It's So Easy To Love Each Other

It's so easy to love each other, and all of Nature.
But we have to give up something, our egos.

We have to rise above our egos, stop harming others, then seek to benefit others instead of ourselves. What stands between us? Our egos or love?

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Venus Project

The Venus Project [1], founded by Jacque Fresco, proposes a new way of living, based on among other things, social cooperation, sustainable development, and automation. This YouTube video [2] summarizes the project:

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal. We have to rise above our egos, stop harming others, and seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

If we all did this, we'd become connected in mutual bestowal and connection is the only thing that makes us truly happy.

For more on The Venus Project, check out this YouTube video [3]:

_________

References:

1. The Venus Project. www.thevenusproject.com. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
2. What is The Venus Project. www.youtube.com. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
3. Paradise or Oblivion. www.youtube.com. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

We Build The Creator

God exists. However, if we can't sense Him, does He exist? Of course God exists in and of Himself; however, if we can't sense Him, he doesn't exist to us.

It's like that story of the tree in the forest - if a tree falls in the forest, and there's no one there, does it make a sound? If God is benevolent, but there's no one there to sense Him, does He bestow?

Today, we're all immersed in the quality of selfishness, seeking to benefit ourselves. This means that our qualities are opposite to God's quality. God is benevolent, He's the quality of bestowal.

In order to sense The Creator, we need to change from selfishness to bestowal. We have to seek to benefit others instead of ourselves. If we did this, our qualities would become similar to God's qualities.

As we change and build the quality of bestowal within us, we enter into greater equivalence of form with The Creator. We increase our ability to sense The Creator. We build The Creator.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

True Religion Is Bestowal

Religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam etc.) is what exists in exile, when we're disconnected from The Truth. True religion is bestowal, it's love of others, it's seeking to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

God Of Peace

It is written, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace ..." (1 Corinthians 14:33, NIV)

How about you? Do you like disorder, or peace? Do you bring harmony and balance to your social environment, or do you bring chaos and disruption?

The world may look chaotic and disorderly, yet all of Nature is an interconnected and interdependent system, all of Nature is in harmony and balance. We just have to realize it.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Mankind Transforms Into Kind Man

In this YouTube video [1], Richard Williams (also known as Prince Ea) [2] asks a fundamental question, "Who are you?" While it's about Ferguson [3], it's actually about us all. I like the phrase, "mankind has the opportunity to transform into kind man".

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal. We have to rise above our egos, stop harming others, then seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

This is our time to make a real difference.

WARNING: Explicit language.

_________
References:

1. What no one wants to say about Ferguson. www.youtube.com. Retrieved Sept 27, 2014.
2. Prince Ea. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Oct 4, 2014.
3. 2014 Ferguson unrest. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 27, 2014.

Is Aggressive Marketing Responsible For Looting?

Aggressive marketing makes us feel discontent. Advertisers tell us that our lives are incomplete until we buy their latest product. The problem is that most of us can't afford to buy new products all the time. This creates tension between what we're told we should have, and what we can afford to have. 

In addition, the focus on selfish materialism has left us empty, unfulfilled, alone, unhappy, and in debt. Even if we buy new products, the pleasures are fleeting and we're left feeling even more empty than before. We buy things we can't afford. We buy things that don't make us happy. This creates an underlying feeling of frustration, dissatisfaction and resentment. We're left feeling cheated, manipulated and exploited. 

Is aggressive marketing responsible for looting?

We need to simplify our lives. If we focus only on meeting our basic needs: food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education etc., all other redundant goods and services would disappear.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Everyone Prays

Prayer is the desire of our heart. Everyone prays. Even a thief who's scoping out a bank to rob, in his heart, yearns for success. God sees the desires of our heart.

What's in your heart? You may be praying with prayers from a prayer book, using verses from scripture or with words from your mouth, but what's going on in your heart? What do you want?

Which prayers are always answered? Prayers for others. Pray for others.
In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

I've Discovered The Meaning Of My Life

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal:

1. We have to rise above our egos and stop harming others
2. We have to adopt other people's desires as our own
3. Then we have to seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

In this way, we live in other people. We live in their desires.

"Specifically because I've lived a life that's not mine, I've discovered the meaning of my life."

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Poverty Exists Because The Rich Don't Help

Whenever issues of poverty are discussed, the tendency is to blame the poor - they're not doing enough to help themselves. The truth is that poverty exists because the rich don't share, they don't do enough to help others. The rich use their God-given talents, attributes and riches to help themselves. If the rich took care of others, there'd be no poverty. Poverty exists because the rich don't care for others, they care only for themselves.

