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Tens of thousands of people in the Western world have literally been exposed to or are using holistic medicine methods, which claim to treat the "whole" person - body, mind, and spirit.
The occult revival and dissatisfaction with traditional medical treatments, sometimes justified, have opened the door to a wide variety of alternative therapies in society.
Indeed, Time magazine (November 4, 1991) reported that alternative medicine is "now a $27 billion a year industry in the US," noting that 30 percent of those surveyed had tried an unconventional therapy.
According to Medical World News (May 11, 1987), the total cost of alleged healthcare fraud is approaching $30 billion annually.
Sponsors of holistic health techniques and New Medicine thrive by offering patients simple solutions to complex illnesses, as well as practices and remedies that are claimed to have no side effects. These days, thousands of doctors and nurses are making use of these methods.
We certainly have nothing against any method of medical treatment that has been confirmed to be safe and effective. Our concern is about the widespread promotion of methods that have not been proven or that are debatable in other fields (physical or spiritual).
While we do not minimize the problems of conventional medical treatment, our research shows that the holistic health movement is largely based on ineffective and/or potentially dangerous methods that do not have
Our research shows that the holistic health movement is largely based on ineffective and/ or potentially dangerous methods that do not have the best interest of the patient at heart.
the best interest of the patient at heart. In general, holistic methods reject what is known about how the human body works and are almost always opposed to a scientific approach to medical care.
When New Medicine claims to "work," none of the reasons characteristically cited by its sponsors causes it to work.
Things can work and still be dangerous, like car bombs. Things can work and still be wrong and dangerous, such as practices that rely on occult methods. Finally, things can be fake and only appear to work.
Many holistic treatments at first seem to work based on their stated principles, but only work for reasons connected with human psychology (the placebo effect) or the element of time (the body's natural ability to heal).
Many holistic health practitioners have mistakenly assumed that their treatments are effective based on misinterpretations of empirical medicine (experience only)
rather than careful scientific testing.
Given the variable nature of the disease process itself, any holistic health treatment can boast a significant number of "success" stories, even in the case of serious illnesses.
It is vital, therefore, to determine (1) whether a given procedure works based on its stated principles, (2) the relative credibility of those principles, and (3) the real reason for their effectiveness when the method is effective.
If something works or appears to work, it is essential
to know why. Failing to answer this question can be very costly.
Another serious concern is that occult and spiritistic influences are often the source of power behind the origin and/or treatments of numerous specific holistic health practices.
In addition to their lack of scientific credibility, these practices must be questioned because of their involvement with the occult methods that the Bible warns about (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Occult powers can indeed
heal the individual physically (at least temporarily) but only at a greater spiritual and psychic cost. Because of their connection to the occult, holistic health methods often rely on some form of channeling "energy."
Many of these treatments claim to "balance," "restore," or otherwise manipulate supposedly invisible energies that supposedly exist or circulate in the human body. These energies are almost always associated with the mystical energies of mystery religions; that is, Hindu prana, Taoist chi, shamanic mana, etc.
Proponents claim that the real cause of illness is a supposed disorder of the "natural flow" of this energy, and that unless the flow is properly restored, health cannot be maintained. In other words, in most New Medicine, manipulation of occult energies and healthcare are inseparable.
Unfortunately, this manipulation of mystical energy is often an open door to spiritualism under another name. It is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish between the use
Things can work and still be dangerous, like car bombs. Things can work and still be wrong and dangerous, such as practices that rely on occult methods. Finally, things can be fake and only appear to work.
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 4
of "energy" manipulation and transference in many holistic health treatments and that of "energy" manipulation found among occultists in their various practices.
Holistic health practitioners incorrectly interpret this energy as a natural or divine energy that promotes physical and spiritual health, when in fact, it is an occult, spiritistic energy that is harmful to physical and spiritual health. Granted, the "energy compensators" might not be doing anything at all, but involvement with genuine occult powers cannot be ruled out.
