Monday, October 28, 2013

7 Weird Reasons You're Tired All the Time


By  | Team Mom – 3 hours ago
You can't (always) blame sleep deprivation. If you spend your days in a fog, one of these surprising culprits may be the cause.You can't (always) blame sleep deprivation. If you spend your days in a fog, one of these surprising culprits may …By Cindy Kuzma, Prevention
You stayed up late binge-watching Homeland.Then you woke up extra early to beat the boss to the office. Some days, there's no mystery as to why you need an extra shot of espresso (and if you can't sleep no matter what you try, check out these 10 sleep myths and real solutions for better shuteye.)
 But sometimes, the root of your fatigue isn't so obvious, and everything from a hidden health issue to your gym habits could be to blame. "It's like asking a pediatrician why a baby is crying; the answer could be any number of things," says Tanvir Hussain, MD, a preventive cardiologist in Los Angeles.
A challenging puzzle, yes, but your fatigue is a mystery you can solve. Here are 7 reasons you could be dragging--and how to regain more energy than you ever remember having.
You're dehydrated
Healthy women who failed to replace a mere 1.5% of their water weight experienced mood swings and low energy levels, according to a 2012 study in The Journal of Nutrition. The study authors suspect neurons in your hypothalamus--the brain region responsible for controlling things like hydration and body temperature--send mood-altering messages to the rest of your brain as an early warning to drink more water.

Your fix:
 Drink up, and and ditch that 8-glasses-a-day guideline: A one-size-fits-all water measurement won't work since your hydration needs vary based on things like the weather and your workouts. In general, you should have to pee at least once every three hours and your urine should have a light lemonade-colored tint, says Gina Sirchio, DC, CCN, a chiropractic physician and nutritionist at the LaGrange Institute of Health in Chicago.
You're low on B12
 Your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and keep neurons functioning properly. Deficiency decreases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry through your body, leaving you with that sleeping-with-your-eyes-open feeling. As you age, you produce less of a protein called intrinsic factor, which helps you process the nutrient.
Because only animal foods naturally contain B12, vegetarians and vegans face an elevated risk of running low, as do people who've had stomach or intestinal surgeries (these procedures often alter the tissue where B12 absorption takes place, Dr. Sirchio says). Even low or borderline levels--not necessarily full-blown deficiency--can wear you down.

Your fix:
 If your fatigue comes along with forgetfulness, restless legs, or numbness and tingling, consider B12 deficiency as a potential culprit. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for a blood test of your levels. If you're low, you may need supplements. Your doctor will tell you how much to take, but typical doses range from 100 to 500 mcg. Choose a formula labeled "methylcobalomin" instead of "cyanocobalamin," Dr. Sirchio says--it's easier for your body to use. Note that supplements will only boost your energy if you're low to begin with; unlike caffeine, B vitamins won't give you an added oomph if you already have ample stores.

Which vitamins can give you more energy, relieve PMS symptoms, and even help prevent cancer? Find out in Prevention's 100 Best Supplements For Women.
You're overwhelmed with stress
 Trying to do it all comes with a huge downside. Normally, your levels of the stress hormone cortisolrun highest in the morning and dip down at night, helping you maintain a normal daily rhythm. But chronic stress throws this pattern out of whack in either direction, says Marc Bubbs, ND, CSCS, founder of Naturopathic Sports Medicine in Toronto. If your body remains on constant alert, yourcortisol levels may never fall off at night, disrupting your sleep. Or, your adrenal glands may eventually fall behind in cortisol production, leaving you sleepwalking through your morning.
Your fix: You can't always control the sources of stress, but you can change your reaction. Mindfulness practices have been shown to ease stress and fatigue in people with chronic medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and they work for healthy people, too. Can't spare 15 minutes a day to meditate? No problem. Click here to find the best style of meditation for you (it's simpler than you think!)
You have hidden heart disease
In a study in the journal Heart & Lung, half of women who had heart attacks said they had trouble sleeping and felt unusually fatigued in the weeks beforehand. Weariness and shortness of breath when you exercise, climb stairs, or otherwise exert yourself should also raise a red flag, Dr. Hussain says. Blocked arteries or a weak heart muscle reduce blood flow, preventing your muscles and tissues from getting the oxygen they need to function properly.
Your fix: Get to the doctor, especially if you've suddenly lost your get-up-and-go or if you have other strange symptoms, such as chest pain, anxiety, or trouble concentrating. He or she may recommend a stress test or an echocardiogram to screen for heart disease, Dr. Hussain says.
You've probably heard to eat fish for your heart, but not all fish is healthy. Click here for 12 Fish To Never, Ever Eat.

