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Sarah Sutton's motto has followed her from the halls of her sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon: "Esse quam videri" — "To be rather than to seem to be."
This quote from Cicero's essay on friendship has kept the Dalton resident on guard against false pretenses.
"I try very hard to be authentically myself, even if it is embarrassing and dorky," Sutton said. "I'm just very open about who I am and what I stand for. If you could go to bed and be comfortable with your decisions and who you are and what you stand for, that's all that matters, regardless of anyone else's opinion."
Sutton earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from West Chester University in 2015 and went on to receive a master's degree in public history from Temple University. Sutton found her first opportunity to work in her chosen field when a position opened at the Everhart Museum in Scranton.
"I just always wanted to work in this field," Sutton said. "I was just so happy once I saw an opening at the Everhart once I graduated school."
Today, Sutton designs educational programs and writes
curriculum for the museum as its manager of educational programs. While her job requires her to work with visitors and learners of all ages, Sutton primarily works with children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Along with running and managing classes, Sutton hosts a four-week summer camp. And she's kept teaching even this year as COVID-19 left matters in flux, offering online and hybrid programs.
For Sutton, the past three years at the Everhart have been the culmination of a lifelong interest in museums.
"I have wanted to work in a museum since I was a little girl," Sutton said. "I was just on this path the entire time."
Sutton's earliest museum experience came as a fourth-grader at Elk Lake School District, when she and her classmates went to the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton and went on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour. It might be "creepy" down underground, she said, "but I love it."
"I always tell my friends when they come up to see me that they have to go to see it," Sutton said.
Her interest in museums and anthropology also stems from her interest in people.
"I love telling people's stories, and I just feel like in a museum that's what people do," she said. "They tell people's stories, and that's why I've always been drawn to it. … I remember going to all of these different historical sites, and I would watch the Travel Channel all the time and see these wonderful places that I wanted to visit.
"I just really love learning about cultures I had never even heard of before," she added. "Growing up in such a small area, there's so much of the world that you don't know about or hear about, so going to college and studying anthropology was just such a huge, eye-opening experience of the different groups of people in the world and their different cultures and how different people live. And I love learning about that."
That has fueled Sutton's view of museums as places where the community can gather. She called them "a place for everyone."
"Everyone on the planet has a place in the museum, but I feel like sometimes people are a little intimidated by it because it is this big institution and there are a lot of roles. … (But) really there is space for all sorts of people, and everyone has authority in museums," she said.
Sutton loves the Everhart's community outreach, which includes not only hosting community events but even serving as a polling place on Election Day.
"We are a community meeting (place)," Sutton said, noting that the museum also hosts weddings. "It is just a place where everyone in the community can go and feel a sense of ownership."
The strength of members in her community, particularly strong women, has long inspired her.
"I love being surrounded by strong women," Sutton said. "My family is filled with strong women. My mother has always been a very strong woman, so that's really been an inspiration to me, that's what I always wanted to be, and when I have kids, I want to be that for them."
Sutton's work at the Everhart also put her in contact with many other nonprofits and community groups in the region, opportunities that introduced her to people across the social and political spectrum who also continue to inspire her.
"I have been able to meet people who spend so much of their own time giving back, donating, volunteering and working for the community, and it's just really awesome," Sutton said. "I made friends at Lackawanna Heritage Valley, (people) who work at soup kitchens, Black Scranton (Project), and different heritage sites and nonprofits in the area … Growing up, I had no idea that (these) organizations existed here. So, it is just really nice to see that come together here."
Along with her museum work, Sutton is a coffee enthusiast who loves baking, experimenting with and trying new foods from around the world, and working with her hands. She made a birthday trip to Seattle a few years back where she took tours that taught her about coffee and the science behind it.
Sutton dreams of exploring the world to meet new people and try new things — with the help of museums, of course.
"I love to travel and visit other museums. It really is my passion," she said. "So any time I am in a city, I am spending time in museums."
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com; 570-348-9127
Meet Sarah Sutton
- At home: A Dalton resident, she is the daughter of Janice and Kevin Sutton of Meshoppen.
- At work: Manager of educational programs at the Everhart Museum, Scranton
- Inspirations: Strong women and the people she met through Lackawanna Heritage Valley
- Aspirations: To travel the world, work in a large art institute and live in a van so she can keep traveling
- Diversions: Skiing, baking, traveling and visiting other museums
- Aversions: Rude people, banana-flavored candy, pecan pie


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Out of School Club
We are able to offer an excellent before and after school which is managed by our own staff. The children have a brilliant base in 'The Club' and use our extensive grounds to take part in lots of fun activities. We aim to be as flexible as possible to support our families. Please contact the school office if you would like a place.
firstname.lastname@example.com or 01625 428 222

subset: commoncrawl


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In this day an age of food abundance and cheap junk food, many of us…
When Kids Won't Eat Dinner
Perhaps the greatest battle we have with our children takes place at the dinner table. Getting food on the dinner table day-in and day-out is no small feat, so when a child refuses the fruits of your labor, it's enough to make you want to throw in your apron.
The question is what to do? Too often these kitchen skirmishes end with yelling and bed without dinner. It's not easy, but here are few strategies that might improve your dinner routine.
Give a Heads Up: Ten to 15 minutes before mealtime, tell your child that it will be time to eat soon. Children may be so tired or excited from the day's activities that they don't feel like eating. Letting your child know that it is almost time for a meal will give them a chance to settle down before eating.
Take Emotions out of Mealtime: This is tricky. The more matter-of-fact and less emotional you can be around meals, the better. That is, don't take it personally. Working yourself up can breed anxiety and lead to dinner table battles that you don't want to wage. Try to stay calm and measured concerning mealtime issues.
Cook what You Love: Because we try to make everything revolve around what our kids want, it's hard to make this shift. When you're planning meals, try not to think exclusively about the kids. Cooking meals that you enjoy might make it easier to deal with when kids pass on dinner. Over time, most kids will fall in line with what you enjoy cooking and eating.
Make Manners a MUST: Kids are entitled to their opinion, but should be polite about it. They can express their feelings with a simple "No thank you," as opposed to spouting "Yuck" and pushing their plate off the table. Banish negative comments from the table to spare the cook's feelings and because opinions are highly contagious. If one sibling rejects something out of hand, it can impact another.
Don't be a Short-order Cook: If your child doesn't like what's being served, resist the urge to fix something else. This can be difficult because we worry whether our child is getting enough to eat. Don't worry if it seems that your child doesn't eat enough at one meal. Children often make up for a small meal or a missed meal at the next mealtime. If your child has plenty of energy and is growing, he or she is most likely healthy. On a side note, it's a good idea to have a few dishes on the table so if they refuse one food, they have options.
Be a Role Model: Children watch us and will imitate our habits. Setting a good example for your child goes a long way towards helping them develop good eating habits. If your child sees you eating a variety of healthy foods, he or she will be more likely to give them a try.
Don't Give Up Just because your child doesn't enjoy a meal on one occasion, doesn't mean it needs to be permanently struck from your repertoire. It often takes multiple tries to warm up to new foods. But try to let your child explore new foods on his or her own.


