text:
January 3, 2018	Lee Grady	Christian Character, Healthy Leadership, The Holy Spirit
Ever since God called me to preach, I've battled with deep insecurity about my delivery style. I can't electrify a crowd like T.D. Jakes, pack an arena like Reinhard Bonnke or get audiences to turn sermons into trending topics on Twitter like Craig Groeschel or Steven Furtick. Those guys hit home runs when they preach. I get base hits—or strikes.
For years I felt like the reluctant Moses, who complained to God by saying, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent" (Ex. 4:10). For years the Lord kept pushing me out of my comfort zone, urging me to surrender my fears so that I would take the microphone willingly. Once He told me: "I didn't call you to be T.D. Jakes. I called you to be you."
On many occasions after speaking in a church or conference, I would sulk. I battled constant discouragement and wondered if my words had hit the mark. Did I preach OK? Did the message sink in? Finally I asked an older pastor if he had ever struggled with disappointment in his pulpit performance. He smiled and told me: "Son, I feel that way every Monday of my life."
I'm learning an uncomfortable secret about preaching: Those who dare to allow God to speak through them will always squirm in holy agony. Preaching the gospel is both a glorious and a horrifying responsibility. When we speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and impart the very truths of Christ, we get so dangerously close to Him that our pride is challenged.
This truth is revealed in the story of Jericho. God told Joshua to organize a march around the walled city for seven days. The ark of the covenant was to go first, accompanied by seven priests blowing trumpets. On the last day, the walls of Jericho fell flat after the people shouted.
We charismatics have spiritualized this story in some comical ways. Some of us thought that blowing shofars during every church service would grow our churches. (In many cases those churches got smaller because the shofar blowing was so weird!) Others assumed we should march around the church every week or stage all-night shout-a-thons.
I have nothing against shouting, marching or shofars, but please don't miss the main point of this story: It is powerful prophetic preaching that brings downs the walls of spiritual resistance. God's Word must be proclaimed. Notice these points about the Jericho story:
1. The trumpets were rams' horns. God uses the weak things of this world to confound the strong. The apostle Paul called the preaching of the gospel "foolishness" (see 1 Cor. 1:18). While it is OK to improve your speaking abilities, don't become so polished that you become an orator with nothing to say. Don't try to be sophisticated. You are just a ram's horn.
Some American preachers today wow their crowds with dramatic stories, film clips, trendy graphics and motivational hype. It sounds good initially. But sometimes, after the applause, we realize it was just a bunch of ear candy. What we need in today's pulpits is less scripted sparkle and more messy, raw, honest, tear-stained pleas from broken men and women who are aflame with the Holy Spirit. Rams' horns came from animals that had been sacrificed. Only consecrated preachers who have died to self can preach a message that will bring down a spiritual wall.
2. The trumpets were blown for seven days. We love sermons that become overnight YouTube sensations—the kind of messages that get everyone waving handkerchiefs and dancing in the aisles. But the kingdom of God is not built on one-night stands. When Paul the apostle preached, the results were not always immediate … or positive. Sometimes there were riots—and jail time.
What God is looking for is not one big sensational sermon but a lifetime of faithful preaching. He wants consistency, not fireworks. It's great when we have the exciting, handkerchief-waving moments, but we must realize that God's Spirit is also moving on quiet days when no one shouts "Amen!" and all you hear in the audience is cell phones ringing and babies crying.
3. The trumpets were blown by unnamed men. The Bible doesn't tell us who blew the trumpets in Joshua 6. We know these guys played an important role, but their names never appear in lights. They trudged through the dry desert around Jericho for seven monotonous days, blowing their horns until their throats were dry and their lips were sore. And in the end, when the walls of the city finally collapsed, Scripture says Joshua's fame increased—not theirs (see Josh. 6:27).
Today we need preachers who are willing to faithfully speak God's Word with no hope of fame or fortune. If you truly want all the credit to go to Jesus, you won't worry about your performance or your applause. Just do your job. Preach the Word and the walls will eventually fall.
anointingHoly Spiritleadership trainingpreaching
Your ticket for the: The Secret of Becoming a Prophetic Preacher


During Christmas time last year, I had the occasion to travel up to Scranton Pennsylvania, my home country and the area my parents still live. As anyone might imagine, the family interaction that the holiday season brings will take anyone right to the liquor store for some good libation. What I found was a great deal, even for Pennsylvania State Stores (which is a misnomer given that PA is a commonwealth, not a state). There, sitting in the "Chairman's Select" section was a stack of Heitz winery's Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Magnums from 1998 .
Now, 1998 was not the best growing year in Napa Valley. Lest we forget, El Nino was in full effect that summer, which produced foggy mornings and lower than usual temperatures. This made it increasingly hard for the grapes to ripen enough for wine making. In fact, some commentaries I read researching this post say that 1998 was "the scariest growing season" they can remember in Napa Valley. But the vintners at Heitz, who have made great wine in Napa Valley since 1961, were clearly up to the challenge. In fact, the area where the grapes for the Bella Oaks cab are grown, the Rutherford Bench, the late summer finally turned hot. This allowed some growers in the valleys of Napa (as opposed to the hills and mountains) to have a long growing season with mature grapes. They took a poor growing season and produced a complex, layered cab with a very reasonable price.
I am not the first food writer to review this wine. Craig LeBan of Philly.com reviewed it in April when the Pennsylvania stores first began to stock it. He, like me, uncorked a bottle and felt it necessary to detail the experience. In fact, I am enjoying a bottle as I write these words. So, go to your local PA state store and pick up a bottle. As you will see, I do not often recommend spending more than $25 on a bottle, but this is nice enough for the extra $5.
A word of caution: I would not let this Cab rest too much longer in the bottle. In my opinion, and take that as you will, this wine is at its drinking peak. Otherwise, it may get a bit flatter in taste, which is never good.


Whether you fly into Ercan or Larnaca, we can arrange your airport transfer and if required, your car hire. Or you may do this yourself by either contacting the company we use or any other. We use a local Car Rental firm who offer a very competitive service of both Car Hire and Airport Transfer. If booking for a certain time, you will be entitled to free airport transfer from Ercan (more than 7 days hire) or Larnaca (more than 20 days hire). Check out the prices and airport transfer deals at the Green Valley website or email us with your requirements. We can book this all up for you at no extra cost, if staying at the Retreat.
If not hiring a car, Ercan transfer is £35 each way and Larnaca £50 each way. But please check the Green Valley Web site as prices do fluctuate.


