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Each trim on the 2019 Ford F-150 comes with an available infotainment system - but what, exactly, does this system offer you? Here, we've put together an overview of what you get when you opt for the F-150's Ford SYNC® 3 system.
Keep Connected with Ease
The SYNC® 3 infotainment system is the newest generation of Ford's award-winning technology. This system combines handsome graphics, easy-to-learn menu navigation, and useful features to make it appeal to any truck owner. When outfitted with the optional 8-inch touchscreen, you will be able to easily access the apps you need, when you need them. Through SYNC® 3, you can control your audio and more with voice recognition or merely use the buttons and knobs available to you. No matter what you're looking to do, this system has you covered.
Smartphone Compatibility
Along with offering top-notch audio via tech like SiriusXM® satellite radio, SYNC® 3 also allows you to access your smartphone in a safe way through Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, which comes standard with the system. This technology allows you to access some of your favorite apps from your smartphone right on your truck's touchscreen or through voice recognition, which means you don't have to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel.
To learn more about the incredible infotainment technology in the 2019 Ford F-150, visit Packey Webb Ford.
Contact Us
- Monday 9:00AM - 7:00PM
- Tuesday 9:00AM - 7:00PM
- Wednesday 9:00AM - 7:00PM
- Thursday 9:00AM - 7:00PM
- Friday 9:00AM - 7:00PM
- Saturday 9:00AM - 6:00PM
- Sunday Closed


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The Institute for Free Speech's First Amendment Fellowship allows recent law school graduates, judicial clerks, and mid-career attorneys the chance to gain practical experience litigating constitutional challenges. Fellows will work alongside the Institute's attorneys to tackle all aspects of trial and appellate practice in cases challenging restrictions on Americans' rights to freely speak, publish, assemble, and petition.
Fellowships are for one year, typically beginning each summer, and are intended to prepare attorneys for careers in constitutional advocacy. The fellowship is excellent preparation for a judicial clerkship, a career change, a public interest litigation career, academia, or private practice. It can also lead to a permanent position at the Institute for Free Speech.
Fellows are expected to work full time in our Washington, D.C. office, but other arrangements may be available to especially outstanding candidates.
A competitive salary and benefits are provided. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, three references, and a writing sample to Allen Dickerson, the Institute's Legal Director, at firstname.lastname@example.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Institute for Free Speech (IFS) seeks summer interns to aid our External Relations, Research, and Communications Departments.
Founded by former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley A. Smith as a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, the Institute for Free Speech (formerly the Center for Competitive Politics) exists to inform the public through litigation, policy analysis, media outreach, and educational activities on the benefits of freedom and dynamism in the area of campaign finance and election law. We promote and defend the First Amendment political rights of speech, press, assembly, and petition and oppose McCain-Feingold style regulation of campaign funding and other restrictions that limit the ability of citizens to participate in the political process and support the candidates and causes of their choice.
Primarily, summer interns at the Institute for Free Speech will aid the External Relations Director and Research Director by:
Summer interns at IFS will also aid the Communications Director by:
Qualified candidates should have an interest in political science or election law and in defending the First Amendment. The most qualified candidates will have completed at least two years of undergraduate study.
Prospective interns should also have the following skills and experience: excellent writing skills, solid analytical ability and Internet research skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, and Excel, a detail-oriented personality, strong initiative, demonstrated resourcefulness, and a willingness to take on a variety of assignment types — working both independently and as part of a team. Candidates should be politically aware (though no specific political preference is required).
Full-time interns may receive a stipend, as conditions and professional experience warrant. All interns will receive a full travel stipend via Metro.
Qualified candidates should send the following to External Relations Director Matt Nese via e-mail in one combined PDF at email@example.com:
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. A summer start date is flexible (preferably in early June).

subset: commoncrawl


text: It would seem instrumental artists are making a resurgence with the likes of Boards Of Canada, Public Service Broadcasting and Baltic Fleet, so now add Lo Five. The band is in fact just Neil Grant who has recently released his debut album 'Self Release' via bandcamp. Now you can pay anything you wish for it, and I do urge pay something, as this is his only revenue for his work. Piano based up-tempo music abound can be found within, with some lovely textures to keep it relevant and vibrant. The lead track is 'Lo Ten' is a pathfinder really to what Neil can produce, something you could find on those chill-out albums, he's just easing you in so to speak. The stand out tracks for me are 'Ridin On Air', it does float around you with a great woodwind feel backing sound. With 'I Miss This Place' he manages to give the impression it could fill an arena's space with its full-bodied upbeat sound. The programmed drum beat for 'Loose Change' makes this track essential listening, relentless and delicately layered on top are his keyboard pieces. There's even a ballad 'I'm So Sorry', which works well within the context of the set too. Oddly the last track 'Princess Betty' sounds more like a band playing, with real instruments, for some reason I was thinking this could be a Tarantino film theme. I've only just scratched the surface of Neil's talents so go have a listen and hopefully you'll make a purchase and let's hope a label will cotton on too. He's too talented to be hidden away in Liverpool. 9/10 an album to be played anytime, anywhere and in any situation it is that sophisticated.


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Winter is finally here. Phew...time to write and hibernate, stay warm.
The Sultry Gypsy Herb Co. products are all on sale at the following stores for 25% off, our biggest yet. Come check them out, try them and feel better!~
:) Danya
Good Earth
720 Center Blvd. Fairfax, CA.
The following New Leaf Stores are on sale:
Westside SCruz- 1101 Fair Ave. SCruz, CA.
Capitola - 1210 41st Ave. Capitola, CA.
Half Moon Bay- 150 San Mateo Rd. Half Moon Bay, CA.
Evergreen/San Jose-5667 Silver Creek Valley Rd. San Jose, CA.
Pleasanton-355 Bernal Rd. Ste. 100, Pleasanton, CA.
Boulder Creek-13159 Central Ave. Boulder Creek, CA.
Downtown SCruz/Pacific-1134 Pacific Ave. SCruz, CA.
Check out this link for Demo times to come down and try them :)
Event's & Demos Link~
Other Creative Endeavors
You May Not Control All The Events That Happen To You, But You Can Decide Not To Be Reduced By Them ~ Maya Angelou~
Monday, November 30, 2015
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On Tuesday, January 22nd, help to welcome the new Congress by urging your Senators to pass humane immigration reform in 2013.
Call 1-866-940-2439 to be connected with BOTH of your Senators. Tell them that, as their constituent and as a person of faith, you want immigration reform that provides a pathway to FULL CITIZENSHIP and prioritizes FAMILY UNITY.
Click here for a sample script.


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After my last post about how "failed" open-source projects aren't really failures at all, a colleague of mine provided me with more perspectives on that situation. The very way open source works, he claimed, is like an amortization of risk against failure in software development.
It sounded intriguing, so I said, "Do explain." And explain he did. To wit:
1. There are many FOSS projects, on Sourceforge or elsewhere, which are not intended for any kind of commercial or widespread use at all. Some of them are academic projects only meant to last for one or two semesters, and it's often easier to use Sourceforge's CVS (it's immediately public) than it is to set one up on your own or struggle with a university's IT department to get one running.
2. Many SF projects are "trial balloons," not first steps towards any kind of polished product. They're meant to serve as a space for a code experiment, to allow an experimenter and maybe a couple of collaborators to, again, use some public CVS space to get things running.
Few, if any, things created under these auspices are ever meant to become a 1.0 project. But they're crucially important to the health of FOSS as a whole, for a couple of reasons.
One, newbie FOSS hackers have a playground and a laboratory to work in -- a lab that contains every open-source project ever created. The whole point of Sourceforge -- and FOSS as a whole -- is to give people a code-development laboratory the size of the whole world.
Two, the trial-balloon projects can help steer other, more public FOSS projects into the right directions. My colleague mentioned as an example how he was fed up with the atrocious user interfaces that were the stock-in-trade for the applications in his particular field of expertise. He set about developing a new UI for those applications, with feedback from the community of users, and mounted it as a Sourceforge project. The results from that work were eventually rolled into the UI for another application that works in conjunction with a major-league FOSS project that everyone here ought to know. Not too shabby. (I've anonymized all of this at his request.)
3. A third thing my friend pointed out was my analogy regarding companies that fail, which he wanted to expand on. The reason corporations exist (he said) was because running any business entails a certain amount of risk. If you're using nothing but your own money, then you're in deep trouble if the business tanks and you're broke. A corporation is a way to amortize that risk, so that if things fail, as they often do, you're not shouldering the whole burden yourself.
In the same way, my friend argues, the FOSS development process amortizes the risk of software development. The only penalty for failure is lost time. If your time is valuable, you can always start with an existing project and refit that to your needs, rather than design something entirely from scratch. Or you can buy something out of the box, as many people do, if you're willing to leave inside-out development out of the picture.
Again, FOSS isn't a cure-all. But for many kinds of projects, one where a programmer has to do some kind of heavy lifting, open source means doing that much less heavy lifting entirely on your own.


