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A reader of this blog has asked a couple of questions (rather unpleasantly). Tonight, having just returned from the World Religions class I teach, I have decided to take the time to respond like Hillel instead of Shammai.
First, he says the Seventh-day Adventist church is pro-abortion.
Second, he says the Seventh-day Adventist church was founded by "a 12 year old epileptic girl."
I'll start with the second. The Seventh-day Adventist church was founded in 1863. Ellen White, to whom he is referring, was born in 1827 and was thus 36 that year. Her husband, James, born in 1821, was 42. Joseph Bates, born in 1792, was 71. The three together are considered the founders of Seventh-day Adventism. Ellen White had her first vision in 1844 at the age of 17. She had no standing in the Millerite movement, however–she was just a 17 year old kid living with her parents. Her visions did not provide any doctrinal content and do not form the basis of Seventh-day Adventist teaching. Adventists take their doctrine from the Bible and the Bible only. All the distinctives of the Seventh-day Adventist church were hammered out through Bible study independent of Ellen White's influence. As to the charge that she had epilepsy–there's no credible scientific basis for that diagnosis. But even if she did … so what? Does an illness prevent God from using someone? Does age? Paul had a thorn he prayed God to take away–but affirmed in his weakness he was made strong (2 Cor 12:7-10). Paul told Timothy to let no man despise his youth (1 Tim 4:12). If anyone wants to know more, I'd refer them to some books by historian George Knight.
As to the suggestionthat Adventists are pro-abortion, I'd refer you to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. There you have Adventist teaching. The preface affirms:
Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word.
On the matter of marriage and family life Adventists believe:
Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For the Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who share a common faith. Mutual love, honor, respect, and responsibility are the fabric of this relationship, which is to reflect the love, sanctity, closeness, and permanence of the relationship between Christ and His church. Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that the person who divorces a spouse, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. Although some family relationships may fall short of the ideal, marriage partners who fully commit themselves to each other in Christ may achieve loving unity through the guidance of the Spirit and the nurture of the church. God blesses the family and intends that its members shall assist each other toward complete maturity. Parents are to bring up their children to love and obey the Lord. By their example and their words they are to teach them that Christ is a loving disciplinarian, ever tender and caring, who wants them to become members of His body, the family of God. Increasing family closeness is one of the earmarks of the final gospel message. (Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:21-33; Matt. 5:31, 32; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10, 11; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4; Deut. 6:5-9; Prov. 22:6; Mal. 4:5, 6.)
The Executive Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists voted on some guidelines on abortion on October 12, 1992. This is not part of the church's Fundamental Beliefs. It was not passed by the General Conference in session, which is the church's highest level of authority. It begins:
Many contemporary societies have faced conflict over the morality of abortion.* Such conflict also has affected large numbers within Christianity who want to accept responsibility for the protection of prenatal human life while also preserving the personal liberty of women. The need for guidelines has become evident, as the Church attempts to follow scripture, and to provide moral guidance while respecting individual conscience. Seventh-day Adventists want to relate to the question of abortion in ways that reveal faith in God as the Creator and Sustainer of all life and in ways that reflect Christian responsibility and freedom. Though honest differences on the question of abortion exist among Seventh-day Adventists, the following represents an attempt to provide guidelines on a number of principles and issues. The guidelines are based on broad biblical principles that are presented for study at the end of the document.
So there's the reality: Adventists have differing views, caught in tension between the twin poles of personal freedom and obligations to the unborn.
1) Prenatal human life is a magnificent gift of God. God's ideal for human beings affirms the sanctity of human life, in God's image, and requires respect for prenatal life. However, decisions about life must be made in the context of a fallen world. Abortion is never an action of little moral consequence. Thus prenatal life must not be thoughtlessly destroyed. Abortion should be performed only for the most serious reasons.
2) Abortion is one of the tragic dilemmas of human fallenness. The Church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning an abortion. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving, caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.
3) In practical, tangible ways the Church as a supportive community should express its commitment to the value of human life. These ways should include:
a. strengthening family relationships
b. educating both genders concerning Christian principles of human sexuality
c. emphasizing responsibility of both male and female for family planning
d. calling both to be responsible for the consequences of behaviors that are inconsistent with Christian principles
e. creating a safe climate for ongoing discussion of the moral questions associated with abortion
f. offering support and assistance to women who choose to complete crisis pregnancies
g. encouraging and assisting fathers to participate responsibly in the parenting of their children.
The Church also should commit itself to assist in alleviating the unfortunate social, economic, and psychological factors that add to abortion and to care redemptively for those suffering the consequences of individual decisions on this issue.
Next comes the key paragraph.
4) The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance. Abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Church. Women, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances that present serious moral or medical dilemmas, such as significant threats to the pregnant woman's life, serious jeopardy to her health, severe congenital defects carefully diagnosed in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. The final decision whether to terminate the pregnancy or not should be made by the pregnant woman after appropriate consultation. She should be aided in her decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.
I think it wimps out. I think it should have been more forceful in emphasizing the duty to protect life. That's what I was consistently taught as a young Adventist. It's what was drummed into us during a Week of Prayer at Atlantic Union College when I was a student by a powerful speaker. My own suspicion: I think here the Executive Committee caved in to pressure from some in the church's hospital system.
Is the Adventist church pro-abortion? No. But it acknowledges there are some very difficult situations where the church can't legislate. Considering this is a subject where Scripture is silent (despite the fact that abortion was known in the ancient world), I can live with that, while preaching and teaching according to my conscience and according to what I believe Scripture says. That, the church affirms, is my duty.


