text:
Gay Marriage: When There's No Room for "I'm Not Sure."
Filed under: Church — Tags: church and culture, church and homosexuality, church and social issues, gay Christians, gay marriage, ministry distractions, religion and culture, the church and the world — paulthinkingoutloud @ 6:52 am
There are small churches everywhere for whom the pressure to respond to every cultural issue simply doesn't exist.
It's hard to be on social media and ignore the dust that Tony Campolo kicked up on Monday in affirming gay marriage. I'm not here today to discuss the actual issue, but a particular nuance raised in an article on Religion News Service referencing Albert Mohler, in which he's quoted as saying: "This is a moment of decision, and every evangelical believer, congregation, denomination, and institution will have to answer. There will be no place to hide."
I immediately thought of the four older women who sat in the back row of a church I once attended. They have to stake a position on this issue? They need to have an opinion? He did say every believer. And what does he mean by a place to hide? If it means hiding your position that's one thing, but what if you just want to hide from this issue?
Furthermore, I'm not sure that I could state my own position on this with clarity because the issue is so terribly complex. It bears on one's feelings about homosexuality, but even there we find people talking about different degrees of everything from mild same-sex attraction to actual copulation. It bears on one's feelings about the word marriage, and whether or not one can be opposed to gay marriage but support gay civil union. It bears on your response to sin and whether or not we have to clean up to meet God or if we're invited to be ourselves; to come as we are. It bears on how one feels about how the church sees itself: As a private club for members only, or as agents of grace and mercy on The Jericho Road.
(My personal take leans toward the 'welcoming but not affirming' position; the belief that some people are experiencing something that is good, but it's good only because it borrows elements of the best.)
The article by Jacob Lupfer cites Mohler's own blog noting, "For conservative evangelicals, there is no middle ground — no "third way." Either churches will affirm covenanted same-sex relationships or they will not."
Maybe it's ostrich-like of me to believe this, but I like to think that somewhere — many somewheres — there is a church that simply hasn't done a sermon or held a seminar on this topic; they are quietly working their way through a study of Hebrews, or Mark's gospel, and they don't feel the need to respond.
The article was prompted by support for Campolo by Christianity Today's former editor David Neff. Fearing that this might send a signal that CT lines up with Campolo, current editor Mark Galli is quoted as saying, ""We at CT are sorry when fellow evangelicals modify their views to accord with the current secular thinking on this matter," he wrote."
Galli is touching on something important here. As the capital-C Church, we can't let ourselves and our positions be overwhelmed by what's happening in the broader culture. We can't allow the daily news to be the lens through which we interpret scripture and establish doctrine.
But there's a lesson in that principle for Mohler as well. Just as we can't allow culture to shape our theology, so also we can't permit culture to force what constitutes the preaching and teaching agenda of local churches. The rest of us don't have to call an emergency membership meeting next Wednesday night to sort out our position just because we're being told we have to have one. Again, this is a very complex issue.
Some will say my imaginary somewhere churches exist in a cultural backwater somewhere, but if they just want to trust God and let these social issues work themselves out under God's sovereignty, I'm fine with that. True, the gay issue may come home to roost in some of those places, as it might in the families of the blue-haired women on the back row of my former church; but armed with a knowledge of the ways of God that only comes through in-depth study of the Bible, they'll meet that crisis with a calmness and conviction that's rooted in Christ, not in the need to declare a position that puts them on one side or the other.
In other words, thanks Tony, Albert, David, Mark; but now can we please talk about something else? We're allowing ourselves to get oh, so distracted.
Filed under: links — Tags: Caribbean Study Cruise, Christian blogs, Christian News, church choirs, church small groups, evangelical, fight church, gay Christians, home study groups, Kidmin, leading a funeral, Lecrae, mega churches, ministerial credentials, modern churches, modern worship, NT Ethics, religious freedom, Saeed Abedini, seeker churches, Sunday closings, True Love Waits, Truett Cathy — paulthinkingoutloud @ 6:10 am
The links are on me! Actually, the Religious Newswriters Association people were all at a convention last week, so mysteriously, there was no news.
When the courts rule allowing distribution of religious pamphlets, remember that means all religions.
Vicky Beeching was interviewed by the Unbelievable podcast host Justin Brierley as to whether a person can still claim to be Evangelical if they are gay.
Fox News aired a 10-minute feature and first interview with Meriam Ibrahim following her resettlement in the U.S…
…Meanwhile, Thursday (9/25) marks the two-year anniversary of Saeed Abedini's imprisonment in Iran for his faith. His wife plans a prayer vigil outside the White House to urge the President and State Department to do more.
Copycat Churches: "When it comes to church planting in this decade, everyone is putting up the same taco stand." 25 questions to determine if you're just doing what everyone else is. (This originally appeared in the summer, but is worth noting.)
On his CT blog The Exchange, Ed Stetzer proposes a fresh paradigm for issuing pastor credentials.
I'm not sure what I would be thinking if the head of my denomination expressed frequent doubts about God's existence.
So how about a worship service that makes you feel terrible? "We must first feel the weight of God's glory pressing us, pulverizing our vain attempts at good works into dust." Why part of worship's job is to make us feel uncomfortable.
A Moody Publishing author slips in to Oprah's Life You Want Weekend in prayer, and leaves still praying.
Worlds Colliding: Ministry meets martial arts in a short clip from a New York State church's fight night. (The most bizarre video you'll watch this week.)
Okay everyone, yes, I missed the irony in a link last week. That Caribbean study cruise is on the theme of enduring persecution and suffering.
Church History (Recent): Termed "The most comprehensive summary of Youth for Christ's 70-year history that's been written;" this takes you to a 25-page .pdf. (Billy Graham was given half a desk to work at.)
An Orthodox Jewish sect posted notices around a section of London last week trying to segregate men and women on sidewalks.
This just in: Church choral music is dying. Here's one person's suggestions as to why.
The noise is always louder when a celebrity falls off the purity wagon.
Recycling the September Service Sermon: The problem with this message is that not everyone can lead a small group.
Academic Alley: This review of two chapters of a book on New Testament ethics leaves me wanting to read more.
Essay of the Week: Lots of buzz around the 'net for this refreshed and expanded 'guard your heart' type of message that Sarah Bessey titled Guard Your Gates.
A Jewish lawyer, writer and rabbinical student praises Chick-fil-A's Truett Cathy for honoring Christianity's sabbath.
Even if the Left Behind remake is popular, the doctrine it's based on is not, either among scholars who study Revelation, or people in general outside the U.S. Sample: "Rapture-based theology teaches us to think and hope for an escape from this world, not endurance to persevere in it."
Pastoral Refresher Course: Eight concise reminders for officiating at a funeral.
Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace is into a nautical theme lately, with articles about cruise ships versus rescue boats and turning around large ocean liners. (The second article is actually about forming local apologetics organizations.)
A New Testament professor challenges popular interpretations of four gospel parables.
Religious institutions that put emphasis on dress codes turn students and staff into modern Pharisees. (One student: " They're [the codes are] contributing to the spiritual shallowness of our membership")
Adding a second service next month, one pastor sees multiple services as a big win.
This should be one of the weird stories we end with, but I'd hate for anyone to miss out on Jim Bakker's Time of Trouble Beans and End of the World Biscuits.
Though he wasn't a featured guest, Lecrae performed last week on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Working the seniors' home circuit wasn't the way Pastor Conrad wanted it to end.
When a church picketed a strip club, they probably didn't consider the means whereby the club would fight back.
In a recently released documentary film, Nashville pastor Pete Wilson notes that sex trafficking is taking place just 50 feet from his church's front door.
The California Southern Baptist Convention expelled a church over… well you can probably guess what issue.
Billed two weeks ago in Toronto as "Festival of Hope," the Franklin Graham team rolls into Erie, PA this Saturday and Sunday under the banner "Rock The Lakes."
This item links you to the first chapter of a Christian mom's sanitized fan-fiction of Harry Potter aka Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles. Also some clarification of her intent.
A "Virginity Rocks" T-shirt results in an eighth-grader being forced to change.
Lost Songs Department: From 41 years ago — gasp! — Jesus Music band The Archers' Put On Jesus. (It says The Archers, not The Archies.)
If you're up for one more round on this topic, a former women's ministry leader at Mars Hill answers questions.
It always amazes me how people who can't do everyday tasks are able to do extraordinary things.
Finally: When your child swears in Sunday School: Identifying 15 Awkward Church Moments.
Our closing graphic is from eScapegoat, which allows our Jewish friends to transfer their sins to a goat roaming the internet collecting sins for Yom Kippur. (Note: No actual Halachic atonement implied.) Click the image below to visit.
Filed under: links — Tags: Biblical counseling, Bill Hybels, Christian blogs, Christian colleges, christian films, Christian movies, Christian Music, Christian news stories, Christian television, Christian writers, church leadership, church life, church music, cool Mormons, critical spirit, faith issues, gay Christians, Gideons, hotel Bibles, John Ortberg, Ken Ham, LDS, megachurch, modern worship, Noah's Ark, vocational ministry, Willow Creek — paulthinkingoutloud @ 6:18 am
Time for your midweek break and some news and opinion pieces you may have missed:
As a New York state couple refuses to rent their facility for a lesbian wedding, we flash all the way back to July, where a blogger asks if people are overreacting.
Don't tweet these: 25 Things You'll Never Hear God Say.
Why the Robin Williams death is hitting so hard.
If you were one of the two SIM workers who contracted Ebola, would you even consider going back to Africa? The two are now immune; can't spread the disease or contract it.
Straining at a gnat? You decide. An argument against communion by intincture.
Christian faith and depression medication: An article at Patheos turns up at Time Magazine.
You can also read today's link list at Leadership Journal by clicking this image.
Essay of the Week: Five Ways to be a Better Atheist.
We know that women outnumber men in most churches. Here are five ways leadership can get men on board.
Interesting topic, especially online: How to Give and Receive Criticism. (It's a terrible article.)(Just kidding!)
The responsibilities of a worship leader include a teaching ministry that goes far beyond just teaching songs.
With 20 locations, is LifeChurch.tv still the multi-site leader? The 20th opened on the weekend in Wichita, KS.
For one writer, in the U.S. Christian Twitterverse, some things create much internet heat, while other current events rarely get mentioned.
While written with mainline UK churches in view, this article on personnel and human resources issues in multi-staff churches applies here as well.
Bahamas pastor (hey, someone has to do it) Thabiti Anyabwile on secular psychology versus Biblical counseling.
A look at the guiding principles which shape sexual morality in 2014…
…and from the same author, some stats on what that morality looks like.
With the school year not yet underway, a serious security breach at a Canadian Bible college.
The wife of a former-policeman turned missionary reflects on events in Missouri last week.
As if there aren't enough forums for poking fun at Christianity, now there are irreverent board games and card games.
Deconstructing overused Christian clichés.
We seem to have a new Christian movie announcement every week, though in this particular case, with a name director (Last Temptation of Christ) the drama mixes with church history…
…Then there's the documentary Holy Ghost, opening September 6th and shot with no script. Watch the trailer.
Protect your brand: You'll soon be able to get a .church domain for your church website.
Who says they never come back? John Ortberg does his annual return to Willow Creek. (Choose audio or video.)
Also at Willow, founding pastor Bill Hybels still amazes me. This summer sermon was the setup for a Baptismal Service which followed. (Choose audio or video.)
It must be one of those military exercises you hear so much about: First you remove all the Bibles from the guest rooms, and then you put them all back…
…Meanwhile, in England, Travelodge has removed all Bibles to respect diversity.
Rev. Cindy Kent springs to the defense of Cliff Richard in the latest wave of allegations of past impropriety.
Well, I rather expected this: "Please note that Pastor Mark Driscoll is generally unavailable for interviews through the end of 2014."
Another volley in the worship wars: Apparently modern worship "declared itself a viable choice."
Increasingly in the UK, families cannot afford funerals.
Bulldozers readying the site for the Answers-In-Genesis (Ken Ham) Noah's Ark attraction inadvertently uncover evidence proving that the earth is billions of years old. (Okay, I totally made that one up. Sorry. Couldn't resist. Won't happen again.)
Pastors, your people do really miss you when you're gone, but there are reasons for taking a breather.
Canada's Christian-owned, family-friendly network, CTS is being re-branded as YES-TV.
Tabloid-style-link: Justin Bieber: Is he reconnecting with Selena, with church?
Another exciting episode in the life of Isaac Wotts, Church Custodian. (Actually, there are no other episodes.)
A group consisting of Ray Boltz and Jennifer Knapp (among others) grows with an announcement by Vicky Beeching.
Hey, it's okay to be in ministry and be living with someone because, "Paul wasn't married…Many significant Bible characters were not married. Marriage is not a prerequisite for being in the pulpit." (You gotta admire the logic, or the chutzpah.)
Finally, has anyone else noticed that the Mormons have all the cool baptism songs.
Paul Wilkinson is available to speak or sing on any dates you had previously booked with Mark Driscoll, Vicky Beeching or Gungor and may be contacted through his blogs, Thinking Out Loud and Christianity 201.