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The colours 2016 Dakar Rally winner Toby Price will carry on his factory-backed Mitsubishi in the inaugural ECB SuperUtes Series have been unveiled.
Price is contesting selected SuperUtes events this year under the Team Triton banner alongside Craig Dontas, around his international commitments on two-wheels.
Ahead of this weekend's first-ever event in Adelaide, Price's Mitsubishi Motors Genuine Accessories livery has been revealed, also sporting backing from Lightforce.
Dontas will run with major backing from Total Tools, both drivers among the SuperUtes competitors that tested at Wakefield Park on Saturday.
"It has been a work in progress to get here and we are really excited to have Total Tools on board, the link between what we do with the SuperUtes and the Trade Industry is absolutely perfect," Dontas said.
"I'm really looking forward to getting out on track with all our great sponsors in my hometown of Adelaide."
Mitsubishi will be one of five brands represented in the 10-Ute Adelaide 500 field, joined by Ford, Holden, Mazda and Toyota.
The all-new series is first out on Thursday morning with practice at 8:15am, with the first of three races starting at 1:55pm on Friday.


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Minister O'Donovan announces Go for Life Grant success for 52 Groups in Limerick
Added December 9th, 2016
The Minister for Tourism & Sport and TD for Limerick County, Patrick O'Donovan has this morning announced national grants totalling almost €300,000 under the Go for Life Grant Scheme from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland of which 52 groups in Limerick have been successful.
These grants are aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older people across the country by providing them with opportunities to engage in physical activity and sport. Grant recipients include Active Retirement Groups, ICA guilds, Local Sports Partnerships, Sports Clubs, Family Resources Centres and many others who provide older people with opportunities to get active.
Announcing the successful grantees at the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West, in Limerick, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O'Donovan TD, said:
'The National Physical Activity Plan, launched earlier this year, sets an ambitious target to get half a million people more active within ten years. Programmes like Go for Life and the National Grant Scheme will help us reach this target by supporting and empowering older people to get active. The fact that approximately 30,000 people will take part in the activities funded by the grants shows what results can be achieved with a small investment and the record number of applications shows the continued importance of the scheme for local groups throughout the country.'
The successful Limerick groups are: Knocklong ARA, Limerick City ARA, Southill Family Resource Centre FRC, Limerick Regional Probus Club, Caherdavin ICA, Croom Communities in Motion, West Limerick Indoor Bowls, Limerick Federation ICA, Thursday Club (Clarina) ARA, Ballyhoura Development Ltd, Castleconnell ICA, Lansdowne ARA, Ballyagran/Castletown/Colmanswell ARA, ACM Active Social Group Castleconnell, Drombanna ICA, Our Lady Day Care Centre, Ardagh ICA, Limerick Sports Partnership, Abbeyfeale Men's Shed, Askeaton /Ballysteen ARA, Cappamore ICA, Raheen Co. Limerick ARA, ARA na Féile (Abbeyfeale) ARA, Grange ICA, Southill Dining Club, Ballyhahill/Loughill Going Strong, Limerick Central ARA, St. John's Senior Citizens Club, (Janesboro) Our Lady, Queen of Peace – Ladies Retired, Kilmallock ARA, Castlemahon ICA, ARRA Friends Newcastle West ARA, Limerick Strand Probus Club, Pallasgreen ICA, Broadford and District ARA, Limerick City ICA, Bothers of Charity Active Retired Group, Deafhear.ie (Limerick), Castletroy ICA, Adare ARA, Fedamore ICA, Patrickswell ARA, Doon ICA, Dromcollogher & District Respite Care Centre Ltd., Glenroe/Ballyorgan Active Retirement Group, Brothers of Charity, Cluid Housing Association, Limerick Holy Rosary ARA,, Murroe Maria Social Club, St. Mary's Senior Citizens Club, Bruff Go For Life, Mainistir na Feile ICA
Stay In Touch
Twitter: @podonovan
Will be on @PatKennyNT shortly discussing latest economic outlook @IRLDeptFinance @IRLDeptPER @merrionstreet @EnterInnov


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Even this late in the game, we're still designing, redesigning, and debating. This is healthy product development.
You're reading Signal v. Noise, a publication about the web by Basecamp since 1999. Happy !
Even this late in the game, we're still designing, redesigning, and debating. This is healthy product development.
What I'm curious about when I see mockups like this is whether the user would be given the option to pick either based on what they prefer. My sense from working with 37signals products is that one puts a line in the sand when it comes to UI design and only one option would be available to the customer (which probably makes supporting the product easier as well due to minimizing UI configurations).
I just watched a piece on Vimeo by Mig -that Mig entitled, "Backwards." (https://vimeo.com/channels/creativemornings)... a lo behold he exclaims that more or less "The seams are too tight and rigid in design to really appreciate the vocabulary of the mind's view and acceptance of things in aesthetics…" [My Words; not his…] THEREFORE, he shouts: 'Break Things. !" [Again: IBID, on the actual verbatim] Yet the message got acrossed.
-Maybe, therefore, you should just merge the two pieces you've listed here by cutting up the sections into identifiable portions; put them into a paper bag and pull them out one at a time and place them readily onto a paper in sequential order -only eliminating something when it seems redundant? (Er, just a Canadian thought here, based on being able to break the origination of order of design.)
@John Yeah these are more fundamental decisions about the values of the product, how it's fundamentally organized, etc. The boxes aren't just visuals, they have deeper implications, so choosing a UI on a per-customer basis wouldn't really work.
Go for the raspberry/pineapple looking one


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I found this gem on Normal Cooking and couldn't wait to give it a try! I made a couple changes and made it gluten free by using GF Bisquick and GF taco seasoning.
1 lb ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
1 package taco seasoning
½ cup Bisquick mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat the oven to 400. Brown the onions in a pan.
Add ground beef.
While beef is browning, sprinkle on taco seasoning.
Make sure all your beef is cooked thoroughly before removing from the stove.
In a small bowl, mix milk, eggs, and Bisquick.
In a pie or cake pan, pour the ground beef on the bottom.
Slowly pour the Bisquick batter over the meat.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Take out of the oven and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Bake for another 10 minutes.
Let it cool and enjoy with some salsa or sour cream!


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It's true, you might have to tell your mother-in-law wishing to visit that the guest room is taken. But what better way to fill it than with a litter of furry, temporary house guests? Bundles of joy that play and sleep (and sleep and play) and thrive on your care and attention for a brief period of time, allowing you to go back to your regular routine when you're ready for a pet-free break!
If you love pets but aren't quite ready for the commitment that comes with owning a new pet, then why not become a foster parent with the Lexington Humane Society (LHS)? Whether you're new to LHS or have been one of their longtime supporters, you can help save lives by temporarily opening your home to a litter of kittens or puppies, or maybe an adult cat or dog recovering from illness or surgery. Even taking on just one foster project—one adult animal, one litter, one mom with babies—makes the world of a difference in the lives of many. There's no obligation to take on repeated projects; you can simply say "one and done" and know you've done your part and helped save lives!
Kitten season is here and LHS is seeking new feline foster parents to help during these busy months, a time when homeless pet intake skyrockets and their needs are the greatest. In the past year, over 700 lives were saved thanks to their foster care program, and they're looking to expand on this success to save even more. All they need is your time and a little space in your home to help fur-babies (4-8 weeks of age) stay healthy and grow big and strong. If young babies aren't your cup of tea, they also always need foster parents to help adult pets in need of socialization or extra time to recuperate from a treatment.
And while "one and done" is all they ask, if you enjoy the experience and wish to foster more animals for LHS, that's great news too and means more lives saved! Got kids Fostering animals is also a great way to help teach kids about compassion and responsibility. Your "one and done" foster project not only saves animal lives but enriches the lives of family members and all who meet your foster baby(ies).
LHS provides everything you will need: food, a starter kit, carrier or crate, vaccinations and regular check-ups. Sounds easy, right? Well, it is! Visit www.AdoptLove.net to get started. "One and done" may not sound like much, but it truly saves the lives of many!


