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How Often Should You Replace Air Filters & Oil Filters?

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It’s amazing how many guys will faithfully go to the gym three times a week yet let their car or truck go for months (sometimes years!) without replacing the air filter or oil filter. While there aren’t hard and fast rules dictating exactly how often you should swap out your filters because it varies by driving conditions and the number of miles you log, there are some guidelines you should consider. After all, just like a good workout, a shower or a haircut, your vehicle needs regular maintenance to function at its peak.

An engine’s primary defense against internal abrasion, and the resulting wear and tear, is the oil filter. Oil filters, like K&N oil filters, remove solid contaminants like dirt, carbon and metal particles from the oil before they can damage the surfaces of bearings, journals and cylinders within the engine. The fresher the filter, the more effective it is at trapping these contaminants.

In modern engines, oil is routed through the filter before it goes to the crankshaft bearings, cam bearings and valve train-gear heads call it “full-flow” filtration. It’s the most efficient way of removing contaminants, assuring only filtered oil finds its way into the engine. As the filter begins to wear, it develops buildups of dirt and debris that obstruct the flow of oil. To maintain performance and prevent engine damage, the filter should be changed before it reaches this point. Waiting too long can result in engine failure due to loss of lubrication and catastrophic damage to your engine.

Many auto manufacturers will tell you the oil filter only needs to be replaced at every other oil change, but with modern vehicle’s this isn’t sufficient. Today’s oil filters have been downsized to save weight, cost and space. What was once a quart-sized filter has been replaced by a pint-sized filter (a pint being smaller than a quart). Obviously, this reduction in size provides less total filtering capacity. Nevertheless, these smaller oil filters should easily stand up to about 3,000 miles, but they won’t make it past the 6,000-mile mark. Replacing the oil filter every time the oil is changed is probably a good idea to maintain the best possible engine integrity.

Regularly changing your air filter is just as important. When air is restricted, your engine can fail, leading to overheating and even a cracked block. Even worse, when airflow drops, your ride has to use more fuel to make the same amount of power, so your MPGs are going to tank. The life of an air filter depends largely on how much crud it collects. Believe it or not, a slightly dirty air filter actually cleans more efficiently than one that’s brand new. That’s because the debris trapped in the air filter screens out smaller particles. Eventually though, every filter reaches the saturation point, causing a noticeable pressure drop that restricts airflow. Fuel economy, performance and emissions erode and continue to suffer until the dirty filter is replaced.

In general, a quality air filter will last between 20,000 – 30,000 miles on a vehicle that sees mostly freeways and major side streets-city driving in other words. Be prepared to change it more frequently if your driving conditions contain poor air quality (we’re looking at you, L.A.) or take place in a rural setting, with dusty roads or other airborne contaminates. In this environment, air filters, like a K&N air filter or Infiniti G35 air filter, may perform effectively for only a month or two. Perform a visual inspection of your air filter every 10,000 to 12,500 miles. If it still looks OK, pop it back in and check it when you hit 20,000 to 30,000 miles of use.

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Source by Andrew Bernhardt

The Planning Step of Building a Warehouse

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Here are 20 step by step tips and ideas to help you create the warehouse you need at a price you can justify. From industrial tents which retract, through to portal frame structures with loading docks and conveyors to fully equipped and racked out facilities.  This is the place to start your successful design and build warehouse project. Building a warehouse that works for you requires thought and experience for the best results. There are huge choices in warehouse design and construction with a range of models and equipment, one of which will be right for you. This step by step outline guide will alert you to some of the fundamentals to ensure you manage your warehouse project effectively right from the first step you take.

