Currently we are staying in a bed and breakfast in Carlisle which is just north of the English Lake District.It’s a largely agricultural community so there is more permanence and less change being talked about.  However what i really wanted to talk about is history repeating itself. In our luggage is a copy of a 20 year old book by Robert Beckman called “Into the upwave”. This was published in 1988 just after the crash of 87. Remember back then when computers were largely for geeks and no one had heard of microsoft? Anyway i will summarise some of the issues he raises below and then address the key areas in more detail in later blogs.

Beckman starts off by introducing Kondratyev who started off his career as a Russian agricultural economist in the days before the Russian revolution. He was the first person to identify the major long term business cycles. The success of his work came too late to offer any compensation as he then died in a Siberian labour camp.

The cycles he talked about were longer than any previously studied.Basically he saw four cycles as follows

Each peak corresponded with a war

1814 ( Naopleonic wars)

1864 ( Civil war in America)

1920 ( WW1)

1973 ( Vietnam)

( notice that WWII helped start the rise out of the depression of the 1930’s…but it was nowhere near a peak)

and the troughs were

1843

1894

and

1934

So you can see where he was coming from. He expected the cycle to bottom in the early 90’s and to then grow strongly, hence his title of “into the upwave”.

if the previous cycle frequencies were followed then the next peak would be around 2030 to 2040. So does this mean that the current malaise is just a blip on rising markets or maybe the introduction of computerised trading combined with the complicated financial derivatives has shortened the cycle lengths.

Also, and perhaps more worryingly after each peak there was a sharp fall followed by a minor secondary recovery and then just a long long drop in the markets.

So having established the background what else does Beckman talk about?

Maybe a few quotes will help here.

Very early on he established his pedigree by talking about his time on the trading floor.He then recounts meeting Charlie Meyer an old timer. Two days before the crash of 29 Charlie had said

“Too many dummies are getting rich.I’m getting the hell out”

He then goes on to quote from Warren and Pearson’s “The price series”

“Economic changes,drastic in character, occurred with such rapidity that it was difficult for the human mind to forsee them or even to grasp the significance of the changes after they occur”.

Anyway more to come in later blogs but for the moment we are looking on the map towards the coast of Northumberland and wondering about renting a self catering cottage in Seahouses.

Sudden and violent shaking of a part of the earth’s surface is called an earthquake. If the earthquake is mild and of moderate intensity there are mild tremors lasting only for a few seconds. It causes little or no damage. But a severe earthquake causes tremors of great intensity lasting for a few minutes and can cause great damage.

Earthquakes are caused from the cracking of rocks forming the earth’s crust on account of some internal pressure or force.

An earthquake is a terrifying sight and a horrifying experience. With the rumblings of the first tremor, terror-stricken people rush out of their houses and shelters in great panic. Houses, dams and other structures are rocked and they tumble down like houses of cards. Those who are not alert and caught unawares are crushed under falling structures or are buried under the debris. Roads and bridges crack, railway lines are twisted and uprooted. Water pipes, electric lines and gas mains are damaged. Fire and floods are the other two great dangers accompanying a severe earthquake because of the damage caused to electric lines or gas mains and because of a breach in dams. Sometimes there may be volcanic eruption from which red-hot lava gushes out and totally destroys villages and cities in its way. In such a case thousands or even lakhs of people perish. There is colossal loss of life and property.

Earthquakes usually come without any prior notice or signal and cannot be predicted. Nor is there any way to prevent them. In spite of all the scientific inventions and discoveries, man is just like a helpless child in the face of this natural calamity. The recent earthquake in Armenia (Russia) which took a heavy toll of more than one lakh people demonstrates this fact.

If you feel the Lord is leading into the area of counseling there are many Christian counseling courses available.  Your local community college may offer Christian counseling courses, or a Christian college or also many may be available online.  If a person or couple are seeking Christian counseling they usually look into a counselor who has earned a counseling degree from a reputable source.

Be Called to Christian Counseling

If you are directed by God to earn a Christian counseling degree He will fill you with a love and desire to help others.  These Christian counseling degrees and certifications will add validity to your calling.  In counseling sessions God will direct you to the appropriate biblical references with which you can advise people.  The Bible should always be the basis of your counseling.

Christian Education & Certification

The Bible has many examples of great men anointed to counsel and lead others.  It also demonstrates the results of those who seek counsel from the ungodly. In Leviticus Moses anoints Aaron and his sons.