Filed under: links — Tags: bivocational ministry, children's ministry, Chris Tomlin, Christian apologetics, Christian colleges, christian films, Christian movies, Christian musicians, Christian universities, church attendance, church demographics, conversion, denominations, devotional websites, gay Christians, Kidmin, modern worship, pastor's kids, persecuted church, preacher's kids, preaching, religion surveys, Southern Baptist Convention, top Christian books, Tower of Babel, vocational ministry, Watch Care Ministry, world missions, youth ministry — paulthinkingoutloud @ 6:36 am
Out of several hundred potential links, these were some things that got my attention this week. Clicking anything below will take you to PARSE, the list's owner, a blog of Leadership Journal in the Christianity Today family. From there, click the stories you want to see.
Essay of the Week: A moment-by-moment close-up look at church persecution in China.
Those polls about church attendance? It seems not everybody is being entirely honest.
More than just topical vs. exegetical, this author contrasts the larger nuances of Reformed vs. non-Reformed preaching.
Infographic of the Week: A look at developments in missions and faith in Africa.
The California wildfires just missed the home of Christian singer and actor Rebecca St. James.
A report just released shows America's largest Protestant denomination experienced a 13% decline in baptisms in 2012, the largest decline in 62 years.
Here are six highlights from the Patheos live event last week concerning Michael Vines' God and the Gay Christian.
CNN offers a list of the eight worst places to be a Christian. (And no, Massachusetts isn't one of them.)
A Church-planter who knows reviews BiVo, a new book on bi-vocational ministry.
You've seen top 100 blog lists, right? This list — and I don't know how you'd compile this — presents the top 100 children's ministry Tweeters.
Russell D. Moore would say that if there are not people in your church with tattoos, you're not doing it right.
At one point, the militants who kidnapped 200+ school girls claimed they had converted. According to different religions, what exactly does converted mean?
From a front-row seat, Jamie Wright reminds us that not every pastor's kid has embraced the faith of his or her parents.
After discovering he's an "accidental ghostwriter" for some megachurch pastors, the author asks for attribution. One celeb pastor immediately got the source noted in a subsequent edition, while another initially suggested he get over it.
If the local theater is now the destination of choice for Christian families on the weekend, you might want to see if your kids can handle Alone Yet Not Alone. (Officially, it's PG-13.)
Peter Enns describes how an academic honor takes place. (But not any mention if his compensation package changed.)
According to the latest Pew Research survey, Hispanics are shifting affiliation from Roman Catholic to Protestant or none. Nearly one-in-four are now former Catholics.
Technically, this link is a bit of an Easter leftover, but you really need to watch the video this local church produced, and what they did after.
For the second time in their lives, tragedy strikes the family of an Alpha USA leader.
An essay on the costs and benefits of Christian higher education: What outcomes do we want for our kids?
Not-Music-Video-of-the-Week: It's actually an audio demo of six tunes from a Christian-owned recording studio.
My link list editor interviews my favorite Australian missional/emergent guru. (That's guru in a good sense.)
Are youth groups really driving kids away from faith? A look at headlines, polls and research studies.
Didn't realize until this week that Jesus has his own website. Actually, Jesus.org is packed with apologetics resources from people you know.
For H.G. Wells, denying Christianity also meant putting some spin on one of his earlier writings.
Sometimes the book you think you've never heard of is already on your shelf under a different title…
…and here's another one of those Top 50 Christian Books lists, and Top 25 Classics.
The original Christian in Hollywood, Pat Boone is turning 80.
Book Review: The Third Third of Your Life. (Maybe you're there already!)
In a riverside baptism in Puerto Rico, one man drowned and two were rescued.
Is it possible the Tower of Babel was built in a different location that we thought?
Similar but different: RBC, the people who produce Our Daily Bread have another devotional website called Our Daily Journey.
Undated article online: Does your church have a Watchcare ministry? It allows more transient people to be involved in a church without full membership, even as a survey showed that 71% of churches asked prohibit members from joining other churches. (This was a recent Christian radio topic.)
Billboard awards Chris Tomlin "Top Christian Artist of the Year" for 2014. For readers here, that's not exactly news.
In the UK, The Christian Institute is intervening in the case of a 13-year-old who wants an abortion.
I'm deliberately burying this one near the bottom because the whole thing is so sketchy, but if you missed it: The article about the Richmond, VA home-school prom and the dads who kicked out the girl who was too cute.
Yes, it's okay to wear white pants to church after Memorial Day. Wiki Answers says so.
Comment #20: Yours to do with as you wish. (If it's on the net, it's true, right?)
On my own blog this week, a suggestion that the last decade necessitates a change in how we sort denominations.
Finally, if dining out, should you pray when the bread or salad arrives, or wait for the main course?
When not hunting down links for you, Paul Wilkinson blogs at Thinking Out Loud, Christianity 201, and Christian Book Shop Talk.
The Equivalent to Hiring Someone Who Is Gay
Filed under: ministry, Uncategorized — Tags: Christian human resources issues, Christian organization hiring, Christian personnel issues, conservative Christianity, divorce and the church, divorced Christians, Evangelical hiring policy, gay Christians, ministry hiring policy, social issues — paulthinkingoutloud @ 12:58 pm
In the last 17 years, we've hired over 40 people to work with us in a ministry setting in four different locations and three different cities. To the best of my knowledge we've never had an employee who is gay. But we have dealt with the equivalent.
In conservative Christian circles, especially going back a few years, the equivalent was hiring someone who was divorced. The religious stigma was huge. We did this. More than once. As an adjunct ministry of local churches.
In one case, I know that the family were outsiders, so the story was not apparent. But in another case — life in a small town being what it is — I know some former customers voted with their feet. Nobody ever said to me, "How could you hire her?" but we always had the sense that certain people were part of a silent boycott.
Thinking about those two in particular, I can look back and say with the benefit of hindsight: They were among the best employees we ever had. They knew life. They knew pain. They knew joy. They knew Jesus. Therefore, they were able to connect with certain customers in ways I could not then and cannot now, and I'm thankful for their part in our story.
Filed under: links — Tags: altar calls, British legal system, car fish, Christian blogs, Christian books, Christian ethics, Christian gift ideas, Christian Music, Christian websites, Christian writers, Christians in restaurants, Church coffee, dealing with death, Dr. Russell Moore, evangelicals, Fred Phelps, funeral director blog, gay Christians, gender roles, God's Not Dead movie, Hillsong, John MacArthur, Lakewood Church robbery, Lesbian Christians, Michael W. Smith, New York Spanish Church, Newsboys, pastoral ministry, spiritual abuse, vocational ministry, World Vision — paulthinkingoutloud @ 9:11 am
We're back with another mid-week link meeting! Here's what your brothers and sisters from random parts of the big 'C' church were up to this week. Clicking any of the links below will take you to PARSE, the list's benevolent patron.
What's the difference between a canoe and a Christian in a restaurant? A canoe tips. [Rim shot!] Now a website is dedicated to giving food servers a chance to describe their experiences with church people at Sundays Are The Worst.
Pastors: Be careful what you offer in a sermon, especially if it's not in the church budget.
Marketing Christianity: A special offer from pastor and radio host Steve Brown allows you Three Free Sins.
A funeral director whose blog deals with how we face death offers suggestions as to the proper etiquette of dealing with loss on the internet…
…The same author once noticed that at funerals, almost all pastors are universalists.
A secular news website looks at the various blogs that highlight survivor stories of spiritual abuse in fundamentalist sects.
Strange Cloud Conference: It doesn't sound like John MacArthur will be buying a ticket for the Heaven is For Real movie adaptation.
Gay Christians in same-sex marriage are now eligible for employment at World Vision…
…but the World Vision shift brings a quick response from Baptist ethics writer Russell D. Moore.
Pastors often suffer from depression. Here are seven ways God can use that.
Essay of the Week (1): When it comes to personality tests, I think I'm an HIJK. Is that a thing? Anyway here's Why English Majors Make Lousy Fundamentalists.
Essay of the Week (2): Two lesbians walk into a church. No, it's not a short story and there is no punchline. But there is quite an ending.
Houston Crime-Stoppers will pay you $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in the theft of $600,000 at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church.
For a member of The Newsboys, his involvement in the movie God's Not Dead is the continuation in a chain of events begun when Billy Graham visited Australia in 1959…
…while the movie's opening weekend landed it in the top five.
With everyone in the U.S. thinking basketball, I thought we'd take a different route and offer this delightful religious gift idea for the football fan. (Pictured above.)
The British Law Society is one step closer to a legal system that accommodates Islamic law. (Wait, what?)
Meanwhile, Jewish News Service is reporting that in countries where they are a minority, there has been a major exodus of Christians in the face of religious extremists.
So who's up for a good debate? On Moody Radio a look at the decline of altar calls in Baptist churches. (Click the link for the 54 minute program.)
YMin: One of the big challenges to youth ministry is the reality that the kids all attend different schools.
Intermission: A pause while we pay a tribute to church basement coffee.
Thanks for the Complementarian: Is Cedarville University planning to restrict a particular course to women only?
Jamie the Very Worst Production Consultant breaks her Non-Disclosure Agreement and tells what was going on in the desert that day.
Analogy of the Week: To this writer, fellowship is like oxygen.
While reading Brad Lomenick's latest list of young influencers, I learned that on Hillsong's popular song Oceans, the lead vocal belongs to Taya Smith.
Since PARSE is part of Leadership Journal which in turn is part of Christianity Today, I'm sure they weren't happy with this shot taken by Frank Schaeffer…
…but I did think that Karen Spears Zacharias had an insightful, deeper look at the late Fred Phelps and what he is now experiencing…
…and in Fred's home town of Topeka, Kansas, the local newspaper provides a family tree of sorts.
Source Unknown Department: Every pastor's prayer.
A Spanish church occupied the first floor and basement of a building that was destroyed in the New York City gas explosion. Some church members perished in the blast.
Book Review: A look at Renegade Pastor, a book encouraging those in ministry not to settle for average.
Time Warp: Michael W. Smith is releasing a new album.
Here's another infographic from Josh Byers, this one showing the harmony of the gospels' telling of the Passion Week narrative.
Internet Diversions Department: 27 indicators you grew up Evangelical. (Yes, I know, the whole internet is a diversion.)
Finally, specialization has hit the automotive fish industry. Now your car icthus can have special meaning. (Including a Southern Baptist fish icon.)
Stay in touch with Paul Wilkinson during the week on Twitter.
Our closing cartoon is rather interesting, don't you think? The artist is Jess MacCallum and you can click the image to see more.
When is an Apology Not an Apology?
Filed under: current events, issues — Tags: Alan Chambers, Christianity and homosexuality, church and culture, Exodus International, gay Christians, LGBT issues, New Direction Ministries, Wendy Gritter — paulthinkingoutloud @ 8:08 am
I was a regular reader of John Shore's blog before he became, as it were, a one-issue candidate. I liked the Christlikeness of his loving approach toward gay and lesbian Christians (and non-Christians) but over time his blog morphed into a sort of advocacy group for faith-connected or faith-seeking people in the LGBT community. I would agree with him on one day, but not the next. So I mostly stopped reading.
But I figured John would be quite happy to see the end of Christian reparative therapy organization Exodus International.
John was not happy at all. He took EI's Alan Chambers to task for issuing something that had the literary form of an apology, while at the same time noting that Chambers was not really apologizing at all. At first, I thought, 'C'mon John… can't you at least accept this as a step in the right direction?"
But you know, it's amazing what 24 hours can do. Someone once said if you want to follow world events, read magazines not newspapers, because newspapers stories are written in haste, but magazine writers have the luxury of up to a month to ruminate on a given topic. I realized that Shore has a point.
I'm not saying that I disagree with Chambers. He still holds to the same Biblical principles as he did before. He doesn't see that God has changed His mind on certain issues. He doesn't feel he has anything to recant. He is repenting of the approach that EI used, the damage it caused in many individuals and families, and its present outdatedness in a rapidly shifting culture.
So it's understandable that from Shore's point of view, the announcement of last week simply doesn't resonate.
EI got boxed into a corner and had the good sense to hoist the white flag. The problem in the Evangelical milieu is that we don't have good protocols for shutting down ministry organizations. As long as there are donors creating a good supply of daily donation mail, the organization must continue, the lights must be kept on, the staff must be paid.
EI decided it couldn't maintain the status quo. Whatever form that decision takes, it was the right one; but Shore is astute to notice that it doesn't mean there's been a shift in core values among the leadership.
In Saturday's post here about the EI closing — the one where I subtracted 1976 from 2013 and got 47 instead of 37* — I mentioned some parallels between Exodus International and their Canadian cousins at New Direction Ministries. NDM director Wendy Gritter had just released their monthly eNewsletter and I noticed the issue of the hour was missing. That's changed now on their blog, and you can read Wendy's comments at this link. Here's a sample:
…When New Direction was going through the birth pangs of trying to move towards generous spaciousness, we had a very involved conversation as board and stakeholders about whether we should change the name of the organization and start over with a fresh, new blank page. After all, here in Toronto, New Direction had that association with ex-gay – not a nice or easy legacy to navigate. It would have been really nice to change the name, rebrand, and simply start over.