10 warehouse disasters to avoid

  1. Plan: The Professionals will keep you right? – Wrong, wrong, wrong! The professionals are not here to keep you right, they are here to carry out instructions and to take instructions – your instructions and then follow procedures that they have learned. Rule 1 know what you want or take what you are given.
  2. Read the small Print: Just because it is concrete it does not mean it is load  bearing. Beware of clauses that state that it is up to you to ensure your structures are suitable for the installation. That means if it fails it is your fault. They mean it!
  3. Know the Regulations: You are very unlikely to be able to see your foundations.  If you think you can you are probably looking at a floor. A concrete floor is about 250mm thick, it is the ground bearing pressure that makes the difference. You won’t get this information by guessing but you will be required to account for it.
  4. Ignorance is Expensive: A foundation is up to 300mm below the floor, usually at the base of a major load bearing member like the frame of a building. They are up to 1500mm cubed and weigh over 1000kgs each, for an average warehouse.
  5. Don’t make Assumptions: Don’t presume that because it is a big steel column or quarter of a meter of concrete that it will take anything you want to hang or stand on it, it won’t. So don’t have afterthoughts about suspended gas fired heaters, cranes or mezzanine floors – after thoughts are expensive. Remember people who quote will normally put the lowest price in to get the work, with a specification that matches.  The only thing you can safely assume is if it is not specifically mentioned it is specifically excluded. You should assume architects will have very limited knowledge of technical equipment, they are good with materials and creating attractive space, they don’t spend 10 years qualifying to design a standard portal frame building, but they will make it look a little more pleasing on the eye and design fish ponds in the reception or decide to route assembly conveyors through the administration offices, they are full of creative ideas (BMW)!
  6. Understand the People Limitations: Be sure you know what you are going to put in this building. You may not need an architect at all, a structural engineer will provide the right materials and advice to achieve the creation, a builder will erect it and none of these people are specialists in industrial applications. They are specialists in only their respective work.  You need a materials handling engineer or a specialist in your industry, or both. In other words pick an appropriate project leader.
  7. What you get for your Money: The cheapest steel building will last 10 to 15 years before it needs attention    Even modern cladding won’t last forever, refurbishment is never cheap.  Single skinned buildings are for sheep or goods which don’t mind damp. PVC clad buildings will last 50 years with up to 4 cheap skin changes and still be in good condition – much cheaper than several coats of paint and a completely new outer steel insulated skin. Marquees are for parties or weddings. Industrial quality steel framed independent structures are the lowest cost, highest value asset you can own, you can take them with you and put them up anywhere. Think through what you want to do. Steel buildings can actually devalue your site.  Be careful.
  8. Check things out properly: Don’t use low budget builders or cheap buildings for high profile work that must comply to statutes, you won’t have enough information to get it through building regulations and you might finish up paying for a great deal of unbudgeted and hidden cost. The time to get this information is day 1 before you pay. Never pay a penny for anything you can’t see or own. Exercise caution with progress payments, there are many ways of safely concluding these transactions.
  9. Beware of hidden Costs: Classic unbudgeted and hidden costs that will torpedo your project include: poor ground conditions, not enough water, gas or electricity to service your building, long queues for service provisions, professional fees, local authority fees, landscaping and other local authority orders at the planning stage- e.g. lifts for disabled access, rateable car parking and a whole host of other hidden planning conditions. A basic list of about 30 in the UK, most of which you will never have heard of until they broadside your bank account. If you are in a heritage area you will need specialist advice.  Unless you are a multinational, money no object company, be very wary of heritage tags, you might find your project hijacked by the local archaeologists for the next 5 years or turned into a nature reserve for great crested newts.
  10. Never max out your Budget with no spare Cash: Put a contingency of at least 50% onto your project if you are a novice, 20% if you know what you are doing and 10 to 15% if you hire an agent or professional to help you.  Only a professional as cool as ice puts on 5% and then only if he has been doing the job all his or her life or you can sub out the whole thing to a principal contractor or construction company who will rake in a handsome margin for doing so, but at least you will have someone to sue to get what, after all, is your own money back.

Warehouse planning – To Fee or not to Fee, that is the question

Penalty clauses are doubtful: I can give you a case by case disaster list involving ill fitting equipment, wrong sized buildings, complete project failures and a host of other horrors to scare you and don’t think that penalty clauses will save the day, they won’t and nobody will touch them if they are unreasonable plus there will almost certainly be a  charge to you for them.   Unless you have a datum point, a minimal position, planning out your warehouse is just going to be a slippery slope rather than that  great improvement you want.   How then do you make a positive start to get great value for money and at the same time achieve a memorable project that delivers beyond expectations?  

The principal concept and operating format: My first recommendation is to choose the correct equipment, this means your handling equipment. At this point I would suggest you find a materials handling engineer with a measured amount of grey hair. A mistake at this point will see you buy or build your warehouse the wrong size. Decide what your smallest stock size is going to be and find a suitable recording system to model a business system around. You can now plan out your warehousing equipment and systems including all the access equipment and the picking systems you will need.   If you already have a warehouse or industrial unit this is your chance to improve, upgrade or replace – don’t miss it!  Firstly think about management logistics – quite apart from servicing and turning HGV’s round in your yard, you could just subcontract the whole warehousing operation out or bring in professionals to help you set up.  If you are a growing SME then try some of the big operators, they may lend you people to help you, especially if you are giving them traffic. For smaller operatives the most important thing is a good location, shorter distances mean less costs and more opportunities.  Warehouses are governed by cubic volume. There are several ways to maximise this, too many to explore in this article but here are some basic warehouse planning concepts.  Which of these statements do you agree or disagree with? (Answers at the end of this article)

