Swiroset.com

After Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, Colombia is the fourth largest economy in Latin America. It is one of the only countries in South America with two coasts: the Pacific and the Caribbean. This provides global investors with a huge shipping advantage. It has also had sustained economic growth and moderate inflation which makes it a promising market to export to Colombia. There are also five different malls in the country.

With all these positive points, it stands as the newest and emerging market that gives global companies a great opportunity to venture out. Here, let’s discuss how to export to colombia – the challenges, opportunities and strategies:

challenges:

• The existing government framework requires open bidding and public bidding. There could be a lack of transparency and fairness in the bidding.

• Second, only firms registered under Colombian law were authorized to provide legal services. International law firms had to form a joint venture with a local law firm.

• To bid on Colombian government contracts, commercial presence was a requirement.

• For international banking, there is a requirement to maintain a commercial presence in the country. Insurance companies have restrictions regarding the provision of policies under certain conditions where insurance policies are not considered equivalent to bank guarantees.

Opportunities:

Despite all the challenges it faces, Colombia offers global businesses with a plethora of opportunities. Let’s discuss some here:

• Infrastructure projects planned in Colombia will require most or all of the following services. Project financing, subcontracting of public works, logistics, construction of equipment for public roads and airports.

Some other areas of interest to international investors could be water treatment, water supply, electric power generation, oil and gas exploration, and pollution control equipment. Transportation equipment, defense and security items and services are also in high demand here.

• Airport services and the improvement of existing infrastructure are seen here as a great opportunity for foreign investment.

• The key sectors that have always attracted the attention of trade in Colombia are: oil and gas, petrochemicals, renewable energy, telecommunications and refineries.

• Other export opportunities include cotton, wheat, corn, soy products, auto parts, food and beverage processing, etc.

• Here too there is a high demand for packaging equipment and medical equipment.

Entry Strategies:

Before going into the details of how to export to Colombia, it is equally important to analyze your market entry strategies. Here are some tips:

• An agent, representative or distributor in Colombia would be your best bet. This requires an adequate contract to comply with the Colombian Commercial Code.

• Essential to negotiate trusted contacts and a professional relationship.

• You can offer excellent after-sales services as a strategy.

• Affordable financing and competitive prices could be the key to your entry compared to others competing for the same.

• Attending trade shows and advertising there could be a perfect way to get noticed.

• Finally, it is very essential to be able to communicate in Spanish.

If you started out with no connection, no talent, no capital, or feel like you’re out of luck, that’s okay. You can still achieve great success in life if you wanted to.

Success doesn’t have much to do with talent, education, connection, or money. Success is more about bringing out the best in you to influence the world. As long as you commit to striving for an outstanding result than ordinary people, you can be successful.

It is said that success is a skill. Anyone can adopt it and thrive from there. Therefore, adopt these 5 common characteristics of highly successful people and you will become one…

1. Successful people are entrepreneurs

They make things happen. Look at Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett, Michael Jackson, etc. They seem to have all the odds against them, but they are able to overcome all obstacles and achieve incredible success in life. This is because they are the hustlers.

Extraordinary people are always on the go. They are proactive and make things happen instead of waiting for instructions or waiting for things to arrive. They are the first to attack and act. They seem to be able to change things and make things move.

This is what you have to do too. Be an entrepreneur, get things done, be proactive and don’t wait for things to happen before you act.

2. Successful people dare to dream and take bold action

If you study the success stories of all the great people, you will know that they have big dreams. Michael Jordan wanted to be the best basketball player, Steve Jobs wanted to revolutionize the entire computer industry, and George Lucas wanted to make the first space war movie with Star Wars.

They dare to dream big. Not only that, successful people also take bold steps. Simply dreaming about what you want is not enough. You need to take action to make this happen. Too many people dream their dreams, but never actually do anything to make them come true.

If your dream isn’t big enough, it will never motivate or drive you to take action. And if you don’t take action, your dream will never materialize. So dream big and take bold action.

3. Successful people believe in themselves and their creations

Do you believe in yourself? Do you think you can achieve incredible success in your life? All extraordinary people believe in themselves. There is nothing special about being ordinary. If you decided to live an ordinary life, you can be like everyone else.

However, if you want something different; you want extraordinary success; then you have to think differently and believe in yourself and your dreams. Look at Steve Jobs, he believed in all of his creations, like the iPod, the Mac, the iPhone that changed the smartphone industry, and the iPad that everyone wanted.