In summary, because they are ineffective, holistic health treatments are potentially dangerous because they may fail to properly diagnose physical symptoms, thus failing to uncover a serious underlying condition that can progress and result in further physical harm or death.
It is always possible that an unconventional method of treatment may prove useful or suggest plausible avenues for further research, but before any method can be accepted by the public, common sense teaches that its claims must be substantiated.
Furthermore, New Medicine can have physical, psychological, and/or spiritual consequences because to the extent that its methods may lead a person into involvement with the unseen world, it produces the same types of physical, psychological, and spiritual dangers associated with occult practices.
Unfortunately, the response to co-author John Weldon's two previous posts on this subject reveal that not only are holistic health methods
increasingly being employed by Christians, but many don't seem to be bothered by the spiritual problems involved, as long as the practice "works."
Large numbers of people have unrealistic hopes for modern medicine – they almost expect miracles. However, despite its great ad-
vances, scientific medicine is not perfect. Turning to occult medicine, however, will only complicate the problem on all levels.
In the book "The Facts About Holistic Health and the New Medicine," we briefly describe over 40 contemporary holistic health methods and/ or treatment adjuncts. While
some of them may be physically or spiritually neutral, both safety and effectiveness must be established before they can be recommended.
CONCLUSION:
New Medicine claims to offer good health, including physical, mental, and spiritual well-being to people.
However, due to the negative and/or occult nature of the methods used, they are more likely to cause harm than provide benefits.
People who rely on these practices to cure illnesses often suffer from impaired health or are converted to the occult.
Although New Age medicine is correct in recognizing a spiritual dimension to life and health, the spiritual dimension it offers is dangerous and has more potential consequences than most illnesses.
Unfortunately, regardless of our state of health, we will eventually succumb to a disease that is incurable to us, and we will face death in a very personal way.
However, we spend so much time searching for the meaning of health in this life that we often forget the realities of death and eternity.
Those who seek the truth should consider the teachings of the One who said, "I am the truth" and "He who believes in me, even if he dies, he will live" (John 14.6; 11.25). ◙
Chamada.com
These energies are almost always associated with the mystical energies of mystery religions.
People who rely on these practices to cure illnesses often suffer from impaired health or are converted to the occult.
It may seem like a joke, but it is not. One of the most controversial subjects that the Bible addresses is sin.
The Bible talks about regional sins, which means that certain things may be considered sins in some regions or
cultures but not in others.
However, I believe that we are all aware that we are sinners who are undergoing regeneration through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. But how do we determine what is or is not sin?
We are all capable of sinning in any situation because we sin, you sin, he sins, we sin, you all sin, and they sin.
We cannot escape this reality, but what unites us is much greater than what tempts us to sin. This is one of the great truths that we must not forget.
“Could Jesus have sinned? If He was not able to sin, how could He 'sympathize with our weaknesses' (Hebrews 4:15)? If He could not sin, what was the purpose of the temptation?”
We are all capable of sinning in any situation because we sin, you sin, he sins, we sin, you all sin, and they sin.
We cannot escape this reality, but what unites us is much greater than what tempts us to sin. This is one of the great truths that we must not forget.Ubirajara Chagas
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 6
Surprisingly, the great theologians have divided this question into two categories. It's important to remember that this isn't a question of whether Jesus sinned.
Both sides agree that Jesus did not sin, as the Bible clearly teaches. The question is whether Jesus could have sinned.
Those who defend the sinlessness of Christ believe that Jesus could not have sinned. Those who defend the possibility of Christ's sinfulness believe that Jesus could have sinned but chose not to.
Which opinion is correct? I believe that Jesus could have sinned due to His human condition, but He could not sin due to His Divine condition.
Even though He was Divine, He had human reactions, as seen in Matthew 21:1213 when Jesus entered the temple of God, drove out all who were buying and selling, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves.
