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Demolition dreams: the world's 'worst' buildings
We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Life & Arts news every morning.
The world is full of terrible architecture. Which buildings would the FT's global network of correspondents demolish if they were given a wrecking ball?
John Paul Rathbone
Latin America editor
The Soviets came to Cuba, almost precipitated a third world war, and then pulled the plug on the island 30 years later when the USSR collapsed. It is remarkable how little they left behind compared with the Spanish, for example, who bequeathed a culture and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Havana.
One glaring exception is the Russian embassy in Havana's leafy Miramar district, a brutal concrete mass, finished in 1987 when Moscow was still the only foreign show in town. Designed by Aleksandr Rochegov ("People's Architect of the USSR, 1991"), this constructivist pile is so unremittingly ugly and out of place that it has been compared to a syringe. ("All the better to inject Communism," as the sad joke once went.) It is almost cruel to argue for the demolition of any building in Cuba, given so many are falling down.
Yet wouldn't it be great if its destruction also meant a reversal of that syringe, so magically sucking the poison out.
James Crabtree
Mumbai bureau chief
Even in a country known for elaborate Maharajas' palaces, no building inspires as much controversy as Antilia, the Mumbai home of India's richest man, the billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. India's media often reports that the 27-storey building cost $1bn, even though no reliable construction cost details have been provided. In a city where land is notably scarce, Antilia also attracted opprobrium when its plot was bought from a charity that ran orphanages in the city. Yet it seems to be the design itself that most irks observers, with the building's unusual cantilevered façade towering above a city, half of whose residents are said to live in slums.
Samantha Pearson
Brazil correspondent
At more than 50 metres tall, the gleaming 10,000-seat replica of the Temple of Solomon, complete with a helipad, is by far São Paulo's slickest building – and possibly its most hated.
The $300m stone complex that opened in August this year is the work of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, a fast-growing evangelical empire founded by the media magnate Edir Macedo, Brazil's richest religious leader, who was briefly jailed in 1992 over accusations of fraud but was subsequently cleared.
For Brazil's shrinking Catholic community, the gold-encrusted temple surrounded by olive trees is an abomination – not least because it is almost twice as tall as Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Jewish groups have also voiced their disapproval.
However, it is perhaps most objectionable simply because of its lavish display of wealth in one of the city's poorest neighbourhoods.
Ben McLannahan
Tokyo correspondent
Tokyo is littered with bubble-era silliness. Take the headquarters of Asahi Breweries, completed in 1989. The amber-coloured building resembles a frothing pitcher of beer while the shorter building next to it is a cup of ale, topped with Philippe Starck's "Flamme d'Or" – or as the locals instantly named it, the "golden turd". In that context, there is no excuse at all for the sloppy Shibuya Hikarie tower, which glowers over the Tokyo shopping district famous for its scramble intersection. Completed in 2012, it broke an almost uninterrupted run of sleek and beautiful buildings in the city, such as the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower (2003) and La Tour Shinjuku Grand (2011). From certain angles, it looks like a half-arsed game of Tetris, or a filing cabinet shaken loose by a quake. Much of the station area is supposed to be flattened and rebuilt for the 2020 Olympics. It is a pity the Hikarie can't go with it.
Edwin Heathcote
Architecture correspondent
In southeast England the problem is the lack of construction of new, affordable housing, not the demolition of existing buildings. In fact, most ugly buildings can be adapted to create useful, even attractive new accommodation. Go beyond the edge of any major city and the endless closes and cul-de-sacs, the blandscape of brick boxes accessible only by car, provided with no infrastructure except the ubiquitous big-box retailers, these depress me no end. How could we demolish them all? Where would the displaced live? And what if it turns out that, actually, this really is how people want to live? There is always an implied snobbery in these exercises which I find problematic. Having said that, I'll shoot down my own argument and say that the Walkie-Talkie, at 20 Fenchurch Street, which pokes its big head into every view of London and pops up behind Tower Bridge like a grinning idiot photobombing the city, should never have been given planning permission.
Gary Silverman
US national editor
In the 1954 motion picture It Should Happen to You, Judy Holliday plays an aspiring model who tries to make a splash in New York by getting her name on a billboard overlooking Columbus Circle. Such a thing could never happen today because Columbus Circle is no longer the centre of action in that part of town. It has been overwhelmed by an architectural nightmare – the Time Warner Center. Soaring 80 storeys above the circle, the twin towers of the mixed-use property give New Yorkers the opportunity to experience all the excitement of a suburban shopping mall. It shouldn't have happened to us, but it did, and that leaves New Yorkers with only the old movies on cable TV to remind us of the way we were.
Katrina Manson
East Africa correspondent
Africa has nowhere near enough buildings to start tearing them down. Ones tied to colonial relics or oppressive regimes in Eritrea and Ethiopia are records of north meets south and worth preserving. Even in Khartoum, whose hubristic skyline testifies to an oil-glut economy gone bust, it would be churlish to pull down so wildly over-the-top a building as the hotel shaped like a hand grenade, built by fallen Libyan dictator Muammer Gaddafi. The same cannot be said of the ominously blank walls of Sudan's national security building, and the gate for families to inquire after disappeared or tortured loved ones. One outgoing British diplomat quipped that – in line with a maritime ministry shaped like a boat and an aviation ministry like a plane – the national security building may as well be modelled after electrodes. As Sudan continues a war against its people on three fronts, this is a building worth tearing down.
Victor Mallet
South Asia bureau chief
For visitors to India, New Delhi's "markets" conjure up images of ochre and vermilion, of spices and curious vegetables, of piles of carpets and handmade fabrics. The most famous of these is surely Khan Market – but it is a sore disappointment, a ramshackle collection of modern two- and three-storey shophouses in brick and concrete, lacking both old-world charm and modern space and convenience. It is not unusual to see a dead rat squashed into the chaos that passes for pavement outside the overpriced shops selling groceries, gewgaws and mobile phones. It is probably superfluous to demand the market's demolition, since interminable redesigns and reconstruction projects have made parts of it vulnerable to falling down without further assistance – as happened to two floors of a building that collapsed just over a year ago.
Michael Stothard
Paris correspondent
The Centre Georges Pompidou was a clever piece of architecture when it opened in Paris in 1977; its internal mechanisms, including lifts and coloured pipes, splashed on the outside rather than within, helped it become known as a revolutionary building. Yet the tangle of blues, reds and greens, combined with the web of cold steel, makes it look at once clinical like an oil refinery and garish like a carousel. And time has only made it uglier. Difficult to clean, beset by thousands of joints and nooks and crannies, it is decaying and shabby. Fifteen years since its last major refurbishment, the decorated pipes are once again filthy.
Ben Bland
Indonesia correspondent
Jakarta has no shortage of tycoon-built mansions with hideous neo-Palladian façades and skyscrapers designed as monuments to arrogance rather than style. Only one building in the Indonesian capital combines both flaws. Nestled between office towers on Jakarta's main business street, the 34-storey Da Vinci Penthouse shares a name with the master Italian painter and architect but little else. Encased in more columns and statues than a Roman temple, the lower floors are a showroom for the purveyor of tacky, expensive neoclassical furniture that has designed the interiors of the multimillion dollar apartments. Above that rises a charmless grey tower. As garish on the inside as it is on the outside, this building surely deserves its self-awarded title of "The Landmark of Indonesia". Just the wrong sort of landmark.
Borzou Daragahi
Middle East and north Africa correspondent
If there is one building that stands out among the varied, chaotic jumble of styles and epochs that characterise modern-day Cairo – and one that symbolises all that has gone wrong with the city – it is the huge, late-modernist Mogamma building that looms over Tahrir Square. It symbolises the downturns and despair of the military-led socialism that Egypt is still attempting to leave behind. Many Egyptians and foreigners have ambled through its hallways, struggling against its 18,000 surly employees to secure applications for passports or visa extensions. "It's a monster. It's a beast," says Karim el-Hayawan, a Cairo interior designer and architect. "But visually it only reflects how monstrous it is inside."
Andrew England
Southern Africa bureau chief
It is doubtful that any visitor to Johannesburg could have missed the Ponte City, a huge, hollowed out pillar that stands as a monument to the ugly greyness of a slab of concrete. At 173 metres tall, the 54-storey cylindrical, residential tower soars high into the sky dwarfing all around it. Anyone planning a high-rise prison should consider the Ponte for inspiration. It is difficult to believe that when it first opened its doors in 1975 it was considered the swanky residence of choice for wealthy white South Africans wanting to live in the heart of downtown Johannesburg. Today, it is a weather-beaten totem of apartheid-era architecture in a run-down inner city area. Yet for all its grey ugliness – or perhaps because of it – Ponte has become an iconic symbol of the downtown and one that enjoys the affection of many Joburgers.
