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He Stooped Down
I've been struggling with a fever for days. Today I found myself on the floor at the foot of my Christmas tree, which happens to be a cross. As I looked up at the well-light, decorated cross tree, I considered the goodness of God.
Our God, holy and almighty, stooped down to us. Not only did He stoop down, sending His one and only Son to live life in this broken world and die on the cross, but He continues to stoop down again and again, meeting us where we are in this broken world.
This is grace. Reaching down and lifting up to where you are. No one demonstrates grace like our Father. We cannot earn salvation. We don't deserve it. Yet He gives it freely to all who believe. When we believe, we are called children of God—and co-heirs with Christ. We go from sinner to saint, from dead to alive.
Every day, we need this reminder of His grace. You may feel down today, but you will not be down forever. You may feel pain today, but you will not feel pain forever. Breathe in some grace today, and then pour it out as well. We all need grace.
"He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he's lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path." – Psalm 40:2 [TPT]
Everyone gets offended. Lately it seems like it happens at every turn. I am offended. This offends me.I remember when I was younger, I had issues with self-control stemming from my AdHd, and I had difficulty relating to others. I found myself often blurting out things and my words would offend others and resulted in many awkward moments. I had great difficulty making real friends, and some things I said were held against me. Two stories I remember not-so-fondly from my childhood include my encounter with an overweight nurse while getting burn treatment for my arm, and an episode with a relative regarding cigarette smoking. Some of my words never were forgotten or forgiven, despite my lack of understanding the issue with them.
Over the years, I have learned more about self-control. I have made many changes and formed many habits to help with my AdHd. Though I still have some struggles with relating with others, I certainly have improved. Yet, I look around and I see that so many people still are getting offended—but it is much worse. The sad truth is the result of the offensive words and deeds. People hold it against others. People take something someone said and misinterpret it, and forever the person is disliked. Forgiveness is far from being found.
Yet as we think about the truth of the forgiveness of God, and we think about how people cling to anger and bitterness, we are found in contempt. We have offended God. Again and again, we have offended God. We will continue to offend God. Even so, He forgives us completely. He never holds it against us for our ignorance. He never lets our selfishness or lack of control taint His love for us. He does not tell us we are no longer welcome and out of His social group. He does not let the offense cause a break in the relationship—instead, God fills the gap with His love and grace. Today, consider what offenses you may be clinging to, and who needs your forgiveness. You may find that you need to forgive even more than the other person needs your forgiveness.
"For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh." – Romans 8:8 [TPT]
"Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." – Colossians 3:13 [NLT]
God Appointed
The book of Jonah reminds us that God is in control. Even though it was obvious that the Ninevites were off course, and it was clear that Jonah had some issues against following God's command to share His message with the Ninevites, God knew just what was needed. He knew that the Ninevites were open to hearing His truth, and He also was prepared to pour out some grace upon His not-so-compliant prophet too.
The word "wayman" means appointed or prepared. In the book of Jonah, we read that God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah after he was tossed overboard. At first glance, it seems as if this big fish was a punishment, but in fact, it was a picture of the awesome grace of God. Without the fish, Jonah would have most likely succumbed to the stormy waters. Instead, he was safe inside the great fish, and able to enjoy some quiet time with God alone.
Later we read in Jonah 4 of more appointments. God appointed a plant to grow to provide shade. God appointed a worm to eat the plant. God appointed wind to provide more heat. Again and again, we read of God's preparation—of His appointments. Now don't misread the situation—not everything that happens is not some pivotal part in God's grand plan. Some situations and circumstances are not meant to be signs or tests. However, God does ordain each one of your days. God does promise that everything will be used for His good purpose. God is in control today, tomorrow, and forever. He reigns! No matter what you are dealing with today, remember Who is above all. Remember your Father and trust in His Word. His Word never fails. Today, thank Him for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His great plan.
"And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." – Jonah 1:17 [ESV]
"Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, 'It is better for me to die than to live.'" – Jonah 4:6-8 [ESV]
"Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them." – Psalm 139:16 [NASB]
Living with Him
In Psalm 27, David demonstrates why he is known as the man after God's own heart. The one thing, the ONE THING, that he sought from God above all else is the privilege of living with Him. We don't read of a grocery list of wants and desires for material things. We don't read of David wanting for his own safety above all else, despite David spending much time being chased or being involved in battle. Above all else, he wants to enjoy the presence of God.
This is what a true relationship with God is all about—about craving God, delighting in His presence, wanting to be near Him. If you do not have this desire for God and His Word, if you find it okay to not seek out God and spend time with Him for even a day, it is most likely that God is not first in your life.
If you are not yet at this point in your walk with Jesus, do not be discouraged. Draw near to God. As you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. Be intentional with your time. Carve out parts of your day to enjoy His presence and dig into God's Word. As you continue to meet with God, you will grow in your relationship with Him. You will begin to see the privilege of living with God. You will want to spend more time in His glory and grace. You will begin to enjoy the sweet loveliness of His face and crave Him above all else.
"Here's the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer."- Psalm 27:4 [TPT]
What is Love Series – Love Always Outline
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
- Love is Patient… fill in gaps with GRACE
- Love is Kind… do GOOD & be GENEROUS to all
- Love Rejoices with Truth… DELIGHT in truth
- Love Always
"Love Always"… used to use this as my signature for cards and letters
Realized that I do not "Love Always."
Always means ALL THE TIME
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Living Bible (TLB)
7 If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
1 Corinthians 13:7 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
1 Corinthians 13:7 The Passion Translation (TPT)
7 Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
Love BEARS all things – Love BEARS always
1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Charles Spurgeon noted that… "This love both covers and bears all things. It never proclaims the errors of others. It refuses to see faults unless it may kindly help in their removal. It stands in the presence of a fault with a finger on its lips."
Love BELIEVES all things – Love BELIEVES always
Expect the best of others (of what's in them now)
You recognize they are made in the image of God — you see the very best in them now
You believe in someone until you are shown otherwise – give benefit of the doubt
Romans 12:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Faith in what God has made available now
Love HOPES all things – Love HOPES always
Expect the best of others (of what is to come)
You recognize that God has a greater purpose in a person's life, a plan & purpose of His design — you see what God wants to do in a person's life.
Love looks forward with confidence & grace
Trust that expects fulfillment of the future promises of God
1 Timothy 4:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Romans 8:24 The Passion Translation (TPT)
24 For this is the hope of our salvation.
But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have?
Love ENDURES all things – Love ENDURES always
To endure – To remain under
Perseveres despite situations / circumstances
No matter what!
1 Corinthians 9:12 (NASB)
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
In Closing, look to God to understand what it means to LOVE ALWAYS…
Love Bears… God bears… He pours out grace & mercy despite your sins and shortcomings. Your sins cannot stand up to His grace.