So trust that you are destined for great success. Believe in your visions and your creations. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one would.

4. Successful people have extreme focus

Great people always know what they have to do and do it with their full attention. When you multitask and do a few things at the same time, you are spreading your effort. It is better to have a successful business than to have 5 half-baked businesses that consume your time and effort.

Ask yourself, what is the one thing you can do well that if you focus all your energy on it, you will create an extraordinary result there? Michael Jordan focused his efforts on playing basketball, he trains all day, improves and becomes a successful basketball player.

Can you imagine if Michael Jordan plays tennis, basketball and learns to sing at the same time? Can he still achieve the same amazing result that he had today? It is very likely that it is just ordinary. Therefore, focus on the one thing that can make you extraordinary and do it.

5. Successful people never give up.

You can’t give up if you want to be successful. If Henry Ford gives up his vision of mass production of automobiles, the world today will be very different. If Steve Jobs gives up, I don’t think we’ll have iPads or touchscreen phones right now.

Great people are able to achieve great results because they don’t give up. When you give up, everything will go to hell. You wasted your time and throw overboard the effort you poured earlier. When you want to give up, think about how far you’ve come.

Like an arrow. It can only be fired by pulling backwards. The same applies in life. If you are facing difficulties and life is dragging you back, get ready, because it is going to launch you into something big. It is the darkest before dawn. Never give up.

These are the 5 common characteristics of highly successful people. Remember, anyone can be successful if they want to. You have to be an entrepreneur, get things done, have extreme focus, dream big and never give up.

Have you been trying to seduce a straight man but without success? Seducing is an art. Whether you are a man or a woman, you need to know a few basic things about seduction before you can be successful at it. Women are generally inclined towards small talk and long conversations, while men are more direct. Thus, seducing a man is very different from seducing a woman. Do you want to know how to seduce a straight man?

Here are some things you’ll want to remember the next time you’re trying to seduce a straight man.

First of all, when trying to seduce a straight man, you should not sound pushy or aggressive, especially in public. Most likely, the straight man you are trying to seduce would not like to display his sexual desires with men or his bisexual interests in front of his friends and colleagues in a public place. Therefore, it is better to avoid embarrassment and avoid any sexual gestures in public. Your body language can totally influence his thinking about whether he wants to have sex with you or not. They usually don’t want other guys throwing themselves in front of other people or at a party.

Second, if you want to seduce a straight guy, try to do things that get his attention or intrigue him into looking at you. Let’s say you meet a straight guy at a party and you’d like to try your luck with him. In order to seduce him at the party, you could try talking about an interesting topic with other people. Perhaps a business that played a key role in the company’s stock or its breakthrough with a lucrative business might interest you. As a result, he will talk to you more about this topic and that is when you start to seduce him.

Most of the time, it’s important to choose the right guy before you start seducing him. It is essential that you collect all the body vibrations and facial gestures to find out whether or not he has any chance of attracting a straight man. You don’t want to end up in embarrassment every time you seduce one, do you? So be careful, you have to choose the right guy before you start seducing. Being rushed can lead to a lot of embarrassment and embarrassment. At the same time, you don’t want to be so slow that he can’t pick up any signals or react appropriately, leading to an awkward situation for both of you.

In general, a bisexual or gay man can seduce a straight man if you are clear but subtle in the way you carry yourself while talking to him. Attracting him can be even simpler by simply sharing personal contact information with him and then suggesting her interests at a later stage in the conversation. If you find a suitable opportunity to show his bisexual or homosexual interests and indicate the same with the correct gestures, you have a better chance of being able to seduce a straight man successfully.

While trying to seduce a straight man, try not to suffocate him with a bunch of sexual cues and body gestures. Not only will this negatively affect and suggest negatively on his part, it may even make him uncomfortable in his company. As a result, they may avoid seeing you or avoid any contact with you. Seducing a straight man is very simple if you just take care of a few things before you start going full throttle. So, it’s all in your hands whether you want to seduce a straight man or completely scare him away forever.

For many people, marriage is a lifelong relationship. It begins when a man and a woman decide to live together as husband and wife. Normally, there is a small ceremony during this time, where various friends and family members come to witness the beginning of the marriage. However, even without such a ceremony, when a couple decides to get married, they are recognized as husband and wife. It is shortly after marriage that many couples begin to face challenges such as how to deal with an overprotective mother-in-law. This happens when a mother of the married couple becomes overly protective of her ‘her child’.

