text:
Our Covenant God
An Exposition of the Doctrine
Of The Covenant From Scripture
By Rev. Herman Veldman
with an appendix:
The Expression "Sanctified in Christ"
In Our Baptism Form
The Appendix
The Expression "Sanctifed In Christ"
In Our Baptism Form
The Expression "Sanctified In Christ" In Our Baptism Form *
By Rev. Herman Veldman
A Paper delivered at the Ministers' Conference
held April 9, 1948 at the First Church.
The Liturgy of our Reformed churches, to which also our Baptism Form belongs, is historically not as rich as our highly treasured Confessions. With respect to our Confessions, our Belgic Confession, also called The Thirty Seven Articles and our Confession of Faith, reminds us of Guido de Bres and of the fact that he preferred martyrdom to a renouncing of his faith and principles. These articles, originally composed by, the above named French Reformer, were born of the blood and suffering of the saints of God for the cause of Christ, and we treasure them, also for this reason, even before we have begun to read them. Our Heidelberg Catechism, drawn up by Ursinus and Olevianus upon the request of Elector Frederick III, also called "The Pious," can also trace its origin to the fact that Germany, then composed of hundreds of greater or lesser states, had become a battleground of the various conflicting views, such as Catholicism, Lutheranism, Calvinism, etc. And our Canons of Dordrecht, too, are the fruit of an uncompromising opposition to Arminianism and all which: that ungodly theory implies.
It is somewhat different with our Liturgy, although it, too, was composed in trying times of hardship and peril, as in the days of bloody Mary, Queen of England, wife of Philip II of Spain, who ruled England in the years 1553-1558, during whose reign many Protestant leaders were compelled to suffer martyrdom, among whom we may name Cramer, Latimer, and Ridley. This persecution, we understand, was not merely confined to the English isles.
Our Liturgy and our maintaining of it are significant. They, too, serve as a bond to preserve the unity of the church of God in the midst of the world. It is not difficult to foresee what the result would be, if these ecclesiastical bands were relinquished, abandoned, if each minister were left to himself to determine the policy and course of action which he would choose to adopt.
This is applicable particularly to our Baptism Form. In the history of the church of God in the Netherlands, following upon the year, 1834, a person's ecclesiastical identity was determined by his conception of Infant Baptism, To maintain "presumptive regeneration" as the ground of infant baptism stigmatized one as a follower of Kuyper; to oppose this conception placed one in the camp of the "A" group. To emphasize the first view exposed a person to the charge of Catholicism; to champion the "A" conception exposed him to the accusation of despising the sacrament and of Methodism.
The minister who spoke a few edifying words at the administration of Baptism was regarded as a pure "A" man; whoever omitted such words was truly "B." And, indeed, no other question reveals our truly and distinctively Reformed identity more clearly than the question which pertains to the ground of and reason for the baptism of all our children. And of all the difficult questions connected with our Baptism Form, so it is claimed, none is acknowledged to be more difficult than that which concerns the expression, "Sanctified in Christ."
A Historical Review of Our Baptism Form.
Our Form of Baptism we owe largely, together with our other Forms of worship and our psalms, to one man, Petrus Dathenus, or Datheen as he is also called, had fled from the Netherlands to a small village in Germany, Frankenthal. There a place of refuge had been, accorded him by the great Elector, Frederick III. Because many of Reformed persuasion had fled with him to Frankenthal, gradually a strong city developed there and with that growth a powerful and active congregation sprang into being. In the midst of this congregation a liturgical book was composed and used, which served, almost without change, until 1737; this book, at least for the greatest part of it, still remains our heritage. Peter Dathenus although performing the lion share, did not work alone. Others helped him and he drew from various sources, as for example, A Lasco, the great London Reformer. Another source which aided Dathenus was a liturgy drawn up by Olevianus, who corresponded with Calvin and was greatly influenced by that great French Reformer. Calvin, therefore, be it indirectly, has set the stamp of his spirit upon our Baptism Form.
As far as the subsequent history of our Baptism Form is concerned, in 1574 the provincial Synod of Dordt shortened it considerably. However, because the national Synod of Dordt neglected to bestow upon the churches a carefully prepared and established version, the Baptism Form was corrupted in various ways and arbitrarily explained. In 1897 Professor Rutgers presented a new edition of the Baptism Form, and this product of Prof. Rutgers was adopted, preliminarily, by the Synod 'of Arnhem in 1902.
A Highly Significant Question
The phrase, "Sanctified in Christ" occurs, in our Baptism Form, in the first question which is asked of the parents. This question reads: "Whether you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet that they are sanctified in Christ, and therefore, as members of His Church ought to be baptized?" The true interpretation of the phrase, "Sanctified in Christ" is a highly significant question, because it is obviously the heart and core of our entire Baptism Form. We have here the all-important question directed to the parents whether they acknowledge that their children ought to be baptized. It is true that the parents are asked whether they confess the truth as contained in the Old and New Testaments and as taught in their Christian Church to be the truth and also whether they will instruct or help instruct their child or children in that Christian doctrine. But in this first question the fathers touch upon the very ground and basis of infant baptism. This is a self-evident fact.
And, it is also self-evident that this first question, as far as its essential significance is concerned, can be summarized as follows: "Whether you. acknowledge that our children, because they are sanctified in Christ and therefore are members of His Church, ought to be baptized?! We may safely conclude, therefore, that the phrase, "sanctified in Christ," is the very heart, the nerve-center, of our Baptism Form.
Besides, in our appraisal of this expression, we must be strictly honest. The important question is not, "How can we explain it?" Because of the failure of the National Synod of Dordt to produce a carefully prepared and established version of our Baptism Form, it was often arbitrarily explained and interpreted. Recognizing the dilemma which confronted them in this first question directed to the parents, several preachers very arbitrarily asked this question of the parents in the form of their own choosing. According to the book, "Ons Doopsformulier" by Ds. B. Wielenga, page 275, the following change would be made in this first question of our Baptism Form: Do you acknowledge that some children are sanctified in Christ?; or: Do you acknowledge that they can be sanctified in Christ?; or: Do you acknowledge that they are probably sanctified in Christ?; or: Do you acknowledge that they ought to be sanctified in Christ?; or: Do you acknowledge that they, sanctified in Christ, that is, when they are sanctified in Christ? However, it is not the important question whether we can interpret or how we can interpret our Baptism Form and particularly this first question directed to the parents.
We must ask ourselves this question: How must this phrase be explained? How did our fathers interpret the expression? What does it mean as it constitutes a part of our officially adopted confession? In regard to this point the undersigned is convinced that no doubt need exists in our minds relative the interpretation by our fathers of the much disputed phrase, "sanctified in Christ."
Finally, we will attempt in this paper to limit ourselves to these words, and refer to the rest of our Baptism Form only insofar as it throws light upon this expression. We need not, therefore, enter upon a detailed discussion of our Baptism Form in general. Neither will it be necessary to discuss the sacramental operation in the sacrament of Infant Baptism, whether we must conceive of such an operation of the Spirit upon the elect recipient of the sacrament. The question which confronts us in this paper is: What is the interpretation of the phrase, "sanctified in Christ,"?
Various Interpretations of the Expression.
Some would interpret this phrase in a subjective-spiritual sense. The expression, then, refers to spiritual, actual, subjective holiness. To be "sanctified in Christ" would signify that we are spiritually in Christ and consequently partakers of His holiness in that spiritual, subjective sense of the word.
Others regard this sanctification or holiness in the objective sense. Such, e.g., was the presentation of the late Prof. W. Heyns. Baptism, as such, is an objective sign of' God's covenant, of our entrance into God's fellowship through the blood of Christ and the grace of the Holy Spirit; that is, the sacrament itself is an earthly picture and therefore a sign of this fact as such. This sacrament, however, is also an objective seal, whereby the Lord declares, in this sacrament of baptism, that the child has the right to all the covenant blessings of God in Christ Jesus our receiving of these blessings, we understand, is contingent upon our acceptance of the proffered salvation. Hence, all our children are "sanctified in Christ," set apart in that objective sense of the word.
A third presentation of this phrase is called a sort of covenant holiness. This conception was entertained exclusively by the "A" brethren during the famous controversy in the Netherlands prior to and including the Synod of Utrecht, 1905. The undersigned candidly admits that it is difficult for him to distinguish sharply between this view and that of the late Prof. W. Heyns. The following explanation of the phrase, "sanctified in Christ," by J. Van Andel, which appeared, in his 'Pastoral Epistles' in the year 1907, was quoted in the pamphlet "Rondom 1905" page 115, and we translate:
"Exactly because they are so seldom, the apostolic references concerning our children are of such great value. We know the much-discussed passage: 'your children are holy', I Cor. 7:14. Would. Paul here define the children of believers as regenerated? Not at all; this idea lies completely beyond his vision. But wherein does the holiness of the child consist? We must seek the answer in the Old Covenant. While God gave the peoples of the world over unto sin, in the same measure that they held under the light of His general Revelation, His dealings with Abraham's seed were exactly the opposite. He separated it from the peoples of this world, covered its impurity with the blood of sin-offerings, placed upon it the imprint of His peculiar possessions, and redelivered (hergaf) it unto men's original destiny, by calling it unto His service. Israel became thereby an holy, priestly people. Now, our children occupy the same position. This holiness can undoubtedly be lost. This does not take away the fact, however, that it is of great value. The sanctified child partakes of privileges which have been denied entire peoples. It is not estranged from the blood of Christ, Heb. 10:29; fact is, none is sanctified except by blood. Christ bought with His own also their seed, and merited for them the right to serve God instead of being given over unto sin and being subject to its condemnation. If this were not true, God could exercise no fellowship with the seed of His own whatsoever, yea, He would not will to have fellowship with them. Neither does the sanctified child stand outside of all communion with the Spirit of God Who lives in the church. He resides underneath His holy influence (heiligen adem), is led by Him unto the knowledge of salvation, and also considered worthy to taste the good work of God, Heb. 6:5. . . . But the most important gift to them remains, that they have been laid, at the open gate of heaven, and may request, in all confidence, all grace of the Lord which they need to enter."
And on page 37 of the same booklet we quote the following as an expression of the beliefs of Ds. T. Bos, a prominent "A," man:
"Because of the words 'in Christ" the word "sanctified" (in this phrase of our Baptism Form-H.V.) means more than a separation to reside underneath the means of grace; it is a privilege which the children have in common with the believers, and which distinguishes them from unbaptized, who reside underneath the Gospel. On the other hand, it is less than being regenerated. To him 'sanctified in Christ' is the same as being member of the church, as we know her; to express it with his own distinction: sanctified refers to membership of the church, 'not according to the line of election, but according to that of the covenant.' We do not err, therefore, when we conceive of Bos as understanding covenant-holiness as being partaker of the promise. The possession of the promise is, on the one hand, more than a residing underneath the gospel, and, on the other hand, less than a being regenerated" thus far this quotation concerning the beliefs of Ds. T. Bos.
In this same vein, spake all the "A," men of that day who so furiously opposed the conception of the late Dr. A. Kuyper. It is clear that they did not interpret "sanctified in Christ" in a subjective, real, spiritual sense, but objectively, as a sort of covenant holiness. All the children of believers were regarded as in the covenant, as possessing a special privilege, as receiving a certain right to the service and blessings of God. That also Prof. Berkhof, in his Systematic Theology, conceives also of the unregenerate as being in the covenant in the sense that they have special privileges, such as the right to lay claim to the promises of God and as sharing the so-called common covenant blessings, appears from his writings on page 289, and we quote:
"They are in the covenant in the sense that they may lay claim to the promises which God gave when He established His covenant with believers and their seed. Paul even says of his wicked kinsmen, whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises,Rom. 9:4. . . . They are in the covenant also as far as the covenant blessings are concerned. Though they do not experience the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, yet they are subject to certain special operations and influences of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit strives with them in a special manner, convicts them of sin, enlightens them in a measure, and enriches them with the blessings of common grace, Gen. 6:3; Matt. 13:18-22; Heb. 6:4-6."
The Spiritual-Subjective Interpretation
the Only Possible Interpretation of the
Expression, "Sanctified in Christ."
First, the expression, "sanctified in Christ," appears throughout the New Testament in this ethical, spiritual sense. On the one hand, this phrase as it appears in our Baptism Form is surely not a quotation of I Cor. 7:14. There we read: "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." The meaning of this passage is surely not that the believing wife renders the unbelieving husband spiritually, ethically holy, or that the believing husband renders the unbelieving wife holy in that sense of the word. This, we know, is impossible. But the apostle would teach us that the marriage relationship between such parents is sanctified by God to the extent that He will establish His covenant with their seed. There is, however, and this is self-evident, a striking, difference between I Cor. 7:14 and the expression as it appears in our Baptism Form: the words, "in Christ," which do appear in the first question directed to the parents do not appear in the text in I Corinthians. Also the late Prof. Bavinck declared that it cannot be established that the expression in the first question directed to the parents is a quotation of or an appeal to I Cor: 7:14; yea, he adds that if the author of our Baptism Form inserted the phrase, "sanctified in Christ," because of I Cor. 7:14, he would have misinterpreted the text. On the other hand, the phrase is a quotation of several other passages in the Word of God. Permit us to quote the following:
- "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours"
- Cor. 1:2; "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."
- Phil 1:l; "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."
- John 17:17; "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God,"
- I Cor. 6:11; "That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Ephesians 5:26.
In all these texts the expression must be understood spiritually-subjectively. In fact, no text can be quoted from the Scriptures in which this expression ever has another connotation.
Secondly, the context of this phrase, "sanctified in Christ," demands that it be spiritually-subjectively interpreted. Notice with me, first of all, the immediate context. To the parents the following question is directed:
"Whether you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet that they are sanctified in Christ, and therefore, as members of His Church ought to be baptized?"
The words; "conceived and born in sin," speak for themselves. They can be understood only in a spiritual-subjective sense of the word. Hence, if then the phrase, "sanctified in Christ" merely refers to covenant holiness and does not necessarily imply ethical holiness, we would be able to ascribe this quaint interpretation to this first question: "Whether you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet, that they are sanctified in Christ, and therefore still in their sin, as members of His Church ought to be baptized?" To explain the phrase objectively surely leaves room for the possibility that they are yet in their sin.
Notice with me in the second place, however, the general tenor of the Baptism Form. In the didactic part of the Form (the first part) we are told, firstly, what the Father has done. We are told that "God the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto us, that He doth make an eternal covenant of grace with us, and adopts us for His children and heirs, and therefore will provide us with every good thing, and avert all evil or turn it to our profit." Thereupon we are told what the Son has done. We read that "the Son sealeth unto us, that He doth wash us in His blood from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of His death and resurrection, so that we are freed from all our sins, and accounted righteous before God." Finally, in this first part of the Form, we are told, not what the Spirit has done but what he will do not because this work of the Spirit is dependent upon us, but because this work applies to our entire future. And we are told that "the Holy 'Ghost assures us, by this holy sacrament, that He will dwell in us, and sanctify us to be members of Christ, applying unto us, that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing. away of our sins, and the daily renewing of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without spot or wrinkle among the assembly of the elect in life eternal."
And that this truth as expressed in this didactic part of our Baptism Form also applies to the children is evident from the Thanksgiving Prayer. We read: "Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by Holy Baptism. . ." Notice, please, that we read here: And received us (also our children therefore) through Thy Holy Spirit as members of Thine only begotten Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by Holy Baptism." All that we read, therefore, in the didactic part of our Form is applied to our children. And all this is further emphasized by the words which appear shortly before the prayer: "Since then baptism is come in the place of circumcision, therefore infants are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God, and of His covenant."