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"The Devil Wears Prada"
Meryl Streep — a 21-time Oscar nominee and three-time winner — turns 74 on June 22, 2023! To celebrate the acclaimed actress's birthday, we're taking a look at our very favorite Meryl movies…. starting with our No. 1 Meryl performance…
Meryl Streep's turn as deliciously cutthroat fashion editor Miranda Priestly in 2006's "The Devil Wears Prada" remains our favorite. In the film, Miranda suffers no fools, especially not her newly hired and good-natured assistant, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who's determined to make it in the world of journalism. Demanding and at times cruel, Miranda — who's reportedly based on Vogue editor Anna Wintour — offers Andy a master class in power, style, confidence and what it means to take charge in a world that looks down on women. Meryl earned a Golden Globe for this performance as well as an Oscar nomination.
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"Sophie's Choice"
In the 1981 drama "Sophie's Choice," Meryl Streep took on the titular role of a Polish Holocaust survivor who escapes to New York where she carries the burden of her painful past. While in a relationship with a volatile man, Sophie meets a writer who befriends her and soon uncovers the terrible secrets of her former life, including an unthinkable life-and-death choice she was forced to make for her children. Meryl won her second Oscar for this performance.
MORE: See older leading ladies when they were young starlets
"Julie & Julia"
One of Meryl Streep's most delightful movie roles ever was, undoubtedly, America's first celebrity chef, Julia Child, in the 2009 biopic "Julie & Julia." The film follows two separate storylines — that of Julia's journey from former government agent to a master of French cuisine and celebrated cookbook author, as well as the story of food blogger Julie (Amy Adams) who attempts to cook her way through Julia's "Mastering the Art of French Cuisine." The performance earned Meryl the 16th Oscar nomination of her career.
"The French Lieutenant's Woman"
In the 1981 romantic drama "The French Lieutenant's Woman," Meryl Streep stars as both Sarah Woodruff, a Victorian-era woman engaged in an illicit affair, and as Anna, an actress playing Sarah in a modern retelling of her romantic liaison. Meryl's dual performances earned her her third best actress Oscar nomination.
"Mamma Mia!"
In the 2008 musical romantic comedy "Mamma Mia!," Meryl Streep stars as Donna, a carefree hotelier, musician and mother living on the Greek island of Kalokairi. We learn Donna was always a free spirit, even when it came to romance, which set her adult daughter on a journey to find out which of her mother's three past lovers might be her father. In 2018, Meryl reprised the role once more for the sequel "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again."
"The Bridges of Madison County"
In the 1995 romantic drama "The Bridges of Madison County," Meryl Streep stars as Francesca Johnson, an Italian mother and wife living in Iowa who meets handsome photographer Robert (Clint Eastwood) while her family is away at the Illinois State Fair. Over the course of four short days, Francesca and Robert have a passionate affair that marks one of the most important periods of her life. As with so many of Meryl's performances, this one earned her an Oscar nomination for best lead actress.
"Little Women"
In filmmaker Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaptation of "Little Women" — which is based on the 1868 Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name — Meryl Streep portrays the girls' affluent and well-mannered Aunt March. Amy (Florence Pugh) stays with Aunt March in Paris and is later forced to quarantine with her after Beth (Eliza Scanlen) contracts scarlet fever. The film earned several nominations at the 2020 Academy Awards including best picture, best adapted screenplay and best actress for Saoirse Ronan.
"The Post"
In the powerful 2017 biographical drama "The Post," Meryl Streep stars as real-life Washington Post publisher Kay Graham. The film follows Kay's decision in 1971 to expose information leaked via classified documents that revealed that four U.S. presidents had conspired to conceal the truth about the Vietnam War. Meryl was nominated for a best actress Academy Award for her work in the movie.
"The Iron Lady"
Another of Meryl Streep's powerful biographical performances was her 2011 portrayal of U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." In the film, an elderly Margaret — speaking to the ghost of her late husband, Denis Thatcher — tells stories of her life and political career, leading to her becoming Britain's first female PM. For this performance, Meryl won her third Academy Award.
"Florence Foster Jenkins"
In the 2016 biographical comedy "Florence Foster Jenkins," which is based on a true story, Meryl Streep took on the titular role of a New York heiress who can't carry a tune if her life depends on it, yet she dreams of becoming an opera singer. Florence — a devoted patron of the musical arts — is hilariously unaware of her terrible singing voice in part because she surrounds herself with people who convince her she's got the vocal cords of an angel, all to keep her money flowing into their pockets. Meryl was nominated for an Academy Award for best lead actress for her performance opposite Hugh Grant.
"Postcards From the Edge"
In the 1990 drama-comedy "Postcards from the Edge," Meryl Streep stars as Suzanne Vale, a recovering addict and actress who's sent to live with her manipulative and hard-drinking mother, Doris (Shirley MacLaine), in order to salvage her career. The film was based on the late Carrie Fisher's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Meryl earned an Oscar nomination for best actress for this one too.
In the 2015 biographical drama "Suffragette," Meryl Streep stars as British political activist and women's rights leader Emmeline Pankhurst. The film, which is based on true events, follows the British suffragette movement of the early 20th century in which Emmeline and other activists begin a campaign of violence to demand the right to vote. In a rousing balcony speech, Emmeline ignites her followers, saying, "We are fighting for a time in which every little girl born into the world will have an equal chance with her brothers. Never underestimate the power we women have to define our own destinies. We do not want to be lawbreakers, we want to be lawmakers!"
"The Hours"
In the 2002 romantic drama "The Hours," Meryl Streep stars as Clarissa Vaughan, a gay New York editor in 2001 who's coping with the pending death of her close friend, writer and former lover, Richard. Clarissa's journey of identity, acceptance and loss is one part of the braided story that weaves together the yearning of a 1950s stay-at-home mother and the last days of author Virginia Woolf, who eventually died by suicide in 1941.
"One True Thing"
In the 1998 drama "One True Thing," Meryl Streep stars as Kate Gulden, a dedicated wife and mother who, after being her family's quiet backbone, is stricken by a terminal cancer diagnosis. After daughter Ellen (Renee Zellweger) comes home to help her mother during her final days, Kate teaches her child about the strength and courage it takes to be the one who cares for everyone else. Meryl was nominated for an Oscar for best lead actress.
"Kramer vs. Kramer"
The 1979 drama "Kramer vs. Kramer" earned Meryl Streep her first Academy Award. In the film, Meryl plays Joanna Kramer, a deeply unhappy woman on the verge of a complete breakdown who leaves her husband and young son in an effort to reclaim her mental health. After finding her way back to herself, Joanna returns to her broken family, only to be faced with a painful custody battle with her ex.
"The Laundromat"
In the 2019 comedic crime-drama "The Laundromat, a Netflix original movie, Meryl Streep plays Ellen Martin, an angry and determined widow who sets out on a mission to expose who's responsible for the fake insurance policy that left her without financial compensation after her husband's accidental death. Her unrelenting search ultimately leads her to uncover the Panama Papers — evidence of hundreds of thousands of illegal, offshore bank accounts and shell companies operating out of Panama.
"The Deer Hunter"
In the 1978 war drama "The Deer Hunter," Meryl Streep stars as Linda, a young woman living under her abusive father's roof who's torn between the safety of her relationship with boyfriend Nick and the lingering attraction she shares with his best friend, Michael (Robert De Niro), before they leave to fight in the Vietnam War. The movie marked Meryl's second film role and earned her the very first of her many Oscar nominations.
"Out of Africa"
In the 1985 romantic drama "Out of Africa," Meryl Streep plays Karen, a married Danish aristocrat who defies expectations that she be a meek and modest woman — Karen is determined to live life on her own terms. After moving to a coffee plantation in Kenya with her husband — whom she married for convenience, not love — Karen embarks on a passionate romance with a big-game hunter while working to bring education to the villagers who call the plantation home. The performance earned Meryl Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
In the disturbing 1983 biographical drama "Silkwood," Meryl Streep stars as Karen Silkwood, a single mother and plutonium processing plant employee who uncovers a fatal disregard for workers' health and raises concerns about safety violations at the plant. After Karen begins speaking out about the dangerous workplace conditions, she gets caught in a plot to silence her. She's purposely exposed to high levels of radiation and, later, dies before she's able to alert authorities. The movie, which co-stars Kurt Russell and Cher, and was nominated for five Oscars including a best actress nod for Meryl.
"Into the Woods"
In the 2014 musical fairy tale "Into the Woods," Meryl Streep plays an evil witch at the center of a mythological adventure. Knowing that her baker neighbors can't bear a child, the cursed witch sets them on a seemingly impossible journey to retrieve magical items like a sparkling slipper, a red cloak and a white cow, all in return for a child of their own. Meryl was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in the movie.
In the 1987 drama "Ironweed," Meryl Streep stars as Helen, a fast-talking stubborn alcoholic drifter who clings tightly to her former life as a singer. In the film, Helen and her like-minded companion, Francis (Jack Nicholson), return to their hometown during Halloween in 1938 and end up facing an angry mob determined to get rid of the vagrants flooding their city. Meryl earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her work in the film.
The 2008 mystery-drama "Doubt" saw Meryl Streep in a darker, more defiant role as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, a draconian nun at a Catholic church who's able to command a room with a single look. In the film, Sister Aloysius discovers the school's head priest may be abusing students and sets upon a plan to expose him. Meryl earned an Oscar nod for best lead actress.
"It's Complicated"
In 2009's "It's Complicated," Meryl Streep plays bakery owner and single mom Jane Adler, a divorcée who engages in a risqué affair with her cheating ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) while also navigating a potential new romance with her architect (Steve Martin) who's everything her ex wasn't. The story might have felt predictable, but Meryl — and her co-stars — were utter delights to watch.
"Death Becomes Her"
In the 1992 comedy-horror film "Death Becomes Her," Meryl Streep plays manipulative, washed-up actress Madeline Ashton, who's obsessed with reclaiming her former glory. Desperate to outshine her rival, Madeline seeks help from a mystical woman who promises eternal youth and beauty, with a few unintended side effects.
"August: Osage County"
In the 2013 dramatic comedy "August: Osage County," Meryl Streep stars as Violet Weston, a difficult woman battling mouth cancer and an addiction to alcohol and narcotics. Following the suicide of Violet's husband, her daughters — one of whom is played by Julia Roberts, seen here — and their families come home to help but end up confronting painful moments from their past, many of which revolved around Violet's bad behavior. For this performance, Meryl earned yet another Oscar nomination for best lead actress.
"Ricki and The Flash"
In the 2015 musical dramedy "Ricki and The Flash," Meryl Streep stars as the titular musician, Ricki, who returns home after abandoning her family in pursuit of a rock 'n' roll career. Ricki is a multi-faceted woman who discovers the family she left behind has suffered in her wake. While finding a way to help them heal, Ricki also learns to forgive herself for her mistakes. Even cooler, Meryl's real-life daughter, Mamie Gummer, co-stars in the film as her character's troubled daughter, Julie. We think it's one of Meryl's most underrated performances.
"The Prom"
While 2020's "The Prom" certainly wasn't a critically acclaimed film, Meryl Streep's performance as Dee Dee Allen deserves praise! In the Netflix movie, which was adapted from the 2018 Broadway musical of the same name, Meryl stars as a self-absorbed two-time Tony-winning Broadway star who comes to realize that there's more to life than money, fame and narcissism.


