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Dang y'all! How in the world is a girl supposed to concentrate on anything when you keep linking up all of these fabulous pumpkin projects? I mean…geesh! Shannon, Debbie and I are completely overjoyed that you are sharing your talents with us, and can't wait to keep sharing and pinning your awesome pumpkin mania at our Primp Your Pumpkin Party! I'm going to share some of my favorites] no carve pumpkin ideas…if you aren't one of them…no fear, this is the first of many…we can't wait to share more! Keep adding your pumpkins and we will keep sharing them! HERE are Shannon's favorites so far, and HERE are Debbie's too!
Here is what I love most about these pumpkins…they are all no carve! It's tough to decorate for Fall at the beginning of the Fall season without pumpkins, and carving a pumpkin this early is out of the question…I mean, who wants rotten pumpkins? Not me!
Sooo…why not try one of these lovely NO CARVE pumpkins?
Going from top left, clockwise, let's break them down…
Eclectically Vintage's 3D Paper Pumpkins are to die for…so creative, and I love the wine cork stems…Kelly is a girl after my own heart!
Priscillas' fabulous Crocheted Pumpkins really take me back…the are completely original and absolutely gorgeous!
Okay…can we talk about Confessions of a Plate Addict's No Sew Shirt Pumpkins? Genius, repurposed, and AMAZING!
The DIY Village shared their fantabulous (yes, that's a word) Sparkly Spider Pumpkin…they had me at sparkly, and almost lost me at spider, but it is Halloween after all!
You won't believe what Katherine's Corner used to make her Glamorous Pumpkins! So creative, and I am soooo making my own!
Gail's Decorative Touch made these gorgeous Cedar Plank Pumpkins to sell in her booth, and if I was there, I would totally buy them!!!
Nellie Bellie's Dollar Tree Pumpkin Topiary had me at dollah, dollah tree y'all! Ummm…seriously? That much cuteness from the Dollar Tree? Yes, please!
Restoration Redoux shared her BeJeweled Jack -O-Lantern is all decked out in pearls…which are this southern girl's favorites…among other jewels…just fabulous!
A Cultivated Nest shared her beautiful Book Page Wreath, but I have to tell you, the whole ensemble pulled me in…just swoonworthy!
The pumpkin I cannot get out of my head???? The Wood Grain Cottage's Concrete Pumpkin!!! Stop the presses…somebody call the President! I want one! You think she will send it to me? I'm sure the shipping would be hideous, but DANG…I love it! My favorite pumpkin of the season so far! Way to go girl!
Thank you soooo much for sharing them with us! And….please, keep sharing!
Just in case you wanna see my pumpkins…here are a few from this year…
3 Fun Ideas for Decorating Pumpkins
Now…come on…keep sharing your awesome pumpkin recipes, crafts, DIY's and home decor—> HERE!
I love y'all, and am sooo happy it's finally October…let the Fall festivities begin!


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Automatic Configuration of URL Rewrite Rules in Netsparker Web Application Security Scanners
URL rewriting in web applications is one big headache for both automated web security scanners and their users. If you scan a website that uses URL rewrite technology and do not configure URL rewrite rules in your scanner, the parameters in URLs won't be scanned. And if such parameters are vulnerable the scanner won't report such vulnerabilities, leaving them open to potential exploitation.
Failing to configure URL rewrite rules in scanners also mean that the web security scan might take forever to finish. Some scanners will even report false positives and go haywire if you don't configure URL rewrite rules, yet many users still do not configure them. So we automated the whole process of configuring URL rewrite rules in web security scanners.
This blog post gives an insight of how this automated technology works. It also explains why we automated the process of configuring URL rewrite rules in our web application security scanners.
Addressing the Problem of Configuring URL Rewrite Rules in Automated Web Security Scanners
Many users fail to configure URL rewrite rules in their automated security scanners because in most software, they are very difficult to configure. Most of the time you need to have access to the web server's configuration files, and need to know how to write regular expressions. As always, we wanted to automate as much of this process as possible, so users can scan all of the websites' parameters without getting bogged down into configuring their web security scanner.
Manually Configuring URL Rewrite Rules in Netsparker Is Easy
To configure URL rewrite rules in both Netsparker Desktop and Netsparker Cloud you do not need to have any information on how the web server is configured, and you do not need to know how to write regular expressions. All you need to do is use the URL rewrite rules wizard to specify the parameter name and type, the rest is all automated.
Even with such wizard in place many users still do not configure URL rewrite rules. Most users just want to launch a web security scan and get a report with all the vulnerabilities to fix. Only the very few really go into the detail of configuring several different aspects of the web security scan. So as per our usual, we thought of automating the process of configuring URL rewrite rules while still allowing the old school geeks to configure their own rules.
Limitations of the Existing URL Rewrite Rules Configuration
To understand how this new technology works, first you have to understand the limitations of the existing solution. At the moment Netsparker users can select one of the below options when scanning a web application which has URL rewrite enabled:
Use Heuristic URL Rewrite Support
When this option is selected the scanner tries to automatically determine if URL rewrite technology is being used on the target website, so if it is the scan is limited. Therefore if during a scan the scanner detects the below directory structure it will stop after a number of tries to avoid going into a loop:
This solution has a number of limitations. First of all, the scanners will not scan the parameters in URLs and it only recognizes numeric parameters, such as the ones in the example above.
Use Custom URL Rewrite Rules
When this option is enabled you have to configure URL rewrite rules in Netsparker scanners so the scanner can scan all the parameters in the URLs. The problem with this solution is that even though when compared to the configuration of other scanners it is a very easy solution, users still need to have some basic knowledge of the link structure of the target website, hence manual configuration is involved. And as you might have noticed by now, manual configuration is in Netsparker's bad books.
Automatic Detection and Configuration of URL Rewrite Rule of Target Websites and Web Applications
To automate the configuration of URL rewrite rules we improved the Heuristic URL Rewrite engine. Therefore if you want to scan a website or web application which has URL rewrite enabled you can either configure the URL rewrite rules manually or select the option Use Heuristic URL Rewrite Support.
Screenshot: Heuristic URL Rewrite Rules configuration in Netsparker Desktop
Screenshot: Heuristic URL Rewrite Rules configuration in Netsparker Cloud
By default, when Netsparker Desktop or Netsparker Cloud crawl more than 60 URLs that have the same pattern, they will automatically create a custom URL Rewrite rule and scan the parameters in the URLs. Below is a list of some of the different type of parameters which Netsparker can automatically identify;
String Parameters
Example URL: http://www.example.com/user/robert
Pattern: /user/{param1}
Numeric Parameters
Example URL: http://www.example.com/userid/1
Pattern: /userid/{param1}
Multiple Numeric Parameters (for example typically used as dates in URLs)
Example URL: http://www.example.com/blog/2016/05/13/netsparker-rocks
Pattern: /blog/{param1}/{param2}/{param3}/{param4}
Parameters with Prefixes
Example URL: http://www.example.com/users/user_robert/
Pattern: /users/user_{param1}
Parameters with Suffixes
Example URL: http://www.example.com/users/robert_user/
Pattern: /users/{param1}_user
Multiple Parameters in Same URL
Example URL: http://www.example.com/users/123/robert/
Pattern: /users/{param1}/{param2}
Slug Based Parameters
Example URL: http://www.example.com/blog/pci-dss-good-bad-insecure/
Pattern: /blog/{param1}
Fine Tuning the Automatic Detection and Configuration of URL Rewrite Rules
As seen in the above screenshots the Netsparker scanners have three new settings in the Heuristic URL Rewrite Support configuration. These settings can be used to fine tune the automated detection and configuration of URL rewrite rules and below is an explanation of what each of the setting is used for.
Note: The default settings work well in most of the cases and should only be changed should you notice any performance issues.
Maximum Dynamic Signatures
Use this option to specify how many URLs Netsparker should crawl before it determines that URL rewrite rules are needed to scan the target website. The scanners determine if URL rewrite rules are needed or not by analyzing the patterns of the crawled URLs.
If there are more than 60 URLs (default value) that have a similar pattern, for example http://www.example.com/category/[x] then the scanners will automatically create the neccessary URL rewrite rules to crawl the website and scan the parameters in the URLs.
Analyzable Extensions
Use this setting to specify which URL extensions should be analyzed by the heuristic URL Rewrite technology in case they are URL Rewrite URLs. For example a URL such as http://example.com/hello-world.html can also be a URL Rewrite URL. The default extensions are HTM and HTML. Therefore by default the heuristic URL Rewrite technology will include these URLs when analyzing URLs:
http://example.com/hello-world.html (Allowed extension)
http://example.com/hello-world.htm (Allowed extension)
http://example.com/hello-world (No extension)
A link such as http://example.com/hello-world.asp will not be analyzed since the asp extension is not listed in the Analyzable Extensions setting.
Block Separators
Use this option to specify the characters used on the target website to separate the blocks in a URL. The default list has the following characters: / _ $ . , ; | :
Therefore when using the default list, the scanner will split a crawled URL such as http://www.example.com/user/robert_abela in 6 blocks, as highlighted in the below screenshot.
Reporting the Detected URL Rewrites on Target Website
Once Netsparker Desktop or Netsparker Cloud automatically detect and configure URL rewrite rules for a target website they will report it in a new node URL Rewrite in the Knowledge Base node, as seen in the below screenshots.
Automatically configured URL rewrite rules are reported in the Knowledge Base node in Netsparker Desktop
Automatically configured URL rewrite rules are reported in the Knowledge Base node in Netsparker Cloud
For more detailed information about this technology refer to the whitepaper Automating the Configuration of URL Rewrite Rules in Netsparker Web Application Security Scanners.

