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Aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It is a treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling oils. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. It has been said that certain scents can help with the body’s digestion, respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems. Certain aromas can help to alleviate pain and reduce bruising. Some scents can help with arthritis and with common muscle pain. Some smells can relieve headaches and ease depression and even help to improve memory. All of this has not been evaluated.
It is known that odors we smell have a significant impact on how we feel. In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. We have the capability to distinguish 10,000 different smells. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. Researchers have tried odor experiments only in the work place. According to the publication Communication Briefings, one Japanese firm reports that air scented with lavender cut keypunching errors by 21 %. Jasmine-scented air dropped errors by 33 % and lemon in the air was even better- this cut errors by 54 %. Lavender reduces stress. Jasmine relaxes. Lemon stimulates. Odors do make a difference.
Do we sometimes plough on with a project regardless, without any thought or concern for those people that the Lord has already given to us? It’s the Achilles heel of the evangelist, but Paul knows he cannot ignore the needs of his brothers and sisters who are already in Christ. Neither must we (neither must I) ignore them!
In the film ‘We Were Soldiers’ Mel Gibson is the tough battle hardened US Army Captain. He has a mission to complete, a mini great commission! However, before his men leave for Viet Nam he promises them and their families that he will be the first one to step on to enemy territory, and the last to step off it. He cannot promise that they will all return alive, but he promises that all 395 men will return, dead or alive. He has a mission, and he has plans, but he is always looking out for his men.
So too was Paul. He left Troas to search for Titus.
STRANGE INSIDE AND OUT
In May 2008, scientists finally completed analyzing the DNA of the platypus, a creature native to Australia that defies categorization under bird, reptile or mammal. The platypus is so odd that when the first specimens were sent to Europe in the 19th century, scientists suspected a hoax. The platypus has a bill and webbed feet like a duck, lays eggs like a bird or a reptile but also produces milk and has a coat of fur like a mammal. Even its DNA is an amalgam of genes.
A group of almost 100 scientists studied a female platypus, collected and analyzed her DNA and found that her genome contains about 18,500 genes, similar to other vertebrates and about two-thirds the size of the human genome. The platypus shares 82 percent of its genes with the human, mouse, dog, opossum and chicken. Of particular interest, the researchers reported, the analysis identified families of genes that link the platypus to reptiles (like those for egg-laying, vision and venom production), as well as to mammals (antibacterial proteins and lactation). The platypus lacks nipples; the young nurse through the abdominal skin.
(Source: "Platypus Looks Strange on the Inside, Too" New York Times May 8, 2008. From a sermon by Victor Yap, "In Christ Alone")
A SWEET SCENT
The story is told of a missionary to China who was in language school. The very first day of class the teacher entered the room and, without saying a word, walked down every row of students. Finally, still without saying a word, she walked around the room again. Then she came back and addressed the class.
“Did you notice anything special about me?” she asked. Nobody could think of anything in particular. One student finally raised her hand. “I noticed that you had on a very lovely perfume,” she said. The class chuckled. But the teacher said, “That was exactly my point.
You see, it will be a long time before any of you will be able to speak Chinese well enough to share the gospel with anyone in China. But even before you are able to do that, you can minister the sweet fragrance of Christ to these people by the quality of your lives. It is your lifestyle, lived out among the Chinese people, that...
FORGIVENESS WORKS IN THE AUSSIE OPEN
Who here is a tennis fanatic? This time of the year is dreadful for sleep; The Australian Open interferes in our life. But the other night something interesting happened.
Jelena Dokic publicly asked for forgiveness, said sorry for being a pain to the Australian public for her actions some years ago. And she thanked Tennis Australia for giving her another chance, even though she had publicly criticised them also some years ago.
Now the support she received probably indicates that many people have forgiven her. And Tennis Australia’s actions show that forgiveness does and can work, that it changes a person.
(From a sermon by Richard Schwedes, "God has authority of everything.....including your sins" 2/15/2009)
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER SAVES A MUSLIM
From Betty Lukens--Nabil Kareen was a truck driver in the army of his country. But Nabil was more than a truck driver; he used his truck for smuggling, which was against Army rules. Nabil carried watches and quinine pills wrapped in bundles and hid them under the springs of his truck and, even though his truck was searched carefully by Army police, they were not found.
