Schuetz

Reading stretched their lead at the top of the Championship to 12 points with a professional victory over struggling Southampton on Friday evening.

The bookmakers were taking no chances and the Royals were a best-priced 4/9 to win their third match in a row and first half goals from Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle justified that decision. The Saints are now winless in six matches and could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle.

Sheffield United dropped more points with a goalless draw at Plymouth Argyle. Following their 4-1 drubbing at Brammall Lane by Watford in midweek, the Blades were 6/5 to win at Home Park but failed to break down the resolute Pilgrims.

Free scoring Watford hit four goals for the third match running with a crushing victory over Coventry City. Punters will have ploughed into the 5/6 available and the Hornets did not disappoint with goals from Ashley Young, Marlon Kings, Darius Henderson and Jay DeMerit.

Derby's caretaker manager Terry Westley oversaw his second successive goalless draw at the expense of Leeds United. With just two wins in their last five matches Leeds are seeing their chances of automatic promotion fade.

Preston North End extended their unbeaten run to 24 matches with a thumping 5-1 win against floundering Luton Town. Billy Davies side were 8/11 before kick off and found themselves 2-0 up through Lewis Neal and David Nugent. An own goal from Tyrone Mears halved Prestons lead on 82 minutes but he scored at the right end two minutes later. A stoppage time goal from Claude Davis and a penalty from Chris Sedgewick completed the rout.

Cardiff City boosted their play-off hopes with a convincing victory over Stoke City. A rocket from Kevin Cooper gave the 4/5 Bluebirds the lead after 18 minutes and further goals from veteran defender Neil Cox sealed the points.

Gary Waddock celebrated his first match in charge as QPR caretaker manager with a 1-0 win against struggling Millwall. Marc Nygaards goal after 56 minutes secured a 20/21 win but Millwall are now seven points from safety.

Leicester City recorded their third win under caretaker boss Rob Kelly as they edged away further from the relegation zone at the expense of third-from-bottom Brighton & Hove Albion. The Foxes, 9/5 before kick off, found themselves 2-0 ahead through Patrick McCarthy and Iain Hume before midfielder Alexandre Frutos pulled a goal back for Brighton.

Nicely decorated gift baskets or flowers can significantly brighten up any space. Moreover a gift basket or a bunch of flowers or even a basket full of flowers is the perfect gift in many occasions. It doesnt take a lot of time nor money to create and enjoy the beauty of such a thing.

Gift baskets are generally are generally given on a special occasion or as a gesture of gratitude or respect. They are popular both as personal and business gifts. A gift basket intended for a gift can contain almost anything from special selection of wines to personal care products such as body lotions and soaps. If you are looking for the perfect present for a family member, partner, close friend, co-worker, go for a gift basket. Since the gift baskets range is so big, it should be difficult to find the one that is perfect for both the person and the occasion. You can make instead of buying. Creating a gift basket may not be cheaper but it will definitely make much more personalized present.

Flowers are another well known and popular gift. They show much more than simple appreciation flowers can say much more. The classic red roses bouquet is the universal symbol of love, romance, friendship. A combination of tender pink roses and wild flowers or a pink and white posies bouquet is the perfect gift for your mother. If you are looking for more elegant flower combination than go for gerbera or even something unique and exotic such as birds of paradise, orchids, Red Obake Anthurium. An alternative to vase with flowers or a bouquet is the flower basket and potted plants. Whatever your choice is you can be sure that the recipe will enjoy the beauty of the flowers for a long time as flowers can brighten up any living space.

Obviously you will not take a gift basket for yourself. However how often you get flowers with no reason, just to add a fresh touch in your home? Cheer up, invite the spring during wintertime, celebrate summer, indulge the softness of autumn with a vase of fresh flowers. Place a vase of seasonal flowers in your bedroom, some potted plants in the kitchen and a flower basket in your living room and you will instantly see and feel the difference. For the lucky ones having a garden is even easier not only you can have fresh flowers at home almost all year round, but you can create a back yard paradise to spend the lazy weekend afternoons and have your morning coffee.

Having read all of the above you may wonder how to find a minute to find the perfect gift basket or flower bouquet. The good news is that there are many online shops offering both. Usually they offer same day delivery and affordable prices. Your flower splurge is just two clicks away!

Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://giftbasketsandflowers.coffee-info.info A website that specializes in providing information on gift basketsthat you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://giftbasketsandflowers.coffee-info.info now! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Londrie

If you are bored of the typical candy and flowers presents for Mothers Day, you can get your mother a unique present that will be a tribute to the special bond you share with her. There are several different possibilities for special and distinctive gifts.

Women and their love for jewelry is an old story. You can get your mother a special pendant to mark her special day, or you could splurge and get her a pair of diamond earrings. If you have the time (and the money), you can also craft your own design and have it made. Or, you can opt for a special vintage watch for your mothers watch collection.

You can buy her a framed painting or a replica of a famous work. Or better still, you could commission a portrait of your mom. If that is a bit too expensive for you, you can have an old photograph converted to a painting on canvas.

A day at the spa is every womans fantasy. You can buy her the gift of health and rejuvenation. Treat your mother to a days pampering at a spa a great relaxation technique and an effective stress buster.

You could write a poem for you mother, to commemorate the gift of life she gave you; if that is too much for you, you can give her the ultimate present by buying a star for her. This is a wonderful gesture that will really overwhelm your mother, and she will cherish it forever. Dedicating as star to your mom isnt as expensive as you think. You will be given a star certificate with or without a wooden plaque (depending on the package you choose), a map to help view the star, and a mythological explanation of your mothers star. This could be the most special present your mom receives, and you might find it difficult to top this present in the years to come!

There is a journey that we all must take. It is called life. There is no escaping this journey. We cannot pay somebody to take it for us or take the pain and sorrow that frequents our path. Without our mother and father there would be no help at all from the very start. We would be helpless and we would die.

We are born with no knowledge whatsoever other than some minor genetic memories, and many of us simply follow the patterns that life, evolution and our peers throw at us. We subconsciously assume we must do as our forefathers; we must follow in their footsteps; we must marry, have children, get a job, step onto the roller-coaster of commercialism and the greed oriented rat race we know as capitalism or even communism. There is seemingly no way out of this life and anyway, most of us are enthused by the chase - for we truly know do different.

All of this is perfectly natural. We are, after all, apes with less hair. We strive to be the alpha male and female; to be top dog; to fit in with the society or tribe that surrounds us and support the same football team as our friends. And often that society is just a larger version of our selves; it is created by groups of selves.

But, in the times gone by, our ancestors saw through all of this and recognized that there was another way. They discovered that in-order for man to elevate himself above the level of the brown earth upon which he scrambled he needed to alter his internal dialogue. Man needed to understand himself and the forces that drive him.

This unique understanding - that there could be a higher goal for mankind, whether collectively or individually - evolved into what we now know as Gnosticism. Of course this is a massive oversimplification and we should always take into account the mystics those who have experienced what we would call other-worldly emotions or visions. Also, regardless of popular perception, the Christians were not the only Gnostics and mystics. Gnostic comes from the Greek word gignoskein meaning simply to know. It was applied to one sect of so-called philosophers in the first ages of Christianity.

However, the term is now being used more loosely and I personally see the term slightly differently to others and probably in a controversial light.

To me the Greek term implies all-knowledge. This is a kind of knowledge gained much like plugging ones mind into the world wide web and being able to download every single piece of data in an instant. In the same way, the true Gnostic, much like the mystic, could understand all things in a unique way. Whether this is the mind tapping into the collective unconscious, the Akashic records, or any other name given to the process, does not matter for the purpose of this article, the fact remains, it was believed. And because of this belief, physical manifestations of the internal belief system emerged the world over. In this way, the temples of man, were exactly that Temples of Man.

Gnosis then, means knowledge of the most esoteric kind and this is the story that has been hidden from our eyes for too long. This is the truth of the secret societies that we on the outside are supposedly too worldly to comprehend.

The Temple

So, let us now try our best to comprehend the Temple of Solomon and in doing so, let us walk upon Holy ground, trodden only by the initiated.

In the years of my own searching there were times when I would be found at the feet of the Magi, sitting and listening to the wise words of the Sufi, joining in the debate at some Freemasonic Lodge. All the time I was learning and viewing the process with an open ear and an open eye, and yet also balancing it all with the knowledge of modern day science and reductionism. Both worlds, the one of the esoteric and the one of science are useless apart both are needed today if we are to truly understand and believe.

