text:
There are so many healthy options for snacks that it should be impossible to resort to raiding the vending machine, or picking whatever looks good at the store when you're already starving. Already starving = unhealthy choice, usually. I've rounded up some great easy recipes and healthy snack ideas from healthy living bloggers so you can prep snacks for a week or more, plus I'm sharing the best choices you can make if you need to grab something quickly from the store.
50 Healthy Snack Ideas
If you haven't heard of energy balls (or bites), then you may not follow any nutrition or healthy living blogs. 😉 There's a reason these are a popular recipe – they're easy to make in a food processor or a blender (I can confirm the blender works for most recipes); they're small enough to be snack or treat size; you can make them in bulk and keep them in the freezer or fridge for easy snack packing. These lemon energy balls were the first I ever tried making and are still a favorite of mine. Here are lots more options to keep you snacking happy:
Image: Banana Bread Energy Bites from Treats With a Twist
Mint Chocolate Sunflower Bites – Strength and Sunshine
Strawberry Cacao Energy Balls – Maria Makes
Banana Bread Energy Bites – Treats With a Twist
Blueberry Sunbutter Bites – Fitful Focus
Hemp Power Balls – Vegan, Gluten Free – The Happy Health Freak
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Truffle Bites – Vegan, Gluten Free – Leah's Plate
Granola bars are so easy to grab and throw in your bag or car so you know you have a healthy snack handy. But making your own is less expensive, plus you can make them in bulk and always have one for a kid's lunchbox, or to grab when you're heading out.
Image: Golden Berry Date Bars from The Fit Cookie
6 Ingredient Paleo Granola Bars – Balanced Life Leslie
Nourishing Nut and Seed Bars – Jill Conyers
Golden Berry Date Bars – The Fit Cookie
No Bake Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars – Happy Fit Mama
Easy Oatmeal Nut Butter Granola Bars – RunWiki
Copycat Chocolate Coffee RX Bars – Fitful Focus
Coconut Chocolate Chip Quinoa Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free) – Healthy Helper
Sunflower Chocolate Chip Chickpea Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free) – Bucket List Tummy
Sometimes you're just craving something savory. If you lean toward chips over chocolate, these are the snacks you're going to want to try.
Image: Savory Yogurt Parfait from Food, Pleasure and Health
Roasted Smoked Paprika Cinnamon Chickpeas – Strength and Sunshine
Garlic Tumeric Crackers – Holistic Rendezvous
Healthy Butternut Squash Chips – The Clean Eating Couple
Healthy Egg Muffins With Lean Turkey Bacon – TheFitBlog
Savory Yogurt Parfait – Food, Pleasure and Health
Crispy Cauliflower Nuggets (Vegan, Gluten Free) – Let's Get Living
Nine times out of ten, if I suddenly realize I'm hungry and it's a long time til dinner, chocolate springs to mind. Keep your sweet tooth happy in a healthier way with these yummy snacks that are actually healthy.
Image: DIY Peanut Butter Cups – My Southern Sweet Tooth
Mini No Bake Vegan Blueberry Cheesecakes – Positively Amanda
3 Ingredient Raw Chocolate Granola Cups – Balanced Life Leslie
Healthy Nut and Seed Brittle (Vegan, Paleo) – Let's Get Living
DIY Peanut Butter Cups – My Southern Sweet Tooth
Chocolate Dream Bars with a Popcorn Crust – RunWiki
Recovery Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffins – SuzLyfe
Double Chocolate Oatmeal Snack – Jill Conyers
ANZAC Biscuits – Fine Fit Day
Pistachio Cranberry Almond Flour Cookies (Vegan, Grain Free) – Healthy Helper
No Bake Salted Caramel Latte Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free) – RunWiki
If you want something crunchy, or to actually take hiking with you, these popcorn and trail mix snacks are for you. These are so easy to put together and ration out into snack size bags so you know exactly how much you're eating when you just want to graze.
Image: Crunchy Chickpea Trail Mix from Byte Sized Nutrition
Garlic and Herb Popcorn – a traveling Wife
Back to School Pipcorn Snack Mix – All Roads Lead to Healthy
Homemade Chex Mix – Masala Girl Travels
Crunchy Chickpea Trail Mix – Byte Sized Nutrition
Circus Popcorn – Strength and Sunshine
Let's face it, a party with appetizers is basically just a shrine to snacking. These snacks can be made for in between meals, but easily become hors douevres for a get together with friends.
Image: Customizable Apple Bun Sandwiches – Eat the Gains
Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill – Little Chef Big Appetite
Chickpea Pepper Poppers – Bucket List Tummy
Three Ingredient Snack (Grain Free) – a traveling Wife
Customizable Apple Bun Sandwiches – Eat the Gains
Prosciutto Wrapped Apricot and Pecan Bites – Maria Makes
Get your baby carrots and pepper strips ready, because these dips and spreads look delicious.
Image: Protein-Packed Edamame Hummus from FitLiving
Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper Dip) – Little Chef Big Appetite
Protein-Packed Edamame Hummus – FitLiving
Artisan Nut Thins with Basil Yogurt Dip – Positively Amanda
Even the most diligent food-prepper finds themselves hungry and trying to find an option on the run. These are my favorite choices for when your only option is buying something to snack on.
Image: GoMacro Peanut Butter MacroBar
String cheese and a piece of fruit
Banana or apple with a snack size nut butter (like these single packs from Justin's)
Greek yogurt
Snack bar – I like the Pressed by Kind bars and I'm a huge fan of the GoMacro MacroBars. Also, GoMacro is donating 10% of their net sales of their Peanut Butter MacroBars to Farm Sanctuary during May! You can read about Farm Sanctuary here and buy the bars here.
Trail mix – most delis will have trail mix in big bags, so just pay attention to the serving size and this is a healthy and filling snack.
Avocado – half an avocado eaten with a spoon is filling and delicious.
Smoothie drink – if you're the kind of person who can feel satiated with a drink rather than a food snack, these can be a good choice. Just check the label to make sure it's not loaded with added sugar.
For more awesome snack ideas, check out my Pinterest board for snacks below!


text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
By Diana Presser
For the Optic
Jews around the world — including the Las Vegas Jewish Community — are celebrating Hanukkah for eight days and eight nights.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, began Saturday.
The Tijeras man accused of stabbing his uncle in July is now facing a more serious charge.
Anthony Tapia, 27, had been charged with aggravated battery following the stabbing, which left his uncle in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital. But prosecutors in October decided to up the charge to attempted murder, a second-degree felony.
From The Associated Press
Vigil sworn in for high court
SANTA FE — Barbara Vigil has been sworn in as the newest member of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The ceremony was held Friday afternoon at the courthouse in Santa Fe.
Elected in November, Vigil fills the spot left vacant by the retirement of Justice Patricio Serna.
Vigil says she hopes to continue Serna's legacy by serving New Mexicans with integrity and fairness.
In 1962
Monday, Dec. 10 — Gold Bond Stamp Company is relocating its Gift Center in Las Vegas, W.A. Grimes, New Mexico Division Manager of the trading stamp firm, announced today. The center, formerly located at Daphne's Floral & Gift Shop, 511 Sixth St., is being relocated to Tony's Dry Goods, 146 Bridge St. "Gold Bond gifts make particularly attractive Christmas presents," Grimes said.
Holiday pecan sale under way
The Lions Club's sixth annual holiday pecan sale is under way to fund eye exams and glasses for in-need residents of San Miguel County. New crop pecans are available at Shoes 'n Boots, 1606 Seventh St. Prices range from $3 for a pecan log to $24 for a seven-variety tin. Call 454-8095 for information or delivery.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 5-10 mph. Monday night, partly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Tuesday night, partly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Wednesday night, partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Thursday night, a 10 percent chance of snow showers. A low around 19.
A woman injured in a crash that she contends was caused by an intoxicated driver is suing Mora County Sheriff Thomas Garza, arguing that his failure to hold DWI drivers accountable led to her accident.
Josephine Torres, a 28-year-old Mora County woman, is also alleging that Garza let the intoxicated driver who injured her off the hook.
Alarm bells went off last week as city of Las Vegas workers were attempting to locate the source of a large leak at the water treatment plant.
Crews had to dig to try to get to the leak, but city officials confirm the methods workers were using to mitigate the possibility of a trench collapse were inadequate. When city Utilities Director Ken Garcia arrived at the worksite last Tuesday night, he saw field supervisor John Allemand inside a 9-foot deep trench that hadn't been properly shored up. It's unclear if any other city employees had been in the trench.
Copyright © 2018
The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tuesday Special in March with Magdalen.
Winter is almost over and now it is time to freshen up your skin for spring with an OXYGEN Facial. The Oxygen Facial is a light, elegant, bubbly treatment with a soufflé like texture. It was formulated to promote healthy skin, aid in cell detoxification, promote collagen synthesis, and protect the DNA in our skin, all while giving the skin a luminous complexion. This facial is good for all skin types. We top this facial off with a burst of fresh oxygen from our own oxygen, machine. You leave with your skin appearing luminous firmer and radiant.
$85.00 Originally $125.00
Call Magdalen at 734-329-1728
Amazing New Product!!!!
forefront with a multitasking, revolutionary formula. Genius is a brilliant delivery system designed to
unveil your most radiant, healthy-looking skin. Nightly Resurfacing Pads are paired with a fresh-pour
solution containing our dynamic proprietary PBR+ complex, with Phytinol™, botanicals and retinoid.
It's seriously intelligent skincare. Pure Genius. Nightly Resurfacing Pads and Nightly Resurfacing
Solution, 60-day supply | All skin types, ages 12–60+ | Allergy- and dermatologist-tested.
All it takes is a couple of swipes!!! Call today to see how you can get 20% off this product!


text:
A surge in off-plan sales in the second half of the year made sure Dubai's property market did not see a steep decline in transaction volumes in 2016 compared with the 2015 tally. Based on Reidin-GCP data, overall freehold transactions closed 2016 with 23,579 units against 2015's 24,326 — a dip of only 2.3 per cent.
