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Recently I was wandering around one of those Christmas markets that have become trendy in recent years and was not in the mood for buying any presents. All I could really feel was extreme cold and a sense of irritation at terrible songs being played one after another over the tannoy, which blotted out an actually quite talented group of buskers. I remember asking my friend "Does Christmas give us an excuse to be extra cheesy?", to which the answer was along the lines of " of course, why do you ask?". I don't really know why I was asking, but I got thinking about how cliche a lot of things become at this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I find a lot of it pretty fun, for example I love to eat turkey and watch Elf on TV. But I do wonder whether there's some things we can make fluffy and cute "because it's Christmas", whilst forgetting much of the often difficult reality other people continue to face.
And I wonder whether we are in danger of bringing the birth of Christ down to this level.
Sometimes in the carols and Christmas cards, we can portray the birth of Christ as a nice story, with a meek and mild baby resting peacefully in a comfortable bed of straw surrounded by fluffy lambs underneath a perfect starry sky. Let's actually recap some of the key details about Jesus' birth before we go any further.
Mary, a teenage girl became pregnant after being told she was carrying God's son by an angel. She was clearly happy enough about this to write a song of praise in Luke 1:46-55. But as well as this, there were several hurdles to overcome. Firstly, she had to explain to her fiancee Joseph that she was carrying a baby that wasn't his. I've watched Neighbours enough times to second guess what his reaction would be, and his attempt to call off the wedding showed just how convinced he was by her story that the child was God's. Thankfully God intervened by sending an angel, and Joseph went on to support her in a very admirable way. Nevertheless, she'd have lived with the embarrassment of a rather obvious bump in a small community where everyone knew she wasn't married. A community where the penalty for adultery was stoning. It's fair to say it wasn't the easiest of nine months for her.
Then there's the discomfort of riding a donkey whilst heavily pregnant, and when Mary fell into labour the only place available for her to give birth was a stable. This was not a warm, cosy stable with fluffy gentle animals like we see on Christmas cards, but more likely a cold dark shed that stank of animal dung and was filled with strange noises and flies. There's a clue as to how basic the circumstances were when the only place to lay the baby down was in the trough used to feed the animals. It makes lines in carols such as "the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes" sound a bit ridiculous.
The birth of Jesus was not a pretty or cute situation but one that was tough, demanding and difficult. However, as soon as the baby was born all those problems didn't matter one bit. The pain and difficulties that Mary and Joseph had been through were in one moment replaced with a deep, genuine joy. A joy that through all the hardship of donkeys and cold stables their baby had been born. And a joy for all of us, that this baby was the Son of God and saviour of the world.
God was not afraid to work through these difficult circumstances. He didn't hide from the embarrassment of an unmarried pregnant girl having a difficult chat with her fiancée. He didn't choose a comfortable, rich family to give His son a problem free birth. He chose ordinary people with everyday problems. He didn't hide from this but used them to bring out the greatest hope the world has ever seen. As Paul says in his letter:
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
It's exactly the same today. No matter how religion can try to dress up God and dictate what he likes and approves of, we can see in the Christmas story that he isn't interested in any kind of grandeur but in the lives and issues faced by ordinary people. He looks beyond our obvious, outwardly visible problems and into the depths of our hearts.
Apart from Mary and Joseph the first people to hear of Jesus were the shepherds. Shepherds were pretty ordinary people, without any kind of status or power. God chose these ordinary people to be on the receiving end of an amazing vision of angels. They were asked to go see this baby, which is great but… their livelihood was in their sheep. In those days there was no safety net – if they lose their sheep then they lose their job and their family starves. They can't realistically take a whole herd of sheep with them. What do they do?
Luke 2:16 tells us that "they went with haste". This means that they would have left their sheep, risking everything to obey the angels and see the baby. They had to place their trust wholly in God and that He'd look after the sheep. By doing so they managed to share in the joy of seeing the baby Son of God. Taking that risk was definitely worth it.
The shepherds were the first of many people to leave their comfort zone to meet Jesus. God is continually calling us to Him and it often will involve what appears to be a risk. But if we place our trust in Him, then we know that as all things are possible with God, He'll be able to look after the sheep in our lives better than we ever could tend to them by ourselves.
I know that sometimes I'm not very good at trusting God with my sheep, that I worry about the consequences of service to Him and how it can fit into the rest of my life. Often it can be difficult to be like the shepherds who didn't just not worry about fitting the visit to the stable into their lives, but by leaving their sheep made service the very function of their lives. This can be a big challenge to us today. But the Christmas story shows us that if we are prepared to trust God to look after our lives and if we choose to follow Him, then we will experience unimaginable joy. A joy found in all sorts of circumstances and in people that can be all too easy for us to turn our noses up at, but are loved by God as much as any of the rest of his children. A joy that isn't sentimental, fluffy or cute, but can genuinely change lives and give a real hope for the future.
Let's celebrate this joy today. Happy Christmas!
I believe that this last couple of weeks will go down in history. Firstly, it's been the start of The Ashes and England's inevitable first series victory in Australia for far too long. Also the UK has been hit by (often violent) protests on a massive scale against the government's plans to rip off students (ahem). But perhaps the most definitive news story of the year concerns WikiLeaks – the site that freely publishes sensitive information to the internet.
WikiLeaks has been around for a while, not especially well liked by governments, loved by geeks and revolutionaries. Then recently, WikiLeaks hit the headlines with a huge release to the media of cables (yes, my initial reaction was to think what the big deal was about a bunch of wire) containing top secret information from governments across the world. Any member of the public can now see a real life James Bond film unravel in front of them, unfortunately without a fancy theme tune or Oddjob. For a selection of articles related to these cables see http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/wikileaks.
Fascinating stuff. Now, data analysis is a big part of my job and I love espionage stories, and I can just imagine sitting there like some kind of private detective trying to piece the world together. But I also value not being in danger of attack and worry whether there are some things we're better off just not knowing about.
A lot of very important people have had their secrets completely exposed, leaving them feeling pretty embarrassed. But one thing struck me about all of these revelations.
God already knew everything about them.
You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:1-7)
God didn't just know what was in those cables. God knew what was going to be said by who before they'd even thought it. They've never been a secret to him.
"Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)
There's never been any hiding from God, as Jonah found out the hard way. He fills heaven and Earth – our God is bigger than any secrecy acts or leaked cables. What's more He knew this information was going to be released and importantly He knows what's going to happen as a consequence.
It doesn't work the other way round.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?"
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)
Not even the world's sharpest hacker can know the mind of God. He is in control of everything and there's no way that any of his thoughts are going to be leaked. We have assurance that if we trust in Him we will be looked after in ways no manner of intelligence networks can ever match.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Amazing Grace
I spent last weekend at home with my parents and on Saturday evening we watched the film Amazing Grace. I have to say that despite it being my Mum's choice (who believe me, does not have a good track record) I really enjoyed it. The film portrays the work of William Wilberforce, an MP from the turn of the 19th Century who fought for the abolition of slavery. For many years he presented a bill to parliament without success, until eventually the vote went in his favour and slavery was outlawed in the British Empire.
Towards the beginning of the film Wilberforce storms out of a card game with fellow MPs after the Duke of Clarence attempts to use a slave as an item to bet on. Obviously shaken, he talks with his friend William Pitt (who I'd previously only known about from a hilarious episode of Blackadder) and decides to reenter the room. Striding back in amongst the laughing and joking of his colleagues, he stands on the card table and begins to sing Amazing Grace, unashamedly showing them who he is and what he stands for. This boldness, determination and refusal to give up on what he believes in his evident throughout the film and can be a great inspiration to all of us.
Early in his career Wilberforce was unsure whether to continue with life in politics or to join the clergy. Whilst he was firmly against slavery, he needed convincing that is was his calling in life to fight for its abolition. In one scene he is introduced to fellow abolitionists by Pitt in an attempt to convince him to fight the cause. Explaining his dilemma he says "I don't know whether to use my voice to praise the Lord or change the world". Wilberforce had seen a life in the clergy as praising the Lord, and a political career as something entirely separate. However, he takes note when one of the meal guests replies "may I humbly suggest that you can do both". Wilberforce didn't enter the clergy, but spent his life campaigning against slavery and in doing so praised the Lord through his actions which also changed the world.
Every year Wilberforce took a bill before parliament to abolish slavery, and every year he lost convincingly, being mocked and jeered by his peers and becoming a laughing stock. In each case, most of the argument from the opposition was that slavery was so ingrained in their economy and lifestyle that it just wasn't feasible to get rid of it. Too many other things would have to suffer or give way, and so slavery was seen as undesirable but also unavoidable.
The abolitionists managed to pass a clever law involving flags on ships, making the slave trade far less profitable to businessmen and so removing the economic argument for slavery. After this, Wilberforce's bill managed to pass through parliament to scenes of great cheers and congratulations from the other MPs, and predictably the film soon ends with the obvious theme tune.
One thing that really caught my attention was that those MPs who so joyfully congratulated Wilberforce were exactly the same men who had laughed at him in the past. It was as if they had recognised that they had been wrong all these times before and were able to be joyful as they learnt from their mistakes. Or could it be that they were too quick to ignore that they had been the ones blocking progress for all this time?
For these MPs it had been the inconvenience of removing slavery that had prevented them from taking action before. This can be true of us today too. There are times when we know what is the right thing to do, but it can interfere with the rest of our lives, so we don't do it and make lame excuses instead.
Slavery is not dead today (see http://www.stopthetraffik.org) and this is partly down to the excesses of our Western lifestyles. As some of the richest people in the world (which all in the UK but the very poorest are), we know that there are people in poorer countries who go without food and water and live in conditions that we would find totally unacceptable. Even in our own country there is a massive gap between rich and poor, with homelessness a major problem that can be all too easy to ignore. We know that this is not right, but how many of us attempt to do anything about it? Are we really praising the Lord if we fail to be good Samaritans to our neighbours? Are we really praising the Lord if we make no attempt to change the world for the better?
Every time we buy the most convenient food as opposed to any fairtrade options available and every time when we buy clothes from shops that we know use child labour, we are contributing to slavery. We do this not because we think it's right, but because it's the most convenient option to us and has the minimum impact on our existing, affluent situations. I am as guilty of this as anyone else and I know that I need to stop.
So let's think about our actions and the impact they have on those less fortunate. By doing this we can truly praise the Lord and you never know, like William Wilberforce we might just change the world.
Over the last year I had been thinking about buying a new Bible. Now, when I want to buy something over the value of £1 (and sometimes under as well), I like to do a considerable amount of research. So I did a bit of looking around online and in shops, trying to weigh up exactly what I wanted and finding all sorts of weird and wonderful combinations – the Surfers Bible, the Spirit-Filled Life Bible, the Jewish Bible, the Word on the Street Bible, Thompson-Chain-interlinear-wide-margin-life-application-six-versions-parallel-super-duper-study Bible (with foreword from Sir Cliff Richard, Mother Theresa and Beyonce), in all sorts of versions with all sorts of covers and in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I must say, I was slightly overwhelmed by just how many different ways God's word has been presented by people and didn't really know what I wanted. I soon gave up the search and looked for Wii games instead.
This was until I saw my friend's Bible over the summer and simply decided "I want that one". It was in the version I wanted, with the verses spread right across the page, with references down by the central spine and a good amount of space to write notes. I'm slightly ashamed to admit it, but I developed a bit of Bible envy!