Lev 8:1 -3  The Lord said to Moses,  “Now bring Aaron and his sons, along with their special clothing, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread  to the entrance of the Tabernacle. Then call the entire community of Israel to meet you there.” (NLT)

College leaders and professors will acknowledge before others, just as Moses anointed Aron and his sons, that you have demonstrated through your studies and actions, that you have been called to counsel others.

Seeking Christian Counseling for Debt

Finding the perfect Christian financial counselor may be as easy as asking your pastor.  Someone who has been well educated in the financial field is best. You may be interested in going into the field of Christian counseling and if you are have worked in the financial world this may be a great direction for you.

You want to be sure you are receiving reputable advise.  Check references and certification on the various Christian counseling debt services available before you visit.  Ask for recommendations from colleagues, friends or your pastor.  If you are looking online, read the testimonials.

Verify Backgrounds and Experience

By doing a quick online search you will discover that there are literally hundreds of Christian counselors available.  You can also find out online if they have been certified by the state where you reside and what colleges they attended.  Once you have checked on their qualifications and background you are able to make a wiser choice of a godly adviser.

Find more information Christian Counseling go to Christian Therapy

What kind of renewable energy you ot for will very much depend on where you are in the world. If you enjoy a reasonable climate and the sun shines for much of the year, solar energy will spring to mind.

If you have long winter nights where you live, chances are that your thoughts will turn to using the power of the wind instead.

Both solar and wind power have their plus and minus points.

Solar power needs daylight, even if the efficiency of modern solar cells means the sun can be hidden from view. If you’re in a hot area, the sun will be shining at the time you most need your power for air conditioning and other such items. In cooler climates, solar power almost certainly won’t be your only option, although it would still contribute to (say) heating your pool in the summer or solar power could contribute to running your computer in the day, your fridge and even some evening lighting for your garden or patio.

Likewise, wind turbines need at least a breeze in order to operate but they’ll also have an upper limit of windspeed, beyond which they won’t operate - if the wind is too slow you’ll get no power, if it blows too fast the turbine may struggle to keep up. Wind power also brings with it occasional times of no wind at all, which means you’d need a backup plan for those times. This also makes it harder to go “off grid” for your power needs if you rely solely on wind power.

Your next choice is whether to have your renewable energy system professionally installed or to give the DIY option a try. You can get a set of comprehensive renewable energy instructions to help take you down this path if you like, with the added advantage that you’ll be saving hundreds of dollars if you go down the DIY renewable energy path.

Not very long ago, if you wanted to compete for a decent job, or even for a spouse, all there was to worry about was competition in the local community. Now thanks to the Internet, you’re competing with the entire country. Soon, you’ll be competing with the entire world. Don’t dismiss this, it’s already happening. Millions of people in developing countries are learning English- and not just for the fun of it. They want their shot at the American Dream.

In my very humble opinion, life in these United States could soon diverge into two very broad classes: Those that want someone to take care of them because they can’t compete in a global playing field- and those that have learned the discipline to take matters into their own hands and do what they have to do to succeed- by disiplining themselves physically first. This is why I’m suggesting it would be a good time to get on top of your game in all parts of life. [Unless of course you think things are somehow going to get less competitive in the future.]

I’m not trying to get political here, however, I can imagine few worse fates than  this: Standing in line and having the government decide how big of a piece of the pie they think I deserve [or how big of a piece they think they can afford to dish out]. Would you call that freedom? I’d call it being enslaved to the consequences of your actions. I’m really going to risk offending a few people here, but think about this: Many employers now have a global workforce to choose from. Let’s say we get lucky and a job opening comes down to two American candidates. Everything is equal, except for one thing. One candidate is fit and the other is eighty pounds overweight.

If both applicants had the same qualifications [and health care costs weren’t even factored in] who do you think will be hired? Who would you hire? In my opinion the person that looked more disciplined would get the job. Discipline says hard working. Discipline says integrity. Fat does not mean lazy, however many people perceive it that way. I’m not trying to upset you! I’m not saying it’s fair! I just want you to think about the big picture. Maybe I’m totally wrong. Heck, I almost hope I’m wrong. I’d have no problem being totally off base on this one.

However, if you think there’s the slightest possibly I could be right. Then think about life twenty or thirty years from now- and get on top of your game physically right now. Doing that will get you on top of your mental game faster than anything. And do it before it becomes obvious that’s what everyone who doesn’t want to be in the pie handout line realizes that’s exactly what they have to do. Think about it, if you don’t have the disipline to pass up a donut- are you really all that ready to handle everything the future might throw at you?

What do you have to lose? Worst case you transfrorm your future into what you want it be. Best case, you’re prepared for a more challanging life.

