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(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. – Romans 4:17
We have to be mindful of the words that come out of our mouths. God says that we have the power to speak those things into existence that are not as if they were! Want an increase in business, say it as if it’s already happened! “I have more clients than I can handle.” Looking for a new job, say it as if it’s already happened! “I have a job that meets my every need.” Want God to give you the desires of your heart, say it as if it’s already happened! “God has given me everything I could ever want.”
God used His words to shape this world into existence. If we’re made in His image, why would it be any different?
We have power through our words and must speak God’s truth even when we see (with our natural eyes) something

Before you start reading, let me just say this is not some nihilistic blog about how meaningless it all is. I’m not of the we’re-all-gonna-die-so-let’s-eat-cupcakes mentality. But, really, what’s the point of losing weight? Or, more specifically, what’s your point?
If you’re the average woman in your early 40s, you’ve probably spent the last 20 years or more counting calories, weighing yourself, following diets and generally obsessing about how you look. I do not for one minute believe the incredible power of the feminine energy was designed for something as small as

These are soul-searching times for Southern Democracy.
Southern Democracy — defined as entrenched regional rule — is no more. Republicans now reign throughout most of the South. The best that Southern Democrats can hope for is restoring their party to competitive parity in a two-party

I have always believed that each one of us has the responsibility to stand up for environmental protection for our world’s future, because this world, as much as we take it for granted, is not ours. I believe we do not inherit this Earth from previous generations, but we borrow it from the future ones, and we must keep our nation’s commitment to a healthy and secure environment. Today is Earth Day, a landmark for the environmental movement. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have worked to improve the air we breathe and the water we

In a famous ad, Apple asked people to “Think Different.” We are now at a point in the natural history of the planet when it is essential to act different. There is no better time to begin than on Earth Day.
In 1970, the first Earth Day led to sweeping changes in public policy. It created a new constituency that demanded the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act to protect public health, and the Endangered Species Act to protect other living things.
In 2012, with the most polarized Congress in history, vital national legislation cannot even get a hearing. Consequently, the greatest immediate environmental opportunities today do not involve Washington,

More than one billion people will call for the protection of our planet today as they gather around the world to celebrate Earth Day. Their mission: to raise support for a more sustainable future as climate change continues to wreak havoc across the globe.
Frustrated by the lack of “green” policy at the international level, campaigners are now calling for a new deal to be signed at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit this June.
Forging a new agreement couldn’t be more critical — the Kyoto protocol, which legally binds us to curb global carbon emissions, will expire this

Aren’t we all in search of happiness? The UN has recently released their World Happiness Report 2012, with Nordic inhabitants coming out on top: Denmark, Finland and Norway took the top three spots. The rankings were based on a number called the “life evaluation score,” which measures a variety of factors including people’s health, family and job security as well as social factors. Here at Black Tomato, we’ve selected our favorite destinations from the top 15.
Read on to see why they make us smile to find your happy place…
Costa Rica
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Costa Rica signifies the ultimate adventure playground, wedged between two astoundingly beautiful coastlines, not only is it a natural beauty but a cultural gem too, with the vivacious capital of San Jose acting as a veritable melting pot of

My neighborhood here in Nice feels like a little microcosm of modern France.
From my balcony, I can see the ethnic diversity and historical layers that make up the area. I love the combination of cultures that come together here. As I try to make this foreign city home, I am in good company with all of the immigrants who have come before me.
The crumbling Belle Epoque facades must have housed sumptuous interiors at one

One of the most beautiful places I had the opportunity visit on my around the world adventure was Cape Town, South Africa. At the most southern tip of the African continent and discovered by the Portuguese and then the Dutch, the Cape is known for both its beauty and history. Flanked by towering mountains and sandy beaches, the city offers something for everyone.
The sights in Cape Town are among some of the most gorgeous and breathtaking I have ever