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With its latest acquisition, which sees it snap up Belmond Ltd., owner of New York's '21' Club and high-end resorts around the world, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton "is betting $2.6 billion that consumers who spend $1,000 on a Louis Vuitton bag will splash out for a $2,000-a-night hotel on Italy's Amalfi Coast," per Bloomberg. The deal, which was announced late last week, "is LVMH's largest since taking full control of Christian Dior for more than $7 billion last year and pushes the company further into services amid rising concern about the sustainability of the Chinese demand that's driven fashion industry growth." It is also likely to be the Paris-based luxury conglomerates last buy of 2018.
From efforts to build out newly-acquired brands (such as Rimowa) and ventures (i.e. its 1-year old multi-brand 24 Sèvres website) to its PR-specific coups and fails, here are some developments and insights from 2018 specific to LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate and the parent to an arsenal of fashion/luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, Givenchy, Rimowa, and Loewe …
1. How Does LVMH Create Luxury Power Players? Rimowa Provides Some Clues. From overhauls of its existing brick-and-mortar stores and a revamp of its branding to buzzy collaborations with the likes of Supreme and Virgil Abloh, Rimowa has arguably never been as relevant for millennial consumers as it is right now.
2. LVMH Has Been Working to Revamp its Image After Decades of "Ruthless Corporate Raids." Antoine Arnault, the son of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton scion Bernard Arnault, is taking on a new role: head of the group's image and communication. It is hardly a secret for LVMH aficionados that the senior-most Arnault has run LVMH in a particular way, one that has seen him described by the press as "ruthless," "able to exploit," "famously litigious," and "a wolf in cashmere clothing." Now, in the age of increasing corporate transparency, it is time for LVMH to more carefully curate its image.
3. Paris Fashion Week's Front Rows Speak to Fashion's Complicated Stance on #MeToo. With an alleged serial rapist in the front row of Louis Vuitton's menswear show and a man under investigation (in two countries) for sexual assault in attendance at Dior Homme, LVMH dropped the ball on more than one occasion this year in terms of the #MeToo movement.
4. LVMH is Opening its Ateliers in an Exercise in Artistry and Marketing. Again this year, LVMH Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton opened its doors, offering consumers the chance to go behind the scenes at some of the ateliers of its portfolio of luxury labels. The global affair was an effort in transparency and – undeniably – an elaborate marketing opportunity for LVMH. It also stood in stark contrast to LVMH's unwillingness to be open about some of its more questionable moves of the year.
5. LVMH is the First French Luxury Entity to Join the Nation's Gender Equality Task Force. Whether it be at the helm of fashion's most established brands or on the boards of the industry's most esteemed houses, women are sorely out-numbered by men. LVMH vowed to take steps to close the gap. Just over 10 years after the Paris-based conglomerate, which owns Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Celine, Christian Dior, and Loewe, among other fashion and non-fashion brands, launched EllesVMH, a gender diversity-centric initiative, it announced that it would join the French task force on gender equality.
6. With $49 Billion in Revenue, Christian Dior SA is the World's Largest Fashion Group. Christian Dior SA is the world's largest fashion group, according to Forbes' Global 2000 list. With $49 billion in revenue for 2017, the annual list of "the world's biggest and most powerful public companies, as measured by a composite score of revenues, profits, assets and market value" puts Christian Dior SA, the company that owns 46 percent of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (and that is distinct from the Dior Couture brand which it owns), in the number 150 position, following the likes of financial institutions, big-pharma companies, consumer goods behemoths like P&G and Apple, and Amazon, of course.
7. Can LVMH Get Consumers to Shell Out Tens-of-Thousands of Dollars Online? LVMH has not, despite the wide range of brands under its umbrella, necessarily tested to see just how much money consumers are willing to spend online. With increasing efforts by its brands to adopt e-commerce capabilities and with the launch of its multi-brand 24 Sèvres site, LVMH is doing just that.
8. With Changes at Vuitton, Céline, Berluti & Dior, LVMH Completes Talent Revamp. Widespread change is afoot at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Last year, the Paris-based conglomerate embarked upon what has been coined the most momentous management reshuffle in five years. Sidney Toledano, the long-serving chairman and chief executive of Christian Dior, stepped down to take up shop as the executive chairman of the LVMH Fashion Group, while Kim Jones, Hedi Slimane, Kris Van Assch, Haider Ackermann, and Virgil Abloh made big moves, as well.
9. RETRO READ: The Behind-the-Scenes Battle to Build One of the World's Most Magnificent Museums. Five years after Bernard Arnault met Frank Gehry, he had a proposal for him. Help me build one of the world's most noteworthy contemporary-art museums-cum-cultural centers. It would take eight years, 3,000 laborers, a reported $143 million-plus, a partnership between one of the world's most famous architects and one of its richest men, and the passage of a special national French law for that cultural epicenter to come into fruition.
10. LVMH: A Timeline Behind the Building of the World's Most Valuable Luxury Goods Conglomerate. Here is a look at the fashion-focused timeline behind the building of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, the French multinational luxury goods conglomerate, that is parent to brand ranging from Louis Vuitton, of course, and Christian Dior to Loewe, Givenchy, and Celine.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
The 2022 Annual Town Meeting will be held at the Oak Middle School Auditorium, 45 Oak Street, on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 8:30am.
The warrant for the May 21, 2022 Annual Town Meeting can be found HERE.
On Thursday, Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, the Finance Committee will continue the public hearing on the articles contained in the warrant and will make recommendations to Town Meeting.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2022 the Finance Committee began the public hearing on the articles contained in the warrant:
On Tuesday, April 26, 2022 the Board of Selectmen made recommendations on the articles contained within the warrant:
Information on this page will be updated with additional content as it is available.