Thirdly, another reason why the phrase, "sanctified in Christ," must be interpreted in a spiritual-subjective sense of the word will become apparent when we refer to related baptism forms of the days of the Reformation. Remember, our own Baptism Form was composed by Petrus Dathenus during the days of the Reformation. In the Baptism Form of A Lasco (1499-1560-born in Poland a prominent reformer who came to England in 1550 where he labored for the cause of Protestantism), in the second question the confession is required of the parents that these children must be baptized upon the command of Christ with the seal of the adoption of His righteousness. Of 'greater significance' is what Micron declares in his Catechism which appeared in London in the year, 1561, with a preface by A Lasco, Micron or Micronius was a Dutch Protestant who was born in the year, 1522(3) and died in the year, 1559. His ninetieth question reads:
Why are not faith and confession by the mouth not demanded in the same manner of the children of the Congregation before they are baptized? And the answer reads: "Because the Congregation has a much surer testimony of their salvation out of the Word of God; than one could have from the confession of adults, and their innate sickness (because of which they can neither believe nor Confess) is not imputed unto them for Christ's sake, in Whom they are considered blessed, that is, holy, justified, pure, and believing, not less than the adult believers."
Fourthly, in support of the assertion that the phrase, "sanctified in Christ," must be spiritually-subjectively understood, I would offer you several quotations from the fathers of the time of the composition of our Baptism Form. Bullinger, a contemporary and friend of Calvin, writes in his "Huisboek," 5th decade, eighth sermon or lecture: "I pray you, why do we baptize our minor children? Because they confess with the mouth? I think not. Do we not baptize them because God has commanded to bring them unto Him? And because we believe, that God out of pure grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed them, has adopted and made them heirs of His eternal kingdom? Whereas we baptize the children for this reason, we thereby sufficiently declare that grace is not bestowed upon them through baptism, but that that is sealed unto them which they already possess." In his "small Catechism" Ursinus declares: "The first reason why the children must be baptized, is that the Holy Spirit operates also in them, and inclines them to believe and obey God, although they can believe as the adult believers can." Caspar van der Heyden writes in his "Short and clear proof of the Holy Baptism,": "Even as in Adam our children are not merely reckoned as dead, but really are dead, so also in Christ they are not only reckoned to be alive, but they are ingrafted into Christ, even as they can be partakers of His life." And to the Baptists he directs the question: "If now the children are pure and holy . . . . and such does not occur through the Holy Spirit of regeneration, the ingrafting of Christ, will you tell us whereby it does occur.?" Batingius writes in his "Explanation of the Catechism of the Christian Religion": "The second proof for infant baptism is founded upon this, that the children, as well as the adults, are promised the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. From this we conclude thus. Whereas it is revealed, that the sign and the outward ceremony cannot in any way be denied them to whom the things signified, as the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, are promised and given. And whereas it appears that the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit are promised and given the small, minor children, how then could the element of water be justly deprived the young children?" Having said this he proves this statement with Matt. 19:14, in connection with John 3:5, and then concludes: "So there can be no doubt of their (i.e.,the children) regeneration, which is further strengthened by the fact, that regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit." Festus Hommius, clerk of the Synod of Dordt, declares in his: "Disputationes Theologicas adversus Pontificios: "Although the children lack the aptness or adaptation (hebbelijkheid) of operating faith and do not possess active faith, nevertheless they may not therefore be reckoned among the positive unbelievers; not because they receive active faith in baptism, or that of them it can be said that they believe through the faith of another, namely, of the church or those who present them for baptism; but because they have faith in the first activity, in the root and in the seed and that through the inner operation of the Holy Spirit." In his Loci Communes Antonius Walasus appeals to Calvin in his opposition to Beza and expresses himself thus: We say that the children (ye take them indeterminately, leaving unto God His judgment) must be reckoned among the believers, because the seed of the Spirit of faith is in them, which some call the aptness and others the inclination of faith; out of which subsequently, through the hearing of the Word active faith is gradually formed, sometimes earlier, sometimes later." Jacobus Trigland, one of the most vehement opponents of the, Arminians, directs in one of his writings the following question at the Arminians: "Whether the young child of believers are truly regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit? If not, how then can they be saved. . . . and upon what ground are they then baptized, inasmuch as baptism is the washing (bad) of regeneration?" Voetius declares: "In no other way is baptism administered to children and the word of the promise applied to them, than the Supper of the Lord or baptism is applied to adults. For inner faith and inner conversion is supposed out of the outward confession. If these be present then they are sealed by baptism, which is actually and formally the seal; if not, then baptism seals nothing." And of the same writer we would also quote the following: "It is the consensus of opinion of Reformed theologians, that the power of baptism does not consist in the producing of regeneration, but in the confirmation of regeneration, which is already present."
From these quotations we may draw some definite conclusions. On the one hand we may say that the fathers here are surely speaking of the children of believers according to election. At first glance we might say that they do not distinguish here. They do not mention election or reprobation in these quotations. At first glance, therefore, we might draw the conclusion that the fathers here are speaking of all the children of the believers without discrimination. Against this view, however, we may object that the language of the fathers in these statements is altogether too positive. We read, for example, "that God out of pure grace and mercy, through the blood of Jesus Christ, has cleansed them, has adopted and made them heirs of His eternal kingdom." Ursinus declares that "the Holy Spirit operates also in the children and inclines them to believe and obey God, although they cannot believe as the adult believers can..." And thus we could continue. The language of the fathers in these quotations is positive. They do not presuppose or assume something to be true. What they say concerning the children they declare to be facts. They are speaking of the children according to election. And on the other hand, it is apparent that many of the fathers understood regeneration to precede baptism.
To quote Voetius again: "It is the consensus of opinion of Reformed theologians that the power of baptism does not consist in the producing of regeneration (Roman Catholicism H.V.), but in the confirmation of regeneration, which is already present." And although Calvin also has been quoted in support of the contention that regeneration precedes baptism, yet the great Reformer remarks in his Institutes that the Baptists are guilty of the error that the thing signified always must precede the sign. He writes in his Institutes, IV, chapter 16, page 152 (Calvin is opposing the Anabaptists who, in their denial of infant baptism, contend that, inasmuch as baptism is a sign of regeneration and we know not of the infants that they are regenerated, baptism should therefore not be administered to them): "And though in adults a knowledge of the mystery ought to precede the reception of the sign, yet a different rule is to be applied to infants, as we shall presently show. . . . They contend that this passage (1 Peter 3:21, H.V.) leaves not the least room for the baptism of infants, who are not capable of that in which the truth of baptism is here stated to consist. But they frequently fall into this error, maintaining that the thing signified should always precede the sign." Calvin; therefore, in this statement evidently rejects the idea that regeneration always precedes baptism which is the washing of regeneration. A third conclusion which we may draw from the quotations of the fathers is that they all agree that the work of God's grace usually occurs in the hearts of His people during their infancy. Nothing more need be said on this point. The quotations speak for themselves.
Its Proper Significance in our Baptism Form
Let us understand the question clearly. That the phrase, "sanctified in Christ" has a subjective, spiritual connotation is plain. The question, however, is: "Understood in that spiritual, subjective sense of the word, what is its significance in our Baptism Form?" Does the expression refer to all the children of believers? Must we then adopt Dr. Kuyper's view of presumptive or presupposed regeneration? Must we assume that all our children are actually sanctified in Christ, a view which Kuyper advocated because of his unique conception of the sacrament? Dr. Kuyper distinguished between form and essence. The administration of baptism to a certain child was only then a sacrament if it be accompanied by the operation of the Holy Spirit. If this operation of the Holy Spirit were lacking, then that which was administered was not really a sacrament but merely a form. Hence, the sacrament of baptism could only be administered and was only administered to regenerated people or children of God. But, inasmuch as not all the children of believers are elect children, how can the church administer the sacrament of baptism? How can we administer a sacrament instead of a mere form? And Kuyper's answer to this question was that the church must presuppose regeneration whenever the sacrament of baptism is administered.
But, please observe with me the following. In the first place, nowhere in, our Baptism Form do the fathers presuppose anything. Kuyper's "presupposed regeneration" and the various quotations of the fathers which we quoted are surely not identical. Kuyper presupposes things; the fathers speak facts. Also, Kuyper presupposes regeneration of all the infants of believers; the fathers express, themselves thus only with respect to the elect children. Nevertheless, although Dr. Kuyper expressed himself in favour of the of doctrine of "presupposed regeneration" and the fathers regarded the sacrament of baptism as a seal of the regeneration already present in the child, nowhere in the Baptism Form or in our Confessions do these ideas occur. Nowhere is the idea of a presupposed regeneration expressed. And in the Utrecht Conclusions we read, and I quote: "Meanwhile Synod is of the opinion, that the proposition, that each elect child is therefore regenerated already before baptism, cannot be proven either upon the basis of Scripture or the Confession, inasmuch as God, fulfills His promises according to His sovereignty, in His time, whether it be before or during or after baptism, so that one is required to express himself in this matter very carefully and not be wise above that which God has revealed unto us." thus far the quotation from the Utrechtsehe Conclusions. And this certainly applies to our Baptism Form. Where do we read of a presupposition in this first part:
"Holy baptism witnesseth and. sealeth unto us the washing away of our sins through Jesus Christ. Therefore we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. For when we are baptized in the name of the Father, God the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto us that. He doth make an eternal covenant of grace with us, and adopts us for His children and heirs, and therefore will provide us with every good thing, and avert all evil or turn it to our profit. And when we are baptized in the name of the Son, the Son sealeth unto us, that He doth wash us in His blood from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of His death and resurrection, so that we are freed from all our sins, and accounted righteous before God. In like manned, when we are baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost assures us, by this holy sacrament, that He will dwell in us and sanctify us to be members of Christ, applying unto us, that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing away of our sins, and the daily renewing of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without spot or wrinkle among the assembly of the elect in life eternal."
Neither is the idea of a presupposition present in the words: "Since then baptism is come in the place of circumcision, therefore infants are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God, and of His covenant" The first question addressed to the parents is also devoid of all presupposition: "Whether you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject ito all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet that they are, sanctified in Christ, and therefore, as members of His Church ought to be baptized?" And, finally, the language of the Thanksgiving Prayer is equally positive:
"Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through Thy Holy Spirit as members of Thine only begotten Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy baptism."
Secondly, in connection with the language of our Baptism Form, please note with me the language of the first question. That first question does not read, "Whether you acknowledge, that although this child or these children is or are conceived and born in sin. . . . ?" But we read here of "our children." This is significant. In the light of the first prayer, it is evidence that the fathers purposely spoke of "our children" in this first question instead of "this child" or "these children." In that prayer the fathers do speak of these children." Is it not therefore significant that, in this first question, when the fathers speak of a fact, they do not speak of "these children" but of "'our children"?
We conclude, therefore, that the fathers speak here, in this first question as well as throughout the Baptism Form; of the church organically and her seed. And they speak of the church according to election. This does not necessarily mean, therefore, that these children are "sanctified in Christ" before the administration of the sacrament of baptism, and that, in this Baptism Form they either presuppose regeneration in our children or believe it to be a fact. But it does mean that, as a rule, our elect children are regenerated during infancy, and of this fact also the administration of baptism is then a sign and seal. And to this fact the parents testify, when they answer the first question propounded unto them.
The Thanksgiving Prayer.
Permit us, in conclusion, to say a few words about the Thanksgiving prayer. We quote it in full:
"Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through Thy Holy Spirit as members of Thine only begotten Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy baptism: we beseech Thee, through the same Son of thy love, that Thou wilt be pleased always to govern these baptized children by Thy Holy Spirit, that they may be piously and religiously educated, increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they then may acknowledge Thy Fatherly goodness and mercy, which,Thou hast shown to them and us, and live in all righteousness, under our only Teacher, King, and High Priest, Jesus Christ; and manfully fight, against, and overcome sin, the devil and his whole dominion, to the end that they may eternally praise and magnify Thee, and Thy Son Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, the only true God. Amen."
The explanation of this prayer which satisfies me completely is that which was given by the Rev. Hoeksema in Volume IX of our Standard Bearer [1]. First, we would remark that the first part of this prayer cannot be applied to all the children. The fathers surely knew that Christ did not die for all men. All their writings, and our Confessions emphasize this truth. They could not believe that all the children had been received by the Holy Spirit as members of God's only-begotten Son and adopted to be His children. This appears from the language of the entire Baptism Form whose language is positive throughout.
Secondly, in the second part of this prayer, when the church prays that "Thou wilt be pleased always to govern these baptized children by Thy Holy Spirit, that they may be piously and religiously educated, increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ: . . . the fathers place these children, in their address and prayer to God, among the elect seed. This not only explains why they pray that it may please the Lord always to govern them by the Holy Spirit, etc., but also why they are able to say that God has shown His Fatherly goodness and mercy, not only to us, but also to them. And consequently, this prayer must be prayed and only then can be understood if we insert the thought of Scripture: According to Thy will.
Thirdly, and finally, should or could not the fathers have expressed themselves more clearly in this final prayer or thanksgiving? To this we answer, in the first place, that the language of the fathers here is surely the language of the Scriptures. According to Gen. 17:7, God will establish His covenant with Abraham and his seed, and notice that the word "seed" appears there without any limitation. If then, according to Romans 9, we are taught that this promise does not apply to all the natural seed of Abraham, this does not alter the fact, that, although all is not Israel that is called Israel, yet they are all called Israel. In the various epistles of the New Testament the entire church, whether located at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, etc., is addressed as saints in Christ Jesus, beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, elect strangers, holy and beloved of God, etc. And please understand that these words are addressed to the entire church. These names indeed apply to all. This must be understood and can only be understood on the basis of the principle that the whole body is addressed by the name which it has received according to its elect kernel. The reprobate, although not saints in Christ Jesus, beloved of God, etc., bear the name of the elect because, organically, they constitute one body with the people of God in the midst of the world.
In this light I wish to pray this thanksgiving prayer. All are spoken of according to election. Also the children are addressed according to God's decree of election. Whether this particular child or these particular children will actually grow up as members of Christ's body we may safely leave in the hands of God. And, therefore, we pray with the reservation of course, that all this may occur according to the will of our God. Then our prayer will surely be heard.
1. "Rev. Hoeksema in Volume IX of our Standard Bearer," the reference is to a series of articles in the Dutch language written by Rev. H. Hoeksema in 1933. In 1933 Prof. W. Heyns of the C.R.C. was writing on the covenant in De Wachter, C.R.C. Dutch language paper. Hoeksema had refuted the views of Heyns in Hoeksema's book Believers and Their Seed.
In response to these new articles by Heyns, Hoeksema wrote an additional series of articles which were published in the Standard Bearer in volume 9 and later in book form as Het Evangelie: De Jongste Aanval Op De Waarheid Der Sovereine Genade, ( The Gospel: The Recent Attack upon the Truth of Sovereign Grace).
Rev. H. Veldman is referring to Chapter 9 of Het Evangelie by Hoeksema. In Chapter 9 Hoeksema treats Heyns' explanation of the "Prayer of Thanksgiving" in the Baptism Form. Heyns regarded the prayer as proof for the idea of a universal objective behest or promise to all the children, head for head, who are baptized with grace to fulfill the conditions of faith. Heyns' view of grace is blatantly Arminian.
Hoeksema sets forth in that context the fact that the prayer must be understood as referring to the children of believers organically, as a body, from the view point of the elect seed of the covenant which God gathers by sovereign grace in the generations of believers. It is this approach to the prayer which Rev. Veldman is commending and it is the PRCA view of the prayer to this day. [Return]
Our Covenant God
An Exposition of the Doctrine
of the Covenant from Scripture


