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|Certificate of Service - For contributions to photography at any level but usually to persons whose contribution falls short of that required for SSAPS.
|State Service to Photography (SSAPS) - This is awarded to those who have given outstanding service to photography within their own State (or Territory) for a period of not less than five years. It will also recognise APS members who have worked nationally, but not to the higher national requirements generally stipulated for ESAPS.
|Exceptional Service to Photography (ESAPS) - The requirement for this Honour is exceptional service to photography in or through APS at least at a National level for a period of not less than eight years.
|Honorary Fellow (Hon FAPS) - The requirement for this Honour (with the exception of Past Presidents) is for exemplary service to APS for a period of not less than fifteen years together with achievement in photographic skill. It is reserved for those who have dedicated many years to APS and is the Society's highest Service Honour.
pdf Service Honours & Awards (167 KB) pdf Information (167 KB)
pdf Advice for SSAPS Applicants (192 KB)
document Service Honours & Awards Application Form (1.65 MB)


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Gwinett County ranks third in Georgia when it comes to traffic fatalities. The number of collisions here has been growing constantly since 2012. In 2016, there were no less than 41,527 crashes. Out of these, 9,436 resulted in injuries. Many accident victims found themselves needing a car accident attorney.
In fact, most accidents take place in Lawrenceville. The seat of Gwinett County seems to have quite dangerous roads. The ones that have seen the most accidents throughout the years are:
Most accidents occur due to the negligence or wrongdoing of one of the drivers. They have various causes, but some of them are quite frequent.
Many drivers forget to announce their intentions. They take turns or change lanes without signaling, getting in the way of other traffic participants. In theory, the fault for such accidents belongs to the driver who failed to signal their maneuvers. In practice, if the other driver was speeding, texting, or was intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, things change. They will share fault for the accident, and their share percentage will determine their responsibility for the losses.
DUI is a serious offense in Georgia. However, many drivers still commit it, without thinking of consequences. A BAC above the legal limit makes the intoxicated driver at least partly liable for the accident. It takes a good auto accident attorney to assess and prove the fault of all the parties involved.
Many drivers in the area exceed the legal speed limit. Unfortunately, speed decreases the drivers' reaction period and increases the impact force. Drivers who exceed the legal speed limit will share fault for their accident. At Cain Injury Law, we always try to find out what speed each car involved had.
Although the law forbids it, many drivers still do it. They text to their friends and family, update their social status, or they browse the internet. With their attention diverted to their mobile device, they fail to notice dangerous situations on time. When they do, it is usually too late to avoid an accident. Unfortunately, although it equals liability, texting and driving is very difficult to prove. It takes a skilled distracted driving accident attorney to succeed.
Drivers often drive while tired. Some are so tired that they fall asleep. Fatigue has similar effects to alcohol. It impairs drivers, diminishing their focus and attention and slowing down their reaction. Many tired drivers get off the road or onto the adjacent lines without signaling, losing vehicle control. Most drowsy driving cases involve truck drivers. An auto accident attorney will always check their driving schedule and rest periods.
Identifying the cause of a traffic accident is the first step to proving liability. It is the first thing the police officers investigating a crash try to establish. It is also one of the first aspects car accident lawyers look at. Why is liability so important? In order to understand that, it helps to review Georgia laws.
Georgia is an at-fault state. This means that, when a traffic accident occurs, the party at fault is liable for the damages. Since liability insurance is mandatory, insurers usually cover the damages.
Establishing fault for a car accident can be tricky. Georgia laws accept the possibility for all the parties involved to share fault. Insurers speculate, trying to blame the claimant, in order to pay less or avoid paying. That is why all accident victims should enlist the help of an auto accident attorney.
Fault distribution has a direct and drastic impact on compensation value. The law sees accident fault as 100% and distributes it between the parties based on the available evidence. It also sees total accident losses as 100%. The fault percentage attributed to a driver determines the percentage of losses that driver is liable for.
For example, a driver who is 30% at fault for their accident will be responsible for 30% of the losses. This means they can only recover 70% of the losses they incurred. Of course, they will have to prove the other driver's liability and the value of their losses. This is much easier when working with a car accident attorney.
The outcome of car accident cases depends often depends on how the parties act at the accident scene. At Cain Injury Law, we advise all drivers to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. If they do not, or their lawyer cannot get to the scene on time, taking the right steps is very important.
It is a requirement of Georgia Code Title 40, Chapter 6, Article 12. Drivers should pull over safely, without impeding traffic.
If anyone incurred injuries, they should receive medical assistance as soon as possible. Otherwise, their condition may aggravate.
If the accident did not involve injuries or debt, drivers should take their cars out of the carriageway area. If they do not, and an accident occurs, they could be liable for it.
This obligation refers to accidents involving injuries and/or property damages higher than $500. A police officer will most likely come to the scene to investigate and prepare the accident report.
The parties involved in the accident should exchange names, addresses, and phone numbers. They should also exchange driving license, vehicle registration, and insurance policy details.
The most valuable evidence on how the accident occurred is only available at the scene. Drivers should focus on documenting accident circumstances, cause, damages, injuries, and more. These, along with the accident report, will help substantiate their compensation claims.
At Cain Injury Law, we always advise clients to be careful about what they say or do after the accident. We have seen many drivers apologize even if they had not done anything wrong. Apologies could qualify as an admission of fault. Also, signing agreements and right waivers at the accident scene is never a good idea. Many insurers try to take advantage of the accident victims' state of confusion to avoid paying.
All accident victims should focus on getting in touch with a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Until the latter gets to them, they should focus on the six steps described above and avoid mistakes. Later on, their lawyer will help them file the compensation claim.
The first step to an accident claim is identifying the party at fault and their insurance status. If they carry insurance, the defendant to the claim will be their insurer. If they do not, accident victims can seek compensation from their own insurer. Another option is to file a civil court lawsuit against the party at fault themselves.
Most accidents end with insurance claims, so this is what we will focus on in the following lines. The first step to any insurance claim is filing the notice of claim. It is basically a letter announcing the insurer that their client's victim seeks compensation for their losses.
Obviously, this letter should summarize how the accident occurred and its consequences. Its filing should take place within a fixed time period. That is why an auto accident lawyer should be the one preparing and filing it. They will then have the chance to substantiate the claim.
This means putting together conclusive evidence regarding accident fault and consequences. The process is similar to a court trial but less formal and stressful. It directly influences the claim outcome, so it is a job for an experienced auto accident attorney.
Depending on how thorough the claim is, the defendant will approve it or reject it. The approval usually comes with a settlement offer. The insurer will offer the claimant a sum of money to give up all their rights and demands. It helps to have a car accident attorney review the offer and conduct further negotiations. The compensation should cover as much of possible of the losses the victim incurred, including:
The latter can assess whether it is worth accepting and, often, secure an even better deal for their client. If the insurer denies the claim or offers an unfair settlement, appeal options are available. They can go from filing an appeal with the insurer to filing a lawsuit in civil court.
If you were the victim of a car accident in Lawrenceville or its surroundings, you need help. Finding your way through Georgia laws and obtaining compensation for your losses is not easy. At Cain Injury Law, we have done this successfully for hundreds of clients like you. We can do it for you too.
Call our office at (678) 377-2246 and schedule a free consultation! We will provide all the answers and assistance you need. With the help of our car accident attorney, obtaining the compensation you deserve will be piece of cake.