And so down to facts about the Temple of Solomon. Well, unfortunately we are sadly lacking in any archaeological evidence, regardless of what you read on some literal fundamentalist website. What we are told is that in the 10th century BC, the wise King Solomon erected a great Temple to the Lord. Unfortunately, if any of this is true, then we actually find that it was a Temple, which encompassed many pagan religions.

According to Professor James Pritchard in his book, Solomon and Sheba (1974, p.35):

.. the so-called cities of Megiddo, Gezer and Hazor, and Jerusalem itself were in reality more like villages.. Within were relatively small public buildings and poorly constructed dwellings with clay floors. The objects reveal a material culture which, even by the standards of the ancient Near East, could not be judged sophisticated or luxurious.. The magnificence of the age of Solomon is parochial and decidedly lackluster, but the first book of Kings implies exactly the opposite.

In fact and in the bright light of day, what we actually have, and what most writers are afraid to say, is no evidence whatsoever for Solomons Temple. In fact, we have no evidence for Solomon, other than these peculiar Biblical texts. Neither do we have any evidence for the Queen of Sheba, or any of the other characters involved. Instead, there is more depth than could ever be imagined, more meaning than we would dare to believe.

John Michell in The Temple at Jerusalem: A Revelation, (Gothic Image) gives us an insight to the real meaning.:

Legends of the Temple describe it as the instrument of a mystical, priestly science, a form of alchemy by which oppositely charged elements in the earth and atmosphere were brought together and ritually married. The product of their union was a spirit that blessed and sanctified the people of Israel.

How right Michell is. The Temple is an instrument of mystical and priestly science or even magic. The secret unravels before our eyes the more we learn. You see the true Gnostic, the true disciple or perfect one, must be a man or woman of balance. He or she must unite the two sides of the mind, the male and female principles as they are called. We are all both male and female and the alchemists used this concept of balance and revealed it in their images of the Hermaphrodite, half man and half woman.

Solomon, was no real man, and Sheba was no real woman. Instead they were symbols of this internal and often external process. The whole story of Solomon, Sheba and the Temple, which is the perfectly formed body, both physical and spiritual, is the story of our own psyche. It is an esoteric truth, misunderstood in its exoteric form.

Hiram

Hiram was the son of a Jewish mother and a Phoenician father and is credited with the decoration of the Temple of Solomon. He was said to have been the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali He cast two bronze pillars 1 Kings 7:13-15.

We must also note something of interest mentioned in 1 Kings 16:

Then he made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on top of the pillars. The height of one capital was 5 cubits; and the height of the other capital was five cubits. He made a lattice network, with wreaths of chainwork, for the capitals which were on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and seven for the other capital.

These pillars became known as Jachin, meaning he establishes and Boaz, which means in him is strength and these are now familiar to most modern Freemasons as central to their own Lodge or Temple. Copies of these can be clearly seen at the infamous Rosslyn Chapel as we shall discover.

But, what is interesting here is the original text about these pillars. Firstly bronze is used for the capitals, just as bronze is used for the Brazen Serpent of Moses and is indicative of the fiery aspect of the serpent as one of the channels in the Kundalini process. Their heights were 5 cubits, matching the five hooded cobras seen across India and atop many pillars, although the Bible calls them Lilies, which are symbols of balance anyway.

Leading up to these capitals then were wreaths of chainwork, seven on each pillar. Strangely these chains were for the capitals, and so we conclude that these seven levelled chains (coils) were pointing towards the head (capital) just as the serpents of the Kundalini do.

There are more real links between Hiram and the serpent. For instance, we noted above that he was of the Tribe of Naphtali. The standard of the Tribe of Naphtali, according to Jewish tradition, is a serpent or basilisk and this could have come from Egyptian origins, as Jewish tradition states that Naphtali was the brother of Joseph, chosen to represent the family to Pharaoh.

And now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, Huram [Hiram] my master [father] craftsman, (the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre), skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson, and to make any engraving and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him, with your skilful men and with the skilful men of my lord David your father. 2 Chronicles 2:13-14.

Here, Hiram is said to be a son of the Tribe of Dan and even the tribe of Dan had an emblem, which was amazingly also the serpent, this time with a horse.

