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Wrong Reactions to Jesus Christ (Mark 15:1-15) Part 1
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Wrong Reactions to Jesus Christ
Damning reactions to Christ manifested during His unjust trials
from the gospel of Mark 15:1 to 15, part 1
Did you know these important realities? Did you know, the average person falls asleep in seven minutes. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks, otherwise it will digest itself. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that's typed with only the left hand. To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs–it will let you go instantly. Reindeer like to eat bananas.
If a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building, it has about 30% less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what's happening, then relax and correct itself. That is one of the reasons I always try to stay on the lower five floors.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. Mel Blanc (who was the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots. More people are killed annually by donkeys, than die in air crashes. Interesting facts, but in truth they make no difference at all, except if you're grabbed by a crocodile, or have to feed a reindeer. But your reaction to those facts makes no difference–your response to those realities is inconsequential.
But that is not true with other realities. When the IRS contacts you personally, you should reply. When your toddler tries to drink Drano, you should stop them. When your doctor says you have Ebola, you should listen to him. Those are important life issues. But this morning, I want to affirm there're more important truths than those–there are truths more important than life itself.
When you stand by the casket of a relative or friend, you know there are more important truths than even life itself. If there's life after death, if there is a judgment (and we all intrinsically know there is), if there is a Heaven and Hell, then we'd better make certain we can pass judgment and spend eternity in Heaven.
Too many of us have heard, "They're in a better place," and we know it's not true. They are not in a better place because they were not right with Christ. Jesus claimed exclusivity in John 14:6. "Jesus said, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" The Apostles affirmed the same exclusivity in Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
All this tells you that your relationship to Jesus Christ is the most important commitment, the most crucial decision, the most essential truth, the imperative reaction for every single one of you in this room–why? Because your reaction to Jesus Christ determines your eternity. The only way you pass judgment, avoid Hell, and live forever in Heaven is to be rightly related to Christ.
Do not be confused. Becoming a Christian is not based upon praying a prayer, making a decision at camp, having an emotional experience, walking forward, signing a card, feeling guilty about your sin, liking Jesus more than Mohammed or Buddha or Mary, accepting good doctrine, or catch this–the mere belief that Jesus is God who died for your sins. When you're truly saved, God causes you to be born again. First Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again."
It's so important to be born again. Jesus said in John 3:3b, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." God is the one who saves you. God is the one who transforms you. And when Christ saves you, Christ makes you into a new person. Second Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
And it is God Himself who must choose you–you did not choose Christ, Christ chooses you. Jesus is clear in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain." So, has He given you the gift of faith to depend completely on Christ? And did God give you the gift of repentance to turn from your sin and follow Christ alone? Acts 20:21, "Solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Both faith and repentance are gifts God gives at salvation. Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Second Timothy 2:25, "With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth." So this morning, has God granted you repentance? Has He given you faith? Are you born again? Have you been made new? Do you have a new heart? Let me help you know for certain, with the three W's.
1 You will WANT to OBEY God's Word
Romans 6:17, "Though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed." That means if you are a true Christian, you will not only want to attend church, but interconnect with God's people, serve, give, sacrifice, love others, forgive, disciple, submit, minister and more.
2 You will be WILLING to DO anything Christ asks
Luke 14:26,27 and 33, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 33 . . . None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions." Willing?
3 You will WORSHIP the Lord with your ALL
You know what Romans 12:1 says, "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." You present all of yourself to Christ in worship–hold nothing back. What we are doing right now is giving ourselves corporately to God in worship. And each of you individually are here to give your total self away again to Christ in worship. Living sacrifice means again and again.
That is the heart of a genuine Christian. They want to obey God's Word, they are willing to do anything Christ asks, and they give themselves fully again and again to Christ in worship–not perfectly, but progressively. Have you been born again?
Today in our passage in Mark, we find religious people, powerful people, people in authority reacting to Christ–but they're not saved. They're interacting with Christ, but they don't know who He is. Each of them are dialoging face to face with God in a body, but they have no idea who He really is. And as a result, they are unmoved, unrepentant, unchanged, and far from salvation.
As we continue in our verse by verse study of the gospel of Mark, we are close to the crucifixion. It is now the early hours of Friday. Christ is experiencing two major trials, one religious and one secular.
Each of them, have three phases to them, making six different times from midnight to eight in the morning Christ will face some form of accusation, harassment and abuse.
#1 Christ is arraigned before Annas around 1 am in John 18
#2 Christ is tried before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin about 2 to 3 am
#3 Christ is retried before the Sanhedrin at 5:30 am in Mark 15:1
#4 Christ is tried before Pilate to gain a death sentence about 6 am in Mark 15
#5 Christ is mocked before Herod at 7 am in Luke 23
#6 Christ is tried before Pilate and the mob around 8 am in Mark 15
Then Christ will be crucified by 9 am on Good Friday. Let's look at how not to react, how not to respond to Christ.
Let's briefly review Mark 14 and the religious trial, phase 1
1 Annas is looking for a HANDLE to destroy Christ
Immediately after being arrested, Jesus was taken to face the former High Priest, named Annas. The gospel of John makes this clear in John 18:12 and 13, "So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year."
Annas is the Godfather–all the animal selling and coin exchanging in the Temple were called the Bazaars of Annas. This is the Mafia boss who's getting rich by overcharging God's people to worship at the Passover. Even though Annas has his own muscle–his Temple police, the men with the Billy clubs, Annas couldn't stop Jesus from sharing the Gospel nor teaching God's Word.
Annas was so corrupt, he kept the office of the High Priest in his family for decades, and Caiaphas, the current High Priest is the son-in-law of Annas who was so bad the Roman authorities actually forced him out of the office of High Priest. But like a strong Mafia boss, Annas still controlled the evil organization. Our Lord put a serious dent into his profits on Tuesday with the cleaning out of the Temple, so Annas questions Christ to find some way to legally kill Him, while he gives the Sanhedrin time to be awakened, brought from their homes, and assembled together at Caiaphas' house so they can try Christ.
John 18:19, "The high priest [Annas] then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching." Annas is asking Jesus to incriminate Himself–he wants to get a handle to use against Christ. He is looking for a crack in order to kill Christ. But Annas fails, and the ball next is thrown in Caiaphas' court. So verse 24, "So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."
There are people who react to Christ in just this same way. They try to find a handle to use against Christ or Christianity in order to reject Christ–to find some crack to justify their rejection. They say things like, "Christ was merely a man . . . there are other religions, not just like Christianity . . . there are many ways to God." Sadly, like Annas, every skeptic and every religious hypocrite will face Christ as their Judge. Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment."
And it'll only be those in Christ who will enter Heaven. Christ alone took our judgment for sin upon the cross. If you don't have Christ, you don't have a substitute. Therefore, instead of God's judgment for your sin falling on Christ for you, you will be judged and suffer eternal suffering in Hell for all your sin upon yourself. Let's also remember Mark 14 and the religious trial, phase 2.
2 Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin are seeking to CONDEMN
Remember 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." While Peter is in the courtyard denying Christ, the Sanhedrin are not interested in giving Christ a fair trial. They are only interested in putting Him to death.
So Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin drum up as many witnesses as they can to find some legal reason to murder Jesus–but they can't. They even bribe witnesses to speak falsely, but can't get them to agree. They move too fast, it is too early in the morning, and Christ is perfect, so nothing sticks. Finally in frustration, Caiaphas the inquisitor puts Jesus under oath and asks, verse 61, "Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?'"
Matthew 26:63 clarifies, "'I adjure You by the living God.'" That's the heaviest oath possible–that is the strongest way to make someone answer. "I place an oath on you." And Jesus answers pointedly, verse 62, "And Jesus said, 'I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
Jesus again says, "I AM." Jesus spoke the name of God in the Garden, and at least 200 soldiers, police and leaders were thrown into the dirt by the power of God. Jesus tells them He is God–He has all power, and He has all authority as their Judge. Jesus says, "You're judging Me right now, but you need to understand–I AM the Judge you'll stand before to determine your eternity."
This truth declaration results in a hypocritical show of rejection, as they tear their clothes and sentence Jesus to death, and begin to abuse Him, spit on Him, hit Him and mock Him. They attack the very One they will answer to for their lives. People today do the same–they say the Bible is full of errors. The Church has messed with the Bible over the years. "Christ was a great teacher, but He wasn't God."
But they forget Jesus says in John 12:48, "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." So as we now come in our study to Mark 15, we now see what happens next in Mark 15:1–The Religious Trial, Phase 3.
3 The religious leaders are HATEFUL and HYPOCRITICAL
The religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, meet again once it's morning, to appear to be obeying the law so they can kill Christ. They have violated their own law by trying Christ at night, without defense, without credible witnesses and during a feast–and they've already pronounced judgment. Look back at Mark 14:63 and 64, "Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?' And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death."
And now, instead of waiting twenty-four hours minimum like their law demands, and most believe they should be waiting three days while fasting, they seek to make their judgment appear legal before the public. As they re-gather here in Mark 15:1, they do so in order to appear legal. This third phase of the religious trial is a show. They're putting on this hypocritical action to appear official. They're gathering to unanimously confirm their decision to kill Christ.
But they're also gathering for another reason–look at Mark 15:1a, "Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation." It is early morning–sunrise is 5 am, so this is sometime between 5 and 6 in the morning. Mark tells us the entire Sanhedrin gets together to hold a consultation. The Greek consultation means a plan–a course of action. We might say today a checklist. Why are they putting together a checklist? Do you know? In order to murder Christ, they have to get some things lined up.
CHECK LIST ONE Only Rome can allow them to kill Christ. Rome alone holds the authority to condemn a man to death. Have you read John 18:31? It reminds us that the Jews at this time were required to go to Rome in order to kill Christ. John 18:31, "So Pilate said to them, 'Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.' The Jews said to him, 'We are not permitted to put anyone to death.'" So if the Sanhedrin wants to kill Christ, they have to get Rome's permission, which means they're forced to talk to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Maybe you're one of those cynical critics who'll say, "Hold on, Chris–the Jews stoned Stephen to death." Yes they did, but they had no legal right to–that was the action of a mob, but they had no legal right to kill Stephen, and they have no right to kill Christ but must get permission.