  1. It is always cheaper to go up rather than out.
  2. Very narrow aisle (VNA) is the most efficient use of space.
  3. Mezzanine floors are best put up by the builder when the warehouse is built..
  4. Second hand mezzanines are good value for money..
  5. Pallet racking can be fitted in any warehouse application.
  6. If I have a heavy duty concrete apron in my yard I can bolt any steel warehouse straight on to it.
  7. I don’t need planning permission for PVC clad tent buildings especially if this warehouse retracts.
  8. I don’t need planning consent if it is only a temporary warehouse structure.
  9. You will always get a better job if you employ an architect to design and build your warehouse.
  10. 6 months is more than enough time to design and build a new warehouse.

Understanding your professional  appointments and what they do: Your unit of space and your unit of productivity, I guarantee, will govern the entire structure of your business – do you know what yours is? Modelling your business is the best way to iron out many of the problems you will encounter. By adopting such a method you will quickly see, step by step, just exactly how your project will fit together from equipping, operating and resourcing your  entire warehousing operation, but how do you turn it into reality? A principal contractor will put everything you need together.  Unless your project is over £5m you would probably be better off with an agent who works for you directly. Architects will project manage as will structural engineers, frequently working together to deliver a project. 

They do undertake such works as their bread and butter tasks but it is not usually so case specific. Warehousing involves systems and equipment that frequently requires specialist knowledge on such a scale that without it from the very beginning your project will have serious information gaps. Even the principal contractors employ these specialists as do the other professionals but for small projects you will pay more for these extra facilities if you assemble your advising team in the wrong way. A bit like going to the wrong doctor, who then decides to operate just because he is a doctor. Just like doctors it is really important to get the correctly skilled professional to handle your case.

Picking  the right Warehouse Equipment – What you need to know

Forklift Trucks: A fork truck on average will handle about 125 pallets a shift – that is one every 3.84 minutes, there are all sorts of ways of modelling this information but if you are achieving anything like this ratio you have a very busy forklift driver.

Racking: Racking can go up to 12m or so, many mills will cut it to any length you want.  However 6m is often the standard height because they have to be painted and the paint ovens are vertical so that height is the governing factor.  Pre-galvanised steel is always a good choice if you are having trouble with high one piece frames and want to avoid splicing costs. 6m is a quick turn round height and with frames this height you can store about 10 pallets in a 2.7m width or 15 euro pallets since they are 800mm wide.

VNA (very narrow aisle): will have aisle widths down to 1,200mm.  At this width your £40,000 to £60,000 truck will be guided, you can have ‘man up’ or ‘man down’ and you need a set down area for picked work and feeder trucks which are all extra operations. if this is the answer you can get very small bin picker systems which work very quickly, in very high density storage systems but these are usually big money items.

Specialist Forklift Trucks: Articulated trucks now play a very big role and work in aisles of 1750mm upwards and need very little manoeuvring space.  They will multi-task and have both electric and IC power units.  There are two market leaders and a third contender who has a very considerable and experienced engineering resource across the materials handling industry.

Money: Some dealers are very good at tailoring finances if there is pressure on cash – never let cash be a problem, remember this is just as much part of business management as your warehouse based business.

Stock control: Once you have picked a good warehouse truck the racking is easy.   However remember the unit of space I talked about earlier, this is when you need it. It defines picking, packing and shipping, not to mention profit. It dictates the nature of the warehousing operation. If your in unit is 6m x 500mm x 500mm and your out unit is 6m x 50mm x 50mm or sub divisions of the 6m cut down into smaller bits, then your storage and picking operation is governed by that.  If you then have 4,000 stock lines, titles, colours, weights etc then you must do this for each variant.

Warehousing and stock processing: Any processing of stock requires thought. Mezzanines are good people space and multi level/tier shelving systems also provide very high density, good organisational facilities. Work stations are not an afterthought and correctly specified and built are capable of putting their own cost back in to your bank every hour of the day.

Remember to plan your lighting properly and think about good identification systems right from the outset. The more you can de-skill, the more efficient you will become, otherwise when Harry the warehouseman is off and is the only person who knows where everything is, you could have trouble.

From new it is not hard to spend £1,000 per square meter by the time you are operational,  half of which will be the shell, the land is extra. You can extend from under £280/sq.m. The shell only (above ground) will be around £180.00 of this.