Having practised at a major national firm for several years, Julie joined Banki Haddock Fiora from the Arts Law Centre of Australia, where she was Executive Director, in 1998. Julie heads the firm's dispute resolution group.
Julie is highly regarded for her commercial approach to resolving conflict and her expertise in intellectual property litigation. She is an accredited mediator and represents foreign and Australian companies and individuals, principally in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Julie is a member of the Litigation Law and Practice Committee and the Ethics Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales. She is a recognised practitioner in the World Trademark Review's list of 1000 leading trade mark professionals, an IP Star in the Managing Intellectual Property Handbook and a finalist in Lawyers' Weekly Intellectual Property – Partners of 2017. In 2016 Julie wrote the copyright chapter in Thomson Reuters' Law Handbook. Julie also co-ordinates the firm's pro bono practice.


text:
Written by John Phelan	| November 30, 2017
Minnesota's households have high incomes, but only because each one contains more workers
In our new report, The State of Minnesota's Economy: 2017, we take a thorough look at our state's economic health and the prospects for the future. The second point we make is that Minnesota's per-worker productivity has lagged that of the nation generally since 2000.
We've already looked at this from the perspective of GDP and Personal Income per capita or per worker. But another way to look at it is with household incomes.
Household incomes in Minnesota and the US
According to Census Bureau data, the median household incomes in Minnesota was $63,488 in 2015. This was 13.8% above the national average, $55,775. This premium has persisted over time, as Figure 1 shows.
Figure 1: Median household income for the US and Minnesota, 2000 to 2015 (2015 dollars)
Source: Census Bureau
Household employment in Minnesota and the US
But remember what we've said about Minnesota's worker productivity. This premium is not the result of more tools or more efficient use of the capital and labor at hand. It is the result of more labor inputs. As Figure 2 shows, Minnesota has a smaller share of households with either no workers or only one worker than the US as a whole. But it has a higher share than the US generally of households with two workers or with three or more.
Figure 2: Proportion of households by number of workers, 2015
Work is a means, not an end
In other words, Minnesota's above average household incomes are a result of its above average number of people working in each household.
So what's wrong with that? Its better to have people working than not, isn't it?
Yes, it is. After all, up to a point, more people working means more goods and services which means a higher standard of living. But note here that the purpose of work is to produce. It is not an end in itself. In this respect, Minnesota's economy performs poorly, as we've seen. Minnesotans do a lot of work, but they do a poor job, compared to the national average, of turning that work into outputs. And that is the whole point.
John Phelan is an economist at Center of the American Experiment.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Well-known Boston-based mystery authors Hallie Ephron and Hank Phillippi Ryan are among the published authors who will serve up their expertise at Mystery Writers of America University (MWA-U), 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Sheraton Boston, 39 Dalton St.
The event is open to the public and to writers across all genres. Covered topics include skills needed from "the idea stage through to the final editing": dramatic structure and plot, settings and descriptions, character and dialogue and the revision process.
For information and registration, go to www.mysterywriters.org or call 212-888-8171. Find a link to a limited number of area hotel rooms on the MWA site.


text:
Anti-Sisi protests break out in Egypt, Many Arrested
By Awoyo Folakemi / September 21, 2019
Rare small protests broke out on Friday in Cairo and other Egyptian cities calling for the removal of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi but police quickly dispersed them, AFP journalists reported.
Dozens of people joined night-time demonstrations around Tahrir Square – the epicentre of the 2011 revolution that toppled the country's long-time autocratic leader.
Such demonstrations are rare after Egypt effectively banned protests under a law passed following the 2013 military ousting of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi.
Amid a heavy security presence, including riot police and plainclothes police officers, protesters were rounded up.
AFP journalists saw at least five protesters being arrested and police firing tear gas at demonstrators around the square.
Under the rule of general-turned-president Sisi, who led Morsi's ouster, authorities have launched a broad crackdown on dissidents, jailing thousands of Islamists as well as secular activists and popular bloggers.
Footage of the demonstrations, in which dozens chant "Leave Sisi", was shared online using the hashtag #Tahrir_Square, which was trending worldwide.
Along the road overlooking the Nile, close to the square, AFP journalists reported seeing small groups of people chanting anti-Sisi slogans after the rapid dispersal.
The protests come on the back of Mohamed Ali, a disgruntled exiled Egyptian businessman, demanding the toppling of Sisi.
The construction contractor has been posting viral videos from Spain since the beginning of September accusing Sisi and the military of rampant corruption.
Sisi flatly denied the allegations last week at a youth conference assuring Egyptians he "was honest and faithful" to his people and the military.
Egypt Extends State of Emergency for 3 Months
Egypt Court Sentences 75 to Death Over 2013…
Egyptian President 'Angry' Over Online Calls for Resignation
In Belarus: Journalists Including Dozens arrested as…
More than 60 killed in second wave of Iraq's…
UP Coming Singer, Pelepele Commits Suicide Due To Lack Of Promotion and Depression
Kenyan Pastor Punished For Exposing Lady's Br3ast During Deliverance On Live TV


One-Of-A-Kind canyon rim and cul-de-sac location with masterful panoramic views. This sun-filled home with high volume ceilings is further complemented with its plentiful windows and skylights. Nearby highly distinguished schools in PUSD. Enjoy your newly resurfaced pool/spa in a timeless setting. Bedroom and bathroom with shower downstairs. Spacious and intricately designed kitchen with granite counter tops, island and eat-in kitchen, wide garden view windows, and opens to family room with fireplace.


Bagshot - Eddie Jones has forecast an "under pressure" Argentina will celebrate with beer and steak if they beat his England side at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Pumas have had a miserable 2017 so far, winning just one out of nine Tests - and that against Georgia in June - with many pundits believing they are paying a heavy price for selecting only those players with the Argentina-based Jaguares for Test duty.
England have won all three of their Tests against 2019 World Cup pool opponents Argentina since Jones took charge, including a 2-0 series win in Argentina in June with a squad depleted by call-ups to the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
But the England coach believes that were Argentina to record just their second win over England at Twickenham, following a 25-18 success in 2006, it would salvage the Pumas' season.
"It's going to be a tough game," Jones told reporters after unveiling his team on Thursday.
"Argentina are coming off the back of not a good season. Their coach (Daniel Hourcade) is under pressure, their players are under pressure," the Australian added.
"They can go back to Buenos Aires and sit on the beach as heroes. Everyone will want to buy them a beer. Everyone will want to buy them a steak.
"I'm confident we (England) will play well and if we play well enough the result will come our way."
Jones made good on his promise to rest "deconditioned" players involved in the Lions gruelling 1-1 series draw with world champions New Zealand by leaving out inside centre Owen Farrell and lock Maro Itoje from his latest matchday 23 to play Argentina.
"We always said we would look at each player individually to where they're up to and see what they needed to do. We decided to rest two," Jones explained.
"I've picked the best 23 because we want to win this game against Argentina. It's very simple."
Henry Slade has replaced Farrell, with the Exeter playmaker starting in the No 12 shirt instead of Saracens rising star Alex Lozowski, who is on the bench.
"Henry's got a lot. He's got nice feet, good balance a good head. He's got some speed, courage -- he's got everything there is," former Australia and Japan coach Jones said.
The 24-year-old won the first of his seven caps two years ago and featured in both of England's wins away to Argentina in June.
"Henry has been around the team for a few years now and he earned his stripes on tour in Argentina. He was important for us out there and played some good footie," Jones said.
"He's not a surprise to the team, he's been around. He's been waiting for an opportunity and now he gets it."


text:
Q: Nil response after assigning data from Alamofire request I am attempting to assign the data from my Alamofire request to a dictionary of parameters, but it always shows up as nil.
var params = SomeParams()
params.addUserIds([currentUserID, partnerUserID])
params.name = name

Alamofire.request(url!, method: .get)
            .validate()
            .responseData(completionHandler: { (responseData) in
             DispatchQueue.main.async {
                 params.coverImage = responseData.data!
             }
})

// NIL RESPONSE
print(params)

I know that it's because the Alamofire call is being done in the background so I attempted to call the main thread and assign it. Yet it still doesn't work. Any ideas?