For some parents, it is quite simple to let the children go off and have their own families when they are adults. However, for some people, it’s not that simple. Some parents refuse to admit that their children have grown up and married. They want to be around them to make sure their spouses treat them well.

Although both men and women can be overprotective of their married children, the case is more frequent in women. They are called mother-in-law. It does not matter if it is your son or daughter who is married; they always want to be protective. Sometimes they are protective for genuine reasons, while other times they are guided by selfish motives. However, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that you prevent those parents from wreaking havoc on your marriage, should you be married to their son or daughter. Below are some tips on how to deal with an overprotective mother-in-law.

1. Establish a foundation of trust between you and her. Give her reasons to trust you and believe that you are capable of taking good care of her son or daughter without being pressured to do so.

2. Establish channels of communication with her. In this way, you will learn why she is so protective. You are probably not the problem. Rather, she could be the problem and she’s just overreacting because she feels like you’re taking her son or daughter away from her.

3. Avoid being overly possessive of your spouse. In this way, the mother-in-law could abandon her militant attitude and stop being overprotective with her son or daughter.

4. Cultivate friendship with your mother-in-law. By doing so, he might stop seeing you as a threat and start seeing you as a friend.

5. Get people she trusts and respects to talk with her about how she feels about her attitude and overprotectiveness.

6. Don’t try to come between her and her spouse. Doing so would make her more protective, as she will feel that you are trying to steal your spouse’s affection.

To position yourself for a good sandbox game, you can’t retreat to your corner and turn your back on challenges that make you want to do exactly that: turn your back on them.

You must face the circumstance.
Retreating is not a sign of weakness, in fact building a ‘golden bridge’ for someone to reframe their retreat from a tough stance to being open to their ideas is a technique to help you keep moving towards a better solution. .

For example, you can ask for their opinions or ideas, give them options to choose from, or let them know that you are willing to continue looking for solutions together.

Leverage their input with your ideas.
This strategy could help them take ownership of the agreement process and save face with their colleagues and counterparts.

One thing I learned from the Harvard Negotiation and Leadership Program is that when it comes to tough negotiations, people often want to “save face” with their colleagues and counterparts. Although it is important to save face and look good for yourself and others, it is especially difficult when the parties to the relationship or negotiation have taken a tough stance.

Another example is my friend Bernie from the Ford dealership down the road from where I live. He mailed a card to a customer who, after shopping around, decided not to buy Bernie’s car from him. The card had a gold bridge on the front and the inscription encouraged the gentleman to consider the Ford dealership if he ever needed another car. The man came the following week and bought his wife a car, saying he thought Bernie would have been mad at him for shopping elsewhere, but the card proved otherwise.

There is always a win-win solution when you seek the highest and best for all parties involved. If you can’t find your way, give me a call, because the high cost of conflict is avoidable and the profits can be used for better things.

Have you ever wondered how male porn stars get so big, penis size wise?

Maybe you just shrugged it off and thought “good genetics” was to blame. But the more you watch adult movies, the more you realize how unlikely it is that many of these men are blessed with superior penis size genetics.

The truth is that there are some tricks in the trade when it comes to penis enlargement. There are some “secrets” to why so many of these guys are way above average.

Here are 3 secrets on how male porn stars enlarge their penis:

1. Behind the scenes. I was aware of some behind-the-scenes footage of male adult movie actors in the moments before they were in front of the camera. And what I saw was unusual and somewhat shocking in how easy it was to get a bigger penis quickly. First of all, I noticed that a lot of these guys didn’t look that “huge” at first in the flaccid state (this is the normal, non-erect state of the penis). They seemed quite normal. But then they started to do something. They would grab his penis just before the head (and remember this is off-camera, moments before they perform on camera) and start “pulling” his penis. They would basically stretch out their penis and hold it for a few seconds, release it and repeat. Each guy seemed to have his own method as to how much he pulled or stretched. And some guys would use a very slow massage pull with each hand, starting at the base and keeping it fully extended on the head. But essentially, the results were the same. The boys would appear noticeably larger just before the camera came on. It really was so remarkable. Some guys went from a visibly average size to a seemingly larger than average size. Essentially, these guys were simply doing repeated pulling or stretching, which lengthened the flaccid penis, making it appear much larger. I would say that this removal process really took no more than a few minutes, although I would also say that these guys are experienced and probably have their removal technique down to a science where they can achieve a larger penis size in no time.
2. The great visual trick. This is something a lot of guys may have heard of, but this visual trick really needs to be emphasized. It’s all about shaving your pubic hair. Tell me the last time you saw a male porn actor with pubic hair in full growth. Of course you haven’t. Now tell me the last time you saw a male performer with ANY pubic hair. Maybe from time to time, but not very often. This is because they know all too well how any amount of pubic hair can visually take away from the appearance of oversize. In fact, most male artists are so aware of this that they don’t even waste their time. They’ll shave it all off. Now, actually, this really isn’t necessary. You can achieve a visually larger size simply by trimming your pubic hair, mainly around the base of your penis.
3. The Jelq exercise. If there is a technique that male actors in adult movies use to try to increase the size of the penis permanently, it is the jelq exercise. Jelqing, as it is often known, is an exercise that involves repeatedly stroking the penis while it is semi-erect and lubricated. These are slow, controlled movements, performed by alternating hands, for a certain number of sets and repetitions, usually 4-5 times a week. What this does is increase the size in both length and girth. And unlike the entrainment techniques mentioned above, these gains are permanent. Gains are generally most noticeable when fully erect, which of course is perfect for male performers as that tends to be the state they are primarily in on camera. The reason jelqing is so popular over other manual lengthening or girth exercises (such as pumps or extenders) is because of the safety factor. No artist can risk injury or even minor visual damage for which other methods are sometimes known. The jelq exercise uses only the hands and is considered the safest technique available to increase the size of the penis permanently.

literature issues

The world is changing at a fast pace. It becomes more and more like a giant stage with numerous postmodern scripts flashing tremendously before our eyes.

Do not share this opinion? This is just a brief reminder of recent news:

Geneva, September 10, 2008 – The first beam from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider successfully traveled the 27 kilometers of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator at 10:28 this morning.

A European court says the idea that a new supercollider project could create a “celestial void” (good name for black hole) and eventually consume Earth is worth discussing, but the project may go ahead on schedule anyway. .

We wake up every morning to a cheap 70’s sci-fi movie. Just a mirror reflection of the “state of the art” in human evolution. You have to admit it. We split the atom, the center of everything, and in doing so we create chaos.

Contemporary Poets reflect this chaos. Postmodern literature does the same. Select the fragments. Out of the chaos, modernists and postmodernists draw fragments of life around them. They then leave it to the reader to put these fragments back together.

But don’t allow yourself to think in traditional ways when approaching modern and postmodern issues. literature questions. You have to be open to the experience and it will make sense! The modern author intentionally leaves the work open to interpretation by readers. Endless endings, much like the world we live in. Are these just signs of new artistic trends or a definitive literary answer to literary questions? of a new altered reality?

literature response

It is increasingly difficult to get today’s new media generations to acquire a taste for reading classic literature, given the powerful influence of cinema, the Internet and the circumstances mentioned.

You can blog, phlog, vlog, and podcast, all for free, and get ready, grateful readers too. You can write and publish your own books (eBooks) at a fraction of the cost of a printed book. You can say that this is a letter from the bright side of life. Anyone can be a writer and writing doesn’t look very good anymore.

There are opinions that chatting on the Internet or frequently sending messages through mobile phones harms our children’s language skills.

Communication and language skills have improved with the advent of the Internet. Basically, as we chat more, whether it’s through the net, email or mobile phone, we write more, express more and somewhere, communication skills improve and fear of English, French, German, Serbian or any other language disappears.

Emerging trends and technologies in literature

Understanding the symbolism of the new literary medium can seem like a terrifying experience. The first step to understanding is observation. So let’s look at what are the main carriers of literary response in new millennium.

collaborative writing

Wikipedia’s definition of collaborative writing (this famous web encyclopedia is an illustrative example of collaborative writing itself): “The term collaborative writing refers to projects in which written works are created by multiple people together (in collaboration) in instead of individually”.

There is a saying “teamwork makes the dream work”. Collaborative writing can often lead to books that are richer and more complex than those produced by individuals. Having many people working on a project has added to the creative process. Plus, they can be very supportive of each other, and you never know where the story is going! Endless endings?

Begin to recognize postmodern symbols?

