If you are reading this article, you and your spouse have probably had a rough time of it. Maybe you have been married for years and cannot remember why you are together; maybe you have only been married for a couple years and are having commitment issues or other problems. The great thing is, there is another option other than divorce for you and your spouse and it is far less expensive, you can save your marriage.

However, there are certain things you must do if you are serious about relighting the fire and it requires the commitment of both of you.

Steps to Making a New Commitment

The first thing that usually happens in a marriage gone south is a breakdown in communication. You have stopped talking, you stop asking each other about your day. Whether this is because you are both too busy or have too many outside things going on, such as children’s activities, make an effort to set aside an hour each day where the two of you just talk. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Another tip to making your marriage work is to stop worrying about the kids. We all understand that having a child can change the dynamic of a relationship. However, you must remember how the two of you came together initially and separate yourself from the role of being a parent. You both were a couple first.

The third step is start taking care of yourselves again. Whether this applies to physical appearances or eating better, do it, there will be a big change in how you feel about one another. Bring the romance back.

You know what it felt like when you first starting dating, the romantic gestures, you held open doors for her and she had special pet names for you. Bring all of that back! We know that busy schedules can lead to a breakdown in romantic gestures, but make a special effort to do something romantic everyday. You’ll stir feelings that have been lost over time.

Next, define what is his, hers and ours. Too many times marriages breakdown because one partner feels stifled or feels as if there is a loss of identity. Encourage your partner to take up a hobby that interests them or take a weekend with the girls. Time away to encourage separate interests makes them that much more eager to get home to you.

The sixth step is to always remember to be polite and give feedback to your partner in a courteous way. Being harsh with criticism will make them avoid opening up to you. Instead, try giving constructive criticism and remember to consider their feelings.

Commit to a date night each week. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to spend quality time with your spouse. Arrange a picnic or go for a walk, try to do something different to add some adventure and spontaneity to your relationship.

The two next steps are very important. First, commit to doing a yearly evaluation of your marriage. Performance evaluations happen in every other part of our lives, so why not one of the most important pieces, your marriage? Take time, sit down with each other and give open and honest information to your partner, what do you need? What are you happy with? What are you unhappy with? Putting all issues on the table and being honest prevents from holding back issues or keeping feelings bottled up.

Finally, always understand that marriage is a changing thing. Always feel that the contract is up for negotiation. If you are feeling neglected or if you are having bad feelings tell your partner about it. Communication is always the key to a long, happy life together.

Chances are if you are a Jeep owner you have been off-roading a time or two. The thrill and excitement of pushing your Jeep to its max and seeing just what it can do is something you just can’t avoid. While off-roading is fun and adrenaline pumping it is still a dangerous activity.

While your Jeep is known for its off-road capabilities, its actual ability is dictated by the skill and preparation of the driver and its occupants. Proper preparation can be help you have a safe and fantastic journey. So here are a few off-road safety tips to think about before your next off-road adventure.

Before you Go

1. Let your friends and family know where you are going. If you are planning to off-road through a national park inform the park authorities of your route, duration and the date you will begin.

2. Understand that while you are taking your Jeep off-road, you will be without cell coverage more than you will have it. So it would be a good idea to buy a satellite radio, HF radio or a UHF radio and learn how to use them.

3. Put a good first aid kit together and make sure you know how everything works.

4. Put together a good toolkit along with basic spare parts. Regardless if you know how to use any of it, a passerby who stops to help just might.

During your Off-Road Adventure

1. Make sure that you are well rested both physically and mentally at the start of each off-roading journey.

2. Wear a pair of high quality sunglasses to cut down the glare from the sun while you’re driving.

3. If it’s possible, travel with another vehicle. If something happens to your vehicle you have a way to get help.

4. Don’t be the sole driver. It’s a good idea to share the driving responsibilities in order to cut down on driver fatigue. Take regular breaks throughout the day.

5. Make sure you know where the facilities are located such as fuel, repairs, food, water, medical facilities and accommodations.

6. When leaving towns check your mileage. If you do break down and need to call for help you will be able to tell them how far you are from the nearest town.

A good thing to keep in mind is that you may not be alone during your off-road adventure. Wherever you go there are wild animals and natural elements to the area. If it is your first time taking your Jeep off-road it is a good idea to take things slow until you get the feel for the ground beneath you. The most important thing is to have fun. Your Jeep was built for enjoyment.