A: You need to perform work (like print) in the completionHandler. There is no need of DispatchQueue
var params = SomeParams()
params.addUserIds([currentUserID, partnerUserID])
params.name = name

Alamofire.request(url!, method: .get)
            .validate()
            .responseData(completionHandler: { (responseData) in

                 params.coverImage = responseData.data!
                 print(params)

})

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: R how to get amount of memory available to R on Linux I know, that I can query /proc/meminfo with the following:
memfree <- tryCatch(
    as.numeric(system("/usr/bin/awk '/MemAvailable/ {print $2}' /proc/meminfo", intern=TRUE))*1024,
    error = function(e) 0)

Unfortunately it has 2 major limitations:

*

*Spawning the subshell has heavy memory footprint in itself, and I've seen it many times to fail while still there were many MB of memory available.

*It is not compatible with per-process memory constraints assigned by kernel API.

Surely R must have a means to know the actual size of the memory available to it. But where to find it?

I've put a bug on R's bugtracker: https://bugs.r-project.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=16793

A: This is an interesting problem and I think you can actually get around it via using Rcpp. Here is a possible solution (comments in the code):
#install ulimit package from github
#devtools::install_github("krlmlr/ulimit")

#one should delete all objects from workspace
#you have to uncomment that out yourself :)
#rm(list=ls())

library(Rcpp)

#source code for function that gets the memory used by a process
#taken from
#stackoverflow.com/questions/669438/how-to-get-memory-usage-at-run-time-in-c
src_string_1="
long mem_used_bytes(int pid) {
    long rss = 0L;
    FILE* fp = NULL;
    std::string file_path=\"/proc/\"+std::to_string(pid)+\"/statm\";
    if ( (fp = fopen(file_path.c_str(), \"r\" )) == NULL )
        return (size_t)0L;      /* Can't open? */
    if ( fscanf( fp, \"%*s%ld\", &rss ) != 1 )
    {
        fclose( fp );
        return (size_t)0L;      /* Can't read? */
    }
    fclose( fp );
    return (size_t)rss * (size_t)sysconf( _SC_PAGESIZE);
}
"

#source code for function that gets available memory
#code snippets taken from http://linux.die.net/man/2/getrlimit
src_string_2="
long mem_limit_bytes(int pid_int) {
    long res;
    struct rlimit tmp;
    pid_t pid=pid_int;
    prlimit(pid, RLIMIT_AS, NULL, &tmp);
    if (tmp.rlim_cur==-1L) {
      //there is no memory limit for the current process (should be default)
      Rcpp::Rcout<<\"No limit detected\\n\";
      struct sysinfo tmp2;
      sysinfo(&tmp2);
      res = tmp2.mem_unit * tmp2.totalram;
    } else {
      //memory limit set
      Rcpp::Rcout<<\"Limit detected\\n\";
      res=tmp.rlim_cur;
    }
    return res;
}
"

#compile functions; for convenience, we use c++11
cppFunction(src_string_1,
            plugins=c("cpp11"),
            includes=c("#include <string>",
                       "#include <sys/resource.h>",
                       "#include <unistd.h>"))
cppFunction(src_string_2,
            includes=c("#include <sys/resource.h>",
                       "#include <unistd.h>",
                       "#include <sys/sysinfo.h> "))

#memory without limit set; returns total system memory
mem_limit_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6
#No limit detected
#[1] 8228.246

#set limit for current R process
ulimit::memory_limit(4000)

#now the C++ function will detect the limit
mem_limit_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6
#Limit detected
#[1] 4194.304

Now try out the mem_used_bytes function
#first some garbage collection
gc()
old_mem_mb=mem_used_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6

#allocate a matrix with approx 800MB
NN=1e4
expected_memory_mb=NN^2*8/1e6
A=matrix(runif(NN**2),NN,NN)

#garbage collection, again
gc()

#query used memory again
new_mem_mb=mem_used_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6

#the following value should be close to 1
(new_mem_mb-old_mem_mb)/expected_memory_mb

Edit: Here is a somewhat simpler one-file version, reduced to the headers needed and using plain C++:
#include <Rcpp.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/resource.h>
#include <sys/sysinfo.h>

// [[Rcpp::export]]
long mem_used_bytes(int pid) {
    long rss = 0L;
    FILE* fp = NULL;
    char filepath[128];
    snprintf(filepath, 127, "/proc/%d/statm", pid);
    if ( (fp = fopen(filepath, "r" )) == NULL )
        return (size_t)0L;      /* Can't open? */
    if ( fscanf( fp, "%*s%ld", &rss ) != 1 ) {
        fclose( fp );
        return (size_t)0L;      /* Can't read? */
    }
    fclose( fp );
    return (size_t)rss * (size_t)sysconf( _SC_PAGESIZE);
}

// [[Rcpp::export]]
long mem_limit_bytes(int pid_int) {
    long res;
    struct rlimit tmp;
    pid_t pid=pid_int;
    prlimit(pid, RLIMIT_AS, NULL, &tmp);
    if (tmp.rlim_cur==-1L) {
        //there is no memory limit for the current process (should be default)
        Rcpp::Rcout << "No limit detected\n";
        struct sysinfo tmp2;
        sysinfo(&tmp2);
        res = tmp2.mem_unit * tmp2.totalram;
    } else {
        //memory limit set
        Rcpp::Rcout << "Limit detected\n";
        res=tmp.rlim_cur;
    }
    return res;
}

/*** R
## memory without limit set; returns total system memory
mem_limit_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6

## try out the `mem_used_bytes` function
## first some garbage collection
gc()
old_mem_mb <- mem_used_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6

## allocate a matrix with approx 800MB
NN <- 1e4
expected_memory_mb <- NN^2 * 8 / 1e6
A <- matrix(runif(NN**2),NN,NN)

##garbage collection, again
gc()

## query used memory again
new_mem_mb <- mem_used_bytes(Sys.getpid())/1e6

## the following value should be close to 1
(new_mem_mb - old_mem_mb)/expected_memory_mb

*/


Using Eye Gaze and Emotion Tracking to assess a driver's capability, a vehicle using the FANCI System is able to operate autonomously or manually.
Find out more about the FANCI Smart Dashboard, including enhanced warnings, eye gaze tracking and other innovative and personalised features.
Cars of the future will create meaningful notifications of hazards, adverts and POIs based on driver interest and emotional response. Learn more here.
Find out how to interact with and control vehicle functions using the FANCI System features including Eye Gaze, Voice Recognition and Hand Gestures.
An adaptive Navigation Assistant, providing personalised and responsive guidance to drivers. See how with this FANCI scenario describing a journey.
Face Authentication is a key feature of the FANCI System, enhancing vehicle safety and security. Prevent unauthorised vehicle use with facial recognition.
Get accurate insurance quotes with a system capable of recognising different drivers and driving behaviours. Safe drivers should equal reduced premiums.
This vital safety feature can detect speed limit changes and notify the driver. Learn more about how the FANCI Project sees the vehicles of the future.
Smart Safety Assistant will revolutionise road safety! Analysing driver behaviour using Biometric Authenication and Emotion Tracking – find out more here.
Set safe limits for teenagers and additional drivers using your vehicle. Stay in control of your own car even when you're not driving. FANCI shows you how.
The FANCI system makes driving a pleasurable experience through personalised music selection based on driver emotions. Enhance your driving experience.
For the ultimate personalised driving experience, vehicles will identify and load driver profiles including music, contacts, seat positions and much more.


