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The Top of Your Game
An increasing number of sports turf managers are realizing the benefits of topdressing their sports fields. Whether you currently implement a topdressing program or simply are considering initiating one, it pays off in the long run to think about what you want to accomplish and to do the work up-front to build a program that you can implement consistently over the long-term.
A well-developed, consistent topdressing program will allow you to experience the full benefits topdressing can offer, while avoiding the pitfalls that an ill-conceived program can create. Benefits of a well-designed and implemented topdressing program include:
A smoother, more level and consistent playing surface. Topdressing promotes a more uniform playing surface, which can contribute to a safer field of play.
Better thatch control. An effective topdressing program can help dilute the thatch layer so you can manage it at a healthy level. Excessive thatch layers can cause turf to be more susceptible to disease and less able to survive day-to-day issues such as temperature changes and mower scalping.
Improved soil composition. In areas where tight, compact soil conditions limit oxygen flow or water infiltration, an effective topdressing program can help create a better, less compaction-prone growing medium.
Other topdressing benefits include:
- Improved conditions for new root-zone development.
- Improved rooting of stolons.
- Protecting crown development and maintenance.
Consistency is the key to success with any topdressing program, so approach the project with the intent that the basic program you develop will be consistently implemented over a period of several years. It often takes a year or more to realize the full benefits of a consistent topdressing program, so it's critical to have patience. Also avoid the urge to make frequent changes to the mixture, frequency or other aspects of the program, as this can lead to layering of topdressing mixtures, an undesirable situation.
To be sure the program you develop is based on sound turf management principles, it's always a good idea to consult a local agronomist or university soil-testing facility regarding your soil types and which mixture of available topdressing materials makes the most sense for your turf's needs.
Today, there is a tendency to use increased sand levels in topdressing, but be sure that the mixture you use is compatible with your soil composition. Material mixtures often range from 70/30 mixtures of sand and peat to 100 percent sand. The characteristics of the sand used are very important too, so take time to locate a reliable supplier who can provide the quality control necessary year after year. Because the success or failure of your program relies on the quality of the materials used, the least expensive supplier is not always the best option.
The sand preferred by most agronomists has 60 to 75 percent of its particles in a medium-sized (0.25mm to 0.75mm) range. This promotes better retention of pore space in the soil and makes it less susceptible to compaction. Avoid larger sand particles because they can be picked up by mowers, and be especially careful that your mix doesn't include too much very fine sand (typically more than three percent), as it can choke plants off from water and nutrient infiltration.
Common situations where topdressing is integrated into a maintenance program include:
Following aerification. You can brush top-dressed material into aerification holes as a means of improving soil structure while maintaining good drainage.
To alleviate thatch buildup in newer heavy-traffic grass varieties.
After overseeding, to protect seed and encourage germination.
For rebuilding or maintaining the crown of a field.
Depending on the situation, the amount of topdressing you apply can range from light applications of
Most sports fields will focus more on a heavier application two to three times a year after aerification for leveling and changing the growing medium. Then, they will use frequent light applications after overseeding, and for thatch control. This potential for using such a wide range of spreading depths makes it important to test a variety of topdressing equipment to ensure that the equipment chosen meets the specific needs of your program.
There is no substitute for taking the time to get out in the field and test a number of different topdressers using the materials you plan to use in your topdressing program. This is a critical step that is often overlooked, but to truly know what equipment is best for the program, it's a step that is worth taking.
When evaluating the equipment needs of a topdressing program, it's important to consider the following factors.
- Equipment size vs. area to be covered
The size of the turf area to be covered and the thickness of application will help you determine the amount of material needed and the most efficient machine to use. A helpful formula for this is the number of square feet multiplied by the number of inches deep multiplied by 0.0031 equals cubic yards required. For example, a football field (typically 54,000 square feet) topdressed at ¼ inch requires 41.85 cubic yards.
Typically, the larger the number of fields you need to cover and the more frequently you plan on topdressing, the bigger the hopper size needs to be in order to keep downtime for loading to a minimum. Many larger topdressers also have hoppers designed to be filled quickly with a front-end loader, an aid in reducing turnaround time.
Often, large-capacity topdressers can be used both for spreading and material handling, which is useful for construction and renovation projects.
- Delivery system
Spreading topdressing materials, especially those with high organic or peat content, is more difficult than it may seem. One of the key features of a topdresser is its ability to handle material regardless of composition or moisture content, which is why you should give serious consideration to the types of materials that will be run through the topdresser prior to deciding on a topdresser.
Drop-type spreaders that combine chevron or other types of patterned belts, with a rotating brush, are a popular type of topdresser for most sports turf uses. You can also use them for application of calcine clays to infields. Drop-type spreaders are popular among sports turf managers because they provide the capacity, application rates and consistency that sports fields require.
Broadcast or spinner topdressers are often used for light, frequent topdressing, as is common in many golf applications. While you can use broadcast spreaders in sports turf applications, drop-type topdressers are usually a more cost-effective choice for the task, especially considering that they can be used for topdressing infields.