CHECK LIST TWO They have to convince Pilate to give Jesus the death penalty. Pilate will not condemn Christ to death for claiming to be God. They'd consider that crazy, but not condemnable. We are transitioning now from a religious trial to a secular trial. The Sanhedrin really wants to kill Christ because they're jealous of His miraculous power and His incredible popularity. The religious leaders all hate Christ because they've all been condemned by His life and His teaching. And they despise His teaching that salvation is by God's grace and not works of the Law.
But they have to come up with other reasons why Christ must die if they're going to get Pilate to give them the death sentence. They can't give Pilate religious reasons, even blasphemy–but they will have to give Pilate political reasons, like treason. So verse 1, the Sanhedrin is consulting to come up with reasons to make Christ look like a revolutionary who was a threat to Caesar.
So the Sanhedrin meet again to appear legal. Plus they meet in order to come up with a check list of lies to convince the governor to give them a death sentence for the perfect God-man. So Mark 15:1b, "And binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate." Sadly, there are people who put on an external show. They want an experience with God, but not surrender their will. People want freedom from their guilt, but not obedience to Christ. People want to taste of the blessings of Christians, but will not pay the price of turning from sin and dying to self.
Yet when salvation is true, Paul said it so clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:15, "He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." True Christians live for Christ, not for themselves. And this leads us to . . .
Mark 15:1b to 5, The Secular Trial, Phase 1
4 Pilate is IMPRESSED, but INDIFFERENT
A superficial exposure to Christ is impressive to Pilate, but Pilate is not impacted by Christ at all. Look at Mark 15:1b, "And binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate." It is around 6 am in the morning, possibly a little earlier. Jesus is now in Pilate's judgment hall, or just outside of it. Pilate is in Jerusalem for Passover. He despised the Jewish people–the Bible tells us he was proud, cruel and a narcissist.
Pilate once showed his disdain for Jewish customs by bringing standards, bearing the image of the Emperor on them, violating the Jewish ban on images. The Jews went in mass 70 miles down to the coast, to Caesarea where Pilate lived, to protest for five days. He finally relented and removed the flags.
Pilate also used money from the Temple treasury to build a 23-mile long aqueduct to bring water into Jerusalem. The Jews protested using Temple funds for public works, and some Jews and soldiers were killed in the protest. Pilate later stopped a protest by sending his soldiers in disguise in the midst of a protesting crowd, and at a certain signal they all pulled out their clubs and these soldiers beat the Jews to death.
Turn to John 18–Pontius Pilate was a man who lusted for status, putting his career above everything, including people and principle. Responsible for all Roman court decisions, the army, collecting taxes and keeping the peace, Pilate is the one who held the power of life and death over his subjects. And Pilate alone is the one who decides all cases of capital punishment, which helps us understand what is happening in John 18:28 and following.
"Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover." Talk about hypocrisy–they won't enter a Gentile location, the Praetorium, so they don't get defiled by possibly touching a Gentile. So they stand outside. All this careful religious care going on at the same time they're trying to manipulate the governor so they can murder an innocent man. This is the highest form of hypocrisy—nauseating.
Verse 29, "Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, 'What accusation do you bring against this Man?'" This is a legal question from Rome's primary judge in this region. The governor is Israel's final court of appeal in capital offense cases. But the leaders don't want Pilate to judge, they merely want him to approve their execution. They don't want another trial. In fact, "Pilate, don't ask us any questions at all."
Verse 30, "They answered and said to him, 'If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.'" Hey, Pilate, we're not wasting your time—trust us. Just help us execute this man–this Jesus.
Now Pilate knows who Jesus is. He was aware of the massive crowd hailing Jesus as the Messiah at the triumphal entry on Monday. Surely Pilate heard about Jesus overturning the tables on Tuesday. And we know Pilate knows of the Lord's arrest, because Roman troops were requested and present on Thursday. And Pilate is NOT DUMB, he knows that the leaders are committing a blatant miscarriage of justice.
So Pilate (probably with a sigh) says in verse 31a, "So Pilate said to them, 'Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.'" Just kill him yourself–but the Jews become externally legal and self-righteous, and don't want to take responsibility for Christ. So they say, verse 31b, "The Jews said to him, 'We are not permitted to put anyone to death.'"
But they have to give Pilate reasons, and it's at this point that Luke 23:2 informs us when they held their consultation in Mark 15:1. They came up with three reasons for Pilate:
1) Jesus was PERVERTING the nation of Israel
2) Jesus was forbidding Jews to pay TAXES, creating a tax revolt
3) Jesus was claiming to be KING, and Caesar is NOT King
Luke 23:2 says, "And they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.'"
Now go back to Mark 15:2–Pilate then talks to Jesus in verse 2a, "Pilate questioned Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'" There could be mockery in Pilate's question, since Jesus is bound, His clothes are bloody, and there're bruises and dried spit on his face. Christ does not look like a king–there is nothing regal about the Lord's appearance here. But verse 2b, "And [Jesus] He answered him, 'It is as you say.'" You are correct Pilate–I am THE King!
John's gospel tells us more of what Christ says at this exact point. John 18:36 and 37, "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.' 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, 'So You are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'"
Then in verse 38 Pilate said to Him, "'What is truth?'" Pilate is a typical educated leader of his day–it was very common for Roman leaders to be philosophers, cynics and agnostics, like someone who attends Berkeley. Pilate is pessimistically skeptical. But Pilate hasn't lost his mind–verse 38 continues, "And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, 'I find no guilt in Him."
Well, the leaders are fried by that–they light up in verse 3, "The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly." They really pour it on, which surprises Pilate, since Christ gives no response. Mark 15:4, "Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, 'Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!' 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed."
Amazed is to marvel–to wonder. This is extremely unique. Here is someone being accused of all kinds of things He didn't do, and He gives no response, no defense. So what's Pilate gonna do? Luke 23 tells us again some of what they were saying in verse 5, "But they kept on insisting, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, even as far as this place.'" They tell Pilate Jesus is stirring up the entire nation from Judea all the way to Galilee–bingo, here's my way out.
Luke 23:7, "And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time." Pilate is only governor of Judea–Herod is the governor of Galilee, and Herod just happens to be in town for the Passover. So in order to get out of this sticky situation, Pilate ships Jesus off for trial #5, phase two of the secular trial.
Being a Roman governor, Pilate naturally has an elevated opinion of his power over Christ. In a sense, Pilate says to Jesus, "Don't you know that I can do anything I want to you?" But Jesus says in John 19:10, "You have no authority over Me at all if it was not given you from on high." But Pilate thinks he has power over Jesus. Like Judas, Annas, Caiaphas, even the Sanhedrin–all thought they were controlling Christ. Now Pilate believes he has the destiny of Jesus in his hands.
The truth is, Jesus has their eternal destiny in His hands. No earthly power can determine the destiny of Christ, but every soul's destiny is determined by how they respond to Christ. Sadly, there are people who come to church who are impressed with Christ, amazed, they even wonder. Pilate was impressed. But they are indifferent to following Christ by obeying God's Word. They want to feel amazed, but do not want to know the truth. They want to have an experience, but not submit their will. They want to wonder at God, but not die to self and follow Christ. Turn to Luke 23 to witness The Secular Trial, Phase 2.
5 Herod is CURIOUS, but SHALLOW
You know who Herod Antipas is. Big Daddy Herod the Great died in 4 BC and divided his kingdom (under the Romans) among his four sons. Herod Antipas ruled the north region from 4 BC to 39 AD, over forty years. Herod was a vassal of Rome, and could only stay in office while he supported Rome, collecting taxes and keeping the peace.
Like his dad, Herod Antipas was a builder (near Nazareth). Herod built Sepphoris, the largest city in Galilee, and Tiberius, built on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee. Also like his dad, Herod Antipas was a very wicked man. He divorced his wife, a princess of Nabatea, in order to steal his half-brother's wife. John the Baptist confronted Herod on this, and it cost John his head. Herod was an incestuous, murderous, immoral, and scheming man—and now Herod will finally meet Christ (in Luke 23).
Herod has known about Christ–Mark 6 tells us Herod thought Christ was John the Baptist come back from the dead to haunt him. Later in Luke 13, the Pharisees warned Christ that Herod was out to kill him. And now they'll finally meet, and Herod can kill Christ if he wants. But Herod, like many today, only desires a supernatural show, but is totally uninterested in salvation, truth, morality or judgment.
Look at verses 8 and 9, "Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing." Herod is unimpressed–it's almost a joke. Looking at Christ, beaten, bloody and abused, Herod concludes Christ is no threat.
But the leaders do–verse 10, "And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently." Notice, the leaders followed Christ to Herod's place for blood. Plus, Christ's non-response, and the leaders' accusing of Christ moves Herod to mock Christ, verse 11, "And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate"—for the final trial, Phase 3 of the secular Trial.
But did you see how verse 11 begins? "Herod with his soldiers"–Herod himself treats Christ with contempt. Herod mocks Christ! Herod took part in dressing Christ in a gorgeous regal robe, probably a white dazzling robe, the robe of a ruler, a king. All that to make fun of Christ, to make Him a joke, to show all that Christ is no threat to anyone. Herod wants nothing to do with Christ, so Herod himself in sending Christ back to Pilate is saying, "Christ does not deserve death–He's not guilty of a capital offence."
Now you have two witnesses who agree–Pilate and Herod both agree that Jesus does not deserve death. But the religious leaders do, and they will not be denied. Are you ready for the final phase, the sixth trial? What happens is incredible and amazing, and to really get it you have to come back next week.
There are those today who only want to see miracles, experience God through ecstatic utterances, hear so-called prophecies–but like Herod they will not surrender their lives to the truth. More and more church attenders want to feel God's presence, but are unwilling to live a holy life, nor seek to please Christ. They desire to see the evidence of God's power, but are unwilling to live for eternity by making sacrifices now.
So, would you allow me to ask you one more time–in your heart, do you want to obey God's Word? Does it show? Are you willing to do anything Christ asks? Does it show? Do you worship God with your entire life as a living sacrifice? Are you truly born again? If not, cry out for mercy. Ask God to open your eyes to see and give you a heart to respond. Make sure you are a child of God, and . . .
#1 Make certain your ETERNITY is biblically secure
People of authority are often filled with pride because of their powerful position. People who are super-educated Berkeley-ites are filled with pride because they think they have it all figured out. Both groups are blinded by their perceived power, and their thinking has been distorted by lies. In dealing with such folks I pray, "God crack their heart," and when He does it usually means He cracks their life first, through some horrible trial or awful circumstance. And the reason that's necessary is because pride prevents salvation, stops forgiveness, and denies everyone eternity in Heaven. The only people who actually can be saved are the humble, James 4:6b, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
#2 Repent of your PRIDE to come to Christ for salvation
Christ answered direct questions about the truth of who He is, but He never defended Himself concerning lies and slander. Yes, slander hurts. Yes, accusations are unfair. Yes, lies are wrong. I have had plenty, and they've been excruciatingly painful. But as a Christ follower, should we not do what Christ did? Entrust ourselves to God, to allow truth to be known in time?
#3 Don't make a habit of DEFENDING yourself–trust in Christ
Finally, if Pilate was amazed, in wonder, astounded by Christ–shouldn't we who are His forgiven, cleansed, washed, Heaven-bound, able to obey, blessed with every spiritual blessing, interconnected to His Church family, given His Word, beloved followers be all the more amazed at the commitment of Christ to go to the cross and pay for our eternal redemption? Amen?
#4 Be AMAZED at the character and sacrifice of Christ
Let's pray.