When Jesus said to them, 'It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have turned it into a den of thieves,' He showed anger, and we can clearly see that this would not be a Divine attitude.
However, it is understood that His intention was Divine, as we see in verse 14, 'And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.'
The clear teaching of Scripture is that Jesus was sinless – He could not have sinned.
If He could have sinned, He could still sin today, for He still retains the same es-
sence as when He was here on earth. He is the God-man, and He will forever remain so, possessing full divinity and full humanity; both are such a part of His being that they cannot be divided.
To believe that Jesus could sin is to believe that God could sin. Colossians 1:19 says, 'For it pleased God that in Him all the fullness should dwell.'
Colossians 2:9 says, 'For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. ◙
Even though He was Divine, He had human reactions, as seen in Matthew 21:12-13 when Jesus entered the temple of God, drove out all who were buying and selling, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves.
I believe that one of the most difficult things to deal with is the sexual abuse of a child, both as a therapist and as a parent; not to mention the suffering the child endures. The effects are devastating because the child learns about "human beings" through the experiences they have with these familiar people.
One of the most terrifying facts is the number of chil dren who are abused by fam ily members or acquaintanc es.
Our tendency is to think that strangers are the ones who grab unprotected children and commit these crimes. But the statistics do not support this belief.
The truth is that it is usually someone within the family circle: the father, uncle, brother, grandfather, stepfather, or even a neighbor.
Neither is it true that it's just "sexual curiosity" and that it doesn't leave trauma. I have
heard a procession of people (men and women) who share childhood memories, who still cry from the pain of this violation they suffered, and the results of it in their adult life.
Ignoring the facts doesn't help anyone: the enemy loves to sink his hooks into the secrets of our lives and uses his lies to deceive and manipulate us.
He whispers things like, "No one will like you for this." "You are dirty." "It's your fault - you did something to deserve this kind of treatment" and so on...
What to do when we realize that a child has been sexually abused? The child can suffer a lot, but if the situation is handled well, they too can recover and live a peaceful life.
SPEAK CALMLY TO THE CHILD
Don't scare them anymore. We don't want to traumatize them again by our actions
One of the most terrifying facts is the number of children who are abused by family members or acquaintances.
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 8
or attitudes. Ask what hap pened, assuring them that you want to help them and that's why you need the facts.
It is important that they un derstand that they will not be punished for telling, es pecially considering that the perpetrator often threatens the child with punishment if they tell the truth. It's part of the plot...
BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY
The child has no reason to lie about such a thing. As a mother or father, ask enough questions to understand what happened and seek pro fessional help from a pediatrician who has experience dealing with children and a child therapist.
There are therapists who sometimes use a doll with genitals where the child can show what happened to them instead of telling.
It is possible that the child does not have the right words in their vocabulary to explain what happened, and showing the doll facilitates the conversation.
Perhaps the most painful thing for the child could be the reaction of the parents.
For example, the mother who does not believe that her husband did this to their daughter, or a rude, furious reaction to what happened, but which the child understands is directed towards them.
Also, "body inspections" of the child's private parts that are done without sensitivity to what the child is suffering.
I've heard people say that what happened next was worse than sexual abuse.
It is essential to assure the
child that it is not their fault. And it's not. A child can never be held responsible for sexual abuse perpetrated against them by an adult. There is NOTHING in this world that can justify something like this.
Sometimes they think they could have done something to avoid it, but that's not true. Allow the child to talk about it whenever they want. Because it's so painful for parents, the tendency is to want to avoid bringing it up.
But allow the child to speak because it is part of their recovery process. If they need to cry, let them cry: the "poison" of memories comes out through tears.
One of the difficult things to deal with in recovery from sexual abuse is the fact of ambivalent emotions.
Sometimes the only attention the child receives from an adult is through sexual abuse; then they "bear" that part by receiving the other. There are cases in which the child feels some pleasure during the experience of sexual abuse. This is normal.