- Topdresser drive type
Today, there are two methods of powering topdressers: ground-driven and hydraulically-driven. Ground-driven topdressers make even material application easier because they deliver the same amount of material regardless of changes in speed. If the vehicle speeds up, so does the application rate of the topdresser. If speed decreases, so too does application rate. Calibration of the application rate and the tow vehicle speed is not necessary with a ground-driven machine.
Hydraulically-driven equipment is also suitable for topdressing sports fields, but unlike ground-driven systems, the application rate does not change in accordance with changes in ground speed. As a result, you must calibrate hydraulically-driven topdressers against tow vehicle speed because speed variations can result in an uneven material application.
- Materials storage
If possible, you should store topdressing materials in an enclosed area, or at least try to cover them with a tarp. Benefits of properly stored materials include decreased weight and ground pressure due to a lower moisture content, and quicker integration of the topdressing medium into aerification holes (although even materials that are stored in protected areas will wick moisture and store it).
If protected material storage is not realistic, and for many facilities it isn't, the selection of topdressing equipment is even more critical. Look for topdressing equipment that utilizes a chevron or continuous pattern-style conveyor belt system. These units are designed to better manage materials with varying levels of moisture content.
Taking time to evaluate your needs and develop a sound, consistent topdressing program that addresses those needs can pay big dividends in the long-term health, beauty and safety of your sports fields.
Scott Kinkead is executive vice president of Turfco Manufacturing (Minneapolis, Minn.). For more information, or to request a copy of Turfco's report "Sports Turf and Topdressing," contact Kinkead at (763) 785-1000, or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Let $V_X$ be a vector bundle of rank $r>1$ on a smooth (connected) projective variety of dimension $r$. Let s be the global holomorphic section, whose zero locus is a zero dimensional subscheme $Z\subset X$. Is there some result that the section is determined (up to scaling) by its zero locus? At least for some nice vector bundles on nice manifolds?
upd. I meant $X_\Bbb C$ and some conditions on some resolution of $V_X$ by some v.a. line bundles on $X$. jvp cites an excellent result below.

subset: commoncrawl


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"Burn Notice," the popular cable TV show, is on short notice in the City of Miami.
The show's production company for some years has used the old convention center next to the Miami City hall for a production studio, sound stage and storage facility.
The city charges $240,000 a year in rent for the popular show and gives Miami and South Florida some great scenic exposure. But now the city wants them out.
A master plan calls for the demolition of the center and the creation of a park. This is not a new issue and over the years, as the TV series was renewed on a yearly basis, the city granted another lease.
"There is a master plan that is putting pressure on the city, and we have to comply with that master plan," Mayor Tomas Regalado told NBC 6.
Regalado and Commissioner Marc Sarnoff have indicated they want to go ahead with the park plan. But "Burn Notice" producers, actors, technicians and support staffers say the city move would have a severe economic impact on local workers and surrounding vendors.
"We are sandwiched between two parks as it is, so I am all for the trees but I think that the community might benefit more from the resources from a film production or television production here," said series star Gabrielle Anwar, who came to support the show at City Hall Thursday with other staff members.
During the show's first five years of production, Fox has spent more than $100 million in South Florida, including nearly $63 million in wages, according to Miamitodaynews.com.
Sarnoff feels that in the long run a park will attract long-term investment to the area. "A park is forever, a TV series runs year-to-year," Sarnoff said.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
"Is it a best use and the highest, smartest way to put your movie studio directly on the waterfront, or are you better suited to have a park?" he later asked.
Crew members say the show may relocate to Broward County or out of state.
'Burn Notice' Starlet Gabrielle Anwar: I Wasn't Invited to Be in Movie


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I have been overwhelmed in the last few days by how awesome God is. I wanted to share some of the things God is doing with you. Many of you have heard about my friend in the Philippians and how he struggles from day-to-day to get the supplies that he needs to stay healthy and do the ministry that he does. Our church collected money a few times to send and he is very humble and grateful for what we did. The last money we sent was for him to buy Bibles so that he could teach his people not just the Bible, but English as well. The Bible has both his native language, Tagalog, and English side by side. He just posted some pictures of the Bibles and the people who were receiving them and it blew me away. The joy on their faces was priceless. When I saw them, God filled my heart with overwhelming joy as if He was saying, "well done". Sure it may not sound like the awesome experience that I started off saying it was, but look at the pictures for yourself on our church Facebook page. (The Body~A Church for Anybody)
Years ago I got the experience of a lifetime when I got to go to Cuba on a mission trip. I thought that I would never get to go back, but just last week a friend sent me an invite to go with him in June of this year. Immediately I began to pray and ask God if He wanted me to go. I can't explain the feeling of peace mixed with excitement that filled my heart. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit and is often God's way of telling us to go or do. Then last night I dreamed that I was there seeing the friends I had met the first time I went to Cuba and we were building their new seminary building. Most of my dreams are usually weird and senseless, it may have something to do with my past drug and alcohol abuse. But from time to time when I need to have clarity about what God is saying, I have dreamed things like this. I woke up this morning knowing that I was meant to go. So I have filled out the necessary paper work and sent in my deposit.