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BSN True Mass
- Price: £40.99
- Availability:
In Stock
- Quantity/Size:
- Flavour*:
BSN True Mass is known to be the best Muscle Mass Gainer and is highly recommended by expert nutritionists as it primarily promotes muscle growth, recovery and muscle protein synthesis. This amazing supplement is known to be multi-functional as it proves to be highly effective as a substitute for calorie-rich meal and is great for post-workout recovery. It is also, known to promote Mineral and Vitamin intake, Nutrition and is effective in Weight management. This is a super-premium protein formula that provides vital protein building blocks to build muscles in athletes. The exclusive formula is known for the carbohydrate blend that helps in offering caloric support to help the body recover from intense training regime. Healthy fats are useful in supplying quick-burning fuel to fulfill the energy demands of an athlete. The product is enriched with the unique flavor technology that makes the protein mix, the most scrumptious mass gaining preparation in the market today.
Consult a doctor before starting the consumption of True-Mass. You must know if you have any clinical issues. Seek expert advice if you are on some medication, getting ready for any medical procedure, nursing, pregnant, or planning a pregnancy. Better to discontinue or reduce intake of this product if undesirable reactions take place. This should not be given to individuals below 18 years of age. Store this product safely away from your pets and children.
You may add 3 scoops of the formula with 16 oz. of any beverage or cold water. Prepare this in the preferred consistency by varying the amount of beverage or water. Have 2-4 servings per day or as per your mass gaining requirements. You may use milk to increase your calorie or protein intake per serving or just to enjoy a delicious shake.
Complex Carbohydrate Blend (Whole Oat Flour, Maltodextrin), Milk Protein Isolate,ultra purified (water filtrated) High Isoflavone Soy Protein Isolate, (isolate blend and whey protein concentrate,, Egg Albumin, Micellar Casein, Glutamine Peptides and Hydrolyzed Whey Protein,), Creamer (Sunflower Oil, Sodium Caseinate, Corn Syrup Solids, Tricalcium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono & Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols), Artificial Flavors, Polydextrose, Natural and, Lecithin, MCT Powder (Medium Chain Triglycerides, Disodium Phosphate, Non-Fat Dry Milk, and Silicon Dioxide), Guar Gum, Beet Powder, Gum Blend (Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Gum Arabic) , Acesulfame Potassium , Sucralose.
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Turkey's musical archive preserved due to Armenian musician Hambardzum Limonchyan
15:35, 16 March, 2013
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. A special site has been created in Turkey through which the Ottoman music archive – preserved due to Armenian musician Hambardzum Limonchyan - will be introduced to the public. As "Armenpress" reports Turkish newspaper "Zaman" informs about that.
The newspaper points out that the application of notes in Turkish music started in the 19th century during the period of reign of sultan Selim III. Due to Sultan Selim's wish Armenian composer and musician Hambardzum Limonchyan from Constantinople discovered a type of musical notation which received the name "Hambardzum's Music Notation" in Turkey.
Among other things the Turkish newspaper stated: "Due to that musical notation applied in Turkey in the 19th century it was possible to prevent the loss of numerous musical works created in two centuries in Turkey. The majority of those works were kept in archives for a long while. Now lots of works recorded in "Hambardzum's Music Notation" will be accessible for the Turkish public due to the newly created site."
Turkey's musical archive preserved due to Armenian musician Hambar
Started by Yervant1 , Mar 16 2013 11:20 AM
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Flipkart is currently hosting its Apple Week and users can now buy smartphones of the tech-giant at massive discounts. From iPhone X, 8 Plus, 7 to 6s, all the cell phones are live and up for grabs.
Flipkart is currently hosting its Apple Week and users can now buy smartphones of the tech-giant at massive discounts. From iPhone X, 8 Plus, 7 to 6s, all the cell phones are live and up for grabs. The sale was started on January 9 and will end on January 15. Additionally, a cashback of up to Rs. 8,000 is also applicable on EMI transactions with ICICI Bank credit cards.
Here is the full list of iPhones that are up for grabs at the cheap price:
1: iPhone X: The iPhone X is priced at Rs 89,000 and Rs 1.02 Lakhs for the 64GB and 256GB variants respectively. Flipkart is offering a cashback of Rs 8,000 on EMI transaction carried out using ICICI Bank credit card on the smartphone. However, customers will have to make a minimum payment of Rs 74,000 on their credit card for receiving the cashback. They can also get up to Rs 18,000 off on exchange, however, if the total payable amount, after the exchange, goes lower than the minimum payment of Rs 74,000, they will no longer be eligible to receive the cashback.
2: iPhone 8, 8 Plus: The Apple iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus are price tagged at Rs 54,999 and Rs 67,999 respectively, and purchasers will also get a cashback of Rs 8,000 on the smartphones if they make a minimum payment of Rs 45,000 on their credit card. They can also avail up to Rs 18,000 off on exchange.
3: iPhone 7, 7 Plus: The iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 7 are priced starting at Rs 56,999 and Rs 42,999, down from their previous listed price of Rs 59,000 and Rs 49,000 respectively. The minimum payment amount for availing a cashback of Rs 5,000 on the smartphones is Rs 32,000. Customers can also get up to Rs 18,000 and Rs 21,000 off on exchange with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus respectively.
4: iPhone 6, 6s and 6s Plus: Flipkart has priced the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus starting at Rs 25,499, Rs 34,999 and Rs 37,999 respectively. They have received a discount of Rs 4,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 11,000 respectively. There is also a cashback of Rs 3,000 on purchasing any of the three smartphones as long as a minimum payment of Rs 20,000 is done via the ICICI credit card.
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Browsing HIV/AIDS by Title
Now showing items 456-475 of 484
Variability of Growth in Children Starting Antiretroviral Treatment in Southern AfricaPoor growth is an indication for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a criterion for treatment failure. We examined variability in growth response to ART in 12 programs in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Variation in Specificity of HIV Rapid Diagnostic Tests over Place and Time: An Analysis of Discordancy Data Using a Bayesian ApproachRecent trends to earlier access to anti-retroviral treatment underline the importance of accurate HIV diagnosis. The WHO HIV testing strategy recommends the use of two or three rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) combined in an algorithm and assume a population is serologically stable over time. Yet RDTs are prone to cross reactivity which can lead to false positive or discordant results. This paper uses discordancy data from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) programmes to test the hypothesis that the specificity of RDTs change over place and time.
Very early anthropometric changes after antiretroviral therapy predict subsequent survival, in karonga, Malawi.Antiretroviral (ART) scale-up in Malawi has been achieved on a large scale based mainly on clinical criteria. Simple markers of prognosis are useful, and we investigated the value of very early anthropometric changes in predicting mortality.
Very early mortality in patients starting antiretroviral treatment at primary health centres in rural Malawi.OBJECTIVES: To report on the cumulative proportion of deaths occurring within 3 months of starting antiretroviral treatment (ART) and to identify factors associated with such deaths, among adults at primary health centres in a rural district of Malawi. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study: from June 2006 to April 2008, deaths occurring over a 3-month period were determined and risk factors examined. RESULTS: A total of 2316 adults (706 men and 1610 women; median age 35 years) were included in the analysis and followed up for a total of 1588 person-years (PY); 277 (12%) people died, of whom 206 (74%) people died within 3 months of initiating ART (cumulative incidence: 13.0; 95% confidence interval: 11.3-14.8 per 100 PY of follow-up). Significant risk factors associated with early deaths included male sex, WHO stage 4 disease, oesophageal or persistent oral candidiasis and unexplained presumed or measured weight loss >10%. One in every 3 patients who either died or was lost to follow up had unexplained weight loss >10%, and survival in this group was significantly different from patients without this condition. CONCLUSIONS: Seven in 10 individuals initiating ART at primary health centres die early. Specific groups of patients are at higher risk of such mortality and should receive priority attention, care and support.
Viewpoint: Why do we need a point-of-care CD4 test for low-income countries?In this paper, we discuss the reasons why we urgently need a point-of-care (POC) CD4 test, elaborate the problems we have experienced with the current technology which hampers CD4-count coverage and highlight the ideal characteristics of a universal CD4 POC test. It is high-time that CD4 technology is simplified and adapted for wider use in low-income countries to change the current paradigm of restricted access once and for all.
Village-based AIDS prevention in a rural district in Uganda.OBJECTIVE: To design, implement and evaluate a village-based AIDS prevention programme in a rural district in north-western Uganda. A baseline KAP survey of the general population was carried out to design a district-wide information campaign and condom promotion programme. Eighteen months later the impact achieved was measured through a second KAP survey, using the same methodology. METHODS: Anonymous structured interviews were conducted in March 1991 and October 1992 with 1486 and 1744 randomly selected individuals age 15-49, respectively. RESULTS: At 18 months, 60% of respondents had participated in an information session in the past year (47% women, 71% men) and 42% had received a pamphlet about AIDS (26% women, 58% men). Knowledge about AIDS, high initially (94%), reached 98%. More respondents knew that the incubation period is longer than one year (from 29% to 40%), and were willing to take care of a PWA (from 60% to 77%). Knowledge about condoms increased from 26 to 63% in women and 57 to 91% in men. Ever use of condoms among persons having engaged in casual sex in the past year increased from 6 to 33% in women, and 27 to 48% in men. Fifty per cent of condom users criticized lack of regular access to condoms. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first documented example of the impact a village-based AIDS prevention programme can achieve in a rural African community. Critical areas to be improved were identified, such as: women must be given better access to information, more attention must be paid to explain the asymptomatic state of HIV infection in appropriate terms, and condom social marketing must be developed.
Viraemia and HIV-1 drug resistance mutations among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Mozambique.This study was conducted among individuals taking first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) for at least 12 months under programme conditions in Maputo, Mozambique in order to report on the level of detectable viraemia and the proportion and types of drug resistance mutations among those with detectable viral loads. HIV-1 RNA viral load levels (lower detection limit <50 copies/ml) were measured, and resistance mutations were sequenced. One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients (69% females, median age 36 years) were included after a mean follow-up time of 23 months. One hundred and seven (72%; 95% CI 64-79) had undetectable viral load, while in 42 (28%, 95% CI 21-36) viral load was detectable (range 50-58884 copies/ml). From 15 patients with viral load >1000 copies/ml, 12 viruses were sequenced: eight were C subtypes and four were circulating recombinant forms (CRF08). Eight (5%; 95% CI 2-9) patients with detectable viral load had one or more major resistance mutations. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and non-NRTI mutations were observed. There were no major mutations for resistance to protease inhibitors. In Maputo, the level of detectable viraemia is reassuringly low. While embarking on ART scale-up, wider surveillance is warranted to monitor programme quality and limit the development of drug resistance, which remains a major potential challenge for the future of ART in Africa.
Viral Load Monitoring as a Tool to Reinforce Adherence: A Systematic ReviewViral load monitoring has been proposed as a tool to reinforce adherence, but outcomes have never been systematically assessed.
Viral Load Monitoring of Antiretroviral Therapy, cohort viral load and HIV transmission in Southern Africa: A Mathematical Modelling AnalysisIn low-income settings, treatment failure is often identified using CD4 cell count monitoring. Consequently, patients remain on a failing regimen, resulting in a higher risk of transmission. We investigated the benefit of routine viral load monitoring for reducing HIV transmission.
Viral Load Versus CD4⁺ Monitoring and 5-Year Outcomes of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Positive Children in Southern Africa: a Cohort-Based Modelling StudyMany paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in Southern Africa rely on CD4⁺ to monitor ART. We assessed the benefit of replacing CD4⁺ by viral load monitoring.
Virologic failure and second-line antiretroviral therapy in children in South Africa--the IeDEA Southern Africa collaborationWith expanding pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) access, children will begin to experience treatment failure and require second-line therapy. We evaluated the probability and determinants of virologic failure and switching in children in South Africa.
Vital status of pre-ART and ART patients defaulting from care in rural MalawiOBJECTIVES: To ascertain the outcome of pre-Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ART patients defaulting from care and investigate reasons for defaulting. METHODS: Patients defaulting from HIV care in Chiradzulu between July 2004 and September 2007 were traced at last known home address. Deaths and moves were recorded, and patients found alive were interviewed. Defaulting was defined as missed last appointment by more than 1 month among patients of unknown vital status. RESULTS: A total of 1637 individuals were traced (54%-88% of eligible), 981 pre-ART and 656 ART patients. Of 694 pre-ART patients found, 49% had died (51% of adults and 38% of children), a median of 47 days after defaulting, and 14% had moved away. Of 451 ART patients found, 54% had died (54% of adults and 50% of children), a median of 52 days after defaulting, and 20% had moved away. Overall, 221 patients were interviewed (90% of those found alive), 42% had worked outside the district in the previous year; 49% of pre-ART and 19% of ART patients had not disclosed their HIV status to other household members. Main reasons for defaulting were stigma (43%), care dissatisfaction (34%), improved health (28%) and for ART discontinuation, poor understanding of disease or treatment (56%) and drug side effects (42%). CONCLUSION: This study in a rural African HIV programme reveals the dynamics related to health service access and use, and it provides information to correct programme mortality estimates for adults and children.
Voluntary Community Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing, Linkage, and Retention in Care Interventions in Kenya: Modeling the Clinical Impact and Cost-effectivenessIn southwest Kenya, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is about 25%. Médecins Sans Frontières has implemented a voluntary community testing (VCT) program, with linkage to care and retention interventions, to achieve the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets by 2017. We assessed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these interventions.
Voluntary Counselling, HIV Testing and Adjunctive Cotrimoxazole Reduces Mortality in Tuberculosis Patients in Thyolo, Malawi.OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of voluntary counselling, HIV testing and adjunctive cotrimoxazole in reducing mortality in a cohort of tuberculosis (TB) patients registered under routine programme conditions in a rural district of Malawi. DESIGN: 'Before' and 'after' cohort study using historical controls. METHODS: Between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2000 all TB patients were started on standardized anti-TB treatment, and offered voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT). Those found to be HIV-positive were offered cotrimoxazole at a dose of 480 mg twice daily, provided there were no contraindications. Side-effects were monitored clinically. End-of-treatment outcomes in this cohort (intervention group) were compared with a cohort registered between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999 in whom VCT and cotrimoxazole was not offered (control group). FINDINGS: A total of 1986 patients was registered in the study: 1061 in the intervention group and 925 in the control cohort. In the intervention group, 1019 (96%) patients were counselled pre-test, 964 (91%) underwent HIV testing and 938 (88%) were counselled post-test. The overall HIV-seroprevalence rate was 77%. A total of 693 patients were given cotrimoxazole of whom 14 (2%) manifested minor dermatological reactions. The adjusted relative risk of death in the intervention group compared with the control group was 0.81 (P < 0.001). The number needed to treat with VCT and adjunctive cotrimoxazole to prevent one death during anti-TB treatment was 12.5. INTERPRETATION: This study shows that VCT and adjunctive cotrimoxazole is feasible, safe and reduces mortality rates in TB patients under routine programme conditions.
"We Are Part of a Family". Benefits and Limitations of Community ART Groups (CAGs) in Thyolo, Malawi: a Qualitative StudyIn 2012 Community ART Groups (CAGs), a community-based model of antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery were piloted in Thyolo District, Malawi as a way to overcome patient barriers to accessing treatment, and to decrease healthcare workers' workload. CAGs are self-formed groups of patients on ART taking turns to collect ART refills for all group members from the health facility. We conducted a qualitative study to assess the benefits and challenges of CAGs from patients' and healthcare workers' (HCWs) perspectives.
Weight evolution in HIV-1 infected women in Rwanda after stavudine substitution due to lipoatrophy: comparison of zidovudine with tenofovir/abacavir.This cohort study was conducted amongst female patients manifesting lipoatrophy while receiving stavudine-containing first-line antiretroviral treatment regimens at two urban health centres in Rwanda. The objectives were to assess weight evolution after stavudine substitution and to describe any significant difference in weight evolution when zidovudine or tenofovir/abacavir was used for substitution. All adult patients on stavudine-containing first-line regimens who developed lipoatrophy (diagnosed using a lipodystrophy case definition study-based questionnaire) and whose treatment regimen was changed were included (n=114). In the most severe cases stavudine was replaced with tenofovir or abacavir (n=39), and in the remainder with zidovudine (n=75). For patients changed to zidovudine a progressive weight loss was seen, while those on tenofovir/abacavir showed a progressive weight increase from six months. The between-group difference in weight evolution was significant from nine months (difference at 12 months: 2.3kg, P=0.02). These differences were confirmed by follow-up lipoatrophy scores. In multivariate analysis, substitution with tenofovir/abacavir remained significantly associated with weight gain. This is the first study in Africa assessing weight gain as a proxy for recovery after stavudine substitution due to lipoatrophy, providing supporting evidence that tenofovir/abacavir is superior to zidovudine. The weight loss with zidovudine might justify earlier substitution and access to better alternatives like tenofovir/abacavir.
Weight gain at 3 months of antiretroviral therapy is strongly associated with survival: evidence from two developing countriesBACKGROUND: In developing countries, access to laboratory tests remains limited, and the use of simple tools such as weight to monitor HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy should be evaluated. METHODS: Cohort study of 2451 Cambodian and 2618 Kenyan adults who initiated antiretroviral therapy between 2001 and 2007. The prognostic value of weight gain at 3 months of antiretroviral therapy on 3-6 months mortality, and at 6 months on 6-12 months mortality, was investigated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Mortality rates [95% confidence interval (CI)] between 3 and 6 months of antiretroviral therapy were 9.9 (7.6-12.7) and 13.5 (11.0-16.7) per 100 person-years in Cambodia and Kenya, respectively. At 3 months, among patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 kg/m (43% of the study population), mortality rate ratios (95% CI) were 6.3 (3.0-13.1) and 3.4 (1.4-8.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5 and 5-10%, respectively, compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%. At 6 months, weight gain was also predictive of subsequent mortality: mortality rate ratio (95% CI) was 7.3 (4.0-13.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5% compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%. CONCLUSION: Weight gain at 3 months is strongly associated with survival. Poor compliance or undiagnosed opportunistic infections should be investigated in patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 and achieving weight gain less than or equal to 10%.