What sort of warehouse and where to build it:  Avoid cheap buildings on different levels and slopes, they are cheap for a reason. Think about loading docks and pre-shipment preparations, you get much better rates from your contractor if he is in and out quickly. Trailers glued to dispatch bays only cost money. You can turn round HGV’s in  less time than the driver can make himself a cup of tea with the right equipment.

How to create a Warehouse with a strong asset value: I doubt that any of the Yorkshire mill owners ever visualised their mills being divided up and selling for huge sums as luxury properties.  It is usually cheaper to build up rather than out, however over 6m starts to get slow for forklift trucks and building sections get pricey too. It is possible to clad the pallet racking and turn it all into ‘the warehouse’  but unless you have an exact buyer it will be worth scrap value when you have finished with it, and you will lose value on the land due to the cost of reconstruction. Think though the cost of ownership.  It goes without saying that payback times, function and design are critical but not as critical as thinking through  “life after warehouse”. In other words try to keep the build appeal as broad as possible. There are many good ideas and schemes about to help you. The more you can do with the warehouse, the more money it will hand back to you and that makes it less risky. This is also why I always consider limited fee appointments, pardon the pun, but this is my way of thinking outside the box!

  1. It is always cheaper to go up rather than out. Very often it is
  2. Very narrow aisle (VNA) is the most efficient use of space. It is dense but can be slower than other methods
  3. Mezzanine floors are best put up by the builder when the warehouse is build. Never for industrial applications – use specialists
  4. Second hand mezzanines are good value for money. Avoid. In 38 years I have yet to see one fitted properly, I have seen several condemned and one collapsed.
  5. Pallet racking can be fitted in any warehouse application. Providing you have level floors in good condition, which are of correct structure. Pallet rack can impose enormous point loadings. Avoid expansion joints.
  6. If I have a heavy duty concrete apron in my yard I can bolt any steel warehouse straight on to it. Extremely risky
  7. I don’t need planning permission for PVC clad tent buildings especially if this warehouse retracts. You probably do
  8. I don’t need planning consent if it is only a temporary warehouse structure. Yes you do, always check
  9. You will always get a better job if you employ an architect to design and build your warehouse. Not in my experience, but you will get a great job using limited fee appointments. A good agent will arrange this for you,
  10. 6 months is more than enough time to design and build a new warehouse. If you have planning consent and you know exactly what you want. From green field/brown field site 3 years is not leisurely! Two can be tight and one year is very good going indeed with absolutely no problems – Never rush it, it will just empty your bank account

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Source by Paul Casebourne

Several Ways to Customize Your Leased Vehicle’s Entertainment System

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Do you own a leased car, truck or SUV, but aren’t quite happy with the dealer-installed sound system? Would you like to have a video system in your leased vehicle, but are deterred by the expensive costs of the DVD player and overhead drop-down screens offered by the dealership. In the past, if you were unhappy with the entertainment system in your leased vehicle, you either had to accept the system as it was or pay to have it customized to your preferred taste and then pay once again for the original equipment to be reinstalled before returning your leased vehicle to the dealership. On top of that, if your custom installer did not restore all of the original equipment to make it look as if nothing had been changed, the dealer would tack on yet another fee.

This situation is obviously very reasonable unless you really love a quality automotive entertainment center and you have plenty of money to burn. Luckily, over the past few years, there have been products to hit the market that directly meet the needs of those who own leased vehicles and also enjoy the benefits of a quality sound and video system in their vehicle.

To enhance your sound system, consider an easy-to-install XM Satellite receiver. There are kits available that offer the receiver along with plenty of mounting and placement options. The kits include mounting hardware, a micro antenna, and both a cassette and power adaptor that allow you to play the XM Satellite radio through your vehicle’s original sound system. There are also wireless kits to accommodate vehicles that don’t have a cassette player.

In the video arena, there are new and innovative products that give you more options than the traditional drop-down or in-dash video screens. Now there are video monitor headrests and sun visors designed to replace the headrests or passenger-side sun visor in your vehicle. The manufacturers have even been so creative as to match the fabric, leather or vinyl to what is in your particular vehicle’s model and color. They’ve even gone so far as to match the stitching as well! The monitors easily connect to your vehicle’s sound system. They can also easily be connected to a DVD player or video game system. There are absolutely no holes involved as the wires run easily through the posts of the headrest. When you are ready to return your leased vehicle, you simply pop out the headrest monitors and reattach the original headrests.

These are just two examples of how you can customize the entertainment system in your leased vehicle. There are several other devices that can accommodate the needs of a leased vehicle owner as well. Just because you drive a leased vehicle doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it as if you owned it!

