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In yet another unhinged rant, Mr. Michael L. "Mikey" Weinstein, founder and president of the inaptly named Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), has once again claimed that the sky is falling in the U.S. military. And, once again, he has moronically equated sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the military to violent Islamic jihadism.
Mr. Weinstein has characterized sharing one's faith in Christ in uniform as part of a plot aiming at "a systemic hostile takeover of the U.S. military by lunatic, fundamentalist Christians." He has labelled Christian Service Members who simply wish to obey the Great Commission as a "cabal of deranged endtime warriors."
What is the basis for Mr. Weinstein's rant this time? He took grave exception to the following charge by a retired Air Force chaplain to Christian graduates in uniform at Liberty University:
God has divine appointments set up for you. He's the King of kings; He's the Lord of lords; He's the Commander in Chief. He has called us to be His missionaries, His voice.
From this, Mr. Weinstein concluded that the retired chaplain had "just declared the United States Military to be a weapon of biblical retribution."
"Oh, come on!" you say. "How could any reasonable, sentient human being of average intelligence conclude from those words of a retired chaplain that he was imploring his audience to 'be a weapon of biblical retribution'"?
Great question! I personally don't think that any reasonable human being could reach such a conclusion. But, Mr. Weinstein's rants are routinely characterized by hyperbole, diatribe, and embellishment, not reason.
How Mr. Weinstein describes his organization says much about his beliefs and how he approaches those with whom he disagrees. His description is very enlightening. He describes the MRFF as follows: "We are a weapon. We're a militant organization. Our job is to kick a[**], take names, lay down a withering field of fire, and leave sucking chest wounds on this unconstitutional heart of darkness . . . ."
Elsewhere, he described his mission:
We've long since forfeited the right to civil disagreement. Someone's going to win and someone's going to lose, and I don't want to be on the losing side knowing that I didn't use every last diatribe and embellishment and wild-eyed, hair-on-fire, foaming-at-the-mouth harangue to get my point across . . . . What's required now is Attila the Hun. . . .
So much for religious tolerance.
In his recent rant against Christian free exercise in the military, Mr. Weinstein cited Air Force Instruction (AFI) 1-1, section 2-12, which reads as follows (with portion highlighted as Mr. Weinstein highlighted it):
Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause.
Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief. (Emphasis Added.)
Two points need to be made here. First, the first sentence of the paragraph clearly recognizes that all leaders in the Air Force enjoy the rights to free exercise of religion, including the right to express religious sentiments, even as they must mindful of the Establishment Clause. Religious free exercise also applies to the persons being addressed by the chaplain at Liberty University.
Second, in the part highlighted by Mr. Weinstein, only words or actions that can reasonably be construed as officially endorsing or disapproving, etc., are prohibited. Official endorsements occur when someone in a position of authority proclaims a word or action that he or she intends to be obeyed by others or requires his or her words or actions to be considered as sanctioned and required by one's Military Service. Private (i.e., not official) endorsements or disapprovals are not prohibited per se, and most such endorsements in uniform are private and, thus, permitted.
Based on my 22-year career as a combat arms officer in the United States Army, I have determined that reasonable men and women in uniform can readily tell the difference between hearing someone's personal opinion (on religion or any other topic) and receiving official statements they must obey.
Nothing said by the chaplain at Liberty University suggested in any way, shape or form that the persons he was addressing were being told (or even encouraged) to force anyone to do or believe anything religious or that they were permitted to hold themselves out as officials of their respective Services when discussing religious topics. Hence, Mr. Weinstein, you may take off your helmet. The sky is not falling.
In a rare instance of apparent sanity and clear thinking, Mr. Weinstein does (finally?) recognize that the Christians he is criticizing, unlike Muslim jihadists, are not "strapping homemade explosives to themselves." Thank you, sir, for that admission. That public admission, in itself, is a major step in the right direction for Mr. Weinstein.
Many jihadists believe that they must kill those who disagree with them and view such acts as meritorious in the sight of Allah, while faithful Christians are called to love and pray for those who disagree with them, not kill them. Murdering them would be a grave sin in Christianity. Hence, Christians leave such judgments to Almighty God. Although Christendom has had its evil periods, the Inquisition and similar evil practices are long gone.
Despite the ray of hope raised earlier by the admission that Christians do not blow themselves and others up as an act of obedience and merit, in the end, Mr. Weinstein can't quite seem to help himself. He has to get a jab in. He can't resist claiming that "these guys [i.e., Christians in uniform] are . . . commandeering the most awesome and terrifying concentration of lethal weaponry that the world has ever seen by orders of magnitude, our U.S. Military."
Mr. Weinstein's implication? He actually believes that Christians in uniform intend to impose their faith on their fellows in uniform (by persuasion, ideally, but by force, if necessary) and to annihilate those who refuse to toe the line, once again equating them with jihadist murderers.
Mr. Weinstein is quite delusional to equate murdering Islamic jihadists with the uniformed Christians at Liberty University—or anywhere else. He should keep in mind, it wasn't Christian fundamentalists who murdered fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. It wasn't Christian fundamentalists who attacked the nightclub in Florida. It wasn't Christian fundamentalists who killed co-workers at a Christmas party in California. And it isn't Christian fundamentalists who are seeking Jews to murder in France and elsewhere.
Faithful Christians and Islamic jihadists simply are not the same, no matter how often and how forcefully Mr. Weinstein and his supporters say they are. To equate the two reveals much about Mr. Weinstein's discernment.
Granted, Mr. Weinstein, the MRFF, and those who agree with them have every right under our Constitution to espouse the message they espouse. Most often, however, they espouse fantasy. They assert as law what they want the law to be, not what it is.
Because Mr. Weinstein and his fellow travelers have sown so much confusion among those who don't know what the law is and have led lots of people astray, we have an obligation to respond to and correct their most egregious rants and errors.
To protect the rights of our Service Members to free exercise of religion, we will continue to keep a sharp eye out for Mr. Weinstein's periodic rants, and we will respond to them, pointing out the many errors of logic, facts, and law. In turn, we will respond and lay out the law as it actually is. In this way, we hope to protect fundamental Constitutional rights for the men and women in uniform who willingly put their lives on the line to protect us. They deserve no less.
Please stand with the ACLJ in upholding and protecting the rights of our men and women in uniform.
Donate now as we battle anti-Christian extremists' attack on religious freedom in the military & chaplains, and have your gift DOUBLED today. Have your gift doubled through our Matching Challenge.
Churches in California have been forced into silence. The ACLJ just filed a critical motion to stop the enforcement of the unjust ban and give churches back their voices. The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment states it pretty clear: "Congress shall make no law . . . prohibiting the free...
The ACLJ fights back against California's church singing ban. On today's Jay Sekulow Live , we discussed our filing for an injunction to block the enforcement of California's arbitrary church singing bang. The ACLJ is taking decisive action to fight for religious liberty. It happened on Friday...
The ACLJ files a major lawsuit in California, challenging Governor Gavin Newsom's ban on singing and chanting in churches and other places of worship. On today's Jay Sekulow Live , we discussed the actions that we at the ACLJ are taking to fight California's ban on singing in churches. We have...
We have just filed a lawsuit challenging the state of California's ban on singing and chanting activities in places of worship on behalf of Calvary Chapel of Ukiah, Calvary Chapel Fort Bragg, and River of Life Church, in Oroville, California. On July 1, 2020, California updated the health order to...


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More out of work business school graduates are choosing to start their own companies.
Wired PR News – Press Release Distribution — More business school graduates than ever are turning to starting their own companies as opposed to seeking full-time positions at established ones during the economic downturn. As reported by BusinessWeek Online, a number of MBAs who've had trouble finding employment and some current students who foresee difficulty in finding work after graduation are developing their own business plans in response to the challenges posed by the recession.
Bernhard Schroeder, who directs the Entrepreneurial Management Center at San Diego State University's College of Business, is quoted in the report as stating, "Students are looking out over the horizon and saying, 'You know what, there may be no job waiting for me when I graduate… This recession is showing them that they can't trust anyone with their career."
In response to the increase, several universities have added program offerings that provide increased support for students seeking to start their own venture.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia User Clawed

subset: commoncrawl


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The Winner Is
Michigan Man Claims Prize
Kimberly-Clark Professional, the makers of SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels, have announced Tony Semenuk of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, as the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes winner. As the winner, Semenuk will receive a 2012 Dodge® Challenger® SRT on SPIKE TV's Powerblock program alongside Penske Racing Driver, Sam Hornish, Jr. The reveal airs December 15th and 16th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET on SPIKE TV. Semenuk's entry was one of more than 105,000 entries in the "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes
"When I saw the "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes, I knew I had to enter. I use SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels in my garage and am a total car guy," said Semenuk. "The idea of winning a 2012 Dodge® Challenger® SRT and being part of a Powerblock program taping was an opportunity of a lifetime. I can't wait for the Powerblockshow to air so I can share my excitement with my friends and family."
Car enthusiasts were asked to enter the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes from March 10 – October 15, 2012, either online or via a mail-in entry. As the Grand Prize winner of the "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes, Semenuk also received a trip for two to Nashville, Tenn., a customized Cover Craft Car Cover, and a one-year supply of SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels.
"We are thrilled to announce Tony Semenuk as the "Take the Challenge" Sweepstakes winner," said Charlotte Ciccone, Associate Marketing Manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "Tony has a true passion for cars and do-it-yourself auto projects – he even uses SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels in his own garage. We're excited to give an authentic car fanatic this great prize. We know Tony will enjoy many hours on the road with his new Dodge® Challenger® SRT."