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Please turn with me in your bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 1 Corinthians 6. We continue tonight our progress in the apostle Paul's letter to the church of God in Corinth.
This church, as we have seen, is struggling with sin, struggling with worldliness. They had fallen prey to the temptations of the world and of the evil one, and had given in to all manner of sin. They were divisive and schismatic. They were proud and immature. They were tolerant of sin, yet boasting in their tolerance. They were robbing and defrauding one another, and taking each other to court. And as we will see tonight, they were guilty of sexual sin, and further guilty of using their genuine freedom in Christ as an excuse for their sinful indulgences.
As is often the case, Satan can tempt believers by twisting scripture and twisting doctrine in order to introduce confusion, and lure believers into terrible sin. And we would be wise not to look down upon those foolish Corinthians, thinking that we are above such sins. We must be on guard, as we'll see, lest we too fall prey to the temptations of Satan and the lusts of the flesh.
Let's read together God's word for us tonight, and then I will pray for God to help us apply it to our own lives this evening.
12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
As I prayed through this text this week, I began to appreciate the diversity of motivations that Paul provides for us in our battle for holiness. He uses many tools in the tool bag, like a skilled pastor should, in order to arm us for the battle against Satan and against all manner of temptations. We shouldn't limit ourselves to one or two motivations in our battle for holiness. Rather, we should note and appreciate all the many ways that scripture addresses us and spurs us on in the Christian life and in holiness.
Thus, tonight I have drawn from this text 8 points, 8 short principles that I think God the Holy Spirit can use to help us fight for holiness.
- Believers are free. Believers are free.
Let's look at verse 12.
12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
Paul here is apparently using a some of slogans that were popular among the Corinthians, that's why your text probably has quotation marks in portions of the first couple of verses. The Corinthian believers were using these slogans as a means of excusing sinful behavior.
"All things are lawful for me," he says, quoting them. And he even repeats it. This may have even been a quote from the apostle's own lips. Undoubtedly, Paul came out of his pharisaical background of legalism and regulations and rules, and relished in the fact that he was genuinely free in Christ.
And this doctrine of liberty in Christ, or Christian freedom, is one that Paul addresses later in the book. This doctrine is true, and an important part of the Christian's experience. When we come to Christ, we ARE INDEED free. We're free from the condemnation of the law. We're free from the opinions of men. We're free from the burden of having to earn our way into heaven and save ourselves from our own sin. Believers ARE free. That's why Jesus said in John 8 that, "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
But what Paul was addressing here was the Corinthian practice of using that genuine Christian freedom as a license to sin. And that was the problem. Christian Freedom must never condone sin. Yes, Christians are free from the law, but we must understand the nature of that freedom. We're free from the law as a covenant, as a means of securing our access to God and our entrance into heaven. But we're not free from the law as a rule of life.
Our freedom was never meant to be a license for us to sin, and that's where the Corinthians had gone off the rails. In fact, the presence of sin in our lives demonstrates that we're not actually free at all. That's what Jesus says in John 8, ""Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[b] to sin."
If we are in a pattern of sin, if we have unconfessed sin, if we have given ourselves over to sin, then we're demonstrating that we were never actually freed. I'm not talking about stumbles in the Christian life; we won't be freed from the presence of sin until the Lord returns. But if we're under the power of sin, dominated by sin, especially sexual sin, then we have real reason to question whether we've been freed at all.
One of the benefits of salvation in Christ is that the power of sin is definitively broken within us. We're no longer slaves to sin. Rather, in Christ, we're remade into a new creation, we're new creatures, and with that new nature comes emancipation from enslavement to sin.
Believers have real freedom, and it can never be used by us as license to sin.
But, if that is case, Paul, then how should we then think about our freedom? Let's look at the second principle:
- Christian Freedom should be guarded by prudence. Christian freedom should be guarded by prudence.
Again, verse 12:
12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
While all things might be permissible, not all things are helpful. When we're thinking about our freedom in Christ, we need to think not merely "am I allowed to do this?" but also "is this activity helpful?"
Let's make a silly example. Am I free in Christ to eat fried chicken? Sure. Praise God. But would it be helpful for me to eat fried chicken for lunch and dinner every night of the week? Certainly not. That would not be helpful to your cholesterol levels, nor your spiritual condition. Whenever we're evaluating our activities, we need to ask is this helpful, not merely is it allowable. And I'm not merely talking about sexual sin; we'll get to that in a moment.
What about other things that might not even have moral overtones? When I'm evaluating my hobbies, my athletic participation, my recreations, my diet, the movies I watch, the clothes I wear. Are these things helpful? Sure, it may not necessarily be sinful for you to partake or engage in these things, but are they helpful? Do they tend toward godliness and maturity, both in myself and those around me?
Further, Paul says "While all things might be permissible, I will not be dominated by anything." I'll not be enslaved by anything. There are some activities that may be permissible for a Christian to do, but may not be wise for you to do.
It may be benign for you to have a cup of coffee, or a beer, or a slice of pie, or watch a show, but if such a thing has the effect of enslaving you, then should you engage in such a thing?
We need to recognize and have a category for some activities in this life that aren't necessarily sinful, but that do have the potential to enslave you, and we ought to look at such things from the perspective of biblical prudence. If you're enslaved by something, even slightly, then you're not in control. Self-control and temperance have been forfeited, and you've submitted to a new master.
How do I know if I'm enslaved to something? Ask yourself a few questions. What is it that you look to for joy and satisfaction? If it is taken away from you, how do you react? Do you pout and sulk, or get irritable and impatient? If the absence of that activity or indulgence negatively impacts your ability to bear the fruit of the spirit, then you might be enslaved to it.
Further, because we don't live a life of Christian freedom in isolation from others, we ought to ask ourselves a few questions whenever we're determining the wisdom of engaging in anything in the realm of Christian freedom:
First, will this freedom impact my witness? Will me engaging in this activity impact my witness for Christ to a watching world? What will unbelievers think about me if I'm seen engaging in this behavior? We're not ultimately beholden to the opinions of sinful men, but biblical prudence would lead us to willingly give up our Christian freedoms in order to have a more effective witness for Christ.
Second question: How will my partaking of this freedom impact my brothers and sisters around me? Will my participation in this activity negatively impact my brothers and sisters in Christ? We're called to live in Christian community, and if my freedoms throw stumbling blocks in front of my brothers and sisters, then I ought to have a spirit of deference out of love for them. I ought to be willing to give up my freedoms for the sake of the good of my brothers and sisters around me. We'll talk more about this later in this book, so I'll just leave off with that.
Third, we ought to ask about our Christian liberties not merely how it will impact our witness and our brothers and sisters, but how will this freedom impact me? How will this activity impact me? Will my partaking in this Christian liberty enslave me? Knowing how I am wired and how I operate, will it be conducive to further growth and holiness to engage in this area of Christian liberty, or will it draw my heart and mind away from Christ? Yes, we're free in Christ to watch a show or movie. But if I know that I won't be able to go to sleep until I have binge watched the entire season, then it might be best for me to not even start the first show.
Christian freedom should be guarded by prudence.
Next, in verse 13 Paul gives us another principle for our battle for holiness:
- Believers should have a resurrection perspective. Believers should have a resurrection perspective.
13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Paul here is using another catchphrase that the Corinthians were apparently adopting: "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food." They were apparently using the presence of a bodily appetite as a way to legitimize their own indulgence into sexual sin.
You can see the argument. The stomach was meant for food, and craves food, so we give it food. Likewise, they might argue, the body has sexual urges, and so it isn't wrong to appease those urges. After all, Adam and Eve were made as sexual beings and God declared their bodies as good, so why would we not seek to meet those same sexual appetites that God created and declared good? It's very akin to what we hear from culture: "I was born this way; therefore, it can't be wrong to act out how I was made."
But the Corinthians are wrong in at least two places. First, they wrongly equated two different appetites in the body. Yes, God made the stomach to desire food, but wrongly expressing that urge of hunger can bring all sorts of problems. Just because my body is hungry, doesn't mean I can eat anything I want whenever I want. Sure, my body might crave pie and ice cream, but that doesn't mean I feed it that way all the time. Further, the appetite of the stomach and the sexual appetite are not the same. To go without food will kill you, which is not the same with sexual appetites.
But secondly, Paul seeks to correct their misunderstanding by reminding them of the end.
13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other.
Your life isn't to be about appeasing the appetites of the body now. If the Lord delays his return, your stomach will end up in the grave, returning to the dust from whence it came. There is a day of judgment coming, a day of reckoning, and because of that coming judgment, we need to remember that what we do now is significant.
Each of our actions can be filtered through the lens of what God will say about it on the last day. Is this freedom something that will be commended, or condemned on the last day? Is God and his creation honored in this activity, or is God and his creation dishonored by my actions? Your life isn't about appeasing your bodily urges now, it's to be used to honor the Lord, keeping in mind that the final day is at hand.
Thus, rather than our body being meant for food, Paul reminds the believers of our fourth principle:
- Your body was meant for the Lord. Your body was meant for the Lord. Verse 13 again:
The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Your body is not merely a fleshly puppet for your soul to use in any way you please. You were created as an integrated person: a united body and soul. And it lowers the dignity and the goodness of God's creative work to say that your body is meant merely to appease its own appetites.
Each person here, was fearfully and wonderfully made, as scripture says, and we were made for more than just this life. We were made for something deeper. We were made for communion with God himself, and that communion is meant to be experienced through a body. That's one reason why Paul spends so much time on the resurrection in chapter 15 of this book. We won't spend eternity as disembodied spirits, floating around in the presence of the Lord. We're going to be raised, with these bodies having been renewed. The bodies were made good, and will be remade as glorified and perfected in the last day.
Thus, it's inconsistent with both our creation and our final destination to think that the bodies are merely to be used for pleasure in this life and then discarded. That's what the Greek philosophers of the day were saying: that it's the spirit that matters, not the body, so do with the body whatever you want. But Paul is arguing, along with the rest of scripture, that the body matters, and that we need to think carefully about what we do with it. It was made for holy communion with God, and created with dignity and goodness, so act accordingly.
Next, a fifth principle to help believers battle for holiness:
- Believers are united to Christ. Believers are united to Christ. Look at verse 15:
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Paul here is again addressing the sexual sin in which the Corinthians were engaging. And he is specifically addressing their deficient view of their union with Christ. If it is true that at the moment of salvation believers are united to Jesus by the Holy Spirit, then to take the body and unite it in sexual sin is to take Jesus's spirit with you. It's not as if believers can go about their activities without the presence of Jesus within them.
You've been united to him. You've been made a member of him. You've been grafted into him, and it is inconceivable that you would so grieve the Holy Spirit by uniting yourself to another in sexual sin.
Further, Paul here underscores the immensely spiritual nature of the sexual union. Sex within marriage is a good thing, something that God himself designed, and He delights in its proper expression, as we will see in the coming weeks. But to use the body as a means of engaging in sexual sin outside of a marriage covenant is not to do merely physical harm, but to do spiritual harm as well.
The world wants you to think that sex is purely physical. But the would cannot erase the clearly spiritual aspects of the sexual union. No other activity of the body has such deep ramifications, such deep scars, as sexual sin.
And if you are united to Christ, you're dragging him with you in that sin. We may not be engaging in temple prostitution like some in Corinth were, but every time I fantasize about the neighbor down the street, or that good looking person at work, or that aerobics instructor at the gym, I'm using my body to engage in spiritual adultery. I'm grieving the Spirit of Christ and forgetting that I'm truly united to Him.
Believers, we need to remember our union with Christ the next time sexual temptation rears its ugly head. If Christ has so died for me, so forgiven me of my sin, so faithfully sought me out like Hosea chasing after Gomer in the marketplace of sexual infidelity, how can I again drag my faithful bridegroom back into the muck of sexual sin?
It should not be so, and the severity of such a situation is compounded by the nature of the sin, which is our 6th point:
- Sexual sin is unique. Sexual sin is unique. Sexual sin is unique. Look at verse 18.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
Paul here lays down a principle that is crucial for each of us to remember. Sexual sin is not like every other sin. All the other sins that somebody engages in is in some measure external. Stealing from someone is on the outside. Yelling in anger is outside. But sexual sin has a deeper, soul-harming element that is unlike the rest of the sins that one can commit.
I have a book on my shelf, for example, that explains from a physiological perspective the nature of sexual sin, and how it literally re-wires the brain with new neural pathways when someone engages in sexual sin. It changes us from the inside out. And that speaks not only to the intimate connection between our bodies and our souls, and how harming one does effect on the other, but also speaks to the spiritual nature of God's design in the sexual union.
Expressed within the bounds of a marriage covenant, sex is designed to be a means of uniting the husband and wife in a level of communion that wouldn't be possible through any other means. Thus, when sexual sin is committed outside of the bounds of a marriage covenant, there is a uniting and then a tearing that must take place. Sex outside of marriage is unnatural and deeply harmful;
For people to have communion without commitment, to have intimacy without interest, is damaging to the whole person. It damages the soul, harms the body, undermines the health of the mind and heart, and brings with it scars. We need to remember the uniqueness that comes with sexual sin.
And we need to especially warn our young ones among us. In an age of casual hooking up and fleeting relationships, we need to be clear about the dangers of sexual sin. Most of us still bear the scars of our past sexual sin, and a faithful parent would be diligent to warn their children of the peculiar dangers of sexual sin, and likewise to teach them of the goodness of sexual engagement within the bounds of a faithful marriage covenant.
Before I move on to the 7th principle, I want to stop and reflect upon what Paul said in the preceding section. Some of you are like the Corinthians, and you're feeling the weight of your past sexual sin. You know that you engaged in the exact sins being condemned here, and you perhaps even have used some of the same kinds of justifications for the sin that the Corinthians were guilty of.
When we're feeling the weight of our sin, we need to remember to gospel for ourselves. We need to remember that Christ came and sought out an adulterous bride, sought out sinners like me and you, sought out the Gomers who were busying themselves in the marketplace of sexual sin. And He Redeemed us from slavery to that sin. He died so that you might be made clean. If you trusting in Christ, you're a new creation. You've been washed, you've been sanctified and made holy in Christ, you've been justified, Paul says. And your sexual sin has been forgiven.
Remember that when the wounds of past sins start to sting again. And we can use the pain of past sin, and let that drive us both TOWARD Christ, reminding us of the gospel, and let it drive us AWAY from sinful temptation. Remember well the sting of past sin, and let it be a deterrent against indulging in the same kind of sins again.
When the temptations of sexual sin rear up again, we need to be like Joseph. Not merely saying "NO" once or twice, but vowing not even being around Potiphar's wife, running away from anything that tempts us to sin against so great a God. We don't even need to be in the same room as the temptation, because of the uniquely damaging nature of this kind sin. As one pastor has said, "If you don't want what the devil is cooking, don't be in the kitchen smelling his gravy." Which means that if we don't want to feel the terrible pain of sexual sin, then we need to not even get near it. Flee sexual immorality.
Remember the words of proverbs, about keeping your feet far from the path of the adulterous woman.
And why must we not even go near sexual sin? Why is it so sinful to unite our bodies with sexual immorality? That's what Paul explains in our seventh principle:
- Believers are a temple. Believers are a temple. Look again at verse 18:
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.
This is a principle that Paul previously stated in chapter 3, when he was collectively applying it to the entire church. But here he is applying it to each individual believer. For everyone united to Christ, you have been filled with the holy spirit. That's true, not merely collectively as a church, but also individually as believers. The Spirit dwells in you. "Don't ya'll know that ya'll's bodies are each a temple of the Holy Spirit?"
And that knowledge should be another weapon we employ to help us battle against the temptation toward sin. I am not the ultimate owner of this body. This is God's temple. I am not the moral arbiter of what is permissible, God is. And if God himself indwells this temple, how could I defile His temple with sin, especially sexual sin.
God's own presence is within me, and to engage my body in sin is to tempt a holy God to discipline me, like the loving father that he is. None of us wants to be disciplined for sin, but that's what we tempt God to do whenever we are quick to jump back into sin.
Further, we grieve the very spirit of God, tempt him to withdraw his ministering presence, and all the blessings that come along with that. Whenever I willfully engage in sin, I grieve the Spirit, who will sometimes pull back our sense of His presence, which often results in us feeling far from God, us feeling depressed, us losing Christian joy, and us losing our assurance.
Indeed, if you're knowingly defiling your body through sin, if you're engaged in an unrepentant pattern of sexual sin, then you have real reason to question your standing before God. Your assurance should be shaken if you're unrepentant about your sin.
No true child of God would persist willfully in a pattern of sin and expect no ill-effects. God will work to preserve His child, even if that means painful discipline. But if I am headlong running down the path of sin, then be warned that God might just be giving you exactly what you want, giving you over to your sinful desires, and thereby proving that you never were a child of God at all.
God's temple is precious to Him, and he will work to protect its purity. And why is that? That's in part because of our 8th principle from the text:
- Your body was expensive. Your body was expensive. Look at verse 19:
You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
You don't own your body. You are not an autonomous ruler of your own domain. You, including both body and soul, are owned by another. God owns you. That means that you're not free to do whatever you like with your body.
Your job is to honor the owner. To submit to his clearly revealed will. To live according to his design for your body. To engage in your Christian liberties in a way that loves Him and loves your brothers and sisters, rather than demanding that everyone else honor your freedom.
That's the high calling of a follower of Jesus Christ.
As you hear Paul's words, if you find yourself to be guilty of sin, guilty of using your body to gratify the flesh rather than glorifying the Lord, then know that you stand condemned. God sees you, and not merely the outside, but sees right to the heart, and knows of your sinful desires, even if you haven't acted upon them.
But also know that God is not without compassion. He has provided a way of escape. He's given his own Son to be the perfect sacrifice for defiled sinners. He's made a way for his temple to be purified, and that way is narrow. That way is, in fact, exclusive. That way is Jesus Christ alone.
Faith in Christ is the only means of being purified, the only means of being forgiven, the only means to escape the wrath to come. Come to Christ tonight, and trust in the Son. Trust in Jesus as the perfect, spotless savior who died so that a blemished bride might be washed.
And if you come to him, you too will be washed. You will see the enormous price that he paid for you, the great ransom that he paid to buy you back from enslavement to sin, and your heart will we warmed by his love for you, and He will fill you with His Holy Spirit, who will help you as you battle against sin and strive for holiness in this life.
You are not your own, you were bought for a price, an enormous price, so glorify God in your body.


