After having my motorcycle crash in 2008 my quality of any physical active life has all but come to an end. I have had several knee operations, physical therapy, and just finished up my rehab from June-October at Physical Medicine of the Carolinas in Kernersville, NC which has been a great help. I did learn a lot about my knees and wanted to share this with every that has knee problems.
Synovial fluid makes up about 80% of the volume of cartilage, and this fluid is needed to support weight and lubricate joint surfaces. When less synovial fluid is present in cartilage, it can result in a reduction in cartilage thickness and an increase in friction, bone degradation, and joint pain. Researchers found synovial fluid naturally leaks out of cartilage but is reabsorbed with motion. Their finding suggests increased movement/exercise can benefit joint health by stimulating the cartilage to reabsorb synovial fluid, thus lubricating the joint.
American Vacuum Society (AVS) 62nd Symposium, October 2015
Chiropractors have long suggested their approach to managing spinal pain is less costly than traditional medical treatment. A new study suggests they may be correct. A systematic research review comparing costs for patients with spinal pain who received chiropractic care and care from other healthcare providers revealed that overall healthcare costs were lower for those who received chiropractic treatment.
A first-of-its-kind study finds an average of 23,000 people visit the emergency room (ER) each year due to harm caused by dietary supplements.
According to investigators, supplements for weight loss and energy are the most dangerous, and heart issues were the most common problem with those types of supplements.
Study leader Dr. Andrew Geller writes, "People may not realize that dietary supplements can cause… adverse events, but every year thousands of Americans are treated in emergency rooms for symptoms attributed to dietary supplements." However, Dr. Duffy Mackay, the senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, points out that over 150 million Americans take dietary supplements each year, which means less than one-tenth of one percent of supplement users will visit the ER due to supplement use.
New England Journal of Medicine, October 2015
How Are Fibromyalgia Exercises Different?
For some people, fibromyalgia (FM) can make life miserable. In some cases, it can be so bad a person will spend the majority of the day in bed! When FM is this intense, exercises MUST be tailored accordingly – like starting out with exercises that can be done in bed! Initially, you may only be able to exercise for one to two minutes, but slowly, your tolerance will improve! Here are some “steps” that one may consider for implementing exercise into the FM sufferer’s lifestyle.
STEP 1: POSITIVE ATTITUDE: It’s easier said than done to have a “positive attitude” about anything, much less exercise when FM has its grip on you! In fact, depression is a BIG problem with most FM patients. Both studies and experience have shown that exercise is one of the most effective ways to treat FM. This is because exercise benefits ALL of our bodily functions from the brain to the heart, lungs, muscle/joints, and gut! It even benefits symptoms like fatigue, depression, and sleep problems. It helps bone density, improves balance, increases strength, controls weight, and reduces stress! As one FM patient said, “…this may be the last thing you feel like doing, but you have to believe that it really does help.”
STEP 2: START SLOWLY: Just like training for a marathon, you DON’T begin with a ten-mile run! You have to increase the distance and pace gradually. With FM, a person needs to steadily work into exercise because the post-exercise pain (that you should expect initially) may scare them away from continuing and/or make them even more hesitant about trying it again. Consider an initial one-to-two minute routine and gradually add more time and distance to that, ramping up the intensity and duration of exercise over time! Remember, it may take 15 weeks to reach a 30-minute goal of treadmill walking, elliptical use, or swimming. Consider taking stairs, doing household chores, grocery shopping, and gardening/yard work as part of your fitness routine. It doesn’t have to be a formal exercise program!
STEP 3: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY: Even if you were very active before FM entered your life, you must learn not push it beyond the “reasonable boundaries” of your usual activity tolerance. Take breaks when necessary and closely monitor how you feel. Your goal is to AVOID FRUSTRATION by NOT over-exercising! Keep track of what you do and how you feel so that you can refer back to such information when needed.
STEP 4: EXERCISE DAILY: Make it a point to walk. Walk the dog (or your neighbor’s), take the stairs, park further away from stores, and INCLUDE these activities as part of your workout! When you say, “I worked out today,” you don’t have to explain yourself to everyone! Consider cycling, walking/running, low-impact yoga or Palates classes, or light weight-lifting. A local gym or class may be a perfect match for what you are looking for!
