News

Black-Eyed Peas

Maggie — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:19:35 GMT

I don't know about you, but I've been eating black-eyed peas every New Year's Day for luck. I received the following
from an e-pal, and thought it was great knowledge.

BLACK EYED PEAS - Now we know how it all started. I grew up with this belief, but did not know the reason. My mother always served black eyed peas on New Year's Day; she said it would bring good luck in the new year. I've carried this tradition forward but never knew the reason behind it.

Black Eyed Peas

The story of THE BLACK EYED PEA being considered good luck relates directly back to Sherman 's Bloody March to the Sea in late 1864. It was called The Savannah Campaign and was lead by Major General William T. Sherman. The Civil War campaign began on 11/15/64 when Sherman 's troops marched from the captured city of Atlanta , Georgia , and ended at the port of Savannah on 12/22/1864.

When the smoke cleared, the southerners who had survived the onslaught came out of hiding. They found that the blue belly aggressors that had looted and stolen everything of value and everything you could eat including all livestock, death and destruction were everywhere.

While in hiding, few had enough to eat, and starvation was now upon the survivors. There was no international aid, no Red Cross meal trucks. The Northern army had taken everything they could carry and eaten everything they could eat. But they couldn't take it all. The devastated people of the south found for some unknown reason that Sherman 's bloodthirsty troops had left silos full of black eyed peas.

At the time in the north, the lowly black eyed pea was only used to feed stock. The northern troops saw it as the thing of least value. Taking grain for their horses and livestock and other crops to feed themselves, they just couldn't take everything. So they left the black eyed peas in great quantities assuming it would be of no use to the survivors, since all the livestock it could feed had either been taken or eaten.

Southerners awoke to face a new year in this devastation and were facing massive starvation if not for the good luck of having the black eyed peas to eat. From New Years Day 1866 forward, the tradition grew to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck.

How the Internet Got Started

Maggie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:52:38 GMT

HOW THE INTERNET GOT STARTED

Now it makes sense.

In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham

Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.

And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg.

Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com. And she said unto Abraham,  her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy  goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?"

 And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags  short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?"

And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in  between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will  reply telling you who hath the best price. And the sale can be made on  the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."

Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success.

 Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever  having to move from his tent.

 To prevent neighbouring countries from overhearing what the drums were  saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed  a language to transmit ideas and pictures - Hebrew To The People  (HTTP).

 And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy  horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical  Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.

 And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And, indeed, did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and  drumsticks.

 And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken  over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or  eBay as it came to be known.

He said, "We need a name that reflects what we are".  Dot replied,  "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner-Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham. Because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.

Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated  Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside.

It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating  Everything (GOOGLE). That is how it all began.

SO, OKAY, IT'S REALLY NOT 'NEWS', BUT I BET YOU ENJOYED READING IT !!!

Eat That Mint

Maggie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:51:35 GMT

MINT: it helps keep you in mint condition

Mint is a 'Cancer Crusader'. It contains limonene, a powerful anti-cancer agent that studies suggest can block the development of cancer cells and also can shrink them. (~ Ritva Butrum, Ph. D., vice president of research at the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.) Limonene hinders cancer cells from utilizing a protein that they need
to survive.

Mint also packs another cancer fighter - luteolin, which may inhibit the production of inflammatory compounds linked with the development of cancer.

Dr. Butrum also says, "Our best insurance is eating a wide variety of plant-based foods, including herbs such as mint."

The Daniel Rodriguez Story

Maggie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:51:53 GMT

The Daniel Rodriguez Story

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

Daniel Rodriguez, the 2011 Southern Pigskin Person of the Year, is a grown man embracing life with the passion of a child.

Struck by the news of his father's sudden death, Daniel Rodriguez closed his eyes in sorrow just a few days after graduating from high school. He later opened them in horror in the middle of a deadly battle with Taliban fighters. What happened in between was a blur.

There are now two Daniel Rodriguez's. One, a battle-hardened veteran with more memories than his mind can hold. The other, a young man eager to pick up where he once left off. A shell of what he has done, a silhouette of what he can be; Rodriguez is caught squarely between what was and what's next. As the names of eight inscribed on a bracelet suggest, he always will be.

At 20 years old, Rodriguez was making his second tour of duty overseas. He had first helped spearhead the Baghdad surge, surviving a welcome of IED blasts and random gunfire to his chosen occupation. He spent 12 months in Iraq, circling city streets in days that would demand 16-18 hours of armed patrol. The task was tedious and tense, unforgiving and unnerving. It was just the beginning of things to come.