In both November and December, more than 2,000 — this includes off-plan and ready — units apiece were sold, with the final month tallying 2,445 units. (June saw the highest sales tally, of 2,495 units, as per the data.) These had their impact in the overall value generated by freehold property sales through last year. The Reidin-GCP data estimates Dh18.04 billion in off-plan units being sold against 2015's Dh20.18 billion. That amounts to a 11 per cent decline as against the 21 per cent experienced by ready properties — Dh18.22 billion from Dh23.12 billion in 2016.


text:
TWAD Board Recruitment 2015: Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, Chennai notifies application to fill 100 vacancies for Assistant Engineer (Civil, Mechanical) posts through direct recruitment.
Interested candidates having B.E/ B.Tech in Civil or Mechanical can apply online on or before 31-10-2015 by 05:45 P.M.
TWAD Board Recruitment Details:
Total Vacancies: 100
Post Name: Assistant Engineer
1. Civil: 75 Posts
2. Mechanical: 25 Posts
Pay Scale: Rs.9300-34800 + G.P.5100
Age Required: Age limit should between 18-35 years for SC, SC (A), ST, MBC/ DNC, BC, BCM and 18-30 years for others as on 01-07-2015. Age relaxation is applicable as per govt rules.
Educational Qualification: Degree in Engineering (Civil or Mechanical) from any university or institution recognized by the university grant commission.
Selection Process: Selection will be made on the basis of academic merit, written examination, Interview.
How to Apply: Interested candidates may apply online through www.twadrecruitment.net on or before 31-10-2015 by 05:45 P.M.
After complete online registration, take printout of online application for future use.
Last Date to Apply Online: 31-10-2015 by 05:45 P.M.
Notification Details Click here


text:
Jefferson County Genealogical Society
We have an extensive collection (tens of thousands of records) on our computer databases that contain genealogical information on Jefferson County families. These records can be accessed at the Research Center about five miles south of Port Townsend. Many of our databases, or indexes to them, are available on this website.
Jefferson County Genealogical Society is committed to the preservation of information pertaining to Jefferson County families and the history of the area. We work closely with the Jefferson County Historical Society to assist researchers in uncovering the past. Check back at this site for updates or contact us to find out what's new.
JCGS Research Assistance
- We would be glad to assist you in your research using the information currently housed at our Research Center for an hourly fee. Click here for information on services and fees.
- If you find a record in one of our online indexes, we can send you the appropriate document. Complete our Research Request Form and send it with the applicable fee (mailing address is on the form).
- Should you need a copy of documents at the courthouse or assistance outside of the holdings of the Genealogical or Historical Society at the Research Center, we can send you a list of those willing to assist you for a fee. Send your request by email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
JCGS Members' Family Stories
30th Anniversary Anthology of 24 Family History Stories. This collection of short stories by JCGS members was compiled, edited and produced by JCGS members Ray Thompson and Bill Conklin.
Jefferson County Historical Society
Dedicated to preserving the history of Jefferson County, the Historical Society is involved in many activities including a Museum in downtown Port Townsend and the Research Center which houses its archival collection. The co-location of the Genealogy Society in the Research Center simplifies your research efforts.
The Historical Society has thousands of photos and artifacts from Jefferson County families. Its extensive collection of historic maps, including Sanborn Fire Maps for early Port Townsend, offers an extraordinary resource. JCHS has conducted scores of oral histories over the years that include references to many county families. The JCHS holdings are searchable online.
Family History Center in Chimacum
The Family History Center is located at 10104 Rhody Drive, Chimacum (360-385-5195).
Open Tuesdays from 10:00 to 4:00 and other days by appointment. To make an appointment call: 360-385-1724.
The center at the LDS church in Chimacum holds a large number of microfilms and fiche on permanent loan, making them available for review at any time. A 56-page listing of items on permanent loan is available here. In addition, researchers can order microfilm or fiche from the LDS repository in Salt Lake City: www.familysearch.org.
Jefferson County Government
Many Jefferson County Government records are located at the Courthouse in Port Townsend, Washington. The Jefferson County Auditor holds deeds, vital records, and marriage records. Court records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court. Some records have been archived at the Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archive in Bellingham, Washington (see below).
City of Port Townsend
Most of the old records from the city are housed in the Washington State Archives in Bellingham. Some are in the collections of the Historical Society with indexes created by Jefferson County Genealogy Society volunteers. The City of Port Townsend can be reached through its website: http://www.cityofpt.us
Public Libraries
The County is served by two library systems. Each library holds references to Jefferson County history. For local residents, the access to the Interlibrary Loan system is an invaluable resource for obtaining needed research references. These libraries allow city and county residents free access to the Heritage Quest subscription database.
Port Townsend Public Library
1220 Lawrence Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Jefferson County Public Library
620 Cedar Avenue, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Washington State Archives – Northwest Regional Branch
Records that can no longer be stored within the county are located at the Washington State Archives, Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham, in a building on the Western Washington University campus. The staff there will help you locate the record you wish. Be sure to review Jefferson County Genealogical Society databases on this website first to obtain identifying information for your request.
The website for the Archives supports a catalog of holdings for Jefferson County. Check here for an accurate listing of their Jefferson County holdings. For easier accesses, a list of holdings can be viewed here, but remember that records may be added to this list at any time. The Washington State Archives can be contacted as follows:
Website: http://www.sos.wa.gov/archives/archives_northwest.aspx
Email: email@example.com
Telephone: 360.650.7930
Fax: 360.650.3323
Mailing Address:
Washington State Archives
Northwest Regional Branch
Western Washington University, MS-9123
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Washington State Digital Archives
The Secretary of State of Washington has started to digitize records and make them available to the researcher in an easy-to-use format. Some Jefferson County records have been included, to date, and more should be added in the future – be sure to check for new additions frequently! http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/


text:
Download Cardiff RSL Mobile Club App apk 1.401 free for Android smartphone
Posted by Multistream Media Pty Ltd in Entertainment | Oct. 31, 2012 | 0 Comments
Apk file size: 3.6 MB
Conveniently located on Macquarie Road in Cardiff, this is the people's club with something for every taste and every budget! Take a look around the sensational facilities, meet the members and you will soon see why they see the Club as their Community Pride!
Download our mobile club app today to receive exclusive updates to our latest news, events and promotions at Cardiff RSL.
Multistream Media Pty Ltd part of our Entertainment and have average installs from 100 to 500. Last Update Oct. 31, 2012. Google play rating is 60.0. Current verison is 1.401. Actual size 3.6 MB.


text:
Applications | Products | Parts & Service | Media | Careers | Contact | Company
MTU is present in various social media channels where it informs customers, experts and admirers of the MTU brand about the latest product innovations, key events and applications. Some 15,000 fans visit MTU social media sites – become one of them yourself!
Our engines generate enough power to carry 19 elephants. #MTUpower pic.twitter.com/b1xXaDs4Og - 19.01.2018 12:33
Not only MTU engines are in service all over the globe, the Maybach engines built by our predecessor company often… twitter.com/i/web/status/9… - 18.01.2018 12:44
#DKY the benefits of our #Hybrid PowerPack? Up to 25% less fuel consumption, much lower #emissions, quieter #trains… twitter.com/i/web/status/9… - 15.01.2018 12:15
The Cleveland is the first MTU-powered @damen Stan Tug 1907 to be built for @GreatLakesGroup.… twitter.com/i/web/status/9… - 11.01.2018 18:18
In over forty years, more than 1,600 classic #MTU engines have been overhauled at our Global Repair Center… twitter.com/i/web/status/9… - 10.01.2018 15:39
• Find more stories about MTU in our Web magazine MTU Report
• Subscribe to our monthly newsletter MTU eReport


text:
County attorney seeks to charge Briggs with sixth felony
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert filed a sixth charge against Kevin Briggs, the Bozeman man who allegedly walked out of the Law and Justice Center on the morning of February 1. Briggs is accused of trying to sexually assault a woman earlier that morning. Police say he escaped after they brought him in for questioning. Police say Briggs then eluded capture for three weeks as officials followed leads from Missoula to San Francisco. Briggs was eventually captured in Portland, Oregon, and brought back to Gallatin County. Briggs currently faces five felony charges. Those include Escape, Aggravated Assault, Attempted Sexual Intercourse Without Consent, Assault on a Peace Officer, and Failure to Register as a Sexual Offender. The sixth charge County Attorney Marty Lambert filed on Tuesday is Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs, also a felony. Court documents say a syringe seized from Briggs' backpack was sent to the Montana State Forensic Science Division for analysis. The results came back that the syringe contained a drug called Etizolam. Documents go on to say Etizolam is a drug with amnesic, hypnotic and sedative effects. Lambert said it's up to Judge Mike Salvagni to approve the sixth charge. "If the judge permits me to file a sixth charge, that's five years, so I think we are at a potential of 150 years, if the defendant were found guilty, or convicted, of all of the charges," said Lambert. The next hearing regarding this case is an omnibus hearing scheduled for July 14.


text:
Actors: Thais Lafuente - Nacho Vidal
Categories: Pornstar - Hardcore - Big Tits - Deepthroat - Gonzo - Hairy - Blowjob - Big Dick - Pussy to mouth - P.O.V. - Brunette - Mature & Milf - Bubble Butt - Cumshot - Cunilingus - Fingering - Straight Porn - HD Porn
Source: evilangel
Description: Meet Thais Lafuente in her very first on-camera fuck! Mad pornographer Nacho Vidal photographs the longhaired, natural-breasted Spanish beauty's painted-on jeans and lush bush. He fingers her wet gash. The stud eats her from behind and fucks her, standing doggie-style against the mirror. She takes an intimate, intense fuck ride on the bed, her butt bouncing. Nacho's POV-style footage shows her brown eyes looking into the camera as she sucks his uncut meat pussy-to-mouth. She strokes his shaft in a two-hand job and he porks Thais some more, physically manhandling her. Nacho jacks his jism on her butt cheeks.