STEP 5: MODIFY THE WORKOUT: Mix it up so it’s not boring! Figure out when you feel best and exercise then. For many FM patients, this is between 10am and 3pm. Include some stretches, balance tasks, vary the stride and/or speed, ease into strength training, pace yourself, and rest when needed.
STEP 6: BE PATIENT: This cannot be overemphasized as it’s easy to get frustrated. It can take up to six months before the FM patient may start to feel a change in their symptoms! Patiently work towards realistic goals – Exercise is the #1 best long-term FM treatment method!
Cranberry Juice May Protect Heart.
Photo Caption: Ray Publishing
Researchers have discovered a potent, dose-dependent relationship between cranberry juice and improved vascular function, which appears to indicate drinking cranberry juice may help protect against cardiovascular disease. Principal investigator Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos comments, "Our results lay the groundwork to better understand the array of potential vascular and cardiovascular health benefits of cranberry polyphenols. Significant improvements in vascular function from drinking two cups of cranberry juice suggest an important role for cranberries in a heart-healthy diet."
Cranberry Health Research Conference, October 2015
Mental Attitude: Men are More Forgetful than Women.
Researchers asked 37,504 men and women ages 30 and up nine questions about their memory and found that regardless of age, men tend to be more forgetful than women. The reason for this gender difference is unknown but researchers speculate that health problems that are more prevalent in men, such as high blood pressure and a high body-mass index, may trigger some forms of neurodegeneration.
BMC Psychology, October 2013
Health Alert: You're at Risk if Your Spouse Has Type 2 Diabetes.
A review data on nearly 75,000 couples concludes that spouses of type 2 diabetics have a 26% increased risk for also developing the disease. The increase in risk may be related to lifestyle factors that couples may share such as a poor diet or lack of exercise.
BMC Medicine, January 2014
Diet: Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Build a Better Brain?
A new study involving rhesus macaque monkeys finds that monkeys that consume a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids over the course of their lives have better developed, more connected brains. The specific omega-3 fatty acid involved in the study was docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is more commonly found in fish and oils derived from fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna.
Journal of Neuroscience, February 2014
Exercise: High-Intensity Strength Training Helps Parkinson's Patients.
According to new research, high-intensity strength training can produce significant improvements in quality of life, mood, and motor function in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Fifteen individuals with moderate Parkinson’s disease participated in high-intensity resistance training and interval training for 16 weeks. Lead author Dr. Marcas Bamman explains that they saw expected improvements such as increased strength, muscle size, and power but also improvements in balance, muscle control, cognition, mood, and a greater sense of well-being.
Journal of Applied Physiology, January 2014
Chiropractic: Recommended for Neck Pain.
A past study comparing manual therapy, physical therapy, and continued care with a general practitioner for the treatment of neck pain came to the conclusion that manual therapy is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or care by a general practitioner.
Annals of Internal Medicine, May 2002
Wellness/Prevention: Melatonin May Lower Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk.
Risk for developing advanced prostate cancer. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland during sleep. Individuals who have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, have erratic sleep schedules, or who take sleep medications may have lower melatonin levels.
American Association for Cancer Research, January 2014
Heather Hills was the first place that I ever attempted to play golf. I had bought a mixed set of clubs from my friend Kurt Myers brother in-law Brent Russell. I had know idea what I was doing and had only been to a driving range a few times at Myrtle Beach. So off to the golf course I went with my brother in-law Jim Giles and I think Eric Giles his son. To make a long story short I shot 110 and think I lost 4 or 5 balls that has been around 12 years ago and still trying to play. Heather Hills has had its ups and downs since then and I can say that the new owners have really turned this little Executive Golf Course around.
On a spot of land alongside Ebert Road, the weeds grew tall. In some spots, they were up to a grown man’s waist. Underneath the weeds, the ground was all squish-squash, soaked from rain that settled and never evaporated. Five years’ worth of storms knocked limbs and leaves into the weeds and slop. If you looked at it, you had to wonder: What else was down in that mess?
Golf stories, that’s what. Thirty years of putts that lipped out, chips that hit the stick and fell, a few hole-in-ones, and all other sorts of memories created through the game.
