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St. Nikolai Velimirovich's Prayers by the Lake are a theological feast. St. Gregory the Theologian wrote wonderful theological poems – it is a form deeply suited to theology but too little used. I heard this poem recently on a broadcast from Ancient Faith Radio – it came at a very timely moment and allowed me to see and pray. Images such as "wandering through my soul like a wayfarer in the night," has no counterpart in prose. Worth pondering in wonder is: "Aimless wanderers and loveless people have events and have history. Love has no history, and history has no love." I offer this today with prayer that by God's grace "love will meet love," and that no events will befall you.
White doves fly over my blue lake, like white angels over the blue heaven. The doves would not be white nor would the lake be blue, if the great sun did not open its eye above them.
O my heavenly Mother, open Your eye in my soul, so that I may see what is what–so that I may see who is dwelling in my soul and what sort of fruits are growing in her.
Without Your eye I wander hopelessly through my soul like a wayfarer in the night, in the night's indistinguishable gloom. And the wayfarer in the night falls and picks himself up, and what he encounters along the way he calls "events."
You are the only event of my life, O lamp of my soul. When a child scurries to the arms of his mother, events do not exist for him. When a bride races to meet her bridegroom, she does not see the flowers in the meadow, nor does she hear the rumbling of the storm, nor does she smell the fragrance of the cypresses or sense the mood of the wild animals–she sees only the face of her bridegroom; she hears only the music from his lips; she smells only his soul. When love goes to meet love, no events befall it. Time and space make way for love.
Aimless wanderers and loveless people have events and have history. Love has no history, and history has no love.
When someone makes their way down a mountain or climbs up a mountain without knowing where he is going, events are imposed upon him as though they were the aim of his journey. Truly, events are the aim of the aimless and the history of the pathless.
Therefore the aimless and the pathless are blocked by events and squabble with events. But I tranquilly hasten to You, both up the mountain and down the mountain, and despicable events angrily move out of the way of my footsteps.
If I were a stone and were rolling down a mountain, I would not think about the stones against which I was banging, but about the abyss at the bottom of the steep slope.
If I were a mountain stream, I would not be thinking about my uneven course, but about the lake that awaited me.
Truly terrifying is the abyss of those who are in love with the events that are dragging them downward.
O heavenly Mother, my only love, set me free from the slavery of events and make me Your slave.
O most radiant Day, dawn in my soul, so that I may see the aim of my tangled path.
O Sun of suns, the only event in the universe that attracts my heart, illuminate my inner self, so that I may see who has dared to dwell there besides You–so that I may eradicate from it all the fruits that seem sweet from the outside, but smell rotten in their core.
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Father, bless!
This is really lovely. His address of the prayer to "O heavenly Mother" is a bit startling to the formerly Protestant ear, but it put me in mind of one of my favorite Psalms (130/131):
" Lord, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever."
Quietness and silence boom in the stillness.
Hey Fr Steven I have a lot of poems I wrote about becoming Orthodox and lifing my self from the dregs of addiction and despair, I am retired and live in Florda but I would love to send you some email me back if you are intersted. I am also a big fan (wrong word) of St Mary of Egypt, my mother was a tragic alky and the icon of St Mary looks just like her at the end her name was Mary too. Dominic
"O Sun of suns, the only event in the universe that attracts my heart, illuminate my inner self, so that I may see who has dared to dwell there besides You–so that I may eradicate from it all the fruits that seem sweet from the outside, but smell rotten in their core."
"Love has no history, and history has no love."
"O heavenly Mother, my only love, set me free from the slavery of events and make me Your slave."
Make the point of many previous posts extremely well…!!
This is one of my issues. Why give the praise to "heavenly mother" instead of Jesus, where it rightly belongs? This is amazing to me and perhaps blasphemous.
On the flip side, "Love has no history" was great.
It's not blasphemous, John. When you learn to give honor and glory to Jesus, He then turns around and asks you to honor and praise everyone else – not to the same degree, but as is appropriate.
When the honor and praise is just coming from you, the supply is limited and you must reserve it all for Christ. When He is your only source, then you can give it to all without worrying about running out.
In a very real sense, one cannot get past the ugliness of the crucifixion, without first understanding the gift of the Theotokos. It's very deep. Certainly beyond words…
Thank you for sharing this Father
I will look at Psalm 45. Apparently the translators thought v 17 referred to God because they have capitalized You and Your. I have understood "call me blessed" in the sense that Mary was blessed to be the mother of the Messiah. I feel that God has richly blessed me and my family all my life. I am "blessed" in that sense. Others might say, "John is really blessed." I think you would have to prove that your understanding is the only possible meaning for it to stand.
I see that not all translators use capitals. You appear to be using NKJV. ESV and NIV I think do not. V 17 appears to be referring to the king's wife. She would be praised in the sense I mentioned in the comment above.
I have been concerned for some time that the Orthodox simply call what they do with Mary and the icons veneration to avoid calling it worship, when your actions are the same as if you were worshipping. If it walks like a duck, etc. I can't pick up a hammer and call it a screw driver just because I don't want it to be a hammer. I believe that is what you do with veneration.
Still, I think "Love has no history" is a great thought.
John, I don't worship Mary or icons. It is entirely different although what you see from the outside may look similar. If you look at icons of Mary, Jesus Christ is always there and being referenced as Lord. Even in the icon of the Annuciation the message is clear, Jesus is Lord, God and King.
It is also possible to worship not worshiping. That is to say, I've known folks who worship the idea of Jesus alone. Reductionism solves nothing and can lead to a dark, dark place.
I have an honest question, what difference does it make to you what we do in the Orthodox Church and have done since time immemorial.
The new thing is not giving Mary honor and entreating her intercessions.
John said "I have been concerned for some time that the Orthodox simply call what they do with Mary and the icons veneration to avoid calling it worship, when your actions are the same as if you were worshipping."
John – when you kiss your wife, is it the same as kissing your grandchildren? It might look the same to an outside viewer but I bet that it means and feels very different to you.
I completely agree with Michael Bauman's comment above John, as well as Father Stephen's of course. (But, your earlier opinion reminded me that the Prophet Zachariah was slain for expressing similar comments when allowing the virgin Mother where only virgins were allowed to go in the Temple).
John, the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:12, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him and the Apostle John writes in Revelation 20:6 that those who have a part in the first resurrection (i.e., the redeemed), are "blessed and holy" and "shall be priests of God and of Christ" and "shall reign with Him . . . "
Here's a suggestion. Why don't you do a Bible word search of the word "bowed" and tell us what you find there? Under what circumstances in the Scriptures did people bow, kiss, etc.? Is there more than one word used in different contexts for the same English word, "bowed?" Where was such bowing prohibited and what was the word used in that context and the object of the bowing? What did the people of God (the OT Patriarchs, etc.) do when they encountered a king (whether Hebrew or pagan) and when they encountered a priest of God? Bear in mind that ancient Christianity was birthed in the Middle East and is a continuation of the same culture of showing "honor to whom honor [is due]" (Romans 13:7) Why would those ancient Middle Eastern gestures of bowing to show honor then not be retained in the faith that genuinely has its roots there?
A bit more of Psalm 45. The Epistle to the Hebrews specifically states that THESE words refer to Christ:
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,
Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women…
(and the very next verse reads)
"…At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir."
The "queen" in the kingdom of Judah (the Davidic line) was not the king's wife (of which there were often many); it was his mother. Unlike the Chronicles of the kings of the northern (apostate) kingdom of Israel, every king's mother in Judah (the line of David – the line of Christ)is specifically mentioned by name, for she was held in the greatest honor by both the king and the people. Solomon "rose up to meet" his mother [kings do not typically rise to greet their subjects], "and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand."
Would it not be unthinkable, even to a thoughtful Protestant, that He who fulfilled the law would fail to honor His mother as well as His Father, exalting both in the measure appropriate to each?
Thank you, Brian, for this information.
Quite honestly, I thought St. Gregory was referring to God in the feminine, given the capital letter ("open Your eye"). Could this be? Certainly not in the radical feminist sense of modern times but perhaps in another sense.
My limited knowledge of St. Gregory suggests that he had a particular interest in the Holy Spirit (the gender pronoun for "spirit" being variable, depending on the language). The imagery in the poem is, to me, more consistent with spirit imagery (e.g. white dove) than Marian.
Also, even among those honoring the Virgin, it would seem a bit extreme for him to have written, "You are the only event of my life, O lamp of my soul."
One of the nice things about poetry is that no one, sometimes not even the poet, can say "this is the one true meaning" of what was written. Hence, all of you can tell me the reasons why I am incorrect in this interpretation – but this is how I experience this poem and I do so joyfully
Mary, actually that's how I read the poem as well.
Did I misread this or is the poem by St Nicolai? In any case feminine noun (such as Sophia – ie Wisdom) is different from Mother – the poem is clearly about the Theotokos.
By the way, you all should read John's blog – it is clearly heartfelt, earnest and Christ centered: dare I even say essentially Orthodox in its reflections. I happen to strongly disagree with him on this point but I do appreciate his sincerity and continued engagement here.
As we prepare to receive the Incarnate Lord born of the Holy Theotokos let us pray for each other and bear our differences with love.
Father, I'm ignorant and curious to know more about your reference to a "19th century fiction, born in the hills of Eastern Tennessee". I mean is this rhetoric for John's sake or a reference to something historically significant for American Protestantism?
Greg –
I appreciate your comment. However, can we say that God is "Father" but not "Mother"? This would seem to say that God is one gender and not the other, has one role and not the other. I believe that God transcends all of our notions of gender and role, fulfilling and exceeding them.