subset: commoncrawl


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This week I've been going to all the "Local Shorts" screenings at the New Orleans film festival.
And I gotta say: I'm proud to a part of this burgeoning film community.
Since I started attending the festival in back in 2009, the quality of the local shorts has been steadily on the rise, and more local shorts are screened every year.
Short films are a good barometer for the vitality of an independent film community. It's a lot easier to write, fund and execute a short film than a feature. Most indie filmmakers cut their teeth on shorts, send them through the festival circuit and then use the festival buzz to leverage funding for their first feature films.
Of course, one of the main factors contributing to the rise in quality and quantity of local short films is Louisiana's film tax credit program.
The tax credits have brought Hollywood productions to Louisiana, giving local filmmakers the opportunity to work and learn how to make real movies.
But we don't want to be reliant on Hollywood forever. If we are going to have a "self-supporting" industry—which is the started purpose of the tax credits—we have to start making our own feature films.
And that's exciting news!!! Many of the most talented filmmakers I know are gearing up to make their first feature films. Here are a some features in the works that I'm excited to see:
Features in the Works
Construct Films has a short in the festival this year called "Atchafalaya." It's a dark thriller, inspired by the old Cajun mythology of the Lugaru (a swamp monster). One stormy day, as a hurricane is descending on the bayou, a Wildlife and Fisheries agent discovers a chain of unsettling clues which lead him to find . . . well, I won't spoil it for you ;)
Atchafalaya is a concept short, which the filmmakers are working to develop into a feature, titled Animal.
Easy Does It
The folks at Work Light Pictures, who are screening their short "Does God Hear Robots Pray," are in pre-production for their first feature called Easy Does It, a road trip comedy about two trailer park buddies bank robbing their way from Louisana to California. You can check out their concept trailer here.
Little Lying Wild
Samantha Smith, who's screening her short, "Si," is also writing her first feature. A dark fairy tale set in an island village off the coast of Belize (where Sam's Mom grew up) Little Lying Wild is about a little girl, Carmen, who is so imaginative everyone in her village considers her a pathological liar. When she is the only witness to a murder—and her brother is falsely accused—Carmen embarks on a magical journey to prove that this time her story is not an illusion.
Indywood Believes in Y'all!
I've watched all of these filmmaker friends develop their vision and technique over the past few years, and I am totally confident that all these feature films will be as excellent as the shorts playing at the festival this year.
I'm sorry to all of my friends who have features in the works who I didn't mention in this post—I hope to write about all of your projects in the months to come!
Local Films Page on Indywood.org
And finally, if you want to see many more excellent local shorts, check out Indywood's new Local Films page! We showcase all the best local films that can be found online.
Thanks to all of you who make and support local film!!!


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LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) and NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) will make their sophomore debuts on Saturday in Oaklawn Park's $300,000 Rebel S. (G2), the final prep before the April 10 Arkansas Derby (G1). This will be the third straight match-up between the two rivals, with Lookin at Lucky finishing in front each time.
Named the 2009 champion two-year-old male following a season that saw only one narrow loss on his six-race line, Lookin at Lucky will be trying a traditional dirt surface for the first time in the Rebel. The Bob Baffert charge captured his first four tries, including the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Norfolk S. (G1), before just missing by a nose in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) following a troubled trip. He quickly returned to the winner's circle with a three-quarter length victory in the CashCall Futurity (G1) on December 19, and all of his starts to date have come on the synthetics in California. Baffert will add blinkers in order to keep the colt more focused and Lookin at Lucky will keep regular rider Garrett Gomez in the saddle.
Noble's Promise was a half-length behind Lookin at Lucky in third on Breeders' Cup Saturday and finished strong in the CashCall Futurity to be second in his juvenile finale. The bay colt is also looking to test his mettle on a dirt surface following a two-year-old campaign that encompassed turf, Polytrack, Tapeta, Pro-Ride and Cushion Track. Trained by Kenny McPeek, he broke his maiden on Ellis' turf course and would go on to score a half-length win in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Noble's Promise could hold a fitness edge over Lookin at Lucky considering the fact that he has been training extremely well at Gulfstream since February. Robby Albarado will be taking the reins for the first time.
The Rebel drew a field of seven, and Hopeful S. (G1) hero DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) will be breaking from the far outside in the 1 1/16-mile event. The chestnut colt tailed off badly in his final two starts last year, running fifth in the Champagne S. (G1) and seventh in the Iroquois S. (G3), but has already shown new life as a three-year-old. Based at Oaklawn with Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, he returned on February 20 to miss by three parts of a length in the Southwest S. (G3), and has recorded back-to-back bullets in two workouts since. Corey Nakatani has been tabbed to ride.
CARDIFF GIANT (Yankee Gentleman) and UH OH BANGO (Top Hit) both have a shot at the win based on recent performances. Conditioned by R. Kory Owens, the dark bay Uh Oh Bango has raced exclusively on dirt tracks so far in his career, racking up an eight-length maiden victory and a 10 1/2-length trouncing in the Prairie Meadows Freshman S. He was tested against graded rivals in the Iroquois and Delta Jackpot S. (G3), and held his own each time, just missing by a length and a neck, respectively. Cardiff Giant, on the other hand, followed the California circuit during his juvenile season, but tried dirt for the first time in the Southwest last out, running a decent third.
Stakes scorers ROYAL EXPRESS (Royal Academy) and PLEASANT STORM (Pleasant Tap) round out the Rebel field.


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[Infographic] The Roadmap to CRM success
Selecting and implementing a CRM is a complex and risky process. Even after the system has been launched, there's no guarantee that users will fill it with the right information and use it consistently. However, with clear goals in mind chances are that you will get a better return on investment and see deals closing faster. A great sign of success is when your CRM application is the first and last thing your users check every day. Here's an infographic to help you start off in the right direction.
Learn more on the various steps to have a successful CRM journey


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Concerns for public health arose during the latter part of the 19th century and into the early 20th, due to the rising mortality rate of children. Following Great Britain's lead, sanitation campaigns to clean up the city were under way. For example, municipal waste removal, sanitization of water, and pasteurized milk was introduced into Toronto. As well, when schooling became mandatory during the latter half of the 19th century, school children were immunized against diseases such as smallpox and diphtheria or were monitored for more chronic...
TCM's Early Beginnings: Poor Houses & Social Programs
Poor houses were a reality in Ontario history. For some, poverty was inescapable. Crops failed. People starved. On farms and in cities, as the province slowly started to become industrialized, many couldn't work because they were sick, injured or old. While Toronto City Mission primarily reached out to the poor who just needed a helping hand, poor houses were meant for the absolute destitute, the homeless and the elderly.
TCM's Early Beginnings: Justice
By Grace Boneschansker, guest writer
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. - Acts 16:25
Toronto City Mission considered prisons to be one their prime fields for evangelism. Numerous visits and services were conducted in the various city prisons at that time. Toronto City Mission and the Prisoners' Aid Association carried out prison ministry under the charge of Rev. Robert Hall – one of the early founders of the mission. In the 19th Annual Report (1898), it is recorded "Our missionaries have made 160 visits and held 269 services in our City Prisons."
Rev. Hall was a frequent visitor to the prison and ministered to the inmates. During this time, Rev Hall saw many changes, both in prisoners and in the officers, as well as his own staff. A story from the 36th Annual Report (1915) reads: Rev Hall entered a prosperous looking store to make a purchase, and was surprised when the proprietor said: "I want to thank you , sir, for leading me to the Saviour when I was locked up in jail two years ago." His business seems to be successful, and he is bright in his testimony for Jesus.
Toronto City Mission now no longer works in prisons, however, the mission is shaped by missionaries like Robert Hall and Samuel Arnold who had the same vision of seeing lives transformed by the gospel.
Toronto City Mission's Early Beginnings
By Grace Boneschansker, guest writer
"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o'er the erring one lift to the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it,
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently with them,
Tell the poor wanderer the Saviour has died."
- 19th Annual Report, Toronto City Mission, 1898
This poem is taken from Toronto City Mission's nineteenth annual report in 1898, and reflected their mandate to minister to the poor and needy, both physically and spiritually. Although much has improved over the years, the basic goal of reaching the marginalized of this great city hasn't.
The Bible verse that encapsulates the reason for Toronto City Mission's existence is found in Matthew 25:37-40: "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.'"
Established in 1879, Toronto City Mission was created by a group of ministers and lay people from various evangelical churches in order to reach needy people who would not normally attend church. TCM served as an auxiliary arm of the church in order to share the transforming power of the gospel to those in need. The early missionaries would employ various methods such as: personally visiting families, holding indoor and outdoor meetings, and distributing biblical literature.
Toronto in the late 1800's reflected the values of the latter part of the Victorian era with its emphasis on high morals, good behaviour and proper language. It was a time of peace and prosperity for the most part, at the tail end of the industrial revolution. However, as time progressed, there still lingered the effects of an undeveloped society; where the poor, sick and marginalized reside with no welfare, unemployment insurance or universal health care. Therefore, it became apparent that there was a very real need for TCM to fill in the gaps and meet those needs.