There is nothing more fun than an old-fashioned road trip. I love taking to the open road and exploring our country. Now, I’ve been a “road tripper” for some time and though I love air travel, I love the road trip because that’s how you can really experience the country. So it’s time to get your favorite tunes and munchies ready and plan your open road trip adventure with these ten easy road trip travel tips.

1. Plan your trip. First, you need to determine where you’re going to go and then plan your trip. Planning doesn’t have to take a long a time, but you do need to know the route you’re going to drive and points of interest along the way that you’re going to want to stop and explore. Half the fun of a road trip is seeing the sites along the way. I like to MapQuest my trip and have that as my main plan of attack for my road trip. GPS is very popular these days and I recommend them, but you can’t always rely on them when you hit construction zones or accidents on your journey. That’s why it’s essential that you have a real map with you for the areas you’ll be traveling to and to plan alternate routes if necessary.

2. Make your hotel reservations BEFORE you go. Part of the fun when traveling on the road is stopping wherever your heart desires, but there’s nothing worse than a “no room at the inn” experience on a road trip. You may not realize that there is a “Comic Book Trade Show,” “Strawberry Festival” or convention in town while you’re visiting and there are no rooms to be had. If you do not book your reservations in advance, not only are you running the risk of having to sleep in your car but also you can’t manage your road trip budget effectively. If you’re traveling with your family or a group of friends, consider staying at an all-suite hotel or even renting a time share, a great option for families taking a road trip. Did you know that 90 percent of people who own a timeshare don’t utilize it on a regular basis? Many great offers can be found at some of the bigger hotel chains that offer timeshares and many of them even have a washer and dryer. For my road trip to Scottsdale, I booked a fantastic one-bedroom suite with a kitchenette at a time share property directly through the hotel for just $100/night including tax at the Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas.

3. Give your car a full tune up before you go or consider renting a car. One week before you go on your road trip, take your car in for a tune up and ask your mechanic to ensure the car fluids are topped, air pressure in your tires is at its best for highway driving, and any other necessary concerns regarding your vehicle are addressed. Should you need to get something fixed, it is best to do it at a place you can trust before your road trip. Plus, it can be more expensive when it is a have-to situation. Also, make sure you pack a roadside safety kit just in case of an emergency. For me that kit includes my American Automobile Association membership card (Premier Membership). If you have a car that is no longer under warranty or has automatic roadside assistance, then a American Automobile Association membership is a necessity as it will save you a fortune in the unfortunate event you have a break down and have to have your car towed. If you’re at all concerned that your current vehicle is not “road trip worthy,” then you may want to consider renting a vehicle for your road trip. I did this for my trip to Arizona as I found a great deal on a rental car and had the peace of mind for my road trip.

4. Pack your own food and plan a picnic. I used to be addicted to stopping at fast food joints on a road trip. There was something that felt fun about that on a trip but I’ve since learned that I prefer to pack my own food for my journey. It doesn’t just keep me eating healthier, but it also saves money, too, especially if you’re traveling with your family. Also, if you plan ahead, you may find that there is a great stop for a scenic picnic in your travels and packing a picnic is so much better than flying through the Drive-through. If you do make a stop, either for a picnic or to explore a cool sight along the way.

5. Bring great music or audible books with you! Music is truly the soundtrack of our lives and every road trip needs a soundtrack. I think of my trip to Seattle every time I hear a Phil Collins song from “No Jacket Required” because that was the primary music I was listening to on that trip. I think of the Bahamas Harbor Island and the amazing walks on the Pink Sands Beach every time I hear Wilson Phillips music. It’s sort of like having a theme song for every vacation but hearing the music even today will evoke fun memories of wonderful trips. I also love catching up on books I’d like to read but somehow find it easier to listen to. That’s where audio books come in and you can download them to your mp3 player, iPhone, or other PDA device. !

6. Don’t forget to pack a boredom buster bag for the kids. One thing I’ve learned from producing for TV’s “The Travel Mom” Emily Kaufman, is that if you’re traveling with kids, you need to make sure you have plenty to entertain them during your road trip. She calls this the boredom buster bag. Don’t forget to pack some kid music your children like along with fun travel games that include magnetic board games. DVD players are an option for really long trips and as long as your child isn’t prone to car sickness. Of course, electronic games will keep your kids occupied but I would encourage you to limit the time on these toys especially if you’re traveling through some great scenic areas. It’s an excellent chance to bond as a family and your child’s memory of the trip will be lost if they’re lost in a Game Boy.