After a little over a year back home in the states, Rodriguez's unit, Bravo troop 3/61, was again called to duty. The encore destination was Afghanistan, specifically the country's eastern mountain ranges along the Pakistan border. There, the circumstances were quite different. As the Army's northernmost Afghani extension, the unit operated outside of the parameters of traditional reach. These were troops dropped into obscurity, where survival tactics and keen senses were as critical as a rifle. Men were taken deep into the wilderness and even further back in time. The soldiers lived and functioned within the terrain. Basics like food, shelter and shower were fluid luxuries.

"The only things we received were water and ammo, that's it," Rodriguez recalled. "We were on our own for everything else."

A mere-classroom of people quite honestly overshadowed and overwhelmed by their surroundings, the unit would soon endure one of the most trying exchanges in modern U.S. history. A collection of boys from back home found their greatest fears brought to reality in the bloodiest battle of the Afghan engagement. Rodriguez was one of over 30 U.S. troops suddenly overrun by a Taliban force close to 400 strong in an area so far behind enemy lines that fixed-wing aircover was 30 minutes away. With communication hubs that were destroyed, vague logistical information and odds that would make any denominator tremble, the life of this Virginia-native would soon change forever.

The day of October 3rd, 2009, Daniel's sister Veronica woke up with horrible nightmares, covered in cold sweats. Rodriguez himself was the lone soldier up before dawn, waking and trekking 300 meters across camp to the lone computer within the base wire. There he planned to open his inbox and check email messages. Rodriguez, instead, opened the front door straight to hell.

Settled in a valley between mountain high ground, Rodriguez and his peers were hit with full-circle gunfire, rockets and mortars. The former high school football star at Stafford High School in Virginia, who was clocked at 4.55 in the forty yard dash, had to sprint back to position in the pitch black dark. Bullets hit around him like raindrops from above. Each splash was a cadre of lead ricochets into a million deadly shards. No strangers to fighting or surprise attacks, the unit dug in. Accustomed to short battles, though, just over two dozen troops aimed high and shot from the difficult position of surrounded-and-outmanned.

Rodriguez expected fierce fire. This, however, was different.

Bursts that normally subsided after a half-hour only continued and increased in rate of fire. As information was gathered piece by piece, it became clear that this was an invasion of hundreds, from all sides, to the isolated position. A world away from reinforcements, and cut off from communications, the situation quickly became dire. The only option was one that offered a clear line of demarcation: life or death.

The enemy was relentless as they advanced on the makeshift outpost. Gunfire spread through the camp along with a wave of grave concern as to what might be. The objective of the atypically large native force was to gain control over a critical supply route in the region. Rodriguez's unit had little protection from the onslaught, the cover of the night sky ultimately serving as one equalizer in the chaos.

"I thought at times that this was going to be it," he reflected.

As hours crept by and turned to days, footsteps replaced mortar fire as the enemy broached camp lines. The Taliban had overrun what meager boundary was in place and a unit one-tenth the size of its' attacker was under direct siege. Falling bodies blended into a whirlwind of sights that should never be seen, noises that shouldn't be heard. As Rodriguez scrambled for clarity, anything within reach was a resource.

"At one point I had to crawl to my buddy's body and get his weapon," he remembered of the fighting. "I went through so much ammo it was crazy."

The trauma mounted. Rodriguez was hit with shrapnel in his legs and neck and was pierced with a bullet fragment through the shoulder. From a psychological standpoint, he had seen his friends fall. Despite the wounds, he fought on. Throughout an 18-hour fight at the Battle of Kamdesh, Rodriguez served his country and those around him in the face of unspeakable adversity. Chronicled that day was a story of him sprinting across the camp after one of his peers had fallen.

The scene was so devastating that twice the unit called for a "full winchester" over the radio. The army's request for direct, extreme on-target bombing, such a move is considered a last-ditched effort in battle. Only three times during the entire Afghan tour was that call made. Bombs soon were dropped right on top of the madness, with American troops huddled in their barracks amidst hope and prayer.

"I thought the shockwaves were going to kill me," Rodriguez explained. "I just held on."

Nearly three full days after he got up a bit earlier than his peers so he could use the computer, the fighting ceased. Eight Americans laid dead. Over 20 were seriously wounded. This was a battered and bruised unit that wouldn't need to roll up their sleeves to reveal their battle scars. Rodriguez, in fact, would go onto wear his just beneath.