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Peebles parade marks 300th birthday of one of the town's oldest organisations
Hundreds have marched through Peebles as part of celebrations marking the 300th birthday of Peebles Masonic Lodge
The Masonic lodge in Peebles is celebrating it's 300th birthday.
Opened in 1716, the local Borders chapter will celebrating with a series of events, including the parade down the high street on Saturday. Members from lodges from across Scotland are attending.


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to provide the necessary knowledge and skills required for understanding and managing the media industry, through high quality education, that combines academic lectures and practical media training.
Offer working professionals in both creative and managerial fields the opportunity to deepen and build on their knowledge and experience.
Offer young graduates an opportunity to expand their professional horizons and accelerate their career growth.
Provide specialized and advanced executive education in the management of television, radio, journalism, publishing and entertainment organizations.
Help students to take on a challenging role in the media management field through the expertise they develop.
Promotion of academic and intercultural exchange between the media and communication industries of Germany and Egypt.


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American Well uses telehealth to improve people's access to quality care. Through our partnerships with the nation's largest health systems, insurers, employers, and retailers, our award-winning telehealth Exchange and our direct-to-consumer service, Amwell™, we connect millions of Americans to the doctors they trust for live video visits. Through the power of telehealth, we help patients get the care they need, and help doctors be there for their patients. For more info visit AmericanWell.com.
American Well Resources
Nemours Children's Health System has enrolled over 17,000 patients in the telehealth program they launched to increase access to pediatric specialists across the six states they serve. Read More
Today's model of care delivery extends beyond hospital walls, bringing personalized, effective and less expensive care to convenient locations—the home, school, retail store and more. Read More
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109-1827
Boston, MA 02109-1827


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Tag Archives: Best of 2017
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The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis About- Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn't feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged … Continue reading
Posted in #metoo, Anna, Best of 2017, contemporary, family, female protagonist, female writers, Friendship, graphic novel, humor, rape culture Tagged A Mango Shaped Space, Bad Machinery, Best of 2017, John Allison, Mindy McGinnis, Smith Public Library, The Case of the Unwelcome Visitor, The Female of the Species, Wendy Mass, Wylie TX, YA Lit Leave a comment
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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas This is THE YA title of 2017. If you read one YA in 2017, this should be it. THUG is the story of 16yo Starr Carter who moves between two … Continue reading
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My grandmother gave birth to twelve children, and of those twelve she lived to bury three of them. Two died as children, and my father passed away as an adult. Of the remaining nine, all left home, married and settled in various areas of the country. She survived my grandfather by fifty years, which wasn't uncommon for women in the South over seventy-five years ago. The one child who remained was my mentally challenged uncle, Curtis Quince.
As a child I would go to "Mama Lula's" house with my brother, Patrick; we would sashay into her front door, sit down and talk for a few minutes, then get up and run outside to play. I loved escaping to her house because it was a breath of fresh air from the noise of my seven brothers and sisters. I'm sure the quietness and refuge that I cherished, she had come to hate. There were days I would come by and see her sitting on the porch with a forlorn look on her face: it wasn't only a look of loneliness and despair, the look said, "no one is going to rescue me from this." Even as a child, I sensed "Mama Lula's" relief when Patrick and I would show up, I sensed her thankfulness, and I was equally grateful for the sense of history and peacefulness she had given to me.
It is true that we can spend all our lives as employees, parents, and productive citizens, and one day wake up to realize we are in the house alone. I realized my "nest" was empty after I dropped my youngest daughter off at college. My ex-husband had left a year earlier to build a new nest with a younger, new wife and two other children. I didn't have time to be bitter; the time that I possessed was spent trying to find a career in post-mid-life and trying to keep two daughters in college.
I joined several meetup.com sites, became an avid hiker, a prolific dancer, and began to explore the singing skills that had lain dormant for a long time. I found the self who had been buried beneath the needs of children and the expectations of a neglectful spouse. I returned to school and acquired a certificate as a drug counselor. I got a job working at something that required skill and thought. It was a great accomplishment. My days were filled. The nights and the weekends became the gaps. I suddenly realized the children had filled the nights and the weekends until now: they had filled the gaps for ten years plus. Overwhelmingly, I began to crave sharing the most insignificant events. A sunset, a cup of coffee, a walk in the park, a walk anywhere; these things became monumental events set against a backdrop of emptiness.
The gaps are here and I refuse to fill them with minutia. I refuse to fill the gaps with things that I'm not passionate about. I spoke with a woman I met and is in a similar situation with the children and the spouse gone;I said, "It's amazing how much space another person takes up in your life, and when they are no longer there how much space is left." So I must fill the gaps with Joan. I must fill the gaps with whom I choose to be with and what I choose to give my time to. Time is the most precious commodity of an "empty nester"; use it wisely, make it work for you and you will see the valuable return of your investment.