text:
Hi there, lovelies! It has been a while since I wrote a post about long distance relationships.
So today, I wanted to share with you some questions to ask your long distance boyfriend. Especially when things get dull and you don't know what to talk about.
If that happens to you, don't feel ashamed! Things like that happen. We are humans, not a chatting machine.
Not only I will give you some questions, but also a few topic ideas that can help you when the conversation seems to be ending and you don't know how to keep it flowing.
Also, I want to mention that lately I've been getting many messages from you guys, telling me about your love stories. You have to know that makes me so happy!
Remember that you aren't alone in this journey and you have a friend here to talk about your struggles. You can send a message through my contact form, or a simply DM on Instagram!
How To Keep The Conversation Flowing
I'm the queen of random and dumb questions, so we don't usually run out of topics to talk with my boyfriend.
If we aren't talking about our day, we discuss the news, send each other memes and videos, and talk about the current pop culture.
Sometimes I even mess with him about what I think it's weird about the American culture. It's all about to have something to share.
When we aren't talking about those topics, we try to go a little deeper and ask about how we are really feeling. If we are struggling with something in particular or if we just want to vent.
I'm also that kind of girlfriend that ask dumb questions, like, would you still love me if suddenly I lose all my teeth? Or, if I'm watching a show and some drama happens, I would ask an hypothetical questions like; what if your friends hire a girl to seduce you because they don't like me and want us to break up, what would you do?
Yeah, that's me.
Sometimes (and without realizing) we find ourselves in a monotonous routine. We keep asking the same questions over and over again, when we should use that time to get to know each other better.
It doesn't have to be serious question all the time. Sometimes funny questions can tell us a lot about the personality of that person.
These questions to ask your long distance boyfriend will help you to discover more about him, and about you as well!
Questions To Ask Your Long Distance Boyfriend
1. If you could know more about any one Thing, what would it be?
2. What is the greatest strength of our relationship?
3. Are you happy with our current level of emotional intimacy?
This question is important to ask! No matter if you don't run out of ideas to talk. Being in a long distance relationship means that we have to grow that side of our relationship more. If we aren't doing that, then the relationship won't go to the ideal direction.
4. What's the best name you can think of for a pet?
It's fun to think about your lives together. If your significant other loves animals, this is a great question! This opens a real good conversation of what kind of pet you want, how many, which dog breed is your favorite, etc.
5. What are your top five things on your bucket list?
6. If you had to kill five innocent people in order to save my life, would you?
A little dramatic, but I always have so much fun answering this questions. It's so interesting when we can analyze the circumstances.
7. What is your favorite family tradition?
This question will also let you know how your life together would look like. If he likes to do certain things in Christmas or for his birthday! My boyfriend and I have different traditions for Christmas, we actually celebrate more Christmas Eve, while his family do all the activities during the 25th. Now we just have to figure out how are we going to do both traditions.
8. Would you rather have unlimited savory foods for life or unlimited sweets for life?
9. When the day comes, how do you want to celebrate closing the distance?
10. What are some of the thing you want to do the next time we are together?
Planning the next trip together is super fun and makes the distance a little less awful. I love making plans and this is a great way for me to be less anxious about out long distance relationship.
11. Would you rather be the best player on a horrible team or the worst player on a great team?
12. If a genie granted you three wishes right now, what would you wish for?
13. Would you change anything about yourself?
Important question because it lets you know his struggles and insecurities. So even though he doesn't asks for help, you can do little things to make him feel better about himself.
14. You find a book and begin to read only to discover that It's your life. You get to the point that you are at now, do you turn the page knowing that you will not be able to change the events to come?
15. Do you think we have grown as a couple since we started our long distance relationship?
This is a great way to know if you guys are going in the right direction. Remember to always be open and ask his opinion about things. You might think everything is going fine, but for him it might not be like that. If he's one those guys that doesn't open much, you need to ask to make sure everything is going well. Communication is key!
16. Do your family supports our relationship?
17. What is the thing that annoys you the most about me?
18. Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
19. What would you think is our greatest weakness as a couple?
Reviewing all your aspects as a couple is important. Here and there you should stop and analyze how things are going. What are you struggling with, and what needs to change. Just like when you do end of the year reflections, so you can start fresh.
20. Do you feel emotionally supported?
21. Would we have a long distance relationship if we were living in the 18th century and the only way to communicate was by letters once a moth?
22. Describe your dream vacation.
And who knows, maybe you can make it happen for him one day!
23. Do you feel loved?
24. What are some of the things you hate the most about our long distance relationship?
I mean, obviously the distance, but what else do you think he hates about being apart? Ask to be specific! So interesting to know your significant other's point of view!
25. How would you deal, if you ever get in a disagreement with one of my family members or friends?
Hard question! Although we probably won't know for sure how we would react to a certain situation, is good to know how we think we would react.
26. What's something you misunderstood as a child and only realized much later was wrong?
27. If you only had a week left to live, what are some things you would do?
28. What is the dumbest way you've been injured?
29. Would you go to jail for something that I did, so that I would be able to keep living my life?
Also, how would you feel if he does that? Would you just accept the love and let it happen? Interesting question, right?
30. What moment in our relationship did you feel loved the most?
31. You suspect that your neighbors may be abusing their child, do you mind your own business or call the police?
32.What's the most useless product around today?
33. Do you consider yourself materialistic?
34. What's something you always wanted to do as a child but never got to do?
35. What were your thoughts the first few months of our long distance relationship?
I love this question! Mostly because I'm nosy and I want to know what my boyfriend thinks. Also, it lets you know what they went through that time. In my case… I was insanely jealous. It was son hard at first!
36. Someone calls me something horrible. Do you let me fight my own battles, or jump in and defend me?
37. If you could permanently change one movie ending, what would it be?
38. What are some of the things you want us to do together?
Then you can continue this conversation and start a couple's bucket list! Create a Google Document that you both can edit and keep adding. It can be for the times you are together or for when you finally close the distance.
39. Who or where would you haunt if you were a ghost?
40. Do you think we communicate well? If not, how can we fix them?
41. Do you ever feel like being in a long-distance relationship holds you back?
Hard question right here! The answer might hurt a little if he says yes, but also know that he is with you for a reason. You decided to go through the distance because you love each other, but let's not lie to each other. It's hard. Especially when we don't know when are we closing the distance.
42. Do you think is possible to be only friends with someone of the opposite sex? Would you mind if my best friend was a guy?
We already know that is hard to trust your partner when you are in a long distance relationship, but now you also end up worrying about the people that surrounds him. It can be a co-worker or a friend from school. In most cases it takes a few trips before we can met all his friends. This kind of things can drive anyone crazy!
43. What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?
44. Do you ever rehearse a phone call beforehand?
45. Do you ever get jealous? Explain some situations that spark jealousy.
46. What's something you want to do in the next year that you've never done before?
47. If you could live in any era, which would it be and why?
48. Describe me in 3 words.
49. Do you think distance has helped us grow individually?
This is an interesting perspective. In my case I think it has help me a lot. I'm more patient and I have learn how to communicate better my feelings. What do you think about this question?
50. You are offered a pill that makes you 50% more intelligent but permanently removes your hair including eyebrows. Do you take it?
Does it happen to you that you run out of ideas to talk about with your significant other? If that happens to you what do you usually do? Let me know in the comments!
Also, if you want to read more tips about long distance relationships, click here.
PS: If you are looking for a cute gift for your long distance boyfriend or girlfriend, check out my love coupons below!
You can get them for just $5.75.

