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Simple Router Table PlansUpdated: Jul. 20, 2023
Stability, storage and a whole lot more in this diy router table.
You might also like: TBD
- Time
- Complexity
- Cost
- Multiple Days
- Intermediate
- $101–250
Rock-solid DIY router table
A handheld router is an amazingly versatile tool in its own right. But if you turn it upside down and mount it under a table, that same router is capable of a whole new set of tasks. I designed this DIY router table to be solid, stable, easy to build and easy to use.
The joinery is simplicity itself. Just butt joints and screws—no miters, no fuss. But don't get me wrong. Simple doesn't mean second-rate. This table will withstand years of hard use and offers most of the features found on high-end manufactured models.
Meet the router table fence builder
Dave Munkittrick is a Field Editor and airline pilot turned professional woodworker.
8 Great features of the DIY Router Table
Safe, convenient switch
The external switch lets you switch your router on without opening a cabinet door.
1: Double dust collection Vacuum ports in the cabinet and fence provide suction both above and below the router bit, making this router table one of the cleanest machines available.
2: Super storage A big, deep drawer lets you corral all your routers and accessories in one convenient place. Door-mounted bit holders—just wood scraps with drilled holes—let you find the right bit instantly.
3: Safe, convenient switch The external switch lets you switch your router on without opening a cabinet door. When making stopped cuts, you can even switch it off with your knee, leaving both hands free to hold the workpiece. The switch is optional; you can use the switch on the router.
4: MDF for stability The cabinet, top and fence are mostly MDF, which comes flat and stays flat. MDF is also heavy. The extra weight makes this router table stable and dampens router vibration.
5: Fully adjustable fence The sliding fence faces let you adjust the opening up to 3 in. wide. A pair of clamps locks the fence in position—simple, quick and reliable.
6: Rock solid top The top is a thick sandwich: 3/4-in. MDF between layers of 1/4-in. hardboard. It won't warp, sag or flex, no matter what you run across it.
7: Tough work surfaces Wood is surprisingly abrasive and grinds away at finishes and other surfaces. But the laminate top and fence face on this router table will stay smooth and slick for years. The laminate is optional, though. If you skip it, you'll save about $30 and a few building steps.
8: Movable but solid Hard plastic furniture glides let you easily slide this router table across the floor. But unlike casters, the glides won't wobble or cost you a fortune.
How to make a router table: Choosing a router for a table
There is no wrong router for a table. Over the years, I've seen all kinds of routers work just fine in tables: big ones, small ones, fixed-base and plunge models. That said, most serious woodworkers I know prefer fixed-base routers in tables. And everyone agrees that bigger is better; most pros use a 3-hp model.
If you're in the market for a new router, consider a "combo kit" (one motor, a fixed base and a plunge base). That way, you can mount one base in the table and quickly transfer the motor to the other base for hand-held routing. Also, consider a model that allows above-the-table height adjustment. By inserting a shaft through the tabletop, you can raise or lower the router. Very precise, very convenient. Craftsman, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable, Ridgid and Triton offer this option on some models. For more router-buying advice, see our review of Midsize Routers.
The cabinet
I designed this DIY router table for easy construction. It's mostly a matter of cutting the parts in the Cutting List and assembling them as shown in Figure A. But before you get started on the cabinet, think about the height of your table. I made mine 34-1/4 in. tall to match the height of my table saw. That way the router table can act as an outfeed support for the saw or vice versa. If you want to do the same, you may have to alter the height of the sides and back.
Cut all the cabinet parts (parts A – G) and band them with hardwood edging (S – W). I used maple. When gluing on the edging, I used masking tape to hold it in place until the glue set, though there were some stubborn spots where I needed the extra force of clamps. The edging has two purposes: It protects the edges of the MDF, which are prone to chipping and denting, and it just plain looks good when the router table is finished.
With all the parts edged, I assembled the cabinet using washer-head screws. You could use other types of screws, but washer heads eliminate the need to drill countersink recesses, add some strength, and—like the edging—they look good.
Important: Before you screw in the middle shelf, measure the height of your router and make sure the shelf location will allow you to remove the router motor from the base. I placed the shelf 12 in. from the top, but your router might require more space. This may also change the height of your drawer parts.
When the cabinet is complete, hang the doors using "wrap" hinges (Photo 1). There are several styles available; just be sure to use a "full overlay" version since the doors fully cover the front edges of the sides. The hinges I used are item No. 00H5833 at leevalley.com. Nail on the furniture glides, mount the external switch and cut one hole for the power cord and another just above the middle shelf sized to suit your vacuum hose. You'll also have to cut a hole in the top of the cabinet, but leave that for later.
The tabletop
Photo 2: Make a 'sandwich' tabletop
Glue layers of hardboard to both sides of the MDF core. Glue on the bottom layer first as shown here. You can press the parts together with an MDF platform, 2x4s and clamps as shown, or by stacking weights on the sandwich.
Tabletop 'sandwich' detail
Here's how to use a slab of MDF as a gluing platform when applying 2x4s and clamps.
Photo 3: Trim the top
Cut off the protruding hardboard using a flush-trim bit. The bearing rolls along the core, guiding the bit so it shaves the hardboard perfectly even with the core. Then cut a hole for the router (see Photo 5), add the top layer of hardboard as shown in Photo 2 and trim it the same way.
Photo 4: Laminate the top
Wrap the top with hardwood edging, spread on contact cement and apply the plastic laminate. Slip sticks let you center the laminate before lowering it onto the top. Once the laminate makes contact with the top, it's permanently stuck; there are no second chances.
Think of the top like a sandwich. The MDF core (D) is the meat and the 1/4-in. hardboard (N) is the bread. Here's the recipe: First, glue one layer of hardboard (cut about 1/2 in. larger than the final size) to the MDF core (Photo 2). I pressed the parts together using a slab of MDF as a platform, 2x4s and clamps. This is a complicated glue-up, and I strongly recommend that you make a dry run complete with all the clamps first.
For a simpler approach, use weights. Lay the hardboard on a perfectly flat, sturdy surface, apply glue and set the MDF core on it. Then set weights on the MDF—lots of weights. Six 5-gallon buckets of water will fit nicely on the sandwich and apply plenty of weight (just be careful not to spill!).
When the glue has dried, trim the hardboard (Photo 3) and cut a hole through the hardboard and MDF, using your router base as a template to mark the hole. You can center the hole in the tabletop as shown in Figure A. But I like extra support in front of the router bit, so I centered the hole 8 in. from the back of the tabletop. When you've cut the hole, center the tabletop on the cabinet and trace the hole onto the cabinet top. Then cut a hole in the cabinet top at least 1/2 in. larger than the hole in the tabletop. Now add the second layer of hardboard to the tabletop. But don't cut a hole in it. The upper layer of hardboard forms the work surface and supports the router.
To complete the tabletop, add the hardwood edging, followed by the plastic laminate (Photo 4). Ease the edge of the table with a chamfer bit to prevent chipping the brittle laminate. While you're laminating the top, go ahead and laminate stock for the fence faces too. If you have extra laminate, make extra faces to replace damaged ones later.
Now you're ready to install the router. Using a hole saw, drill a router-bit hole sized to suit your largest router bit. Then mark and drill screw holes (Photo 5) so you can fasten your router base to the tabletop. When you bore countersink holes through the laminate to accommodate the screw heads, go slowly and cautiously. There's just slightly more than 1/4 in. of material there; bore too deep and you're in big trouble. With the router base mounted, the tabletop is complete. Center it on the cabinet and fasten it with screws driven from inside the cabinet.
The router table fence
Photo 6: Make two fence parts at once
Cut a hole in a plank of MDF, then cut the plank in half to make two perfectly matching parts: the base and the rail. When the fence is assembled, the cutouts form an opening for the router bit.
Photo 7: Slot the fence rail
Drill pairs of holes in the fence rail to mark the ends of each slot. With the router off, set the rail over the router bit. Switch the router on and cut until you reach the second hole. Cut each slot the same way. Clamp on a long wood scrap as a temporary fence.