text:
At Multinail, we embrace the opportunity to connect with education, to contextualise theory delivered in the lecture halls to experience from daily interaction with fabricators and builders.
A highlight of the year is our intake of Engineering interns who work alongside our Structural Engineers on real-world projects, gaining essential experience to complete their degrees. Unfortunately in 2020, we have been unable to work alongside the Interns but look forward to this program starting up again soon.
Another opportunity we look forward to throughout the year is sending our team out as guest lecturers presenting current case studies and core structural engineering knowledge at Unis across AU.
On Thu 10 September, Multinail's Lead Structural Engineering Manager, David Zhang presented to 2nd year engineering students at USQ a lecture on Nailplated Timber Roof Trusses and Engineering Timber Floor Joists. In addition to providing the history of timber construction, timelines of typical residential timber framed builds and the use of software in construction, David introduced students to the suite of metal connectors available through Multinail supported by case studies.
David Zhang noted the importance of shared knowledge while reflecting on his recent lecture stating –
"Educating undergraduates of civil engineering in university about timber structures and timber engineering designs is important to our industry. Sharing our knowledge and some real world case studies to future profession engineers will give them some insights of where first principles being applied on timber structure designs. They showed great interest in timber buildings. Comparing with the common concrete and steel design lectures, our guest lecture session focuses on nailplated timber roof trusses and floor joists. It brings them a different angle of view when finding solutions to structural design challenges.
It is great that we can take these kind of opportunities to present and we will keep delivering our knowledge to young generations in universities, TAFEs and organisations in future."
Thank you to Dr Andy Nguyen, Structural Engineering Lecturer at USQ, for the invitation to present to his students and kind words regarding David's presentation.
USQ is recently fortunate to have Mr David Zhang Multinail's lead structural engineering manager deliver a much-sought guest lecture for our second year engineering students.
David skillfully combined the underlying theories of structural design with variety of real-world projects creating a state-of-the-art lecture which was very well received. David's passion and enthusiasm on timber structures were amazing and influential in ensuring our students can fully appreciate the value of this unique type of structures. Thank you David, for this wonderful talk.
Let's Work Together


text:
Happy last week of school! Thank you for all you have done to help support your child's learning this year. As this school year draws to a close, I know that we could not have been successful without your support.
This last week is very busy for families and I have heard from many of you that there are events, graduations, etc. happening. Because of this the individual meetings in the afternoon are optional. If you or your child would like to meet with me and read a book together. Just call me on Teams at your regular time. If I do not hear from you, I will know that you are enjoying other things. I have found the individual meetings so valuable and have loved having one on one time to get you know you and your child.
To celebrate this week, the students and I decided to have a special day each week. We brainstormed and came up with these ideas.
Monday: P.J., stuffed animals, and blanket day
Tuesday: Bright/Favourite Colour and Crazy hair day
Wednesday: Beach Day
Thursday: Bring a Toy to Class Day
Friday: Hat Day
Thanks again for a wonderful year!