When I got back home I got onto Amazon and after more debate about which particular cover and edition I wanted, I promptly ordered it. After a few days it arrived and I took it home and immediately smelt the leather cover and flapped through the pages, very pleased with my purchase. I took it to our reading group on that night and to church on Sunday, feeling good that I had a Bible with a black leather cover and gilt edged pages and had all the features I wanted, thinking that this could probably last me for many years.
The next week I had a class to write, and rather than using my laptop I decided to use my new Bible for research. One evening I was alone in the flat and thought it would be a good idea to do some reading and eat dinner at the same time. After harking back to my student days by cooking my generic "pasta and spice", I started to eat, with Bible open on table and halo above head. Standard.
Then something horrific happened. A piece of pasta fell off my fork and fell straight onto the open page of my new Bible, staining it with my spicy arrabiata sauce. Uh oh spaghettioh (except this was technically penne, but who cares). I quickly brushed off the pasta and got most of the sauce off the page. It has however left a mark on my lovely gilt edges, so that there is a large patch that no longer gleams in the way that I was so happy with, but instead appears bleached and dirty, as if I'd bought this Bible from the seconds section. I was pretty annoyed and not impressed, wondering if "I spilt pasta on it" was a good enough excuse to persuade Amazon to exchange it for another one.
I've now realised that this doesn't matter in the slightest.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
The Bible is there for God to communicate with us and to guide us. It is not meant to be treated like an ornament, or to be valued for it's pretty gilt edged pages. It is to be loved for its message and the effect that has on your life.
The important thing is that our Bibles are being used, and not just on the clean cut situations we might be used to, like church services and Bible classes. If we are to truly take the gospel to the people around us then we will end up in situations where we may have to get our hands dirty or generally out of our comfort zones (Paul describes the situations he encountered in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30). Our Bibles should follow us in this, not being kept neatly on the shelf but being out with us, truly being our double-edged sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12).
I'm not suggesting that we literally need to all splash our Bibles with food or take them into a mud bath, but that our faith needs to be allowed to grow and to be influenced by our experiences. If we pick up a little bit of dirt on the way, then so what if it's going to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12)? Let's get active in our service, learning from everything God directs us in, getting ourselves ourselves absolutely filthy for Christ!
I'm so glad to have this reminder with me on my Bible, a stain to tell me that spiritual cleanliness is worthless, and that instead I need to be active and get dirty for Him.
After calling his disciples the salt of the Earth and challenging us not to lose our saltiness, Jesus goes on to say:
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Jesus calls the disciples "the light of the world". However, Jesus calls himself the very same "light of the world" in John 8:12 .
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
How can we be the light of the world when this is a title Jesus gives to himself?
This passage tells us that by following Jesus we can "have the light of life". Therefore according to the passage we go from walking in the light of Jesus, to having the light and then finally being the light. We can get a bit of insight into how this might work from Isaiah.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3)
When "your light" comes this is Jesus, the light of the world. By walking in the light of Jesus we have the light (John 8:12 again) and as such "the glory of the LORD rises upon you". Moses had this glory of the LORD shine upon his face when he met God on Mount Sinai. After coming back down from the mountain, Exodus 34:29-35 tells us that people were afraid of Moses because his face shone, still reflecting God's glory. In the language of Isaiah 60, the LORD had risen upon Moses and his glory had appeared over him, but he covered it up with a veil so that no one was able to come to this light. Paul talks about this episode in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)
Previously Paul had said that we are "ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:6). Therefore our new ministry, our discipleship, is even more glorious, but unlike Moses we don't cover our faces with a veil. We let it shine.
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away… But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:13, 16)
There is no need for a veil, as God no longer wants to protect people from his glory. Instead, he wants his glory to shine all around. Not only does this have an effect on those who see it, but also on ourselves.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (reflect) the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
By reflecting the Lord's glory, we are in fact being transformed into his image, the image in which he created people in the beginning (Genesis 1:26). In the same way as God's glory appeared over Moses, it now appears over us. And we are unveiled, people can come to God's glory through seeing it reflected on our faces, in our lives and in our hearts. In that sense we go from walking in the light, to having the light, to finally being the light of the world!
This is all conditional on one thing though. That is, if we let it.
As Jesus says "let your light shine before others". Given that this light is in fact the glory of God and the light of the world in the very same way that Jesus was, it would be terrible to simply place it under a basket. This would be preventing God's glory from shining all around – it's as serious a matter as denying the purpose of God (Habakkuk 2:14). God has given us an amazing ministry, to be His light to the world. In our words and actions we can show Him to each other and to people around us, so that they "may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven", giving the same glory that we behold back to Him.
So let Him shine!
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13
Back in the day, when I was a lad, I thought it would be really cool to get my parent's salt grinder, hold it above my face and grind directly into my mouth. To start with this was a revolution and went the same way as every other cool thing I ever did – my younger brother copied me. However, I soon realised that on its own, salt tastes HORRIBLE. What's more, if I'd carried on for too much longer I would have got high blood pressure and died. I like to make this sound dramatic.
However, my grandmother's carrots were always the best, and I discovered the main reason for this was that she added salt to the water they were boiled in, a practice frowned upon by the more modern cooking methods I had become accustomed to. Similarly, whenever I eat chips (with my sophisticated diet this is a rarity, cough) salt is essential. Also, back in the old days before fridges and the internet, people used salt to preserve food. Whilst I am fortunate enough to have use of a fridge, I am (or should I say, my sophisticated diet is) partial to the occasional piece of biltong – an African meat snack formed by allowing raw meat to dry in the sun whilst covered in salt, which preserves it from going off, or something like that anyway. It's pretty lekker, which means tasty, I hope.
The lesson from this is that salt in itself is nothing special on its own, it isn't good for you and doesn't taste nice either, as I found out to my peril. However, it is an excellent flavour enhancer, bringing out the best in other foods. In the same way, as salt of the earth we can bring out the best in everything around us. We are not congratulated for being anything special, instead by calling us salt Jesus tells us that we have a purpose to influence others and each other. We can bring out the best in each other, in the same way salt flavours food. We can keep each other going through hard times, in the same way that salt preserves food and keeps it fresh. We are called to be influential and infectious, seeping into gaps and making a difference (I'm resisting getting scientific here).
In the old testament law, Moses is instructed to make an incense that was to be "holy to the LORD" (Exodus 30:34-36). This incense was to be "seasoned with salt, pure and holy". Similarly, all grain offerings from the Israelites were to always be offered with salt (Leviticus 2:13). Adding salt turned the incense and the offerings into something holy and devoted to God. Similarly, in Colossians 4:6 we are told to "let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt". By being seasoned with salt out speech is made into an offering to God.
So if we are the salt of the earth, we are not only bringing the best out of each other, but making each other pure and holy. As salt we can help other people devote themselves to God. Similarly, other people are salt to us, helping our lives become living sacrifices to God (Romans 12).
We are commanded to not lose our saltiness. This means that we need to be practiced in being salt, in encouraging each other and bringing out the best in people. If we isolate ourselves from the people around us, there is a very real danger that we could lose our saltiness, leaving ourselves in real danger of not being salty again. So let's give ourselves the best chance possible of being salt, by really showing Jesus' love to everyone around us, not forgetting to be influenced by the salt of our fellow disciples too!
Recently at Oribi Gorge, South Africa, I did my first ever gorge swing and because I'm hardcore it happened to be the highest one in the world. In case you didn't know, a gorge swing is a little bit like a bungee jump in that you jump off a cliff and free-fall for a while. The main difference is that rather than bouncing up and down like a bungee, at the bottom of the fall one swings out into the gorge and then back and forth until one comes to a standstill and get winched back up to the top (I wish I had a diagram for this).
Now, I could give you the impression that I'm some kind of extreme sports junkie and that whilst I'd never gorge-swinged before, I've bungee jumped, skydived, eaten fire, voluntarily sat through the electric chair whilst listening to Electric Six and so on, but although that would maybe make people think I'm really cool it would also be lying. I've never done any of these things (I don't think an immature experience with a matchbox really counts as fire-eating) and I've not really had any intention to. In fact, I'd been to Oribi Gorge before and deliberately not done the jump, opting for a quite lame zip wire (at about 1mph) instead due to my wimpiness, content to watch my friend Tom do the jump and lay claim to the title of "Alpha Male".
However, due to a perhaps foolish "I'll do it if you do it" conversation with my particularly adventurous friend Steph, I ended up agreeing and paying to do the jump. Once I'd paid I had to get my money's worth (I was born in Stoke-on-Trent, go figure) and jump, but I was actually terrified of doing so. Perhaps signing a disclaimer that basically said "he jumped off a cliff, if he died it was his fault, stupid" and providing next of kin details (Mum was blissfully unaware) didn't help the mood. After a bit of psyching up, Steph jumped off the edge (I assumed she was still alive by the lack of gasps from our watching friends) and I was left for a few minutes on my own, gathering my thoughts and being driven on by the doubtful fact that I couldn't be outdone by a girl.
I will always remember the feeling of doing the jump for the rest of my life. Standing on the edge of the cliff my head was all over the place, persuading myself that no one had died there before and that I understood enough about physics to be confident in my safety ropes. But as soon as I jumped my initial thought was "WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?! I'M GOING TO DIE!!!" and subsequently I squealed like a girl. Embarrassing, bye bye Alpha Male. Free-fall was pretty bizarre, with wind rushing past my head (not sure if I quite reached terminal velocity) and my legs flapping everywhere. But I remember as I fell that I gradually became more assured that the safety rope would do it's job and that I was going to be ok, I even started to enjoy it!
When the rope became tense and I swung out into the gorge I felt a great sense of joy. I was now flying through the most beautiful gorge! And as the swing decreased I experienced peace, perhaps unlike any that I'd experienced before. I was suspended in the air in the middle of a landscape untouched by man, hearing the nearby waterfall, the birds flying nearby and the faint sound of laughter from my friends at the top. It was at this point that I really was still and knew that He is God!
I realised that I'm in general not that good at making leaps in my life. I can often get scared of the risks involved and would prefer to stay with my own two feet on the ground, even if I know that there is a safety rope there, and that safety rope is the Lord God Almighty. When I made the leap and began to free-fall I didn't really know what was going on, and it's the same with leaps we take in our lives. Sometimes after making a leap things can seem totally crazy and almost out of control. We really have no need to worry as God is there to look after us, but often our natural reactions stop us from realising this. And at the end of fall, when our rope is taught and we're really in tune with God and reliant on Him, we can see how great making that leap really was. It is by making the leap that we eventually reach that state of wonderful peace and feel God's presence all around us.
I have already made the biggest leap in my life by being baptised into Christ, a leap that you may well have made too (read about this in Romans 6). In making this leap I left my old self behind on the rock face and chose to trust entirely in God as my safety rope. I believe that myself and many others are now in that free-fall phase. We know that God is there for us, but can sometimes forget and maybe panic about the journey ahead, or even wish for the feeling of being back on the cliff with our feet on the ground. But we must continue to trust that he will guide us and make the most of this free-fall to live a life that shows Jesus now. At the end of our free-fall a time is coming when there will be that great peace – the Kingdom of God. Here the rope will become taught – we will be fully connected with God and will experience the Earth as He truly intended it, and it's going to be even better than that gorge!
I am by no means saying that doing some kind of extreme sport is a prerequisite for salvation! That would be quite cultish and I'm happy to believe that people with low adrenaline levels will be in the Kingdom too. But I feel that from this experience God really opened up my eyes to Him. God is with us always, in the ultimate leap of baptism or any of the other leaps we stumble across in our lives. Let's really make the most of this time of freefall, knowing that God's going to catch us and show us peace like never before.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" – 1 Corinthians 2:9