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Source by Dwayne Wright

Water Damage Restoration and Cleanup Solutions

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If there’s been any water damage on your commercial or residential property, you should not wait and should immediately call in professionals from a reputable water restoration company. In some cases, you can do restoration on your own, but there is too much risk to take it up as a DIY project. Let’s have a close look at the services provided by a water restoration company.

* Available 24/7

Professional water restoration companies operate on 24/7 basis. Time is really important when it comes to water damage restoration and any delay can dramatically increase your losses resulting in additional restoration expenses. If flooding has been due to any burst pipe, shut off the water supply and immediately call in professionals as soon as you can. If flooding is due to a sewage backup, floods, hurricanes, or roof leakage, you should not wait even for a second and call water restoration company to minimize your losses.

* Expert help with insurance claims

The water restoration company can do much more than water cleanup and restoration in your home or office. They will assign you an insurance specialist who will prepare your paperwork and help you in the entire insurance claims process. Even though claiming insurance for any property damage seems easy, but insurance company will do everything possible to give you a lower amount than required. With the professional help from an insurance specialist, you will save lot of time and stress and will get the check that will easily cover all your restoration expenses.

* Professional equipment

Water restoration companies use commercial grade equipment and tools, such as blowers, portable water extraction units, dehumidifiers, pumps, humidity and moisture gauges, fans, truck mounted extraction units and so on. All these equipments will help in removing water and will restore your home or office within hours.

* Technical know how

This is where water restoration companies offer the most value. You may take hours to learn and research to figure out best restoration plan for your property while professionals with years of hands on experience will immediately go to work and will restore your property in the most cost effective and efficient way. They will also advise you on potential issues with the construction of your building that might lead to future water damage issues.

Therefore, in conclusion, it’s best to call a professional water restoration company as soon as any water damage occurs on your property. The sooner you’ll call them, the lesser your losses will be. These companies also guarantee that their estimates will be accepted by your insurance company. That means, you won’t spend anything from your pocket by hiring these professionals.

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Source by Aaron Fiedling Parker

Four Secrets About Elephants You Probably Did Not Know About

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What does it mean to have elephant artistry in your home? Few people know or understand the important symbolism the elephant projects onto the human subconscious. Being the largest land animal on the planet, the elephant represents four very important traits.

Strength and Power: Okay. This one is pretty straight forward. Elephants are enormous, extremely strong, and their skin is extremely tough. Before the pickup truck, there was the elephant.

Perseverance: Many great leaders feel that perseverance is the most important element to any type of success. The elephant is known as the most persistent animal on the planet. They migrate hundreds of miles each year, in blistering temperatures, without water, in order to reach water-filled rivers. Elephants never give up, no matter what the odds.

Patience / Wisdom: Elephants are highly intelligent animals, considered to be in the same intelligence category as dolphins. They are highly evolved in relation to family, community, and higher consciousness. In addition, they live to be about 60 years old making them wise beyond their years.

Dignity: Being so large, the elephant does not hide very well. It was made by God to be large, and “out there” for the world to behold and enjoy. There is no shyness nor shame in the elephant. For this reason, the elephant is held by many as being very dignified and proud.

Throughout history, and in many different cultures, the elephant has consistently represented strength, perseverance, wisdom, and dignity. Few, if any, animals combine these four virtues as evenly and completely as does the elephant. I wonder how you can utilize the elephant in your home or workplace to experience these same benefits right now.

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Source by Chris Sindlewood

Online Shopping – Why Do Retail Stores Exist Anymore?

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Online Shopping – Why do retail stores exist anymore? This is a loaded question, heavy with accusation that retail stores are yesterday’s technology and online is for today’s world.

While retail stores exist for many valuable reasons, it is easy for retailers to forget why and allow their businesses to drive – fuelling the question posed.

Retailers need to think about why their businesses exist and through this process reconnect with the value of a physical business compared to an online version.

To my mind, retail stores exist today for a range of very important social and economic reasons.

· Retail is a human activity. We like to look, touch, smell and share the experience with others. The online experience does not yet match this. Online is impersonal, lonely and lacking in satisfaction for the senses.

· Local stores are good for the environment. People can walk to them, they can browse and buy multiple items, there is no delivery truck required.

· Retail stores embrace the human condition. We are made to interact with each other. It is how stores and traditions are based on, face to face. Online this is harder to do – in a personal way at least.

· Local stores support local communities. If you go to the local bookshop or stationery shop or clothing store you are supporting local jobs and the broader local economy. If you buy online your money is going to who known where? There is little local economic benefit. You might as well put your money in an envelope and send it offshore. At least by buying locally a portion of your money stays in the local community.