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Organized religion played a major role in the settling of Illinois and continues to influence the culture of our region. We enjoy highlighting places of worship in each issue.
Country Church: Oakley Union United Methodist Church • Est. 1845
This congregation of Methodists came together in 1845, as Green County was being settled. Its original frame building burned down and was replaced in 1918 – one century ago – as denoted on the building's face. At the urging of conference leaders in 1941, Oakley Union became a "two-point charge" church with Juda Zion in Juda, Wis. Two-point charge churches share a faith, pastor, website and some amenities but operate independently and maintain their own traditions.
Juda Zion, organized in 1867, began as an Evangelical church founded by eight German families before it changed to a Methodist faith. Early structures were replaced in 1954 with the Lanon-stone building in service today at N2350 Church St. in Juda.
Both congregations actively help people in need. They prepare and serve free, monthly hot meals through the Loaves & Fishes ministry. They host food drives and raise money for Green County Food Pantry. They visit the sick and elderly and participate in Family Promise, a national program that responds to the growing need to provide shelter, meals and comprehensive support services to families without homes. And, over the past decade, the Sunday school program at Zion has raised more than $12,000 for Operation Smile – an international ministry in which children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate receive free surgical correction. The Sunday school's contribution has paid for more than 50 corrective surgeries that enable children across the globe to eat, speak, smile and socialize normally.
Both Oakley Union and Juda Zion are led by the Rev. Kelly Jahn.
Worship at Oakley Union is at 9 a.m. Sundays. Worship at Juda Zion is at 10:45 a.m. Sundays with noon prayer time in the chapel. Sunday school options are listed on the website.
City Church: St. Patrick Parish • Est. 1854
612 Highland Ave., Dixon, Ill. (815) 284-7719, stpatrickdixon.org
The original 25 families who founded this church met in the city courthouse until 1854, when a bishop in Chicago assigned a resident priest. The church building they constructed burned to the ground in 1892 but was immediately rebuilt along with St. Mary's School. Current school enrollment is 221 students, ages pre-K through junior high.
After 127 years, the church looks almost exactly as it did in 1873. In 1985, a parish meeting space, Holloway Center, was added on to the north side.
In addition to supporting the school, the congregation participates in many organizations that help to care for people at home and beyond.
The Catholic Women's Club provides financial and material support for parish and community activities. Among other things, volunteers from the club prepare funeral dinners.
In the Elizabeth Ministry, women share their wisdom with younger women of childbearing age.
Loaves & Fishes is an outreach effort of the St. Patrick Church's Justice and Peace Committee. It provides a free meal and fellowship for anyone who is hungry in the Dixon area. The meal is prepared and served by a team of volunteers each Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Holloway Center.
The church also sponsors a chapter of Knights of Columbus, an international charitable organization.
Mass times: Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Mon., Thurs. and Fri. 7:30 a.m.; Tues. 7:30 and 8:15 a.m.; Sat. 4:30 p.m.
Today, 820 families are registered members of the parish, which is led by Fr. Keith Romke, pastor.


