text:
Acts Chapter 12 – 31/40
Day 31: Acts Ch.12. As so often happens, while we are serving where the Lord has called us, the Holy Ghost may call us to another work. What we do not understand is, while we are serving and ministering to the Lord, He is preparing us for other works. God has designed us to grow and go, not to sit, soak, and sour. Notice what Luke wrote, "The Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me . . . "The work of the Lord is set apart work, the work of the Lord is Spiritually-charged work, and the work of the Lord is sacred work, for His purposes only. When we grasp the enormity and importance of what it means to serve the Lord, then the call and the service make more sense.
Ask God to help you live the reality of Ephesians 2:10 through your own life.
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Day 30: Acts Ch. 16. The only ministry that will make an impact for the Kingdom of God is Spirit-led ministry. When we submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will go where God is working, and we will experience the blessings of God. Spirit-led ministry starts out with the blessings of God- as opposed to striking out on our own and asking God to bless what He has not led us to do.
Ask God to help you step out in faith and not hesitate because of the unknown.
1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Day 29: Acts Ch.19. Paul was ran out of the synagogue after teaching and preaching for three months. He simply went to another place. His ministry soon touched all of Asia. Those who passed through Ephesus (Christians and non-Christians alike) who sat under his teaching, took the word of God with them throughout Asia. We never know the impact of our faithfulness; all God has called us to do is to be obedient, and He does the rest.
Ask God to help you be faithful to serve Him despite opposition from the world.
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Day 27: Acts Ch.27 Add surviving a shipwreck to Paul's long list of harrowing experiences as a missionary. Although Paul was a prisoner at the time, he assured the crew that they would survive the pending shipwreck if they followed God's guidance. Pray for God's strength to be faithful during the storms of life.
Pray for the Church to go in faith, always believing God is in control.
1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Day 26: Acts Ch.26. Paul finally gets an opportunity to defend himself before high ranking Roman officials. However, instead of making it a defense for his release, Paul proclaims and defends the Gospel.
Pray for a desire to contend for the Gospel and see others come to Christ.
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Day 25: Acts Ch.25.Have you ever been frustrated by your circumstances and wondered how God could use your situation to advance His Kingdom? Perhaps Paul feels this way as the events of Chapter 25 unfold.
Pray for God's strength to remain faithful, even when faced with failure or frustration.
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
EDITH ROMAN on Deuteronomy Chapter 26 –…
Rod Castillo on Deuteronomy Chapter 26 –…


The Search Box in File Explorer allows you to find and view all your files and folders in one place.
As you type in the Search Box, a simple search through the index begins to match your typed text with folder names, files names, the contents of files, and file properties. It will then display the search results in File Explorer.
You can also perform an advanced search using Search Tools from the ribbon to find files or folders by date (taken, modified, or created), folder path, kind, name, rating, size, property tags, and/or type.
This tutorial will show you how to use the Search Box in File Explorer to perform a simple and advanced search for your files and folders in Windows 10.
1. Open the folder, drive, or network location you want to search within in File Explorer (Win+E).
This PC Search this pc.
Current folder Search only in the selected folder, and not in any subfolders.
All subfolders Search in the selected folder and all of its subfolders.
If you like, you can select a recent search from your search history to use instead.
5. If you like, you can now perform an advanced search by using any of the Search Tools below to refine your search results.