For the last several months our church has been hearing and learning about missions and outreach. My church is an incredible place filled with people who really love God and want to love others so that they may experience the love of God. We have been doing things to reach outside our church walls and have felt as if there was still something more that we could do for our community. So as I go to the mailbox yesterday and there is an invite to meet with another pastor and old friend of mine who is launching an incredible ministry in our town that is perfect for our church to get involved in. I won't go into the details, but it is all about getting personally involve in helping others who are in need. It goes way beyond soup kitchens and rescue missions and fills a void that is often overlooked as churches and these type ministries try to help others. The timing of this could not have been planned any better if I had tried. It coordinates perfectly with what I have been teaching and our church has been wanting to do.
Jesus said that we are to go into all the world and share the good news. Sometimes it means taking a flight to a place like Cuba or sending Bibles to the Philippians. Sometimes it means getting involved with a local outreach to help those in need. Sometimes it means we can help others go because we can't. And most importantly, it means that we can pray for the love of Jesus to guide our own lives every day so that the salvation and love of God is taken everywhere we go or send it in His name.
21 March, 2012 17:07
I have been overwhelmed in the last few days by how awesome God is. I wanted to share some of the things God is doing with you. Many of you have heard about my friend in the Philippians and how he struggles from day-to-day to get the supplies that he needs to stay healthy and do the ministry that he does. Our church collected money a few times to send and he is very humble and grateful for what we did. The last money we sent was for him to buy Bibles so that he could teach his people not just the Bible, but English as well. The Bible has both his native language, Tagalog, and English side by side. He just posted some pictures of the Bibles and the people who were receiving them and it blew me away. The joy on their faces was priceless. When I saw them, God filled my heart with overwhelming joy as if He was saying, "well done". Sure it may not sound like the awesome experience that I started off saying it was, but look at the pictures for yourself on our church Facebook page. (The Body~A Church for Anybody)
It's In Us
Last night about midnight I was trying to get my solid white, except for a brown eye patch, Jack Russel to come in and quit barking before the neighbors called the police on us. For about 20 minutes she had been barking continually. Finally I slipped my shoes on and went out to get her only find her in a fight with a very large possum. My dog is every bit if 13 pounds, but in her mind she is 130 pounds. The possum was at least 15-20 pounds and looked like it was doing well in the fight until they ran into the sandbox that has been converted to a mud-wrestling pit. It didn't take long before the possum was not playing possum and I picked up my now solid brown Jack Russel and went in to give her a bath.
Over the years, we have been kept safe from all sorts of wild animals like squirrels, rabbits, mice, and possums. For the most part they are left outside and I dispose of them, but occasionally they get brought in through the doggie door and I find them via smell. That is always fun, but rare.
My wife gets very frustrated with her dog because she wanted a little froo froo dog and she can't accept the fact that this one is a natural-born killer. As I was having lunch with her today, I was re-telling the story of how I was up bathing her dog at midnight while she was sleeping and she asked me, "why does she have to kill every rodent that comes in our yard?" To which I responded, "it is bred into her". For those who don't know, the Terrier breed was specifically bred to hunt rodents. They can't help themselves no matter how you try to raise them, it is in their blood.
I believe that humans are like this in many ways. We are born to sin. No matter how well we are raised, we sin at early ages and continue our whole lives; we can't help it. No one taught us to lie, yet we quickly deny our involvement with another sibling who has just gotten in trouble. As babies we learn that crying will get mommy to come pick us up. So what was meant to be a way of communicating pain, fear, or hunger, becomes a way of getting what we want. We grow up to convince ourselves that there is a right way of lying and deny that the truth is the best thing to handle a situation.
There is another thing that I believe humans are born with that is often covered deep with sin and humanistic teachings and that, is a desire to know God. God created humans with this in hopes that one day we would seek the truth and see that it is Him that has the answer to the meaning of life. In fact, it is God who is the author and finisher of life and until we get to know Him, life is a continual search for a purpose that we can't fulfill on our own.
God has been the heart's desire of every human ever born. The Greeks and Romans created gods for every reason a man could think of. They built statues and worshiped them as if they were alive but never found satisfaction because they were not real. The native Americans had gods of nature and animals but were not satisfied because the life that these gods had were taken by the humans that worshiped them. And from the beginning of civilization, man has claimed to be his own god more often than not. Believing that we are the saviors our selves, only to be let down by our own frailty. No god created by man will every satisfy what the one true God put in us and that is a desire to know the truth and He is that truth.
This time of year, Christmas, the whole world hears of a Savior that was born some 2000 years ago. Something in us tells us that this is a special time of year. A time of peace and hope and giving. A time of family and friends and brotherly love. A time of trying to deny the truth and substitute the man-made meaning of a God-given Love. So many times we hear tragic stories of brokenness and loneliness because what we desire is a relationship. This relationship can never be filled with people or things but rather the love of the meaning of it all, Jesus. For unto us a child was born, Jesus, and He will save the people from their sins. He was given because of God's great love and His desire to know us intimately.