The fence base and rail will come from one piece of MDF. Cut this blank to 8-5/8 x 32 in. and drill a 3-in. hole in the center with a jigsaw or hole saw. Rip the blank in half and you've got both parts, perfectly matched (Photo 6).
Now it's time to put your new table to work! You'll use it to cut slots in the fence rail, which allow the fence faces to slide in or out. First, mark the slot location on the fence rail (Figure A). Then drill a 5/16- in. hole at both ends of each slot. Chuck a 5/16-in. straight bit into your router and raise it to a height of about 7/8 in. above the tabletop. Set the fence rail on the router table so the bit protrudes through the first hole on your left.
Clamp on a temporary fence, turn on the router and push the stock from right to left (Photo 7) until the bit enters the hole at the other end. Turn off the router and let the bit completely stop before you move on to the next slot. (Aren't you glad you added that external power switch?) Join the two fence halves with glue and screws. Add the triangular fence supports (K) and the dust port (P).
The fence faces need 3/4-in. recesses to countersink the carriage bolt heads and 5/16-in. holes for the bolt shanks. The holes must align perfectly with the slots on the fence rail, so it's a good idea to cut a fake fence face from a scrap of MDF, drill the holes and test the fit. If the fit is right, use the fake as a pattern to drill the fence faces. Bolt on the faces and your fence is ready for action.
When a router table counts
A router mounted on a table does some things better than a handheld router: In some situations, it's simply faster and easier to push wood across a router than to push a router across the wood. In other situations, a sturdy table and fence give you more control and accuracy.
And then there are jobs only a router table can do: Making raised-panel doors, for example, requires big router bits that aren't safe in a hand-held router. Other bits—like the ones that cut an interlocking door or drawer joints—require precision that only a router table can offer. A router table can also shape parts that are too small for handheld routing. For any type of work, a router table along with your shop vacuum can give you far better dust control than you can get with a handheld router.
Finishing touches
I built the drawer box last so I could use the router table to cut the 1/4-in.-deep rabbets in the drawer sides (BB). But you could skip the rabbets altogether and simply make the drawer front and back (AA) 1/2 in. shorter. I mounted the drawer on full-extension slides, though other styles would also work. I gave the drawers, doors and cabinet two coats of polyurethane finish, inside and out. Then I added door pulls and magnetic catches and congratulated myself on a great addition to my wood shop.
A second router table option would be to building a router table from an old kitchen countertop.
Figure A: how to make a router table
Overall dimensions: 34-1/4′ tall x 32′ wide x 23′ deep.
These materials are available at most home centers, though the plastic laminate may be a special-order item.
Additional materials: wood glue, 2" washer-head screws, 1-5/8" screws, contact cement, polyurethane finish
We ordered the following items from rockler.com: safety power tool switch, No. 20915; and nail-on furniture glides (pack of 4), No. 18665.
MDF Cutting diagram
Use this diagram to lay out the cuts for your 4′ x 8′ x 3/4′ MDF sheets.
Benchtop Router Table Plans
Required Tools for this DIY router table fence project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY how to make a router table project lined up before you start—you'll save time and frustration.
- Clamps
- Corded drill
- Countersink drill bit
- Drill bit set
- Dust mask
- Extension cord
- Glue
- Hearing protection
- Jigsaw
- One-handed bar clamps
- Router
- Safety glasses
- Shop vacuum
- Table saw
- Tape measure
Required Materials for this DIY router table fence project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.
- 1-5/8-in. screws
- 2" washer-head screws
- Contact cement
- Nail-on furniture glides
- Polyurethane finish
- Safety power tool switch
- Wood glue


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Want to see "the other America"? Just keep your eyes peeled the next time you stay in a hotel.
Marta cleaned my hotel room when I attended a recent conference. Rather than leave when she arrived, I invited her to work while I continued to hone a presentation for later that day. I was distracted by her presence, though—partly out of embarrassment over the TV program that provided mindless background noise, The Real Housewives of New York. Yet also because I felt a kinship with her.
Years ago I worked in the hotel industry as a front desk manager. As part of my orientation, I spent a week cleaning rooms. The job was much more difficult than I would have imagined: scrubbing, vacuuming, lifting, eradicating all kinds of messiness, not to mention pushing a heavy cart, with a quota of 13 rooms for my eight-hour shift.
Remembering how exhausted I had felt after a day's work, I asked how long she had been doing this. "For about 10 years," she answered, in heavily accented English. As we talked I learned that she was engaged to the father of her two children and that her mother cared for them while she and her fiancé were at work.
She finished the room; I completed my presentation and rushed to find a taxi. Then I saw Marta again, boarding a shuttle bus with other hotel employees. The doorman told me the bus conveyed workers between the city's center, where they lived, and their jobs at outlying hotels. Most of the hotel's staff could not afford cars, and public transportation did not extend to this suburban location. Marta was being bused to a world far different from the one in which she worked—nothing like the manufactured reality of the supposedly "real housewives."
A 1968 observation by Martin Luther King Jr. haunted me. In a speech called "The Other America," King noted how two distinct nations coexist within our country. In one, people had "food and material necessities for their bodies, culture and education for their minds, [and] freedom and dignity for their spirits." But the "other America" was a harsher place, where millions live in inadequate housing and young people attend schools "so devoid of quality . . . that the best in these minds can never come out."
King's address seems even more chillingly accurate today. More than 15 percent of us now live in poverty, while another 33 percent scrape by as low income—these near-poor earn less than twice the federal poverty line, set artificially low at $23,850 for a family of four and thus an injustice unto itself. If King were here today, he would add that our "Americas" are more and more isolated. Relatively comfortable citizens increasingly have little contact with what life is really like for those who live in the "other America."
This growing isolation between social classes imperils the possibility of a shared public life. Isolation fuels ignorance, indifference, and fear.
Thus the challenge that underlies current conversations about income inequality and wealth disparity is this: Beneath the statistics documenting the yawning chasm between the richest and poorest is a more disturbing reality of severe isolation from and indifference toward people like Marta.
Such isolation has moved Pope Francis to call for creating a "culture of encounter" with the poor among Christians. He says in last year's apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), "The gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of a face-to-face encounter with others, with their physical presence which challenges us, with their pain and their pleas, with their joy which infects us . . . ." By "encounter," Francis means sustained relationships with those hidden from our public notice. Only then will we be moved to compassion for the real housewives and families that inhabit our nation.
Of course, encounter with people like Marta will not eradicate the conditions that King described. It can, however, foster the empathy needed to muster the political will to ensure living wages, just working conditions, and quality education for all. Encounter is not enough, but it is a necessary beginning.
This article appeared in the August 2014 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 79, No. 8, page 8).

subset: commoncrawl


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Early ticketing revealed for "Who Bombed Judi Bari?"
DCIFF Live
February 7
by Russ Imrie
The redwood forests of California's North Coast are a last stand for old-growth trees thousands of year old. Thanks to an enlightened population who owe a debt to both the logging communities that helped build homes and an industry and the incredibly dedicated activists who at last halted rogue abuses by corporate interests, a small percentage of that forest will be around for our descendants to see.
The DC Independent Film Festival is making early ticketing available for filmgoers. The filmmaker's site and Earth First! are great visits for more background on the struggle.Latest news on this and all DCIFF events at http://www.dciff-indie.org or http://www.dciff.org


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New tools to combat welfare fraud announcedSocial Development
Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has today announced new measures to prevent, detect and catch welfare fraud.
"We know that the vast majority of beneficiaries are honest and do the right thing, but a small minority take advantage of the welfare system. Let's be clear – welfare fraud is a crime, committed by criminals, for their own benefit at the taxpayer's expense, and we treat it as such without excuse," says Mr Borrows.
"National promised to clamp down on welfare fraud, and I'm pleased to deliver on that promise today."