Incredibly there is also a hidden truth and repetitive pattern in this little statement about the real skills of this literary character. Follow this pattern:

Hiram is skilled in:-

1 gold and silver,
2 bronze and iron,
3 stone and wood,
4 purple and blue,
5 fine linen and crimson,
6 and to make any engraving
7 and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him.

Note that there are seven balanced elements to the skill of the man who will build the Temple! This is a real clue to the Temples secret indeed.

According to this book of Chronicles Hiram was a cunning man (a word used for the serpent) endued with understanding, skilful as we can see in the work of gold, silver, brass, stone and timber. But he was also credited with certain tools, which could pierce stone. Stone, as I show in Gnosis is symbolic of wisdom and foundation. Hirams tool therefore pierced the veil or even the very root of wisdom.

According to the book of Kings the Temple was built of stone (or wisdom) before it was brought to the site. Something like a prefabricated building. It was said by tradition that neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool of iron was used in the building. So how was it built? This in itself is a paradox, which can only be answered by the true secret of the Temple being revealed.

According to Rabbinical teaching the prefabrication of the Temple was performed by the Shamir, a giant worm or serpent that could cut stones (incidentally worm means serpent). Not dissimilar to Norse and Celtic beliefs where Valhalla and Camelot were built with the fire of the dragon and in China where building is aided by the serpent energy.

This is a universal concept as can be seen in India, where it was the serpentine linked Nagas of fable who escaped their country and took the architectural wisdom abroad. The architect gods, such as Thoth of Egypt, are linked strongly with the serpent wisdom because they are linked with the building of Temples of Wisdom inside our SELVES.

The Shamir, according to one legend had even been placed in the hands of the Prince of the Sea (Shamir by Wilhelm Bacher & Ludwig Blau), which of course is symbolic of the Prince of Wisdom.

In essence what we really have here is the Temple of Wisdom being built by the serpent and that serpent is none other than that of, or similar to, the internal Kundalini, later to be developed into the Kabbalah. This is a psychological training manual; a method of self-improvement; a way for society to become One; a multi-layered method of getting closer to the deity which resides in each and everyone of us; a deity, that the ancients saw as being the same in each of us.

The whole process repeats again and again throughout the Bible. The Temple is reduced (like the alchemical method) and is remade. Then again and again, until finally the Christ is the Temple which is reduced (killed) and then rises again for the last time. And now, according to the texts, we can all meet with this Christ and we can all have the knowledge. We just need to understand that the true Christ is all and in all. But this hasn't worked has it. Man is still even now in the 21st century, searching for answers and so the temple is being reduced once again

I say, we should all take a look at our own "temples" and knock them to the ground. We should then go about re-building them in a bigger and better way than before, just like the Bible states. And more than that, we must keep on doing this until this world of ours has peace and all truly are equal before God.

About the Author Philip Gardineris the author of the best selling The Serpent Grail, The Shining Ones, and Gnosis: The Secret of Solomons Temple Revealed. He does talks, lectures, has his own radio show and does tours across the world via http://www.powerplaces.com Philip has a degree in marketing and 9 diplomas ranging from etymology to holistic medicine. He is hosting the Philip Gardiners Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK (FKCUK) in July 2006. http://www.philipgardiner.net http://www.gardinerosborn.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Gardiner

I have to say when I first saw the title, "There's Gold in them thar Pews," I thought it must be a parody on religion with regard to getting the faithful to part with their money. Certainly no one would actually promote a pastoral class on how to get more money out of a congregation with that title? If the average person in the pews, at least in the pews I am familiar with ever, for one moment even, read such a title, they would give less not more just to show the Pastor they were not sitting in the pews to be mined for Jesus. Alas, the article was serious and I'd like to take a moment to give the meaning behind the message as my experience as a Pastor in a denomination that all too well fleeced the flock and mined the Gold in "them thar pews."

The article begins..."Be encouraged: "Theres gold in them thar pews!

Sitting in your pews each week is a goldmine of resources waiting to be lovingly extracted and put to work for Christ. If your churchs giving is poor, I assure you it is not because your people are. They have far more money to give than you think.