· Service. Try returning a product you bought online or try asking a customer service question. If you bought the same item from a local retail store you have ore chance of being able to walk into the store and talk with the sales clerk who sold you the items. The retail store wins in the service stakes compared to the online store every time – no matter how smart the computer systems are.

· Instant gratification. If you want something right away good luck getting satisfaction online. Go to your local store, find what you want and you can walk out with it right away. No waiting for a courier and risking it getting lost in shipping or taken by someone else.

While I acknowledge that online business is growing, it is not growing at the rate that everyone claimed it would a few years ago. Consumers realise that there is no comparison to the physical in-store shopping experience.

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Source by Mark T Fletcher

What is a Mystery Shopper – Get Paid to Go Shopping on Your Schedule

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Your asking yourself what is a mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers are undercover customers who gather information about quality, service, cleanliness and other issues on behalf of business owners. Mystery shoppers go into stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, spas, and all kinds of businesses posing as customers asking questions, making purchases, returning merchandise and other things that regular customers do, but with a twist.

Afterward, the mystery shopper completes a report form. As a mystery shopper you’re not saying what you thought about the experience; you are reporting what happened. Most of the questions on a mystery shopping report are yes/no questions. Were you greeted within 30 seconds? Was the cashier polite? Was your order run up correctly? Were you given a receipt? Most companies have their mystery shopping programs managed by companies that specialize in mystery shopping. Mystery shoppers may be male or female. What they have in common is that they all have good communication skills, they care about customer service, and they enjoy helping businesses improve while making money in their spare time.

What is a mystery shopper in simple terms. A mystery shopper, also called secret shopper or shopper, pretends to be an actual or potential customer of a business. Depending on the research assignment, you will be asked to act like a real customer of the business – try on a wedding dress, test drive a truck, stay in a motel, open a checking account, eat in a restaurant, buy a bicycle, even apply for apartment rental. For example read the New York Times article about a New York Woman that makes $7000.00 per month by mystery shopping! Not everyone makes that much, but I can guarantee that if you like to shop and would like to get paid for it, then mystery shopping is the perfect job for you.

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Source by Kelly Byrne

Prophecy – Prophetic Symbols

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Understanding the Pictorial Images of God.

You have experienced dreams, visions and had prophecy spoken over you life. Some of it may have been very clear while other elements were full of mystery. The prophetic language of God can take many forms and be expressed in various images. God is now revealing the meaning of His pictorial language so that His people can understand what He is releasing through the prophetic realm. It would take a complete book to fully cover this subject but in this article I want to lay down a few principles and share some examples that will help you.

Let me recommend first that when you have a dream, a prophetic vision or receive a prophetic word tp always write it down. Otherwise, many details can be completely lost within a short time. If you received a prophetic word from a prophet(tess) then ask them to explain what they saw and the sense of what they felt. If it was a vision or dream, I recommend you make descriptive notes. You then can search your Bible for any of the images or pictorial types to see what that image conveyed in the scriptures. There are many electronic Bibles for free on line that include word searches and study helps so these can be very helpful.

It is important to prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to bring understanding to you. He authored the dream so He has the details. He does however, work with details that will make sense to you. He often uses experiences, memories and settings that are unique to you alone. Someone else would not understand them in the same light as you. For instance, seeing a hot stove may bring a sense of warmth, family, comfort and peace to someone. For another person seeing a hot stove in a dream may create feelings of fear or pain because they were badly burnt when they fell against a stove as a child. In these scenarios God may be leading the first person into comfort, sense of security or relationship. In the second example, God may be inviting that person into freedom from childhood fears. So ask Him to identify areas that may reveal a deeper work of restoration within you.

Let me focus on images. There are so many images in the Bible that God used, so reference these in a concordance. See if they relate to what you received. Jesus often used parables which are illustrations that contain a spiritual truth. A lamp represents light and guidance, whereas a net would represent harvest. Acquaint yourself with these through word searches and note the application, if any to your encounter.

When interpreting a dream it is important to look at the emotional, spiritual and circumstantial content within that dream. Was it frightening, peaceful, encouraging or threatening? Did details provide direction or promise of provision? Was the dream detailing issues to pray about? Was the dream a training module in which the Lord put you through a test or equipping session? Ask questions – why this and not that? Some unresolved issues in dreams are unimportant. If there were details you didn’t notice (like color or size etc.) they probably were unimportant.

Let’s look at some dream symbolism examples:

Prophetic Symbolism

Dress style in clothing:

open collar = open, nothing hidden, relaxed, informal plans,

white shirt = formal, rigid, leadership, management,

suit = formal, rigid, business

plaid shirt = casual, not rigid, working on a project.