Like my dog, who can't help but chase rodents, humans can't help but chase God. Why not turn to the true God and forget about the lies that lead us in the wrong direction? Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who died a sacrificial death for all who will accept it as payment for our sin. And whoever will call on Him will be saved and given eternal life. A life of meaning, purpose and hope. A life of love and a relationship with the God of love. It's in us.
By now you must be wondering where in the world do some of these ideas for my blogs come from. It is simple; I have some weird people who go to my church. This morning I get a Facebook tag about omens saying that I should blog about it. I am not sure why, but I thought okay, this could be a sign…get it? Sign? Omen?
As usual, I will start with the definition of the word omen. (noun. anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent)
Let me be the first to say that I thought the movie was stupid. Also, I think the word is a weird word. I don't even like the way it is spelled. Just by changing one letter it could be AMEN! Maybe that is a good direction to go with this blog.
The common fear of an omen is that it points towards the rest of a bad day staying that way or getting worse. We rarely hear of people talking about good omens. It certainly would not have sold a lot of tickets at the box office. People think that if you burn your toast that it is a sign that you will get fired, wreck your car, or be called to jury duty. I don't believe that is true. Maybe its is a sign of something good. Let me elaborate.
You get up the morning of an important day and because you have been taught that breakfast is an important meal, you began to fix your toast, which by the way, hardly qualifies as a real breakfast. As you are fixing your coffee, which is an important part of a nutritional breakfast, you smell something burning and turn to see smoke rising from your toaster. The toast is burnt! An omen of a disastrous day to come or could this be the start of something really good?
Because the toast is burnt, you spend a little more time thinking about what makes this day so important. Perhaps it is your day to fix cupcakes for your child's class party, or you have an interview for a job, or you are going to take your pastor a surprise gift, like money, or a free round of golf. You remember that verse from the Bible that you just read, either because you have been reading the Bible or you have been reading this blog. It says, (Acts 20:35) that it is more blessed to give than to receive, so you not only bake the cupcakes, but you grab some more money to give to your pastor, and head off to have a blessed day. If you had not burned the toast, you may have spent the money that you were going to give your pastor on store-bought cupcakes, and felt even worse than before, thus allowing the burnt toast to become an omen of bad things to come.
Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan. God does not have bad omens for His people. He has only your best interest at heart. Even in the toughest things, God is preparing us for a blessing. Job who lost everything he had, was being prepared to receive double everything that he lost. Peter and the other fishermen were taken out in a terrible storm so that they could see Jesus speak and calm the storm. Onesimus, the runaway slave, was caught and thrown in jail, only to meet the Apostle Paul and find eternal life. Jesus was falsely accused, sentenced to die, and killed for the sins of others, only to rise from the grave and offer eternal life to all who ask.
So…Next time you think that you are getting a negative omen, be creative and change one letter and make it AMEN. With God, all things are possible.
Child Discipline
She is at it again, my friend who asks me to blog about stuff that usually gets me into trouble. Today it is about child discipline according to the Bible. People tend to freak out when you quote the Bible and it goes against what "the experts" say, but I tend to lean towards what the Creator says to get my beliefs. The Bible is not an outdated writing that needs to be changed to fit our needs, it is God's instructions for living a life the way that He knows is best for us.
First, yes it is okay to spank. Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die. Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell. The King James actually says to beat him with a rod. This is a reference to the good old hickory switch. So let me put in my two cents worth.
I don't believe you should whip a child with your hands, those are for hugging and holding as instruments of love. I don't believe you should whip your child if you can't control your anger, and certainly never while angry. Just like our legal system has a guide for punishment to fit the crime, parents should establish the same. For example. If you child does not do what you tell them to, the first time he or she is in time out. The second time they get 2 swats with the weapon, I mean the instrument of correction. If a whipping is warranted, you tell the child what he has done wrong, the punishment for what he did and that in 15, 30, 60 minutes, (however long it takes for you to not administer this in anger) the 2 swats with a belt, or switch will be given. Then they go to their room, remind them of the disobedient act and the punishment and administer it. If both parents agree on this and even write it down and post it where all can see, kinda like the 10 Commandments, then punishment is not done on the spur of the moment and will always fit the crime.
There is a difference between spanking and abusing and spanking is not abuse but rather correction. Pain is a powerful teacher and we know that sometimes we all have to learn the hard way. Excessive and abusive physical punishment comes when parents react in anger instead of love. It is defined by whelps (not red marks) or bruising and in worst cases blood. It should always be administered under control and on the meaty part of the buttocks. If you are angry and out of control, you will hit too hard and miss where you need to strike. Again, NEVER whip in anger. Anything with a closed fist, strike to the face or head, or with an instrument that can be damaging even under control should never happen. And, if you are whipping a child too frequently there is a problem and you should seek counsel. If discipline is administered properly, whippings should be few and far in between and should decrease in need as the child gets older.
Second, it was asked, what amount of authority should a parent have over a child and should a child speak against or defy a parent? Colossians 3:20-21 Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, don't make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged. Children should always obey their parents while they are minors. They should be taught responsibility and given liberties that are equal to their ability to reason, but always be in submission to the parent. Disobedience in the smallest of things leads to disobedience in bigger things. Parents should NEVER allow a child to be defiant on purpose. They must learn obedience at home or they will lack it elsewhere and especially with God. Proverbs 3:11-12 Do not reject the discipline of the Lord, my son, and do not resent his warning, because the Lord warns the one he loves, even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased. Revelation 3:19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take this seriously, and change the way you think and act.