The first initiative is to amend the law to create a new offence targeting partners or spouses of beneficiaries who are convicted of fraud.
Relationship offending last year cost over $20 million and makes up one third of welfare fraud prosecutions.
"Currently there are few options available to prosecute partners who know or benefit from such offending, leaving the entire debt with one partner," says Mr Borrows.
"Prosecuting partners who profit from welfare fraud will ensure that both parties who profit from the crime are punished, and will help the taxpayer recover the lost money faster."
The second key initiative is to introduce new ways of working with beneficiaries who have previously been dishonest with MSD. These new measures include greater verification of information and less access to self-service transactions, and will cover around 1000 beneficiaries each year.
"This approach will give MSD a package of tools which can be tailored to target the way an individual has been dishonest before. It is a sensible step to make sure that those who have ripped us off once cannot do it again," says Mr Borrows.
The third new initiative is to formalise information sharing links between ACC, Inland Revenue, Housing New Zealand Corporation, New Zealand Police, and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
"Sharing information between Government agencies will allow us to detect or catch welfare fraud sooner. Bringing these key agencies together will also help catch high value fraudsters whose deception extends across multiple agencies.
"It's vitally important that the public has every confidence in the welfare system and these measures, alongside a range of smaller initiatives included in the package, will give MSD the tools it needs to achieve this."


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Dr. LaScala responds:
College counselors, college admissions officers and everyone in between has an opinion about what constitutes a meaningful summer for high school students. I am happy to add my opinion to the mix.
On both the Common Application, the University of California application and many unique college applications there is a section to list and/or describe your accomplishments, including summer activities. If it is on the application, it is safe to assume that it is important in the admissions process. Admission departments do not create unnecessary work for themselves and do review each part of the application.
I encourage students to focus on depth rather than breadth. Students should pursue two or three interesting activities both in and outside the school environment. Students should be looking for opportunities to pursue that they find both exciting and challenging. These can be projects, activities, employment or even college-level coursework not readily available during the regular high school year.
Younger students are still forming their interests and parents should grant wide breadth to wholesome activities they choose to do. For example, a student may want to volunteer for an animal rescue foundation over the summer, but may show little or no interest in becoming a veterinarian. And that should be encouraged. Everything a student does should not be judged as good or bad depending on whether it fits an adult's idea of 'meaningful' or career-focused. On the other hand, an older student who believes she wants to go pre-med should demonstrate an active interest in clinical medicine by volunteering or finding an internship at a hospital, medical clinic or public health department. Shadowing health professionals and documenting your experiences is also a worthwhile enterprise, especially if you formalize the process in some way and circulate it to younger students who are considering medical careers (e.g. PowerPoint presentation to younger students at your high school through college and career office).
It is important to understand that you do not have to travel or spend a ton of money for your summer to have an impact. Here is a list of possibilities:
? On-line courses. I had one student last year who was on a tight budget. She enrolled in an inexpensive on-line design course and was guided through the creation of a 3-dimensional model of a bedroom (complete with furnishings, complementary fabrics, window treatments, rugs, the works). Her summer project became part of her portfolio and she was successfully offered admission to several excellent architectural programs.
? Employment. This is an often underrated experience that is highly valued by admission offices. Students learn many vital life lessons when they work and sometimes gain valuable leadership experienceespecially if they can continue the job into the high school year. I had one student who held down a part-time hostess job all last year and received a promotion to lead hostess for the summer months. Her new position required that she train new employees, often individuals older than herself. This is impressive to colleges.
? Internships. Internships are tremendous opportunities for students to build specific skill sets and gain valuable experience in a field they want to explore more fully. There are many summer math, science, computer science and engineering programs to choose from and costs vary greatly. It is best to get an early start researching these opportunities as many more selective programs have April and May deadlines. Another bonus of applying to more selective internships is that the application is similar to the college application (many selective intern programs require two teacher letters of recommendation, school transcript, test scores and a personal essay) An 11th grader who completes this type of application process often has an amazing head start on the college application cycle. High school students who get a later start on summer plans should not despair; each week I hear about another great opportunity a student finds by exercising due diligence with a deadline still in the future.
? Community Service. Time is more plentiful during the summer and students who are drawn to volunteerism can expand this interest over the break. I have had students initiate and complete truly inspiring volunteer projects over the summer months. It is best if the project is planned well in advance and executed over the summer. It is also best if something lasting can be achieved for the non-profit organization where the student volunteers.
? Teen Tours and Travel: Frankly, I find most of these programs exorbitantly expensive. But they can be a terrific investment if you keep in mind that the experience needs to be transforming in some way (like language and cultural immersion) or otherwise special (like a strong community service component).
? College Research and Visits. Summer is a perfect time to develop a balanced list of good fit colleges and explore each college fully. You can research colleges carefully at home and, if possible, plan to visit a few in order to develop an appreciation of the differences among institutions (e.g. large research university versus smaller liberal arts colleges).
Good luck and have a "meaningful" summer break!
Elizabeth LaScala, Ph.D. is an educational consultant and certified college admission advisor. Her goal is to help freshman applicants as well as transfer students and their families understand the admissions process, research college and career options, create a balanced college list and submit strong and cohesive applications. She is familiar with local high schools and has guided three daughters through the college admissions process in addition to more than 300 clients. Dr. LaScala is an active member of NACAC, WACAC, and HECA and earned a certification in College Admissions and Career Planning from University of California at Berkeley. Contact her at (925) 891-4491 or email@example.com.


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A Spring Romance Blossoms for CUNY's Chancellor?
Satirical leaflets made by Occupy CUNY about Chancellor Matthew Goldstein's relationship to Kroll, Inc., a security advising company that CUNY hired to conduct a biased investigatory report about a November 21, 2011 incident at Baruch College. On [...]
Item Type: Image (Digital)
Time Period: 2010-2020 From OWS to Covid-19
Subjects: Activism, Board of Trustees, City / State Relations, Politics, State and/or City budget, Student Organizations, Tuition


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Mount Vernon-based BridgeCare Finance won Kitsap Bank's $20,000 Edg3 Fund small business prize Thursday, according to a news release.
BridgeCare offers short-term loans to help working families afford childcare.
The Smithshyre farm in Poulsbo earned the $5,000 Community Edg3 Award, recognizing the entrant that "best embodies the spirit of community."
The farm specializes in rearing organic, pasture-raised poultry.
Edg3 Fund winners were selected by a panel of judges during a live event at Kitsap Conference Center.


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The Y Bridge
Tuesday, 2nd October 2007 by James Turnbull
Zanesville in Ohio claims that their Y-bridge is "the only Y-shaped bridge in the world!"
Now in its fifth incarnation, the bridge spans the Licking river to the West and the Muskingum river to the East. Allegedly this makes the Y-bridge the only place in the US where you can cross a bridge but stay on the same side of the river.
Hang on, Ohio actually have another Y-bridge! Not too far from Zanesville, the Akron Y-bridge is where two roads come together to share a bridge. Officially titled the "All-American Bridge", its other unofficial title is sadly the "Suicide Bridge".
Uh, hang on again. The "Galena Y-bridge" in Galena, Missouri has been closed to vehicles since 1986 (when a new bridge was created to the North), but nevertheless it's still a Y-shaped bridge. In this case the Y-shape was created to allow traffic heading East across the bridge to go either North or South, as heading straight on would involve driving straight into the side of a mountain…
More info on the Y-bridges in Galena, Akron and Zanesville.