When God created our bodies, he made certain parts of us respond to erotic touch, no matter who they come from or how they are touched.
I've heard many people die of shame and guilt when confessing that they thought it wasn't sexual abuse because
they felt pleasure.
Another myth is that because there was no penetration, there was no abuse. Any undue touching is abuse.
The feelings of being abused, violated, or dirty are present and color their entire way of relating to the world from
If the person who committed the abuse lives in the same house, it is ESSENTIAL that they be separated. This means that parents may have to separate, or they may have to separate their children, especially when it comes to teenagers.
Young children have no defense against adults and need adults to protect them. Sometimes they feel guilty because "Daddy doesn't live at home anymore," but they need to understand that he is away because she needs protection, and he needs treatment. Regrettably, the recidivism rate for pedophiles (adults who are sexually attracted to children) is very high. As much as they promise not to do it again, statistics and practice teach otherwise.
In the United States, where I have been developing clinical practice, it is mandatory by law to inform the authorities when there is a suspicion of child abuse, whether physical or sexual abuse.
Failure to inform the authorities implies losing the right to clinical practice, if discovered. The Department of Social Services investigates, and if the facts are proven, the children are referred for treatment, and the perpetrator is charged and criminally prosecuted.
With Megan's Law, it is also mandatory to let neighbors
Ask what happened, assuring them that you want to help them and that's why you need the facts.
know when a proven child perpetrator is going to live anywhere so that parents can look out for their children.
It is important to seek proper treatment, and psychotherapy can be very helpful. Prayer can also be positive for the "healing of memories," done responsibly and with integrity.
The thesis is that when we are traumatized, the memory, instead of being processed normally during sleep, like our daily memories, cannot be "digested" and remains unconscious even at a neurological level.
By imitating eye movements (or applying bilateral stimulation) while the person thinks
about the memory, the processing starts again, and the person can finally digest the fact and file it in the memory computer.
The results have been impressive, and more than 20,000 clinicians are trained in the United States.
Having personal experience dealing with patients with
this type of treatment, I have seen immediate and impressive improvements. Professionals trained in this technique are already available in Brazil.
Finally, avoid sexual abuse of your children. Teach them that there are parts of their bodies that are "intimate," which means "don't touch."
Ask your children from time to time, even when they are young, if someone has touched them inappropriately. Teach by example that there is freedom and confidence to speak of these things.
There are books that can help instruct children, even as young as 3 or 4 years old, to protect themselves.
If the child knows that this kind of touching is not appropriate, they may complain or make a big enough "fiasco" to scare off the potential perpetrator who needs the secret to act or seek help from a trusted adult. ◙
Young children have no defense against adults and need adults to protect them.
J
esus, the Son of God and supreme interpreter of the Scriptures, commanded:
'A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. And by this, all shall know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another' (John 13:34-35).
Obviously, Jesus is referring to a specific kind of lovethe same love with which He loved us: persevering, sacrificial, and sanctifying love.
It is not merely a love of words or governed by selfish interests, but love in fact and truth - love that sacrifices itself for the loved one. For this reason, Jesus speaks of a new commandment - a level of love that was not previously known.
This pure, holy, and superlative love does not contradict the truth. We cannot sacrifice truth in the name of love.
We must not shelter all beliefs under the umbrella of tolerance, with the flimsy excuse that love unites us and truth separates us. God's family is not made up of those who believe the truth and those who reject it.
The family of God is founded on the eternal rock of truth,
This pure, holy, and superlative love does not contradict the truth. We cannot sacrifice truth in the name of love.Hernandes Dias Lopes
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 11
and outside of the truth, there is no family of God.
That truth is Scripture itself (John 17:17); that truth is Je sus himself (John 14:6).
Without the Word and with out Jesus, there is no true communion, as there can be no church, no family of God, and no true communion with out the truth of the Scriptures and the Savior Jesus.