In the end, we felt that it was very important to keep the name. It has been hard. I still meet gay people in Toronto whose first reaction is cynical and bitter when they hear that I lead New Direction. But it has been richer too. I get to hear the painful stories. I get to be a humble ambassador of reconciliation. I get to be a living apology. And sometimes our biggest critics have become some of our biggest champions…
I'm not sure that would work in the same way for Exodus. So I'm not suggesting that they shouldn't close down. But, I do wonder if they simply re-open, with a new name, if there aren't a few red flags for me. When I wrote my apology for Ex-Gay Watch, New Direction still clearly held a traditional theological view of marriage. What we found, however, was that the notion of building bridges while holding a clear position was a bit of an idealistic pipe-dream. If we really wanted to nurture open and safe and spacious places for people to explore, wrestle, and ultimately own their own spiritual journey – we needed to relinquish our certainty – and acknowledge that Christians with deep commitment to Jesus Christ and to the Scriptures come to different conclusions on the question of whether a committed gay relationship can be an expression of faithful discipleship. As leaders and as an organization – we had to relinquish power, control, status, privilege – and humble ourselves in the place of real tension – where we have to trust that the Holy Spirit is more than able to lead people in the way they need to go. We don't need to control the outcomes in people's lives. Our role is to enter mutual relationship with a commitment to keep looking to Jesus.
*The headline was repaired but the error lives forever in the permalink!
Exodus International Shuttered After 37 Years
Filed under: current events, issues, ministry — Tags: Christianity and homosexuality, church and culture, Exodus International, gay Christians, LGBT issues, New Direction Ministries — paulthinkingoutloud @ 7:16 am
In the television program Newhart, which should not be confused with The Bob Newhart Show, Bob Newhart plays innkeeper Dick Loudon with actress Mary Fran playing his wife, Joanna Loudon. I'll let Wikipedia tell the rest:
Newhart boasts one of the most memorable series finales in television history, entitled "The Last Newhart."
…The screen goes black.
Then a light is turned on. Viewers see Bob Newhart is playing the role of Dr. Bob Hartley (Newhart's character from The Bob Newhart Show) clad in pajamas, while sitting up in bed. The master bedroom is a duplicate of the room set seen on The Bob Newhart Show.
Dr. Hartley says, "Honey, you won't believe the dream I just had." His wife turns on the light and rolls over to speak with him. It becomes clear that she is not Joanna, but the dark-haired Emily (Suzanne Pleshette, Hartley's wife from The Bob Newhart Show). Many in the studio audience (and millions of television viewers) realized with a shock that the entire Newhart series (and presumably Dick Loudon's entire existence) had just been revealed to have been nothing more than Bob Hartley's dream.
In a way, that's how the years 1976 to 2013 must appear to those who were part of the drama of Exodus International, a non-profit Christian organization founded to quench homosexual desire. Was that all a dream? And then…
On June 19, following a unanimous vote at its annual meeting in Irvine, California, the board of directors announced that the organization intends to shut down. It said the move came "after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization's place in a changing culture." Its president, Alan Chambers, repudiated the organization's mission in a nearly hour-long talk at the annual meeting, the organization's 38th such gathering. In the talk he said, "I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn't change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents." He said his next ministry would be different: "Our goals are to reduce fear and come alongside churches to become safe, welcoming and mutually transforming communities".One member of the board, Tony Moore, issued a statement that said its decision was "not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change — and they want it to be heard." The organization has local affiliates that may continue to operate independently under a name other than Exodus.
[complete article with annotation at Wikipedia]
Basically, in a changing world with more investigative data on the subject of homosexuality than any other psychological and sociological phenomena in the last several decades, the reparative therapy shoe no longer fit. While the effort of those years wasn't all for naught, it is a repudiation of a ministry paradigm by the very organization which epitomized its radical approach.
In many respects, the Canadian organization New Direction Ministries reached this same decision many years earlier. It's too bad that Exodus International didn't borrow a page from their Canadian cousins. Although the organization began in 1985, its history page recounts the change that took place:
Having been a member ministry of Exodus International since the beginning, New Direction left Exodus in 2007. This decision was made in light of our distinct identity and no longer fitting an ex-gay paradigm of ministry.
The transition from being an ex-gay ministry to embracing an identity as bridge-builders in the midst of diversity around faith and sexuality has not been a quick or easy one. Such a transition can also raise suspicion as to our true motives and true activities as a ministry.
In the Spring quarter of 2010, the New Direction board concluded a season of conversation with key stakeholders of the ministry. The outcome of this time of reflection on our identity and purpose was an affirmation of our posture as bridge-builders in the context of complexity, diversity, and tension that surrounds the integration of faith and sexuality.
What this means practically is that we acknowledge the challenge of difference and work as peacemakers to develop models of relating and language that will promote unity, reconciliation, and justice. This posture of peacemaking will be shaped by our existing core values to be: respectful, relational, relevant, redemptive, humble, and hopeful.
We lament the alienation, judgment, anger, and hatred that marks far too many of the debates around homosexuality. The primary casualties are those outside the heterosexual mainstream, their families, and loved ones. For the sake of our witness to a watching world, ministry to those personally impacted, and our desire to see a vibrant church united in mission to bring shalom, we choose this identity of bridge-builder. We choose to stand in the midst of the tension, anger, and hatred-and we choose to speak words of love and peace.
Our theological and ethical positions are important, but if they are held without love, we are nothing but a clanging gong and resounding cymbal. In the debates on homosexuality, one does not have to look far to see evidence of a lack of love. At New Direction, we will move forward, focused not on trying to resolve the theological arguments, but on calling followers of Christ to relate and respond in the midst of this diversity with radical trust, robust hope, and fearless love. We believe that this will honour Christ, build the church, and foster life giving ministry to those outside the heterosexual mainstream.
Many times I've written that the issues of homosexuality and same sex attraction is the issue that the church has to face. In a series of gender issues and what some would call "pelvic" issues — abortion, commonlaw relationships, women in ministry, etc. — issues like gay marriage and the compatibility of a homosexual orientation with a faith based on the life and teachings of Jesus are probably among the most crucial issues the church has faced in the last century.
At a piece entitled "Top Trends Affecting Your Church…" we wrote:
The Gay Issue — I debated how to phrase this. I'm not even sure what aspect of this is going to play out in your church. I just guaranty that at some point during the year, you're going to deal with various aspects of the gay debate …If you haven't already.
However, the hoisting of the white flag at Exodus International is a concession to updated realities, not in terms of Christian theology, but in terms of the approach we take; a shift from confronting to coming alongside; from staring down an enemy to standing side-by-side.
My personal belief is that there are some people who are mis-identified, who have believed a lie being perpetuated by an internet movement that has a number of agenda reflecting a host of motivations. But we'll save that for another article. I do agree that attempts at reparative therapy have been unsuccessful in changing the wiring of individuals given to same sex attraction, and that such efforts have done the proverbial more harm than good.
At this point, Exodus International has shot the final episode, and it ends with a dawning that the 47 years were, to use the Newhart comparison, like a dream…
Exploiting Communion to Make a Political Statement
Filed under: issues — Tags: Christians and culture, Christians and homosexuality, communion, Eucharist, gay Christians, Jay Bakker, LGBT Christians, Lord's Table, rainbow communion bread, Revolution Church — paulthinkingoutloud @ 8:07 am
I believe my good-better-best approach to the whole gay debate is much healthier response to the issue of Christians and homosexuality than the hardline, binary right-and-wrong approach that's more prevalent. In that respect, I think the Christian gay community have a better ally than this blog than I might get credit for; though some progressive Christians will consider me conservative nonetheless.
But the decision by Jay Bakker to create a rainbow themed communion bread on the occasion of the opening of his church's new location in Minnesota clearly crosses a line — for reasons I get into below — though not everybody feels that way. For example, if you don't know the story, Tony Jones describes it:
Last night, Courtney and I were on hand to help our dear friend, Jay Bakker, launch the new Minneapolis site of Revolution Church. You can hear Jay's inaugural sermon, "Vulgar Grace Throws the First Stone."
The photo above is a detail shot by Courtney of the rainbow communion bread that we contributed to the service. We baked that loaf — the same loaf that Courtney baked with our friends Rachel and Rachet for our (sacramental) wedding — in support of marriage equality. Jay has been an outspoken proponent of marriage equality and has performed several same-sex weddings. When he broke the bread last night, Jay told us to remember not just the broken body of Jesus, but also the broken bodies and spirits of many GLBT persons who have been persecuted for their non-heterosexuality.
At the blog Juicy Ecumenism (yes, that's its name) we read another account:
Complementing the rainbow bread, Bakker spoke on grace and inclusion, focusing on St. Paul, who "gets grace the most," as he was a ruthless persecutor of Christians before his conversion. "The Bible is full of unperfect [sic] people" and it was "murderers and traitors … literally starting a faith, being part of a faith and that's what I would call the good news," Bakker said. He added that Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi also "Really got the idea of what inclusion was meant to be, what loving your enemy was meant to be, what loving your neighbor."
At Huffington Post:
Bakker reports that the rainbow communion has gotten people questioning his orthodoxy. He responds that "I don't think Jesus is insecure about sharing communion with others, including gay folks who suffered. So many lives have been lost because of what Christians say and preach. Heterosexisim and homophobia are deadly."
I don't want to give a lot of space to this issue. I know this is an issue about which Bakker and Jones and many others are truly passionate.
However when you are also remembering the plight of people in the LGBT community when you are supposed to be remembering the death of Jesus, then you are creating a mixed meaning to the communion service, and making the remembrance of Christ's death share the stage with some contemporary social issue.
But there is also the issue of altering the symbol used in the sacrament. True, Jesus lived in a world without food coloring, but we have to believe that when the scriptures say "He took bread and brake it;" we are looking at bread that free and clear of any additional symbolism, references, advertising or fortune cookie message. The formula is: The bread = Christ's body, broken for you. There is no room here to add anything or manipulate this Eucharistic formula.
And why stop at rainbow coloring? There are other "ribbon" colors. Shall we observe a particularly colored bread on behalf of those who suffered child abuse or are fighting cancer?
No. The broken body of Jesus Christ is for the forgiveness of sin. And woe to anyone (see Rev. 22) who adds anything to that.
Weekend Link List
Filed under: links — Tags: Brennan Manning, Christian authors, Christian rap, Church lighting, Dave Hunt, false teachers, gay Christians, televangelists — paulthinkingoutloud @ 9:57 am
A handful of things have gained a lot of traction over the weekend that should probably be dealt with here instead of waiting until Wednesday. If you read other Christian blogs, none of this will be new, but I wanted my regular readers to be up to speed.
The first is the death of Brennan Manning. He authored The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba's Child and at least 20 other books. Here's a beautiful tribute from a blog which takes its name in part from Brennan's inspiration. If you don't know of him, here's a set of quotations I compiled from his writing a little more than a year ago.
We also learned this weekend of the earlier passing a week ago of another prolific author, Christian apologist and radio host Dave Hunt. He was the author of over 30 books.
Unless this is the only Christian blog you read — for which we're grateful, by the way — you can't have missed hearing about a rap song video by Shai Linne in which he calls out the names of prominent televangelists he believes to be False Teacher$. Having said that, I can't find a YouTube version of the song with stats commensurate to the articles about the song. Maybe televangelists are no longer all that interesting, but it took courage to name names.
What is without a doubt truly viral is a letter "to the church" that appeared on the blog of a gay young person who "misses you." Here's a key line: ""When I was at church, they taught me something else: if you preach hate at the service, those words aren't anointed. That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned." By the time you read this it is closing in on 2,300 comments! Here's the letter. And here's a response from a Christian blogger.
So many other links in the vault, but we'll have to save some for Wednesday. You can also follow me on Twitter.
Today's lower graphic is a bit of a curiosity. It's a warning to epileptics from the bottom of the page of a church bulletin from North Point Community Church (Andy Stanley) in Atlanta. I'm not sure if the warning about the church lighting system appears weekly or if this was a one-off situation. I've always thought the lighting at North Point resembles high school dances I attended, but they're not the only church to do this type of thing. And what if someone misses the warning? Comments on this topic appreciated.