text:
I Forced Myself to Nap Over Lunch Every Day For a Week, and It Transformed My Workday
What Happened When I Napped Every Day During Lunch
December 2, 2020 by Jen Glantz
I became a regular napper years ago, when I was a freshman in college. I found closing my eyes for a chunk of time was the best way to escape the stressors of a jam-packed day. But while working corporate jobs during my 20s, I had no choice but to let those daily naps go. When I started to work from home during the pandemic, I noticed my entire routine was off. I was going to bed later, taking on even more stress, and just not feeling focused during long workdays.
I wondered if I could revisit the idea of resting my head so that I could feel re-energized. While it seemed healthier than downing a midday cup of coffee the size of my forearm, I wondered if it would actually make me more productive or if I'd just feel even more drowsy throughout the day.
I decided to take on the challenge of forcing myself to take a nap during lunchtime every day for a week. At first, I found myself embarrassed to tell anyone. If people found out, would they think of me as a slacker? I hid this from anyone I worked with, set a 30-minute timer on my phone, and headed to my bed every day around noon.
I made sure to keep my napping habitat consistent, in hopes that I would be able to get proper shuteye during that time. I would turn off the lights in my room, put my phone on silent, and crank up the noise machine (to get white noise so it would be easier to fall asleep). I also blocked time off on my calendar to do this every day so that I didn't have to worry about any work interruptions.
I Started Practicing Yogic Sleep Over Lunch, and It Instantly Relieves My Stress
By the second day of this experiment, I noticed these lunchtime naps impacted how awake I felt during the afternoon. Typically, by about 3 p.m. every day, I would reach for any caffeine I could find. But after my 30-minute naps, I no longer felt an urge to grab a cup of coffee and instead felt like I was able to power through the end of the day.
I no longer felt an urge to grab a cup of coffee and instead felt like I was able to power through the end of the day.
Sujay Kansagra, MD, director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, explained that the best time to nap is during the afternoon lull that occurs around 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. "Circadian rhythm refers to your internal clock that works to keep you awake during certain times of the day, while making you feel sleepy at other times," Dr. Kansagra told POPSUGAR. "The circadian rhythm takes a dip from 1 to 3 p.m., causing an afternoon slump in the workday, which is why most people blame their sleepiness on lunch."
After catching some sleep during that natural window, I often felt focused until at least 6 p.m., which is 90 minutes longer than I usually have the energy to keep working on a typical day.
I also started to notice a shift in my overall mood. It seemed like the daily power nap just made me feel better. The people around me, from my fiancé to my coworkers, started to notice a change in how I was acting. Even my memory seemed to improve, after taking a bit of a hit during the pandemic. In both cases, research shows I'm not alone in benefiting from those extra Zs. Studies suggest that sleep deprivation can alter your mood, while brief naps can help people recall details.
In the end, this challenge proved to me that napping benefited my life and productivity levels in so many ways. Will I make this part of my daily routine? No. Mostly because I won't always have the time to do this on a daily basis. But when my schedule allows or when a week gets too stressful, adding a nap into my schedule will be my go-to way of increasing my work ethic and decreasing my stress levels.
Image Source: Getty / Milan_Jovic
Healthy LivingSleepPersonal EssayEditor Experiments
I Started Putting My Phone in a Different Room at Night, and It Really Improved My Mental Health
by Caitlin Gallagher 2 days ago
FYI, This Air Purifier Says It Can Remove 99% of Airborne COVID-19 Particles
Watch a Healthcare Worker Hilariously Explain How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works
I Did This 3-Step Journaling Method For 10 Days, and It Noticeably Improved My Mental Health
Knix (Makers of Period Undies and Sports Bras) Have Face Masks — They're Great For Workouts!
by Jenny Sugar 3 days ago
10 Protein-Rich Instant Pot Recipes That Will Help Keep Cravings at Bay
by Ashley Broadwater 3 days ago

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Anon. (The Battle of Brooklyn)
The Battle of Brooklyn (1776)
unknown, but the text plays on the "real-life" enactment of the scenes: "as it was performed on Long-Island, on Tuesday the 27th day of August, 1776. By the representatives of the tyrants of America, assembled at Philadelphia"
"New-York: Printed for J. RIVINGTON, in the Year of the REBELLION. 1776." 27 pp.
political farce in two acts (unnumbered scenes)
features a scene between two women, Lady Gates (probably the wife of the American general Horatio L. Gates, to whom she once refers in her dialogue) and her servant Betty; hints at some kind of private (sexual) intercourse between the servant and Patriot generals Harrison and probably Washington; dramatizes gender in relation to prostitution;
Battle of Long Island, Revolutionary War, General Washington
one of the so-called "propaganda plays" of the Revolutionary War (Loyalist); pokes fun at "rebel chiefs" such as George Washington and the unprofessional Patriot farmer colonels; title refers to the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776; most likely written after that date;
Early American Imprints, Series 1, no. 14660
Evans Early American Imprint Collection, http://name.umdl.umich.edu/N11599.0001.001
Shaffer, Jason. Performing Patriotism: National Identity in the Colonial and Revolutionary American Theater. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007. 141.
Richards, Jeffrey H. Drama, Theatre, and Identity in the American New Republic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 37.
Richardson, Gary A. American Drama from the Colonial Period through World War I: A Critical History. New York: Twayne, 1993. 42-43.
(only brief references, no in-depth discussion available)