Of course, people who’d been around golf in this city knew what was underneath the mess. They knew that from 1973 to about 2007, Heather Hills was a delightful little course, consisting of all par-4s and par-3s. It was known as an "executive course," one of the few of its kind in the state; not a par-3 course, but not a full-length course, either. The total par was 60. Children learned to play there because it was short enough to mess up.
Top golfers honed their skills there because it was tough enough to challenge them. And seniors finished their careers there because it was simple enough to not hurt old bones.
It was a special place. But in 2007, the owner and founder, Gene Doub, ran into some health problems and couldn’t run the course anymore. So he let it go. For the next four years, those weeds along Ebert Road grew.
David Hagie saw promise. The local businessman bought the small course from Doub and put some people to work. He put his son, Brandon, in charge of the property. Brandon knew he’d need a knowledgable superintendent to turn the grass back into shape.
In early 2012, Brandon Hagie found another Winston-Salem native, Dustin Jennings, who had spent the previous year working for the Washington Nationals’ grounds crew in Washington, D.C. Before that, he’d gone to turf school in Pinehurst and worked at a course there. Needless to say, he knew about grass.
So Jennings went out to the weeds in early 2012 to try and make Heather Hills a golf course again. "When I first saw it … you couldn’t tell where greens used to be and where tee boxes used to be," Jennings says. "It was all just a muddy mess. It looked like the place flooded and then whatever could grow here just grew. It was pretty much a jungle."
The Hagies and Jennings and Calvin Harris, a consultant, hit plenty of problems along the way. They underestimated the damage that had been done in the dormant phase. So they had to replace the irrigation system and totally overhaul the greens. They turned the old bentgrass up and laid down diamond zoysia—a grass much more resistant to heat and moisture. They also redid the clubhouse and renovated the popular tavern.
"There’s really no rhyme or reason to rebuilding a golf course," Jennings says. "You just do what you can. Whatever needed to be done; you chip away at it a little at a time."
Now officially reopened, Heather Hills has retained much of its neighborly vibe. A variety of townhomes and condos scatter along the edges of the course, while the sounds of barking dogs and smells of barbecue grills add to the backyard charm.
There’s a distinct suburban buzz along the front nine, as players tee off next to busy Ebert Road and walk underneath a set of power lines. The scenery is much calmer on the back nine, thanks to the rolling terrain and rushing waters of Salem Creek. The par 60 course now features six par-4 holes and the rest are par-3s with distances ranging from 96 to 323 yards.
All in all, it’s a welcome sight for those living in the area—many of whom purchased houses here because of the proximity to the golf course. When it became overgrown, their values went down. Now, they have hope of a rebound.
"I think it’s very important," Brandon Hagie says of the course’s place in the area. "It gives people a place to go play golf, especially for the elderly and the women, it’s not as long from a distance standpoint.
"But it also helps this community a ton. We get thank yous all the time from people who live around here."
See more pictures of Heather Hills as it was being renovated. Click here
Winter Hours
Opening @ 9:00am
Closing @ 5:00pm
Come & get your gift certificates today!
*We have a Bunny Hop every Sunday. Tee off is at 1:00pm. Please sign up or call no later than 11:00 am on Sunday morning.
*Heather Hill Residents-Show proof of residence and get $2 OFF!
Café
Monday-Sunday 11am-5:00 pm
We have Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Cheese, Bologna Sandwich, and French Fries.
Not everyone make's new year resolutions, but I'm trying to start off the new year on the right direction. I've been doing a lot of reading/research on trying to make myself healthier. After all I owe to not only myself but to my family. I want to be around to see my grandkids grow-up and see their kids too. We all get older and can't always do the things we once did. I consider myself an old school kind of guy.
From as early as I remember (around age 3) I have always been active or as my mom and dad said hyperactive. We lived at the end of a dead end road with nothing but woods and don't think I ever remember being inside except to eat of sleep and watch the Betty Feezor Show with mom.
Some of the old timers might remember or have heard of her. She was TV Homemaker who appeared on local TV channel 2 for close to a quarter of a century, over 5000 shows. The vast majority of her shows are lost because they were broadcast live and apparently WBTV did not make recordings.