Thanks: onTypes


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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
On-line version ISSN 2078-5135
Print version ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.102 n.4 Pretoria Apr. 2012
Paediatric liver transplantation in Johannesburg: Initial 29 cases and prospects for the future
J A LovelandI; T GovenderII; J BothaIII; R BritzIV
IMB BCh, FCS (SA), Cert Paed Surg. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital; and Division of Transplantation, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
IIMB BCh. Division of Transplantation, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and University of the Witwatersrand
IIIMB ChB, FCS (SA). Division of Transplantation, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and University of the Witwatersrand
IVDA (SA), FCS (SA). Division of Transplantation, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and University of the Witwatersrand
BACKGROUND: The Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre paediatric liver transplant programme is the second such unit in sub-Saharan Africa. Initiated in November 2005, it forms part of the centre's solid organ transplant unit, comprising kidney, liver and simultaneous kidney-pancreas arms. Initially established in the private sector, we recently received government approval to expand our programme into the provincial sector and have performed transplants on several provincial-sector patients. Current challenges relate to the lack of appropriately trained paediatric sub-specialists, specifically critical care practitioners and hepatologists.
METHODS: Subsequent to institutional approval, a retrospective chart analysis of all paediatric liver transplants performed at our facility to date was conducted.
RESULTS: Defining children as those under 18 years of age, 29 patients have received a cadaveric liver transplant since 2005, using 16 whole livers, 10 reduced-size grafts, and 3 split segments; 13 were transplanted with biliary atresia, 3 hyperoxalurea, 3 autosomal recessive polycystic disease, 2 alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and 2 idiopathic, with the remainder for a wide spectrum of other pathologies. Seven patients received combined liver-kidney transplants. There were 3 in-hospital mortalities. The remaining 26 patients are all long-term survivors. We describe 7 acute surgical morbidities in 6 patients, and 8 long-term surgical morbidities. One patient was subsequently re-transplanted in Cape Town.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite a shortage of organs, we have overcome a steep learning curve, with results comparable with other early series. The current threat to the continued viability of our unit is the lack of appropriately trained paediatric hepatologists and intensivists.
Professors Myburgh and Du Plessis established kidney transplantation at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in the 1960s. The unit was successfully run in the provincial and private sectors for many years and was transiently involved in liver transplantation during its inception in the late 1980s. However, the ambition to add liver transplantation to the spectrum of the unit was not supported by national government, who saw no need for a second liver transplant unit in the academic sector in South Africa - the unit at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town was considered sufficient. Fortuitously, Wits' ambition to expand coincided with the establishment of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (Wits DGMC), a partnership between Wits and the private healthcare sector, which was identified as an ideal environment to launch Johannesburg's liver transplant unit.
Initially catering only for patients with medical insurance, the first adult liver transplant was performed in August 2004. Subsequent to extensive negotiation, both funded and indigent state patients were placed on a common waiting list, and are currently transplanted according to blood group and severity of disease. The unit has developed into a programme offering a near-complete spectrum of transplant solutions, including well-established kidney, liver and simultaneous kidney-pancreas options, to an increasing recipient pool. This has made liver transplantation in northern South Africa more accessible and practical. Our paediatric liver programme started in November 2005, and we have performed 29 transplants to date.
Patients and methods
After receiving institutional approval, we performed a retrospective chart review of all paediatric liver transplants. Paediatric patients are defined as those under 18 years of age on the day of transplantation, and were referred from all areas of South Africa and neighbouring countries. Foreign patients were only considered for transplantation after central government approval.
Recipient age and weight breakdown is shown in Fig. 1. Organs were allocated according to appropriate blood grouping, paediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score, and size. The United Network for Organ Sharing has used the PELD scoring system as a means of prioritising children for liver transplants since February 2002; it has been shown to provide objective ranking of potential recipients.1 Indications for transplantation are shown in Fig. 2, demonstrating a similar distribution to other paediatric liver transplant units.
A standard multivisceral harvest technique was used for all procurement procedures and, apart from one exception where an in situ segment 2, 3, 4 split was performed, all splits and reduction procedures were performed on the back-table. Graft type (Fig. 3) included 16 whole livers, 10 reduced-size grafts and 3 split-liver segments. Seven children received combined liver-kidney transplants, 3 for primary hyperoxalurea, 3 for autosomal recessive polycystic disease, and 1 for haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Five patients received a whole liver and single kidney, 1 a whole liver with 2 kidneys en bloc (2-year-old donor), and 1 a reduced-size segment 2, 3 graft with single kidney. One liver-kidney recipient is included in our mortalities after developing both portal vein and hepatic arterial inflow occlusion within 24 hours of the transplant. Although not relevant to this series, the child who received the en bloc renal transplant developed torsion and subsequent infarction of 1 of the 2 kidneys, fortunately with excellent renal function in the remaining kidney. The 6 patients remaining in this subset are all alive and well with excellent function of both grafts.
The procedure of whole-liver procurement in paediatric donors is a combination of the initial procurement technique described by Starzl et al.,2 with the rapid flush technique.3,4 We used two implantation techniques: the classic technique with inferior vena cava replacement for whole liver grafts, and the piggyback technique with preservation of the native inferior vena cava when using reduced and split grafts.
Steroids and tacrolimus form the backbone of our immunosuppression regimen.
The series includes 3 acute peri-operative mortalities. The first, previously transplanted in Cape Town, died of fulminant sepsis; the other 2 were surgery related, 1 secondary to acute hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and 1 secondary to hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO). Both patients were immediately re-listed but died, as suitable donors were not immediately available.
Acute surgical morbidities are listed in Fig. 4.
In total, there were 7 acute complications, occurring in 6 patients: 3 presented with combined biliary and enteric leaks, 2 with isolated bile leaks, 1 with an isolated colonic injury, and 1 had viscero-abdominal disproportion.
Eight long-term surgical complications, defined as occurring more than 90 days post transplant, occurred in 6 patients. These included 3 biliary strictures (1 surgically revised and 2 successfully managed with percutaneous stents), 1 symptomatic portal venous anastomotic stenosis managed by percutaneous dilatation and subsequent stenting, 1 adhesive bowel obstruction, 1 phrenic nerve palsy requiring thoracoscopic plication, 1 intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula post percutaneous liver biopsy (also successfully managed by embolisation of the arterial component) and 1 HAT. The last occurred in a reconstructed accessory right hepatic artery and was clinically insignificant. One patient with chronic rejection was subsequently re-transplanted in Cape Town.
An estimated 2 - 5 children per million population per year require liver transplants, depending on local disease prevalence.5 The most prevalent indication for orthotopic liver transplants in children remains biliary atresia (BA).6 The primary surgical procedure in BA is the portoenterostomy as described by Morio Kasai.7 Progressive cholestasis, failure to thrive, and complications of portal hypertension (viz. gastro-intestinal bleeding, ascites and hepatopulmonary syndrome) necessitate liver transplantation in cases where biliary drainage is not effectively established, or surgery not performed. Even with successful drainage and normalisation of bilirubin, recurrent cholangitis, with subsequent development of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, may necessitate transplantation.1 Treatment of BA with sequential Kasai portoenterostomy and liver transplant occurs in most cases, with less than 20% of affected children surviving long-term with their native liver.1
Technical complications are the most important factor contributing to death in children after liver transplantation and the most common indication for re-transplantation.8 During our initial transplant experience, salient lessons learnt include: (i) a high level of vigilance is required during the multivisceral procurement procedure, particularly to identify aberrant arterial anatomy as accidental division of accessory and/or replaced vessels with subsequent reconstruction increases the risk of HAT; and (ii) that additional factors contributing to the risk of HAT during the remainder of the transplant include prolonged cold ischaemic time, intra-operative anastomotic revision, and the use of interposition grafts.9
The 'back-table' preparation of the donor liver is critically important, particularly in the paediatric setting where, in addition to whole grafts, both split and reduced-size grafts are used. The use of 'split livers'10 involves dividing the liver into 2 transplantable sections, leaving the vascular structures for the 2 portions of hepatic parenchyma intact. Alternatively, a reduced-size graft can be derived from the whole liver, discarding the remainder. Critical technical considerations are related to division of the biliary system and the hepatic veins. It is particularly important to divide the left hepatic biliary duct distal to the junction of the ducts draining segments 2 and 3, and we have found a Bake's dilator useful to identify this confluence. Failure to do so leads to these 2 ducts being divided independently, necessitating 2 separate biliary anastomoses to the Roux-en-Y limb. This increases the technical difficulty of the anastomosis and the risk of biliary anastomotic leak. The left hepatic vein should also be divided as short as possible to avoid redundancy and the potential for kinking and torsion, resulting in HVOO.