As time goes on, our needs and desires tend to move in a different direction. At BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, we don't limit ourselves to only new construction.
Your home is far more than just the four walls holding it together, and we understand and appreciate the connection you have with your home. When allowing the BJ Armstrong Custom Homes Team to design and facilitate your next remodel, you're able to keep that connection while also making the existing space fit your current needs.


text:
[CAPTURED] Human Trafficking Suspect Arrested Following Brief Chase in Corpus Christi
Aaron Savage
Issac-John Bernard Collins - TX DPS Photo
UPDATE: According to Media Communications Sgt. Brandley with the Texas Department of Public Safety's Corpus Christi District Office, Isaac-John Bernard Collins was apprehended in Corpus Christi on February 7th.
Brandley said Collins' license plate was spotted by an automated plate ID system on Interstate 37 in the Three Rivers area, alerting authorities that he was headed southeast toward Corpus Christi.
Collins reportedly fled from Mathis police when they attempted to stop his vehicle, after which Brandley said he led police from Robstown and Corpus Christi, as well as state troopers, on a pursuit. Brandley said Collins was taken into custody inside Corpus Christi city limits just off South Padre Island Drive.
Brandley told us the Texas Rangers are still investigating Collins' activities.
Texas Man Fights 5 TSA Agents at Phoenix Airport
The Texas Rangers say a man suspected of human trafficking and crimes against children may be hiding out in the Waco area, and they're asking for our help locating him.
Ke'Sha Lopez with our news partner, KWTX, reports that 31-year-old Issac-John Bernard Collins is wanted for aggravated kidnapping, trafficking of persons, continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children, indecency with a child, and online solicitation of a minor.
Collins may be driving a white 2012 Chevrolet Camaro with license plate KVT0745. He stands at 5'1", weighs around 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.
If you have information that may be helpful in bringing this suspect in, please contact the Department of Public Safety at (361) 698-5600.
Get Our Free App for More Local News, Events, and Contests
Filed Under: featured, Local Crime, Local News, News, Waco
Categories: Articles, Local News, News