Another analogy: instead of the sequential method of tracing in traditional writing, collaborative writing draws all means of interactivity into the creative process. Through the use of communication tools such as the Internet, mobile phones, collaborative writing software, etc. , the writing process is deconstructed and reassembled, managed preferably by the group, the community, even the readers – the audience, instead of being alone and selfishly controlled by one person.

Literature born of chaos. Is it another symbol of postmodernism that we have just discovered in the practice of applied literature?

That is why, despite many tangible complexities related to the idea of ​​Collaborative Writing, it presents a phenomenon of respectful literature. It has come to stay. The main challenge in the future will be how to put it in the written context, “acceptable to all”, instead of continuing to deny its relevance.

desktop publishing

Thanks to digital technology and the distribution possibilities offered by the Internet, small publishing is now more feasible than ever. Independent voices can be made available to the general reading public at affordable prices, providing new titles, both fiction and non-fiction.

However, setting up and running a small publishing house can seem like a daunting task. Acquire international standard book numbers, purchase a unique Internet domain name for your publisher’s website, determine a niche for your publishing efforts, locate the most appropriate book printer for your needs, contact book reviewers Small press friendly and sending out attractive press kits, visiting small press trade shows, and networking with other small publishers are just a few of the pieces of the puzzle that many freelance writers are unprepared or unwilling to tackle.

While the big publishers can claim most of the profit margin, the small publishers continue to be more and more alive and kicking among the small business group.

Literature Display

This is a “hot term”, one of those that can make you look smart at the party. However, the roots of literature visualization go back to the first half of the last century. We all remember “The War of the Worlds” by HG Wells, the famous radio broadcast, and few of you also, fondly remember Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version with a star like Richard Burton as narrator-protagonist.

In its broad context, the visualization of literature involves all interpretations of literature by different media. From recorded storytelling, children’s literature reading video sessions by popular movie stars, big-budget movie projects, literature digitization and e-book publishing, to major international projects like Project Gutenberg, for example. The Book Teaser Videos industry is becoming more and more prominent.

Another important aspect and interpretation of the term Literature Visualization is related to new and novel writing techniques. Summarized in two words: “Show, don’t tell”. Anticipating the growing aspirations of the new generation of readers who watch many movies and mostly think visually, authors tend to think of their books as mini-movies, with multidimensional characters with a defined point of view.

Means of dissemination in social networks and new models of copyright

In the era of WEB 2.0, Social Networks create a completely new medium to distribute the message to the masses.

The music industry was the first to recognize the full potential of the Internet and online communities. Many popular music stars and bands published their work first on the Internet. They promptly understood the potential of live and up-close interaction with their audience and the benefits it brings in the short and long term, respectively.

The same processes are developing within the literary community. The main issue of copyright was successfully addressed through the introduction of the ingenious Creative Common License that offers creators the best way to protect their works while encouraging certain uses of them.

Literature is changing inexorably, closely following global trends. For literary scholars, authors, and consumers, it is important to recognize the significance of contemporary literature’s questions and the symbolism of literature’s genuine response to the challenges of the new age. This new understanding will add quality tools to our literature arsenal allowing us to enjoy it in several new and exciting ways.

A lighted makeup mirror is a must have for all women who want to make sure their makeup application is perfectly done. The main purpose of such a bathroom accessory is to aid in clear viewing by means of natural light focused on the face. This is especially useful for evening makeup application when brightness is lacking. However, lighted makeup mirrors provide adequate lighting for women to go through normal beautification routines before going out on a date at any time of the day.

While there are so many types and designs of magnifying mirrors, finding the best one may not always be so easy if you have no idea what features to look for. To find out more about what type of light will work best for you, it is recommended to start your plight by learning more about the most popular types available for makeup mirrors.

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is gaining popularity among home appliance manufacturers. On average, LEDs have a longer lifespan compared to other luminaires available on the market, reaching up to 50,000 hours. These are not sensitive to changes in temperature and therefore the lighting remains unchanged whether the air conditioning is on or not. It is believed to be ideal for makeup mirrors due to the low heat it emits, making it safe to use even up close.

Fluorescents, on the other hand, have long been used in most homes and commercial establishments. However, when it comes to makeup mirrors, they may not always be recommended due to some of their downsides. The neglect that fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury is enough to avoid the toxic effect it can have on human health and the environment. Also, electrical faults can lead to drastic accidents as these bulbs can easily catch fire, smoke or odor.