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CreationStation is now open at the Palm Beach County Library. Explore, learn and create pictures, words, video, or music.
- CreationStation includes:
- A digital media lab in the library to create content: video, audio, podcasts, and image editing.
- Orientations and information on how to use the equipment in the CreationStation.
CreationStation is located at the Main branch of the Palm Beach County Library at 3650 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach. The CreationStation is available during regular library hours and remains open until a half hour before library closing time, but please call for current availability, as training classes have priority.
The lab is open to Palm Beach County residents ages 18 and up (children and teens must be accompanied by a responsible adult). Read the complete list of usage guidelines. To reserve for a 2-hour session, contact the Main Library Serials Desk at 561 233-2600.

subset: commoncrawl


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Book MSP Limos, ride at budget-friendly rates. Hire a corporate car service on the hourly basis, or simply schedule a pickup and drop-off service with our Point to Point travel.
Whether you are just coming to town just to do business, you are planning to see what the city has to offer, or you are a local corporate client who needs a reliable car service, we will provide a smooth transportation in perfectly maintained vehicles. When time is of the essence and you have back-to-back meetings across town, perhaps renting a chauffeured limo by the hour is the smart choice.
Have a car waiting for you whenever you need it – simply direct your driver to the next location and enjoy the ride. Open up a corporate account and have a detailed billing information at your fingertips. Commute to work doesn't have to be a wasted time – work from the back of the corporate car while you travel to work, or get some extra shut-eye.