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High school sports officials often feel as if it's them against the world.
"We're out there all by ourselves," said Jack Folliard, executive director of the Oregon Athletic Officials Association. "Everybody hates us, and so all we have is ourselves. If we're not tight, what are we going to do?"
Saturday at the Portland Marriott Downtown, the officials had their day.
More than 700 high school sports officials attended Officiate Oregon Day, the first conference of its kind in the state. The day-long event included panel discussions between officials and coaches and presentations by guests such as former NFL referee Jerry Markbreit, NBA officials Steve Javie and Joey Crawford and Major League Baseball crew chief Dale Scott.
"It's a way to get as many of our high school officials around the state to come in for a fun day of training and listen to some of the heavy hitters in our industry," said Folliard, a Pacific-12 Conference football official for 30 years who also works high school basketball.
"They don't really have any other opportunities like this where they can get in a room with people that are doing this at the highest level. All these folks, they all started out at our level. So we're all kind of the same kinship, if you will."
The opportunity became available when the National Association of Sports Officials scheduled its annual national summit for Sunday through Tuesday at the Marriott. As it has in recent years, NASO offers use of the conference facilities to the home state association on the day before the conference.
The OAOA and the Oregon School Activities Association took advantage and organized the event. Professional officials such as Markbreit arrived at the NASO summit a day early to speak at Saturday's conference, and Folliard – the referee for the 2007 BCS national championship game – used his connections to get other experts into the fold.
Markbreit said he relished the opportunity to pass along some of the expertise he gained in his 43-year career. He spoke to the officials about doing their best and keeping their performance in perspective.
"The real purpose of my speech is to show them that nobody is that good," Markbreit said. "Everyone makes mistakes, and they shouldn't be so hard on themselves. Officiating gives you a chance to find out how good you are. Some days you're good, some days you're not so good."
The high school officials soaked up the knowledge from their more distinguished brethren, said Tom McFadden, a McMinnville accountant who is entering his 14th season in the Salem Football Officials Association.
"There's this feeling out there among fans in football that you can grab guys out of watering holes and taverns and they can do the games," McFadden said. "It takes years of experience."
Several high school coaches also participated in sport-specific panel discussions with officials, including Steve Coury (Lake Oswego football), Tom Johnson (Barlow boys basketball), Pat Coons (Westview boys basketball), Cindy Anderson (Wilsonville girls basketball) and Neil Russo (Newberg wrestling).
Tom Lopes, the executive director of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials and a three-time NCAA Final Four official, also made a presentation. Lopes, named the college official of the year in 1997, challenged officials with a "You Make The Call" video segment.
Howard Mayo, the commissioner for the Portland Basketball Officials Association, moderated a panel that included officials, association game assigners, high school basketball coaches and Cindy Simmons, OSAA assistant executive director.
"We've never had a panel where we've had coaches, assigners and people from the OSAA," Mayo said. "It gives us a chance to pick the coaches' brains, and people can pick our brains as officials. It's a healthy situation."
Coons and Johnson said the basketball session was highly productive.
"We coaches really appreciate the opportunity to give some feedback," Coons said. "In all the years of doing this, I don't think I've ever been asked that. I would encourage the Portland officials to do this with our own coaches. It was also great to have officials up there to hear what they had to say."
The football conversation – titled "In the Heat of the Battle" – examined the interplay between officials and coaches when emotions overflow during a game. Folliard said it is the first time coaches and officials have met during the offseason to discuss issues.
"We're emphasizing more of the interpersonal relationships between a coach and an official during a contest," Folliard said. "What little things can we teach an official that will help diffuse an emotional situation? Likewise, what things really get a coach going?"
Ultimately, Folliard said, the OAOA is hoping the conference can help raise the bar for high school sports officiating in Oregon.
"By bringing people together and having them trained by presenters, and everybody's in the same room, that really helps our consistency," Folliard said. "To me, that's what's going to come out of this statewide."
-- Jerry Ulmer