As for incandescent lighting in makeup mirrors, these can represent dizzying expenses due to the high demand for electrical power required, considering the possibility of frequent use. Also, the filament used to make such bulbs is very sensitive and could easily break with a light bump or jolt. In addition, the service life is the lowest, usually ending after 1200 hours of use.

As a conclusion, LED is by far the best option for lighted magnifying mirrors due to a number of reasons. Aside from practicality and safety, safety is a given. When the lighting is insufficient or unnatural, chances are you are applying too much, too little, or the wrong makeup. LED produces more natural lighting that keeps you looking your best, especially when outdoors, at presentations, or during performances.

When shopping for a bathroom mirror, keep this helpful information in mind along with your personal preferences in terms of features to make things a little easier.

All of these things [trials, temptations, tribulations] they are wonderful opportunities to confirm or deny our commitment to Christ. It is an opportunity to defy temptation and stand up for what is right, despite peer pressure (Matthew 10:32-33). We can make things easier or harder for ourselves. Either you are totally convinced that God’s way is right and worth living, or you are not sure and continually risk breaking; tormenting yourself and sending mixed signals and confusing signals (Matt. 6:24; 7:16). When you are at the crossroads, it is here or there. You cannot have both (Rev. 3:15). You should have made up your mind at baptism.

Will you honor your decision or break your vows? Those who have chosen to follow the Noble Path cannot afford to play with fire, flirt with death, or risk living on the edge (Jude 23; Zechariah 3:2). They have to learn to quickly say no to sin. “He who doubts is lost.” So they must be “caught in their tracks”. They know that it is now or never, do or die, and that nothing can compare to what God has in store for them (Hebrews 11:25-26; Matthew 13:46).

The fire of God will purify you or destroy you. The choice is yours. Will it become a great success or will it end in miserable failure (Mal. 3:2)? You might as well leave your lust in the dust, because everything in this world is about to end and a new world begins; therefore, God expects us to take notice and act accordingly (1 John 2:17; 2 Peter 3:11). Just as God has something in store for his saints, he also has something in store for sinners (2 Peter 3:7). Don’t worry, everyone will get their fair share (Rev. 22:12).

Use of available resources

Having a clear vision of the Kingdom of God and a sober vision of things to come, we can overcome every obstacle in Christ (John 16:33). But how can we keep our heads up when the whole world is crashing down around us (Luke 21:28)? Realizing that we are much closer to the time when God will pick up the pieces and start anew (John 6:12; Acts 1:6). But how can we avoid “losing it” while we wait (Rev. 3:11)? By being “baptized!” We must be immersed in the Word and saturated by the Spirit of God (Luke 3:16). That is the only way to be “in Christ.” That is an atomic statement. It is not meant to be just an empty spiritual cliché. It’s packed with POWER and ENERGY!

Our growth and development depends on how often (and to what extent) we take advantage of our available resources (Matt. 13:23). Only we can hold back or back down (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

We are authorized to exercise “veto power” over any unlawful thought or action. We must wield the Spirit of God (Romans 8:13) and learn to handle our lightsaber like an expert (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15). We are commanded to seek and destroy (2 Corinthians 13:5; Ga. 5:24), and to follow our Leader wherever he goes (Romans 8:14; 1 Peter 2:21).

The flesh and blood of Jesus are our rations (John 6:47-63). The Word of God can energize us and his Spirit sustain us, but it must become our daily bread. Are we using what we have been given, investing our assets wisely, or are we simply wasting our “time and money” (Isaiah 55:2)? You have to use it or you will lose it (Luke 19:11-27)! We will really need this heavenly assistance to “walk on the waters” and not let our hearts sink within us, whenever we hear rude comments or insensitive comments from Christians, people who we hope understand our situation and appreciate our efforts (Ps. 41:9).

God expects us to get out of our way, to forgive and forget, when we burn (Col. 3:13). He doesn’t want us to fall into the trap of arguing back and forth (1 Peter 3:9). We are to share Scripture, not exchange cutting remarks (1 Cor. 14:26; Ps. 50:20)! As Satan seeks to divide and conquer, may he instead find unity in diversity (1 Corinthians 12:12). Since we have such a high calling, let us not act below ourselves.

rising breads

Some Christians don’t know how to deal with homosexuality. Everything is new and scary for them. That is understandable. But now they have an obligation to learn how to handle themselves when faced with this problem. We must be patient with them and pray that they will be tolerant with us. We must not force them with “everything you never wanted to know about homosexuality!” They could get sick. Everyone grows at their own pace. Expect some “growing pains” along the way. We must accept and respect these facts of life and avoid sibling rivalry.