Parents must learn to communicate with their children, telling them about right and wrong and the consequences of disobedience. We should find ways to let our children tell us why they did what they did. It may not have been disobedience as much as misunderstanding. Our children should never be scared to defend their actions when they believe that they were acting appropriately. But when they cross the line into defiance, we as parents do them no favors by allowing it to go uncorrected.
Parents teach children who God is by their actions as much as by their words. God thinks it is so important for a child to respect its parents that He made it one of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Christmas Songs
Christmas is rapidly approaching and I can't wait to stop hearing Christmas songs on every Christian radio station, 24/7. Don't even think it, I am not a Scrooge, it's just that I like music, and I try to listen to Christian music as often as possible, and every Christian station around, and there are 4 that I know of, have been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving. It is bad enough that the stores put out Christmas decorations right after Halloween, but if we are not careful, Christmas stuff will just get to be blah and barely noticeable and Christmas Eve and Day will become just another day. And, I wonder if this isn't somehow the purpose behind a concerted effort to minimize Christmas and maximize sales.
Enough of my conspiracy theory, let's get back to the Christmas music. Even better, let me talk about the Christian radio stations that we have here. They are difficult enough to listen to all the time. They all play the same songs and the same style of music. In case you did not know it, Christian music has many different styles, from praise and worship to head banging to rap and about anything in between. Don't laugh, many of you who are not Christians probably have listened and liked some of these bands. Switchfoot and POD are two that have made a huge crossover into the secular music world and are Christian bands. But these stations play the same stuff over and over and half of what they play has been around for thirty years now.
I buy a few CD's and download some stuff and listen to Pandora, but sometimes it is just easier to turn on the radio and listen. But now, when I turn it on and hear "It's a Holly, Jolly, Christmas" for the umpteenth time and it is just the first day of December, I can't stand it. What really stinks is that if I do stick it out for any amount of time and don't turn it off or switch to a secular station, I don't and haven't heard the best Christmas song ever, The Chipmunks Christmas.
Secular stations won't play Christmas music for another couple of weeks. Sure they may sneak one in from time to time, and maybe the week of Christmas, but mostly, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, is when they play them. That makes them special, fresh, or as fresh as a 100-year-old song can be, and it makes Christmas unique for the couple of days that we celebrate it.
I really don't want to hear White Christmas when it is 75 degrees outside like it often is here in South Carolina for Thanksgiving. I don't want to hear It's a Holly Jolly Christmas when Christmas is a month away. I don't want to hear Away in a Manger when churches are still doing Thanksgiving sermons. I don't want to hear Grandma Got Runned Over By a Reindeer, unless she really did during a hunting accident. The only thing I want to hear is the Chipmunks Christmas song and nobody has played it yet.
Thanks for listening and may your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas's be white. By the way, I still want a HULA HOOP!
The Need To Confess
Confession is good for the soul, and for your election campaign. From the first time that humans did something wrong, God wanted a confession. He asked Adam, "Where are you?" not because God was ignorant but because Adam needed to confess out loud what he had done and why he was hiding. I think humans have this idea that if we do not speak it, we can act like it never happened. Then you run for public office and watch the dirt come tumbling out of the closet.
If you follow politics at all, you have heard about Herman Cain and his presidential run, or at least his run to get the Republican nomination. I do not know him personally and only know what I have seen on TV about him. That means other than what he has said about himself, I don't know much, at least if what I know is truthful or not. His campaign began to hit the right notes and his popularity began to soar and the media began to dig into his past. Recently, every time you turn on the TV you hear of another accusation of him committing sexual harassment or some sort of inappropriate behavior with a woman. Now depending on what side of the aisle you are on this is either cause for immediate withdrawal from the race, or it makes you a great president who has the right to privacy when it comes to personal matters, ie, Bill Clinton.
Either way, I want to keep this from being political and focus on how correct God is for requiring us to verbally confess our sins to him and to each other. In case you are wondering where I get this confession to each other thing, James 5:16 So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God's approval are effective. I hope I don't need to show you proof of our need to verbally confess to God, but you know what, here it is anyway. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confession does several things that help us. First it keeps us in good standing with God. 1John 1:9 tells us that if we confess, God forgives and makes us righteous. Second, it keeps us humble. Telling someone that we have committed a sin keeps us off the proverbial high horse. Third it allows for accountability. If I have someone who loves me and knows that I sin a particular sin, they can ask me the tough questions if my actions give them reason to doubt my integrity. Fourth, it allows me to move forward with whatever plans that God has for me without worrying about something being dug up from my past that will embarrass me, my family, and most of all God.
The last part is what politicians can learn from when they want to run for office. If Mr. Cain had confessed his relationships with these women, even if they were only platonic, then he would have nothing that wasn't already known. I am not saying that he has done what they say he did, I am saying IF he did, and God, family, and friends new it, forgave it, and held him accountable from the day of confession forward, Mr. Cain may still be leading in all the polls.
