How to Prove God Exists Beyond a Doubt

There was a time I didn't believe in God.  I looked at the world through very cynical eyes and saw all the hate and crime my fellow human beings are capable of, and decided there was just no way any God would allow such behavior from His own creations.

You may be like I was and are having doubts about God's existence.  Or maybe you believe whole-heartedly in God but are tired of non-believers constantly belittling your faith by asking you to "prove" that God exists.  One young woman I know personally is always saying, "If there was a God, He would make me believe in Him."

So, how do you prove there is a God beyond a shadow of a doubt?

First, let me say I am still somewhat cynical about certain things, and when I hear a woman from Wyoming testifying that she saw an angel, or that an old farmer in New Mexico swears he saw an alien being, I find myself doubting their honesty.  I have never seen an alien, ghost, angel, big foot, sea monster or any other questionable sightings.  I am not one for tall tales.  So with that in mind, I hope you'll judge for yourselves what I'm about to share.

What if the only way to prove that God exists is through miracles?  I'm not talking about lottery winnings or falling from a 4-story building and living.  Those are things that can and DO happen every day.  No, I'm talking about actual miracles, the kind that no one can explain.

When I was 18 years old, my girlfriend at the time was in high school band. She played the flute. One day she invited me to follow her and her bandmates to Dallas to a football game she was performing for.   At that time, I lived in a small country town about 2 1/2 hours from Dallas.  I had never driven there alone by myself but I really liked her so I agreed to go and offer my support.

She would be riding the school bus from Palestine to Dallas, and I had planned to follow in my car, which was a gas-guzzling 1980 Chevy Caprice.  Unfortunately, we hadn't even gotten out of town good when I got got caught at a traffic light and got separated from the bus.

As I said, I had never driven to Dallas before and wasn't exactly sure how to get there.  But I was determined to go so I sat out on my own hoping to soon catch up with the bus.  I never did.  In fact, I ended up getting lost and going about 100 miles out of my way.

I did eventually make it to the game, and got to see my girlfriend marching in the band.  Soon the game ended and she boarded the bus and headed for home.  I had to walk back to my car which was on the far end of the parking lot, so the bus was long gone by the time I was pulling out of the lot.  I was not too worried about directions home because I had learned through getting lost on the way there how to get back.  But now I had a much bigger problem.  Getting lost had caused me to use much more gas than I had counted on, and I now had less than 1/4 tank of gas.  Here I was in Dallas with no money and no way to buy gas and driving a gas-guzzling old chevy.  It was about 120 miles back to Palestine so I knew I was in real trouble.

I sat out on my journey home not knowing how I would ever make it.  It was in the dead of winter then, and it got dark early.  If you've ever been through East Texas, then you know there are many hundreds of miles of highway that etch through desolate forest land.  There I was driving on that lonely 2-lane highway, through miles and miles of unsettled territory with my gas gauge easing ever-lower.  This was before cell phones so I had no one to call. And even if I had, I was over a hundred miles away from everyone  I knew and loved.

I knew I would run out of gas long before I was anywhere near home, so when I came to a small country gas station I pulled in.  I went inside and explained to the station attendant that I had no money and was just about out of gas, and I asked if I could sweep, mop the floor take out the trash, or do anything to earn even $2 in gas.  The attendant refused and  sent me on my way.

By now it was pitch dark outside.  It was a cold night that night, but to preserve the little bit of gas I had I  switched off the car heater.  As I drove through the desolate wilderness I noted that there was no light anywhere.  There were very few houses along the highway, and no businesses of any kind to stop in and use  a pay phone.  It was not a question of "would I run out of gas," but "When will I run out of gas?"

I watched the gas gauge ease down to the "empty" mark and then below empty.  I still had about 80 miles to go.  I was truly scared.  I was in the middle of nowhere with no one to turn to for help.  How far could I possibly go with no gasoline?

