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Category Archives: Freedom

Freedom from post-traumatic stress disorder

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A Christian Science perspective.

Reports of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently in the news. Its a global health issue affecting millions, which is associated with experiencing a terrifying event, such as war, domestic abuse, a car crash, or a severe storm, wherein the person is haunted by recurring, uncontrollable thoughts about it. Like many others, I find myself responding to such reports with a deep, heartfelt desire to help. But how?

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Christ Jesus brought freedom to many people tormented by physical maladies and mental illness. We can tap into that same power, which transcends pain and suffering through God, by letting this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

This healing power does not originate in the brain. Divine Mind is Spirit itself the active, universal source of the life, intelligence, wisdom, and spirituality of each of us as Gods sons and daughters. To understand God as the one great Cause is also to know our true identity as made in His own image. Understanding the spiritual nature of Gods children as the likeness of divine Mind leads to health and wholeness.

All truth is in the divine Mind, and all discord, pain, and fear are not from God. Such devilish thoughts come to us as our own thinking, and, if not rejected, induce us to believe, I feel it or I fear it. So it was with Job, whose story is told in the Bible. He was distraught, diseased, and forsaken. He regained his health and family and was no longer impoverished when he acknowledged God as the sole source of all goodness.

Mary Baker Eddy founded The Christian Science Monitor and discovered Christian Science the Science of mans true being. She explained how sound physical and mental health is available to everyone. She wrote: We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you reproducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious sculptors and hideous forms.... The result is that you are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your life-work, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 248).

Mrs. Eddy goes on to describe the remedy for such fearful images, which to me is applicable in seeking relief and permanent freedom from PTSD: To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love the kingdom of heaven reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear.

We reach the pinnacle of prayer through such correct self-identification, conscious of our individual existence as Gods own image and likeness. By accepting the spiritual identity of each of Gods sons and daughters, we see that suffering is not inevitable and that no event or memory of it no matter how horrific or hateful can inhibit the power of divine Love to help and heal. Divine Love forgives and ends isolation and resentment. So it is that with divine help, freedom from PTSD is possible.

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Freedom from post-traumatic stress disorder

Tax Freedom Day Arrives in Ala.

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Washington, DC -- Alabamas Tax Freedom Day, the day on which Alabamians have collectively earned enough income to pay off their total federal, state, and local tax bill, will arrives Monday, April 7th making it the 5th state to reach Tax Freedom Day.

According to the annual report released this morning by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, National Tax Freedom Day falls on April 21, three days later than last year.

The states with the earliest Tax Freedom Days are Louisiana (Mar 30), Mississippi (Apr 2), and South Dakota (Apr 4). The latest dates fall in New Jersey (May 9), Connecticut (May 9), and New York (May 4).

The studys key findings include:

The national Tax Freedom Day is three days later than last year due mainly to the continuing economic recovery, which will boost federal tax revenue collected through the corporate, payroll, and individual income tax.

Americans will spend more on taxes in 2014 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined.

Americans will spend 42 days working to pay off income taxes, 15 days for excise taxes, and 11 days for property taxes. Click here for a full breakdown.

Americans will pay $3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total bill of more than $4.5 trillion, or 30.2 percent of the nations income.

If you include annual federal borrowing, which represents future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would occur on May 6, 15 days later. Tax Freedom Day is a significant date for taxpayers and lawmakers because it represents how long Americans as a whole have to work in order to pay the nations tax burden.

Arguments can be made for why the collective tax bill is too high or too low, but in order to have an honest discussion, its important to understand where we stand, said Tax Foundation Economist Kyle Pomerleau. Tax Freedom Day gives us a vivid representation of how much we pay for the goods and services provided by governments at all levels.

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Tax Freedom Day Arrives in Ala.

Freedom camping trial 'working' despite excesses

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Christine Garey

The complaint came after 13 vehicles took up Macandrew Bay's five designated freedom camping parks, and other nearby spaces, next to Ralph Ham Park on Thursday night.

Senior Constable Lox Kellas, of Portobello, confirmed the complaint had been received on Friday morning, by which time nine vehicles remained. The complaint was referred to the council.

Council staff spoken to yesterday confirmed the council's security firm, First Security, was alerted, but did not attend immediately.

The complaint came just days after councillors voted to continue a two-year trial of freedom camping at Macandrew Bay, at least until June, while assessing the impact of extra signs and security patrols.

The changes were introduced in response to community concern at the number of freedom campers staying overnight, which sometimes topped 20 vehicles.

Councillors at last week's planning and regulatory committee meeting voted to continue the trial after being reassured the recent changes were helping ease problems and no more than five vehicles were now parking in the area.

However, council parks operations officer Richard Dahlenburg on Friday said numbers had been ''up and down'' since the changes were introduced.

The week before last was a good one, but there were reports of 10 campers parked in the area early last week and 13 on Thursday morning.

Some residents were still getting ''a bit hot under the collar'' when extra vehicles were spotted, but the situation was still improving, he believed.

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Freedom camping trial 'working' despite excesses

OPINION: US, Obama must act now to save lives, protect religious freedom

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Worshippers carry a cross in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Good Friday during Holy Week, in Jerusalem's Old City.Reuters

As priests are abducted in Crimea, churches burn in Sudan, and American pastors waste away in North Korean prisons, how long will it take this administration to name a new ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom?

With the president visiting Saudi Arabia and the first lady visiting China earlier this month, April would have been a prime opportunity to send a message that America values religious freedom, even in the presence of necessary allies with dismal reputations in this regard. This isnt a Democratic, Republican, liberal, or conservative issue; its a matter of common decency and of human rights.

The ambassadorship has been vacant for six months and it has been nearly two months since President Obama stated at the National Prayer Breakfast that he looks forward to nominating our next ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

I have personally witnessed the shocking truth of the presidents related statement that "around the world, freedom of religion is under threat."

