Parenting Advice

Teach Them the Right Thing…It’s Responsible Fatherhood by Cedric L. Wells

When I think about responsible fatherhood, I often wonder if I am doing all I can to shield my children from the many negative vices that are trying to attack them morally, spiritually, and even sexually. We are currently in a time where it seems as though any and everything is accepted in society. Nothing is immune. Television, radio, magazines, school, and even church present our children with opportunities to learn polluted values and behavior. How do we counter this? Responsible Fatherhood…teach them the right thing.

I’ve often heard guys say, “Joe taught me everything I know.” What exactly did Joe teach them?

Did Joe allow them to drink and smoke at a young age?

Did Joe show them how to run “game” on women?

Did Joe decide to show them porn at a young age?

What they learned may not have been the best lessons guiding them to be honorable and respectful men.

When it comes to responsible fatherhood, we must check ourselves and ask if we are teaching our kids the right thing…the right morals and values. The last thing I want to see as a responsible father is my son growing up and not becoming a real man or having an obscure interpretation of how a real man should live his life. On the flip side, I do not want my daughter growing up not knowing how she is to be treated by a man.

Just think about it…how will your children learn this if you don’t teach them? Being an active proponent of responsible fatherhood ensures these lessons are learned.

How do we do it?

The first step towards responsible fatherhood is to be present in your child’s life. What’s the lesson? To your son, it lets him know he is to be present once he is older and has children. To your daughter, it let’s her know what the “norm” is. It IS “normal” to have a father present in a family. Don’t let your daughter think otherwise.

The next step towards responsible fatherhood is recognizing what is right or wrong in all of your actions and behavior. To do this, you need to look at yourself from an external point of view. Yes…you must be critical of yourself. Look at all areas of your life and don’t sweep any areas “under the rug.” Once identified, ensure you are displaying the right actions and behaviors to your children. Additionally, actively teach the right behaviors to your son or daughter. Repetition is the key.

Lastly, achieve responsible fatherhood by enjoying being a father to your children. There is no greater joy than seeing your offspring grow up year after year right before your eyes. Enjoy the special moments and capitalize on the teaching moments. They will become memories that will last a lifetime.

I took a personal pledge over six years ago to be the best father possible to my children. I realized back then one of the ways to be the best father, that responsible father, was to ensure I am teaching them the right thing.

Are you teaching your children the right thing?

Cedric L. Wells is a writer for ; Regal Black Mens Magazine The publication focuses on ; African American Community News Politics Sports Health The magazine features a ; Local Online Classifieds & Job Classified Black Business Directory Visit to read about ; responsible fatherhood

Article Source: Fun Personality

The Anatomy of Satan by Patricia Warren

I recently learned that the most popular science fiction TV series today is “Supernatural” by Warner Brothers with over 3.5 million regular viewers. The story has evolved over five years from monster-ghost busters to a more classical (possibly even a bit more realistic?) good versus evil battle between two brothers and a group of Satan inspired demons. The recent addition of two angles to help the brothers and a few other characters has developed over 3 million followers.

I just left a video interview session with the producers of the show who are putting together a documentary to add to the DVD series for season five when it comes out in a few months. They asked me some great questions about the biblical Satan and the historical church. Apparently there is a good deal of interest in the origin and nature of Satan and his demonic cohorts and our discussion before, during and after the interview was positively charged with interest and fascination with how good can triumph over evil today.

Yet much confusion remains and the section below is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of my book Called to War (www.calledtowar.com). It may help give an overview of some of the characteristics of the enemy of our souls, that ancient “serpent” and “dragon” referred to in Genesis and Revelation respectively.

“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril” –Sun Tzu

To find and exploit your competitor’s weakness requires a deep understanding of their executives’ strategy, capabilities, thoughts and desires, as well as similar depth of knowledge of your own strengths and weaknesses.

Far from my favorite subject, let’s take a moment and examine the nature of our adversary, Satan or the devil. This list below was difficult to write…and may be difficult to read, but we cannot hope for a life with eyes wide open nor experience the semblance of a victorious lifestyle without facing directly the truth of the one who desires, “like a roaring lion ” the destruction of you and your family. Here is what scripture tells us about our ancient foe, his system of evil, and his agenda:

1. His power over Christians has been broken. The biblical teachings of Jesus and other New Testament writers clearly affirm that we have inherited the positional and earthly authority of Christ in the church through faith. This is both for the present and future. We are now seated with Christ in heavenly places with all powers in creation submitted under our feet.