Kate Allen
Property correspondent
The Trafford Centre in Manchester, the UK's second-largest shopping centre, is a testament to triviality both in form and function. Its design is a rococo pastiche, a multicoloured marble and glass temple to consumerism. Its construction in the late 1990s was an early step in the arrival of American out-of-town mall culture on British shores. Built on the site of that industrial marvel, the Manchester Ship Canal, the centre symbolises Britain's shift from a global industrial leader to a country with diminishing influence and an economy dependent on high levels of personal debt and frivolous spending. It attracts more than 35m visitors a year, so it is not lacking in friends, but I would demolish it and build something more socially useful in its place – a factory, perhaps.
Stefan Wagstyl
Chief Germany correspondent
The International Congress Centre, built in 1979 in West Berlin, always was an expensive white elephant. Its crablike structure invites comparison with a spaceship and Berliners often call it "the UFO". Before German reunification it had some purpose in trying to draw visitors to the outpost of west Berlin, surrounded as it was by Communist East Germany. Today it is closed as a cash-strapped city council debates what to do with it. At 320 metres long, 80 metres wide and 40 metres high it is far too large to ignore. The city has set aside about €200m for renovation and modernisation. One option is to give the hulking building a new lease of life as a conference centre. Another is to turn it into a shopping mall. However, tearing the place down altogether would be monstrously expensive, as the ICC is stuffed with asbestos.
Charles Clover
Beijing correspondent
The CCTV headquarters, designed by architect Rem Koolhaas, is known informally as the "Kuzi", or "big trousers", for its two legged shape, and is perhaps the best known of the architectural landmarks in Beijing. Yet China's president, Xi Jinping, has said he has had enough of the daring designs that dominate the Chinese capital's skyline and recently made an example of the CCTV building. Architecture, he said, in a rare explanation for a Chinese leader, should serve the people. He called for morally inspiring art that should "be like sunshine from the blue sky and the breeze in spring that will inspire minds, warm hearts, cultivate taste and clean up undesirable work styles".
Photographs: Getty Images; Bloomberg; Nacho Doce/Reuters; Michael Anderson; Boris Horvat/Getty Images; AFP; Barry Iverson Collection/Alamy


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Over 25 galleries in and around the city participate. Most galleries offer beverages including local wines or brews, and some even provide hors d'oeuvres. We even get to enjoy music by local bands and musical groups (music was provided by Bernunzios for our date). Some months it is nearly impossible to choose, but his past Friday I knew we couldn't miss the event at Rochester Contemporary Art Center: The 6×6 Party Month Kick-Off Event. "March is 6×6 Party Month! Join us for an evening of 6×6 artwork-making!" More about the annual 6×6 show HERE.
We each choose a local beer from Dundee Brewing and set off to explore. First we enjoyed learning the art of the letterpress with representatives from Printing and Book Arts Center of the Genesee Center for the Arts & Education. They had 2 trays of stamps to choose from and 3 ink colors. I chose some ampersands and arrows to represent my blog, tidbits & scraps. In addition to letterpress and book arts, the Center offers classes and open studio time in photography and ceramics. I might have to sign up!
Next we tried out block printing with Jennifer Cichello from The Art Store here in Rochester. The printing process is like rubber stamping with large stamps which are hand-cut out of linoleum blocks. I had hoped to cut my own, but she had prepared several linoleum blocks to print with. Sounds like an at home date night,in the making. We made light bulbs! Well, we printed light bulbs.
Lastly we tried something I have never done before: encaustic painting. Rochester Art Supply did a mini workshop using Enkaustikos Paint Sticks. This is a very interesting technique that can be used in so many ways! We placed a 6×6 inch metal printing plate on an electric griddle (the kind you use to make a million pancakes on Saturday mornings). We drew on the plate with the paint sticks which melted as we drew. When we were done, we placed a piece of paper over the plate and gently rubbed it down. The wax soaks into the paper and we had a beautiful piece! Here is mine.
We finished our date with a little sushi not far from the gallery at one of our faves, Shema Sushi. If you are in Rochester and love sushi you have to try them. We discovered this treasure when it opened about 8 years ago. It has since moved up in the world; out of the suburban village and into the city. There is something very comfortable and authentic about Shema.
What a night! Check out your local art guild or museum to find out if your city has a similar event. Even if there are not specific city wide gallery opening nights in your area, you should be able to find gallery openings about once a month anywhere.
Looking for other spring date night ideas? Check out Susannah's blog, Simple Moments Stick, for her upcoming post with links to some great ideas for everyone.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today's Reading: Luke 11:29-36
Today's reading from Luke follows Jesus on his preaching journey on the way to Jerusalem. Written in about 60 AD, Luke sets the scene:
"When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah" Luke 11:29
So basically, not much has changed in the last nineteen hundred years. We are just as focused on the desire to be uniquely blessed. Everyone wants to have a special experience that sets them above others in terms of their salvation and closeness to God. We ask for signs and look for signs in order to confirm the validity of our faith in Jesus. Jesus points to the sign of Jonah as a foreshadowing of his death and resurrection. Just as the prophet Jonah was rescued after three days in the belly of a whale, Jesus will die and rise after three days. God had asked Jonah to preach the importance of repentance to the Gentiles. Jesus is now affirming Jonah's message; salvation is not only for the Jews but for all people. This specific part of Jesus' teaching got me thinking about how we too seek for signs in our modern everyday life. I loved the sermon we had last week at Eastview when Pastor Jordan Rice talked about turning to the "big G in the sky….Google!" Although I laughed out loud, his insight spoke to my heart. As a medical professional, I am so guilty of turning to science to solve a problem before turning to the big G: God.
In our generation we are always seeking proof. We want evidence of that which we cannot plainly see. In Jesus' day, the people demanded signs. When Jesus healed a blind man, his doubters demanded another sign, more proof that he was the Messiah. Are we perhaps demanding the same? Are we satisfied by the gifts he's given us, the miracles he's performed in our lives? Are we able to truly say, "Christ IS enough for me!"
Jesus goes on to teach about the light within us:
"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness." Luke 11: 34
In this moment, Jesus is holding the light of the gospel for us all to see. Those that reject Him and his message have poor vision. That lack of clarity turn the light of Christ into darkness. In contrast those who receive Christ by faith are filled with light. The lamp is Christ and the eyes are representative of our spiritual relationship with him. Sin distorts our spiritual vision. It blinds us to the ability to see God at work in our lives. I challenge us as we focus on our own relationship with Him to work toward identifying sins that are blinding us to life with Him. Pray intentionally for eyes that are healthy and ask God to fill your body with light.


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When I grow up I'm going to get a gold fish and he will be my best friend because he will live in a coffee cup and always be super hyper just like me and he will be awesome.
Surprisingly I was not hyper when I drew this, only when I illustrated it…and wrote this….
Illustrator cs4/5
Photoshop cs5


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Hell Yeah! takes players on bizarre trip through Hell as the Prince of Hell, a rabbit named Ash. The evil rabbit was minding his own business taking a bath with rubber duckies when the paparazzi show up and snap some pictures. The naked bath time photos are posted on the Hellternet where they've been viewed by a whopping 100 creatures. Ash is of course completely embarrassed by this and sets out to do the only thing a ruler of Hell can really do, kill everyone who has viewed the pictures.
Yeah, that's the story. And while it has some often funny writing (no voice acting), the story here is really secondary and non-important. You're not going to care about Ash as a character. It's the gameplay that's going to keep you playing, not the drive to push the story forward to see what happens. And that's okay because this is a 2D platformer with a serious old-school feel in the same vein as a Metroid or Castlevania (in that it has huge levels where you move side to side and up and down, and generally back track your around levels).
You'll acquire various weapons and abilities as you work your through murdering monsters. Guns, rocket launchers, grenades, and saws are all here. Throughout the levels there are locked doors telling you how many monsters you need to have killed to be able to pass through. The 100 monsters range in difficulty, some are really easy (all you have to do is shoot them) but there are some that are quite challenging as well (they require you to play with the environment some, which can lead to a lot of deaths in the process of figuring it out).