Therefore, the ecumenical proposal, in which all reli gious creeds, even the most heterodox, unite, is a fallacy.
But if we cannot sacrifice truth in the name of love, nei ther can we sacrifice love to uphold the truth. Those who hide behind their doctrinal strongholds to ruthlessly at tack brethren who disagree with them on minor points are at variance with the Word of God.
The Pharisees attacked Jesus himself for not living accord ing to their strict rules. For the Pharisees, breaking the precepts they, themselves had established was the same as violating the very Word of God.
In fact, the Pharisees became more zealous for their traditions than for the truth itself. Consequently, they became the most radical enemies of Christ and teamed up with the Herodians to put him to death.
Christian love is not complacent with error nor conniving with sin. However, love does not sit on the court, arrogating the position of judge, to mercilessly condemn the weak.
Love does not crush the broken cane nor extinguish the
smoldering wick. Love does not labor to condemn but to restore. Love does not rejoice to see those who stumble being dragged into the ditch of ostracism but strives to lift them up and joyfully lead them back to the safe fold.
Jesus said that the criterion for being known as his disciples is love. Jesus dealt very severely with the critical Pharisees and was gentle while still being firm with tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus welcomed into his hospitable arms all those who were condemned by the intolerance of the Pharisees, not to follow the winding road of sin, but to guide them along the paths of justice.
The world is looking to the Church. It is impossible not to see it since it is like a city on top of a hill.
If love is the hallmark that characterizes us, it will have an impact on people. If love is just empty talk, a caricature of this supreme virtue, then we are a cause of stumbling to those who look down on us.
It is time for us to probe our own hearts and examine our own lives, to know, if indeed, we are being known by the criterion of true love, as disciples of him who loved us and gave himself up for us. ◙
It is time for us to probe our own hearts and examine our own lives, to know, if indeed, we are being known by the criterion of true love, as disciples of him who loved us and gave himself up for us.
inally, the truth has been told on American TV. Billy ing interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Cayson asked her, "How could God have allowed something horrible like this to happen on 9/11?"
Anne Graham gave a profound and wise answer:
"I believe that God was deeply saddened by what happened, as much as we are. For many years, we have been telling God not to interfere with our choices, to get out of our government and get out of our
Being a gentleman as God is, I believe He quietly left us. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and protection if we demand that He no longer involve Himself with us?"
In view of so many recent events such as terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc., I believe it all started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (who was murdered) complained that it was inappropriate to say prayers in American schools as traditionally done, and we agreed with her opinion.
After that, someone said that it would be better not to read the Bible in schools either.
"For many years, we have been telling God not to interfere with our choices, to get out of our government and get out of our lives".
(Anne Graham)Kleber de Oliveira
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 13
The Bible teaches us that we should not kill, steal, and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and we agreed with that someone.
Soon afterward, Dr. Benjamin Spock said that we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their budding personalities would be distorted and we could damage their self-esteem (his son committed suicide), and we said, "An expert on this subject should know what he's talking about." And so, we agreed with him.
Then someone said that teachers and school principals shouldn't discipline our children when they misbehave. So, it was decided that no teacher could touch the students (there is a difference between disciplining and touching).
Then someone suggested that we should let our daughters have abortions if they wanted to, and we accepted it with out even questioning it. So, it was said that we should give our kids as many condoms as they want so they can have as much fun as they want, and we said, "Okay!"
Then someone suggested that we print magazines with pho tographs of naked women and say that this is a healthy thing and a natural apprecia tion of the female body.
Then someone else took it a step further and posted pictures of naked children and went even further by making them available on the Internet. And we said, 'Okay, this is democracy, and they have the right to be free to express themselves and do this.'
Now we are wondering why our children don't have a conscience and why they don't
kill, steal, and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and we agreed with that someone.
know how to distinguish between good and evil, right, and wrong?
Why doesn't it bother them to kill strange people or their own classmates or themselves...?