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Source: When My GPA Became An Idol
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#Israel attempts gesture for #peace again at a cost! http://ow.ly/nWu5z
As most of our closest family and friends know, our family is in the process of relocating to Sweetwater, TN. Hopefully we'll be moving into a home in town in a month or so. One of the main reasons for the move—the Lord moved our hearts for a new fellowship of believers—to plant a new church in Sweetwater. He has called us to this work, equipped us for it, and we believe He is opening the door for us to begin this task.
I know some of you may question the need for a new church in Sweetwater. I don't blame you. So did I, at first. However, around 80% of folks in Sweetwater do not attend church on any given Sunday. Furthermore, to my knowledge, it has been at least 50 years or more since a new SBC church was started in Sweetwater. It may have even been as long as 65 years. Furthermore, about 200 million people in America are un-churched, making America one of the four largest "un-churched" nations in the world. Each year more than 3,500 churches close their doors permanently. Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, 4 out of 5 are either plateaued or declining. Another persuading reason to start new churches: 80% of one denomination's converts came to Christ in churches less than two years old.[1] A host of other reasons may give more credence to this task, but the main reason is this: God has given us a burden for this work, and we are committed to it.
The name of this new fellowship of believers will be The Fellowship Church. The name reflects the focus of the church. We believe fellowship is vital in three areas:
(1) Fellowship with the Father—The most important relationship is with our Heavenly Father. So our central emphasis will be emphasizing the importance of an abiding fellowship with the Father through His Son.
(2) Fellowship with the Family—We also believe as followers of Christ, we must connect with one another through fellowship as a family of faith. So, we will gather regularly for worship, small groups, and special events where we can grow in our relationships with God and in our relationship with one another.
(3) Fellowship with the Fallen—Finally we will intentionally seek to build relationships with those who are not Christ followers, so that we can love them like Jesus loves us and introduce them to Him. We will seek not only to be compassionate friends but to reproduce a fellowship of believers in our own city, neighboring areas, our nation, and in the remotest parts of the earth.
Furthermore, we have a few core values we will strive to practice in our fellowship:
(1) Inclusive Fellowship; this means we will be a fellowship of believers that will welcome everyone regardless of race, social status, previous failures, or present struggles etc. We want to be a church that is known to love everyone.
(2) Authentic Community; this means we will be a fellowship that strives to eliminate hypocrisy. We will be genuine, realizing we all have personal struggles, and we will confess our sins to one another, forgive one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, and help one another through and out of our struggles.
(3) Intentional Mission; this means that our desire to reproduce our fellowship will not be passive. We will strive to seek opportunities to lead individuals into a personal relationship with Christ by sharing the Gospel message, that we will seek opportunities to begin new small groups, and that we will seek opportunities to plant new churches, and that we will faithfully take the steps necessary to see these hopes realized.
(4) Compassionate Ministry; this means that we will be a fellowship that strives to treat others with the compassion of Jesus, that we will seek to not only meet spiritual needs of people, but we will also strive to meet their physical needs as well, providing food for the hungry, clothes to the poor, and help for the addicted and counseling for the afflicted.
Prayer requests:
1. Pray for the Lord to move a local church to be willing to be the sponsor church for this church plant.
2. Pray for the Lord to raise up a leadership team for the launch; (1) Musicians for the praise team, (2) A Children's Ministry Leader, (3) A Youth Ministry Leader, (4) An Outreach /Fellowship Leader, (5) An Administrative Leader
3. We plant to begin a Bible study and prayer focus for The Fellowship in a couple of weeks, so pray that the Lord reveals the time and place for us to meet.
4. Pray for the Lord to move hearts for people to attend our initial Bible study and prayer focus meetings.
Involvement: We plan to begin meeting for Bible Study & Prayer in a couple of weeks. We are still praying about the time and place. If you are interested in participating, please contact us, so we can update you.
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives. So please feel free to share your thoughts with us on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other way you prefer.
[1]http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-will-build-my-church. Available online June 1, 2013.
Recently, as many of you already know, the Lord moved our hearts to begin a new work—to plant a new church in Sweetwater, TN. He has called us to this work, equipped us for it, and we believe He is opening the door for us to begin this task.
I know some of you may question the need for a new church in Sweetwater. I don't blame you, so did I, at first. However, around 80% of folks in Sweetwater do not attend church on any given Sunday. Furthermore, to my knowledge it has been at least 50 years or more since a new SBC church was started in Sweetwater. It may have even been as long as 65 years. A host of other reasons may give more credence to this task, but the main one is this: God has given me a burden for this work, and I am committed to it.
So far, I have laid out a general plan, along with the name (The Fellowship Church) and a general vision for the purpose of the church. Furthermore, I have some core values I'd like to see the church strive to practice. I've included a couple of images you may view to get a visual of some of these themes. I also have an idea about preferred places to meet for worship, ministry plans, and worship styles.
What I am requesting from all who read our blog is this: Please commit to praying for this work. If you agree, I will add you to an e-mail contact list: "The Fellowship Church Prayer Partners." As we work toward our goal of planting a new church, I will periodically send updates on the progress along with a new list of prayer requests. If you are willing to commit to this, please contact me, and I will add you to the list.
We also would like for all our friends to pray that God will raise up a Sending/Mother Church to partner with us in this task. We feel called to plant this new church, but we also believe that it is best when churches plant churches. We're praying for one supporting church to be a local church near the Sweetwater area that we can join and work through as we plant The Fellowship as a ministry of that church with the understanding that the long term goal is an autonomous, self-supporting church.
We are all excited about our new adventure for His glory, and We really appreciate all of your prayers and support!
Mat 9:37-38 NKJV Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives. So please feel free to share your thoughts with us on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other way you prefer.
A recent response by Ed Stetzer to a Christianity Today article reminded me of a pressing issue in many churches in regards to ideas of legalism, holiness, and licentiousness.[1]
Quite frequently pastors are accused of preaching legalism. Recently a pastor I know faced this accusation. It was a shocking accusation because this pastor makes God's grace through Christ the center of his preaching and teaching. As a matter of fact, to find some hint of this in his preaching I read sermon notes and listened to a number of sermons and found, at least from my perspective, his sermons had made it clear we can never do anything on our own to earn God's favor apart from the finished work of Christ. Several others gave their feedback as well, and no one agreed with the accusation.
Perhaps the problem was this pastor had emphasized holiness and the need for righteous living in his recent preaching episodes and some misunderstood. They misjudged motives and failed to understand the present passion of the preacher. His preaching had been focused for a time upon God's judgment upon unrepentant sinners—intentional to emphasize the seriousness of sin. It's not a pleasant preaching subject, but it is Scriptural. He felt like as Baptists we often emphasize God's mercy and grace but neglect to proclaim the righteous judgment of God upon sinners who reject the Gospel of Christ. We forget how much God hates sin!
Another problematic view by some who cry "legalism" is licentiousness. This is the idea to which many who follow the reformed doctrinal view of perseverance fall prey. It is the belief that since I have been saved by grace, and I am forever saved, I can live as I wish without any boundaries.
Often those who practice licentiousness accuse those who try to hold them to a standard of righteousness of preaching legalism to them. The truth of the matter is that genuine believers strive for holiness. To be holy is to be like God—to be like Jesus. We want to be like HIM! Furthermore, we are commanded to be holy. 1 Peter 1: 15-16 says, "But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy." To clear up understanding, let's define the terms.
a. a strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.
b. in Theology; the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works; the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.[2]
a. the quality or state of being holy; sanctity.
b. Synonym: godliness.[3]
a. unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
b. going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules.[4]
So what makes the difference? How can one be holy without being legalistic? How can one be free and yet remain holy?
My purpose for this post is to attempt to offer a clear viewpoint that helps us all to understand these three seemingly contradictory positions.
Theological legalism is primarily when one preaches that salvation is available by doing things that please God to earn his favor. Legalists preach that such things as avoiding sins like drinking, cussing, or loose morals helps one to establish righteousness with God, and actions like going to church, giving to the poor, and evangelizing the lost can win salvation from sin and eternal bliss with God. At another level, some preachers and/or churches are described as legalists who demand certain hair styles, specific styles of dress and demand other behaviors as a sign of righteousness.
Others who practice licentiousness believe they don't have to conform to these "holy" standards such as faithful church attendance, tithing, studying the bible and more because they have prayed the prayer of faith and will go to heaven regardless of how they live. These people live their lives without any concern at all for pleasing God, and their lives give no evidence of a regenerate relationship with God.
So what's the difference? We know that those who are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ will be conformed into His image and their lives will display acts of righteousness. However, while they still inhabit flesh, their lives are far from perfect.
The difference pertains to motivation.
If you are not motivated to live for Jesus and to live a life of righteousness, and if you are comfortable living licentiously, then it is doubtful that you are a child of God. Over and over again, Scripture tells us that those who are saved desire to live in obedience to Christ. 1 John 2:3 is one instance of this, "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments."
If you are struggling with whether your acts of righteousness are legalistic actions ask yourself this: Why are you doing the good thing that you do? If your answer is that you are doing it to gain and advance in your standing with God, then your act is an act of legalism. Scripture tells us that we can never earn favor with God through the things we do. Titus 3:5-7 (English Standard Version) reminds us of that truth , "5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
If you answer that you are doing it because you love Jesus and you want to try your best to act like Him and please Him because of His love for you, then your act is an act of freedom in God's grace. Galatians 5:13 reminds us of the freedom to obey, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
When I was a small child, I obeyed my parents because I had to. If I didn't obey, there were, let's say, REPERCUSSIONS. When I obeyed, I did so to avoid punishment. Sometimes it may have been to try to earn more favor. I took out the garbage because I was told to—legalism.
As I got older my motivations changed, and now one of the ways I show love for my parents is to do things like taking out the garbage because I want to. I love them and I want to please them because they love me—freedom to serve in righteousness.
So, in summary, if you are a child of God, Live for Jesus obediently and righteously because you want to, not because you have to. It is true, His love has rescued those who are His once for all and forever, and we are eternally His. Let His love compel you to love Him with Holiness!
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives. So please feel free to share your thoughts with us on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other way you prefer.
[1] http://www.edstetzer.com/2013/05/radical-christianity-a-cause-to-live-or-a-call-to-legalism.html. Available online May 18, 2013.
[2] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/legalism. Available online May 18, 2013.
[3] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holiness. Available online May 18, 2013.
[4] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/licentious. Available online May 18, 2013.
At some point, in a struggling church, someone who cares will ask the question, "What's wrong with my church?" For the church to revive and thrive, this question must be asked, answered, and responded to with faith, repentance, and commitment!
I recently read something concerning the cause of trouble with churches in Dr. Gregory Frizzell's book Returning to Holiness: A Personal and Churchwide Journey to Revival. [1] It resonated with me, and I see it as enlightening—something every church member should read.[2] Perhaps his words will help us all to answer this question.
Frizzel writes:
Are you known as a peacemaker who strengthens church unity or, are you often part of some contentious argument? Do you act like a "self-appointed" critic and judge to set everyone else straight? Are you quick to talk about the shortcomings of others? Do you increase the faith of your church by a positive attitude or, do you tear it down by focusing on its imperfections? Are you quick to divide up and "take sides?" Do you tend to be a part of church cliques? Are you known as a complainer and one who is easily upset? Have you been critical and condemning of those with different tastes in music and worship style?
Such subtle sins of attitude and speech are often more damaging to a church than obvious outward sins. In truth, a negative church member can often to more damage than an alcoholic! Does God convict you of any tendency to be contentious, divisive or negative? Do not make excuses or justify your behavior. If you are honest in your confession and repentance, God will totally transform your heart. He will give you wisdom to deal with honest differences of opinion without becoming angry and divisive. God will also lead you to ask for forgiveness from those you have offended (Matthew 5:23-24).
1 Timothy 5:17 – "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine."
This generation has witnessed a shocking increase of preachers and lay-leaders being fired or mistreated for small, (often exaggerated) reasons.[3] Certainly when a leader sins, he or she must be dealt with. Yet today, many churches have forgotten the biblical principle of respect and honor for those who lead the church. In many churches, the Holy Spirit is quenched because the congregation has sinned against a pastor or church leader.
When churches experience revival, they often must seek forgiveness from pastors or leaders they may have mistreated. Many churches may also need to ask forgiveness from a former pastor or lay-leader. (In other cases, pastors must ask the forgiveness of churches they have wronged).
A glorious and growing trend is the number of churches that are getting right with other congregations that formed as "a split" from their own. This does not mean churches have to reunite, but it does mean they must fully forgive past offenses. Until you get right with those you fought in the past, there will not be full blessing on your church or your life!
So, What's Wrong with Your Church? Instead of blaming your pastor or others, perhaps the best thing for us to do is to look inward. Ask yourself this question: "If every member of my church were just like me, what kind of church would my church be?"
Let the Transformation of Your Church begin within You!
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives. So please feel free to share your thoughts with us on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other way you prefer.
When I returned to college to prepare for ministry, one of my first classes at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College was a church planting class taught by Dr. Tim Searcy. It was a class I took for convenience, just to get my hours in. Ever do that? I really had no idea what it would involve, and I had very little understanding of church planting. Little did I realize at that time a passion would be planted in my heart for God's work of birthing new congregations of His people.
After finishing up at CCBBC we arrived at SEBTS, seeking whatever the Lord led us to do. I was convinced God was going to use us in the new 2+2 MDiv in Church Planting, but He didn't.
However, when we left seminary and began leading churches, we became involved in supporting church planters. We provided finances and prayers, and we also helped church plants through mission trips to Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, and Montana, and internationally in Africa. Recently I have also mentored a young pastor in Pakistan through social media and technology, encouraging and equipping him to proclaim the gospel and to plant churches. So I have been able to satisfy that passion with some involvement.
More recently, as a pastor, I learned of the IMB's new emphasis on church planting which encourages local churches to adopt Unreached and Unengaged People Groups. I was ecstatic and ready to move forward with something I had already been planning to do. As we planned and worked, we became convinced to adopt a UUPG in the nation with the most lost people, India. However, this attempt to build God's Kingdom in a new place never gained the support we needed to carry it out.
Furthermore, in October of last year, due to a sudden and unexpected change of opportunity to serve, I began seeking again for God's direction, and my heart again was drawn to church planting. First, I went to NAMB's Send North America campaign, and we began praying about going to Cincinnati, OH to plant a new fellowship of believers. However, after 3 months of planning and traveling and speaking to those we needed to get this done, the door was closed for this opportunity as well.
Throughout this time of praying and seeking, I left the door open to return to an established church—one that might be open to be a church that intentionally and strategically plants churches.
However, I began seeking other opportunities to plant, thinking wherever He leads, I'll go! I traveled and spoke to church planters in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Georgia, Kentucky, the TBC, and I began meeting with a group of Church Planters in Cookeville, monthly called, Churches Planting Churches Network. I read everything I could on church planting, began preparing my heart and head to plant a new church, and I began developing a vision of what I felt God wanted the new church to look like.
One day while sharing my heart with two church planters, they both independently, in different places suggested I should go home to Sweetwater to plant a new church. I must admit, at the time, I didn't see that happening. I thought, "Sweetwater has plenty of churches. There is no need for a new one." I had longed to see a new church in a place where the lack of Christian influence was obvious.
However, I made one phone call to TBC church planting strategist, Fred Davis as I traveled home after those meetings. As I shared my heart, I asked, "Is there a place the TBC has seen as a strategic target for a new church plant between Knoxville and Chattanooga?" I continued, "I am from East Tennessee and grew up in the Athens/Sweetwater area, and I am considering starting a new work someplace in that region." His response sent me into a season of prayer and planning to a see if God was leading us to a new start at home. Fred said, "Every time I get off the interstate in Sweetwater and drive toward town, I always wonder why we haven't started a new church here."
I began to think more about that and began to pray about it. I immediately sought out one of the most influential pastor's in Sweetwater to get his thoughts, and I contacted the local Associational leader. Later, however, one thought kept coming to my mind: In my lifetime, I have never seen Southern Baptists plant a new church in Sweetwater. That fact, and the encouragement I received from others, along with the drawing of the Holy Spirit of God convinced me; it is time.
About a month later I found myself at the TBC's "Basic Training for Church Planters" in Brentwood, and during that week of training, my heart began to warm even more toward the idea of coming home to start a new church. In the week that followed, I laid out a basic vision that had been developing in my heart over the last 6 months, and I began sharing it with others. Each time I shared, I became more passionate about this and believed more and more this is God's call for us.
Various possible opportunities to realize this have presented themselves, and one of them includes a possible call to an existing church in Sweetwater that may be willing to re-launch as a new church or commit to being the sponsor church for the new work.
We still aren't exactly sure how God is going to work all this out, but eventually, we arrived at the point that we could not do anything else. I believe God's desire is for us to plant a new church in Sweetwater—a sweet fellowship where everyone feels loved and welcome and a place where we can learn to have fellowship with God and each other as He intends.
We are excited about how God is working things out for this to happen—contacts with churches and possibilities of partnerships—and we can't wait to share more as it develops, but for now we are thrilled that God is calling us home to serve the people we love most, and we can't wait to see how he is going to change us and our hometown for His glory as we seek to love and obey Him!
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives. So please feel free to share your thoughts with us on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other way you prefer.
It's been a while since we have shared publicly on this blog about the latest events in our lives, and in part the lack of sharing has been intentional. As we shared in our last post, within a few days after returning from the adoption of Koby and Si in the Ghana courts our lives were put in somewhat of a tail spin. Our worst fears were that the completion of the adoption and the approval from the USCIS to bring our new sons home would be delayed, or worse. So doing whatever we needed to do to get them home became our primary focus.
Praise the Lord, though the holidays and the first of the year was rough, we finally were able to get approval and got their passports and visas. So Christy and I traveled to Accra in February, and after spending a few days with the boys near the orphanage and getting the opportunity to preach again in the church, we left with Koby and Si in our arms and arrived home with our boys on February 26. I'm sure Christy will have more exciting news to share on her blog about this trip soon.
Since arriving home, Koby and Si have fit right in with our family. We were concerned most with how they might relate to Levi and how Levi might react to them, but we couldn't have asked for any smoother transition. They have a soft disposition toward Levi, and they are both affectionate toward him, especially Si.
One major difference of course is that there is much more hyperactivity in our house, and for some reason children's shows appear much more frequently on the television, and the decibel levels have risen considerably, but it is a joy to be a family of 7 now, and we are blessed to have added James Koby and Josiah Gerrad to the McCosh Clan! Ivy and Sophie are a huge help with the boys, and the boys love them too!
Not only have we brought the family home by bringing Koby and Si to the USA, but we are excited to announce more news. We have been praying and seeking a new direction for ministry, and are thrilled to finally realize that God is leading us back home to Exalt Jesus and Build His Kingdom in Sweetwater, Tennessee. We will be making the move in the next few weeks. So all our homies should be watching for us. We can't wait to reconnect with family and friends as we re-settle back into life in our hometown.
Stay tuned, and in my next post, we'll let you know more about what God has in store for us as we bring the family home!
As always, we love reading your comments and interacting with those who are interested in our lives, so please feel free to share your thoughts or questions with us on this blog, facebook, twitter, google+, or any other way you prefer.