The proof is in the results we have seen in the poorest of churches worldwide. When pastors in Zimbabwe, Africa, implemented the ten steps I am about to share with you, their giving increased 100 percent. In the Philippines, churches that used these steps saw giving increases of 100, 200, and almost 300 percent. Obviously, even the poorest of Gods people have money to give. They just need to be taught biblical stewardship."

I am not necessarily questioning the sincerity of those who advocate these ideas, but I do take exception to them. Motivating more giving than people were willing to do when asked the first time, can smack of motivation by fear, shame and guilt. I have seen it done all my life and it might work for a time, until it doesn't and there is hell to pay. Let's examine the meaning behind the admonitions to give until it hurts.

Step 1: Master the Biblical Principles of Stewardship. (Meaning: Know the Old Testament admonitions to tithe, and do not mention the "give as you can" principles throughout the New Tetsament. )

Overcome a common misunderstanding of grace giving that keeps pastors from bold stewardship leadership. (Meaning: Get over feeling bad about asking for money. Most pastors hate having to deal with this, but you can do it. Be hard assed about it and use the appropriate scriptures to do the job for you.)

Get clear on what the Bible really says about tithing and what to say that will stir your people to give much more than 10 percent. (Meaning: Force yourself to teach tithing. Avoid the New Testament idea of "let every man give as he is able." Teach "God loves a cheerful tither, not giver" Since God changes not, therefore we are not consumed, He wants you to push this Old Covenant principle. Use Malachi 3 to tell the people they are thieves and robbers if they give less than 10 percent.)

Have your faith enlarged as you study God's amazing promises of emotional, spiritual, eternal, and financial rewards for the faithful giver. (Meaning: Force yourself to believe the unbelievable and that for which you have no direct proof really works this way. Be sure to tell the people the rewards that God pours out are not easily discerned or financial necessarily. Tell them, "You have air and water don't you?" Once they realize God could squash them like a bug by withholding air and water, they will be appreciative. Push the "you can't outgive God" idea. If God does not pour out more than they can take in, tell them it is obviously their fault and somehow they are displesing God. This keeps you off the hook for shaming them into giving to get from God.)

Step 2: Personally Follow the Biblical Principles of Stewardship. (Meaning: You're going to have to at least give a tithe yourself, and be sure they know you do, or they will not take kindly to your telling them to. You'll have to bite the bullet on this and practice what you preach. Remember, you are getting ten times more than you give back in a salary from these people, plus perks of a car and maybe even a place to live. What price can you put on that!)

Be encouraged and challenged to give faithfully to your church, for your own good. (See above, and realize "for your own good" means "so that you can keep your job.")

Learn why it is vital that you set the example of biblical giving. (Meaning: Because if they find out you aren't doing this, they won't and might kick you out.)

See your personal story of faithful giving inspire your flock to similar generosity. (Meaning: Make up stuff to tell them about how blessed you are for giving 10 percent of the money they gave you in the first place. This is not easy and you'll have to be careful not to set off their common sense thought of "well yeah, he can say that because I helped him buy his car, house, boat, watch, food and kids summer camp experience." Be creative. Tell them you give a tithe of your income, plus more of course, and it just thrills you and saddens you at the same time you can't just work for free. This will bring tears of appreciation to their eyes, but some will say that's a good idea and want to cut your salary to really test your faith and sincerity.)

Step 3: Preach an Annual Stewardship Series. (Meaning: Begin the series the January and give twelve parts, one each month, so they never forget to tithe for very long. I know that a once a year series is an oxymoron, but it sounds better than remind them often.)

Learn how and when to deliver an annual stewardship series that transforms your people from tippers to tithers in a few weeks, year after year. (Meaning: Learn to call "give as you are able" tipping. That's cute. It's also insulting, but don't worry about it. You need to motivate them with fear, shame and guilt quickly to prime the pump and get the flow going. This trinity of motivation, fear, guilt and shame should do the trick for years to come.)

Preach a ready-to-use, biblical, expository sermon series that has proven to increase giving and to kindle spiritual renewal in hundreds of churches worldwide. (Meaning: Use tried and true methods of spiritual abuse. Don't reinvent the wheel. Remember how the Holy Trinity of Giving works. Make them afraid, make them ashamed and make them feel guilty.)

Step 4: Expose Your People to Stewardship Testimonies. (Meaning: Put pastoral ass kissing members up before the congregation to assure them that it works because they gave until it hurt, and darn if God didn't ordain them a deacon or elder soon after.)