subset: commoncrawl


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Crimes Against Children in Indian Country Conference
April 8-9, 2014 | Baraboo, Wisconsin
Native American youth are impacted by unique and challenging threats that affect their physical and emotional development and well-being. Often tribal communities do not have the same access to the necessary resources for addressing these threats. The Crimes Against Children in Indian Country (CACIC) Conference was formed in response to the often unmet needs of Native youth. The advisory/planning committee is made up of representatives from a wide range of tribal and non-tribal law enforcement, government, and social service agencies. An important goal of the conference is to strengthen relationships between various agencies, tribes, and states, to promote a multi-disciplinary, multi-jurisdictional approach to serving Native young people.
Register early to request financial assistance!
Visit Conference Page


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Colgate football coach Dick Biddle announced his retirement Monday after 18 stellar seasons and seven Patriot League titles.
Associate head coach Dan Hunt is succeeding Biddle as the 29th head coach in school history, effective July 1, 2014.
A news conference is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Colgate Inn.
"My wife and I carefully considered this decision," Biddle said in a statement. "Our love for Colgate and Hamilton is unparalleled, but 18 years as head coach is a long time at any one place. Sometimes a change is good for everybody.
"I've had a great run here and accomplished many of my coaching goals. There are other things I want to do in my life, and this is the perfect opportunity for my wife and me to begin a new chapter."
Biddle, who just turned 66, retires as the winningest coach in Patriot League history. He compiled a 137-73 (.652) overall record and won three out of every four conference games he coached, finishing 81-27 (.750) against league competition. The next-closest Patriot League coach is Lafayette's Frank Tavani, who has 76 overall victories and 45 in conference play.
Biddle also finishes 39-10 against the Ivy League, and his 18 seasons as head coach matches the Andy Kerr for Colgate football coaching longevity.
The Raiders finished 4-8 this season and 3-2 in the Patriot League.
Biddle's duties at Colgate officially run through the end of the current academic year, but Hunt assumes all responsibilities for recruiting, spring practice and preparations for next season.