subset: commoncrawl


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text: FilterCor's wound cartridge filters provide true depth filtration, high dirt holding capacity, and extremely low media migration. They're an outstanding, one-piece cartridge manufactured the usage of a high speed, continuous wind process, and are to be had in all kinds of porosities. Especially significant is the availability of filters in an almost endless combination of media and core material, to deal with virtually any chemical and/or environment or temperature. Beneficial for concentrated acids and alkalis, strong oxidizing agents, corrosive fluids and gases. FDA and Non-FDA to be had – consult factory. Easily incinerated to track of ash. Superb micro-organism resistance. To be used to120�F. APPLICATIONS Mineral acids Organic solvents Zinc chloride Caustic soda Ferric hydroxide Plating solutions Ethyl alcohol Animal, petroleum, and vegetable oils Oxidizing agents Alkalis Organic acids Potable water Demineralized water Photographic solutions Pre-membrane filtration Specifications: Dimensions: 20″ x 4.5″ Weight: 3 lb. 8 oz. Filter Media:


text: Kupo wind-up stands are constructed by chrome plated steel with geared column that enable a single operator to raise and lower heavy loads safely with just turn of a handle. Both risers extend simulataneously at one elevation of 4.4cm by per handle turn. The unique automatic self-locking mechanism is equipped to prevent the light stand from dropping unexpectedly making the operation safer.


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iManage Work addresses the apprehensions raised by two kinds of professionals, the people that don't want several users working on a file simultaneously and the ones who must work together with a team of professionals to complete an agreement using an interface of their choosing.
To accommodate those who don't want multiple users editing the document at the same time. This feature has existed for many years. When using it each person checks out the document to make needed modifications and all the other users who want to open the same document must open it in read-only mode.
An explicit document check out model limits the capacity for those who would like to work on the same document collaborate. There are several limits to an explicit checkout model:
- Users must manage their schedule around editing the document
- If external collaboration is required, emailing a document is an easy way to deliver it, however, it can leave your company at the risk of potential data leaks
- Merging changes is a manual and laborious process fraught with risk
- Some users may use private sharing solutions to cooperate without the company's knowledge, and the end result is that the document has no audit trail.
Co-authoring for iManage Classic Clients (FileSite/DeskSite) permits users to take a fresh approach to working together on a document. While the file is still explicitly checked out, it can now be shared with a designated group of persons. This guarantees only one person keeps charge over the versioning procedure while all actions during this collaborative session are reviewed in iManage Work with the original file. Documents are shared in the company's secured OneDrive for the Business environment during the co-authoring session, guaranteeing the documents won't loose governance.
This brand-new feature gives users the capability to explicitly look over a file for co-authoring and allow certain people to contribute, in place of it being open to any user who has permissions. This ensures only one individual has total control over the versioning process in iManage Work. All activities done during this collective session are audited in iManage Work within the original document.
iManage's co-authoring solution delivers several key benefits to both end users and the company:
- Co-authored document auditing: Actions and contributors are audited to deliver visibility into a co-authoring session.
- Not dependent on a Microsoft desktop sync client: Easy client deployment that decreases the number of failure points.
- It works from any device: Users can work from desktop, Tablet or Mobile. The changes can be made and saved to iManage Work. Users can effortlessly switch between devices and keep working on the same document.
- Support for OneDrive on-premises and as part of Office 365: Flexible design lets companies balance security along with ease of deployment and effortlessly switch between the two distributions with nominal effort. External collaborators, for example, contractors, can add to a document without requiring access to the iManage repository.
- Streamlined workflows intended for the end user: Sharing, accessing, and saving co-authored document workflows are caringly designed to lessen user friction and increase acceptance.
- Advanced co-authoring workflow support: iManage Work Co-Authoring supports several kinds of use cases, from internal collaboration for quick edits to any needed complex external collaboration lasting for months.
- Advanced logging: iManage Work Co-Authoring users aren't merely end-users; they are also the IT support staff. Advanced logging aids IT personnel in supporting users with any problems.
iManage links (NRLs) function in the same way as before, permitting users to merely double click and join the co-authoring session if given permission to do so. Once all operators have finished their needed edits, the master controller can bring the edited content back into the system as a new file version.


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Export 96 results:
Filters: Author is Farhang Radjaï [Clear All Filters]
The Potential of Mean Force concept for bridging (length and time) scales in the modeling of complex porous materials. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber01009.. 2017.
Peridynamics simulation of the comminution of particles containing microcraks. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber07018.. 2017.
Penetration test in coarse granular material using Contact Dynamics Method. Computers and Geotechnics. 55:248-253.. 2014.
Penetration strength of coarse granular materials from DEM simulations. 7th International Conference on Micromechanics of Granular Media (Powders and Grains). Book Series: AIP Conference Proceedings POWDERS AND GRAINS 2013 :241-244.. 2013.
Particle shape dependence in 2D granular media. EPL (Europhysics Letters). 98(4):ArticleNumber:44008.. 2012.
Particle alignment and clustering in sheared granular materials composed of platy particles. The European Physical Journal E. 37(11):ArticleNumber:116.. 2014.
Parallel implicit contact algorithm for soft particle systems. Computer Physics Communications. 237:17-25.. 2019.
Packings of irregular polyhedral particles: Strength, structure, and effects of angularity. Physical Review E. 8713(6):ArticleNumber:062203.. 2013.
Onset of Immersed Granular Avalanches by DEM-LBM Approach. 9th International Workshop on Buifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials (IWBDG 2011). Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering - ADVANCES IN BIFURCATION AND DEGRADATION IN GEOMATERIALS:109-115.. 2011.
Numerical study of the failure of materials embedding soft to hard particles. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber02029.. 2017.
Numerical simulation of granular media composed with irregular polyhedral particles: effect of particles' angularity. 2nd International Conference on Particle-Based Methods - Fundamentals and Applications (Particles). PARTICLE-BASED METHODS II: FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS:222-228.. 2015.
Numerical modeling of the tensile strength of a biological granular aggregate: Effect of the particle size distribution. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber08013.. 2017.
Numerical insight into the micromechanics of jet erosion of a cohesive granular material. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber15017.. 2017.
Nonlinear effects of particle shape angularity in sheared granular media. Physical Review E. 86(4):ArticleNumber:041301Part:1.. 2012.
Nano-mechanical properties of starch and gluten biopolymers from atomic force microscopy. European Polymer Journal. 49(12):3788-3795.. 2013.
Nano-granular texture of cement hydrates. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber15027.. 2017.
Multiscale modeling for bioresources and bioproducts. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies. 46( Special Issue: SI ):41-53.. 2018.
Multi-periodic boundary conditions and the Contact Dynamics method. Comptes Rendus Mécanique. 346(3):263-277.. 2018.
MPM with Frictional Contact for Application to Soft Particulate Materials. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE MATERIAL POINT METHOD (MPM 2017) Book Series: Procedia Engineering . 175:141-147.. 2017.
Modelling Transient Dynamics of Granular Slopes: MPM and DEM. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE MATERIAL POINT METHOD (MPM 2017) Book Series: Procedia Engineering . 175:94-101.. 2017.
Modelling soft-particle materials. 3rd International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro. Geomechanics from Micro to Macro:43-48.. 2014.
Modeling soft granular materials. Granular Matter. 19(1):ArticleNumber:8.. 2017.
Modeling root growth in granular soils: effects of root stiffness and packing fraction. EPJ Web of Conferences. 140:ArticleNumber14013.. 2017.
Modeling Granular Materials: Century-Long Research across Scales. Journal of Engineering Mechanics. 143(4):ArticleNumber:UNSP04017002.. 2017.
Modeling force transmission in granular materials. Comptes Rendus Physique. 16(1):3-9.. 2015.