Then I remembered the Bible I kept in my glovebox.  I took it out and out it in my lap, really just for the comfort.  Then, I began to pray to God.  I knew I had made a very foolish decision to drive all the way to Dallas, not knowing where I was going, and not having any money.  I told God He was my only hope of making it to safety without running out of gas and being stranded in the dead of winter in the middle of nowhere on a lonely, dark highway, many, many miles from home.   I prayed and prayed.  Every once in a while I would glance down at the gas gauge that had been below "empty" for many miles, and cringe.

But still I prayed that God would deliver me safely home.

That was 17 year ago.  To this day, I have no way of explaining what happened.  But the truth of the situation is that I drove from just east of Dallas all the way to Palestine, TX with no gasoline in my tank.  That's over 100 miles.  Is there any logical reason I was able to drive that great distance with 0 gas?  I knew then, and I know now, that God heard my prayer that cold, dark Winter night, and he delivered me  safely home.  I made it to my girlfriend's house, killed the car and went inside and called my mother and asked her to come and get me.

While I waited for her, I thought I would try to drive my car just down the road about 100 feet to a gas station and wait for her there.  But my car would not crank.  I was out of gas.  God had allowed me to make it from Dallas all the way to the safety of my girlfriend's home, and then I ran out of gas.

Now, I see no reason at all to question God's existence.  If any of my readers have a similar story to share, please do!    

Detox Your Body Safely and Naturally

What is the importance in detoxing our bodies?  Everyday exposure to environmental toxins can build up in our systems, eventually leading to serious health problems.  Cancer, mercury poisoning, Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia and heart disease are potential illnesses caused by toxins.  We ingest these toxins through the processed foods we eat, the polluted air we breathe, the chemical-filled deodorant we use, and even the sheets we sleep on.  

Our bodies protect us from these everyday exposure to toxins with our own natural detoxification system. When our systems are working well, our body can handle these normal everyday exposure to toxins. Eating a healthy diet with adequate amounts of water and fiber will help your body to detox naturally.

5 Ways to Detox Naturally:

• Drink plenty of clean water.  Water keeps our bodies hydrated and our detox systems working well by flushing various toxins out through the kidneys.  Shoot for 8, 8-ounce servings each and every day.  Certain herbal teas count toward this total.  Just make sure you drink decaf, because too much caffeine in itself can be toxic.
• Get plenty of fiber in your diet.  Foods like apples, beans, legumes, peas and other fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, and thus aid in digestion and the elimination of wastes/toxins from our bodies.  
• Avoid processed foods and fruits and veggies grown with pesticides or herbicides.  These are toxic to the body, and in time can cause various cancers, Alzheimer's and other diseases. 
• Avoid the use of certain deodorants, shampoos, soaps, colognes/perfumes, makeup and laundry detergent.  There are many health food stores that sell these products in safe form, missing certain chemicals that are known to irritate the skin, cause allergies, upset asthma and even cause mercury poisoning.  Certain anti-prespirant/deodorants, for example, contain high amounts of mercury.
• Exercise!  Nothing is better for sweating out toxins through the endocrine system.
• Lower your daily fat intake.  Cut down on your consumption of red meats like steak and beef.  These types of meats generally contain large amounts of fat which literally contaminates the blood stream and artery walls and can lead to heart disease and other serious illnesses.
• Stop smoking and don't take drugs!  This should be common sense, but like Mark Twain said, "Common sense isn't all that common."

There are many simple ways you can detox your body and improve your health vastly!  For more useful information, I recommend clicking the ads on this blog and finding out more about the benefits of detoxing.     

Will Doing Push-ups Alone Build Your Chest Muscles?

Many guys want a nice, toned chest, but just don't have the time or interest to sling around heavy weights down at the local gym.  So what's the next best thing to doing the bench press or the fly machine?  Push-ups!  But a lot of guys wonder if push-ups alone will help them tone and build a nice, strong chest.  The answer is:  definitely yes!

Push-ups, when done correctly and often enough, balanced with a proper nutrition plan, will certainly help you build up your pecs.  The key for success is to vary your push-up routine so that you target all of the muscle fibers in your pecs.