text:
"A multi-tentacular problem"
30/08/2019 – by Alphonce Shiundu
© picture-alliance/BSIP
Mobile connectivity has become the norm in sub-Saharan Africa.
Facebook and Google have begun to cooperate with fact-checking agencies to reduce the impact of false information spread on their platforms in Africa. Much more must be done.
In Africa, a wide variety of false information is being disseminated online. Sometimes that is done inadvertently, but far too often deliberately. Perpetrators are pursuing financial, ideological, political and other interests. The harmful impacts are real (see box). They include loss of money, destroyed reputations and social upheaval. When misinformation stokes religious or tribal hatred, deadly violence can follow.
The political dimensions of fake news tend to attract a lot of attention. The reason is that, in democratic societies, public discourse should be geared to the common good, so disinformation and propaganda undermine good governance.
South Africa and Nigeria, the largest sub-Saharan economies, held elections this year. Before voters were called to the polling stations, Facebook, the social-media giant that also owns WhatsApp, teamed up with several fact-checking agencies. The idea was to get a grip on falsehoods. Moreover, Facebook promised to promote digital literacy in cooperation with journalists and civil-society organisations. The background was that Facebook was confronted with serious criticism for its failure to control the spread of disinformation ahead of elections in other countries, especially the USA in 2016.
In the meantime, Facebook's joint action with fact checkers has been expanded to three other sub-Saharan countries: Kenya, Senegal and Cameroon. One of Facebook's partners is Africa Check, the continent's first independent fact-checking agency with offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal (see Focus section of D+C/E+Z e-Paper 2018/05). Other partners include the French news agency AFP (Agence France-Press), the Nigerian firm Dubawa, as well as the Kenyan outfit PesaCheck.
Facebook managers say they are making progress. "These independent groups help us assess the accuracy of news shared on Facebook, and when they determine content is false, we reduce its distribution in news feeds," states Akua Gyekye, who handles public policy issues for Facebook. "We also show related articles from fact checkers for more context and notify users if the story they have shared is rated as false."
In principle, the social-media giant thus accepts its duty to clean up its platforms. Gyekye points out, moreover, that Facebook is doing extensive work to:
remove fake accounts,
reduce incentives to the financially-motivated actors who spread misinformation,
promote news literacy and
provide more context so users can decide for themselves what to read, trust and share.
The challenges are huge, however. Africa has 55 sovereign nations, and an estimated 400 million African people currently have access to the internet. Fact-checking of the information that is posted on Facebook and WhatsApp has systematically begun in just about 10 % of the countries. Even in those countries, the capacities of fact-checkers are quite limited. They are unlikely to discover every falsehood as soon as it is launched, and before Facebook and WhatsApp can delete false entries, they need to be informed of them. The process takes time. The implication is that fact-checking can only reduce the impact of fake news to some extent, but it cannot prevent falsehoods from being communicated in the first place.
Dubious websites and blogs
Google, the internet search giant, has also started cooperating with fact-checking agencies. Its Google News Initiative is geared to giving trustworthy information high rankings in news searches. As anyone who is familiar with Google will know, however, dubious websites and blogs still pop up on users' screens, and they are often ranked only slightly below – if not above – news sources with strong international reputation like the BBC or Le Monde.
It would be nice if social-media platforms could use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect lies, frauds and inadvertent mistakes, but such algorithms have yet to be developed. That is easier said than done. AIgorithms basically mimic human behaviour. Given that human beings are all too easily deceived, the software programmes that reflect their mental attitudes are potentially vulnerable to similar deception.
Full Fact is a British fact-checking charity. It is a leader in applying AI. Google's AI Impact Challenge awarded it $ 2 million for the task of building innovative tools to help users to evaluate the quality of information.
Full Fact has declared: "In three years, we hope our project will let individual citizens and internet users place trust with confidence, help internet companies make fair and informed judgments at scale and enable policymakers to better understand how they can respond to misinformation while robustly protecting free speech." The charity is cooperating with international partners, including Africa Check and the Argentinian agency Chequeado, for example.
For the time being, however, AI solutions are not available. Peter Cunliffe-Jones, the founder and director of Africa Check, warns that misinformation is a multidimensional challenge. Several issues matter. For example, people may fall for false information:
because they lack access to correct information,
because they cannot tell reliable sources from unreliable ones, or
because they have no faith in public institutions.
The demand for fact-checking is growing in Africa. Ever more organisations are setting up fact-checking units. At the same time, the peddlers of false information are becoming more sophisticated.
According to the Africa Check founder, politicians or business leaders who lie should be told in polite, but not uncertain terms why they are wrong. They should also be asked to correct the public record. Journalists of mainstream media should become more vigilant and produce reliable content that discernibly differs from mere web rumours. News consumers, in turn, must know what makes a source trustworthy and how to crosscheck information with other sources. The fight against online untruth must thus be fought on several fronts. In Cunliffe-Jones' words, "a multi-tentacular problem needs a multi-tentacular solution".
The media scholar Siguru Wahutu disagrees. He has recently argued that the real issue is poor standards of journalism. In his view, blaming social media or poor media literacy only distracts attention from journalism, turning the audience into a malevolent villain even though, in his view, it really is the victim.
The scholar overlooks three important things, however:
Everyone can be a publisher online, so journalists are not the only ones who matter.
Social media is a legitimate source of information, and some end-consumers do not use mainstream media at all.
Regarding some topics, there is actually no alternative to social media, because mainstream media do not cover everything.
If we only expect journalists' professionalism and citizens' media literacy to stem the tide of fake news, this global problem will not go away. Ultimately, digital platforms must bear responsibility for the information they spread, promoting accuracy and free speech, but being careful not to encourage censorship. In Africa, institutions of government are not strong enough to hold internet giants accountable. Even the advanced nations are struggling to do so.
Alphonce Shiundu is the Kenya editor of Africa Check, an independent fact-checking organisation.
twitter: @shiundu
e-Paper no. 9 2019, 2019/09
Examples of the harm online misinformation is doing in sub-Saharan countries
Authoritarian rule
In the Philippines, pro-Duterte activism on social media keeps people agitated and misinformed
Alphonce Shiundu
last contributed to D+C/E+Z in winter of 2021/2022 as a Kenyan journalist, editor and fact-checker. He is currently a Chevening Scholar studying Media and Development at the University of Westminster in London.
https://twitter.com/Shiundu
Violent conflict
Only Ethiopians can solve Ethiopia's problems
Researcher provides evidence of Mauritian media not treating both genders equally
Gender justice
Africa needs more women in positions of leadership, and that will require socio-cultural change
Kenya's underlying class struggle needs to be addressed
Global action is needed to grasp digital oppurtunities and avoid the pitfalls
In the past ten years, dark visions have begun to reduce the euphoria about digital development opportunities
Online trolls' disinformation is undermining Philippine democracy
In the Philippines, we see how social media undermine democracy