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Here's the good news and bad news on proposed gun bills at the Capitol: The good news is that metal detectors at the front door of government buildings may go away. The bad news is that it would be because some lawmakers think people have a right to carry guns and weapons into those government buildings.
Yesterday was the day for the campus carry and open carry gun bills at the Capitol. And if you didn't think it was a big deal, consider this: The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday and beat it the heck out of Dodge. And Moms Demand Action, an opponent of both campus carry and open carry, had an unarmed police escort to yesterday's hearing, for fear of a run-in with the open carry lobby.
Business associations were on hand to support Senate Bill 17, the open carry bill. That doesn't exactly mean they were cheering open carry. What they like is the language in the bill that still allows them to prohibit guns on their property.
"We have read all the bills on gun legislation," Cathy DeWitt, vice president of governmental affairs at the Texas Association of Business, told the Senate State Affairs Committee. "This is the bill that keeps business and the rights of private property owners in mind."
Richie Jackson, who has been the head of the Texas Restaurant Association for three decades, said the debate boils down to property rights versus Second Amendment rights. In the case of the initial concealed handgun law, a business' right to prohibit guns is protected. That language is echoed in the open carry bill.
Restaurants rarely have had issues with concealed handguns. Open carry, however, might send some patrons running for the door. But it's likely that property rights will prevail in the red meat crowd at the Capitol.
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Current speculation is that city and county buildings are going to be in the crosshairs of gun proponents. Businesses are private property. Government buildings are the property of the people, or so goes the logic.
Campus carry and open carry are not even the most controversial gun bills this session. Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, has filed a "constitutional carry" bill, which would eliminate the criminalization of carrying a gun anywhere anytime, with or without a permit (Stickland, miffed at San Antonio City Hall's inconsistent policies about pocketknives, also has filed a bill that would prohibit cities from regulating stun guns, knives and pepper sprays.)
Stickland's "constitutional carry" measure, House Bill 195, has been referred to the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, which is co-chaired by state Rep. Poncho Navarez, a Democrat and critic of the bill whose office was stormed by open-carry activists calling him a "tyrant to the constitution" the first day of the session. Navarez had to kick the open-carry crowed out of his office, and the confrontation so spooked lawmakers that they immediately passed a new "panic button" policy for their state-house offices.
We'd bet the odds that bill makes it out of committee are slim to none.