If you’re already in Nebraska for the annual Sandhill Crane migration or if you simply appreciate wildlife in America and are looking for some place to go for a nice road trip, another interesting only-in-Nebraska event is that it’s prairie chicken mating season.
Through the end of April, prairie chickens gather here before disbanding when the hens have been bred. Bird lovers from all over the country travel here to see this spectacle, which you can also hear from a distance.
“It’s like a hallway in high school. There’s a lot of noise, there’s a lot of showing off,” says Brad Mellema, executive director of the Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center. “The sound is unreal from these birds, it’s an ethereal

As I stood in front of the new Mormon Temple in Liberty, Mo., it struck me as ironic that close to 175 years ago, Mormons were forced out of this same state.
Whereas the Missouri public once urged their governor to force Joseph Smith and his followers out of the area surrounding Kansas City, Mormons began to return to the region in the 1900s, eventually gathering in such large numbers that the Church organization decided the region needed a temple.
Which is why I came to visit.
Latter Day Saints restrict temple access to members of their denomination who have proven themselves to be faithful and dedicated adherents. Because Mormons believe temples are the most sacred places on earth, one needs to be prepared to enter them by being an active member of the Church. (In contrast, chapels, where Mormons hold Sunday worship, are open to everyone. Temples are used only for certain rituals and are not open on Sunday so that Mormons can be at their chapel services.)
When a new temple is built, anyone may enter prior to its

As expected, the so-called Jesus Discovery is making headlines around the world. The claims are amazing; the leaps in logic are breath-taking; and most archaeologists are utterly unconvinced. What has actually been found and what does it really mean? Before I can answer that question, I have to back up a bit.
Five years ago
In February 2007 Simcha Jacobovici, Canada’s “Naked Archaeologist,” and James Cameron, producer of “Robocop” and “Titanic,” announced to the world that they had found the tomb of Jesus and his

In 1988 a doctor named Randolph Byrd conducted a study to determine whether or not intercessory prayers on behalf of other people were effective.
The findings were amazing. The patients who were not prayed for were nearly twice as likely to suffer complications than patients who were prayed for (Dale A. Matthews, M.D., and Connie Clark, “The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer,” New York: Penguin, 1999,

I was brought up with an appreciation of our natural resources and the knowledge that we must not overuse them. From early childhood I learned not to litter for the purpose of doing my bit to keep the place clean. However, it seems like most people take the environment for granted. Simple things like littering are taken with the attitude of “someone else will clean it,” or “out of sight out of mind.” People find it funny to see me hold on to little things like sweet wrappers until I find a dustbin, and they harass me for this kind of attitude, but I have learned to deal with this.
It was about 15 years ago that I first came to know about climate

My ancestral home is situated in the island of Kutubdia in Bangladesh. During visits, when I awake early in the morning, I have very vivid memories of a bamboo bush on the east side. This bush used to block the bright sunshine in the early morning, which I remember fondly. But now, it is not

Around 10,0000 years ago, while a group of 29 high volcanic islands crumbled back below the surface of the Central Pacific Ocean, tiny polyps banded together to form massive coral reef colonies, now known as the coral atoll nation of the Marshall Islands.
My parents kept a small retail store on one of the 29 atolls when I was very young, and from breakfast to dinner without stopping for lunch, I would swim and play with my cousins on the old bullet-ridden Japanese pier, beside manta rays jumping clear out of the water and Taroa, Maloelap’s signature Terushima Maru listing to port. I still remember falling to sleep imagining that sunken WWII freighter guiding itself closer to dock.
Last week, after 16 years away, I returned to my childhood playground, the islands I grew up on. The journey normally takes about 25 minutes by plane, but this time it was 14 hours by boat. I plan to make at least two more trips this year, largely because the people who live there have given me a tremendous gift by electing me to represent them on the Maloelap Atoll Local

Last year during a trip to the Marshall Islands, I met a man named Henry Romeu, an American coast guard who was on a mission in the Pacific Ocean. He monitored various pacific islands and their surrounding waters, monitoring fishing zone boundaries and reacting to various emergencies as they arose. As you can imagine, Mr. Romeu had interesting stories to tell, but it was one exacting comment about the power of the sea that stuck with