Published on 2016-07-16


text:
So it might be just slightly offensive to Srila Prabhupada, to speak anti-American views and slogans, when he was on his deathbed, and still he could not forget how obliged he felt himself to the Americans.
Here is a quote from Srila Prabhupada during the last months in Vrindavana, from Tamal Krishna Goswami's Final Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada:
Prabhupada: (humbly) I am only a child. (Crying) But I have tried to please my Guru Maharaja. I have not written. It is Krsna. Krsna and my Guru Maharaja. They have sent all of you to help me. Otherwise, what could I do, all alone, an old man with no friends in America? America is so good to me, to give me money, men, everything- I see no difference between one country and another, but because the Americans have given me so much facility to serve Krsna, I cannot forget my obligations to them. I want to make them happy, and through them the whole world.So there is quite a big difference between preaching against demoniac western culture, and simply spewing fanatic hate speech against America. Anti-Americanism should be given up, because it certainly cannot be very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada.
[End of Quote]
I recently came across some anti-war, anti-government websites on the internet. It was amusing to read, because some of the wild claims that these people make. For example, one website made the bold statement "George Bush blew up the 9-11 World Trade Towers". I was laughing by the time I finished the article. What the article didn't mention however, was that Popular Mechanics, a famous magazine that reports about new engineering and technological inventions, has published a book DISCREDITING all of the different 9-11 conspiracy theories step by step. They did a perfect job of showing how none of the theories could possibly be correct, and they showed evidence from an engineering, technical, and structural point of view. But, I guess Popular Mechanics must be part of the conspiracy too? In fact, anyone who happens to disagree with the liberals' paranoid speculations must be part of the conspiracy, right? More information disproving the 9-11 conspiracy theories can be found here.
So these wild conspiracy theories also fall into the same category as rhetoric like: All the problems of the world can be blamed on the big governments and big corporations. One characteristic of an immature person is to criticize the leaders, but to offer no positive solution to the problem themselves. It is much easier just to blame the leaders (government and corporations) for all the problems of the world, but the reality is that this material world is a hellish place because of our exploitive mentality. Is anyone going to claim that their exploitive mentality is somehow any less than the exploitive mentality of the leader of a government or corporation?
Here is a quote from Srila Prabhupada, where he tells us that we shouldn't blame the government for our problems, since we are the ones who put them into power. In other words, he is saying that it is our own fault, not someone else's.
"Prabhupada: What is the use of this rascal government? The rascal government must be there because we are rascals. You cannot complain against the government. Because we select. It is the days of democracy. We elect our representative. So why you should, I mean to say, blame the government? You have created the government. You have sent your representative, a rascal, another big rascal. You are rascal, and another big rascal, you have voted; so how you can expect good government? You send only big rascals. That's all."Too often people are willing to blame everyone else for their problems, and they take no personal responsibility for their own life, blaming all of their problems on someone else (big government, big business, etc). A Vaisnava, on the other hand, is someone who instead of blaming someone else for their problems, takes personal responsibility for their own life and understands that the world is not perfect. Which perspective do you think fits in more with our Vaisnava philosophy?
Mayapura lecture, 1973
So the question may be raised here- Didn't Srila Prabhupada also speak about conspiracy theories (the moon landing hoax)? No. What Srila Prabhupada said, was a scientific Vedic statement, according to the authority of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Because the moon is higher than the sun, it is literally impossible to have gone to the moon. It was simply a hoax. Srila Prabhupada exposed this hoax, with scientific knowledge from the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Now, there is quite a world of difference between a scientific statement based on Vedic cosmology, and irrational and paranoid conspiracy theories that has been proven wrong by scientific analysis (9-11 conspiracy theories).
Before we end the article, let's take a quick look at the thought process of the conspiracy theorists. One symptom they exhibit is paranoia, thinking that the whole world is a big conspiracy theory, with Bush at the lead, and his goal is to enslave the human race. Need I say more?
Second symptom- delusions of grandeur. Conspiracy theorists think that by "exposing" the conspiracy, they can save the human race.
Third symptom- delusions of persecution. Conspiracy theorists think that the government is spying on them, listening to their phone calls, trying to oppress them, etc.
There could be many more symptoms described, but let's leave it at that for now. Now, I didn't study psychology is depth, only a brief study, but from that brief study, I learned enough to know that the above mentioned symptoms are symptoms of a mental illness called Paranoid Schizophrenia.
So I will end the article with a question --- Are conspiracy theories and paranoid schizophrenia related?
(By the way, I am also part of the conspiracy. I work for the CIA, and have been hired to help discredit the conspiracy theories. I have to go soon, because a UFO is going to be coming down out of the clouds to pick me up and take me back to my home planet, Venus. It is all part of the illuminati conspiracy to enslave the human race and bring them to Venus to work as slaves and help mine the ore from the fields on Venus. George Bush is an alien from Jupiter, who has disguised himself as a human being so that the illuminati-space-alien conspiracy can conquer the whole galaxy. Dick Cheney is just an ex-Halliburton CEO. He doesn't know yet about this cosmic conspiracy to enslave the human race. Al Gore is a Martian... Oh no, I've said too much! The CIA has kicked in my door and are about to silence me for saying too much... Please, no! Don't banish me to Pluto for revealing the conspiracy! Oh God, no!)
Disciples Page


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 15, 1992
|Filing date
|Mar 14, 1990
|Priority date
|Mar 14, 1989
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Georges Karam, Hikmet Sari
|Original Assignee
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (8), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (87), Classifications (19), Legal Events (9)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adaptive predistortion circuit with memory for a digital transmission system transmitting input data suitable to levels of a signal constellation C, and occur at the rate of a symbol clock having a period T with the aid of a modulator and a power amplifier that distorts the signal by creating smeared spots (clouds) in the constellation, the circuit comprising:
a predistortion circuit for predistorting in the reverse sense the in-phase and quadrature input data symbols an =(a'n, a"n) prior to their entering the amplifier in order to transmit expected levels, the predistortion circuit simultaneously taking into account L received input data symbols an+(L-1)/2 . . . an . . . an-(L-1)/2 which are temporarily stored in a set of input shift registers,
an adaptation circuit for continuously adapting the predistortion circuit to the stream of input data symbols in response to a demodulation of the stream of transmitted data symbols, by means of a comparing circuit that compares the in-phase and quadrature input data symbols (a'n, a"n) with the in-phase and quadrature demodulated data symbols (y'n, y"n) and by means of an interface circuit that realizes an adaptation algorithm.
The invention finds its applications in digital transmission systems such as data transmission modems, microwave radio relay links, and space communication systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For an efficient use of the available spectrum, the current digital transmission systems, specifically the microwave radio relay links and the systems for transmitting data over the telephone channels, use modulation methods having a large number of phase and amplitude states. However, these modulation methods are very sensitive to all types of distortion and, of course, to non-linear types of distortion caused by amplifiers, mixers and other non-linear circuits in the transmission chain. A particularly critical point with respect to the microwave radio relay links and satellite transmission is the non-linearity of the transmitting power amplifier or the on-board power amplifier in the case of satellite transmissions. These amplifiers are known for their non-linear characteristics. If they are used in their linear zone, the full extent of their power is not utilized. If they are made to operate near to their saturation power level, they will unacceptably distort the signal. In practice, for a given power amplifier, one fixes the level of the transmitted signal in order to establish a compromise between the signal-to-noise ratio and the non-linear distortion undergone by the signal. Thus, the optimum operating point of the amplifier is the one at which the joint effects of the additive noise of the channel and the non-linear distortion of the amplifier are minimized. For modulation methods with a large number of states (64-QAM and 256-QAM, for example) this point is remote from the saturation power level of the amplifier, which implies that the latter is not used efficiently. In order to enhance its efficiency, predistortion techniques (fixed or adaptive) are currently used which make it possible to reduce the effect of the power amplifier's non-linearity on the transmitted signal.
A currently used predistortion technique consists of inserting in the intermediate-frequency stage of the transmitter a non-linear circuit providing an approximation of the inverse function of the power amplifier whose non-linearities one seeks to compensate. If the exact inverse of the function of the amplifier could be synthesized, this technique would make it possible to have a perfect signal at the output (without any non-linear distortion). However, this cannot be realized because the exact inverse function would require a circuit of infinite complexity. In practice one is satisfied with making an approximation and in most cases the Taylor series representing the non-linear function of the amplifier is limited to the third order and a predistortion circuit is synthesized, also of the third order, in a manner such that the two cascaded circuits no longer have third-order distortion. Higher-order terms (fifth order and seventh order) appear at the output but have smaller amplitudes compared to the initial third-order distortion. The result is then a certain improvement of the performance of the system. A disadvantage of these predistortion circuits in the intermediate frequency stage resides in the fact that they are analog circuits. They are hard to make adaptive and require readjustment from time to time in order to compensate for the variations of the amplifier response according to time and temperature. This predistortion technique has to be dispensed with if one wishes to have an automatic transmit power control.
Another more recent predistortion technique consists of modifying the alphabet of the data to be transmitted. This technique, called "Data Predistortion", or "Baseband Predistortion" is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,277 and from the article by A. A. M. SALEH and J. SALZ "Adaptive Linearization of Power Amplifiers in Digital Radio Systems", Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 62, April 1983, pp. 1019-1033.