text: Memorandum submitted by Cathy Koetsier 1. Introduction: Elective Home Education in Britain It has always been the duty and inclination of parents to teach and instruct their children in the practise of living; one generation transferring a comprehensive body of knowledge, culture, values and belief and practise to the next. Parents have grand dreams and ambitions for their children, often borne out of their own experiences of life, both positive and negative. Thus parents commonly desire that their children should have better lives and more opportunities than they have had. Throughout history, societies have organised themselves in different ways in order to arrange for this transmission of culture and knowledge from one generation to another. When one looks at the origins of compulsory education as it is practised throughout the world today, one is surprised to discover that this way of preparing children for adult life by grouping them in a structured age-segregated pedagogical space called a school is fairly recent[i]. In fact, it was only in 1880 that the concept of compulsory education was introduced in England. Previously, children learned what they needed to learn for life and well-being alongside their parents and other members of their community, and in the context of their society. While there may have been some very good reasons for the creation of schools, it seems that the pendulum has now swung too far the opposite way, with the result that modern first world children spend very little time with their parents, and there is little impartation of knowledge between the generations of people within the particular extended family group or community. Increasingly, 'education' is seen as something that happens only in school, and this then becomes a tool that divides rather than unites the members of a family. True education is far broader than this. It seems such a terrible loss if parents and families lose sight of their mandate to teach their children what they know. Gradual erosion of the family and community results, so that we end up with a vague sense of social responsibility for equally vague people 'out there' rather than deeply committed and meaningful relationships with the members of one's immediate circle of social contact. This erosion of community - and the sense of belonging to and being responsible for one another - contributes to all manner of social ills, including the neglect of the elderly, bullying of those who are weak or different, and indifference to one's heritage and environment. Concerns such as these lie at the heart of the decision to home educate one's children. Simply, home education is when a child's learning process is facilitated by his parents rather than by a teacher at a school - allowing for a more natural and personalised approach to the education process. Home education is of course not a new phenomenon in this country. Many well known and successful people were home educated, including the authors Beatrix Potter, Rosemary Sutcliff and Jane Austen; the pioneer of nursing, Florence Nightingale; the nature conservationist Gerald Durrell; and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. 2. Motivational factors influencing the choice to home educate Parents who chose home education for their children do so for a variety of reasons. Overriding these reasons though, is a desire on the part of the parent to educate and equip, and thereby prepare the child for life. Some of these reasons are very deep seated, and have to do with the way in which families see their world; others may be simply practical or expedient. Parents choose home education for both proactive and reactive reasons: � Some parents recognise from the start that there are alternative ways of educating children. Commonly, they are inspired by ideas of creating a more supportive learning environment, the use of specific learning methodologies such as kinaesthetic or interest directed approaches, concerns about society and environment, a particular philosophical, cultural or religious worldview, or a specific educational approach not followed in state schools eg Waldorf Steiner education or Montessori education. They may have read the writings of key educational thinkers in Britain such as Charlotte Mason or Roland Meighan, and abroad, such as John Holt and John Taylor Gatto. These parents tend to be well-educated themselves, and are articulate and thoughtful in expressing their reasons for choosing home education. Because they have spent so much time considering the best and most suitable educational approach for their children, they are confident and secure in what they are doing, and they tend to be resistant to outside pressures to conform to more traditional ways of teaching. � There is recognition of the truth of the statement: 'There is no education but self-education'.[ii] Home education allows the learner to be in control of his learning. The sense of ownership of and responsibility for education is appreciated by the child, allowing him to develop a clear sense of self with regard to motivation and purpose. � Some parents are unhappy with the education provided in school for one or another reason. Elective home education allows for the educational approach to be adapted and adjusted to meet the needs of the individual child. The pace, format, approach and methodology, and even the content can be tailored to suit the learner. Home educators are able to harness the tools of curiosity, and self-motivated interest because they are not bound by and limited to the National Curriculum. Whereas in school a child must fit in with his peers and keep up with his class and the content of the curriculum as delivered by his teacher and dictated by outsiders who do not know him at all, at home he can learn in a way more suited to his individuality, a way that will assist him in overcoming his particular weaknesses and in developing his particular strengths. � For many children, this is the only way they can learn. Sensitive, highly strung children are not able to cope with the pressure and expectation and measurement of a results orientated environment. Stressed children cannot learn at school, and this initiates a negative spiral in their lives as they are quickly feel incompetent and less than the other children because of their failure. A child learning in the secure and loving environment called home has space and time to expand into his world, rather than feeling overwhelmed and intruded upon by it. Parents are responsive to the need to protect the child. � Children, for all their sweetness, can also be very cruel, and the issues and effects of bullying in our British schools have been well documented over the years. For a child who is being bullied, the being forced to remain in a compulsory school environment is very damaging. School is not a safe place for him, and he also does not have the choice to remove himself from the toxic environment. Children who come home to learn after having suffered the traumas of bullying take a long time to heal and may never again be comfortable in large groups of people. In the home, these very real psychological problems can be addressed with sensitivity. � Home educated children have opportunity to socialise with people across a broad spectrum of ages, and they are not limited to their peer group. Many parents have concerns about the artificial environment created when children are grouped in same age sets. There are few other contexts in society in which people relate primarily to their peers, and the effects of peer influence are mixed. Home educators are better positioned to assist their children in managing the negative aspects of peer group pressure. The children also have more freedom in choosing to whom to relate. For example, they may be part of specific interest groups that share common goals. And they gain experience in developing relational skills in a context where perseverance is required - you can choose your friends but not your family. Home educated children are challenged to get along with people who may be very different to themselves; in personality, age and perspective on life. � The learning experience of children with special educational needs can be supported and provided for in a unique way. For such children, school can be a bewildering and soul-destroying experience. For instance the child with dyslexia can be allowed to learn to read later than the norm. A child with ADHD has less distraction as a quiet environment can be created and maintained. Hyperactive or tactile children are able to move around without bothering other children. The familiarity of home creates an oasis of calm for the child with Aspergers or Autism, where life patterns are predictable and regular. � Home education is particularly helpful for children who are gifted with a particular ability. The one-on-one tutor relationship allows the child to be stretched and developed at a suitable pace. And the freeing up of time because learning in other areas is concentrated and focused allows the child to invest more in the development of the ability. For example, a child who is particularly good at a sport will have more time to train and develop his body. � Some parents end up home educating as a second choice - for example, because they were unable to get their children into the school they would have preferred. For many of these parents, home education is a short-term option. Some however, enjoy the lifestyle so much that they continue home educating even when a school place becomes available. There are many other reasons why parents choose home education for their children, but these are the most common factors influencing their choice. 3. Response to the Home Education Review In January, Mr Graham Badman was asked to conduct a consultation into home education. This was the third consultation in less than four years, with the latest guidelines having only been issued in 2007. The review was conducted in the space of four months, and the results of the Review were published on Thursday, 11 June 2009. On the whole, home educators are shocked and dismayed by the results of the Review. It is not surprising that many home educators have reacted to the recommendations of the Review with defensiveness and emotion. It seems that the government, whilst claiming to be working to foster respectful working relationships between home educators and local authorities, is in fact determined to treat home educating parents with suspicion and mistrust. Our submissions, proven educational philosophies, and the results of research into home education are ignored or discounted. The democratic process is frustrated when the input of vested parties is ignored, and confidence in government is undermined. The Review is preceded by a quote by Isaiah Berlin: "The need to choose, to sacrifice some ultimate values to others, turns out to be a permanent characteristic of the human predicament". One wonders: 'What is the point of this quote?' In the content, Mr Badman proceeds to imply that parental rights are somehow in opposition to the child's rights. He develops this argument, proposing that the state is the mediator, protecting the rights of children in their interactions with their parents. This is dangerous nonsense. Such an idea undermines the whole concept of family, and ultimately positions the state in the same elevated and fundamentally harmful position that lead to the development of fascism and Hitler's Germany. The truth is that parents are committed to the protection of their children's rights on a deeper and more emotional level than any rule of law. It is the duty of the state to uphold, defend and strengthen parents in their task, not to replace them. There is the recommendation that home educated children be interviewed by local authorities without their parents present.[iii] Traditionally, parents are seen as the first defenders and protectors of their children's interests; providing a safe place and a refuge for their children. It is only when the parents default in this duty that other adults take their place. It is of great concern to parents to discover that Mr Balls has agreed that "home educated children must be seen regularly in their education setting, on their own, or with an independant person present as appropriate, so that the LA can verify that the evidence of progress presented to them is up to date and accurate, and confirm that these children are safe." This practise is normally only advocated in situations where there is known or suspected abuse. Thus an assumption is made that home educating parents are defaulting in their duties towards their children. The Review seeks to diminish and undermine parental power, supposedly in the name of child protection. However, it is the power of parents that keeps children safe. Needless to say, home educators are very unhappy about the idea that their children, for whom they are responsible, should be subjected to this kind of treatment. For many sensitive children, and especially children who have been traumatised by negative school experiences, this experience could be frightening and could exacerbate their problems. And their parents, who wish to protect them, will be powerless to do so. And this, apparently, so that local authorities can satisfy themselves that children are not suffering abuse in their own homes. Many of the recommendations [iv]transfer the power to choose home education into the hands of the LA rather than the parent. Again, the state would normally override the choice of a parent only in circumstances where there were real concerns about the well being of a child. If these recommendations were to be implemented, home educating families - not just parents, but also the children - would potentially live in an atmosphere of fear, uncertain from one year to the next whether their lifestyle and educational choices would be respected. The children would be under a lot of pressure to 'perform', knowing that their educational environment was at stake. Thus the home would be compromised as a place of safety and security. Requirements that registration be annual, and that parents submit lesson plans a year in advance and that their right to home educate for the next year be determined by their adherence to those lesson plans is impractical and largely contrary to the methodology of home education. Home education is very different to school education, and while this form of accountability may work in a school environment, the recommendation that it be implemented in a home educating context serves only to confirm suspicions on the part of home educators that there is no true understanding of home educational methodology and practise. The influence of the Review recommendations is potentially far reaching. There are many questions: What are the implications for English society in general if we allow the law to be made to fit the idea rather than the other way around? What happens to democracy and good government if the interests of certain groups are ignored? Where are the limits - to what extent should the state be allowed to invade the private lives of its citizens, and for what reasons? What are the implications for other, non home educating, families? Will all families eventually be subjected to inspection in the name of child welfare? In considering the recommendations for the Review, it is essential to question not just the viability but also the limits - and the morality - of doing so. 4. Conclusion I am very unhappy with the results of the Review, and with the way in which it was conducted. It feels like a form of harassment to be subjected to one consultation after another, each one implying that we parents who choose not to place our children in the school system cannot and do not have our children's best interests at heart. Like the rest of my fellow home educators, I am very busy with the education and upbringing of my children. However, at regular intervals I find myself in a position where I need to defend and justify the educational freedom enjoyed by my children. This ultimately detracts from their education. Our government has many educational issues to deal with. Recently I read a newspaper claim that approximately 25,000 children left school this August, after 12 years of schooling, with no qualifications whatsoever. Can such a claim be true? If so, would the government not be better served addressing problems such as these - which are in its own back yard after all - before attempting to assist me with mine? I have been involved with home education for almost twenty years. The effect on my family has been meaningful and profound. Two of my children are now beyond compulsory schooling age. One is at university, and the other is working and studying part-time. Home education has successfully equipped them for the next phase of their lives. My other children are thriving and happy. The home is able to be what it should be - a safe and nurturing environment. I feel we would all be better served if the government would be less controlling and less forceful in its approach and attitude; addressing its attention to making its schools safe, enjoyable and interesting places where children WANT to be, and leaving the families who choose to educate their children outside of its system in peace. September 2009 [i] Gatto, John Taylor, (1992). "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Education," New Society Publishers [ii] Charlotte Mason, (1993). "Original Homeschooling Series ,Volume 6", Charlotte Mason Research & Supply [iii] Recommendation 7, pg 18 of the Review |


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» (E) More in common than we may think
(E) More in common than we may think
Nenad N. Bach
| Published 04/2/2002 |
(E) More in common than we may think
Wonderful, enlightening, and educational discussion which I didn't get to
read until now due to Easter preparations. I grew up in Miami (where my
father still lives) and love it there, too. Great city...however
crime-ridden it is!
Much of what you both (Davor and Adrianna) say is very true. How to change
it is another story. I think we all do what we can, on however a small scale
that may be. I am an elected school board member so I try on a daily basis
to encourage our school district to begin foreign language instruction at
early ages for our children. What I am finding is that everyone (here)
agrees with me, but money----as usual----is a huge obstacle. In America, we
depend on the taxpayers for monies to run our schools and we (my school
district/community) have a huge levy ($$$) on the ballot for May because our
state (OH) supposedly has run out of money for education. It is very
The diversity issue and the racial issues are ones with which we contend on
a daily basis. Educated people fight the system and the social mores but
again, it is difficult to see any major progress so we can only do what we
can do....inch by inch, person by person. True, there are many "ugly
Americans" but then again, there are many wonderful people who live here who
are educated and compassionate sorts who try to buck the system.
I guess what I would like to say is that there are social ills and political
problems and economic sores in all countries and if we all can take the time
to get to know one another on a person by person basis, then we will be able
to break through those barriers and find that we have more in common than we
may think.
All I can say is that people had better start getting along in the future or
we won't have anything left of our world. It's a scary place right now, as
we all know. I understand what you say about perceptions of America
politics/military might and I agree with most of it. Again, how to change it
is mind-boggling.
So I continue to dance kolos and play tamburitza music. I believe that
Croatian people not only have a very rich and beautiful folkloric heritage
but that part of the reason that this heritage has been so much a part of
everyday life, is that it truly is an escape from the realities of life.
Melissa Pintar Obenauf
Distributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know!