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If it makes a difference, it should be measured. But, are we measuring the right things and setting the right goals to improve performance?
Many of us may agree on the fact that setting goals is an effective tool in increasing performance. However, what type of goals: outcome, performance, or process? Also, what about the differences between how some people set goals for themselves—or avoid them? Listen to this video to get the 8 steps to setting effective goals and establishing metrics that are directly related to high performance.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Challenge of Relational Analytics and IoT Data
Relational analytics, including analyzing data from the Internet of Things (IoT), presents myriad challenges when it comes to litigation. The diversity and number of mobile devices, wearable devices, vehicles, buildings and other items (like light bulbs, picture frames and tea kettles) embedded with connective technology, and thereby chock full of valuable IoT data, are growing at an alarming rate. As the 3V's (volume, variety and velocity) impact the ever-expanding dimensions of big data, structured data systems are becoming more disparate and increasingly complex. And these systems can be highly distributed throughout an organization and third party vendors, especially when considering Cloud-based and IoT datasets.
When legal issues arise, there's often a need to leverage relational analytics surrounding this data and its related systems. Identifying, gathering, analyzing and understanding IoT data – what it is, where it's stored, who touched it and why it's relevant – can be critical to resolving a case. It's also vitally important to bring distinct structured data systems together so data can be examined collectively, rather than in isolation, in order to uncover patterns or aberrations and support legal arguments with proven facts. But how can such an enormous chore be tackled quickly, accurately and defensibly?
The Solution
Relational analytics encompasses not only the analysis of IoT (relational) data, but the building of relationships between countless structured data sources. At iDS, our relational analytics and IoT data solution is a unique, customized methodology, process and suite of tools that, when used in concert, powerfully leverages technology to help connect the structured data dots, see the big data picture and tell the story through facts.
It's not all about technology. At iDS, our group of experts have the knowledge, experience and technical expertise to understand complex legal issues – partnering with legal teams to help resolve the case. Our solution maximizes the value of information, decreases risk, increases efficiency and delivers defensible processes for every relational analytics and IoT data challenge.
The Benefits


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World Cup winner and former Manchester United star Nobby Stiles MBE has reassured fans about his health after suffering a "very minor" stroke.
The England hero of 1966 spent two days in hospital last week but has been recovering at home since the weekend, his agent Terry Baker said.
Stiles, 68, who also won two league titles and a European Cup during an 11-year career with Manchester United, was hospitalised after a period of "disorientation" which has been diagnosed as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).
Baker said: "The doctors have described it as a very minor stoke and nowhere near as serious as some stokes can be.
"When I spoke to him this morning he told me he had suffered a moment of disorientation.
"He joked that both of us have been having moments of disorientation for the last 30 years."
Baker said Stiles has seen a cardiovascular consultant and is expected to undergo surgery in the next few weeks.
"There is going to be a small operation to put it right," the agent added.
"In the meantime, he's at home and in good spirits.
"But he's had to cancel a number of engagements for the time being."


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In the event of cancellation, and subject to notice of cancellation being received in writing and the delegate's inability to find an alternate delegate, prior to the relevant dates:
- a full refund of the registration fee will be granted up to 31 December 2018
- a $30 per person cancellation fee will apply for cancellations from 1 January 2019 up to 15 February 2019
- a $50 per person cancellation fee will apply for cancellations from 16 February 2019 up to 7 March 2019
Applications for cancellation received on or after 7 March 2019 will not be refunded.
Cancellation notices are to be emailed to email@example.com
Registration does not cover personal insurance of any kind. Some insurance may be covered by Club Insurance policies. You should discuss with your Club Secretary the need to take out any additional general travel insurance to cover loss of fees/deposit, accommodation charges, medical expenses, conference cancellation and loss/damage to personal property etc.


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On April 14, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce hosted a Military Recognition Reception from 3-5pm at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. This reception, held to honor the hardworking men and women of the military, recognized nearly 100 military personnel from local commands. The service members were joined at the reception by their families, military leadership, elected officials, and businessmen and women from the region.
The reception's guest speaker was Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Jim Herdt, who retired from active duty in 2003, after more than 35 years of service in the U.S. Navy. He currently serves as CEO/CFO of Herdt Consulting, Inc. and as a managing director of Pinnacle Five, LLC.
Herdt explained to the crowd that currently his work with Pinnacle Five includes helping veterans find employment. He said the employers he speaks with are looking for individuals with attributes such as responsibility, innovation, dependability, sense of team, leadership, loyalty, and a strong work ethic. He praised the honorees and said, "Every veteran has a sense of these kinds of things. Small business owners would want these skills. That's what I talk to employers about." Herdt added, "If every employer had an appreciation for these skills, they wouldn't want to hire anyone else. You are among the most elite citizens in our nation." He praised the Hampton Roads community and told the honorees that this region "loves and values you."
The Chamber holds Military Recognition Receptions twice a year because they are such an important part of our region. The Chamber has been recognizing the accomplishments of the military at this reception for more than 15 years.
Many thanks to sponsors: Omni Financial (Presenting); City of Norfolk (Gold); Norfolk Waterside Marriott (Hospitality); GEICO (Gold Military Program Benefactor); Cox Communications (Media); City of Virginia Beach, USAA and USA Discounters (Silver); Virginia Beach Convention Center & Distinctive Gourmet and Norfolk State University (Bronze); Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance (Special Envoy Sponsor); Lockheed Martin (Silver Military Program Benefactor); G4S Secure Solutions USA, Regent University and Saint Leo University (Bronze Military Program Benefactors)


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Monthly Archives: August 2013
Firstly apologies for the lack of posts recently, I've been developing a new site I hope to launch soon and it's taking (much) longer than I had hoped and expected. However, as someone once told me 'hard work pays off'.
Anyway, todays post is about a recent discovery I've made which is Quark. I've noticed a lot of health bloggers discussing the protein packed, fat free dairy product but have never managed to find it. But, on my weekly food shop on Saturday I across the wee gem in the soft cheese department of Tesco – which actually isn't that surprising considering it's soft cheese!
So, what is Quark? Other than having a rather onomatopoeic name, Quark is a soft white cheese packed full of protein and 99% fat free. In 100grams of Quark the stats are as follows:
- Calories – 68
- Protein – 12.8g
- Carbohydrates – 3.9g
Like other cream cheese it can be used in a variety of ways, both for savoury and sweet dishes. Costing around a £1 for 250g this provided me with two servings which i ate by itself for an afternoon snack and crushed some fresh raspberries on top to add some more natural sweetness. Done the job good! Enjoy! Fx
Related articles
- What is quark? (fitness-mom.com)
- 06/19/13 (cozyatbreakfast.wordpress.com)
- Tips for Choosing Healthier Cheeses (everydayhealth.com)