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- Page 1 BenQ DC X725 Review
- Page 2 BenQ DC X725 Review
- Page 3 BenQ DC X725 Review
- Page 4 Features table Review
- Page 5 Test shots – ISO performance Review
- Page 6 Test Shots – Full Res Crops Review
- Page 7 Test Shots – Exposure Evaluation Review
Overall performance is not too bad for a budget camera. It starts up in a little under three seconds, but only takes half as long to shut down again. In single shot mode it can manage on average one shot every 3.5 seconds, which a bit slow, although in continuous shooting mode using a fast SanDisk Ultra II SD card it could manage a shot every 1.7 seconds, with focusing between each shot, which isn't too shabby for something in this class and price range. Focusing is reliable in good light and not too slow. In fact it focuses slightly faster than some big-brand compacts I could name. Low light focusing is a different story though. Above the lens is what I had assumed was an AF assist lamp, but in fact it appears not to be. This is a pity, because it could desperately do with one. In pub/club lighting the X725 frequently refused to focus at all, which is a bit daft since it's clearly designed to be slipped into a pocket for a night out.
Unfortunately one area where the X725 falls down badly is picture quality. It suffers from a range of problems, including erratic exposure metering, poor colour rendition, very limited dynamic range, image noise problems at all but the lowest two settings, and the Pentax lens, being of an older design than used in that company's latest models, suffers from heavy barrel distortion at wide angle, although both centre and edge sharpness are good. Also, despite the relatively large 3.5MB JPEG files, image compression artefacts are also a problem. I have occasionally seen worse picture quality from budget cameras, but the X725 suffers when compared to cameras from other manufacturers, and especially other ultra-slim models such as the Casio Exilim S770 or Canon IXUS 70. These cameras don't cost that much more than the X725 (both are around £170), but are vastly better products.
The BenQ DC X725 gets off to a promising start, and there's no disputing that it is a well-made and attractively designed camera with reasonable performance, but it is let down by a number of flaws, including poor low-light ability and inferior picture quality. If you have to have an ultra-skinny compact, save up another £40 and go for a Casio instead.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


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During Sale-A-Bration you can choose a FREE gift for EVERY £45 you spend on Stampin' Up! products- get more information here
For those that have never bought Stampin' Up! products - we're an American company that sell rubber stamps (woodmount and clear mount), photopolymer stamps, patterned paper, coloured cardstock, ribbon, buttons and embellishments - perfect for cardmaking, scrapbooking, memory keeping and home decor-making - all co-ordinating and absolutely beautiful. I am a demonstrator for this wonderful company and you can buy or browse the Official Online Stampin' Up! shop by clicking on the Shop Now button above.
Remember that if you spend over £150 you get Stampin' Rewards to spend as well as your Sale-A-Bration freebies.
The last day of Sale-A-Bration is today - the 31st March 2016.
07896 314573


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Contact Fields of Fire Tours
Please contact us at Fields of Fire Tours at our email address or by telephone for more information on any of our tours or to request a personalized itinerary:
Travel arrangements for Fields of Fire Tours are made by:
Merit Travel, 186 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 1B1
Contact: Brian Cruikshank, Senior Group Consultant at email address below:
Phone contact: 613-549-3553 ext. 3375Toll free: 1-866-341-1777 ext. 3375
Registration Number: ON-4499356/4499372BC-34799


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More often than not, real estate agents lack the strategy and the confidence to nail a sales pitch on a consistent basis. Why do they struggle? Do they lack training? Is it merely because they have not yet discovered the secrets to successful sales?
It is rare that you will encounter topics being discussed in conventional sales training about psychological barriers that can restrict sales success. Anticipating what is going on in the client's mind can help you shake them off and lead them to the direction you want them to go.
Here are ideas for your master key to successful sales:
Bring Out Positive Emotions
Sales is all about decision making. If a client does not feel positive about buying a product or service being pitched at them, they will never make a deal. They buy because of their emotions rather than on facts. So, how do you evoke these positive emotions from them?
The very first thing to do is to instil a memorable experience. Be courteous and polite in asking about what they want and attentively listen to their needs. Always establish eye contact. Also, you need to probe. If you need to ask about the client's bad experience with the previous representative, to know what gap to fill, do so. Personalize your approach. If you know your client is a doctor, and you went an extra mile to look for a property that is near their job, it is more than enough to make them feel positive toward not only the business but also you. Alternatively, you can simply add on a joke or a punch line that can make them laugh at the start of your sales pitch.
Psychologically speaking, people will always put up barriers because of a lack of trust. For your clients to trust you, you have to build a rapport and connection with them. The first tip says it all on how. Next, you have to show respect by also respecting their time. Also, you have to show that your communication is open. Be flexible and always keep your commitment. You can even offer social proof, like adding them in Facebook or Twitter, to establish credibility and show them a glimpse of who you are as a person with your family and friends.
Unconsciously, even after having a great feeling about a product, they will always go back to rationalizing whether or not they will buy. Why? Because logic will be the last puzzle that assures them they made the right decision. Checking their list, whether the home as well as all the essentials they need, such as a loft, a veranda, etc., should all pass their criteria. Being consistent in making sure you had the property checked if it contains all their checklist or having a rebuttal ready, just in case it missed one, will lead you to a successful sale.
Kathyrine Nacionales
Latest posts by Kathyrine Nacionales (see all)
- Tips on how to Win Back Lost Clients - November 24, 2015
- Things Realtors Should Never Say - November 24, 2015
- 10 Real Estate Terminologies to Improve Sales Success - November 24, 2015


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Accessible Travel
Accessible Travel
Most luxury hotels conform to international standards for disabled access, and it's usually possible to hire an assistant if you want to take an excursion. Apart from that, special facilities for travellers with disabilities are few and far between in the Seychelles, and no beach is equipped with wheelchair access.
Download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guides from http://lptravel.to/AccessibleTravel.


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Crazy news out of Penn State this week – a fraternity is under investigation after news that not one but two private Facebook pages allegedly created by and for fraternity members contained references to illegal activities and nonconsensual pictures of females in compromising positions. From an article at ABC News:
"In the search warrant the police found multiple pictures of nude women, who appeared to be passed out or in sexual or embarrassing positions. Other photographs reportedly showed drug deals and hazing rituals. Authorities said they were considering criminal charges that could include invasion of privacy as well as harassment."
This story had a chance of dying out relatively quickly, as there is no shortage of bad behavior to occupy the media these days, until one unnamed fraternity member chose to talk to the press, in this case Philadelphia Magazine. In a pre-interview prepared statement, he offered the following:
"Here's a quick reality check: everyone — from Bill Clinton to your grandfather to every Greek organization in the nation does the same old stuff, just as they have been for the entirety of human history. That's where that lil' old quip, don't throw stones if you live in a glass house, comes from. And believe me, we all live in a glass house. Thus it is laughably pathetic to see the media spring on an occasional incident such as this, especially a media complicit in overturning the same sexual mores and moral standards that for millennia had at least to some extent curbed outright licentiousness. The fire of indignant, misplaced self-righteousness that looks to ruin people's lives and unjustly ruin reputations is the abuse and violation that should be at the center of discussion, not the humorous, albeit possibly misguided, antics of a bunch of college kids."
In the interview for the article, he dismisses the Facebook pages as "satire", a description that is understandably falling on deaf ears.
The players here are not fully formed adults; they are fraternity kids who are finding their way in the world and at least one didn't think they did anything wrong. 144 of them felt free to join, post on and/or engage with the Facebook page, seemingly without fearing any negative fallout.
This story hits ways too close to home for me. I have two teenage boys and live in Central New Jersey. Penn State is a very popular school in this area for kids not fortunate enough to get into a more elite school. But Penn State isn't the problem. Neither are fraternities.
The problem is multifaceted:
- At least some kids think it's okay take pleasure in viewing pictures of women in compromising positions taken without their consent
- At least some teens think it's all in good fun to post those picture semi-publicly online
- No one in a position of authority (until it is too late) knows that they're doing it and telling them not to
I'm guessing that parents across the country are reading stories like this one in horror and thinking, "At least it's not my kid."
Are you sure? At times like this, we're happy that we started ThirdParent.
"Don't objectify innocent women."
"Don't post things online that could ruin your future."
Both of those are parenting messages, or should be. The challenge is that parents have almost no shot at knowing what their kids are posting online, outside of Facebook, which has become more the domain of parents than teens.
If college students are quick to pass off extremely inappropriate online activity as "satire", can we assume that 14 year olds are thinking more critically about their culpability or negative repercussions when they post online? Hardly.
The goal of the ThirdParent service is giving parents the best chance seeing what is happening with their teens online while at the same time respecting their privacy. You can sign up today. We're happy to help.
Contact ThirdParent any time for help and resources for monitoring child and teen internet activity.
Work at a high school or college? We have custom solutions for monitoring dangerous or inappropriate activity. Learn more.
Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for more news and information on keeping your teens safe online. You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter below.