Once the adrenaline had dried out of his system, moments of deep reflection rushed in. Though barely old enough to buy a Budweiser, this feeling was nothing new for Rodriguez. The setting was one world away; the sickness, however, hit home.

Four days after his high school graduation, Daniel was shot right in the chest by a single telephone call that completely changed his life. His father Ray had suffered a heart attack and died. The news was a devastating blow for a young man with dreams of college and continuing his athletic career. Rodriguez was a standout football player, having starred as a receiver and defensive back in the Commonwealth's highest classification. A young man confused and full of questions, he opted instead for a different path. Seeking guidance, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

"I remember my dad telling me, 'don't go into the infantry' and of course I did," Rodriguez sighed with a grin.

Then came two tours of duty overseas, a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. More than all, came the memories of eight brothers-in-arms; fallen heroes who now rest on a silver bracelet on Rodriguez's wrist. They live in his words. Stories of battle, tales of friendship, memories of life and all that comes with it. As he uses them for perspective, Rodriguez is now using them for direction.

Just a few short years ago his home base in Colorado had received tentative news of his death. The now 24-year old has instead remarkably overcome his wounds and is training six hours a day in order to realize a childhood dream of playing college football. Just 140 pounds as a senior in high school, Rodriguez now stands 180 pounds and carries the mental toughness no workout can provide. He craves the team unity, longs for the competition of the game. More so, he has a commitment to uphold.

"I told one of the guys over there," Rodriguez said looking at his wrist, "that I would go play college football."

Talking with the young man, you can tell the sport has a special place in his heart. Recollections of his high school career, speculation into his future, spark a change in his demeanor that should come with streamers and a birthday cake. A smile so wide bursts from within that his cheeks tug at the corners of his eyes. Ask him about playing college football and Rodriguez's face brightens and he starts shaking his head, as if he can't believe this second chance is his.

Rodriguez has been contacted by both Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech and Mike London at Virginia. Various other schools have taken notice including Georgia Southern and Oklahoma State. Rodriguez is keeping his options open. He is excelling in his classes at the community college and is eligible to transfer to a school of his choice. His tuition will be covered in full by the G.I. Bill.

The story, still unfinished, is one of a true American hero. Despite the medals and ribbons, Rodriguez doesn't see it that way.

"The guys who didn't come back are the heroes," Rodriguez insisted.

Moving forward, making a college football team is the next challenge in a life that has thrived at overcoming them. Rodriguez can now, at least on his good days, act his age. Hunting and fishing are two of his favorite pastimes. An outdoorsman with a true appreciation of all that he does, he is approaching his time with a strong vigor and zeal. Opportunity, consider yourself forewarned; Rodriguez will taking full advantage of any and all he can find.

"Daniel is an inspiration. He wears more than the tattoo and his heart on his sleeve. He's made up of courage, which comes from his faith," explained country music star Rodney Atkins, who saw Rodriguez's YouTube video and was immediately taken aback. "He's lived in the Lion's Den and now he is unstoppable. I believe God has an incredible plan for Daniel's life."

From the tragedy of his father through the calamity of war, this is a full-grown man embracing life with the passion of a child. The 2011 SouthernPigskin.com Person of the Year continues to work towards a roster spot at the college level, nine men train with him in his mind. Years after an unexpected detour, life is next on the schedule. Two different stories are finally meshing into one.

Four days after graduation, Daniel Rodriguez's world stopped. Consider this his day five.

Buy American in 2012

Maggie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:11:53 GMT

Buy American in 2012

by Roger Simmermaker

1. Cotton Swabs

Don't call them Q-Tips. The Q-Tips brand is made in America , but guess what? The company that owns the brand isn't American at all. The name of the company is called Unilever (ever seen Lever 2000 soap?), which is a joint venture between England and The Netherlands . An American alternative would be the CVS or Walgreen's brand, which are both made in USA as well for about the same price. Both CVS and Walgreen's are American-owned companies and are based in the United States .

2. Deodorant

Suave and Dove are both owned by Unilever, so the profits go overseas and the taxes are paid overseas to foreign governments when you buy either of these brands. Want an American brand to buy and save money, too? Go to the Dollar Tree store and buy the Speed Stick brand for $1 each, which is made in USA by American-owned Colgate-Palmolive. If you drop five or ten dollars, you won't have to go back to the store for this item anytime soon.