When I was a kid, my parents told me that if I got in trouble, I would probably get a whipping. If I lied to try to get out of the trouble, I would get a second whipping that was worse than the first. I am not saying that I never lied, but I certainly thought harder about it knowing the consequences. And, because of their tough love and the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, I can say that lying is much harder for me as an adult than it was as a kid.
We all sin, none are righteous without the Blood of Jesus to cover our sins. But even someone who doesn't believe in God can use the principle of confession to keep the conscious clear and our ability to live a public life without fear of embarrassing past failures biting us in the butt. There is a need to confess.
No Calendar
As I came to the office this morning, my plan was to begin looking ahead at 2012 and trying to plan my preaching and teach subjects. As I am not the most organized person in the world, I have to try really hard to do these things and I get easily distracted by things like, looking for next year's calendar online that has holidays listed. I did not know that you could find so many websites that are dedicated to calendars. I usually get my desk calendar at the office supply store about December 29th. I wish that I had one now, because now I am writing my plans on a sticky note and hoping that I can keep track of it until late December.
Last year, well actually it was this year, but I am in the "thinking about next year mode", I went to a conference where I was convicted to plan out my year of preaching to allow for more prayer, and believe it or not, to look at how much time I don't take off from being a pastor. It shocked me how little time I wanted to take off, and according to the guy who spoke at the conference, you need to schedule some away time. I usually schedule my away time in between Sundays and prepare my sermons while I am away which means I don't use the away time for down time which he said we needed. But I did manage to work on this and I can see his point, so I am trying to plan ahead and I don't have a calendar.
This all sounds fascinating, I know, and by now you are wondering if this is not my attempt to put off what I need to do, and it isn't. Like I said, I wrote stuff down on a sticky note. As I was trying to find a calendar and plan my year, I was reminded that planning ahead this year might not be needed. When you type in calendar for a web search, eventually you will have to read about the Mayan calendar, which basically says that we don't need anymore calendars now. The world is ending soon. I am excited about this possibility, but better not count on this whole not needing a calendar thing.
So I did finally get a teaching point out of this planning without a calendar ordeal. Preaching is often dictated by holidays. I try to preach an Easter sermon an Easter Sunday. I try to preach something patriotic on the 4th of July. I try to preach stuff that is relevant to the regularly scheduled holidays. I also like to plan vacations and conferences and thus have a guest speaker scheduled for those Sundays that I a gone. It is just about impossible to that if you don't have that year's calendar. So I got my sticky notes out and did what I could for January 2012 and decided to blog.
Do you see how easy it is to get distracted when you don't have the right information in available? Not knowing certain facts can cause you to get sidetracked from the important stuff you are doing and get you looking for alternate sources to complete your task. This often leads to mistakes and confusion. Can you imagine me not preaching the Easter sermon on Easter? What if I scheduled a guest speaker and gave him the wrong date? What if I lose that stick note? What if the Mayans are right? What if I just decided not to preach anymore because I got distracted and started looking for facts in a place filled with lies?
These things happen to Christians all the time. The Bible tells us things that we need to do daily and we act as if they aren't on our calendars. It tells us how to live our lives so that we are pleasing to God but we get distracted and read Cosmo and listen to Oprah. Then on New Year's Eve we make resolutions based on last year's failures only to plan them on a sticky note that is lost in a few days with all the other unimportant stuff we allow to clutter our lives. Sadly, we have the Bible available most of the time and still make these mistakes. It doesn't change like the numbers on a calendar and it is always accurate for the time we need it. You just can't make a good plan for life without right tool, a Bible.
With all this said, I guess it is time to go buy a 2012 desk calendar before I lose my sticky note.
Expect Versus Demand
Luke 12:48 But the servant who didn't know what his master wanted and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
This verse comes from the teaching of Jesus about an evil servant and a faithful caretaker. It teaches that there are degrees of punishment and reward as well as degrees of responsibility. I want to focus of the last half of the verse that has been italicized.
Yesterday was an awesome day for me. I celebrated my 50th birthday and the highlight, other than spending the day with my wife, was preaching that morning. I love to preach and on those rare years that my birthday falls on a Sunday I had much rather preach than take the day off. This was no different and as always it was special. I usually give my testimony and this was no different and at the end of it when the invitation was given, 3 people accepted Jesus and I now share my birthday with the day that they were born, again.
Being 50 is not much different from being 49. I am sure that will change as the year goes by. I hear that 50 is the new 27, so that is exciting. But 50 does bring a time of reflection or at least it did with me. I sat up Saturday night waiting on midnight to roll around and then I spent some time looking back at what I had done with my life. I realized that I had wasted far too much of it on things that did not matter. So I thought about the things that do matter and found them to be lacking and decided to see if I could change that in the next 50 years. So far, I have done a great job of keeping the things that matter outweighing the things that don't.
One of the reasons that we don't do the important things in life is because they matter to other people and there is a huge level of accountability involved. That is what the last half of the verse above says. But notice that even the last half of the verse can be broken into 2 statements. Lets look at them for a minute.