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August 27, 2018 by CRI Admin
Its back-to-school time again, and this year students returning to Explorer Middle School in Everett, Washington will be greeted with brand new locker room floors. The existing floor was well-worn and in need of replacement. Our crew removed the previous epoxy quartz coating, shot blasted the floor, and installed over 3,050 square feet of resinous flooring.
Read More›


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Midas are excited to announce the launch of PHR to MNI in place of the recently delisted TELOS.
Phore (PHR) display the core qualities required for inclusion to MNI – 1) history of developmental progress, 2) long term coin stability and sustained price, 3) professional core team and 4) strong coin economics. As well as this, PHR is one of the top rated coins on Midas and their inclusion to MNI brings greater strength to the long term prospects of the Masternode Index.
How will this impact your portfolio?
We are currently working behind the scenes to complete the integration of PHR to investor's portfolios.
Any TELOS orders previously filled will no longer be displayed on your MNI Tracker. Instead, the BTC from your TELOS balance will re-enter the queue to purchase PHR. Once PHR has been purchased for your portfolio, it will be confirmed in your MNI Tracker:
If TELOS was not previously purchased in your portfolio, this will simply mean 20% of your deposit is waiting in the queue to purchase PHR.
If TELOS was previously purchased for your index, the BTC value of your TELOS held previously is now waiting in the queue to purchase PHR.
During the next week, we will be updating coin balances on investor portfolios to reflect the change from TELOS to PHR. When balance updates have been completed on your account, we will update the UI on your Tracker to replace any mention of TELOS to PHR. This will signify to each investor that any balance update work has been completed on your portfolio. Your BTC balance will remain stable during this time. The change from TELOS to PHR will not affect your overall BTC balance in any way.
Once the change from TELOS to PHR has been completed for all users, we will announce through #platform-updates.
We welcome PHR to the Masternode Index and expect this to spell an even brighter future for MNI.


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Get Purses Live Wallpaper and accessorize your phone with fashionable "purses and bags"! Enjoy watching high-class handbags on your phone screen! Choose the chic background you like the most and create your new favorite live wallpaper! - Perfect girly live wallpaper for Android! - Interactive background-Tap anywhere on the screen and new designer purses will appear! - Full support for landscape mode and home-screen switching! Enjoy this lovely, free and useful live wallpaper! Installation instructions: Home -> Menu -> Wallpapers -> Live Wallpapers A handbag, also purse or pouch in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet, keys, cosmetics, pepper spray, mobile phone etc. In the UK however a 'purse' would not refer to a handbag, but that similar to a man's wallet, containing money, cards etc.
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September 26, 2009
Deep Horizon
This cassette of Jonah Sithole and his band The Deep Horizon was given to me by the artist himself, when he visited Amsterdam in 1996, a year before his sad demise (see my earlier post).
I don't wish to sound stubborn, but despite efforts by others to push this great artist into the mist of oblivion, to me Jonah is still one of the Greats of Zimbabwean music. Not just the man himself, but Thomas Mapfumo too has pointed to him as the 'inventor' of mbira-guitar in the Chimurenga music of the Blacks Unlimited. And who am I to argue with 'the horse's mouth'?
This wonderful cassette by Jonah's own band was recorded in the mid-1990s, and has - as far as I know - never had a global distribution.
L4 RTLP 115 or L4 RTLP 115
More Jonah to follow in a later post....
13 comments:
- Matt Temple said...
You are 100% spot on about him. There was a Zimbabwe-only CD issued some time back collecting many of the post Mapfumo compositions
- 26 September 2009 at 15:59
Heres the link
- 27 September 2009 at 03:39
I love this man's music, thanks for what must be a great post, but am I the only one who's having problems downloading it? 0kb each time
- 27 September 2009 at 07:10
- WrldServ said...
I hope adding an extra link to another server solves your problem.
- 27 September 2009 at 07:33
Problem solved - the second link did the trick - many thanks, much appreciation, and keep up the great work
- 27 September 2009 at 10:52
- Andrew said...
Fantastic! Jonah is the best! Consistently enjoying your posts, thanks for all the music...
- 28 September 2009 at 16:43
- Richie Roads said...
Finally it's here ... any riffs by Jonah Sithole are an event! If there was one artist I would bring back to life if I could, Jonah would be the one. Too bad akaita mutsakatikira zvake akaenda
- 1 October 2009 at 20:19
Jonah Sithole will always be Thomas Mapfumo's other hand, he was such a musician humble and gifted. We loved you Jonah.
- 2 October 2009 at 06:29
- hulaboy said...
Many thanks for this special music by the master guitarist Jonah Sithole.
- 8 October 2009 at 04:50
thank you, thank you
- 1 April 2010 at 14:18
- roming said...
- 6 June 2012 at 12:00
- WrldServ said...
@roming: de nada!
- 6 June 2012 at 12:15
This man left big shoes which are very hard to fill,hats off Jonah Sithole
- 23 October 2013 at 00:05


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Last time, I related the content of our first Microscope game. Now, some reflections on how it went. There were a few other things that didn't go totally smoothly: We found that we needed some way of reminding us of … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2013
As mentioned in the comments of last post, John, the GM for our main campaign, was sick last week, and so the rest of us played Microscope. We started by talking a bit about how the game works — for … Continue reading
For about as long as I've known of its existence, the game Microscope has fascinated me. I love the worldbuilding that it implies, and the collaborative aspect has always been intriguing. So a few weeks ago, I admitted to myself … Continue reading
This year's Con of the North is February 15-17 — just a few weeks away! At the Con, I'll be running two Blade & Crown events: Karna's Cache Honor among thieves? Well, we all stick together, and old man Karna … Continue reading
Something I've thought about occasionally, and which I didn't spell out all that much in the book, is how to streamline B&C combat. If you want it all to go smoother, faster or more abstractly, what sub-systems should you take … Continue reading
As mentioned before, I've been reading Jon Peterson's Playing at the World. It's been wonderful so far, with a few frustrations, but mostly just shedding light where I'd only heard rumors before. The book is quite big, and although I'm … Continue reading
The Traits listed in Blade & Crown were never intended to be the only ones possible; many, many more have yet to be invented and described. As another occasional series, I'm going to describe other Traits that I've come up … Continue reading
When I got into gaming (somewhere around 1980, plus or minus a year), at first it was just with friends. My gaming really kicked into high gear, though, when I visited the Little Tin Soldier. It was located at 909 … Continue reading
Along similar lines: wow, wooden dice. And apparently, they're going make dice out of aircraft aluminum, too. With dice made out of wood and precious stones, we're getting closer and closer to gold dice with ruby pips. … Continue reading
Hopefully, you've already seen these two videos. In them, Lou Zocchi explains in grand style why his GameScience dice are the best around. They're pointy, sharp, untumbled and unpolished. GameScience dice are also usually sold uninked, and they're available in … Continue reading