Love Believes… God believes the best in you – God designed you for His good purpose & God sees you as His Son.
Love Hopes… God has your future beautifully orchestrated & God sees who you will be – the beautiful masterpiece
Love Endures… God loves NO MATTER WHAT… He truly LOVES ALWAYS!
Be Useful
Something that I have been thinking about a lot is usefulness. There are moments when we have items in our home that are not useful to us. Sometimes we have apps on our devices that are not useful. Maybe at a time they seemed useful, but things have changed. But usefulness isn't only something we consider as objects or possessions. People can be useful or not useful too.
Paul was writing to Philemon about the runaway servant Onesimus. He tells Philemon about this change that has occurred. Yes, Onesimus was deserving of punishment, which could have meant a death sentence. It was within the legal limits. But Paul mentions this great conversion of Onesimus. Not only did he give his life to Jesus, but in doing so, he became useful. In saying, "Not my will, but Your will be done," he became useful. God had big plans for Onesimus!
If someone would consider your usefulness, what would they say? Would they describe you as very useful? Do you think you are very useful? Or is something getting in the way? That something could even be you! Truth be told, you have a great purpose. God has known this since the very beginning. It is a purpose that I pray you embrace and pour yourself into as an offering. Aim today to come to terms with this usefulness, and if the Spirit convicts you, follow His leading. It is a very dangerous prayer to say, "Use me." Yet is a prayer than can help position you for what God has already prepared. Be useful. Plant for a good harvest.
"Onesimus hasn't been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us." – Philemon 1:11 [NLT]
Joyfully Disciplined
As I have aged, I realized the great blessing of being disciplined. When younger, the word discipline was a cruel one we tried to avoid. No one likes discipline. We do not usually request or desire discipline. Discipline is punishing someone to correct poor behavior or disobedience. Discipline trains people to be obedient people.
The Bible tells us that anyone God disciplines is "blessed" or "joyful." The world looks at the discipline of the Lord as wrath and usually describe it as harsh and unreasonable. As a child of God, hopefully you understand that God disciplines us as a father disciplines a child. It is for our own good. Discipline helps us to grow. Discipline protects and teaches us. Discipline is a blessing.
Today, thank the Lord for His instruction. Thank Him for His discipline. Thank Him for seeking the best for you. Thank Him for His love. Praise Him for He alone is good, and He alone deserves all honor, glory, and praise. I pray that you are joyfully disciplined.
"Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions." – Psalm 94:12 [NLT]
"Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good. So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him." – Deuteronomy 8:5-6 [NLT]
Cannot Afford to Tithe
Recently, someone told me that they "cannot afford to tithe." I remember those days—the days when I thought I could not part with the money or the bills wouldn't get paid. But I also remember the moment I got my finances in order, when I started to take a serious look at where the money was going. The Bible speaks about where the treasure is located, that's where your heart will also be found (see Matthew 6:21). Take a look at your checking account register. Review it and you will see what has value to you. Recognize that if God is first place in your life, He shouldn't be getting the leftovers.
You might be included in the likely 90% + readers who know I am a pastor. Perhaps you are saying, "Oh here's a pastor asking for money again." Please understand, I am NOT asking you for money. God does NOT need your money. He is the God of the universe. He is our Creator. But He has blessed us with what we have in our possession. It's HIS! ALL OF IT!! Maybe you worked for it, but He blessed you with that job. Behind it all, before it all, you will find God. He is the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning, the End. He is in all, above all, through all. Bottom line (see 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, Colossians 1:17, Revelation 22:13). And tithing is a BLESSING to you! Yes, you read that right. Giving some of the money that God blessed you with to your local church to continue God's kingdom building is an amazing opportunity you are blessed to be able to take part in. It's a blessing to be a steward, and we are to be generous givers (see 1 Timothy 6:18). Tithing is not an obligation; it's a loving response, a willing response to the grace of God.
God doesn't want you trapped. He wants you free. Sometimes we are trapped by lies. Sometimes we are trapped by sin. Sometimes we are trapped by possessions. When you are trapped by your possessions, you cling to them so tightly that your possessions actually possess you. Today, look at your budget. Jot down different categories. Look to see where your money goes. Then pray about your finances. Consider what Paul wrote to the Corinthians. "On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once" (1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT). You do this and you will learn to be a better steward. You will start to loosen your grip on what God has blessed you with, and be the generous, cheerful giver you were meant to be.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." – 2 Corinthians 9:7 [NIV]
ctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." – 2 Corinthians 9:7 [NIV]
The Israelites were quick to complain about God when they didn't have their eyes on food. Just after God brought them out of Egypt, they forgot what He rescued them from, because they were hungry. Where was the food? We would be better off back in Egypt.
Even though the Israelites were complaining, God showed His glory to them. He didn't withhold His glory. How awesome is that?!? He graciously allowed them to "see the awesome glory of the LORD in the cloud."
Have you ever seen God's glory? If you haven't, you haven't been looking. Despite each of us being sinners, He allows us to see His glory. Despite us often being ungrateful, He allows us to see His glory. Today, thank Him for His gracious ways. Thank Him for allowing us to experience Him—allowing us to see His glory!
"And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the LORD in the cloud." – Exodus 16:10 [NLT]


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Here is a selection of recent sermons by our rector, the Rev. Derrick Muwina, Ph.D.
Advent 2, December 8, 2019
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Last week, we began the season of Advent. I said then that Advent is more than preparation for Christmas, it lays the ground for a new Christian year and points to the final return of Jesus. Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves, patiently waiting, to receive Jesus as a baby in the manger at Christmas, as Christ the King at his final return, and as Lord of our lives every day.
On this second Sunday of Advent, we continue to patiently wait for the birth of Jesus and for his return, we encounter John the Baptist who comes with a very clear message: "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Now John's message does not arise from a vacuum. He is part of a long tradition, the prophetic tradition. Moses is called a prophet, the prophet par excellence. His is somewhat of a special case; he is in a class of his own.
The prophetic tradition I am talking about here emerged in Israel around 1200 BC. Initially, prophets were part of schools or guilds. They travelled in groups and with the help of music and dance, they would work themselves into a state of frenzy, of divine possession. They were more like foretellers of the future. There is no record of these prophets being involved in the moral and religious issues of the times. (For more, read I Samuel 9 and 10.)
About a hundred year later, by the time of the first kings of Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon, the role of the prophet had begun to change. While prophetic schools were still in existence, we begin to see the rise of individual prophets, functioning separately from their schools. Among them were Elijah, Elisha, Nathan, Micaiah, etc. And another change was their concern for justice. For example (I Kings 18), King Ahab wanted to buy a vineyard that was next to the palace from a man named Naboth. But Naboth would not sell the land because it belonged to his family. Ahab got Naboth killed and grabbed his property. When the prophet Elijah heard the news, he took the side of the wronged man and confronted the king, denouncing him to his face for his unjust and evil acts. Prophets were beginning to get involved in the moral issues of land. They became critics of kings and those in power.