Mamma loved to cook and she was still walking around 3 miles a day before she broke her hips. I would run and she would walk. She was in her late 70's then, so I think I inherited most my drive from the Couch side of the family. I was into about everything growing-up. Baseball, Football, Running, Karate, Motorcross Racing, Tennis etc. I can't even remember learning to drive a bicycle. Mom told me onetime that I was riding my brothers bicycle around 4 years old with no training wheels.
But kids and people have changed. Seems like everyones thumbs are getting more exercise, with all the Facebook, Twitter and Texting. We are getting inactive and it can leave to health problems as well as mental issues like depression etc. So here is a few tips that I have been reading up on and wanted to share the info with you. Hope you enjoy reading the tips. And if you like the read please LIKE & SHARE on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/raypublishing
May you and your family, friends have a blessed NEW YEAR! ~Scott @ Ray Publishing
Wellness/Prevention
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.
Experts in the United Kingdom (UK) estimate that if everyone over the age of 50 simply ate one apple each day, this act alone would prevent about 8,500 vascular-related deaths each year. Previous studies estimate that prescribing statins to all adults over 50 years old could prevent a similar amount of vascular-related deaths annually but the mass prescription of statins in the UK could also result in an extra 10,000 diagnoses of diabetes and an extra thousand cases of muscle disease. The study did not note any potential negative effects from mass apple consumption.
Vitamin D Decreases Pain and Depression in Women with Type 2 Diabetes.
A new study has revealed that vitamin D supplementation can reduce both pain and depression in type 2 diabetic women. The participants in the study took 50,000 IUs of vitamin D2 per week for six months. By the end of the study, researchers noted a significant decrease in depression and a reduction in pain for women who also suffered neuropathic and/or sensory pain.
Sing Your Way to Happiness by Joining a Choir.
A new online survey of 400 people who either sing in a choir, sing alone, or play on a sports team found that mental well-being is higher among those who sing in a choir. Furthermore, choir members in the survey regarded their choir as a more meaningful social group than how athletes viewed their sports team. Study author Dr. Nick Stewart adds, "These findings suggest that the experience of using your voice to make music may be enhanced when you feel part of a cohesive social group." Mental Attitude
Link Found Between Heart Disease and Dementia in Postmenopausal Women.
A German study that included 6,500 elderly women found that those with heart disease were nearly 30% more likely to suffer from cognitive decline. Of the women with heart disease, those who had a heart attack were twice as likely to experience cognitive decline as those who had not had a heart attack. According to lead author Dr. Bernhard Haring, "Women with heart disease -- in particular women who have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or carotid endarterectomy -- should be monitored by their doctors for potential cognitive decline… It is also very important to adequately manage heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes."
Good News Regarding Dementia.
Several recent studies show that the rate of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease is declining due to increased education and improvements in both health care (treatment of key cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol) and lifestyle (regular exercise).
Anxiety Linked to Stroke Risk!
Using 22 years worth of data on over 6,000 people, researchers have linked anxiety to stroke risk. According to the data, people with above average levels of anxiety were 33% more likely to suffer a stroke than their peers with the lowest levels of anxiety. People with high anxiety levels tend to be sedentary and smoke, both of which are risk factors for stroke. Stroke is the number four killer and the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Smartphone Usage Linked to Lower Grades and Higher Anxiety.
Based on data provided by over 500 college students, researchers at Kent State University in Ohio note that students who spend the most time using their smartphones tend to have lower grades and higher anxiety levels than their peers who spend the least time on their mobile devices.
Health Alerts
Don’t Mix Your Drinks!
A growing trend among young adults is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Research has shown that college students tend to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they consume a combination of energy drinks and alcohol than on days when they only drink alcohol. While the United States no longer permits manufacturers to premix high-caffeine products with alcohol, mixed drinks such as vodka and Red Bulls are becoming more popular. The public health implications include physical risks to individuals from blacking out, alcohol poisoning, and even exposing the community to dangerous situations in which young adults may be "wide awake drunk" after a night of partying.
Sleep Deprivation's Effect on Aging Bodies is Similar to Diabetes.
A new study finds that sleep deprivation affects blood sugar homeostasis in elderly mice in a manner similar to type 2 diabetes. If this finding translates to humans, it provides another reason for aging adults to get adequate rest.