7. Remember, a road trip is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. One of my all time favorite road trips was the day my niece, Jessica, and I drove 52 enchanting miles on the “Road to Hana” on the island of Maui in Hawaii. I’ll never forget that the guide book said, “Remember, Hana is not a destination, it’s a journey.” Hana is located about 52 miles from Kahului, however a typical trip to Hana takes at least three hours, as the road is very winding with approximately 620 curves over 59 bridges, 46 of which have only one-lane. This delightful road trip is a memorable journey that winds through a lush, tropical rain forest that is laced with tumbling waterfalls, black sand beaches, scenic lava cliffs, fresh fruit stands, and tropical hillsides. Jessica and I stopped at least ten times including one stop to picnic on that black sand beach. We took photos by waterfalls, delicious fruit stands and beautiful tropical flower gardens. You should treat your road trip vacation the same way we did our Road to Hana: Enjoy your road trip as a journey, not a destination.

8. Make good use of every stop. I like to plan my stops for fuel, food, and restrooms so that I utilize my time efficiently and don’t waste time making three stops instead of one. Probably the most important thing is that every time you do stop, make sure everyone in the car uses the restroom (even if they think they don’t have to right then). This will cut down on the stops you’ll make only for that purpose. Also, if you’re traveling with kids, and you just need to stop for the restroom, I recommend stopping at a Starbucks. Parents can get a coffee or an ice tea, the restrooms are clean, and there are not a lot of distractions for kids (like toys to buy) that a truck stop or gas station may have. Use the Starbucks store locator at their website to help you plan your stops before you go. Do be a “good egg” and make a purchase at Starbucks while you’re there.

9. Avoid Trouble. When you’re on a road trip, you need to be street wise. Don’t be a target for crime by leaving your valuables on the seat in your car (DVD players, Game Boys, etc.) and don’t advertise you’re on a road trip with pillows and blankets every where. When you park your car, hide your valuables and road trip creature comforts. If you are proactive at keeping your “I’m on a road trip clues” clearly hidden, any thief or troublemaker should just walk right by your car. Other street wise considerations is to always park where there is good light and foot traffic and make sure your windows are rolled up and the doors are locked whenever you leave your car. You may also want to purchase items like “the Club” if you like that extra insurance for safety. Finally, when you’re driving, watch your speed. Speeding gives you the chance to get a ticket and more importantly, it decreases your time to react if the need should arise. If you are the driver, you are responsible for your passengers. When you see signs that say, “Speed limits are photo enforced,” believe them. Other good driving tips include avoiding rush hour, especially in bigger cities, and whenever possible take turns driving with other people in the car. You’ll also want to avoid driving at night if you are not familiar with your surroundings.

10. Get a Go City Card and save up to 55% on attractions and theme parks at your vacation destination. Last year, I flew my 8-year-old niece, Alexis, and 10-year-old nephew, Tyler, out to Los Angeles for their spring break (using Southwest Airlines Reward Miles, of course) and we took a road trip down to San Diego. That’s when I discovered the money saving Go City Card for San Diego. With this card, I saved hundreds of dollars in admissions to Legoland, the Wild Animal Park, the San Diego Zoo and other attractions including a Whale Watch on the Pacific Ocean just by purchasing a Go San Diego Card.

Instead of paying individually for each local attraction, you pay one price for up to 40 attractions (depending on the city your visiting) and you get to create your own experience, tailoring your activities based on what you like to do, while also enjoying tremendous savings. For example, with the Go Los Angeles Card, you can choose one, two, three, five, or seven day cards at a low, pre-paid price to gain access to 40 included attractions. This saves up to 55% compared to buying tickets directly at Universal Studios Hollywood, LEGOLAND California, Knott’s Berry Farm, Paramount Studios, the Queen Mary, and many more attractions. Go City Cards are available in many cities and vacation destinations in the U.S. including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco, Honolulu, Orlando, Miami, Seattle, Blue Ridge and even Toronto.

Final Tips: Don’t forget your cell phone and make sure you’re “hands free” when you do use it while driving. In many states, it’s the law, but it’s also down right dangerous. Always use your cell phone “hands free” when you drive. Don’t forget to update your software on your mobile before you leave because you don’t want to be charged higher rates for roaming charges. Finally, it’s a real good idea to email a copy of your itinerary to other family members or friends in case of an emergency – this is especially a good idea for women traveling together. Now, drive safe and have fun!