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I am the founder of DBolical and creator of ModDB, IndieDB and SlideDB. My aim is to make it easier for gamers to find great games/mods no matter their stage of development. And more importantly give game/mod developers a place to share their work and grow their fanbase - without being dependent on press/editors gatekeeping the important news sites. If you have any ideas or suggestions, hit me up I am always available to talk with the community.
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VSH Devine Presence
VSH Devine Presence
Breed: Connemara
Secondary Breed: Thoroughbred
Gender: Gelding
Color: Bay
Expected Mature Height: 16
Age: 2015
By Tullymor's Ned Devine out of 15.3H TB Anna.
11/12/15 update: VERY nice colt... deep dark almost black color with a lighter tail and a perfect star. Really coming along these days as he was the youngest colt, we took him from his TB dam and put him on a draft cross nursemare with super rich milk to finish him and he looks GREAT. Very friendly, picks up all 4 feet, ties and leads. Ready to go to his new home!!


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As people turn to the Internet to make purchase decisions rather than visit a showroom, how can car manufacturers sell their vehicles effectively?
A survey conducted in August by Autotrader.com found that millennials -- the next generation of buyers -- are more likely than Baby Boomers to rely on word-of-mouth research. In addition, they are far more likely to go out of their way to avoid talking to dealership staff.
"Millennials view the dealership as a key piece of their research process -- they're looking for experts to help answer their questions and to touch and test out the physical car before making a purchase," Isabelle Helms, senior director of Research and Marketing Analytics said. "That said, millennials want time and space to make the right decision, and will value the salespeople who provide the information they seek in a no-pressure way."
As a result, showroom visits have fallen in recent times -- giving automakers less opportunity to tout their wares. In this kind of retail climate, manufacturers have begun to embrace technology by taking the showroom to the buyer.
Cadillac and Toyota are among the car makers that are exploring the benefits of augmented reality -- a way to embed images and videos in a picture viewable on mobile devices. This can give a viewer a three-dimensional view of a car, with far more detail than standard images which includes additional information on a model.
Cadillac introduced a campaign last year which allowed readers to download an app in order to view models in 360 degrees, and Audi has used the technology within brochures and instruction manuals. Toyota now uses augmented reality in advertising campaigns through computer-generated 3D figures.
One firm cashing in on the change in marketing is Venice Beach-based Specular Theory, which creates car renderings that allow "users to open the doors of a car that is not really there, peer inside and roam around, or take a test drive, merely by running their fingers over a phone or tablet screen," according to the New York Times. The company creates campaigns that can be spread across mobile devices, PCs and showroom floors, allowing dealers to project and modify 3D versions of their vehicles.
Augmented reality can serve as a powerful tool, especially as millennials often come to showrooms knowing exactly which car they want after reading reviews and researching options online. Mr. Chung, the general manager of Magic Toyota and Scion, commented:
"Many younger buyers no longer even test-drive a car before buying it. The consumer is no longer coming in and looking at 10 colors. They've seen all 10 colors online and know what they want."
Via: The New York Times
Image credit: Flickr
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com


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Business and Operations
Community Relations
Facilities and Grounds
Human Resources
State and Federal Grants
Assessment and Accountability
Curriculum Development and Evaluation
Illinois School Report Cards
Standards-Based Reporting and Grading
Special Programs
Student Services
Department for Learning
The Department for Learning…
working together with teachers
and staff to help prepare
every student in
West Chicago Elementary School District 33
to attain academic success and
face the challenges of a changing world.
Welcome to the Department for Learning!
We are responsible for the organization and maintenance of the District's instructional program. Our primary responsibilities center on curriculum development and alignment, focused staff development, student academic assessment systems, ongoing school improvement programs, and the management of federal, state and private grants that support the instructional plan for our District. We work closely with data management systems to analyze assessment results in order to improve instruction. The department also helps facilitate partnerships between schools, parents, and the community aimed at high student achievement. Development of instructional resources include print, graphic, and electronic materials that provide models of authentic language use, including academic language, in authentic contexts. These instructional resources expand parents' ability to communicate with teachers, to actively engage in their children's schooling, and to participate meaningfully in educational decision making.
Click on the links on this page for more information about topics that interest you. If you need more information or would like to see a topic added to our page, please contact a member of our staff.
We are happy to share the good news about all the great things that are happening in District 33!
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
Trejo, Gloria (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1209
Director of Assessment and Accountability
Walrath, Beth (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1214
Director for Teaching and Learning
Tapia, Jen (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1213
Coordinator for English Language Learners
Vazquez, Margarita (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1210
Lead Teacher for Math
Del Toro, Whitnie (
[email protected]
Lead Teacher for Literacy
Sheryl Clark-Leturgey (
[email protected]
Executive Secretary
Ramirez, Gicela (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1208
Caballero, Vanessa (
[email protected]
630-293-6000 ext. 1206
2019 Illinois Science Assessment Parent Letter English
2019 Evaluación de Ciencia de Illinois
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2019 Evaluación de preparación de Illinois - Carta para los Padres
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2018 PARCC Testing Letter SPRING
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2016-17 Fall Data Review
2015-16 PARCC Data Review
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2015-16 Key District Performance Indicators Update
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"We need to remember what our Lord has proclaimed about the broad road. He tells us that it leads to destruction. Jesus was never one to say that we should go along to get along. He was saying for us to follow Him in the way to righteousness, not the world and their folly. Given what He has said, do you really want to be someone who goes along and gets along?"
One of the greatest pulls on true Christians on this side of glory is to go along with the crowd. It's very seductive to do so because those in the crowd are saying how right and just it is to go with the crowd. We see this today in the hot topics like gay marriage, or transgenderism. Yet, as believers, we must declare that the Bible is our guide to our beliefs, practices, and lives. What the crowd believes is really quite foolish given what Jesus told us about those on the broad path.
Here are His words:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)
Heidi and I were reminded of this reality when we went to the Texas A&M game this past Saturday. After the game, we were standing in line to take the bus back to where our car was parked, when we overheard a woman telling her young daughter that when she got older, she could marry whomever she wanted to marry. She told her daughter that marriage was not contingent on the gender of her intended partner, but upon her own happiness. This was a woman who has bought into the lie that marriage is based upon one's happiness, not obedience to the LORD. She is on the broad way that leads to destruction.
Please note, that the woman seemed like a very nice woman. Her daughter was rather cute and the people they were with all seemed very nice. The broad way that leads to destruction is populated with people who are very nice. We tend to assign those on this road as being exceedingly and abundantly wicked, and reserved for the worst among us. But that is part of the problem. The road to destruction is not populated with those who are Hitler-like. It is populated with moms and dads, sisters and brothers, neighbors and coworkers. It is ordinary people who give a godlike thought in their minds a wink and a nod, but never come to saving faith in the midst of their niceness. Because they are nice, they see no real for a Savior, because they never see that they lack any manner of holiness at all before a holy and just God. The road to perdition is not hard to enter onto at all. In fact, we are all born into this legacy of being on the broad way. It comes to us quite naturally.
Then the mother clarified, that her daughter could not marry her, since their love for each other was not the same love that is found between those who marry.
Heidi and I both wanted to turn around and say, "why not?" Given that the mother's standard was the girl's own happiness, why can't she marry her mother?
Give our culture a few more years along with the rudderless winds of the sexual revolution, and these questions will be arriving before us soon enough.
This is why we need to remember what our Lord has proclaimed about the broad road. He tells us that it leads to destruction. Jesus was never one to say that we should go along to get along. He was saying for us to follow Him in the way to righteousness, not the world and their folly. Given what He has said, do you really want to be someone who goes along and gets along?
The world, and the broad path that it provides for us, is headed toward destruction because the broad way is opposed to God and His word. Just the very idea that the little girl can grow up and marry whomever she pleases is in conflict with the word of God. Jesus declared to us that marriage is between one man and one woman in Matthew 19. To stand opposed to this declaration of marriage is to stand against Christ and His Father. I know there are those who couch gay marriage in the context of love, and the Father wanting us all to be happy, but that is not found in Scripture. In fact, our happiness is not the goal at all. Our holiness is God's goal for our lives, at least for those of us in Christ. Holiness comes at a much greater cost than happiness does on this side of glory. But happiness on this side of glory comes at a much greater cost for us on the other side of death for it leads to our eternal destruction.
The world stands opposed to His truth, calling His truth backward and bigoted. Yet God has declared to us what is best for our well being. The world, and it's god, stand opposed to God's declaration and spit on Him and us at every opportunity. I can only imagine what would have happened had Heidi and I turned around and told that mother and child that marriage was to be between one man and one woman only. The lesbians in front of us would have started screaming at us, and the mother would have called the police. OK, maybe over the top. Yet such a response would not be surprising. Remember the unbeliever stands opposed to the God of Scripture, because He declares to us that we are sinners deserving eternal destruction. The world cannot accept this, for in their quest to be happy and marry whomever they please, they think themselves little gods. This is why all their niceness fails to impress the living and true God. Their desires to be little gods and carry out that in their lives is an offense to our Creator.
As the cultural war continues it's onslaught against Christ and His word, we are going to find the second part of what Jesus said more and more true: "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." We need the reminder that the broad way truly does lead to destruction just as our LORD told us it would. We need to be grateful we are on the narrow path, even knowing that it will be very difficult while we are here. It is far better to suffer on His narrow road that leads to life, than it is to blithely join the crowd on the broad road to destruction.
Timothy Hammons is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. This article appeared on his blog and is used with permission.