On that note, yes, you will die a lot in Hell Yeah!. A lot of the time you will deserve your death because it will be something you did. This game does require some trial and error, and learning your limits and when to time stuff. That's good enough, I like a challenge. Then there's the other times you'll die a lot that are frustrating. Some of these will be due to the controls, but others will be due to a rather unforgiving checkpoint system that you have no idea where it will be at. If you cross a checkpoint path with very little life left, you can count on dying due to the smallest of things. Scattered around the levels are stations that will feed you blood and restore your health, but getting there from some of these checkpoints with low life can be brutal.
Wrath of the Dead Rabbit's biggest strength is its design and art-form. The game is a beautifully drawn 2D platformer. The colors are bright and colorfully, and there's a lot of variance in the levels (which these are things people wouldn't typically associate with Hell). Even the 100 monsters are varied and look great. The soundtrack compliments everything nicely as well; it's really a great soundtrack. With everything tied together, the presentation of Hell Yeah! is fantastic. There is one aspect of the presentation that loses its charm though.
Each of the 100 monsters has a health bar that you have to deplete in order to kill them. There's nothing new with that. However, once you deplete that health bar you're going to be tasked to complete a quick mini game that involves pressing or holding a button at the right time. If you mess up during the mini game, you'll take damage and you'll have to hit the monster a few more times to be able to try the mini game again.
These mini games (think WarioWare) are a great short break from the platforming , and they are initially charming to the game. If you successfully complete the mini game challenge, you'll be treated to a ridiculous scene of the monster being murdered (launch a shark from space, a T-Rex, all sorts of quirky stuff). The result is a gore filled screen covered in blood and slime. Again, there's a certain amount of charm to it. So it's unfortunate to then have that charm lose its appeal by being repeated too many times. You'll see the same mini-games and death finishers multiple times, and each time it's less cool than it was the previous time. Eventually you'll wish you could skip through the murder scene and just get back to the platforming.
There are a few other things to do in Hell Yeah! besides just murdering monsters. There are gems and collectibles in levels that you'll want to get. Gems are usually inside or behind rocks, so you'll be drilling or dashing through them to get to the gems, which act as the games currency. You need money in the game because there are shops sprinkled around the levels that allow you buy a number of items; weapons, weapon upgrades, outfits for Ash, health upgrades, etc. Nothing in the store is ridiculously overpriced, so accumulating enough money to buy everything you want won't be an issue.
The game also incorporates a place called "The Island" where all the monsters Ash has "killed" are at. You're encouraged to visit the Island frequently to delegate tasks to the killed monsters. You can put the monsters to work mining for money, health upgrades, research, and special rare items. Each resource can have 20 monsters assigned to it. Returning to the Island allows you to get your reward for your minion's hard mining work. There's a management system in place here too, you'll need to send monsters to the beach to relax or the jail to rehabilitate them as they can get sick or angry, which obviously affects production.
Most gamers will ultimately ignore "The Island" though. It's just not worth it. The game itself isn't overly long, but it does have some lengthy load times. To make matters worse, you have to quit your game and exit back to the menu to be able to go to the Island. If you're going to visit the Island, do so when you first start the game up. Otherwise it's just not worth it when you consider the load times.
Hell Yeah is a quality 2D platformer that could have been really special. As is, it's good but doesn't come close to matching its potential. The platforming jumps can occasionally feel floaty, and the controls themselves can often seem to be overly sensitive. The lengthy load times also break the otherwise great pace and take you out of the game for too long. And more than anything the repetition of killing monsters (and I'm talking the mini-games and murder scenes here) grows tiresome like an initially funny joke that you just keep hearing.
Still though, there is an old-school charm here and there's more than enough to satisfy fans of challenging trial-and-error 2D platformers. Fans of the genre who don't mind repetition and the trial-and-error play that some might find frustrating should definitely find Hell Yeah an attractive $15 purchase.
Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit gets a three out of five: SATISFYING.
* A copy of this game was provided for review.


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Top 9 for 2019
I love the holiday season, but I love the start to a new year even more.
These are my Top 9 to welcome in 2019:
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy 2019!
My Wellness Guide For 2018!
Here are my top 8 for 2018.. Green is Good!!
The first two, are my favorite additions to my multi vitamin, fish oil, and vitamin D regime:
1. Spirulina... packed with calcium, niacin, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, and selenium. This is the holy grail of superfoods and bonus it contains protein!!
2. Echinacea Premium by Standard Process...not all echinacea supplements are created equal. To get a little science-y on you, this product contains a total of 4.1 mg of alkylamides per tablet. This is the active component that provides the immune stimulating benefit. This product is also beneficial for upper respiratory and throat health.
3. Aesop hand soap and lotion …nothing beats a good 'ol hand washing to wash away the germs. If you wash your hands as much as I do, you need a gentle and beautifully smelling scent. This product doesn't disappoint- Luxurious and wonderfully crafted... A treat for your skin and senses!
4. Uriah Urban Farm lettuce... I am a foodie- a healthy one, that is, and I shout from the rafters that "green is good!"
This weekly service of fresh hydroponically grown, vitamin packed lettuces and herbs is truly genius if you either
A) don't have a green thumb or
B) don't have the space or time to have a garden.
My favorites are Arugula, Bibb, Red Gem, Basil, and Mint.
5. A great cook book: Eat smart, what to eat in a day-every day
I have cooked my way through a good portion of this book and love it!!
6. Matcha green powder... Contains L-theanine the amino acid which provides mental clarity and increased focus without feeling jittery, and is full of the antioxidant EGCG. This daily ritual of mine brings out my inner samurai warrior.
7. 5 Minute Journal- I started this habit a few years back and honestly am so thankful I did.
8. A question a day for children This is a daily, after dinner ritual in my household. The boys really look forward to it, and remind me everyday... It's like a little archive of all the precious things that they say.
Husbands and Fat
Hands down my husband is a gem. Anyone that has had any interaction with him would agree. He's intelligent, humorous, Captain Safety, looks great in a pair of glasses and knows a lot about food! He is truly the Yang to my Yin when it comes to cooking... the marriage (literally) of healthful (me) and flavorful (him). And now, true to the symbol, my cooking has evolved to be a tad tastier and a little more "fancy" and he is a whole lot healthier. Ok on to the fat part, specifically Duck fat! A little in moderation can change up the flavor profile! Its tasty, makes roasted potatoes sing, and did a little something wonderful for these petite Brussels sprouts pictured below. What's more, it has less saturated fat and more unsaturated fat (the good fat) than butter. Duck fat is minimally processed, really just melted off the duck skin. It is not refined, deodorized, or bleached like some other oils. Its' smoke point is 375 degrees F and the big bonus for me; it brings a big smile to my French husband and his beloved French family heritage.
Now in the hierarchy of oils, here's the scoop… Olive oil is still your best bet in terms of health. It has lower saturated fat, higher unsaturated fat, and no cholesterol. When roasting, use Virgin Olive oil because it has a higher smoke point. The smoke point is pretty important, if you exceed that point when cooking with oil, it denatures and releases free radicals, which is no Bueno for your body. Finish with Extra Virgin Olive oil and use in salads. I am also a fan of the health benefits of Coconut oil and use this in baking quite often. Finally… I beg you, do not under any circumstances eat Canola oil! It is dangerous to your health. Do the research and you will be astonished and horrified. Read your labels. It can even exist in "healthy" bread. More on this nasty oil in another blog post!
So without further adieu, on to the recipe:
2 bags of small sized Brussels Sprouts
Himalayan Sea Salt
1 Tbsp Duck fat.. of course I use Rougie Duck fat
Wash and Cut Brussels Sprouts into half or quarters depending on size, peel away outer skins if they are brown
Toss with a tsp (or less) of salt and a Tbsp (or less) of the Duck fat
Place on parchment paper
Roast in oven at 375 degree F for 25 ish minutes or until soft and slightly browned.
You may need to toss mid cooking so as to cook evenly.
Afternoon tea!
I gotta say its been a minute since our last blog post and boy am I sorry. The past holiday season was lovely, and then our healthy little home bubble bursted, compliments of our sweet preschooler.
This nasty guest made its first appearance in December and pretty much stayed with our family as a resident until a week ago.
Chinese herbs, homeopathy, probiotics and acupuncture has helped us manage the strength of the cold virus stopping it at just upper respiratory symptoms. Thank goodness!
Always boosting our immune system is my primary goal, and doing so in the form of food therapy is my primary method. The classical way to take Chinese herbs is boiling raw herbs in water and drinking the tea. At times with life's fast past speed this preparation method is not very feasible, so when I can find a product that eases this burden, and tastes good, I'm all for it!
Enter Pukka teas- organic, herbal, healing, and the big plus- tastes great!
