Looking Forward to This Vacation

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

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It's Personal

Today is the one day of the year that many people will actually go to a church service. For those of us who go regularly, be it weekly, bi-weekly, or less often than that, we welcome the opportunity to show you the love of Jesus Christ the best way we can!
For those that only come once a year it is a religious obligation that offers them a sense of security or a feeling of compliance with the scriptures. This a practice done out of religious necessity and not done out of a true relationship with Jesus. A relationship is a daily striving to know someone more deeply and intimately. If the only time you spoke to, kissed, hugged, or even looked at your spouse was just once a year on your anniversary, how intimate would your relationship be?
Going to church on a regular basis does not automatically give you a deeper relationship with Him, but as you strive to know Him more deeply by studying His word the bible, you will learn the reasons of assembling together with other believers.
What Jesus (God almighty) did on the cross was close the door FOREVER on religious practice, and open wide the door of a personal relationship. This is the only way to reach Him now, and has been the only way for 2000+ years.
As you make your annual trek to church today, ask Jesus if He would like to have a more intimate relationship with you, and then ask Him to show you how to do it!
Peace & love through Christ Jesus.

Ps. I invite you to worship with us at the Church House in Hicks, LA today and every Sunday at 11am or 6pm. Wednesday at 7pm.



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Bipolar: Addicted To A Feeling You Hate!

WHAT IT IS

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

SYMPTOMS

By Mayo Clinic Staff


Bipolar disorder is divided into several subtypes. Each has a different pattern of symptoms. Types of bipolar disorder include:

Bipolar I disorder. Mood swings with bipolar I cause significant difficulty in your job, school or relationships. Manic episodes can be severe and dangerous.
Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II is less severe than bipolar I. You may have an elevated mood, irritability and some changes in your functioning, but generally you can carry on with your normal daily routine. Instead of full-blown mania, you have hypomania — a less severe form of mania. In bipolar II, periods of depression typically last longer than periods of hypomania.
Cyclothymic disorder. Cyclothymic disorder, also known as cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. With cyclothymia, hypomania and depression can be disruptive, but the highs and lows are not as severe as they are with other types of bipolar disorder.
The exact symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. For some people, depression causes the most problems; for other people, manic symptoms are the main concern. Symptoms of depression and symptoms of mania or hypomania may also occur together. This is known as a mixed episode.

Manic phase of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of the manic or hypomanic phase of bipolar disorder can include:

Euphoria
Inflated self-esteem
Poor judgment
Rapid speech
Racing thoughts
Aggressive behavior
Agitation or irritation
Increased physical activity
Risky behavior
Spending sprees or unwise financial choices
Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
Increased sex drive
Decreased need for sleep
Easily distracted
Careless or dangerous use of drugs or alcohol
Frequent absences from work or school
Delusions or a break from reality (psychosis)
Poor performance at work or school
Depressive phase of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder can include:

Sadness
Hopelessness
Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Anxiety
Guilt
Sleep problems
Low appetite or increased appetite
Fatigue
Loss of interest in activities once considered enjoyable
Problems concentrating
Irritability
Chronic pain without a known cause
Frequent absences from work or school
Poor performance at work or school
Other signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder can also include:

Seasonal changes in mood. As with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), some people with bipolar disorder have moods that change with the seasons. Some people become manic or hypomanic in the spring or summer and then become depressed in the fall or winter. For other people, this cycle is reversed — they become depressed in the spring or summer and manic or hypomanic in the fall or winter.
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Some people with bipolar disorder have rapid mood shifts. This is defined as having four or more mood swings within a single year. However, in some people mood shifts occur much more quickly, sometimes within just hours.
Psychosis. Severe episodes of either mania or depression may result in psychosis, a detachment from reality. Symptoms of psychosis may include false but strongly held beliefs (delusions) and hearing or seeing things that aren't there (hallucinations).
Symptoms in children and adolescents

Instead of clear-cut depression and mania or hypomania, the most prominent signs of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents can include explosive temper, rapid mood shifts, reckless behavior and aggression. In some cases, these shifts occur within hours or less — for example, a child may have intense periods of giddiness and silliness, long bouts of crying and outbursts of explosive anger all in one day.