subset: commoncrawl


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Seedlings: When the Bough Breaks – By Amy Wall Lerman
Now, if you'll indulge me for a moment, I just need to get this off my chest:
Life since Super-Storm Sandy has been rough. I lost the back of my house thanks to a very large and very old oak tree. It took out the deck, the patio door, part of the roof and a few windows. That should be enough to make anyone spin in circles for awhile.
I was at work when the storm was brewing. My boss held a meeting complete with three different maps from different weather agencies predicting the location and intensity of the storm. I work for some very smart people. They really understand weather patterns and storm terminology. I usually just wait for a storm to hit and then gather up the video to send to everyone with a newscast. When my boss took us all aside and explained how bad Sandy was going to be, I took it very seriously. He's not an alarmist and he knows what he's talking about. We don't usually prep for storms in this way. And when we do, we're not usually talking about the storm hitting us…here…where we work and live.
I got my staff up to speed. Got them all booked into hotel rooms so that we could keep the newsroom going as we covered the storm. As daylight hours diminished and night set in, it seemed like it took forever for the storm to hit. When the weather agencies downgraded Sandy to a tropical storm, I thought we might be in the clear…but that's when all hell broke loose. As I watched our TV monitors in the newsroom, I could see little explosions happening all over the New York City and lights going out building by building. I had our reporter on the phone trying to help her find her way out of waist deep water in very flooded Battery Park City. Memories of 9/11 rushed in…here we were again, in our own city which suddenly felt like a foreign and unfamiliar landscape. Lower Manhattan had become a no-man's land once again.
When I finally got a breather, I called home to check on my husband, my mother-in-law and my son who were battened down in a heatless, powerless house.
"Hi, honey, is the power still down?"
"That's not all that's down."
"What do you mean? What fell?"
"The tree."
"Which tree?" I hesitated because I think I knew which tree.
"THE tree."
Long pause…
"Holy [expletive]. Is everyone okay?"
"We were in the front of the house when it happened."
"Thank God…damage?"
"It's bad."
"You'll see when you get home."
That's how it began. That was October. It's now January. We just got our insurance check and just last week, the roof was rebuilt and the siding replaced. I still have a boarded up house, broken deck, and broken windows.
But the worst part for me, surprisingly, was what Sandy did to Evan's new tree house. I wrote about the building of that tree house in one of the issues of Baby Bloomer. It was an epic project taken on by my husband last summer – a true labor of love that we both took pride in. We talked about how every child dreams of such a tree house – place to play and create memories. Something magical and special.
When the tree house was finished, Evan climbed the ladder and explored every nook and cranny – pirate saber in hand. We saw his whole future before our eyes through the windows of that tree house. The tree we built it on felt rock solid and impenetrable. Of all the trees we have around our house, we never dreamed that one would come crashing down.
Evan didn't play in it much until his friends came over. Then it was climbing, sliding, and swashbuckling galore. The windows opened into the leaves so that he could feel like a member of the Swiss Family Robinson. It was a dream house…a place we knew would be his for as long we lived in our house. My husband and I joked that now we could never move unless we could take that tree house with us.
Well, the house lasted just a few months before Sandy took it down. Evan was furious and to this day talks about fighting the evil "Sandy." While we work on rebuilding our real house, we continue to mourn the loss of that tree house which lies in pieces at the side of our yard.
While there are many who lost everything to Sandy, it seems silly to obsess about something that was really a toy. No one was hurt in the storm – a blessing. My house is still livable – a blessing. Insurance will cover the damage – a blessing. I am grateful. But for some reason, the loss of the tree house still hurts. Like the houses we live in and care for, the places we make memories, live our lives, and feel hope or sadness. It is these places that become the focal point for family and friends – keeping us connected to the people we love.
This tree house was a symbol of the life we hope to build for our boy. It's about the magic of childhood; the glorious freedom of imagination. It was about building him a space of his own where he can dream, play, and maybe even one day hide from his crazy parents. It was about hope and the future. It was about building something special for a boy we treasure beyond ourselves. This tree house was built with the same kind of love we put into the roof over our heads. The joy on Evan's face when he first climbed the ladder to the tree house is marked in my memory forever but so is the anger in his eyes when he saw it twisted and broken the morning after the storm. And it wasn't just us that seemed to mourn the loss. When the neighbors came by to see how we fared through the storm, all eyes went to the battered tree house. I could see it in their eyes too: a house can be fixed – windows are windows, and a deck is a deck, but dreams are not as easy to rebuild.
Okay, I said it. Now it's time to get on with it.
Amy Wall Lerman, Editor of the Motherhood Later Than Sooner eZine, Baby Bloomer, is a television news producer and writer. She is the author of several books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Critical Reading and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Family Games. Her poetry has been published in an online literary journal and she maintains her own blog called Dodillydo. Amy lives in New Jersey with her husband and 4-year old son.
Tags: Amy Wall Lerman


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Have guys given up on prime-time TV?
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - They were gone. Now they're back. Or are they?
According to a Nielsen Media Research report a year ago, droves of men aged 18 to 34, one of the most coveted demographic groups by advertisers, had stopped watching prime-time TV.
But this summer, the boys started to return, with an average of 25.8 percent of them watching prime-time television, according to Nielsen. That's up from 24.7 percent a year earlier. Mostly the guys were tuning in to reality shows, sports and repeats of Comedy Central's hit "Chappelle's Show."
Now the networks have a new fall crop of scripted series featuring young men. But will the guys really watch "Jack Bobby"?
The Associated Press needed to know, so it commissioned an unabashedly unscientific survey of four guys in a bar. Not just any bar. We're talking Yankee Doodle's, a popular sports bar on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.
And while this study fell far short of the AP's demanding polling standards, we did make a serious effort to find a diverse bunch of young men for our faux focus group.
Meet business consultant Damon Hawkins, 30, commercial artist Tariq Kamal, 26, aerospace engineer Marcus Reason, 25, and audio engineer Jason Roberson, 30, all patrons of Yankee Doodle's and all card-carrying members of TV's most elusive demo.
Each agreed to watch pilot tapes provided by the networks of four new shows targeted at them: ABC's "life as we know it" and "Complete Savages," the WB's "Jack Bobby," and "Clubhouse" on CBS.
First we need to put a few things out on our round table:
All of the guys admitted up front they spent three times more time surfing the Net or watching rented movies than they did in front of the TV.
When they do watch the tube, they said it's usually tuned to ESPN, Comedy Central, the History Channel or UPN.
No alcohol was consumed during the survey discussion. Only the opinions flowed. In a candid exchange over nachos and sandwiches in a quiet - or more accurately, less noisy - corner of Yankee Doodle's, our guys analyzed the prime-time landscape and talked about why they believe television has abandoned them ...
AP : Which of the shows you were asked to watch really caught your attention?
Jason : "Jack Bobby." "Clubhouse" was good.
Marcus : It's a toss up between those two.
Damon : "Complete Savages" and "Clubhouse."
Tariq : "Savages" was funny and "Clubhouse."
AP : So why is "Clubhouse" the unanimous favorite?
Damon : It's sports.
Jason : It's behind the scenes of baseball, the American dream.
Marcus : And a dream job.
Tariq : Probably for all of us.
AP : Only two of you liked "Jack Bobby?"
Jason : I would watch it again. It set up a lot of questions and it was cleverly done. It had potential to go further.
Marcus: It was classy, more intellectually based. I liked it for that.
Damon : That one didn't grab me - that whole looking-back-at-a-president-as-a-kid thing.
Tariq : I thought it was going to be (about) Jack and Bobby Kennedy. To find out that it's a drama that's supposed to make you think of that turned me off. I'm not a big Camelot freak, but history for me has always been interesting.
AP : Did 'life as we know it' bring back high school memories for any of you?
Damon : It had no resemblance to any experiences I had in high school.
Tariq : Me neither. We had like two girls that looked like (those actresses) in all four years. (Laughter.)
Marcus : I could see being a teenager and probably watching that show, but for me now, watching all these high schoolers go goo-goo over all these high school girls wasn't something I was into.
Jason: I could barely get through it.
(At this point, the bar crowd cheers loudly and our focus fellows briefly turn their attention to a football game on a nearby big screen.)
AP : Bet you all would rather be watching the game, huh? (Laughter, nodding). Well, a Nielsen report revealed guys 18-34 would rather watch sports and DVDs than scripted TV. Why?
Damon : I come from an African-American perspective and I don't think that there are many shows that cater to what I'm interested in. Plus, the shows I do like don't last. Maybe if you're lucky you get two seasons.
Marcus : So much of it seems to be the same. Honestly my least favorite show was "Complete Savages." It seemed like another one of those half-hour sitcoms.
Tariq : Same writers, same characters, same jokes.
Jason : Same set design.
AP : If you could, what kind of program would you develop?
Tariq : Already have it. It's called "SportsCenter." (All laugh and agree.) If someone were coming out with the next "Seinfeld," I'd give it a shot, but they're not putting anything good out there.
Jason : The point is, there's no formula that's going to catch our attention.
Marcus : We're done with the sitcoms and the reality shows, we need something ...
Damon : Outside of the box.
Marcus : Exactly, but something geared toward guys our age and ideally, it would involve sports somehow.
AP : But what's so great about watching sports on TV?
Jason : I have no clue. I don't like sports that much, but I'll go to a game. It's something about watching a game live, or if I'm in a bar with a bunch of friends, then it's fun.
Damon : There's not too many reasons men shout and scream, but you can do that with sports. It's like freedom.
Marcus : That's it for me, the camaraderie, to get together with all of your friends and root for your team. It's just great.
Tariq : It's easier to take a personal interest in sports. You have a team, or players, that you follow and it's a complete surprise every time.
AP : But there are competitive reality shows, right?
Tariq: That doesn't grab me the way sports does. Reality shows set up the situations, the people all hate each other, nobody's cooperating.
Jason : Andy Dick's new reality show ("The Assistant") is hysterical because he's making fun of all these reality shows.
Damon : In the beginning, I did not embrace reality shows. Now I watch them because my wife is into that. (They all laugh.) I'm watching "America's Next Top Model," believe it or not. I've actually gotten into the show. It's a way my wife and I have our camaraderie. A mild sport.
Marcus : I'll be checking that out. I watched the last one here and there. The girls are pretty good-looking.