3. Bath Soap

Irish Spring sounds like it might be foreign, but it's actually an American brand made in the United States . Ivory soap is American, too. Jergens is made in America, but Jergens is owned by a Japanese company. Think of it like this: Just like a Toyota made in the U.S. is still a Japanese car, a bar of Jergens soap made in the U.S. is still a Japanese soap. Dial is owned by a German company.

4. Mustard

French's mustard isn't French. It's owned by the British. Grey Poupon sounds like it might be foreign, but it's owned by an American company, and is made in America .

5. Pasta sauce

Did you know Ragu is owned by Unilever, the foreign-owned company we learned about in examples one and two? Prego is an American brand owned by the Campbell Soup Company, and is made in the United States .

6. Disinfectant

Lysol and Clorox are both effective disinfectants and there is little if any price difference between the two, but only one is American owned. Lysol used to be owned by Kodak, but Kodak sold it to a British company in 1995. Clorox is American owned.

7. Coffee

Two of the most popular brands in the United States are Maxwell House and Taster's Choice, but only one is owned by a company based in the United States . Taster's Choice is made by Switzerland-based Nestle Ð the largest food company in the world. Maxwell House is an American brand. The coffee beans for both brands are imported, however. For truly American coffee from tree to cup (the beans come from Hawaii ) check out the USA Coffee Company at www.USACoffeeCompany.com. MY HUSBAND AND I DRINK COMMUNITY COFFEE, MADE IN MY HOMETOWN, IN THE U.S.A.

8. Cosmetics

Revlon is an American-owned company and many (not all) of their products are made in the United States. Maybelline was American-owned until 1996 when French-owned L'Oreal bought the company for $758 million. Mary Kay is also an American-owned company.

9. Bottled water

Now that we know the French own at least one brand many probably thought was American owned, what other popular brands are owned by companies based in France ? You might be surprised to know that Dannon bottled water (and other Dannon products like yogurt) are French owned. Aquafina (owned by Pepsi) and Dasani (owned by Coca-Cola) are American brands.

10. Peanut Butter

They say choosy mothers choose Jif. Choosy patriotic Americans choose Jif, too, because Jif is American-owned. Skippy is owned by our favorite foreign brand Unilever.

11. Apparel

Why shop at Wal-Mart and buy foreign-made t-shirts when you can buy American-made t-shirts from All American Clothing Company (www.AllAmericanClothing.com) where they use 100% U.S.-grown cotton for just $7.99. Are the shirts in Wal-Mart that much cheaper? I have to admit I don't know because I don't shop there. But I do know Wal-Mart is the biggest seller of Chinese-made goods on the planet.

Okay, I had to give another example because this is probably the best one, and since winter is still here, we might be adding some hot chocolate to our shopping cart at the supermarket. Swiss Miss is American owned, but Carnation is owned by the Swiss.

The good news is that the more we buy American-owned and American-made products, the more powerful and positive impact we will have on the U.S. economy. And the even better news is we can usually do it without any extra cost or inconvenience to the consumer. Awareness is the key.

About the Author: Roger Simmermaker

Roger Simmermaker is the author of How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism and writes "Buy American Mention of the Week" articles for his website www.howtobuyamerican.com and WorldNetDaily.com.

Roger has been a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, and has been quoted in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week among many other publications.

How Americans Can Buy American

Post Office Box 780839

Orlando, Florida 32878-0839

Tel: 1-888-US OWNED (1-888-876-9633)

Emergency Backup: 407-234-4626

Email the Author: Roger Simmermaker

Web: http://www.howtobuyamerican.com

Aspartame

Maggie — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:12:24 GMT

Disclaimer: I, Maggie Thibodeaux, do not endorse or
recommend anything in the following article. I, however,
was taken off Nutra Sweet and any other edibles with
Aspartame by my Neuroligist in 1991, so there must have
been a reason. You can form your own opinion.

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain and so sick she just knew she was dying.

She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.

She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.

On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.

I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.

I told her not to open it and to stop drinking the diet soda!
I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better.

She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.

Well she called me and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda... and literally dying a slow and miserable death.

When she got to Florida March 22 all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery.And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.

If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label: DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME' marketed as 'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal' and 'Spoonful.'

In the keynote address by the EPA it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.

Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!

Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.

The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear We've seen many cases where vision lossreturned and hearing loss improved markedly. This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,

Cramps

Vertigo

Dizziness

Headaches

Tinnitus

Joint pain

Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!'