When to see a doctor

If you have any symptoms of depression or mania, see your doctor or mental health provider. Bipolar disorder doesn't get better on its own. Getting treatment from a mental health provider with experience in bipolar disorder can help you get your symptoms under control.

Many people with bipolar disorder don't get the treatment they need. Despite the mood extremes, people with bipolar disorder often don't recognize how much their emotional instability disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones. And if you're like some people with bipolar disorder, you may enjoy the feelings of euphoria and cycles of being more productive. However, this euphoria is always followed by an emotional crash that can leave you depressed, worn out — and perhaps in financial, legal or relationship trouble.

If you're reluctant to seek treatment, confide in a friend or loved one, a health care professional, a faith leader or someone else you trust. They may be able to help you take the first steps to successful treatment.

If you have suicidal thoughts

Suicidal thoughts and behavior are common among people with bipolar disorder. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. Here are some steps you can take:

Contact a family member or friend.
Seek help from your doctor, a mental health provider or other health care professional.
Call a suicide hot line number — in the United States, you can reach the toll-free, 24-hour hot line of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to talk to a trained counselor.
Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
When to get emergency help

If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If you have a loved one who has harmed himself or herself, or is seriously considering doing so, make sure someone stays with that person. Take him or her to the hospital or call for emergency help.


WHAT NOT TO SAY AND WHAT TO SAY

If your loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you may be in shock and may not know what to say. It’s important to choose your words carefully, because what you communicate can either support your loved one and encourage him to seek treatment or make him feel even worse about himself and his diagnosis, discouraging him from getting the help he needs.

Bipolar Disorder: The Nine Worst Things to Say

You may have been surprised by your loved one’s diagnosis and his behavior may be very frustrating, but no matter what he does (or doesn’t do) and how upset you get, do your best to avoid saying the following:

You’re crazy.

This is your fault.

You’re not trying.

Everyone has bad times.

You’ll be okay — there’s no need to worry.

You’ll never be in a serious romantic relationship.

What's the matter with you?

I can’t help you.

You don’t have to take your moods out on me — I’m getting so tired of this.

The truth is that bipolar disorder is a genetic medical illness — and it is treatable. Your loved one may cycle between being depressed with very little energy to being hyperactive or “manic.” This is all part of the illness and he can’t help it. It’s important that you be supportive, without nagging him. It will also help you if you know what to expect and how to spot when your loved one is not doing well or has stopped taking his medication.

Not finding someone to love romantically is something your loved one may be concerned about, so be careful not to reinforce that idea, even in frustration, especially since it’s not true. “There are plenty of people with these illnesses that get married. It just means that they have to do their best to get the condition under control,” says Jeffrey Rakofsky, MD, a psychiatrist at the Emory University Bipolar Disorders Clinic in Atlanta.

Bipolar Disorder: The Eight Best Things to Say

What should you say to be supportive and help your loved one to do his best to manage the condition without being too pushy? Some of the best words of encouragement include:

This is a medical illness and it is not your fault.

I am here. We'll make it through this together.

You and your life are important to me.

You’re not alone.

Tell me how I can help.

I might not know how you feel, but I’m here to support you.

Whenever you feel like giving up, tell yourself to hold on for another minute, hour, day — whatever you feel you can do.
Your illness doesn't define who you are. You are still you, with hopes and dreams you can attain.
Kristin Finn, author of Bipolar and Pregnant, a mental health advocate and member of the speaker’s bureau of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 30 years ago and is the mother of a 17-year-old daughter with bipolar disorder. Finn stresses that as important as it is to know what to say, it is also important to know when not to say anything. Finn says when her daughter’s mood changes suddenly, the best thing she can do is give her daughter space and not ask “What’s wrong?” or “Is it something I did?” She adds, “Remember it’s not about you. You’ve got to let the person experience what they are experiencing.”