Today, we're immersed in the quality of selfishness, seeking to benefit ourselves with no regard for others. We've adopted competition (instead of collaboration) as our modus operandi, and when it comes to wealth, this creates a huge discrepancy between the rich and the poor.

There's only so much wealth to go around, it's finite, yet we expect everyone to compete for their share of the pie. We're all different, we have different talents, skills, attributes etc., and some people are simply better competitors than others - this is reflected in the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor:

• Total world wealth is ~USD $241 trillion. [1]
• 1% of the world's population owns 46% of the world's wealth (USD $110 trillion). [2]
• 10% of the world's population owns 86% of the world's wealth (USD $207 trillion). [3]
• 30% of the world's population owns 97% of the world's wealth (USD $234 trillion), the other 70% of the world's population owns 3% of the world's wealth (USD 7 trillion). [4]
• 50% of the world's population owns 99.3% of the world's wealth (USD $239 trillion), while the bottom 50% owns 0.71% of the world's wealth (USD 1.71 trillion). [5]
• 1.2 billion people still live in extreme poverty. [6]
• 2.2 billion people are poor or near-poor. [7]

Aggressive competition is destructive and extremely unfair. It's akin to having $10 and asking 10 people to share it - 3 people would end up sharing $9.70, while 7 people would share $0.30.

In competition, there's always a winner and a loser, a natural consequence of our differences. However, when competition becomes a matter of life and death - such as when the rich enjoy the highest standard of living, while others don't have food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare etc, it's simply unfair, especially when the rich have the means to help others.

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal. We have to seek to benefit others instead of ourselves. We have to embrace collaboration, cooperation and basic sharing. We're all one family and we have to start behaving as one family.

The role of the rich (and those who are blessed with God-given talents, attributes and riches) is to help others. If poverty exists, it's because the rich aren't fulfilling their role. The annual income of the richest 100 people would be enough to end world poverty four times over. [8]

Round tables need to be established to seek to eliminate world poverty.

We have to simplify our lives and focus only on meeting our basic needs - food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education etc.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

_____

References:

1. Working For The Few (PDF). www.oxfam.org. 178 Oxfam Briefing Paper - Summary, 20 January 2014, page 5. Retrieved Sept 25, 2014.
2. Ibid.
3. Working For The Few (PDF). www.oxfam.org. 178 Oxfam Briefing Paper, 20 January 2014, page 9. Retrieved Sept 25, 2014.
4. Ibid.
5. Working For The Few (PDF). www.oxfam.org. 178 Oxfam Briefing Paper - Summary, 20 January 2014, page 5. Retrieved Sept 25, 2014
6. Eradicate Extreme Poverty And Hunger. Where do we stand? United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Millennium Development Goals. Retrieved Sept 25, 2014.
7. 2.2 billion people are poor or near poor, warns 2014 Human Development Report on vulnerability and resilience. United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 24 Jul 2014. Retrieved Sept 25, 2014.
8. Annual income of richest 100 people enough to end global poverty four times over. www.oxfam.org. 19 January 2013. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Dead In Christ Will Rise First

It is written, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV)

Who are the 'dead in Christ'? Christians? Born again Christians? If you're born again, how can you be dead?

What does it mean to 'rise'? Does this have to do with perception of reality? To rise out of our quality of selfishness? To rise to the quality of bestowal? To change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal?

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Why Is It Called Animal Husbandry?

Why is it called animal husbandry?  [1] Are we the husband, looking after and taking care of animals? If so, then based on the way we abuse and exploit animals, we're an abusive husband.
_______
References:
1. Animal husbandry. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Animal Abuse And Exploitation Has To Stop

Edited: Nov 8, 2014.

WARNING: This post contains graphic content that some readers may find disturbing and distressing. Discretion is advised.

Today, we're immersed in the quality of selfishness, seeking to benefit ourselves with no regard for others. Animals suffer cruelly on account of human selfishness. We treat each other so badly, why would we respect other forms of life on earth? 