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Earn an extra 10% in trade credit on the following cards! This list is valid through Sunday, June 24th.
Magic: The Gathering
Wurmcoil Engine
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Meddling Mage
Goblin Chainwhirler
Carnage Tyrant
Collective Brutality
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Choice Band (secret)
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Basic (secret Energy)
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Crushing Hammer (secret)
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Beast Ring
Lillie (FA)
Buzzwole – GX
Charizard GX
Lana (FA)
Unit Energy GFW (secret)
Unit Energy LPM (secret)
Dusk Man Necrozma GX


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Increasing regulations amplify pressure on banks to revamp compliance framework
December 2018 | EXPERT BRIEFING | BANKING & FINANCE
Earlier this year, the UK's banks and financial institutions were encouraged by the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to achieve better standards of operational resilience. The need to boost operational resilience has intensified against the backdrop of growing cyber security concerns and the rapid technological advancement disrupting the industry at present.
Managing risk and meeting regulatory requirements is a complex task, exacerbated by emerging risks and regulations. As a result, banks and financial institutions can develop more sophisticated responses by taking advantage of the technology and analytical tools at their disposal, with a more robust response required than that needed to manage traditional risks.
The viral nature of new age digital risks demands that institutions identify early-warning mechanisms in order to flag where problems may emerge before risks materialise. While doing this, banks and financial institutions need to also look beyond the current IT siloes across business units and corporate functions, to ensure a seamless cross-department regulation and risk management strategy.
Shifting from defence to offence
To begin with, banks and financial institutions have to stop treating regulations as a last minute checklist, simply ticking off the minimum compliance required to avoid fines. The problem with this approach is that it lacks sustainability, and the institutions will find themselves immersed in checklist after checklist, without visibility or the means to reflect on the impact of each regulation they have to comply with. Instead, banks and financial institutions need to be more forward looking, playing the role of a technician, a strategist and a forecaster, all at the same time. There must be constant assurance that these institutions have a robust and secure IT infrastructure to not be susceptible to hackers who are becoming more sophisticated in their tactics. This involves a deep understanding of legacy IT infrastructures and associated business processes, before implementing new technology, to ensure both will be able to work with each other without causing planned or unplanned risks.
Earlier risk-management functions involved simple risk models and frameworks to quantify risk and ensure organisational resilience and compliance. Over time, these frameworks emerged out of their IT siloes and translated into good risk management habits, embedded in the company's culture. In today's complex and ever-changing market, the focus also needs to include mitigating emerging risks. While the combined benefit of predictive analytics, scenario and trend-impact planning can be used to deliver more accurate predictions, banks and financial institutions need to identify threats and develop long-term strategies that balance risk and reward. This will lead banks and financial institutions to replace their current defence-oriented approach with a more holistic, proactive strategy.
Crafting a digital model for risk management
To ensure the smooth implementation of a change strategy, banks and financial institutions have to orchestrate a digital model aimed at aligning risk priorities with controls and metrics to scale and deliver. This will allow them to meet market and transaction dynamics while achieving an optimal level of business performance. Where formerly security practices and systems were segmented across business functions, the digital model must have an integrated approach. Banks can achieve greater levels of efficiency by centralising risk processes for reporting and transaction management. This can promote best-practice adoption, competency development and enterprise standardisation. They also enable the provision of other critical functions to be developed, such as the rollout of early-warning mechanisms and comprehensive risk reports with consistent standards across the organisation.
In order to reap the full benefits of risk strategies, banks and financial institutions must ensure that the compliance infrastructure is keeping pace with the increased complexity of regulations being introduced into the market. A variety of third-party platforms have been developed that are easy to use and will integrate well with a variety of data infrastructures. These third-party solutions not only help fast track major technological augmentation, but also provide much needed real-time visibility into threats and organisational readiness in the digital world.
Ensuring employee engagement
To ensure the compliance framework is embedded across day-to-day operations, it is imperative that organisations ensure they foster strong employee engagement and buy-in across the board. This involves ensuring all employees have visibility across the risks involved with every new technology or business process on-boarded, and the know how to embed risk mitigation into all their interactions.
In addition, training frontline workers on how to use and work with technology by taking full advantage of all it has to offer while ensuring the minimal risk of a failure like cyber security is imperative. Banks and financial institutions must spend time promoting digital literacy across the enterprise. Training and awareness becomes all the more important when companies realise the central role employees play in risk mitigation and compliance.
As banks and financial institutions report their exposure to risks and the measures they are taking to manage them, they should already be thinking about the next regulations, as well as the broader framework. Through creating the right roadmaps, educating their workforces and developing the right compliance frameworks, banks can come out on top in the face of increasing regulation. This will also increase the level of confidence within banks and financial institutions for managing cyber security risks and protecting themselves against any future vulnerabilities.
The stakes are incredibly high for banks if assets or sensitive information are exposed as a result of a recent breach or data security compromise. For many organisations, the need to protect themselves has become one of their top priorities. Banks and financial institutions must act now and adapt a business service-based, operationally-resilient model to absorb the impacts of expected and unexpected events while delivering normal services uninterruptedly to remain compliant as well as to drive sustainable competitive advantage in the digital world.
Kapil Lodha is head of banking and financial services consulting at EXL. He can be contacted on +44 (0) 20 7767 3500 or by email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
© Financier Worldwide
Kapil Lodha


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Microsoft® JScript
?: Operator
Language Reference
Version 1
See Also
Executes one of two statements depending on a condition.
test ? statement1 : statement2
The ?: operator syntax has these parts:
Part Description test Any Boolean expression. statement1 A statement executed if test is true. May be a compound statement. statement2 A statement executed if test is false. May be a compound statement.
The ?: operator is a shortcut for an if...else statement. It is typically used as part of a larger expression where an if...else statement would be awkward. For example:The example creates a string containing "Good evening." if it is after 6pm. The equivalent code using an if...else statement would look as follows:var now = new Date(); var greeting = "Good" + ((now.getHours() > 17) ? " evening." : " day.");var now = new Date(); var greeting = "Good"; if (now.getHours() > 17) greeting += " evening."; else greeting += " day.";


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On Sale
Sterling Silver Cable Spinner Ring - Mens, Unisex
A modern handcrafted sterling silver ring with a spinning interior 'figit' ring in a cable pattern. This is a great unisex design, fitting for both men or women.
The ring shank is 12mm wide, and comes in your requested size. Oxidized finish.
Made to order just for you.