text:
FCC: Beware of Fee Phishing
The Federal Communications Commission warned broadcasters and others owing it regulatory fees that there may be Internet "phishers" posing as fee collectors.
The commission said it got complaints that nongovernmental agencies (translation: scam artists) "may be using Internet sites to misdirect parties seeking to submit their regulatory fee payments" in an attempt to collect financial information.
The FCC referred the complaints to the Inspector General, but in the meantime, it warned fee-payers to use its online site and accept no substitutes.
At least the commission has its priorities straight. On Friday, its home page led off with a link to emergency information in case of a hurricane -- there are at least three tropical storms or hurricanes stacked up in the Atlantic -- then reminded Web surfers that regulatory fees are due by close of business Thursday, Sept. 25.
In early August, the FCC proposed lowering some fees and raising others, but for the time being, cable operators have to pay 80 cents per subscriber and $205 for their license to operate a cable-antenna-relay service. TV stations owe anywhere from $71,050 for a top-market VHF to $1,800 for a small-market UHF. Low-power TV stations pay $1 per day in regulatory fees for their licenses.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.
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text:
Dementia is a the condition of being afflicted by a non-specific set of signs and symptoms that affect memory, attention, language, problem solving; pretty much every part of a patient's cognitive tool set can be affected.
There is no surefire way to prevent dementia. However, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits will drastically reduce your risk.
Dementia shares risk factors with heart disease, which is the world's number one killer.
To avoid dementia, avoid processed foods and white carbohydrates. Avoid sugar, avoid cigarettes, avoid binge drinking and avoid hard drugs.
Exercise your body. Run or walk. Lift or throw. Swim or climb. Stay active and design your lifestyle in a way that is balanced. Reduce the chances of dementia, read books, challenge your mind, find intellectual pursuits and follow them.
Invest in hobbies and create for yourself a life of purpose. To avoid dementia, surround yourself with friends and family members who care about you.
Achieve a spiritual peace, and wholesome well-being.