A recent report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that the world has lost 52% of its biodiversity over the last 40 years. [1]

Jesus Christ was abused, beaten, mistreated, then crucified. Some animals are abused, beaten, mistreated, then killed. Animals are a big part of our lives, and unfortunately, in many cases, our relationship with animals is abusive and exploitative, which has to stop:

1. FOOD:
• Poultry:
• Eggs: Hens are kept in small battery cages and can barely move. [2]
• Chickens: Broiler chickens bred to be as large as possible, to produce as much meat as possible. As a result, some can't support their own weight. Some suffer leg deformities, broken bones, get fecal burns from resting in their own feces, and some die of heart failure. [3] To prevent pecking, they're debeaked (their beaks are cut off), which leads to acute and chronic pain. [4] 
• Turkeys: Turkeys are reared in cramped spaces, some become blind due to light manipulations and they're also debeaked. [5] 
• Pigs:
• Sometimes pigs are subjected to negative treatment by their handlers (slaps, punches, kicks and bites). This leads to fear and stress in the animals. [6]
• Pigs transported to slaughter suffer terribly. More than 1 million pigs die each year due to the horrors of transport alone. They're beaten, electrical prods are stuck into their rectum to get them to move, they're crammed into 18-wheelers so tightly that their guts pop out of their butts, some die because they freeze to death on the sides of the trucks in winter, some die of heat exhaustion in the summer, and some die of heart attacks due to the stress of the ordeal. At the slaughter house, many pigs aren't stunned properly and they're still alive when they reach the scalding tank. [7]
• Cows:
• Dairy cattle: Dairy cattle are impregnated continually, calves are immediately separated from their mothers, and cows are given hormones to increase reproduction and to increase milk production. [8] As a result, some have abnormally large udders, which are painful and uncomfortable.
• Beef Cattle: Cattle are branded for identification, which is painful. [9] Cattle transported to slaughter suffer terribly. They're crammed into trucks, they freeze to the sides of the trucks in the winter, and they collapse in the summer due to the heat. At the slaughter house they're shot, sometimes unsuccessfully, and they end up dying piece by piece. [10]
• Seafood:
• Fishing: Overfishing has depleted fish stock worldwide. [11] Often, other unwanted sea creatures are caught in fish nets and die as a result.
• Fish Farms: Fish are cramped into small spaces with little room to move. Often, they're riddled with disease. [12]
• Sharks: Shark fin soup is a delicacy in some places but their treatment is deplorable. Their fins are cut off and the rest of the living shark is thrown back into the ocean (shark finning), where it dies a slow, cruel death. [13]
• Lobsters and Crabs: Lobsters and crabs are kept alive in small, cramped cages in restaurants and at markets. They're cooked alive, dipped into hot boiling water.
• Leftover Body Parts:
• Unused muscle tissue, tendons, bones and other animal by-products, known as "animal protein hydrolysates" can be added to processed foods, even ice cream. [14] Do we really know what we're eating? 
• Pesticides:
• To control pests, farmers use pesticides, which kills pests and other animals such as birds, severely poisons about 3 million agriculture workers (killing about 18,000) each year, and results in air, water and land/soil pollution and contamination. In the USA, the human health and environmental cost from pesticides is about USD $9.6 billion. [15]
• Coffee - Kopi Luwak:
• These are coffee beans that have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet, a small nocturnal mammal. The coffee is supposed to be the most expensive in the world; however, the animals are caged and kept in deplorable conditions. [16]
• SUMMARY:
• The food industry is all about making money, and they seek to achieve profits by whatever means necessary. Unfortunately, animals suffer as a result. We should really think about what we're eating and how animals are treated.
• How can we be so cruel? The inhumane treatment of animals can never be justified.
2. FASHION:
• Clothes:
• Animals are killed for their fur, and leather is used to make jackets, shoes, belts, wallets, gloves etc.
• Jewelry:
• Elephants are killed for their ivory.
• Oysters are killed for pearls.
• There are bear tooth and bear claw necklaces, shark tooth necklaces etc.
• There's jewelry made out of animal bones.
3. ENTERTAINMENT:
• Races:
• Horse Racing (Gambling): Horses are overworked. Sometimes they break a leg and have to be euthanized, which is what happened to Eight Belles, who broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track. [17]
• Greyhound Racing (Gambling): Animals suffer broken legs, broken necks, paralysis and heart attacks. [18]
• Running of the bulls is popular in Spain: Sometimes people and/or the bulls are injured. [19]
• Fights:
• There's bull fighting, dog fighting, cock fighting etc., all harmful to animals.
• Zoos:
• Animals are kept in small, enclosed spaces, like a prison.
• Aquariums:
• Sea creatures are kept in small, enclosed spaces.