The recipient hepatectomy is equally important. Previous abdominal surgery is the most important risk factor for post-transplant bowel perforation and is especially relevant in children with BA. The risk of bowel perforation may be as high as 20% in this population.11 Familiarity with the Kasai procedure is advantageous during the liver explant, and a high index of suspicion with regard to iatrogenic enteric injuries is required, which should be identified and repaired. Therefore, we believe that paediatric surgeons should play an integral role as members of the transplant team. Finally, 'gentle' dissection of the recipient hepatic artery will prevent intimal injury and subsequent dissection, which precludes utilising this artery for the implant, unnecessarily complicating the procedure.
The paediatric liver implant requires meticulous technique, with the arterial and biliary reconstructions presenting the most challenges. Arterial anastomoses are often in the order of 3 mm in diameter, with a HAT rate of 11 - 26%.12,13 While we consider 3.5X optical magnification mandatory, it has been demonstrated that using microvascular anastomotic techniques could decrease this incidence to 1.7%.14
After mortality, the Achilles' heel of our initial experience is undoubtedly the biliary reconstruction. In the SPLIT database, biliary complications occurred in 14% of children within the first 30 days after transplantation and in 25% of children 1 - 24 months after transplant.15 Five (17%) of our patients developed biliary anastomotic leaks; all received reduced-size grafts, 4 with BA and 1 with Wilson's disease. Our learning curve is flattening, and since September 2008 we have performed 5 reduced-size grafts, all with uncomplicated biliary reconstructions. Important considerations during the construction of the biliary anastomosis are creating a tension-free Roux limb, meticulous biliary enteric anastomosis (with the use of a stent if necessary) and careful inspection for, and repair of, any explant-related serosal injuries.
Less common are hepatic and portal vein thromboses, which are more prevalent after reduced and split-liver grafts, and may present more subtly.16 Practical considerations include meticulous technique, keeping the donor hepatic vein short, and constructing the anastomosis to the common orifice of the recipient's left and middle hepatic veins, carefully everting the anastomosis.
The new paediatric liver transplant unit in Johannesburg has produced results similar to other international experiences. Perhaps the greatest attribute of our unit is that technical skills are broadly distributed among all the team individuals. Our focus on technical excellence originates from our 'parent unit', the transplant division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, who provided extensive training and support.
In the absence of related living donors, recipients rely on deceased donors as their source of organs. After the dearth of relevant paediatric specialists, organ availability remains our programme's biggest limiting factor. Our 2 surgical mortalities might have survived had they had immediate access to a second liver. The organ itself is the ultimate 'scarce resource'. Education of the public concerning the importance of organ donation remains an important focus in an attempt to produce a larger donor pool. Starzl et al. in their Pittsburgh series conclude that 'there is almost no such thing as a poor paediatric donor'.17 Of note is that South Africa subscribes to an 'opt in' as opposed to an 'opt out' donor policy.
Based on the number of our liver clinic's patients, the number of children with BA treated annually, and the numbers of paediatric transplants performed per year to date, we estimate that 10 - 20 children would be listed for transplantation annually. This demand for organs is far in excess of what the deceased donor pool can provide. Driven by this shortage of deceased donor organs, future projects include expanding our unit to include a related living donor liver transplant arm, aimed specifically at the paediatric population. Related living donation of segment 2, 3 grafts has been shown to be safe, with morbidity (10%) and mortality (0.2%) rates approaching that of RLD kidney donation.18,19 The success of paediatric living donor liver transplantation is well established worldwide. The Kyoto series - the largest in the world - has a virtually non-existent cadaveric supply.16
In general, there has been a notable shift in focus, from finding a donor organ to post-transplant quality of life in children, emphasising as near normal growth and development as possible, long-term follow-up, and preventing immunosuppression-related complications.18 This shift in focus highlights our other current challenge - the provision of specialist paediatric hepatology to our pre- and post-liver transplant patients, and paediatric intensive care in the immediate post-operative period. The lack of these two specialties currently severely curtails our paediatric liver programme, which we are desperate to remedy. This situation is an anomaly: most medical hepatobiliary units have lists of patients fulfilling the criteria for listing for transplantation, but cannot get their patients transplanted. In Johannesburg, the converse is true - we have the patients, our surgical team has overcome its learning curve in liver transplantation in the paediatric population, and we have an intense will and desire to continue, but lack the necessary support and commitment from paediatric hepatology and intensive care.
1. Kerkar N, Emre S. Issues unique to pediatric liver transplantation. Clin Liver Dis 2007;11(2):323-335. [ Links ]
2. Starzl TE, Hakala TR, Shaw BW Jr, Hardesty RL. Rosenthal procedure for multiple cadaveric organ procurement. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1984;158:223-230. [ Links ]
3. Starzl TE, Miller C, Broznick B, Makowka L. An improved technique for mutiple organ harvesting. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1987;165:343-348. [ Links ]
4. Nakazato PZ, Concepcion W, Bry W, et al. Total abdominal evisceration: an en bloc technique for abdominal organ harvesting. Surgery 1992;111:37-47. [ Links ]
5. Millar AJW, Spearman W, Kahn D. Paediatric liver transplantation in South Africa in 2009 (editorial). S Afr Med J 2009;99(5):308-309. [ Links ]
6. Salt A, Noble-Jamieson G, Barnes ND, et al. Liver transplantation in 100 children: Cambridge and King's College Hospital series. BMJ 1992;304:416-421. [ Links ]
7. Kasai M. Treatment of biliary atresia with special reference to hepatic porto-enterostomy and its modifications. Prog Pediatr Surg 1974;6:5-52. [ Links ]
8. Kuang AA, Rosenthal P, Roberts JP, et al. Decreased mortality from technical failure improves results in pediatric liver transplantation. Arch Surg 1996;131:887. [ Links ]
9. Stevens LH, Emond JC, Piper JB, et al. Hepatic artery thrombosis in infants. Transplantation 1992;53:396-399. [ Links ]
10. Pichlmayr R, Ringe B, Gubernatis G, Hauss J, Bunzendahl H. Transplantation of a donor liver to 2 recipients (splitting transplantation) - a new method in the further development of segmental liver transplantation. Langenbeck's Arch Chir 1988;373:127-130. [ Links ]
11. Beierle EA, Nicolette LA, Billmire DF, et al. Gastrointestinal perforation after pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation. J Pediatr Surg 1998;33:240. [ Links ]
12. Tzakis AG, Gordon RD, Shaw BWJ, Iwatsuki S, Starzl TE. Clinical presentation of hepatic arterial thrombosis after liver transplantation in the cyclosporine era. Transplantation 1985;40:667-671. [ Links ]
13. Mazzaferro V, Esquivel CO, Makowka L, et al. Factors responsible for hepatic arterial thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation. Transplant Proc 1989;21:2466. [ Links ]
14. Inomoto T, Nishizawa F, Sasaki H, et al. Experiences of 120 microsurgical reconstructions of hepatic artery in living related liver transplantation. Surgery 1996;119:20. [ Links ]
15. SPLIT Research Group. Studies of pediatric liver transplantation (SPLIT): year 2000 outcomes. Transplantation 2001;72(3):463-476. [ Links ]
16. Mc Diarmid S. Liver transplantation: The pediatric challenge. Clin Liver Dis 2000;4:4. [ Links ]
17. Starzl T. Pediatric liver transplantation. Transplant Proc 1987;19(4):3230-3235. [ Links ]
18. Spada M, Riva S, Maggiore G, Cintorino D, Gridelli B. Pediatric liver transplantation. World J Gastroenterol 2009;15(6):648. [ Links ]
19. Broelsch CE, Whitington PF, Emond JC, et al. Liver transplantation in children from related living donors: surgical techniques and results. Ann Surg 1991;214(4):428-437. [ Links ]
Accepted 22 August 2011.