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Learn More About Offers in Compromise Tax Settlement Scams
What are Offers in Compromise?
Offers in Compromise (OIC) are agreements between the IRS and a taxpayer to pay a certain debt. This debt is less than the actual amount owed, however, the amount is determined by the IRS. Unless special circumstances are present, the IRS will not accept an offer in compromise they believe can be paid in full through a payment agreement. Most of the time, the IRS will not accept an OIC unless it is equal to or greater than the reasonable collection potential (RCP). The RCP is the formula the IRS uses to determine how much the taxpayer can handle–factoring in assets, future income, and allowing room for basic ilving expenses. An application must be filed to be granted an OIC.
There are three types of Offers in Compromise taxpayers should be aware of:
Doubt as to Collectibility: This happens when the IRS believes the taxpayer will be unable to pay the debt within the amount of time allowed because there are no assets and income does not sufficiently cover living expenses. The taxpayer cannot pay the amount now or through monthly payments, and agrees the debt is true.
Doubt as to Liability: This happens when the IRS believes the taxpayer is not responsible for the tax debt. For example, if an employee has unpaid payroll taxes, but is able to prove he or she left the job prior to those taxes adding up, there is a doubt as to liability.
Effective Tax Administration: In this case, there is no speculation about whether or not the debt is true. The taxpayers have the means through assets and otherwise to pay the full debt, but have other circumstances preventing them from meeting the obligation. These taxpayers must prove to the IRS the debt repayment would create a hardship or be unfair. For instance, if a married couple has the means to pay the debt through equity in a home, but also is responsible for the sole care of a sick child, the equity in the home would then be necessary to cover medical bills and treatment for the child, rather than the tax debt.
Paying Offers in Compromise
Should a taxpayer be granted an offer in compromise, he or she has three different ways to make the payments. Before electing one of these methods, a separate payment of $150 and a Form 656, Offer in Compromise must be filed with the IRS.
Lump Sum Cash Offer: This offer must be paid in five installments or less, beginning with a 20% down payment when the offer has been accepted by the IRS.
Short Term Periodic Payment Offer: This offer must be paid within 24 months of the day the IRS received the inital offer. A payment in addition to the filing fee must be received when the form is filed. Until the offer investigation is complete and approved, taxpayers must continue to make regular payments.
Deferred Periodic Payment Offer: This offer must be paid in full within the statutory allowed amount of time. A payment in addition to the filing fee must be received when the form is filed.
It is important to remember the IRS does not have to agree to the terms set forth by the taxpayer and may make adjustments where they see fit and deem necessary in order to receive payment of the debt.
How to Avoid Tax Settlement Scams
Many lawyers are advertising they can help taxpayers with their tax debt, when in fact, the program for offers in compromise is intended to help only a small group of people. What ends up happening to the taxpayers who elect to use a lawyer to file an OIC is that they spend a lot of money on legal fees, and never actually qualify for the program. The IRS is urging people to avoid these claims to save themselves time, energy and money. Handle offers in compromise directly with the IRS to ensure no extra money is spent.
This article is intended for informative purposes only and is not to replace the advice of a legal tax professional.


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From unsolved murders in Hollywood to celebrities posing for mug shots, TV Guide Network is counting down Tinseltown's most notorious legal scandals.
The four-part series 100 Hollywood Crimes, Misdemeanors & Dirty Deeds will examine famous tragedies like the Black Dahlia murder and the slaying of Sharon Tate, the sex scandals of Roman Polanski and Hugh Grant, and even the more minor crimes that have landed starlets like Paris Hilton and Winona Ryder in hot water.
100 Hollywood Crimes, Misdemeanors & Dirty Deeds, presented by LifeLock, airs on consecutive Sundays, premiering on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 9/8c on TV Guide Network.


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2-Storey home in the desirable community of Windsong, located on a quiet street & has great curb appeal. Double gables, front porch, & immaculate gardens invite you in, where you'll love the open concept main level w/ sight lines between kitchen, dining, & living rooms. Kitchen has s/s appliances, granite counters, tile flooring, & walk-in pantry. Walk-in closet in front foyer + mud room off the double attached garage w/ built-in shelving to help organize the family. Living room has hardwood floors & gas f/p w/ rustic mantle, making this room feel warm & inviting. Patio door leads to backyard & large composite deck that's maintenance free! Laminate flooring on upper level, featuring a bonus room to relax with the family. 3 bdrms up, incl. master w/ walk-in closet & 4-pc ensuite. Convenient upper laundry & 4-pc family bath! Undeveloped basement w/ rough in plumbing for a 4th bath. 5 min walk to Windsong Heights K-8 School & 5 min bike ride to WH Croxford High School. Airdrie is one of Canada's fastest growing communities, known for combining big city amenities with a small town atmosphere – it's not hard to see why. Find rustic charm, farm fresh experiences, urban design, neighbourly sentiment, & family focused events. It is a young & dynamic city, thriving in economic opportunity & bundled with every day amenities. Windsong is a relatively new community in Airdrie's SW, conveniently situated to the rest of Airdrie, as well as to Calgary. A paved pathway system winds throughout the neighbourhood, connecting green spaces, parks, & playgrounds. Windsong Heights School (K-8) )is located in the centre of the community, along with a new & impressive playground. Enjoy outdoor activities for the whole family at nearby Chinook Winds Park where you'll find a skate park, splash park, sports courts, & rinks. Shops & restaurants are close at hand at Coopers Town Promenade, as well as quick access to downtown Airdrie where you can find everything you need.
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The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.
Listing information last updated on August 5th, 2020 at 4:30am MDT.


text: It is a blogworthy event, although not quite as dramatic as the lightning strike while using a power tool on wet pavement during a thunderstorm. Yes, once again, Mike fails to heed his own professional advice (you know, the advice of a Certified Safety Professional and member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, also known as The Cobblers' Children Who Have No Shoes Society). Wouldn't you protect yourself with gloves if you were welding? Yes, of course you would. But professionals who know the rules are apparently exempt from them. Photographic evidence follows. This is not a stigmata, but a welding-related burn.


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While the headline in today's Journal de Quebec screams of unacceptable delays in ambulance response time, Cote Saint-Lucers should be mighty proud of their life-saving EMS First Responder Service.
From 2005 to 2015, twenty coroner reports have focused on unacceptable response time, often because of the lack of vehicles, the Journal reports.
By comparison, we are so fortunate to have the incredible dedicated and skilled volunteers at EMS to buffer us from this sad reality in Quebec. They respond in a flash, often averaging just three minutes.
Let's celebrate CSL EMS and its incredible volunteers, especially during this National EMS Week. When you see the white, red and blue EMS First Responders in CSL, wave, give a thumbs up or blow a kiss! If you're in line with them at Tim Horton's, buy them a coffee. Let our volunteers know how much they are appreciated. And please leave a comment on this posting to give encouragement to our local life-savers.