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Doctors & Staff
Meet the experienced and friendly doctors and staff who make Castle Pines Eye Care the leading provider of vision care products and services in Castle Pines.
Dr. Jason Ortman
Dr. Jason Ortman came to Colorado in 2001 to ski, as his native Northeast Ohio did not satisfy that interest well. After falling in love with Colorado, he realized his dream and purchased Castle Pines Eye Care in 2007.
Dr. Ortman graduated from Indiana University with Bachelor of Science in Biology. After a gap year spent working for his childhood eye doctor, he enrolled at The Ohio State University College of Optometry and received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2000. He then completed a residency in ocular disease and hospital-based optometry at the New Mexico Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque.
In addition to primary eye care, Dr. Ortman specializes in hard-to-fit specialty contact lenses and ocular disease.
He has enjoyed working with several non-profit groups providing eye care in Guyana, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, China, and here in Colorado. Dr. Ortman served on the Board of Trustees for the Colorado Optometric Association and is a member of the Third Party Executive Committee for the American Optometric Association. In 2010, he was honored as the Colorado Optometric Association's Young Optometrist of the Year. In 2013, he was among the first optometrists nationwide to earn board certification with the American Board of Optometry.
2017 Cooper Vision Best Practices Award – Recognition for Excellence in Eye Care
2014 Diplomat of the American Board of Optometry
2012 Castle Pines Business Person of the Year
2010 Colorado Optometric Association's "Young Optometrist of the Year" Award
2003 Corneal Refractive Therapy Certification
2001 Residency in Hospital-Based Optometry New Mexico VA Medical Center
2000 Doctor of Optometry, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
2000 Corning Low Vision Award, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
1999 President, Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Fraternity
1995 Bachelor of Science, Indiana University
Dr. Rachel Hasler
Born and raised in south central Wisconsin Dr. Rachel Hasler attended the University of Iowa where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences. Inspired by her father and grandfather – both Optometrists in her home town – she followed in their footsteps and attended the Illinois College of Optometry and received her Doctorate in Optometry.
While she was a student Dr. Hasler was an active member of the Contact Lens Society, American Optometric Student Association, Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society and the Tomb and Key Society. On graduation Dr. Hasler received a Valedictory award and a Certification of Commendation for her outstanding score on the National Optometry Board Examination.
Dr. Hasler's training included rotations at the VA Medical Center in Rhode Island, the Cornea and Contact Lens Institute of Minnesota and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. After completing her degree, Dr. Hasler completed a year long residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at the Illinois College Of Optometry. During that residency she received special training in the treatment and management of advanced ocular disease including urgent ocular problems.
Dr. Hasler is excited to join the Castle Pines Eye Care team and to spend her free time exploring her new home in Colorado.
Dr. Jamie Anderson
Dr. Anderson grew up in Northern Colorado. She has also lived in Phoenix, Arizona and Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for her undergraduate degree in Business/Finance, and she received her Doctorate of Optometry from Pacific University College of Optometry in 2005.
Dr. Anderson is passionate about pediatric vision care and behavioral optometry. She has achieved a post-doctoral Fellowship with the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. She is also a member of the Colorado Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association, including the Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the AOA.
Dr. Anderson lives in Highlands Ranch with her husband and teenage daughter, and her son attends college in Anchorage, Alaska.
Dr. Lacey Brenner
Dr. Lacey Brenner was born and raised in eastern Colorado and western Kansas. She attended the University of Kansas earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology. She then went on to the University of Missouri-St.Louis College of Optometry where she received her Doctor of Optometry degree and graduated with honors. While a student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society, American Optometric Student Association, and Dean's List honors.
After completing her Doctor of Optometry degree, Dr. Brenner continued her education with a primary care residency emphasizing in ocular disease at the Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. During her residency, she practiced full scope optometry and received advanced clinical training in the treatment of various ocular diseases such as glaucoma, eye infections, corneal disease, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and cataracts. She enjoys educating patients about their ocular health, and has a special interest in the nutritional aspects of disease management.
Dr. Brenner is an active member of The American Optometric Association, the Colorado Optometric Association and has participated in optometric missions to Guatemala to provide eye care and prescription glasses to those in need.
Dr. Brenner has lived in Colorado Springs for 4 years and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, yoga, exploring new restaurants and taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors that Colorado has to offer. She also loves to travel and spend time with friends and family.
Dr. Emma Lundien
A Colorado native, Emma Lundien, O.D. is happy to be practicing in her beautiful home state. She is a 2016 graduate of Pacific University's College of Optometry where she received honors in three of her four clinical rotations. An alumni of the University of Northern Colorado, she proudly participated in the Pride of the Rockies Marching Band for 5 years.While in Optometry School, Her favorite memories were those with AMIGOs eyecare, a student chapter of VOSH which provides free eye care throughout the world. She had the opportunity to provide care to rural areas of Guatemala on two separate occasions, and hopes to go on more trips to Guatemala as an attending doctor in the future.
Dr. Lundien is passionate about providing high quality care for patients of all ages and tries to take a holistic approach to how she practices. Eyes are truly the window to your soul, and the more she knows about your complete health and visual needs, the better she can care for your overall well-being. She is especially interested in caring for children and knows that many learning problems children face can be related to their eyes, and a referral to a vision therapist may be the answer to their learning related difficulties.
Dr. Lundien's dedication to children's learning is apparent in her involvement in the community outside of the office. She has participated in Von's Vision, a charity developed by Von Miller of the Denver Broncos to help provide eye care to children in need. She dedicates some of her time as a mentor for the Denver Urban Scholars organization, and has been a counselor, and an administrator for the Summer Enrichment Program, a summer camp aimed at providing support and opportunity for gifted and talented youth. She is currently working on a project through the Colorado Optometric Association's leadership program to bring awareness to the community of the importance of children's eye exams.
When Dr. Lundien is not caring for her patients, she spends time hiking, bike riding, cooking, cheering on the Broncos, and exploring wine regions all over the country and world.
|Michelle Chalupa
Practice Administrator
Michelle has been with CPEC for over 10 years as the Optical Manager, and has recently taken a larger role as Practice Administrator, overseeing both CPEC and Alpine Vision Center.
|Debbie Stuart
ABO Advanced Optician
Systems Administrator
Debbie qualified as a Dispensing Optician in New Zealand, but also recently passed her ABO Advanced certification. She is currently working toward Master Optician, as well as an Associates in Business Management.She has been with Castle Pines nearly 6 years and in the optometry industry over 20 years and loves helping patients who often have difficulty with their eye wear.
|Cassie Pelo
Front Office Coordinator
Cassie's smiling face has been with us at Castle Pines Eye Care for 5 years! She always remembers the name to go with your face. Cassie is our billing expert and definitely the person to call with a question about your vision plan.
|Niki Gatewood
Contact Lens Technician / Optician
Niki has a passion for fitting specialty contact lenses. She's been in the optometry field for 12 years and quickly found that working with contact lenses is an interesting challenge.
ABO Certified Optician
Jennifer is both an ABO certified optician and speaker. She originally licensed in Florida (one of the toughest States in the nation to certify), and has many facets of the industry in her history as an optician, frame rep and lab rep, too.
Michael comes to us from Washington State and has worked in a range of medical fields – qualifying as a CNA before moving to optometry.
|MishaFront Desk
Joey, Mary Kate, Siera, Keaton, Wendy


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Spent the last three days in a cosy log cabin tucked away in the woods in Canada. Soaking in a beautiful old fashioned tub with my little boy and my big pregnant belly ❤ The second day we woke up to it snowing outside ❄! Was so cosy and incredibly peaceful ~ even with a little toddler Freddy!
This one is a must – add it to your live life list ❤
Live life and… stay in a log cabin.


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DC's National Gallery shows photographs of India, Burma culture in the 1850s
As the British Empire spread in the 19th century, a young Englishman used his camera to chronicle the ancient cultures of India and Burma.
Roughly 60 prints, and two rare negatives, of those efforts are on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. in " Captain Linnaeus Tripe: Photographer of Indian and Burma, 1852-1860."
Linneaus Tripe was the sixth son, of 12 children, of a middle-class family. He joined the East India Company in 1839 as a Captain, and was sent to India as an officer in the 12th Madras Native Infantry.
The East India Company had started as a trading company but ended up the effective sovereign by forming alliances with local leaders and using its military to put down native rebellions.
Senior Curator Sarah Greenough, Head of the Department of Photographs at the National Gallery, says Tripe discovered a "country and a people almost entirely under British reign."
He traveled broadly, drawing, mapping and "by the mid-1860s had photographed and mapped India's cities, monuments and architectural sites as well as its people and terrain," says Greenough.
The photos served as raw intelligence information for the Company in administrating the area, construction and the study of art, religion and history.
Photography was not easy during that period. Tripe had brought a large camera with him that made 15-by-12-inch salt paper negatives that demanded long exposures but where more tolerant of the hot, sultry climate then other photographic processes. Two of the negatives are on display in the National Gallery's exhibit.
"They were often the first photographs ever taken of these (palaces and temples) and thus they provided completely different kind of information than anything made before," says Greenough.
They were also retouched to bring out details. Tripe would paint in foliage and tree trunks to "give them shape."
In 1855 he set up a printing studio in India to create portfolios of 120 of his photos. He made 50 copies of the portfolios that he sent to various agencies in the British government and India. Unfortunately, not many have survived.
The Indian rebellion of 1857-1858 marked the end of the East India Company's dominance. The British government took over. Tripe's job fell to cost cutting and he returned England in 1860, unable to finish his last project, nine portfolios of his photography, which would have been 17,000 prints.
While he made one more trip to India in 1863, he retired a decade later "discouraged" that his work wasn't appreciated, and died in 1902. His negatives went to family members and his portfolios languished in government offices and the archives of the East India Company at the British Library.
The National Gallery's exhibit has drawn on numerous sources worldwide to show Tripe's India and Burma. It will travel to New York and London.
National Gallery of Art
Washington D.C.
Sept. 21, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015