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This will be a mean post.
Mean in the way that probably you won't be able to get most of the items you see me wearing! Or actualy, it is probable that you were faster than i was and got them before me. Yes, i am talking about the One Eleven event here. Only 111 items available, exclusive items which won't be sold later. Exclusivity is nice, kind of… as the prices are exclusive too.
I've been thinking a lot before purchasing some of the items i liked the most. You could call me a Kleenex Customer. I buy something, wear it once or twice and buy something new. I don't throw them away after use but just let them take dust in my inventory. So, buying a Elikatira hairstyle for 2000 L$ or Surf Co shoes for 3750 L$, as exclusive as they can be, is not really so attractive to me. That was my wise resolution of the day. But…
The shopaholic I am just couldn't resist… my resolution was as strong as a boring evening. I am bad, i know.
You can also see other exclusive items in this post. The top was a 50 L$ offer from Fishy Strawberry for Black Friday at Euphoria, it was removed from sale 5 minutes after I was lucky enough to get it. The jacket is the Taste of SL offer from Indi Designs. If you are quick enough, it should be available until the end of the week-end. And I admit I totaly stole it from Gabby McCullough from SLex and the City.
Now, I am once again looking at my L$ amount, I sigh deeply, shrug and feel bad, for 2 minutes …
Skin: [PXL] Kasumi SK CherryLips
Shape: ** Dunes ** Jade Shape (coming soon)
Eyes: L.Fauna Charm Eyes [Gemini 1]
Hair: [e] Season – Black 03 at one elven
Jacket: INDI Designs – Leather Jacket black (female) (TOSL)
Top: *Fishy Strawberry* Spaghetti Strap Top Red at Euphoria
Pants: Willow~ Coal Jeans
Boots: [SC] Surf Co. – (M/F) Paperboy Ankle Boots w/ Socks at one elven
Necklace: ~SIGMA~Jewels/ Opus necklace (charcoal)
Bag: -tb – Ruffle Polka Dot Purse (black) at The Dressing Room
Background: [croire] paisley doodle decal
Poses: Diesel Works
Bye bye,


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In my last post, I jumped off from Brendan's thoughts on lighting as encounter with a couple of ways to simulate the passage of time, and as usual my personal favorite is the playing card method. Last night, while perusing the LotFP Rules & Magic book for no particular reason, I started thinking about it some more, and I think there's more that can be handled by the "four suit" method. (To recap, base encounters on playing cards and torches go out every time all four suits have been drawn.)
First, one tweak I'd make to lighting in particular. I previously suggested that lanterns should run out of oil every other time the four suits are drawn. Even as I wrote this I didn't love it, as one of the goals of the card method is to keep things very simple: Every time you draw X, then Y happens. I noticed in LotFP, lantern oil lasts a full 24 hours, and while this is a bit more generous than I'm inclined to be, it did lead me to my solution. Every time torches go out, there is a 1-in-3 chance that lanterns run out of oil as well. This makes lanterns theoretically infinite, but the odds are low.
Continue reading "Dungeon Weariness: Encumbrance & Exhaustion as Encounter"


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Alzheimer Society of Oxford
Boost your fundraising by hosting multiple Coffee Breaks
Alzheimer's diagnosis fuels Carmen Holbrough's fundraising
Papadakos family is always looking for new ways to give back
Running the clock on fair response
Live blog: Harassment of women in media
The Record Technology Spotlight Magazine
Plum's hiring tool measures attitude as well as intelligence
Devastating accident inspires wearable device to monitor health
Suncayr simplifies sun protection
PiinPoint zeroes in on the right place
MyLocal boosts and evolves restaurateurs' web presence
Helping contractors manage change
Daily Xtra
Liberal Bill Morneau takes Toronto Centre
Ottawa mural defaced with hate messages
Toronto LGBT mural defaced with hate graffiti – again
Innovate Development
Blogger on development organizations and innovations
Engaging and retaining large groups on small budgets
Art ideas for the office and their employee performance benefits
Help! HR and recruiting for startup companies
The importance of values in tech startups
Followship: A forgotten HR resource
Archenemy Magazine
Print only
Heliphon Intercultural Youth eMagazine
2014 Guide to Canadian Universities
Canadian University Press Flash File Competition
Flash File Competition Submission was not written for freelance purposes and was not published. It won first place in the 2014 writing competition, which involved listening to a speaker and then writing an article in 45 minutes.


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Real Estate
Energy and transportation transition, digitalization. To overcome the challenges of the future, investments in infrastructure are very important.
A well-developed infrastructure is essential for successful industrial locations and increases the quality of life of the citizens.
The VentusVentures Corporate Group invests in the development of real estate and infrastructure projects and offers consulting services in the areas of renewable energies, real estate and agriculture.
An overview of the topics:
• Development of the potential of rural plots, buildings and facilities with regard to renewable energies, purchasing of plots for development
• Planning and development of plots/properties and buildings in urban environments
• Attracting investors and tenants.
If you are interested in more information, jst have a look at our current project "Campus Wohnen & Arbeiten in Ludwigslust" (in Germam)


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La Perla unveils day after day its spring/summer 2013 collections and it's wonderful!
It's gracious and sophisticated, it's sexy but not provocative, it's a perfect mix between the sensuality of the past Black Label collections and the luxuous charm of the signature collection.
To discover immediately on the La Perla' eshop!
©La Perla – Click to enlarge
Lingerie Spring/Summer 2013 on La Perla