text:
Thursday, August 23, 1923
A cloudy day until late.
This evening it cleared a
way. It has bin colde
all day. We have had a fire
all day. I peeled a lot
of peaches and Carrie
preserved them. She caned
some tomatoes this evening.
Lee Brumfield staid here
a gain last night. I was
glad for him to be
here. The roads was so
mudy I was a fraid
some thing would happen
to him.
I got a letter from
Edna this morning. She
said that they were
all well at home.
I am anxious a bout
them at home.
I want to know how
they are getting on.
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text:
Welcome Aggie Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Families & Friends!
We are a group of Moms with a common bond – our kids and Texas A&M University. We have chapters all over the country that make up the Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers Clubs with a common goal of supporting the university's many organizations and needs. Our main goal is to provide support throughout the year to the students. However, we go beyond that. We share the same hopes and dreams for our kids and the same fears and worries. We share the same desire to see them succeed through their years at Texas A&M.
Becoming a member of our Galveston County Aggie Moms' Club is a good way to network with other parents who have similar interests and to keep informed of what is happening on the campuses of College Station and Galveston. Texas A&M University is rich in tradition and history! The "Spirit of Aggieland" is unmatched by any other university. This spirit and pride can be seen on and off campus, before and after graduation, in students and in their families, faculty, alumni, and in our very own club.
The success of our Galveston County Aggie Moms' Club truly depends on your help, support, and encouragement. Whether you have a current student or a former student, whether you live near or far, we hope that you will join our club so that we may continue to support our students.
As a member of the Galveston County Aggie Moms' Club, you will receive full access to our website, receive emails from our club officers, and receive monthly Newsletters filled with valuable information and photos taken at various events on a month-to-month basis.
We appreciate you visiting our Website and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Dalinda Dugal
President 2019-2020
Galveston County Aggie Moms' Club