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Communication research topic can be very broad. It includes different aspects of communication like verbal, non-verbal and written. In this...Read More
A nursing dissertation is related to health care management and could vary from one focus point to another. It is a known fact that the US is speedily extending its health care sector by hiring nurses from second or third world countries.
A nursing dissertation could be disturbing and effort taking at the same time if appropriate steps are not taken prior to the alarming situations.
I mean for a professional course like this, you have to be prepared for literature research and the possible challenges you would face.
The best part of writing a nursing dissertation for your Master's or Ph.D.'s level degree is, you have a lot of research material available in the libraries or in shape of journals etc. As we can see that the subject of nursing has been deeply studied by experts in the last few years and that has made it vast and difficult to look at.
How to Write a Good Nursing Dissertation Paper or an Assignment
A nursing dissertation needs deep researches and clarity in vision or scope of the subject. A nursing student has to be informed about latest trends and practices around the globe. One should be attached to at least one related forum. While it takes a lot more than this to start off with a nursing dissertation.
The topic that you need to select for this could revolve around the nursing staff in hospitals? Or could be interlinked with NHS as these two areas mostly cover all the categories related to nursing but whatever is selected should project a theme or idea of a theme that is interesting for its readers.
The process of selecting a topic for nursing dissertation includes various phases and pre-requisites. They are thought to provoke and essential for an unaware nursing student and that is the exact reason why we find it unavoidably important to mention them.
Important List for Writing a Nursing Assignment
• Gather information on at least 3-5 areas of nursing.
• Look into the one that interests you the most.
• Make sure your interests do not differ with that of your course supervisor.
• Ask for his advice if what are the latest trends and past work.
• Develop a title with the thought of expanding it into a dissertation.
• Avoid titles which can only title but cant is used for dissertation writing.
• It is your degree that is based upon the dissertation and the dissertation is based on the title.
• Think of the most captivating and easy to handle titles at the same time.
Taking care of the above-given list of pre-requisites will certainly take any nursing student to the highest level of topic development expertise.
Nursing Dissertation Proposal Writing Guide
The next part could be your nursing dissertation proposal and it could be the stop from where you would fly towards the completion or would stop by it. A research proposal proposed the basic framework and research aims and objectives. You do not propose the details of how are you going to do my dissertation, but it gives a brief overview of the subject and what do you intend to deliver with your research.
Advancing towards the main part of our article, it is the formation and manner of presentation that counts with a quality research. Always remember that a quality research or literature would even look horrific if not presented well. So here's a little tip for nursing dissertation's presentation.
Nursing Dissertation Acknowledgment
Use the first page as a dedication to your title and put an acknowledgment right after that to let the reader have a brief overview of what he/she is going to read was a task or assignment. An acknowledgment counts quite a much by a supervisor or tutor. Always remember that an abstract could be that advertisement of wine that shows its viewers how mind blowing the product is.
A spreadsheet of a table of contents with subheadings will determine that how clear you were with the research aims and objectives.
Introduction Chapter Writing
The first chapter of a nursing dissertation should be an introduction that gives the introductory synopsis of research and the background of what is being focused. The more grip you have over presented what you have selected as a topic, the more outstanding this chapter be.
Review of Literature Writing
It is definitely hard for every student to sit in the library and search the relevant things to his/her nursing dissertation theme but it is the only way to make a Master's or graduate level nursing dissertation up to that level where it would get accepted by the university officials. For writing a literature review you need to frisk with all the past work in great depth.
You will discuss and critically analyze whatsoever has been done regarding the area subject. The appreciation of great research works and taking points out of them to inspect the points to be proven in your research would help you strengthen your literature review.
Click here if you want help with Nursing dissertation paper writing online from a professional dissertation writer.
Research Methodology Chapter Writing
What would your way be to conduct the research? This needs to be answered in an explanation called "RESEARCH METHODOLOGY" this is the third chapter and falls after the literature review, the second chapter, of a dissertation. How your research methods could change the influence of topic and what impacts would it make on your entire research?
The qualitative method of research is different than a quantitative method of research and these two suits the best when it comes to a nursing dissertation.
Findings and analysis are the part of a dissertation which doesn't give its writer any hard time. It would require your practice of analysis and other skills only. The data collected is one of the fundamental roles in this chapter.
The entire procedure of writing a nursing dissertation should be under the care of an expert who is a professional as well to understand the ins and outs of the nursing field as it should be understood.
You cannot find the actual meanings of nursing terminologies in books or journals but it is indeed a professional to experience. Look around for yourself to get help by one of these expert nursing professionals who has been writing essays and dissertations for Master's and Ph.D.'s level candidates.


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From the Maine Department of Education
Reporting Items
Student Health Data Needed for Nationwide Initiative
This notice is to inform all school administrators, school nurses and related staff of a new effort to collect and submit de-identified student health data to a nationwide initiative of National Association of School Nurses (NASN) entitled Every Student Counts™. The goals of Every Student Counts™ are to develop a robust national school health data set that will influence local, state, and national student health policy, as well as identify best practices in school health | More
| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |
News & Updates
Certification Updates
Please help share the following notice with all Maine educators. The Maine Department of Education has now received 10,000 renewal applications since releasing the new online certification system, Maine Educator Information System (MEIS), to educators in June. There are currently 3,000 of those applications in queue, with an approximate eight-week processing time. Approximately 70% of all Maine educators needing renewal have now applied. For those that have applied for renewal, it is important to note the following renewal procedure as outlined in Chapter 115 Part 1: | More
Child Sexual Abuse Implementation Support Materials Now Available
As part of a collaborative effort of the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA), resources have been developed to support school systems in the implementation of the child sexual abuse prevention and response law, L.D. 1180 – An Act To Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices
Professional Development & Training Opportunities
| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


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Spider GT sets a new standard in terms of performance and contemporary construction.
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last modified: Saturday, 23-Oct-2010 01:16:21 CEST
Document status: usable, but incomplete
Macrocrystalline QuartzMacrocrystalline quartz is an important constituent of many rocks. It is a primary component of most of these rocks, that is, it was either already present or developed together with the other minerals at the formation of the rock. Well-formed quartz crystals are usually a secondary product, and can even be found in rocks that initially were void of free silica, like many basalts. Those quartz crystals that occur at the differentiation of pegmatites (either massive as rose quartz, or as well-formed crystals in cavities) could be regarded as primary components of the pegmatite.
Macrocrystalline quartz basically forms in three geological environments:
- in silica-rich molten rock during cooling and solidification
- in pegmatites during and following pneumatolytic processes
- in mostly watery solutions of silica under various conditions
In these environments individual crystals grow by adding molecules at their surface, layer by layer[1].
Watery Solutions
Quartz crystals typically grow in hot watery solutions, in so-called hydrothermal environments, at temperatures between 100°C and 450°C and often at very high pressures. There are no free SiO2 molecules in such a watery solution, instead, quartz crystals grow by addition of dissolved orthosilicic acid, H4SiO4 at their surface, giving off water, layer by layer. The general reaction formula already given in the chapter Chemical Properties is:
The dissolution of quartz in water is just the opposite chemical process, leading to the formation of orthosilicic acid:
The following figures schematically describe the growth process in a watery solution.
Should the temperature or the pressure fall, the solubility of silica decreases and the solution will get saturated with respect to quartz. If there are quartz grains in adjacent rocks, the H4SiO4 molecules will be added to them and the crystals will grow into the solution. If the adjacent rocks are void of quartz grains, the H4SiO4 molecules will aggregate to form small floating crystals that will bind more and more H4SiO4 molecules. This spontaneous formation of crystals is only possible in a well oversaturated solution. SiO4 tetrahedra that have been fully incorporated into the quartz crystal are symbolized by dark red dots.
The formation of new crystals is not inhibited as such, but in conditions of slow growth the larger crystals are favored. The reason is that growth is not simply the result of constant addition of molecules to a crystal. It is the net result of both addition and removal of molecules. Molecules tend to get removed from the edges of the crystals, and the relation of the number of edges to the overall volume of the crystal is not in favor of small crystals. Small crystals will not grow very fast and might even get dissolved again.
Because crystals enclose drops of the surrounding watery solution during growth, it is possible to reconstruct the changing environmental conditions. Such studies have shown that in many crystals growth apparently started at about 250-450°C and came to a halt at temperatures still well above 100°C.
Falling temperatures and/or pressures are essential conditions for quartz crystal growth. What causes the decrease in pressure and temperature?
This depends on the geological environment. If hot brines from deeper rocks quickly enter rocks at the surface via cracks, they will cool very quickly. The result is a rapid precipitation of silica in the cracks and the formation of massive white vein or gangue quartz[1].
If, however, the watery solutions are enclosed in a cavity inside the rocks, the solution will cool just as fast or slow as the host rock. For example, hot magma that intrudes in a rock will heat up its vicinity. Depending on the size of the magmatic body, the cooling of the body and the adjacent rocks can take hundreds or hundred thousands of years.
The most interesting temperature changes for quartz collectors are those associated with an uplift of large bodies of rock due to tectonic activity. When crustal plates collide, large parts of the earth's crust are bent and lifted up several kilometers from their initial position, in particular in the case of continent-continent collisions. Rocks appear at the surface that once have been up to more than 50 kilometers below the surface. The temperature at these depths is about 800-1200°C, and at a depth of 20 kilometers it is still around 200-400°C. If a water-filled cavity is lifted up together with the surrounding rock, it can take millions of years until it reaches the surface, and of course it will take millions of years to cool down. Under such conditions - which are met in alpine-type clefts, for example - quartz crystals of exceptional size and clarity can form.
Quartz crystals often do not grow continuously, but in short phases. This pulsating growth is sometimes explained with tectonic activity, causing a sudden uplift of the host rock and a relatively fast drop in pressure.
Igneous RocksIn a molten igneous rock the conditions are a bit different, but the mechanism of crystal formation is similar to that in watery solutions. Molten rock is a mixture of positively charged metal cations, like potassium, K+, or calcium Ca2+, some water, and negatively charged anions, like the phosphate ion PO43-, or the silicate ion SiO44-, which is usually present as long and branched chains of SiO4 tetrahedra. There are no SiO2 molecules in a molten rock.
O- O- O- OH O- O- O- | | | | | | | ...-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O... | | | | | | | O- O- OH O- O- O- O-low water content
O- OH O- OH O- OH OH | | | | | | | ...-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O... | | | | | | | OH OH OH O- O- OH O-high water content
These flexible molecules swim in the molten rock like spaghetti in a thick sauce of other ions. They are the cause for the high viscosity of lava, and the more silica a rock contains, the more viscous is its melt. Like polysilicic acids in a watery solution, they carry negative charges and hydrogen atoms in hydroxyl groups (-OH), but the relation of [O-] to [OH] depends on the amount of water dissolved in the magma.
When molten magma cools rapidly, typically at a volcanic eruption, the time is too short for the bonds in the SiO4-chains to break up and new bonds to form in ordered structures of crystallized silicates. The "pasta-like" random structure of the melt is then preserved in a volcanic glass, like the glassy obsidian, or the sponge-like pumice. High viscosity is a hindrance to crystal growth, so silica rich lavas (for example, rhyolites and andesites) have a greater tendency to form volcanic glasses.
When the magma intrudes other rocks but doesn't erupt and stays inside the earth's crust, it cools very slowly. Crystals of different minerals will appear in the melt in an order that is primarily determined by the chemical composition of the magma. In a granite, for example, mica crystals are the first to form, followed by feldspars, and finally quartz. Because they are usually the last to form and simply fill out the remaining voids in the rock, you will rarely see ideally-shaped quartz crystals in a granite, while well-formed crystals of feldspar can be found frequently.
Quartz crystals in igneous rocks occasionally show an onion-like internal structure, indicating a pulsating addition of outer layers to the crystals. Often the chemical properties of included minerals change gradually from the core to the surface of a crystal, reflecting a gradual change in the chemistry of residual liquid parts in the solidifying magma.
Cryptocrystalline QuartzThis section contains errors and has to be rewritten. It has been taken out temporarily.
Crypto or Macro - Environmental FactorsWhat factors determine if chalcedony or quartz crystals will form?
Suppose we put a quartz crystal into a saturated watery solution of orthosilicic acid. Will the crystal grow as the water evaporates, like salt crystals do in salt brine? It primarily depends on the temperature: at room temperature, silicic acids have a strong tendency to polymerize, although the solubility of orthosilicic acid is very low. And in fact sometimes quartz crystals are found that have an opal or chalcedony cap. The speed of polymerization has surpassed the speed of growth of the crystal at that temperature.
The following table lists factors that promote or inhibit the formation of either macrocrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz.
|Promoting Factors
|Inhibiting Factors
There is no clear line that separates the conditions of crypto- or macrocrystalline quartz formation, and there is not a single determining factor.
Other factors, like the pressure, may also play a role. One factor is clearly inhibiting the formation of cryptocrystalline quartz: the absence of liquid water - cryptocrystalline quartz is not a primary constituent of magmatic rocks like granite or basalt. The chalcedony that is commonly found in basalt is a secondary product of alterations of the host rock under the influence of water.
Footnotes1 The source of silica in most gangue quartz is the surrounding rock, however.
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Check it this totally mind blowing sci-fi short by the two amazing animators @ the Enspire Studio.
Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Enspire Studio was founded by two individuals who has been in the industry for years.Their portfolio on feature films includes : Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen, Iron Man 1 and 2, Star Trek, Terminator : Salvation, Sanctum, Priest, and Rango, to name a few.
[Via OW]