My current daily obsession is the Cleanse variation. It has organic nettle which is super useful for clearing and protecting the upper respiratory system of bacteria and viruses. Dandelion root assists the liver in filtering toxins while Fennel aids the stomach in digestion. Peppermint lends itself to a nice taste and also helps clear excess heat. Also a great flavor enhancer is Licorice Root, but please note that it is not indicated for individuals with high blood pressure.
Cheers to afternoon tea!
When your Child Asks for Chocolate!
Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake
3 cups gluten free baking flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups coconut milk
6 tsp coconut oil
1 1/2 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Always in the Kitchen
Here are some of my favorite cookbooks that I'm currently cooking through- whole foods and easy for a home cook! Some recipes I make as is but some I use for inspiration. I'm the queen of substitution! Not as bad as Sally from 'When Harry met Sally'… but close!
Whole Bowls
Raw Food Real World
Crazy Sexy Kitchen
The Vibrant Table
Against the Grain
Cardio with the Crew
How do you find the time to...?
Prior to motherhood I enjoyed hour long workouts... Long gone are those days with running a wellness practice, raising and FEEDING two hungry boys ( three if you count my husband for the feeding not the raising, hehe). Now multi tasking has taken on a new meaning and my cardio workouts have gotten really interesting!
Im asked on a regular basis what I do for my personal workout and some tips I may have!
So, here they are:
1. Invest in a Heart rate monitor and use it to track your intensity during a workout.
2. Interval train- alternate between 65%-85% of your max heart rate for 30 sec- 1 min each
3. If you have children, purchase a jogging stroller or a double one in my case and take the workout outside.
4. For music lovers: make a track of 5 of your favorite songs and split the song up to interval training. For example: jog for verses and sprint for the chorus.
5. Please listen yo your body.. If you are tired, don't push it. Maybe a walk is needed instead of a sweat it out session!
6. Breathe deeply and intently ALWAYS!
Salmon Salad
Salmon Salad with Roasted Veg
For the Vinaigrette:
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Splash of apple cider Vinegar
¾ tsp Himalayan pink salad
½ tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tsp maple syrup (optional)
For the Salad:
Roasted wild salmon cut into 6 oz pieces
2 big bunches of lettuce of your choice, washed and spun dry
-I use two heads of lettuce from my Uriah urban farms delivery
Bunch of fresh cut parsley or basil
1 ripe Hass Avocado
For the Roasted Veg: cut into 1-2 inch cubes
1 butternut squash
3 golden or red beets medium size
5 large carrots
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
Giving Thanks
Gratitude (n.) a feeling of appreciation or thanks
My heart is so very full of humility and gratitude these days as of late. So much effort has been put forth by so many individuals during the " beautifcation" of Palm Wellness and I couldn't be more proud of the results.
For a decade now ( wow! I cant believe I just typed that word) I have felt not only privileged but so unbelievably inspired by caring for such kind, interesting, and above all, genuine individuals. I have learned so very much and am trilled to continue on this journey of healing, self discovery, and of course healthful and mindful eating(now you didn't honestly think I wasn't going to reference food did you?!)
Cheers to the next 10!!!
Death is Actually About Life
Exactly 5 years ago my grandmother passed away. She was the MOST positive woman I have ever known. She was the BRAVEST person I have ever known. She was my mother's best friend. She was my second mother. I'll NEVER, in all my life, EVER, forget how she looked at me. She and I saw deep within each other, communicated without words. She had this intense and undisturbed faith. She knew things about death that I did not, or could not understand…until now.
My grandmother was born in 1925. Individuals of her generation relied heavily on prayer and faith to get through difficult situations. Many times when I had a question concerning death and dying, particularly her death, she would offer a very comforting answer that was clearly rooted in her strong faith. If I pressed the issue and wondered why she believed such a way, she would dismiss me with a matter of fact, "because that is what I know; that is what I believe." I respected her answer and held a great reverence for it. She was confident. I wanted to be like her.
The practice of Chinese Medicine truly explores the concept of the mind and of the spirit, two ideas that in my opinion bridge the gap between the physical and the spiritual/emotional aspects of a person. And death, again in my opinion, is about the same thing.
In some of these texts, the "mind" indicates the activity of thinking, consciousness, insight, and memory.
The "spirit" in some classical texts states that it is comprised of five physiological aspects that are each housed in a yin organ system:
My grandmother's mind was extremely strong and was in complete harmony with her Ethereal Soul seen through her calm vision, insight, and wisdom. The Ethereal Soul (Hun) is thought to be the link between the individual mind and that of the universal mind (our dreams/ideas/spiritual life). Interestingly, it is not attached to the body and leaves the body during death. Alternatively, the Corporeal Soul (Po) is attached to the body and goes down to the earth with it at death. It is experienced in our sensations of touch, hearing, and sight. Our breath is closely linked to our Corporeal Soul as well, hence residing in the Lungs. It is stated that meditation quiets the Corporeal Soul, in turn opening the Ethereal Soul with the Universal Mind. I was a witness to the strength of my grandmother's Corporeal Soul – amazingly strong, to her last breath.
After she passed, I knew that I witnessed something special and was given a gift. I knew that her strong convictions in life (Mind) lead to the completely balanced passing of her Corporeal Soul (Po) to earth and her Ethereal Soul (Hun) to the universe. I already can feel her presence within me, in my somatic self, in my Corporeal Soul. I know that she will visit my Ethereal Soul often and that her legacy now lives on throughout me. Her peace is now mine. Her death is now my life.
Blog postings by Natalie Maddox Rougie, AP, DACM owner of Palm Wellness in Tampa, FL.
September 2022


text: Spring is almost here! It's a time for rebirth and new growth. What new things are you growing in your life that will re-ignite your passion & energy? It is now time for that seasonal reboot. Take an internal inventory. Are you meeting your health goals, did you sign up for that new class, are you planning that vacation you have always wanted? It is time for those new projects & goals to take root. As you plan the NEW things remember to get rid of some of the "old" patterns or projects in your life. Your passion will be ignited and you will soar to a new height by reaching for something "new" this Spring


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There are no direct flights to Narita International Aiport, Tokyo or to any other major international airport like Kansai in Osaka or Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture. To fly to Japan, the best airlines to use are those with the home country in the Middle East, where they make a stopover (for five hours or so) before flying to Japan. You can also fly to Europe, then start the journey East, if you pick a European airline. I will be flying Emirates.
The other airlines popular for flights to Japan from Kenya are Qatar airways with a stopover in Doha, and Etihad which I think also stops over at Dubai. It takes 5 hours to Dubai, and then 9 hours from Dubai to Kansai Aiport in Japan. If you fly KLM for example, you will have a stopover in Amsterdam, then fly for like 19 hours to Japan. Turkish Airlines will take you to Instanbul, before taking a journey just as long as if you flew KLM. So Etihad/Emirates are your most efficient flights. Return tickets from Nairobi cost anywhere between 100-150 thousand shillings.
On Tuesday afternoon, my luggage checked in and my backpack containing my most precious documents and some money (in American dollars), I shall board an Emirates flight heading to Dubai. It will take about 5 hours to Dubai. ETA 9:30pm Kenyan time, which will be 10:30PM in Dubai. The stopover is just 5 hours, meaning we will not leave the airport. I will alight with my fellow scholars, there are 3 of us sharing the same itinerary. I will get out dazed, ready to search for wifi signal, to check up on my family via whatsapp. My son will probably have gone to bed, these days his bedtime is at 9PM.
After confirming our next flight and the boarding gate, I will probably persuade my colleagues that we ought to try out Starbucks at the airport. Coffee & croissants. Paid for in strange green bills. Most bureaus in Kenya are just like banks, only dealing with major currencies: the American dollar, British Pound or Euro. So you find yourself changing your shillings to dollars, then changing the dollars to the Japanese Yen on arrival.
And so we will while our time at the Dubai airport, sipping coffee, walking around and waiting for the next flight. I hope I will find some sleep in the long flight to Japan. Arrival time at Kansai Airport will be 5:30PM local time, which will be 11:30AM back here.
From Kansai I need to make my way to Kanazawa City, some 4 hours away by train or 5 hours by bus. Sure, there was a chartered bus for the foreigners by the university, but it leaves the airport at 11:30AM, some six hours before I land. I will need to take a Japan Railway (JR) train, transferring at Shin-Osaka. I have all these detailed directions printed out in both English and Japanese, so I am not anxious about getting on the wrong train.