You can get more details at my website at Best-Travel-Deals-Tips.com.

Have you ever been driving along and all of a sudden you were distracted by a billboard that you have never seen before? Well, this response is all too common among drivers on today’s roads and highways. A recent poll conducted by Privilege Insurance determined that 30% of drivers in the United Kingdom admitted to losing concentration while driving because of a billboard or sign.

Why Driver Distraction Matters

Driver distraction increases the chances that a vehicle accident will occur. It is a major underlying cause of auto accidents. In fact, driver behavior is cited as one of four causes of vehicle accidents listed below in order of most major cause to least major cause:

1. Driver behavior

2. Poor roadway maintenance

3. Roadway design

4. Equipment failure

In fact, over 95% of motor vehicle accidents have some amount of driver behavior as a portion of the cause even if some or all of the other major causes are involved.

Why a Few Seconds of Inattention Matter

We’ve all done it-momentarily moved our eyes away from the road. The problem is that sometimes drivers take their eyes off the road for too long or at a crucial point. If a driver is distracted by the bright colors or someone in sexy lingerie on a billboard while they are diving near you, you could wind up being the victim of a vehicle accident. Orlando auto accident attorneys Best & Anderson are very familiar with this scenario.

Also, electronic and moving billboards with pop-out sections may increase the chances of an accident because people tend to look at them longer than traditional billboards.

If drivers are distracted for five seconds while traveling at 60 miles per hour, then they aren’t looking at the road for 100 yards or more (the length of a football field), which is more than enough time for a vehicle accident to occur.

Even more disturbing, a 2006 study performed by Nottingham University, determined that as much as 50% of a driver’s time spent on the road may involve paying attention to roadside distractions.

Drivers are even distracted by the sheer volume of signs that are actually supposed to help them navigate roads.

All of this adds up to great potential for auto accidents to occur.

The “Highway Hypnosis” Phenomenon

Some people may claim that billboards help relieve driver boredom on long road trips. This would be a positive benefit to billboards. However, a counterargument to this idea is the phenomenon of “highway hypnosis.” This is so-named because when you are driving along a straight, flat section of highway, you enter into an almost trancelike state because of the monotony of everything looking very similar. Drivers can end up fixating on a billboard that seems to pop up out of nowhere during their “hypnosis” and end up causing an accident.

Privilege Insurance determined that in the United Kingdom, roadside distractions affected 83% of UK drivers. That number can surely be applied to United States drivers as well.

This is a startling statistic because it validates what we already suspect: being inundated by signs and billboards as we drive down the road can distract us while we are driving. In fact, there is even a billboard that says, “”Keep your eyes on the road and stop reading these signs.” This billboard confirms that even companies who place billboards know that they are a distraction!

Having assisted writers for the last 20 odd years in many different capacities (such as professor, coach, and colleague), I have worked with a lot of frustrated and stymied writers. In addition, I have written 17 books and have encountered many writing roadblocks myself which had to be conquered.

Along the way I have developed five favorite ways to successfully knock down those roadblocks and continue the writing journey. Join me as we explore these strategies.

It dawns on you one day….. You might not realize you are confronted with a roadblock. All you know is you cannot write, or you do not know where to start. Or perhaps you cannot figure out how to make the writing gel so that it is compelling on the page…. These, my dear fellow authors, are all different forms of roadblocks. Now don’t be fooled, there are many roadblocks you encounter along the journey of writing. However, the good news is that the strategies we develop, the momentum of success which we build from conquering even these first five, will strengthen us for the marathon ahead. This article will help you buzz by those roadblocks in order to charge ahead towards success.

The roadblock counter-strategies which I share in this brief article take the form of techniques. Indeed, I divulge some of my trade secrets which I use to assist students, faculty and business people to break the chilly stalemate between the keyboard and the blank screen. Be diligent, keep this list close at hand, give these strategies a try, and be ready to choose a remedy when you encounter your next writing emergency. This is your survival kit. Therefore you must become familiar with it in a non-stressful situation; please consider the following points.

Fingers poised over the keyboard…and begin…

Roadblock 1: I can Say it, but I cannot write it. Sometimes a piece that we are writing just lends itself more to telling. Sometimes we are more gifted as a storyteller or orator than a writer! Nonetheless when we have to put that same account into written form, what are we to do? One solution is so simple people miss it because of that point. Speak the piece aloud! You might use a recorder, voice activated software, or perhaps a really great friend will take notes or transcribe. Basically, the process is the same in all three methods: speak the project, rather than write it. It is amazing how this strategy can unjam the writing roadblock for people. Some authors even discover it moves them towards developing better writing skills over time.