People were jumping up during the lecture saying 'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels!

Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!

Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!

These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.'

Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.

Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.

Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage.

Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.

So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!

Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'

It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.

There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'

Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.'

I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.

And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?

This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.

Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.

The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms.

The bill was killed.

It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well you're informed now!

~ Author unknown, but you can do your own research.

Lord, Prop Us Up

Maggie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:26:26 GMT

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this.... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn.. I've been around a long time..

I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't . So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

Your State's Preamble

Maggie — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:15:55 GMT

Do you know your State's Preamble?

Alabama 1901, Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble: We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, Preamble: We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble: Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.

Florida 1885, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

Georgia 1777, Preamble: We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble: We, the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

Illinois 1870, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble: We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..

Louisiana 1921, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble: We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble: We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble: We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction

Michigan 1908, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings

Mississippi 1890, Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble: We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. Establish this Constitution...

Montana 1889, Preamble: We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution.

Nebraska 1875, Preamble: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble: We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble: We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..

New York 1846, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble: We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble: We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this...

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2: All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance.....

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble: We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing....

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble: We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties.

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble: We, the people of the republic of Texas, acknowledging with gratitude the grace and beneficence of God, in permitting us to make a choice of our form of government, do, in accordance with the provisions of the joint resolution for annexing Texas to the United States, approved March first, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, ordain and establish this constitution.

Utah 1896, Preamble: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777, Preamble: Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI: Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other

Washington 1889, Preamble: We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution

West Virginia 1872, Preamble: Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility....

Wyoming 1890, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong! If you found this to be 'Food for thought' send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I hope you were.

(Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)

Let us bring God back into America!

GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Being Thankful News

Maggie — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:25:36 GMT

"Being Thankful"

Thanksgiving is closely approaching. Everyone is thanking the Lord for His blessings, thanking each other, and most are thanking Him for the 'spread' of food on our Thanksgiving table. I wonder why we don't do that EVERY day? After all, the Lord is with us always and provides for our needs every day, so having a thankful heart continuously seems only right.

Matthew 28:20
" Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with fun
and love for each other, and yes, gratitude over-flowing. Maggie

__________________________________________________________________________

Being Thankful in All Circumstances
by Betty Miller

One of the most important keys that will make it possible for us to walk in kingdom living is our expression of praise. The Lord's prayer begins in an attitude of worship and praise, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth" (Luke 11:2). Praise is the will of God, and heaven overflows with it.

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:5-7).

Since the presence of praise is voiced continually in heaven, our voices should also be lifted up in praise to our Lord. In 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 we are told to, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The Lord tells us here that we are to have an attitude of joy, thanksgiving and prayer at all times, no matter what the conditions or circumstances are that surround us.

This verse does not mean that we are to thank God for bad things and tragedies that come our way. It means that we are to remain joyful no matter what is happening in our lives because we have the Lord, and in Him we shall overcome no matter what the devil is trying to do to us. The Lord does not want us to thank Him for the bad things that happen to us because He did not send them. He is not the author of evil. We are not to become bitter over life's circumstances, but rather to continue to rejoice in the Lord. It is the will of God for us to rejoice no matter what comes. It is not the will of God to receive evil things as from Him. It is an insult to God to thank Him for accidents, sickness, tragedy, etc. He does not send those things to us, the devil does. We are told to resist the devil, and submit to God. (James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.") We are to love and rejoice in the Lord in spite of what the devil tries to do to us.

One of Satan's favorite schemes is to send something bad into someone's life and blame it on God. If he can get people to believe it is from the Lord, he has an easier time convincing them of his next lie, that God has failed them and deserted them. He follows this up with a further lie, "Why go on serving a God who does these kinds of things to you?" Satan's real target is to destroy our faith in God. He just attacks different areas to get at different people.

Our prayers should be in an attitude of praise even in the midst of our trials. We should lift our voices and praise the Lord like this, "Father, I praise You and love You, and no matter what the devil is trying to do to me. I know that You shall bring me through victoriously! Show me what I need to do, Lord. Show me the door that I have opened to the enemy. I resist him in the name of Jesus, and I command him to leave with all of his oppression and attacks. Jesus, You are the Lord of my life, and I submit to You and will never deny You no matter what happens. Praise God!".