A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. I believe that there is something that God puts into all of us that says that we should be a compassionate people. I also believe that most people know that there is a God who is responsible for everything that we have. After all, only a fool says in his heart. "there is no God". I also believe that God has an expectancy of those whom he created to be responsible with the things they have. If you have a lot, you have a lot expected of you. I believe those who have a lot will be judged more harshly than those who do not. I think that there is that teaching in this story where this verse comes from. I believe that this is talking to people who do not have a relationship with God of their Father.
The second half, More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot, I believe he is talking to those who know Jesus as Savior and God as Father. Here is why. It uses the word entrusted verses the word given. I did a study on these two words and found that given, as used here, is most commonly used when speaking of giving servants their work load. The word entrust is most commonly used when giving an inheritance or a trust to a family member. God therefore entrusts those who are His children with a task far more important that those who are merely slaves. The good name of the family is at stake and that is why more will be demanded of us.
Now here is the difference in two more words. Expect versus demand. Expecting comes with an uncertainty of accomplishment. Demands come with a certainty of accomplishment. If you have high expectations of a new college graduate quarterback to become a great pro quarterback and he fails, he didn't live up to expectations. If he makes the team and is made the starting quarterback, the team then demands his continued best.
In that context, you can think of someone blessed with much but not knowing God as Father as being expected to do what is right, but those who know God as Father, are demanded to use what they have been entrusted with to protect the good name of the Lord.
I want to spend my next 50 years meeting the demands of what I have been entrusted with; The good news that Jesus loves and saves those who are lost.
If you know me then you know that I love Facebook and that I am a sick man. Anyone who loves Facebook must be sick. But I do and I love to goof off and mess with people, while at the same time, try to remember that I have a responsibility to share my faith with others and to defend my faith as well. But you know what that means…trouble. So I should learn to listen to my dad who said to just walk away from a fight. Unfortunately I didn't walk away from many physical fights when I was young and I didn't walk away from a Facebook fight the other day. I thought that I would share what I learned and then add some brilliant commentary.
A good friend of mine is a vegan. No, not an old car made by Chevrolet, a person who doesn't eat meat. I don't know why I like someone so silly, but I do. She will occasionally post some stuff letting me know how ignorant I am about animal feelings and I can't resist telling her that I only see a meal. We joke often, but deep down she knows that I am right and that she really wants a steak. It is because of this that I am considering a vegan converting scheme that will cause her to stock a freezer full of yummy beef products. I am going to start a farm where cows are raised and pampered and groomed and only eventually die of old age, and then butchered while soft, sad music is playing. What vegan could resist this? And before you say it, I know, this is a stroke of genius.
Now back to my original thought. I had a few folks who were determined to convince me that anyone who ate meat was sinning. Even though I presented several verses of scripture that showed otherwise, they were insistent that even the killing of an animal was a sin, which would mean that God was a sinner and everyone who ate the Passover meal was a sinner because they were doing what God said. The discussion went back and forth for a while, longer than I should have had an interest in it, and finally ended as I drew everyone's attention back to my friend by making jokes at her. (She loves it).
I believe that making a choice to be a vegan, eating only plants and plant products is perfectly fine. I believe that if you make this choice because you have great compassion for animals it is perfectly alright. But as soon as you allow this to pervert what God's word says, it becomes an "ism". Here is the definition of an "ism" from the dictionary: (noun)- informal, derogatory, often an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice. This is done with race, socio-economic status, beliefs on evolution (Darwinism) and many others.
We don't like to think of the world in a purely good and evil sense, but it is. Jesus said if you are not for Him, you are against Him. Satan will use anything to drive a wedge between you and God, even the food we eat. The Apostle Paul spent some time explaining that eating meat that was sacrificed to idols was okay, unless it offends the weaker believer. The Pharisees tried to tell Jesus that His disciples were sinning because they ate without washing their hands. Anything that can cause us doubt about God and His word is dangerous to us and is a result of evil forces working against us.
If you believe that evolution supersedes creation as described in God's word, you are wrong and are influenced by Darwinism. If you believe that following the ten commandments gets you to heaven when the Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way, you are wrong and are following Legalism. If you believe that your race makes you better than another race, you are wrong and following Racism. If you believe that eating only plants is correct and eating meat in a sin, as it was told to me in the Facebook discussion that the Bible says "Thou shalt not kill", you are wrong and are following Veganism.
I am proud to be white, but white don't make me right. I love my race, but hate racism. I want to try to follow the ten commandment, but realize my need for a Savior as a law-breaker. I do not abuse animals and I am perfectly aware of some who do, and they are wrong. But eating meat is perfectly acceptable in the eyes of God. Veganism can be dangerous if it perverts the word of God. Many movements start out with great intent but get twisted by people who are misleading, then they risk becoming "ism's".
Being a vegan because you have compassion for God's creation and you made this choice because of your inner conviction, makes you, well, like my friend, the vegan Christian. She can take the jokes as well as dish them out. She stays true to her convictions, and, although I can't read her mind, I feel pretty confident that her most important "ism" was her baptism.