Roadblock 2: Who is my Audience? Road block 2 oftentimes lurks at the crux of Roadblock 1. However many of us never learned (or in deference to our English teachers don’t remember learning) about audience. Without this understanding, it is very difficult to have a clear view of who we are writing for in our literary eye while we write. However, this trick works wonders for many people with whom I have shared it: when you sit down to work on your writing, close your eyes for a minute and imagine your readers sitting in chairs in front of you. Perhaps they are gathered for an afternoon at the neighborhood coffee shop and are eager to talk about your newest book. Now, in your mind’s eye, visualize them sitting to the left of your computer screen; imagine a few of them in detail: their clothes, facial expressions, posture… Now with them clearly in “sight,” start writing to them as if you were telling them the story. I have seen many roadblocks fly out of the way with this technique. Triumph!

Roadblock 3. No idea where to start. Have you even been stuck at the beginning? You just can’t find the correct first scene, the opening line is just not the right one, or you need a whiz-bang hook to grab your readers’ attention. However, regardless of how long you stare forlornly at a blank screen, you just cannot find the correct phrase or hook. No matter how long you try, or how many pages you delete; it just is not to be found today, yesterday, or last week. You are not road blocked; this is deadlock roadblock. The good news is what somebody forgot to tell you: Skip the beginning! In fact many of experienced authors find the best beginning after having written the conclusion of the book. That approach seems backwards, but it makes sense if you think about. Free yourself from the chains of first paragraph paralysis by beginning on the second paragraph, page, or chapter. Begin wherever your strong point is. This section of the book is clear in your mind’s eye. Go there! Let the writing juices begin to flow and you will be fired up to take on the world of the word!

Roadblock 4: Lost: I don’t know where I am going. Sometimes authors feel like they need a literary GPS to help them find their direction through their own words. Great news: you recognized that you were lost! Just imagine your poor readers otherwise! They did not write the book; how much worse it would have been for them if the words had meandered chapter by chapter aimlessly? You saved them and now the solution is what our 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were telling us and we did not believe. After 3 books I finally believed them and will pass this gem onto you so you do not have to wait so long: use an outline. I do not mean be shackled and bound to every word of the outline, but use an outline as your guide, framework, and structure for your literary work. When you need to change something substantially in the outline, add or delete it, and make sure it fits consistently and fluidly. However, keep referring to the outline during your writing and editing to stay on track, and in the flow of the manuscript. Your readers will have a much clearer picture of where you, and they, are headed.

Roadblock 5: Literary Laryngitis. “But Kathy,” you say “I lost my voice!” Sometimes when people get deeply invested in the details of their writing, it can become disjointed and it does not sound like one voice any longer. This lack of voice might develop because you are referring to many facts, figures, quotes, or diagrams, you wrote sections of the book in different sittings far separated in time, or other reasons. Whatever the reason, you need to get you voice embedded in the text again. One great remedy is to read the section aloud and determine if it sounds like the other sections. If it does not, start revising, heavily. Another is to remove direct quotes that you might be using from other sources and instead paraphrase them. Readers want to hear the current author, not all the other “experts.” They have your article or your book in their hands; therefore, let them hear you!

As these brief successful writing articles continue, I will discuss more ways to discover your voice, become empowered in your writing, and I will suggest new writing techniques. Writing is a wonderful way to share your vision with other people. Thank you for letting me offer some suggestions for making your experience both more enjoyable and more successful.

Off-roading is a sport that is high in adrenaline and adventure, which makes it incredibly risky too, especially if you have never been on an off-road trip before. However, even the most experienced off-roaders were amateurs at one point, and they had to keep some of the essentials of off-roading in mind to make their experience thrilling as well as safe.

If you want to pursue off-roading, you need to pay mind to those essentials as well, some of which are listed below!

A 4×4 in Top Condition

Your average everyday car would not stand a chance against off-road environments, so you definitely need to invest in a vehicle that is rugged enough to take to the trails of the off-roading world. 4x4s are the most preferred choices for off-roading, and if you already own one, you need to ensure that it is in the best possible condition before your first off-road experience. Have it thoroughly checked by professionals, and get all its problems fixed. You should also invest in specialized off-road equipment such as high-end shock absorbers, off-road tires, and lights.