Your iron levels are too low--or too high
 Most women know anemia leads to fatigue. But don't assume popping iron supplements will pep you up. Yes, low iron levels lead to poorly formed red blood cells that deprive your body of refreshing oxygen. However, getting too much iron can wear you down as well. Your body uses vitamins, minerals, and energy to rid your system of the excess, leaving you with little left to run on, says Dr. Sirchio.
Your fix: Consider your risk factors: Iron deficiency often strikes vegetarians and vegans, people with digestive diseases or thyroid problems, women on hormonal birth control, and those with a very heavy menstrual flow. On the flip side, high levels can run in families or result from taking supplements, and often cause other signs that include feeling cold, thinning hair and nails, or dizziness when you stand up. Striking the right balance is important, so don't take iron pills on your own, Dr. Sirchio warns--talk with your doctor about yearly blood tests to check your levels. If they're abnormal, have them checked monthly until they level off, then every three to six months until you steadily see normal readings.

You're not working out

 Especially when paired with chronic stress, too much time spent sedentary drains your fuel tank even though you're merely idling, Dr. Bubbs says. Picture it: A stressful day at work cranks up your cortisol and blood glucose levels, triggering your knee jerk reaction to fight or flee. But when you spend your afternoon and evening barely moving between your computer screen and your couch, you never release that energy and tension. This can keep your engine revved and disrupt your sleep at night--or burn out your body's cortisol factory so much that you're dragging the next morning.
Your fix: Start moving if you're sedentary. Women who get the government-recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week report less fatigue and more energy and vigor than those who don't, according to a recent study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. If you're using exercise to help you sleep better, give your new regimen time to take hold-another study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found you'll need to move consistently for a few weeks or even months to reap the restful benefits. Download our 14 Walking Workouts That Burn Fat And Boost Energy for a plan to get started.

You're exercising too much

 On the flip side, you can have too much of a good thing. If you're sweating every day or doing heavy-duty training for an event like a triathlon, fatigue and trouble sleeping can serve as a sign that you're pushing your body beyond its limits. Workouts--and especially endurance sports like long-distance running and cycling--also cause a spike in cortisol. If you're not striking the right balance between activity and rest, you can overload your system with physical stress just as you can with emotional or mental pressure, Dr. Bubbs points out.
Your fix: If you're exercising regularly but suddenly tire more easily, you may be overreaching. Try taking a few days of complete rest. Then ease back into your routine, doing about 25% of your usual activity for a week and adding another 25% each week until you're back up to speed, advises Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, 21-time Ironman Triathlete and author of The Marathon Method.

You have a urinary tract infection

 If you've had a UTI before, you know the burning urgency that comes when you pee. But about half of women who show up with UTIs also report fatigue and a general sense of illness, and the rate increases among those 40 or older, says Ashley Carroll, MD, an assistant professor of urogynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Basically, it's your body's way of forcing you to rest in order to focus energy on fighting the infection," Dr. Carroll says.
Your fix: Head to the doctor if you suspect a UTI. Prescription antibiotics can banish the bacteria. All your symptoms, including fatigue, should subside within seven to 10 days of completing treatment. As you're healing, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat a healthy diet, Dr. Carroll advises. If you're prone to frequent UTIs (more than a couple per year) talk with your doctor--long-term prophylactic antibiotics can ward off future infections.

 More from Prevention6 Symptoms To Never Ignore


3.4. Pathian Uknak ih lamdannak: Misual pawl an sinak bang in a cohlang ih an sualnak a ngaithiam


Prepared by San No Thuan

Text:  Matt. 21:31-32


Thuhmai hruai:

Pathian uknak cu Jesuh in leitlun a tlanleen lai ah a rak dinsuak zo. Asinan, an ttamci bang in a karh zai vingvo leh ding tiah a rak sim. A din suak zo nan, a famkim hrih lo. Cumi karh zainak ding hrangah Jesuh in nang le kei hi midang Pathian uknak sungah hruai lut dingah in sawm. Asinan, Pathian uknak cu ziangvek a si timi kan sim thei lo ahcun zo so ra lut duh ding? Pathian uknak ih a pekmi pawl cu ziangvek an si tile:

1.     Mitcaw, farah, hremmi pawl luatnak pe dingah a si. Cumi pawl luat ter ding, dam ter ding hi Pathian uknak ih a tuah reromi a si.
2.     Pathian uknak cun kan man a khunzia in theihter. A nunnak pek tiang in a duhdawtmi kan si, a innsang ah in cohlang ih, in umpi/ttanpi ringringmi kan si ti in theih ter. Lei lungmii pawl in, na man an lo rel sakmi parah tthum aw hlah.
3.     Pathian uknak cun Pathian in misual pawl an lung an thleng ih Amai lam ih an hoikir sal ding khi a duhmi a si.
4.     Pathian uknak sungah Pathian in misual pawl ih sinak bang in a cohlang ih an sualnak a ngaithiam.


3.4.1. Misual pawl ih sinak bang in a cohlang.

Bawi Jesuh hi misual pawl tiah an timi pawl thawn vei tampi an pawlkom aw tlaang. An tthat hnu lawngah Pathian a pawl ih a cohlang a si lo. An sual lai hrimhrim ah Jesuh in a cohlanmi a si.

·      Siahkhong pawl thawn rawl an ei tlaang (Mark 2:15-17).
·      Nun sual ih a nungmi nunau nu khal in a ra tham thei (Luke 7:36-50).
o   Sualnak tam deuhdeuh a neitu pawl cu Pathian in kan sualnak in ngaithiam ti an theih tikah, Pathian hnenah an lungawinak a tam deuh a si.
·      Siahkhong tu Zacchaeus hnen a cam (Luke 19:1-10)
·      Pasal pa 5 a neitu Samaria nu khal thu tha te a ruah (John 4:7-42).

Himi pawl Jesuh in Pathian uknak sungah cun misual pawl kha an sinak bang tuk in cohlan an si ih, Pathian in a pawlkom duh timi a lang ternak a si. An ra kir sal tikah Pathian ziangtluk in a cohlang, a rak pom duh tikmi kha fapa tlaan hlo ih thuanthu khal ah Jesuh in a lang ter (Luke 15:11-32). A ti bet hrihmi cu, “Miding pawl hawl dingah ka ra lo, misual pawl hawltu dingah le an sual sir ter dingah ka ra” tiah a ti (Matt. 9:11-13; Luke 5:31).
            Pathian cun kan sinak vek in in cohlang timi thu thei na cing ih a zum lotu tampi an um. Culai ah, mi depde, mi hrokhrawl an timi siahkhongtu pawl, hlaawhhlangtu pawl, le nunau tha lo tiah an ruahmi pawl kha Pathian in nan sinak bang in a lo cohlang, nan sual sir uhla a hnen ah ra kir sal uh tiah a ti tikah lungawi tein an cohlang. Curuangah, Jesuh in hitin a sim:

Fiangte in ka lo sim: siahkhongtu le hlawhhlang pawl hi nan hlanah Pathian uknak sungah an lut ding. Ziangahtile baptitma petu Johan cu a dikmi lamzin hmuh dingah nan hnenah a ra nan nan zum lo; sikhalsehla ngunkhuai khongtu le hlawhhlang pawl cun an zum. Cumi nan hmuh hnu hman ah nan thinlung nan tleng cuang lo, zum khal nan zum cuang lo,” tiah a ti (Matt. 21:31-32).
           
Ziangruangah Siahkhong pawl le hlawhhlang pawl cu miding tiah a ti aw pawl hnak in van ah an kai hmaisa ding ti ahcun, Pathian nan sualnak a lo ngaithiam thei ih, ra kir sal uh tiah a ti tikah lungawi te in an ra kir sal ruangah a si. Pathian ih sual ngaithiamnak le duhdawtnak thei cing zum lo tu pawl cu ziangtluk miding an si ah siseh, misual an si khal ah vanram cu an co thei lo ding. 

3.4.2. An sualnak a ngaithiam
            Jesuh in na sualnak cu ngaithiam na si zo tiah a tinak veihnih ah a lang:
1.     Inn par ihsin an vun thlakmi kezeng pa kha, “Ka fapa, na sualnak cu ngaithiam a si zo” tiah a ti (Mark 2:10).
2.     Hlawhhlang nu, Jesuh ke a mitthli thawn a kholh saktu nu khal cutin a ti thotho (Luke 7:48).