• Dolphins, killer whales and other animals are trained to perform in ridiculous shows.
• Circuses:
• Animals are trained to perform in ridiculous shows.
• Animal Rides:
• There are horse rides, camel rides, elephant rides [20] etc. The animals are beaten and mistreated, 'broken' to make them rideable.
• Acting:
• Animals (dogs, monkeys etc.) are trained to 'act' for the film and television industry. They often look miserable and/or fearful, from being over trained.
• Roboroach [21]:
• A USA company called Backyard Brains developed a backpack that fits onto a cockroach, allowing a user to control a cockroach. This is cruel and abusive.
4. PETS:
• Pet Stores:
• Animals are kept in small confined cages.
• Puppy Mills [22]:
• Female dogs are mated over and over again to produce puppies.
• The dogs are kept in deplorable conditions.
• Smuggling:
• Exotic animals are smuggled out of their native habitat to be sold elsewhere as 'pets'.
• Theft:
• Thieves steal other people's pets to sell them for money.
• Abuse:
• Pets are often physically abused, beaten, mistreated, neglected, starved, sexually abused (bestiality) etc.
• Loneliness:
• Pets are often left alone by their busy owners for long periods at a time. In Britain, it's estimated that one in four dogs is depressed, caused by the stress of being left alone. [23] 
• Drugs:
• With the recent trend to legalize marijuana for recreational use, pets are also affected and become intoxicated when they inhale the smoke, eat the dried plants, or eat foods laced with marijuana, such as cookies. [24]
• Not to mention all the other animals and creatures in and around the home or smoking location (spiders, flies, bees, birds nests, raccoons etc.), that may also be adversely affected.
• Hot Cars:
• Some owners leave their dogs in hot cars while they run errands, and sometimes the dogs suffer heatstroke or die because temperatures in cars can be up to 20C (70F) greater than the temperatures outside. [25] 
• Abandonment:
• Unwanted pets and other animals are left at shelters or abandoned elsewhere, such as by the side of the road. This is traumatic for the animals.
• Food:
• Pet food can be expensive, especially for lower income households. As a result, pets may not get the appropriate nutrition or diet.
5. VETERINARY SERVICES:
• Expensive:
• Veterinary services are expensive and even though most people want the best for their pets and animals, they may not be able to afford the expensive fees and/or medications. As a result (and because they may not have a choice), some people may let their pets suffer through ailments without medical attention, or (at worst) the animals are put down.
• Lack of Personnel:
• Another issue is that there aren't enough animal care personnel, which affects the availability of care and the quality of care that animals get.
6. SEX WITH ANIMALS:
• Some people have sex with animals (zoophilia/bestiality), such as with dogs, cats, horses etc. In most countries, bestiality is illegal. [26]
7. ANIMAL ABUSE:
• Some people abuse animals for their own selfish pleasure. For example:
• A cat was doused in gasoline and set on fire [27]
• A cat was shot 16 times with a pellet gun [28]
8. PRODUCTS:
• Plastic bags, fabric softener, toothpaste and other products have animal ingredients. [29]
9. TESTING AND RESEARCH:
• Animal Testing And Research:
• Animals are used for testing drugs, cosmetics and other products, and for other forms of research. Up to 100 million animals are used in animal testing and research annually. [30]
• Genetic Mutilations:
• Animals are genetically modified/engineered, for example, glowing mice. [31] This is completely unacceptable. Genetic mutilation must stop.
10. MILITARY:
• Underwater Bomb Testing:
• Underwater explosions affects the ability of marine animals to communicate [32] and to potentially use sonar for navigation. They become disoriented and may beach themselves in an attempt to escape their hostile environment.
• Some animals are used by the military, for example, dolphins. [33]
11. HEALTH:
• Bear Bile:
• Some people consume bear bile, considered to be part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Bears are kept in cages, in cruel, deplorable conditions and bile is extracted from their gall bladder. [34]
• Oysters:
• Some people eat oysters to increase their libido.
• Cancer Detection:
• Some dogs (and potentially other animals) can detect cancer. [35]
• Seizure Response Dogs:
• Some dogs (and other animals) can predict seizures. [36]
• Death Prediction:
• Some animals can predict death, such as Oscar the therapy cat. [37]
12. COMPETITIONS:
• Equestrian sports:
• In competitions such as polo, horse jumping etc., there's often injuries to riders and horses.
• Rodeos:
• There's bull riding and horse riding, where people and animals are often injured.
• Animal Shows:
• There are dog shows and other animals shows. Animals compete to be 'best in show', with potential lucrative endorsement deals.
• The animals are subjected to questionable treatments in order to meet competition standards.
13. HUNTING:
• Poachers:
• Poachers kill elephants for their tusks, rhinos for their horns, animals for their skins etc.