Poetry, especially mystical poetry, sometimes involves images that seem odd or incongruent to the outsider. The poet is likely singing from his soul, not intending a theological statement. Thus, I don't believe we can know absolutely what the poet meant. (I write poetry and sometimes learn new meanings from what I have written; this is part of the gift of art.)
I fully agree with your words, "let us pray for each other and bear our differences with love". Blessings.
No doubt we would see God in a fundamentally different light were we to call Him "Mother." Lex orandi, lex credendi. While Scripture occasionally attaches to God certain feminine images, He revealed Himself through the Son as Father. We ought to respect that and not tinker, thinking we know better than the All-Wise One.
Father, if I may:
I look forward to your forthcoming molieben service …
Thanks for the clarification, Father. That does make more Orthodox sense.
I apologize if my comments created confusion. Father Stephen – I am not clear how St. Gregory the Theologian fit into your introduction, though surely you know the origins of the poem, not I.
The point I was trying to make was NOT that God should be addressed in the feminine. In calling God my Father, I am calling upon a deep, abiding, loving relationship and I use that word because it was given to us by Jesus.
I believe that Jesus gave us the word "Father" to invite us into that relationship – not to tell us that God is a male. The latter would make no sense: Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created them in His image, male and female. God cannot be limited by our human experience of gender – for He created both of our genders, both in His image. Hence, I felt open to this interpretation of the poem (even if I am incorrect) and did not intend disrespect.
Father Stephen – in referencing mystical poetry, I was thinking of such writers as St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. I do not know how the Orthodox view them but your words came across to me as rather harsh. Perhaps "mystical poetry" brought to mind something else for you than what I intended?
RE: Baptists
I read the 1689 Baptist Confession the other day. While the understanding of the sacraments was impoverished by Orthodox or Catholic standards (or even the standards of the more "catholic" Protestants), a sense of holiness, gravity, and even a hint of mystery, persisted.
"The Supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by Him the same night on which He was betrayed to be observed in His churches until the end of the world for the perpetual remembrance, and showing forth of the sacrifice of Himself in His death. It was also instituted by Christ to confirm believers in all the benefits of His death; – for their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him; – for their further engagement in and commitment to all the duties which they owe to Him; – and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Him and with their fellow believers…
Worthy receivers, outwardly taking the visible elements in this ordinance, also receive them inwardly and spiritually by faith, truly and in fact, but not carnally and corporally, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of His death. The body and blood of Christ is not present corporally or carnally but it is spiritually present to the faith of believers in the ordinance, just as the elements are present to their outward senses."
Deficient, yes. Quite deficient. But I can't imagine any low church evangelicals of the present day embracing such ideas or expressing those ideas in such solemn and grave language. "Feed upon Christ crucified" — such language would raise the hackles of many, perhaps most, evangelicals. Or, more likely, it would just confuse them. I attended a "Bible church" about a year ago for the sake of a friend and I was shocked to see a little table in a corner with crackers and grape juice, from which people could eat and drink buffet-style, whenever they pleased, with the utmost casualness. I just kept thinking of Paul's admonition about eating and drinking unworthily…Bible church indeed!
That said, even at the beginning, there was much madness among the "hotter sort" of Protestant. I recently read a 16th century Puritan's critique of the Elizabethan church. He was particularly enraged by respect for the Holy Name of Jesus.
"The great conformity and likeness, both continued and increased, in our Church to the Church of Rome… praying towards the east; the bowing at the name of JESUS; the bowing to the altar, towards the east…"
Seriously? I just can't wrap my head around that mindset. What Christian could possibly take offense at bowing at the name of the Lord? It's hard not to sense something frankly demonic in such words.
(Also, why did they so "abomindate" candles? Weird.)
One more awful sacrilege, from said Puritan: "When the Old Testament is read, or the lessons, they make no reverence; but when the Gospel cometh, then they all stand up…" How scurrilous!
Can´t figure out why some of these posts become argumentative..it is just tiresome to read.
Just to add this thought by Thomas Merton:
If you want to have a spiritual life you must unify your life. A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.
To unify your life unify your desires. To spiritualize your life, spiritualize your desires. To spiritualize your desires, desire to be without desire.
To live in the spirit is to live for a God in Whom we believe, but Whom we cannot see. To desire this is therefore to renounce the desire of all that can be seen. To possess Him Who cannot be understood is to renounce all that can be understood. To rest in Him Who is beyond all created rest, we renounce the desire to rest in created things.
Argumentation comes from the desire to be "right" in oneself as Fr Stephen has oft pointed out. Speaking truth requires that we listen.
Father, this is exceptionally beautiful prose. Thank you for posting it.
Father Stephen,
I appreciate so much your wisdom and have been following your blog for some time now. Also, I found your book very helpful.
Might you write on gender at some point, if I may ask this of you? I loved Alexander Schmemann's discussion of the feminine in his discussion of marriage in "For the Life of the World," and found it opened some new doors for me. Since I have a French heritage, I often find the excessive blurring of gender identity sad, but wonder, beyond emotion and inclination, what you might make of its theological implications.
Father Stephen,
Thank you for your kind words. I realized, upon reflection, that my initial post had been a bit provocative – perhaps more than I realized. (A reflection that might have acceptable in my own cultural group, among friends who know me, could be offensive in another group who might take my meaning a different way.) Again, MY apologies.
You make a good point about the risk of delusion. In the RC tradition, there are those who almost seem to reach that level in their devotion to Mary – NOT that I am saying she does not merit devotion – but that some seem to raise her to a level of greater importance than God.
Perhaps for this reason, I felt that some of the lines of the beautiful poem you posted seemed to me more befitting to God, e.g. "O Sun of suns, the only event in the universe that attracts my heart…" However, it is not for me to judge the words another (especially a saint) utters in prayer. Rather than judge, I can learn and benefit from them.
I'm certainly not trying to fan a fire, but in support of your thought, mary, regarding the interpretation of the poem and the use of the feminine gender, Christ uses the imagery of himself as a hen with chicks in Matthew's Gospel. That's maternal imagery, spoken by Christ the man.
I continue to be overwhelmed by the events in Connecticut.
Thank you for your responses, Stephen. Is your son pursuing a science degree? That is a fascinating area of study. Two of my three were biology majors.
What we try to do is duplicate the worship and practice of the church as revealed in the New Testament. I am aware of the canonization process, but I just leave that to God's providence. I assume if God had wanted the "fathers" in the New Testament, He would have providentially got them included. So, we tend to not weight their thoughts. It would probably be good if we studied them more, but their writings would just be someone's opinion. We try to not add anything to the actual worship that there is not some kind of precedent for in the NT. I love history. I seriously considering trying to get a PhD in history back in the eighties. I never pursued it because UA required two languages. That was a deal breaker for me. I already knew two languages anyway: American English and Southern English, but they would have been loathe to count those. We don't value history from a doctrinal standpoint like you do because of our emphasis on the NT for Christian practice.
As I think I have mentioned before, I am interested in a deep spiritual relationship with God. Some things (but not all) about Orthodox spirituality are interesting. You might write on Philippians 4:8 sometime. I have been reading in Ezekiel. Why do you think God chose Noah, Daniel, and Job in chapter 14? Where was David, the man after God's heart? Interesting to ponder.
It is sometimes difficult for us to discuss our differences because our sources of proofs are not the same. It is kind of like we are fencing in different rooms. You accept the councils, I do not. You know, I think if you could prove apostolic succession, you might win. But, you can't, so, you'll just have to lose. If you can prove it, then I guess whatever the councils have said is the deal. If they say up is down, then that's the truth. But Judas' successor had to be a participant in Jesus' ministry and a witness of the resurrection. All those guys would have died out by early second century at the latest. So, no candidates, no succession.
BTW, I think some of your commenters enjoy supporting your thoughts when I challenge you. Probably adds to your comment count. I'm trying to come up with a way I can charge for that. I generally talk only with you (1 Kings 22:31). Anyway, you owe me…
There is the old saying that fools walk in where angels fear to tread. So here goes.
I think I know where John is coming from because it is the same place I have been. For my part having been raised in the Episcopal Church, I grew up on such hymns as, Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, Jesus all my gladness, Jesus calls us o'er the tumult, Jesus Christ is risen today, Jesus, lover of my soul, Jesus! name of wondrous love, Jesus shall reign, Jesus the very thought of thee, What a friend we have in Jesus, Glory be to Jesus who in bitter pain, At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and etc etc etc. There are many many more love songs, hymns of praise sung to Jesus.
It was Jesus, God's Son who came to earth. It was Jesus who preached and taught and healed. It was Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. It was when Jesus died that the temple curtain was rent in two from top to bottom, giving us access to the holy of holies. It was Jesus who went down into Hades and freed the sinners therein. It was Jesus who rose from the dead, spent time with His disciples, and then rose to heaven on what we now call Ascension Day, and, taking our humanity with Him, is seated on the right hand of God to make intercession for us. Heb 7:25. It is Jesus, the Messiah, the One anointed by God, who saves us.
And now it seems to me in the Orthodox Church, that Jesus is this very inaccessible person. The only way I can get to Him is to ask Mary or a saint to intercede for me. Apparently I shouldn't talk with Him directly.
If I may…while it is not for me to defend Orthodoxy (given that I am not Orthodox), I do not get the impression that anyone here is making the argument that one should
not talk to Jesus directly.
My own perspective is that of the Communion of Saints. In my relationship to God, I am called to not only be one with Him but to be one with the eternal community of all who are also hearing that call. To ask Mary or a saint to pray for me (or my grandmother, now deceased 20 years), is to celebrate this community and the love for one another God has taught us. I ask my friends to pray for me. Some of them are living in this life and some in the next.