Jesuh in midang ih sualnak a ngaithiamnak in a langh termi cu Pathian uknak sungah cun, Pathian cun “Sual man Cawh kuan daan” hmang lo in, “Zaangfahnak daan” a hmang sawn a si timi a lang ter.
            Jesuh in Pathian uknak thu a sim tikah le “na sualnak ngaithiam a si zo” tiah a timi hi ziangruangah midang hrangah thinhennak a suah ter? Israel pawl ih zum daan ahcun, sual ngaithiam theitu cu Pathian lawng a si. Prophet pawl, puithiam pawl le tlaang bawi pawl cu Pathian hnen ih sual ngaithiam dil saktu lawng an si tiah an zum. Asinan, Jesuh cun, “Ka fapa/nu, na sualnak cu ngaithiam a si zo” tiah amah in a ngaithiam cih tikah, Pathian lawng ih tuah theimi ziangah hi tin midang sual tla a ngaithiam thei men tiah an ti. Pathian ah maw a ruah awk tiah an thin a heng. Cuih tlun ah, Biaknak le duun le daan pawl hnak in “Keimah I zum uh, ka simmi zum” tiah a ti tikah an thin a heng ngaingai.

Thunetnak:

Pathian uknak ih a lamdannak cu:
1.     Lei tlun ukawknak ahcun, miding le mitha pawl lawng cohlan an si. Asinan, Pathian cun, misual le mi tha lo an timi pawl kha a cohlang, a duhdawt ih a pawlkom.

2.     Lei tlun ukawknak ahcun, a sualmi cu a sual vek in cawh kuan an kuan ter. Pthian uknak sungah cun, cawhkuan daan si lo in, zaangfahnak daan a hmang. An hnen ih rakir tu pawl cu zokhal an sual ngaithiamnak a pek. 

________________________
Oct 27, 2013
Falam Baptist Church, Maryland



Friday, October 25, 2013

8 Reasons Believers Give to Your Church


                        BY RICK WARREN
                        IN CAMPAIGNS · RICK WARREN · STEWARDSHIP
                        — 24 OCT, 2013



If you want your church to grow, you must learn how to motivate believers to invest their resources into the kingdom for ministry and for facilities. It is a key responsibility of leadership. Whoever writes the agenda must be able to underwrite the agenda. If you’re going to form the vision you also have to be able to fund the vision.

A lot of pastors, a lot of elders, lot of church leaders have a real hangup about asking people to give. They allow personal insecurities and personal fears to limit the ministry. You don’t need to be embarrassed about asking people to give. There is nothing greater than the kingdom of God. There is no more significant cause than the church.

I am very much against fundraising, but I am in favor of teaching people to give.  Fundraising is what I call collecting money from other people in return for a product, service, reward or recognition. But in giving, we simply challenge ourselves to give out of our own resources for spiritual reasons. The result of fundraising is that funds are collected.  The results of teaching people to be givers is that funds are collected and disciples are developed.

And to develop generous disciples, you need to understand why people give.

1.  People give when they trust the leadership.
John 10:1-11 says, “The sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. He goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice but they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run from him. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd.” Study after study has proven that in the hierarchy of giving, people give first of all to people they believe in. Then they give to purposes. Finally they give to programs. That means that the most essential elements in teaching people to give are relational, not functional.

Even if you use a consultant to help you raise money, you as the pastor still need to be out front. Because the person who asks for the giving needs to be the person with the most credibility. And if you are a Pastor and you are not the most trusted person, you have a leadership problem and you’re not ready to teach people to give yet. You need to be the most visible because the person who is the best qualified to ask for money should be the person whose the most trusted.

2.  People give when they catch a vision, not when they see a need.
The Bible says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” Did you know that Ivy League schools usually receive the largest endowments? And they are the schools that need the money the least. Why? People give to success. They give to vision. They don’t give to needs.  That’s why in fifteen years we have never had a bulletin with our financial reports in it along with how much we need. Why? Because bills do not motivate people to give. People give when they catch a vision and they get the big picture.

You must be very clear about what your vision is. At Saddleback, we’ve never had a vision for a building, but rather for what the building can help us do. We’ve never had a vision for raising money, but rather for what the money can do. Emphasize the lives that will be changed as people give – the marriages that will be saved, the broken people that are going to be put back together, the people who will break addictions, the changed lives that will happen. That’s the vision!