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The Only Self-Care Practices You Need To Take Your Career To The Next Level
When I used to hear the term "self-care," I would cringe. It always sounded lazy and too hippie-dippy for me. I was one of those type-A women who thought that if I wanted to get ahead in my career, I would have to work 24/7. I plowed through my 20s this way and even started off my 30s in a similar manner.
I wrote and published five books, started two companies, wrote two episodes of a popular TV show, wrote a documentary, started teaching yoga, and maintained several other jobs throughout all of this. I juggled everything at once and thought I could continue this way forever.
But as I aged and life circumstances taught me lessons I never knew I needed to learn, I realized that my "hard work, no play" attitude only stressed me out (and added an extra 20 pounds). So, I decided that it was time to re-examine my life.
Maybe there was something about self-care that I was missing. Maybe, if I wanted to truly succeed in life, I'd have to slow down and take a look at what I was doing. So, I did. And that's how I came up with these five tips on how to take care of yourself so that you can take care of business.
1. Take time off.
I'm not talking about a vacation—though I highly recommend those, too—I'm talking about something that you can literally schedule into every week. When I found myself waking up at 4 a.m. to write out marketing strategies, redesign the website, or work on an idea for an essay or another book, I realized I was operating at a pace that was unsustainable.
So I decided that I would take Fridays off for a month. I allowed myself to work as hard as I wanted during the other four days of the week, but I gave myself permission to take that last day off. At first, this felt counterintuitive. But what I found was that by only working four days a week, I was more productive and had more energy and brain power to do things well.
2. Commit to some sort of physical activity every day.
Whether that's a walk around the neighborhood, a bike ride, a yoga or spin class, or simply setting a timer on your phone to remind you to get up from your chair every hour, commit to it. Do something every day that gets you away from your desk or computer and gets your body moving.
3. Meditate or simply take a few minutes for quiet time.
Go to a quiet place and close your eyes. Take a few minutes to let your mind relax. I bring my attention to my breath because it's something I can focus on, and then my brain doesn't have the space to wander. Of course, if it does, I just bring my awareness back to my breath.
4. Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you.
By comparing, all you're doing is forcing yourself to live up to someone else's ideal again. So your friend brags that she puts 80-plus hours a week into her business; who cares? That isn't about you. If you can run a successful business that makes you happy and you can run it in three hours a week, accept that. Don't get caught up in the idea that more is better. Accept the fact that you know better. That you are the only one who knows what's best for you and your company. That's why you went out on your own in the first place. Keep trusting that fact.
5. Recognize that self-care is a necessary part of the business.
By taking care of yourself, your mind, and your body, you will take care of your business. Because when it comes down to it, you are your business. You are a part of the entire package. When budgeting, you have to take every aspect of your business into consideration, and you are now a part of that equation. Your self-care has to be considered in the overall budget.
By practicing these five things, I can honestly say that I've never felt so accomplished in my life. So, to all my fellow girl bosses out there, here's to us slowing down and taking some time for self-care.
Ready to learn more about how to unlock the power of food to heal your body, prevent disease & achieve optimal health? Register now for our FREE web class with nutrition expert Kelly LeVeque.


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IM Conferences Blend In Social Responsibility With Good PR Opportunity
Conferences are of many types. Some are intended to improve the manner in which businesses are done, some aim to improve the company relations at all levels, while others may help teach better ways of doing business. But aside from these, there are certain conferences which focus on the social responsibilities of the business houses towards the society and also towards their own employees. IM conferences are one such social conference, which aims to inculcate a sense of responsibility in the minds and hearts of the participants towards the plight of the personnel exposed to various forms of radiations.
Types Of Exposures
The exposure from the radiations can be both internal as well as external. The effects of both these forms of exposures are quite dangerous and hence it is important that the companies take note of both these exposure forms. The personnel should be checked for both internal as well as external radiation effects and symptoms. The concept of dosimetry should be clearly understood in order to apply it effectively in getting correct results from the tests for radiations.
Coverage Of IM Conferences
These conferences are nothing more than a reference meeting on individual monitoring. The aim of these meetings is to instill a sense a responsibility in the participants towards their employees so that in future they take improved and correct measures for the monitoring and treatment of radiation affected personnel. Increasing the feeling of humanity through harmonizing the efforts of various people is what is intended to be achieved through these conferences. Understanding the procedure for monitoring the exposure to radiation and radioactive material, compliance with the set occupational dose limits, taking immediate preventive actions in case of emergencies, maintain dose records and correct reporting of the data are some of the key topics discussed at these conferences.
Increasing Awareness About Individual Monitoring
These conferences also actively discuss the various methods through which the awareness about individual monitoring can be increased in the whole world. Various options of providing education and training on this topic are explored. Developing of networks to spread the message effectively is also worked upon.These conferences fulfill a very big social responsibility. But these conferences are not all about serious discussions. Like any other conference lunches, drinks and dinner parties are an important part of these conferences. Also some really good contacts can be developed here, since all big companies are showing an interest in individual monitoring and hence actively participating in these conferences.


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By Argus Media.
Houston, 9 October (Argus) — US western region power generators are finding ways to take advantage of low natural gas prices even as reliance on renewable resources grows.
At current prices, Salt River Project District (SRP), the nation's third-largest public power agency serving parts of Phoenix, Arizona, has boosted its reliance on gas while paring coal use, senior marketing representative Kent Price said this week at the LDC Forum in Los Angeles.
Price said the district is backing down coal units at night to run at minimum load so that gas plants can remain online, saving fuel costs and avoiding daily start-up costs.


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Caroline Kennedy's candidacy for the vacant New York Senate seat brought to the fore the issue of whether volunteerism of at-home moms is ultimately valued by prospective employers when these women eventually want to return to work. While her withdrawal from consideration could be viewed as a setback, in fact there may be no greater time for optimism. Now more than ever, as we enter the Obama era, there is reason to hope that the resume of the Parent cum Volunteer will be viewed more favorably.
For years women who returned to the workforce after taking time off to parent have had to spin the voluntary nature of their work to improve their marketability. Career advisors emphasize skills-based resumes that focus on the tasks women have accomplished, rather than the positions they held thereby fitting into the corporate model and avoiding association with the pink-collar ghettos of the PTA and soccer team. Similarly, the "experience" lexicon has changed -- moms were fundraisers (bake sale coordinators), event planners (school party organizers), project managers (committee chairs), and equipment procurers (team uniform purchasers).
Part of the reason for this approach is that neither full-time parenting nor the volunteer work associated with it is highly valued in the business sector. The type of volunteer work that many at-home moms tend to do -- tasks associated with PTAs, sports teams, religious institutions and charitable causes -- is largely viewed as unskilled with questionable economic value. For that reason, Emma Keller, author of The Comeback, suggests women use the term "pro-bono" instead of "volunteer" when discussing their time away from work. Thus, they legitimize their work to a prospective employer by cloaking it in professional language.
But now we have a President who is a former community organizer himself and who has made service a priority on his agenda. In his Inaugural Address, President Obama spoke of a spirit of service "that must inhabit us all" and how, among other things, it is a "parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate." Moreover, we have a First Lady who calls herself the Mom-in-Chief. A new emphasis on service, and the example of Michelle Obama may influence the prospects of women returning to the workforce.
President Obama wants service elevated to a level of national importance. Among the many programs he proposes to accomplish that goal is the American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $4,000 in exchange for 100 hours of community service by college students. That amounts to $40 per hour, which is more than double the average hourly earnings in the private sector. Attaching an economic value to volunteer work may go a long way towards boosting the status of at-home mothers. (Imagine if all moms calculate how many hours they volunteer, multiply that number by $40, and then deduct that amount from their tax liability!)
Obama also has sent a clear signal that community service is valuable in and of itself, regardless of the nature of the task. He has been photographed doling out food and painting a building, two tasks many moms have undertaken without any paparazzi following them around. If the Obama Presidency is all about dreaming big, is it too
far-fetched to imagine that the White House's emphasis on service could lead to the prevalence of service-based resumes? That type of development can only benefit moms.
Furthermore, the First Lady's position as Mom-in-Chief may have a profound effect on people's perceptions of women who are reentering the work force. Here is a smart, Ivy League-educated woman who is so focused on the value of parenting that she has deferred embracing a traditional First Lady issue that might make her seem more "serious." It is hard to predict if or how that decision will have a trickle down effect on other womens' choices. At the very least, it should bolster the confidence that moms will need, first, in choosing to put their careers on hold and then, in developing the confidence to transition back into the workplace after a long absence.
At the same time that this is a period of optimism for women who want to transition back to work, Caroline Kennedy's choices highlight the complexities of the issue. Commentators looking at her as-yet unexplained withdrawal suggest that her story is a setback for other women because she appeared indecisive and ill-equipped for the transition -- qualities that onramping mothers and employers worry about. The Kennedy missteps may well scare women who are not certain whether they can transition from full-time parenting to careers. Fortunately, most will not have to live out their missteps in the public eye (although sometimes the nagging voice of self-doubt is worse). Hopefully, both moms and prospective employers will recognize that like all things Kennedy, this situation was unique and not reflective of the trajectory most women face. In the meantime, we should be encouraged by the priorities of our new Mom-in-Chief and her working husband.
Barri Gordon Waltcher is a former law yer, full-time parent, and co-founder of Mind Your Own Business Moms, which provides career advice to women who have left the workforce to raise children.