text:
Love Seeks Not Its Own
4 principles to help us practice unselfish love
→ Click to view the Sermon Outline
I. The Meaning of this Characteristic
A. The focus is on what you are seeking at any given moment
1. An intense search
Matthew 2:2 - Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
Matthew 2:13 - Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
Matthew 18:12 - What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
2. Motivated by what you value
Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
B. Often repeated until it becomes habitual
Mark 14:55 - Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.
C. In this case, you show love by not organizing your life around what is best for you
D. At the core of what it means to practice biblical love
"In some ways this is the fullest expression of what Christian love is all about." Gordon Fee - NICTN – 1 Corinthians, p. 638
II. How this Attribute is Perfected in Christ
A. Jesus emptied Himself
Philippians 2:5-8 - Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
B. He came to serve, not to be served
Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
C. He submitted Himself to the Father's will
Luke 22:42 - saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
D. He sought our good not His own
Romans 15:3 - For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
III. This is at the Core of What it Means to Love God
A. Following Christ means denying yourself
Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
B. This is an important part of thinking about what it means to live out the first commandment
Mark 12:29-30 - Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"
C. This is an important principle as we plan our summers
IV. This is at the Core of What it Means to Love Others
Mark 12:31 - "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
On January 25, 1917 Louis Silvie Zampereni in Olean, New York to his parents Anthony and Louise who had just immigrated from Italy a few years before. By all accounts, Louie was a handful from the time he was born and by his teenage years he was known to be a master thief and a troublemaker. His story is told by a best-selling author, Laura Hillenbrand, in her book "Unbroken." Louie's family moved to Torrance, California and Hillenbrand remarks that when the police in Torrance received a call, the Zamperini door was the first one they investigated. His troublemaking came to a climax when the Torrance High School officials noticed that the number of students attending athletic games was far out-pacing the number of tickets their ledger books said had been sold. It was determined that young Louie was running a ticket-scamming business in the school basement which took him to the brink of being expelled. His salvation, so to speak, was when his older brother, Pete, offered to begin coaching Louie in track and field. Finally Louie found something productive in which to channel his energy and his talents. Zamperini became a track legend. At the Southern Californian Track and Field Championships in 1934, Louie set a new record for high school milers. The hometown papers began calling him the "Torrance Tornado" and while even in high school, he began competing against runners in college. Louie earned a track scholarship to USC, took first place in the NCAA track championship in 1938, setting a collegiate record in the mile that would stand for the next 15 years. By that time, he had his heart set on running in the Olympics which were scheduled to be held next in 1940 in Japan.
We know now historically that those are very ominous words, 1940 in Japan. You may know that Japan actually withdrew as the host of the 1940 Olympics and the games were then transferred from Tokyo to Helsinki, Finland. The previous year, Louie was having an incredible track season. In February, he ran a 4.08 mile at the Boston Gardens that was just 6/10 of second slower than the fastest indoor mile ever recorded. Two weeks later at the Madison Square Gardens, he ran even faster, clocking a mile at 4.07. Hillenbrand points out that with the Olympics months away, Louie was peaking at the ideal moment. Well, if you're thinking historically, you can probably put 2 + 2 together. Hillenbrand went on to say that on a dark day in April, 1940, Louie returned to his bungalow to find the USC campus buzzing: Hitler had unleashed his Blitzkrieg across Europe as Soviet allies had followed and the continent had exploded into total war. Finland, which was set to host the summer games, was reeling. Helsinki's Olympic Stadium was partially collapsed, toppled by the Soviet bombs. Gunnar Hockert who had beaten Louie and won gold for Finland in the 5,000 in Berlin was dead, killed defending his homeland. The Olympics had been canceled.
That part of Louie Zamperini's story helps us put a personal face on the sacrifice that many men and women have made in our 200+ year history of this country in order to protect and preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today. I think it's good for us on Memorial Day to remember that for a lot of reasons including the fact that their sacrifice helps us gain a better understanding of what it means to practice biblical love. Biblical love.
With that in mind, please open your Bible now to 1 Corinthians 13. That's on page 137 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you if you need that. Our church's theme this year is "Loving Our Neighbors" and so in order to help us understand exactly what that means, the past several weeks we've been doing a word-by-word study of this great love chapter in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, and we've been calling this "The Characteristics of Love." With the providence of God, the next phrase in the list is one that is especially emphasized and exemplified by many who have served and are serving in our armed services and serve on our police forces and our fire crews, that's certainly true of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We're talking now about how love does not seek it's own. Love does not seek it's own.
Please follow along as I read beginning in 1 Corinthians 13:1, where Paul said,
"1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three ; but the greatest of these is love."
We're talking this morning about how love does not seek its own and with the time we have remaining, let's look for four principles to help us practice unselfish love and I hope you came to church this morning to think of what are the ways that God is working that already in my life for which I can thank him and then also what are the way that I'm not, that I need to get more serious and principled about in the days ahead. Love doesn't seek it's own, four principles to help us practice unselfish love.
I. The Meaning of this Characteristic
It's probably best to start with the meaning of this characteristic: what is the Holy Spirit trying to help us put our fingers on here, love does not seek it's own? The focus is on what you're seeking at any given moment. This is just four words in the original language and it's very straight-forward, ou zetei ta heautes, in the original language: "ou" which is not; "zetei" which is seek; "ta," it's; "heautes" own. Many times in the Greek language, what's especially being emphasized is placed first in the sentence so "not seek it's own" so it translated very comfortably into English. The key word is "zetei" from the Greek verb "zeteo" and I've mentioned a couple of times in this study: a number of these words or phrases are very rare in the Bible. That is not true here. "Zetie" or "zeteo" are used all over the Bible so it's very easy for us to study other places in Scripture to help us have an understanding of what is Paul trying to help us get in our minds when he tells us that love does not seek its own, zeteo. For example, it's used to describe an intense search. You remember that after Jesus was born, for example, eventually the wise men came to see so-called King Herod and they asked, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews for we saw his star in the east and we've come to worship him?" I said eventually the wise men came to find Jesus. You understand that when they saw the star they didn't jump on a 747 so it took time after the wise men saw the star to actually get to the place where they could ask Herod that question. The Bible goes on to tell us that Herod was very troubled when they came and asked who had been born King of the Jews because Herod thought he was the King of the Jews so if a real king had been born, his legitimacy was demonstrated in part by a miraculous sign and Herod's gravy train could be coming to an end here.
So, Herod called the chief priest and the scribes together and he asked them were there any ancient prophecies that predicted exactly where the Messiah would be born. What's the answer to that question? You'd better believe it, which by the way, is one of the many, many reasons why you should believe in the power and authenticity of the Bible you have in your lap because of fulfilled prophecy. And the priests explained to Herod that, yes, the prophet Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in the, do you want to sing it? The little town of Bethlehem. So, Herod explained that to the wise men and then he instructed them to go and find the baby Jesus and then come back and tell him exactly where he was so Herod said, "So I can go and worship him." Matthew reports that after the wise men left, Mary and Joseph and Jesus and after an angel had warned the wise men not to do what Herod had asked, Jesus may have been at two years old by this point. Now, when they had gone, behold, we're looking for zeteo, in case you're wondering where all of this is going, "When they had gone, behold and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you for Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Where do you think the verb zeteo appears in that sentence? It's obviously right there at the end, "to search for the child." Picture a jealous, enraged political ruler searching with all the resources at his disposal to destroy his perceived competition. That's what it means to zeteo something. Love seeks not its own, zeteo is an urgent search or in Matthew 18, Jesus said, "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?" It's pretty easy now to find zeteo in that sentence, isn't it? That's what Paul wants us to picture in 1 Corinthians 13. Love seeks not its own. Like a king, zealously trying to find his competition or a farmer feverishly trying to locate a sheep. You see, the concept is zeteo, what do you tend to seek after? In a given situation, think back even over this past week, in a given situation, what are you searching for?
Here's another piece of this puzzle: it's motivated by what you value. We see that oftentimes when this Greek verb zeteo appears. It's motivated by what you value. For example: if you dropped a penny right now and it went rolling around the floor, if you couldn't find it immediately it's highly likely you wouldn't search for very long. In fact, some of you say, "I wouldn't even bend over for that bad boy. If it's gone, it's gone. For a penny." Well, how far up the line would you have to go in value before you'd say, "You know, I would probably stoop over for that. I would probably search for that." And I realize we're all at a different place, but let's just say $20. If you dropped a $20, would you bend over for that? Please tell me, "Yeah, for that. Not only that, I'd search for it. If I lost a $20 right now, I would say, Myrtle, stop what you're doing and help me find this $20." You just change whatever denomination up or down you would need in order to get the point: motivated by what you value. That's the emphasis of zeteo in Matthew 13. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it." You see zeteo there, don't you? A merchant seeking fine pearls.
Here's the principle: the higher you value something, the more intensely you seek it. Think about the last time you were really upset. Probably for most of us, that won't be very long ago. Think about the last time you were really upset: what were you seeking? Think about the last time you were really worried: what were you seeking? The last time you were really angry or you were really afraid or you were really excited: what were you seeking? You see, Paul wants you to think about that by using this word zeteo.
Here's another piece of this puzzle that we need to add to our discussion. This is often repeated until it become habitual. Some would say, "Ah, I don't need to think about that on a holiday weekend." You need to think about it a lot and here's why: if we don't guard what we are searching, what we are seeking in a given situation right or wrong, it will become part of us. Here's a use of zeteo that might not be as obvious but is very important to our discussion, it's Mark 14:55, "Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any." Where do you think zeteo is there? It's in the phrase "kept trying." Over and over and over, they kept trying. That's why this word can also be translated "strive for," or "demand," or "expect, or "consider," or "deliberate," or "examine," or "investigate." See on a given day, what do you tend to habitually seek?
In our key verse, Paul says that biblical love does not seek its own. The point is, you show love by not organizing your life around what is best for you. In other words, selfish unloving people wake up in the morning and they begin asking, they begin searching for what is in this for me? And who is going to serve me? And who is going to make me feel the way I want to feel? The selfish unloving person is seeking, he's searching out, he's demanding his own whereas a loving person does the opposite. Self is not at the end of his periscope; he's not seeking his own.
When Louie Zamperini's hopes of participating in the 1944 Olympics were dashed, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Hillenbrand details the kind of sacrifices that many men and women in our armed forces endured during those days. This picture survives of Louie and his older brother, Pete, they were both going into different branches of the service on that day. They were on the front porch of their family home with their mom and dad and other relatives before they headed off to war. Think about how many families had to take a similar picture. Hillenbrand writes how Louie and his father rode together to the train station. The platform was crowded with uniformed young men and crying parents clinging to one another saying good-bye. When Louie embraced his father, he could feel him shaking but they went and they did their duty. Why? Because love, what? It seeks not its own.
The book tells us about Louie's crew. He was the bombardier. Louie is the third man from the left in this particular picture. This picture struck me for a lot of reasons. Look how young they are and also look at the guy on the far right. He needs to go back to junior high. At one point, while they were in training, Hillenbrand quotes from a letter that Louie received from one of his other friends who was in training about an accident that just had happened and a number of men had died in that accident and Louie's friend was there to actually see what had happened to their bodies. I went back and forth, honestly, on whether I should quote from that letter and I decided not to just because of how graphic the story is but Hillenbrand goes on to say this,
"It was the kind of story that was filling the letters of would-be airmen all over the country. Pilot and navigator error, mechanical failure, bad luck were killing trainees at a stunning rate. In the Army Air Forces, there were 52,651 stateside aircraft accidents over the course of the war killing 14,903 personnel. Some of these personnel were probably on coastal patrol and other duties. It can be presumed that the vast majority were trainees killed without ever seeing a combat theater. In the three months in which Phil," that's the pilot of Louie's plane, "Phil's men trained as a crew, 3,041 AAF planes, more than 33 per day, met with accidents stateside killing nine men per day. In subsequent months, death tallies," this is by month, "exceeding 500 were common. In August, 1943, 590 airmen would die stateside, 19 per day."
We enjoy our freedoms in this country and others do in countries around the world because of that kind of love which seeks not its own. Some have even suggested that this is at the core of what it means to practice biblical love. For example, commentator Gordon Fee said, "In some ways this is the fullest expression of what Christian love is all about." Sure, all these words and all these phrases that we're studying in this text, we're studying in this series are important but it really is true at the core, love seeks not its own.
II. How this Attribute is Perfected in Christ
Now, lest we start looking at ourselves in the mirror and saying in our strength and in our own wisdom we could not possibly live like this. Please don't say, "Every morning, I just wake up and I start seeking the good of everybody. I don't even think about me." God would strike you with lightning right here on a sunny day. Me here, would just smash this pulpit so let's not do that but lest we say there's not way I could ever even make progress toward living like this, let's quickly bring the gospel into this conversation, huh? Think with me about how this attribute is perfected in Christ: love thinks not its own. The Scripture tells us that Jesus emptied himself. One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is the Kenosis passage, Philippians 2:5, "Have this attitude in yourselves, Paul said, "which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself," there it is, "taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." The word "emptied" in this text is the Greek word "kenoo," that's why theologians refer to this aspect of Christ's life as the Kenosis of Christ. His love motivated him to empty himself, that's what love does, it seeks not its own.