On arrival at Kanazawa Station, I will probably hail a taxi to the hotel where I will spend the night before checking into the university hostel the following day. I have already booked the hotel online. I have printed out the address in both English & Japanese. Hailing a taxi is easy, taxi in Japanese is "takushi". I hope not to oversleep.
The following day (Thursday) 9am I will report at the Kanazawa International House (Morinosato), to get my assigned room. From there, I will attend the international students opening ceremony. We are to wear appropriate clothing, but I am not sure what that is. In case they mean national dress for each student's country, I am armed with a couple of kitenge dresses. In the afternoon, I am to register as a foreign resident and get a resident card with which I will use to open a bank account (for the monthly scholarship stipend 😀 ), and also obtain my student ID. I have already sent the picture they will use. When they asked for a picture, I sent one of my better looking ones, the only one I have makeup on 😉
Just when you think I can now relax, I have my first class on Friday at 9:30AM, Introduction to Japanese. And on Friday evening, I will attend the orientation for International Students. I will probably spend all of Saturday sleeping! And thus my Adventures from the Land of the Rising Sun will begin.


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Alison Armstrong: Keys to the Kingdom
Simple, Sweet Stages of Male Development:
How to Cope and Support Males at Each Stage
I enjoyed this book. Armstrong uses a simple story line to introduce the stages of male development. This book rang true about the stages of male development and how to respond at each stage. While it could be viewed as anti feminist, it feels like she captures meaningful differences between men and women and treats them in a very respectful way. Even though it is a little cutesy, she also shows how loving, passionate and very happy marriages can go off the tracks with competing male and female expectations about relationships.
I was struck by how many men wrote on Amazon that they liked the book. I would have hesitated to ask a male to read it, assuming they wouldn't be interested. Some things she describes in the book I had discovered with my own husband and sons because I wanted so much to understand them, some came from my Clinical Psychology training and practice. This book puts it together in a simple, little package. My friends who are happily married and "get" their sons seem to get her messages. I wish I had read it sooner. I have already recommended to clients. Click here to purchase.


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Monthly Archives: October 2018
Keep the Light On
Today I am feeling a sense of despair, futility, and failure. There are so many people hurting in the world. And while I understand its impossible to be "there" for everyone… I feel like I am there for less and less people in less significant ways each day than the day before…
I feel like I'm probably not alone in feeling that… but I don't know that there is a way to change that… and thus the sense of despair.
As I reflect on that I'm drawn to the Apostle Paul's words from jail in the beginning of his letter to the Philippians. "For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you…"
I don't know what in the world Paul is actually talking about but I think… I think perhaps he felt that dying was easy and living was hard. But living well, living good… living as light in a dark world was so important that it was worth the struggle. Worth the struggle, perhaps (I add), even if you cannot tell if you are actually making any headway at all…. even if it seems all you are doing is putting up sandbags before rising waters. Because a slight flood is way better than total devastation… even if it still feels like a failure because you did not actually beat the waters.
In this world in which it seems the powers of selfishness, greed, and enmity are winning… I refuse to go quietly into that night. I may not succeed at all in ending that darkness. In fact I know without doubt that I will not. But – following in the footsteps of greater guides than me – I will not let the light I seek to reflect into the world, insufficient as it feels, go out. Its not enough…. but its still worth it.
I love you all… apparently or not I'm fighting for you and trying to stand with you, and I'm seeking to create whatever dry solid ground I can… and together: we will keep the light on.


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Each day confronts us with opportunities to be creative. When we choose to step into them, a habit of creativity, imagination, and problem solving is strengthened.
For our children, there are too many things that can distract them from the simple focus and attention of creative play. I came across the best list of toys for children and thought of the creative opportunities each one affords.
If given enough time to tinker and experiment, perhaps one day they can create something like this or this.
Nonetheless, we can all agree that creativity is of great value. We pay high dollar for creative expressions of all different artforms – music, media, painting, etc. – because they strike a cord, almost divine. Many careers are solely dependent on creative problem solving. We all need creative ideas to address both every day and critical issues.
Over time, though, if not exercised, we can all become lazy in exercising our creative muscles. We opt for the status quo and settle for the mundane.
I'm excited for a new book series we are editing and publishing titled "Guided Creativity for the Busy Thinker" which addresses this issue. It is a short, but potentially life-changing book that helps equip us with fun exercises to get our creative juices flowing again. It gives us eyes to begin seeing the patterns and opportunities always around us in our normal, everyday routines. Bon Crowder has a unique way of joining math and creativity – perfect for us parents who are continually trying to maximize efforts and skill acquisition for our children. We'll keep you posted when the book is published. It will be available digitally and in print.


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"Go get the phone," I told Fritz as I was putting Peter's shoes on so we could leave for VBS. He dutifully ran for it. "Answer it!" I yelled after him. Normally my kids fetch the phone and let me answer it, unless the special ring indicates it is someone they know. There was no special ring, and I had no idea who it was, but I knew if he didn't answer it, it would be sent to voicemail before it got to me.
"Hi, Dad!" I heard him say. So glad I sent him for that phone!
We talked for just ten minutes – I had to go. But as I drove to church, I realized I had a smile on my face, and the day, rainy and cool though it was, seemed so lovely and bright.
All because of ten little minutes.


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These are they… by Paul and Emily Mueller
One of the elders of the heavenly Kingdom saw a group of saints arrayed in white robes. The elder then asked the question, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" Since it was John's vision experience, it must have been John who replied to the elder, saying, "Sir, thou knowest!" The elder replied, "THESE ARE THEY which came out of great tribulat
Part of the question the elder asked was, "and whence came they?" Or, as the Amplified translation has it, "from where have they come?" And the answer is, "These are they which came out of great tribulation." They did not come out of a glorious and happy camp meeting with crowds of people worshiping the Lord in rapturous praise, singing happy choruses with jubilation and great joy; they came out of great tribulation! They did not come out of a life of ease, prosperity and perfect health; they came out of great tribulation! They did not come out of a life of constant joy and peace, with many happy friends; they came out of great tribulation! They did not spend their days "hob-knobbing" among the "big-wigs" of religion; they came out of great tribulation! The Amplified translation suggests that tribulation means persecution. And that may very well be included in the meaning. The persecuted ones, those who, like Jesus Christ, the first Son and our pattern Son, endured the persecution of the religious crowd. These are they who have also come out of great persecution, because of the carnal-minded doctrines and opinions of the church system! "These are they.." And when they have been fully changed and transformed by the power of the resurrected Christ of glory, their Father will be proud of them. He will then be able to say, with spiritual pride, honor, respect and joy, "these are they…" What joy we will bring to our Father when He can say of us, "these are they…"
The word "tribulation" comes from the Greek word "thlipsis," and means pressure, whether literally or figuratively. That Greek word is also translated as afflicted, affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation and trouble. All these forms of tribulation have been and are working in our lives to bring us into the image and likeness of the risen Christ of glory. And I am sure we will all agree that Father has used every one of these forms of tribulation to bring us to the degree of maturity to which we have grown in our sonship experience. He has withheld the use of none of the tools at His disposal, which were a necessary part of our spiritual growth.
Who are these? "These are they which came out of great tribulation!" And what were they wearing? They "are arrayed in white robes!" The white robes indicate the purity and holiness of the righteousness of Christ (Rev. 19:8). But, while that is true, the white robes we shall wear represent much more than that. We will certainly become the righteousness of Christ, but we shall also be clothed upon with those garments that represent the fullness of His Life! As it is written, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Cor. 5:1-5, NIV).
I like that last verse: "Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." Our Father created us for this very purpose: that we might become like Christ, bearing His glorious image and likeness! It is HIS PURPOSE that is being fulfilled in us! We did not decide one day in the past that we wanted to become a manifest son of God! This high calling is beyond us! It is something greater than ourselves! It is a calling in God that we may not yet fully understand! It is not something we could choose, as if we had a choice in the matter. Rather, we were chosen by our Lord and Master. Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" (Jo. 15:16). The Lord chose us, and He is making all the decisions for us! Since that is true, we are assured that He will see us through to the end, which is to come forth in His very likeness. God has also given us His precious holy Spirit as a deposit, or as a down payment, on the rest of our inheritance, thereby "guaranteeing what is to come." Amen! Our transformation into the image and likeness of Christ is thus assured and guaranteed! It shall take place exactly as God has already planned and purposed it to be! He made us for this purpose and then gave us His Spirit as a deposit, thus guaranteeing our future as a manifest son of God in the blessed Kingdom of our Father! And as we travel on this spiritual journey, becoming more like the Lord, we will realize that He is making all the choices for us!