- Recently, I was in the West Bank where earlier this year in the village of Deir Istiya, attackers set fire to the local mosque and spray painted hate messages on its walls.

- The same day I was leaving the region, radical Islamists fired at least 40 rockets into the towns of their Jewish neighbors.

- A few weeks ago, as worshippers were gathering in St. Pauls Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria, Boko Haram a militant group trying to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state, attacked the church and killed over 45 parishioners. One of the survivors lost her husband and child in the attack and when interviewed all she could say was, we saw hell.

- In the mainly Buddhist nation of Burma, the number of displaced Rohingya Muslims has climbed to more than 150,000; others have been killed at the hands of Buddhist mobs, and all of this has happened since Burma began making its move toward political reform.

-- In the Central African Republic, Christian militias are now responding with unspeakable violence against the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels who notoriously terrorized Christians in the country last year, and on a recent Sunday morning in Mombasa, Kenya, extremists killed 2 Christian church leaders as they sat in the pews of Joy Jesus Church.

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OPINION: US, Obama must act now to save lives, protect religious freedom

Steelhawks Win Exciting Home Opener over Freedom

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April 6, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Bethlehem, PA: After a hard fought see-saw match up between the Trenton Freedom, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks came out on top in an exhilarating home opener. The win puts the Steelhawks at 1-0 and atop the National Conference standings as the only undefeated team in their division early on in the 2014 season.

An exciting first quarter from Stabler Arena with two touchdowns within 2 minutes of the start of the game. The Trenton Freedom jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after scoring on the very first play of the game with a 35-yard touchdown pass from QB Warren Smith to Antoine Rivera. The Steelhawks answered back quickly with an 8-yard touchdown run by Brandon Renford (6 rec, 83 yards, 3 td) on their second play. After a successful PAT and uno by Steelhawks kicker Michael Barnard, Lehigh Valley took an 8-6 lead. The Freedom's offense drove down the field, leading to a touchdown pass from Jaquan Bryant to Roger Jackson. Following a successful two-point conversion, Trenton held a 14-8 lead half way through the opening quarter. The Steelhawks were quick to answer once again with a strong drive ending in a touchdown pass from QB Adam Bednarik (16-27, 182 yds) to Brandon Renford. An even match after one quarter with the game being tied 14-14.

The Freedom started the second quarter deep inside Steelhawk territory, scoring immediately with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Bryant to take a 20-14 lead. After an out of bounds scrimmage kick from Trenton, the Steelhawks were awarded the ball in good position on the Freedom 20-yard line. Bednarik quickly found WR Scott Pillar in the end zone for a touchdown, and after a successful PAT, Lehigh Valley led 21-20. On the Freedom's next possession, Steelhawks DB Dwayne Hollis (10 tackles, 2 int) intercepted Warren Smith's pass giving the Steelhawks their first interception of the season and solid field position. This led to Bednarik throwing his third touchdown pass of the game, connecting once again with Renford, giving him his third touchdown as well (one rushing, two receiving). The Steelhawks held a 28-20 lead until Freedom QB Warren Smith scurried into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown run, shortening the deficit to only two points. The Freedom quickly regained possession after a missed field goal attempt by the Steelhawks, but were stopped deep in Steelhawk territory to end the half. Steelhawks lead 28-26 at the midway point of the game.

Lehigh Valley started the second half off with a long possession, resulting in a second consecutive missed field goal by kicker Michael Barnard. On the ensuing possession, the Freedom pushed the ball down field resulting in a powerful touchdown run by FB Melik Brown. Following the PAT, the Freedom held a 33-28 lead. Lehigh Valley quickly answered back as Bednarik found Pillar for the second time in the back corner of the end zone to regain the lead late into the third quarter. After three quarters of play, the Steelhawks held a 35-33 lead.

Trenton once again started the quarter in great field position, resulting in a touchdown pass from Smith to Jackson on the first play to take a 40-35 lead. The Freedom defense held the Steelhawks to minimum yardage on their next possession, resulting in a third missed field goal by Barnard. With momentum on their side, the Freedom worked their way down field for another touchdown pass from Smith to Rivera. This touchdown and PAT gave them the largest lead of the game at 47-35, halfway through the final quarter. On the following drive the Steelhawks moved the ball down field as Bednarik connected with OL Darryl Kurtz for his fifth touchdown pass cutting the Freedom lead to six with 2:43 remaining in the game. A Steelhawks defensive stand gave the offense one last chance at the time of the one-minute warning. One chance was all they needed as Bednarik found Renford once again for his fourth touchdown of the game, followed by a made PAT giving the Steelhawks a 48-47 lead with 33 seconds remaining. After a strong defensive effort and a game ending end zone interception the Steelhawks found themselves victorious after the intense season opening match up.

Tonight's Offensive player of the game is awarded to Brandon Renford having a total of three touchdowns, including the go ahead score with 33 seconds left, and 113 total all-purpose yards. The Special Teams and Defensive award goes to Dwayne Hollis for his consistent efforts on the return team as well as a dominant defensive effort recording 10 tackles and two interceptions.

Steelhawks next contest is on the road, taking on the Harrisburg Stampede (April 11th, 7:30pm). The team returns to Stabler Arena for their next home game on April 26th, 7:00pm kickoff; that game is deemed "Friends and Family Night" presented by ESSA Bank & Trust. A special drawstring backpack will be given away to the first 1,000 fans through the door.

Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Steelhawks! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at http://www.LVSteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news!

Flex season ticket packages will be on sale after the home opener. It's not too late to get discounted tickets to every 2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks game. You can reserve your seats by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100. Individual game tickets for each home game are now available as well!

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Steelhawks Win Exciting Home Opener over Freedom


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