Dimitri Patterson is showing more fight in court than he did on the field.
The former NFL cornerback has filed suit in Orlando against multiple news organizations, including last week against ESPN, for defamation after they published stories in August on his allegedly trying to dash out of a Miami-Dade courtroom.
Patterson is seeking $50 million in damages from ESPN for its story, in which then-reporter James Walker cited police in saying Patterson injured two officers while trying to leave the family court to avoid being arrested. The Miami Herald, which Patterson is also suing, reported the same details, again citing police. Other sites, including The Post, picked up on the reports.
The 34-year-old Patterson was a journeyman from 2005 to 2013, with stints in Washington, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Miami. He also was with the Jets in a memorably short stint in 2014, when he disappeared from training camp and went AWOL for two days. When he returned, he ripped then-coach Rex Ryan and -GM John Idzik, saying his agent had alerted them of his whereabouts.
The Jets cut him shortly afterward.
It was the fans who made Amirante's most famous moment with the Rangers: his anthem before Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, as the team was one win away from breaking a 54-year championship drought. The fans drowned him out. Amirante would later say it was the highlight of his career, even if his performance was rendered inaudible.
Amirante's last performance at the Garden was on Feb. 25, before a Rangers game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Arnovitz: The Sixers have been hearing the murmurs — the playoffs are different and teams will lay off Ben Simmons, give him the Rajon Rondo treatment and force him to shoot. But you can't sag on speed, and when Simmons gets rumbling in the open court, a defense has far more to worry about than a pull-up jumper from the Sixers point guard. Yes, Simmons will have some problem-solving puzzles to work against more prepared defenses, but he'll find ways to hurt opponents, perimeter shots be damned.
As it turns out, Johnathan Hankins wasn't the only AFC South defensive tackle who signed a multi-year free-agent deal in 2017 to be let go after only one season.
The Titans released defensive tackle Sylvester Williams on Saturday, according to the NFL's official transaction report.
The move comes at a time when the Titans are pursuing free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was cut by the Dolphins before his 2018 base salary of $16.985 million became fully guaranteed.
Pass to Arcobello neutral zone.He ended 18-for-27 passing for 191 yards and one touchdown and was sacked three times.His save percentage was 15 points better than that of partner Nikolai Khabibulin, and he ranked 12th save percentage among goalies with more than 100 played over that span: And yet Dubnyk was underappreciated.Zuttah was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
From the Browns' perspective, that makes it clear that new G.M. John Dorsey does not think as highly of McCarron as Jackson did. Jackson was viewed as the driving force behind the attempted trade for McCarron last season, when Sashi Brown was the G.M. Now that Dorsey is running the Browns' personnel department, they no longer view McCarron as favorably.
From the Bills' perspective, it's a move that makes a lot of sense: McCarron is going to cost about $9 million less against their salary cap this year than Taylor would have. And they've now added the 65th pick in the draft, which they might package as part of an attempt to move up in the draft and get the top quarterback on their board.
You can say, 'Oh, he is not a starter' or, 'he is a starter.' It doesn't really make a difference.Hardaway scored 23 fourth-quarter points, making 8 of 11 shots, including three 3-pointers.Carr, who's attempting to take the next step his progression must cycle through his options to break through a slump.
This is a big week for the Green Bay Packers – and of course, quarterback Favre.With one on and out the ninth, shortstop Alexi Amarista hit a two-run homer, averting a shutout and tying the game.Several current Indians and manager Terry Francona, who piloted the Red Sox for part of Posada's career, watched from the visiting dugout.I think maybe he only got this card because the colts played against Peyton Manning….
There are no shortage of prop bets for Timberlake's performance, from his outfit choice (what color shoes he'll wear for the first song and if he'll be wearing a hat) to his set list (whether or not he'll perform a Prince song).
I'd expect a couple songs from when Timberlake first went solo ("Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body"), followed by a compilation of his solo work since, including a bit of "SexyBack", "What Goes Around … Comes Around", "Suit and Tie", and his latest smash from the Trolls movie, "Can't Stop The Feeling!".
McNabb and the Eagles were coming off a Super Bowl appearance against the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, that was one of the last times the Eagles really contended with McNabb under center. The following season, the team went 4-5 in his starts, as he missed seven games with a groin injury.
The hype surrounding Alexander going into the 2006 season was huge. He had been improving every season, and had just got done rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns. Then, the curse struck. Alexander followed up a spectacular season by playing in just 10 games and rushing for 896 yards.
When Graham was traded to the Seahawks from the Saints in 2015, it was more about business than hard feelings, as he netted both center Max Unger and a first-round draft pick. The timing lines up with a potential welcome reunion for both sides.
What happened to Gronkowski? Gronkowski was concussed when Jaguars safety Barry Church landed a jarring hit to Gronkowski's helmet during the Patriots' 24-20 comeback win over the Jaguars. Church was flagged for unnecessary roughness and fined $24,309 for the hit.
What's the latest from Super Bowl practice? The Patriots held Gronkowski out of practice for the entire bye week between the conference championship and the postseason. But Gronkowski participated in some of the Patriots' football-specific drills on Saturday.
He caught a few uncontested passes in the portion of practice the Patriots allowed media to watch, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. That suggests he's close to being cleared for full participation. On Thursday, he finally got the OK from team doctors to resume full football activities.
One Philadelphia fan left Minnesota with a priceless souvenir.
An Eagles fan has gone viral after being spotted Monday at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with a purple plastic seat from U.S. Bank Stadium following Super Bowl 52.
According to the Star Tribune, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority security team is investigating the theft after the fan was caught on video with the seat partly concealed under his coat. He was later photographed with the seat strapped to his carry-on suitcase before boarding a plane bound for Charlotte, N.C.
"It was definitely a valuable experience to go back and watch Nick and what clicked with him and what made him successful a couple years ago," Pederson said. "Change is good, we didn't tweak a lot of the offense, but we wanted to make sure we had plays and concepts with the game plan so he was comfortable in executing.
When Eagles players spoke about Foles' performance in the playoffs all the way through Super Bowl 52, there was little talk of Wentz. Teammates are funny when it comes to rallying around quarterbacks — they tend to gravitate to the guy who's leading and getting the job done in the moment.
To understand the two Bills, you have to go back to where it began for both: the swamps of New Jersey. That's what ESPN Films and Rodgers smartly did by taping the interview inside the Giants locker room at MetLife Stadium. It took Rodgers three years to get the two legends together in one place. The only time the stone-faced Belichick chokes up is when he muses about his early days with the Giants, riding the stationary bike on Saturday mornings and breaking down game film.
Then coaching at Army, Parcells first met a teenage Belichick through his father, Steve, a longtime coach and scout for Navy. We learn how Parcells recruited a green Belichick and quickly made the bright young assistant his "go-to" guy. But the youthful special teams coach — called "Doom" for his surly demeanor — was "disregarded" by players because he didn't look like an athlete. Eventually, though, Belichick earns the begrudging respect of one of the greatest to ever play the game: Lawrence Taylor.
Miami fails to capitalize on the turnover as it goes three-and-out and punts the ball back to the Raiders.
Michael Crabtree drops a third-down pass from Carr and the Raiders are forced to punt again. Miami will start its drive at its 45 with another chance to take the lead.
Turnover, Oakland. The Raiders come up short on third down and are called for holding, moving them out of field-goal range. On the ensuing play, Carr drops back but is hit and loses the ball. Raiders offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse recovers the fumble and attempts to advance upfield, but he is tackled and coughs up the ball, giving it to Miami near midfield.
Kevin Johnson, CB, Houston Texans: Johnson left the game in the fourth quarter, and the Texans announced that he was being evaluated for a concussion.
It looks like good news on the injury front for the Panthers.
Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly ran out in full pads for practice on Wednesday, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Impact: It can be argued that no one player is tied into his team's success more than Rodgers, who was again enjoying another superlative season with 13 touchdowns, three interceptions and 103.2 passer rating. Brett Hundley is now experiencing an NFL baptism-under-fire as Rodgers' replacement. After losing two straight games since Rodgers was hurt, the Packers (4-3) must hope the Week 8 bye allows Hundley to get more up to speed before a once-promising season slips away.
Bowen: With Philip Rivers and the pass rush, the Chargers can stay in the mix in the AFC West. In Miami, don't be surprised if Adam Gase's system facilitates even more production than we expected with Matt Moore running the show.
Graziano: I had the Chargers as bounce-back contenders in the preseason, and even though they were awful out of the gate, it's clear that the Broncos and Raiders aren't without their flaws. The Chargers still have the AFC West's best quarterback — all due respect to Alex Smith's hot Alex Killorn Authentic Jersey start and Derek Carr's ascendant talent — and that still means something.
Brady now holds all or shares the important NFL wins records. His five Super Bowl victories are tied for most all-time with former 49ers and Cowboys linebacker Charles Haley. His 25 postseason victories are unparalleled. And he'd passed Favre and Manning in terms of total wins — regular season and playoffs — in 2016.
There are plenty of astonishing numbers in that record-setting run. He's carved up the AFC East in his 18 years as the Patriots' start. Brady is 25-8 against the Jets, 20-9 against the Dolphins, and a ludicrous 26-3 against the Bills.
On Monday, Goodell and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin sent a letter of support to the congressional sponsors of the Sentencing Reform and Correction Act, a bill designed to increase rehabilitation of people convicted of crimes.
According to ESPN, which is keeping a week-by-week tally of which professional football players protest this season during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner, this past Sunday only 10 NFL players participated in protesting racial inequality by kneeling or refusing to stand during the national anthem—the fewest this season. Other players protested by raising fists during the song, staying in the tunnel or demonstrating before the anthem.
I've continued to get better and better and better.
Cam Newton was MVP of the league in 2015, then bottomed out to a 52.9 completion percentage in 2016. Following offseason shoulder surgery and minimal training camp activity, Newton's 2017 got off to a rocky start. But his completion percentage is 65.2, which would break his previous career high by 3.5 points if it held up. And his yards per attempt are at 7.9, which is a higher figure than he posted in his MVP season. Panthers people to whom I've talked are still saying they're not worried about Newton or his health — that a slow start was expected after the offseason inactivity. They have faith and confidence in him. They just hope he rewards it by bouncing back off a down 2016. So far, the jury is out. Veteran Derek Anderson, who has started 47 career games but has won only 20 of those, is the backup.
Luck, who has missed 14 games over the past two-plus seasons, won't put a timetable on when he'll return, but he was adamant in saying that he will play this season. Pagano has already ruled him out for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Brissett will continue to start until Luck is ready to start for the Colts (1-3).
"I wish I would wake up tomorrow morning and feel incredible and the whole thing was a dream," Luck said. "But I know that's not the case and I know that's not the reality. And I understood when I elected to have surgery to try not to be surprised by anything, and understand it's going to be a long process. A really, really long process. I'm not surprised in a sense that we're here now.
How many jerseys can you really afford to own?
For the past three seasons, the Lions have worn a "WCF" memorial patch for former team owner William Clay Ford. The new uni set moves the memorial to the left sleeve, where it will become a permanent fixture, much like the Bears' "GSH" sleeve memorial for George S. Halas.
To see Mike Clay's analysis of most (and least) advantageous WR matchups in Week 1, and for a downloadable cheat sheet of every matchup, you must be an Insider.
General manager Rick Spielman has invested in the offensive line this offseason, spending big to add a pair of new tackles in Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. The interior of the line, anchored by rookie third-rounder Pat Elflein at center, might be a bigger concern now. The defense should be great, and if Bradford can stay healthy and one of the young receivers — most likely Stefon Diggs — breaks out, the Vikings have both the stars and the depth to challenge any team in the NFC.
The Players' Tribune has proven to be a unique source for retirement announcements, farewells and anecdotes. But today's entry penned by Lamar Odom may be the most real and powerful piece published on the site to date.
Just a quick refresher — the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel in 2015 after suffering several strokes and kidney failure. He fell into a coma for four days.
For now we wait to see what happens, just don't hold your breath because Altman may not make a move for a while.