I also believe that Mary has a very special role in this community because her "yes" enabled us to have God among us. We also have the very call to accept her as Mother from Jesus Himself as He was dying, as spoken to John ("behold your mother").
I'm sure my stating of this is inadequate but I just wanted to share my feeling that the Communion of Saints enhances my relationship with Jesus – it does not distract from or replace it.
To Lina and Mary,
Well put Mary. Another small thought- I am also not Orthodox (I am a Latin Rite Catholic), but perhaps the phrase "praying to the saints" is troubling. Make no mistake the saints and even Mary are created beings and are not prayed to the same way we pray to God. God alone is worthy of our adoration. We honor the Saints for their cooperation with God. Maybe another way to look at it is that we pray "with the saints"
Lina, the communion of the saints (which includes we less than saintly folk) ia all about a deep, abiding and intensely intimate communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.
For me one of the most articulate statements of that intimacy is in Bridegroom Matins, a service celebrated at the beginning of Holy Week. In that service we sing the following: "I behold the bridal chamber, richly adorned for my savior, but I have no wedding garment to worthily enter. Make radiant the gament of my soul oh giver of Light and save me."
We look to the saints and especially to the Theotokos because they have received the wedding garment and their souls are radiant with the light of salvation for which we long.
"And now it seems to me in the Orthodox Church, that Jesus is this very inaccessible person. The only way I can get to Him is to ask Mary or a saint to intercede for me. Apparently I shouldn't talk with Him directly."
"Talking to Jesus" is not very Biblical, to be frank. Read the prayers of the New Testament. Almost always, they are to the Father through the Son in the Spirit. Christ Himself taught us one prayer, and it is to the Father. I believe there are some direct prayers to Christ, but it is not normative.
That said, it is not illegitimate to speak or pray directly to the Son, or the Spirit, or the Father, and I can't think of any church which forbids or discourages the raising up of the mind and heart directly to the Godhead. On the contrary, it is everywhere encouraged.
And, truly, to pray to the saints — or, more properly, through the saints — is to pray to Christ, for the church is the Body of Christ, and it is His power which works in, through, and with them.
Yeah. I'd like to meet him. Did he meet Indy while up there? I guess you saw about that package that was in the news lately. Give him my email address if you like. I would be glad to converse with him. I will watch for the pdf. Thanks.
This prayer is like the act of creation depicted in the first four verses of Genesis:
"I behold the bridal chamber, richly adorned for my savior, but I have no wedding garment to worthily enter. Make radiant the gament of my soul oh giver of Light and save me.."
Wonderful, thank you for posting this.
Then there's the little matter of the Jesus Prayer…
Lina and Fr Stephen…this is one reason I have loved and still enjoy St Ephrem of Syria….his rich commentaries of biblical themes in poetry or teaching songs inspire in that it goes beyond the straight-forward teaching of doctrine and theology.
John wrote, "I have been concerned for some time that the Orthodox simply call what they do with Mary and the icons veneration to avoid calling it worship, when your actions are the same as if you were worshiping."
The actions of Orthodox worship center upon the celebration of the Eucharist, where the Life of God is ingested by the faithful. We worship none other than God; He has provided His own Life in the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our actions of veneration are not the same as our worship of God, as we certainly do not drink the blood of Mary or of any of the Saints. But in the lives of these holy ones, we behold the reality of our God's transformative power, as they are lamps glowing with the true Light. We honor those who have proven to be true co-laborers with God; God is glorified in His Saints.
Some defective understandings of worship exist that are not rooted in the Incarnation in such a way. Some of these would reckon 'worship' as consisting primarily, if not exclusively, in the form of 'giving praise'. Under such a restricted paradigm, praising anyone for anything might easily confused for worship.
Father Stephen said:
"(T)he "mystics" of the West are very unlike the "neptic" fathers of the East. There is an excess in the writings and imaginative works of the West, where there is reticence and unspokenness in the East. The West says to much, and dares its thoughts with flights of imagination. The East rejects the imagination for the sobriety of the God beyond words and imagery. It's strange that the Orthodox so treasure icons, but use little imagery in its asceticism. The Orthodox take on Western mysticism is that its tendencies are always ripe for delusion. It is delusion that Orthodoxy most fears in the spiritual life."
Father, could you provide some real life examples of the mystic versus neptic approach to spiritual formation and worship? Not necessarily as a response to my comment, but as a post, perhaps?
Thank you!
Father Stephen,
I was washing dishes when this occurred to me, rather belatedly… You wrote:
"The East rejects the imagination for the sobriety of the God beyond words and imagery. It's strange that the Orthodox so treasure icons, but use little imagery in its asceticism."
I was struck by the irony that the poem that began this post uses beautiful, rich imagery. I am not pointing this out to be argumentative – but just wondering – is the writing of St. Nikolai (or this particular poem) atypical of Orthodox writing?
You wrote that the East "rejects the imagination". I am puzzled by that. It seems that most anything – words, images, music, etc. – can be courrupted or can be used to give glory to God. I would like to understand this view better. Thanks.
Mary Benton,
the rejection of "imagination" in the East is obviously not applicable to poems, parables etc. It stems from the hesychastic practice of the Jesus Prayer (image free practice) and guards a person from the beginnings of delusion. It is one step above "logismoi" (thoughts) ascetical practice, which we also guard against while praying. Imagination can indeed be put to good use, but it is still "milk" rather than "solid food"…
There is indeed a situation where someone "Lives" in God to such a great extent that all thoughts and imaginations cease of their own accord, but we inevitably fall back down to the more usual life after some time in that blessed state.
The Church has both milk and solid food and there is a time and place for everything. It is important not to lose sight of their qualitative difference though.
Sorry, I meant "Imagination is actually one step above "logismoi" (thoughts) which we also valiantly guard against while praying in ascetical Orthodox practice"
For someone to hope to arrive at true freedom, they need to ignore and renounce a great deal, and this joyous liberation from "my" thoughts, "my" feelings, "my" imaginations makes the space that the Spirit takes up so that one can say like Paul, "not I but Christ"
Twice now I have written a response and the computer "ate" it when I tried to post it. It seems I am being called to silence
May I share a poem/prayer that I posted last Christmas? It was a gift to me, poem/prayer/image. (Father Stephen, you may remove it if you think it inappropiate – and the computer doesn't remove it first!) Here's the link:
Blessings to all.
Mary, if I may:
Beautiful. Thanks for posting. Blessings to you too.
And now it seems to me in the Orthodox Church, that Jesus is this very inaccessible person.
One of the things I enjoy & experience since becoming Orthodox is the fact that the Son of God is very much accessible, much more so than in my Protestant upbringing.
The only way I can get to Him is to ask Mary or a saint to intercede for me.
Whoever told you that is most definitely wrong & definitely not an Orthodox Christian! Have you never asked a friend to pray for you or to help you in some way? Or vice versa? That is what we mean by asking intercessions of the Theotokos & the Saints. They are part of the Body of Christ, the Church, just as we are; bodily death does not change this.
Apparently I shouldn't talk with Him directly.
Again, you have been greatly misinformed. The most famous prayer to Christ for the Orthodox is "The Jesus Prayer":
<O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
Check out: http://www.orthodoxnet.com/worship/occasionalprayers.html for numerous prayers used by the Orthodox. Note how many are addressed to Christ directly.
For more about Orthodox Spirituality:
Regarding our veneration of the Holy Theotokos, the following is from the liturgical texts for the Forefeast of the Nativity on December 20th:
You have magnified the Theotokos who bore You, O Christ.
From her You have put on a body like our own, our Creator,
which releases us from our errors.
Blessing her, we in all generations magnify You!
Note that last line – in blessing the Virgin Mary, we magnify and honor Christ Himself. As I've heard Father Thomas Hopko say a number of times, "The Gospel is not about Mary – but Mary is ALL about the Gospel!" We don't worship her, we honor and venerate her. But not because of her herself – we do so SPECIFICALLY because of her obedience and her "yes" to God.
I understand your hesitancy about Mary, because I had the same doubts myself. There are some people in some faith traditions who almost elevate her to the level of Christ Himself. As a recent convert, I had to repent of treating her with contempt. But to be honest, accepting the veneration of Mary was one of the easiest things I had to do as a convert coming out of Protestantism, once I found out what and why the Orthodox believe in regards to her – as opposed to standing on the outside and making my own incorrect judgments of what was really going on.
Lina, take a look at an Orthodox prayer book: you will see it is filled with prayers to Jesus, prayers in Jesus' name, instructions to pray unceasingly to Jesus, etc. There are prayers to the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Trinity as whole as well. Even prayers that involve the saints (which form a very small fraction) are prayers to God.
Or look at the services – they reflect this same reality.
(PS this is not to imply that Orthodox don't pray extemporaneously, just a note that the "model" prayers very much reflect an intimacy and immediacy together with Christ).
Father, if I may, could you send that pdf along to my email as well? I come from the same background and I always appreciate it when I see Orthodoxy engaging the Restoration mindset.


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Joe Student
If you don't enjoy the things I write about — entertainment, nightlife, music, booze, gadgets, sports, Playboy models and more —you're probably dead. I enjoy when you read what I write. (And, yes, it's my real name. Stop asking.)