Courts tend to give more weight to the expressed desires of older children who are capable of making their own reasoned decisions and less susceptible to a parent's efforts to subvert a grandparent's attempt at obtaining visitation rights. This brings up an important point that often comes into play in grandparent visitation cases: animosity between the custodial parent and the grandparents seeking visitation.
In a landmark case discussing grandparent visitation, the court noted that, "in cases where grandparents must use legal procedures to obtain visitation rights, some degree of animosity exists between them and the party having custody of the child or children." Thus, courts acknowledge that a custodial parent's animosity may influence a child's expressed wishes. That being the case, a child's expressed desires are only one factor the courts will consider when making a determination regarding grandparent custody.
the likely impact on the child of allowing or disallowing grandparent visitation.
Are You Seeking Visitation Rights for Your Grandchildren?
If you are currently seeking visitation rights to see your grandchildren, and you are running into problems from the custodial parent, contact the Law and Mediation Office of Darren M. Shapiro. Attorney Shapiro has extensive experience representing parties, including grandparents, seeking to establish visitation rights in New York child visitation cases. Attorney Shapiro understands how emotionally charged these cases can be, and he takes care to ensure that his clients are kept apprised of their case throughout the process. To learn more, call 516-333-6555 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation with Attorney Shapiro.


text:
Video DownloadHelper is an extension for the Firefox web browser and Chrome web browser. It allows the user to download videos from sites that stream videos through HTTP. The extension was developed by Michel Gutierrez.

History
, Video DownloadHelper is the third most popular extension for Firefox (after Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin) and the second most popular Mozilla-recommended extension with 2,848,968 users.

In the second quarter of 2015, version 5 of the extension for Firefox was rebased using Mozilla's Add-ons SDK (previous versions used XUL).

Firefox Quantum ceased support for extensions that use XUL or the Add-ons SDK so the extension was rebased using WebExtensions APIs. As a result of Mozilla's changes, reliance upon the companion application increased. Firefox 57.0 and Video DownloadHelper 7.0.0 were released on the same day (14 November 2017). The most recent release (7.3.7, 26 Jun 2019) addresses problems that were caused by changes to YouTube.

Where aggregation (ADP) or conversion is required by the end user, or by a site from which download is required: if the companion app is unlicensed, the end result will include a watermark (a QR code). Since 2019 user reviews complain of slow conversion and unfinished downloads.

The software is financed through ads on the developer's website, donations, and associated software sales.

Reception
Eric Griffith of PC Magazine named it one of the best Firefox extensions of 2012.  Erez Zukerman of PC World rated it 4/5 stars and called it "a valuable tool".  TechRadar rated it 5/5 stars and wrote, "Anyone who wants to watch videos, not only online, but also on the train, in the car or on the plane, is very well served with Video DownloadHelper."