David sang a song unto the Lord, saying in that song, "The Lord lives; blessed be my Rock, and exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation. It is God Who executes vengeance for me and Who brought down [and disciplined] the peoples under me" (2 Sam. 22:47-48, AMP). Indeed, it is God Who executes vengeance for us, and Who also does many other wonders for us. When we acknowledge the Lord and His sovereignty in all things, in our lives and in the world around us, we then exalt and magnify Him, rather than our own feeble wisdom and strength. David added this further truth: "He is a Tower of salvation and great deliverance to His king, and shows loving-kindness to His anointed, to David and his offspring forever" (vs. 51, AMP). The Lord truly is our Tower of salvation and deliverance. And He shows loving-kindness to His anointed, who are the elect and chosen of the Lord! He was that to King David, and He will be that to all His other co-kings as well.
In another psalm, David also said, "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip" (Ps. 18:30-36). Who is it that girds us with strength and makes our way perfect? It is the Lord! Who makes our feet like hinds' feet, giving us the spiritual swiftness and agility as of a young deer? It is our sovereign and omnipotent Lord and King! Who is it Who sets us upon our appointed high places in the Spirit with Him on His throne? It is our Lord and Master! Who teaches our hands to war in the Spirit? And Who has given us that special shield of Salvation, which shall bring us to experience the fullness of the Life of Christ? Whose right Hand holds us up; Whose gentleness is making us great, and Who has enlarged our steps throughout our spiritual journey, so that our feet did not slip? IT IS THE LORD, and no one else! He is everything to us! He will make all our decisions for us, and we will trust Him to do it! And when He does, all that David said about the Lord working in his life, will also be true in our own lives as well!
The Apostle Paul also told of the sovereignty and omnipotence of our Father, when he wrote, "We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps 118:6.]" (Rom. 8:28-31, AMP).
Other Christians may rejoice in the decisions they think they made with their own carnal minds throughout their spiritual journey. But the elect of the Lord are called and chosen by Him and for Him! They give all the credit to the Lord, and to Him alone, for calling and choosing them as He did! And we know that, since God called us and chose us for Himself, all that happens to us is taking place for a reason, according to His grand design and holy purpose! Our Father knew us beforehand; He foreknew us and also foreordained that we should be molded into the image of His Son, and share His full likeness. And those whom He foreordained, He also called and justified, thus putting us in right standing with Himself. And those whom He justified, He also glorified, meaning that He raised us to a heavenly dignity, condition or state of being in His glorious Kingdom of Love. And because He first loved us and foreordained us to walk this path unto perfection, who can be against us? Or who can be our foe, if God is on our side? Therefore, IT IS GOD ALL THE WAY! Without Him, we could never have made it this far! But with Him, we will walk this high road to Life, knowing that we shall reach the appointed goal. And all this is true because He first loved us! When we have reached the final goal, not one of us will ever be able to take any credit for what we have done! IT WILL BE GOD ALL THE WAY!
Then the Apostle Paul asks the question, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD'S ELECT? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8:33-37). The question is asked, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD'S ELECT?" This question is asked regarding the ELECT, and not of other Christians. God's elect are the sole subject of this scripture! Other Christians are not in the same place spiritually as are the elect. The elect are guiltless before the Lord and also before the world, for the Lord, Who has chosen them and foreordained their walk in Him, made them holy even as He is holy. Our Father called us to walk this walk in the Spirit! We did not choose this path! It is God Who chose us before the foundation of the world and Who also justified us. Therefore, we are blameless and guiltless before the Lord, and have full access to all His abundant promises, provisions and purposes.
Regarding GOD'S ELECT, the Spirit has asked, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" The answer, for all the elect, is, NO, nothing shall ever separate us from the love of God, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works of the Kingdom of God (Eph. 2:10)! It is also written of the ELECT, and not of other Christians, "For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Who else but the elect have been set aside by their Father for full sonship? Who else but the elect are "killed all the day long?" Who else but the elect "are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Are other Christians suffering as we are suffering? And are they suffering for the same purpose? No, they are not! Are other Christians "killed all the day long," or are they "accounted as sheep for the slaughter?" Not like we are! Only the elect are set apart by their Father for this high calling of God in Christ, which also puts them in jeopardy of suffering the agonies of the cross of Christ, making them true sons of their Father!
Then Paul closes his special chapter regarding "God's elect," by saying, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38-39). We will surely experience all the things mentioned in these verses, yet we are fully persuaded that none of these things, circumstances or experiences, shall ever separate us from the overwhelming Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Tribulation, even "great tribulation," which the elect are going through, does much good for us and within us. As the apostle wrote, "we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:3-5). The natural man finds it difficult, if not impossible, to "glory in tribulations," for the flesh and the soul of man will suffer greatly going through them. But the spiritual man is strengthened in tribulations, while the flesh and the soul of man is crucified. Thus, we are brought more and more into the image and likeness of Christ by going through the processings of "great tribulation" within us. And what is the end result of our present "great tribulations?" It is that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us!"
Patience is also something we surely need to become whole and perfect, fully fit to become like Christ. James wrote "To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations," to say, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (Ja. 1:2-4). What is the end result of our present walk of faith? Or, what is Father's ultimate intention for us? It is for us to be "perfect and entire, wanting nothing!" How many times have we heard it said that no one can attain perfection? Most certainly, perfection is not attainable in this life! But we are foreordained and predestined of our heavenly Father to live another life, which is the Life of Christ in holy and glorious fullness. And when we do, we shall indeed be "perfect and entire, wanting nothing!"
We are told to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations, or when we are tried and tested by the circumstances of this "life" that surround us, or when we are put to the proof, by experiencing discipline or adversity. And as we go through those times of adversity, we must KNOW that that experience is working patience within us. Patience here means cheerful or hopeful endurance, or constancy. It is necessary to our attaining perfection. And when patience has done her perfect work in us, we shall then be made "perfect and entire, wanting nothing!" To be "perfect" means to be complete. Perfection is the end or the conclusion of an act or state, such as the end of God's work within us. Perfection is the end result of His handiwork in us! It is completeness! It is that which indicates full age, or full maturity.
To be "entire" is to be complete in every part; to be perfectly sound. If there should be anything lacking in the meaning of perfection, it is made complete by the use of the word, "entire." And when a person has become "perfect and entire," they will truly want nothing more, for there is nothing more possible! There is nothing more than "perfect and entire!" It is sonship completed and fulfilled! It is the completeness of a fully matured son of God! When sons become manifest sons, they will want no more, for they are "perfect and entire, wanting nothing!"
It was Paul who also wrote to the Philippian church, saying, "For IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Let us make sure we know Who is working within us, both to will a thing or a purpose, and then to do that thing and fulfill His purpose! IT IS THE LORD, and Him only! He is fulfilling His good pleasure, not only within us, but also in the whole world around us and in the entire universe as well. Elihu was one of Job's younger friends. After hearing what others had to say, Elihu then said to Job, "Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man, To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living" (Job 33:29-30, AMP).
Our Father is always and constantly working, both within us and around us, to bring our lives back from the pit of the destruction of sin and death. Because He loves us with an everlasting Love, Father will keep working with us until we reach the final goal. He may even repeat His work within us if necessary, for He never fails or gives up on us. If we fail to learn a lesson in one experience, He will keep trying, "twice, yes, three times, with a man, To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living." Love cannot fail! Therefore, God, our loving and merciful Father, can never fail in all His wonderful works on behalf of His called and chosen elect!
There is a most wonderful example of the demonstration of the power of the Kingdom of God as a result of the life Daniel lived. It was a result of Daniel's life, not his words alone, that turned the heart of King Darius to love and worship the Lord God of Israel. When Daniel was miraculously delivered from the lion's den, King Darius made this decree: "That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions" (Dan. 6:26-27).
As our Father delivered Daniel from the lion's den, so also shall He deliver us from this realm of sin and death, by clothing us with those "white robes!" As a result of Daniel's living witness or testimony to that heathen king, Darius decreed that everyone in his kingdom should worship the God of Daniel. Imagine what we will do among the nations when we manifest the power and glory of the Kingdom of God to all men and all nations! Nations will then come running to us (Mic. 4:2, Zech. 2:11)! Then, our Father will be able to say of us, with satisfaction, honor and praise,"these are they!"