The first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs starts Tuesday night, as 16 NHL teams vie to become the one to drink from the Stanley Cup in June. The top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks were the league's best team in the regular season and are favored to win the West
When Tampa Bay Rays reporter Kelly Nash stopped by Fenway Park on Saturday to do some advance work, she thought it would be cool to take a self shot picture from on top of the Green Monster, the ballpark's iconic outfield wall
Tony Parker scored 23 points, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 103-82, in Los Angeles on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven, first-round NBA playoff series
LeBron James scored 30 points, and the top-seeded Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 88-77, in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven, first-round NBA playoff series
NFL draft prospect Tharold Simon of LSU was already famous in his hometown of Eunice, La.; now he's also infamous. Simon, 22, was arrested in his hometown on Thursday night, one day before Eunice officials were to proclaim "Tharold Simon Day" in the city. Simon was arrested and charged with obstruction of public passage(s), unnecessary noise, resisting an officer and public intimidation after police pulle
Earlier this month, we mentioned that Louisville basketball head coach Rick Pitino promised his team prior to the NCAA tournament that he'd get a tattoo if they won the national championship. Well, Pitino kept his promise.
Rick Pitino said he'd get a tattoo if Louisville won the National Championship. The Cards delivered a
The 2013 NFL Draft's second day and a marquee UFC bout highlight the upcoming sports calendar. Here's what to watch this weekend:
Baseball fans love baseball movies almost as much as the national pastime itself. Next month at Minnesota's Target Field, they can see both at the ballpark. In conjunction with FOX Sports North, the Minnesota Twins will show the cult classic '
In the most glaring example of a lack of marketing creativity and out of obvious desire for a paid name sponsor, the new four-team college football playoff system that is replacing the Bowl Championship Series will be called the
Home to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto is among the greatest hockey cities in the world. Unfortunately for Torontonians, their beloved Maple Leafs have, well, sucked for a long time. This year, however, Toronto is back in the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2004
The New York Yankees may have found a new way to affirm their status as baseball's Evil Empire. According to a Blue Jays fan, guards employed by the Yankees had two Jays fans removed from Friday night's Yankees-Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre in T
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subset: commoncrawl


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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > I Wish I Were A Ghost
Promising Is Just Another Lie10 Reviews
Alright, Frank makes a New friend. But he's not really a friend, he's not even human. O.o
Thank you SOOOOOO much for all your support. GIANT INTERNET COOKIES XD
I Wish I Were A Ghost.
Chapter three; Promising is Just Another Lie.
I ran, and ran. Sobbing the whole way from Strabucks, until I collided with a large rock, this sent me flying. I hit a patch of Dead grass with a thump.
Slowly sitting up, I gently rubbed my forehead, which pained immensely. With blurry vision, I studied the park I was in. West Hudson Park. Children were happily playing by the pond, while their mothers sat on a park bench and talked. If I am ever a father, I would never let my play by the pond where they constantly find dead bodies floating around. Well, there's Jersey for you.
Thankfully, the three faces I longed and also dreaded to see weren't in sight. At this point in time anyways. My head was pounding due to the events that had just occurred. My imagination has grown way out of hand. I needed some form of help but I couldn't explain this to anyone, especially not Gerard. They would think I'm crazy, probably send me to a hospital. I would sit in a white, padded room all day long. Well at least it'll keep these ghosts out.
Wait, what? Ghosts? No, no, no. it's just my imagination. Ghosts… Mikey, Ray and Bob wouldn't be ghosts, right?
My spinning head was yanked out of thought by, thank God, an unfamiliar voice.
"Hey, are you alright?"
I narrowed my eyes, and looked up to find whose voice this belonged to.
A tall man stood beside me. He was wearing blue jeans, a black top with "Sorry… About Your Face!" printed in white, Black vans and a studded belt.
"Uhh, yeah. I think." I replied confused.
"You're bleeding, man. What happened?" Said man knelt next to me, giving me a better view of his face. He had amazingly bright green eyes with a thin line of eyeliner smeared on the bottom lid. His hair was jet black with Red through it. A fringe fell over his right eye and when he smiled it revealed perfectly straight teeth.
"I... umm. Fell. I think…?" I stared into his eyes, he reminded me so much of Gerard for some reason. The facial features maybe, I don't know.
He chuckled a bit at my confused answer and extended his arm before saying,
"Well, I'm Ryan." He smiled. I placed my hand in his, shaking it gently.
"I'm Frank… I think." I smiled at the addition to my sentence so It matched my previous.
Ryan sat down next to me.
"That's a pretty bad cut. What were you running from?" He asked, inspecting the gash on my temple.
"Oh umm," what do I say? "J-just someone… that I didn't really want to see." Not the complete truth but not a lie, right?
"Oh," he replied. "Well you might want to go get it cleaned up before it gets infected."
"I guess so." I sighed. "Well I live right around the corner. If you want to come?"
He smiled and nodded. "Sure, that'll be great."
We started walking in the direction to my house. Well our house, Gerard and I.
"So, Ryan. How old are yahh?" I asked, trying to make some conversation.
"Twenty- three. Yourself?"
"Oh, really? Wow, you're very sh-" He stopped there. "I mean, cool."
"Nice save." I joked.
"Sorry" he blushed.
"Don't sweat it. I get that a lot." I smiled. "So you a music person?"
"Damn straight. Drums and vocals. What about you?"
"Guitar and occasionally vocals. Ever head of My Chemical Romance?" I asked.
"Who hasn't?" he chuckled.
"Yeah, well I'm, was rhythmic guitarist. Frank Iero." I replied, shyly.
"You're legendary where I come from, dude! You know how to play."
I felt the blood rush straight to my cheeks. "Oh, well thank you so much, man."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about the. Umm. Others." He said uncomfortably.
"its fine…" I looked over at him. He was looking at his feet. I noticed on his temple there was a scar of some sort.
"What happened?" I asked, gesturing to it.
"Umm…" he said quickly "Motorbikes. Yeah, I'm a big rider."
"Cool." I replied.
The rest of the walk, we just made small-talk. When we arrived home, Gerard wasn't there. There was a familiar beep coming from the phone, signifying there was a voice message. Probably Gerard.
"Hey, Ryan. Make us a coffee will yah?" I called out.
"Sure" he replied.
I hit the button on the phones reviever.
"Hey, Frankie-baby. Where the hell are you? Call me if you come home, I'm out looking for you. Alright, bye, I love you."
I prayed that Ryan didn't hear that.
I flipped out my phone, in my pocket. It read '7 missed calls, 4 unread messages.'
All of which from Gerard.
I sent him a text message, explaining that I was home, receiving one a few seconds later saying that he'd be right home.
"Find everything okay?" I asked Ryan as I stepped into the kitchen.
"Yep." He replied happily. "But you should probably get that cleaned up first. I hate blood."
I smiled and entered the bathroom, down the hallway, closing the door behind me.
I stared at myself in the mirror, which hung above the basin for a while, thinking of my day. Gerard's gonna need an explanation and what do I tell him? There's no way I'm going to tell him the truth. but I can't lie, he's my boyfriend. We tell eachother anything and everything. But this isn't just anything. No, if he knew he'd probably break up with me. He'd hate me. He'd think I'm lieing or he would think I'm crazy. Neither of which I want him to think because neither of which are true. Well, partially the crazy bit, but the bottom line is, I need to tell him something.
I exhaled aloud, picking up the damp wash-cloth beside me and softly wiped away the dried up blood, down the right side of my face.
After cleaning up the nasty gash I went back to think of an excuse.
Maybe I shoud just say the same thing I said to Ryan? I mean, what else can you- - FUCK!
There was an image behind me. A Figure. Just a flash, but still, clear as daylight.
"Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone! What did I do to you?" I screamed, looking to the ceiling and throwing my arms in the air dramatically.
"Just stop already! Stop!"
There was a knock at the door. Shit, that was a bit loud.
"Yeah, yeah. Umm. Sorry about that." Another lie that had to be made. "Umm... Prank callers, they won't leave me alone."
"I didn't hear the phone." He asked, looking at me suspisiously.
"A-umm.. My, ah, mobile?" I asked, scratching the back of my head.
"Oh." He nodded. "Well, coffee's done."
I followed him back to the kitchen, where we took a seat.
"So, you in college or anything?" I asked.
"Just graduated, now I'm teaching at the high school." He replied.
"Bellville High?"
"That's the one." He said cheerfully.
"Gee went there." I smiled.
"Gerard. He was the singer in My Chemical Romance." I said softly.
"Does he live here?"
"Ahh yeah, we're sorta umm." I should NOT have started this sentence.
"Don't worry, I heard the voice message. My little bro goes both ways, I'm completley cool with it."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Well, its not a public relationship so don't go spreadin' it." I warned.
"'Course not."
The sound of the door clicking open echoed through the house.
"Frankiee?" Gerard called.
"Kitchen." I simply answered. "But thanks, man." I said to Ryan.
"Frankie, who are you talking to?" Gerard asked, as he entered the room.
"Oh, this is Ryan." I smiled pointing at him.
Gerard stared at him with a very strange look on his face.
"Frank..." Gerard said sternly. "There's no-one there."
I looked over at Ryan who shook his head quickly.
"Don't say anything." He looked a bit scared.
"Umm..." was all I managed to get out.
"Frank are you okay?" Ryan shook his head again.
"You know what, Gee. Its been a really tough day. I think I'm gonna go to bed and get some rest." I looked back over at Ryan. Well his seat. He had now dissappeared. Fuck, I really need help.
"I'll explain everything later, I promise." I stood up, and kissed Gerard gently on the cheek. "I love you."
As a turned to walk away, Gerard grabbed my wrist, pulling me into a passionate kiss. He pulled away, mear seconds later.
"Frank, I love you. You can tell me anything, you know that right?" Gee said, looking me straight in the eye.
"I-i do Gee. I just, I'll tell you later. I promise." I hated doing this anymore. Promising was just another lie.