• Since 2010, nearly 35,000 elephants have been killed every year in Africa because of the growing market in Asia. [38]
• Legal Permits:
• In some places, animals (lions, rhinos, bears etc) are legally hunted with permits. Their bodies are stuffed, mounted, then put on display (taxidermy) [39], simply for bragging rights, to show off, and for selfish pleasure and satisfaction.
• Whaling and seal hunting is controversial.
• Traps:
• Animal traps are used to catch animals, by the leg or other body part. This is painful and animals often die a slow, cruel death. .
14. ANIMAL CONTROL:
• Various methods are used to control animals:
• Insecticides:  Are used to control insects commercially and in the home. The insects die a slow cruel death.
• Insect Glue Traps: Are used to catch insects. They're lured to the trap, become trapped in the glue and die a slow cruel death.
• Rat/Mouse Poison: Is used to control rats and mice. They die a slow cruel death. Sometimes other animals, such as dogs, eat the poison and are adversely affected.
• Rat/Mouse Traps and Glue Traps: Are also used to control rats and mice. They also die a slow cruel death.
15. WORK:
• Guide Dogs:
• Help the blind, but sometimes suffer stress due to overexertion.
• Police Dogs:
• Dogs are trained to accompany police, and just like human officers, sometimes they die in the line of duty.
• Mounted Police:
• Horses are used by police and sometimes they're shot, run over by cars etc.
• Guard Dogs:
• Dogs are trained to guard people and their property, but sometimes they're killed intentionally as intruders try to gain access.
• Detection Dogs:
• Detection dogs (sniffer dogs) detect explosives, drugs etc., at airports, borders and other areas requiring security checks. [40]
• text
• Cows, Horses, Donkeys etc.:
• Are used to plow fields.
16. TEACHING AND EDUCATION:
• Cadavers:
• Animals are dissected and studied to teach doctors, veterinarians, biology students etc.
• Zoology and Animal Research:
• Animals are studied to learn more about them. They are the topic of many undergrad and graduate theses and research work. 
• Horses: Horses are used to teach people how to ride a horse.
17. TRANSPORTATION:
• Horses are used to transport people, pull carriages and wagons.
• Donkeys are used to transport people, pull carts and carry loads.
• Camels are used to transport people and carry loads.
• Dog sleds are used to transport people and goods over ice and snow. Sometimes dog sleds are used in racing.
18. ACCIDENTS:
• Roadkill:
• Cars: Animals are killed by cars and trucks, with an estimated 1 million animals killed each day in the USA. [41]
• Trains: Trains kill many animals, e.g. four elephants in India. [42] 
• Airplanes: In 2003 in the USA, there were ~51,000 bird strikes. [43] Sometimes pets travelling with their owners die in the cargo hold. [44]
• Windows:
• Birds fly into windows because they can't see the glass. They suffer head injuries and become grounded, or they break their necks and die.
• Artificial Light:
• Some animals (such as moths), are attracted to the light at night. With so much artificial light at night, moths spend hours circles lamps and other artificial light.
• Oil Spills:
• For example the Exxon Valdez oil spill affected many animals. [45]
19. POLLUTION:
• Air, land and water pollution affects many animals. Some leave their natural habitat looking for safer territory. Others suffer the consequences - mutations, deformations etc. You might see a frog with extra legs. [46]
• Mercury builds up in fish because they're high on the food chain. [47]
• Sometimes fish just die and nobody knows why. [48]
20. DECREASE IN HABITABLE LAND:
• Melting Ice Packs:
• As the ice packs in the Arctic and Antarctic melt, polar bears, penguins, walruses [49] and other animals lose their natural habitat.
• Deforestation:
• Animals lose their natural habitat and are displaced.
• Wildfires:
• Whether wildfires are started naturally (lightening strikes) or due to human action, animals become displaced or lose their lives.
• Reefs Destroyed:
• The popularity of diving has destroyed reefs because divers stand on them, touch them, take souvenirs etc. Reefs are homes to many marine creatures.
• Urban Visitors:
• As animals lose their natural habitat, they're often drawn to urban centers looking for food. Sometimes they're relocated, sometimes they're euthanized.
21. WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTERS:
• Natural Disasters:
• Some animals can predict the weather and natural disasters before they happen. During the Dec 2004 tsunami, elephants ran for the hills before it struck. [50] 
• The weather affects animals in many ways. Here are a few examples:
• Floods: Affects burrowing animals.
• Freezing Temperatures: Birds wings can become frozen so they can't fly.
• Hot Temperatures: Animals can be overcome by the heat.
• Hurricanes: Bring some marine creatures to shore.
• Storms and Strong Winds: Destroy birds nests and other animal homes.
22. DOMINO EFFECT:
• Because all of nature is an integrated, interconnected and interdependent system, when one part of nature is adversely affected, other parts become adversely affected, in a domino effect.
• For example, bees pollinate plants, and when bees begin to die for some unknown reason, plant pollination is affected. [51]