See also
 List of Firefox extensions
 Comparison of YouTube downloaders

References

External links

 Video DownloadHelper at Mozilla Add-ons
 Video DownloadHelper at Chrome Web Store

Nonfree Firefox WebExtensions
Google Chrome extensions
Download managers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Social media damages teenagers' mental health, report says
By Cristina Criddle
Teenagers' mental health is being damaged by heavy social media use, a report has found.
Research from the Education Policy Institute and The Prince's Trust said wellbeing and self-esteem were similar in all children of primary school age.
Boys and girls' wellbeing is affected at the age of 14, but girls' mental health drops more after that, it found.
A lack of exercise is another contributing factor – exacerbated by the pandemic, the study said.
According to the research:
One in three girls was unhappy with their personal appearance by the age of 14, compared with one in seven at the end of primary school
The number of young people with probable mental illness has risen to one in six, up from one in nine in 2017
Boys in the bottom set at primary school had lower self-esteem at 14 than their peers
The wellbeing of both genders fell during adolescence, with girls experiencing a greater decline, the report said.
However, it recognised that girls' self-esteem and wellbeing stabilises as they move into their late teens, whereas it continues to drop for boys.
'Solace or community'
Heavy social media use was linked to negative wellbeing and self-esteem, regardless of a young person's mental state, with more girls experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness.
"Those who feel worse may turn to social media for solace or community," Dr Amy Orben, research fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, said of the research.
"It's not a vacuum, it works both ways."
The research uses data from 5,000 young people in England from the Millennium Cohort Study.
Focus groups were also carried out in November to examine the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on these ages.
Family income, exercise and poor maternal health also contributed to young people's mental state, the study found.
But regular exercise had a positive impact on both genders, the report said.https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.39.12/iframe.htmlmedia captionFitness guru Joe Wicks is running free online PE classes for children in self-isolation
"Participation in activities and sports will have fallen considerably due to school closures and lockdown, likely adversely affecting mental health and wellbeing," it added.
It also made several recommendations, including a £650m package to schools for wellbeing funding after the pandemic and an increase in mental health teaching in schools.
Young people should also have better access to resources for mental health support and physical activity, it said.
"The transition from childhood to adolescence can be turbulent, and the findings of this report underline why addressing and supporting young people's mental health will only become more crucial as the impact of the pandemic unfolds," said Jonathan Townsend, UK chief executive of The Prince's Trust.
"Young people are among the hardest hit by the pandemic, so it is more important than ever that they can access support with their mental health during this critical time in their lives."
SFG STATEMENT ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION: TIME TO ACT!!!!
Food Sovereignty Ghana goes to court on January 27th 2021


text:
Oil & Gas / Africa / E&P
Libya reaches 1.2mn bpd, with longer-term goal ahead
© Photographer: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP
A general view shows an oil facility in the northern oil rich Libyan town of al-Buraqah on January 12, 2017. Photographer: Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty Images
Libya reached production of 1.211 million barrels per day as of August 16, a near doubling from reported volumes in July.
National Oil Corp. (NOC) said today that oil production had increased.
Libya has not reported volumes to OPEC since the first quarter of the year. However, secondary sources have put the North African state as producing 621,000 bpd in July, a decline of 23,000 bpd from June.
NOC chairman Farhat Bengdara, speaking on August 11, said the plan was to reach 2mn bpd within three to five years.
Following Bengdara's appointment in July, many of the political challenges that had proved challenging for oil supplies were resolved.
Libya reached a peak of around 1.7mn bpd before the 2011 civil war. Since then, ageing infrastructure and an uncertain security outlook has reduced production.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) calculate Libya's current capacity at 1.3mn bpd.
For production to rise to the targeted 2mn bpd, Libya will need to convince major companies to return and commit to large field developments.
Among such projects are TotalEnergies' North Gialo field, which may produce 100,000 bpd, and NC 98.
In addition to improving oil supplies, NOC has also made progress with gas supplies. Local consumption is up and the Libyan Fertiliser Co. (Lifeco) has resumed production of ammonia and urea.
Nigeria aims to add 700,000 bpd this year
Farhat Bengdara
National Oil Corp. (NOC)