In the article by A. A. M. SALEH and J. SALZ, FIG. 1 presents a schematic representation of an adaptive predistortion circuit which supplies to the input of the modulator a distorted constellation on the basis of the original "square" constellation, for example, an amplitude modulation of two quadrature carriers (QAM). The amplifier acts on the constellation by producing a net compression and a net rotation of the points having large amplitudes. In order to compensate for this effect the original constellation is distorted so that it resumes its original square shape after passing through the power amplifier. Thus, when the distortion circuit is optimized, it forms the inverse of the power amplifier (apart from a constant gain and a constant phase shift) and allows for perfect compensation of the non-linearities of the amplifier. In order to make this circuit adaptive, the signal is recaptured at the output of the amplifier, demodulated, then sampled at the symbol transmission rate 1/T and these samples are compared to the points corresponding with the QAM constellation used. These comparisons make it possible to obtain a control signal which enables optimization of the predistortion circuit with the aid of a conventional algorithm. However, the scheme used in FIG. 1 is very simplistic because it does not have any filtering before the modulator or before the power amplifier. Thus, it does not correspond with the solution generally used. In effect, in the real systems a spectral shaping signal filtering of the Nyquist type is always used which makes it possible to limit the signal band while quaranteeing a zero intersymbol interference at the decision instants. This filtering is generally equally divided between the transmit and receive ends so as to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio at the decision instants. In such systems the effect of the non-linearity of the amplifier is twofold: the constellation is not only deformed but intersymbol interference appears, associating a cloud of points to each point of the constellation. With the above-described predistortion technique it is, however, not possible to compensate for this second effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,277 also describes an adaptive predistortion technique. The objects aimed at are similar. In order to perform the correction the symbol an received at a given instant is used. The Patent also indicates that it is possible to associate other symbols received at different instants by storing them in an input register. However, this approach is much more complex to implement by way of experiment and U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,277 is restricted to dealing with the case of a single symbol, without discussing this difficulty. In effect, when various symbols are taken into account received at instants (earlier and/or later) different from the instant at which the symbol an is received, it is necessary to take account of a large number of data symbols for modifying the process which is to take place. In addition, in this circuit, the predistortion circuit is adapted stochastically, that is to say, that the error signal is directly used for correcting the predistorted symbols. This is insufficient if a filtering precedes the amplifier because the points of the received constellation are then clouds of points. Finally, it should be observed that the filtering appearing before the modulator in U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,277 is not a filtering performing a transmit signal shaping, but only a filtering intended to eliminate the high frequencies caused by the digital-to-analog conversion and does not make it possible to limit the transmit signal band to a value below 1/T.
It is an object of the invention to define a structure of an adaptive predistortion circuit that may take into account and employ various symbols received at different instants in order to reduce the distortion and to diminish at the output the size of the obtained cloud of points.
According to the invention this object is achieved by means of an adaptive predistortion circuit with a memory as described in the preamble, characterized in that the adaptation circuit comprises, inserted between the comparator circuit and the predistortion circuit, a set of counters/accumulators which determine the centre of gravity of each smeared spot (cloud) of the received constellation by calculating a set of mean errors that is used to adapt. The predistortion circuit, the adaptive predistortion circuit has a memory further including a first transmit filter Fe located before the modulator operating on the in-phase and quadrature paths and a second filter Fr located after the demodulator, also operating on the in-phase and quadrature paths and in a manner such that the product of the filtering performed by the first and second filters Fe and Fr corresponds with a Nyquist filtering.
A further object of the invention is to reduce as much as possible the number of components necessary for realizing such a circuit, particularly the size of the memories.
Therefore, a simplification consists of carrying out an operation on the basis of a quarter of the constellation and deducing therefrom the results for the whole constellation. This further object is achieved in that, in the adaptive predistortion circuit with a memory according to the invention, a circuit for transforming the constellation C into a quarter of the constellation C/4 is inserted between the set of input registers and the predistortion circuit, which C-to-C/4 transforming circuit transforms all the received symbols an belonging to the full constellation plane C into their images an belonging to a given quarter constellation plane C/4 and performs a rotation by kπ/2 of the symbols preceding and subsequent to the symbol an, where k=0, 1, 2 or 3 according to the original quarter plane of the constellation C. The predistortion circuit is followed by a C/4-to-C reverse transforming circuit restoring the order of constellation C, a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit also being connected between the adaptation circuit and the demodulator in the adaptation loop. Rotation circuits are necessary to rotate the subsequent and preceding data in the same direction as that imposed by the C-to-C/4 transformation performed on the data an.
A further simplification consists of taking only a reduced number of symbols. Preferably, the number of symbols taken into account is equal to 3:
a.sub.n-1, a.sub.n, a.sub.n+1.
Another simplification consists of taking only a part K' (K'<K) from the bits constituting the preceding and subsequent digital data that have been taken into account and this with the aid of a K-to-K' encoder which makes a partition of the constellation.
Therefore, the C-to-C/4 transforming circuit comprises at the output of the rotation circuit a K-to-K' encoder encoding the K bits of each symbol into K' bits.
A partition which is easy to perform consists of making a selection of the K' most significant bits of each data symbol (regarded as a complex element).
The part K' may be formed by 4 bits, the bits taken into account being the 2 sign bits and the 2 most significant bits.
The part K' may be formed by 2 bits, the bits taken into account being the 2 sign bits.
The invention will be better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing given by way of non-limiting example, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows the constellation of a 64-QAM modulation,
FIG. 2A shows a 64-QAM constellation distorted by the power amplifier in a system without a filtering or in the case where all filtering is effected after the amplifier stage;
FIG. 2B shows a predistorted constellation optimized for compensation of the distortion shown in FIG. 2A according to the prior art techniques;
FIG. 3A shows the constellation distorted by the amplifier as it appears when the overall filtering is equally divided between the transmit and receive ends and the transmit end part is located before the amplifier;
FIG. 3B shows the distorted constellation in the same situation as that of FIG. 3a, but including the prior art predistortion circuit;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an adaptive predistortion circuit having a memory according to the invention by means of which it is possible to process various symbols received at preceding and/or subsequent instants;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of the circuit of FIG. 4 including, in addition, means for operating in a quarter plane of the constellation;
FIG. 6 shows a representation of the symbol rotation mechanism in the constellation plane;
FIG. 7A is a diagram of a rotation circuit;
FIG. 7B is a diagram of a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit;
FIG. 7C is a diagram of a C/4-to-C transforming circuit;
FIG. 8 is a diagram of a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit comprising a K-to-K' encoder that selects the number of bits; and
FIG. 9 shows a representation of two examples of the partition of the 64-QAM constellation.
FIG. 1 illustrates the representation of the constellation of a signal of the 64-QAM type. The inputs I (in-phase) and Q (quadrature) of the modulator are independent and the symbols on each path take their values in an alphabet (�d, �3d, �5d, �7d) where 2d is the minimum distance between two adjacent points of the constellation.
In order to be transmitted, the signal from the modulator is fed to a power amplifier, which is generally used at reduced power, that is, in a linear part of its characteristic. At full power this amplifier is non-linear and distorts the signal in an unacceptable manner. If a constellation of the 64-QAM type is observed at the output of such an amplifier operating near to saturation, a distorted constellation like the one represented in FIG. 2A will be observed. According to the prior art it is then sufficient to predistort the constellation in the reverse sense according to the diagram of FIG. 2B, so that at the output of the amplifier the non-deformed constellation is obtained. However, so simple a situation is not in conformity with reality where filtering always takes place before the power amplifier specifically to limit the bandwidth of the signal. In the absence of filtering, the signal at the input of the modulator varies in steps once per symbol period T. Thus, a predistortion circuit acting on the signal at a rate of 1/T allows of a perfect compensation. In contradistinction thereto, when the signal is filtered, it no longer varies in steps but in a continuous way. For a perfect compensation for the effect of non-linearity it will no longer be sufficient to observe the signal once per symbol period T and to compensate for the distortion at these instants.
With a filtered signal the constellation at the output of the amplifier is represented in FIG. 3A. It becomes the one represented in FIG. 3B with the prior-art predistortion circuit. Thus, each point of the constellation becomes a cloud of points, which is unacceptable. In order to operate with a filtered signal a more complex correction will thus have to be carried out.
The invention recognizes the fact that the signal yn received by the receiver does not solely depend on the symbol an at the instant nT, but also on the future symbols an+1, an+2, . . . and the past symbols an-1, an-2, . . . . This reflects the intersymbol interference which is expressed by the transformation of the points of the "cloud" constellation. A perfect data predistortion consists of sending predistorted symbols dn instead of original symbols an so that at the receive end, the received signal yn is equal to an. Since yn is a function of . . . an-1, an, an+1, . . . the predistorted symbol bn also has to be a function of (an, σn) with σn =(. . . an-2, an-1, an', an+1, an+2, . . . ). Therefore, the predistortion circuit has to be addressed by all of the symbols (an, σn) at a time in order to produce the predistorted symbol bn at its output. This technique is called predistortion with memory. In order to have a predistortion circuit that can be realized, it is addressed by a finite number of symbols. For example, with L=2M+1 symbols, the predistortion circuit is thus addressed by (an, σ'n) where σ'n =(an-M, an-M+1, . . . , an-1, an, an+1, . . . , an+M).
Let us assume that D is the number of points of the constellation. Addressing the predistortion circuit by (an, σ'n) narrows down to dividing each of the D clouds of the received constellation into D2M sub-clouds. Each of these sub-clouds corresponds with a particular realization of σ'n. It is an object of the predistortion with a memory of length L=2M+1 to calculate bn as a function of (an, σ'n) so that the centres of gravity of the sub-clouds (D�D2M centers) merge with the corresponding points of the original constellation. Thus, having made this predistortion, one obtains a received constellation so that the D resultant clouds have a smaller size than the one obtained if a predistortion without memory is effected, that is to say, if the predistortion circuit is addressed only by an.