While animal protection and animal welfare groups and initiatives exist, such as Greenpeace, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), World Animal Protection, government sponsored anti poaching programs, animal conservation groups etc., more should be done.

Round tables need to be established to determine how to permanently eliminate animal abuse and exploitation in the entire world.

Animals are very much a part of our lives, but our relationship with animals doesn't have to be abusive, exploitative and cruel. We can and should interact with animals in a humane, dignified and respectful way. We should find a positive and harmonious balance with all animals and with all of nature. All animals abuse and exploitation has to stop.

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others, including all animals and all life on earth.

This planet is home to many species and it's our job to look after each other and to look after all life on earth.

That said, eventually we'll come to realize that we're surrounded by love, that we've never done anything bad to anyone or to nature, and that nothing bad has ever happened to us, others or to nature. That doesn't mean that people have free license to do whatever they want, not at all. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others, all animals and all life on earth.

May The One True God, The Infinite God, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob guide us, may He lead us and may He show us the way.

God is with us and to Him we shall all return.
__________
References:

1. Living Planet Report 2014. www.worldwildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Retrieved Oct 3, 2014.
2. Battery cage. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
3. Broiler. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
4. Debeaking. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
5. Domesticated turkey. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
6. Pig farming. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
7. Pig Transport And Slaughter. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
8. Dairy cattle. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
9. Livestock branding. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
10. Cow Transport and Slaughter. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
11. Overfishing. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
12. Fish farming. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
13. Shark finning. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
14. Huff, Ethan A. (June 12, 2013). Meat scrap leftovers now being reprocessed into ice cream: The dismal future of food. www.naturalnews.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
15. Pesticide. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
16. Kopi Luwak. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.
17. Associated Press (May 3, 2008) Runner-up Eight Belles breaks front ankles, euthanized on track. www.sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014. 
18. Greyhound racing. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
19. Running of the Bulls. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
20. Ever wanted to ride an elephant? You have to watch this. www.youtube.com. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.
21. Row over US mobile phone 'cockroach backpack' app. www.bbc.com. Nov 8, 2013. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
22. Puppy mill. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
23. Salkeld, Luke (Aug 19, 2013). It's a dog's life: Pets depressed because they are left home alone all day by working owners. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
24. Pet Marijuana Intoxication On The Rise. www.petpoisonhelpline.com. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
25. Dogs in Hot Cars. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
26. Zoophilia. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
27. Golgowski, Nina (May 3, 2013). Kitten horrifically burned after being doused in gasoline and set alight is steadily recovering after losing both ears in the brutal attack. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
28. Cat shot 16 times with BB gun in 'heartbreaking' cruelty case. www.cbc.ca/news. May 19, 2014. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
29. Alvarado, Paula (Nov 3, 2010). 9 Everyday Products You Didn't Know Had Animal Ingredients. www.treehugger.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
30. Animal testing. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
31. Genetically modified mouse. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
32. Pavan, Gianni (2002) Effects of underwater noise on marine mammals. http://www-3.unipv.it Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
33. Military dolphin. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
34. Bile bear. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
35. Canine cancer detection. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
36. Seizure response Dog. www.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
37. Oscar (therapy cat). www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
38. Morelle, Rebecca (Aug 18, 2014). Elephant poaching deaths reach tipping point in Africa. www.bbc.com/news. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
39. Taxidermy. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
40. Detection dog. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
41. Roadkill statistics. www.hcn.org. Feb 7, 2005. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
42. Bond, Anthony (May 30, 2013). Four elephants killed when they are hit by a TRAIN speeding through the jungle. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
43. Bird strike. www.en.wikipedia.org. In 2003 in the USA, there were 4,300 bird strikes by the Air Force, 5,900 by civil aircraft, and with an estimated 80% unreported, the total estimate is 51,000 bird strikes. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
44. Pet Deaths In Airplanes Continue, Pressuring Airlines To Change Policy. www.huffingtonpost.com. 10/04/2012. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
45. Exxon Valdez oil spill. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
46. Frog mutations and genetic defects. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
47. Mercury in fish. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
48. Snyder, Michael (Aug 11, 2013) Why Are Millions of Fish Suddenly Dying in Mass Death Events All Over The Planet? www.thetruthwins.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
49. Brodwin, Erin (Oct 1, 2014). 35,000 Walruses Are All Crowded Together In One Spot - And It Signals Something Ominous. www.businessinsider.com. Retrieved Oct 3, 2014.
50. Lambourne, Helen (27 Mar 2005) Tsumani: Anatomy of a disaster. www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
51. Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder. www.ars.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 9/8/2014. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Who's Between You And Others?