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Use two pairs of pliers to make a pattern that's as simple as a 2+2 chain
When it comes to designing chain mail, it really can be as easy as 2+2. I made this bright floral bracelet by repeatedly linking two jump rings through two jump rings — no complicated weaves needed. And yet, the result is bold. People who stop to admire the bracelet don't care how easy it was to make; they just know it's beautiful. Try mixing things up with color. I used niobium jump rings to add flashes of purple and blue, but the piece would work just as well in monochrome, or as a combination of gold-filled and silver jump rings. There really are no rules here.
See step-by-step instructions by clicking through the gallery below, or click here for the project PDF.
Additional tools & supplies
Toolbox: Chain mail
Prepare the jump rings. For this bracelet, you'll use niobium jump rings in two colors, one color for the flower centers and another color for the petals. Pick your two colors (I used purple rings for the flower centers and blue rings for the petals).
Close 32 center-color jump rings and all 48 of the petal-color jump rings. Open the remaining 16 center-color rings. Also open the following sterling silver rings: 56 16-gauge (1.3 mm) 5.25 mm-inside-diameter (ID) rings, 36 18-gauge (1.0 mm) 3.5 mm ID rings, and 5 12-gauge (2.1 mm) 12.5 mm ID rings.
How do you know what clasp to choose? A good clasp adds interest to a piece without overwhelming it. Pay attention to size: You don't want a clasp so large that it grabs attention or so small that it appears unreliable. For this bracelet, I chose a fancy toggle clasp that's just a little larger than one chain mail flower. The round holes in the silver echo the shape of the jump rings, and the clasp's modern floral style integrates nicely into the design as a whole.
Also, consider what kind of piece you're making and select a clasp that will close it securely. The loop half of my clasp has grooves to grip the toggle bar, so it's secure enough for a bracelet; some clasps aren't as secure and are better suited to necklaces.


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Death is a universal truth. We will all die one day. No one is an exemption as it roll calls people to be invited in an everlasting sleep. People respond in various ways when the topic of life's finiteness comes out from one's mouth.
Is it possible to speak life by speaking about death to someone? I can give you an absolute YES to that without any hesitation. In my case, there has never been a day that I never thought about death. Is it a suicidal ideation? Absolutely NO! Is it a morbid preoccupation? NOT necessarily. Is it a paradoxical thought of life that could bring the real essence of life by contemplating death? A big YES!
Here I start my non-suicide note to all who wants to find life in death.
My being has lusted after the luscious tempt of what existentialism offers to me. A philosophical concept that could be applied as a psychological therapeutic process to aid life's emptiness and an enlightenment to a seemingly nihilistic background of an existential thought.
There are 2 responses that people could respond by bringing up the topic of death: "Neurotic Anxiety" and "Normal Anxiety." People often deny and refute the topics connected with death in an attempt to escape the anxiety that is connected with the uncertainty that comes when life gives your last breath as an offering to death. It is with neurotic anxiety that many people respond towards it. It could manifest by maladaptively resolving conflicts with neglection, alcohol, drugs, abuse, promiscuous sex, and the likes. These forms of escape and denial kills the being of a person despite that breath-giving life is still present in them. Rollo May addressed this as "Nothingness/Non-being." To simply put his brilliant concept, it is possible that people die inside while they are still physically living. It is a point in someone's life wherein, they have never lived life at all.
Have you ever been to a point in your life wherein all good things that you do seem to end up in a black hole of pointlessness? Even to the point that it is better to try different vices and experiences that will fill the missing spaces in your pointless world? Well, you are not the only one.
So, how do we respond to death in a sense that it will give us life? Acceptance is the answer. To accept and to vividly know our finiteness is the answer to move away from killing the life in you through nothingness. You wouldn't just sleep around and do nothing if you know that a very important work, project or assignment is lurking around unfinished and is due tomorrow? If your answer to that question is something that is the opposite of the expected response to how we should normally respond, then, your thoughts may be wired in some neurotic tendencies to neglect and prolong the anxiety that causes non-being. The point here is, if you know that someday you will die, you won't waste time for things that takes the life out of you but rather spend it in a very productive way making normal anxiety as your step to transcend from life that is meant for nothingness. Make death a motivation to live a life full of accomplishments, productivity, and even self-actualization.
Being open-minded about this fact makes us empowered to live the only life given to us by a Supreme Deity to experience how we are going to live it as it is in heaven. Our present life must reflect the life we want to live for eternity not the other way around. Many people just realize how much things they could've done when they are on their death bed or when the doctor sentenced them to live for few years, months, or even, days. Why is that? It is because the only time they have seen the importance of life is when they realized they are actually dying. It doesn't have to be this way.
We can live to the fullest by realizing we are finite beings. By thinking so, we will be able to treat every second of our lives as precious. We can give this life a one shot to try something that will improve the quality of our lives as beings gifted with breath that sustain the life in us. Most importantly, a chance to immortalize our legacy in this mortal world by activating potentials that will benefit not just one but the whole world.
Don't just live and die.
But, live, die and then, re-live your life's legacy by actually living in the moment.
So, how have you lived your life so far?