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AMHERST - Applewood, a member of Loomis Communities, will host an exhibit of paintings by resident Isolde M. Stein through April.
An opening reception is planned for Jan. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public at Applewood, 1 Spencer Drve.
Stein was born, raised and educated in Germany. She came to New York City in 1957 and studied painting with Sam Feinstein for several years. He is an abstract expressionist painter and maintained a school in Manhattan and in Philadelphia. Her work was, and continues to be, influenced by Hans Hofmann and Helen Frankenthaler.
The years between 1968 and 1980 Stein pursued other art related activities such as filmmaking, taking academic and art courses at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. She completed many years of community work focused on creativity of young children. After moving to Amherst she assisted with an after-school program for gifted children at the Wildwood School.
Stein was a 1993 Ada Comstock graduate of Smith College with high honors in the Department of Studio Art. Her honors thesis entitled: " Landscapes: The Essence of Seasonal Moods and Colors in New England" included 10 of her paintings.
Her artwork is included in Smith Voices, Selected Works by Smith Alumnae (1999) and Textured Lives, Celebrating Ada Comstock Scholars at Smith College (2000). Both books are edited by Patricia Scarda and published by the Smith College Press.
Her work has been exhibited in Westchester County, N.Y., and Boston and is part a number of private collections in this country, in Germany and in the Netherlands.
The exhibit will run through April 20. Visitors welcome by appointment. To schedule a visit, call Christine, (413) 253-9833.


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Nearly $534,000 will be returned to the Warren County School District by the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 after a forensic audit said that over $9 million in funds hoarded by the IU should rightfully be returned to member school districts.
The school board passed a motion on Monday night acknowledging receipt of $533,946.78 from IU 5 relative to a formula distribution approved by the board last month. The IU returned a total of $9,035,484.84. The funds, for which a check has been received by the district, will be moved to the district's general fund and will "remain in said account pending further action of the board."
Board vice president Donna Zariczny, who serves on the IU 5 board of directors, said that the IU board voted last month on the distribution formula and the specific amounts to be sent to each of the 17 member districts.
An audit, commissioned by the superintendents of the member districts, called for over $11.7 million to be returned, a total of $669,937.80 to the WCSD.
Zariczny explained that the final distribution amount originated from a forensic audit undertaken by the IU which recommended that the IU hold an additional $2.5 million; $2 million will be held in the general fund with an additional $500,000 to be held for capital expenditures.
"This is a one-time deal," Zariczny said, adding that the IU forensic audit is moving toward phase two, which includes the auditor reviewing the rest of the IU's accounts.
"There could be future monies, there may not be," she added. She cautioned using these funds for staffing for that reason.
Zariczny also said that there will be a third phase to the audit which will review the IU's financial procedures, program offerings and program costs.
"This is a work in progress," she said.
The original superintendents' audit, obtained by the Times Observer in October, claimed that the "IU management established financial policies that derived your clients (school districts) and the tax payers they represent."
According to the audit, funds were accumulated over multiple fiscal years and frequently placed in "deferred revenue" accounts. "In the case of the IU, a deferred revenue liability would exist if a governmental entity and/or the member districts had paid for services that the IU had not rendered at the end of any given date." Of the total, $11,325,616 was in such accounts.
The audit alleged that "the financial policies of the IU were established by the management team that was in place at any given point in time. These policies were not approved or known by the IU Board based on our review of the Board minutes and interviews of management." As a result, the IU "was able to establish cash-hoarding policies disguised as legitimate business transactions that in the aggregate concealed millions of dollars" from the districts.


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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was lecturing the media at Thursday night's San Jose Sharks-Detroit Red Wings seventh-game showdown, telling ESPN.com the whole Atlanta Thrashers-to-Winnipeg thing was a "made up" story.
Unless you're in one of those cities, and chatting up the parties involved, who knows.
But consider this: given the sinkhole the Phoenix Coyotes have become, a big wart on the face of the NHL, one would have to believe Bettman is only too willing to rubber-stamp a sale of the Thrashers, even if it means relocating the team.
The peddling of the Atlanta Thrashers to a Winnipeg group could come as early as this weekend or next week, potentially sending a ripple affect through hockey that might impact St. John's.
While the ECHL seems to have the inside track as a hockey suitor for Mile One Centre, some insiders maintain the American Hockey League is not entirely out of the picture.
If the Thrashers move, it could start a domino affect filtering through the AHL and winding up in, you guessed it, St. John's.
Longshot, no doubt, but a possibility.
And if Winnipeg finally secures its NHL team, things will happen fast.
So word of caution to the folks of St. John's Sports and Entertainment: if you're really, truly interested in having hockey return to Mile One — and considering the events calendar hasn't exactly been, well, bloated — a second crack at the AHL might be in the offing (no deal, and there most certainly won't be a third chance).
But there won't be much time to assemble and haggle over a lease agreement that must somewhere fall between onerous (to the client) and reckless (to the building).
When St. John's last skated in the AHL, it had the benefit of not picking up the travel tab for visiting teams, thanks primarily to the tenure it had accrued as teams came and went over 14 seasons.
It won't have the same luxury again.
The provincial government is pumping $1.5 million a year into 'Republic of Doyle'. Whether that's justified or not, who knows. But consider this: what the CBC program has done for the image of Newfoundland across the country, not a dollar figure can match.
Now, while reading an AHL boxscore between St. John's and, say, Charlotte, N.C. might not necessarily generate the same impact, the national exposure that's sure to come with a St. John's AHL team (and, potentially, a game or two live on CBC's Sunday AHL broadcasts) can go a long, long way.
The province wasn't fussy on handing over a subsidy to a group trying to entice the QMJHL back to St. John's. But what's good for Doyle can be good for pro hockey and some dough — regardless what you call it, be it subsidy, grant or gift — should be found to at least help offset travel costs that continue to climb.
I recall the final of the 4 Nations Cup last fall, with a full house at Mile One and the downtown, for once, alive. Likewise the Herder final.
Times that by 30 or 35 AHL home games and the economic spinoff — minimal some nights, significant on others — is obvious.
A win-win for the city and, to a lesser degree, the province.
Of course, maybe the Thrashers will stay put. And maybe the AHL landscape will remain unscathed.
But if there is movement, best to be ready.
Starting now.
Is there a more underrated senior hockey player in the 1970s and 80s than newest Hall of Fame inductee Kirk Johnson? Mention the great locals to play in the old Newfoundland Senior Hockey League, and almost never will Johnson emerge ... While Andy Sullivan's name will almost certainly roll off the tongue initially when discussing former senior players who would have played pro if born elsewhere, not to be overlooked is Zane Forbes. A big, strong winger who could play any style, Forbes was a prototypical pro hockey player ... Memo to slow, overweight 46-year-olds who still think they can play hockey: wear a full facemask lest they want a big shiner ... Ever stop to think Newfoundland had nine — nine! — NHLers this season: Ryane Clowe, Daniel Cleary, Teddy Purcell, Michael Ryder, Adam Pardy, Luke Adam, Colin Greening, Darryl Williams coaching in Vancouver, and Derek Clancey, the Pittsburgh Penguins' pro scouting director ... How come I keep hearing the Corner Brook Royals and Deer Lake Red Wings are in trouble, and might not return to the West Coast Senior Hockey League next season? Didn't we hear the same thing with the old provincial senior league, until it finally went kaput? ... If there is pro hockey at Mile One next season, what impact will it have on attendance at Mount Pearl, Northeast and C.B.N. senior hockey games? ...
Robin Short is The Telegram's Sports Editor. He can be reached by email email@example.com


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text:
Dekker, Sidney
From Library of Congress Name Authority File
Dekker, Sidney
Instance Of
Scheme Membership(s)
Collection Membership(s)
Additional Information
Exact Matching Concepts from Other Schemes
- found: Coping with computers in the cockpit, 1999: t.p. (Sidney Dekker, Linköping Univ., Sweden)
- found: The field guide to human error investigations, c2002: t.p. (Sidney Dekker) jkt. (assoc. prof., Linköping Institute of Technology, Sweden; previously with: British Aerospace, UK; Public Transport Corp., Melbourne, Australia; Massey Univ. Sch. of Aviation, New Zealand; Ph.D., 1966, in cognitive systems engineering, Ohio State Univ.; co-ed., Coping with computers; also a pilot)
Change Notes
- 1999-06-21: new
- 2003-02-28: revised
Alternate Formats


text:
Here's what Nintendo said in a recent interview:
SourceCan games be stored on external media such as SD cards, and what happens if you run out of storage space?
Nintendo: Games that are downloaded can be stored either to the Wii's internal memory (512MB) or onto SD cards, which plug into the SD slot on the front of the Wii. In addition the console also stores a history of all of your downloads so that if you have to delete any VC games for any reason you could re-download them for free at a later date.
Will you be able to take your VC games to a mate's house, say, on an SD card?
Nintendo: No. All VC games will be locked to the console they are downloaded on so even if they are on an SD card they can't be used on other machines. You will have to take your Wii with you.
Does that mean that if your console breaks you lose your VC games forever?
Nintendo: No. Nintendo will offer support to help Wii owners with problems to recover their games.
I'm not sure about Virtual Console game size, but I'm pretty sure the NES through all the other consoles, stopping at the N64 games, which will take up a good amount more, will be modest in size. I'm sort of hoping Nintendo allows for online storage of games. This wouldn't be great for those without an internet connection, but for those that do, it would open up a lot of space.
Maybe, in the future, Nintendo will increase the size of Wii's internal storage to a gig or two. Who knows?