3.  People give to experience the joy of generosity.
It feels good to give generously – it really does. A person who doesn’t understand that has never given generously. The happiest people in the world are the most giving people. Guilt never motivates people to give. Giving that is motivated by guilt only lasts as long as the guilt does. So you never use guilt to motivate people to give. You use joy to motivate people to give.

I absolutely do not accept the health and wealth theology, which teaches that God wants everybody to be rich. But the fact is, there are more promises in the Bible related to giving than any other subject. You cannot out-give God. If you’re going to be Christlike you’ve got to learn to give.

4.  People give when they are inspired by models.
We learn best by watching models. That’s why a testimony about giving is a thousand times more effective than a sermon on giving. Models motivate us. Giving is contagious. So I encourage people to write down and send me their testimonies, how they decided to give, and what they were giving.

5.  People give when they are involved.
Paul told the Philippians, “I thank God because of your partnership in the gospel.”  The fact is those who are most involved in the campaign will be those who sacrifice the most. One of our gauges of involvement at Saddleback is how many people have completed our CLASSes (and you can get our CLASS material here). And the more CLASSes people have completed, the more involved they are, and the more they tend to give. The average gift in our church from an attender during one of our giving campaigns was about $7000. For the people who had gone through class 101, the average gift was $8500. The average of gift for people who had been through class 201 and 101 was over $11,000.  And the average gift of people who had been through 101, 201 and 301, which usually indicates they are actually involved in the ministry of the church was over $15,000.

6.  People give when you ask them to give.
James says, “You have not because you ask not.” The Bible says ask and seek and knock. God asks people to give. The fact is we’re doing people a favor when we ask them to give because they grow in faith, they grow in love, they grow in sacrifice, they grow in commitment, they grow in character as they learn to give. They will be blessed in return. Never say no for anybody. Your church will be hurt more by those who would have said yes and were not asked than by those who were asked and said no.

7.  People give when you make it possible for them to give.
2 Corinthians 8 says, “For if the willingness is there the gift is acceptable according to what one has not according to what one does not have.” That means you need to make it possible for people to give in as many ways as you can. Teach people how to want to give and they’ll figure out how.

Teach people that they can either give by reason or by revelation. Giving by reason means this – I look at what I have, I figure out what’s reasonable and I commit that amount. It doesn’t take any faith to give by reason. I just figure out what can I afford to give. Giving by revelation means I determine my gift by praying “Lord, what do You want to give through me?” This requires faith. When you give by revelation, you’re committing an act of worship and saying, “How much am I willing to trust God?”

8.  People give when their gifts are appreciated.
The whole book of Philippians is just a thank you letter from Paul for their offering, for their financial support. Figure out seven ways to thank people for their gift – a card, a call, a banquet, etc. A little appreciation goes a long way in encouraging people to be generous for the long haul.

If you want a model for teaching people to give, check out our Building for Life kit, which includes tons of practical helps in the area of stewardship.

 
— Rick Warren


Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

Ref: http://pastors.com/8-reasons-believers-give-to-your-church/



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Secret Pain of Pastors




Philip Wagner offers insight into the six major struggles pastors face in the ministry and how to overcome them.


How Christians and church members can help:  

Pray for your pastor.
Pray for guidance, protection, healthy friends, their marriage, and family. Pray for inspiration, anointing, the leadership team, unity, and clarity.

Protect your pastor.
As best as you can, don’t allow or participate in gossip and criticism. How can you serve and problem solve to prevent overload?

Encourage your pastor.
Thank him for his or her work and ministry. Thank them for their sacrifice. Tell them a specific time in which you or someone you know experienced a life change in their church. Honor them to others.  Let your pastors know you are praying for them. According to the Barna report—the profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman.”

To Pastors.
Don’t give up, pastor! Persistence is powerful.
Keep on. Really! Your work, your labor of love, and your sacrifice matters.
I realize the last thing a pastor needs is another sermon. But these verses have helped me.

Hold on to God’s Word with your life.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Gal. 6:9 NLT

Be careful of the comparison trap.
Looking at other ministries can be inspiring. Comparing yourself to other churches can be destructive and discouraging.

Make new pastor friends. Expose yourself to new influences, new leaders, churches, or ministries that are doing some things differently.

Discover to some fresh views and ideas. Sometimes, it just takes one or two new ideas that can change momentum around.

Pastors that are struggling or are no longer in ministry may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Celebrate Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing (some examples are Safe People orBoundaries) and share your secrets with safe people.  Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets.

*The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc. provide the statistics I have used in this post.