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Mark Reason, courtesy of the Dominion Post, 7 January 2015, where his title is "Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara's calling to help his nation heal"
Does that sound grandiose to you, a little far-fetched? It is hard to think otherwise in this golden land where for many sunburn is the biggest daily danger. But when Sangakkara speaks of "the potential of cricket to be more than just a game … a sport so powerful it is capable of transcending war and politics", he is thinking of home.
My Sri Lankan doctor friend put it simply. "Cricket heals," he said.
Perhaps we should think of Sangakkara as the Great Healer. Every time he went down on one knee at the Basin and rippled a cover drive to the ropes, Sangakkara was tending another countryman left desolate or homeless by civil war and flood. Neville Cardus could have been thinking of Sri Lanka when he wrote, "Without cricket there can be no summer in that land."
Sangakkara's first cricket coach, D H de Silva, "a wonderful human being who coached tennis and cricket to students free of charge", was shot on a tennis court by insurgents. They put two bullets in his stomach. As he lay on the ground, the rebels pressed the barrel to de Silva's head. The gun jammed.
Such tales are Sangakkara's history. He grew up in the damp hills of Kandy where frequent drizzle moistened a pitch that was forever green. As a boy Sangakkara learned to play against swing and seam and bounce and carry. His current teammates from Colombo may have looked on this Basin pitch as a foreign surface, but when Sangakkara came out onto the green grass, he saw only home.
He wasn't an heroic boy, not like Mahela Jayawardene. Crowds of 10,000 used to come to watch the 13-year-old prodigy bat in Colombo. Sangakkara was just another lad with a bit of talent. Fittingly when he came down from the hills to the big city, he did not join Colombo Cricket Club, with its colonial history of tea and timber, but the Nondescripts.
Back then Sangakkara did not tell boyhood stories of his Tamil friends who hid in his Sinhalese parents' house in order to avoid being butchered in the race riots. He talked instead of his dream to one day play for his country. Sangakkara's teammates sat back and laughed.
None of them would have believed that this boy from the hills would become perhaps the greatest batsman of them all, greater than even Arjuna Ranatunga and Sanath Jayasuriya and Jayawardene. Sangakkara's current test average of nearly 60 is even more astonishing given that his first 40 tests were played as a wicketkeeper-batsman who went in at No 3. Purely as a batsman he averages nearly 70.
Many may not remember that Sangakkara and his teammates were in a New Zealand dressing room when the early sketchy news of the devastating tsunami first leaked in by text on Boxing Day in 2004. Typical of the man Sangakkara returned home and joined Muttiah Muralidharan's relief convoy, taking food and supplies out to people whose lives had been smashed.
In the MCC spirit of cricket lecture that he gave at Lords in 2011, Sangakkara remembered: "In the Kinniya Camp just south of Trincomalee, the first response of the people who had lost so much was to ask us if our families were OK. They had heard that Sanath and Upul Chandana's mothers were injured and they inquired about their health. They did not exaggerate their own plight nor did they wallow in it."
Cricket heals.
When Sangakkara is out of touch, as he was early on this tour, and driving everyone mad with his endless demands for throw-downs in the nets, it is partly because he must give something back to his people.
Five years after the tsunami, Sangakkara was on the team bus in Pakistan, on what seemed like a truly 'nondescript' day, when terrorists attacked. "As I turn my head I feel something whizz past my ear and a bullet thuds into the side of the seat, the exact spot where my head had been a few seconds earlier. I feel something hit my shoulder and it goes numb."
When Sangakkara returns home, he is told by a soldier, "It is OK if I die because it is my job and I am ready for it. But you are a hero and if you were to die it would be a great loss for our country." Sangakkara is overwhelmed. "How can this man value his life less than mine?"
So when Sangakkara is asked to not retire, he cannot refuse. When he wins the man of the match in the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup, Sangakkara knows that cricket is more than a game. When he hits the four that takes him to his 200 on Sunday afternoon, it is not a destructive shot because Sangakkara is a healer.
He says, "With me are all my people. I am Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim and Burgher. I am a Buddhist, a Hindu, a follower of Islam and Christianity. I am today, and always, proudly Sri Lankan."
– The Dominion Post


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Calendar April 2017
August 18, 2016 April 2017
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North Carolina sibling duo the Avett Brothers return in 2009, fresh off a few years of building a cult following for its melodic and rootsy alt-bluegrass sound, with the subdued I AND LOVE AND YOU. The opening single and title track basks in piano-pop splendor in an odd mix of Beach Boys, Byrds, and the Band.
The Avett Brothers continue charting the same musical course as EMOTIONALISM and MIGNONETTE on major-label debut I AND LOVE AND YOU, despite the presence of hands-on producer Rick Ruben. The country-folk duo continue to add elements of pop and hillbilly rock to a country/bluegrass foundation on the 2009 LP, a record with a newfound emphasis on piano and nuanced arrangements. Working with a larger budget allows the group to add small flourishes — a cello line here, a keyboard crescendo there — but the resulting music is rarely grand, focusing on textures rather than sheer volume. Scott and Seth Avett share vocals throughout the album, delivering their lyrics in a speak-sing cadence that sounds both tuneful and conversational. Given the opportunities presented here — the ability to flank their melodies with string sections, organ swells, and Harmonium — the two devote more focus to slower songs, eschewing the barn-burning bouncefests of their previous albums for material that better displays such sonic details. The result is an intimate, poignant album, laced with rich production that enhances, not clouds, the songwriting itself.


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An essential accompaniment for all cheese-lovers. This is a mellow, sweet, honey-like spread that is a comforting compliment to most cheeses.
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Michael J. Friedlander, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology
Senior Dean for Research, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, School of Medicine
My research program is directed at understanding the processes that regulate alterations in synaptic efficiency between neurons within the cerebral cortex—synaptic plasticity—and how these cellular processes are affected during brain development, after experience including learning and in response to brain injury. Specifically, my laboratory uses quantitative single neuron patch clamp electrophysiological methods along with cellular and subcellular imaging to visualize the changes in structure and calcium signals that underlie alterations in functional synaptic connectivity within the mammalian neocortex. This work is carried out in vitro in acute living brain slice preparations with simultaneous whole cell patch clamp recording from multiple cortical neurons that are synaptically interconnected. This approach allows for the application of quantal analysis to determine how the induction of synaptic plasticity affects a variety of components of synaptic transmission including probability of presynaptic neurotransmitter release in response to a single action potential in an individual cortical neuron and the quantal size or postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor availability. We have found that, surprisingly, apparently like-type sets of interconnected cortical neurons exhibit wide variability in their baseline synaptic transmission properties and in their plasticity behavior in response to an identical synaptic conditioning protocol. We are currently studying the origin of the variability of synaptic plasticity between different sets of cortical synapses of otherwise like-type, specifically evaluating to what degree intrinsic differences in gene expression vs. environmental activity during early brain development and throughout life modify the capacity, likelihood and polarity of changes in synaptic efficiency.
In addition, we have discovered that the temporal patterns of incoming synaptic activity impinging onto a single neocortical neuron can differentially modulate plasticity responses, even when the overall frequency of the activation is identical. We are using this approach to explore plasticity induction processes in the normal brain and after brain injury. This line of investigation is also aimed at identifying specific patterns of synaptic activation that are most effective at accessing the downstream plasticity signaling pathways in the injured brain as an approach to neurorehabilitation.
As senior dean for research of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, I also oversee the school's research education activities, lead the research value domain of the curriculum, and administer the research mentorship program.
For a full listing of Dr. Friedlander's publications, visit PubMed.
Education and Training
- University of Virginia: Postdoctoral fellowship
- University of Illinois: Ph.D.
Previous Positions
- Baylor College of Medicine
Wilhelmina Robertson endowed Professor of Neuroscience
Chair, Neuroscience
Director, Neuroscience Initiatives
Awards and Honors
- First Annual Undergraduate Neuroscience Society Distinguished Scholar Award, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2014
- AAMC Board of Directors Distinguished Service Member, 2012
- Wilhelmina Robertson Endowed Chair in Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, 2005
- Evelyn F. McKnight Professor of Learning and Memory in Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2004–2005