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"We don't need to talk about diversity; we've got that covered." Whenever I hear these or similar words, I immediately am skeptical and on guard. In fact, I would say that statements of this sentiment are among the most common microaggressions in contemporary culture. When it comes to diversity, we never have it covered; it's a work in progress at best.
Even where we expect institutions to be good at diversity, there are still significant problems. Higher education has been one of the fields voicing the strongest commitments to multiculturalism and diversity. Yet, in the last several months, there have been a number of significant stories that evidence failures in the academy when it comes to diversity. If our institutions preparing the next generation of leaders are failing on diversity, it will be that much more difficult to actualize the change that is needed.
In the Fall of 2013, UCLA students produced a video voicing concern about the under-representation of African-American males at UCLA. The video noted that 65 percent of the African-American males were undergraduate athletes. More recently, Harvard students were featured in a photo campaign titled, "I, too, am Harvard," about their experiences at Harvard. The photo campaign reflected the pervasiveness of the microaggressions and racism experienced by many students at Harvard.
The Tyranny of Excuses
When pointing out statistics and demographics about diversity problems, it is common to quickly be met with excuses. When advocating for increasing diversity at a previous place of employment the response was, "We cannot get qualified students and faculty to apply." This is not an excuse, but an indictment. If recruiting diversity is difficult, one must consider systemic issues that may be contributing to this problem. For example, it should be considered where the recruiting is occurring. Additionally, it is important to examine if there are aspects of the organizational culture or the way that the organization presents itself that discourages diversity in subtle ways.
Another common excuse for the lack of diversity is the historical context. When voicing concern about the imbalance between men and women in awards, fellows, and board members within the Society for Humanistic Psychology, this occasionally was met with the response that this is just due to history, suggesting that it is really not a current issue of concern. There is a degree of truth in that there is a historical context that helps explain aspects of the discrepancy. However, when history is used to justify, then it can easily become an excuse.
Tyrannies of Resistance
It is customary that the president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology sets the theme for the society's program at the American Psychological Association. During my year as president, I chose a theme related to diversity. After selecting a diversity theme, I received an email voicing concern that priority would be given to people representing diversity instead of the quality of the proposals. Nothing was ever said suggesting the privileging of proposals by people representing diversity would occur. It was merely an assumption.
While it would be unfair to assume the reason this particular concern was voiced, it was similar to common resistances. First, it is common for people to fear the loss of their privilege. When people become accustom to privilege, it is natural to have some anxiety about losing it. I admit, as a White male of privilege, I have experienced this fear at times. I do my best to remain mindful of these fears when they occur so that I can avoid responding and acting based upon them.
Second, it is often assumed that the only way individuals representing diversity will obtain jobs or have proposals or papers accepted is if they are given special consideration. This is quite different than the fear of loss of privilege as it frequently reflects a deeply negative view of people from particular groups, viewing them as inferior or lesser than in some essential ways. This is often reinforced when cultural differences are reflected in writing and scholarship styles. Common academic standards reflect cultural biases. It is often argued that the more objective, distanced style of scholarly writing is just good writing, which denies the cultural preferences implicit any writing styles. Good, scholarly writing can come in many styles and varieties. The claim of universal standards of what is good can be used as a form of resistance and justification.
Resistance comes in many other forms, too. It is commonly advocated that as long as we have a variety of ideas, theoretical approaches, or epistemologies, that we do not have to consider representation. Resistance can come in fears of a change in the organizational culture or fear of the introduction of conflict. Another common form of resistance is tokenism, which is often represented in trying to look more diverse without really addressing the deeper forms of diversity. As an example of this, when serving on a search committee that was considering the application of an impressive candidate who happened to be a woman of color, a person on the search committee commented, "If only she was disabled." I have heard variations of this extremely offensive comment in too many settings. The implicit message is that if we can represent multiple forms of diversity in one individual then we do not have to risk more uncomfortable changes that could be part of becoming more broadly diverse.
We have a long way to go. Each time I reflect on the progress that has been made in regard to diversity, I can't help coming back to this simple, evident realization: We have a long way to go. I'm sure some would read the examples I mention here and quickly dismiss them saying that they are anecdotal and not representative. Yet, that is not my experience. I witness them too often.
I often find myself getting weary of advocating for diversity and become tempted to just back off. It would be so much easier. Yet, I can't consider this long before realizing that my weariness cannot compare to weariness of so many for whom this reality is not something they can choose to back off from—it is their daily reality. We cannot stop talking. We cannot stop advocating. I am convinced that if we stop advocating and fighting for diversity issues, we will regress, and it is sure to get worse. The only path is forward or backward; there is no standing still.
— Louis Hoffman
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There is the power we're all familiar with — power over. But there is another kind of power — power from within.
On this date in 46 BCE, Julius Caesar dedicated a temple to the Goddess Venus, his patron and purported ancestress, for her role in his victory at the Battle of Pharsalus. It was at Pharsalus, against all odds, that Caesar defeated his rival Pompey and established a dynasty that ultimately turned the Roman Republic into an Empire. The scene of Caesar citing his divine origins as he peaked in popular acclaim makes a fine backdrop to our discussion of the ancient Roman private virtue of Auctoritas (Authority).
Auctoritas can be translated a number of ways. "Authority" to modern ears may sound simply like law enforcement, but the Romans had other words for this: potestas (power through coercion, such as police enforcement) and imperium (power backed by military force). Auctoritas had more of the sense of "moral authority." As a personal virtue, Auctoritas meant "clout," "influence," or even "charisma."
The 20th century political theorist Hannah Arendt wrote at length about the meaning of the term from the Roman perspective, emphasizing that Auctoritas, which shares a root with the English word "author," comes from the Latin verb augeō ("to augment"). The person with Auctoritas transmits/augments power handed down from original founders--such as of a nation or religion. When an American politician cites our "Founding Fathers" as justification for or against certain public policies, for example, s/he is attempting to show Auctoritas. When Pope Innocent III attempted to decide which contender should be crowned king of Germany back in the 12th century, he did so on the grounds of Auctoritas--that he represented a religious power that superseded earthly rule.
It's a tasty bit of mind taffy for me to suggest that a virtue esteemed by the most patriarchal of our Western forebears may be best explained by a feminist activist and Reclaiming Witch, Starhawk. Consider the full scope of her remark excerpted above:
My spirituality has always been linked to my feminism. Feminism is about challenging unequal power structures. So, it also means challenging inequalities in race, class, sexual preference. What we need to be doing is not just changing who holds power, but changing the way we conceive of power. There is the power we're all familiar with — power over. But there is another kind of power — power from within. For a woman, it is the power to be fertile either in terms of having babies or writing books or dancing or baking bread or being a great organizer. It is the kind of power that doesn't depend on depriving someone else.
This sense of "power from within"--especially as coupled with the idea of power derived from one's creative energy, from one's role as an originator--I think this actually captures what the Romans meant by the moral authority of Auctoritas. And it makes me consider how, in conflicts with others, I resort to brute power plays when, by taking a breath and tapping into some awareness of Divine creative energy, I might find a way to meet in the middle and collaborate. Could manifesting my own calm, calm another? Could unleashing my own humor dispel an uncomfortable tension?
And so we return to our tableau, with the paterfamilias of the Julio-Claudian dynasty kneeling down and venerating (quite literally) that most feminine of goddesses, Venus Genetrix. And so, Auctoritas bows... to Love.
May we see the gates of Auctoritas, and perhaps make a home there.