Learn what the Bible really says about public giving testimonies and how you can unleash their enormous power during your stewardship series. (Meaning: I don't know what this means, but I don't find any public "tithing worked for me, it can work for you" testimonies in the Bible. There is a story of a couple who did not give 100 percent to the Church and Peter smote them dead but that never really happened. Great motivator as it says "Great fear came upon all the Churches," but it is a parody about Peter a man who said he'd never leave Jesus and did, killing a couple who said they'd give all and didn't. You can't expect the congregation to understand the subtle messages of the book of Acts.)

Let the testimonies of faithful givers practically deliver the messages for you. (Meaning: You really don't have to do the work. Let the kiss ass members of your choosing do it for you. You won't have to feel bad for pushing people to give what they have not got, and your KA members can feel like they are converting the masses themselves.)

Use a sample stewardship testimony guide to help your people prepare theirs. (Meaning: Be sure to prompt the KA member to use tried and true phrases and stories that pull at the emotions and generate the proper fear, guilt and shame. Why reinvent the wheel? Use the tried and true to be sure the spontaneous and sincere testimonies of the member are right on the money.)

Step 5: Ask for a 10 Percent Commitment. (Meaning: Again, forget the "give as you are able" concept.)

Learn a method of asking for a generous giving commitment from your people that will move them to increase their giving ten-fold, overnight. (Meaning: Method is everything in fleecing the flock. We want this generous and spontaneous Holy Spirit led giving to start by next Sunday at the latest.)

Learn how to offer a money-back guarantee that captures imagination and galvanizes giving. (Meaning: OMG...did he say "money-back guarantee?" What am a buying, a washing machine? Can I get an extended warranty?)

Use a sample commitment card you can personalize to collect your people's increased giving commitments. (Meaning: Keep track of what they give. This information will be useful to you in promoting your KA members and weeding out the losers. Don't let the government be the only one who understands the benefits of keeping track of what your members are giving and to whom.)

Step 6: Send Follow-up Letters to New Givers. (Meaning: People poop out on giving quickly once they realize they have been had their imaginations "captured" and their giving "galvanized." You will have to keep them motivated as the emotions you whip up in sermons fade when their emotional chemistry returns to normal about an hour after the sermon.)

Personalize and distribute pre-written, sample follow-up letters to reinforce your people's new giving commitments. (Meaning: Make form letters look personal and keep their back to the wall on this. They promised to give, and damn it, give they will.)

Step 7: Pray For Your New Givers. (Meaning: Since we have covered the Pay part of being a good member of your congregation, we now must turn to the Pray part. Actually there are four parts to an obedient and compliant congregation... Pay-Pray-Obey and Stay. These four are implied in Pay and Pray, so do not bring them up in this way. We don't have to tell them everything we discuss at ministerial conferences.)

Tap into the power of believing prayer to bring God's blessing on your people as they launch out into new giving territory. (Meaning: Tell them over and over there really is power in prayer, even if they loose their jobs, can't pay for gas or food because of giving too much to the church after this series of once a year sermons.)

Step 8: Distribute Frequent Giving Records. (Meaning: Here comes the fear, guilt and shame aspect of effective giving.)

Use a simple and easy method to provide non-threatening accountability and encouragement to keep people giving generously throughout the year. (Meaning: make them feel accountability for what you talked them into doing. "Encouragement" here means "follow-up," and pushing the Sheeple ever closer to the Sheerers. Remind them that they might feel shorn from time to time, but fleece grows back for a purpose and to get used to it. Again, make them feel accountable to give what they have not got, did not intend to give before you shamed them and do not really want to give but your follow up is so darn intimidating.)

Step 9: Use Estimates of Giving at Budget Time. (Meaning: Make them give you an idea of the total they will be giving so you can plan to spend more than you have for things the church did not ask for and does not need to be or do. After all, this is all about the minister and how well he grows his church to justify his pay and time for the money they church spends on him and his family. Don't ever let them figure out that a minister can be paid to make work and meaning for himself and poop out the congregation doing it.)

Unleash the power of estimates of giving at budget time to increase giving. (Meaning: Use the word "Unleash" often. It makes them feel like there is somekind of special power in them that even Superman would be jealous of. "Unleash" is a power word that will at least get them started. If that doesn't work, then you might have to go back to "galvanizing" them, until they can properly unleash.)