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This was SO hard for me to choose what to post and what special moments to tell because there were so many! Heather and I became friends through the wedding industry and when she and Crafton got engaged I was so excited to be the one that got to do their engagement session in NY and Sylense and I capture their wedding story. While the girls were busy getting ready, the boys were still having fun by the pool as you'll see by Crafton's cannon ball, I'll give him an 8 on that one:-) Heather wanted just her mom to help her get into her gown, so she could surprise her a special gift. Crafton and Heather are both so thoughtful and I love what they did for their gifts because both of them were totally shocked! The maid of honor delivered Crafton's gift to him and poured him his last drink as a single man. He was definitely surprised with the watch she gave him. Crafton sent his best man down to give Heather his gift. Oh my gosh, it was the best moment. He teared up as he told her that Crafton was giving her a very special family heirloom. As she opened it, Rusty told her it was his aunt's setting and the diamond was on a necklace so Heather can wear it and someday pass it down to their daughter. The tears were flowing.
We did their first look in Vinoy Park and as soon as we got back into the Vinoy to do bridal party pics it started pouring!! Thankfully, it made for some pretty awesome off camera flash pics in the front facade.
The Marey room was totally draped in white for the ceremony. The girls wore navy with pink and white florals and the guys wore navy jackets, chevron ties and I love their shoes! The reception decor was navy linens with crystal and silver lamps, chevron pillows, chevron gobos, and white lounge furniture. Their guests enjoyed action stations, signature drinks, and got sugared up at the sweets table. Heather had custom coasters for guests to put on the drinks while they were dancing. Crafton's dance with his sister was so sweet and emotional. Toasts, dances, I could go on forever!! But I won't. It was amazing and nothing makes me happier than seeing these 2 happy! Congrats Heather and Crafton!!!! xoxoxo
Getting Ready | Renaissance Vinoy | Venue | St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts | Florals | La Vi En Rose | Coordination | Stylish Traditions | DJ | Breezin | Catering/Cake | Olympia Catering | Lounge Furniture | AFR Event Furnishings | Lighting | Get Lit Productions | Chivari Chairs | Signature Event Rentals | Linens | Over the Top | Photobooth | Shutterbooth | Hair | Nikki Rice | Makeup | Lindsay Does Makeup | Pipe and Drape | Concept Bait | Stationery | Urban Coast


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Under the Village Tree
This picture book written by Susan diRende, with vibrant renderings of actual village trees around South Korea by artist Yisook Kim, tells the story of how the village tree serves as a central emblem of community life through the 12 months of the year. Every village once had a village tree at its center. People would gather there to relax, to conduct important business, to play, to romance, and to honor the seasons and ancestors. Follow the seasons and feel the emotional connection that these trees can bring to village life.
Look Inside ...
The Village Tree is a playground.
All summer long, children meet their friends and play in the shade of the Village Tree. They share steamed corn, potatoes, seafood, and snacks.
The Village Tree is a silent witness.
The Village Tree holds the history of the village in its arms and waits patiently for those who have left to return and share their stories under its welcoming boughs.
Explore Under the Village Tree
Village Tree Posts
Village Tree News
Village Tree Events
what the funny?!
"It is a very serious thing to be a funny woman"
Feminist humor is not an oxymoron. All female humor is feminist, because all female humor takes over the body of the audience/reader when it triggers a laugh. It isn't just different in that a woman is making the jokes. Women's humor in general has a different shape from the guys' in what I call the "multiple-orgasm model" that is as different from Aristotle's as lipstick is from a hockey stick. (title quote by the 19th Century humorist, Frances 'Berry" Whitcher)


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Our Customers
Out Landish Shellfish Customers
We love our customers, and we know you will too!
Araxi – Whistler
A culinary cornerstone in the heart of Whistler Village, Araxi holds an international reputation for excellence in food, wine and hospitality, including award for 'Best Restaurant in Whistler' by Vancouver magazine for an unprecedented nine consecutive years.
Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar – Vancouver
Codfathers – Kelowna
The largest selection of seafood in BC's interior – Kelowna's Seafood Market.
Crabby Bob – Campbell River
Diana's Seafood Delight – Toronto
Diana's Seafood Delight, Toronto's finest fish market offers you a vast selection of fresh fish from all over the world. Its wholesale distribution centre caters daily to the varied needs of many of Toronto's best hotels and restaurants. Diana's delight seafood salad is the finest in North America.
Finest at Sea – Victoria
'Finest At Sea' was established in 1977 as a 'boutique-style' seafood company in James Bay Victoria BC. They export to the very competitive Asian market, where quality and consistency is key.
Fish Full Thinking – Ucluelet
Seafood processing and retail.
Finalist for the 2007 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award for the ocean products business of the year.
Heriot Bay Inn – Heriot Bay
Casual seaside dining overlooking Heriot Bay, Herons is an oasis of comfort, style, and island hospitality. Completely renovated and finished in the spring of 2005, Herons now boasts a cozy fireside lounge, fine-finished dining room, and fabulous deck offering spectacular views overlooking our full-service marina. Care and attention to the food and the customer are to be expected when dining at Herons at the Heriot Bay Inn. Chef Bradley White uses organic and local ingredients whenever possible to create fine meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Hollyhock – Cortes Island
A visit to Hollyhock, Canada's Leading Educational Retreat Centre, is the start of a journey, often a journey of a lifetime. Not for profit Hollyhock is an unparalleled centre of learning and connection that exists to inspire, nourish and support people who are making the world better.
Joe Beef – Montreal
A meal at Joe Beef will leave you with the distinct sense you are eating in a true Montreal eatery. Opened in 2005, it has quickly earned a reputation as one of the city's must-visit restos. With two dinner sittings each night, it seats 25 and has a small summer terrace. You may need to reserve a month in advance for a Thursday to Saturday evening. Try to nab a seat at the oyster bar to watch some oyster shucking and maybe hear a good story or two.
Long Beach Lodge – Tofino
Experience the natural beauty, exceptional amenities and handcrafted gourmet cuisine at the luxurious Tofino beach front resort on Vancouver Island's rugged West Coast.
Martine's Bistro – Comox
Located on Vancouver Island in the scenic township of Comox, Martine's Bistro is one of the area's top restaurants and offers a superb dining experience.
Mission Hill Winery – Westbank
Mission Hill Family Estate, situated in the heart of British Columbia's breathtaking Okanagan Valley wine country, one of the Pacific Northwest's undiscovered gems.
Passa Tempo – Osoyoos
Passatempo at Spirit Ridge is a bistro-style restaurant situated amidst vineyards and orchards high above Lake Osoyoos. With a focus on regional products, fresh ingredients, friendly service and cool music, complemented by an inventive menu of "wine country comfort food", classic cocktails and the best of South Okanagan wines.
Reflections – Steveston
"Gastronomie" is the French word for the art of good food and at Reflections Restaurant and Lounge, the art of good food is their passion.
Rodney's Oyster House – Vancouver
Sobo Restaurant – Tofino
SOBO offers a "Fresh Food From Here and There" menu that has made the restaurant a destination for gastronomes from around the globe. Popular menu items include and array of made-from-scratch soups, smoked wild fish chowder, sushi rice tofu pockets, fresh oysters prepared in a variety of styles, fresh, handmade pastas, "killer" fish tacos, crispy shrimp cakes, cedar-planked wild Pacific salmon and pan seared halibut in a rich carrot & orange emulsion, house-made desserts, ice creams and sorbets, all prepared with regionally grown and harvested ingredients by internationally acclaimed Chef Lisa Ahier.
Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill – Toronto
Open since the fall of 2001, Starfish features a unique assortment of oysters shucked by World Oyster Opening Champion, Patrick McMurray. The menu changes daily to include fresh fish and shellfish as well as steak, duck and other land food. The atmosphere is cosy, intimate and relaxed. The room includes tables, banquettes and a large oyster bar where customers can dine and watch the shucker in action.
Sunset Bistro – Kelowna
Executive Chef Jesse Croy has been cooking throughout the Okanagan Valley for thirteen years. He has spent the last few at Summerhill, coordinating a network of local farmers and growers to menus that showcase some of Canada's finest product. Some of the specialty items Chef Croy incorporates into his cuisine include Okanagan Valley free range meats, game meats, wild mushrooms and seafood from the West Coast.
Wickaninnish Inn – Tofino
Raise your glass and your expectations at The Pointe Restaurant. With over 240 degrees of Pacific Ocean viewscape welcoming your arrival, it may take a few moments to focus on the menu. Pacific Northwest cuisine is awarded a fresh outlook by Chefs John Waller and Nicholas Nutting and their acclaimed kitchen brigade.
The Shelter Restaurant – Tofino
"Honesty and high quality are the operative words for shelter's menu.. EAT Magazine".
Thyme on the Ocean – Comox
Tough City Sushi – Tofino
"The Inn at Tough City lets guests experience all the best comforts of civilization, on a rugged, windswept coast that feels like the end of the earth."
Whalesbone Oyster House – Ottawa
The Whalesbone Oyster Housemakes best effortsin establishing loyal relationships with fisherman on both the east and west coast to supply the oyster house with the freshest suplly of quality oysters and shellfish.
Wildside Grill – Tofino
Chef Jesse Blake teamed up with Jeff Mikus, one of the few fishermen left in Tofino (this is his career shift) and they'll be serving all manner of fish burgers, fish and chips, gumbo, pulled pork sandwiches and other goodies to eat at a picnic table.
Wildwood Bistro and Bar – Pemberton
A winning combination of great food, great value, and bistro ambience are offered to the gateway visitors of the Coast Mountains.