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David Guzik's Commentarieson the Bible
A. Why does Paul spend time defending his credentials?
1. (1) Introduction: Please bear with me!
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly; and indeed you do bear with me.
a. Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly: Paul does not call his defense of his apostleship folly because it is stupid or nonsense. He calls it folly because he does it reluctantly, knowing his time and effort could be spent on far better things. He calls it folly because he knows that the things he believed to be honorable about his apostleship would be regarded as foolish by some of the Corinthian Christians.
b. And indeed you do bear with me: One might ask, "Paul, if you think this is a little folly, why bother with it at all?" Yet it is worth it, for the reasons Paul will explain in the following passage.
2. (2-4) Why the issue of Paul's apostolic credentials is important.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!
a. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy: It is important that the Corinthian Christians understand and trust Paul's apostolic credentials because Paul is jealous with a godly jealousy for their hearts. Paul's godly jealousy is a good thing, and it will be offended if the Corinthian Christians are seduced by a false understanding of what being an apostle is all about.
i. Human jealousy is a vice. But the Lord said, I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) "God's jealousy is love in action. He refuses to share the human heart with any rival, not because He is selfish and wants us all for Himself, but because He knows that upon that loyalty to Him depends our very moral life . . . God is not jealous of us: He is jealous for us." (Redpath in Law and Liberty) Sharing God's jealousy for His people is a virtue.
ii. "Of all things that has brought misery upon the human life it is jealousy. There is nothing that has done so much harm in homes, in personal and national relationships, in international situations, in church life, as the ugly, devilish poison of jealousy . . . this is surely the very thing that has wrecked human living, that has broken marriages and wrecked homes, and this ugly business has smashed its way into churches. 'I will have no other friends nor will I allow other friends to come into your life, but me,' says one to another . . . To put it another way, the jealousy of man is selfish and self-centered. It usurps the rights of others, it is blind to their happiness, and it involves their ruin by leading to tyranny, and it cares nothing for anybody else as long as he gets through." (Redpath)
iii. "God's jealousy, therefore, is a concern for the holiness, integrity, purity of ethics, and Christian standards for His people. Because of this, He will refuse to brook a rival in our affections for Him, not because of a selfish greed which wishes us all for His own possession, but simply because He knows that His great purpose for us of purity and holiness of life depends on our personal surrender and submission to His purpose." (Redpath)
b. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ: It is important that the Corinthian Christians understand and trust Paul's apostolic credentials because Paul is like the friend of the groom, who watches out for the bride in the period between the engagement and the wedding.
i. Paul considers himself the friend of Jesus, the bridegroom, who will do his best to present the bride as a chaste virgin to Christ on the "wedding day" � when the Corinthian Christians one day stand before Jesus.
ii. In the Jewish culture of that day, the friend of the bridegroom (mentioned also in John 3:29) had an important job. "To procure a husband for the virgin, to guard her, and to bear testimony to her corporeal and marital endowments; and it was upon this testimony of this friend that the bridegroom chose his bride. He was the intercnuncio between her and her spouse elect; carrying all messages from her to him, and from him to her: for before marriage you women were strictly guarded at home with their parents or friends." Also, the friend of the bridegroom was called upon, if necessary, "To vindicate the character of the bride." (Clarke)
iii. Remember also that engagement wasn't taken lightly in Paul's culture. If someone was unfaithful during the engagement period, it was considered adultery, and an engagement could only be broken by divorce.
iv. Anytime we give our hearts to something other than God, we are committing "spiritual adultery" during the period of our engagement.
c. But I fear . . . your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ: It is important that the Corinthian Christians understand and trust Paul's apostolic credentials because Paul knows the subtle nature of Satan's deceptions.
i. At the bottom line, the Corinthian Christians didn't admire Paul's apostolic credentials because they were thinking in a worldly way, not having the mind of Jesus. They didn't like Paul's apparent weakness and unimpressive appearance. This was an important point, because Paul's apparent weakness was shared by Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8) It wasn't only the apostolic credentials of Paul that were under attack; the very nature of Jesus was being attacked.
ii. As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness: Paul understood that Satan's deception of Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5) is a good example of Satan's deceptive tactics. His lie to Eve (You will not surely die) was surrounded by half-truths and enticing deception. The Corinthian Christians were challenged by the deception of "trimphalism" because it was wrapped in the truth of the triumphant life we can live in Jesus Christ.
ii. Satan's lie to Eve recalls lines from Tennyson:
"A lie that is all of a lie can be met with and fought outright;
But a lie that is partly the truth is a harder matter to fight."
d. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus: It is important that the Corinthian Christians understand and trust Paul's apostolic credentials because Paul knows they are attracted to the false apostles who preach another Jesus.
i. The troublemakers among the Corinthian Christians who were stirring up contention against Paul didn't only attack Paul; they also attacked the true Jesus by preaching another Jesus. Who was this "other Jesus"? Because of the way the Corinthian Christians despised Paul's image of weakness and unimpressive appearance, the "other Jesus" was probably one who knew no weakness, persecution, humiliation, suffering and death. A "super Jesus" is another Jesus, not the real Jesus. And another Jesus cannot save!
ii. Whom we have not preached . . . a different spirit . . . or a different gospel: Paul warned the Galatians against receiving another Jesus. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
e. If He who comes: An apostle is "one who is sent." These troublemakers where the exact opposite of apostles. One could say of them, "He who comes." Of an apostle, one could say "one who is sent" by God. These false apostles had simply come; they were not really sent by God.
f. You may well put up with it: The problem wasn't so much that these false teachers had come among the Christians in Corinth. The problem was that the Corinthian Christians were putting up with them!
i. The church has the same problem today. It is not surprise that there are false teachers in the church today. The problem is that the church puts up with them and embraces them. Christians of this generation, like Christians of many generations, will have to answer to Jesus for their lack of discernment when it comes to the false teachers and leaders accepted and embraced by the church.
3. (5-9) Paul's "foolish" humility.
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
a. For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles: Paul here is comparing himself to some he refers to as the most eminent apostles. Apparently, these were apostles the Corinthian Christians preferred over Paul.
i. Commentators warmly debate the identity of these most eminent apostles. Some think they were other prominent apostles such as Peter or Apollos (as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:12). This isn't likely. Probably, Paul is speaking sarcastically of the false apostles who claimed to be superior to Paul.
ii. In the original language, the idea behind the phrase most eminent apostles is "extra-super apostles." Paul is probably writing sarcastically in reference to those who thought of and promoted themselves as "super-duper apostles."
iii. I am not at all inferior: Whoever these most eminent apostles are, Paul will not claim to be less than they. Later Paul will explain how he (in an unlikely way) is greater than these supposed most eminent apostles.
b. Even though I am untrained in speech: Paul, according to the standards of Greek rhetoric, was untrained in speech. In Paul's day, the ability to speak in a polished, sophisticated, entertaining way was a popular. Others (such as the most eminent apostles the Corinthian Christians loved so much) were able to speak in this manner. But Paul was either unable or unwilling to preach in this way. It didn't matter to Paul, because he wasn't concerned with meeting people's standards for a "polished" or "entertaining" speaker, he was concerned with faithfully preaching the gospel.
i. A story is told about a dinner party where the guests were expected to stand after the meal and recite something for the group. A famous actor was present, and he recited the twenty-third Psalm with great dramatic flair and emotion, and sat down to great applause. Then a very simple man got up and began to recite the same Psalm. He wasn't very eloquent, so at first people thought it was a little funny. But his presentation was straight from his heart, so when he finished, the group sat in respectful silence. It was obvious that the simple man's presentation was more powerful than the actors, and afterwards the actor told him: "I know the Psalm, but you know the Shepherd."
ii. That was the difference between the preaching of Paul and the preaching of the most eminent apostles. Paul didn't have all the polish and panache of a great speaker; but he knew God, and thus preached the gospel with power.
c. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things: Paul couldn't, or wouldn't, give the Corinthian Christians the polished and entertaining preaching they wanted. But he would give them himself. He thoroughly manifested himself among the Corinthian Christians in all things. He wasn't a polished speaker (according to the standards of his day), but he was an honest and transparent speaker.
d. Did I commit sin in humbling myself . . . because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? In the culture of that day, if a public speaker didn't take money for his speaking, he was often disregarded as a poor speaker, with worthless teaching. Many people thought of someone who charged no speaking fee as strictly an amateur. But Paul didn't care about the opinion of others when it came to his heart for preaching the gospel without being accused of doing it for money.
i. Did I commit sin? shows Paul at his most ironic. The Corinthian Christians who despised Paul were so worldly in their thinking they actually thought Paul might be in sin because he preached the gospel of God to you free of charge!
e. I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you: The word Paul uses for robbed is strong. In classical Greek this word was used for stripping a dead soldier of his armor.
i. Paul is referring to the fact that he received support from Christians in other cities during his time in Corinth. He could say he robbed those other churches in the sense that by right, the Corinthian Christians should have been supporting him when he was ministering to their spiritual needs (1 Corinthian 9:4-11). Instead, Paul was a burden to no one among the Corinthian Christians.
ii. For what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied: The other churches Paul "robbed" were in the region of Macedonia, including the Philippian church. Paul thanked them for their generosity in Philippians 4:14-18.
4. (10-15) Paul against the false apostles.
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
a. No one shall stop me from this boasting: Paul, as a true apostle could "boast" that he took no money, and that he was more interested in the integrity of the message than in his own needs.
b. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! Paul's boasting in his weakness and unimpressive image was an embarrassment to the Corinthian Christians. Why was he embarrassing them this way? It was only because he loved them, and would find a way to bring them back from their worldly thinking.
c. I will continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are: Paul's desire was to expose these most eminent apostles as frauds. If it took biting sarcasm or embarrassing the Corinthian Christians to expose them, Paul would use them.
d. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ: Here, Paul becomes even more direct. Without sarcasm, he plainly calls his detractors in Corinth (or at least the leaders among them) false apostles and deceitful workers.
i. Few modern Christians want to deal with the fact that there are still false apostles and deceitful workers among Christians. But they were clearly there in Paul's day, and they remain to this day.
ii. False apostles are those who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. In fact, no one can transform themselves into a true apostle of Christ. It is only a calling from God. "They were never apostles of Christ, only they put themselves into such a shape and form, that they might have more advantage to deceive." (Poole) As Paul will explain in the following sentence, those who transform themselves are more like Satan than like God!
e. For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness: Even as Satan may appear as an angel of light, so false apostles may have a "good" appearance. Paul is showing the Corinthian Christians how foolish it is to rely on image and outward appearances.
i. It is so easy for all people, including Christians, to be taken in by image and outward appearances. Many will only recognize evil if it openly declares itself as evil. But this approach will end up embracing Satan himself, who transforms himself into an angel of light. If Satan were to appear before a human audience, they would be strongly tempted to worship him as a creature of almost divine beauty. He would be regarded as an angel of light!
ii. Even so, it is foolish for the Corinthian Christians � or we today � to be taken in by image and outward appearances.
iii. Hughes rightly notes that in today's church, "an individual has only to make the most preposterous claims for himself in order to gain an enthusiastic and undiscerning following."
2. The roaring lion. 3. The angel of light. He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which are subversive of it. Hence all the persecutions, faggots, and fires of a certain Church, under pretence of keeping heresy out of the Church; and hence all the horrors and infernalities of the inquisition. In the form of heathen persecution, like a lion he has ravaged the heritage of the Lord. And by means of our senses and passions, as the subtle serpent, he is frequently deceiving us, so that often the workings of corrupt nature are mistaken for the operations of the Spirit of God." (Clarke)
f. A terrible condemnation is reserved for these false apostles: to be judged according to their works.
B. Paul's credentials as a "foolish" apostle.
1. (16-21) Fools and boasting.
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold; I speak foolishly; I am bold also.
a. Let no one think me a fool . . . I also may boast a little: It is easy to sense both Paul's sarcasm and his hesitancy to promote himself. He would rather talk about Jesus, but that message is hindered by the Corinthians' disregard of Paul's credentials as a true apostle, a true representative of Jesus.