Early in the history of Israel, when they were in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt, the word of the Lord went forth, saying, "These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron" (Ex. 6:27). Two men were called of their Father to deliver Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Just two men, but that was all that God needed! Today He has a small but strong, anointed and patient remnant in the earth! These are they . . . who shall bring forth deliverance, first for themselves, second for the Israel of God, and finally and ultimately, for the masses of this world! Egypt is a type of the world and its systems. And as Moses and Aaron were called of God to bring out the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, so also are the holy remnant of the Lord called to bring God's people out of the bondages of this world and its corrupt systems of man. And like Moses and Aaron, we shall not fail to fulfill the awesome and wonderful plan and purpose of God for this troubled world.
It is our Father's purpose to conquer the nations, defeat them and nullify their power, by the greater power of the Kingdom of God. And we are the messengers, the ambassadors, and the Melchisedec priest-kings of that Kingdom, which shall put all other governments, kingdoms and nations under the feet of this Christ. Thus, the prophet wrote: "The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought and planned, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand– That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and upon My mountains I will tread him underfoot. Then shall the [Assyrian's] yoke depart from [the people of Judah], and his burden depart from their shoulders. This is the [Lord's] purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth [regarded as conquered and put under tribute by Assyria]; and this is [His omnipotent] hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" (Isa. 14:24-27, AMP).
God's land and His mountains represent the Kingdom of God on earth. In His land and on His mountains, which is the Kingdom of God on earth, shall the Lord subdue all the kingdoms of man and put them all under His feet, which we are! David already sang this song indicating that it is a finished work: "Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen" (Ps. 72:18-19). How can the whole earth be filled with His glory if there still are enemies within it? It is an impossibility! All the enemies of Christ shall be put under His feet, by the power of the reign of Christ! And then the whole earth shall be filled with His glory! Amen, and amen!
The Lord has already given His Word, declaring that it was His purpose to call forth an obedient people, a people who would do all His will. Then, God declared that He would raise that called and chosen people up above the level of the nations of this world, and fulfill His purpose with them. Thus, it is written, "And the Lord has declared this day that you are His peculiar people as He promised you, and you are to keep all His commandments; And He will make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a holy people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken." (Deut. 26:18-19, AMP). How has the Lord raised us up to be above all the nations of the world? By setting us up on His royal throne of power and authority in His Kingdom, which is exalted above all the nations and the governments of man! In spiritual reality, there is none as high as Christ and His chosen sons of God are now! We are exalted high above the nations, not to rejoice or boast of our exalted position in Christ, but TO FULFILL THE WORD AND THE WILL OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! We have no other reason or purpose for our existence than that!
The Psalmist also said, "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory" (Ps. 97:5-6). The hills represent the governments of man in the earth. And all the governments, dominions and kingdoms of man on earth, or anywhere else, shall melt at the presence of the Lord. By the mighty power of the Spirit and Presence of the Lord, which is the essence and the authority of the Kingdom of God, every government of man, whether large or small, shall melt and be removed from the world to exist no more.
The Lord thought this truth was so important that He repeated to Israel, saying, "IF YOU will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God" (Deut. 28:1-2, AMP). Have you ever noticed that some of the promises of God come with conditions? The Lord says, "I will do this and this, if you will hear my voice and do my will." God's promise, declaring that He will raise us up above the nations, is conditioned upon our hearing His word and doing it! And then, if we meet His conditions, the many abundant promises of God will then OVERTAKE US! Those promises, given in the rest of that chapter, will not merely happen to us as if in a casual way, but they will OVERTAKE US. His promises fulfilled will come upon us by surprise; they will come upon us and overtake us, so that we will wonder at the goodness, grace and mercy of our Father.
The Pattern and Example of Joseph's Life
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and heart-warming stories in all of scripture is the story of Joseph. It is a story of the making of a true son! Joseph was loved of his father, and for that reason his brothers hated him. Because of their hatred for him, Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave to a group of traders. The traders took Joseph to Egypt, where he was put in prison, tried and tested in various ways, and then was exalted to Pharoah's throne. As the second in command in all of Egypt, Joseph stored grain during seven good years of plenty, in preparation for seven bad years of famine. We see in Joseph's life a perfect example and pattern of the life of every true son who is in the preparatory process of ruling and reigning with Christ. As Joseph was called and set apart by God "to preserve life," so also are we called of our Father and set apart by Him to preserve, restore and manifest the fullness of the Life of Christ, which also is the Life of the Father.
When his brethren came to Egypt to buy grain, they stood face to face with their brother, Joseph, whom they had sold as a slave. As the head of Pharaoh's affairs, Joseph was the one who had the responsibility of doling out the grain to those in need. So it was Joseph to whom his brothers came for food. When all his brothers stood before him, Joseph revealed himself to them. He said to them, "I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life" (Ge. 45:3-5).
How blessed we are if, like Joseph, we can fully understand and recognize that all our tests and trials are for a wise purpose in God! With the wisdom and understanding of God, Joseph was able to say to his once hate-filled brethren, "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." Joseph did not rant and rave at his brothers for treating him as they did, nor did he blame them. But with grace, mercy and love in his heart for his brethren, Joseph forgave them and acknowledged that his entire experience, in the empty cistern, being sold as a slave, as well as his imprisonment in Egypt, was all part of God's plan for his life. So it is with us. All who are called to rule and reign with Christ, shall walk a similar path of tests and trials, leading to the royal, spiritual throne of the kingdom of God.
Father's plan for us is clearly stated in the anointed and inspired Word of the Lord: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Ro. 8:16-18). And also, the Spirit has said, "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). And again, we read, "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Pe. 2:20-21). And finally, God's anointed Word declares, "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Pe. 4:19, see also Rev. 2:10).
It is interesting to note that the word, "suffer," as used in 2 Timothy 2:12, means to stay under, to remain (in our trials), to undergo or bear our trials, to have fortitude and to persevere through each one of them. As sons of God growing into the full image and likeness of Christ, we know the reason and the purpose for all our tests and trials. Therefore, we will remain in our trials; we will not try to get out from under our trials, but will stay under them and in them, and will remain in the particular situation in which our loving and merciful Father has placed us. Each trial we go through is uniquely designed for our individual need and spiritual growth and also for His glory! We will continue to have fortitude in bearing our trials and will persevere through them all, knowing that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall soon be revealed IN US! We also know that we are destined to rule and reign with Christ from our Father's throne of all power and authority. And we are assured that those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with Him! Amen!
These truths are vividly portrayed in the life of Joseph for all of us to see and understand. After Joseph suffered a while, he was exalted by God to the throne of Egypt. He became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt and among the nations of the world at that time. God had a plan for Joseph, which included all his tests and trials, and which ultimately led him to the throne of Egypt, the most powerful nation at that time. And our sufferings will lead to a much greater throne, which is the royal throne of God that rules over all nations and all mankind in the blessed Kingdom of our Father!
With all his brothers standing before him in Egypt, including Benjamin, the youngest, Joseph made himself known to them, and then asked that they return home and bring their father back with them to Egypt. Joseph also promised that all their family, along with their flocks and herds, and all their children, would be protected and cared for in Egypt, if they all returned to be near Joseph. Joseph promised to nourish the families and the nation of Israel in Egypt during the remainder of the five years of famine. When Pharaoh heard that Joseph's brethren had come to Egypt to buy food, he reaffirmed the promises Joseph made to his family. Pharaoh also promised that every need of Joseph's family would be provided, and that they could live in the land of Goshen, if they would all return to Egypt to live near Joseph.
These blessings promised to Israel as a result of Joseph's reign in Egypt are typical of the blessings promised to all in the Kingdom of God. If we can remember but one thing about the Kingdom of God, let it be this: in the Kingdom of God every need of man is fully met. There will not be any needy or poverty-stricken people anywhere in this world when the Christ reigns supreme! I could tell you of the many benefits that shall exist when the reign of Christ is extended to all men and all nations, but we will let the Word of God do the teaching:
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. [Isa 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1.] But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a rejoicing and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; and the sound of weeping will no more be heard in it, nor the cry of distress. There shall no more be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who dies prematurely; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner who dies when only a hundred years old shall be [thought only a child, cut off because he is] accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat [the fruit]. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen and elect shall long make use of and enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bring forth [children] for sudden terror or calamity; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall be that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear. [Isa 30:19; 58:9; Matt 6:8.] The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy Mount [Zion], says the Lord" (Is 65:17-25, AMP).
Can you believe that such wonderful conditions will actually exist on this old earth? God will create a new earth; it will be the earth made so new that no one will recognize it or be able to compare it with the old earth, the world that now exists. The Lord will also create a new Jerusalem; it will be a heavenly, spiritual "city" of God, the dwelling place of God and His people, by the Spirit. Within the new Jerusalem the voices of weeping, and of sadness and crying will no longer be heard, for God will create the new, spiritual Jerusalem as a place of rejoicing, and the people within her will be made a joyful people.