text:
White Castle projects marks return to Florida after 50-year hiatus
Operators by Andrew Seymour on November 26, 2019
Restaurant chain White Castle is planning to open its first Florida branch – and it will be among the biggest it has ever launched.
Plans for the project are already afoot, with the company targeting a launch date of 2021.
The 98-year-old family-owned business has settled on a site in The Village at O-Town West, part of Orlando's $1 billion O-Town West mixed-use development.
Construction on the new restaurant, which at 4,500 square feet will be among the company's largest, is expected to begin in April 2020 and should be finished by late 2020 or early 2021.
The Orlando castle marks the iconic brand's return to Florida; in the 1960s, it operated a castle in Miami.
Lisa Ingram, president and CEO of White Castle and a fourth-generation family member, said: "We believe now is the right time for us to enter the Sunshine State, and Orlando is an ideal location to launch our business there."
The move into Florida comes on the heels of White Castle's entry into another state, Arizona.
It opened a restaurant in Scottsdale on Oct. 23, the first company-owned castle west of the Mississippi River.
Hundreds of people waited in lines for hours to purchase its Original Slider hamburger and other menu items that it has become known for.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, White Castle has more than 375 restaurants in 13 states.
Like most of the chain's other restaurants, the Orlando castle will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tags : operatorsWhite Castle
Smart food waste provider close to getting big hospitality and government deals over the line
Catering services market to power past $600bn within four years
Burger King eyes new kitchen equipment as part of $250m reset program
Wing concept is first to put robots in real restaurant kitchen
Leonardo Di Caprio becomes strategic investor in QSR
Jack in the Box pilots automation as first step towards kitchen automation
Golf operator crazy about New York venture


text:
Бискуп суфраган () јесте бискуп потчињен метрополиту надбискупу у Римокатоличкој цркви.

Суфраган је бискуп који стоји на челу бискупије (дијецезе). Његова суфраганска бискупија је дио метрополије на чијем челу се налази метрополит надбискуп. Разлика између метрополита и суфрагана је административне природе. У погледу вјерске власти обојица су ограничени само на своју дијецезу. Метрополит има непосредну власт само над својом дијецезом (надбискупијом), али не и над другим дијецезама у оквиру метрополије.

У Англиканској заједници назив суфраган се користи за помоћног бискупа дијецезанског бискупа. Неки англикански бискупи суфрагани могу стајати и на челу одређеног подручја унутар бискупије.

Види још
 Помоћни бискуп
 Бискуп коадјутор

Устројство Католичке цркве

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You might have seen few WordPress blogs linking to external websites through any of the top page navigation links. For e.g. ifthere is a sub domain like say forums.yourwebaddress.com, it would be appealing and easy if linked through the top page Navigation bar. Here I introduce a plugin called Page Links To that can link any WordPress page or post category to an external website, sub domain or link. WordPress 2.8 users can install this plugin via add a new plugin option from the dashboard. After installation, create a new WordPress page and name it as per your requirement.
Scroll down over post editor.
Here you will see a widget as shown below.
Enter the website, sub domain or external page to which the WordPress post is to be redirected, and publish the post. By default links are attached with a 301 permanent redirected tag. You may change that through the settings.


Costochondritis is a painful inflammation in the front of the chest. It is in the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breast bone.
Tietze's syndrome is similar inflammation in upper ribs. Neither of these conditions is a serious issue. However, their symptoms are similar to dangerous conditions, like a heart attack. It is important to confirm what is causing your symptoms.
Other times it may be due to abnormally tight or loose joints in the area.
Your doctor may do further tests to rule out other more serious conditions. Tests will help to rule heart or lung issues. Tests may include a chest x-ray or EKG.
There are no current steps for prevention.
Costochondritis. EBSCO Dynamed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114285/Costochondritis . Updated November 28, 2016. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Updated January 2015. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Proulx AM, Zryd TW. Costochondritis: Diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(6):617-620.


There are many Christians today who insist that they believe the Bible, but seem unable to believe its very first chapter. The Biblical record says that God created the universe and everything in it in six days, then rested on the seventh day (note Exodus 20:8-11). But the modern worldview is that the universe has been evolving for about 15 billion years, and that the earth and its inhabitants have been evolving almost five billion years, and this creates a problem.
Bradley and Olsen think that such exegesis doesn't apply to the creation week. Here is their reasoning.
These arguments have a common fallacy, however. There is no other place in the Old Testament where the intent is to describe events that involve multiple and/or sequential indefinite periods of time.
There is, of course, no hint in either Genesis 1 or Exodus 20:8-11 that the writer's intent was to "describe events that involve . . . indefinite periods of time." The accounts are written as simple statements of fact, using straightforward language that everywhere else in the Bible denotes literal days. Another writer, Dr. Pun, agrees.
. . . without regard to all the hermeneutical considerations suggested by science.
. . . the recent Creationist position . . . has denied and belittled the vast amount of scientific evidence amassed to support the theory of natural selection and the antiquity of the earth.
All three of these men are leading evangelical scientists (Pun at Wheaton College, Bradley at Texas A & M, Olsen from Colorado School of Mines) and all say they believe in Biblical inerrancy and the historicity of Genesis. Their "day-age theory," however, seems to us to be quite illogical. If Genesis doesn't mean what it says, then why accept its historicity at all?
Liberal theologians don't accept it, as a matter of fact. One leading Hebrew scholar is James Barr, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt University and former Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University in England. Although he does not believe in the historicity of Genesis 1, Dr. Barr does agree that the writer's intent was to narrate the actual history of primeval creation. Others also agree with him.
While men such as Bradley, Olsen, and Pun may have worthy motives in trying to retain creationism in the face of the supposed evidence for macro evolution and an ancient earth, it seems obvious that Barr's position is more realistic. If God did not mean what He said in the very first chapter of His book, then why should we take the rest of it seriously?
It seems to us that we should take Scripture as the literal Word of God, intended to be understood by its readers in every generation and every nation—especially this chapter, which is the foundation of all the rest. If God had meant to convey the idea of long ages, He could easily have used a number of other Hebrew words and phrases to convey that idea. All the ancients were already familiar with the concept of long ages of evolutionary change in their various nature religions.
The idea of six-literal-day creation, however, was a radical departure from what the early Hebrews could have heard from their pagan neighbors; so God was very specific in using such words to preclude any such misunderstanding. For example, He defined the word "day" the very first time He used it. "God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day" (Genesis 1:5). The word "day" in Genesis does not mean a geological period!
Although there are many, many references to creation throughout the Bible, there is no hint anywhere of long ages before man's creation. The fact that men and women and various human activities were present from the very foundation of the world is indicated in the New Testament by Peter (Acts 3:21), by Paul (Romans 1:20), by John (I John 3:8), by the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:69,70), and especially by the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Luke 11:50; Mark 10:6; 13:19).
Perhaps most important of all is the fact that acceptance of the geological ages (with their billions of fossil remains in the sedimentary rocks) makes God out to be the Creator of evil and suffering, directly allowing a billion years of cruel struggle for existence before He created Adam and Eve.
Most Christian colleges and seminaries today, as well as most Christian student organizations, Christian family ministries, and even some Christian apologetics and creation-oriented organizations would agree with that position. We could become more popular here at ICR, and we would have bigger meetings, more book sales, and more open doors if we would go and do likewise.
But, this we cannot do and still remain faithful to the Word of God. We hope you understand. We believe God does.
1 Walter L. Bradley and Roger Olsen, "The Trustworthiness of Scripture in Areas Relating to Natural Science," in Hermeneutics, Inerrancy and the Bible, ed. Earl D. Radmacher and Robert D. Preuss (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), p. 299.
2 Pattle P.T. Pun, "A Theory of Progressive Creationism," Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation (vol. 39, March 1987), p. 14.
3 James Barr, letter to David Watson, 1984.
4 The contradictions have been pointed out in many books. See, for example, the brief tabulation in The Young Earth by John D. Morris (Green Forest, Ark: Master Books, 1994), p. 33.
5 Arthur Falk, "Reflections on Huxley's Evolution and Ethics," The Humanist (vol. 55, November/December 1955), pp. 23-24.
Cite this article: Henry M. Morris, Ph.D. 1998. The Literal Week of Creation. Acts & Facts. 27 (5).