The diagram of FIG. 4 shows an adaptive predistortion circuit comprising a memory 10 formed by a set of ten input shift registers. At a given instant this set of registers stores L symbols an+(L-1)/2. . . an. . . an-(L-1)/2. All these symbols are encoded with K bits. The sum of the LK bits is used to address a predistortion circuit 11 which is preferably constituted by a Random Access Memory (RAM). The circuit 11 supplies the predistorted digital data in-phase b'n and quadrature b"n encoded with N bits. These digital data are converted into analog data by the respective digital-to-analog converters 121 and 122 followed by the respective transmit filters 131 and 132. These two data streams are used to modulate a carrier in the modulator 14 which is followed by the non-linear amplifier 15 itself connected to the transmit units. An adaptation loop receives the output signal of the amplifier 15. This loop comprises a demodulator 16 which supplies respective in-phase and quadrature signals to two filters 171, 172 connected respectively to two analog-to-digital converters 181, 182 which are connected to an adaptation circuit 19. The in-phase and quadrature signals which have thus been filtered and encoded with J bits (y'n, y"n), are fed to a comparator circuit 20 which receives the K bits of the symbol an to supply an error signal. This error signal enters a set of counters/accumulators 21 which stores this value in order to determine, after an averaging interval, the centers of gravity of the sub-clouds of the constellation. The comparison between the values of the gravity centers and points of the nominal constellation yields a total number of errors which is used by an interface circuit 22 which employs an adaptation algorithm in order to adapt the stored data in the predistortion circuit 11. Two delay elements 23 and 54 are used to synchronize the data.
The transmit filters 131, 132 have to be cascaded with the one arranged at the receive end (not shown) in order to provide an overall filtering verifying the Nyquist criterion, that is to say, eliminating the intersymbol interference at the decision instant in the absence of the non-linear amplifier. Consequently, the signal at the output of the auxiliary demodulator 16 is to undergo a filtering 171, 172 which is identical with the one located at the receive end before the signal is compared to the desired signal so as to evaluate the error signal which is used for the adaptation.
In order to simplify the predistortion circuit 11, preferably the number of symbols taken into account may be equal to 3 (an-1, an, an+1). But if there are modulation methods having a large number of states, it is desirable to reduce the number of bits taken into account even further so as to reduce the size of the predistortion circuit. For this reason it should be observed (FIG. 6) that as regards the symmetry of the constellation, one quarter plane is sufficient to represent the predistorted symbols. In order to obtain an which is the image of any symbol an of the constellation in the first quarter plane, it will be sufficient to let it undergo a rotation by kπ/2, where k=0, 1, 2 or 3. The memory addressed by an instead of an, delivers the predistorted symbol bn situated in the first quarter plane of the constellation; a rotation by -kπ/2 is necessary to find back bn (predistorted symbol corresponding with an). Since an is positive (positive real part and positive imaginary part) the two sign bits can be dropped and the size of the memory can be reduced by 4. While proceeding thus, the future and past symbols an+1 and an-1 have to undergo the same rotation (through the same angle) as an has in order to give an+1 t and an-1 t two other symbols called rotated symbols belonging to the whole constellation and which will be used to address the memory together with an. The diagram of FIG. 6 shows an example of the passing of the triple value (an-1, an, an+1) to (an-1 t, an, an+1 t) in the case of a 16-QAM constellation.
A constellation-to-quarter constellation (C-to-C/4) transforming circuit is thus necessary to yield an at the output as a function of an. Another reverse transforming circuit is necessary. Finally, a rotation circuit is necessary to yield (an-1 t, an+1 t) as a function of (an-1, an+1). With this simplification for only very simple additional circuits are necessary, a predistortion with a memory where L=3 implies memories having a capacity of 1K words in 16-QAM, and 64K words in 64-QAM methods.
An adaptive predistortion circuit with a memory which employs this modification is represented in FIG. 5. The same elements as those of FIG. 4 are represented by the same reference symbols. In addition, between the set 10 of input registers and the predistortion circuit 11 is inserted a transforming circuit 50 constituted by a set 51 of rotation circuits which influences the (L-1)K data symbols an-i (with i≠0) preceding or subsequent to the data symbol an and a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit 52 which receives the K-2 least significant bits of the data symbol an and also its 2 sign bits. The set of rotation circuits 51 supplies (L-1)K bits of the rotated data symbols an-i t and the transforming circuit 52 supplies (K-2) bits of the data symbol an. The predistortion circuit 11 is addressed by the (L-1)K+(K-2) bits and supplies the in-phase predistorted data symbol b'n and quadrature predistorted data symbols b"n in a quarter plane of the constellation. In their turn they are transformed into the entire plane of the constellation by a reverse transforming circuit 53 which receives the two sign bits of (a'n, a"n) and restores the predistorted data symbols b'n and b"n. The rest of the operations in the transmitter remains unchanged.
The adaptation path includes, after the demodulator 16, the filters 171 and 172 and the analog-to-digital converters 181 and 182, a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit 56 operating on the in-phase and quadrature paths addressed by the 2 sign bits of (a'n, a"n). This transforming circuit is identical to the circuit 52. The supplied data are processed by the comparator circuit 20 and the set of counters/accumulators 21 as has been mentioned hereinbefore. Delay elements 54, 55 enable synchronization of the operations.
An exemplary embodiment of a rotation circuit of the set 51 is represented in FIG. 7A. The bits of a data symbol an-i (with i≠0) enter a permutation circuit 61 permuting a'n-i and a"n-i under the control of a signal S1 coming from an Exclusive-OR gate 62 which receives the 2 sign bits of the in-phase path a'n and quadrature path a"n which belong to the data symbol an (with, for example, the positive sign encoded by 0 and the negative sign encoded by 1). The two output signals of the permutation circuit 61 enter a sign conversion block 631 or 632, controlled respectively by the sign of a"n (sgn a"n) and the sign of a'n (sgn a'n). Thus, one obtains rotated data a'n-i t and a"n-i t. With a positive sign encoded by 0 and a negative sign encoded by 1 , the sign conversion will take place if the control bit is 1, this means that the sign is negative. An inverse convention may be used. Each data symbol an-i is thus converted by such a rotation block.
The rotation circuit thus comprises:
an Exclusive-OR gate receiving the two sign bits a'n and a"n and producing a control signal S1,
a permutation circuit receiving at one input a'n-i and at the other input a"n-i (with -(L-1)/2≦i≦(L-1)/2), and permuting this data at its output for a given logic state of S1 and not permuting it for the inverse logic state, each output of the permutation circuit being followed by a sign-conversion block controlled by the initial sign bits of the inverse path in order to supply the rotated data a'n-i t and a"n-i t. The sign conversion is performed if the control bit is 1, that is to say, the sign is negative according to our conventions.
An exemplary embodiment of the C-to-C/4 transforming circuit 52 is shown in FIG. 7B. The two sign bits of data symbol an enter an Exclusive-OR gate 72 which controls (signal S2) a permutation circuit 71 which permutes the in-phase and quadrature data (without their signs) when S2 =1 and which does not permute them if S2 =0. At the output one will obtain the transformed data symbol an =(a'n, a"n).
The C-to-C/4 transforming circuit comprises an Exclusive-OR gate which receives the two sign bits of a'n and a"n and supplies a control signal S2 influencing a first permutation circuit which permutes the other bits of the data a'n and a"n for a given logic state S2 and which does not permute them for the inverse logic state in order to form the image data symbol an =(a'n, a"n).
An exemplary embodiment of the C/4-to-C reverse transforming circuit 53 is represented in FIG. 7C. The two sign bits of a'n and a"n enter an Exclusive-OR gate 75 (signal S3) which controls a permutation circuit 76 permuting the data if S3 =1 and not permuting it if S3 =0. At the input the permutation circuit receives at one input the (N-1) bits of b'n and the sign bit of a"n and at the other the (N-1) bits of b"n and the sign bit of a'n. At the output the data b'n and b"n (in-phase and quadrature) are obtained which relate to the predistorted data symbol bn concerning the whole constellation.
Thus, the C/4-to-C transforming circuit comprises an Exclusive-OR gate which receives the two sign bits (a'n, a"n) and supplies a control signal S3 that influences the permutation circuit that receives:
at one input, the image data b'n completed by the sign bit of a"n,
at the other input, the image data b"n completed by the sign bit of a'n,
the permutation circuit permuting at the output the input data for a given logic state S3 and not permuting it for the inverse logic state in order to form the predistorted data symbols bn =(b'n, b"n).
A further simplification may be brought about at the cost of a loss of performance with respect to the preceding optimum solution. In this embodiment, one only considers K' bits (K'<K) of the K bits representing the future and past symbols (an+1 t, an-1 t) addressing the memory 11. A partition of the constellation is thus realized.
The diagram of FIG. 8 represents a C-to-C/4 transforming circuit 50 which comprises, at the output of the rotation circuit 51, a K-to-K' encoder 57 encoding with K' bits (K'<K) the K bits of each data symbol.
The output of the K-to-K' encoder 57 provides the truncated data symbol an-i t which, grouped with the data symbol an of circuit 52, constitute the addressing of the predistortion circuit 11.
A simple encoding consists of a rectangular partitioning. Thus, for example, one may take into account the two most significant bits and the two sign bits so that K'=4. In the 16-QAM method this partitioning corresponds with the non-simplified case. In 64-QAM and 256-QAM methods, 4K word and 16K word memories respectively are obtained if the predistortion memory in question has a size of L=3. When this predistortion technique with memory size L=3 uses memories of 4K in 64-QAM and 16K in 256-QAM methods, gain will be realised close to 2 dB with respect to conventional data predistortion without memory.
A further simplification, still with a rectangular partitioning, consists of considering only the sign bits so that K'=2. In this case for a predistortion with a memory size L=3, memories of 64 words in 16-QAM, 256 words in 64-QAM and 1K words in 256-QAM methods will be obtained. The gain in this case is found to be rather small in 64-QAM and 256-QAM methods but interesting in the 16-QAM method.
FIG. 9 represents these two examples of the partitioning K'=4 and K'=2 in the case of a 64-QAM modulation method.
The partitioning with K'=4 is represented by the set of squares, such as the group 91, which regroups 4 adjacent states of the constellation.
The partitioning with K'=2 is represented by the four squares, such as group 92, which regroups 16 states of a same quarter plane.