Probably, if we seriously analyze it, we will easily understand we only reap what we sow!!!
A girl wrote a little note to God: 'Lord, why didn't you save that child at school?'
His response: 'Dear child, they won't let me into the schools!'
It's sad how people just blame God and don't understand why the world is hurtling towards hell.
It's sad how we believe in everything the Newspapers and TV say, but we doubt what the Bible, which is the word of God, which we follow and teaches us.
It's sad how someone says, 'I believe in God'. But he still follows Satan, who, by the way, also 'Believes' in God.
It's funny how quick we are to judge but we don't want to be judged!
How can we send hundreds of jokes through email? It is sad to see how immoral, obscene, and vulgar material runs freely on the internet, but a public discussion of God is quickly suppressed in school and work.
It's sad to see how people get excited about Christ on Sunday, but then turn into invisible Christians for the rest of the week.
Interesting how we care more about what other people think of us than what God thinks... ◙
The Bible teaches us that we should not
It's sad how people just blame God and don't understand why the world is hurtling towards hell.
and a synthetic approach to covering the art of singing, we will explore a sequence of studies and techniques that provide basic knowledge for adequate and correct vocal resourcefulness.
According to Andrea Bocelli, the voice is like a color that only shines with brightness, clarity, harmony, and grandeur when treated with dedication through vocal tech-
nique. Specific exercises are necessary for the entire vocal set, which includes not only the vocal folds but the entire body.
Discipline is a key factor for aspiring singers, as constant dedication to specific techniques leads to success in preparation and, depending on individual effort, satisfactory results in a reasonable amount of time.
Singing is an art and a gift, requiring some basic qualities such as accuracy of tuning, executing ornaments well, inclining action to give representativeness, flexibility, sweetness, harmony, perfect intonation (pitch), proper sustain of the voice, pulsation (vibrato), appropriate performance of passages and decreases (dynamics), pronunciation, and affective declamation of texts (pronouncing words passionately while observing the greater or lesser duration of syllables), sustaining a long, continuous breath (support), sense of rhythm, proper emphasis, and elegance.
According to Andrea Bocelli, the voice is like a color that only shines with brightness, clarity, harmony, and grandeur when treated with dedication through vocal technique.
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 15
A technical singer must learn the mechanisms that lead to good sound and how sound is produced. The vocal apparatus is divided into five parts: producers, vibrator, resonators, articulators, and sensor/ coordinator.
The breathing muscles are the cornerstones of singing, and the main one is the diaphragm. It is very active, especially during singing, and plays an important role in sound emission.
Its strong presence in singing results from correct breathing. In this edition, we will focus on breathing as the main theme. Air is the raw material of sound, and a singer without good breathing or respiratory coordination will inevitably have major emission problems, limiting their area of action and performance.
If someone wants to be in good physical condition, they will try to have a good diet and exercise. Similarly, good respiratory conditioning requires the same effort. Anyone who breathes poorly or incorrectly will undoubtedly sing poorly or incorrectly.
It is impossible to obtain relevant results with the voice without having good breathing ability. Just as those seeking physical exercises to be in good shape, there are exercises to increase breathing capacity. The lungs, in the case of singing, only serve as an air reservoir.
Below are 5 breathing exercises with different objectives:
Exercises to increase breathing capacity:
1- After inhaling, place the air at the base of the lungs first and then into the chest.
Hold your breath for 3 seconds and release it in an "s" or "x" shape, providing a constant force.
This should not be too weak to the point of not exercising the diaphragm, nor too strong to overstimulate it. It is recommended to do this exercise daily for 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at bedtime.
Exercise to make your voice louder:
2- Inhale and exhale aggressively, dividing the entire process into 4 short and 5 long breaths until the entire volume of air in the lungs is ex-
pended.
Exercise to strengthen the diaphragm by increasing resistance:
3- Inflate a balloon or bladder steadily. The degree of difficulty provided by the balloon will stimulate the diaphragm.