Corresponding author: J Loveland (email@example.com)


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text:
One of the greatest children's books ever written, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web is notable not just for its lovely prose but for its masterful handling of themes on death and dying. In a letter written to his editor a few weeks before the book's publication, White explains why a peculiar truth about farms makes them such appropriate spaces for exploring the concept of death, and how this moved him to write the book in the first place.
Above: One of Garth Williams' gorgeous original illustrations for Charlotte's Web
Writes White to his publisher, Ursula Nordstrom:
I have been asked to tell how I came to write "Charlotte's Web." Well, I like animals, and it would be odd if I failed to write about them. Animals are a weakness with me, and when I got a place in the country I was quite sure animals would appear, and they did.
A farm is a peculiar problem for a man who likes animals, because the fate of most livestock is that they are murdered by their benefactors. The creatures may live serenely but they end violently, and the odor of doom hangs about them always. I have kept several pigs, starting them in spring as weanlings and carrying trays to them all through summer and fall. The relationship bothered me. Day by day I became better acquainted with my pig, and he with me, and the fact that the whole adventure pointed toward an eventual piece of double-dealing on my part lent an eerie quality to the thing. I do not like to betray a person or a creature, and I tend to agree with Mr. E.M. Forster that in these times the duty of a man, above all else, is to be reliable. It used to be clear to me, slopping a pig, that as far as the pig was concerned I could not be counted on, and this, as I say, troubled me. Anyway, the theme of "Charlotte's Web" is that a pig shall be saved, and I have an idea that somewhere deep inside me there was a wish to that effect.
White goes on to explain his decision to include spiders – and Charlotte, in particular – in the story with a rather moving tale. All in all it's a beautiful missive on the reasons writers write what they do, and concludes on a note we think most artists will identify with:
"I haven't told why I wrote the book, but I haven't told you why I sneeze, either. A book is a sneeze."
Read the full correspondence between White and his editor at Letters of Note.


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Privacy & Confidentiality
United Way of the Wine Country values the tradition of giving and respects the privacy of our partners.
In order to protect individual privacy and ensuring confidentiality, United Way of the Wine Country (UWWC) takes all reasonable steps to ensure an individual's personal information is protected from misuse or unauthorized disclosure. See our: Confidentiality Policy (link jumps to policy below).
The Donor Bill of Rights
UWWC subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights which was created by the Giving Institute (formerly the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
- To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
- To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists. UWWC never sells, rents, shares, or trades its mailing or donor lists.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
UWWC's Confidentiality Policy
UWWC recognizes the efficient operation of the organization requires the maintenance and management of extensive donor and prospect records. These records may contain sensitive information that has been shared with or developed by UWWC's staff or volunteers on a confidential basis. ("Records" is construed to mean all files, including electronic data, containing information on donors or prospective donors to UWWC.) Donors and prospects may be attracted to UWWC on the basis of its ability to assure temporary or permanent anonymity. Protecting donor confidentiality is an essential part of providing good service to donors.
Additionally, care must be taken to preserve confidentiality of discussions that take place and information that is shared in the course of conducting United Way business.
The purpose of this policy is to codify the position of UWWC on confidentiality.
- Confidentiality of Records: The President/CEO or designee shall be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of donor and prospect records as well as fund information. Records will normally be available to staff as needed to fulfill their duties. At the discretion of the President/CEO, staff may make all or part of any record available to UWWC volunteers to assist them in executing their specific responsibilities. UWWC's auditors, legal counsel, and other contractors are authorized to review donor/prospect and fund records as required for the purposes for which they are engaged. All persons accessing donor/prospect or fund records in the conduct of UWWC business shall maintain the confidentiality of said records. This applies to agency endowment funds as well as to other types of funds. Staff may share information with donors, fund beneficiaries, and grantees pertaining to their own gifts, funds, grants, etc. Except in those instances, any copies of confidential information shall not be held outside UWWC's office for extended periods and are to be destroyed based on UWWC's Records Retention Policy.
- Publication of Donor Names: Unless otherwise requested by the donor, the names of all individual donors may be printed in the UWWC's marketing, solicitation, recognition communications, and in other appropriate listings. UWWC will not publish the amount of any donor's gift without the permission of the donor. Unless otherwise specified in the document, donors making gifts to the UWWC by bequest or other testamentary device are deemed to have granted such permission.
- Memorial/Tribute Gifts: The names of donors of memorial or tribute gifts may be released to the honoree, next of kin, or appropriate member of the immediate family, unless otherwise specified by the donor. Gift amounts are not to be released without the express consent of the donor.
- Anonymous Gifts: The President/CEO is authorized to accept anonymous gifts to UWWC and to handle them appropriately. The name of the donor and size of the gift may be withheld from the Board of Directors at the President/CEO's discretion if so requested by the donor. When made known to Board members, they will respect the anonymity of any such gift.
- Giving Categories: If giving categories have been stipulated for a specific fund drive, challenge grant, or project, or as part of UWWC's ongoing recognition program, then the donors, unless they otherwise specify, are deemed to have given permission for UWWC to publish their names associated with the particular giving category. Similarly, UWWC may publish giving categories associated with donor names in its annual report unless a donor specifies otherwise.
- No Disclosures to Third Parties: UWWC shall not release to third parties or allow third parties to copy, inspect or otherwise use UWWC records or other information pertaining to the identification of a donor or donor's gifts. No disclosures to third parties of such information, including addresses and demographic information, shall be made without the donor's consent.
- Confidentiality of Organization's Business: Discussions that take place in the context of UWWC's operations require discretion, including discussions pertaining to grantmaking, personnel issues, development activities, operational fundraising, investment management, etc. The positions or statements of individual board members, advisors, or staff should not be discussed outside of official UWWC meetings and processes. Likewise, the content of UWWC business, including documents or UWWC analysis of documents, should not be discussed or shared outside official meetings and processes.
- Public Disclosure: UWWC will comply with both the letter and spirit of all public disclosure requirements, including the open availability of its Form 990 tax returns. This Confidentiality Policy shall not be construed in any manner to prevent UWWC from disclosing information to taxing authorities or other governmental agencies or courts having regulatory control or jurisdiction over UWWC. However, all staff, volunteers, and contractors must hold strictly confidential all information of a private nature, including, but not limited to, all items explicitly discussed in this policy.
- Consequences of Policy Violation: Violations of the Confidentiality Policy are considered very serious and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal for employees or contractors, or removal from the Board or any committee for volunteers.
What information we collect:
* UWWC collects and uses personal information from donors including: addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, month and day of birth, anniversary dates, loyal contributor dates, and donation dates/amounts.
* Specific requests made by donors/volunteers are recorded. For example, requests to remain anonymous or to be excluded from certain mailings are respected. We also specify the relationship with UWWC, such as volunteer, private individual, company, etc.
How we collect the information:
* When donations are made to UWWC, whether solicited or not, the details provided by the donors are recorded in our database unless the donor has specifically requested to not be added to our database
* Personal details of volunteers who contact UWWC to offer their services are also entered into our database
* Individuals with a relationship to United Way through activity or participation in fundraising, programs, and events receive invitations, newsletters, surveys, and have access to web-based communications that enable UWWC to capture contact information. Through these channels, individuals are given the opportunity to provide their contact information and can specify whether they would like their details added to our database and in what capacity.
Storage and security of information held:
* All donor contact information, donations, designations and related paperwork are stored in a safe, secure location. UWWC's relational database is password protected and we have a strict hierarchy of access rights in place.