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On August 28th, 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. led the March on Washington, an event designed to shed light on the political and social challenges that African Americans continued to face across the country. Over two hundred thousand Americans came together for a day led by people of all backgrounds. King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream," speech, which began with, "I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." The day consisted of speeches, songs, and prayers, but the speech remembered throughout the years was King's.
The events following this march included the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended public segregation and employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. Our country went far in the years following the march, but though this concept of racial inequality seems like an event of the past, it's still a very evident issue. The roots of racism run deep, and it will take years until they are completely diminished…or maybe it will be a problem that is never totally gone. Look around at our country today: Congress is 9.6 percent (a record high) African American. We've had just one black president, and according to the article "Fourteen Examples of Racism in the Criminal Justice System" by Bill Quigley, black offenders receive sentences that are ten percent longer than white offenders for the same crimes. King changed the course of our country for the better, but segregation today still exists and will continue to exist if we don't carry on the relentless fight for equality. MLK Day is a day made to commemorate the legacy that King left. It's a day to reflect on the wrongdoings of our past and look into what we can do to make a better future. On this day, we celebrate the words and ideas that he put out into our country and the bravery that he carried with him in every step he took. January 15th is a day to honor the life and contributions of the greatest leader for the mass fight for equality and racial justice.
Drawing by Rose Martines


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Money Clips
Barlow and Zippo money clips with your logo.They are an inexpensive way to advertise and show goodwill to your employees.
Chrome Money Clip$6.05
The Barlow Chrome Money Clip keeps your money organized.
Zippo Money Clip$6.38
Zippo makes your Logo look great on this money clip.
Email or call if you have any questions. We have personalized service.


text: Remer's Qubika single handle (lever handle style), 1 hole bathroom sink faucet is a washbasin faucet that is great for a contemporary style bath. Imported from Italy by Remer, this deck mount bathroom sink faucet is a designer solution for your trendy personal bathroom. Match all your other chrome bathroom fixtures with this designer chrome bathroom sink faucet, made in high-quality brass.


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New Moon in Leo August 9, 2010 8:08 pm pdt
Spotlight on Leo Artist: Victoria Camp Oakland, California Website: http://www.victoriacamp.com
As a Leo artist, there is one word behind my driving force - "create." Simply put, it's a vital part of my life and I find it impossible for me to ever stop, no matter what the job or environment I'm in. Leo's are always finding a new art or craft to try, experimenting with different mediums and art forms and I am no exception! Currently I am attending a fashion design school by day and also working as a jewelry artist from my home. I am finding that my true passion lies within jewelry design, but it is unlikely that I would ever stop learning and taking classes.
One of my key motivators as a Leo is passion, and I feel my emotions very deeply. This passion has helped my artistic side by inspiring me to finish what I have started (or even try something new) and to not "settle" for something less than ideal. I also feel that anything is possible if you have the right attitude and I genuinely enjoy being my own boss and managing all aspects of my business.
I have come to recognize that Leo's have a keen eye for visual design and composition. As an artist, it is important to me that my work environment be visually organized and decorated in such a manner that won't prohibit my creativity. When I am designing a piece, the first thing that draws me to create is the color and then the texture of the medium I am working with. I love the smoothness of freshwater pearls, the cut edges of a faceted gemstone, the soft matte finish of a clay flower and not to mention the endless color possibilities while working with clay!
As a tactile Leo by nature, I find that I am always touching the garment and accessories I am wearing. I often create my designs with touchability in mind, including either a type of bead or pendant that feels
intriguing underneath my fingertips. It's all about the details; I find comfort in creating pieces with tedious detailing and handwork and find immense satisfaction when it is completed.
Leo's love of luxury has certainly not escaped me! I always work with the best materials I can find within my price point and am picky about the quality standards of my finished pieces. I also enjoy the challenge of taking something "ordinary" and turning it into something wonderful, beautiful, and wearable!


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Call center managers, particularly new ones, may sometimes find themselves staring blankly at the real-time and historical reporting function in their call center software. The data can be overwhelming — particularly if you are operating an advanced call center software solution that tracks a range of metrics.
The first step you took to resolve this situation was to do your research on call center acronyms. You've made your flashcards and memorized them all. Next, you learned about call center KPIs — what they mean, why they matter. But what's next? How can you make all of this information actionable?
Congratulations! You've arrived at the call center benchmarking step. Time to figure out what benchmarking means for you and your call center. We're so glad you made it.
Welcome to our cheat sheet on call center benchmarking.
Sign up for CX and call center insights delivered weekly to your inbox.
Good job! You're now versed in the basics of call center benchmarking. It's a start, but now you need to put this information into action to improve your call center. Why not start today? No time like the present!


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Regular price
PDF edition is available as part of The Lost Issues Volume 2
Come – stare in slack-jawed amazement into the thrilling neon future of booze.
This brave new world promises robot sommeliers, edible bottles, synthetic alcohol, genetically modified super yeasts and machines that vaporize your cocktails and blast them into your face. Sounds spectacular, doesn't it?
You'll learn what to do with your booze post-apocalypse, where wildlife is under threat from vineyards through climate change and how Bender the Robot (the perfect poster boy for the future of booze) would cure a hangover.
As exciting as the future is, we've always got time for the past too. We romp through the 3,000-year history of the wine glass, consider how Alexander the Great conquered all but the bottle and take lessons in anti-marketing from the Trappist monks of Saint Sixtus Abbey – brewers of the world's best beer.
Oh, and let's not forget the present – you've got to love the present. We interviewed the brains behind Café ArtScience, a new 'no-boundaries think-tank cum restaurant' in Boston, were introduced to the sweetly intoxicating world of advocaat in Belgium and investigated why so many bars are so keen to keep themselves a secret these days.


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You just d0. You have to get fired up about it. Not just kinda, sorta, on board with it. But passionate about what you want your future to look like. One of the most motivating things we did as a family was to sit down and figure out how much money would be OURS (and, obviously, therefore how many boxes of milkbones we could buy) if we didn't have to pay for anything other than the usuals (utilities, gas, groceries, etc.). Meaning, no payments. No house payment, no car payment, no school loan payment, no personal loan payment, no insert-whatever-kind-of-payment. Talk about freeing. My mom's least favorite speech she got from my Gramma when she was growing up was: "In the amount of time you've spent complaining about fill-in-the-blank, you could have had it done and moved on to something else. You're making this harder for yourself than it needs to be." How many of us do that? We spend tons of time complaining about how much stuff costs, how we want/need something new, how exorbitant our bills are, how we wish we could afford to go on vacation. When something is truly important to you, you'll make it a priority. If having money is a priority, you'll make it work. Probably one of the funniest things I've heard in a long while was when my people mentioned to friends that they use a budget, coupon, etc. The response from their friends was "well, that's nice that it works for you, but it's not for us". Really? Saving money isn't "for you"? Having money isn't "for you"? Hm. Good thing I don't share a checkbook with them! Yikes!
In any case, find something that will help keep you on the straight an narrow if you're truly motivated to get out of debt and stay out of debt. Maybe it's figuring out how much money you can free up by not having payments, maybe it's realizing you can finally take that big family vacation, maybe it's knowing your children's only limitations in life will be their own ability not your inability to pay....find what it is and keep that in sight. Then, well, put your money where your mouth is and be weird.


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George Pig is a small, two year old Pig who loves everything to do with dinosaurs and space rockets.
But when he funnels it down, his favorite thing to do is playing with his big sister Peppa.
George has been voiced by Alice May and Oliver May.
Personality Edit
George is a loving little brother who looks up to and cares a lot for Peppa. He loves being given loads of attention, and can become a little fussy at the drop of a hat. George cares about his dinosaur, Mr. Dinosaur and that was also his first word!
Quote Edit
"Dine-Saw, Rawrrrr!"
"Chocolate Cake!"
"Granky Ig, Papa Ig!"
Trivia Edit
- George's best friend is Richard Rabbit.
- George loves hot milk and chocolate cake.
- George is very good at ice skating, despite having no experience at it. This was revealed in Season 2 Episode 42.
- His first word was "Dinosaur"
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Hi barakosg,
It's good to know your're not alone on this but I am trying to do exacelty the same as you and am getting the same error.
It actually looks as though it is tripping up on the first word it finds in the text document as the error I am getting reads:
error: /undefined in VIKING
which conincidentally is the first word on the first line of the text doc.
Hope someone out there has a resolution for this as it would be good to get this working.