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For allegedly stealing $20 and a pack of Newport cigarettes at knife-point, a Bay City man is scheduled to have his fate decided by a jury.
Otis Green, 43, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and armed robbery, as well as being considered a habitual offender.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in the evening of Sept. 15. At that time, a woman was walking east on W. Midland having recently left Rite Aid Pharmacy, 901 W. Midland, court records show. A car pulled up beside her and the passenger — allegedly Green — got out, confronted the woman, and, pulling a knife, demanded her money.
The woman later told Bay City Police officers she handed over a $20 bill and a new pack of Newport cigarettes. Obtaining these items, the suspect returned to the car, which left the scene, court records show.
Police arrested Green a short time later. Green is scheduled for trial before Bay County Circuit Judge William J. Caprathe on Feb. 17.
Green is on parole out of Wayne County, the Michigan Department of Corrections' Web site shows.


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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The West Michigan Golf Show offered plenty to see and do for attendees both young and old.
Children were able to pick up a putter and an iron to try their hand courtesy of First Tee of West Michigan.
Founded originally in 2006 as Lake Michigan Junior Golf Association, First Tee offers life and golf skills to children of Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.
Their drive is to help promote the game to youths 7-17 years of age from all socio-economic backgrounds while partnering with a variety of organizations like the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department and the Boys and Girls Club.
First Tee Executive Director Tyler Smies said the organization likes to introduce the game of golf to kids who normally wouldn't have the opportunity to cross paths with the sport.
"We like to give them a different opportunity than they would normally get in their 10-block radius," Smies said. "The values of this game are so intrinsic that it's easy to teach them. I think it's easier to teach the values that we teach like honesty and integrity through golf than any other sport."
Smies said First Tee works with youth all year long, helping them with their studies as well as getting them on the course.
"The kids are so open to listening and learning when we get them to the course," Smies said. "Here they are surrounded by all this green grass, usually more than they've ever seen before, so they're very intent on learning the rules of the game."
First Tee operates from The Highlands Golf Club in Grand Rapids.
Follow Cory Olsen on Twitter or email him at email@example.com


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PARMA – Police arrested and charged two people Thursday that they said are responsible for the Feb. 22 fire at the Knollwood Apartments.
Police spokesman Det. Marty Compton said the two suspects, Bryan Kneuss, 22, who lived at the apartment, and Amber Darrow, 19, were found in a motel in Macedonia, registered under a fictitious name.
At 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 22, the Parma Fire Department received a call that smoke was coming from Kneuss' apartment. Firefighters said the occupants had fled, and they extinguished a small fire in the bedroom.
Compton said firefighters had observed chemicals associated with clandestine methamphetamine production and called police, who in turn called in a Hazmat team.
Once the meth lab chemicals were secured and disposed of, surrounding apartment dwellers were allowed to safely return.
Compton said Kneuss and Darrow have each been charged with illegal manufacture of drugs, assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, and possession of criminal tools. Both are currently being held in Cuyahoga County Jail.


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"He walked into the hospital here," said Dave Schoonbeck of his son, 19-year-old Thomas, who was sent to U-M after undergoing an emergency tracheotomy at Mercy around 7:30 p.m. Sunday to restore his breathing.
"He walked in and now he's sitting in a chair, though he can't talk or anything. It was pretty scary for awhile but it looks like he's going to make it. The staff here can't stop talking about him. He's a tough kid, that's for sure," said Schoonbeck's father Tuesday afternoon.
Schoonbeck underwent about a seven-hour surgery Monday at U-M to restore the trachea after it was severed from his adam's apple to his left ear from the force of a wire cable strung across a trail he was riding with a friend on his dirt bike.
"We were told at Mercy that it looked very serious and they didn't think he would make it," said Dave Schoonbeck.
The cable cut into Schoonbeck's neck and snapped into when it came in contact with the former Oakridge football standout's riding helmet, his dad said.
"That helmet saved my son's life," Dave Schoonbeck said.
Dave Schoonbeck said his son fell to the ground after encountering the cable and rolled around on the ground enough to open up a small passage in his trachea so he could breath. Afterward, Schoonbeck was taken by his friend to Mercy Health Partners-Sherman Campus.
Dave Schoonbeck said he is angry about the cable that was placed over the main trail into an area where lots of people ride dirt bikes, ATVs and golf carts. The 40-acre property is located between Wolf Lake and Maple Island roads.
"My son rides those trails three times a day and so do I and I can tell you that that cable had to have been put there no more than two hours before he hit it," said Dave Schoonbeck.
The property is owned by a Spring Lake resident but Schoonbeck said he was told it had been leased recently by two men.
"The cable was 52 inches off the ground and there was just a paper sign taped to it facing the other way," said Dave Schoonbeck. "It was a pretty blind cable."
The sign read: Private Property No Trespassing.
An investigation into the accident by the Muskegon County prosecutor's office is ongoing, Dave Schoonbeck said.
Meanwhile, Schoonbeck, is expected to be at U-M for several more days, if not weeks.
"God has blessed us well," said Dave Schoonbeck, who has three other sons with Schoonbeck's mother Tanja. "I think being a football player helped him get through something like this."


text: Johnson, Mackowiak and Associates, LLP Certified Public Accountants and Consultants (JMA) is pleased to announce that the firm has hired Richard Burlett III as its newest accountant. As a staff accountant, he will be involved in all phases of the firm's accounting functions, including individual, multi-state and corporate tax preparations. In addition, he will be responsible for preparing compiled and reviewed financial statements and assisting businesses and individuals with auditing, tax planning and projections.


text:
This deal has ended.
This Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam 2in Mattress Topper in Queen Size drops from $469.99 to $188 and then to $159.80 via code GRATITUDE at Kohls.com. Plus, shipping is free, making this the best deal we could find by $26. It features gel memory foam construction designed to create a more restful sleep. It is offered in 5 sizes as well, all of which get reduced with the coupon code. Sales tax is charged in most states.No longer available


text:
Rescue crews continue to search for two missing men who are presumed to have drowned in Washington over the weekend.
On Saturday night, 23-year-old Kirkland, Wa. resident Christopher Dube was rafting on the Klickitat River when he went underwater near Leidl Falls just after 8 p.m.
On Sunday afternoon, Austin H. Wolford, 19, went missing after falling off an inner tube into Yale Reservoir in Washington's Cowlitz County. The Vancouver resident was with a group of friends at the popular swimming hole.
According to a statement released by the Cowlitz County Sheriff's office, Wolford wasn't a strong swimmer. After falling off the tube, his girlfriend's father tried to rescue him but Wolford had already gone under water.
Rescue teams called off the search as dusk approached but will continue in the morning.
--James Reddick