Exercise for training to use all the contents of the lungs:
4- Inspiratory hiccup: Inhale slowly through the nose until the lungs are filled. Inhalepause-inhale-pause-inhale as much as possible, then release the air once and for all
through your mouth.
Another exercise to use all the contents of the lungs:
5- Abbreviated expiration: Take a deep breath through the nose and release a little. Take another deep breath and release a little. Inhale once more until the lungs feel as full as possible, then release the air once and for all through your mouth.
Feel free to contact us with any questions. Contact the editor of this newspaper, ask, and we will assist you. Don't miss our next theme: "timbre". Until then.
It is impossible to obtain relevant results with the voice without having good breathing ability. Just as those seeking physical exercises to be in good shape, there are exercises to increase breathing capacity.
CONTINUING FROM PAGE 16
Am I able to be a good singer?
This is a question that many ask before embarking on a singing career, and I believe it's a valid concern.
Whether or not you become an expressive singer for the public is ultimately up to the public themselves, and it can vary from case to case.
Some singers may not have much expression, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are inexperienced or untalented, while others may have a natural ability to connect with audiences.
However, what I always stress to my students is that the pursuit of excellence should always be a priority, regardless of where their career takes them.
It's interesting to consider the diverse causes and motivations that lead people to become singers.
For some, it's simply a way of life, a means of expressing what they can't articulate with words.
Success can be defined in many different ways, and some singers may win fans over with their charisma while others may rely solely on their technical abilities.
There are countless cases where a combination of these factors lead to success. Ultimately, the most important thing is to look within yourself and understand your own needs, recognizing them and striving to achieve excellence.
At some point, I read an expression that goes, "the only route to freedom is discipline".
I believe this holds true for
singing as well. With discipline and hard work, we can improve our voices and reach greater heights.
It's not about whether we succeed or fail, but about dedicating ourselves to the pursuit of excellence and always striving for improvement, even if the results are different for each individual. Those who think they have a poor voice, or that their voice is sometimes poor, can achieve vocal technique not by imitating another singer, but by striving to do their best.
If we concentrate a little, we can remember popular and very famous figures who achieved a prosperous career through effort, study, and hard work at a high level.
Many people stop because they face a strong obstacle: discipline. This leads to giving up and forgetting quickly.
I would venture to say that there is no established formula for reaching a successful end. I understand that the most important thing is to start studying voice early, while respecting individual limitations.
A common mistake, however, is related to timbre. Timbre is the determining factor of the type of voice: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass.
A person's timbre is not chosen at random; it exists for anatomical reasons, specifically the size of the larynx. For example, men with a pronounced or pointed "Adam's apple" have greater ease of resonance and consequently, a lower voice.
Ignorance of this is very serious and can destroy a person's voice.
Many people with low voice characteristics have been
singing in a high voice and vice versa. Some of them even have a “beautiful” voice.
However, this voice was just manufactured and won't last long. The situation gets worse when using singer's playbacks, which were made for the singer who recorded them, obeying the pitch, intensity, and performance of the singer.
Most people don't fit the musical context and will put in a lot of vocal effort without much success.
Singing and speaking outside of one's natural timbre can lead to de-characterization of the voice with loss of quality. Look for resources for vocal conditioning through singing lessons and courses. Being a good singer denotes, among other things, being a good singing student and looking for vocal improvement through vocal technique.
It's not about whether we succeed or fail, but about dedicating ourselves to the pursuit of excellence.
f Jesus came to spend a dayexpected visit, I wonder what we would do...
I know that we would give our best room to such a distinguished guest, serve him the most delicious dishes, and tell him repeatedly how happy we were to have him in our house. Our happiness for serving him in our own home would be limitless!
But on seeing him arrive, would we run to the door to meet him with open arms to welcome our heavenly visitor?
would we run to the door to meet him with open arms to welcome our heavenly visitor?