Risks for First-Time Mothers Start at Age 30.
New research suggests that pregnancy risk begins much earlier than once thought. According to the available data, first-time mothers between the ages of 30 and 34 have a higher risk of giving birth to a premature or stillborn baby than younger first-time mothers. Lead study author Dr. Ulla Waldenström adds, "For women individually, the risk is small, but for society at large, there will be a significant number of 'unnecessary' complications with so many women having children just after 30. It would therefore be advisable to inform both women and men, even at schools, of how important age is to childbirth."
Diet
Eating Tomatoes May Help Prevent Breast Cancer!
For postmenopausal women, their risk for developing breast cancer rises as their body mass index (BMI) increases. A 10-week study involving 70 postmenopausal women found that consuming tomatoes and tomato-based products containing at least 25 mg of lycopene each day increased levels of the hormone adiponectin by 9%. Adiponectin helps regulate blood sugar and fat levels, which in turn, could help women achieve and maintain a more healthy BMI score, thus decreasing their risk for breast cancer. According to study author Dr. Adana Llanos, "Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits. Based on this data, we believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population."
Eating Fiber Lowers Heart Risk!
After analyzing 22 previous studies, researchers conclude that a diet high in fiber lowers a person's risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease with significant risk reduction increases for every 7 grams of fiber consumer per day. Dr. Robert Baron, professor of Medicine at the University of California, adds, "[Eating more fiber] may turn out to be the most important nutrition recommendation of them all."
Compound in Grape Seed Extract Kills Cancer Cells.
Investigators suggest that a naturally occurring compound found in grape seed extract, called B2G2, can kill prostate cancer cells. In a lab setting, B2G2 was observed to induce cancer cell death, known as apoptosis. Study author Dr. Alpna Tyagi writes, "We've shown similar anti-cancer activity in the past with grape seed extract, but now we know B2G2 is its most biologically active ingredient, which can be synthesized in quantities that will allow us to study the detailed death mechanism in cancer cells."
Oral Spray May Aid in Weight Loss.
Peptide YY is a hormone released by the gut after eating that tells the body it's full. Previous studies have found that injecting the hormone into the bloodstream reproduced the fullness effect but led to unwanted side-effects, such as vomiting. Now, researchers at the University of Florida's College of Medicine claim that delivering peptide YY through an oral mouth spray just thirty minutes before a meal helps the body feel satiated without inducing vomit. This could potentially lead to a new tool for helping people eat smaller meals as part of a weight loss plan.
FDA to Phase Out Antibiotics in Livestock.
In an effort to combat growing antibiotic resistance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced it will take steps to phase out the non-medical use of antibiotics in animals used for food production.
Exercise High-Tech Athletic Shoe Can Improve Performance and Prevent Injury.
Researchers have developed specialized running shoes that use sensors and microelectronics integrated into the sole to measure a runner's biomechanical data. The data can be transmitted to a smartphone to give the runner immediate feedback on training performance while also providing suggestions on improving his/her form and training routine. According to Dr. Andreas Heinig, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, "The app could recommend running more slowly, for example, or rolling off the foot differently, suggest seeking a different running surface or stopping if necessary."
Boost Your Energy Naturally.
Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to devote to daily life activities.
Exercise Video Games Can Help Diabetics.
According to a new study, type 2 diabetics who played exercise-focused video games showed greater control of their blood glucose levels compared with diabetics who received routine care. Those who played the video game (Wii Fit Plus, in this case) also lost more weight. Senior study author Dr. Stephan Martin adds, "Given the positive attitudes of the participants and the limited restrictions for gaming at home, exercise games may potentially be used in a home setting as a tool to reduce inactive behavior in people with Type 2 diabetes."
Exercise May Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking.
A recent study conducted at Western University in Ontario, Canada finds that just 15-20 minutes of walking at a moderate pace is enough to curb tobacco cravings in pregnant smokers by as much as 30%. Participants reported that exercise also decreased restlessness, irritability, tension, and depression. Recent statistics show 19% of Canadian women ages 20-24 smoked while pregnant. According to study author Dr. Harry Prapavessis, "Smoking during pregnancy is common, and quitting at any point during pregnancy can yield benefits to both the fetus and the mother… Once you quit smoking, withdrawal symptoms typically follow and a strong desire to smoke returns. These factors both contribute to a high number of relapses. We believe regular exercise can help reduce the number of relapses."