Finn also recommends suggesting a support group to your loved one or finding books about the condition that may help him realize that he is not alone and that lots of people live with bipolar disorder every day.

Dr. Rakofsky adds another important point to remind your loved one of: “People with bipolar disorder are often very creative [and] talented. We have people like Vincent Van Gogh and other artists and actors out there that speak to that.”



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My First Aquaponics Garden

I have been wanting to build an aquaponics garden for quite sometime, and now that I've done it I thought I'd share my first run at it with y'all.
If you're not familiar with aquaponics, it is basically a closed loop system of feeding and growing fish in a tank, filtering the tank water through a gravel bed where you grow vegetables. The natural algae and fish waste make perfect food for your vegetables.
I am currently raising a few goldfish and koi for my first try at aquaponics, but if this is successful I will move up to a larger system where I'll implement larger growing beds, and a larger tank capable of growing several pounds of talapia, catfish, trout, or whatever else I can find to grow. Imagine growing your own fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, and fish all in your backyard. The best part is how low-maintenance it is because there is no weeding, hoeing, tilling, fertilizing, watering, or any of the other headaches of a traditional garden. All you do is feed the fish and they'll do the rest.
Granted, the aquaponics system is rather expensive compares to a traditional garden, but the trade off is worth it to me.
All you need is a tank large enough to raise the fish, whether it's a small goldfish pond purchased at lowes, or a large tank (100+ gallons) for raising meat fish, a bed for growing, a submersible pond pump, and the hardware necessary to circulate the water from the pond to the bed and back to the pond. It's that simple!
I'll update the pictures over the next few weeks to show the success or failure that I have. The first pictures are from day 1 March 8. Plants are collards greens, 1 cherry tomato, 1 heirloom tomato, 1bell pepper, 2 strawberries, and some marigolds for color.


















Notice how cloudy the water is. That's from the residue from the rocks. The green tint is from the algae in the pond. I'm anxious to see how it looks in a few days.

PhotoUpdate 4/20/14:









Already putting on strawberries!


Cherry tomatoes are blooming:)


The water has cleared up!

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Rewards

Your rewards in life are in direct proportion to what you're willing to sacrifice.
For some the sacrifice may be asking for help.
For others it may be giving help to those in need.
Greed is never rewarded positively, and neither is envy.
Greed is usually met with emptiness, and envy with poverty.
This is not to say that all that are impoverished are full of envy, nor all that have plenty are greedy.
If someone is extending their hand for help, then help. And if someone is extending their hand TO help do not push them away. You may be receiving a blessing just so God can do a work in them!


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Homeless Savior

Homeless
Written by S Benner



“Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the temple.” (Luke 21:37-38)

Have you ever contemplated the homelessness of Jesus?

“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20)

This is more than just a metaphorical picture. Jesus didn’t have a home. The Bible doesn’t mention Him owning anything. In the midst of recording Jesus’ teaching, Luke casually mentions that Jesus spent each night on the Mount of Olives, the hill outside Jerusalem.

Though the gospel writers give little attention to this fact, we dare not romanticize it. Surely Jesus did experience beautiful evenings in the olive grove, away from the crowds, with the stars shining overhead. But other nights it rained or even snowed. Sometimes cold winds blew. Jesus endured hard ground, darkness and loneliness.

How does Jesus’ homelessness impact us? Though not a command that we must follow, it does require us to pause and think. Too often the desire for comfort drives me. Luxury and convenience become needs rather than wants. Material possessions clutter my focus and prevent me from seeking God. I stress about many things. Jesus owned nothing, yet He didn’t worry about His next meal. He trusted God for everything He needed.