2. He is an old, patient, and relentless schemer. His plans take the long view and he will patiently weave his web over the decades of our lives, chipping away at our resolve while he plans a great fall for every man and woman and child. But he is not really interested in you or me personally, except for how he can leverage your weaknesses (or sometimes your strengths) to destroy you and those you touch. Like an expert bowler, he will strike the head pin (you or me), which then is able to adversely impact those around you and even multiple future generations through the echo of sin in our lives.

3. He is the original rebel against authority and the source of the spirit of rebellion in all of society. All of what Satan has and does, and his kingdom, is fully corrupted. Hating God’s designed authority, he seeks to corrupt those who have power and then, as usurper, cultivates the lust of power in human hearts to pull down or supplant those powers he is corrupting. Though he seeks to do this at every level of society, his focal point is and will always be the church.

4. His heart is filled with war against the church (”woman” = Christian Believers) and Christ . When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the appropriate reaction of our government was the formal declaration of war. However, much of the American church has taken a more pacifist, conciliatory approach to the enemy’s attack on believers. Know this: There will be no truce, no rest, and no reprieve in this war against the Saints until he is finally cast into the Lake of Fire. Wrapped in lies and self deluded, he actually thinks he can win, and as the end of these times approaches, his wrath will escalate against the Saints and the Bride because he senses his time is short.

5. He is a liar and the father of all lies5. The first lies that come from within us are voices of exaggeration, self-defense, and rationalization. If he can train a child to avoid the truth regarding their personal responsibility for their actions (often, regretfully, with the parents’ cooperation), then the child will be raised with the eventual inability to perceive truth. Once lying to yourself is established, it becomes the means of operation with others. The Father of Lies relentlessly seeks to breed his lying seed in us.

6. He is not omnipotent. The Devil is a broken shadow of what he once was. He remembers his previously powerful and lofty position as the most beautiful, and probably even favored, of heavens’ angelic beings5. The first great setback was when he was cast down to earth due to his rebellion against God. Filled with new jealousy of mankind after God poured his image into Adam, he wrought great destruction upon humanity with an almost free reign over death, disease, and war. The second great breaking of his power was when he was fooled into murdering Jesus. In Jesus’ post crucifixion descent into Hell’s domain, much of the enemy’s power was broken with a profound wound inflicted by Christ as the last Adam. This is when many believe the Lord seized the “keys to death and Hades”8 from Satan’s hand, redeeming mankind through his righteous sacrifice.

7. He is not omnipresent. As a singular created being, he must work strategically through the tactics of shoring up an evil world system that plays to erudite, high sounding proud philosophies and the basest parts of our carnal nature to get most of his work done through people. The balance of his forces are demonic entities assigned to key individuals and leaders, political arenas, or strategic organizations.

8. He is not omniscient. But he has the benefit of many thousands of years of experience with the predictable fallen nature of the human race and knowledge of how we can predictably be manipulated, tempted, and intimidated.

9. He is the author of Death. The apocryphal book of wisdom, written a century before Jesus’ birth, aptly says, “…by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession, experience it.”

10. He is a murderer and the source of all thoughts and actions of hatred. Gangland violence, wars, socio-pathology, armed robberies, demonic possession, abortion, drunk driving, brawling, terrorism, physical abuse, sexual abuse, cancer, AIDS (and other deadly diseases) and suicides all have the spirit of murder at their core. It is the ultimate end to the means of Hell and he is busy in his planning and execution.

11. He is much smarter than a fifth grader…and thus you or me. As Eve discovered, it is dangerous to dialogue with him. Even the most powerful of angelic forces, the archangel Michael, when God assigned him to retrieve the body of Moses, did not affront him directly, but had to employ Gods direct authority by declaring “the Lord rebuke you.”11 There is no place for glibness or testosterone-induced moxey when dealing with the enemy directly. Jesus himself used the scriptures (”It is written”) to combat Satan on the mountain of temptation. The spiritual weapons we have been given, along with a total dependence upon God’s power, are sufficient to prevent attack, or, if need be, to protect us…and to win!

12. He hates women and has active plans to destroy their humanity, femininity, motherhood, beauty, glory and the female gender’s great influence for love, courage, wisdom and all that is good. (Genesis 3:15; Rev 12:13-15)

13. He hates children. The passion of his fatherhood is to make liars first and then, into disciples of Hell. Just as the great evils of the Khmer Rouge, Fascism, Nazism and Communism take the young and inoculate them with their poisonous doctrines, he knows that if he can bend them through their childhood years, they are likely to never meet nor learn to love their Creator and Savior. (Genesis 3:15; Revelations 12:17)

14. He hates men (and boys) most of all, which is, of course, one of the primary reasons for writing this book. As we have discovered, he also knows that the linchpin of society…and of the growth and health of the church, is men.