The Zinalrothorn spectacularly rears up at the head of the Zinal valley. The firm gneiss makes it an excellent peak with exciting exposed climbing. Access to the peak is a real adventure not made easier by lifts thus its full challenge is preserved.
Descent: Either N ridge or SE ridge.
I have described ascending the SE ridge and descending the N to the Montet hut. From the Rothorn hut head up the W side of the Rothorn glacier and look out for a gully/chimney splitting the rock wall and allowing access to the snow ramp above. Climb this (loose) and the mixed slopes above to gain the ridge. Head n along the ridge up rock and snow to reach point 3786m. Move up the narrowing ride on rock then snow to point 3912. Climb some steep rock steps below the Kanzelgrat traversing left towards the snowy gully below the Gabel. Climb the gully watch out for stone fall (can be climbed on the rock to the left where some rappel points are located).
Climb a series of steep walls and then the ridge proper. Then look out for an obvious cleft that leads down and left then cross a steep wall to the Biner slabs. Climb the crack in the slab (hard when icy). Make an airy traverse left (W) and turn the Kanzel on the right following the ridge to the summit.
Descending the N ridge is airy and exciting. It pretty much sticks on the ridge with a few deviations onto the E side higher up (rappel in descent). Mid-way where the ridge flattens there are some wild 'A Chaval' traverses and narrow gendarmes. Below this you follow the W side of the ridge (bolts to protect traverse) then back onto the easier and more broken lower sections. Descent ontothe glacier and Montet hut is pretty straightforward.
If you undertake the traverse you will need to return to your valley base. This can be done by bus and train or you can ascend/descend the Trifthorn. If you decide on the Trifthorn don't underestimate the day! (The guidebook makes out its an easy stroll with a bit of AD-) Its rather loose in places (gully descending to the Rothorn glacier on the Rothorn hut side). The glacier from the Montet hut up the S side is given F+ but there can be large crevasses and a steep 60 degree 100m ice step to negotiate. This depends on the year but be prepared for adventure!
Best tactics for an ascent: A single 50m rope, rack 6 quickdraws, wires 3-10, cams 1,2,3. The ascent can be made from either Zinal or Zermatt. I find going up the N ridge and descending the SE ridge is easier as a lot of the fixed gear is designed for this. It is well equipped either way. Beware of fresh snow or considerable verglass which makes the route a mixed mission beyond most folk!
What makes it so special: After spending years climbing and guiding many of the 4000m peaks, the Rothorn sticks out as a favourite. Compared to the more famed surrounding peaks the rock is of really excellent quality. It involves some solid technical climbing and affords un paralleled views across the Valais. Its a big adventure from start to finish without being mobbed by crowds. Some of the pinnacles on the N ridge add food for thought!


Each year we almost always have free run juice (Saignée) from our Cabernet Sauvignon. We bleed off this juice to concentrate the flavors and increase the skin to juice ratio for our Cabernet, and use this juice to create a rarer form of Rose made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon. Single fermented in stainless steel, this is a fun styled wine, ideal for warm weather best served chilled, and pairs wonderfully at BBQs, but most of all with friends.


OrthoPro is a leading provider of orthopedic bracing and other non-invasive medical devices for pain management and physical rehabilitation.
We are committed to improving the quality of life of our customers by providing cutting-edge medical products of the highest quality designed to meet the specific needs of each of our customer. Click here to learn more.
Here at OrthoPro, we take pride in exceptional and friendly customer service. Earning a highly coveted A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau, our team of customer service experts strives to meet and exceed our customer's expectations every day. We look forward to serving you.
OrthoPro is committed to supporting your recovery by providing quality, safe and cost-effective medical devices designed to meet your unique physical rehabilitation needs.
Helping you and your staff achieve positive patient outcomes in today's challenging healthcare environment.
Our GovEd/B2B program serves hospitals, schools, government agencies, and businesses. Through our relationships with leading medical manufacturers, we're able to deliver custom, cost-effective solutions.
Our team offers the experience and skills necessary to create innovative and cost-effective solutions for the unique needs of our third-party payor customers.
our communities. Click here to learn more.