Other partitionings may be envisaged which are selected by the K-to-K' encoder.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|May 16, 1979
|Sep 22, 1981
|Harris Corporation
|Adaptive predistortion technique for linearizing a power amplifier for digital data systems
|Apr 28, 1980
|Dec 29, 1981
|Compagnie Industrielle Des Telecommunications Cit-Alcatel
|Method of compensating phase noise at the receiver end of a data transmission system
|Jan 31, 1980
|May 11, 1982
|Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Public Corp.
|Adaptive equalization system for nonlinearities
|Nov 23, 1984
|Dec 30, 1986
|Fujitsu Limited
|Receiver unit in radio communication system
|Dec 17, 1985
|Sep 22, 1987
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|RF tuning circuit which provides image frequency rejection
|Mar 19, 1986
|Oct 13, 1987
|Nec Corporation
|Modulation system capable of improving a transmission system
|Sep 14, 1989
|Oct 30, 1990
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|Adaptive predistortion circuit
|Title not available
|A. A. M. Saleh et al., "Adaptive Linearization of Power Amplifiers in Digital Radio Systems", Bell System Technical Journal, Apr. 1983, vol. 62, No. 4, Part 1, pp. 1019-1033.
|A. A. M. Saleh et al., Adaptive Linearization of Power Amplifiers in Digital Radio Systems , Bell System Technical Journal, Apr. 1983, vol. 62, No. 4, Part 1, pp. 1019 1033.
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Mar 11, 1992
|Mar 8, 1994
|Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation
|Quadrature amplitude modulator with distortion compensation
|May 28, 1993
|Sep 27, 1994
|Ericsson Ge Mobile Communications Inc.
|Adaptively self-correcting modulation system and method
|Apr 4, 1994
|Apr 4, 1995
|Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
|Distortion compensating circuit
|Nov 10, 1993
|Aug 22, 1995
|National Semiconductor Corporation
|Wireless data transceiver
|Feb 11, 1993
|Jan 23, 1996
|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Nyquist filter for digital modulation
|Mar 17, 1995
|Feb 20, 1996
|National Semiconductor Corporation
|Wireless data transceiver
|Feb 17, 1994
|Jul 2, 1996
|Celeritas Technologies, Ltd.
|Apparatus and method for compensating for limiter induced non-linear distortion in a wireless data communication system
|Aug 8, 1994
|Jul 2, 1996
|National Semiconductor Corporation
|Data encoder/decoder for data transceiver
|Aug 8, 1994
|Aug 27, 1996
|National Semiconductor Corporation
|Frequency modulator for data transceiver
|Mar 6, 1996
|Dec 16, 1997
|Nec Corporation
|High-power linear amplification using periodically updated amplitude and phase correction values
|Feb 14, 1996
|Mar 24, 1998
|Glenayre Electronics, Inc.
|Linear transmitter using predistortion
|Nov 12, 1996
|Apr 28, 1998
|Motorola, Inc.
|Method of compensating for distortion in an amplifier
|May 8, 1997
|May 4, 1999
|Stonick; John T.
|Adaptive parametric signal predistorter for compensation of time varying linear and nonlinear amplifier distortion
|Mar 18, 1996
|May 11, 1999
|Fujitsu Limited
|Radio apparatus with distortion compensating function
|Aug 6, 1997
|Jul 27, 1999
|Alcatel Telspace
|Method and device for modeling AM-AM and AM-PM characteristics of an amplifier, and corresponding predistortion method
|Dec 24, 1996
|Nov 16, 1999
|Gte Government Systems Corporation
|Method and apparatus for variably allocating upstream and downstream communication spectra
|Dec 17, 1998
|Nov 23, 1999
|Datum Telegraphic Inc.
|System and methods for stimulating and training a power amplifier during non-transmission events
|Dec 17, 1998
|Nov 23, 1999
|Datum Telegraphic Inc.
|Compensation system and methods for a linear power amplifier
|Jun 19, 1998
|Apr 25, 2000
|Datum Telegraphic Inc.
|Digital control of a linc linear power amplifier
|Dec 17, 1998
|Apr 25, 2000
|Datum Telegraphic Inc.
|Controller and associated methods for a linc linear power amplifier
|Jun 17, 1997
|Jun 6, 2000
|Adaptive digital predistortion for power amplifiers with real time modeling of memoryless complex gains
|Dec 22, 1997
|Jun 13, 2000
|Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
|Method and apparatus for wideband predistortion linearization
|Nov 16, 1998
|Jun 27, 2000
|Fujitsu Limited
|Radio apparatus and offset compensating method
|Dec 24, 1997
|Jul 18, 2000
|General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation
|Symbol lock detector
|Nov 16, 1998
|Jul 18, 2000
|Fujitsu Limited
|Radio apparatus
|May 6, 1999
|Sep 12, 2000
|Nortel Networks Corporation
|Method and apparatus for providing adaptive predistortion in power amplifier and base station utilizing same
|Jan 15, 1999
|Nov 14, 2000
|Fujant, Inc.
|Amplification using amplitude reconstruction of amplitude and/or angle modulated carrier
|Dec 24, 1997
|Dec 26, 2000
|General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation
|Method and apparatus for variably allocating upstream and downstream communication spectra
|Dec 16, 1998
|Apr 3, 2001
|General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation
|Adaptive pre-emphasis technique
|Jul 27, 1998
|Oct 16, 2001
|General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation
|Interference detection and avoidance technique
|Mar 2, 2000
|Nov 6, 2001
|Datum Telegraphic, Inc
|Use of antiphase signals for predistortion training within an amplifier system
|Oct 30, 1998
|Mar 19, 2002
|Winbond Electronics Corp.
|Modulator employing a memory reduction circuit
|Jun 19, 1998
|Apr 16, 2002
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
|Device and method for linearizing transmitter in digital communication system
|Jan 5, 1999
|Jun 4, 2002
|Method and a system for digitally linearizing an amplifier
|Jul 30, 1999
|Oct 8, 2002
|Airnet Communications Corporation
|Method and apparatus to reduce spurious and intermodulation products in wireless broadband multi-carrier digital transceiver equipment through static non-linearity correction of digital conversion components
|Jun 26, 1998
|Jul 29, 2003
|Qualcomm Incorporated
|Predistortion technique for high power amplifiers
|Apr 11, 2002
|Mar 2, 2004
|Andrew Corporation
|Zero-bias bypass switch
|Feb 29, 2000
|May 4, 2004
|Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
|System of and method for compensating a baseband signal to reduce third order modulation distortion
|Nov 30, 2001
|Sep 21, 2004
|Predistortion linearizer and method for linearizing a nonlinear device
|Dec 10, 2001
|Sep 28, 2004
|Ibiquity Digital Corporation
|AM digital audio broadcasting with analog signal pre-compensation
|Mar 31, 2003
|Nov 2, 2004
|Andrew Corporation
|Zero-bias bypass switching circuit using mismatched 90 degrees hybrid
|Mar 13, 2002
|Oct 18, 2005
|Tandberg Television Asa
|Satellite communication apparatus
|Dec 21, 2001
|Dec 6, 2005
|Lg Electronics Inc.
|Base station transmitter having digital predistorter and predistortion method thereof
|Nov 21, 2002
|Jun 6, 2006
|Pmc-Sierra Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Oct 16, 2001
|Jul 4, 2006
|Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
|Communications systems
|May 22, 2002
|Aug 1, 2006
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Method and apparatus for amplifier linearization using adaptive predistortion
|Mar 29, 2006
|Feb 13, 2007
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Mar 29, 2006
|Apr 3, 2007
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Apr 2, 2003
|Jul 10, 2007
|Harris Stratex Networks Operating Corporation
|Adaptive broadband post-distortion receiver for digital radio communication system
|Mar 29, 2006
|Aug 21, 2007
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Mar 20, 2002
|Aug 28, 2007
|Texas Instruments Incorporated
|Method and system for digital equalization of non-linear distortion
|Apr 9, 2003
|Oct 9, 2007
|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Nonlinear distortion compensating device
|Mar 29, 2006
|Nov 13, 2007
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Mar 29, 2006
|Mar 4, 2008
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Apr 27, 2006
|Apr 22, 2008
|Marvel International Ltd.
|Method and apparatus for amplifier linearization using adaptive predistortion
|Apr 22, 2008
|May 19, 2009
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Method and apparatus for amplifier linearization using adaptive predistortion
|Oct 24, 2003
|Sep 22, 2009
|Eads Secure Network
|Training sequence for linearizing an RF amplifier
|Oct 28, 2003
|Mar 16, 2010
|Eads Telecom
|Method and device for training an RF amplifier linearization device, and mobile terminal incorporating same
|Feb 26, 2007
|Mar 8, 2011
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
|Dec 8, 2005
|Jul 26, 2011
|Qualcomm, Incorporated
|Peak to average mitigation
|Aug 20, 2010
|Jul 30, 2013
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Digital Predistortion for nonlinear RF power amplifiers
|Apr 14, 2011
|Apr 15, 2014
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Digital Predistortion for nonlinear RF power amplifiers
|Mar 17, 2014
|Mar 31, 2015
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Digital Predistortion for nonlinear RF power amplifiers
|Jul 29, 2013
|Apr 7, 2015
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Digital Predistortion for nonlinear RF power amplifiers
|Jul 23, 2014
|Oct 13, 2015
|Marvell International Ltd.
|Method and apparatus for estimating and compensating for in-phase and quadrature (IQ) mismatch in a receiver of a wireless communication device
|Feb 1, 2001
|Aug 23, 2001
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|Communications system
|Oct 16, 2001
|May 16, 2002
|Jonas Persson
|Communications systems
|Dec 21, 2001
|Jun 27, 2002
|Lg Electronics
|Base station transmitter having digital predistorter and predistortion method thereof
|Mar 20, 2002
|Jan 23, 2003
|Nir Sasson
|Method and system for digital equalization of non-linear distortion
|Mar 31, 2003
|Oct 16, 2003
|Andrew Corporation
|Zero-bias bypass switching circuit using mismatched 90 degrees hybrid
|Apr 9, 2003
|Dec 11, 2003
|Masayuki Orihashi
|Nonlinear distortion compensating device
|Apr 2, 2003
|Oct 7, 2004
|Stratex Networks, Inc.