i. Paul is not like the "real" fools who boast of their credentials. This will be evident when Paul starts stating his credentials as a true apostle!
b. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly: Paul speaks not according to the Lord in the sense that his defense of his credentials focuses on himself. Paul didn't like to talk about himself. He was happy to write for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5).
i. Paul feels forced into writing about himself: Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. But Paul's boasting will be nothing like the boasting of the many who boast according to the flesh.
c. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! Again, Paul uses biting sarcasm. If the Corinthian Christians are wise enough to put up with so many fools, surely they can listen to Paul for a while!
d. For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage: Like many of the deceived today, the Corinthians would put up with abuse from "super apostles," thinking that it is somehow spiritual.
i. The bondage Paul speaks of may indicate that these false apostles were legalists, trying to put people under the bondage of the Law. It is just as likely that the bondage Paul refers to is the personal domination and authority the most eminent apostles held over others. The emphasis on image and outward appearance is often coupled with an authoritarian approach to leadership, and this probably explains the bondage Paul refers to.
e. The Corinthian Christians were so taken with their "super apostles" they would accept all kind of ill treatment from them. If one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. They were so impressed with the image of authority and power of the "super apostles," they meekly submit to this kind of treatment.
i. Would the Corinthian Christians even accept it if one strikes you on the face? But it wasn't uncommon for religious authorities in that day (outside of Jesus' true ministers) to command people they considered to be ungodly to actually be struck in the face (Acts 23:2, 1 Timothy 3:3).
ii. Sadly, many people are more comfortable with authoritarian "super apostles" than with the freedom they may have in Jesus.
f. To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! Paul continues the sarcasm. Paul confesses that he is too "weak" to abuse his sheep the way the "super apostles" do. Guilty as charged!
g. But in whatever anyone is bold � I speak foolishly � I am bold also: The most eminent apostles were bold in proclaiming their greatness. So, Paul will be bold also, but in doing so, he will speak foolishly. The rest of the chapter contains Paul's "foolish boasting" about the things that prove him a true apostle.
2. (22-33) Paul's apostolic credentials.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?; I speak as a fool; I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
a. Are they Hebrews? So am I: Paul's human ancestry was more than enough to qualify him as an apostle. Not only was he the seed of Abraham, he was also of the Israelites. Not only was he of the Israelites, he was of the Hebrews, meaning he was a Jew of Judean descent, as opposed to Jews who were born in areas far from Judea.
i. Paul grew up in Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 21:39), but this apparently means his parents were Judean Jews who moved to Tarsus either before or after Paul was born.
ii. Paul knows very well that his blood ancestry does not make him an apostle or a servant of Jesus. But many of the most eminent apostles either said or implied that it was important. Knowing the silliness of this, Paul prefaced his remarks here with I speak foolishly. Yet, to make a point (to expose the foolishness of the most eminent apostles and to glorify the nature of Jesus), he will continue.
b. Are they ministers of Christ? � I speak as a fool � I am more: The most eminent apostles claimed to be ministers of Christ. When they used the term, it probably sounded like an honored, privileged title. As for Paul, he will claim also to be among the ministers of Christ. But he will explain he means something far different than the most eminent apostles meant.
i. Minister comes from the Greek word diakonos, which describes a humble servant, a menial worker. The most eminent apostles had inflated the idea of minister to make it a title of exaltation and privilege. Paul has no problem with the title minister, but he has a big problem with the understanding of the title promoted by the most eminent apostles and received by the Corinthian Christians. In the following section, Paul will explain what qualifies him to be called a minister of Christ. We should expect it to be rather different than what the most eminent apostles would claim as their qualifications!
c. In labors more abundant: "I am a minister of Christ because I work harder than any of the other apostles for Jesus' sake." Paul said this even more explicitly in 1 Corinthians 15:10: I labored more abundantly than they all.
i. In contrast, the most eminent apostles saw being a minister of Christ a matter of privilege. The more of a minister you were, the less you should have to work and the more others should serve you!
d. In stripes above measure: "I am a minister of Christ because I have been beaten many times for Jesus' sake." Paul received beatings from both the Jews (five times I received forty stripes minus one) and the Romans (three times I beaten with rods).
i. Deuteronomy 25:3 says: Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight. Accordingly, the Rabbis restricted the number of stripes you could give to 39 (forty stripes minus one). They did this not out of mercy, but they feared that there might be a miscount and forty stripes would be exceeded by accident.
ii. An ancient Jewish writing describes the procedure for receiving stripes in a Jewish court: "The two hands of the criminal are bound to a post, and then the servant of the synagogue either pulls or tears off his clothes till he leaves his breast and shoulders bare. A stone or block is placed behind him on which the servant stands; he holds in his hands a scourge made of leather, divided into four tails. He who scourges lays one third on the criminal's breast, another third on his right shoulder, and another on his left. The man who receives the punishment is neither sitting nor standing, but all the while stooping; and the man smites with all his strength, with one hand." (Mishna, fol. 22, 2; cited in Clarke)
e. In prisons more frequently: "I am a minister of Christ because I have spent a lot of time in prison for Jesus' sake." Paul speaks of being in prison several times, even though Acts only tells us of one instance to this date (in Philippi, Acts 16:20-24). This reminds us that as wonderful as the book of Acts is, it is an incomplete record.
f. In deaths often: "I am a minister of Christ because I have been close to death many times for Jesus' sake." We know Paul was close to death when an angry crowd tried to execute him by stoning in Lystra (Acts 14:19), but there were many other times as well.
i. The incident in Lystra, recorded in Acts 14:19, must be what Paul refers to when he says once I was stoned.
g. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils: "I am a minister of Christ because I have traveled many miles for Jesus' sake, and have endured many hardships traveling for Jesus' sake." In the modern world, a buys travel schedule can be hard on anyone. Think of what it was like in the ancient world!
i. Through the book of Acts, we read of no less than 18 journeys Paul took by ship, with half of them occurring before the writing of 2 Corinthians. Since the book of Acts is an incomplete record, there were many more in addition to this. Some historians have said that there is no other man in the ancient world who is recorded to have traveled as extensively as Paul did.
h. In perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: "I am a minister of Christ because I have endured many perils and many discomforts for Jesus' sake."
i. All these perils simply add up to a hard, stress-filled life. In perils of waters: This refers to the great dangers Paul faced in crossing rivers as he traveled. In perils of robbers: One of the worst dangers of travel in the ancient world were muggers ready to rob isolated travelers in the middle of nowhere (as Jesus illustrated in Luke 10:30). In perils in the city: Paul experienced many hostile mobs in the cities where he preached (Acts 13:50, 14:5, 14:19, 16:19, and so forth). In perils in the wilderness: In his travels, Paul spent many dangerous days and nights in the wilderness. In perils in the sea: This refers to Paul's many shipwrecks and difficulties when traveling by sea. In perils among false brethren: Paul had the danger of those who said they were brothers and his friends, and who were not (2 Timothy 4:14 is a later example of this). In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: In our modern world, we are isolated from so many of the difficulties Paul would have faced. We can get water and food and warmth so much more easily than Paul ever could. Paul simply lived a hard life as a missionary, traveling and preaching the gospel!
ii. It wasn't the mere fact of a hard life that made Paul a true minister of Christ. Many people have hard lives, but are in no way servants of Jesus. But for Paul, all these perils and hardships were freely chosen, when he could have lived differently if he wanted to. But he didn't want to. He wanted to serve Jesus, and if these hardships were part of serving Jesus, he would accept them.
iii. How could the man who lived this life possibly be happy? Because he had died to himself! Because he could say, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Because of this, Paul could practice what he preached when he wrote, we also glory in tribulations (Romans 5:3). This wasn't just "spiritual talk" from Paul. He really lived it! Paul could say, and mean, what he wrote earlier in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
iv. The most eminent apostles, and the Christian Corinthians who had bought into their worldly lies, must think Paul is crazy at this point. They found nothing to boast about in these hardships Paul glories in. For them such hardships said, "God is not with me. I'm a loser. I'm weak. I'm not happy. My life is too hard." They could only glory in the image of power and the appearance of success. If they did not have that, they felt God was against them. They thought this way because their thinking was worldly, instead of having the mind of Jesus as reflected in Philippians 2:5-11.
v. "Such is the price that Paul paid. How does that react upon you? Do you congratulate yourself that you have escaped it? One week of such living and we would be done, but Paul went through it for a lifetime and gloried in his infirmities." (Redpath)
vi. The perils of Paul's life were really plenty enough to kill any man. But men could not kill him until God had finished His purpose for Paul on this earth!
i. Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches: In addition to all the stressful perils previously mentioned, Paul lived daily with another burden. He lived with a deep concern for all the churches.
i. The perils Paul mentioned were not everyday occurrences. But his deep concern for all the churches never left him. Paul's burdens were not only physical, they were also emotional.
ii. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? Paul's deep concern was not for himself. It was for others; for the weak and those made to stumble. Paul had many burdens, but few of them were for himself. He, like Jesus, was truly an others-centered person.
iii. Redpath on what comes upon me daily: "I could not possibly convey to you adequately in the English language the force of that statement. I tried to picture it in terms of being smothered under a blanket, or by being attacked and crushed by some great animal, for he could not have used a stronger word when he said, in effect, 'That which bears me down, that which is upon me as an intolerable load, that which is a burden, that which is something that I can never shake off day or night. It is with me always. I have no vacation for it ever. It is upon me daily. The care, the compassion, the concern of all the churches.'"
iv. Paul's deep concern was not a "faithless fussiness." "This anxiety was based not only on disturbing reports which came to his ears, but on his knowledge of the savage subtlety of the enemy of souls who, he realized, would stop at nothing in his attempts to overthrow the work of the gospel." (Hughes)
j. If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity: What is Paul's boast? What are his credentials as an apostle? Only his scars, the things which concern my infirmity. The infirmity Paul refers to may be a specific illness or weakness; more likely, it is the life of hardship and stress he lived as a whole.
i. The false apostles, those most eminent apostles, would never dream of boasting in such things. They thought any infirmity made one look weak and far from God. But Paul did not care if it looked foolish in the eyes of the world or those in the church who thought like the world. Paul lived with an eternal perspective, not a worldly perspective.
ii. "I will not boast of my natural or acquired powers; neither in what God has done by me; but rather in what I have suffered for him." (Clarke)
k. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying: Paul recognizes that what he has just written may seem incredible to some. Some may doubt Paul has actually lived such hardship. But probably even more doubt that Paul could actually boast of such hardship! So Paul uses strong language to declare God is his witness that he is telling the truth.
i. "'God knoweth.' He knows what? Knows all the suffering, knows all the trial, knows all the facts, which he has already referred to, that he is led everywhere in triumph all the way. 'God knoweth.' That is the secret of his deepest boasting." (Morgan)
l. In Damascus . . . I was let down in a basket through a window: This was perhaps the first real peril or hardship Paul faced for Jesus' sake (Acts 9:23-25). He thinks way back to this beginning event, perhaps thinking that his escape from Damascus was his "apprenticeship in persecution." It is as if he is saying, "This is how my ministry began and this is how it continues."
i. Hughes says of this Damascus escape, "it was an event which emphasized, at the very beginning of his ministry, his own abject weakness and frailty."
ii. It illustrates with power the contrast between Saul of Tarsus and Paul the Apostle. Saul of Tarsus traveled to Damascus full of man's power and authority, directed against God's people. Paul the Apostle left Damascus humbly in a basket! Is there anything more descriptive of weakness than being let down in a basket over a wall? "Could we thing of anything more likely to rob a man of any sense of dignity than that?" (Morgan)
iii. The reference to Aretas the king dates Paul's escape from Damascus between 37-39 AD. Taking into account the three years mentioned in Galatians 1:18, and that this incident happened at the end of those three years, we can surmise that Paul was converted sometime between 34 and 36 AD.
Bibliography Information
Guzik, David. "Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11". "David Guzik's Commentarieson the Bible". <http://classic.studylight.org/com/guz/view.cgi?book=2co&chapter=011>. 1997-2003.
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text:
Face Value: Dos Pesos
Gold Content: .0482 oz troy gold
Fineness: .900 purity
Origin: Mexico
Gold Mexican 2 Peso History:
The Gold Mexican Peso is the smallest bullion coin from Mexico as well as smallest denomination. These are a very popular coin due to their outstanding bullion value and are an efficient way to enter into the market. The Mexican Peso 2 (Dos Pesos) were issued by Banco de Mexico from 1919-1948. Interestingly enough the key mintage year should be 1948 but there are no coins known to exist from this year so they should be considered counterfeit. With that information, the key to this coin series is 1920.
Mexico Peso 2 Gold Specifications:


text:
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Course License Numbers: 513.001118/513.001119
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have any disabilities that require special accommodations, please identify those special needs when registering or call the instructors. Payment will be processed at time of registration. There are no refunds for cancellations; however, you may transfer your registration to another participant. Name of substitute participant must be submitted at the time of cancellation.


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Free Entry
If it's wide, green, open spaces you're looking for in Ipswich, Limestone Park at Eastern Heights, just a few minutes from the Central Business District, has plenty of room for all sorts of outdoor activities. It's proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a great time.
Used regularly for team sports events with facilities suitable for soccer, football, cricket, athletics and netball, Limestone Park has picnic tables and barbecues with drinking water, gazebos and other shelters so the whole family can enjoy the pleasant surroundings. Bring along a ball to kick around the large area so the kids can run themselves ragged, and there's also playground equipment for the younger ones.
It's not unusual to see local walkers and joggers enjoying Limestone Park, including with strollers and pet dogs joining in on the exercise. There are recreational pathways and strength and agility stations, along with car parking, disabled access and public toilets. You can also hold a sporting event at Bill Paterson Oval by prearrangement with Ipswich Little Athletics.
Due to current health advice on social distancing, please contact the business for the most up to date information regarding opening times and services.


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A Night of Worship with Joseph PrinceOct. 30 - 7:30 PM / Doors Open at 6:30 PM
Ticket Prices
$10, $20
First time visiting? Read the Guest Services/FAQ
Visiting L.A. Live
There are lots of things to do before and after your event at L.A. LIVE, the leading entertainment district in Los Angeles! Grab a drink, get a meal, catch a movie, visit a museum and much more!
Seating Map
- Mezzanine
- Loge
- Orchestra
- Pit
Interactive Seating Map
View our Interactive Seating Map to see approximate section views.
Venue information
Microsoft Theater is a non-smoking venue. No re-entry.
Box Office
For hours, contact information and phone numbers, visit Ticketing.


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Empire Carpet is Environmentally Responsible:
From lighting, paint and furniture, to floor coverings and window treatments, choosing environmentally friendly products for your home is more than a hot decorating trend; it's more sustainable for our planet. Empire Today® or Empire Carpet, a leader for over 50 years in installed home improvement and home furnishings, has made a solid commitment to sustainability. Empire Flooring offers carpet and flooring options that are as environmentally responsible as they are beautiful and affordable.
Earth Friendly Practices:
For Over 50 Years, Empire Today, or Empire Carpet, as it's more commonly known, has been a leader in the installed home improvement and home furnishings industry. We're dedicated to customer satisfaction and when you want products that are more earth-friendly and practices that are more environmentally responsible, we're committed to satisfying your needs.
Empire Today works with leading manufacturers for its Empire Carpet, Empire Flooring and Empire Window Treatments products, on an ongoing basis, to provide you with an ever-greater range of quality choices for greener and more energy-efficient products, at prices you can afford. Here are just a few of our most popular eco-friendly products:
Shaw Floors' Type 6 Nylon
This is the only residential carpet capable of being recycled back into carpet fiber at Shaw's Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility in Augusta, Georgia. See how it works at www.shawfloors.com/Shaw-Environmental/Sustainability
Shaw Floors' Laminate
This beautiful flooring is made with less newly harvested wood than hardwoods or other laminate products and is engineered for a long life span, reducing consumption of natural resources.
Epic™ Hardwood
The materials come from managed forests and use 50 percent less newly harvested wood than other products. They also contain EnviroCore™, which is made of residual wood fibers recycled from other manufacturing processes.
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
Not only do these name-brand window treatments look great, but by managing heat loss and gain through the windows (as well as controlling heat from sunlight), they reduce utility usage. Further, window treatments act as insulation, while allowing for natural solar heat and light.


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At itsNOTFORgirls we get asked a lot of questions about fashion trends, styles and brands via our comments section, Facebook, Twitter and especially on our Youtube channel. It's there we give you a guys a first hand look at different kicks and how they look as buying online can sometimes be deceiving. We display a number of brands like Supra shoes, Radii shoes, Converse shoes and just recently a pair of Osiris Rhyme Remix Shoes. With the 400,000 views comes a lot of questions but one of the more popular ones is simply "What is the best way to wear certain hightops", so we put together this guide using our videos to show you guys the different looks.
Mount Everest Hightops – The Supra TK Society
Lets begin with a look at one of the tallest shoes out there, the Supra TK Society by pro skater Terry Kennedy. A favourite amongst the team here they can be worn in a number of ways, in fact it's almost difficult to wear these the wrong way!! When choosing jeans pick a pair of regular fit or even skinnys, see our recommendations from Urbanindustry below with our video displaying all the different styles the TK offers.
itsNOTFORgirls Recommendations
Mid Tops – Orsis Ryhme Remix and Supra Bandits
Mid tops are much easier to work with as most jeans will sit nicely on them. A straight leg jean is best as it won't cover the shoes an yet give you that nice crumpled look. Mid tops work well with a shirt if you are chasing that smart/casual look – see our guide on how to wear a shirt. The jeans in these videos are Diesel and Naked & Famous both available at Kamaloop, check out our recommendations and videos below.
itsNOTFORgirls Recommendations
Points To Remember:
- Say NO to flared jeans with these
- Keep the regular fit / skinnys
- Never pull up your pants Viva le Baggy Pants
- Check out our other guides including How To Wear Shorts For Men, How To Wear Skinny Jeans For Men and What Shoes To Wear With Skinny Jeans.