I gave him a reassuring smile and left the room.
That wasn't the planned chapter either but I'll get it next chapter. I Promise :)
So I'm guessing most of you know what's happening aye? Plan is Frank is seeing the dead. Ooooh!
Thanks again for all my veiwers. You guys are fucking incredible :)


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Smiles peeps! Today I am going to show you how to make a Shabby Cottage Flower! The fabrics you'll use will obviously affect the look of your flower. Let's get started.. 1) Freehand 4 different flower shapes on paper (don't worry, perfect is not a good thing)! The flowers.... The largest flower has 4 pedals, […]
Shabby Cottage Flower
14 Aug By 20 Comments
7 Day Spring Pillow Challenge – Day 2: Felt Petal Pillow
6 Mar By 11 Comments
7 Day Spring Pillow Challenge- Day 1: Blue Bird Pillow
5 Mar By 19 Comments
Smiles Everyone, I decided to give myself a challenge, a 7 day challenge of making pillows, spring pillows. Here' s Day 1 pillow: The base for the pillow was Osanaburg Fabric and different colors (blue, grey, brown and orange) of felt. I cut out a rectangle measuring 10 " x 18" from the Osanaburg fabric. […]
Valentine Heart Pillow..
16 Jan By 42 Comments


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|Scruffy Gurl
|In front of my PC..
|Member Since
|Jan 06, 2012
|Votes Received
M scruffy nd i love writting. If you need an idea on your book just message me. Okay? Also check out these books! My watcher by @daffyduck23 nd Away from your heart by @HesAllUpOnMe!
Bitches nd PopularityThe Bitches are so popular that no one can help but worship them. Alicia wants the title more than she's ever wanted anything. Fortunately, the Bitches do notice Ali... read more
Crushed by CarterHave you ever wondered which one hurts the most.. Saying something and wishing you had not?? Or saying nothing and wishing you had?? *Sabrina, the most troublesome girl ... read more
In Love With A CriminalThese are words written in a way that shows that am trying to express myself to the reader... I really hope you like it.. Pls read nd comment nd pls vote *grinz*


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From Staff Reports
ACKERMAN – On the night Ackerman celebrated its homecoming festivities, the Houston Hilltoppers ensured the Indians didn't get the opportunity to enjoy a win as well.
By JOEL COLEMAN
MABEN – Lazerick Davis and Vandy Smith, make room in the Eupora backfield. Javoris Draine is ready to carry the football, too.
Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell understands the importance of tonight's game at West Point.
From the outside looking in, it's easy to see the early-season success of the Starkville Academy Volunteers.
The Starkville Academy Junior Volunteers scored 12 points without the offense even seeing the field Thursday night.
It has been a pretty good week for the Starkville Academy girls soccer team.
By LEE ADAMS
Texas A&M can't pack its bags to leave the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference just yet.
By DANNY P. SMITH
The injury bug has bitten the Starkville High School linebacker position in what football coach Jamie Mitchell called "a tragic" situation.
Losing is not acceptable for the West Point Green Wave.
One week ago, the Leake Academy Rebels found themselves in the midst of quite a battle.


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The best travel deals can surely be found on the 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013.
Now for its 20th year, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) brings the annual Travel Tour Expo on February 15 to 17, 2013 at Halls 1, 2, 3 & 4 of SMX Convention Center, MOA Complex, Pasay City.
The 2013 Travel Tour Expo will be ultimate shopping destination for the best travel deals in the Philippines. Exciting and variety of travel options and special packages from the hundreds of exhibitors await clients. The yearly travel expo is participated by the major players of the travel and tourism industry, locally or internationally, such as travel agencies, airline companies, cruise operators, domestic tour operators, government agencies embassies, national tourism organizations, hotels and resorts, international tour operators, travel shops and many more.
There are 25 internationally and locally operating airlines exhibiting at the 20th TravelTour Expo – each one offering promos at the best and biggest travel show in the country.
The 2013 Travel Tour Expo is open to the public for an entrance fee of Php 50.00/person/day. The show hours on Friday and Saturday (Feb 15-16) are from 10 am till 9 PM and on Sunday (Feb 17) from 10 am till 7 pm.
Grab the best travel deals in town at the 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013.
Bookmark us, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our feeds to get the latest news on 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013 and other travel deals.
Do you want to contribute a story? Please send your article or post through e-mail.


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Dan Holcomb said he needed starter Chad Mayle to go deep on Monday night.
His bullpen worn out and beaten up after a couple of rough – though victorious – outings, the Thunder Bay Border Cats manager couldn't afford to turn to his relief corps in great numbers as the Mankato Moon Dogs hit Subway Field.
Mayle delivered and then some, surrendering just two hits and two runs through seven innings before giving way to Daniel Stoney in the eighth.
Stoney held the Dogs at bay just long enough for Jason Vosler to play the hero card, singling home Tyler Stetson with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, securing a 3-2 Thunder Bay win, the Cats third straight victory.
"I felt pretty good," said Mayle, signed to a temporary contract and hoping to show enough in his trial period to earn a permanent spot on the Border Cats roster.
"My first outing I struggled a little bit, I was a little rusty, so I kept messing up. So I tried to … get ground balls, get contact early in the count, so I could go a little deeper."
Holcomb said he couldn't have written a better script, knowing much-needed pitching help is on its way.
"Chad was fantastic tonight. You look, he gave up a run in the fourth and then shut him down all the way to the seventh. That's exactly what we needed. Our bullpen was hurting a little bit and only being able to use two pitchers today, Chad gave us everything we needed and really saved our pitching staff."
Mankato starter Rob Cerfolio was equally great for the Moon Dogs, tossing a no-hitter into the fifth, when Tyler Duplantis singled with one out.
Catcher Dylan Goodwin followed with another single, and Duplantis took third on a Tyler Stetson grounder, coming home on Cory Kay's infield single up the middle to tie the game 1-1.
Mayle said his rival's outing was an inspiration to his own game.
"It's almost a good thing. It keeps you focused and you have to go out there and hang a bagel. I think that works as a benefit," said Mayle, who gave up a solo shot to Chase Simpson in the fourth, the first run of the contest.
In the sixth he loaded the bases with one out, but induced a 4-6-3 double play from Jonathan Rodriguez to preserve the tie.
The Cats took advantage in their half of the inning, hot-hitting Michael Foster doubling and later scoring on a Ryan Casillas sacrifice fly.
The Moon Dogs evened the score in the seventh, a Casillas error on a Tim Lynch grounder allowing Zach Zehner to score from second.
Mankato threatened in the 10th, with runners on first and second with two outs, but Stoney, who earned the win for Thunder Bay, struck out Zach Zeiner to end the threat.
With one out in the Cats half of the inning, Stetson legged out a bunt single then took second on a wild pitch. Dogs reliever Jesse Harbin, who took over in the ninth, intentionally walked Cory Kay, and after striking out Dylan Becker, issued a free pass to Foster, who came into the game hitting .700.
Vosler, 0-for-4 until that point, laced an 0-1 pitch into right field for the winner.
"I got a good pitch to hit, got a hit and it was game over," Vosler said.
The Cats and Dogs wrap up their two-game set Tuesday with a matinee affair. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.
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A woman is recovering after she says her ex-boyfriend beat her and cut her throat with scissors.
Click here to read the full story.
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Pickled Beets
Yield: 8 pints
- 8 pounds small fresh beets
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 4 lemons, sliced
- Cook beets in water to cover in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Drain and peel. (If beets are too large for jars, cut into pieces.)
- Bring 3 cups water and next 6 ingredients to a boil in a large heavy saucepan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
- Pack hot beets loosely into jars, filling to 1/2 inch from top. Cover beets with hot syrup. Remove air bubbles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids; screw on bands.
- Process in boiling-water bath 30 minutes.
My Notes
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Pickled Beets Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Sauces/Condiments
- CONVENIENCE: Canning/Preserving, Gifts, Make-Ahead, Portable/Picnic
- CUISINE: American, Southern
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Vegetables
- DIETARY CONSIDERATION: Meatless
- PUBLICATION: Southern Living
More Recipes Like This
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Best Android Games for Smartphone
Best Android Games for Smartphone
Angry Birds:
This is the world famous popular game among all the Smartphone users, there are a large number of people have played this amazing game for the on their Smartphone having android operating system and the users of IOS are also playing this game as well as the Smartphone users who have windows OS for their phones have also been playing this famous game.
The most important cause for the installation of this app is to release its free versions and now it is accessible for every android user. You can download it's free and latest versions angry birds. As the game is showing its type in the name, in this game you have to destroy some building made with some pieces of wood by throwing birds with the help of a rubber band. For latest updates and the android games news visit www.androidpulse.com and to know About Androidpulse .
The game is one of the most popular games for Smartphone users who want to play the easy games with the sensual touch system of their phone. It will be very impressive for the fans of games that they will enjoy its great features with proper sound and beautiful display.
In this game you have to make a group of 3 bubbles of the same color, once you make a 3 bubbles' combination the bubbles will be exposed and the next will come. We hope you will must enjoy while playing this color full and it will also a healthy exercise for your mind.
Red Stone:
This is one of the best and hardest games for your android phone, if you are a fan of games which will be popular for the better use of your mind. This is a unique android game news as you would never play this game before. It would be hard and impressive for you as you have to explain a mystery game in the in black and white word, but gravely. For the tam android you can visit www.androidpulse.com/about
Angry Birds Star Wars:
Above we have discussed just about Angry Birds and it is the world famous game in all over the world but this is a new android game news for you that now angry birds start wars game is also available for you as this is one of the most popular and impressive games of its kind. As we know star wars is the world famous movie from the 19's and now it is most important that you have to make something better for your entertainment.