Meanwhile, we can try to make the best of a bad situation (Rom. 12:18). Don’t be critical, but be careful. Don’t trip anyone up or help them overcome their mental block (Rom. 14:13). This is the way of love: do not hold a grudge!

What about the victims of AIDS? Are they victims or did they knowingly endanger themselves? Should we befriend these social outcasts or let them lie down in the bed they’ve made? What about sympathy? Am I my brother’s keeper? Can’t I weep over the suffering that sin causes (Jeremiah 9:1)? Don’t these “lepers” need love? They are not necessarily worse than others (Luke 13:1-5). Time and chance brought them down (Eccl. 9:11). They need our prayers and tender loving care, not our cold-hearted stars. Also, if everyone who has sinned got sick, we would all be in intensive care! “Except for the grace of God, here I go” had better become our attitude. God showed his love for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).

Masturbation: is it right or wrong? He is the lesser of two evils, but he is still evil. Didn’t Jesus say that if you’ve desired someone, you’ve already had “sex” with that person? Sex is mental, not just physical. Isn’t masturbation often accompanied by explicit fantasies? What is the difference between them and dirty movies or dirty magazines? Don’t they all add fuel to the fire? Aren’t you tempted to comply? Doesn’t it weaken your will, surrender your determination and ruin your spiritual day? Isn’t lust like a drug: intoxicating and addictive? There is no “time out” for a Christian. He asks God for help in this area and knows that he will receive it. He learns to resist sin, not God.

Same person, different perception

Homosexuality is here whether we like it or not. I have been all over the world and I have seen that it is everywhere. We can’t just wish for it because it won’t go away. Pretending it doesn’t exist isn’t fooling anyone but yourself. We have to face the facts, regardless of how uncomfortable they may make us feel.

As stated in the “Family Network” section of “Better Homes and Gardens” (when they published my November 1992 letter/issue): You may be a parent or friend of a lesbian or gay man. Don’t pretend if you have; just remember that nothing has changed about that person except your perception of him or her. Treat them according to her personality, not her sexuality. Perhaps you would deny that it could ever happen in your family or intrude on your circle of friends. Don’t fake it if he does. It’s not the end of the world. The sun will continue to rise and life will continue. Maybe you are not sure about your own sexuality. This much is for sure: everything you have ever loved or enjoyed about your friendship or company remains the same. Don’t be mad if they didn’t tell you. Such anger would only justify their fears of being “found out.” Maybe they didn’t want to risk losing your friendship. It obviously means a lot to them. Express your disapproval of their practice, if necessary. But reject it, not them. Is that asking too much? Life is too short to allow misunderstandings to arise between us. We are encouraged to be reasonable; not engage in emotional debates or heated discussions (Isaiah 1:18). Let’s avoid such distractions in the front row. Remain cool, calm, and collected (2 Timothy 2:23-25). Build bridges, not walls. Make your point and leave it.

a big happy family

So there, now you have it. What the Bible really says about homosexuality. I guess I did something right as I get complaints from both sides: the Christian and gay communities. It just goes to show that you can’t please everyone! Some say I’m too tough; others say I’m too slow. Everyone at least clean something. Others are initially discouraged, but are later encouraged to make the necessary changes in their lives (2 Chronicles 7:8-11).

Some might even smell, “I told you so.” If so, they have missed the point. Those prejudiced preachers may deliver the same basic message, but their style and tone of voice is not like the Father’s (John 10:1-5). This little brochure is a “love letter”, not hate mail! Not everyone who tells the truth has the right attitude or motivation. “A truth that is told with bad intentions overcomes all the lies you can invent.” We must help gather, not disperse; encourage people to come to Christ, not to shut up their heels; to make it easier, not harder, to repent (Acts 16:16-18; Philippians 1:15-18).

“He only deserves his life and his freedom who conquers them anew every day” (Goethe). May we become stronger and more deeply appreciate our deliverance, making sure we never take it for granted (Deut. 5:15). Caution cannot be stressed enough. We have to be very careful not to fall back into our old rut, going nowhere (Gal. 5:1). We cannot afford a relapse into sin that would only send us into a tailspin (John 5:14). We must be homosexuals in recovery, improving and strengthening ourselves (2 Timothy 2:26).

it’s a daily struggle

If Christ gave everything, His everything for this relationship, can’t we at least sacrifice a little? Is sex really that important or is it worth dying for? I know he feels good, but he won’t feel so good in the Lake of Fire! May your love for God be greater than your lust for men (Isaiah 56:4-5).