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Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and were spoiled by your loved ones. 2016, a new year, new starts and many more new bloggers for us all to discover and fall in love with. There is nothing quite like finding a new blog that you adore and there are plenty of new bloggers who would love you to fall in love with their blogs.
I am here to help you all find and celebrate new bloggers so, without further ado, I have received lots of submissions this month and can't wait to share some of the amazing posts with you.
First up is Jenny from Monkey and Mouse. She brought a tear to my eye with the beautifully touching a poem to my boys, about her sons growing up; parenting is so bittersweet and this poem sums it up beautifully.
"To hold her son and feel his heart beating, felt like the most beautiful gift a woman could ask for, better than true loves kiss", Tanita's post, if her love could speak, was another fabulous example of stunning writing.
New bloggers, like seasoned ones, can be brave and can write from the heart in order to share their story and in the hope of helping others. Mummy Lala used her tremendous courage to share her miscarriage story. Much love to you and thank you for sharing your experience with us all.
In a change of tone, I wanted to share some posts by bloggers who have a talent for comedy. Parenting can be tough, so having these blogs to go to for a daily dose of humour can be just the ticket.
This Mum's Life penned such a funny post We Need To Talk About the Conditions of My Imprisonment, drawing the similarities of parenting and imprisonment; I think she has a point. Such a funny post.
Mama Zen wrote a letter to the Board of Parenting from her position as a member of the under-fives division. She feels her contract has been breached, thinking about it, I think mine has been too….
If you are a new mum then according to Redefined Prose you are basically a jedi. This supremely funny post had me agreeing and laughing in equal measure.
The final post I would like to highlight is a funny take on a Baby Oaty Fruity Baby Bars recipe post. Such a giggle courtesy of Parenting in Pajamas.
Please go and pay a visit to these talented bloggers, I know you won't regret it. I hope this has given you some new bloggers to add to your daily reading and I can't wait to be back in February with some more wonderful bloggers to showcase.
I can be found over at You Baby Me Mummy, @Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. If you would like to submit a post for consideration please email me on [email protected]
About Aby Moore
Aby Moore is a mum of one feisty little girl and blogs over at You Baby Me Mummy on all things family, lifestyle and being a Mamapreneur. After starting her blog in Aug 2013, Aby won the Best Non Dad blog in the Love All Dads annual blog awards in 2014 and was Family Finalist in the BIBs in 2015, Video Finalist in 2016 and Social Media Finalist in 2017. Her blog was originally an online memory keeper but quickly transformed her life. Now working as a full-time blogger and social media manager, she helps fellow bloggers by writing regular blogging tips posts, courses and is fully immersed within the community, including her own Mamapreneur Revolution community. She can be found on Twitter @youbabymemummy
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The south of France delivered some amazing conditions, as we arrived so did the Tramatomma
South of France and north Spain is were we spent the first 6 weeks. The south of France delivered some amazing conditions, as we arrived so did the Tramatomma. This did mean winter wetsuits but it was well worth it. We mainly sailed in and around Leucate and with the help of the Locals managed to find a great mix of spots suitable for all the wind strengths! A big thanks has to go to Gerrard from the Leucate proshop who was a great help. After 3 weeks of great wind and settling into life in a van it was time to head to hotter climates so we headed south along the coast of Spain, it was a shame as there was no wind until we reached Tarifa, there was some truly beautiful beaches but just no wind. Tarifa itself wasn't working which was a bit disappointing as we had heard such good reports. Luckily we have friend in Cadiz so after a week of hit and miss conditions we paid them a visit. With a better forecast and the help of local knowledge we scored a great week of sailing.


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Third Eye Blind has been in the news very recently. They've been in that news that everyone is stuck in right now, the muck and the mire that is the US Election, that brutal mess with all its talk talk talk and emotion and button pushing, and its satire that even at the highest level has failed to right the ship, to allow true democracy to happen after all.
But Third Eye Blind, who've continued to make new music over the years since their explosive success in the glorious late 90s, gave the world a moment of true enlightenment, actual humour, and a pause for thought that our comedians and pundits have fallen over themselves for months and failed to do. They "trolled the Republican National Convention".
They did what musicians are supposed to do, and sometimes still do- use their formidable weapons- the only weapons that ought to be open carry (and not by most civilians, either, only the skilled) to create a moment. To resist. To speak out. To criticize. To call out. It was astounding, and it was beautiful. The silly jaded bloggers took notice, and stepped away from their Kardashian coma haze for a minute or two to write about something else. The mainstream media huffed and puffed in disbelief that some band who comes from a time of actual free speech and is not beholden to anyone, who are grown and do not have ugly corporate ties like most big artists, pulled off something out of The Prestige.
The accurate story is that Third Eye Blind "played a benefit concert for "Musicians on Call", a charity, near the Republican National Convention. The band took the opportunity to speak out against the Republican Party, criticizing their views on science and LGBT rights, and playing tracks specifically critical of their stances, including "Jumper", and "Non-Dairy Creamer". (Wikipedia) The media/blogosphere/citizen social media reporter is perhaps so out of practice at seeing normal and necessary dissent, they freaked out a little. This band has always been outspoken, free-thinking. The time is just right for them to jump back into the fray. Let's all limber up and see if we can get our mosh on again.
Culture watchers, those of us on the margins of the new media counter-culture (as we've coined it right here) and fans of this band cheered and laughed, for once, at something interesting, real and actually noteworthy in an ocean of noise, ugly noise emitting from Trump who is here because he's a Reality TV star and people are TV zombies, and for no other good reason. We laughed at the rediculousness of the whole terrible situation in the US, because what else can we do? What else can a band do, and in fact, no one else seems to have done this, except these guys.
And a week later, Third Eye Blind is slated to play the second annual, and now historic, Canadian music festival, Wayhome. We love good humour up here in Canada. We gave the world the best comedians Hollywood has ever (will ever) know. We are of the frontier mindset, a little wild, yet, and we are free thinkers. We embrace this band with our open enthusiasm, maybe even a little harder than we might have a few weeks ago, but those of us who've embraced them since their forever great 1997 self-titled debut do not follow trends or waves. We were always gonna be here, and here we are.
At Wayhome as we have since 1997, our big moments are not the sing-along singles, the ubiquitous "Semi-Charmed Life" (which we will always remember with amusement was used in a Tigger movie trailer, minus the little red panties and meth references, of course, in fact, it could only have been the do do dos…as this was the last time bands were allowed to make blantant drug references in plain English) "Jumper" and "Graduate", but the epicly beautiful dirges "How's It Gonna Be" and "Motorcycle Drive By" for which we still know every word, intonation and strum.
The last of these, "Motorcycle Drive By", gives us "those f0ur right chords (that) can make me cry" Jenkins sings about in Semi-Charmed Life. But it's more like 8 chords. It gets us every time, and it does today, too. It's a piece of musical poetry, far away from the misconception of late 90s bands and gigs as a brofest. This is a song about a romantic man being denied a future by a toxic, destructive, troubled woman, a backdrop of drugs and despair and the growing pains everyone endures in their 20s, this time, put to paper and sent around the world. "There's this burning. Just like there's always been."
"Visions of you on a motorcycle drive by
The cigarette ash flies in your eyes
And you don't mind, you smile
And say the world doesn't fit with you
I don't believe you, you're so serene
Careening through the universe
Your axis on a tilt, you're guiltless and free
I hope you take a piece of me with you"
What Motorcycle Drive By, is, too, is the example of more than a great song on their first album but indicative tight musical unit that's been paying their dues and singing in bars and parties working for this moment for some years. It could have been a stand alone, one hit wonder, and thank god it wasn't. Follow up album Blue brought us "Never Let You Go" and we walk through the crowd seeking optimum viewing spots while singing "the girl is like a sunburn" in scorching heat, and badly sunburned.
Seeing Third Eye Blind on the same day as The Killers it becomes clear that in some sense TEB was the prototype. It was rock, with heart, with highs and lows, rawness and pain, and soaring crescendos. It was anything but Grunge. Or maybe The Killers and other bands who've emerged post 2000s who play in the same endless, perfect sandbox of hearfelt rock and roll are really a throwback to something we've sorta lost lately, but always need.
The crowds at Third Eye Blind are waking up. Lots of them in the massive crowd have not seen this band on their Toronto stops in recent years, clearly. Many of them have never seen the band live, and have forgotten why this CD never left the 6 disc changer or why it was essential to every road trip (and still will make the miles fly by, we promise.) It's great to see, to be part of, as it's exactly the kind of shaking up that music festivals are known for, and are capable of. The headliners ensure the party can sell, the new discoveries give us life for the future and let us say we were there, and the much deserved rediscoveries, like Third Eye Blind, remind us who we were and the musical promise of the 1990s that we all still owe a debt to.
And here we are.
Third Eye Blind has a new EP out, Dopamine and is now touring extensively through 2016.
Words by Jacqueline Howell Photos by Dave MacIntyre