The third stage came around 750 BC and was the climax of the prophetic tradition. The prophets of this stage left books bearing their names. They are called the "writing prophets": Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zachariah, etc. What distinguished them from earlier prophets was the broader dimension of their concern for justice. Justice for them was no longer about the individual acts of kings but rather the less conspicuous acts of injustice concealed in the social fabric. They challenged corruption and oppression within institutions and the social order in Israel. They were critics not only of those in power but also the society at large.
The final writing prophet, Malachi, died about four hundred years before Jesus. During those four hundred years the prophetic voice went silent. Some people have gone as far as to claim that in this four-hundred-year period, God was silent in Israel. (There are books that were written during this time, but their authority is disputed.) The silence was finally broken when John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea with a message calling the people to repent.
The description of his clothes, his food, and his location suggest that John stands in this long prophetic tradition and that he represents Elijah in particular. It was believed that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Matthew 3:1, 4; see 11:14). Malachi 4: 5-6 says, "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD." You can see that prophetic zeal in John when he warns the religious leaders to bear fruit worthy or repentance! He calls them out, he challenges them: If you are coming to get baptized, it had better be genuine.
John calls the people to repent. Because that is at the heart of the Gospel. The English word "gospel" derives from the Anglo-Saxon "godspel," meaning good news, which in turn is a translation of the Greek word "euangelion," meaning the good news of God's saving act in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-11). At the center of our faith is the belief that God became a human being in the person of Jesus and that through his death on the cross and resurrection we are saved. We are set free. Set free from the power of sin. Set free from the power of this present world. That is the central message of the Gospel.
Now some of you might ask, "Isn't love the central message of the Gospel?" No. The central message of the Gospel is that God is saving us through Jesus, but Jesus calls us to love all people as he has loved us. The love we are called to exercise is the love that results from having been born again. (By the way that is a biblical term that Jesus himself used. It does not belong a particular group of people. We believe in being born again; we might call it other things but we do!)
Jesus comes to unshackle us from the power of sin. And sin is "seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation." Sin is as real as the air we breathe. I once had someone say to me, don't preach about sin, it just makes people feel guilty, it makes them feel bad! Well, that's part of it. I want you to feel bad about your sins, I want me to feel bad about my sins. I want to think about times I have failed God and failed people I love, the times I have failed myself, times I have acted angrily, or impatiently, times I have refused to listen, times I have acted selfishly, inconsiderately, yes, I want to feel bad about all that. But it doesn't end there. There's redemption through Jesus Christ.
And that was the message John the Baptist came to bring, calling people to repent. The Greek word for repentance, "metanoia," means to turn away from, it means a change in thinking that leads to a change in behavior and our way of living. Tertullian, a church theologian from Carthage, speaks of repentance as conversion. And in a commentary on this passage John Calvin says, "Repentance is an inward matter, which has its seat in the heart and soul, but afterwards yields its fruits in a change of life." It is not enough to profess grief for wrongdoing. We have not truly turned from sin if our lives are unchanged (Isa. 29:13–14; James 2:14–26).
To repent is to take a serious look at how our lives collude with the assumptions and behaviors of this world, to turn away from such involvement, and to turn toward God and the attitudes and actions of His Kingdom.
The values of our world are not always congruent with the values of God. Sometimes they stand in opposition to the Kingdom of God. This world teaches us that your value is determined by your profession, the size of your bank balance, or your physical attributes, things like that. But in the Kingdom of God your value as a person is predicated on nothing other than that eternal truth that says you are created in God's image and nothing besides that determines your worth.
This world teaches suspicions toward the other and meanness concealed in "telling it as it is." But scriptures say to us in Romans, "Live in harmony with one another, welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you."
This world operates from a shortage mindset, the idea that we don't have enough. We hold on tightly to what we possess, refusing to share, and generosity to the stranger is seen as weakness. How many times have you heard someone say, "Why should we help migrant families at the border when we have homeless veterans? Why do we send money to that poor county when we have starving kids at home?"
You've heard the arguments. It's a zero-sum game. Only one of us can win. If I win you lose. These arguments might seem sound but all they really do is to polarize us and perpetuate the status quo. They ensure that very little happens, including, helping the very people we claim to care about.
But the Kingdom of God operates from the perspective of abundance. We have enough, more than enough, enough to go around! Isaiah shows us a peaceable kingdom full of astounding abundance. The lion and the bear are grazing together. There's enough for the ravenous wolf and enough for the lamb.
On this second Sunday of Advent, John calls us to repentance, to bear fruit worthy of repentance, to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ and allow the Spirit to transform us as we await his coming in glory. Amen.
Advent 1, December 1, 2019
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Welcome to the season of Advent. Starting today and continuing through the day before Christmas, it will be the season of Advent. The name for this season is derived from the Latin word "Adventus," which means "coming." And in the context of our Christian calendar, this means the coming of Christ. Now, this might come as a surprise, but the coming of Christ we prepare for in Advent is not necessarily Christmas—it is his expected return at the end of the age.
That is why the readings for today and for every first Sunday of Advent deal with this theological idea called eschatology, that is to say, teachings of the last things, the end of time and history, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Now I read somewhere that eschatology is the most popular word among seminarians because it is a big word that makes people appear intelligent!
So, Advent is a preparation for the final coming of Christ. And that is why we wear purple vestments in Advent, a color we also use for Lent, because it symbolizes repentance and preparation. And in this case, it is preparing ourselves to receive Christ who will return as King.
Now, there is more disagreement about eschatology within the Christian church than about any other theological idea. When and how is it going to happen? You might also think, this is not something the Episcopal Church really believes in. well, the Nicene Creed that we recite every Sunday says in reference to Jesus, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end" (see the Nicene Creed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 359). So this teaching about the return of Jesus is not some fringe theological idea but an important part of our Christian hope.
In fact, I was reminded of how common this idea is within the Christian tradition in a restaurant this week. On Monday we went to the downtown library, and after spending some time reading and browsing, we went to a food court for sandwiches (Philly steaks). The whole place was awash in Christmas music. And what song was playing? "Joy to the World." The most published Christmas hymn in North America. Many artists have recordings of it: The Supremes, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Pat Boone, and Whitney Houston. It's a very popular Christmas song.
And the thing is that while "Joy to the World" is primarily sung at Christmas, it's not about the birth of Christ. Rather, the song tells the story of Christ's return—his second coming. When Isaac Watts published the song in 1719, his intention was to point to Jesus' second coming. For example, in verse three Watts talks about sins and sorrows being no more: yet we know that this is not yet the case. There is plenty of sin and sorrow in our world. But sin and sorrow will be no more when Christ returns and begins to rule. So there you have it.