Or should we change clothes first before letting him in? Or hide some less decent illustrated magazine? Or put our Bible in its proper place?
Or quickly turn off the radio, television, or record player, hoping he didn't hear? Would we regret having uttered a
word that was too inconvenient and hasty?
Would it be necessary to hide our worldly music and replace it with a collection of sacred choirs? Could we let Jesus enter our house immediately, or would we rather walk in a living circle?
Would our life go on, day after day, as it is now? Would our daily conversation maintain its usual rhythm? Would we find it difficult to thank God at every meal?
Would we sing the songs we always sing and read the books we usually read? Would we share the things that our thoughts and our spirit feed on?
Would we ask him to accompany us everywhere we plan to go? Or would we change our plans for a day or two?
Would we be happy to introduce him to our closest friends, or would we want them to refrain from coming to see us for the duration of his visit? Would we be happy if he stayed in our house forever? Or would we let out a sigh of relief when he was finally gone?
It would be very interesting to know exactly what we would do if Jesus Christ in person came to spend a day or two in our house!
IF JESUS CAME TO OUR HOUSE..., WOULD WE RUN TO THE DOOR TO MEET HIM? ◙
Over the past fifteen to twenty years, I've owned about a dozen cell phones. Almost all of them were replaced because they stopped working. They are not designed to last very long. Likewise, people I know who use computers will agree that equipment that is more than three years old is technologically outdated.
On the other hand, when I perform as a musician, I usually use a 60-year-old guitar amplifier, and I consider it to be very reliable. My wife and I have furniture in our house that is over 40 years old, and we have no intention of replacing it. They were designed to stand the test of time.
Some things don't need to be durable because they become obsolete before they wear out, like computers and technological devices in general; apparently, they are outdated before you even make the journey home from the store. Others, such as plastic packaging, have a lifespan that goes far beyond their usefulness.
I've been struggling with this issue of usefulness and obsolescence because my car is getting old. It has racked up
far more mileage than any of the other 34 cars I've ever owned. However, it remains structurally sound, like the day I bought it 11 years ago. And since it is in excellent condition, I plan to continue driving it.
Let us apply this understanding of the temporal nature of things to the spiritual realm. Jesus spoke about this, urging His hearers not to become attached to their possessions: “Do not lay up for yourselves riches here on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. On the contrary, lay up riches in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Jesus spoke about the futility of dedicating our lives to the pursuit of things that wear out, get damaged, or be-
come obsolete. He was saying that it is much wiser to focus on eternal things that never grow old. And he made a further comment: “For where your riches are, there will your hearts be” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus insightfully observed that if money and what we have are our number one priority, we will dedicate ourselves to seeking and accumulating things we cannot hold on to forever.
On another occasion, He spoke of the rich man who decided to build a large granary to store his bountiful harvest and said to himself, “You have an abundance of good things laid up for many years. Enjoy life, eat, drink and be merry.” That night, however, the rich man died, leaving all his earthly possessions for someone else to enjoy. Jesus closed with the following comment: “This is
what happens to those who store up riches for themselves but are not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
The question is: Am I spending my time, energy, and talents primarily on acquiring things that will be discarded or lost, or am I investing them in things that will last for eternity?
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1. Do you hold on to and cherish things that will soon wear out or become obsolete and that you will have to discard?
2. And have you invested in things that last a long time? Which one do you value most?
3. Are you devoting most of your time and energy to things that will eventually be discarded or lost, or to things that have eternal value?
4. Have you considered the need to reassess and redirect your focus in this regard?
Wishing to consider other Bible passages related to the theme, we suggest: Proverbs 3.27-28; 11.24-26; 19.17; 22.2.9; 27.20; 28.8. ◙
MONDAY'S MANNA
MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM!
GENESIS 1:26-27
ThenGod said, “Let us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
SoGod created mankind in His own image,in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