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Ah hah!
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Ah hah!
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Dakotah's boyfriend.
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1000 reblogs = $10
10000 reblogs = $100 .. and so on
Okay, we know, we know, it's shameless self promotion. We will be using the increased traffic from our website to fund this donation. We will be sending Red Cross the check for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami.
UPDATE: We forgot to add what we'd do if someone were to "like" the post. We will combine the reblogs and likes we got from our last post along with the reblogs and likes we get from this post.
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We will be donating 1 cent per every reblog, 1 cent for every like and 5 cents per every new follower we get. We'll be sending the check to American Red Cross.
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Everyone, reblog and like this please!
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The Beib's dances as he dies.
So I stand before You God
I lift my voice because you set me free
So I shout out your name from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am yours
Leading worship at a Presbyterian church is kind of draining sometimes. The Presbyterian church is a branch of Calvinism, so their worship is fairly based around structure rather than the openness of worship to let God flow through your heart. Although, my church is a Presbyterian church it seems to be changing for the good.
My home church is labeled a Presbyterian church, but is fairly contemporary. Although contemporary worship at the church is very stagnant. This is what makes it prevalent that I am still leading Presbyterians. I had gotten to the point where it was becoming difficult for myself to focus on God and let go while leading due to the structured format which keeps the Presbytery attention. I also started to feel that the congregation was lacking the willingness to open up to God during worship and come to him as we were meant to. It started to drain me, and make me loath going to practice and church in the mornings. I felt a calling to find a new church. Lately things seem to be changing.
The last couple weeks have been encouraging for the church. The pastor whom I had previously seen as losing his touch in his messages shocked me. He started preaching a series about losing your religion, and seeking Jesus rather than the system. The worship began to become more open as well. I could personally feel myself worshiping. I see more people opening up their hearts every week, though the number is very small.
I just pray that this church will submit to the power of Jesus and what he calls us to in worship, and that it will become a place which utilizes their tools to vertically worship rather than watch a band.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23
Tumblr, we've saved lives before. We can do it again. Reblog, spread awareness, donate, sign petitions, go to the Libyan protests in the big cities - do whatever you can. We can help. We need to stand together and help these people. We can't let this continue. Every reblog can make a difference.
DO IT. dont just sit there and scroll past, reblog.
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Why does it start to snow when I am halfway to the bus stop?


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Release Date: 2012 |
This is my very first album review ever written, constructive criticism would be gladly appreciated.
Check out the recommended albums list if you're a fan of this!
This is out already?
Mhh hopefully it's a return to form because illuminator was piss weak compared to their debut.
Oh yeah, it's much better than Illuminator, I think it's honestly their best yet.
I've checked a few songs out, and it sounds quite promising so far. nice melodic feel
It's not bad, I also really liked Being As An Ocean's album, but someone already reviewed it.
amazing review, and yeah it's definetly better than "illuminator"
Thanks man, glad my first review wasn't a failure.
great review, great album
It definitely is, thank you :D
Album Rating: 4.0Oh, I like :3
Awesome first review man, this really is a return to their roots. Miles better than the last album.
Album Rating: 4.0This shit rules.
Digging: Invent, Animate - Everchanger
Thanks for the kind words guys
Album Rating: 4.0Good review man, pos.
Even though Illuminator was a turd of an album, these guys are horribly underrated, literally never even heard anyone else even mention them.
Digging: Crooks - Nevermore
Album Rating: 4.5Oh my this is good, great vox
Digging: Let It Happen - Cause Effect
Album Rating: 3.5This album is surprisingly awesome. I always figured this would be another run-of-the-mill metalcore release, but it stands out from the bunch.
Album Rating: 4.0Gewd album. I am excite for new stuff
Album Rating: 4.0
They released 2 songs for the new album, the other one is called Outdated. It won't post for some reason ha
Just saw these guys tonight. They were great.
Digging: Emarosa - Versus
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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Family-friendly homes that combine functionality and energy efficiency with inviting architectural design and gracious interior appointments.. Located in the heart of Woodland, these charming designs and spacious homesites offer the best of country living, just a short drive from Sacramento and Davis.
Driving directions:
From I-5: Take the CR-E8/Road 102 exit, EXIT 536, Head West on Gibson Road, Turn Left at Matmor Road, Turn Right at Sports Park Drive, Turn Right at Reno Street, Turn Right at Cox Drive.
|School Level
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|Plainfield Elementary
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text:
Books Read in 2011
1. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
2. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
3. The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist by Michael Chabon
4. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
5. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
6. Zombicorns by John Green
7. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
8. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
9. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
10. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
11. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
12. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
13. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
14. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
15. Lyra's Oxford by Phillip Pullman
16. The Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer
17. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green~
18. Looking for Alaska by John Green~
19. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman~
20. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
21. The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown
22. The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ by Phillip Pullman
23. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel
24. Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing
25. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
26. Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire
27. Spring Awakening by Frank Wedenkind
28. Blankets by Craig Thompson
29. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
30. Equus by Peter Shaffer
31. Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon~
32. The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman~
33. Blackbird by David Harrower
34. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
35. Roosters by Milcha Sanchez-Scott
36. My Girlfriend's a Geek vol. 1 by Pentabu
37. My Girlfrend's a Geek vol. 2 by Pentabu
38. Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, Lauren Myracle
39. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
40. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon~
41. Paradise Hotel by Georges Feydeau
42. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney~
43. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine~
44. The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine~
45. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield~
46. The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco
47. August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
48. Loose Knit by Theresa Rebeck
49. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
50. Matched by Allie Condie
51. Divergent by Veronica Roth
52. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
53. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
54. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
55. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
56. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green~
57. Habibi by Craig Thompson
58. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
59. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
60. The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan
61. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
~ means re-read


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Results tagged ' Mesa Solar Sox '
Arizona Fall League recap: 10/15/13
Mesa is still unbeaten, after taking down Scottsdale 7-4 Tuesday. Albert Almora continued his successful fall season, while Jorge Soler and Armando Rivero got into the action as well. Here are some highlights from yesterday's game.
Albert Almora, CF – After a few days of rest, Almora led off for the Solar Sox. The 2012 first-round pick drew a walk to start the bottom of the third and scored two batters later on a C.J. Cron (Angels) homer. The team batted around in the third. With men on second and third and two outs, Almora hit a ground-rule double to left-center field, scoring David Freitas (Athletics) and Dixon Machado (Tigers). Then in the bottom of the fifth with nobody on base, he recorded another double to right to finish the game 2-for-4 with a walk.
Armando Rivero, RHP – Rivero entered the game in the eighth inning and gave up a bloop double and a single to the first two batters he faced. Jarrett Parker (Giants) followed with a sacrifice fly. That was all the damage Scottsdale could do, however. RIvero's final line read: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER.
Jorge Soler, DH – Soler singled in the bottom of the fourth and finished the day 1-for-5.
Mesa heads out to Peoria Wednesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:35 CST. Tommy Collier (Tigers) will take the mound for the Solar Sox while right-hander Matt Heidenreich (Astros) goes for the Javelinas. Kris Bryant will be batting fourth and playing third, and Wes Darvill will bat ninth and play second base for Mesa.
Arizona Fall League Recap: 10/8/13
Top prospect Kris Bryant got off to a fast start in the AFL. (Photo by Stephen Green)
The Mesa Solar Sox—a team comprised of prospects from the Cubs, Angles, A's, Nationals and Tigers—opened up the Arizona Fall League season with an 11-inning, 8-8 tie Tuesday afternoon against Glendale. Trailing 7-3 in the top of the eighth inning, the Solar Sox rallied for five runs, behind RBI doubles from Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler. The Desert Dogs would get a run back in the bottom of the ninth to force extras. Here's what the Cubs prospects did yesterday afternoon:
- 3B Kris Bryant went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. With Angels prospects C.J. Cron on second and Taylor Lindsey on first with nobody out in the second inning, Bryant ripped a single up the middle, scoring Cron. Bryant drove in Cron again with an eighth-inning double, cutting the deficit to three.
- RF Jorge Soler finished 1-for-6 with an RBI. The Solar Sox regained the lead in the eighth thanks to a Soler double to left field that scored Oakland catcher David Freitas from second.
- RHP Matt Loosen entered the game in the third and went two innings, surrendering two unearned runs, striking out one and walking one. He was credited with a blown save.
- RHP Lendy Castillo surrendered three unearned runs in the sixth inning, striking out one.
- RHP Armando Rivero pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out the side, including the game's top prospect, Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. Rivero was credited for a hold.
The Sox will host Glendale this afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 CST. Cubs prospect Albert Almora will lead off and play center field, Soler will DH and bat fourth, and Bryant will play third base and bat fifth.
Cubs announce Arizona Fall League players
Kris Bryant, the Cubs top pick in the 2013 draft, will take part in the Arizona Fall League. (Photo by Stephen Green)
Though the minor league season coincides with the MLB schedule, it's an after-season minor league showcase that generally gets scouting departments and prospect followers especially excited.
Since 1992, the Arizona Fall League has taken top prospects from each organization and pitted them against one another in a one-month season. Generally, the seven prospects selected from each team have just finished Triple-A or Double-A and are widely thought of as knocking on the major league door.
This season, the Cubs' prospects will be representing the Mesa Solar Sox, along with prospects from the Angels, Athletics, Nationals and Tigers. While each of those teams have their own respective stars, many of the most exciting names on the Solar Sox roster are members of the Cubs organization. Five of the Cubs' top six prospects (according to MLB.com) are headed to Mesa, and four of those rank in the top 40 in all of baseball.