There aren’t any areas where solar power cannot be utilised including: generating electricity and hot water plus of course it has the added benefit of being pollution free. However, much more work still needs to be done in order for us to economically harness the sun’s energy. The one major problem is storing the power for use when the sun is not as strong, on overcast days and when night falls.

As of the moment, the most-invested-in alternative energy source favored by many private investors as well as the government is the wind energy. Huge double and triple bladed windmills can be seen around the world, working constantly, day and night to produce large amounts of electricity. Of course, there is nothing new about the concept of a windmill for harnessing energy.

The windmills used today are massive compared to those used in the past and much more ‘high-tech’ and often referred to as ‘wind-turbines’. The only downside to this form of power is when the wind isn’t blowing, you cannot produce power. Of course, the power we need can come from other sources when this happens so currently we cannot rely completely on wind power even if we had sufficient farms to cater for our needs.

A massive quantity of power can be obtained from another source of alternative energy which is the hydroelectric energy. All that is required is a large body of water and gravity - this fall of water from a great height is able to turn large turbines which generate electrical power. As water is everywhere it has not generally been a problem finding locations where it can be employed.

The main problem with this process is the initial financial cost and the size of these dams means it is a lengthy project which does not come without it’s own issues. Building of dams is often the most common and effective means of controlling the flow of water to sufficiently provide the source in generating the needed power.

Conservationists are starting to be worried about operating a dam as it not only requires a lot of labour building it to store and control water’s potential and kinetic energy but it can also be risky and complicated. To produce power this way does not always require a dam, especially if it is only a small community that is being serviced.

There are other options that you may use especially if it is just to supply neighbourhoods or an individual office or home such as small run-of-river hydroelectric converters.

However, the most underused and under-rated form of energy is geo-thermal: this is the heat which is generated inside the planet beneath the crust. The earth’s inner molten core is the one responsible for transferring the heat into the water.

Power plants use a number of ways to draw this water to the surface and harness it into ‘free’ energy. When hot water is drawn up, it simply means that there is the need to gather steam. The Geysers is an example of a dry stream plant located in the region of about 100 miles north of San Francisco and perhaps the best-known of all geothermal power fields.

Alternative energy sources must be developed so that everyone on Earth can have reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly ways to run their cars, power their manufacturing plants, and heat and cool their businesses, schools, and homes. Alternative energy simply describes energy sources that are used as an alternative to fossil fuels. Earth 4 Energy is a manual that will let you generate electricity on your own. Generally speaking, it indicates energies that are nontraditional and have a small impact on the environment. Alternative energy technologies such as photovoltaics, wind turbines or biofuels attempt to harvest the abundance of nature’s power.

The renewed interest in this field of study comes from the undesirable effects of pollution (which can be seen all over the world), both from burning fossil fuels and from nuclear waste byproducts. Alternative energy is a long term growth industry. As the economies of the world continue to grow, energy consumption will rise. It is not even that much more expensive to build an energy efficient house or automobile. Alternative energy grants from national governments can act as a driving force in developing viable alternative energy for our daily consumption.

Solar energy continues to have potential, but it is not quite yet economically viable, nor will it be able to supply more than a small fraction of our energy use for another 10-20 years. The Review Earth4Energy site is dedicated to informing the public about how they can save the environment. Solar panels can provide plentiful power during the long hours of summer sun, but wind generators should be added to help support these systems through the winter months. Solar energy would obviously be a key part of achieving full energy independence.

The key to the intervention that goes without a hitch is planning, planning, planning. The goal is to present reality in a receivable way to the person who is out-of-touch. The ultimate goal is to free that person from chemical addictions. Your loved one’s response to intervention might not be so gracious, however, so it’s important that you arm yourself with facts, bring a loving attitude and plan for several weeks with the help of a professional interventionist before you attempt this.

The first step for an intervention is to choose the members to be involved. This group generally consists of three to eight people comprised of family members, friends, coworkers, clergy or a professional interventionist. Each person must be firmly committed and able to look the addict in the eye and say “You have a problem.” They must firmly resolve to end the cycle of enabling to really help the person. The team members must have intimate, first hand knowledge of the situation to successfully break through the addict’s denial. You must select people who have leverage and influence over the individual, who have the ability to make an emotional impact. In some cases, a seemingly helpless person like a young child could have the largest impact. Never underestimate the power of love. Prior to the intervention, a chairperson and a detail person should be chosen to facilitate the process and to keep a record of everything.

Prior to the intervention, certain decisions must be made. Part of the plan will include choosing a treatment center, checking with the insurance company to see what’s covered, pooling resources privately, working with other agencies to get the treatment subsidized if need be, and finding the best treatment providers in the area. The ideal abuse treatment facility is an inpatient or residential center, rather than outpatient treatment. A Medstat intervention study found that residential stays of 21-28 days were twice as effective in preventing relapses, as compared to outpatient stays of 7 days or less.