Personalize a sample estimate of giving card for use in your church. (Meaning: who cares what this means.)

Distribute and collect the cards to plan and implement an increased, realistic church budget, year after year. (Meaning: well, this is the first time I have seen the word realistic used in the contest of giving.)

Step 10: Teach Stewardship in New Members Classes. (Meaning: You can't be a member of this church, unless you FIRST understand your financial commitments to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Us.)

Learn how to use your new members classes to get giving commitments from newcomers throughout the year. (Meaning: Leaning how to use the classes will enable you to better use the new members from now on.) Teach from a sample stewardship lesson outline in your new members classes. (Meaning: which we can send you for a cut in the take from the Sheep.)

If you faithfully implement all ten of these steps in your church, you will be thrilled with the results. (Meaning: If you do what we tell you, YOU, but maybe not the members will be thrilled with the results, but we cannot guarantee the membership will be.)

Ok, I'm being a bit cheeky here but teaching the Pastor how to mine the "gold in them thar pews," is offensive and insulting to the integrity of good people who really want to have a treasure worth giving to where their heart is. I have seen this "give til it hurts for the Church" mentality played out and if you are not careful you end up with short term gain and long term pain. There is a fine line between the impression we are asking for what we need to do our work for the Lord and Fleecing the Flock with "how to" methods that are "tried and true." Be careful you don't leave a flock of naked, shivering sheep in your endeavor to enforce tried but often untrue in practical fact ideas upon them. You'll find that Sheep can grow teeth.

Lets examine the use of Giorgio Armani Companys advertisements for a persuasive campaign. My reasoning is because the company is separated into several different divisions, while each tries to sell their product, the advertisements must maintain an overall company image. I have chosen Giorgio Armani Parfum (cologne), Armani Exchange (A|X), Emporio Armani(Dreamers), and Giorgio Armani Occhiali (glasses) to be the focus for the general image campaign of the Giorgio Armani Company.

Armani uses dark colors with rich lighting and contrasting themes to promote their products. Regardless of the product, Armani seeks to be known as an elite brand with the highest quality and best products for a demanding consumer. The symbols, language, colors and imagery used reinforces this concept of the products by cementing into the consumers mind, the image and brand recognition which the company is hoping will sell its products.

Cultural barriers need to be addressed considering that this company is Italian and most of the advertising, which is used, features European looking people and scenes. This works: Americans, when it comes to fashion, look toward Europe for emerging trends and fashion. One important fact to note is that when the advertisement is directed towards men, like the parfum, and occhiali advertisement, the people featured are more masculine and rougher looking than the smoothened and more feminine models featured for general company advertisements (A|X and Dreamers).

For the advertisement Dreamers I would add a few different words of text to the advertisement in the lighter areas of the advertisement. The words Envisage and Discovery should be added to give the connotation or private and emotional conception (Langer ch.5), which can be experienced by the feelings that the words invoke. These two words in addition to the ad will give a little more power to the message which ask the reader to imagine the possibilities, discover the unknown, and dream for what youve always wanted. This is all tied together with the imagery of three models posing, each staring in separate directions using the strategy of ambiguity in the semantic dimension (p.128). They [Armani] want each potential persuadee to fill in his or her own private meanings or connotations for the particular word or symbol. (p. 128)

Armani Exchange is a younger brand, and therefore uses stronger sexuality than other advertisements. In addition colorful clothing is featured more prominently in this advertisement to give a younger, freer and brighter feeling. I would ad the phrase be bold in the top right corner of the advertisement. First, since Americans read left to right, the reader would see the images first, then the phrase and would link the language with the color and imagery of the advertisement. Sensory language can be used to influence a person using something they are familiar with and associate it with something that they are not. I would also add the phrase be strong to invoke the sense of strength, rather the feeling, which compliments the phrase be bold. These two phrases can tie the advertisement together with the images used and give the reader a reason to take a second look at the product and image being advertised.