Instead of praying like that, many Christians fall for the enemy's lies and come under condemnation and suffering. They begin to question God and even become mad at Him. The fault is not the Lord's but our own. We miss His complete victory because we have attributed Satan's attack to the Lord. We can even open the door for the enemy to come against us by not having a cheerful and rejoicing heart. We may complain and gripe to God about our plight in life instead of using the weapons He has given us to overcome the devil. Telling our troubles to God is not complaining, but blaming God for them is. One of the greatest weapons is our weapon of praise. We must praise God that He is there for us and lean not to our own understanding.

5 Things People Buy Because of Peer Pressure

Maggie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:26:02 GMT

5 things people buy because of peer pressure

By Janet Fowler

Peer pressure is often thought of as something that only affects young people, especially teenagers. Though peer pressure impacts people of all ages, and in various aspects of their lives. Peer pressure often has a big influence on a large portion of our society's purchasing decisions. People often feel the need to keep up with the most modern technical gadgets, and to keep up with the images that we are exposed to every day in the media. This, in turn, impacts how we spend our hard-earned dollars.

Cigarettes

Given all the health concerns associated with smoking, it's hard to believe that this habit is still as popular as it is. Teenagers often feel huge peer pressure to smoke cigarettes. Whether it be due to a feeling of invincibility, associated with their young age, a lack of caring for the consequences, an attempt to create a specific image or simply an act of rebellion, many teens pick up this habit. Tobacco companies rely on this. Smoking is a tough habit to kick, so many of these teens will likely smoke for many years to come. Peer pressure, with regard to smoking, can also have a reciprocal effect, as many people also quit as a result of peer pressure.

Smartphones

High-tech gadgets seem to change and evolve at a never-ending pace. Almost everyone in our society feels the pressure to keep up with these changes. The desire to own smartphones keeps everyone continuously plugged-in and attached to our email, Facebook, instant messenger and an endless barrage of applications. A basic cell phone hardly seems good enough these days, even though some studies suggest that many people don't actually use a lot of the added features of their smartphones. Regardless, many people are so attached to these devices that people were completely outraged when BlackBerry experienced system outages in October 2011, despite the fact that their basic cell phone services were still operational. And, as this technology continues to evolve, people continue to buy and replace their smartphones with the latest devices that offer new services and have greater capabilities. It has been suggested that the smartphone could possibly render alarm clocks and point-and-shoot digital cameras obsolete, as people use the alarm clock functions on their phones more frequently and the cameras in these devices continue to improve. This technology doesn't appear to be going anywhere. In many ways it makes communication easier, but with that comes an expectation that people are plugged-in and available at all times.

Alcohol

Much like cigarettes, alcohol is another habit that many people pick up as teenagers. Teens, who are eager to fit in with the "popular crowd," will often drink as a means to fit in, or alternatively, as an act of rebellion against their parents or society. However, peer pressure, with regard to alcohol, is not only limited to teenagers. Many young adults feel immense pressure to go out to bars and clubs to drink, once they're of legal drinking age. This continues further into adulthood when people feel the pressure to engage in a social drink. Perhaps it's pressure to join the work crew for a Friday afternoon beer, or a tendency to order another drink at dinner just because your friend does. This habit is a very social one, and isn't generally problematic for most people, though for some people this social habit can be a segue into a serious addiction.

Apple Stuff

Apple products are absolutely everywhere these days. Whether it's iPods, iPads, iPhones or MacBooks, it's almost impossible to escape these trendy tech gadgets. What is it about Apple products that has people lining up for hours when they're first released? Besides their user-friendly appeal, and the immense need for many people to keep up with evolving trends and technology, Apple has cleverly surrounded their products with a certain cachet. Apple products are just cool. Every new launch offers users new capabilities, causing the most loyal of fans to rush out and replace their, now old, technology with the latest offering, so they can remain on the cutting edge of technology with the latest and greatest Apple gadget. Another purchasing trend, that Apple has identified, is the tendency of their customers to purchase one Apple device, and then to go on to purchase other Apple devices. This peer pressure is then being translated into brand loyalty, a great trend for Apple. Apple has also managed to appeal to a broad cross section of society, with everyone from young kids all the way up to senior citizens purchasing Apple products.