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With all due respect to goalkeepers everywhere, no one would have stood a chance against Oliver Wahlstrom and his whirling goal in TD Bank's Mini 1-on-1 challenge.
The Portland (Maine) Junior Pirates' Pee Wee Majors forward unleashed one of the most incredible goals any ice surface will see this winter, no matter the skill level or league.
Wahlstrom skated right at the unsuspecting goalie and as he entered the high slot, the skilled sniper propped the puck up on his blade before swirling clockwise and whipping a backhanded, lacrosse-style shot that beat the motionless goalie on his stick-side.
The goal came during the filming of the TD Bank Mini 1-on-1 which debuts Oct. 29 during the first intermission of the Bruins-Devils game on NESN.
Below is the video footage of Wahlstrom's whirling goal:


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Casa revisited
2 Jan 2008
|I'm back in Casa, it's like a wet Wednesday in January here, probably because it is a wet Wednesday in January here. Back to get the Yellow Fever Vaccination here and then up to Rabat to sort some visas. Except that I've been doing some reading this afternoon, those of you that know me well will know that I leave everything to the last minute and this includes research about where I'm planning on going. Turns out that the best place to get the Mauritanian visa is at the border and and despite my belief that I needed a double entry visa for Senegal in order to visit The Gambia, I don't need a Senegalese visa at all. I can sort Mali out in either Dakar or Mauritania. Therefore, once my YF vaccine becomes valid I'm off and running. Lucky it rained today or I could have wasted a trip to Rabat. Think I'll do some trekking from Marrakev while I wait for the YF bugs to do their work.


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(Source: Inhabitat.com) Music becomes a sustainable experience with Shepeleff Stephen's solar-powered, bluetooth-connected Q-Sound (quantum sound) headphones. The Romanian engineering student's sleek design combines flexible, hexagonal solar panels, wireless technology, and rotating earpieces for a futuristic yet practical product that powers itself on the go.
Since the headphones are Bluetooth-enabled, they can connect wirelessly to MP3 devices, cell phones–anything with Bluetooth capability. That means you can chat with your friends and rock out to music without moving a muscle. The Q-Sound headphones can also connect to any audio device with a 3.5mm jack.
Each earphone contains two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to hold power derived from the Q-Sound's solar panels. A single hour of sun provides 2.67 hours of power at maximum volume, and a fully charged headset can run for 40 hours.
Stephen hasn't hinted at whether the Q-Sound will come to market, but we think it would be a hit among eco-savvy athletes, beach-goers, and anyone looking to untether their tunes from the grid.


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Partner | New York • Washington D.C.
email@example.com | (212) 468-8022 • (202) 887-1516
Tracy A. Bacigalupo is a partner in the Corporate Department of Morrison & Foerster focused on advising clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, real estate investment trust and investment company law, and venture capital transactions, as well as technology transactions and intellectual property development and protection.
Ms. Bacigalupo regularly counsels Maryland-formed real estate investment trusts and open- and closed-end investment companies, as well as their directors and trustees, on a broad range of matters, including strategic transactions, capital markets transactions, financings, and corporate governance issues. She represents issuers in equity and debt offerings, including initial public offerings, and provides advice to companies, boards of directors and board committees regarding duties of directors, interested director transactions, charter and bylaw provisions, stockholder activism preparedness, and takeover defenses.
Ms. Bacigalupo is a member of Morrison & Foerster's Blockchain + Smart Contracts Group, which provides cutting-edge knowledge and strategic guidance to clients, with a holistic, comprehensive approach to the emerging blockchain, smart contracts, and distributed ledger space. Ms. Bacigalupo has been the primary drafter and proponent of legislation recently enacted in Maryland that permits Maryland companies to migrate to a blockchain-enabled platform.
Ms. Bacigalupo has been recognized by the legal ranking and news service Lawdragon as one of the "3,000 Leading Lawyers in America" and one of the "500 New Stars, New Worlds." She was also recognized by Legal 500 United States in 2014 for her work in project finance, and in 2012 for her work in the area of mergers and acquisitions. The Baltimore Sun recognized Ms. Bacigalupo as one of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore's "Top Rated Lawyers" in its 2012 Definitive Guide to Legal Representation.
She is a member of the American Bar Association – Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, Section of Business Law; and the Maryland State Bar Association – Committee on Corporation Law.
Ms. Bacigalupo received her J.D. from Washington and Lee University and her B.A. from Hollins College. She is admitted to practice in New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
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This just in!! Guy Gonzalez '70 will be sitting in on guitar tomorrow night with the Live Jazz Quartet at the Amigo Spot in Mission Valley. 7 PM. 1333 Hotel Circle South. Come early and dine. Be there or be square!!
I'm thinking about getting me some of them Jimmy Dean breakfast Delights. The TV spots say they contain "real" ingredients while the print ads tout "genuine" ingredients. I'm pretty sure this is an improvement over "fake" ingredients. Reminds me of the "Genuine Imitation Naugahyde Seat Covers" I once purchased.
Remember when El Cajon Blvd. was Highway 80 and motels were called Auto Courts? Me neither, but -- if you have Facebook -- you can look at a series of 1947 shots of the Blue Jay Auto Court, 5070 El Cajon Blvd, on Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook Page. Click HERE to see what's there today.
A wonderful 1952 photo of the Spreckels Theater showed up on Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page last week. I've enlarged it and posted it to my Vintage San Diego Photos web site.
Sandi Patty '74 will make a San Diego stop on Friday, February 17th at Faith Chapel in Spring Valley as part of her Forever Grateful tour. Click HERE for more information.
Ringling Brothers Circus hired local musicians to fill out their small traveling core players. I did several summers with the band. It was a brutally tough chop-killing gig -- but FUN! Plus I got to hang backstage with the clown band -- Joe Dyke '65
Sally Bots Chew '69 is doing some serious downsizing. She gave me her Jackson Elementary class photos, which I've posted to the Jackson Elementary Page. Anyone who'd like the originals can contact me.
And she gave me her annuals, which I will re-gift to the person or persons who want them the most.


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Japan is giving U.S. beef exporters a second chance to abide by strict Japanese regulations designed to prevent the spread of mad cow disease. The Japanese government has reopened its market to American beef after a seven-month ban.
After months of talks and inspections of U.S. slaughterhouses, the Japanese government has decided American beef exports are safe from mad cow disease.
On Thursday, Health Minister Jiro Kawasaki announced that U.S. beef from approved slaughterhouses can again be sold in Japan.
Kawasaki says Japanese consumers should consider the beef safe as long as U.S. exporters comply with rules designed to keep infected meat out of the food chain here.
In 2003, Japan banned American beef after a case of mad cow disease was found in the U.S. The government lifted the ban late last year, only to reimpose it in January when inspectors found prohibited tissue in a shipment.
Infected beef can spread a deadly human form of the brain-wasting disease.
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer says his government welcomes the opportunity to once again compete in the Japanese marketplace.