Likewise: Ladies apparel would generally represent the same in formal to less formal.

Numbers:

1 – unity, God

2 – double blessing or anointing, or two confirmations.

3 – trinity – divine perfection

4 – earth number, 4 seasons, or four directions.

5 – grace

6 – number of man, 666 represents man in league with the world, flesh and devil or an Unholy Trinity.

7 – perfection

8 – resurrection, new beg, # of Jesus

9 – divine # (3 squared), # of Holy Spirit, also judgement, evangelism

10 – world # (10 horns of beast,10 toes on statue)

11 – incomplete, not yet a government, prophetic anointing

12 – governmental perfection/authority

13 – sin #, speaks of rebellion

Animals

Horse – power, physical issues that are going to come as in Revelation with the four horses of judgement.

White horse – the Lord’s message (Revelation when He sat on a white horse)

Also the highest form of power that is established by God.

Elephant – great power and strength, nothing stops them, never forgets.

Predators – animals that prey on others represent usually represent inner fears of that animal. They can often indicate an attack of the enemy in the form of that animal. A lion can represent Jesus as the “Lion of Judah” or could represent Satan as a roaring lion seeking or someone to attack. The context of the dream would clearly show which Lion is in a dream.

Snakes- serpents, spiders, scorpions, dragons, vampires etc. All represent agents of the occult.

Transportation

Vehicles (bikes, boats, aircraft, trains, buses etc.) usually symbolize ministry of some kind, life journey or destiny. The speed is also important because it defines time of getting from departure (as in right now) to the arrival (when God brings the fulfilment).

Subway – underground, unseen, sometimes it may surface for a bit then go down

again, behind the scenes, hidden

Train – a train sometimes represents training (play on words) but most forms of transportation represent ministry.

Air plane – higher spiritual elevation, rising up higher, higher level ministry OR things you are going to do in the Spirit, although rising on an eagle is a more common image for this.

Old car – older form of ministry, could even be old wine skin.

New car – could be faster, slicker (positive or negative,) cutting edge, more efficient and effective.

Truck – used for hauling things to different locations, bringing supplies back & forth.

Ocean liners – large influences over people, ministry with a large influence. The ocean represents people,nations

Other Prophetic Symbols:

Gates of hell – Satan may have access points in your life. Don’t open them.

7 trumpets of

Revelation. – 7 great messages of the Kingdom.

Balls or spheres – Often means completeness, well rounded plans or well thought out.

Walls – can be protection or walls we put up to protect ourselves from perceived

danger (they can close us in or keep out danger.)

Scene Change – Usually means transition in time, place or responsibilities.

Being up in the air – (in the dream or flying) This is the observation position. Could mean You’re not there yet, or just observing. However notice: .

In 2 Kings 5: 25-27 Elisha describes to his servant that he went with him (in the spirit) and saw that he had taken the gifts from Naaman. The Prophet Ezekiel also describes being taken up by the Spirit and being set down in other places, so He could see or make prophetic declarations for the Lord. Ezekiel 37:1, 2 and Ezekiel chapter 40.

Kitchen – Is the place of preparing food, spiritual nourishment being prepared

Cupboard, pantry – storage for things you are about to use.

Other storage places – attic, where you store things not likely to be used again but you want to keep for sentimental value or perhaps they are valuable. Other storage places are not so hard to get to for things you use, but not so often.

Tree – the cross of Jesus, or trees with fruit on them may refer to your attributes.

Prophetic people – When a prophetic person is in a dream with you it’s because you are in a training

time and he/she is a mentor.

Women – often represent churches.

Ocean – sea – people, nations.

Luggage – represents something valuable that you need. If you left it behind there is something back there unfinished that still needs done. If you’ve taken the luggage with you it’s something you’re going to do. Luggage can be very important.

Faceless people – often represent angels who represent someone or some thing. A messenger bringing a word or doing an act. Could also be the Holy Spirit. Or the nameless, faceless – His kids.

Fountains- streams, rivers – Holy Spirit

Clean water- revelatory truth

The Mt. of the Lord – where God rules from. It’s His will being done from this location. The place it radiates from.

Honey- revelation

Forest- confusion

Trees- leadership

Olive tree- anointed ministry

Almond tree – leadership, also Israel

Blooming almond tree – God’s approval (as when Aaron’s rod budded showing God’ approval of his leadership) When the almond tree is blooming in Israel,it is a time of favor that we as His Body can experience.