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How to Find Your Vocal Range. Determining your vocal range can be done quickly by a good choral music director or another well-trained vocalist. It can be accomplished by yourself if you have basic music skills or access to a qualified pianist.
Use an accompanist & a recently tuned piano to identify the top & bottom pitches.
Sing the first five notes of the D-major scale going up and down, using the words, "one-two-three-four-five-four-three-two-one."
Breathe deeply and be relaxed. Sing the same pitches on "me-oh-my-oh-meee-oh-my-oh-meeee." Hold the top and the final pitch. Be at ease.
Have the pianist change the scale by moving up one half-step and playing the E-flat major scale.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 in this new key. Continue moving up scales a half-step at a time, using a relaxed jaw and tongue. Avoid any strain or tension in the throat or neck.
Produce the top note of this exercise in F major. The pitch is C. If this pitch is at your highest comfort level, C is the top of your vocal range.
Continue your ascent as your comfort allows without pinching the sound. The pianist can identify the uppermost notes and the degree of ease you exhibit.
Start on the note G and reverse this exercise by singing "five-four-three-two-one-two-three-four-five" in the key of C major.
Identify your lowest note in the same manner. The lowest note must resonate and be clear. Your vocal range will grow slowly with wise guidance, regular practice and care.
Sopranos and tenors have nearly the same range, an octave apart - C up an octave through G is standard. The same is true for altos and basses - F up an octave through C or D is standard for an alto or bass. The quality of the vocal sound you produce is more important than your range. Choose music that lies within the "tessitura" of your voice. This is the easy range of your voice. Check with your local community college for recommendations of good directors and good vocal teachers. Join a good choral organization within your community or a church. Listen to CDs featuring quality vocalists and choral organizations. Attend concerts and performances where musical excellence abounds.
Avoid straining your voice by putting extreme range demands on it.


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I was MC of the first Everywoman Conference for T-Systems, an event devised and organised by the effervescent Claire Parker who has been instrumental in starting, developing and expanding the Everywoman @ T-Systems Community. 70 women attended the day and the keynote speakers were Debra Searle, MBE and Liz Jackson, MBE. Although both very different, with very different stories, they have several things (apart from their MBEs) in common - both were brilliant, charismatic, entertaining and truly inspiring.
The entire event was fantastic. T-Systems HR director Sarah Sandford welcomed everyone and set the scene for the day then I took over, introducing Lynn 0'Connor and Nav Randower who co-chair BP's Womens Network. Liz came next, then after a networking lunch I ran a session about Realising Vision (which fits in perfectly with my work on The Next Step). Claire Parker and Jackie Elliott had brought a huge array of materials for a practical visioning exercise which everyone loved and then Debra finished the day.
To top it all Parallel Blue organised the event - wonderful, creative, efficient people who always ensure a winning experience - always a pleasure to work with them.


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Single Family Home Major Renovation
The architects creating the original mid-century modern homes were reinterpreting the modern architecture of the early 1900s through the exploration and use of new materials. For Green Sand Architecture + Sustainability continuing that exploration was the guiding design concept. The project included the modernization and reconfiguration of the existing home to meet the needs of a busy modern lifestyle.
Clients Vision / Project Challenges:
The Clients searched for this property for a year and viewed 80 homes. Once the clients found this mid-century modern classic home the goals were clear – preserve and enhance the mid-century modern aesthetic. The clients also wanted to modernize the kitchen, reconfigure the bedrooms, increase ventilation and save as much of the redwood materials as possible.
Project Role:
Designer and Architect
Sustainable Features:
• Adaptive reuse
• Saved about 75% of existing structure
• Reused almost 75% of the tongue and groove redwood siding that was removed
• Passive design
• Natural ventilation focus, three roof vents were added to aid/stimulate natural ventilation, the vents allow hot air to escape from the vaulted ceiling which then helps to draw in cool fresh air
• Natural light focus


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Sorry I'm running late this morning! It's been a crazy week and it's only Wednesday, lol. Hello everyone! We have another fun preview over at The Greeting Farm's blog for you today using the new "Get Well" set designed by Marina Neira.
Even more heartwarming, we are calling all of you to action by heading up a charity card drive for sick children and their families this week. Tomorrow you will hear more about that from Jessica and be given instructions on how you can enter this card drive and put a smile on the faces of not only a sick child, but hopefully their parents, siblings, and all who are affected by all of the heartbreaking illnesses out there. We have been wanting to do this for some time and I'm really happy about it; can't wait to see how many cards we can collect for this wonderful cause!
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: The Greeting Farm
Prima Flowers, PTI Buttons, Twine, Nestabilities, CTMH Bigger Brads, and Rhinestones
We are also really excited about release day tomorrow and the announcement of this contest. Because it will be the focus of the TGF Release this month...we have put together a HUGE prize for this contest! In addition, there will be prizes given away tomorrow on our Release Day so be sure to stop by the TGF Blog for the Official Contest.
The Farmers and Critter Crew alike, has some super cute samples today on the TGF Blog and on our own personal blogs too! In fact, one lucky winner will be chosen today from one of our blogs to win this "Get Well" set by Marina! We don't even know who's hiding it...so be sure to make your rounds if you have the time and good luck to all!
Melyssa Connolly
Jessica Diedrich
Kadie Ensley
Mary Giles
Cindy Haffner
Kim Nath
Randi Wall
Cheryl Walker
Critter Crew
Heather Schlatter
Jami Bova
Mercy Kerin
Sandra Maclean
Sparkle Smith - Me
See you back here and on the TGF Blog tomorrow! I also just wanted to squeeze in here that I used Jen dul Muro's Sketch For You to Try from this last weekend.
Brent and I are going to see John Mayer tonight! I know the show won't be as good as it was at Red Rocks, but I'm sure it'll still be great. Have a great hump day!


text: Newport Rib Co may be outside of your area. Please enter your delivery address to check availability Newport Rib Co Back to menu Your order refresh Newport Rib Co Your bag is empty Edit Delivery address Please enter delivery address Edit Delivery time N/A* Add someone to this order Brisket Sliders Basket Served on 6 Hawaiian rolls. Add instructions? Special instructions Label for x $17.49 or Cancel


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3 different sources but I'd have to think long and hard about which ones.
Unfortunately, I should be able to get all the facts from one source (or every source should report the same facts) and then my only focus would be on which commentaries I'd listen too/read. Unfortunately, there is no news anymore, only commentary.
I'd use a local source, a national source, and a world source.


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Tara is Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, Visiting Senior Lecturer at King's College, London, and Chief Neuroscience Officer at Arowana International.
In 2018 she launched an exciting new research project on 'Organisational Plasticity'©, 'Organisational Epigenetics'© and 'Epi-Cultures'©. The 'Organisational Plasticity Index' (OPI) looks at the factors that enable a company to make successful pivots and future-proof their success. This research is based on her work on neuroplasticity and epigenetics as applied to businesses. Dirk Rossey, Dean of Arowana University, collaborates closely with Tara on OPI© and related tools.
Tara's Organisational Plasticity and Epi-Cultures series on Forbes:
Tara undertakes studies into the mental resilience of professions that experience particularly high levels of stress. Projects Tara has been involved with include:
- The results of the study into the mental resilience of journalists were published on 18th May 2017. Click here to read the full report. A press release summarising the results is also available here.
- A study in collaboration with the Corinthia Hotel, London, examining the mental resilience of teams both front and back of house in the fast paced 24-7 hospitality industry.
- Tara is also co-author of the award-winning book, Neuroscience for Leadership: Harnessing the Brain Gain Advantage. The book uses new evidence that positive leadership can be learned and how by harnessing key competencies and creativity, leaders can make better decisions and improve performance.
- A research paper with Dr Michael Hurley, Senior Researcher at Imperial College, London on treatment for Parkinson's Disease.
Please watch this space for details of future projects. For any enquiries about the potential to collaborate on a future study, please use our contact form.