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To honour the legacy of more than 130 years of excellence, Stock Spirits created Stock 84 XO, which is matured in oak casks for eight years, longer than any other Stock brandy. By selecting and distilling the finest grapes before effecting a long maturation in oak casks, it creates a rich intense flavour and an experience that deserves to be discovered.
VS is a blend of more than 40 eaux de vie from the four premier growing areas of the cognac region. Hennessy VS displays a beautifully bright golden color. The powerful bouquet is dominated by overtones of oak, giving way to reveal a delicate scent of hazelnuts. Smooth and floral, V.S combines the sweetness of red fruits with a hint of vanilla that lingers on the palate. Hennessy VS has traditionally been enjoyed after a meal, but it is also very popular mixed with ice and soda water, tonic, orange juice or ginger ale, as a long drink. Recently in the USA, classic cocktails have made a strong come back with young, upscale consumers with for example the Hennessy Martini, the Hennessy Sidecar or the Hennessy Sour.
Fine golden-yellow. Aromas of dried fruit, nut, and lime blossom. Robust and well-balanced. Fresh and intense, with an attractive color, bouquet, and flavor.
Introducing D'USSÉ VSOP Cognac: A bold new expression of cognac designed to dare cognac drinkers' palates like never before.
The product of a gradual blend of over 60 eaux de vie taken from the four leading vineyards in the Cognac region, V.S.O.P is slowly matured in old barrels from which most of the tannin has been extracted. A delicate blend of wood notes and spices, punctuated by the scent of cloves and cinnamon. Discreet, subtle and harmonious, it is characterized by the fragrance of honey and a suggestion of licorice. The favorite mixers are mineral water (still or sparkling), soda water, ginger ale and tonic water.
Created from grapes selected from the two finest and most exclusive regions in the Cognac area and never from the other four. It therefore carries the Fine Champagne designation. COURVOISIER® VSOP is uniquely crafted for higher quality. The Master Blenders tasting notes : COURVOISIER® VSOP offers a delicate bouquet and excellent balance of oak and exotic flavours. The aroma is subtle and harmonious, with undertones of vanilla and grilled almond and the finish leaves a nice, tender memory
Created with a unique blend of very old cognacs resulting in a supremely rich product. With its harmonious yet complex character, COURVOISIER® XO Imperial is a perfect balance of intense flavours. The Master Blenders tasting notes : COURVOISIER® XO Imperial is intensely aromatic and flavourful with a velvet texture and redolent bouquet with hints of orange, apricot and pear. It is very rich and complex with aromas of chocolate, vanilla and amber, and the old Borderies add exotic and bakery spices. The finish is very long and mellow with great depth and long development.
Since creation by Edouard Martell in 1912, Cordon Bleu has become a genuine legend. Its taste, marked predominantly by 'eaux-de-vie' from the Borderies area, and its authentic bottle, unchanged since the beginning, make it a classic among great cognacs. A cognac with a unique character combining body and great balance.
Martell XO Supreme (Extra Old) is a remarkable combination of the main four cognac growth areas. Its powerful taste is distinctive, with a long lingering after-taste. Its a cognac with a rich character, perfect for special occasions. It is complex, full of flavor. Hints of almond and vanilla. A powerful cognac with a long aftertaste.
COURVOISIER® VS is aged longer to give a more distinctive character and a more rounded taste. The aroma is rich, fresh and oaky balanced with the vigour of a young cognac. The finish is short but very intense and as powerful as the aroma.
Smooth from its first notes, intense throughout tasting, it is an alluring and multifaceted Cognac with both delicate floral aromas and complex roundness on the palate.
Martell VSSD focuses on single distilleries, emphasizing the global trend for artisanal production & fair trade. It's the youngest Cognac to be launched by the house, aged for only two years. It has fruity notes of plum, apricot, and lemon confit.


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it's a miserable day in philly and after thawing my car out of a block of ice i am stealing the energy and warmth of these behind the scenes pictures from our latest special shoot. the shoot was for the mixed print trend on our website right now – we love how fresh this trend feels going into spring. to get the amazing special shots our team went to the home of our creative director, which they turned into a bohemian lounge full of rich prints and bold colors. looking at these photos (taken by our talented videographer) my breath was taken away…they look like they're in a caravan on their way to a festival… with puppies of course :)
shop the mixed print trend here!
p.s. don't you just want to curl up in some blankets with a book and a warm puppy now?


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Kristie Porcaro
Guidelines Committee, PQMD
Senior Vice President of US and Global Philanthropy
Operation Smile
Operation Smile's work around the globe has been a part of Kristie's life since she was 6 years old when her parents, Bill and Kathy Magee, founded Operation Smile. Kristie has a background in nursing and a BSN degree. Before joining Operation Smile as an official staff member, she worked for CCS, a consulting fundraising company based in New York City, working with clients such as UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, Pace University and the Public Theater. As the Senior Vice President of US and Global Philanthropy at Operation Smile, she works with corporations and individuals to align synergies with Operation Smile's work around the world. Kristie lives in Norfolk, Virginia with my husband Erik and our three children, Bowden, Charlie and Hudson.


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Sales Syntax is *INCLUDED* in many hosting control panel systems via various installer programs
(those that are used in most control panels) The list of installer programs that include Sales Syntax keeps growing but here is a basic list:
The easy and fast way to install Sales Syntax is to log into your hosting control panel then in the admin look for your local hosts application installer and then select that and find and install sales
syntax using the application auto installer provided with your host.
here is a list of auto installers currently installing sales syntax:
http://www.simplescripts.com/script_det ... axLiveHelp,
http://www.softaculous.com/softwares/cu ... fty_Syntax,

Plesk: http://www.cpskins.com/productinfo/psainstaller.htm

Ehcp: http://ehcp.net/?q=node/32,
Other hosting companies have added Sales Syntax in their own systems such as:
http://www.networksolutions.com/web-hos ... e-apps.jsp
http://www.zackyinstaller.com/customer- ... live-help/
http://www.4psasoftware.nl/Integrator.h ... ejndWtsCWg How To Create a live help Site
If all else fails you can install manually by downloading and following
http://www.salessyntax.com/howto.php#a1 the installation directions
or youhttp://www.dailyhosting.net/best-web-hosting-reviews/
easily open a hosting account and
do it yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PejndWtsCWg
There are 3 options for installing Sales Syntax Live Help Manually and 3 different packages for manual installation:

 NO Backlinks Release of Sales Syntax :

/unbranded.php ORDER The NO Backlinks Version

This Premium Option will fully remove the

Backlink and Copyright-Link from the Sales Syntax Live

Help Chat Window and from all emails sent by Sales Syntax as well.

 PRO Release of Sales Syntax :

The Pro release allows for monitoring on multiple websites from one website
and also has additional features (not included in Free version):

you can download this pro release here: /go-pro-specials.phpDownload the PRO release
Ability to include chat on the webpage WITHOUT A pop-up window!
users can chat directly from a embeded chat window on the lower
right corner of website.
Ability to monitor Multiple websites with multiple different sets of
departments from the same Live help application
Includes the Mobile HTML version to allow opening live help
on the browsers of smart phones.
Removal of "Donation page" which occurs every 10 logins from operators
Optional Removal of "Powered by" and credit links from CLIENT SIDE of chat
(Credit links still remain on the operators side of the chat)
Advertisement-free - all pop-ups are removed.
Ideal for Developers and Firms using the plugin on client sites
Advanced notice of new features, updates, functionality.
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Social Media Content
We offer social media content development and monitoring services for firms with business-to-consumer products or services.


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LITTLE Mix stars Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall cosied up to their boyfriends on the Brit Awards red carpet tonight - but Jesy Nelson had to pose solo before eventually hugging a female pal.
Perrie hit the Brits red carpet with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Leigh-Anne was joined by Andre Gray and Jade stepped out with Jed Elliot.
Jesy split from boyfriend Harry James in November last year - so she had to stand alone as her bandmates posed with their better halves on the Brits 2019 red carpet. However, she did later cosy up to a girl friend.
The pair decided to go their separate ways after 16 months together – making Jesy the only member of the group not in a relationship.
At the time, a source close to the star said: "Jesy and Harry enjoyed their time together but have decided to call it a day.
"There are no hard feelings between them and they remain good friends – just at the moment it makes sense for them to separate.
"Jesy is in work mode ahead of the release of Little Mix's new album LM5 and she's happy focusing on performances with the girls and promoting their material."
Her bandmates recently revealed Jesy was the biggest flirt of the group when she's single.
Speaking to Dan Wootton for ITV's Lorraine Show Jade also said Jesy was most likely to get asked for her number on a night out.
Admitting none of the girls are short of offers Jesy said: "When they know we're single they all come flooding in."
Most read in TV & Showbiz
And Jesy will have her pick as she's the only remaining single member of Little Mix with all three others in relationships.
Jade has been in the longest having dated Jed, the bassist from The Struts, for three years while Leigh-Anne and Perrie are loved up with Premier League footballers.
Leigh-Anne has been with Watford striker Andre Grey for two years, while Perrie got with Liverpool midfielder Alex in November 2016.
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Book Tee Times
Tee Times
Input Score
The Club At Ruby Hill is a private golf course and does not offer online tee times to the general public. You may book discounted tee times at other golf courses In the Antioch/Delta area of California or other locations below. Contact the course for information on membership or view more detailed information about The Club At Ruby Hill.