How we use the information:
UWWC will use contact information (i.e., email, telephone number, and address) of donors for these purposes only:
- To distribute receipts for donations
- To send donor acknowledgement letters and thank donors for their donations
- To inform supporters about upcoming fundraising and other activities of UWWC
- For internal analysis and record keeping
- For general mailings (e.g., direct mailing to all donors and/or volunteers)
- Donors have the option to have their name publicly associated with their donation. Unless the donor explicitly chooses to remain anonymous, the default is all donations can be publicly announced.
- Comments/testimonials given to UWWC staff/volunteers may be used in promotional materials with the express consent of the individual.
Access and Correction of Information:
Donors have the right to access and request corrections to personal information. To ensure recorded personal information is accurate and up-to-date, donors should notify UWWC of any changes to personal details as soon as possible through the following contact methods:
Phone: (707) 528.4485
Fax: (707) 528.2930
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Mail: 975 Corporate Center Parkway, Ste. 160, Santa Rosa, CA 95407


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Home > Jesus Is Lord Bible Course
If you have not already done so, save this lesson to your computer using the "save" feature of your browser or PDF reader. Then print out the lesson (or at least open it in your browser or PDF reader offline - not on the Internet). Read the lesson and study in your Bible the passages indicated >>> Scripture <<<. Following each passage, study each question that has a number enclosed in asterisks (*1*, *2*, etc.), and write down your answers on paper. Some questions include more than one number because they have more than one blank to fill in. ("Think" questions should be carefully considered for your own benefit, but your answers will not be submitted to us.) Please take your time, study each passage carefully, answer the questions honestly, and consider the applications to your own life (John 12:48; 2 Tim. 2:15).
When you have studied the whole lesson and written down answers to all the indicated questions, return to the menu for this course on our web site at biblestudylessons.com and click on the link for the answer quiz for this lesson (or simply click on the link at the end of this lesson). Follow the directions to submit your answers and receive your grade. You will then be given an opportunity to see the correct answers to the questions. Please save this lesson and the correct answers for future reference.
Then move on to the next lesson or the next course in order. Please study all lessons in all courses in order as listed in the menus on our web site.
Thank you for your interest, and God bless your study of His word.
Have you ever wondered whether God exists, whether Jesus really is God's Son, or whether the Bible is really true? If not, you are an unusual person. All people ask these questions at times. The purpose of this study is to examine the evidence for some of the most basic claims of the Bible.
What Claims Does the Bible Make?
>>> Read HEBREWS 11:6. <<<
*1* To please God, what must we believe? (a) whatever our parents taught us, (b) whatever our preacher says, (c) that God exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him. Answer (type the letter of the correct answer in the blank): ______.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).
>>> Read 2 TIMOTHY 3:16,17. <<<
*2* Where did the Scriptures come from? (a) they are inspired by God, (b) they express the opinions of men, (c) they are ancient legends of unknown origin. Answer: ______.
"...The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). [See Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13.]
>>> Read JOHN 20:26-31. <<<
*3&4* What did Thomas call Jesus? Answer (type the correct word[s] in each blank): My ______ and my ______.
*5&6* What must we believe in order to have eternal life? Answer: Jesus is the ______, the Son of ______.
"...we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). [See also John 8:24; Luke 19:10; Matt. 16:15-18; 10:37; John 1:1,14.]
Note: these claims do not permit compromise. We cannot say, "The Bible is just a good book," or "Jesus was just a great man." The Bible claims it is God's word, and Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. If these claims are not true, then Jesus is a liar and the Bible is a fraud!
What Kind of Evidence Will We Study?
God the Father is invisible (1 John 4:12). We cannot perform laboratory experiments to determine if He exists, but this does not mean we must accept "blind faith" without evidence. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. His life can be investigated like any other historical fact. Likewise, many other claims of the Bible can be investigated by logical and historical evidence.
In our daily lives, all of us determine our beliefs on the basis of this kind of evidence. For example, a hunter may not see an animal, but from its footprints he knows it exists and he knows much about its nature. In the same way, God has left "footprints on the sands of time."
A judge and jury do not physically observe a crime, yet they reach a verdict about what happened by the testimony of witnesses.
>>> Read ACTS 14:17. <<<
*7* God did not leave Himself without what? (a) people, (b) witness, (c) time, (d) money. Answer: ______.
Let us call God's "witnesses," and you be the judge. Weigh the testimony honestly, then reach a verdict (Rom. 10:17), but remember that you are not determining the guilt or innocence of someone else. Rather, your verdict will determine your own eternal destiny!
No one can deny the existence of the universe. The question is: what is the origin of the universe?
Only two explanations are available: (1) there is an all-wise, all-powerful God who created it; or (2) matter is eternal and, beginning from an original simple life form, all living things developed gradually over millions of years by process of evolution. Consider which of these two views best fits the evidence.
A. Life Comes Only from Life.
>>> Read ACTS 17:24-28. <<<
*8* What does this verse say is the origin of life? (a) life on earth has always existed, (b) an unplanned accident of nature produced the first primitive life by spontaneous generation in an ancient swamp, (c) life on earth was created by a living, wise, powerful God. Answer: ______.
One of the most firmly established laws of science is the Law of Biogenesis, which says that life comes only from living things. There is no evidence that dead matter can spontaneously generate life.
The Bible agrees with scientific fact, for it says that life came from the eternal, living Creator (cf. Acts 14:15). However, evolution contradicts scientific proof, since it requires that dead matter sometime spontaneously came to life. Which view best fits the evidence?
B. Living Things Reproduce after Their Own Kind.
>>> Read GENESIS 1:11,21,24,25. <<<
*9* What kind of offspring do living things have? (a) the same kind as the parents, (b) with enough time, entirely different things may evolve, (c) you never know. Answer: ______.
Every year millions of living things reproduce, and the offspring is always the same kind as the parent. This is exactly what the Bible says. The offspring of dogs will be other dogs, not fish, birds, or people!
Evolution, however, teaches that all the present kinds are the offspring of previous different kinds, all the way back to one original life-form. But there is no convincing evidence for this. Living things adapt to their environment, but where is the proof that they produce totally different kinds of living things (fish to reptile to bird, etc.)?
If evolution was true, there should be many fossils of intermediate "links" between present kinds of living things. However, the "links" are still missing!
C. The Human Race Is Unique.
>>> Read GENESIS 1:26-28. <<<
*10* Man is created in whose image? Answer: In the image of ______.
*11* Man has dominion over what? (a) fish, (b) birds, (c) animals, (d) earth, (e) all the preceding. Answer: ______.
Simple observation shows that man is far above the animals.
Only man has rational intelligence. What animal uses abstract symbols (letters and numbers) to speak, write, or do mathematical calculations? What animal invents new tools and machines, trains animals, uses fire, or records wisdom to pass on to future generations?
Among animals there are many shades of intelligence. If man evolved from animals, why are there no animals with shades of intelligence right up to ours, instead of so vast a gulf?
Only man creates new beauty to appreciate in the form of music, art, poetry, humor, etc.
Only man has a conscience and sense of religious values. What animal by nature feels a sense of guilt or seeks to find and worship the cause of its existence?
If man evolved from animals, how do we explain these vast differences? If we develop new characteristics according to "survival of the fittest," how does appreciation of art, etc., make us more fit to survive?
The Bible, however, easily explains all these differences. Man shares these characteristics in common, not with the animals, but with God in whose image we were made.
D. Design Must Come from a Designer.
>>> Read ROMANS 1:20. <<<
*12* How can we see the power and Deity (Godhead) of God? Answer: We see them by the things God ______.
>>> Read PSALMS 19:1. <<<
*13* What do the heavens declare? Answer: The heavens declare the ______ of God.
When an intelligent being designs something to accomplish some purpose, that thing bears the marks of intelligence - it is intelligible. Other intelligent beings can study how it works, etc. Even if we have never met the maker, we know he must exist and we can appreciate the degree of his intelligence.