Confront anxiety with confidence
Although most people are not phobic, almost everyone has to struggle against worry, which is a form of fear. Our age is the era of anxiety. Everyone experiences some anxiety, and it can be a useful emotion when it triggers us to act to avoid danger. But, if it impacts our life seriously, we must take action to overcome it. "Every anxiety sufferer must learn new ways of thinking and develop methods for changing their former thinking patterns".The Bible verifies that this kind of thinking is essential, telling us to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23).
How do we do this? One anxiety-reducing technique is to cleanse your mind at day's end. Evening is "a good time to do a 'mental wash' when you review anxieties that are cluttering your thinking and dump those that are not important".
The Bible confirms that this is sound advice in a passage that tells us what to do at day's end. "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4).
Sometimes anxieties relate to meeting our basic needs. Jesus said, "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'" Jesus also recommended a cure for these worries: ". Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:31, 33, New American Standard Bible). The point is that, when our priorities conform to God's will, we can live in confidence that He will help us meet our other needs.
A relationship with God is fundamental to overcoming our fears. The Bible exhorts: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5), and, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (4:13). The only way we can develop the mind of Christ is to first repent of ignoring God's biblical instructions, then be baptized and receive God's Spirit (Acts 2:38). In doing so we can cleanse our minds and develop new mental habits. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
The healing power of humor
As simple as it sounds, the ability to laugh is an aid to mental health. Joy is akin to laughter, and it, too, is part of the fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" (Proverbs 15:13), and "a merry heart does good, like medicine" (17:22).
Humor triggers literal physiological and mental changes in your body. Laughter "touches us at a deep emotional and physical level ... By its very nature it changes our perception and invites us to look at things in a different light. It shows us that life can be silly, even crazy at times, but it still can be enjoyable". One doctor notes that "humor, smiles, and laughter are the very best stress-busters" (Herbert Benson, M.D., Timeless Healing, 1996, p. 277).
A relationship with God provides the deepest and most-abiding joy. "The Bible has much to say about the joy, the sheer happiness, of the redeemed ..." ( The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1982, "Humor in the Bible"). In one study of more than 500 men, "significant associations emerged between the participants' religious involvement and their health ... such as less depression" (Kenneth Cooper, M.D., It's Better to Believe, p. 5).
Physical activity such as gardening, walking and other regular exercise can also benefit your mental health.
I love Christmas! I love everything about it. I love the decorations, the gifts, the food, the fun, the time with family, the laughter, the cooking. I love it all! For me, Christmas is a precious time of the year. Yet it occurs to me that Christmas is not a happy time for everyone. Many are alone, having to do without necessities (let alone luxuries), missing a loved one for the first time, or not in a place within themselves to celebrate anything. For some, Christmas is a struggle.
I know that my enjoyment is temporal. It doesn’t last forever. A time will come when the festivities will come to an end, the decorations will be put away, the food will eventually diminish and we will return home from spending precious time with our families. My happiness will dwindle with the ending of the festivities.
Yet, the joy of Christmas is free for us all and is eternal. It’s the joy of the knowledge that God Himself entered our world to meet with us and to save us. He came to us as a baby – vulnerable, shamed by the gossip surrounding His very existence, His life under threat by those who feared for their position in life. Our God came down to this and was born into the dirt and squalour of a stable. He wasn’t born into a clean, safe environment. His first hours were hours of dirt, mess and fear. He entered our dirty, messy, fearful world to save us from the grip of the enemy. He came because He loves us and wants to draw us back to Himself.
This is the Christmas joy we can all celebrate. This isn’t temporal, it’s eternal. It will last forever. My prayer this Christmas time is that we all find that joy – a joy that deepens as we look to our Saviour and celebrate all that He has done for us. If you’re struggling with Christmas this year, I pray this unfathomable joy will be your strength. For those of us who have much to enjoy, I pray that you won’t lost sight of the deep joy that surpasses our understanding.