Below is a breakdown of the eight prospects (Albert Almora will serve as a member of the taxi squad, playing solely on Wednesdays and Saturdays), as well as how they've fared in 2013.
Albert Almora, OF – The 2012 first-round pick has been solid when healthy for Class-A Kane County this year, accumulating a .329/.376/.466 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 249 at-bats. The Cubs' No. 2 prospect (No. 23 in MLB) will only play occasionally, as he's dealing with groin issues.
Javier Baez, SS – The 2013 season has been a breakout one for the already highly regarded Baez. The Cubs' top prospect (No. 9 in MLB) has successfully made the jump from High-A to Double-A, totaling 35 homers, 33 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 105 driven in between the two levels.
Dallas Beeler, RHP – Beeler got off to a fast start for Double-A Tennessee, going 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA by mid-May. But a tendon tear in his middle finger landed the 6-foot-5 prospect on the DL. The AFL will give him a chance to log more innings before 2013 winds down.
Kris Bryant, 3B – The organization's No. 4 prospect (No. 37 in MLB) had a rough first week, but has impressed ever since. The No. 2 pick in this year's draft has totaled a .349/.395/.670 line with seven homers and 27 RBI in 109 at-bats while splitting time between rookie ball, Short-Season Boise and High-A Daytona.
Matt Loosen, RHP – Loosen struggled in Double-A at the outset of the season and was sent down. But a strong two-month stint in High-A, where he tossed a no-hitter, brought the 24-year-old back to the Smokies. This year, the right-hander is 7-5 with a 4.34 ERA and has struck out 8.6 batters per nine.
Armando Rivero, RHP – Rivero signed a $3.1 million bonus with the Cubs in March 2013 after coming over from Cuba. In 27.2 innings, the reliever has entered 18 games and posted a 4.23 ERA for Kane County, Daytona and Tennessee. He has also struck out 14 batters per nine innings in his first season in the U.S.
Jorge Soler, OF – Soler is another elite prospect who has dealt with a handful of injuries in 2013. Though a stress fracture in his shin shut down the No. 3 prospect in the organization (No. 27 in MLB), he finished a half season in Daytona with a .281/.343/.467 line, eight home runs and 35 RBI.
Arodys Vizcaino, RHP – Tommy John surgery in March 2012 has kept the former elite prospect from pitching since 2011 in Atlanta. Vizcaino, the centerpiece of the 2012 Paul Maholm deal, will hopefully get some work in Arizona, as many project him to be with the major league club in 2014.
Mesa's fall league ends in a loss
Though the Arizona Fall League is mostly about improving on an individual basis and competing against some of baseball's elite, young talent, it's also nice to win a few games. Unfortunately for Cubs prospects on the Mesa Solar Sox's roster, wins came few and far between during the AFL season.
Mesa dropped its season finale 8-3 to Phoenix Thursday afternoon, giving the Solar Sox a league-worst 10-20 record.
Matt Szczur went 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot, with an RBI groundout in the third inning. Logan Watkins finished 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Nick Struck pitched the fourth and fifth innings, surrendering only one hit, a solo home run, and striking out a batter.
Despite missing the last two weeks of the season, Javier Baez finished in a tie for third in home runs (4) and finished sixth in RBI (16). Szczur finished tied for fourth with nine stolen bases, just one less than base-stealing phenom Billy Hamilton (Reds). He also drew 14 walks, good for a tie for seventh in the league. And despite playing in just nine games, Watkins' on-base percentage was .375, thanks in part to his eight walks.
On the rubber, Tony Zych fared the best of any Cubs pitcher. His 3.86 ERA in 14.0 innings would have been even lower had he not surrendered two earned runs in his final outing. While he struck out only four batters during the season, he walked only two.
Kevin Rhoderick was also solid in the hitter-friendly league. He posted a 4.82 ERA in 9.1 innings and managed to strike out 14 batters—sixth on the team—despite pitching fewer innings than all but two Mesa pitchers.
How the Solar Sox fared during the Arizona Fall League:
Mesa continues skid, falls to Scottsdale
Mesa just couldn't get the bats going as the Solar Sox fell to Scottsdale 8-2 Wednesday. Scottsdale held the Sox scoreless until the ninth inning.
Trailing 8-0 in the ninth, Rubi Silva led off the inning with a single to right and advanced to third on a Jiovanni Mier (Astros) double to left. Fellow Cubs prospect Logan Watkins scored Silva on a ground out to second. Silva finished the game 1-for-3, while Watkins was 1-for-4 with a single in the seventh.
For the first time this fall, Cubs pitcher Tony Zych surrendered more than one run in an outing. The righty gave up a single to the first batter batter of the fifth inning, Slade Heathcott (Yankees), who advanced to third on a pair of pitches that got by catcher Gorman Erickson (Dodgers). Ronny Rodriguez (Indians) singled and scored Heathcott. After a David Adams (Yankees) walk and a Chris Dominguez (Giants) single, the bases were loaded. Zych got Adalberto Santos (Pirates) to ground into a double play, but a run still crossed the plate. Zych then got Ricky Oropesa (Giants) to ground out to end the inning.
Mesa's fall league season wraps up Thursday when the team faces Phoenix, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:
Mesa comes up short vs. Surprise
The Surprise bats were just too much for Mesa in a 10-8 loss Tuesday afternoon. While no Cubs pitchers threw, the Solar Sox's lineup included a trio of contributing Cubs farmhands.
In the fourth inning, Rubi Silva singled to center and scored from third three batters later on Rafael Ynoa's two-run single. Ynoa, who represents the Dodgers, advanced to third on an error. Cubs center fielder Matt Szczur drove him home on a single past the pitcher. He would score later in the inning on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Silva drove in George Springer (Astros) on an RBI single to right. The outfielder finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Szczur went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
Logan Watkins was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Mesa heads to Scottsdale Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:
Watkins can't help Mesa overcome deficit
Mesa had its four-game winning streak snapped Monday afternoon as the Solar Sox fell 8-4 to Salt River at home.
Logan Watkins reached on a walk and scored from first on a three-run double by Nick Castellanos (Tigers). Watkins was 0-for-2 on the day with three walks, boosting his on-base percentage to .444 in the six games he's played in the AFL. He did commit an error at second.
Nick Struck pitched in the top of the sixth and surrendered two runs, one earned, on a hit and a walk. He struck out one. In the bottom of the sixth, he was ejected from the game.
Tony Zych pitched the ninth, giving up a leadoff double to Anthony Rendon (Nationals). Rendon moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Carlos Sanchez (White Sox) sacrifice fly for the only run of the inning.
Mesa hosts Surprise on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:
Watkins powers Mesa to a two-win weekend
Mesa's winning ways continued into the weekend as the Solar Sox downed Salt River 7-5 on Friday and outslugged Peoria 11-8 on Saturday. In both games, Logan Watkins' bat played a pivotal role.
On Friday, Watkins doubled in the top of the second and scored a batter later on a Brian Ward (Orioles) single. He also reached base on a single in the fifth to go 2-for-5 on the day.
Rubi Silva finished 0-for-4 with a run scored.
No Cubs pitchers threw on Friday.
In Saturday's matchup, Watkins' bat really got going. He singled in the third inning and then hit his first homer of the fall on a solo shot to right field in the fifth. In the seventh, he singled again, scoring Jonathan Schoop (Orioles) from third. Three batters later, Watkins scored from third on a George Springer (Astros) single. He finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Matt Szczur also contributed in Saturday's victory, going 2-for-5 with a single, a double and a run scored.
Dae-Eun Rhee got the start and went two innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out two.
The Cubs host Salt River on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:
Zych strong as Solar Sox rally to top Phoenix
The Solar Sox let a three-run lead over Phoenix slide into a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth, but Mesa got a run back in the bottom of the frame and held on for a 4-3 victory Thursday afternoon. Outside of Tony Zych, however, it wasn't the most exciting day for Cubs farmhands.
Zych kept his solid fall going with two scoreless innings of relief. The righty surrendered just a pair of hits and walked none.
Matt Szczur went 0-for-1 with a pair of walks. Logan Watkins was 0-for-4 but reached on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate as the eventual game-winning run. Rubi Silva pinch-ran for Aaron Westlake (Tigers) but was forced out on a fielder's choice.
Cubs minor league pitcher of the year Nick Struck got roughed up in his 1 1/3 innings on the hill. He retired the side in order in the seventh but ran into trouble in the eighth. The leadoff hitter singled and the next batter drew a walk. After a flyout to right, Grant Green (Athletics) homered to center to tie the game.
Mesa heads to Salt River Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:
Szczur leads Solar Sox past Scottsdale
Thanks to the offensive exploits of Cubs prospect Matt Szczur, Mesa managed to hold off Scottsdale 4-3 Wednesday afternoon.
Szczur led off the game with a single to center. He promptly swiped second for his eighth stolen base of the season. Fellow farmhand Rubi Silva moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter, Nick Castellanos (Tigers), grounded out and scored Szczur. The outfielder's second at-bat resulted in a bases-loaded walk, which scored L.J. Hoes (Orioles). In his next at-bat, he drove a triple to center, scoring Rafael Ynoa (Dodgers) in what would prove to be the winning run. He finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Silva finished 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the second inning,
No Cubs pitcher threw for the Solar Sox Wednesday.
Mesa hosts Phoenix Thursday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.