text:
6. Hearth
Candle was the first person I ever told a secret.
It was about Hero Trotter, a game on the Crystic. We used to spend a lot of time playing Hero Trotter, as did most people my age. Gruffin didn't approve of it. Gruffin thought all these new ways of passing information back and forth along the Crystic amounted to sacrilege of an ancient magic. The Crystic was meant to be a latticework of connection among wizards, a connection that, in turn, fueled the wizardry we performed. But the invention of the thaumascope changed all that. Today, to most people, the word meant something else entirely. By focusing the Crystic through a prism, normal people had learned to tap into that latticework, and use it to pass information across the Ferren.
And create virtual games about young adventurers.
"Appropriation," I'd heard Gruffin say with disdain. "All this information that's hijacked our lines of magic, it's a poison. The Crystic doesn't mean what it used to mean."
I always thought that was a little hypocritical. He, himself, taught me that the Crystic was connection, so why shouldn't we use it to connect? Especially since new technology allowed people who weren't wizards to access it.
Candle loved technology. She loved the idea that human tools could give her access to the power of wizards, that she had the potential to make sorceries out of circuits and gears, the same as the grand mages could with their staves.
"Emma Lyn Candle will never understand the Crystic," Gruffin said. "Ordinary people never will. Not in the same way as you or I. They don't have the respect. The Ferren's bereft of awe."
I'm not sure why Gruffin ran an investiture. He seemed to hate the idea of ordinary hands using magic. And it's not like he was doing much with his own magic, anyway. I'd hardly ever seen him pick up his staff, and he'd never bothered to show me how to make my own. Not that I wanted one, or needed one. Staves were for educated wizards.
But I was going to tell you about Hero Trotter, because there's something I want you to understand about Candle, and why I was friends with her.
We were thirteen the first time she ever visited me in my attic bedroom. We'd already known each other for years, but most of our interactions were outdoors, when Fogwillow would take me to get fresh air, or over dinner at Candle's parents' house. We knew we both played Hero Trotter. It was one of the things we talked about incessantly—about the best strategies for quests, and where you could find hidden items, and the glitch near the eastern wall of Umlot's Cavern. She told me all about her character, and I revealed what I could of mine, but I'd never told her my username, despite endless pestering.
Then there was this one day in the dead of winter. Blush became soft and pale when the snow came. The pink leaves fell from the cebelis trees, leaving their white barked skeletons twisting through the air, shining like bone. The snow stuck in powdery clumps to the eaves of the buildings, coating the roofs of skyscrapers and the icy sidewalks down below.
I was at my desk when I heard a knock on the door. It was a sound I'd never heard before. Gruffin, who lived out of his office on the first floor, never came up here, and Fogwillow didn't knock. Frozen, I called out, "Who is it?"
"It's me," came Candle's voice.
I started to sweat, despite the chill, and a horrible, twisting anxiety choked me. I looked at my unmade bed, my bare walls, my cluttered floor and my crumb-covered desk. Before I could move to fix anything, the door opened and Candle waltzed in, looking like she'd been there a thousand times before. She stopped in the middle of the room, glanced around at the bare, splintered wood, squinted out the enormous, slanted window at the white sky, then sat down on my bed and wrapped herself up in my quilt.
"This place is chilly."
"What are you doing here?" I blurted, then regretted.
"What does it look like I'm doing here? I'm here to visit you, of course. I can't visit a friend?"
This took me aback. It was the first time friendship had ever been mentioned between us. I grimaced and twisted sideways in my chair. What did one do with a friend?
"Hey, pass me your keyboard," Candle said. "I've been wanting to show you my Hero Trotter profile for ages."
Wordlessly, I handed her the keyboard, and she scooted forward on the bed. I twisted my scope around so she could see, and she navigated to her account. Instantly, a tall, broad-shouldered woman appeared on the lightscreen, her hair buzzed short, dressed in battered leather armor. She was standing on the deck of a flying ship, which cut through the virtual clouds as if through an ocean. Grinning, Candle moving her character up a ladder to the crow's nest, where she could look out at the cloudscape from up high. A low, ethereal tune began playing from the scope's speakers.
"Behold!" Candle said. "The mighty skywheelerx0, cloud crusader extraordinaire."
"Whoa," I said before I could stop myself. I came around the side of my desk and sat cross-legged on the floor, looking up at the screen as she played. "Is that the Ship of Broken Dusk?"
"The one and only." Candle could barely keep the pride out of her voice. "I had to ransack seven dungeons to find the way up here. Took me months."
A flying creature with a wingspan made of shadows appeared on the screen, swooping toward the crow's nest where her character still stood.
"Look out!" I said.
"Nah, that's just Panwither. He's my familiar."
"You made a shade glider your familiar?"
"Well, I wanted something that flies, and this was clearly the coolest thing on two wings."
"You're insane. That's insane. How many quests have you completed?"
When she didn't answer right away, I twisted to look up at her where she sat in my bed. She smirked, her eyes fixed on the screen, her face set and determined. "One hundred and thirty two."
I was speechless. I would have whistled if I could whistle. As it was, I just sort of pushed some breath out between my lips. Then, Candle turned to me. "Here," she said. "Your turn." She pressed the keyboard into my hands.
I recoiled, and my stomach plummeted. "I don't know… " I avoided her eyes.
"You've been putting this off forever, Nova Scratshot. The time has come. Why do you think I invited myself over in the first place? Let's see your epic deeds."
"This is why you came?"
Candle shrugged. "You never seem to leave this place except with Fogwillow. And that's what, once a month, if you're lucky? I wanted to see what you have to show for yourself, alone for weeks on end."
It was my turn to shrug, though I don't think I pulled it off as well. "I don't sit inside here all the time. I like to go up on the roof."
"Great," Candle said, and jumped off the bed. "Let's go."
"No!" I said it a little too quickly. "Sorry, I mean. The roof is just… I don't think I want anyone else up there." My face was getting hot, and to my surprise it was more from anger than embarrassment. That was new.
"Fine. No roof. I crashed your bedroom, I guess I have to let you have the roof." She flopped back down on the bed. "What else do you do all day then?"
"I don't know," I said, wishing she would go away. "Read tickers, learn about things on the Crystic, play Hero Trotter."
"Exactly. You've probably clocked more hours than anyone. Go on. Let's see what you've done."
This is the part where I tell you that this was the closest I ever came to hating Emma Lyn Candle. I've never told her that. I don't know if she knows how easy it would have been for me to loathe her for the rest of my life. I don't think I wanted her to know. What would she think of me if she'd known I could have just as easily discarded her as befriended her? What kind of value does a friendship like that even have?
Well, she knows now, if she's reading this.
"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. Simmering with anger, I pulled the keyboard closer and navigated to my account, making sure to make the keystrokes as loud as possible, as if each one were a jab at this strange girl who had invaded my private space.
My profile popped up on the screen before us. Without even looking, I handed the keyboard up to Candle, then crossed my arms, glowering at the floor.
I barely breathed for the next sixty seconds. There were so many thoughts in my head that it was all just white noise. Beside me, I heard the tap of the keyboard as she moved my character around.
Finally, she said, "What is this?"
"It's my account," I said.
"I know that, but what is—"
Sighing in exasperation, I took the keyboard from her and looked up at the screen, navigating through my profile. "Look. See. My character's name is hearthfire140. That's his house. It's small, I know, but it's comfortable. The room upstairs is for his parents, and there are two other rooms for his siblings. A brother and a sister. He also has a cat and a dog, and there's a little farm outside. I should probably harvest my corn, actually… "
"Were are your… where are your items? You haven't… Nova, you haven't completed any quests?"
"Not… not really, no."
She held her arms out, disbelief written all over her face. "What do you do?"
"Well… every morning I build a fire in the hearth and bake bread for meals. I do the daily chores and keep the livestock fed. There are some good books in the game, most people probably don't notice. I read them out loud sometimes in the afternoons."
The silence stretched on, long and painful, as I went outside and harvested my virtual corn. It wasn't really a part of the game, officially. But I was a wizard, and I could manipulate the coding of the Crystic however I liked. That doesn't mean I could do it well, though, and I had to wait a couple times while the environment glitched out trying to render the corn.
When I finished, I looked up at Candle to find that she was staring at me. All at once, shame flushed up the side of my neck, and I looked away quickly.
"You used Hero Trotter," she began, "a game where the entire world is at your fingertips, where you can have any adventures you can dream of—to… to build a home? And a… and a family?"
"I don't want adventures," I said, bristling. "I don't want the world. I just want… " I gestured nebulously at the screen.
"Stop," Candle said, holding up a hand. "You don't have to."
We stayed there in silence for a moment longer, and then, suddenly, Candle stood and walked to the window.
"Look," she said, pressing her hands up against the slanted glass. I turned to the window. Up in the pale winter sky, a cloudweaver was passing, shining sharp and crisp as a knife, its propellers carrying it along to other parts of Trill. "I've always wanted to fly in one of those," Candle said.
She let out a breath, and it fogged the window, leaving an imprint where her nose grazed the glass. Her nose print was there for the rest of the winter.
And that's why Candle is my friend. Because she saw a piece of me and didn't laugh. She didn't even make me explain it.