Cars

Whether it's that first beaten-up car that teens save up for once they get their driver's license or a hot sports car purchased by someone middle-aged, cars have a way of inspiring a sense of freedom in most people. Many feel a desire to purchase a car that in some way defines them. Whether that be an environmentalist who buys a hybrid or a wealthy business person who purchases an expensive luxury car, society impacts almost everyone's vehicle purchasing decisions to some extent. A vehicle is such a large purchase that many people want to put quite a bit of thought into it. Marketing, public opinion and status often play into these decisions to a large degree. Many people feel an impulse to "keep up with the Joneses," and purchase cars that help them fit into their social circles or to pump up their egos. This is certainly not only limited to young people. For most teenagers and young adults, simply owning a car might be enough of a status symbol. It's also important for people to consider how purchasing a car will impact their overall financial situation. Expensive cars often come with big payments and higher insurance rates.

The Bottom Line

Peer pressure affects aspects of everyone's life, from childhood to old age. Whether it be through our clothing choices, food purchases, where we live, where we shop, where we go to eat or what we spend our entertainment dollars on, we are constantly impacted by those around us and by society at large. The important thing is to consider how these purchases impact you and your financial situation. Buying a luxury car is probably not a smart idea for most people in their 20s who are just starting out. Purchasing the latest and greatest tech gadget might not be the wisest decision when the technology seems to evolve at such a rapid pace. Constantly giving in to peer pressure could lead to debt. Consider each purchase before you make it, and the reasons behind the expenditure. If you're only doing it to fit in or to look cool in front of your friends, perhaps you need to step back and rethink whether you need it at all.

A NATION'S PRAYERS

Maggie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:26:19 GMT

Can He Count on You?

"And the Lord said, 'Who then is that faithful and wise steward,

whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household,

to give them their portion of meat in due season?" (Luke 12:42)

We often praise God for His faithfulness. We're thankful that we can always count on Him to be there for us. But we rarely consider the fact that He needs us to be faithful too.

It's true. God needs people He can count on. He needs faithful and wise stewards He can trust over His household. In this final hour, He needs faithful believers to team up with, to manifest Himself in the earth more than ever before.

God doesn't need me? Yes, He does. Ever since the Creation, when He gave man dominion over the earth, He's needed people to work with Him to get His will done here. You can see that all through the Bible. When the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and He wanted to lead them out, He teamed up with a man, Moses, to get the job done. Moses' responsibility was to stretch out his hand in the earth and command the will of God to be done.

Why did He choose Moses? Because He needed someone who was faithful and would dare to act on His Word. He needed someone He could count on, and He knew Moses was that kind of man.

Psalm 103:7 says, "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel." If Moses hadn't been faithful to know God's ways, the children of Israel would never have seen God's acts!

God needs you just as He needed Moses. He needs you to be faithful and alert to spiritual things. He needs you to be someone He can trust to know His Word and be obedient to it. He needs you to be a steward who will stretch out his hand like Moses did so that He can perform signs and wonders before the people.

Will you be faithful? It's a decision you have to make. No one can do it for you. Right now, commit yourself to be that wise and faithful servant. Say in your heart and with your mouth, "God, You can count on me."

~ Gloria Copeland
__________________________________________________________________

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - II Chronicles 7:14

Pray for protection and care for our troops—that they will be empowered to serve wisely, and pray for their loved ones as they make continued sacrifices for the cause of freedom.

Rise up to cry out to God for our nation, our leaders and our troops. Pray for a spirit of repentance to take hold in America that individuals, communities and institutions will repent of sin and will hunger for righteousness and godliness. Pray for the character of our leaders.

James 5:16 says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Pray for our nation and its leaders, and our Armed forces who are defending our freedom. The key is to be right with God as we pray.

Is there anything unconfessed in your life? Then confess it. Is there someone you need to forgive? Then forgive. God has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our prayers. This great country was built on the foundation of prayer since its founding. We each have a responsibility to continue praying for our country as they did in the very beginning. Please join me as we, together, do our part in rekindling our rich cultural heritage of prayer for our great nation.

- John Lind, President/CEO; The Presidential Prayer Team __________________________________________________________________

"Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history. From the beginning, You have been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right arm has saved us. We have been amazingly and graciously blessed.

"Today, we confess our sin of not responding to Your right to rule in our lives and our nation. Too often we have despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we are now facing the consequences of our disobedience. Draw us back to Yourself that we may return to Your ways once again. Without You we can do nothing. You have promised that if we honor You, You will once again honor this great nation.

That is our fervent prayer. For Your honor and glory we pray, Amen." -
Dr. Henry Blackaby __________________________________________________________________

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance." ~ Psalm 33:12

Praying With Liberty
by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

With Liberty we lift our hands
beseeching God to bless our land
and guide our leaders to a place
where righteousness prevails.