When planning the intervention, you’ll need a plan that guarantees the substance abuser’s presence. You’ll need to rehearse with all participants, all the way down to where each person will sit and the order in which the letters are read. Your location should be in a safe place in case the reaction is violent. A safety plan should be devised in advance. If the intervention is taking place in the abuser’s home, then arrive as a group 30 minutes in advance. Review objections and responses and hope for the best! While this may be a tumultuous ordeal, there is no substitute for love and honesty in the therapeutic process. Accept that this brief intervention may fail, as you can’t force anyone to get help if they truly do not want it, but help cannot be sought without your support net of encouragement.

There are Christian counselors available for most any situation. When choosing a Christian counselor find one who basis his or her advice on biblical wisdom. Wisdom taken from the Bible is both timely and practical. Almost any situation that may arise in your life has been addressed in the Bible. Well trained professional counselors that depend on the the Bible can offer a wealth of knowledge.

Christian Career Counseling a Wise Decision

Make use of the Christian career counseling that may be available at your church. Church Christian career counselors can be an exceptional source of wisdom. They not only base their guidance on the Bible but are often less expensive than a counselor found in the phone book.

Before the Wedding Invest in Christian Premarital Counseling

Investing in a few sessions of Christian premarital counseling just may be the wisest investment that you will make as a Christian couple. Through a short course you will discover great tools to enhance your marriage. Things like your differences and likenesses, ways to deal with difficult situations that may, and more than likely will, arise during your lifetime together.

Seeking Christian Marriage Counselors

Seeking for Christian marriage counselors is the wisest thing to do at the first sign of problems. Living in the world today couples are bombarded from every side with temptations and distractions. It is no surprise that so many Christian marriages fail. Christian marriage counselors can be found at your church or your fellowship may be able to recommend a professional Christian marriage counselor if they do not have one on staff. Do not end a marriage without first seeking help and advice.

By visiting your church and seeking advice from an on-site counselor for help or advice you will be heading in a healing direction. If your church does not have one available they may be able to recommend a Christian marriage counselor. Looking online or in the phone book is another option. Do read testimonials or get references from others. Be teachable and accept their wisdom. You may be able to save your marriage.

If the fees for counseling are a challenge for you talk to the counselor. I am sure they can work out a payment plan or fee that may be more acceptable. They realize that finances can cause pressure on a recent college graduate, newlywed or married couple with children. Your life’s goals and trials are God’s concern also and He wants you to succeed as much as you do.

Press and media outlets have elevated the issue in the public consciousness through their increased coverage. Being concerned about the issue is something that many of us are, thanks in part to the continuing debate and disagreements over the issue. After all, so much is at stake for our future family members.

Fighting against global warming does not have to take a lot of effort or money out of your pocket. There is entirely too much emphasis placed on vehicles and appliances that are energy efficient. Every little bit helps, and if you do not have the budget for the big items, there are less expensive ways to become proactive.

Your home is the key to helping you combat global warming.

If you are not using an electrical appliance, such as your computer, shut it off. As an added bonus, your electricity bill will decrease, saving you money as you help out future generations.

Reducing electrical usage by turning off all the lights and appliances is simple. This is not only a free way to help out, but you can also save money at the same time!

Another way you can help is by making sure your thermostat is not turned up too high so enjoy the comfort of wearing a sweater instead. The amount of reduction in toxicity your home produces can be substantial with a change in just a few degrees.

Many people do not understand the benefits to using energy efficient light bulbs, or how that differs from traditional ones. Another benefit that many users of these energy efficient light bulbs discover is an increased amount of savings on their electric bills.

A typical energy efficient bulb can operate for a year or two, making them last much longer than traditional light bulbs. Depending on where you shop, you may be able to buy these lights for around five dollars per multi-pack.

The contributions to combating global warming are not constricted to homeowners, as renters can help to. If you feel cold air sneaking into your house when it shouldn’t, speak to your landlord about making window repairs.

Though many people hesitate to bring items such as the hot water heater or insulating blanket up to their landlord, these tips can result in saving him or her money in the long run.

Not everyone can afford to buy an energy efficient vehicle such as a hybrid, and those people can still help out by examining their day to day transportation habits. First, examine how often you drive and if those drives are really necessary.

Could you walk, join a carpool, or take public transportation instead?

If you want to help fight global warming, you can easily do so by choosing to simply not drive three times you normally would during the week.