And this expectation for the coming of Christ finds expression in the season of Advent. We understand the Kingdom of God to be already present through Jesus' resurrection but yet to be fulfilled perfectly until He returns at the end of time.
Christian history is full of failed predictions of the return of Jesus. Think about the many groups that have claimed have claimed to have cracked the code, figured out the time and day of Jesus' return only to be proven wrong. The reason this happens is that people refuse to heed his warning: "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." If the angels don't know and Jesus the Son of God doesn't know, I can assure you no amount of time spent trying to decode scripture will reveal the day and time.
Jesus says to his disciples, "Do not concern yourselves with trying to figure out when it will happen. Your job is to keep awake and not be like the people in the days of Noah who went about eating, drinking, and marrying, and not paying attention to what going on around them."
Now maybe you have heard before that people in the days of Noah were laughing at him as he was building the ark. Well that is not true. They were not laughing. They were so preoccupied with their daily routines that they missed entirely what was going on: a man building an ark in one of the driest places on Earth! They were too preoccupied with their lives to see what God was going to do. And this happens to us too—when we are distracted by everything else around us, we miss what God is doing in our world.
Paul writes to the Romans, "You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep." The word for time here is the Greek word "kairos," which means God's time, a time for action, different from "kronos," general time, chronological time. For Paul the time had come for the Romans to "lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for sin." Paul calls the Romans to a different way of life and grounds the motivation for doing so in the assertion that they are now living in a new time, kairos, God's time, which began with the sending of Christ and will conclude in his return.
The catechism in The Book of Common Prayer states that "the Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 861). That is what Advent is all about. It is time to orient our hearts more and more to Christ. It is a reminder that God has a plan that is unfolding in our world even if we don't see it. Even in the midst of bad news, God is still at work. And it is not a coincidence that the first candle we lit today is the candle of hope.
Hope is not wishful thinking. We often use the term "hope" to refer to something that may or may not happen. I might say, "I hope it snows today. I hope I get a raise. I hope to get married one day." When we use the word "hope" that way, we are saying we wish for something to happen but have no assurance it will happen. This type of hope is not a guaranteed hope because it is subject to changeable people and changeable circumstances.
But Christian hope is not the same. As Dr. R. C. Sproul says, "Hope is not taking a deep breath and hoping things are going to turn out all right. It is assurance that God is going to do what he says he will do." The reality of hope is so sure that it serves as an anchor for our souls (Heb. 6:13–20). Christian hope is big and bold. Look at Isaiah's vision of peace among the nations: swords beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, Christ descending to call a stop to all the pain and stress and evil in our world. That is a bold vision.
But let's be honest. It's hard to hope big. We are afraid of setting big goals because we afraid to fail and become a laughing stock. Sometimes our hope seems doomed or just foolish. Sometimes our hope fails because of lack of imagination, lack of courage, or because we waste it on small projects that require no boldness on our part.
And besides, people like to say be realistic! Which usually means think small. Limit yourself. And limit God. And yet, if we were realistic wouldn't we think big and bold knowing that we worship a God so great and wonderful, frightening and loving, just and forgiving, to whom belong the earth and the fullness thereof, whose promises will come true? The reason we read the scriptures is not just to remind us of what has happened in the past. Scripture is a record of God's power breaking into our world, and just as God broke into our world in the past, God breaks into our world today to transform us.
Advent is a time to open our hearts more and more to Christ. Advent is a reminder that God has a plan that is unfolding in our world even if we don't see it. And for that, we are free to give up any obsession we have with the past, past wounds, past anxieties, past hurts, fears, and doubts, and live freely in the present, with hope. Amen.
November 3, All Saints' Day, 2019
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This is one of my favorite days of the church year. That might be because of the sugar high from all the Halloween candy, coupled with the extra hour of sleep I got this morning! But All Saints' is a great day because we sing great hymns and we take time to remember the saints of the church on whose shoulders we stand. In old Christian tradition, All Saints' was a day to remember the those who are named as saints—St. Paul, St. Mary, St. James, St. Luke, St. Peter. And then the following day was All Souls' Day, a day to remember all the Christians who had died in the faith but do not carry the title of saint.
With time the two celebrations have somewhat merged so that All Saints' Day is the celebration of all Christians, both those who have died and the living. We do this because we believe that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven, called the Church Triumphant, and those still living here on Earth, called the Church Militant—that is, the body of believers.
So today we celebrate the communion of saints to which we belong. For one thing, the word "saint" in the New Testament refers to anyone who has been baptized. Paul addressed his letters to the saints in Ephesus, Colossae, Corinth. And you heard in our prayer this morning that God has knit us together in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of his Son, Christ our Lord. The living and the dead and those to come are held together in one communion and fellowship in our Lord Jesus Christ.
But it is tempting to look at the saints and imagine them to be people of virtue and holiness. After all, the men and women we recognize as saints were responsible for extraordinary accomplishments that most of us can only dream about. There is a hymn about saints that has this opening line: "I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true." It's a great hymn with great stuff in it, but that opening line isn't one of them. Because the saints by and large were not "patient and brave and true." They were often cantankerous, and craven, and dishonest.
St. Peter, the chief disciple, was impulsive, ill-tempered, and unreliable. He denied Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times. St. Paul, the great apostle to the gentiles, was full of self-pity, egotism, and accusation. St. Jerome, one of the brightest minds in the church and the man who translated the Bible into Latin, never took criticism well. He once wrote a nasty public letter to another theologian addressing him as "my most simple-minded friend."
And then we have Mother Teresa, now St. Theresa. She could occasionally be caustic with any of her sisters whom she suspected of being lazy! Writing to one convent she said, "You live with the name of the poor but enjoy a lazy life." And by the way, the confessions written in her diaries reveal that she suffered moments of extreme emptiness and despair. Many, many times she reached out to God and still felt empty. She even doubted the existence of God.
But as flawed and imperfect as they were, the saints allowed God, the light that sets the world free, to shine through them.
And not because they possessed a special holiness and perfection, but because they allowed God to work through them. After all, holiness is not synonymous with perfection. To be holy means to be set apart for God. The holy person accepts the call to dedicate their entire life to God and strive to live life according to the way that Jesus has shown for us, to the best of their abilities. So that when we make mistakes, and we will, we remain constantly open to correction. When we sin, and we will, we always repent and seek to be reconciled.
Sainthood is not something that we seek. We are called to it.