Invest in Protective Accessories

4x4s are really strong vehicles. But even the strongest of vehicles are prone to damage, especially on unpredictable off-road trails. In order to reduce the damage your 4×4 sustains, you should invest in accessories that protect your vehicle not just from the outside, but from the inside too. Some of the most popular protective accessories include aftermarket bumpers that protect the exterior from impact, and snorkels, which provide protection when you need to navigate through the deep water.

Don’t Forget the First-Aid Kit

Off-road trails tend to be located in remote areas, which are many miles away from any medical establishments. So, before you head out on a multi-day off-roading adventure, you need to assess your fitness levels. Irrespective of your health, you should always carry a first-aid kit. Due to the unpredictable nature of off-road trails and the stress involved, a lot of people experience health problems. In such situations, a first-aid kit becomes your best friend. Ready the kit with emergency medical supplies, and keep it in an easily accessible part of the car.

Inspect the Trail First

You might have settled for one of the easier trails for your first off-road experience. However, you still need to know as much as you can about the trail before you set off. The best ways to assess a trail include talking to off-roaders who have been there before, and of course, going to the trail and familiarizing yourself with not just the road, but the weather conditions as well.

Carry a Loud Whistle

You can’t expect mobile connectivity on off-road trails to be as good as it is in the city. If you ever run into a problem where you simply need help, you need some means of reaching out to other people. A good old whistle should be enough to do the trick. A whistle often attracts the attention of locals, and it may be the difference between you getting out of a sticky situation, or getting stuck in one.

Don’t just seek thrills on your first off-roading experience, seek safety too with the tips mentioned above. Buy off-road parts of a jeep to customize your jeep in your own style with skull krushers.

Although road burn or road rash may sound like something comparatively minor when it comes to motorcycle injuries, this type of injury in some cases can be so severe it requires skin grafts. These wounds are often the most severe injuries incurred in the event of a motorcycle accident.

Road burns are severe scrapes and bruises that occur when a biker is either thrown from his or her bike or is dragged. The severity of the injuries typically depends on the force of the crash and the amount of ground the victim encounters. These wounds are not only incredibly painful, but they can also lead to defacing scars, serious infections and the need for reconstructive surgery.

These injuries fall into three categories:

• Avulsion Injuries–these are injuries that result in the stripping away of all layers of the skin. If muscle and fat are visible, the avulsion injury is known as a full thickness wound.

• Compression injuries–these are bruising or crushing injuries which typically occur when a limb becomes caught between the motorcycle and the road.

• Scrapes requiring stitches–these are simply scrapes that are severe enough to require a trip to the emergency room for stitching. These typically will not heal on their own.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and when road rash occurs over a large amount of the body, it can cause internal sickness as well as an incredible vulnerability to infection.

Motorcycle riders concerned with safety will typically wear clothing to protect against these burns-typically tough leather-but a serious accident with a car will usually render this protection useless.

To find out more about motorcycles and road burn, visit the website of the Wisconsin motorcycle accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

Sometimes, we come face to face with a verse in the Bible that we actually don’t want to read, averse that we wish wasn’t there. But we need to hear it, because it’s the truth. When children of God turn their backs on God, nothing can be done about it.

Not a thousand oxen slaughtered to be sacrificed. Even Jesus’ blood that flowed on the cross wasn’t spilled for these people. They had their chance.

26If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment…

This isn’t light music and may you and I never stand in that line at the gates to heaven!

I’ve spoken about my Facebook friends before. They were part of the church; one was even a minister. Somewhere along the way the wheels of their faith came off. They no longer believe.

But instead of walking away and moving in a different direction, they stand on the sidelines and criticize and laugh at the church behind their hands. What a pity. Sometimes I get tears in my eyes and can’t believe that people can say and do what they say and do.

I can hear some people ask why I don’t unfriend them? Because I hope wholeheartedly that one day they will hear or see one of my entries and that it would make them think again. Maybe they will have a moment of comprehension and decide to love their first Truth again.

But, people say, the verse does say that there is no sacrifice that will give them entry into heaven. This is where my naive, childlike faith kicks in – I believe that that when someone will kneel before God, His love is big enough and more than enough to forgive that sinner too.

That’s why I will continue to live as an example of Jesus’ love. I always try to look past their actions and to see the possibly insecure person hiding in the corner. I always wonder if they sometimes say as they lie alone on their beds: “What if there really is a God… “.