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I figured I would post some pictures of my cabin I am building in Tennessee. I will post more as the project progresses.
The road leading up to my land
Land before we started
Part of driveway
Starting the foundation
A little further along
My bug out rig
We now have the tin roof and and windows are in. I will post more pictures when I get them.


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A flurry of bills introduced in the Australian ParliamentThu Sep 30 2010
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today reintroduced a number of bills covering the range of responsibilities his portfolio including national security, native title, anti-discrimination and law enforcement. "The reintroduction of this legislation indicates the government will pursue its agenda to create a just and fair society," Mr McClelland said. The bills include the following:
The Native Title Bill (No. 1) 2010 - regarding the construction of housing on land in indigenous communities subject to Native Title.
The Civil Dispute Resolution Bill 2010
The Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2010 and the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2010 will ensure recognition of human rights issues in legislative and policy development and implement the legislative elements of Australiaâs Human Rights Framework, released earlier in the year.
The _Service and Execution of Process Amendment Bill (Interstate Fine Enforcement Bill) 2010 _will allow the states and territories to enforce interstate fines.
The National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 will implement the recommendations of reviews of Australiaâs national security and counter-terrorism legislation, while the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Bill 2010 will ensure transparency and accountability in the operation of national security legislation.
The Telecommunications Interception and Intelligence Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 will facilitate greater cooperation and intelligence sharing between law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the fight against crime and terrorism.
The Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 will create a standalone Age Discrimination Commissioner to investigate complaints and advocate on behalf of older Australians.
30 September 2010


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I was doing some prep test on scholomance with 4 war and a sham, damn, it was hard. It was a lot easier with a priest instead of a sham, but yeah, not optimal for wpvp.
Personally, I always prefer double healer. 3 Warriors is plenty of DPS and having that extra HPS really smooths things out. Especially since I play alliance and paladins only have single target heals.
If your Warriors were running dual Crusader Enchants on something like FlurryAxe+ThrashBlade with HandOfJustice (or IronFoe instead of FlurryAxe) I would think they should be getting lots of little Healing from both Crusader Enchants and the Seal of Light's Judgement.
Hopefully that kind of setup would help smooth things out well for one healer to generally manage and the DPSing Tank Paladin can still be a periodic off Healer to supplement the healing of any spikes. If that ends up being too mana intensive you could try to weave in Judging Seal of Wisdom so hits on the target help refill both health and mana for the Paladin(s).
Last edited by nodoze : 06-10-2019 at 05:42 PM
Protection paladins use a ton of mana even if you're being conservative. I wouldn't want to play one without a mage in the group for water. Having two holy paladins allows you to be super mana efficient with flash of light and healing separate targets when the mobs are split between your warriors.
Last edited by Apatheist : 06-11-2019 at 09:46 AM


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In 2017, we opened a new office in Bedworth town centre. Through our years of working in the Bedworth area and building a reputable reputation, we decided to set up a new dedicated office for our customers. At our Bedworth office, we provide the same services that we have offered for years, including lettings, sales, valuations and more.
We focus on customer satisfaction and always ensure that every customer receives the best level of service possible. This has resulted in us rapidly becoming the first choice for people wanting a professional, trustworthy and reliable team of letting and estate agents.
Our Services
Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent a property in Bedworth, we are here to help you. Our range of services in Bedworth includes:
Home Sales
Our trained, experienced and dedicated staff use their expertise and local knowledge of the Bedworth area to advise and support you through every stage of the selling process. We can create the perfect marketing package for your property to ensure a smooth sale.
Letting Agents
Our team consists of experienced Letting Agents, so, whether you are looking for a property to rent or perhaps you are a landlord looking for reliable letting agents, our team of property experts will be able to assist you. We offer tenants a wide variety of rental properties to choose from and landlords benefit from our competitively priced, round the clock, management service.
Property Valuations
Are you based in Bedworth and looking for a property valuation? As part of our sales and lettings services, we offer homeowners and landlords free property valuations throughout Bedworth.
Property Visualisations
We are experts in the production of photo-realistic Computer Generated Images (CGI) of your property. The range of visualisations we can produce include, exterior CGI, interior CGI, site plans (2D and 3D) and fly-by and walkthrough animations. We maximise the potential of your development through the creation of exciting, attractive and realistic CGI representations of your new build properties, which can help stimulate interest and boost sales.
Our Reputation
With almost 20 years of experience and a track record of successfully letting and selling homes throughout the Bedworth area, our reputation for providing top quality services continues to strengthen. It always surprises us how many of our clients find out about Carters through word of mouth and personal recommendation.
Enquire Today
If you're looking for professional and reliable Estate or Letting Agents in the Bedworth area? If so, get in touch and find out why we are quickly becoming the first choice for Bedworthians looking for the services of an award-winning Estate Agent. Visit us in person or arrange an appointment. All of our details are on our contact page or you can call us on 02476 480 444. You can also view the properties we have for sale and rent on Rightmove.


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Integrating Gender Considerations into Energy Operations
In the energy sector, the gender dimensions of access to services, access to benefits, and exposure to risks and benefits, are being increasingly recognized as important elements to be considered for effective policy making and project design. In practice, this translates into integrating a gender perspective throughout the operational cycle to improve gender equity in project participation, benefits and opportunities. The objective of this briefing note is to provide World Bank energy task teams a brief overview of the key issues, resources and tools to help integrate gender consid- erations into energy sector operations.


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Today's world could certainly use more of the confidence of the ancient psalm writer who sang, "For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations" (Psalms 22:28). Clearly, this man had so much faith that God, the omniscient and omnipotent Mind, was in control and meeting his and all of humanity's needs, that he rejoiced through song. What an example! And one that served me well many years ago.
In a previous career, I held a management position in a company where ethics, integrity, fairness, and kindness were frequently overshadowed by greed and self-righteousness. My natural inclinations to adhere to principled action and express joy often created a rub with the company's leadership. Although I did good work, made significant contributions to profit margins, and had a loyal staff, more often than not I was harshly criticized.
For a long time, the faultfinding felt very personal. I couldn't understand it, and I often found myself complaining about this unjust treatment around the watercooler and to family and friends. Rehearsing my dissatisfactions only made things worse.
Then one day – finally – I turned my attention to the psalm mentioned above. I started to realize that I, too, could trust that God, and God only, was governing, protecting, and nurturing everybody in this organization. Regardless of rank, we were all God's equally loved and valued children, created for the glory of God. I could replace my frustrations and anger with my own songs of gratitude for the opportunity to support these individuals by cherishing them and myself as the pure and upright children of God we inherently are. It took persistence to maintain and really utilize this higher line of thinking, but it was worth the effort. I became happier, and consequently, my relationships with my bosses became more harmonious.
As I have looked back on this experience over the years, three key lessons continue to stand out. The first is that I learned I was never the problem nor were my superiors. Evil is never personal. The inharmony between us was the result of a false view of our real spiritual nature. As God's children, governed by Him, we were all innocent. Prayer eliminated the false view and brought harmony to the situation.
The second was that I learned not to be tempted to participate in the proverbial watercooler conversations. Feeling God's control, and using my time and energy to see the good in my fellow man, rather than harp on personalities and judgments, have proved to be far more beneficial to myself and others.
And the third ever-important lesson was realizing that if I want to see harmony manifested more consistently, I have to love in the way Christ Jesus taught, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). And he also instructed: "Cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5).
Speaking to this requirement, the discoverer of Christian Science wrote, "He [Jesus] would insist on the rule and demonstration of divine Science: even that you first cast out your own dislike and hatred of God's idea, – the beam in your own eye that hinders your seeing clearly how to cast the mote of evil out of other eyes" (Mary Baker Eddy, "Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896," p. 336).
Whether in business or government, if we want to witness God, good, as the one true power, we can. We need only look to our common Father for help and be willing to do our part in exercising brotherly kindness and gentleness to all. As we do, like the Psalmist, we'll also feel the assurance of divine Love's control. We too can find the peace conveyed in another powerful hymn:
Then let us know no fear,
Our King is ever near;
Our stay and fortress strong,
Our strength, our hope, our song;
His kingdom is forever.
(Frederic W. Root, "Christian Science Hymnal," No. 10)


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Growing Each Day by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
All beginnings are difficult (Rashi, Exodus 19:5).
We are creatures of habit. Learning something new may take effort, but once we make something a part of our routine, it becomes not only effortless, but automatic. For example, when we learned to walk, it required conscious effort, as we can see when we observe children taking their first steps. Later on in life, walking takes no thought at all. The same holds true for many other behaviors. Whenever we begin something new, we are, by definition, initiating some new type of behavior. The body naturally tends to return to the old, effortless pattern. If the new behavior holds promises of significant gain (such as a new job, new business, or new learning), which we anticipate will be profitable, this anticipation of reward overcomes the resistance to change, and we make the adjustment to the new. When we see no tangible gain, such as in spiritual advancement, the ease of routine is likely to draw us back to well-established habits.
Let's face it. If we were offered a significant promotion at work which would necessitate arising half an hour earlier than usual, we would certainly set the alarm clock and get up promptly. If, however, we resolve to devote that half-hour to bettering ourselves, we would have trouble getting up.
We must value our spiritual goals so much that we will be willing to make the changes in our routine that are necessary to achieve them.
Today I shall...
try to overcome any resistance to spiritual growth that requires changing well-established routines.
With stories and insights, Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...