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Saturday, August 06, 2016
Fwd: 2 Thessalonians and the apostasy
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
13 Ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ κυρίου, ὅτι εἵλατο ὑμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ⸀ἀπαρχὴν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας, 14 εἰς ⸀ὃ ἐκάλεσεν ὑμᾶς διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἡμῶν, εἰς περιποίησιν δόξης τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 15 ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελφοί, στήκετε, καὶ κρατεῖτε τὰς παραδόσεις ἃς ἐδιδάχθητε εἴτε διὰ λόγου εἴτε δι' ἐπιστολῆς ἡμῶν.
16 Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ ⸀θεὸς ⸀ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν, ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι, 17 παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ ⸀στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ⸂ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ⸃ ἀγαθῷ.
For me to live is Christ
Phil 1:21 For me to live is Christ
. 21 ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος. 22 εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου — καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω· 23 συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι, πολλῷ ⸀γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον, 24 τὸ δὲ ἐπιμένειν ⸀ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ ἀναγκαιότερον δι' ὑμᾶς.
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
Ephesians 3:14-21
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
[I pray that]you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth [of God's love], 19 and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
There are many distractions in life.
I saw a sign on the side of the road the other day. It said "report illegal mobile phone use", and then it had a phone number to ring. I almost rang it!
Quite a number of times driving up Richmond road I wind up behind a lady putting her make up on in the car as she is driving. Now I put a camera in the front… and when they look in their revision mirror I smile and point at the camera. I must figure out how to turn it on one day.
We get distracted by the lights and glitters, the worries of this life, and we forget what life is all about.
We stand here face to face with one of the sublimest and greatest statements ever made, even by this mighty Apostle of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is a sense in which anyone who faces this verse must feel that we stands on very sacred ground. This is a key verse in this epistle. In fact it should be a "key verse" in the life of every saint. For Paul life is summed up in Christ. Christ is its inspiration, its aim, its end. To trust, love, obey, preach, follow, suffer,—all things are with and in Christ. For you and I our whole life is to be found in Christ.
Sometimes our self identity can be moulded by the events that happen in our lives. There is a Greek story of a young baby born into a royal family of Thebes. Sadly an oracle had been made about the child, that he would be the downfall of that family's kingdom. So the father tied the boys feet together and assigned the mother the queen to kill the child. She couldn't do it, so they threw the child out into a field so that it would be exposed to the cold and die. Someone took the child in, and he was raised by the King of Corinth, named him "swollen Feet" Oedipus, and he grew up to overthrow his former family.
The story of course, was typical of what occurred in those days. A child would be cast out, and sometimes, others would raise the child to sell as a slave. A book was written, how to identify a child who might survive and make a valuable sale as a slave. How would you feel were you like that?
However, many of us grow along with our hurts that we receive in life. No life is free from hurts, rejection by parents, rejection by family, rejected love, unfaithfulness, failure in school, failure through addictions, failures through ill health. All these things hurt us deeply and mould our identity.
But now in Christ you and I have the opportunity to have a new identity. "For me to live is Christ!"
I was sitting in a lonely state recently wondering if any one understood my situation or even really cared! But, as a Christian you cannot think that way. Because now for a Christian "for me to live is Christ!!"
There is a whole new place to find your identity. Don't get distracted from your true identity in Christ by the things in life that will disillusion you. There are so many things that can happen in your life to disillusion you. These will distract you from your true identity in Christ.
There is Something Personal Here
For to me - With this phrase, Paul is saying "I can't speak for you but I can speak for myself." Paul is being very personal. Paul's statement is similar to our common expression "As far as I am concerned" Paul was in prison and facing the prospect of death at the hands of the Roman government. Is it not true of all of us that in those "dying times" one usually thinks about the things that are most important in life. It was not difficult for Paul to explain what was of utmost importance to him. What makes your life worth living? your family? your work? your reputation?
What is the focus of your life?
Ray Pritchard - Consider the phrase "to live is Christ." What does it mean? F. B. Meyer said that Christ is "the essence of our life…the model of our life…the aim of our life…the solace of our life…the reward of our life." Think of the prepositions that express relationship. We live in Christ … for Christ … by Christ … through Christ … and from Christ. He is the beginning, the middle and the end of life. He is truly the Alpha and Omega, the A and Z, and every letter in between. Here are three statements to ponder: A. Christ is life. B. Christ transforms life. C. Christ transcends life.
"Php 1:21 becomes a valuable test of our lives. "For to me to live is____ and to die is____." Fill in the blanks yourself. "For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind." "For to me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten." "For to me to live is power and to die is to lose it all." No, we must echo Paul's convictions if we are going to have joy in spite of circumstances, and if we are going to share in the furtherance of the gospel. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain! "No matter how you look at it, nothing can steal a man's joy if he possesses the single mind! "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Php 1:21). Maltbie Babcock, who wrote "This Is My Father's World," has said, "Life is what we are alive to." When my wife and I go shopping, I dread going to the dress department, but I often have to go because my wife enjoys looking at fabrics. If on the way to the dress section I spot the book department, I suddenly come alive! The thing that excites us and "turns us on" is the thing that really is "life" to us. Christ was his life. Christ excited him and made his life worth living." Does Christ make your life worth living?
There is Something Practical Here For me to live is Christ
Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ-nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life.Can you say that this is true for you? Can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business-are you doing it for Christ? Is it not done for self- aggrandizement and for the money? Do you do your work to get some self-identity from it, so that you feel more worthwhile? Your work will never make you feel worthwhile; sometime you will have to retire. Sometime your work life wont mean a thing! Then what will your worth be worth? Or is your whole life for Christ? We sang last week "I surrender all" but have you? Is He truly the centre of your life?
In these words we are surely brought face to face with the most important questions that can ever confront us - What is life? What is living? What does it mean to us? What is it all about? Is it not one of the major tragedies of life, indeed, is it not the greatest of all tragedies, that amid all our concerns about life, all our intellectual activity, all our discussions, the one thing which men and women are never concerned to face is the first and most obvious thing of all, namely life itself, and living. Not only is this a most important question in itself, but I want to go further and point out that here we stand face to face with the most thorough test we can ever encounter of our profession of the Christian faith. Because, of course, this is a word which is more or less meaningless to someone who is not a Christian. So, then, is living to us, Christ? I wonder whether we can make that statement that was made by Count Zinzendorf, the Moravian leader who helped John Wesley both before and after his conversion. He had never had the vision that Paul had on the road to Damascus, but to him, too, Christ was in the centre. Can we make his motto our own? 'I have one passion, it is he and he alone.' 'To me living is Christ.' Oh that we all might have this passion! I believe we could transform our land in a day, I believe a great revival would come, if only we had this passion. He and he alone! Let us dwell upon him; let us meditate upon him; let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal him to us. Let us pray for it; let us spend time with it; let us absorb it; let it take the central place; let us do all we can to get to know him better, for to know him is to love him. I have one passion—it is he and he alone.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being's ransomed powers;
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours
Mary D James .
How do you make this work?
There is Something Powerful here For me to live is Christ
Christ--The Origin of our Life.
If you had asked the Apostle just what he meant, he would probably have replied, as William Tyndale brings out in his translation, that Christ must be the origin of our life. The Day of Pentecost meant that from that moment, and onward, the Holy Spirit should bring the germ of the Christ-life, and sow it in the soil of our spirits, so that the very nature of Jesus glorified, transfigured and Divine, might be sown in the soil of our humanity, as incorruptible seed, to reproduce in endless succession the growth of the Christ-life.
The Essence of our Life.
Christ must be the essence of our life. As we reckon ourselves dead to our own selfish existence, Jesus Christ will take its place, so that we may be able to exclaim with the Apostle: "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
The Aim of our Life.
Christ must also be the aim of our life. We desire to make Him known, loved, and revered, that His will may be done on earth as it is done in Heaven; that others may know Him as we know Him, love Him as we love Him, live for Him as we live for Him; that He may be the crowned King of men, putting down war and strife, and hastening on that glorious consummation, for which the Church prays and creation groans.
The Comfort of our Life.
Christ must be the Comfort of our life. Amid all the storm, strife, and tumult, there is no cleft where the Christian finds safe abiding, but in the riven Rock of Ages, in the side of the pierced Christ, in the heart of the Redeemer, the doors of which always stand open, and He is evermore bidding us come to Him for rest.
The Reward of our Life. Christ must be the reward of our life.
The one reward for every Christian man is to get more of Christ; the one crown for every brow is to know Him better; the one infinite gain that comes for every labour, every tear, every act of sacrifice, is that Christ gives Himself, nearer, dearer, better than ever.
He is the Love of your Life
Paul reminds us in his prayer that he desires that believers "that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,"
The Height of His love is that it has no comparison.
The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure The saints' and angels' song.
When years of time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race— The saints' and angels' song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.
The Depth of His love is that it has no conditions
Romans 5:8
The Breadth of His love is that it reaches to even us here. It has no confining.
His love is not limited racially, nationally politically socially or in any other way. It reaches to you.
The Length of His love is that it has no conclusion
Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading, and give Him my all.
'Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And that Thy grace must give.'
The Heidelberg catechism
What is your only comfort in life and death?
That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.


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Practice Groups – Tax & Estate Planning
Practice Group – Corporate, Tax & Estate Planning
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