Because of that, he came to serve, not to be served. "And Jesus called them to himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles, the ungodly persons, they lord it over them and their great men exercise authority over them. It's not this way among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, whoever wishes to become first among you shall be your slave just as the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." That's what love does. It seeks not its own.
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit of God to use his word this morning to help you evaluate how you're really doing at this matter of being biblically loving? You're not saying right now, "I hope she's listening. I hope he's listening right now. As soon as we get in the car, I'm going to remind him of all the ways. I'm going to buy this tape for my mother-in-law." Let's let the Holy Spirit of God do his work on you, huh? Instead of being worried about what everybody else is sinning, your sin keeps you busy full time if you'll let it. I wonder if there were some sort of hourglass that we could turn one way during the day or it would just turn when we're seeking our own and another way back when we were being loving and not seeking our own, I wonder how much sand would be on which side of the glass at the end of the average day. I'm not sure I'd want to see that glass on the average day, would you? Love seeks not its own.
He submitted himself to the Father's will. He said, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me," that was authentic. He was a man; he was the God-man but he was a man. "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." That's what love does, it seeks not its own. And I hope you're saying this morning, "That's the kind of person I want to be. That's the kind of church we want to be, filled with people who are growing toward the goal of becoming like Christ and letting Christ live his life in and through us so that we would be loving in part by not seeking our own."
Someone posted on Facebook recently, "I want to be so full of Jesus that when a mosquito bites me, he flies away singing There's Power in the Blood." We had an Intro to Faith dinner at our house for those who are new to our church on this past Friday night. We were out on the deck and man, there was a mosquito, that thing was the size of North Carolina. I wonder if he would have bit us what he would have sung next. There is power in the blood of Christ.
Paul goes so far as to say that he sought our good not his own. Romans 15:3, have you ever noticed this verse? "For even Christ did not please himself," there it is, for even Christ did not please himself, "but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'"
It's really amazing how much Louie and his crew were able to accomplish, especially when you take into account all the equipment failures, the dangers of their mission. They came back from one flight and their crew counted 594 holes that had been shot into their plane by enemy fire on that single mission. On Thursday, May 27, 1943, Louie and the crew were asked to go search for another one of their planes that had not returned from a mission the day before. Louie's plane, that one was gone because of the 594 hole incidents and so the only one that was available to them was that one right there, the Green Hornet. It was a hot mess; it had been cannibalized for parts. They were running low on everything. No one really trusted the Green Hornet but there were other men who were potentially lost at sea and so Louie and his crew went. During that assignment, the plane faltered and though they did everything they could to prevent it, their plane crashed at sea. All but three of the crew perished in that crash. Louie Zamperini survived along with two other men. They spent the next 47 days in the water and the book details the incredible horrors of being harassed by sharks, the tremendous hunger and thirst. They were actually strafed by an enemy plane while they were in their life raft and then the slow death of one of their remaining crew members.
When the two survivors actually made land, Louie Zamperini who had weighed 155 pounds the day they left for the mission now weighed 87 pounds. But their horror was really just beginning because the place they landed was enemy territory. They were shuttled to various POW camps, tortured mercilessly in an attempt to get them to expose military secrets. By that time, Japan was losing the war badly and they would do anything they could to these POWs in order to extract information. But remember, love does not seek its own and so even after this entire ordeal, they were not going to sell out their fellow soldiers and airmen. Their final stop was to a POW camp run by a merciless man named Watanabe, nicknamed the Bird. In one of the dozens of stories that could be related from this particular part of the ordeal, some of the enlisted men, Louie was actually an officer, some of the enlisted men from the US were caught stealing a fish trying to stay alive. They were actually put to work in the POW camp. This describes one of their days.
"One day that month, Louie, Tinker and Wade were shoveling on a barge when the foreman discovered that fish had been stolen from the galley. The foreman announced that if the thieves didn't turn themselves in, he would report the theft to the Bird. During lunch break, the innocent men persuaded the culprits to confess. When the men walked into camp that night, the foreman told the Bird anyway as he suspected that more men had been in on the theft. The Bird called for the work party to line up before him and ordered the thieves to stand before the group. He then walked down the line, pulling out Wade, Tinker and Louie and two other officers and made them stand with the thieves. He announced that these officers were responsible for the behavior of the thieves. His punishment: each enlisted man would punch each officer and thief in the face as hard as possible.
"The chosen men looked at the line of enlisted men in terror. There were some 100 of them. Any man who refused to carry out the order, the Bird said, would meet the same fate as the officers and the thieves. He told the guards to club any men who didn't strike the chosen men with maximum force. The enlisted men had no choice. At first, they tried to hit softly but the Bird studied each blow. When a man didn't punch hard enough, the Bird would begin shrieking and clubbing him, joined by the guards, then the errant men would be forced to hit the victim repeatedly until the Bird was satisfied. Louie began whispering to each man to get it over with and hit hard. Some of the British men whispered 'Sorry, Sir,' before punching Wade who was a British officer.
"For the first few punches, Louis stayed on his feet but his legs soon began to waver and he collapsed. He pulled himself upright but fell again with the next punch and then the next. Eventually he blacked out. When he came to, the Bird forced the men to resume punching him screaming, 'Next. Next. Next.' In Louie's whirling mind, the voice began to sound like the tramping of feet.
"The sun sank, the beating went on for some time two hours, the Bird watching with fierce and erotic pleasure. When every enlisted man had done his punching, the Bird ordered the guards to club each one twice in the head with a kendo stick. The victims had to be carried to the barracks. Louie's face was so swollen that for several days he could barely open his mouth. By Wade's estimate, each man had been punched in the face some 220 times."
Think about how many stories like that could be multiplied to illustrate the kind of love that has been shown by men and women who we're called to remember this weekend. Friends, love seeks not its own.
III. This is at the Core of What it Means to Love God
This is really at the core of what it means to love God. It seeks not its own. Following Christ means denying yourself. I was teaching at a school this week with some 18 year olds and some dear young man wanted to get into a theological argument with me on this point. You cannot debate this point. Following Christ means denying yourself. Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The cross isn't a fashionable piece of jewelry to be worn around someone's neck, it's an instrument of crucifixion and by coming to Christ we're saying we recognize our sin, we are willing to acknowledge it and we're placing our faith and trust in Christ and what he did on the cross as the only means of saving us. We're acknowledging our old selves have to be put to death. We're no longer living to seek our own. We now want to learn what it means to love, to love our God. This is an important part of what it means to live out the first commandment. We talk about it but do we understand what it really means? The foremost command, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one and you shalt love." Love seeks not its own. "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might and with all your strength."
What does it mean to love the Lord? With the material that we're learning this morning, it certainly includes seeking not our own interests but our God's. I would suggest this is an important principle as we plan our summers. What does it mean to love God this summer? And I hope you're not just thinking about your interests, I hope you're thinking about ways you can advance the plan and program of God. That's why we'll have many men and women this summer who will volunteer to serve in Vacation Bible School. Why? Because it's convenient? "Boy, that's going to be a lot of fun, Myrtle." No, because they love God and because they want to find ways to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ while they have the opportunity to do so. That's why many men and women will be helping us in these community development corporation houses. Our CDC board actually took a tour of the two beautiful homes you have now purchased downtown. Wow, hot mess one and hot mess two we ought to call them. And there's going to be all kinds of people who are serving in order to help us get those homes renovated and then prepared for a lower moderate income buyer and hopefully to be a brighter light in that part of our community. Why? Not to earn something from the Lord, we love him because he first loved us and we want to love him in part by living in a way that seeks not our own.
I would suggest, by the way, there is great satisfaction in living that way. If you'd say, "Man, what a gyp. I have to live for God and others and not me?" Listen, selfish people are boring, have you figured that out? And living for yourself is just an absolute bore. It is. Living for God and others brings joy. I'm teaching a class right now online as part of our seminary, it's a class on Introduction to Biblical Counseling and so every Thursday we have a conference call. The way the technology works, everybody's picture comes up from around the country and around the world who's in this class and we've been studying together and doing online work together and then we have a conference call. One of the men is a dentist; he's from Jordan. So there he is in his dental chair, that's where he has his part of the conference call from and he and his wife want to learn how to do biblical counseling so that they can do it effectively in the country of Jordan. I sit there thinking, "What a great privilege it is to be able to teach someone who is going to be able to use that material in a place that you or I could never get to." And it doesn't matter if that's a convenient time for me or blah, blah, blah. It sounds trite even saying that. Love seeks not its own and it's a great way to live.
IV. This is at the Core of What it Means to Love Others
This is at the core of what it means to love others. The second commandment is like the first: you shall love, love seeks not its own, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Loving others. You know, a number of us are going to be heading off for vacation sometime this summer. Do you think that would be a really good time to practice what we're studying this morning? Because you realize for many people, vacation is one of the worst times of the year. Do you know why? It's because you cram a bunch of selfish people in the same car, right? There's a journal for pastors, it's called Leadership Journal. It showed this picture of an airplane where a pastor and his wife had just gotten on the plane, they were going to go on a two week vacation together and there are little bubbles coming out of either window showing what each one of them was thinking. The wife's bubble, she was thinking, "Finally, two weeks with just me and him without those stupid books." From the husband's side he was thinking, "Finally, just two weeks with me and the books." They were not going to have a really good vacation, do you know that?
I hope you'll say, "I want to be the kind of person who is practicing practical biblical love." By the way, I realize as you hear this message you might say, "You know, I can't do this because I don't know Christ." You can't and please don't think about Christianity as if, "Well, I have to learn how to do all this stuff and then I can earn my...." No, it doesn't work that way. We're not saved by our works. And a message like this could be used in the lives of some who will hear it today to help you acknowledge, "I don't have a relationship with God which would give me the strength and power and direction in order to do this." Do you know what you need to do next? You need to come to him in repentance. You need to come to him with hands that are open, not full of your supposed good works but empty, recognizing your good works are like filthy rags and saying to him, "I want to ask you to forgive me. I want to trust what Jesus Christ did on the cross to save me and to direct me in the coming days." Friend, if you've never made that decision before, you can make that today. "Father, I know I'm a sinner and I want to place my faith and trust in Jesus Christ." That can and that will absolutely transform your life.
I should probably issue a spoiler alert here because some of you say, "I think I'm gonna read that book." Well, stick your fingers in your ears if that's the case, because I'm going to tell you what happened right at the end. Louis Zamperini actually survived WWII and he wrote a letter to Watanabe, the Bird. Here's how it went,
"As a result of my prisoner of war experience under your unwarranted and unreasonable punishment, my post-war life became a nightmare. It was not so much due to the pain and suffering as it was the tension and stress and humiliation that caused me to hate with a vengeance. Under your discipline, my rights not only as a prisoner of war but also as a human being were stripped from me. It was a struggle to maintain enough dignity and hope to live until the war's end. The post-war nightmares caused my life to crumble but thanks a confrontation with God through the evangelist Billy Graham, I committed my life to Christ. Love replaced the hate I had for you. Christ said forgive your enemies and pray for them. As you probably know, I returned to Japan in 1952, was graciously allowed to address all the Japanese war criminals at Zuguna Prison. I asked them about you and was told that you probably had committed hari-kari which I was sad to hear. At that moment, like the others, I also forgave you and I would hope that you too would become a Christian."
Then Hillenbrand says this, "On the morning of January 22, 1998," do you remember where the winter games were held in 1998?
"On the morning of January 22, 1998, snow sifted gently over the village once known as Nakatsu, Japan. Louie Zamperini, four days short of his 81st birthday, stood in a swirl of white beside a road flanked in bright drifts. His body was worn and weathered, his skin scratched with lines mapping the miles of his face. His old riot of black hair was now a translucent scrim of white but his blue eyes still threw sparks. On the ring finger of his right hand a scar was still visible, the last mark the Green Hornet had left in his world. At last it was time. Louie extended his hand and in it was placed the Olympic torch. His legs could no longer reach and push as they once had but they were still sure beneath him. He raised the torch, bowed and began running. All he could see in every direction were smiling Japanese faces. There were children peeking out of hooded coats, men who had once worked beside the POW slaves in the steel mill, civilians snapping photographs, clapping, waving, cheering Louie on and 120 Japanese soldiers formed in two columns, parting to let him pass. Louie ran through the place where cages had once held him but the cages were long gone and so was the Bird. There was no trace of them here among the voices, the falling snow and the old and joyful man running."