|Adaptive broadband post-distortion receiver for digital radio communication system
|Oct 28, 2003
|Jan 19, 2006
|Sandrine Touchais
|Method and device for training an rf amplifier linearization device, and mobile terminal incorporating same
|Aug 17, 2005
|Feb 23, 2006
|De Figueiredo Rui J P
|Pre-distorter for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems and method of operating the same
|Dec 8, 2005
|Dec 21, 2006
|Qualcomm Incorporated
|Peak to average mitigation
|Apr 27, 2006
|May 24, 2007
|Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
|Simplified generalized rake receiver method and apparatus
|Nov 4, 1992
|Mar 9, 2006
|Platsch, Hans G., Dipl.-Ing.
|May 18, 2006
|Sep 20, 2007
|Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. Kg
|Sendeeinrichtung und Verfahren mit digitaler Regelung
|Aug 7, 1997
|Jul 14, 1999
|Adaptive digital predistortion linearization and feed-forward correction of rf power amplifier
|Aug 7, 1997
|Dec 1, 1999
|Adaptive digital predistortion linearization and feed-forward correction of rf power amplifier
|Dec 31, 1998
|Jul 14, 1999
|Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'electricite
|Method and apparatus for digitally linearising an amplifier
|Jan 8, 1997
|Aug 21, 1997
|Glenayre Electronics, Inc.
|Linear transmitter using predistortion
|Dec 24, 1997
|Jul 2, 1998
|Gte Government Systems Corporation
|Adaptive predistortion system
|Jun 24, 1999
|Jan 6, 2000
|Qualcomm Incorporated
|Predistortion technique for high power amplifiers
|Jun 28, 2000
|Jan 3, 2002
|Airnet Communications Corporation
|Method and apparatus to reduce spurious and intermodulation products through static non-linearity correction of digital conversion
|Mar 13, 2002
|Sep 19, 2002
|Tandberg Television Asa
|Satellite communications apparatus
|Mar 13, 2002
|Mar 6, 2003
|Tandberg Television Asa
|Satellite communications apparatus
|U.S. Classification
|375/298, 332/103, 332/159, 455/126, 327/100, 332/107, 375/261
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jun 1, 1990
Owner name: U.S. PHILIPS CORPORATION, NEW YORK
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KARAM, GEORGES;SARI, HIKMET;REEL/FRAME:005339/0670
Effective date: 19900509
|May 3, 1994
|Certificate of correction
|Jun 28, 1994
|Certificate of correction
|Dec 27, 1994
|Certificate of correction
|Mar 1, 1996
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Feb 25, 2000
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Mar 31, 2004
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Sep 15, 2004
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Nov 9, 2004
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20040915


text:
Chair Decor Ideas
Hey ACC Nation,
This week's Pinterest Inspiration is about chair decor for your wedding or party. You may assume that the only option for chair decor is a bow or a sash.
How to Decorate a Folding Chair: Video Tutorial
Wooden folding chairs are a fixture at many exent sites and they are often the standard chairs in your rental package. They are usually used for wedding ceremonies and outdoor events.


text:
Working time lost through dental discomfort established fact. Getting use of a Dental professional close to the place of work is essential to lessen break. You should possess a dental professional who'll see emergency patients within hrs to enable them to go back to work immediately feeling more comfortable thus reducing time lost and growing effectiveness and concentration at the office. Alert staff are important to safety and efficiency at the office. Snoring and sleep apnoea reduce effective sleep, resulting in fatigue and sluggishness. Specialist dentists can improve this antisocial and exhausting problem, therefore growing effectiveness and efficiency at the office. Headaches (particularly monthly headaches in females) really are a common cause of your time lost at the office. 70% of headaches are based on the jaw joint.
Specialist dentists frequently improve or perhaps eliminate this issue, so reducing time off work and keeping staff healthier, more happy and much more comfortable. Nobody attends a verbal appointment just for fun – and a few people are quite afraid from the prospect. You will find dentists which concentrate on dealing with such patients and provide them just as much time as they should be confident with what they desire to complete! In a nutshell it is necessary that you get a dental professional that can provide you with the attention and care you need to cope with the possibility negative effects the conditions above might have in your existence and career.
A dental professional that may make sure you feel soothed, relaxed as well as in safe hands
To make sure that your professional and personal existence remains just like it ought to be. Whether this be considered a private or NHS practice – a proper mouth, jaw and gums is achievable with regular treatment Free Reprint Articles, a little bit of courage for the individual and more importantly approachable and welcoming dental staff to make sure it is as enjoyable an event as possible!


text:
Hawera, New Zealand
Don't Spend Another Dollar On Information About How To Eliminate Cash Flow Problems Until You Read This…
You Can Laugh At Your Cash Problems And Stop Feeling Frustrated, Overwhelmed Or Worried Over Money
- Do you have a successful business but your cash flow is up and down?
- Are you finding that sometimes you have a great cash flow and sometimes there is hardly any?
- Do you have a problem in getting a steady flow of customers through your business?Would you like to have something else in your business that will help your cash flow and provide you with a great income?
- My name is Steve Gardiner and I am a Life Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist.
- When I first started my coaching business I was having problems trying to keeping a consistent cash flow. There were days when I had too much work and times when I was hardly getting any work at all. It was feast or famine. It was also a cycle of happiness and worry.
- I decided to look for another source of income in my business and in doing so learnt hypnotherapy, in particular helping people to quit smoking.
Introducing Certified Training – all you need to create an awesome clinic!
One of the best training you can do for yourself and your business.
About our educator
As a result, this year my business was a finalist in the Telstra Small Business Awards.
Over the course of ten years I have developed and refined a unique four step process for Quit Smoking that is extremely successful and works. Due to requests from hypnotherapy colleagues I am now teaching my method and I am looking for a select few people who will take my process and run with it."
So why would you take the time and expense to learn hypnosis for quit smoking?
- Quick & easy solution to Eliminate Cash Flow Problems and $2K – $5000 Extra Income a Month in 2 to 6 weeks after training or less
- Myth-Buster! So having no money problems and finding high paying clients takes hard work and focus, right? WRONG – Follow our 3 Day Individual Training and ATTRACT More High Paying Clients immediately!!
- 3 Days Practical One-On-One Personalised Training to FINALLY put an end to being Stressed about Cash Flow, running out of marketing ideas or running out of money!
- Marketing Hints & Tips to attract better clients, growing your business – That get results!
- Everything YOU Need to Build a Successful & PROFITABLE Business
- Warning: If you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed about watching others succeed then you can't afford to waste another day. All the answers you're looking are just moments away…
- Eliminate any Negative beliefs you May have about Charging Your Full Worth….
- And truck loads more targeted info to help you Eliminate Cash Flow and Attract More Clients Easily at your fingertips.
Here are some compelling reasons to learn from an Expert:
You can earn an income of $400 to $500 or more per session – approx. 90 minutes.
You can earn a great income working for a little as three days a week.
You can take out the variability in your income source.
It expands the services that you can offer clients.
It's a great source for new clients.
CONTACT US NOW AND BOOK YOUR PLACE: Phone 1300 64 53 54
Send us a message!
Your course is a focused, individual training over 3 days and I work one on one with you so that when you leave at the end of the three days you have the confidence to start helping people to quit smoking straight away.
Your training includes: The Quit Smoking Expert Unique 4 step Hypnotherapy process PLUS all the business and marketing tools you need to set up your business, (fully compliant), with brochures, website and be ready for clients.
You walk out with your new "Business in a Box"!
You will have everything you need to either start a brand new business from scratch or an "add-on service" to your existing business.
So what do you get:
- 2 day intense Hypnotherapy training
- 1 day Business & Marketing training
- 3 months on-line Accounting system
- 1 website – designed to fit in with The Quit Smoking Expert
- Certification as Quit Smoking Expert Practitioner
- 3 months – 24/7 training and business mentorship
- Ongoing email/phone Support
- Access to the QUIT VAULT
- 2 years access to Membership site
Here's the proof:
- I heard about Steve and his Quit Smoking Practitioner Program in 2012 and after a long telephone conversation, booked in and flew to Brisbane.The training is intense but thorough. At the end of 3 days you know you will be successful. Everything is covered! Plus there is the ongoing mentoring!! Worth every penny! They say 24/7 and they mean it. They always responded ASAP when I called or emailed. Best business decision I have made. I had been running my own business for years but always struggled with cash flow. That is now a distant memory. I have more clients than I can handle and the Cash to match. I just followed the Business Training I received and now my business has structure, is successful and stress free.Lynette M.
Hawera, New Zealand
As I train each Certified Practitioner one-on-one, space is limited. It is first come first served. There will be only be 2 more trainings this year. Remember, this is Personal, one-on-one training!
Don't miss out…. Start 2015 ahead of your colleagues:
CONTACT US NOW AND BOOK YOUR PLACE: Phone 1300 64 53 54
With my process and your enthusiasm to Make A Difference, you can build a Quit Smoking business very quickly and there is no reason why you cannot achieve a six figure income from Quit Smoking with 2 years.
If you are already in business – would an extra $1500 to $3000 a week make a difference to your cash flow?


text:
The Walk of PURPOSE
Luke 4:14-20
Community Group Discussion Guide
Sermon Summary
This sermon is a part of "The Walk" series which looks at the life of Christ and how He dealt with the issues of life He faced. In this message we will look at the purpose for which Jesus walked upon this earth and how it should parallel our walk. Just as Jesus came to preach the good news of the gospel to the spiritually poor, we are to do likewise. This has far reaching implications for our daily agenda's and our future goals. The text for this message comes from Luke's story of Jesus at the synagogue in Nazareth where Jesus read from the Prophet Isaiah.
Community Group Questions
1. Do you have a difficult time sharing your faith others? Truth is, even preachers sometimes find it difficult to find the right way to share the good news with others. What are some innovative ways you've used to share the message of Christ?