I also need to consider my attitudes toward others. Though Jesus likely trained as a carpenter, during the three years of His ministry He didn’t work to provide for Himself or for His mother. Did people look at Him and say, “Get a job”? Jesus can help me see differently, because He knows what it’s like to be homeless.

Holy God, open my eyes to what you want to teach me through these verses. I want to trust You and not worry, to seek You instead of my own comfort, to see every person through Your eyes. Amen

Questions: Does knowing Jesus was homeless change your perspective toward the homeless in your city? What is God nudging you to change as you consider Jesus’ homelessness?

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Location:Leesville,United States

Anatomy of Sugar Addiction!

Plexus Slim and Plexus Accelerator cured my sugar addiction. I still enjoy an occasional dessert, but I can do without it. 

Try a 7-day trial of Plexus Slim and see how much better you feel! Order it at www.aaa.myplexusproducts.com

I Lost 28 Pounds in 28 DAYS!!!

45 Year Old Male Finds Weightloss Solution

Hi, my name is Brady Vaughn from Leesville, LA and I just need to share with you something that has happened to me.
I have struggled with being overweight ALL MY LIFE. (I know, you've heard it before, RIGHT?) Please continue reading, because what I'm about to tell you is absolutely true, and there is no HYPE in what I'm about to tell you.
As I said, I have struggled all my life with being overweight & unhealthy until now. I am 45 years old and I have tried everything under the sun to lose weight. I have tried Slim Fast, Nutrisystem, countless overhyped pills that HYPE you up, magic diets, Atkins, South Beach, SugarBusters, Visalus Shakes, HCG; you name it I've tried it. All with little or NO results. I had nearly given up on ever being at a healthy weight unless I had gastric bypass surgery.
I was still looking for something that actually worked when I started hearing people talking about the newest "MAGIC WEIGHTLOSS FORMULA". I am always skeptical of the diet products that come to us by way of network marketing. They are the ones that are always so over-hyped its not even funny.
I kept watching friends losing weight incredibly fast and I finally decided to try it myself.
I bought my first month suppy of the "MAGIC FORMULA" and was shocked after two days that I had already lost 5 pounds! I wasn't hungry, I wasn't starving myself, (I don't exercise) I wasn't DIETING! I just followed the directions and BAM I started losing weight!
After a few days of losing a pound or two a day I decided to enhance the weight loss by changing a couple of eating habits. I mean what did I have to lose? I wasn't feeling hungry all the time like I was before. So I cut out drinking things that had a lot of sugar in them. You know, Sweet Tea, Cokes, and such. I still drink sweet tea, but only when its sweetened with Stevia.
Well doing this may have increased my weightloss a little. Long story short, I lost 22 pounds in my first 18 days of taking this "MAGIC FORMULA". 22 POUNDS IN 18 DAYS Y'ALL!! Lets hear Terry Bradshaw brag like that about Nutri-System!!
In 2 days from the time that I am writing this I will be at the 30 day mark of taking this "MAGIC FORMULA". I am currently at 28 pounds in 28 days, and I have no doubt that I will lose 30 pounds in 30 days!
You can follow my on facebook and see my progress at www.fb.com/bradygv .Oh yeah, and the "MAGIC FORMULA" I am talking about is Plexus Slim and if you'd like to try it you can follow this link www.aaa.myplexusproducts.com .
One more thing I forgot to add, I had a 3500-4000 calorie a day food addiction when starting with Plexus. I now consume on some days less than 1000. I generally average about 1300 a day. I am not dieting, the Plexus just actually does what it says it does. It curbs your appetite, and burns fat.
I do not tell you these things so that I can sell you a product....I tell you these things because they are true, this has worked for me, and I want you to find your 'happy body' like I am finding mine. I weighed in at 340 pounds the day I first took my Plexus. My goal is 240. I will WIN, and so will you. Just try it for a month.
THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Thanks for reading, now go get healthy!
God bless you!

BRADY VAUGHN
AAA Auto Tow, LLC
www.aaaautotow.com