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Beacon Announce L1 EP out December 2 Share first single "Fault Lines"
October 6, 2014 · by Vandala	· in Daily Blog, New Releases, Recent Posts.	·
For much of the Brooklyn duo's career, Beacon has worked with a kind of effervescent, forward-looking R&B that evokes out-of-body experiences, but with their new L1 EP, the music is anchored assuredly to your flesh, bone, and physical senses.
The brawny synth timbres which open on "Fault Lines" and the stomping beats bolstering gauzy falsettos on confident songs like "Minor Structures" set the tone for a new phase in Beacon's evolution, one geared toward the movements and magnetism of human bodies. As producer Jacob Gossett puts it, "Our records have often been described as moments after the night has given way, a 'comedown after the club.' Hopefully, this record inspires people to go back out for one more."
Mixed by Al Carlson-who has worked on Autre Ne Veut's Anxiety and St. Vincent's Marry Me, among many other notable records- L1's five tracks focus on themes provided by a natural phenomenon in gravitational physics known as Lagrangian points. The title itself refers to the point in space where a satellite can fall in synchronous orbit with the earth around the sun, caught between the two gravitational pulls and never falling out of sync. With a breathy voice that sounds as vulnerable as it does touchingly sanguine, singer and producer Thomas Mullarney III translates the idea to nuanced musings on internal conflict, human relationships, and questions about desire, guilt, and pleasure. "I wanted to stage intimacy and desire as natural forces," explains Mullarney, "spinning with reflex and intuition, caught within different spheres of influence." @beaconmusicnyc
Pre-order L1 in The Ghostly Store:
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Tags: Al Carlson, Anxiety, Autre Ne Veut, Beacon, Duo, Electronic, Fault Lines, Ghostly International, Jacob Gossett, L1 EP, Marry Me, Minor Structures, Mullarney, R&B, St. Vincent, synth, Vandala, Vandala Magazine
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Where to View Roots
Roots — 30th Anniversary Edition
For copies of the Roots book, DVD or video, please check with your local library system. Most public libraries carry these or can obtain them on loan from other library systems. Also, for a small rental fee, you can usually obtain the Roots videos from most cable providers.
If you wish to purchase your own, go to amazon.com and select the video section. Enter "Roots" as the search term. They have both the original series and the follow-on series, "Roots, the Next Generation." In addition, there is a 2016 remake of the 1977 original miniseries.
Lastly, sometimes, if you get lucky, you can find a good price for the book or the complete movie series on ebay.com. Enter "Alex Haley" as your search criteria.
Access our Library of Resources by visiting our Online Library Catalog using the link below.
Search Our Online Library Catalog
The following Study Guides are available for free download (pdf format ) and classroom use by educators. (To download any of the Guides, please click on the links provided. You must have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer to open the files.)
Odyssey Channel ROOTS Guide by KIDSNET
Roots offers an array of educational opportunities, from its historical perspectives to its tackling of social issues, to its inspiring journey into genealogy. The KIDSNET Guide for Educators offers background on Alex Haley, his novel, and the series, brief synopses of each episode, discussion questions for each episode, and an extensive student activity that helps students take a closer look at their own personal histories and history as a whole.
All curriculum correlates with the national standards for U.S. and world history and social studies, and there is an extensive resources section with suggestions for books, videos, and Web sites for more information.
The following Fact Sheets are available for free download (pdf format ) and classroom use by educators. (To download any of the fact sheets, please click on the links provided. You must have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer to open the files.)
Please contact the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation if you would like to use these fact sheets for any other purpose.
Genealogy — Discovering Your Own "Roots"
This 2-page fact sheet discusses the value of doing genealogy research and provides a brief list of recommended resources.
Alexander Haley and Kunta Kinte
Brief biographies of Alex Haley and Kunta Kinte are provided in this 2-page fact sheet. An overview of the Haley family genealogy, as it is presented in Haley's Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots, is also included.
A slave advertisement in the Maryland Gazette newspaper, October 7, 1767
Slavery in a Border State — What Was it Like in Anne Arundel County, Maryland?
The enslaved and their descendants have been tied to the landscape of Anne Arundel County, Maryland for 350 years. Their forced labor made possible a strong tobacco economy, the rise of a wealthy planter class that held the reins of political power for centuries, and the construction of many buildings that survive today. This 4-page fact sheet includes a brief look at the rural and urban lives of the enslaved, as well as their attempts at resistance.
African-American History in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
This fact sheet provides a 2-page timeline of African-American history for one of Maryland's key regions.
The Story Wall of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial
Leonard A. Blackshear Walkway and Story Wall
The Story Wall, located along the historic Annapolis, Maryland seawall at the City Dock, anchors the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial in history, within the context of slavery, the Roots saga, and author Alex Haley's vision for racial reconciliation and healing. (2-page fact sheet)
The African-American Heritage Walking Tour of Annapolis was created in a partnership between the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation and Annapolis Tours by Watermark. This 2-hour walking tour won the 2006 Four Rivers Heritage Award for its unique and compelling learning experience that engages students as they trace the rich history of African Americans in Annapolis.
Annapolis Tours by Watermark
The students follow the chronology of African-American history in Maryland as they move through time from the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, at the location where Kunta Kinte arrived in 1767, to the highest point in Maryland's capital, the State House, which recognizes Thurgood Marshall as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, sworn into office in 1967.
Students also learn about the city life of the enslaved, the remarkable contributions of free blacks as they actively participated in the business and social events of the town, and how the town forever changed as a result of the Civil War, the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.
As the excursion continues into the world of today, students can see African-American leaders who walk the streets of Annapolis as they participate in the process of making Maryland laws.
Finally, the tour ends in front of Maryland's official museum of African American History and Culture, the Banneker Douglass Museum.
Please visit Watermark's site to learn more about this and other student tours available