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Call for info: (888) 314-7830
Last Updated: 20 hours ago
9285 W Louise Drive Peoria AZ 85383, Peoria AZ 85383
From $390,500 Why 'From' pricing?
New homes can be personalized to your needs and taste.
Builders pricing can vary greatly. Builders display base pricing because you have not selected your options and upgrades yet and some homes may indicate that the land cost is not included.
Exterior 1/14Previous Next
One of five floor plans at Enclave at The Meadows in Peoria, Arizona, the Clifton plan features 2,482 square feet of thoughtfully crafted living space. Incorporate Maracay Homes Flex Design® selections such as an extended master bedroom, box bay at master bedroom, walk-in shower at master bath, 10' sliding glass door at great room, bonus room instead of tandem garage and more. This home is Energy Star® certified with and energy-efficient HERS Rating of 61.
Maracay Homes Presents the Clifton Floor Plan
Builder Community Sales Office Map
9285 W. Louise Drive, Peoria, AZ 85383, Peoria, AZ 85383
Sales Agent: PAM MEYER
Hours: Open Daily 10am to 6pm;Friday 1pm to 6pm
Enclave at The Meadows
The Meadows by Maracay Homes, located in fast-growing North Peoria is comprised of 472 homesites. We are pleased to announce our new Enclave series. Our Enclave series has 126 homesites with the typical size being 8,125 square feet, with room for up to an 8' to 10' side yard gate. The series offers five Flex Design® floor plans, one and two-story, ranging from approximately 2,482 to 4,586 square feet. Just a few of the included features at Enclave, a natural gas community, are G.E. stainless steel appliances featuring a smooth top electric range, granite slab kitchen countertops, 36" upper cabinets at kitchen, 18" tile and more! Each plan features many Flex Design® options for optimum personalization. All homes are Energy Star® certified and include Maracay Homes' LivingSmart® program for high performance and cost efficiency.Visit the website Free brochure
Actual schools may vary. Contact the builder for more information.
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Brampton Northwest Connects 2nd Annual Track & Field Games for Children with Special Needs!
We are very excited to be hosting the Brampton Northwest Connects 2nd Annual Track and Field Games for Children with Special Needs!The date is May 16th! These games will feature over 100 Kindergarten to Grade 8 students from both Peel District School Board and Dufferin Peel District School Board.
The morning will be track events and the afternoon field events. A fire truck will be available for children during the lunch hour. All students will receive a Track and Field medallion as a commemorative souvenir and ribbons.
Schools are already signed up and we're ready to go!


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Seaproof Solutions has been awarded a contract by Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V for the supply of Cable Protection Systems (CPS) for the Norther offshore wind farm.
The contract scope covers the design and supply of 89 cable protection systems for the inner array grid and the export cables
Henrik Bang-Andreasen, Founder and CEO at Seaproof Solutions said: "We are honoured that Van Oord has chosen Seaproof Solutions as a partner, granting us the opportunity to contribute to making the Norther project a success. Seaproof Solutions is satisfied to have been awarded this project in a very competitive market proving we can offer best cable protection system at an attractive cost"
Norther will be constructed 23km from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge and successfully achieved financial close on 15th December 2016. It is poised to be Belgium's largest offshore wind farm
Van Oord is the main contractor for engineering, procurement, supply and installation of the foundations, the offshore substation as well as inner-array and export cables.
The project is the third wind project off the Belgian coast to be supported under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). It will feature 44 MHI Vestas V164-8.0 turbines and will have a maximum capacity of 369.6MW. Once complete it is expected to generate enough energy to supply nearly 400,000 households.


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It has been a few years but I have always wanted a Whiskey Rocks Set. I always wanted to say "I would like whiskey on the rocks, please" even though I am not a whiskey drinker. I am more of a vodka person. Technically it is suppose to be on ice but literally on rocks is much more cooler. If your dad is a whiskey drinker this is a must have.
If you have a dad who loves Superman, I would suggest this amazing Superman apron. I wonder if this comes in pink... I would wear this all the time even when I am not at the grill. It would be nice to see a collection of Superheros aprons in the future.
For the grads, they deserve a token for all their hard work over the years. I think regardless of the age, they would love Snoopy 2018 Graduation Stuffed Animal Gift Card Holder. Who doesn't like Snoopy?
If your grad loves to drink coffee or tea, then they might like a new mug. I own a few Hallmark mugs and they are always my favourite ones to use. This is the perfect size to use on a daily basis.
Hallmark Canada would like to offer one of my readers to win a Go Places - See Stuff Mug
Psst - Can't win if you don't answer the mandatory question. I am not responsible for shipping and handling or damages of the prize. Your information will be sent to the Sponsor for the purpose of shipping out the prize.
*Disclosure - I am apart of Hallmark Press Pause Panel. The product in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation. #LoveHallmarkCA #myHallmark


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Macon massage parlor owner pleads no contest
The owner of a Macon massage parlor pleaded no contest to a nuisance citation in Municipal Court on Wednesday morning.
Hyeon Joo Chae, owner of Sedona Tanning Salon, formerly called Soft Hands Massage and Spa, was sentenced to pay a $100 fine, said Floyd Buford, her lawyer.
The plea hearing was complete within a couple of minutes.
Chae was arrested during a raid March 31 by the Macon police and Secretary of State's Office.
She was charged with prostitution and sexual battery. The charges are pending, Buford said.
More than 30 women have been arrested in multiple raids at Macon and Bibb County massage parlors since June 2008.
Eleven of the women have pleaded guilty or been convicted in Bibb County State Court. The women were fined and sentenced to probation or to serve suspended jail sentences, according to state court records.
Prosecutor Rebecca Grist said Yong Suk Dew, of Atwood Drive, was found not guilty at a March 2010 trial. Dew was arrested Oct. 27, 2009, at Angel's Spa, 1672 N. Atwood Drive, on a charge of masturbation for hire.
Charges were dismissed against two women, Sandy Le Tran and Ma Thin Ngoc Trinh, she said.
Tran was charged with keeping a place of prostitution in June 2008 during a raid at Thailand Spa, 4378 Pio Nono Ave.
Trinh, of Fayetteville, N.C., died before prosecution.
She was charged with prostitution following a July 2008 raid at Ultimate Spa, 3355 Pio Nono Ave.
Bench warrants have been issued for four of the women, including one who has been deported, Grist said.
The rest of the cases still are pending with three scheduled for jury trials and non-jury trials in October and November, she said.
One of the cases still pending is against 29-year-old Sun Ah Cho, a woman charged with solicitation of sodomy in connection with a March 3 raid at Tokyo Health Spa, 2790 Riverside Drive.
Cho has alleged an undercover Macon police officer involved in the raid solicited oral sex and engaged in oral sex with her before her arrest.
Macon police have said the officer "acted appropriately" and that women involved in some of the raids have been "aggressive" with some of the officers.
Cho's lawyer filed notice in April with the city of Macon that she planed to file a $500,000 lawsuit claiming illegal arrest, sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit has not yet been filed.
Grist said she couldn't comment on Cho's criminal case because it's still pending.
Information from The Telegraph's archives was used in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.


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Mecha-Mole Mayhem (Book 3) Autographed Paperback
Mecha-Mole Mayhem (Book 3) Autographed Paperback
(NOTE: This option is for people who I don't see on a regular basis. If you're a student, you can always purchase a regularly-priced copy from Amazon and bring it in to me at school.)
A signed copy of Agent Darcy and Ninja Steve: Mecha-Mole Mayhem
If you'd like it personalized, please indicate so in your order.
Add To Cart


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Sarah Weidinger
Sarah Weidinger joined Academic Approach in 2012 and is currently the Executive Director of School Programs. Prior to this role, Sarah co-directed the School Programs team in its efforts to serve students and teachers in Chicago and beyond. Whether she is leading professional development with teachers or training the next cohort of Academic Approach instructors, she is driven by a mission of ensuring that all students receive the best possible education.
Sarah earned her B.S. in Psychology at Centre College and her Masters in the Art of Teaching at Dominican University. She began her career with Teach For America in Chicago and taught 3rd grade for four years. During this time, she learned to use assessments as instructional tools and, through careful analysis and planning, consistently moved her students from below grade level to above. This philosophy brought her to Academic Approach, where she continues to support student achievement.
What achievement or success story at Academic Approach are you most proud of?
"What makes me proud to work with Academic Approach is its commitment to educational equality. I love that we are able to work with students and teachers in all schools, from the lowest performing to the highest performing, to assist all students in reaching their goals. To me, this demonstrates the power of a skills-based curriculum in the hands of passionate educators to achieve extraordinary results." -Sarah Weidinger