This thought drives me to try even harder, because I may be the only ray of light that shines God’s light in that person’s dark life. We must never stop being God’s hands and feet. We must never stop shining God’s light in the dark world.

What a terrible knowledge for any being on earth to know what God’s judgement will be like: 27… and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!

How bad this is! May you and I, our families, friends and all the people we’ve met never have to face that judgement.

Scripture

Hebrews 10:26-31

Reflection

Do you know people who have turned their backs on God?

What can you do to show God to them?

Who can you ask to help you?

Prayer

Our father, my heart aches for the people who’ve turned their backs on You. May my example persuade them to change their minds. May my actions show your love. Maybe, just maybe their minds can turn back to You… Amen.

Road rage help is a good idea whenever the stress of driving to work and other tasks on your daily to do list becomes an anger filled ordeal for you and your family. Stop and go traffic can be frustrating on a good day. When it leads to aggressive driving patterns that risk your life and the lives of others or elevated blood pressure combined with angry outbursts then it is time to take action.

Road Rage in the Headlines

There have been many instances in recent years where road rage help before the problem become overwhelming would have been a wise course of action. Don’t let the anger or feelings of frustration become too much for you to handle. The headlines generally only stress situations where road rage got out of hand and someone harmed other people as a result of that road rage.

The truth of the matter is that not getting the road rage help you need can have a negative impact on your personal health. Stress is a leading cause of many health conditions that end lives early. Road rage help can help you fix the problem before it takes a toll on your health in addition to your mental well being.

Road Rage Help Prevents Health Related Problems From Arising

The following health related problems can often be prevented by seeking road rage help sooner rather than later:

• Stress Related Obesity
• Excessive Fatigue
• Heartburn
• Acid Reflux Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Headaches
• Sexual Impotence
• Infertility
• Hair Loss
• Premature Aging

That is just the short list of problems that can arise of you don’t get the road rage help you need. If you think you might need road rage help now is the best time to get that help, before it takes a toll on every aspect of your life. If you are already feeling some of these effects, getting the road rage help and stress relief therapies you need can lead to the recovery of your good health without costly medical treatments.

NLP and Road Rage Help

Anger is a healthy fact of life. When that anger becomes a driving force in your life or leads to aggressive behavior it is time to find relief. Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP for short, can be the perfect tool for learning to manage that fury and find the road rage help you need in order to lead a healthier and more productive life. No day is going to go great when you begin the day driven by the fury of stop and go traffic. NLP teaches you how to let go of the anger of the moment and put your mind in control of the situation.

You may not be able to control the rate at which traffic flows or the responsibility of other drivers on the road but you can take back control of your reactions to these things. Aren’t you ready to stop feeling angry and get the road rage help you need?

Our family has been making bi-annual trips to the Colorado River for as long as I can remember. Tradition dictates that we go to the same place, a sand bar about a mile up river from Picacho on the California side. Picacho, a former mining town, is about 18 miles north of Winterhaven. Getting there requires taking the infamous Picacho Road. It’s a long, ruddy dirt road that weeds out all but the heartiest of campers. It’s a test of your vehicle as well as your nerves.

There is shorter way to get to Picacho from the west on a road called the Hyduke Mine Road. My brother John and I heard about it from a former trucker, who said he’d used it to bypass the Interstate 8 agricultural inspection station. We figured that if a trucker could do the Hyduke Mine Road, then so could we.

Our vehicle was a Chevrolet Caprice Classic; a cop car. John was driving, his future wife rode shotgun, and my girlfriend and I were sitting in the back. We assured them that this was the best way to go. The Hyduke Mine Road starts off of Ogilby Road and after about 16 miles it connects to the Picacho Road just 5 miles south of Picacho. While on Ogilby Road we saw the sign for the Hyduke written on a piece of wood and staked into the ground. We pulled onto the trailhead and assessed the situation.

To the east of us was Picacho Peak, a prominent Butte jetting out of the desert which can be seen for 100 miles on clear days. According to the map, all we had to do was keep heading towards it and pass on it’s north side. How could we get lost with such a prominent feature to navigate by?

Within the first 8 miles we encountered only a few obstacles. We crossed numerous dry washes and plowed up a few sandy embankments. These things were good for a laugh and instilled in us some confidence that this was going to be a cinch. All the while we headed for Picacho Peak. I felt a little uneasy since we hadn’t seen a soul and we were now at the midway point. 8 miles of walking in either direction would be required should there be problems with the car. On this day the temperature was about 95 degrees. We had the windows rolled up, air conditioning blasting out the cold and Van Helen tunes cranking all the while.