Be careful little child what you see, be careful little child what you read, be careful little child what you hear. There's a Father up above, And He's looking down in love So, be careful little eyes what you see.


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Greensburg bishop OKs Latin Mass in Latrobe
Holy Family Church to offer Sunday afternoon services
A church in southwestern Pennsylvania has gotten approval to offer a weekly Latin Mass.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg says Holy Family Church in Latrobe will offer the Mass at 2 p.m. Sundays, beginning Feb. 17.
Bishop Lawrence Brandt had approved the move in December, but the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/VPmnt4 ) Monday that it's taken some time to find Latin materials for the service.
The church used Latin until 1962, when religious officials allowed Mass to be celebrated in local languages.
A splinter group in the Greensburg diocese had celebrated Latin Mass in the late 1990s, but it was not recognized by then-Bishop Anthony Bosco.
The diocese is based 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. It has about 163,000 Catholics in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.


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Shelter In Place: Most Classes/Services Online through Fall Semester
The staff of the TLC focus their support on the training of faculty in the development of teaching and learning resources for use in classrooms, labs, and online instruction. Instructional support staff may be contacted to schedule training for individual projects or department projects.
TLC Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Check the calendar page for future closure dates.
Audrey Blumeneau, Co-Coordinator, Teaching and Learning Center
Room 1095B
(831) 477-3511
Carol Hobson, Co-Coordinator, Teaching and Learning Center
Room 1095B
(831) 477-3511
Matthew Smithey, Help Desk Support Assistant
Room 1095
(831) 479-5030
Who can use TLC services?
TLC resources are limited, and thus it focuses its support on the training of teaching and non-teaching faculty. College support staff may also take part in training exercises. Use of the TLC labs is limited to activities that support instruction and the services of the college in that order of priority. The TLC also provides college wide, computer training to all college personnel at the request of the Information Technology Department and workshops during FLEX week.
How are training services provided?
Primarily, faculty and instructional support staff may sign up for small group training workshops offered through the Fall and Spring semesters. FLEX activities are the secondary means by which faculty and staff attend training during the regular academic year. FLEX credit is given for work done in the TLC during FLEX week that supports the development of instruction.
How are development services prioritized?
Primarily, most requests for computer-based development support are of two varieties. There are requests which are informational and *support* instruction, and those which are instructional and are used to directly teach students content in a specific discipline. Prioritization of services are first given to development requests which result in instructional materials or sustaining online courses; requests for materials which support instruction are given secondary support. As in most departments, the workload for the Teaching & Learning Center is determined by the TLC Director and Instructional Resource staff in the department.
Duplication of print materials should be sent to the Duplications Department. Duplication of tapes or CD's is the responsibility of the faculty/staff member. Copyrighted material will not be duplicated without written authorization from the copyright holder. Please see the copyright laws on the Duplications Department website.
Are there costs to attend training or for support in producing instructional materials?
There are no costs charged to an individual faculty member or department other than for materials used in the development process such as storage devices, disks, large color print jobs, DV tapes. An exception to charges occurs when an outside vendor must be hired to complete services due to the nature or time frame of the request. Faculty and staff are encouraged to purchase their own writable CD's and high-gloss paper for photographic quality printing.
If you need help or have questions call: 831-479-5030
What types of development services are offered?
Audio Production.
The TLC has a number of resources you can use to capture and edit audio, including an iPod recorder, handheld digital recorder, podcasting and more. You can record and capture audio for use in a compressed video, narration, button feedback, etc.
Consultation and HelpDesk
The consultation process can be as simple as a phone call or as much assistance needed in the planning and development of an entire online course. The TLC frontdesk (x5030) can answer quick questions by phone or in-person. If you reach our voicemail, it means we are with another staff member, so leave a message and we'll get back to you promptly.
Digital Photography
Digital video and still cameras are available for check-out.
Flatbed, 35mm Slide, & OCR Scanning.
Images from slides and photos can be scanned and text can be retrieved via Optical Character Recognition.
Laptops and Projectors
There are a limited number of PC laptops and LCD projectors available for check out for special projects/presentations. The equipment is not intended for regular classroom use. See your Program Chair for information on how to request computer equipment for your classroom.
Online Course Management System
Online course management systems are for both online classes and augmenting face-to-face instruction. Visit the Cabrillo Canvas Guiedes, or contact one of the TLC Co-Coordinators for information on how to get started.
Parscore Exam Scoring
The are two Scantron machines. One uses the popular Parscore software for managing scoring and gradesheets.
Software Testing
Software testing is available on a limited basis.
Software Training
The TLC provides a small library of training CD's for staff to check out on the most popular software applications.
Word Processing
Though most faculty are proficient at word processing, training and consultation in this area are still available.
Video Production
Video production services are available ONLY to capture material for use in the production of computer-based materials. If you need to convert a VHS to DVD, or duplicate DVDs, we suggest Costco as a cost effective commercial vendor.
Web Page Design
The TLC provides training in the use of software to produce web pages. Additionally, at times, TLC will help in the design and debugging of web pages for use in instruction.


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