Prayer: What can we say to our Saviour who came to this earth to save us? Thank You does not seem enough but it’s all we have. Help us, Lord, to know the joy that is ours for free and is eternal, and help us not to lose sight of this truth as we celebrate your birth. We especially pray for those who are struggling this Christmas time. May You give each one of us the only gift that matters this year: may Your love penetrate our hearts in a deep and precious way. Amen.
Dating back to Rome in 330 AD, the Christian holiday of Christmas is one of the oldest and most powerful celebrations in human history. Originally celebrated as a simple mass, Christmas has come to replace a number of other holidays in many countries, and a large number of traditions have become a cherished part of the family Christmas celebration.
Why December 25?
From the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass," Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. What's interesting about this is that Jesus was not born on December 25 as many assume. Actually, no one is sure when Jesus was born as the exact date is not mentioned in the Bible. December 25th is just a date picked by the Catholic church to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan festival, Saturnalia.
Mistletoe and Holly
Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, Druids decorated their homes with mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison. Scandinavians also considered the mistletoe to be a special plant, associating it with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. Because of the pagan origins of mistletoe, the early church banned its use in Christmas celebrations, suggesting holly as an appropriate substitute. Holly's sharply pointed leaves were to symbolize the thorns in Christ's crown and the red berries drops of his blood.
Poinsettias
Native to Mexico, poinsettias were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, who brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is the small, yellow cluster found surrounded by bright, colored leaves often mistaken for petals.
O Christmas Tree
One of the most recognizable images of the Christmas season, the Christmas Tree originated in Germany, possibly as early as 700 AD. The Christmas tree as we know it is most commonly credited to Martin Luther, who in 1530 was moved by the sight of stars shining though the forest of firs near his home that he apparently cut a small one and brought it indoors. He then placed lit candles in its boughs as a salute to the star of Bethlehem. By the 1800s, the Christmas tree custom was widespread throughout many parts of Europe, and was brought to America by the Pennsylvania German immigrants in the 1820's. In 1880, Woolworths sold the first manufactured Christmas tree ornaments, and the first electrically lighted Christmas tree appeared in 1882.
Santa Claus - St. Nicholas
The original Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, was born in Turkey during the 4th century. He devoted his life to Christianity and his reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of the miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. Devotion to the legendary St. Nicholas spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and he became the patron saint of Sicily, Russia, Greece, charitable fraternities and guilds, sailors and children. After the Reformation, the legend of St. Nicholas all but disappeared in all Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch knew St. Nicholas as Sinterklaas, which eventually became corrupted in Anglican to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nick" (later published as "The Night Before Christmas"), and is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit.
I Believe I believe that most people are inherently good. I believe, when given a chance, most people will do the right thing. I believe that most Americans will do anything for their families. --- I believe in God the Father Almighty, the maker of the Heavens and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. I believe that he died and on the third day of his death he became alive again so he could wash away the sins with his blood for all who trust and believe in him. I believe you can have eternal life in Heaven.
---
I believe that opportunity is usually disguised as hard work. I believe that the free enterprise system is a gift from God. I believe that the ability to forgive and forget will set you free. I believe that the harder you work, the luckier you get. --- I believe in Liberty.
--- I believe in choosing to be happy. I believe in accepting responsibility for everything that happens to me. I believe that every challenge or obstacle is an opportunity to become a better person. I believe that life can be tough, but at the end of the day, life is what you make of it. --- I believe in my Family.
---
I believe that evil exists. I believe in demons and the devil. That they are the reason that evil and sin exist. I believe it is my responsibility to protect all that is good from all that is bad. I believe in preparing for the worst while expecting the best. I believe in the natural-born and inalienable right to self protection.
--- I believe in myself. --- I believe that a gun cannot be good or bad. It is simply a thing. A tool. I believe that some people cannot be trusted with any type of instrument that can cause harm to anyone or themselves. I believe that the founders of our Country used these tools we call guns to liberate themselves from tyranny.
--- I believe in being peaceful and avoiding conflicts at all costs. I believe in fighting as if the lives of my family depend on it...because they do! --- I believe in the power of prayer. ---
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Film School has been named one of the “Best Film Schools of 2013,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
UNCSA is ranked #12 and is joined by the likes of Columbia, Northwestern and NYU.
The report takes into account alumni work, tuition and strength of facility.
UNCSA was the first state supported school of the arts in the country.