15. Lastly, we need to understand his overarching strategy. Like in the great game of chess, he seeks to take out the Queen. Like chess, the King (Jesus Christ) has empowered the Queen (the Church) as the ultimate power player on the chessboard of this earthly realm.

Art Hobba is the founder of CORE 300 Men’s Ministries and the author of the soon to be released book Called to War: Out of the stands…Into the Arena by Xulon Publishers due out in April of 2010. See www.CalledToWar.com for special pre-release pricing now.

Article Source: Fun Personality

Seeking great rates on NY family-friendly hotels? Discover how to get fantastic deals on Big Apple stays by SineadEager

Get Up To Speed On Your Theatre Lingo Before Visiting New York

New York is on your itinerary for the first time and you want to slide right into the discussion after a Broadway show at the theatre bar, but you don’t know the lingo. So here is your top secret cheater’s resource. Mix in a few of these words and you will be admitted to the conversation with the regular crowd. Dark: as in “Seeing as the theatre is dark tomorrow, I’ll probably just sit around in my gown eating bon-bons all day. “Dark, in theatre terms, means closed. Curtain Call: as in “I wish the curtain call had been longer, one of the actors was trying to mouth his phone number to me. “The curtain call is when the actors come back on stage at the end of the show and bow to the audience. Denouement: as in “Did you expect the denouement to reveal that Frederic was the father of both Madeline and Audrey’s babies. The denouement is the last scene of a play when all the loose ends finally come together. Other words good for random sprinkling include, off book, wings, flytower, Stanislavsky, legit, method acting, ham actor and upstage. Don’t worry too much about the meanings, just smile broadly and bat your eyelids if your authenticity is questioned. And if you go backstage before a show; most actors believe “Good Luck” is bad luck so use “Break a Leg” or “Good Show” instead. And never mention the word Macbeth backstage at a theatre-it is grounds for immediate expulsion as it is thought to bring disaster to a show. If you must refer to Macbeth, you may substitute the term “the Scottish play” without being attacked by superstitious actors.

21. The Most Dramatic Place to Eat Near Broadway.

Although it can be said that life moves fast in NYC, New Yorkers have a lot of respect for the history of their hometown. We owe the city of New York a big thank you for that. The desire to hold onto that which is historically significant is very evident in the preservation of New York City’s ‘21’ Club. At 80 years old this year, 21, as it is most commonly known, is within walking distance of Broadway’s famous theatres. When prohibition started in 1920, cousins Jack Kriendler and Charlie Berns decided to get into the booming speakeasy business. After a couple of early successes, the two men renovated a former brownstone at 21 W 52nd Street. The club opened in the early morning of the 31st of December, 1929 and has never looked back. If you only have time to eat once in New York, make a reservation at 21. You’d be among an illustrious group. All but one of the US Presidents have eaten at 21. After his inauguration, JFK ate at 21. Bogie and Bacall had their first date at 21, or so people say. And back in 1931, Ernest Hemmingway was caught with gangster Legs Diamond’s girlfriend doing some “baking” in the 21 kitchen. With its fantastic and spectacular history, 21 is a perfect accompaniment to a night on Broadway.

The Best Plan For A Week Of Live Theater In New York

You are taking your seven day dream vacation seeing live theater on Broadway soon. But like many people, you have a budget and not limitless reserves of energy. Keep your plan pretty simple. Have your hotel booked and meals budgeted for in advance but don’t schedule and buy tickets for every show you think you want to see. Once you are in New York, you are going to hear and read about shows that weren’t on your radar when you were planning your trip, and you will be glad you left space in your itinerary for them. And remember, unless there is a show you can’t miss, buy your tickets in New York. There are 40 theaters in the Broadway theater district, which means you will have plenty of choices every night for shows to see. And it’s unnecessary to hit the pavement in search of tickets; your one stop shop is TKTS at 47th St and Broadway in Duffy Square. Go to the TKTS booth, admire its award winning architecture, and get your day-of-performance tickets for up to 50% off regular price for all the Broadway shows. Theaters release new tickets to TKTS throughout the day so you don’t have to be there at opening time to make sure you have a seat for a show that night. If you have plans away from the theater one night, take in a matinee show. Broadway’s regular matinee schedule includes shows at 2pm on Wednesday and Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, perfect for when you plan to spend an evening enjoying some other facet of New York. And finally, try to plan your trip so that you land in New York on a Monday when the theaters are closed, that way you can have a real day off before the entertainment begins.