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HOUSEHUNTERS considering buying on one of Oxfordshire's newest estates have the chance to take a look around this weekend.
Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire is holding an open house event on selected plots of its Great Western Park development today, Saturday and Sunday to give potential buyers a chance to see inside a selection of properties, which start from £260,000.READ ALSO: Giant duck in Oxford for month-long RNLI fundraiser
The developer will be offering prospective purchasers a selection of incentives, tailored to each plot.
Danielle Heard, sales and marketing director said they were expecting a lot of interest.
The event will take place at the Brunel Rise development on Thursday, June 20, from 10am - 7pm and Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June from 10am - 5pm.


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Custom Backgammon Boards
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KIRA Cultural Tourism in the Heilbronn-Franken region
Document Date:
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Document Code:
KIRA is a cultural tourism network which was founded with the intention to build and establish an efficient interconnection/ interlinking of tourism, culture, economy, administration and tourism affine institutions in the Heilbronn-Franken region in the North of Baden-Wuerttemberg. It is developed by the project's initiator "Kultur und Arbeit e.V." in collaboration with stakeholders of the relevant branches. KIRA is an ongoing project but can be regarded as a new and innovative approach to interlink various representatives from culture, tourism, economy and administration as well as tourists and citizens for the purpose of jointly (not as counterparties but as partners) promoting products and offers in the field of cultural heritage. The project's intention is shaped by the region's cultural touristic potential. KIRA does not intend to simply collect data of cultural offers in the region but aims to transfer the cultural potential of the region into tourism cultural products and services of high quality in close cooperation with local touristic institutions. In this sense, locals are additionally integrated into the project as ambassadors of the region's cultural touristic potential to communicate the newly developed products and services via social web as an appropriate communication medium.


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It was a cucumber lime drink and a hefty burrito that brought Douglas County employee Jim Davis to Ecclesia for lunch on June 20. He'd been to the Castle Rock food hall once before and came back for …
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It was a cucumber lime drink and a hefty burrito that brought Douglas County employee Jim Davis to Ecclesia for lunch on June 20. He'd been to the Castle Rock food hall once before and came back for the bright green beverage, he said.
His first impressions? Ecclesia is nice, clean and brings variety to the area.
"It's nice to have a little more selection instead of the same place over and over again," Davis said.
Ecclesia, one of Castle Rock's newest eateries, brings the food hall trend to town, and also aims to preserve a building that long served as a church in the heart of downtown.
Ecclesia opened in late March at 221 Perry St. and houses five vendors — a cocktail lounge, two food stands, a market and a bookstore — with more on the way. Two additional eateries are slated to open in the coming weeks, and the venue plans to host periodic events.
Next up is an art show on June 27 for Denver artist Tony Achilles, who painted an expansive mural in the hall's cocktail lounge.
The market Farmgirl Foods, Romo's Street Tacos, European eatery Lante Brau-Casa, Sinners & Saints cocktail lounge and bookstore Sudden Fiction operate from the hall today.
The new food stands will be Moosh Moosh desserts and a not-yet-named seafood place. The facility also has an arcade and outdoor patios where people can sip on drinks or eat food from the vendors.
The idea for a food hall in Castle Rock sprouted three summers ago when the partners behind the business vacationed together in New Orleans. Those partners are Kim and Mark Pforr, Floyd and Michaela Bacon (owners of Maddie's Biergarten down the street), and Dave and Michele Schutte.
"We were discussing what Castle Rock was missing," said Dave Schutte, explaining that they first considered opening a brewery or distillery before landing on a food hall. "It's a concept that everybody enjoys going to, but they're all in Denver."
They settled on the name Ecclesia as a nod to the building's past use as a church. Schutte said the word is Latin for church but also "gathering place."
The cocktail lounge menu offers 10 choices dubbed "The 10 Commandments," a large table is seated with church pews and the mural painted by Achilles is his rendition of Dante's Inferno, complete with the town's iconic "The Rock" painted into his piece.
Schutte said he's met former congregation members of the church who've been receptive to the food hall, putting some of his personal concerns to rest.
"I was concerned that people might think we were poking fun rather than giving a nod," he said. "We didn't want to be themey but we didn't want to run away from this having been a church."
Vendors have called the food hall a blessing and opportunity for their businesses. Both Lante Brau-Casa and Romo's Street Tacos operated as food trucks before entering the brick-and-mortar model through Ecclesia.
Mayra Romo, who co-owns the taco shop with her husband, Jorge, and is opening Moosh Moosh, said they were surprised when the Schuttes approached them about joining the food hall but jumped at the chance. Dave's wife was a fan of the family's food truck, which began operating in The Meadows last year, he said.
"It's been an amazing experience," Romo said of the food hall concept. "We can cross-promote, we can encourage one another and we're a family at the end of the day."
Melissa Clement, who owns Farmgirl Foods, said she enjoys being part of a business focused on the local community. All the owners and vendors are based in Castle Rock, and she sources more than 80% of her products from Colorado. That includes local meats and some products made in Castle Rock.
While she's hoping to bring a mom and pop type of market to the downtown, Clement said she's eager for people to come experience the hall as a whole.
"It's just a really cool place to hang out," she said. "It's fun, it's new, the bar has an amazing vibe. The food is fantastic."
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That's How You Choose The Perfect Catering Service For Your Wedding!
Wedding for some is a glitzy occasion and for others, it's an intimate affair. Either ways, a lot is at stake at such a prestigious event and food is an inevitable element. What you choose to feed your guests with, needs to be exceptional and soul-satisfying as they'll be having it's memory for the rest of their lives. Now, when it comes to deciding the menu and the caterers for the special occasion, there's a lot riding on the decision of which caterer to choose. Here are the most useful tips that'll help you pick the perfect one for your catering requirements:
Let a number of proposals flow in:
Specify your needs like the number of guests you are expecting, the kind of event you are planning and then let a number of proposals from catering companies flow in so that you have a lot of options to choose from. Once you've gathered a lot of them, filter them as per your requirements. Compare and contrast the cost, service, and menu options.
Watch out your budget:
Be clear about your budget. Let the caterers know about your budget so that they can customise their package according to your requirement. Watch out the kind of communication they have and clarify all your doubts so that you don't have any hidden costs to be paid for, on the very day of celebration.
Check for availability:
This is yet another crucial factor to be taken care of. You obviously don't want to face a situation where all your guests are waiting and your caterer is nowhere to be seen! So, it's advisable to fix the caterers beforehand to avoid any sort of confusion and embarrassment.
Ensure the quality and sustainability:
Nobody would want their guests being admitted due to food poisoning right after the event is over. So, it's very important to ensure the quality and sustainability of everything that'll be served. Go for a catering service that offers you amazing presentation and soul-satisfying taste. The best kind of catering service is the one that's flexible enough to let you customise the menu just the way you want.
Don't skip that last bit of research:
Rather than relying on what the catering services claim, indulge into a deep research and find out what the customers have to say. People who have used their services know the best as to what kind of services the companies provide.
Conduct 2-3 tasting sessions:
This is necessary to ensure that the caterer you choose delivers the best version of what you want on the most special day of your life. It's advisable to set up 2-3 tasting session with each of the shortlisted caterers. These sessions will not only allow you to fully understand the quality, style and presentation of their food but will also help choose the best one of all.
Be careful with the contract:
Once you've finalised a catering service, get each and every detail drafted into a document. Ensure that everything from the selected menus to the number of servings to the beverage service details are jotted down in the contract so that there's no confusion at the last minute.
Now that you have the most effective tips with you, you can easily hunt for the best catering service in town!
Source : Party Vapours