Time and time again Nabil was stopped, and time and time again he was not found out. From the Army, Nabil always went home to his Muslim family where his gambling, abusive parents and uncle lived. Nabil resented the severity of his father and the unrest of family life. He hated the shouting, the cursing and the blows that landed so often on his face.
By this time the money had had been paid for smuggling was gone, and he must find a job. Nabil and many friends heard of a strange group of people who were doing a lot of building. They were Christians and surely, Nabil thought, this must be a government concern and there should be lots of jobs and lots of money to be had. He found a lot of people, 250 of them, building a road, putting in water pipes and building a College. But, instead of being a government project, he found out this group was religious. He was impressed by them and attended their church to see just what was going on in there. The sermon on the Word of God impressed him so much that he went into the town and bought a Bible, and then he found shade under a pine tree and began to read.
Nabil secured a job helping them with the construction and noticed that these peculiar people never cursed each other. Their language was pure. They loved and respected one another. All of this fit in with his reading of the Bible. God began to speak to him. Deep down in his heart, he knew he was a sinner. His first act of dedication was to throw away his pack of cigarettes. He told his family about Jesus but they cursed him. He heard of some local Christian meetings and in spite of the warnings of his father that he would be cast out of his home if he was ever baptized, he came up out of the water happier than he had ever been in his life.
(From a sermon by Davon Huss, Armor of God #2, 10/26/2009)
HELPING THE FALLEN
One of the most touching moments in NBA history took place in a 2003 playoff game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks. Actually, it happened before the game began.
Natalie Gilbert was a 13-year-old 8th grader who had won the chance to sing the national anthem a capella before the game. Even though she had been in bed all day with a flu, she was determined to do her best. She was obviously nervous, and a few lines into the song, Natalie forgot the words. She stood there embarrassed in the spotlight in front the crowd and a national television audience. It had to be the most agonizing moment in Natalie’s young life - and everyone there was embarrassed for her as well.
But after only a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Maurice Cheeks, the Trailblazers head coach walked to Natalie’s side, put his arm around her and helped her with the words. They started singing together, and soon the entire crowd was singing the national anthem. His act of helping Natalie brought the entire crowd into the song. There was thunderous cheering when they all reached the words, "o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
Natalie messed up, but fortunately there was someone there to help her recover, and she finished strong. Wouldn't it be great if Christians would could come along side our brothers and sisters who have messed up and help them recover spiritually so they can finish strong?
Everybody messes up, even Christians. But we don't have a very good reputation for how we treat them. Someone has said that “the Christian army is the only army that shoots its wounded." When a Christian sins, and it becomes public knowledge, we often refer to them as "fallen." They haven’t fallen from salvation, they've fallen down in their walk with God. But instead of extending a hand to help them up, many Christians react by kicking them when they're down.
(From a sermon by David Dykes, How Should We Treat Someone Who Messed Up? 8/11/2010)
For 51 years Bob Edens was blind. He couldn’t see a thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through five decades of darkness. And then, he could see. A skilled surgeon performed a complicated operation and, for the first time, Bob Edens had sight. He found it overwhelming. “I never would have dreamed that yellow is so…yellow,” he exclaimed. “I don’t have the words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can’t believe red. I can see the shape of the moon—and I like nothing better than seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course, s...
An American businessman visiting Hong Kong was
walking through the downtown streets looking
at all the different little shops, when he
came across a tatoo shop. He began looking at
the different tatoos and noticed one that
read "Born To Lose." He asked the store
owner "Does anyone really ever buy that
tatoo?" The store owner replied, "Yes,
sometimes, but before tatoo on skin, tatoo on
mind."
Too many people have a loser attitude that
shows up in how they live their lives.
Demonstrate the Gospel
R.W. Shambach told the story of a meeting he was in with T.L. Osborn. A young man who was a boxer and had been blinded by severe blows was also in the meeting. Shambach knew the man personally and knew that he was not a believer. Osborn called the man forward and prayed for him. As a young Bible college student, Shambach thought Osborne was making a mistake because God might not heal the man. The young man received his sight and later in the service gave his life to Christ.
Preachers often want to get people saved first, but the power of God to heal preceded the power of salvation. Shambach then quoted Osborn, saying, “If you cannot demonstrate the Gospel, you are not qualified to preach the Gospel.” The Apostle Paul said he did not come with eloquent words and impressive speech, b...