text:
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Advice needed HR34 versus DirectTV Tivo THR22
Posted 23 January 2012 - 09:42 PM
Posted 23 January 2012 - 10:25 PM
The AM21 only has two off-air tuners inside. How can it record more channels than two?
I know I was just going after clarification. Stuart's post didn't make that abundantly clear to the person asking the question.
Posted 24 January 2012 - 06:25 AM
Posted 24 January 2012 - 11:33 AM
Any posibility that 2 AM21's could be hooked up through a usb hub to an H34?
Not currently. Would require some software work. And since off-air reception is not a high priority for DirecTV, it's not a likely enhancement.
HD DVRs: HR44 + AM21; HR24
Receivers: H25-500 HD Receiver
Mobile Devices: Nomad
Additional equipment configuration details
Sun & moon help site your satellite dish
Posted 24 January 2012 - 11:54 AM
Posted 24 January 2012 - 01:19 PM
Posted 31 January 2012 - 08:42 PM
If someone(s) would tell me how long it takes to go through the same steps with each of those three boxes (HR24, HR34, THR22) I would be very grateful.
I would like to have MRV and other advanced features I lack, but the responsiveness of the box is even more important to me.
Edited by mgroups, 31 January 2012 - 08:47 PM.
Posted 31 January 2012 - 08:52 PM
DirecTv HR24x2 Whole Home with 39" high gain KaKu dish, Roku3,SageTv 8 TB Win8 Server -> DVDO Edge-> Denon AVR, Klipsch KB15's/Panasonic 55ST60 plasma"
Posted 31 January 2012 - 10:53 PM
Thanks. Before the new interface (which greatly speeded up scrolling through the guide), I think it took around 5 seconds on the HR20, though I had never timed it. Now right after I reboot it it takes about 8 seconds, but will work its way back up to 16-20. It's definitely time for an upgrade.
About 2 seconds on the HR34, about 1.5 seconds on the HR24-500
Edited by mgroups, 01 February 2012 - 01:28 AM.
Posted 02 May 2012 - 01:00 PM
Posted 02 May 2012 - 01:49 PM
I too am trying to decide whether to replace my old HR2x receivers with an HR34, a DirectTV Tivo THR22, or maybe an HR24. I have come to like the HR2x boxes with the improvements that have come over the years, but there is still one thing that I really dislike: the amount of time it takes to switch between screens. For example, with my HR20, if I am in the guide and push "Info" to get details about a show, then press "Back" to return to the guide it takes 16-20 seconds, excluding the time spent reading the details.
If someone(s) would tell me how long it takes to go through the same steps with each of those three boxes (HR24, HR34, THR22) I would be very grateful.
I would like to have MRV and other advanced features I lack, but the responsiveness of the box is even more important to me.
About 10 seconds on one of my HR24s and about 2 seconds on the other. I'm curious to know how long it takes on the THR22.
Posted 03 May 2012 - 08:23 AM
Directv user since 96
Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: hr20 drive upgrade
DISH™ Satellite Receiver Forums →
ViP211(411)/211K/222 Support Forum →
EHD not functioning with 211
Started by servus56 , 24 Jan 2012 hr20 drive upgrade


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as above cambelt went on the way to work yesterday was only doing about 35 so i thought it might just have bent some valves.
So this afternoon i took the head off to see the damage,
nearly all the valves are bent, cylinder No1's piston has two small indentations from where it's hit the valves and i also noticed that all 4 pistons have around 0.5mm of play in them.
ok i know the valves need replacing, but what about the other things?.......will cylinder No1's piston be alright to keep using, and are XE's allowed/meant to have a slight bit of play in them?
or am i looking at a dead engine?


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The Sunday Morning Hangover
Located in Eugene
Last update: September 8th, 2013 at 01:36 pm
ping: http://ignoregon.com/ping/1370
15 post clicks in the past 90 days
Rev Marc whines about getting old and decides to drink his troubles away.
Rev Marc does a "live" remote from Downtown Eugene and covers the Eug
Rev Marc talks about the Whiteaker block party, movies to see a
10:05AM Page France "Chariot" from Hello, Dear Wi
Rev. Marc absolves the radio audience and creates a
10:04AM Paul Winchell "Theme to The Winchell/Mahoney Show" from TV Themes (CD, Comp, O
Rev Marc talks about flying, Jeff Lynne, and gets funky . Shout-outs to the DJ s at the o
Rev Marc Time decides it is too warm to play hot music. Also some ded
Rev Marc pays tribute to our upcoming psyche
Rev Marc celebrates a sunny sunday morning with some songs.Lis
Rev Marc plays promo radio station 45's dated stamped from early 1970.On side B he mixes i
Rev Marc gives away Bijou Theatre tickets, plays a new record
Rev Marc is not happy and needs a
10:04AM Jim O'Rourke "Women Of The World" from Women of th
Rev Marc is taking allergy pills and does a Lazy May show.Listen
Listen Here:
Rev Marc decides that what we need is a little more levity after a rough
Rev Marc Time takes a virtual honeymoon to the city by the bay.
Rev Marc can't wait for the first episode of S
Rev Marc returns from his trip to Flor
Listen HERE: https://
Rev Marc plays silly songs about space and drugs.
Rev Marc commemorates International Women's Day by playing some of his fave female artists. Later in the program: some new Hendrix, Whiskey Chasers and how to kill a fox.Listen HERE: https://archive.org/details/InternationalWomensDayHangover
Rev Marc Time is tired of Eugeni
Rev Marc Time salutes the women of Eugene, plays some cold Winter songs and does a