While in New York Visit The Grandaddy of Broadway Theatres

There are 40 professional theatres on Broadway, but two stand above the rest in terms of longevity. The New Amsterdam Theatre and the Lyceum both opened for business in 1903, and only the Lyceum has operated under its original name the entire length of its history. You will find this old beauty of a theatre at 149 W 45th St, where it has been in permanent production since opening night in 1903. Theatre Producer Daniel Frohman was the Lyceum’s original owner, and remnants from his life, in particular his monogrammed desk, remain at home in the theatre. The building retains most of its original architecture, which is in the French Beaux-Arts style as evidenced by the large columns and undulating marquee in front of the building. At various times, the Lyceum has been creative home to various well known actors, including Basil Rathbone, Fanny Brice and Ethel Barrymore. Over the years some of the most well received shows at the Lyceum have included Look Back in Anger, A Taste of Honey, The Importance of Being Earnest and I Am My Own Wife. Currently, Sarah Ruhl’s play In The Next Room is in rehearsals and will open at the Lyceum on November 19th, 2009.

Cheap New York City hotels? Git outta heah! It’s true–hints on how to save on New York City 5 star hotels just a click away!

Article Source: Fun Personality

Looking for cheap Big Apple stays? Get tips on how to book wonderful prices on New York stays by SineadEager

New York Has Loved Live Theatre for 250 Years.

The most fabulous and spectacular musicals are at home on Broadway. For 250 years, audiences in New York have been thrilled by the live theatre spectacle. The first New York theatre was built in 1750. The theatre scene we have today in New York has evolved significantly from its early days. In the beginning Shakespeare’s plays were performed, and by the mid-1800’s minstrel shows were popular. 1800’s New York saw a variety of entertainment on offer; vaudeville, operas and melodrama were all popular. European burlesque had also made it to New York and thrilled audiences by the end of the 1800’s. We can thank the performers of the 19th century for the beginnings of musical theatre; however the modern musical wasn’t born until the staging of Show Boat in 1927. Every element of the show ran together in a package where all the parts played into each other perfectly, instead of being formatted more like a disjointed variety show. Although the theatre district was originally centered in downtown Manhattan, over the centuries it has moved and settled in mid-town. The Broadway theatre district of today has been rooted in place since the 1920’s. Thanks to the long, experimental and colorful history of theatre in New York, we have the richness and sophistication of the modern musical available to be seen anytime you can make it to Broadway.

Seven Nights on Broadway. How to See a Show Every Night

You are taking your seven day dream vacation seeing live theater on Broadway soon. So, here are some tips on how to do Broadway without breaking your budget and wearing yourself out. Firstly, don’t over plan. Make sure your hotel room is reserved and your meal budget organized, but don’t book all your theater seats before you leave for New York. Once you are in New York, you are going to hear and read about shows that weren’t on your radar when you were planning your trip, and you will be glad you left space in your itinerary for them. And remember, unless there is a show you can’t miss, buy your tickets in New York. With 40 Broadway theaters running shows almost all the time, there are unsold tickets available to be purchased every night at most theaters. And it’s unnecessary to hit the pavement in search of tickets; your one stop shop is TKTS at 47th St and Broadway in Duffy Square. The TKTS booth is the unsold tickets clearinghouse for all the Broadway theaters, selling tickets at 25-50% less than face value for same-day shows. Tickets come up for sale all day long at TKTS, which means you don’t have to rush out of bed, but can sleep in and pick out a show in the late afternoon if you so desire. If you have plans away from the theater one night, take in a matinee show. Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm most theaters have a day time show, that will leave you free to really relax at one of New York’s fine restaurants. And don’t forget, plan to arrive and leave New York on a Monday, it’s the only day Broadway theaters are closed, and it will give you a little rest before your weeklong cultural immersion begins.

See the Tonys in New York Next June.

The Tony awards have been a glamorous addition to the New York theatre calendar every year since 1947. The best actors, playwrights, designers and directors are awarded Tonys annually. And there is a seat for you. If you are going to be in New York next June and want a taste of the best of Broadway, include the Tony awards in your itinerary. Not only are awards handed out, the ceremony includes a spectacular show featuring highlights from the currently running shows. The Tony awards held earlier this year featured Liza Minnelli, Elton John and Dolly Parton, all performing songs from current Broadway shows that they are involved with. A short trip to New York is the perfect one for a viewing of the Tony awards, as it gives you a slice of everything Broadway has to offer. Tickets go on sale next spring and the event will be held once again at the Radio City Music Hall.