Gender persuasion is used in the Occhiali advertisement where an unshaven, stylish and powerful picture of a man is used to induce us to try to look him in the eye. When you do this, you will see his sunglasses, which is the product being advertised. The words added to this advertisement must be simple and not too flowery. Men shy away from all such usages because they passionately fear being labeled sissified (Bruell, p. 143). The choice of phrase for the advertisement is an enigmatic impression. These two main words; enigmatic, meaning mysterious, and unknown; along with impression would allow the reader to immerse themselves in the image being shown. This type of language is very discursive, according to Langer, Ch.5, because it is sequential and has meaning, which is created through combinations. Packards Eight Compelling Needs (Larson, 154) easily relate to this advertisement.

The need for Ego Gratification comes out in the advertisement where it is directed at consumers whom have the need to go beyond a high self-worth and into the highest form of egocentrism. Additionally, the need for a Sense of Power comes through in the imagery used and the rough looking style of the product. The sense of mysteriousness can be associated with power. These two Compelling Needs are often used in advertising and are used in this, the Occhiali advertisement.

The last advertisement for parfum, I would leave alone. I think it already is persuasive enough through imagery and does not need additional words or images. The wide-open and glaring eyes of the model do what is intended. I believe that this advertisement focuses on our needs of love and belonging, the 3rd and 4th need in Maslows Pyramid of Needs (Larson, 160). The need for love is used very often in advertising because it is a well-understood feeling that all people can relate to. The need of belonging [to the cool crowd] is often used when the advertiser believes that the product will promote a higher self-esteem or increased likeability.

Giorgio Armani uses the cognitive consistency approach to its advertising. The idea that things should be simple and consistent is the reasoning behind this theory. Fritz Heiders P-O-X (p.90) theory can be implemented to this advertisement campaign as a whole. First, a Person is oriented toward another, which is apparent in the Armani Exchange advertisement. Two separate couples; one in the middle, which are clearly oriented, balance the advertisement and the second separated to each side of the page create tension. The idea of an object being the focus and the positive or negative attitude felt about that object can have an effect on the source and receiver. Advertising is dependant on this concept and Armani understands this idea though use of the imagery in its advertisements.

Overall the image of luxury of the brand is maintained and becomes more persuasive by using language, which promotes feelings and emotions of masculinity and mysteriousness. The colors of the advertisements already do an excellent job of keeping mystery in the minds of the readers by using black/white photos and rich, and bold colors. Reasoning from comparison is used throughout these advertisements. The message is: if you use our products or wear our clothing, you will be popular, beautiful, successful, etc.

Sources:

Larson, Charles U. Persuasion: Perception and Responsibility (10th Ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth 2004

There are three significant milestones in every established and committed relationship. The first being traveling together, the second is meeting the parents and the last one is the ever nerve wracking move in. Sharing your space with the one you love can be both blissful and abysmal, with some luck and by following these easy guidelines, you and yours are sure to settle comfortably into your humble abode.

Start with communication, it's crucial that personal needs are discussed, whether it's in regards to how the bills will be paid or how to decorate the bathroom. Usually one love bird will move in with the other, rather then finding a separate place of residence. If this is the case then set boundaries, talk about what stays and what goes. Out of common courtesy, any memento's of past relationships should be packed away. As to paying the bills, pay according to percentages. If your plumber boyfriend makes 20k a year and your lawyer's net salary is 70k, divide the lower salary by the higher salary to get the ratio of what you both should be paying towards your bills. If you don't want to be nit picky about who pays for what, allocate certain bills (he pays hydro, you pay cable). The number one topic that couple's fight over is money, communication can put frugal partners at ease and make the move financially fair for all.

On the moving day, have all of your close friends around to help unpack, or paint. Their reward can either be alcohol or a barbecue once all the work is done. This is a great way to save money and is a great way for friends to meet. When it comes to decorating, compromise is crucial. If you find yourselves fighting between different dcor styles, then let him have his zen living room while you enjoy your country kitchen. One fun way to decorate together is by creating a bedroom centered around your love for one another. Include comfort items such as big soft pillows, a comfortable bed and lots of pictures of the two of you. Always remember to keep your sense of privacy, you don't have to share everything together. Go ahead and keep your naughty drawer, hide away those oh so comfy undies you've had forever, or the retainer you wore in high school. Living together is a way to share intimacy but that doesn't meet you need to lose all mystery and allure.

When the moving van heads out the driveway, share in the knowledge that your new nest is the best place to establish a new bond together, replete with communication and compromise.