Try this:

#1 Standard push-ups- targets entire chest, triceps, shoulders, back and abs

#2 incline push-ups-  targets upper pecs, chest, shoulders, back and triceps

#3 decline push-ups-  targets lower chest, ribcage muscles, shoulders, triceps and back

Shoot for 4 sets of 10 reps each with little rest in between.

Or,  do 10 push-ups every hour of the day.  If you're up from 8AM to 11PM,  that's 16 hours and 160 pus-ups!  You can tone your chest muscles very quickly this way.

Be sure to boost your protein intake to allow your muscles to repair and grow.  The above exercises, when done correctly, will definitely build and tone your chest.  Keep in mind, you won't look like Arnold from doing push-ups alone.  That takes serious weights.  Instead, you'll look more like Bruce Lee.

Try it and see how it works!
        

The Fastest Way to Get Hot, Ripped Abs

   Want nice, ripped abs, and want them as fast as humanly possible?  Great abs are a much- sought-after asset for both men and women.  But I'll be honest up front: abs are the hardest area of the entire body to train, because stubborn fat comes off this area last. 

   There are many great ab exercises to help you accomplish this, but keep in mind that working out your abs alone will not get you the washboard abs you're wanting.  Diet and nutrition plays a crucial role in uncovering those elusive abdominal muscles.  

   It's also necessary to boost your metabolism and turn your body into a 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine.  You do this by eating healthy foods in small portions, 6 times each day.  This keeps your body constantly fueled on good foods and allows you to burn calories at a much higher rate.  Some form of strength-training utilized in your fitness program will also boost your metabolism.  (Such as weight-lifting, yoga, resistance training, high-intenisty cardio like boxing.)

A proper diet and workout routine will help you burn fat at the same time you are practicing specific ab exercises to tone and strengthen your core. 

Here are 3 of the Best Ab Exercises

Knee Ups

Start by sitting on a bench or any flat, stable surface that allows you to be off the floor. Put your hands at the side of the bench. Put your legs straight out and slowly pull them inward toward  your chest. Hold for about two seconds before extending your legs again to complete one rep of this exercise. Each set of this exercise consists of about 24 reps.  Try for 3 sets.  Be sure to use a controlled motion and proper form.

Crunches

This is a common ab exercise that is very beneficial for your core muscles.  Start by lying on the floor with your knees bent and your feet facing downwards on the floor. Put your hands behind your ears and slowly contract your stomach muscles and raise your shoulders and chest off the floor enough that your shoulder blades leave the floor.  Hold for 1 or 2 seconds before lowering  down again to complete one rep. Each set should consist of about 30 reps.  Try for 3 sets.  Be sure not to strain your neck or head by pulling too hard with your hands. You want to lift with your abs not your arms.

Hanging Leg or Knee Raises

This is a very effective and challenging exercise.  Start by holding onto an overhead chin-up bar with both your hands at shoulder width apart. Slowly raise your legs upwards toward your chest while keeping your back straight. Lower your legs down again to finish one rep. Each set should contain 8 - 10 reps.  Try to do 4 sets.  Be sure not to swing your legs or use momentum to cheat.

The above exercises will strengthen and tone your abs within a month, or so.  But remember, if you really want nice, ripped abs, you will need to maintain a healthy diet, as well as perform some form of strength-training at least 3 days a week.  Also, high-intensity cardio such as kick-boxing, sprints, stair running, jump rope, etc., is necessary to torch fat and uncover those abs!

Be sure to check out the ads on this blog to find other great ways to help with your fitness goals!

Natural Foods That TORCH Body Fat

This list of foods are proven to aid your body in burning fat. The secret to losing weight is to eat and drink until you are full and satisfied, choosing wholesome foods that fuel your body instead of loading it with unusable fats.  This helps your body burn up the excessive stored fat.