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AMOTIK / Figure
After moving to Berlin in 2014, Amotik has been steadily building a base in the city that significantly inspired him. Starting in 2015 with a series of EPs on his self-titled imprint, he was soon regularly featured in the Groove Magazine and Resident Advisor monthly charts. His unique style of hypnotic/atmospheric techno with a relentless raw undertone and his consistency as both a DJ and producer has led him to perform at some of the most exciting clubs and festivals around the globe.
After 10 vinyl releases on his own label (and guest appearances on 47, Bpitch Control, Figure), late 2019 saw Amotik take on the most ambitious release to date – 'Vistār' (Hindi for expand/extended). The first full-length double vinyl LP on his label is also accompanied by a debut live tour. The album features 10 tracks with elements of ambient, broken beats, textured soundscapes but has its foundations firmly rooted in techno.
Abstract Division
Bart Skils
Asterweg 20 G2
1031 HN Amsterdam
info@meanwhile.nl
Keep updated about Meanwhile


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Newcastle Airport signs deal with tour operator
MORE than 70,000 more sunseekers will fly out of the region next year after a multi-million-pound contract was signed with a major tour operator.
Around 100 jobs will be created as part of Thomas Cooks plans to house extra aircraft at Newcastle International Airport.
It means package holidays to 12 destinations many of which were lost following the demise of XL Airways in the summer will now be on offer.
They include the addition of three brand new routes to the Greek Islands of Kefalonia and mainland resorts of Santorini and Skiathos, where hit movie Mamma Mia was set.
Holidaymakers will now also be able to enjoy 10 or 11-day breaks instead of being restricted to one or two-week trips, as is currently the case.
Airport chief executive Dave Laws said: Thomas Cook adding a third aircraft to its Newcastle base is excellent news for our airport and the North East.
It ensures that the people of the region can book with confidence, as Thomas Cook is known by all as a well trusted travel company.
This is a significant announcement and shows that despite the current economic climate, a company like Thomas Cook has confidence in the region and the airport. Newcastle is viewed as a solid area within the travel industry as the North East people who work extremely hard will always have their summer holidays.
After what happened with XL, the airport had to take a responsible approach to filling that lost capacity. To get someone as reputable as Thomas Cook is fantastic news.
The Boeing 757-200 aircraft that will come to Newcastle in May is being relocated from Canada.
Newcastle International fought off competition from several other regional airports to secure its services. New flights will run seven days a week and other destinations served include Dalaman and Bodrum, Turkey, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Reus, Spain, Zante, Crete, Tenerife, Paphos and Lanarca.
Pete Constanti of Thomas Cook said: We already have an extensive flying programme from Newcastle Airport which takes holiday-makers to more than 30 destinations. Im delighted we have been able to introduce an additional aircraft to serve the region and to offer even more holiday choice.
This will make travel even easier and more convenient for the people of the North East.
The addition of the new routes will create 70 jobs for cabin crew, baggage handlers and security staff.
And airport bosses believe the fact 70,000 more passengers will be coming through their doors will have a knock-on effect on other businesses located there.
It is expected retail outlets and a new hotel being built on site will have to increase their workforce to cope with the heightened demand.
The announcement comes months after XL went into administration, meaning flights to 12 different destinations were lost.


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Full Weekend of Events Slated for 45th Annual Head of the Trent Regatta October 2-4
Peterborough community and prospective students invited to join thousands of alumni, students and spectators for largest regatta event in North America
Community members and media are invited to join the thousands of rowers, varsity athletes, alumni and families at Trent University's Symons campus for the 45th annual Head of the Trent Regatta and Alumni Homecoming Weekend taking place October 2-4, 2015.
The Head of the Trent Regatta is the largest single day event of its kind in North America and the second largest amateur sporting event in Canada next to the Calgary Stampede. Created in 1971 by Trent alumnus Chris Leach, today Head of the Trent includes over 1,200 athletes from more than 50 universities and clubs across Canada and the northern United States. Races take place on the Trent-Severn Waterway, starting at the Parkhill Road Bridge and winding through the Trent Canal to finish at the Faryon Bridge on the Trent campus.
The Head of the Trent Regatta and Alumni Homecoming Weekend has grown to feature varsity lacrosse, soccer, rugby and volleyball games and a full schedule of alumni reunion activities.
Highlights of the 2015 Head of the Trent Regatta and Alumni Homecoming include:
Rowing, rowing and more rowing! Visit www.headofthetrent.ca or follow @rowhotr for the full rowing schedule, start times, results and more information about the history of the Regatta.
NEW! Campus tours for prospective students. Experience the spirit of the Trent campus and community. Tours run hourly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday only from the Bata podium.
Alumni: check in with the Trent University alumni team on the University Court beside Champlain College, share what you've been up to and update your contact information. Stay connected by following @TrentAlumni
Beer garden: the Trent Rowing Team's annual fundraiser is back in the Bata Library parking lot (19+, $10 entry). Bag check provided by Trent Gives. Alumni – skip the line with your alumni card or alumni wristband available at the Alumni Services table on the podium (until 3:00; cover charge applies).
Varsity sport: stop by the Justin Chiu Stadium and the Athletic Centre gym, wear your Trent green and cheer on the Excalibur! Follow @TrentExcalibur for up to the minute stats, highlights and photos.
Free bus: Leave the car at home and hop on the Trent Express bus for a free ride to campus on Saturday, October 3. The free bus is generously provided by the Trent Central Student Association and Peterborough Transit.
For a full schedule of events, see below.
Known by the acronym "HOTR," the event is organized in partnership between Trent University, the Peterborough Rowing Club, Trent Varsity Rowing Team, Peterborough Community Police and the Trent Community Sport and Recreation Centre. Visit www.trentu.ca/hotr for the full schedule of events and follow @TrentUniversity for updates, photos and information during HOTR.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham delivers a distinct mix of programming in the GTA.
Kate Weersink, media relations & strategic communications officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6180 or kateweersink@trentu.ca
If you no longer wish to receive news releases and advisories from Trent University, please email communications@trentu.ca to unsubscribe.
Accessible versions of this document are available upon request at trentu.ca/accessible
Find other stories about: Alumni, ER & A, Head of the Trent, Community Relations, Rowing, Athletics, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer
Trent University Makes the Winners' Circle Twice in Annual Research Ranking
Environmental and Racial Justice Leader Named 2022/23 Ashley Fellow at Trent University