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Larry Flax
Larry Flax
California Pizza Kitchen co-chief executive officer Larry Flax won't be putting on the pepperoni personally at the new CPK/ASAP, in Kailua, but he will be helping the community by hosting pizza parties for Kaneohe Marine families in March, and supporting the Kailua Boys and Girls Clubs.
"We're here to serve the local community," says Flax as he addressed all employees at the 2,700-square-foot Kailua Road CPL/ASAP store, which opened Jan. 29.
Every quarter, Flax visits Hawaii and spends time with Carole Kai and her husband Eddie Onouye, developing new ideas for the restaurant. Kai, of Hawaii Stars fame and the Great Aloha Run coordinator, has been a local liaison with California Pizza Kitchen since it opened at Kahala Mall in 1987.
CPK/ASAP focuses on doing things fast, and offers many of the CPK dishes already familiar to customers.
Flax and his co-chief executive officer Rick Rosenfield - both former attorneys - attended each of the openings of the 200 CPKs in 29 states and six foreign countries. Flax and Rosenfield also authored The California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook. One or both of them will attend openings of the 20 new locations this year.
Flax's restaurant experience includes working as a dishwasher at a country club while in high school. He also lost money investing in a restaurant at one time. And he recently portrayed a server and a dishwasher on a reality TV show. Before starting the CPK franchise with Rosenfield in 1985 in California, he worked in a supermarket, in the life-insurance business and as a practicing attorney.
Flax and Rosenfield want their employees to be rock stars. In the company manual, R.O.C.K. stands for respect, opportunity, communication and kindness.
"Families that respect each other have lots of fun," Flax reasons. "Families that don't respect each other have a lot of pain."
Their corporate model emphasizes "unabashed communication." Flax urges employees to be good listeners and good communicators, since communication is necessary between co-workers and customers, especially in the fast-paced restaurant business.
Employees with experience in the franchise restaurant industry have expressed how impressed they are that the owners take the time to meet and speak to their employees. Flax demonstrates his caring spirit when says he believes that "kind, spirited people are the glue of the company."
- Linda Dela Cruz
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This article was written by Jeffrey P. Graham and R. Barry Spaulding
and originally appeared on the now defunct Citibank international business portal.
Copyright © Citibank. All Rights Reserved.
Understanding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
direct investment (FDI) plays an extraordinary and growing role in global
business. It can provide a firm with new markets and marketing channels, cheaper
production facilities, access to new technology, products, skills and financing.
For a host country or the foreign firm which receives the investment, it can
provide a source of new technologies, capital, processes, products,
organizational technologies and management skills, and as such can provide a
strong impetus to economic development.
Foreign direct investment, in its classic definition,
is defined as a company from one country making a physical investment
into building a factory in another country.
The direct investment in buildings, machinery and equipment is in
contrast with making a portfolio investment, which is considered an indirect
investment. In recent years, given rapid growth and change in global investment
patterns, the definition has been broadened to include the acquisition of a
lasting management interest in a
company or enterprise outside the investing firm's home country. As such, it
may take many forms, such as a direct acquisition of a foreign firm,
construction of a facility, or
investment in a joint venture or strategic alliance with a local firm with
attendant input of technology, licensing of intellectual property,
In the past decade, FDI has come to play a
major role in the internationalization of business. Reacting to changes in
technology, growing liberalization of the national regulatory framework
governing investment in enterprises, and changes in capital markets profound
changes have occurred in the size, scope and methods of FDI. New information
technology systems, decline in global communication costs have made management
of foreign investments far easier than in the past. The sea change in trade and
investment policies and the regulatory environment globally in the past decade,
including trade policy and tariff liberalization, easing of restrictions on
foreign investment and acquisition in many nations, and the deregulation and
privitazation of many industries, has probably been been the most significant
catalyst for FDI's expanded role.
The most profound
effect has been seen in developing countries, where yearly foreign direct
investment flows have increased from an average of less than $10 billion in the
1970's to a yearly average of less than $20 billion in the 1980's, to
explode in the 1990s from $26.7billion in 1990 to $179 billion in 1998 and $208
billion in 1999 and now comprise a large portion of global FDI.. Driven by mergers and acquisitions and
internationalization of production in a range of industries, FDI into developed
countries last year rose to $636 billion, from $481 billion in 1998 (Source:
Proponents of foreign investment point out that the exchange of investment flows benefits both the home country (the country from which the investment originates) and the host country (the destination of the investment). Opponents of FDI note that multinational conglomerates are able to wield great power over smaller and weaker economies and can drive out much local competition. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
For small and medium sized companies, FDI represents an opportunity to become more actively involved in international business activities. In the past 15 years, the classic definition of FDI as noted above has changed considerably. This notion of a change in the classic definition, however, must be kept in the proper context. Very clearly, over 2/3 of direct foreign investment is still made in the form of fixtures, machinery, equipment and buildings. Moreover, larger multinational corporations and conglomerates still make the overwhelming percentage of FDI. But, with the advent of the Internet, the increasing role of technology, loosening of direct investment restrictions in many markets and decreasing communication costs means that newer, non-traditional forms of investment will play an important role in the future. Many governments, especially in industrialized and developed nations, pay very close attention to foreign direct investment because the investment flows into and out of their economies can and does have a significant impact. In the United States, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a section of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for collecting economic data about the economy including information about foreign direct investment flows. Monitoring this data is very helpful in trying to determine the impact of such investments on the overall economy, but is especially helpful in evaluating industry segments. State and local governments watch closely because they want to track their foreign investment attraction programs for successful outcomes.
How Has FDI Changed in the Past Decade?
As mentioned above, the overwhelming majority of foreign direct investment is made in the form of fixtures, machinery, equipment and buildings. This investment is achieved or accomplished mostly via mergers & acquisitions. In the case of traditional manufacturing, this has been the primary mechanism for investment and it has been heretofore very efficient. Within the past decade, however, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of technology startups and this, together with the rise in prominence of Internet usage, has fostered increasing changes in foreign investment patterns. Many of these high tech startups are very small companies that have grown out of research & development projects often affiliated with major universities and with some government sponsorship. Unlike traditional manufacturers, many of these companies do not require huge manufacturing plants and immense warehouses to store inventory. Another factor to consider is the number of companies whose primary product is an intellectual property right such as a software program or a software-based technology or process. Companies such as these can be housed almost anywhere and therefore making a capital investment in them does not require huge outlays for fixtures, machinery and plants.
many cases, large companies still play a dominant role in investment activities
in small, high tech oriented companies. However, unlike in the past, these
larger companies are not necessarily acquiring smaller companies outright.
There are several reasons for this, but the most important one is most
likely the risk associated with such high tech ventures.
In the case of mature industries, the products are well defined. The
manufacturer usually wants to get closer to its foreign market or wants to
circumvent some trade barrier by making a direct foreign investment. The major
risk here is that you do not sell enough of the product that you manufactured.
However, you have added additional capacity and in the case of multinational
corporations this capacity can be used in a variety of ways.
High tech ventures tend to have longer incubation periods. That is, the product tends to require significant development time. In the case of software and other intellectual property type products, the product is constantly changing even before it hits the marketplace. This makes the investment decision more complicated. When you invest in fixtures and machinery, you know what the real and book value of your investment will be. When you invest in a high tech venture, there is always an element of uncertainty. Unfortunately, the recent spate of dot.com failures is quite illustrative of this point.
Therefore, the expanded role of technology and intellectual property has changed the foreign direct investment playing field. Companies are still motivated to make foreign investments, but because of the vagaries of technology investments, they are now finding new vehicles to accomplish their goals. Consider the following:
simple answer is that making a direct foreign investment allows companies to
accomplish several tasks:
more complete response might address the issue of global business partnering in
very general terms. While it is
nice that many business writers like the expression, "think globally, act
locally", this often used cliché does not really mean very much to the
average business executive in a small and medium sized company.
The phrase does have significant connotations for multinational
corporations. But for executives in
SME's, it is still just another buzzword.
The simple explanation for this is the difference in perspective between
executives of multinational corporations and small and medium sized companies. Multinational corporations are almost always concerned with
worldwide manufacturing capacity and proximity to major markets.
Small and medium sized companies tend to be more concerned with selling
their products in overseas markets. The
advent of the Internet has ushered in a new and very different mindset that
tends to focus more on access issues. SME's
in particular are now focusing on access to markets, access to expertise and
most of all access to technology.
Depending on the
industry sector and type of business, a foreign direct investment may be an
attractive and viable option. With rapid globalization of many industries and
vertical integration rapidly taking place on a global level, at a minimum a firm
needs to keep abreast of global trends in their industry. From a competitive
standpoint, it is important to be aware of whether a company's competitors are
expanding into a foreign market and how they are doing that. At the same time,
it also becomes important to monitor how globalization is affecting domestic
clients. Often, it becomes imperative to follow the expansion of key clients
overseas if an active business relationship is to be maintained.
New market access
is also another major reason to invest in a foreign country. At some stage,
export of product or service reaches a critical mass of amount and cost where
foreign production or location begins to be more cost effective. Any decision on
investing is thus a combination of a number of key factors including:
From an internal
resources standpoint, does the firm have senior management support for the
investment and the internal management and system capabilities to support the set
up time as well as ongoing management of a foreign subsidiary? Has the company
conducted extensive market research involving both the industry, product and
local regulations governing foreign investment which will set the broad market
parameters for any investment decision? Is there a realistic assessment in place
of what resource utilization the investment will entail? Has information on
local industry and foreign investment regulations, incentives, profit retention,
financing, distribution, and other factors been completely analyzed to determine
the most viable vehicle for entering the market (greenfield, acquisition,
merger, joint venture, etc.)? Has a plan been drawn up with reasonable
expectations for expansion into the market through that local vehicle? If the
foreign economy, industry or foreign investment climate is characterized by
government regulation, have the relevant government agencies been contacted and
concurred? Have political risk and foreign exchange risk been factored into the
business plan?
Outside of the
analysis of internal resources, a vast amount of information is needed to assess
the viability and ultimate method of foreign investment as outlined above. Much
of this information is available online through a range of websites and portals.
They include:
– A number of reports on global and regional investment trends,
www.oecd.org –
global foreign investment trends, country investment guides, investment reviews,
– a wide range of links to statistical information on global foreign direct
- U.S Department of Commerce website contains a wealth of information on
industrial trends, overseas investment statistics, etc.
– USDOC International Trade Administration - foreign/global industry studies,
export statistics
– Foreign Commercial Service – country commercial analyses, partner
identification program, etc
– A joint venture between the World Bank and WTO, the site contains links to a
wide range of country and regional reports, information local government
– Outline of the financing and insurance programs available for American firms
investing overseas. A range of country and general information links for
Send mail to firstname.lastname@example.com with
questions or comments about this web site.


text:
Embattled Anne Arundel County Police Department Chief James Teare is retiring; a move that will bring an end to an investigation into his conduct that arose after the county executive was indicted earlier this year. Meanwhile, the county executive names an interim police chief.
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- More than 200 business owners this week are receiving a package from Birmingham City Hall notifying them of a proposal to make the most of the city smoke-free.
Councilman Johnathan Austin, chairman of the public safety committee, mailed notices to lounges, night clubs and other businesses where smoking is permitted, inviting them to a hearing on the proposed rules. Austin also sent copies of the draft rules that would ban smoking in nearly all public places.
The committee meets at 2 p.m. Feb. 15.
"I want to make sure the businesses know what we're considering and providing input about how they think it affects their business either positively or negatively," Austin said. "Before we pass anything I'd like for them to comment on it."
The committee during that meeting could modify the document and send it to the full council for final approval.
Austin said the public comment is important and there still are some points yet to be determined, including whether any hotel rooms would be allowed to retain smoking rooms and possible exceptions for cigar and hookah bars.
"I'm doing everything I can to communicate to the public before we pass the law so people won't say that they haven't had an opportunity," Austin said.
Birmingham passed its current rules on smoking in 2005 with rules that made it illegal to smoke in several public places, including bus stops, elevators and restaurants. Bars, lounges and outdoor restaurant patios are exempt from that ban, but would be included in the new one.
"People have responded overwhelmingly in support of the proposed legislation," Austin said. "I've been to several bar owners and several of them said they would love for there to be a law citywide."
Mike Carpri, owner of Lou's Pub & Package Store, a popular Lakeview bar, said officials must make sure that any new rule is enforced citywide to ensure fairness at all businesses.
"If it's citywide and everyone is affected equally then it's an even playing field," Carpri said. "If it's a level playing field then I don't think it's a big deal."
Smokers gather inside and outside Lou's, but the new ordinance could also affect the patio area. Outdoor restrictions would ban smoking within 30 feet of entrances, outdoor seating and serving areas.
Austin said both the city and the state share dubious rankings among the fattest, most diabetes-prone and generally unhealthy populations in the nation, and the ordinance is part of the move to address some of those problems.
The council collaborated with the American Lung Association while drafting the proposed rules.
This is the second mass mailing from Austin. He sent dozens of letters last summer to nightclub club owners with a stern warning about violence and illegal activity following a series of violent incidences at some of them.
Austin's letter back then reminded club owners to keep their establishments crime-free and follow city ordinances or expect to receive a second letter -- a cease-and-desist order.
Join the conversation by clicking to comment or email Bryant at email@example.com.


text:
FOXBOROUGH -- New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft does not believe that the knee injury that knocked Tom Brady from Wednesday's joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is serious.
"I understand from people who were standing out here it may have looked serious," Kraft told 98.5 The Sports Hub. "I don't have a definitive answer. And in classic Bill Belichick fashion I will tell you a little bit more though and just say I don't believe it's serious, but I do not know."
Midway through a joint practice conducted with the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay defensive end Adrian Clayborn blocked Patriots left tackle Nate Solder into Brady's left side, causing the quarterback to fall to the turf after throwing a pass to Aaron Dobson. He immediately grasped his left knee and began rocking back and forth.
Brady left the field for a play, came back to complete three passes and then exited after consulting with coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and head athletic trainer Jim Whalen. Brady appeared to be moving with a limp.
The nature and severity of Brady's injury is not yet known.
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that an MRI on Brady's knee came back negative. He is believed to have a sprain.