In our Gospel reading today we hear Jesus calling us to a way of life, the saintly life. You might know these as the beatitudes: Blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are the mourners, Jesus says. In other words, blessed are the ones who are struggling and on the edge. The broken ones, the ones who have messed up in their lives, the ones who yearn for a peace and wholeness that the world cannot give. They are blessed because in spite of and maybe because of their lives they make room for God. They are blessed because to be blessed in one sense is to be unburdened, to be released, to be freed! Being a saint has little to do with being perfect or achieving extraordinary things in your life. Saints are the ones who have taken life's pains and injustices and their shortcomings and instead of being overcome by them, they let God's love flow through them and use their experience to unburden others, to bless others, to speak truth to power, and transform the world.
But it is equally tempting to look at saints and see a kind of courage of which only a few are capable. I mean, who can look at the life of Mother Theresa and not see great courage? Who can examine the life of Dr. King and not see grit of will and mind and spirit? Yet Dr. King was a reluctant saint. He had no ambitions to become a national leader and the face of the civil rights movement. All he wanted to do was get his Ph.D. from Boston University, get a wife, move back south, and pastor a church like his father and his grandfather. When the bus boycott began in 1955, he assumed it would take a few days and so it didn't worry him to host meetings in his church and be a leader at the time.
But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Montgomery was on edge. A steady stream of threatening phone calls started coming to his house. As many as 40 a day. And one late Friday night in Jan 1956, Dr. King came home after a long day of strategizing. He found his family already asleep. He was emotionally and spiritually worn out. And then the phone rang, and the voice on the other end said: "Leave town immediately if you have no wish to die." He felt a surge of fear run through his body. He hung up the phone. He started pacing around his kitchen, and with trembling hands, put on a pot of coffee and slumped into a chair at his kitchen table overcome with fear, his coffee untouched. Then he prayed to God to give him an exit plan without appearing a coward. He prayed, "I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I've come to the point where I can't face it alone." And at that moment he experienced the presence of God as he had never experienced it before, and a voice spoke to him, saying, "Martin, stand up for justice, stand up for truth, and God will be at your side forever." Almost at once, his fears began to fade. His uncertainty disappeared. He was ready to face anything.
Three days later his house was bombed. His family escaped by a hair. But he says, I received the news of the bombing with calmness. To be a saint is not about being some sort of fearless superhero for God. God is not looking for any of that in us. God is not looking for your ability, God is looking for your availability. The saints did great things not because they were able but because they made themselves available to God. And the beauty is, should you ever be afraid of stepping into saintliness, the voice that spoke to Dr. King on that kitchen table on that frightful night is speaking to you now, saying, "Stand up for justice, stand up for truth; for God is at our side forever." Amen.

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New Wednesday Night Series
Holy Vocabulary: Unlocking the Language of Faith 6-week Small Group
Recapture the meaning of six key words in the Bible: holy, lost, salvation, faith, sanctified and eternal life.
Led by Pastor David and meeting in the Chapel from 6 - 7 PM.
Free study guide available


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Join an integral part of the UK's Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces' equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now!
DE&S Analytics Managers are responsible for providing direction, advice and guidance to the teams they support. Operating as a core member of a central Management Information team you will lead the development of MI products within an ambitious DE&S wide Business Intelligence and Analytics programme. This is a hands-on post you will be technically competent and capable of working in accordance with the Business Management Information Strategy. Operating as a middle manager, to be successful in this post you will have the ability to positively engage and manage a broad range of stakeholders from middle to senior management level.
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You will receive a generous benefits package including market leading employer pension contributions of around 21% of your salary (not including any personal contribution), annual bonuses, a flexible working pattern to fit you, 25 days holiday +1 additional day every year you work up to 30 days with plenty of opportunity for movement and promotion. Some of our sites include an onsite gym, onsite restaurants, cafes and much more.
Find out more about what we offer by clicking here or by using 'The Little Book of Big Benefits' booklet PDF at the bottom of this page.
Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee's ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
About DE&S/SDA and your team
The force behind the armed forces, DE&S is a highly specialised, branch of the MoD, operating with a budget of £178 billion over the next 10 years. From the procurement of aircraft carriers to the provision of food, we ensure our armed forces have the equipment and support they need to achieve their operations. We employ over 12,000 people across more than 150 locations around the world.
Our mission is to both enable and drive DE&S towards its vision to become a world-class digital business. The IM&IT function employs professionals from information assurance and cyber security to management information and statisticians. We act as the 'digital partner' to DE&S, helping the whole organisation to embed new business processes, tools and technology.
Find the link to apply below, copy and paste into your browser to create an account, upload your details and apply for this role.
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Accountant Aides are paraprofessional positions, requiring specialized training and education, that perform a variety of accounting and auditing activities to support the work of professional accountants and auditors.
ACCOUNTANT AIDE: paraprofessional, performs assignments characterized by application of procedures, guidelines, and standard practices; appointment requires six credit hours of accounting courses and completion of a two-year traineeship.
Administrative Aides function as paraprofessionals performing a wide variety of administrative activities to support the work of professional administrative positions in various specialties, such as budgeting, human resources, or administrative analysis, or managers and staff in an agency executive office.
Agency Program Aides function as paraprofessionals that provide program or technical support in a program by performing a wide variety of program activities and tasks to support the work of professional and technical positions.
Auditors perform systematic examinations and appraisals of the accounting records and financial affairs of public, for profit, and non-profit organizations and businesses to ensure accounts are maintained in compliance with governing laws, rules, regulations, and contracts, determine the ability of an organization to conduct its programs efficiently and effectively, and evaluate internal controls and practices.
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Promotion: One year of permanent competitive or Section 55 service at or above Grade 5, six credit hours of accounting, and completion of a two-year traineeship.


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The province and the City of Winnipeg have signalled they're working together to reduce the amount of phosphorus that flows into Lake Winnipeg, polluting it.
Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard went to city hall Friday for a news conference with Mayor Brian Bowman — not with any money for the $1.8-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrades, but to say the two levels of government are on the same page for the scope of the work to be done this year.
The province is committed to working with the city to speed up the removal of phosphorus from wastewater, if possible, the minister said.
"We are very pleased with the collaborative progress that has taken place over the last six weeks," said Guillemard, as the interim phosphorus-reduction plan and nutrient-removal implementation plan was released Friday — a deadline set by the province.
In 2020, Phase 1 of the plan involves completion of the plant's power supply upgrade and a request for proposal on a design-build contract for the headworks facility. Design work will begin on Phase 2, the biosolids facility.
"Although there is still a lot of work to do, we have taken important steps to protect the future of Lake Winnipeg and we will continue to work to expedite this important project," the minister said before Winnipeg's mayor spoke about the depth of the phosphorus problem and who, so far, is paying to fix it.
"For over a decade, upgrades to the north end sewage treatment plant have lingered without a funding source," Bowman said. "The city remains the only level of government with any funding commitment at this time."