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How to watch the RLCS Winter Split: format and roster changes
The next few months are looking spicy
January 12, 2022 3:26 pm EST
Provided by Psyonix Each RLCS Winter Split regional will be group stage into double-elimination.
by Michael Kloos
The RLCS Winter Split starts on Friday with a new format. After a month-long break, four out of the eight regions will continue their season, while the other four will play a week later. Here's how to watch, how the new format is set up and which rosters made the most notable changes during the transfer window.
How to watch the RLCS Winter Split 2021-2022
The RLCS Winter Split is spread over three regional events, played weekly with the regions alternating. On Fridays, Day 1 is played but not broadcast on the main channel. Instead, the games will be hosted by the teams themselves. The following North American teams will host their games at 1 p.m. ET on Friday:
Ghost Gaming
NRG Esports
Oxygen Esports
RBG Esports
Rogue Esports
Shopify Rebellion
Spacestation Gaming
Soniqs
Team Envy
Torrent Esports
XSET
After Day 1, the main Rocket League channel will take over on Twitch and YouTube for Saturdays and Sundays. Check out the full schedule for the RLCS 2021-2022 season, including the Winter Split.
Winter Split format
Where the RLCS Fall Split employed a Swiss system, each RLCS Winter Split regional will be group stage into double-elimination. However, only the first place finishers of each group will have a second life in the knockout bracket. No. 2 and 3 will enter the second stage in the lower bracket, while the fourth-place finisher will be eliminated.
The grand final will require the lower bracket team to win two best-of-sevens to take home the victory.
The RLCS Winter Split knock-out format. | Provided by Liquipedia
Notable team changes
During the transfer window between the RLCS Fall Split and Winter Split, North America made the most high-profile roster changes. Team Envy and G2 Esports made a direct swap between Massimo "Atomic" Franceschi and Andres "dreaz" Jordan. Meanwhile, Version1's Jesus "gimmick" Parra departed the team for Oxygen Esports. He was replaced by Landon "BeastMode" Konerman, who unexpectedly took a break from Rocket League earlier in the season.
Spacestation Gaming picked up one of the biggest talents in North America with Daniel. The coveted youngster finally became eligible to play in the RLCS ahead of the Winter Split and took over Caden "Sypical" Pellegrin's spot. Sypical, in turn, moved to FaZe Clan, replacing Braxton "Allushin" Lagarec. Christopher "Aqua." Campbell, another talented youngster who became eligible, joined Rogue. All in all, North America saw some major shake-ups, making the Winter Split hard to predict.
For the European RLCS Winter Split, everything remained fairly stable. Thomas "ThO." Binkhorst was replaced on Heroic by Maurice "Yukeo" Weihs. This reunites him with Jos "ViolentPanda" van Meurs, who he previously teamed with on Dignitas. Daniel "Bluey" Bluett was dropped by Guild Esports after a disappointing fall split and replaced by Cristian "crr" Fernandez from FC Barcelona, who dropped their entire roster. The top nine teams all stuck together.
In Asia, top team Pulse Clan let the roster go to search for an organization that can financially support them, and they also lost Joshua "ballerrees" Tng, who is unable to play LANs due to his military service. He has been replaced by Jules "Kaotik" Blondel.
Of the top South American teams, Fall Major competitors eRa Eternity saw Matheus "math" Gonçalves move to direct competitor Noble Esports. His replacement is yet to be announced.
Michael Kloos
Michael Kloos is a Dutch esports journalist and enthusiast with a particular like of Rocket League and VALORANT. He is also an avid fantasy/sci-fi reader and writer. He spends most of his time trying not to be in the real world.


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7 Monos és un col·lectiu de creadors d'historietes valencians format per Manuel Bartual, Jordi Bayarri, Manuel Castaño, Sergio Córdoba, Jesús Huguet, Joan Marín, Juan Pedro Quilón, Nacho Sanmartín i Víctor Santos. El grup fou molt actiu a finals de la dècada dels 90 La seva sèrie més popular va ser Los Reyes Elfos.

El grup estava integrat pel que en un inici eren dues colles d'amics procedents de diferents escoles d'art:
 Manuel Bartual, Manuel Castaño, Joan Marín i Nacho Sanmartín provenien de l'Escola d'Arts i Oficis de València
 Jordi Bayarri, Sergio Córdoba, Juan Pedro Quilón i Víctor Santos eren de la Facultat de Belles Arts de la Universitat Politècnica de València

Jordi Bayarri era el nexe entre tots dos grupsEl 1998, arran de l'èxit de Freaks in Love, autoeditat per Sergio Córdona, decideixen unir-se sota un segell col·lectiu, i publiquen:

Referències

Col·lectius artístics
Autors de còmic valencians


Taxpayers across the country scrambled to file their returns this week, and many wrote checks to the government. Yet, when it comes to taxes, there's one New York "celeb" who seems to be getting a pass from the state: the Rev. Al Sharpton.
From first-class plane tickets to a swanky apartment at the Helmsley Carlton House, it's clear Al Sharpton has been living a life of luxury — especially for a man who's built his career on advocacy for the underprivileged.
Yet Sharpton owes as much as $4.5 million in back taxes and penalties.
Dozens of pages of tax warrants and liens show that, at best, Sharpton has been deeply negligent, and at worst, he's gaming the system. Which raises the question: Why does New York keep letting him get away with it?
Exhibit 1: The balance on Sharpton's tax debt has continued to grow, even after he reached a settlement with the taxman, The New York Times has reported. The snapshot view provided by New York tax warrants suggests Sharpton and three of his now-defunct companies owe the state over $876,000.
Sharpton claims he's stuck to the payment plan detailed in his settlement. But the government structures settlements so debtors can reduce and eventually eliminate tax debt.
A growing balance is a big red flag. A state official said failure to make payments on a settlement and late filings can result in additional penalties and interest. He also said failure to pay new taxes can add additional debt.
Exhibit 2: New York recently allowed Sharpton to open up yet another for-profit entity, RAS Industries — even though four of his previous businesses have been dissolved in at least one jurisdiction for tax issues.
A spokesman for the Department of Taxation says "someone with tax liabilities has to be on a reasonable payment plan in order to open a new business" — a criterion Sharpton's growing balance calls into question.
If RAS Industries runs up new tax debt, it will debunk Sharpton's claims that he's making a good-faith effort to settle up.
Exhibit 3: Sharpton's claims of newfound diligence are even more questionable, given that his company, Sharpton Media Group, LLC, appears to exist unlawfully in New York. And yet there seem to be no consequences from the state.
When Sharpton incorporated the company in Delaware in 2004, he also registered it in New York as a so-called foreign entity.
But in 2007, Delaware listed Sharpton Media Group as "forfeited-resigned," noting it had not filed tax reports. The company now owes the state $7,172.
New York's Limited Liability Company Law says when an out-of-state business like Sharpton Media Group is dissolved or terminated at home, it has to file paperwork to shut down in New York, too — presumably to safeguard New York from businesses that have failed to meet obligations elsewhere.
But Sharpton Media Group remains active here, with no termination papers filed, according to the state's Division of Corporations.
Sharpton's spokeswoman says her boss hasn't operated Sharpton Media Group since he reached a tax deal with federal and state authorities. "As far as any filings of dissolving entities, we are sure his attorneys have [done] so or are in the process of doing so," she added.
Why has New York let Sharpton Media Group remain registered as active with impunity?
A Division of Corporations official says her agency is "not a regulatory or enforcement office," and she knows of no authority the agency has to shut it down.
Aides for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office, which might have some authority in the matter, never replied to an inquiry.
New York's velvet-glove handling of Sharpton's tax and business woes might be justified if he had few assets to aggressively seize.
But his rock-and-roll lifestyle, in addition to his lucrative MSNBC and radio contracts, suggests he should be able to pay up.
Yet for some reason, New York authorities don't seem terribly interested in holding Sharpton accountable.
As a civil-rights activist, Sharpton has pushed for equality under the law. New York should offer some reassurances that it holds that same principle dear — especially where Sharpton is concerned.
Meanwhile, law-abiding taxpayers in this state, who pay some of the biggest tax bills in the nation, should be infuriated at this disparate treatment.
Jillian Kay Melchior writes for National Review as a Thomas L. Rhodes fellow for the Franklin Center.