2nd floor – 2nd heavens

5 fingers – from thumb to little finger represents apostle,prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, in that order.

stirring up – it’s starting to happen now, not sitting but still waiting.

things coming and going – things coming in (the house for example) are coming in (birds flying into a house or packages being delivered to a house are things coming in.) things going out are leaving (such as a person, family, a ministry etc.)

As you see there are many symbols that come into dreams, visions or prophetic trances. The above are just a few examples. There are many other Prophetic Symbols that can be unique to a culture, as well. Wisdom and understanding is one of the attributes of the Holy Spirit so you can ask Him for clarity in the Prophetic Symbols that may appear in your dream, vision or trance. If you need consultation then contact me.

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Source by Keith A. Paul

Understanding Lowrider Longboards – Finding the Right Longboards For You

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Longboards are essentially skateboards but are wider and longer, used for transportation purposes and for slalom, exhibition, and competitive riding. Typically, a longboard is made up of a deck, a set of wheels, bearings, and trucks in varying sizes depending on the kind of riding to be done. They may also be made from synthetic materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass or natural woods like maple or birch.

Kinds of longboards to choose from

Pintail longboards are best for general transportation, flatland cruising, and downhill bombing. They are very narrow skateboards at just about nine inches in width and extending up to 48 inches in length. Along with trucks installed at the farther ends of each side, they also have semi-slanted riser pads, allowing the rider to make deeper turns. However, because of this, beginners might find that pintail longboards may be difficult to maneuver. Lowrider longboards, on the other hand, are best meant for street riding. With decks made from durable laminated wood, lowrider longboards also have low profiles ideal for pushing and carving. Lowrider longboards also have trucks installed nearly at the tips to achieve better control and stability.

Choosing longboards: some tips

If you’re more of a recreational rider, go for decks made from natural wood. They are inexpensive yet strong enough to handle the beating that accompanies general transportation. If you’re more of a competitive rider, look for decks made from synthetic materials for more durability, since competitive riding is more punishing than recreational riding.

Longboards with stiff bushing is ideal for downhill bombing or adventure riding since they offer stability at high speeds. Softer bushing offers more control so they’re more suited for general transportation.

General recreational riding calls for steel ball bearings, while downhill skating benefits from ceramic ball bearings because they lessen thermal resistance and friction. Ceramic ball bearings, though, are more expensive.

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Source by Ilse Hagen

Emergency Plumber – How to Find a Great Plumbing Service

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One of the great unsung heroes of the modern world is surely the emergency plumber. If you have ever really needed one, you know this to be true. These workers will come to your home or business in your hour of deepest need and fix the things you are lost without. So what makes a good emergency plumber then?

The first thing to know is that these folks can be very hard to find. A good service person is like a needle in the haystack, or so it sometimes seem. Average plumbers, those who install fixtures, are much more common. But the ones who come to fix up the horrifying messes that can be caused by faulty plumbing are almost heroic.

These people are heroes, believe it. They will clean up that mess in your bathroom and put things back in working order, and do it at all hours, as emergencies have no clocks. So here is the first trait to look for in your hired help. When are they available? If they are a twenty four hour operation, that is splendid. Remember, pipes freeze late at night when it gets really cold.

This around the clock availability leads to the second thing to look for in your rescue personnel. Are they available at all hours? Saying you are and actually picking up the telephone are two different matters. Do they offer at least two numbers, one for regular business hours and one for after hours? That is what you are looking for. And if they advertise dispatch vans, all the better for speedy replies.

Now, if you get a live person on the phone, and they are actually coming over to the house, try and get a good look at the truck as it pulls in. Is it clean and orderly? These are signs of a person who takes pride in their business. It is overflowing with tools and fixtures? There are no store runs for a washer at two-o-clock on a Sunday morning, so your help needs to be prepared. Go with the people in the nicest trucks, sounds crazy, but trust me!

Then, when they show up, the most important aspect comes in to play. Are they friendly and professional? Are they smiling even though it is so late and messy? Will they give you straight answers and straight quotes right away, and be willing to put it in writing for you? Honesty is truly the best policy, and a good contractor will always talk to you in a friendly and straightforward manner. If they do not, beware.

Mind you, they may be smiling because of what they are going to charge you for their services. The caveat here is that these folks will be expensive, and that could mean very expensive. Coming to your house or office at all hours to deal with overflowing toilets is not the best idea for a good time. You will be charged accordingly. Still, it will be worth it in the end, if they are good.

So what you are looking for is rather simple. You want a person who is available, and will actually show up ready to fix the problem at hand. They will charge you fairly and talk to you honestly. The cost of a good emergency plumber may be high, but for the good ones it is money well spent.

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Source by David Thorpe