The long-term project involves upgrading the Main Street facility to comply with provincial environmental regulations, including limits on effluent emissions into the Red River for nitrogen and phosphorus, and the construction of a new facility to treat sludge from the city's three sewage treatment plants.
City council approved $408 million in 2018 to begin construction and, on Thursday, it approved more than $15 million toward its second phase, said Bowman. It also approved increasing water and sewer rates over the next four years to help pay for the upgrades to the north end plant.
"Last year, the city prioritized the project and formally requested federal-provincial cost-sharing," said Bowman. "We're still awaiting a formal response from the province, but we do appreciate the recent collaborative dialogue."
An environmental watchdog group credits outraged Manitobans for the recent collaboration.
"It's important to acknowledge the really hard work and concern of citizens who last year experienced horrible algae blooms on Lake Winnipeg and expect action," said Alexis Kanu, executive director of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation.
Yet, with hundreds of millions of dollars needed to complete the work, the NDP critic for the environment and climate change criticized the province for not taking money to the table Friday.
"The Pallister Conservatives are still refusing to fund upgrades to the treatment plant even though it could help save Lake Winnipeg and keep it healthy for future generations of families," Lisa Naylor said in an email.
The North End Water Pollution Control Centre is the largest single-point emitter of phosphorus, contributing about five per cent of the total found in Lake Winnipeg.
Carol Sanders
Carol Sanders' reporting on newcomers to Canada has made international headlines, earned national recognition but most importantly it's shared the local stories of the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home.
Updated on Friday, January 31, 2020 at 10:32 PM CST: Adds photos.
You can comment on most stories on The Winnipeg Free Press website. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or digital subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
By submitting your comment, you agree to abide by our Community Standards and Moderation Policy. These guidelines were revised effective February 27, 2019. Have a question about our comment forum? Check our frequently asked questions.


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Paul Kelly and friends enriched our lives again at the Domain in Sydney, for the latest edition of Making Gravy. It was a quality line-up, with Thelma Plum, Kate Miller-Heidke, Marlon Williams and Courtney Barnett lighting up the stage. This event is the pre-cursor to Christmas in Sydney, with Paul Kelly giving us an uplifting […]Read More
It's a pretty amazing thing to see an artist who's been around for 35 years continually reinvent themselves while managing to engage both the newest and oldest of fans. Returning for the third year of his Making Gravy tour, Paul Kelly brought along a heap of musical friends to well and truly welcome in the […]Read More
As we head into the final quarter of 2019, people are quickly turning their attention to what they'll be doing in the weeks leading up to the Christmas and New Years period. Days will be longer, diets will go out the window and a lot of people will spend the period catching some killer live […]Read More
Florence + The Machine played to nearly thirty thousand people at Sydney's The Domain this past weekend, and if you're going to take anything away from this review let it be this: Florence Welch is so much better than all of us, in every facet possible. There's no two ways about it. It's as simple […]Read More
The first iteration of Lost Picnic in Melbourne was greeted by a sunny day throughout Sunday afternoon in Flemington. The festival, cultivated around the idea of a loungey picnic with friends, good music and tasty food, would have been seen as a veritable success as thousands poured through the gates to enjoy the day. The […]Read More
The first ever Melbourne Lost Picnic was held at The Nursery at Flemington on October 7th, featuring the likes of Tash Sultana, Meg Mac, Marlon Williams, Odette, Big Words and the Hot Potato Band. Daniel Hanssen was there and brings us back these photos. And don't miss the next event on 13th October in Sydney's Domain! For […]Read More
After enjoying a completely sold out Australian tour, announcing his return to the east coast for October's Lost Picnic festivals and revealing a summer run supporting Florence + The Machine, Marlon Williams simply isn't stopping. With his sophomore record Make Way For Love continuing to impress internationally too, the crooner recently had time to head back to New Zealand, […]Read More
Tasmania's annual winter festival Dark Mofo is back for another year, and with another year comes another batch of amazing artists. But if you're not sure who to see, don't fret. We've selected seven artists to look out for over this 10-day festival. St. Vincent This isn't the first time the American singer-songwriter has played in […]Read More
Should you have been lucky enough to see Marlon Williams back in Australia near the end of 2017, you'll have been some of the first to hear his new material brought to the live stage. It's been a long awaited debut of new music, no doubt for the artist and fans alike and with only a […]Read More
A stellar line up of local and international musicians came out to the Berry Showgrounds just south of Sydney for this year's Fairgrounds Festivals over the weekend. With the likes of The Shins, Gang of Youths, Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams all involved, the weekend proved to be a huge success. Photos by Bruce Bakers. [print_gllr id=49550] ———- This content […]Read More
The second day and night of this year's Mullum Music Festival brought A-grade talent out to the regional NSW town, including Marlon Williams, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Wallis Bird and more. Photos by Bruce Baker. [print_gllr id=48400] ———- This content has recently been ported from its original home on The AU Review: Music and may have […]Read More
The long awaited sophomore album from Marlon Williams is officially on its way, with the Kiwi musician revealing more details on his forthcoming new music today. The follow up to his acclaimed self-titled debut comes in the form of Make Way For Love, due for release via Caroline Australia on February 16th. Along with news of Make Way […]Read More
As the end of 2017 draws ever closer, the Australian live music calendar continues to thrive confidently. A jam packed two months of shows lay ahead from our favourite locals and visitors, check out just a selection of them below. Marlon Williams Come November, Marlon Williams will play his first headline tour in over a […]Read More
The first line up for next year's SXSW music festival dropped in the early hours, unveiling an impressive list of global names set to be performing in and around Austin, Texas, from March 12th – 18th. Returning names include the likes of Shamir, Marlon Williams and Milk & Bone, while the Australian contingent boasts some of our favourite established and […]Read More
Steel your indie loving hearts, because this year's Fairgrounds Festival is about to take 'em on a ride this December as the country NSW festival welcomes The Shins back to Australia along with a stellar line up of artist for an unforgettable weekend in Berry. On December 8th & 9th, punters can catch The Shins with the […]Read More
Welcome back! How was your week? Fantastic? Excellent. Miss all the best new releases? Don't fret. Dive into this week's Spotify playlist boasting a hypnotic cut from Nosaj Thing's new album, a funky new release from Mojo Juju and a swing-dance tribute about vampires by Marlon Williams, plus plenty more. ———- This content has recently been […]Read More
It's been a little while since we've heard from/seen one Marlon Williams but today, that wait is over, with the release of his new single, "Vampire Again". The song has been a part of Williams' live set for a while now but regardless, its release marks the first sign of new material since his acclaimed self-titled […]Read More