The Jewish proverb that “every beginning is difficult” is true. But that old saying not only states a fact, it offers us hope that things will get better with time. They do. We just have to hang in there. Climb Jacob’s Ladder one run at a time. Don’t give up when God hasn’t! I know from personal experience how difficult it can be, but I also know that it is worth it. I wouldn’t have given up on John, my ex-lover, for God’s sake if I didn’t believe what I’ve written! I went through hell, at first, really wondering if there is an afterlife, a resurrection, if Jesus is the Christ, if homosexuality is incompatible with scripture; What if he was completely wrong? How could I find another lover like that, etc.? But I have survived and become stronger. I don’t take my beliefs for granted, I know they are true!

Old habits and ways of thinking can be replaced. New habits and ways of doing things can be ingrained. The divine nature can begin to replace our human nature, because God can and does heal minds and bodies! He is familiar with broken hearts and unhappy lives and can fix them (Matt. 11:28). We can be made complete in Christ. He wants us all to become “One Big Happy Family” – the Kingdom of God.

When my siblings and I were growing up, the most attention grabbing gifts were the ones that really helped us imagine and pretend we were doing something interesting or important.

In 1965, the year Mom and Dad got divorced, there was very little money for Christmas. But, because the toys we received that year were very thoughtful and invited us to use our imaginations, they helped our imagination and creativity flourish. These toys ended up being loved and enjoyed for several years.

One of those toys was a general store that was about 4′ x 2′ x 5′. It was made of cardboard. And you can’t believe how many hours the three of us played with that thing.

We had a storefront complete with window, clock and brick walls. There was a counter, shelves, some items to sell, and money for transactions. We were ready for business!

You would almost think that thousands of dollars were invested in this “store”, that the brick was real and that the wooden shelves and counter were mahogany, if you saw how seriously we take our roles as customers and store workers.

Long after the tent crumpled up and disappeared, I thought about it and how much fun it was to play with.

Children love to pretend! They can’t wait to grow up! Pretending allows them to feel a little what it is to be an adult. And while kids can pretend they don’t wear anything at all, they really love being able to pretend with things that support the roles they’re pretending to have. That’s why toys are so popular!

But what some manufacturers forget is the terrain. And, for certain gifts, especially those that somehow relate to a particular type of transportation, when you leave out the ground or terrain, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to help kids further explore an added dimension of their imagination. . Think how important tracks are for toy trains and racing cars!

When some friends of ours invited us to their little boy’s 4th birthday which was going to have a farm theme with real animals etc, I decided to find a little farm and tractor as a gift for him. I discovered the Playmobil brand and found his adorable portable farm and tractor.

I don’t remember exactly when I realized that I only had to make a garden or growing area for this gift. But, it was pretty quick. It’s almost as if the girl from 1965 took control of me and said, “This will be good. But it would be a lot MORE fun if we could have the tractor working in a field!” After all, without land growing the food that the animals will eat or that will be sold to the community, how can the farm function?

So with that, I started planning. I had to work fast. The gift had to be created quickly. The birthday party was the next day!

The earth needed to be portable, just like the rest of the gift. So, it would have to be a mat with a center fold and handles. The tractor had to be able to fit properly in the field so she could till the land, weed and help with the harvest. And the more three-dimensional the garden, the better. So, if the soil the vegetables grew on could be higher than the tracks the tractor ran over and if the vegetables looked like they were growing out of the soil, that would be great.

In fact, I already had a lot of the materials, foam board, glue, silk leaves/flowers, ribbon and thread, some ink, paint, and brushes. I went to the local fabric store and bought some ribbons with simple brown and green patterns and some interesting ideas that looked like vegetables.

Garden rows, tractor tracks, dirt road access and grassy areas were first drawn in pencil. And a fair amount of time was left between steps for the glues and paints to dry. The gift was easily completed in time for the party!

Although everything was measured beforehand, I felt I had to confirm the correct functioning of the finished gift. Therefore, the tractor was carefully removed from its packaging to ensure that it would work in the field. yahoo! It worked very well. The girl in me was very excited for the birthday boy. She would love to be a farmhand if the new farmer needed her help.