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Home » Celebrities » Jay Leno apologizes to the AAPI community for his history of telling racist 'jokes'
Jay Leno apologizes to the AAPI community for his history of telling racist 'jokes'
Jay Leno has never been funny. Even when he was host of the Tonight Show, his humor was "old school" in the sense of "a white guy with a mic, doing mid-range country club comedy, punching down on marginalized people or groups." It's not that Leno was even bold enough to be 100% racist though – most of the time he was just dreadfully unfunny in a really bland way. It was like his comedy was being filtered through focus groups in the 1950s. So, Leno has a new job on Fox called You Bet Your Life. It's just a game show and he's the host. Now that he's getting attention again, Asian-American advocacy groups have drawn attention to Leno's history of telling racist jokes about Asian people and Asian-American people. Leno "apologized."
Late-night host and comedian Jay Leno has issued an apology for a series of jokes told over his career targeting Asian communities. The apology comes after a nearly 15-year campaign from the activist group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) for remarks as recent as Variety's 2020 report that Leno cracked about Koreans eating dog meat — a complaint that offended numerous players on the set of NBC's "America's Got Talent."
"At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless," Leno said in a joint press release with MANAA leader Guy Aoki. "I was making fun of our enemy North Korea, and like most jokes, there was a ring of truth to them. At the time, there was a prevailing attitude that some group is always complaining about something, so don't worry about it. Whenever we received a complaint, there would be two sides to the discussion: Either 'We need to deal with this' or 'Screw 'em if they can't take a joke.' Too many times I sided with the latter even when in my heart I knew it was wrong."
In light of that, Leno said, "I am issuing this apology. I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part. MANAA has been very gracious in accepting my apology. I hope that the Asian American community will be able to accept it as well, and I hope I can live up to their expectations in the future."
Entertainment and media has been increasingly vocal about and horrified by a wave of anti-Asian violence in the U.S., which many attributed to Trump era rhetoric and blaming China for the spread of the coronavirus. Last week, a lone gunman killed eight people at three spas in Atlanta. Six of the eight victims were Asian women, which has inspired rallies nationwide standing against hate crimes and supporting the AAPI community.
The majority of Leno's old jokes perpetuated stereotypes about Asian communities consuming dog meat. Long outspoken about his routines, MANAA's Aoki said he appealed to Leno's new employers at Fox, where he hosts the game show "You Bet Your Life," initially offering them an ultimatum of firing the host or MANAA would approach sponsors to boycott the project.
[From Variety]
Yeah, so the point is that Leno only offered this apology after MANAA contacted Fox and threatened to boycott and target the sponsors of Leno's new game show. This wasn't Leno coming to Jesus about all of his problematic comedy over the years. As for the actual apology… whew, where to start. "I was making fun of our enemy North Korea…" Oh, so he was making racist jokes about our political enemy, okay then! I'm sure his viewers would never be confused by that and attack all Asian people then. "I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture…" So he does think "cancel culture" exists and it's a bad thing, but this isn't an example of it. I'm sure that won't be wildly misconstrued by Fox News either! I'm sure there will absolutely NOT be Fox News headlines reading "Jay Leno Victimized By Democrat Cancel Culture."
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
« 'The View': Rosie O'Donnell Says Producer Bill Geddie Fed Elisabeth Hasselbeck Conservative Talking Points Backstage
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Cameron Gordon (born June 5, 1991) is a former American football linebacker and current Michigan State Police Trooper. He played college football for Michigan. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots in 2014.