This week, we showcases impressive and memorable releases from the likes of Marlon Williams, Nothing But Thieves, Laura Marling, Acceptance and Boy & Bear. A diverse bunch of albums primed and ready to revisit – hit play! LAURA MARLING – I Speak Because I Can (2010) By Jack Cain This album is the bible of being a woman, which is something I […]Read More
The Pickathon Festival is taking place on the Pendarvis Farm in Oregon's Happy Valley this August, headlined by Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires and featuring the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Ty Segall and Dungen. Among the American greats are some notable inclusions from Australia and New Zealand, with Marlon Williams, Alex Cameron and Julia Jacklin […]Read More
There was something different about the Falls Music & Arts Festival in 2016. Even now, a few days on from New Year's Eve, I can't put my finger on it. Following the Victorian event's temporary relocation to Mt. Duneed Estate last year, we returned to the hallowed and lush surrounds of the Great Otway National Park in Lorne and […]Read More
Trying to snag some of Marlon Williams' time off road this year been a bit of a task. For the Lyttleton native with the voice that has captivated audiences around the world, his tour schedule has gone from an album tour here and there in Australia, to a full blown foray into the international scene. […]Read More
This has been an incredible year for Aussie musician Julia Jacklin, who has not stopped touring the globe since the beginning of the year, taking in SXSW in the US and The Great Escape in Brighton, England, bookended by what were her first interstate Australian shows in January, and a sold out tour at home […]Read More
Marlon Williams has had a busy 2016 so far – from impressing Americans at SXSW to touring through Europe with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine and Jesca Hoop, the Kiwi songwriter has been raking in the international acclaim as his name continues to be one of the buzz names at the minute. Currently spending some time off the road before the next […]Read More
Well, god damn. After weeks of speculation, triple j today announced the line up for the 2016 Splendour in the Grass festival and it is huge. Headlining the Byron Bay event this July 22nd – July 24th at The Strokes, while rumoured headliners The Cure have also been confirmed. The Avalanches, who sparked excitement yesterday with updates to their social media channels, […]Read More
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better (or hotter), WOMADeladie 2016 served up a mind-bending day 4 lineup on Monday. At 2pm, with sun blazing and people sweating from places that can't be mentioned in this publication, Quarter Street took to Stage 2 to Latinise proceedings. Heat, humidity and more salsa dancing than […]Read More
My favourite thing about SXSW (aside from the cheap pizza and cheaper alcohol, where you can find it) undoubtedly, is the discovery of new music. It sounds like such a generalisation and for an event the sheer size of SXSW, it can be hard to figure out how to establish an approach to the festival with a) […]Read More
The Sounds Australia crew have today released details of their official SXSW events, including the always popular Aussie BBQ. The full artist line ups for the Aussie BBQ and two Sound Gallery Showcases have been unveiled, with 30 Australian acts set to perform. The Aussie BBQ celebrates its 13th year at SXSW in 2016 and […]Read More
Culture Collide have always remained at the head of the pack when it comes to putting on SXSW parties to be remembered and it's looking like 2016 will be no different. Over 150 bands and presenters will be involved in their program for SXSW Music this year and as of today, Culture Collide have begun […]Read More
Last week we published our contributors' picks for the best gigs of 2015, bringing up memories of some diverse, amazing shows by local and international artists alike. Below we've got some memories from our editors from the year past, taking in shows both in Australia and abroad. Roll on 2016… Sosefina Fuamoli #1 Gig of […]Read More
The 11th Australian Music Prize (AMP) has today announced the final additions to its longlist for its award this year, with 56 albums being given the greenlight by its panel of judges. It's been a tough process for the judges this year, sorting through the multitude of submissions from Australian artists but as the final […]Read More


text: After a day of traveling, I finally made it to Silver Dollar City! This was my first time at the park, but kinda knew what to expect as I've been to its sister park, Dollywood! From what I heard, Time Traveler doesn't have the best capacity and is located in the front of the park, … Continue reading Silver Dollar City Trip Report 4/6/18


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What are the Pieces of a Citation?
In an article
Remember that you have two titles to find--the article title and the journal title.
Many databases also have the ability to generate a citation for you. Always check these for accuracy.
In a Book
In the hard copy of a book, you may have to look at several pages in order to gather all your citation information. In this case, it is easier to pull the information from the library catalog record:
Contact Your Librarian
Recommend A Purchase
Report a Website Bug
Vogel Library
100 Wartburg Blvd.
Waverly, IA 50677


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In accordance with Tarrant County's *shelter in place order* due to the Covid-19 crisis, the seller has decided, with an abundance of caution, to remove the home from the market.
For those Agents and potential buyers wishing to view the property, please be patient until the end of this crisis. At such time the home will return to the market.
City Sewer, City Water, Underground Utilities, All Weather Road
Attached, Front, Garage Door Opener
Cable TV Available, High Speed Internet Available, Bay Windows, Flat Screen Wiring
Built-in Microwave, Cooktop - Gas, Dishwasher, Disposal, Oven - Electric, Water Line to Refrigerator
Central Air-Elec, Central Heat-Gas, Zoned
Patio Covered, Sprinkler System
Lrg. Backyard Grass, Pasture, Greenbelt, Park View
Users may not reproduce or redistribute the data found on this site. The data is for viewing purposes only. Data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or NTREIS.
Listing information last updated on April 5th, 2020 at 5:00am CDT.


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Black Paisley Chiffon Chelsea Dress
The simplicity of a perfect shift dress. Gorgeous wrinkle-free black paisley chiffon fabric. Wide sleeves with a detachable sash. Draped and effortless microfiber pairs beautifully with anything.
- Chiffon: 95% Poly / 5% Stretch
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Back To SALE Previous Product Next Product


text: Good Rising. No, I do not vote. I refuse to participate in a system that once legally, and still does privately, consider myself or my ancestors to be less than human. I am not a citizen by choice, but by circumstance. That being said, I want to say that I…Read more


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Hey there everybody.
For some bizarre reason, my WordPress blog was deactivated yesterday afternoon. After no small amount of panic (seeing as how my WordPress blog is starting to gather steam!), this morning it's back up and running. Apparently, an error occurred at WordPress Command Central. However, as you can all plainly see, all is well with the world!


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Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel
(Redirected from Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels)
|Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel
|Gunpowder Barrel
|Merchant Alliance
The Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel is one of the Gunpowder Barrels in Sea of Thieves, a Treasure related to the Merchant Alliance.
Where to Find
Like most Gunpowder Barrels, the Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel can be found:
- During Merchant Alliance voyages.
- Random chance to spawn in Shipwrecks, Fortress Vaults.
- In the Fort of the Damned Vault after its completion.
- Chance to be uncovered from a Skeleton's Orders Treasure Map.
- The Reward shown is an estimate of minimum and max value when sold.
- Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels are carried by some Skeletons during an Athena's Fortune Voyage and the Fort of the Damned (Raid)
- Each defeated Skeleton Fort event spawns a single Stronghold Keg in the Fortress Vault.
- Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels are 3x more effective than regular Gunpowder Barrels, dealing damage in a considerably larger radius of the Ship.
- Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels are counted as Gunpowder Barrels, meaning that you can turn in a Stronghold Barrel in to a Gunpowder Barrel Trade Good Commission. However, this does not affect the reward, making it more effective to turn in a regular barrel for the Commission instead.
- Ship collision will not detonate the barrel while carried in hand, however sailing into one even slowly will cause the barrel to detonate.
- Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels can be grabbed with a Harpoon, even from the hands of Pirates or Skeletons.
- When a Player is holding a Gunpowder Barrel, only Skeletons with hands or Cutlasses with weapons can set off the keg. Shots from Weapons or Cannons will not detonate a held Keg.
- Blowing up a Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel in your hand on a Ship will count as a Cannonball hit, meaning that a player can destroy a Skeleton Ship with a Keg and it will count as a kill.
Usage[edit | edit source]
Primary Use of a barrel in hand will light a 6s fuse to detonate, but can be cancelled by
Secondary Use. The barrel can be picked up while it is cooking.
The Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel will immediately detonate if shot, struck, caught in an explosion, or upon contact with the outside of a ship hull. The explosion will damage all nearby pirates and Creatures (based on distance) within 9 paces of the detonating barrel, and sink any Ship within the explosion distance.


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Market Study Report, LLC offers a latest study on ' Dewatering Pump market' featuring a holistic view of the market size, industry share, profit estimates, SWOT analysis and the regional landscape of the business. The report precisely expounds key challenges and future growth prospects of the market, while highlighting the current competitive scene and analyzes the expansion strategies adopted by leading market players.
Request a sample Report of Dewatering Pump Market at: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2415490?utm_source=itresearchbrief.com&utm_medium=Ram
The recent document on the Dewatering Pump market comprises a wide-range assessment of this industry as well as an in-depth division of this vertical. As per the report, the Dewatering Pump market is expected to grow and increase a significant return over the predicted time period and will record a remarkable growth rate y-o-y over the upcoming years.
As per the report, the study offers valuable estimations about the Dewatering Pump market related to the sales capacity, profit projections, market size, and several other important parameters. The Dewatering Pump market document also assesses information about the industry segmentation along with the driving forces influencing the renumeration scale of this industry.
Elaborating the Dewatering Pump market with regards to the geographical landscape:
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Glimpse of important details of the Dewatering Pump market:
The research report of the Dewatering Pump market declares that the industry is predicted to account a decent revenue over the given time period. It includes information with respect to the market dynamics such as growth opportunities, challenges involved in this vertical as well as the circumstances affecting the business domain.
For More Details On this Report: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-dewatering-pump-market-2020-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2025
Some of the Major Highlights of TOC covers:
Dewatering Pump Regional Market Analysis
Dewatering Pump Segment Market Analysis (by Type)
Dewatering Pump Segment Market Analysis (by Application)
Dewatering Pump Major Manufacturers Analysis
Related Reports:
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Roth IRAs are one of the greatest gifts ever given to retirement savers. They enable individuals who qualify to enjoy tax-free withdrawals of their money after they retire, or even earlier in some situations. This can help retirees stretch their nest eggs even further.
Stressing about taxes? Download Your FREE Guide: "5 Tax Hacks for Investors"
But there's one big catch when it comes to Roth IRAs: If you earn too much money, you can't open or contribute to one. Specifically, if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is greater than $139,000 if you're single or $206,000 if you're married and file jointly this year, you can't open and contribute to a Roth IRA.
The good news is that you can still reap the benefits of a Roth account even if your income exceeds these limits by using a technique known as a mega backdoor Roth. This strategy may also enable you to sock away tens of thousands of dollars more for retirement this year.
Read More: Roth IRA vs. Roth 401k: How are They Different?
Is a Mega Backdoor Roth Right for You?
The first step is to determine whether you are actually eligible for a mega backdoor Roth or not. You can only do a mega backdoor Roth if these conditions are present:
- You participate in a 401k plan at work that allows after-tax contributions. Regular 401k contributions are made on an elective deferral, or pre-tax, basis. Fewer than half of 401k plans allow after-tax contributions, so check with your benefit plan administrator before moving forward.
- The 401k plan allows in-service distributions to a Roth IRA or transfer of funds out of the after-tax portion of the account into a Roth 401k. If it doesn't, you'll have to wait until after you leave the company to perform a mega backdoor Roth.
How Does a Mega Backdoor Roth Work?
If you can check the box on each one of these conditions, then you may qualify to for a mega backdoor Roth IRA. Here's how the process works:
- Determine and make the maximum after-tax contribution you can to your traditional 401k account.
- Rollover or convert this amount to a Roth IRA or Roth 401k. Unlike with a normal Roth IRA conversion, the principal will not be taxable. However, the earnings portion of the rollover will be considered pre-tax and subject to taxation at time of the conversion.
How Much Can You Contribute?
With a mega backdoor Roth, you may be able to contribute an additional $37,500 toward your retirement this year on top of the regular plan contribution limits. If you have access to a Roth 401k at work, you can decide whether to rollover the funds into this Roth 401k or a separate Roth IRA. If your employer only offers a traditional 401k, then you'll rollover the funds into a Roth IRA.
The bottom line: If you are unable to contribute to a Roth IRA because you earn too much money, or if you still have money left over to save for retirement after maxing out your regular 401k and IRA, then a mega backdoor Roth might be a smart strategy for you.
The details in performing a mega backdoor Roth can be complex, so you should consult with your financial and tax advisors for guidance in your situation.
Download Your Free Tax Guide: "5 Tax Hacks for Investors"
We are not licensed tax professionals. All insight provided represents a courtesy extended to you for educational purpose and you should not rely on this information as the primary basis of your tax planning decisions. You should consult qualified legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation.
The content contained in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and is not meant to constitute legal, tax, accounting or investment advice. You should consult a qualified legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Keep in mind that investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time and you may gain or lose money.
Any reference to the advisory services refers to Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, a subsidiary of Personal Capital. Personal Capital Advisors Corporation is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training nor does it imply endorsement by the SEC.


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The turreted church must be from a place in Southern or the Mediterranean coast Europe (because of the palm-like configuration of the trees) which Zalameda, a jet set citizen of the world, has visited.
Without human presence, his painting becomes an extensive narrative of time and place, of the listlessness of nature, of architectural mysteries that have the feel of landscape about them.
Lyrical, colorful abstract views of the architecture possess a sense of meditative silence. Time and place are of particular relevance to painters such as Zalameda because of the ephemeral nature of their art.