Look at each other, look at those around you and ask yourself - who's between you? The quality of selfishness or the quality of bestowal (The Creator)?

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Perception Of Reality - An Intense Event

When you first go through a change in the perception of your reality, you'll feel really bad. You'll see yourself for who you really are and you'll be shocked at how selfish you've been, especially when you realize that you're surrounded by love.

This experience can be very painful, leading to distress, anxiety, depression, great sadness, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shock etc. However, don't get stuck in this state, as it will pass.

Eventually you'll come to realize that you were always in bestowal, you were never in selfishness, that The Creator governs everything and that there is none else besides Him.

I don't want to scare you about what it's like to go through a change in the perception of your reality; however, I don't want to leave you unprepared for the intensity of the event.

It's like a woman in labour - it's painful, yet purposeful - and being well prepared and well informed helps.

Be prepared and be informed, but do not be afraid. God is with us.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Is Our Current Political System Archaic?

Why should we elect someone to represent us in government when we should be able to represent ourselves? Is our current political system of electing representatives archaic? 

Our current political systems were developed hundreds of years ago, at a time when there was no technology, so it made sense to elect someone to represent us in government because we couldn't all show up at the same time. However, with modern day technology, shouldn't we be able to represent ourselves?

Shouldn't we revisit the way we're represented in government? Shouldn't we incorporate modern day technology to give everyone a chance to represent themselves? With modern day technology, it's possible for the many to have their say, instead of using the voice of a few elected representatives.

We have the technical minds to build a foolproof, fraudproof, tamperproof, technically sound system that would allow each and every one of us to represent ourselves in society.

We'd have to make sure that the voting/system/process wasn't unduly dominated by a few - by the technically savvy, the politically inclined, those with a vested interest in the outcome, the most vocal, most passionate, most aggressive, most inspired etc. Perhaps incorporating quorums would ensure fair participation and representation.

Isn't it time to review the way we're represented in government? In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

You Created Me, So Take Care Of Me

We need The Creator once we realize we're powerless, confused, tired, fed up, empty, unfulfilled, unhappy etc.

Just as children demand of their parents, we need to demand of The Creator: You created me, now you have to take care of me.

This demand brings joy to The Creator, it pleases Him that we acknowledge that He's The Creator.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Are You Done With Dinner?

If dinner is the quality of selfishness and desert is the quality of bestowal, are you done with dinner? As long as you keep eating dinner, you won't get desert. As soon as you say you're done with dinner, you'll get desert. So, are you done with dinner? Are you ready for bestowal?

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Do Aliens Believe In God?

God isn't just God of our world, He's God of all creations.

Are aliens looking for God the same way we're looking for God? Do aliens have a better understanding of who God is? Perhaps they understand God differently?

If someone here on earth established a relationship with God unlike anything that had happened before in all creations, and if that relationship affected all creations, would aliens come here to find out what was going on?

Do not be afraid. God is with us.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

My Role As A Teacher And Guide

As I teacher and guide, my role is to bring you to a place of self-discovery and self-realization:

• There are forces that PULL you TOWARDS me, so you can learn about the quality of bestowal. You have to respect someone who teaches and guides you.
• On the other hand, there are forces that PUSH you AWAY from me, so you can grow. This is a journey of self-discovery and self-realization - you have to discover and realize who you are. I can't discover you, for you. You have to discover yourself. You have to do the work, you have to walk the path. It's not about me, it's about you and you have to realize your own potential within the quality of bestowal.

When a baby is born, s/he is under his/her parents care, but eventually the child grows and begins to do things for him/herself. However, there's one thing to point out:

1. In this world (the quality of selfishness), as children grow, they become independent, which means they become less reliant on their parents and they find new ways to benefit THEMSELVES. This DECREASES the connection between us because we all become isolated in personal selfishness.
2. In the next world (the quality of bestowal), as children grow, they become independent, which means they become less reliant on their parents and they find new ways to benefit OTHERS. This INCREASES the connection between us because we become connected in mutual bestowal.