With Liberty we stand erect
although ashamed and circumspect
about the countless times we’ve failed
to stand for what is right.

With Liberty we raise a flame
confessing that we are to blame
for how we’ve bowed to tolerance
and closed our eyes to truth.

With Liberty we dodge the tide
that splashes us from side to side
and keep our heads above the fray
that harbors culture’s lies.

With Liberty we clutch a book
without concern for how we look
when critics see us with God’s Word
and simply roll their eyes.

With Liberty we lift our eyes
and look into the spacious skies
to seek God’s vision and His peace
and focus on His grace.

__________________________________________________________________

Perhaps never before has there been a greater need for prayer in our nation than right now! And our prayer must be of greater fervency than ever before. While we have been “praying” in recent years, the spiritual condition of our nation, our churches, and our families has been in decline. Great uncertainties seem to be crying out for real answers. Therefore, let us pray ardently until God responds and sends a mighty revival to us and our land.

The entire people of God must participate together in sincerity and passion. And we must not be content with anything less than a great revival! This is what God desires, and it is up to us to respond to His heart for our day.

Begin now to pray, and encourage others to do the same. We can experience together the great and mighty wonders of God again in our nation.

- Henry Blackaby - __________________________________________________________________

Since the earliest moments of our nation’s history, our leaders have called for national days of prayer, repentance and fasting. When an impasse had been reached at the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin called for prayer with these words: “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men… And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I therefore beg leave to move--that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business…”
__________________________________________________________________

The Secret of the World's Oldest Marathon Runner

Maggie — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:37:15 GMT

The secret of the world's oldest marathon runner
~ written by Nosheen Iqbal

Fauja Singh, 100, who completed the Toronto race, says it's all down to avoiding stress. Fauja Singh says he lives 'a very simple life'.

'Anything worth doing is going to be difficult," says Fauja Singh, the 100-year-old runner who this week became the world's oldest person to complete a full-length marathon, crossing the line at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront event in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds. (And he didn't finish last: five came in after him.)

At five foot eight and weighing a little more than eight stone, Singh is a spindly figure under his heavy turban and wispy beard. "Girl, you tell me: has anything you wanted ever been easy?" he says. "I was so worried we [he ran with his trainer] might not make it that we didn't tell our relatives we were doing it. I just wanted to break that bloody record."

He is referring to the record set in 1976 by a 98-year-old Greek athlete. "I lost my speed in this race," says Singh, "but it was the thought of that old man that pushed me through the last four miles. That and God."

Speaking in Punjabi, Singh says running has given him purpose and a sense of peace. "Why worry about these small, small things? I don't stress. You never hear of anyone dying of happiness." And Singh is, by his own admission, pretty happy. Having moved from India to England in 1995, after the deaths of his wife and son, he lives with family in east London, and leads what he says is "a very simple life".

He took up serious running when he was 89 and says it was his good kismet (destiny) that led him to meeting ex-professional runner Harmander Singh, his trainer and friend. The pair were introduced through a neighbour after Fauja began asking how he might enter the London marathon.

"I train him for free," says Harmander. "It's an honour for me." Together, they have clocked up more than a dozen full and half-marathons.

Harmander says health tests taken last year showed that Singh "has the bones of a 35-year-old". And yet, Singh claims never to drink milk. "I'm scared of building up phlegm," he explains.

Asked about the rest of his diet, he chuckles. "I could go on and on, but it's not a new or magic thing, is it? Punjabi people know eating and drinking is important, but I just eat the minimum of what I need: some daal and roti, gobi and chai – I'd probably be dead if I was full all the time."

Singh runs between 10 and 15km every day – "you have to keep your engine going" – and at 94, became a poster boy for Adidas, alongside David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson.

"I'm not really interested in all the rupees, I give it to charity," he says of his sponsorship deal. "Money can be saved and spent and lost and made. At my age it's nice just to do this. Come on, who wants to talk to this old man? Everyone now! And it's because of the running that all these people keep showing me so much love. Look how blessed I am. What's not to be happy about?"

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A NATION'S PRAYERS

The Secret of the World's Oldest Marathon Runner

The secret of the world's oldest marathon runner~ written by Nosheen Iqbal

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

The secret of the world's oldest marathon runner
~ written by Nosheen Iqbal