Professional career

New England Patriots
After going unselected in the 2014 NFL draft, Gordon signed with the New England Patriots on May 12, 2014. On August 26, 2014, he was placed on the team's injured reserve.

Gordon won Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots after they defeated the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, 28-24.

Gordon was waived by the Patriots on August 27, 2015.

Kansas City Chiefs
On January 5, 2016, Gordon signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Law Enforcement Career
On June 4, 2017, Gordon began recruit training with the Michigan State Police 133rd Trooper Recruit School. Gordon had just been cut by the Kansas City Chiefs and was "team hopping" in the National Football League when he found his second calling. Gordon stated, "I came to the realization that I just wasn't performing the way that I once was, So I said, 'What is another career that will allow me to have an impact, have influence on younger kids and also leave behind a positive legacy?' Instantly, state trooper — law enforcement — jumped into my mind.  On November 30, 2017, Gordon completed Trooper Recruit School training and was assigned to the Michigan State Police Metro South Post."

References

External links
Career transactions
New England Patriots bio
Michigan Wolverines bio

Living people
1991 births
Players of American football from Michigan
American football linebackers
African-American players of American football
Michigan Wolverines football players
People from Inkster, Michigan
New England Patriots players
Kansas City Chiefs players
21st-century African-American sportspeople

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This is a placeholder page for Linda Baity, which means this person is not currently on this site. We do suggest using the tools below to find Linda Baity.
You are visiting the placeholder page for Linda Baity. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Linda Baity. We created this page automatically in hopes Linda Baity would find it. If you are not Linda Baity, but are an alumni of Avondale High School Avondale Estates, GA, register on this site for free now.


Complete landscape maintenance which includes: lawn mowing, fertilizer and weed control, bed maintenance, pruning, bark mulch, spring and fall cleanup.
Snowplowing, shoveling sidewalks and ice control.
We service: commercial properties, residential homes and condos.


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About LPL
Tax Planning Strategies
Estate and Legacy Planning
Domestic Partner Planning
Business Financial Planning
The 2013 Supreme Court ruling striking down key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) paved the way for greater financial parity among traditional and same-sex married couples. However, it also ushered in new challenges and considerations in managing your finances.
Who is impacted by these changes?
In August 2013, the U.S. Department of Treasury ruled that all same-sex couples that are legally married in any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory or a foreign country will be recognized as married under all federal tax provisions where marriage is a determining factor. The Treasury Department further clarified that federal recognition for tax purposes applies whether a same-sex married couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage (such as California) or a non-recognition jurisdiction (such as Texas). The decision does not apply to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships or civil unions.
While these changes are welcomed as a step in the right direction, they also represent a potential minefield of complexity. That's because rules for eligibility vary by federal agency and create new issues in regard to Social Security, military benefits, insurance and income tax filing. That makes it difficult for many couples to navigate through these important changes on their own, possibly missing out on benefits they are now legally entitled to.
The help you need, when you need it
The Leicht Financial Planning and Wealth Management team includes Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorsSM (ADPA®) who are qualified to help you and your partner navigate today's changing legal, financial and investment landscape.
Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorSM
Individuals who hold the ADPA® designation have completed a course of study encompassing wealth transfers, federal taxation, retirement planning, and planning for financial and medical end-of-life needs for domestic partners.
Tax and legal services are not offered by LPL Financial or affiliated advisors.
Below are just a few of the areas where we can provide clarity and guidance for same-sex married couples planning for the future:
Estate planning and asset transfer
401(k)/IRA distributions
Federal employment benefits
Contact Us today to schedule a no obligation consultation.
Leicht Financial Planning & Wealth Management
900 Lanidex Plaza
andrew@leichtwealth.com
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA & SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Leicht Financial Planning and Wealth Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.
Registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
The LPL Financial registered representative associated with this website may discuss and/or transact securities business only with residents of the following states: AZ,CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, IL, IN, KS, MD, MA, MI, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA


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Diverse suppliers honored at 19th annual Star Awards
By Brian Kruse · posted March 1, 2018
Delta celebrated its top diverse suppliers and supplier diversity advocates at the company's 19th annual Star Awards recognition event on Feb. 28 at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta.
For 19 years, the Star Awards program has honored the contributions of Delta's top small-business, minority-owned and women-owned suppliers, as well as internal Delta team members who champion supplier diversity.
Gil West, Delta's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, provided welcoming remarks, highlighting Delta and its partners' advocacy of diversity and inclusion.
"The Star Awards event underscores our commitment to diversity and inclusion, which is core to our culture," said West. "Our commitment is backed with actions and solid action plans to drive continuous improvement. This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to recognize our suppliers and the people who share this commitment."
Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), provided the keynote address. She announced that Delta will be honored with WBENC's America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) award. Delta will be recognized during the 2018 WBENC Summit and Salute, a gathering of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and business leaders on March 20-22, 2018 in Dallas.
Star Awards honorees are nominated and selected by a review committee based on several categories including quality, value creation, innovation, customer service, cost savings and community involvement.
This year's winners include:
Small Business of the Year – Airway, Aerospace, Inc.
Minority-owned Business of the Year – 1st Choice Aerospace
Woman-owned Business of the Year – Prospect Airport Services
Corporate Real Estate Business of the Year – MGM General Contracting, Inc.
Catalyst of the Year – EyeMail, Inc.
Delta Team of the Year – Supply Chain Management Analytics Team: Sibo Huang, Sina Hwang and Lei Lei
TJP (Tiffany Jackson-Pugh) Advocate of the Year – Keith Taylor
TJP (Tiffany Jackson-Pugh) Advocate of the Year – Ryan Marzullo
Top Flight Award – Canicia Jackson
Top Flight Award – Brian Kruse
The Star Awards program and the company's partnerships are built on Delta's core values of honesty, integrity and respect.
"As a global airline, we are very grateful for the many suppliers that work so hard to assist us in delivering excellence in every area of our business," said Karmetria Burton, General Manager — Supplier Diversity. "Our strategy is based on our shared values, collaboration and strategic partnerships."
Tom Shortt, Vice President of Supply Chain Management, wrapped up the event.
"You are among the top suppliers in the world," said Shortt. "Your innovation and dedication to excellence drive value for Delta's customers, employees and shareholders."
The Star Awards event has chronicled the growth and enhancement of Delta's Supplier Diversity program, and is a reflection of Delta's commitment to an inclusive culture.
5 things to look forward to with Delta's next-gen in-flight entertainment system, now flying (Video)
On board the new A330-900neo, Delta's groundbreaking wireless IFE system by Delta Flight Products features a rich, personalized entertainment experience.
Giving the gift of life: Delta people are No. 1 again in American Red Cross corporate blood donations (Video)
Delta employees, retirees and customers contributed a record 13,064 pints of blood at Delta-hosted American Red Cross blood drives during the 2019 fiscal year.
Delta people celebrate #PrideInFlight, push for LGBTQ+ progress (Video)
On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, Delta people took the streets with Pride around the globe to represent the airline and the LGBTQ+ community.