This means that as a teacher, my role is to bring you to independence within the quality of bestowal, which also means we'll become more connected with each other. We'll all find new ways to benefit each other and we'll become connected in mutual bestowal.

Eventually, you'll come to realize that we're all equal. I have my role to play and you have yours. Each and every one of us has a unique role to play. Once we realize our roles, we'll independently seek to benefit each other and become increasingly interconnected and interdependent.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Do not be afraid. God is with us.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

We Are The Desire And God Is The Fulfillment

We are the desire and God is the fulfillment, meaning, what we desire, God fulfills. We have to express our desire first, in order for God to fulfill it. The desire comes first, then the fulfillment.

Our entire lives have been designed to bring us out of the quality of selfishness into the quality of bestowal. All the pressures, troubles and stresses that we face are purposeful - designed to make us discontent with our lives so we want for more, designed to make us despair of the things of this world (the quality of selfishness), so we're ready for the things of the next world (the quality of bestowal).

How much longer are you going to wallow in your misery, emptiness and despair? Another day? Week? Month? Year? Years? The forces won't let up because we're expected to grow, to change from selfishness to bestowal.

But we have to ask.

The request has to come from us. Be sincere, speak from your heart, cry, scream, rant and rave. Do whatever you have to do to express your desire.

Send a heartfelt cry to The One True God, The Infinite God, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Ask Him to help you and He will. But you have to ask. Just ASK.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

In Love A Throne Will Be Established

It is written, "In love a throne will be established ..." (Isaiah 16:5, NIV) [fn1]

Love is connection. The expression of love is connection. We have to connect with each other in mutual bestowal where we all seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

_______
Footnote:

1. The KJV reads, "And in mercy shall the throne be established ..." (Isaiah 16:5, KJV)

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Kingdom Of God Is The Connection Between Us

The kingdom of God is the connection between us. When we rise above our egos, stop harming others and seek to benefit others instead of ourselves, we'll connect with each other in mutual bestowal. This connection is the kingdom of God.

We have to give birth to a new quality that didn't exist before, the quality of bestowal. The Creator is the connection between us.

As it is written: 
"20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:20-21, NIV)

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Celebrity Worship Leaves Us Empty And Unfulfilled

Why are we obsessed with celebrities? Why do we follow their lives and keep track of their every move, when after all the time we spend watching them, we're left feeling empty and unfulfilled?

We follow celebrities for a number of reasons:

1. To Live Vicariously Through Them:
• Many celebrities live glamorous lives, which many of us don't, and they do things many of us would never get the chance to do. We follow them to live vicariously through them.
• When we compare our lives to theirs, we feel simple, plain, poor and unimportant, which simply isn't true. We're all important and valuable. Remember, glamour doesn't mean happiness.
• We need to simply our lives and focus only on meeting our basic needs - food, water, clothing, shelter etc. Less is more, and true happiness comes from having good relationships with others, from being connected in mutual bestowal.
2. To Have A 'Friend':
• Celebrities 'invite' us to their weddings, baby showers, into their homes etc. We feel as though we're a part of their lives/family, that they're a 'friend', but it's all an illusion, a marketing ploy. Plus, we love weddings and babies and we become captivated by these celebrity events.
• When we compare our lives to theirs, we feel empty and unfulfilled because we don't have what they have. Plus, they're not a real friend.
• True happiness comes only from connecting with each other in mutual bestowal - it's not about superficial friendships or having things.
3. Escapism And Distraction:
• We follow celebrities as a form of escapism. They're a distraction from the problems in our own lives and from boredom. It gives us something to do, we can focus on something else - someone else's problems, someone else's 'perfect' life etc.
• We have to face our own lives. Eventually, we'll come to realize that our own lives are already PERFECT and we won't need to escape them or be distracted from them.
4. For Entertainment:
• Celebrities entertain us with their family drama and personal adventures. This makes for captivating stories and salacious gossip.
• We love good stories, but soon these superficial, shallow and egotistical stories will seem meaningless. We'll become captivated by stories of people who are seeking to benefit others instead of themselves.
5. To Keep Up With The Latest Trends:
• Many celebrities have the latest fashion, cars, homes etc. So we follow them to keep up with the latest trends.
• Our focus on materialism will soon come to an end. Instead, we'll focus on having good relationships with others and this will become our primary concern.

The egotistical celebrity culture will soon come to an end. Instead, we'll value people who do good to others, people who help others, and people who seek to benefit others and all of nature. In this way, we'll be inspired to do the same.

True joy and happiness comes from having good relationships with others, from being connected with each other in mutual bestowal. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.