Why do we sit back and do nothing? Why do we accept the way of life as it currently stands? Why is it that the common practice today is lie and cheat your way to the top. Stand on as many shoulders as you can to reach the top, who cares about how many lives you destroy, just keep taking and taking, become more and more creative with the lies. Make the people believe your truth, who cares if it is real or made up, if you say it is the truth then it is and the people will believe you. Everyday we hear how another person was cheated out of money, either through bogus tickets or fines, or false advertising , or just straight out lies about why their was another price increase. Individuals have 2 choices to make: Cheating   VS   Honesty Cheating = Unearned power   VS   Honesty = The key to long term success Cheating = Value destroyer   VS   Honesty = Real values that help society Cheating = No long term future  VS   Honesty = Everlasting happy future Honest Effect = Great Rewards Only the Honesty Choice will prosper

When my kids were toddlers and could finally make their first sentence, my husband and I taught them a verse of scripture that we often times used to help with discipline. We made it a rule and treated it as a sort of measuring gap to help us along. That verse was “Children obey your parents in the lord for this is right.” We explained to our kids, that this teaching came with a promise “that your days may be long on the earth”. One afternoon while walking my son home from school, an elderly gentleman walked ahead of us using a cane for support. My son, who was seven years old at the time, kept gazing at the old man with a pre-occupied expression on his little face. Finally he looked at me and said “mom, that man must really have obeyed his parents.” I turned to look at my son as I was amazed that he had made a connection with what he had learned and what we had taught to him. Then I used that opportunity to teach him and shared that perhaps the old man began paying attention to what his parents told him about eating healthy at an early age. I went on to explain that maybe the old man ate nutritious foods like broccoli

It was a long difficult day at work.  As usual it wasn’t anything different.  The bosses constantly put pressure for performance, continually insisting one take on more responsibilities.  Just waking up in the morning knowing what one was going to have to endure, just made one want to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over the head.   Thank heavens it was time to go home, which was bitter sweet knowing of the multitude of projects that were there waiting to be done.  Punching out at the time clock, punching the steering wheel from the traffic, punching the front door that was sticking, trying to keep from punching the one at home that has been close to the heart.    Today, in breaking a routine, now taking a moment for ones self, just kicking off the shoes and sitting down with the mail.  One bill wants more money, and then another one does too.  Envelope after envelope wants significant increases for there services.  It is amazing these company’s want huge increases when they themselves refuse to award decent wages.   In this pile of seemingly unending escalating costs was one simple letter highlighted in red, white and blue.  Upon opening, noticed it was personalized and was from an exclusive organization that was sharing the possibilities of prosperity and

..     “That is exquisite.  Did you make it?”             “Yes, I did.  I have a small studio at home.” “And you want to sell them through my gallery?”  She put the vase down and picked up her mug again. “I hadn’t thought about it, really.  I was planning to sell it out of my booth at Creativity and Crafts.” She raised one eyebrow and took a sip of her coffee.  “You’re wasting your talent at that place.  It is for people who paint funny bird houses, not for someone like you, Emy.  Your work belongs in a gallery.  Besides, I can get you a lot more for your pieces than you would ever make at Craft Club or what ever the name of that place is.” Over the next few minutes she went on and on about what she could do for me and my work.  I stood there in her living room with my mouth open. “What you need is a signature trademark for your work.  You also need a really cool artistic name.  Any suggestions?” “Well, we could use my legal name; I’ve always thought it was cool.  It’s Ember.” “Your name is Ember Burns?”  Paul smiled.  “Hmm.  That’s classy.  It fits you.” “Uh… Thanks.  My parents are very creative people.  I started going by Emy when