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Nuclear Body Protein SP100
- SP100 was first identified as a nuclear autoimmune antigen and is a constituent of the nuclear body.
SP100 interacts with the ETS1 transcription factor
SP100 protein and Promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) nuclear bodies are known to be the main components of PML-SP100 nuclear bodies (NBs). The disruption of this protein can cause acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and invovle in DNA virus infection.
- SP100 binds and interacts to members of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) families of non-histone chromosomal proteins
- a naturally occurring splice variant of SP100 (SP100-HMG), is a member of the high mobility group-1 (HMG-1) protein family and may thus possess DNA-binding potential.
- NB-associated SP100 protein complexes with members of the HP1 family of non-histone chromosomal proteins, both in vitro and in vivo, and that these complexes are seen to concentrate in the
PML/SP100 NBs
- SP100 NBs may affect chromatin structure by the finding of a SP100 splice variant, SP100-HMG, characterized by the presence of potential DNA-binding domains, the HMG boxes.
- involvement of NB components in the control or maintenance of chromatin or heterochromatin architecture.
- transcription-regulatory proteins and play a role in autoimmunity, oncogenesis and virus-host interaction.
The Sp100 and promyelocytic leukemia proteins (PML) are constituents of nuclear domains that make nuclear dots (NDs) or known as PML bodies. SP100 protein and PML are covalently modified by the small ubiquitin-related protein SUMO-1. The modification requires nuclear localisation signal (NLS) and involve some lysine residue.
As a protein family, Sp100 has subfamilies such as Sp110, Sp140/LYSp100 and the autoimmune regulator protein (AIRE)that share an N-terminal HSR (homogeneously staining region) domain. [1]
Sp100 proteins have different splice variant forms:
- Sp100 A, contains 480 amino acids - the most abundant form
- Sp100 HMG, the large variant, contain extra functional domains such as a SAND domain and a HMG box.
These splice variants are the one that will be modified by SUMO-1.
The functional sites of the Sp100 protein were located only in the surface of exposed regions.
1984 Discovered as targets of autoantibodies in patients suffering from the autoimmune disease primary biliary cirrhosis.
1990 After the discovery, the protein was named SP100 (speckled protein of 100 kDa) after forming a 'speckle' shape in the nucleus by using sera from the patients.
1996 Identification of novel nuclear domain as a dot pattern.
1998 novel protein motif, the HSR domain, was discovered , within this ND targeting/dimerisation domain.
Nucleus is one of the main components and only present in eukaryotic cell. It conducts DNA trascription to mRNA and mRNA need to be exported to cytoplasma to undergo translation to protein.
Nucleus has a double layer membranes that is connected to Endoplasmic Reticulum continuously. Cytoskeleton is also very crucial in order to hold the shape and structure of nucleus. The surface contains nuclear pores whereby passive transport of small ions and active transport of macromolecules can pass through.
Nuclear bodies contain specific compartments such as Cajal Bodies and PML bodies which fuctioning as modificator of small proteins and regulate the whole body's function respectively.
What types of cellular processes require lots of energy from the mitochondria?
Complex animal cells need to retain energy from mitochondria through aerobic respiration. Mitochondria produce 15 times more ATP than anaerobic process which is required by the cells. The initial source is from glucose whereby it is processed and imported into mitochondria and undergo catabolism process such as Kerbs cycle, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid oxidation.
Other examples are cell signalling, cell reproduction such as mitosis and meiosis.
Cell adhesion molecules (CAM)
Ng-CAM: Neuroglia Cell Adhesion Molecule
I-CAM: Intercellular Cellular Adhesion Molecule
L-CAM: Liver Cell Adhesion Molecule
Intermediate Filament
What is the name of the epidermal layer between the basal and granulosa layer and how does it relate to intermediate filaments?
Stratum spinosum is the
Confocal Microscopy
Two major types of Confocal microscope generate its signal are by:
- Laser Systems for Confocal Microscopy
The source is from fluorophores whereby the biological molecules reach the excited state and emit ultraviolet or visible light photons and captures them to produce the image of specific structural components of the cells. The technique is advanced by the use of interference filters as well as Spectral Bleed-Through Artifacts (crossover or crosstalk) that is used for broad bandwidths and asymmetrical spectral profiles fluorophores. Laser Systems stimulates and amplifies the molecules with excess energy to emit light. It is the most common light source for scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy.
- Non-Coherent (non-laser) Light Sources for Confocal Microscopy
This technique use traditional tungsten-halogen source and a short-arc lamp for fluorescence excitation.
- ↑ Möller, A., Sirma, H., Hofmann, T., Staege, H., Gresko, E., Lüdi, K., et al. (2003). Sp100 is important for the stimulatory effect of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 on p53-dependent gene expression. Oncogene, 22(54), 8731-8737.