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Sweet Success.
Maja Blanca.. My favorite!!ReplyDelete
Maja Blanca really reminds me of home. We always had it on our table for all occasions.
-Gino of www.dropdeaddapper.com
This was so cute because at one moment it was about food than the under lying feeling of family, time and self honesty pulled it out. I hope it tasted wonderful!ReplyDelete
I love eating Maja Blanca. It's one of the things I eat whenever my aunt or mom makes it. :) I feel so at home with it.ReplyDelete
It is always nice to pursue new things. It is in going out of our comfort zone where we start to discover what we are capable of. ;) Congrats!ReplyDelete
Same here, maja is also a favorite dessert :) Congrats on your successful attempt. :)ReplyDelete
Congrats you made a yummy maja! uhm how i love maja especially when it's creamy! :) why not make a puto next? Heard you can use a hot cake mix for a puto. :)
That's how life works after all. Try and try until you succeed. :)
Nurse Alpha
Congrats! I become more adventurous in cooking whenever I think of the outcome. I try to always think positive that after failures, there's always the success. Cooking is for everyone who is up to the challenge.ReplyDelete
This is my first time to know about this sweet treat. I'm curious of how it tastes like.
I love how this maja helped you (and us) realize an important lesson in life. :)
Congratulations! This is also one of my mom's specialty along with Biko and Puto's Kutsinta... I love Maja the most! It is more like a mixture of Gelatin and Gatang Mais... my mom used to have a toppings for this but I'm not sure what it is made of.. something with Gata I guessReplyDelete
we used to call it Maja Blanca by the way heheDelete
Maja Blanca! One of the two staple desserts in our table whenever there is a special occassions. The other two are leche flan and halaya.ReplyDelete
I didn't know there's already a ready-mix product for maja blanca. It's also one of my favorite desserts. Unlike the usual Pinoy dessert, it's not too filling and it's also just the right amount of sweetness. The occasional corn kernels add texture to the otherwise soft pudding. Yum yum!ReplyDelete
What started out as a post about weather to use "Instant" maja mix turned out to be something really deep. :O hehehe, anyways, I too am in love with maja blanca, although I hate the ones that have some sort of niyog on them cause it distorts the taste of the corn, and I like it simple. I have attempted to make this for around 3-4 times in my life and each one turned out to be a disaster... But at least there are improvements happening, and I think that if I am still living with my mom it would've been perfect on the first try :) Nobody knows how to make maja in our house kasi hehehehReplyDelete
Congratulations! What is Maja? I felt the same a couple of weeks ago. I really wanted to make a brownie, but all the recipes looked so complicates. So I gave up and just bought a ready mix that needed only 2 extra eggs. It came out a delicious brownie, with chocolate bits in it and a nice chocolaty crust on top. No idea how was that possible and I had no expectations from "the box", but I will definitely do it again.ReplyDelete
2018 1st runner up - Digital Category at the Sinag Award 2018 - Sun Life's Financial Literacy Journalism Award


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The mill chimney that still looms over Atherton has issued no smoke for years, just as the coal beneath this part of the borough of Wigan has remained undisturbed. Nothing unusual about that. Redundant mills and mines are familiar to any number of small towns in post-industrial Britain. The social consequences are familiar, too, on council-built estates where residents in well-paid employment are as rare as family breakdown, and drug and alcohol abuse are common.
All the more remarkable then, in the circumstances, is the scene in a ground-floor flat on the Hag Fold estate in Atherton. It's just after lunch on a Friday, and six young teenagers are bent over their books at a table that might have come from Ikea. You could almost hear a pen drop on the thick, fitted carpet. The walls, furnishings and pictures, like the carpet, are tastefully neutral. There's a television in the lounge next door and rows of computers in the room beyond that.
Welcome to Phase One Base, an outpost of Hesketh Fletcher CofE high school. More than 40% of the 800 or so pupils are from this estate and at least 50 of them were in danger of being permanently excluded. Phase One Base was designed as a way of taking their disruptive presence out of the school and putting them into a totally different environment with a high teacher-pupil ratio - one to six at the most.
Home from Home
At the end of the school day, the teachers hand over to two "house parents" who once worked for social services. They oversee matters until around 8pm. Pupils, sometimes with younger siblings in tow, are allowed to watch some television before the set is switched off and homework begins. At some point, they all sit down around the table to eat a nutritious meal together. Home from Home it's called, although the cosy stability it offers bears little resemblance to the homes that most of these youngsters come from.
Together, Home from Home and Phase One Base make up extended provision that has won Hesketh Fletcher plaudits from Ofsted and a Go4it award from Heads, Teachers and Industry (HTI), a charity working to bring education and industry closer together and improve the employability of school-leavers.
The Go4it campaign was launched by HTI's then president, now government minister, Lord Digby Jones, to challenge what he called the "cotton-wool kid" culture - a byproduct, as he sees it, of our increasingly risk-averse society. "Our awards are like Oscars," says HTI's chief executive, Anne Evans. "We're trying to encourage a can-do culture in schools. Yes, they have to deliver the national curriculum and achieve the required number of Sats. But, in addition, our winners will have done something creative to meet a challenge. They will have assessed the risk, managed the process and come up with a way of dealing with it."
Almost 100 have applied for the Go4it "Oscar", with 25 being successful. So far, that is. At Dulwich Hamlet primary in London, 90 pupils were given £1 each to invest and raised £2,200 for schools in Ghana. At North Chadderton secondary in Lancashire, meanwhile, children have been examining the impact of conflict by re-enacting the English civil war.
Hesketh Fletcher pupils from the Hag Fold estate face risk on a daily basis, without the need for re-enactment. Cotton-wool kids they are not. What they need is some stability in what are often chaotic lives.
"They also need time spent on them," says headteacher Dr Ted Walker. "They're suffering from inadequate parenting in our most extreme cases. The parents might have mental-health problems, or be drug users - both in some cases. What's remarkable is how quickly their kids can change with some care and attention. They don't come back into school perfect, but there are little acts of transformation going on."
Walker, 54, has a doctorate in physics and could have settled for life as an academic. But teaching in an area like this, he feels, is his vocation as a Christian. "Over 40% of our children are among the poorest 10% in the UK, according to the government analysis of deprivation," he says. "To make a difference to their lives, I realised that we had to have the capacity to do more outside the school. I suppose that was the risk element that Go4it were looking for."
A key player in his strategy has been assistant head Patsy Hodson, 51, who returned to teaching seven years ago after 18 years working in the community sector. Her experiences in raising money for sustainability projects has come in very handy. Apart from tapping into innumerable funding sources, she persuaded Wigan and Leigh Housing to donate the flat that now doubles as classroom and homework club. "They've now offered us their old office on the estate, which will give us the space to cope with demand," she says.
Phase One Base is already accommodating 60 pupils at different times of the week, and Home from Home another 35. "One lad's doing four days a week there," Hodson goes on. "Like the others, he knows his attendance has to be 100% because there's a waiting list for places. Some of these kids really want to succeed. And success for them used to mean staying in school without being excluded and perhaps gaining one GCSE at grade G. Now our target is to get them five A to Cs. Nothing less."
The project started in November and around a third of the children involved will sit their exams next summer. "One boy is halfway to a GCSE in IT in four months," she enthuses. "And he's someone who simply wouldn't focus at all when he was in school," adds ICT teacher Minesha Patel, who is overseeing Phase One Base on this Friday afternoon.
Ask the a children how things are at home and they invariably say "all right". But it's not all right in many cases. Here's a girl of 15 who has been struggling to look after her younger sister since her parents split up and her mother suffered a breakdown. Here's a boy, 13, whose schizophrenic mother is in and out of hospital. "I never know, when I go home," he mutters, "whether she's going to be worse or better." And here's a boy, 14, whose parents were addicted to drugs and whose father has been recently released from jail for dealing. The boy was legally adopted by his grandparents, only for his beloved grandmother to die on his birthday.
As extended schools development manager Lynn Hayes fills in the details, there are tears in her eyes. She's in her 50s and was brought up on an estate like this. "The difference is that my dad worked down the pit and my mum in the factory," she says.
Mills and mines produced more than coal and cotton, it seems. They also provided the glue that held communities like Hag Fold together.