customers pick perfect bathroom accessories for their home.

Don't Make This Mistake When Buying a Home

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for consumers with useful information for future home repairs or current home repairs that will need to be done before the home is sold. Home inspectors often use checklists like these, while they're inspecting the home.

If more home shoppers used home inspection checklist while shopping for houses, we would probably have more satisfied homebuyers than dissatisfied ones. Recently just purchasing a home, we had our real estate professional, the previous homeowner's real estate professional and a mortgage lender, involved in the purchase of the property.

There was a home inspection report from the current homeowners, available for us to look at. It provided us with the damaged parts of the home that were repaired or replaced. Some of these repairs were from termite damage and it was stated so on the report. This was helpful information for us as we walked around the home inspecting it for damage.

The work that was repaired to look satisfactory and the rest of the home had minor damage. Listening to one of the real estate sales people that were involved in the transaction, you would've thought we would get in the deal of a lifetime and they had nothing but good news to say about the product they were representing. I easily understood that, this person could have influenced some one into believing that the home was in great shape, if they didn't have a home inspection checklist with them.

The home had been re-carpeted, painted and was in generally good shape. The problems with the home, were the old windows that were hard to open, the heating unit leaked gas, the tile flooring that ran through the kitchen and a large room addition looked great, except for one thing, they installed the tile over linoleum.

This eventually will have to be replaced as the tile starts to separate from the linoleum. While I'm writing this article, there's about 40 square feet of tile that needs to be replaced, because it's popping up and cracking.

A home purchasing checklist does not guarantee that you will find everything but can't eliminate some of the things that homeowners have the biggest problems with. If you could just eliminate one of these problems, the small price of purchasing, one of these checklists would be worth it.

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for the shopper and I would recommend, never shopping for a home without one.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

By Greg Vanden Berge

Home Mold Repairs

Modular Homes - A Home Builder's Delight

The Advantages of Modular Homes

Modular homes sections are constructed in climate-regulated manufacturing plants, allowing builders to eliminate the expensive delays they experience whenever the weather their building sites turns against them. The time it takes to have a modular home up and in move-in condition from the moment it is ordered can be as short as ninety days, and that kind of turnaround can mean savings which a builder can pass along to a customer. Being built inside and away from the weather also means that modular homes can be ordered at any time of the year.

Discounts On Materials

Another advantage modular homes offer for builder-developers is that their materials, both for the exterior, and the interior finishing materials and appliances, can be ordered in bulk lots, at significant discounts. Yet they will be equal in quality to any of the materials or appliances used in standard homes. This is another huge savings for the builder, and eventually for the customer.

Factory Site Quality Control

One often overlooked advantage of modular homes for builder-developers is that because a modular home is manufactured in a single factory, those who are building it will be subject to the same performance standards. The end result is a home of uniform quality throughout, and both the home builder and the future home owner will benefit from knowing that.

Customization

How about the fact that going modular allows a builder to tailor his home plans to his customers' specifications? This is a terrific advantage of modular homes for builder-developers because it gives the builder the flexibility to either draw up his own plans or order homes built to an individual buyer's request. Modular homes can be created in any architectural style, and a design plan can even be changed via computer if the customer comes up with a new idea.

Unlimited Choices

Another advantage of modular homes for builder-developers is that there is literally no limit to the size or architectural detailing of these homes. From vacation cottages and log cabins to palatial multi-storey seaside retreats, of even multi-family structures, modular homes are available for every possible taste and budget. There are even some builders who now choose modular construction for their commercial office projects.

The advantages of modular homes for builder-developers have become so great that they clearly outshine any small stigma which may remain in the minds of some when they hear the term "modular home!"

You can also find more info on buy modular home. Modularhomesbasic.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about Homes.

Bathtub Meets Shower Framing

Getting Started Remodeling Your Kitchen

Tired of dealing with a kitchen that is out of style? You may want to consider giving your kitchen a face lift.

If you are planning to remodel your kitchen, there are definitely many things to consider. After all, you want a beautiful and functional kitchen that won't totally break your bank account.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips that can help you get started with your kitchen remodel.

Figure Out Your Budget

The very first thing you need to do once you have decided that you want to remodel your kitchen is to sit down and figure out your budget.

There is no reason to start on the rest of the plans until you know how much money you have to spend. Figure out how much you can realistically spend on this project.

Once you know how much money you have available, then you can go about figuring out what things you'll be able to do with that amount of money.

Whether you have a lot of money or a limited budget, you'll still find that there are many great options for remodeling that will make your kitchen look great.

Look Online for Inspiration

Another important thing to do that will help you get your remodeling project going is to look online for inspiration.

Take a look at pictures and kitchen design ideas that are available on the web. There are many different websites that specialize in kitchen design and remodeling.

By taking the time to browse through, you may find some ideas that you want to use in your kitchen. If you need some inspiration and ideas for your own kitchen, the internet is one of the best tools to use.

Considering the Floor Plans

If you're doing a drastic kitchen remodel, you'll need to consider the floor plans. Perhaps you need to make better use of the space in the kitchen or you need to find more area for storage. Changing up the floor plans can help.

Take a look at various floor plans for kitchens. You may even want to have a professional architect or other remodeling professional come in and help you out.

If you already have an idea of what you want then you need to focus on drawing up plans that will make the most out of your space and that will provide you with the options and space for appliances that you want.

DIY or Professional Contractor

One important consideration you need to think about is whether or not this remodel is going to be a do it yourself project or whether you want to hire a professional contractor.

There are pros and cons to both options, but you'll need to figure this out before you get too far into the project. If you are experienced with other do it yourself projects and you have a limited budget, it can be a great idea to do the remodel yourself, as long as you know what you're doing, just be careful with the gas and electrics, you should seek professional help at this stage to ensure safety.

However, if you aren't familiar with remodeling techniques and you have the available money, choosing a professional contractor to do the work may be a great idea.

Yvonne Sutton runs a free information site on the many aspects of kitchen design.

Visit the site to gain valuable help on how to choose a new kitchen design.

Backing Block Holds Up Drop