Visiting Broadway? Get Up To Scratch With Your Theatre Vocabulary

It’s your first New York trip and you desperately want to fit in at the theatre bar as you debate the merits of the show you just saw. So here’s your unofficial, hush-hush, cheat sheet. Mix in a few of these words and you will be admitted to the conversation with the regular crowd. Dark: as in “Seeing as the theatre is dark tomorrow, I’ll probably just sit around in my gown eating bon-bons all day. “Dark, in theatre terms, means closed. Curtain Call: as in “I wish the curtain call had been longer, one of the actors was trying to mouth his phone number to me. “The curtain call is when the actors come back on stage at the end of the show and bow to the audience. Denouement: as in “Did you expect the denouement to reveal that Frederic was the father of both Madeline and Audrey’s babies. The denouement is the scene toward a plays end that ties up the plots loose ends. You may also use wings, upstage, green room, off book, ham actor, Stanislavsky and flytower for added credibility with the theatre crowd. Just yell out “Isn’t that Bernadette Peters?”, if someone questions your authenticity. If by some lucky chance you go backstage before the curtains rise; avoid saying “Good Luck”, actors are a superstitious bunch and feel more comfortable with “Break a Leg” or “Good Show. “And never mention the word Macbeth backstage at a theatre-it is grounds for immediate expulsion as it is thought to bring disaster to a show. If you must refer to Macbeth, you may substitute the term “the Scottish play” without being attacked by superstitious actors.

Deals on vacation bundles including New York City hotels, airfare and more are hot right now! Discover how to get the best rates on New York City vacation rentals and travel now!

Article Source: Fun Personality

How A Traditional Vietnamese Wedding Works by William Phelps

Weddings are very important to Vietnamese, not only to the couple concerned, but also for both families. Thus, it’s usually including fairly just a few formal ritual observances. The marriage day is often chosen properly in advance by the groom and the bride’s parents.

Relying on habits of specific ethnic groups, marriage contains varied steps and associated procedures, but basically there are two primary ceremonies:

Le an hoi (betrothal ceremony): Some time earlier than the wedding, the groom and his family visit the bride and her family with round lacquered containers of betrothal presents composed of items of areca nuts and betel leaves, cake, tea, fruits, wines and other delicacies lined with red fabric and carried by unmarried girls or boys. Each families agree to select a good day for wedding.

Le cuoi (wedding ceremony): Guests would be invited to come to join a party and celebrate the couple’s happiness. The couple should pray earlier than the altar asking their ancestors for permission for their marriage, then to express their gratitude to both groom’s and bride’s mother and father for elevating and defending them. Company will share their joy at a celebration later.

On the marriage day, the groom’s household and family go to the bride’s house bringing a number of items wrapped in red papers, similar to these of the engagement. Those that hold these trays are additionally rigorously chosen, often they’re happily married couples. Women and women are all dressed in Ao Dai. Males could presumably be of their fits or males traditional Ao Dai. The troop is often led by a couple that is most rich and successful among the kinfolk, this means to want the to-be-wed couples a blessing life collectively in the future.

The groom’s household would stop within the entrance of the bride’s house. The leading couple would enter the house first bringing a tray with wine and tiny cups on it and would invite the bride’s dad and mom to take a sip. By accepting the toast, the bride’s household agrees for the groom household to enter their house. The firework is immediately fired to greet the groom’s family.

The groom’s household would introduce themselves and ask permission for his or her son to marry his bride. The Grasp of the Ceremony (often a revered person among the many bride’s kinfolk) instructs the bride’s parents to current their daughter. The bride then follows her parents out. She is in Vietnamese conventional wedding Ao Dai which is usually in crimson, adopted by her bridesmaids. The marriage ceremony starts in front of the altar. The bride and the groom would kneel down and pray, asking their ancestors’ permission to be married, also asking for blessing on their household-to-be. The couple then turns around and bows down to the bride’s mother and father to say thanks for raising and defending her since birth. They then bow their head to one another, which implies to indicate their gratitude and respect towards their soon-to-be husband or wife. The Master of the Ceremony would gave the marriage couple advices on beginning a new family. The groom and the bride’s dad and mom would take turn to share their expertise and give blessing. The groom and the bride then trade their wedding rings. The dad and mom will give the newly wedded worth presents such as golden bracelets, ear rings, necklace… The ceremony is ended with a round applause.

Are you in pursuit for a cheap Utah wedding photographer? At WeddingPhotographyinUtah.com, we have an assortment of photographers with a choice of experience. For the finest wedding photography in UT, come to us.

Article Source: Fun Personality