If you eat the following fat burning fruits and vegetables (and some fish) add a good exercise program to your lifestyle, you will boost your metabolism and burn calories at a faster rate even while your body is at rest.  

apples                 

apricots

artichokes  

asparagus

beets   

blackberries

blueberries  

broccoli

Brussels sprouts 

cabbage

cantaloupe  

carrots

cauliflower  

celery

cod   

cucumbers  

eggplant

flounder  

garlic

grapefruit  

grapes

green beans

green tea  

kale   

leeks

lemons 

limes   

mushrooms

nectarines  

okra

onions  

oranges

papaya  

parsley

peas   

peppers

prunes

pumpkin  

radishes

red cabbage

spinach  

squash

string beans

tangerines  

tomatoes

turnips 

Also, dairy product such as milk, yogurt and cheese are known for their fat-burning abilities.  Be sure to get 3 full servings of dairy in your daily diet. Be sure to check out the ads on this blog for more help burning fat.

How to Tone Your Butt Fast: The BEST Butt Exercises for Women

Let's face it, a lot of women today just aren't happy with the size and shape of their derrieres.  This is why butt exercises are some of the most sought after exercises for women.   Statistically, women consider their butts to be too small, too large, too shapeless, too flat or saggy. The great news is there are very specific butt exercises that will make a tremendous difference in the shape and size of your butt and help you get the sexy appearance you long for.

An important thing to remember is that exercises for your butt alone will not get rid of body fat. To do this, you need to incorporate a complete exercise and nutrition plan into your fitness routine.

Keep in mind, each body type responds differently to butt exercises.  Also, your genetics play a role in how your body responds to different exercises. But through hard work and determination, you CAN change the firmness and size of your butt.

Here are five great exercises to re-shape and re-size your glutes. Remember, form is critical when performing any exercise to prevent injury, so always be sure to you use a controlled motion.  Tighten your abdominal and back muscles to stabilize your body, and never swing or use momentum if using weights.  And if you feel any pain, stop immediately!  If you are very out of shape, consult a health care professional before beginning any exercise regime.

#1 - Squats.

Squats are probably the best exercise for your butt.  Butt exercises like the squat will not bulk up your butt!  And it's been proven that squats will help women shape, firm and tone their butt!

Tip:  When doing squats, don't place the weight bar too high or rest it on the base of your neck.

Also, don't allow your weight to tip forward onto your toes.  Be careful to NOT lean forward or curve your back. This will stress your back and decrease the effectiveness of the exercise.

Do not twist.  Your chest should come up first, followed by your hips.

If you are a beginner, it's wise to start with no weight, using only bodyweight for resistance. The first few times you try the various butt exercises you will very likely experience stiffness and/or soreness in your butt and legs for the next day or so.

#2 - Dumbbell Lunges.

This is a very good exercise for working your glutes, quads, inner and outer thighs and hamstrings. You can perform it in either a stationary position, or walking in a straight line.

Complete a full set, then switch legs and repeat. Or you can switch legs and move forward across the floor with each repetition.

When performing this exercise you should pay close attention to the angle formed by your thigh and lower leg. Your knee should be directly over your ankle. Don't let your knee stray over your toes.  Your knee and toes should be pointed in the same direction.  You may use a weighted barbell for added resistance.

#3 - Straight Leg Dead-lifts.

This exercise will work your hamstrings, butt and lower back.  Grab a barbell with both hands using an overhand grip, stand up straight with your hands and feet shoulder width apart.

DO NOT hunch your back or lean backwards as this can increase your risk of back injury. Keep your back fairly straight throughout the exercise.  Looking straight ahead will help you keep your back straight.

#4 - Lying Or Seated Leg Curls.

For leg curls, you can use either a seated or lying down hamstring machine, ankle weights, or resistance bands.  This exercise helps develop the hamstrings, which are very important for having a nice butt and developing muscles used with other butt exercises.  Concentrate on using a full range of motion.

#5 - Wall Squats.

Wall squats help to increase leg muscle strength and create an isometric contraction on your erector spinae to help strengthen your back. It's also a great exercise for stabilizing the knee joints and your core/abs.

Do these butt exercises every two to three days, allowing at least 48 hours of rest in between.  