To confirm this concept to yourself, take this test. Try to name one thing that has these characteristics: (1) It appeals to your intelligence - it "makes sense" as a logical, reasonable way to accomplish some purpose. But, (2) you know it did not originate as the effort of some intelligent being - it "just happened" by blind chance. Can you name any such thing? A car? house? bridge?
Cameras are designed by intelligent beings, but no camera can match the overall performance of the human eye. Where did your eyes come from?
Computers are made by intelligent beings, but the human brain can surpass computers in many ways. Where did your brain come from?
Factories are made by intelligent beings to manufacture a product. But who made the human reproductive system?
>>> Read HEBREWS 3:4. <<<
*14* As a house must have a maker, who ultimately built all things? Answer: The ultimate maker of all things is ______.
When you consider all the organs of the human body, then all the other plants and animals, the heavenly bodies, and all the complex laws of nature, is it reasonable to argue that all this came without intelligent planning?
Science is founded on the conviction that the universe is intelligible - it is so orderly and systematic that the human intelligence is able to grasp much about its working. Doesn't this, of itself, prove that an intelligent Being invented it? And doesn't the fact that much of its working is beyond our ability to understand and to duplicate, prove that the intelligent Being who made it is far superior to us?
Every effect must have an adequate cause! Evolution says that life began by blind chance and then random mutations produced all advanced life forms. The Bible, however, says that the all-wise, all-powerful, living God intentionally planned and created the universe and all the life forms in it. As you reach your verdict, you must determine which view is more reasonable and best fits the evidence.
*15* Every effect must have an adequate what? Answer: ______.
Although the Bible is a textbook on religion, it often touches on other subjects such as history, geography, or science. It was written 2000-3500 years ago, when scientific error abounded. Skeptics have searched it mercilessly to disprove it. But if, despite this, we find that it contains none of the common errors of its day - if it actually speaks truths that were unknown to scientists till centuries later - then this should strengthen our confidence that it is not from men but from God.
Consider the following examples in which the Bible has been proved to be accurate, even when "scholars" disagreed with it.
A. History and Geography
>>> Read 2 SAMUEL 11:3. <<<
*16* Uriah was of what nationality? Answer: Uriah was a ______.
The Bible often mentions Hittites (Gen. 15:19-21; Num. 13:29; Josh. 3:10), but for years skeptics said the Bible was wrong. Then in 1906, Hugo Winckler excavated Hattusa, the Hittite capital. We now know that, at its height, the Hittite civilization rivaled Egypt and Assyria in glory! (See Biblical World, pp. 290ff.)
>>> Read EXODUS 1:11. <<<
*17&18* Name the two cities the Israelites built in Egypt. Answer: They built ______ and ______.
The Bible says that Israelite slaves built these cities using bricks of clay mixed with straw, then clay and stubble, then clay alone (Exodus 5:10-21). In 1883, Naville examined the ruins of Pithom and found all three types of brick. (See Biblical World, pp. 458,459.)
Sir William Ramsay was a skeptic who sought to disprove Acts by tracing Paul's journeys. Instead, his studies converted him! The turning point came when he proved that, contrary to accepted views, the Bible was right when it implied Iconium was in a different region from Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6). (See Archaeology and Bible History, Free, p. 317.)
"...it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries." - Dr. Nelson Glueck (Rivers in the Desert, p. 31)
"...archaeology has confirmed countless passages which have been rejected by critics as unhistorical or contradictory to known facts ... Yet archaeological discoveries have shown that these critical charges ... are wrong and that the Bible is trustworthy in the very statements which have been set aside as untrustworthy ... We do not know of any cases where the Bible has been proved wrong." - Dr. Joseph P. Free (Archaeology and Bible History, pp. 1,2,134)
B. Science
>>> Read ISAIAH 40:22. <<<
*19* What is the shape of the earth? (a) circle, (b) flat, (c) cylinder. Answer: ______.
Isaiah wrote this when men thought the earth was flat ("circle" = "a circle, sphere" - Gesenius). Today we have pictures taken from space to show the earth's shape, but how did Isaiah know?
>>> Read JOB 26:7. <<<
*20* How is the earth held up? Answer: The earth hangs on ______.
Ancient men believed many errors. How did Job know the truth?
>>> Read PSALM 8:8. <<<
*21* Fish pass through what in the seas? Answer: They swim or pass through the ______ of the seas.
Men knew of no paths in the sea until Matthew Maury read this verse. He searched till he discovered the ocean currents, and became known as the Father of Oceanography. (Impact, 9/91, pp. 3,4).
>>> Read ECCLESIASTES 1:7. <<<
*22* What does this verse tell us about rivers? (a) rivers run to the sea, (b) the sea does not get fuller, (c) rivers go back where they were before, (d) all the preceding. Answer: ______.
Today we understand how this happens by the water cycle and evaporation. How did Solomon know?
The Bible has contradicted unproved theories, but properly understood it has never contradicted any proved scientific fact. Yet it has often stated scientific truths centuries before men knew them.
While the Bible has been repeatedly proved accurate, those who criticize the Bible have been consistently unable to disprove it. This surely strengthens our faith in other Bible teachings.
(To be continued in lesson 2.)
(These questions are for you to ponder. Your answers will help us understand your thinking, however they will not affect your "score.")
*23* Do you believe that the hypothesis of evolution agrees with the Bible? __________
*24* What is your reaction to the evidence in the lesson showing the accuracy of the Bible in history, geography, and science? _________
*25* Which view do you believe agrees best with what we observe in nature: evolution or creation? _________
(C) Copyright David E. Pratte, 1999 biblestudylessons.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.


text: A group of malicious hackers who attacked Twitter and the Chinese search engine Baidu are also apparently running a for-rent botnet, according to new research.The so-called Iranian Cyber Army also took credit last month for an attack on TechCrunch's European website. In that incident, the group installed a page on TechCrunch's site that redirected visitors to a server that bombarded their PCs with exploits in an attempt to install malicious software.Researchers with a security startup called Seculert have traced the malicious server behind those attacks and found indications that the Iranian Cyber Army may also be running a botnet. They've found an administration interface where people who want to rent the botnet can describe the machines they would like to infect and upload their own malware for distribution by the botnet, said Aviv Raff , CTO and co-founder of Seculert. The company runs a cloud-based service that alerts its customers to new malware, exploits and other cyber threats."You provide the number of machines and their region," Raff said. "You then provide the malware download URL, and they will do the malware installation for you."There are many computer crime gangs that create botnets, or networks of compromised computers, that can then be rented to other players in the cybercrime industry, such as spammers.Raff said Seculert was able to see the administration panel as it was left unprotected. His company has since notified the provider where the page is hosted and contacted law enforcement. The Iranian Cyber Army is believed to be behind the botnet since the administration panel showed the same e-mail address that was displayed after the Twitter and Baidu defacement attacks. Also, a page displaying statistics on the number of infected machines showed the group's name in its HTML source code, according to screenshots posted by Seculert.The statistics page showed that as many as 14,000 PCs were being infected per hour. Since the server has been active since August, Seculert estimates it may have successfully infected as many as 20 million PCs.The administration console also shows that the exploit kit used to deliver malware has exploits targeting the Java runtime environment, products from Adobe Systems, and Microsoft's operating systems and Internet Explorer browser.None of the vulnerabilities used by the exploit kit appear to be unknown or, in some cases, even revealed recently. For example, one vulnerability dates from 2006."It's scary to see that people are still getting infected because of this vulnerability," Raff said.The botnet has been used to distribute some of the more notorious malicious software programs including Zeus, which is used to hack into online banking accounts, and the data-stealing Trojans called Gozi and Carberp, Raff said.An e-mail address links the botnet to earlier attacks claimed by the Iranian Cyber Army. When Twitter was attacked in December 2009, users were direct to a different website bearing a green flag and the message "This site has been hacked by Iranian Cyber Army," along with the group's supposed e-mail address.The attack against Twitter, and another against Baidu.com, involved tampering with DNS (Domain Name System) records, which can cause users to be redirected to another website even if the correct domain name is typed.