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NO more interesting visitor has dropped in upon us at "Ty Coz" than the eminent American journalist who came for tea this afternoon. Every line in his alert face, the pose of his head, the flash of his eye, marked the man who had mounted the rungs of the Park Row ladder by the ability of keeping continually on the qui vive. He was positive, like all men of his type, and confident in the infallibility of his sixth sense.
Conversation turned upon the anxious weeks since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo. Helen and I were full of apprehension. The immediate future appalled us. Were we never to get away from the trail of blood we had been following ever since those fateful days of April, 1909, when we saw the hopes of a regenerated Turkey disappear in the horror of the Armenian massacres at Adana? Was there before us another chapter this time on a much larger scale of agony and misery through the clash of nations? We could not help unburdening our hearts to the guest who sat calmly sipping his tea.
The American journalist would have none of our presentiment. "I have been waiting," said he, "twenty-five years for your European war. Many a time it has seemed as imminent as this. But it will not come ! Europe cannot afford a war. There is today such a close interrelationship between big business in the capitals of Europe that an actual conflict is beyond the realm of possibility. The diplomats will fume and fuss. But they know better than to plunge their countries into a colossal struggle that will ruin Europe and set back civilization."
After our friend had gone, I looked at my wife. "What do you think now?" I asked her.
"I think that I am going to take the first train tomorrow morning to Morlaix to get some money," she answered, "and that the summer at the. seashore for which you have been waiting and dreaming for six years is going to end rather suddenly."
July thirty-first.
Helen was as good as her word. At daybreak she was off to the nearest town where there are branches of the Paris banks. To persuade' myself that I was not at all apprehensive, and that all this war talk was nonsense, I spent the morning writing about the influence of Walt Whitman upon the younger contemporary French poets. How refreshing it is to be able to close your mind to rumors and ephemeral excitement ! The Bard of Camden is a welcome refuge in times like these. There is no more tiring question, even when you ask it of yourself, than, "What do you think is going to happen?"
The afternoon was glorious. Among the summer people none was caring about how Servia answered the ultimatum of Austria,Hungary, or what the German ambassador at St. Petersburg was saying. In the little shop, the Paris newspapers lay on the counter. They had just arrived from Plougasnou. But the people from the hotel across the road were not crowding around, eager for the latest word.
I took the children in the donkey cart to meet the train from Morlaix. A laughing group of young people, French and English, were just leaving the hotel with bathing suits and a tea basket. As we crossed the brook, a voice hailed me from the bushes. I persuaded the donkey to stop. Looking down, I saw a member of the London Stock Exchange busily painting a landscape.
Did n't you go back to England yesterday?" I asked in surprise.
"Why?" he answered, and paused to light a cigarette.
The shrill whistle of the train on the hill warned me to hurry. I was glad, for it is unpleasant to be taken as an alarmist. Perhaps I was a fool. The future is always uncertain. It is just when you are surest that you make the biggest mistakes. I can imagine no more disheartening situation than that of a pupil in the old Hebrew school of Prophets,unless it be going out to practise the profession after graduating.
As she alighted from the train, Helen said to me, "War is inevitable. You will have to work hard and fast, if you want to finish your History of the Ottoman Empire while there is still an Ottoman Empire. The crash is coming."
She had got her money just twenty minutes before word arrived by telegraph to cash no more checks on Paris. Gresham's law was at work in Morlaix. Over night money had disappeared. No one would change a bank note. The earth seemed to have swallowed up all the gold and silver. Business was completely stopped until small paper money could arrive from Paris.
The babies caught the drift of our conversation. Christine, who is scarcely more than five, looked up and said, "There are n't going to be any more soldiers hurting each other, are there?"
When we were driving into the village, an American woman stopped us.
"Do give me your advice," she said. "I have places reserved for New York next week on the Vaterland for Thursday and the France for Saturday. Which do you think I had better take?"
"You have a more important question than that before you," I answered. "Have you got any money?"
"Money? What do you mean? I have my letter of credit, and travelers' checks besides."
It was the first time that it had ever been suggested to this woman that she might lack money. I could not explain to her that bankable paper was for the time being no good to her. She smiled incredulously. We left her standing in the middle of the road. She looked offended, and her eyes echoed what her lips had kept insisting, "I can always get all the money I want."
On the Brest Paris Express, Saturday noon, August first. We reached Morlaix just in time for a hurried bite at the hotel. Helen came over to the station to see me off. After I had registered my baggage, we entered the waiting room. A guard of soldiers had stacked their arms in the center of the room.
"Is it mobilization?" I asked the corporal.
"Not yet," he responded. "We were sent here just an hour ago. Detachments have also been stationed at each end of the bridge across the valley."
So I am off for Paris. It does not seem real, this sudden ending of my vacation in midsummer. I remember vividly the day, scarcely more than a year ago, I spent on board the Austrian battleship Radetzky, in the harbor of Gravosa. After lunch in the wardroom, the Austrian officers spoke freely to me about what was ahead of their government if Servia was successful in the Second Balkan War, just entered upon two days before against Bulgaria. When I got back to the hotel that night, I found a telegram asking me to leave immediately for Belgrade to follow the Servian operations. I did not go. For there was a baby ten weeks old in Paris, and her father had not yet seen her. A year ago I went away from war to Paris to my family. Today I am going away from my family to Paris to war.
The only other occupants of the compartment are a young Breton couple who have been married three weeks. He has a position in Paris, and is taking her for the first time away from her home to the Great City. They tell me about the apartment that he has fitted up for her, and ask me if I know the quarter in which they are to live.
But, since they left St. Pol-de-Léon this morning, the first thought of disaster has crept into their minds. He will be called out on the second day, if there is a mobilization. They ask me the old question, "Do you think there will be war?" The answer they want is a negative. What am I to say?
Rennes, 2 p. M.
Coming into the station, we passed barracks and an artillery park. The wheels were off the gun carriages, and men were greasing the hubs. Officers were inspecting horses.
The bride has asked me to see if I can buy a newspaper. She does not want her husband to leave her. I try to cheer her by pointing out that the station employees are not wearing the brassard,' which is the first sure sign of mobilization on the railway. Let us have hope as long as possible.
Vitré, 4.15 p. m.
Here the news has reached us. As our train entered the station, the call for a general mobilization was being posted. I do not dare to leave my place to read the proclamation. I know well that I should never get a seat on this train again. The crowds on the platform are enormous. Some men entering the compartment say they have been waiting at the station since morning for the word to come. At the very moment given in their instructions, they want to be at their recruiting stations. There is exultation on their faces. They seem glad to go. The moment for which they have been living ever since they were born has come. The feeling communicates itself to me.
But I look across to my companions, who had been anticipating this mobilization call, not as a thing of joy, but as the death knell. There will be no honeymoon in the little nest that he has prepared for his bride. He must go within forty-eight hours. Her head is on his shoulder. The slender hand with fingers clasped tightly round his wrist shows what she is passing through.
Saturday, midnight.
I have reached this little hotel near the Gare du Montparnasse, and am thankful to have found a room.
From Vitré to Paris the train was no longer the ordinary Paris Brest express. It was transformed into a military train, jammed full of men answering the call to arms. At every station, we were besieged by crowds of reservists, until there was no more room and the engine could draw no more extra carriages. Then we crept slowly towards Paris, bearing our offering of human lives. One could feel, mingled with the effervescence, the excitement, the joy of approaching conflict, an undertone of anguish and sorrow, strikingly typified in that white faced bride who in the course of the day's journey had seen her goal of happiness changed to an imprisonment of weary waiting in a strange city.
An hour ago we reached the Gare du Montparnasse. Fête-day crowds in a Paris railway station are worse than a Bank Holiday crowd trying to get out of London. But nothing in my experience has approached the Gare du Montparnasse as I found it this evening. Every one, including officials, seemed to be moving in some direction without knowing where or why he was walking. Every one was talking to every one else about the subject which made the trial of Madame Caillaux seem a hundred years in the past.
I had foolishly registered my baggage at Morlaix. When I went into the baggage-room, I soon saw the hopelessness of waiting. "If you want your baggage," said the sole official I could buttonhole, "the only way you'll get it is to go out on the platform and find it yourself." I took a look at the plat form. The vans had been emptied pellmell. Mountains of trunks and bags loomed up before me. I should have needed a ladder or a crowbar,probably both. So I decided to allow the hotel porter to wrestle with the problem tomorrow.
The Salle des Pas Perdus was almost empty. When I had gone down the outer stairway, and passed into the Place de Rennes, I caught my first glimpse of Paris in wartime. The great square was black with people. Soldiers had cleared the terrace in front of the station. The entrances were guarded. A host of men, each with his womenfolk around him, formed a long line, waiting to enter. Paris was already responding to the call. Women were already rising to the occasion. Enthusiasm, confusion, and lamentation are the three words which best describe what I saw. But enthusiasm predominated.
On the wall, beside the exit door, my eye caught the huge poster whose words I had been burning to read ever since leaving Vitré.
By decree of the President of the Republic, the mobilization of the armies of land and sea is ordered, as well as the requisition of animals,carriages and harness necessary to the supplying of these armies.
Sunday, August 2, 1914.
Every Frenchman, subject to military obligations, must, under penalty of being punished with all the rigor of the laws, obey the prescriptions of his book of mobilization.
Subject to this order are ALL MEN not at present under the flag.
The civil and military Authorities are responsible for the execution of this decree.
The date was inserted with a rubber stamp. These posters had long been printed. In every commune in France, in Corsica, in Algeria, and in the distant colonies, in every railway station, in every postoffice, they had been tucked away for years, waiting for this moment that was bound to come.
A man who had arrived on my train crowded up beside me. He read the poster through from beginning to end. I watched him curiously. His only comment was the brief but expressive phrase, untranslatable, "Ca y est!" He then took from his pocket the little "book of mobilization" which every Frenchman carries, and looked to see what he was to do, and where he was to go. This man typified all France on the evening of August first. If France is not ready, it will be munitions and not soldiers that are lacking.
Another small poster announced that the military authorities had taken over the railways, and that passenger services were suspended. I had come through from Finistère on the last train.
As I crossed the Place de Rennes to find a hotel, my way was barred at every step by family groups. Women and children, old and young, were clinging desperately to those who were waiting to enter the station on their way to suffering and death. I do not say to glory, for I have witnessed these scenes at the old Sirkedji station in Constantinople, at Sofia, at Salonika, at Athens and at Cettinje, and I have lived through their aftermath. War is the placing of human affections upon the altar. The sacrifice acceptable in the sight of Mars is the broken woman turning homeward when the man has gone.


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We call it Five Minute Friday. It's where everyone writes for five, unedited minutes all on the same prompt. This week, that prompt is TOGETHER.
The initiative was started by Lisa-Jo Baker (http://lisajobaker.com/2013/10/five-minute-friday-together-2/). Her rules: no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font or punctuation. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.
It started because she had been thinking about writing and how often our perfectionism gets in the way of our words. And she figured, why not take five minutes and see what comes out: not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing.
So now on Fridays a group of people — a couple of hundred strong and mostly young mothers — who love to throw caution to the wind and just write without worrying if it's just right gather to share what five minutes buys them. And I'm proud to say I'm one of them.
So, here goes. The timer is set for five minutes {clock starts now}
We walk along our own unique path … seemingly alone.
Some times, along the way, we'll connect with others who share a portion of our journey. It's still our journey, but now we do it together … even if for a few short steps.
But always, we have a companion on our journey. God goes with us — step by step — sometime carrying us. Sometimes we are aware of His presence, other times not as much. But nonetheless, He walks with us … together we journey.
It's still our unique path, but we know we never have to travel it alone. No, we travel it together, not because of our insistence, but because of His insistence.
It's always better to travel together … not alone … STOP
There you go, for better or worse.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Always second guess a first impulse.


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Friday, June 27, 2008
Covering the Singapore Toy & Comic Convention 2008
I'll be at the Suntec Convention Centre in an hour to cover the Official Opening and Preview Night of the Singapore Toy & Comic Convention 2008. Many thanks to Daphne from PI Events for the invite. The Singapore Toy & Comic Convention 2008 is the first ever pop culture event in Singapore. The visual feast is supported by STB and MDA and features a host of industries cutting across toys, comics, gaming, animation, licensing and design. Watch out for my reports and pics later tonight and tomorrow. I'm also looking forward to watching the exclusive preview of Batman: Gotham Knight at tonight's event. Singapore Toy & Comic Convention 2008 will open to the public tomorrow and ends on Sunday. Go check it out aye.
Posted by I.Z. Reloaded at 4:18 PM
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Singapore License.


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