I grew up on Long Island. Although I have lived on the west coast of Florida, which boasts some of the world's most beautiful beaches for the past 20 years, Jones Beach will always be the most beautiful beach to me because it is home.
If I close my eyes I can feel the gritty sand in my toes and hear the seagulls and the waves crashing to the shore. As a little kid I would play on the shore line, building sandcastles and jumping over the remainder of the breaker waves as they rolled up towards the beach. As I got older I became more adventurous and learned how to ride the waves in as they broke.
It is an exhilarating feeling to catch a good wave at precisely the right moment and get a nice clean ride in. But occasionally you can be blindsided by a wave and get pummeled by it because you weren't expecting it. Sometimes in an attempt to ride a wave you can jump in at the wrong time resulting in being creamed by the force of the current. This is a scary experience. In a matter of seconds you are being spun uncontrollably and it is incredibly difficult to find your bearings. It feels like the ocean is sucking you downward. If you are not accustomed to navigating the unpredictable activity of an undertow it is easy to panic. I have been caught in some crazy waves that in the moment have made me wonder if I would survive.
Fortunately like most kids who are raised by the beach, I was taught at a young age how to handle such situations and even though it could be frightening I knew that if I followed some simple rules of survival the wave would eventually subside and I would once again rise to the surface and be able to breathe.
The first rule was HOLD YOUR BREATH AND DON'T PANIC. The duration of even a huge ocean wave is shorter than the amount of time you can hold your breath. The tendency when we panic is to gasp for breath but if when the wave hits you just hold your breath and don't panic in time the waters will smooth out and the air in your body will cause you to rise to the surface.
The second rule was DON'T FIGHT IT – GO WITH THE FLOW. Our natural reaction when we're being knocked around and feel out of control is to fight to regain our footing but this is actually counterproductive when trying to react to a wave. All you will end up doing is completely exhausting yourself. Instead the trick is to relax your body and let yourself go with it until the wave passes. The force of the wave is far stronger than you are and fighting against it is futile. If you can calmly wait it out you will soon be released, your feet will find the ground and you will be able to push up to the surface and find your bearings. This is easier said than done when you are being tossed about by the waves!
Some kids (and grown-ups for that matter) having been pummeled by a wave once decided it was not worth the risk and do not engage in the joy of riding the waves. They didn't learn the survival tips for managing the undertow and so they settle for just playing in the shallow breakers. They are missing out on the exhilaration of swimming in the ocean. It is an incredible feeling to be carried by the rise and fall of the ocean swells and something thrilling about playing in the vastness of the sea.
Life is often like this. A series of waves, some invigorating and awe-inspiring and others downright frightening and disorienting. But it shouldn't stop us from engaging. If we want to experience all the joy and wonder that this life has to offer we need to pack up our coping skills and dive in deep.
This is not me – but what a great picture!
Young girl in the waves, Jones Beach, New York. July 1951, by Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Instead of playing in the shallow breakers I am ready to dive in. This is an unedited, first attempt excerpt from a short book I am writing. Stay tuned!
If you are in the swirl of an undertow please know that this too shall pass. Hold your breath (or since you are not really in the ocean – take some deep breaths) ~ don't panic. Before you know it you will be in smooth waters once again.
Yesterday in church my pastor read a verse that I've probably read a thousand times before. I have read it before without any particular revelation. But this time it really spoke to me.
Acts 4:13 ~ When they saw the COURAGE of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
One of the things I was dealing with was a disconnection between my true authentic self and who I thought I needed to be in order to be worthy of my position as leader of FTGI.
So I made a list. I listed all the things I thought a leader of a faith-based women's organization should be and I rated myself. I quickly realized that I didn't measure up.
I won't go into all of the items, but I listed that she (the leader) should have credentials. An education or some kind of schooling that qualified her to teach. Or maybe a master's degree in social work, psychology or counseling…something. I went to college for a year and a half and quit.
I listed that she should have unwavering faith. I question and I doubt and I have to pray that God will help me in my unbelief…a lot. More than I think a leader should.
The list went on and although I met some of my made-up requirements overall, I fell short. As I stared at the list I heard God whisper to me that the list was mine not His. In fact He doesn't even have a list.
He called me and that is enough.
He called Peter and John…two ordinary, unschooled men. He gave them COURAGE and that was enough to become history makers. It was enough for them to change the world and do things that astonished people!!
What has God called you to do that you feel under-qualified for? Throw your list away, have COURAGE and go change your world!
We've all heard that saying but I'd like to add to that and say… it also doesn't define you.
We all have "what"s in our lives. Those things that have been so hard to endure that they have threatened to kill us. Maybe not kill us physically but emotionally.
In my worst times of depression I felt like I was fighting for my life. Not my physical life. But I was fighting for the life I want to live. The life that I know I can have. A life filled with joy and hope and purpose.
Knowing that depression doesn't define me has been critical in helping me to rise above it.
I don't like the idea that I am even associated with depression because it goes against everything I know I am. Depression is associated with hopelessness and lack of interest and lack of joy. But I am a joyful, hopeful and purposeful person. So even though I am experiencing those other emotions I constantly remind myself of the joy and the hope I know I have even if I can't access them at that time. And I remind myself that I will get through it and I will be even stronger than I was before.
Your "what" may be different from mine. You may be dealing with a difficult marriage or financial problems. Maybe you suffer from anxiety or issues from a haunting past that you are working through. These are all "what"s. They are things that you go through ~ they are not who you are.
I am not a depressed person. I am a person who, at times, suffers from depression. Separating the two has been very important to me.
Romans 8:28 brings it all into perspective.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger…and it doesn't define you…and God will work it into His plan for you and in the end…it will be good!
I love to watch the Academy Awards but I am so thankful for DVR technology and the ability to fast forward through the boring parts! There are highlights though, like the amazing performance of "One Day More" by the cast of the movie Les Miserables! Goose bumps!
One thing that jumped out to me this year was a recurring theme in the acceptance speeches. It's something I've always known, of course, but it really stood out to me this year. They almost always begin with…"I'd like to thank…" Then they go on to list all the people that contributed to their success or supported them in some way. We cannot accomplish great things without the support and help of the people around us.
This morning I spent some time being thankful for those people in my life that have supported me and cheered me on through good and bad times and have inspired me to reach high and not settle.
Practicing thankfulness is such an important ingredient in the recipe for joy and contentment. Even on my darkest days I could always find something or more importantly someone to be thankful for.
Who are you thankful for today? Who has supported you along your journey?
Sometimes it's good to say it out loud.
Then I had a revelation. It occurred to me that these two roadblocks are common to many of us who are embarking on a new leg of our journey. So in the spirit of transparency I thought I'd share how I am dealing with these obstacles.
As for #1 ~ It is very difficult to embark on a journey when you aren't sure exactly where you are going. Yet, when we are living a life of faith this is often what is required. God plants a dream inside of our heart and calls us out but the path is frequently unclear. That is why He tells us over and over to "Be strong and courageous!" That command comes with a comforting promise that He will be with us wherever we go! (Joshua 1:9) He will actually whisper directions to us along the way.