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Real Ale
What is Real Ale?
Ales include several types of beer with different flavours and qualities: Bitter, Mild, Porter, Stout.
An ale is the product of a fermentation process involving 4 ingredients:
- Water
- Hops
- Malt
- Yeast
What specifically real ale is, is determined by what happens to it after the fermentation process. If the yeast is kept alive in the bottle or cask into which the ale is decanted, a process of secondary fermentation, also known as conditioning, takes place, producing carbon dioxide in the bottle or cask. This means that no additional CO2 is required to serve the beer - it is naturally fizzy.
There are other ingredients commonly added into the brew:
- Gypsum is referred to in the trade as water treatment. This is used to compensate for differences in water mineral content in different parts of the UK.
- Sugars are commonly added to boost alcoholic content. Honey has become popular more recently, used in brews such as Waggledance and Honeydew. Unfortunately, sugars do not add to the flavour as nicely as the malt, but they are a cheaper ingredient. Sugars are sometimes added at the bottling/casking stage to assist secondary fermentation.
- Finings, usually Isinglass, which is a coagulant, made from parts of a sturgeon. These form a catalyst for precipitating out dead yeast cells - they do not end up in the resulting beer.
Real Lager
This is not a contradiction in terms. It is possible to brew a lager, and keep the yeast alive for secondary fermentation. The results are vastly superior to what is served up through a gas dispense. (IMO: Ivorw) (and Roger)
The [Grand Union Brewery]? in Hayes (IvorW/Todo) brews an excellent real lager, which has featured recently at The Market Porter.
What's the difference between ale and lager?
These are definitively differences in the Yeast, but also different varieties of hop are used, and lighter coloured malt (crystal malt).
Ales use top fermenting yeast (which floats to the top of the liquid), whereas lagers use bottom fermenting yeast (which sinks). An important difference in the yeast types is the conditions required for fermentation. Ale yeast needs room temperature (20°C) and ferments in about a week. Lager requires a cold cellar (5-10°C), this is what the German word means; it ferments in about a month.
What to look forPubs that serve real ale have either hand pumps or barrels with taps (called gravity dispense). Beware of imitation hand pumps - you can usually tell from the beer if it has come out too fizzy and tasting of nothing. When selecting bottled beers from the supermarket or off-licence, look out for the words bottle conditioned. If you see these words, they indicate that the beer has been bottled with live yeast, and the CO2 is naturally produced. This is the only real ale you get in a bottle - do not be misled by supermarket advertising. |
Real Ale in the Cellar
Real Ale comes in casks - traditionally wooden, but usually made of metal these days. Casks come in different sizes:
- (Poly)Pin - 4 1/2 Gallons
- Firkin - 9 Gallons
- Bodkin - 18 Gallons
- Hogshead - 54 Gallons
Casks are barrel shaped, with two orifices - unlike kegs which are cylinrical with only one orifice. The one on the flat face contains a tap, and the one set in the curvature contains a spile (see below). Casks are racked with the flat faces nearly vertical - tilting downwards slightly.
In the cellar, when the beer has conditioned and is ready for serving, the tap is connected to a pipe, a beer line, and the hard non-porous spile (wood) is replaced by a porous soft spile (cork). The purpose of the soft spile is twofold:
- to vent off excess CO2 from the fermentation process
- to allow air to be drawn in to replace the vacuum as pints of beer are drawn off
At the end of each day, the soft spile is replaced by the hard spile, otherwise the beer will oxidise and perish too quickly. Similarly, the next day, the hard spile is replaced by the soft spile prior to serving.
Approved methods of cellar keeping
- Traditional: using the hard and soft spile method above. This can be delivered via hand pump (also known as a beer engine), poured directly from the cask (gravity dispense), or via electric pump.
- Race spile: This is a gadget which contains two valves to replace the function of a soft spile, and does not require replacing overnight.
Unapproved methods of cellar keeping
- Keg: Beer is delivered under pressure using CO2 gas.
- Nitro-Keg: known as smoothflow, cream and other such names. Beer is delivered under pressure using a mixture of Nitrogen and CO2 gases.
- Blanket CO2: Carbon Dioxide is injected into the top of the barrel, to preserve the beer and prevent contamination of the beer by air. Unfortunately, this kills the secondary fermentation process, hence the beer lacks flavour.
- Cask Breather the least of the evils. This mthod replaces the spile with a system of valves, which permits a mix of CO2 and compressed air into the barrel replacing pints drawn off.
More information
Further information is available from Campaign for Real Ale
This entry also appears on the Everything2 Encyclopaedia, with links to other beer related writeups.


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A recent Horizon Scan Report by the Business Continuity Institute found that acts of terrorism are one of the top ten threats that business continuity professionals worry about. Terrorist acts confront our fundamental sense of security and therefore involve our emotions. Our emotions, for better or for worse, influence our judgments on risk and how we carry on with our lives. As our societies respond to this continuing threat, that tension between intellect and emotion is also played out. Given our role in the protective disciplines, we need to be aware of our personal judgments on risk which influence our professional decisions.
In the latest edition of the BCI's Working Paper Series, Tim Jordan captures this tension as he discusses the implications for the understanding of risk from a practitioner's perspective, highlighting that terrorism is a persistent phenomenon. This is an important premise as it influences business continuity, the way we analyse the business impact of certain risks and our responsibility in making our organizations resilient.
The paper concludes that the issue of managing risks associated with terrorism is complex and not easy to conceive. It is also not a topic which lies within the bounds of business continuity, risk and resilience. Nevertheless, our profession faces terrorism risks and the organizations we work for are affected directly or indirectly by terrorist acts. Therefore, business continuity, risk and resilience practitioners should have a sound understanding of the issues and their accompanying effects.
In the end, terrorism and its effects influence the perception of risks and individual feelings. Business continuity, risk and resilience practitioners are not free from these effects. Given their important role, they are in a position where their tasks require them to critically examine their environment in a more considered way.
The paper,'Terrorism as a lasting threat and its implications to practitioners' view on risk', can be obtained after free registration here.


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Compulsory monitoring of humidity levels in processing plants and cold stores and an increased concern for public health has seen commercial dehumidifiers become essential tools for reducing ice build up and condensation and enhancing hygiene in all areas of food processing. Without some form of dehumidification, condensation will occur in cold room environments where food is stored and meat is regularly processed. Condensation causes discomfort to employees and creates an ideal climate for contamination and bacterial growth.
Condensation and ice build up pose a particular problem in areas close to outside entrances where hot and cold air mingle and cause dips and rises in temperatures. We often see stalactites hanging from roller doors and pooling water on floors, which, at best, means extra man hours to remove ice and water and at worst, causes serious injuries to employees.
Regulating temperature and moisture levels with dehumidification will create a steady indoor climate in cold processing and storage plants, which means:
Floors stay drier and are safer
The working environment is less hazardous
The air is easier to breathe
Ceilings remain free of condensation
Bacterial growth is reduced
The premises dries quickly after cleaning
Less intensive cleaning is required
Using a commercial dehumidifier means a frost and germ-free environment. These are essential for meat processing and food storage to:
Decrease operating costs
Decrease loss of stock affected by moisture
Avoid the proliferation of bacterial growth
Reduce condensation
Increase energy efficiency
Improve product quality and appearance
Don't risk food contamination and workplace injuries. Humiscope has a range of commercial dehumidifiers available Australia Wide that will efficiently reduce relative humidity and create a safer working environment for your employees. Get in touch today for more information and advice on our commercial dehumidifiers.


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Sustaining burns during Diwali is something most of us are prepared for, but it is never easy to handle the sudden heat and pain.
A minor burn will damage the uppermost layer of your skin, and make the skin look red and feel painful to touch. In most cases, the burn area will heal within a few days or weeks. In case of a major burn, make sure to visit the nearest medical facility without any delay.
1. Mint Toothpaste
If it is a very minor burn, cool the area with some running water and pat it dry very gently. Use a paper towel to avoid any accidental rubbing and injury. Now take some mint toothpaste and apply a layer over the burn area.
Mint contains antiseptic properties as well as helps to soothe pain.
2. Black Tea Bag
First clean the area and cool it under running water. Gently pat it dry. Now soak a couple of black tea bags in water and take it out when they are completely wet. Place them on the burn area and keep them in place by winding a gauze or big handkerchief around it.
The tannic acid found in black tea helps to extract the heat from a burn area, thus helping it cool down and reduce pain.
3. Honey
After you have cleaned the wound area and cooled it under running water, take some honey and apply it in a layer over the burn. Make sure that you pat it while applying, instead of rubbing it on the wound.
Honey has natural antiseptic and antibiotic properties, which will help prevent any infection from starting or spreading. Also, it will help to cool the area and prevent or reduce pain.
4. Oats
The best way to use oats as a burn remedy is to first use the other remedies and let the burn heal a bit. Once the initial healing is taken care of, you can use the oats method. If the wound is small, add a little oats to a cup of water and mix it well. Apply it over the burn area and let the oats dry naturally in air. If the wound is large, soak about a cup of oats in water for 20 minutes. Apply it on the area and let it dry naturally.
The layer of oats will help to reduce the itching sensation that happens when the burn area starts to heal. It will reduce inflammation as well.
5. Coconut Oil
Clean the burn area and cool it under running water. Now take a bit of coconut oil on your hand and apply it gently on the burn, in a thin layer. Let it sit for some time till the oil is completely soaked into the skin.
Coconut oil has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and will help to prevent chances of infection.