How the Cubs have fared:


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Birthday Special: Kareena Kapoor
Kareena on life after marriage
"I don't think anything has changed. If you are in love and you are happy, then that's all that matters. I believe in the institution of marriage and it's like a tag to cement the relationship for your friends, family and public. And it is a celebration of the fact that Saif and I are in love and we want to spend our life together," said Kareena.
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Saturday, February 09, 2013
Rooftop Revolution by Danny Kennedy - Book review
Rooftop Revolution
How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy
By: Danny Kennedy
Published: September 3, 2012
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
"Right now it;s important that everyone know the truth about solar's power and how we should be making energy. Our future - our safety, our prosperity, and our environment - depends on the success of the Rooftop Revolution" writes solar power advocate, award winning innovator, and founder and president of Sungevity, Inc. Danny Kennedy in his eye opening and societal action oriented book Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy. The author describes how now is the time to move away from energy generated by fossil fuels and embrace the ever increasing importance of solar generated energy.
Danny Kennedy recognizes that the solar generated electricity is increasing at an exponential rate. At the same time, the author points out the employment in the solar industry has doubled since 2009. Danny Kennedy writes that he expects that employment growth trend to continue to soar both in the near and longer term. On the other hand,m the author provides evidence the amount of electricity produced by coal has declined to levels of the 1930s. Along with this decline in coal powered electricity has been an accompanying loss of employment within the coal power industry.
Danny Kennedy presents evidence that the information about solar energy, as shared by its opponents, is false In place of fossil fuel generated electricity, the author presents solar power as a viable and clean substitute for fossil based energy in general, and coal generated electricity in particular.
Danny Kennedy (photo left) understands the critical importance of electricity to modern society. The author also recognizes that the production and provision of electricity is very big business. As a result, Danny Kennedy offers alternative information to that provided by the entrenched interests in the fossil fuel and nuclear based energy business. The author refutes the standard arguments made against solar generated electricity by those who support coal, oil and gas, and the nuclear industries.
Along with sharing effective rebuttals to the usual sources, Danny Kennedy goes farther in demonstrating that solar energy creates more jobs, boosts the economy, and provides a clean and sustainable energy source. The author makes the compelling case for solar generated electricity in the following chapters:
* Sunny side up
* Empires of the Sun: Dirty energy's petty politics
* Role models for the rooftop revolution
* Take a walk on the sunny side
* Hot jobs
* Energized
For me, the power of the book is how Danny Kennedy provides a powerful economic, energy consumption, and environmental sustainability case for solar energy, combined with the practical steps for making the solar vision a reality. The author refers to the transformation from fossil fuel based energy to solar power a rooftop revolution. The changes created by the now ongoing transition, from the declining fossil fuel based industry to one powered by the Sun, are indeed revolutionary. That revolution is not only technological and economic, but also represents a complete sea change in thinking on the part of the population.
For entrepreneurs, the book offers some very good news. Solar power generation saves money for businesses of all sizes, but also provides opportunities for technological innovation and and new venture start ups. The author enhances his case for solar energy through careful research, the results of which are presented in the book. Danny Kennedy also shares anecdotes and case studies of successful solar energy projects and companies, and how solar has proven effective in replacing traditional energy sources in new and exciting ways.
I highly recommend the visionary and transformational book Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy by Danny Kennedy, to any entrepreneurs, homeowners, home designers, architects and engineers, electrical utilities, environmental groups, and public policy makers seeking a clear and concise guide to the importance and benefits of solar generated electricity to individuals, businesses, the economy, and the environment. This book will change the way you think and approach the whole question of solar energy and how it is already replacing fossil fuel generated electricity.
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Cliff Lee stumbled as he stepped up to his seat at the postgame podium.
"Booby trap right here," he said with a grin.
That was about his only slip-up all night.
The ace of October went through the New York Yankees like a buzzsaw again, striking out 13 and pitching the Texas Rangers to an 8-0 victory Monday for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven AL championship series.More »


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Dr. Renzo Comolli
Senior Consultant
tel: +1 212 345 6025
fax: +1 212 345 4650
tel: +39 06 488 8101
fax: +39 06 48 58 38
PhD, MPhil, and MA in economics, Yale University
MSc in economics, London School of Economics
BA in economics, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
Dr. Comolli is an economist. His expertise includes valuation, finance, securities, and product liability estimation. He has provided economic analysis for dozens of expert reports and testimonies submitted to courts and regulatory authorities in the US, the UK, and Italy. He has also been independently retained as a consulting expert.
In valuation, his experience includes:
- Valuation of companies and subsidiaries
- Valuation of contracts and contract clauses
- Estimation of damages for tortious interference with merger agreements
- Estimation of commercial damages
In finance and securities, his experience includes:
- Stock, bonds, convertible bonds, and other securities
- Option valuation, including employee stock options
- Financial contracts and credit derivatives
- Rule 10b-5 and Section 11 claims: market efficiency, materiality, loss causation and damages
- High-Frequency stock market data
In product liability, as well as related bankruptcy and insurance issues, his experience includes:
- Estimation of liability connected to medical devices and asbestos
- Insolvency and fraudulent conveyance
- Insurance coverage and British solvent schemes of arrangement
Dr. Comolli received his PhD in economics from Yale University, where his research focused on statistical methods to estimate wage differentials and employment discrimination. While at Yale, he served as Teaching Fellow for Game Theory, Microeconomics, and American Economic History. His research in decision theory has appeared in the International Review of Economics and Business. His publications have been cited as authorities in legal briefs and academic articles. He has served as peer reviewer for academic journals and the National Science Foundation.


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FPMT News Around the World
After her ordination on March 27, 2012 at Kopan Monastery, Christel Hammerby (now, Ven. Lobsang Deden) went on pilgrimage to Lawudo, the site where Lama Zopa Rinpoche's previous incarnation, Lawudo Lama Kusang Yeshe (biography available in print), meditated and attained profound realizations.
At an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), Lawudo rests in the highest area of Solu Khumbu, the northeastern region of Nepal bordering the Upper Tsang in southern Tibet. Although Lawudo is extremely isolated, active construction at the site meant Ven. Deden was never too far from either Lama Zopa Rinpoche's brother or sister – Sangay Sherpa and Ani Ngawang Samten – or the other various residents and builders.
"Every morning I had the good fortune to spend a few priceless, blessed hours in Lama Zopa's cave (a very cozy fridge!) wrapped up in several heavy blankets," Ven. Deden shares. "In the afternoons I talked a lot to Sangay about his and, of course, Lama Zopa's vision for Lawudo … The vision for the project is to create a small Padmasambhava's pure land from which concentrated positive energy can spread throughout the world. At present, the old gompa (meditation hall) is being restored and the construction of a new library and an additional gompa has begun. Thereafter, the retreat facilities will be improved and extended. A new building for resident Sangha is also in the works."
However, Ven. Deden points out that the project is not entirely "spiritual," but also contains elements of social service in order to "reinvigorate and breathe new life into the whole fragile region, now suffering severely from the consequences of decades of governmental neglect." Plans include a school for local children to receive a Buddhist education and a home for elderly people in need of care.
The high altitude and harsh environment means that construction in Lawduo is almost impossible (and relatively expensive!) as materials have to be flown in from Kathmandu to Lukla by plane or to Syangboche by helicopter and then brought up to Lawudo on the back of the legendary Sherpa porters.
"After a conversation with Tulku Tenzin Sherpa in Munich, who like Rinpoche comes from Thame in Solu Khumbu and was one of the first young monks who received an education at the [now defunct] Lawudo School and then later at Kopan, I asked him, 'Why is virtually nobody talking about Lawudo and this beneficial project?' He responded, 'You know, for Lama Zopa, promoting Lawudo would be similar to asking a favor for himself and his family – that is almost impossible – he is far too humble to do that!'"
Ven. Lobsang Deden welcomes any questions or comments about her travels to Lawudo and her work for Lawudo Retreat Centre. You can gain access to scores of photos from Lawudo by joining her on Facebook.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
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Mandala Publications
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702
Office Telephone: (503) 808-1588
Toll free [US only]: (866) 808-3302
Fax: (503) 232-0557
About Mandala Publications
Mandala Publications is the official publication of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international charitable organization founded by two Tibetan Buddhist masters, Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935-1984) and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT is a vibrant international community, with a network of 160 affiliate centers, projects and services, and members in more than 30 countries.
Mandala print magazine is published in January, April, July and October. Mandala is available via the Friends of FPMT program.


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Mattel, Inc.
Dolls And Stuffed Toys CA, United States
| Nasdaq: MAT
Mattel, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets a broad variety of toy products. The company's portfolio of brands and products includes Mattel Girls & Boys Brands, including Barbie fashion dolls & accessories, Polly Pocket, Little Mommy, Disney Classics, and Monster High, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and Tyco R/C vehicles and play sets, and CARS, Radica, Toy Story, Max Steel, WWE Wrestling, and Batman, and games & puzzles; Fisher-Price Brands, including Fisher-Price, Little People, BabyGear, and Imaginext, Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, Thomas & Friends, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney's Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and See N Say, and Power Wheels; American Girl Brands, including My American Girl, the historical collection, and Bitty Baby. It operates through three segments: North America, International and American Girl. The North America segment markets and sells toys in the U.S. and Canada through the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands and Fisher-Price Brands categories. The International segment includes the products marketed by the North America segment, although some are developed or adapted for particular international markets. The American Girl segment is a direct marketer, children's publisher, and retailer best known for its flagship line of historical dolls, books, and accessories, as well as the My American Girl and Bitty Baby brands. The company was founded by Elliot Handler, Ruth Handler and Harold Matson in 1945 and is headquartered in El Segundo, CA.