Still looking for a maid in Singapore? HelperPlace is offering a powerful solution to connect employer and domestic helper. As an employer, you can directly message any helper! You have the possibility to search and get a lot of information about each candidate in Singapore. It will be easy for you to identify the right helper for your family.
More than 200,000 foreign domestic workers are currently working in Singapore. HelperPlace has listed for you a lot of qualified candidates with strong experiences as domestic helper, driver, maid, housekeeper, nanny or caregiver. Still looking for a domestic helper in Singapore? In few minutes, you have the opportunity to connect with the right candidates. HelperPlace is proud to never charge domestic workers to use our platform.
Singaporeans lead a very busy life. Women increasingly are going out to work, thus end up with less time for family and home. Families in Singapore therefore have been looking for full time domestic helpers that can take care of routine home tasks. However finding a loyal helper is not an easy job and one has to do some research to find a trustworthy one.
1) What is exactly your need?
Before you look for a full time helper, sit with your family and discuss on the family requirements. Do you have a small kid that needs full time attention or an ailing parent that needs care and support? What exactly do you want from your helper (nanny, registered nurse, housekeeper, great cook…) ? If you want her to take on all the jobs right from shopping grocery, cooking, cleaning to taking care of your children, be prepared to pay a good wage.
In other words, have special set of needs and have already experience to hire a maid. Turn to your relatives and friends for recommendations. These people know you and your family, so they will be in a better position to help you find the right fit.
Look for an agency that comes with high retention rates. A high retention rate means, a high level of satisfaction. Choosing a full time helper in Singapore is indeed a challenge, but with Ministry Of Manpower directory, filtering can be simple.
Online networks such as your social media groups are also a great place to look for a full time helper. Your friends might be ready to hand their helper to you, so give it a try. Since she has worked for your friend, you can hire her with confidence.
A maid agency is another source where you can find a helper. The agency will give you several choices to select one for your family, moreover all the paper work will be taken care of.
Online sites in the recent times have gained popularity. They are a great platform for employers and helpers to connect and communicate. Helper Place is one such site. Download our App on App Store, Google play or post a job ad on HelperPlace, you will get more chance to connect with your domestic helper.
HelperPlace also connect employers and maids in the following countries: Hong Kong – Macau – United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia.
HelperPlace is followed by more than 100,000 users! Don't hesitate to visit our Facebook page or our read or Singapore Tips to hire a maid. We share news & tips about domestic helpers (contract, hiring process, obligations,…). Join us and spread the word to your friends.


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Home / Security / News
Kaspersky Mobile Software Now Covers Android, BlackBerry
By Jeremy Kirk
PCWorld	 Feb 15, 2011 4:50 am PST
Russian security vendor Kaspersky Lab has released new versions of its security software for mobile devices to cover Android and the BlackBerry OS.
The Android and BlackBerry versions released at Mobile World Congress on Tuesday have fewer features than the existing versions for Symbian and Windows Mobile, according to the technical data.
The Android and BlackBerry versions can both remotely disable a lost or stolen device and delete its data upon receipt of an SMS (Short Message Service) code.
The two versions also a have call and SMS filters, which allow users to screen which calls or messages they want to receive or set up a whitelist that defines which communication will be accepted from specific contacts.
Those are the only two features of Mobile Security 9 for the BlackBerry. Those devices already have good encryption, so Kaspersky decided to only add features it felt the platform needed, said Victor Dronov , senior product manager for mobile solutions. The BlackBerry version also lacks Kaspersky's antivirus since there is very little malware that has targeted the platform, Dronov said.
Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 7 is not covered by Mobile Security 9 since Dronov said that access to many of the low-level operating system functions are already blocked. However, Kaspersky will continue to look at the platform.
Apple's iOS 4 operating system for the iPhone is still off limits due to restrictions by the company. "When Steve Jobs wants you to have high-end security on the iPhone, we will do that," said Eugene Kaspersky, the company's founder.
Android has a few more features than are also available on the Windows and Symbian versions in Mobile Security 9. It has Kaspersky's "privacy protection" feature, which allows phonebook entries, SMSes and call logs to be hidden on the phone. Android also support Kaspersky's antivirus functions.
The Windows and Symbian versions also support encryption and parental control features. Kaspersky's software covers Symbian^3 or Series 60 devices running Symbian 9.1 through 9.4. Windows Mobile devices covered are version 5.0 through 6.5. Kaspersky's Mobile Security 9 covers Android versions 1.6 through 2.2, and BlackBerry 4.5 through 6.0.
According to Kaspersky's Web site, Mobile Security 9 sells for US$29.95 on its Web site.
Send news tips and comments to jeremy_kirk@idg.com


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Kimora Lee Simmons denies claim she helped hubby hide millions in embezzlement scheme
Lawyers for Kimora Lee Simmons are denying allegations the former fashion model helped estranged husband Tim Leissner hide tens of millions of dollars that was stolen in the $4.5 billion 1MDB embezzlement scheme. Leissner, the disgraced former star banker for Goldman Sachs, is the government's star witness in its case against alleged fraudster Roger Ng. Ng, who has pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have conspired with his then-boss, Leissner, and fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low in a scheme to defraud the 1MDB sovereign development fund. Leissner has struck a deal with the government whereby he has pleaded guilty in exchange for his cooperation in the federal prosecution of the 49-year-old Ng. Ng's lawyers are asking a Brooklyn federal court judge to allow them to present evidence that Simmons, the ex-wife of hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, helped Leissner launder at least $80 million of money that was stolen from 1MDB. Federal prosecutors have asked the judge to exclude any communications between Leissner and Simmons. Simmons is listed as the owner of shell companies registered in Seychelles, Delaware, and California that were used by Leissner to funnel cash obtained from a "Kuwaiti sheikh," Ng's legal team claims in court documents. Ng's lawyers claim that Leissner and Simmons traveled to Lichtenstein in 2018 "for the express purpose of creating a trust for 'asset protection' — hiding Leissner's ill-gotten gains, which had been transferred to Ms. Simmons Leissner's name." Attorneys for Simmons rejected the allegations and said their client did nothing wrong. They also claim that any communications between Simmons and Leissner are protected under marital privilege laws and are thus inadmissible in court. "The allegations made by Mr. Ng's counsel against Kimora are patently false and we look forward to a successful conclusion in court," David Willingham, the attorney for Simmons, told The Post. Ng's lawyers claim that marital privilege doesn't apply in this case since Leissner testified that he forged divorce papers and was still legally wed to his previous spouse, Judy Chan Leissner, when he exchanged vows with Simmons in 2014. "I photoshopped the divorce document," Leissner told the jury last week of his 2014 nuptials to the Baby Phat designer. Leissner also testified last week that before marrying Judy Chan, he falsified a divorce document. The former banker told jurors that one of his mistresses blackmailed him into buying her a $10 million mansion. Federal prosecutors are expected to finish their direct examination of Leissner this week. He is then likely to be subject to blistering cross-examination by Ng's attorneys.


Your Student Advisory Council (SAC) and SETAC are organising several activities for you at the SETAC Europe 23rd Annual Meeting in Glasgow. We are convinced these are of interest to you!
This activity will take place on Monday 13 May from 12:50 to 13:55 (Seminar Suite).
In a relaxing atmosphere, you will be given the chance to get in contact with established scientists from all over the world. While enjoying your lunch, you can chat with people who have experience of working in your research field. Furthermore - and maybe more importantly - you have the opportunity to build on your own network and get to know not only established scientists but also other student members of SETAC.
Are you interested in attending this event? Tickets are free and will be available at the on-site registration desk on Monday morning 13 May. Please note that the Mentor Lunch is limited to approx. 70 participants and seats will be assigned on a first-come first-serve basis.
The student party will take place on Tuesday 14 May, see also our social programme. Count on an exciting party! Discover a unique location in the city of Glasgow. Tickets should be booked in advance, they include free drinks and an entertaining dance party. Conviviality and musical ambiance guaranteed!
A Student Assembly will be held on Wednesday 15 May from 11:00 to 12:00. During this meeting you will be informed about past and ongoing activities of the SAC. Furthermore, you can elect new people for the SAC representing you within SETAC Europe for the following 2 years.


Skunk-Off removes all traces of skunk spray from dogs, other pets, people, cloths, cars, homes.
Directions for Use on the Pet: Wipe off excess skunk spray. Saturate area of direct hit with Skunk-Off. Work in thoroughly, then let dry. If odor persists, continue to reapply as necessary.
Skunk-Off may in some cases cause minor eye irritation. Rinse with water as needed. Caution should be taken when using on cats. Be sure to thoroughly rinse if using Skunk-Off on cats. Cats are natural groomers and as such they continually lick their hair coat. Skunk-Off in the cat's mouth is not dangerous but it may cause excessive drooling.


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Lewisham and Greenwich nurse encouraging minorities to donate organs awarded MBE
By Emily Hennings emilyhennings2 Reporter - Greenwich & Trending/What's On
Shibu has been awarded an MBE
A nurse who specialises in organ donation at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has been awarded an MBE.
Over the past five years Shibu Chacko, who is employed jointly by the Trust and NHS Blood and Transplant, has encouraged more than 3,000 people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities to sign up to the organ donation register.
He said: "When I first started in the job, I became aware that there was a shortage of donors from ethnic minority communities, so I decided to do something about it."
"There are 6,500 patients on the waiting list for a donor organ, 1,800 from BME communities. Patients do better if they receive an organ from someone of the same ethnicity, but the numbers of organ donors are extremely low from the minority community, in fact less than 100 donors a year.
"Of the 26 million people on the UK's organ donor register, only 1.7% are from the BME community, mainly due to a lack of awareness of donation and the specific needs of their community."
Through conversations with patients and families, he found that there was poor understanding of the importance of organ donation amongst BME communities.
For example, people were concerned about what their loved one would look like once an organ had been removed, or thought that donating organs was against their religion.
In 2015, Shibu became the first donor ambassador for NHS Blood and Transplant and set about educating BME communities by going along to religious and cultural events in his own time, giving presentations and talking to people face to face.
"As I'm originally from south Asia myself, people were happy to invite me along to events and listen to what I had to say," says Shibu. "I'm really pleased that my work was successful, and I am honoured to have been appointed an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List."
In 2018, Shibu created the world's first course on organ donation for healthcare professionals, in partnership with the St George's University of London. The course has been a huge success and medical schools such as St Georges and UCLH have made it a mandatory programme for medical students as part of their final year of study.
Chief nurse Angela Helleur said: "Shibu is an absolute credit to our Trust and I am so proud of the work he has done to promote organ donation amongst ethnic minorities. He thoroughly deserves this recognition."