2. Jesus was led by The Holy Spirit to preach the good news. Discuss your thoughts on how The Holy Spirit helps us know when to share, what to share and how to share.
Luke 12:11 "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
3. How should a walk of purpose patterned after the walk of Christ effect our daily agendas and our future goals?
Mat 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
Mat 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Mat 4:20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
4. Share an example of how Christ set you free, opened your eyes, and released you from oppression.
Rom 6:21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If we're going to call ourselves followers of Christ, we must learn what it means to follow Christ, and to do that we must understand what the walk of Jesus was all about.
We've already learned the walk of Christ was a walk of obedience! We've also learned, as Satan tempted Jesus, he will tempt us to walk a different path.
Satan despises Christ followers because he knows, like Christ, we are on a mission from God! Jesus had a divine purpose in everything He did and we have been called to live our lives with divine purpose.
You might ask the question…
"Is God's purpose for me anything like His purpose was for Jesus?" Andrew Murray put it this way in his book Like Christ...
"Nothing will help us to know and fulfill our mission more than to realize how perfectly it correspond to the mission of Christ, how they are, in fact, identical."
Pg 73
He goes on to say...
"Christ's mission is the only reason for our being on earth. Were it not for that, He would take us away."
pg 75
Some folks are really uncomfortable with a statement like this. However, I'm convinced there's no reason for God to leave us on this planet after we've accepted His grace and forgiveness if it weren't for some divine purpose.
Let me put it this way…God loves us so much He desires to be with us face to face. In fact Jesus told His disciples...
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:3 (NIV)
As followers of Christ in this world, we aren't exempt from disappointment, discouragement, pain, suffering, sickness, and even death. There's nothing a loving parent hates more than to see their child suffering.
God is our loving Heavenly Father and He also hates to see His children suffer. However, He knows there's something so important for us to accomplish, He's willing to allow us to continue living on this planet until our mission is finished!!
To be sure, He will supply our needs, and give us the strength and health we will need to accomplish our divine purpose and mission, but that doesn't mean it will be easy street!
Having said these things, I hope you're at least a little bit curious as to what this divine purpose and mission is all about! If our purpose is like Christ's purpose, then we need to discover what that is.
Let's pray and ask God to reveal to us The Walk of Purpose He wants us to walk.
Our text for today is Luke 4:14-21, if you have your Bibles, please turn there.
After Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, He immediately set out on a mission to fulfill His divine purpose. Let's read our text...
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
Luke 4:14 (NIV)
15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
Luke 4:15 (NIV)
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
Luke 4:16 (NIV)
17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
Luke 4:17 (NIV)
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:18 (NIV)
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 (NIV)
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
Luke 4:20 (NIV)
21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Luke 4:21 (NIV)
This is a very powerful and compelling story concerning the very beginning of Christ's ministry.
My daughter is taking New Testament in College. We were talking the other day how many parts of the Bible have application and meaning for the time they're written, but also have application for our lives today and meaning for a time in the future.
The passage we just read is one such Scripture. It had very definite meaning for the people alive when Isaiah originally wrote it, but it also looked forward to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus as the Messiah.
However, this passage also has powerful meaning for us today, and still has a future component. I will explain as we go along and I hope it is as meaningful for you as it has been for me!
Our text tells us Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of The Holy Spirit! His hometown Nazareth was in the region of Galilee so He went there on the Sabbath day and went into the synagogue.
Jesus evidently had preplanned to speak, because it says He stood up to read! This was not unusual since in the Jewish tradition, the Rabbi's would have someone read a portion of Scripture. First from the law, then from the prophets.
Jesus found this particular section of Scripture for a reason. In this passage we find the underlying reason Jesus had left heaven and come to earth. Let's look at it...
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:18 (NIV)
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 (NIV)
Jesus came to preach and to proclaim! His message and proclamation would guide Him as He walked on this earth.
By the end of the message today, I pray you will see clearly the walk of purpose includes preaching the message Jesus preached and proclaiming the truths Jesus proclaimed.
Jesus Preached Good News!
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...
Luke 4:18 (NIV)
Religion had become very legalistic for most and seemed to have little good news. Most felt judged by the law and didn't think they could ever live up to the requirements of the law, so the lived separated from a Holy God by their sinfulness.
Only the High Priest had the privilege of entering into the presence of God and that only once a year!
I guess you could say the people of Israel had become impoverished spiritually. God had intended for them to be a spiritual beacon to the world, but instead they had become so spiritually poor, they weren't able to help anyone.
Jesus had come to change all of that!! He had good news for them. He was going to do what the law couldn't do! The writer of Hebrews explains it really well...
1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Hebrews 10:1 (NIV)
2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.
Hebrews 10:2 (NIV)
3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
Hebrews 10:3 (NIV)
4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 10:4 (NIV)
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
Hebrews 10:5 (NIV)
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
Hebrews 10:6 (NIV)
7Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll —I have come to do your will, O God.' "
Hebrews 10:7 (NIV)
Did you know this passage is a quote of Psalm 40:6-8?
Here's the way Jesus stated this in the gospel of John 4:34
34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
John 4:34 (NIV)
Jesus knew what He was to do...
10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Luke 19:10 (NIV)
Now you might be thinking, "Okay, that's really cool how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Psalms and Isaiah and made the sacrifice for our sins. I'm grateful. I'm glad He preached the good news, and saved me, but what does this have to do with my walk?"
Man, if you've accepted the good news and allowed Jesus to forgive you and save your soul and change your life, then God has called you to preach that good news to others.
Wait, did you say something? Did I hear someone say, "Hey preacher, you just lost me! I'm a lot of things, but a preacher I'm not!"
Before you totally close the door, let me say something. If you think preaching is something that is only done on Sunday mornings by a minister speaking to a congregation, then you've been misled, and I want to apologize if preachers have given you that idea! It's false.
We all preach with our lives, with our attitudes, with our actions, with our willingness to help others find the salvation and peace we've found. I'm going to step out on a limb and say something...
If you don't really care that others find Christ, I would encourage you to check your spiritual pulse, you may be spiritually dead.
Now I realize not everyone is as outgoing and vocal as most preachers, but God has gifted each of us with a way to contribute to the mission of sharing the good news!
God wants your walk to include sharing the good news of Jesus in whatever way He has gifted you! Maybe it's encouraging someone. Maybe it's inviting someone to a Bible study. Maybe it's by the example of the way you do business, or play a sport, or teach your students.
And sometimes, He may even ask you to step out of your comfort zone and actually share the gospel with someone using words. If He does, He will guide you every step of the way!
Jesus made it clear that His mission was to be our mission...
21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
John 20:21 (NIV)
So Jesus preached good news and a good portion of His message was proclamation. He announced officially and publicly, the truth of God to His people.
Jesus Proclaimed
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:18 (NIV)
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 (NIV)
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners...
Luke 4:18 (NIV)
Jesus had come to proclaim freedom for prisoners of all types whether they were prisoners because of evil they had done, or because of the evil of injustice!
Or maybe their prison was not the walls of a literal prison, but a prison of wickedness, or oppressive religion, or depression…you name it! Jesus proclaimed freedom!
16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
Psalm 102:16 (NIV)
17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
Psalm 102:17 (NIV)
18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
Psalm 102:18 (NIV)
19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
Psalm 102:19 (NIV)
20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."
Psalm 102:20 (NIV)
And we know God went a step further…He not only looked down, but He came down!! When He looked upon the condition of humankind, He was moved to do something about it! So Jesus left heaven and came to earth to free the captives!
Jesus saw first hand on earth what The Father had seen from heaven. Matthew tells the story...
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Matthew 9:35 (NIV)
36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
Ok, but what does this have to do with my walk? Listen to what Jesus said to His disciples in the verse that follows the description of Jesus' concern for the harassed and helpless ones…
37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Matthew 9:37 (NIV)
38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:38 (NIV)
Do people need freedom in Christ today? Are there not those who are hopelessly imprisoned by the things of this world? Are there not those who are spiritually blind and that blindness is destroying their personal lives, their families, and even taking away their desire to live.
The question is, are we willing to walk the walk of purpose Jesus walked? Are we willing to walk into the harvest fields to harvest souls for the gospel, to bring them the good news and to proclaim freedom from their prisons, sight for their eyes, and release from their oppression?
As I have already mentioned, Scripture can have multiple applications. Jesus literally gave some people their physical eyesight. However, it was the spiritual blindness that was most devastating to people and which Jesus sought to heal.
In fact, one of the most intriguing stories of literal healing for a blind man is accompanied by a powerful example of the spiritual blindness that existed in Jesus' day.
In this story you can see the religious oppression that existed and why it bothered Jesus so much.
Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth. He did it on the Sabbath. When the religious leaders heard about it, they were angry. Listen...
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
John 9:16 (NIV)
The angry leaders questioned the blind man and then questioned his parents. They didn't like what they heard so they questioned the blind man a second time. Listen...
26Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
John 9:26 (NIV)
27He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
John 9:27 (NIV)
28Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
John 9:28 (NIV)
29We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."
John 9:29 (NIV)
30The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
John 9:30 (NIV)
31We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.
John 9:31 (NIV)
32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
John 9:32 (NIV)
33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
John 9:33 (NIV)
34To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.
John 9:34 (NIV)
Talk about spiritual blindness and oppression! Listen to how Jesus handled this...
35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
John 9:35 (NIV)
36"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."
John 9:36 (NIV)
37Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."
John 9:37 (NIV)
38Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.
John 9:38 (NIV)
39Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
John 9:39 (NIV)
40Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"
John 9:40 (NIV)
41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John 9:41 (NIV)
Here's a little secret. If you think you've got it all together and don't need God, then you will remain blind because your pride will prevent you from asking God for healing and Jesus will not force His spiritual healing upon anyone.
Now there was that one last proclamation...
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 (NIV)
Jesus had come to announce the salvation and mercy God was going to make through His sacrifice and that anyone who would be willing to receive could receive. Once again, you might ask, "What does this have to do with my walk in this life?" Everything...
20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
1As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV)
2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)
Let's Pray!