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Houston pitcher named baseball's top lefty
OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 16, 2015 – Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel today was named as the winner of the 2015 Warren Spahn Award.
Presented annually to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), the Warren Spahn Award is based on a pitcher's wins, strikeouts and earned run average. The award is named after Oklahoman and National Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record of 363 wins as a left-handed pitcher.
Keuchel posted impressive numbers during the 2015 regular season, including 20 wins, a 2.48 earned run average and 216 strikeouts. He pitched 232 innings for the Astros.
Keuchel will be formally recognized Jan. 28, 2016, during the Warren Spahn Award Gala at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum. The event is hosted by Oklahoma City's Bricktown Rotary Club in conjunction with the Jim Thorpe Association.
"This award means everything to me," said Keuchel. "Being from Oklahoma, I am very fond of the legacy that Mr. Spahn has. I am very humbled to be in such great company and it's something I will hold dear for the rest of my life."
An Oklahoma native, Keuchel played college baseball at the University of Arkansas.
"I am ecstatic that Dallas Keuchel, an Oklahoman, wins my father's award," said Greg Spahn, son of the late Warren Spahn. "Dallas was the winningest lefty of the 2015 season, a truly breakthrough year for him and a much-deserved award."
The pitcher adds the Warren Spahn Award to an already impressive list of 2015 honors including a Rawlings Gold Glove and MLB Players Choice Outstanding Pitcher Award. He was selected to All-Star Game and has been named a finalist for the Cy Young Award.
"Dallas had an amazing year on the mound," said Bill Hickman, Warren Spahn Award Gala chairman. "We're excited to be honoring a fellow Oklahoman with this prestigious award and congratulate him on his success. Dallas joins an impressive list of pitchers who have won the award in the past, putting him alongside some of baseball's best."
"Farmers Insurance is pleased to once again join Oklahoma City's Bricktown Rotary Club in honoring baseball's outstanding left-handed pitcher," said Chris Meredith, director of government and industry affairs. "The Warren Spahn Award Gala not only recognizes baseball's best, but serves to highlight the important programs and services Bricktown Rotary supports throughout the year."
Ticket information and sponsorship opportunities for the January gala can be found at www.okcspahnawards.com, or by contacting Hickman at 405.605.2375.
Past Warren Spahn Award winners include: Clayton Kershaw (2014, 2013, 2011), Gio Gonzales (2012); David Price (2010); CC Sabathia (2007–2009); Johan Santana (2006, 2004); Dontrelle Willis (2005); Andy Pettitte (2003); and Randy Johnson (1999–2002).


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Oh I also made a gooseberry cake yesterday using a different recipe to the one I made recently but it didn't turn out that well! And after a huge harvest the fresh raspberries are finally running out but we're enjoying the few that are still cropping (and have frozen loads).
I was hoping to share some photos of the Bishop's Garden, near Norwich Cathedral, which had an open day yesterday. But it chucked it down with rain all afternoon, so we didn't get there in the end (we actually got halfway there when the heavy rain started, so stood under a tree for ages with our brollies, watched some canoeists paddling by on the river getting rather wet, then we took shelter in the nearby bowling alley arcade, played some arcade games, rain wasn't stopping so we soggily came home.). Not quite the naturey planned afternoon but it was fun anyway. Will have to keep an eye out for the next open garden session.
Waffling over, thanks for reading this week, I'm linking in as usual with Harvest Monday kindly hosted by Dave at Our Happy Acres.


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On January 5th, I celebrated a milestone birthday — the big 4-0. If I'm blessed to live to eighty, half my life is officially behind me… which is deep when you sit down and think about it. So naturally I've been doing a lot of meditating about what it means to enter this new decade of life…
I didn't feel different when I turned thirty, but I'm not gonna lie, forty feels different. You have finally reached that age that your ten-year old self considered "old." You are undeniably an adult, and if you're not doing adult stuff, folks are gonna look at you sideways, lol. As they should. By forty, one is officially grown, and should start acting like it.
Turning forty may trigger a mid-life crisis for some, but I'm pretty proud of where I'm standing at this moment in time. I have a great job. I found the perfect partner to share my life with, and I married him. My life is filled with family I want as friends, and friends who feel like family. I own a home in one of the most beautiful cities in California, and besides my mortgage, I am debt-free. I've written and published two books. I have the means and ability to travel often, and I do. For the most part, I no longer care what people think, and have cultivated a healthy sense of self-worth. My girlish figure is long gone, but I'm at peace with my womanly curves, even if they take a bit more effort to maintain, lol. And thankfully, I still have my health and mobility. All in all, life has been good to me thus far, and I'm excited to see what the next decade brings.
My best friend, Kelly, turned 40 a week after me, so in mid-January we headed to Jamaica (with our husbands) to celebrate. Cause that's the kinda stuff you do when you're grown and have your ish together. For eight, bliss-filled days we were in paradise. Pristine beaches. Warm, clear water. Beautiful people. Fueled by jerk chicken, Red Stripes, and fruity rum drinks, we explored the island at our own pace during an epic vacation that was equal parts relaxation and adventure. Hands down, one of my best birthdays ever.
Pro travel tip: Heading to a tropical island in the middle of winter is always a good idea. While folks in California were braving El Nino, and folks on the east coast were being buried in snow, we were enjoying 80 degree weather in shorts and tank tops, swimming in the ocean every day, fully immersed in island life. Yeah, mon. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect.
I wrote a series of travel blogs about our trip, in case anyone wants to read more about our adventures or plan their own trip to the islands. Enjoy!


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Dandy Press-Fit End by Pupil Hall
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Personally for me, Joanne's greatest assets are her listening skills. She has the gift of "grab" - collecting all my thoughts and ideas and giving them a
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Situated within the former royal capital of Laos, The Sofitel Luang Prabang (formerly known as Hotel de la Paix) fuses colonial charm with contemporary elegance in one of Southeast Asia's finest luxury all-suite resorts. French colonial style recalls the age of historical splendor in the series of intimate space designed to replenish the soul. In this heaven of retreat, simplicity inspires relaxation. Landscape gardens, large courtyards, reflecting pool and fireplaces provide a welcoming retreat in every season. All individually-designed suites create sanctuaries of private space and sumptuous comfort. Gourmet dining and natural spa therapies capture the Laos essence, drawing on its culinary and wellness traditions. Set against a backdrop of mountainous poetry, The Sofitel Luang Prabang promises a restful and secluded stay, embraced in the warmth of Lao hospitality, and the timeless wonder of this culturally rich destination.
Number of rooms: 25
Check-in time: 2 PM
Check-out time: 12 PM
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Unit 4, Ban Mano, 06000 Luang Prabang, Laos