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It's the hottest slot at sea, so ride those waves all the way to the jackpot!
The stacked wilds waters are full of prizes so start betting that money.
Once you catch a surf into a Free Spin keep that p.
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Stacked symbols in this game are ones that either partially or entirely cover the reel. In Wild Water pokie, watch out for the surfer dudes and babes—the regular symbols and the Wild symbols—the sharks. Increase your chances of winning and making real money with the stacked symbols!
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Get those Scatter symbols and win Free Spins. In this pokie, the Scatter symbol is that muscular surfer-dude who is wave riding. Three or more scatter symbols on the reels will give you those Free Spins. 3 scatter symbols will get you 15 Free Spins, 4 will get you 30 Free Spins, and 5 will get you 60 Free Spins.
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3 symbols will multiply the win by 40
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Annals of the South African Museum, Volume 99, Issue 6
West, Newman & Company for the trustees of the Museum, 1990 - Natural history
From inside the book
2 pages matching minor elements in this book
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amounts wt analyses Annals archaeological artefact author's name Ba ELEMENT 70 Ba ELEMENT Fig back leg bicuspidata binders black paint burnt bone calcined Calitzdorp Cape Town Cedarberg Coldstream shelter Coldstream Stone coloured lithographs dancing women deposits detected in paint Drury Drury's elements detected excavation field notes front leg Gastropoda Goodwin Henkel Histograms of amounts holotype hook-heads illustrated James Drury Klasies River Mouth Knysna last figure Letter Book light red ochre Light red paint mentioned minor elements Mn Fe monochrome mural paintings mural rock paintings Museum's collections normalized to 100 P S Cl paint samples paints and pigments paratypes P�ringuey 1911 P�ringuey's pigment samples references retouching RIJSSEN River Mouth Cave Robberg rock art Rudner skeleton smallest South African Museum southern Cape stone Fig SUID-AFRIKAANSE MUSEUM Synonymy three painted stones three stones Tsitsikamma University of Pretoria western Cape Whitcher Whitcher's Cave white clay white paint Woodhouse


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Cannot reset black cartridge on Espon DX 7450
I got an Epson DX7450 second hand. It came with no cartridges, so I bought a CIS system on Ebay with autoreset chips. However it does not recognize the black cartridge no mather what I do.
They even sent me a spare chip for the cartridge but it did not help either. Any idea what should I do?
It is not the contacts, because when I swap the black and yellow cartridge it shows that yellow cartridge is not recognized.


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iRobot Alumni Build Robot-Vacuum Accessories To Promote "Successful Cleaning Missions"
(Page 2 of 2)
"keep off mat," which Roomba owners can place underneath easily jarred objects like dog bowls or plants. The mat's black surface fools the Roomba's built-in "cliff sensor" into thinking it's about to topple over a stair step, sending it scurrying in another direction.
Of course, with their backgrounds in electrical and software engineering, Lynch and Stout have plans for more ambitious products down the road. "It's in our nature to gravitate toward greater sophistication, and accessories that will really enhance the whole home-robot experience," says Lynch. "But to start, we thought, 'Let's do something easy.'"
But even though Lynch and Stout have nearly 40 patents between them, they quickly learned that "nothing is easy," Lynch says. For example, it took a long time just to find the right kinds of plastic for building attachments like the Unicorn and the bumper protector. "We use a complex blend of polymers that give [the products] just the right amount of flexibility," Lynch says. And the company had to interview 10 filter manufacturers just to find one who could make a HEPA filter that would meet its standards, says Stout.
When I asked Stout and Lynch two of my standard questions for startups—whether they're looking for outside investors, and whether the exit strategy for the company might involve acquisition, perhaps even by iRobot itself—I got some interesting answers. Let's just say Stout and Lynch appear to be enjoying working for themselves.
"We've each had a boss at one time and it didn't really work out," says Lynch. "I think we are pretty mature product developers, and we're gaining a lot of business experience. In some sense it's really rewarding to be able to call the shots and see the rewards."
As for the idea of rejoining iRobot, if the company were ever to decide that it needed to add on Robot Add-Ons' products, Stout and Lynch are wary. They propose a slight twist. "I can't see myself going back to iRobot as an employee," Lynch says. "But if we were to become like a research arm of iRobot—an external company that develops products and proves them out and lets the survivors float to the surface where they can be acquired—that is an interesting concept."
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Because it's December, both Josh and Luke have decided to make choices themselves, and we hope you like the gems they've picked. First is Luke's selection. For those who have been with us for a little while, you may have heard of Tellison. They appeared on Issue Three's Sensible Record Labels Compilation, and they're on our Issue Five's guest selector's label Alcopop! Records. This year saw the release of their third album, Hope Fades Nightly, which has been over four years in the making. Filled with beautifully heart-wrenching lyrics, and some proper 'sing at the top of your lungs' choruses, Hope Fades Nightly has been on constant repeat since it was released in October. From the gorgeously low key opening of 'Letter to the Team' to the bitter-sweet ending of 'Tsundoku', the album pulls at the feels the whole way through. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.
Now on to my (Josh) selection. Choosing this at the tale end of a party month, it only felt right that my selection should follow suit. What we have here is incredible timing with a 12″ issue from Dimitri From Paris. For those who don't know him, Dimitri from Paris is one of the modern disco classics and his reinventions and mixes of classics are always delightful. This Classy Dames release includes two Nile Rodgers classics: Sister Sledge's Lost in Music and Sheila B & Devotion's Your Love is Good. Christmas and new year may be over, but spin these to kick start any party.