This week we observe the 42th anniversary of Earth Day. Once again we conjure familiar images of smoggy skylines, toxic landfills and lethal oil spills along with the mounting evidence of global warming. And we also celebrate the heightened awareness and many major environmental initiatives promoted by Earth Day.
But, what about Earth Night?
Compelling evidence suggests that indoor pollution may actually be more toxic than outdoor pollution. More specifically, it appears that the bedroom, the place most of us spend the bulk of our at home time, may be the most polluted room in the

This week, the Secret Service became a little less secret, getting a ton of ink for paying visits to prostitutes and to Ted Nugent. The hooker scandal broke when an agent who’d agreed to pay $800 for sex, offered just $30 after services had been rendered. It’s good to see government workers trying to save money (take note, GSA!), but that really isn’t the way to do it. On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney once again failed to defuse the dog-on-car-roof controversy, conceding that if given the chance he’d do things differently — not because it was cruel but because of the flak he’s received in the ensuing

Can you imagine a world without birds chirping and flying overhead? Or an ocean without sea turtles gliding along? Or coral reefs that turn grey and die? When we talk about quality of life, the benefits of our natural habitat are immeasurable for animals and humans alike.
When I first heard about the oil spill, I was devastated. I grew up visiting the Gulf of Mexico’s pristine beaches, spotting birds and feeding the dolphins. I knew it was nesting season, and that danger was ahead especially for the brown pelicans who had just come off the endangered species list. The oil spill ruined the quality of life for thousands of birds, animals, and people who live along the Gulf

This is part of our new series “Gen: Change,” in partnership with Youth Service America, featuring stories from the 25 most influential and powerful young people in the world. Click here to read more about Anoka and her amazing story.
Living close to the Bolgoda Lake of Sri Lanka gave me the painful firsthand insight into the destruction of the Mangroves, so I started volunteering at age 14 with the EMACE Foundation of Sri Lanka in 2006 to scientifically replant the Mangroves and address climate change mitigation.
My team and I developed a concept which integrated the environmental, financial, sustainability and social aspects and decided to upgrade the existing project to address carbon trading in the voluntary market as the regulatory market is complex, risky and

In 1994, I was asked by Rachel Carson’s publisher to write the introduction for the 30th anniversary edition of Silent Spring. It was, of course, a privilege and honor. Here is part of what I wrote:
On this Earth Day, which comes nearly fifty years since the first printing of Silent Spring, Carson’s work continues to stand as a testament to the power of conscience, insight and our collective ability to make the world a better place. Carson’s conclusions inspired a generation to realize that human beings do not live in isolation, but as part of something much

Inspiring Cultural Consciousness
There are faux estate homes, builder homes, spec homes, development homes, but proper estate homes are much different. The finest estate homes elevate the cultural consciousness.
Essential Characteristics of an Estate Home
When searching for the finest estate home, I have found there are essential characteristics of an estate home: there must be vast land cared for in an ecologically friendly way and the home needs to be close enough to a vibrant city center so as to enable a family to live in the home as a primary residence.
An estate home must be awe-inspiring and still have the gentle warmth and intimacy desired by a family. It should offer the finest environment and opportunities to explore all aspects of life, entertaining, working, playing, studying, enjoying family or retreating within oneself to reflect.
A significant estate home must have a rich architectural pedigree: the genius of the original architect in creating perfect proportions; the brilliance of a renovation architect in furthering the completion of the home; the elegance of the era in which the home was built (an era when royalty, aristocrats, industrialists, titans and United States presidents would visit or stay for a season); the history — i.e., the stories the home has to tell; and, most important, the vision of the estate home owner, the architectural patron. It is this patron of the arts who has the eye, passion and respect for creating an estate home that transcends time — a home that is both aesthetic perfection as well as a truly livable

This weekend Robert B. Zoellick, the 11th president of the World Bank Group, will preside over his last Spring Meetings. And while many of the private discussions at the international forum of ministers and development officials will likely focus on Jim Yong Kim, the Dartmouth College president recently selected to serve as the next World Bank president, it is worth taking a moment to consider the legacy that Mr. Zoellick will leave