 The Five Best Butt Exercises
For all exercises perform 3 sets of 10 reps each.

Is Valentine's Day all About the Woman? (Or Are Men Getting Cheated Out?)

If we were all to celebrate Valentine's Day for what it actually is, it would be much more about honoring several martyred saints of the same name, and much less about Cupid and romance.  Nevertheless, this year more that 1.1 billion boxed chocolates will be bought and given to a significant other.  Which leads me to an interesting question:  Is Valentine's Day geared solely for the sake of women, or is it meant for men as well?

A friend of mine mentioned today that although he generally spends weeks planning a special Valentine's Day for his girlfriend, she never offers him so much as a single Hershey's Kiss.  He says it's not a money problem and she's not being rude, she just genuinely believes Valentine's Day is a day on which men shower women with special gifts and treats, and women are just supposed to sit back and enjoy without reciprocating.

Another male friend of mine told me that each year he stresses over finding the perfect gift for his sweetheart, but his hard-sought-after gift is usually received with something less than enthusiasm.  Last year, his girlfriend pointed out that she prefers white gold after she opened the silver necklace he bought for her.  And she insisted she only eats chocolates from Godiva, after he presented her with an expensive box of chocolates he bought from another store.  But for all her criticism, she gave him zilch in return.  Evidently, she also believes Valentine's Day was invented for women and not for men.

Myself, I've dated women with both mindsets.  One Valentine took me to see a piano concert in Fort Worth for Valentine's Day a few years ago.  Another date gave me a chocolate bar and a nice card.  Others gave me a big, fat goose egg.

So, readers, whether or not you have a Valentine this year, what is your point of view on the matter?  Should men and women both share in the sentiment giving for this holiday?  

Kiss Your Butt Goodbye Because There's Absolutely No Hope! (The Power of Negative Thinking)

     We've all heard of the power of positive thinking and the benefits of doing so, but what about the reverse--the extreme power of negativethinking?

     How many of you are familar with the famous urban legend of the railroadman who froze to death inside a boxcar freezer?
There are several variations of the story but the basis is as follows:

     There once was a man who worked for the railroad.  He was a pessimistic man who had the habit of assuming the worst in just about all aspects of his life.  He was negative and cynical and led a rather mediocre existence.

     One day, after long hours working hard repairing a train car, he accidently locked himself inside a walk-in freezer in one of the boxcars.  He shouted and beat on the walls of the large freezer trying to attract someone's attention, but all the other workers had gone home for the day.  There was no one around to come to his aide.

     The man panicked.  He looked around trying to find a way out, but he was stuck fast.  He knew he would freeze to death quickly if he could not escape the freezer.  Before long, he told himself there was simply no hope of surviving so he decided to leave a note for his wife documenting the last moments of his life.

     He found a piece of carboard and  a marker and began writing his thoughts.  He described how cold it was inside the freezer and how numb his fingers had already become.  He noted that hypothermia had already set in and that he was shivering uncontrollably.  His breathing was becoming shallower by the minute.

     His handwriting became shoddier as time passed and the affects of the extreme cold took hold upon his mind and body.  The last words he wrote were:  "I knew my life would be a waste.  I was cursed the day I was born."

     The man's co-workers found his body the next day inside the freezer.  An autopsy later revealed the cause of death as being severe hypothermia, or freezing to death.  This puzzled authorities and the man's co-workers because the compressor in the boxcar freezer had not worked for months.  The freezing mechanism had been completely removed.  When the man's body had been discovered, the temperature inside the freezer was about 55 degrees-nowhere near cold enough to freeze a person.  In fact, there were ventalation slots at the top of the freezer that allowed fresh air inside and kept the temperature consistant within.

     So, what killed this man?  Negative thinking.  It's a powerful adversary to all of us.  The man had resigned himself to certain death, so that's what happened.  If he had chosen to think positively, then he would have been found alive and well the next morning.

There is an old confucious saying:  The man who says he can, and the man who says he cannot, are usually both right.