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I have been told on several occasions that I will suck at vision-casting. A church planting assessment told me that vision-casting was a weakness, so I would not make a good senior pastor or lead planter. I have taken the tests and scored low. I'm not the charismatic, futurist, idea-person. I thought for years that I must suck at vision-casting.
I recently realized that it's all BS. In the process of launching a new missional community to champion creativity in our neighborhood, I put together a compelling vision for the group. I met with potential leaders and walked through the vision. Everyone saw the vision, got excited, and joined the cause. I cast vision, and I did a great job!
Here are my thoughts on all this. First of all, you can get better at stuff. When I took evaluations, it was almost totally based on questionnaires and personality instead of actually doing it. Over the past few years I have read books about vision casting, seen others do it well, and tried it out in dozens of small ways. So maybe I am not the charismatic, futurist, idea-person, but I can learn new skills! Second, assessments and gift-tests are helpful and important, but they aren't everything. Especially if you believe in God! He can empower people with gifts that they normally do not have. God is able to do more through people than they would be able without him.
The next time you take an assessment of your gifts, your skills, you spiritual gifts take them with a grain of salt and remember:
1) They aren't definitive. You change and grow throughout you life.
2) God can do more than you can imagine in & through you! He can give you new gifts. He can empower weak ones.
In my last post, I talked about needing to have a compelling vision and plan before a passion can become reality. Below is the vision that I shared to launch the Everyday Creativity Group:
The Vision
I envision a group of people at Everyday Church who champion creativity for the glory of God whether it be in our neighborhood, our schools, our church, or our city. They believe that creativity lies within everyone, and they want to draw it out. All of us are created in the image of God, the ultimate creator. Therefore all of us have creative potential just waiting to be discovered to bring glory to God. Humanity has always been in the business of creating – culture, art, music, family, poetry, organization, dance, you name it.
Why "Creativity" Group?
It's not just about art or artists; it's about creativity. When we say "art" I think it makes us think of "my art" or "your art" or "the arts." Those things are all included, but it's not about just those things. It's about creativity, however that might look (I also like how creativity is a long word with lots of syllables that makes you slow down and think about it).
Why start this (what will it look like)?
1) To reach artists who move uptown & don't know anyone
– I named a few people who had already experienced this at Everyday, including me!
2) To reach Christian artists who have no Christian community with other artists
– Again, I named a few people who had already experienced this at Everyday.
3) To reach people who are artists but have no outlet or medium for their art (adults or kids)
– Art workshops for in local schools
– Photo walks in the neighborhood
– Art galleries
4) To help artists give back to their community (beautification)
– Paint a mural in the neighborhood
– Benefit concerts/shows for local schools, organizations, ministries
5) To champion creativity within Everyday Church
– Teaching service elements (videos, props, music, décor, etc)
– Having Everyday people get involved with our events
(At this point, people usually started sharing more and more and more ideas)
Why now?
If we don't start this group now, I believe that eventually a group similar will emerge formally or informally. Our church is full of creative people looking for a community. The main reason we're doing it now is because I believe that God is calling me to do it.
What will be done to get it started?
It will start with the leadership team. Our meetings will be focused on discipleship and practicing the mission of championing creativity together (living it out). We will steadily draw others to join us in our mission and eventually grow to launch as an Everyday Group.
I shared this vision along with a tentative timeline with a number of people and asked them to be a part of a leadership team to launch the new group. Six people said yes. The seven of us met to dream, pray & plan for four months. We learned to listen to God's voice, pray for our friends to get involved, and lead this new group. This past Sunday we launched the Everyday Creativity Group with over twenty people in the mix. I'm excited to see where God will take us. But none of it would have been possible if I had not refined and cast a compelling vision. Passion isn't enough. Mission isn't enough. You have to cast a compelling vision.


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Yazan Barghuthi
Special guest
Yazan is Project Lead at Jibrel Network.
The Jibrel Network allows anyone to tokenize traditional real-world assets.
Jibrel provides users with CryptoDepository Receipts (CryDRs) - the next generation of 'smart tokens' that have regulation embedded. Ensuring that while decentralized, smart tokens always follow real-world rules and regulations.
Yazan Barghuthi has been a guest on 1 episode.
Ep. 14. Legitimising crypto exchanges & ICOs: South Korea, Australia & DJ Khaled weigh in
October 5th, 2017 | 1 hr 7 mins
bitcoin, blockchain, cardano, crypto, ethereum, hodl, ico
We bring you the latest headlines with very special guests and three interviews including r3, DTCC and Jibrel Network.


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"Be careful, Jesus said to them. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They discussed this among themselves and said, It is because we didn't bring any bread. How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Reference: Matthew 16:6-7, 11-12)
Parables and metaphors – they can be difficult to understand. Especially if you tend to take everything literally. The disciples, as the writer of Matthew presents them, were taking Jesus literally and thought that Jesus was concerned with earthly things, as they were. But Jesus reminded them that the Son of Man need not worry about what is to happen or how he will make his way (just as we are not to be concerned). The left out verses have Jesus reminding the disciples about the loaves and the fishes. Jesus is referring to the Pharisees and Sadducees and how they "puff" themselves up with power and authority; they are not worthy teachers of how to live an accountable life.
The historic Anabaptists felt that the priest and religious leaders of the state religion (at that time) were not good teachers or examples. The historic Anabaptist Jacob de Keersgieter (the Chandler) and Friar Cornelis (one of many religious leaders of that time) "debated" the issue of power and authority given to such leaders as a result of standing in succession to the disciple Peter who Jesus imbued with power and authority.
"Fr. Corn. Is it true? would [the] accursed heretic say that the power which is Christ gave His successor or vicar, St. Peter, does not pertain to us priests? What! no! do not the popes, as the successors of St. Peter, who sit in his seat, and we priests, still have the power as well as did the scribes and Pharisees, as the successors of Moses, who at the time of Christ still sat in Moses' seat? . . .
Jac. With your permission, but do not get angry; for I should have been afraid of incurring your abuse, if I had compared you to the scribes and Pharisees; but since you compare yourselves to them, I will reply to you. What Christ means is this: Whatsoever they command you to do from the law of Moses, that do. But He also commands His disciples, in Matt. 16:6, that they should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. And though the Pharisees and scribes should have boasted themselves of the power which Moses had, as you priests boast of having the power which Peter received from Christ, of forgiving sin, who would have believed the Pharisees? Since Christ pronounces woe over them so many times . . . "
Such power, authority and presence is not inherited like a ceremonial stole or religious artifact. It is earned by sincere belief and devotion, tested time and time again. It is developed through study and spiritual practice and disciplines. And even then it is imbued by/from above and not through human agents below. You can tell this topic touches my Anabaptist roots. If power, authority and presence were gained only by being in the right position at the right time, what good would it do to live a righteous life? Why would Christ have come to us? Why would scripture that tells of Jesus life, death and resurrection be held as important and information? As much good and devotion that there is in and comes out of the Roman Catholic church, the tradition of succession can work against such good. The current pope (yes, small "p" beloved) is seen favorably because he does not rest on his "succession" but tries to prove himself a friend and benefactor of all. It is, I think, the tradition of the Roman Catholic church that sometimes gets in the way. But I digress.
May you, beloved, be simply who you are and who God and Christ has called you to be. And may God's presence surround you and enfold you each day. Selah!


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