At this point we encountered difficulties in rapid succession. The car’s check engine light came on and drew John’s attention to the temperature gage approaching the red zone. John knew just what to do. He ordered us to roll down the windows and cranked the heater to full blast. As crazy as it seemed, shutting off the air conditioning and running the heater provided the additional cooling effort necessary for the engine to not overheat and thus leave us stranded in the desert. Grumbling passengers aside, this was a prudent move.

We came across an area where the road was washed out by a wide stream. The stream bed was now dry but the road on the other side was 24″ higher than the stream bed. “We can’t climb up that” was what we were all thinking. Out came the military shovel and a level of ingenuity that only desperation can muster. Within a half hour we’d built a ramp out of sand and rocks. John and I carefully studied the situation and decided we’d need momentum, timing, and perfect tire placement. After agreeing on the plan, John jumped in the car, gave the obligatory thumbs up, and slammed on the gas. I can still see the event so perfectly in my mind. John’s car hit the ramp and the front end made it up the bank just as planned. The rear tires rolled halfway up the ramp and the tires began to spin. The spinning tires inched up the rest of the way and finally grabbed hold, launching the car up onto the road and tearing off its muffler. After a roaring applause, pats on the back and a sigh of relief, we all jumped in the car and sped on.

Up till this point, we always had Picacho Peak in sight. This aided navigation and provided assurance to the womenfolk who’d begun to lose faith in our plan. As we headed into the foothills of the Chocolate Mountains the peak fell out of sight. Our spirits sank along with it. John and I attempted to pacify the ladies by reminding them that we carried with us camping provisions for a whole weekend. Under the worst case scenario we would simply have to camp, which is what we came out here to do anyhow. Neither of us dared point out that water, our most necessary commodity, was already running out.

We came across a deep pond with a soggy earthen dam on the south side. The road passed over the dam which was only just wide enough for the car to pass. I got out of the car to spot John as he drove over it. On his right ride was a shear drop off, on his left was this pond which slowly leaked over the dam and under his tires. It seemed that as he passed over it, the dam crumbled, the tires slipped, and ever more water began to fall over the dam. After he crossed we had the impression that we could never go back over it again. No one could, for that matter.

Later we came to a fork in the road and decided to take the left since it seemed to be more traveled. We continued on for a half mile as the road turned to thick sand. John gave it gas enough to continue on. Soon we came upon a cul-de-sac, a dead end with the thickest sand we’d seen yet. I imagined this is where we’d be forced to camp that night. Here I think is where John’s 4 wheeling instincts first manifested themselves. John slammed on the gas and whirled the car around this dead end in the widest allowable arc he could. The tires slowed and began to slip but the car continued to move forward. The car’s speed gradually increased and soon we were back at the fork. This time we made the right decision.

Stopping for a rest I took stock of our situation. I realized this was a road for 4×4 vehicles. Not cop cars. In 2 hours we’d made it about 12 miles. We lost sight of our point of reference. Each of us was sweating, dirty, and embittered. We’d long since stripped down the least layer of clothing that decency allows. The secret of the water supply was now public knowledge. The car was running poorly because the muffler was torn off. This hurt our ears because we had the windows rolled down. We couldn’t roll them up since we were in the desert with the heater running. Of course, we did this because the car was overheating, and so on. By this time, John and I felt we were way beyond the point of no return. The ladies on the other hand saw every bump and turn as a sign that we should turn back. Our stubborn refusal to turn back led to hurtful accusations and a “them vs. us” mentality which lingered well beyond the completion of the Hyduke Mine Road.

Late in the afternoon we crested a hill and took in the sight of the Picacho Peak on our right. It was close so we knew we didn’t have far to go. Proceeding down the hill we entered into White Wash. We continued on in this wash at about 30 miles per hour daring not to slow down or even turn sharply for fear of digging in and getting stuck. After some scary points where we slowed to a crawl we were within sight of the Picacho Road. We saw that the road was flanked by sand berms used to keep drainage from flowing into the road. John didn’t even consider slowing down. He hit the 2′ sand berm at full speed, smashing his way over it and onto the Picacho Road.

Our misadventure was over. We found our way to Picacho and jumped into the Colorado River to cool off.