To combat the first issue I had to embrace the fact that every journey begins with one step. One step leads to another and before you know it, you have momentum. So, my one step is writing this piece today and in doing so I am no longer standing still but moving forward.
As for #2 ~ Fear is a strong emotion and an opponent to every dreamer. It causes us to want to run back to our comfort zone and play it safe.
In order to overcome the second obstacle I had to consider the stakes. If I don't follow through and share what I believe is a story of hope then there may be someone out there who will remain hopeless. By keeping my story to myself, I could retain my pride and exercise my right to privacy, but I would do it at the risk of someone else having to navigate the dark hallways of depression without some glimmer of light. It is a risk I am not willing to take and that helps me move beyond the fear.
What is at stake if you do not embark on your journey? What is it that holds you back? What one step could you take today to get moving? I'd love to hear your thoughts and how you deal with the roadblocks!
Can we have a little heart to heart?
It has been a crazy six weeks for me. Within that time I lost my mom and then headed straight into FTGI's biggest event of the year, our Awaken Conference. Both events had their own brand of stress. Losing my mom was an emotional roller coaster. I was happy for her, sad for me and lots of other emotions in between. The conference (which was amazing by the way) was an emotional and spiritual high – a good kind of stress, the kind I love and crave, but stress nonetheless.
I am in need of rest. In need of renewed strength…body, soul and spirit.
So I'm waving the white flag and retreating for a little bit. I just wanted to let you know where I went. I'll be taking a short break from blogging and other things in order to recharge. You understand, right?
We all get weary. We all lose strength at times. Thankfully we have promises to hold onto and therefore we have HOPE. You may be weary too, for your own reasons. Take heart and know that renewed strength is promised but sometimes you need to slow down long enough to grasp it. Allow Him to lead you by the quiet waters and restore your soul. That is where I will be.
The beginning of the new school year brought back a memory for me of my oldest son starting a new school. It wasn't the beginning of the school year, it was actually towards the end, but it was a new school to him because we had just moved to Florida from New York.
I remember sitting in the school administration office with him waiting for his class assignment. He sat so still, trying to be brave but I noticed him chewing away at the inside of his cheek, betraying his nervousness. It was killing me! I wanted to scoop him up in my arms and assure him that it was going to be okay and that I wouldn't sign him up to do something that wasn't good for him. But he was in 1st grade and already too old for overtly public displays of affection from his mother! I knew that he was a smart boy and that he would make friends easily and in no time at all would feel right at home. He did not share my confidence.
Have you ever felt like God signed you up for something that makes you chew your cheek, or bite your nails, or do whatever it is you do when you get nervous? Have you ever felt that pang of anxiety when stepping out into a new venture? The other side of familiar is frightening, a little nerve-wracking at best. But if God is leading you there, (that's a BIG "if" by the way so you want to be sure about that before you start) you can rest assured that you are prepared and that ultimately it will be for your good.
This morning I was reading Deuteronomy 8 – a great chapter on this topic!! God often signs us up for things that test us and humble us but it is to bring us to a place of tremendous blessing if we persevere and follow as He leads. There is way too much good stuff here to write in one blog so I encourage you to take time to read it if you can.
I want to go there, don't you?
6th Impossible Thing I Believe Before Breakfast: I can overcome!
2. (We) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Have you ever felt like you have gone around the same mountain in your life over and over and just can't seem to get over it? Maybe it's an unhealthy behavior that you keep returning to. Maybe fear has a grip on you that prevents you from moving forward with your life, or you just can't seem to shake self-doubt and insecurity that has plagued you. Your adversary may be flesh and blood, a difficult relationship that you have a hard time navigating. You may be at a point where you just feel like you cannot seem to overcome that monster you face no matter how hard you try.
The bad news is you are probably right. On your own you probably cannot.
The good news is that inside of you dwells a great treasure. A power that can overcome anything! We need to stop trying so hard to fight our battles with the little strength that we have on our own. We have access to the most powerful force in the universe, let Him fight on your behalf!
Pick up your sword this morning, stand with your shoulders squared and believe that you can overcome anything by the power of the Holy Spirit of God that dwells within you!
Romans 8:37 …in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
5th Impossible Thing I Believe Before Breakfast: There is a place called Heaven.
My mom was in a coma and I was scrambling to learn everything I could about traumatic brain injury and coming to terms with the fact that, barring a miracle, my mom would never recover completely from her car accident.
In between reading medical journals and all the information provided to families of head injured patients I picked up my Bible begging God for something to hold onto. I randomly read Psalm 27. That's when I read that verse.
That was the distinct moment when I began to intentionally live my life with an eternal perspective holding onto the hope that there will come a day when my mom will be whole and healed. I WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Of course I will see his goodness here as well but sometimes when times are tough it's eternal perspective that I need.
Eternal perspective gives us something to hold onto when despair is threatening to overtake us. It also helps us to prioritize the things we allow to take up our time and our emotions. We can eliminate stressing out over things that have no eternal value. We can determine to live everyday purposeful to invest our energy and time in showing love and furthering the kingdom of heaven.
So, everyday before breakfast, I try to make it a practice to believe that there is a place called heaven and it sets the tone for my day.
4th Impossible Thing I Believe Before Breakfast: Fear can disappear!
After my mom's car accident I felt extremely vulnerable. Up until that point in my 26 year old life I had never experienced personal tragedy. Once tragedy struck, it seemed as if a huge dam that had been protectively holding back a reservoir of potential danger had broken, flooding my heart with fear.
Fear began to haunt me. If this could happen to my mom…what else could happen?
One snowy night I was getting my young boys in the car to drive to a church service. I was strapping my little guy into his car seat and without warning fear struck. In my mind's eye I could see the article in the paper of the tragic accident involving a young family. The temptation to take my boys back in the house and tell my husband that we needed to stay home was nagging at me. But I knew that if I did, I would be surrendering to the fear.
Once we arrived and got settled into our seats the visiting speaker began to share and his topic was "Overcoming Fear" of all things! He called for those people who were struggling with paralyzing fear to come forward to the front of the room so he could pray for them. In retrospect it is easy to see the attempt to keep me from being in a service that would bring me one step closer to the peace that would replace my fear.
I still have moments of fear, however, I have never become a slave to it again because of this revelation that I had that night.
I have clung to this truth ever since. If I trust God with my life, I have nothing to fear. Not because bad things will never happen to me again but because I know that He will be with me and sustain me through whatever life brings.
I made the mistake of believing that if I held onto fear I would somehow be protecting myself against it. What I needed to believe and still need to believe everyday (preferably before breakfast!) is that when trouble comes my way He will hide me in the shelter of His love and He will sustain me.
Most of the times the things we fear are things we can't control. What we can control is where we put our trust and what we allow our minds to dwell on. When we put our trust in the one who is our light and our salvation fear can and will disappear.
Praying for you today, friends, that you will take the step to replace fear with trust and walk in peace!
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?


Jamie is a native of Canton, Georgia where she lives with her husband & two daughters. A former elementary school teacher, she was encouraged by her family to put "The Birthday Candle" in writing. She hopes you enjoy reading it as much as she enjoyed writing it!