The saints of the present, spiritual new Jerusalem are usually heard crying, weeping and travailing, for they are suffering through the tests and trials of this life. But in the newest, spiritual Jerusalem, their former troubles are forgotten and joy has replaced their sorrow. The more mature among them are also suffering the birth pangs of their new birth into the glorious image and likeness of Christ, their elder Brother. In the new Jerusalem "city" of the future, there will be no weeping, crying or mourning, for all has been made new. There is no longer any need for suffering and travail, for joy prevails. When a son is born into the world the mother need not travail any longer, for her joy is fulfilled! Likewise, when we are born again of the Spirit to become spirit, as in John 3:3-6, our travail will be over, for God will have brought us forth as manifest sons of our Father, thus fulfilling our joy! As a result of our transformation, the world will be blessed with all the many, abundant blessings and benefits of the Kingdom of God!
When we have been transformed, and all mankind has been changed as a result of our transformation, an infant child shall not live only a few days, but shall be considered still a child at one hundred years old. And should a sinner die at a hundred years old, they will be thought of as a child, or one who was "accursed." In that blessed Day to come, people will build homes and will live successful and blessed lives in their own homes. Homes then will not be repossessed or foreclosed, for every man will dwell under his own vine and fig tree. There will be no lust or greed, and therefore, no mortgage or finance companies prospering on the backs of the poor and the needy. In that Day, they will not build homes for another to inhabit, nor will they plant vineyards for the sustenance of others, for in the Kingdom of God each person shall possess their own possessions. There will be no want or privation, for all greed and covetousness will be removed from the soul of the Adamic man. The days of God's people shall be like the days of a tree, and His chosen and elect ones shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
None shall labor in vain or bring forth children for war or other forms of destruction, for they are the blessed of the Lord and their descendants are blessed with them. In that Day, it shall be that before they call, God will answer, and while they are yet speaking He will hear them. Then, the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. They shall not hurt or destroy at all in Mount Zion, the holy, heavenly city of God, for the cause of all such carnality has been removed from their minds. And finally, the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Such promises as these may sound unreal and impossible to be realized when viewed with the carnal mind, which is the mind of this world. But to those with the mind of Christ, it is a vision and a hope soon to be realized here on this tired old world of sin and shame, which has seen nothing but the many constant, confusing and continuing failures of the works of man.
God is raising up saints in the earth today who believe His Word unreservedly and who stand fast in the truth of God, no matter how it looks from the human perspective. They are not looking to the world and the things of it, but to the risen Christ of God. In seeing Him, they are also seeing the fulfillment of all God's holy Word of Truth! When we see Him, our hearts and our minds will respond with a Spirit-birthed shout of AMEN to every prophetic Word of God! And our AMEN is an expression of our faith and trust in the Lord and in His sovereign purposes for this world. Our amen also confirms our relationship to Christ the King in the Kingdom of our Father, making us one with all the unfolding promises and eternal purposes of our God! And the cry of our hearts now is, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Amen! Man has failed miserably, but there is no failure in the Kingdom of God! And all the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen to all who believe!
Everything with God and His Kingdom, including His prophetic Word of promise, is sure, certain and absolute! The Psalmist declared, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps. 19:7). God is perfect, and His law and His testimony are sure and certain to be fulfilled. Living in this imperfect world, as we do, we may find it difficult to assign perfection and certainty to anything anywhere. But God and His Kingdom are all that and much more! He is infinitely pure and holy, and all His works are done in perfection, holiness, righteousness and glory. And the Word of God is the same! It is written, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17, NIV).
The Holy, Heavenly, Spiritual Temple of the Lord
The Lord is building a Temple! It is not a temple made of wood or clay, but it is a holy Temple made of Living Stones. Each of those Stones is a human being who has been changed within and without and is in the process of becoming like Christ, the Original Stone. This Living Temple made up of Living Stones will be a sure house; it shall never rot or decay, for it is not of this world. God has said of this Temple, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Is. 28:16). Christ is that foundation Stone, the precious corner Stone, and He makes the foundation of this Temple a very sure foundation. And all who are built upon this foundation shall never know failure or defeat, for they are built upon a SURE FOUNDATION. Every other Living Stone that makes up this Temple shall be as sure and as strong as that original foundation Stone, the precious corner Stone, which is Christ!
It is written, for the benefit of those who are joined to that perfect and holy Kingdom Temple, "he that believeth shall not make haste." In that Temple, which is made up of Lively Stones, with Christ as the chief corner Stone, all work is done by the Lord Himself. The Spirit of God is the moving, active Force in this new Temple, the Temple of God, by the Spirit. And every one of her Lively Stones, which we are, firmly and constantly believe and obey Him. And because they believe God, they shall not make haste to do the work of God! There is no work for any of us to do in the Temple of the Lord, for God and His Spirit will be the only working, moving, active power! Have you ever noticed, as I have, that when the Spirit of God is moving, there is no work for us to do? When the Lord moves by His mighty, omnipotent Spirit, He does all the work! When God works we have no reason to be in haste or to be anxious about anything, for God is in control. He is doing His great work, when the Spirit moves, and we need do nothing. Such is the power of God that will be manifest throughout the earth when the Kingdom of God has fully come down from God out of Heaven to the earth!
Man was given this law: "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates" (Ex. 20:9-10). The six days of man are over! Man has labored and done his work for those six prophetic days on this earth, and now it is time for man to cease all his work and enter into the rest of God. It is time for man to rest while God works to finish His work on earth. Jesus said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (Jo. 9:4). The night has come; it is the night when no man can work! When we enter into the rest of the Lord, we will then realize that there is nothing left for us to do but to believe God. Jesus also said, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (Jo. 6:29).
When we speak or write about God and His Kingdom, we are referring to that which is sure, certain, absolute, perfect and complete. The world and the things of it are just the opposite! Nothing here is sure, or certain, or absolute, or perfect, or complete. It is all doubtful, uncertain, insecure, unsafe, fake, unreal and a mass of confusion. But, we are members of a "sure house" (1 Sam. 2:35), that has a "sure foundation" (Is. 28:16). It is a "peaceable habitation", with "sure dwellings, and quiet resting places" (Is. 32:18). Our Father has made a "sure covenant" with us (Neh. 9:38), with a "sure reward" (Pro. 11:18). This covenant is an everlasting covenant that He made with us, "even the sure mercies of David" (Is. 55:3), and the promise is "sure to all the seed" which we are (Ro. 4:16). Also, "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Tim. 2:19). The hope we have is "an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Heb. 6:19). And, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19). And also, "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, FOR EVER" (Ps. 93:5). And our Lord would also say to us, "be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (Lu. 10:11). Could anything be more sure or certain than this? There is nothing more sure or certain than our sovereign and omnipotent Father, and His mighty and all-powerful Kingdom of Love! Amen and amen!


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Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it. Every rose has its thorns. Emma learns the true nature of war and what being with her mother entails. Read More…..
We're launching this week! Book 2 of The Vampire Realm Series: Of Darkness and Light is coming closer to being on your e-reader.
e-book pre-orders available at Amazon (US, but check your country's site), Barnes & Noble, iStore, Kobo, Smashwords.


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Reviews and synopsis
The Exiled Collector
On 30 August 1841, William John Bankes, former Tory MP, pioneer Egyptologist and renowned traveller was caught in compromising circumstances with a guardsman in London's Green Park. Bankes paid a heavy price for his moment of madness: less than two weeks later, well aware that sodomy carried the death penalty, he fled into exile eventually settling in Venice. The Government declared Bankes an outlaw – a vindictive and archaic procedure which entitled them to seize his house, Kingston Lacy in Dorset.
The Exiled Collector is the poignant story of how Bankes, friend of Byron and the Duke of Wellington, eventually turned his personal tragedy to posterity's benefit. Based in Venice, he continued to collect obsessively for a house he no longer owned. He found fulfilment through designing, commissioning and creating as well as collecting for the house he loved but was able to visit only in secret at the end of his life. Based on extensive research from previously undiscovered archives, this is the first full biography of William Bankes. It vividly recounts his dramatic life story, examines the psychology of collecting and the pain and creativity of exile and affords a revealing insight in the minds of a ruling elite in early Victorian Britain.
To hear a broadcast of the lecture Anne gave about William Bankes – The Exiled Collector at the Boston Athenaeum during her last US lecture tour organised by Royal Oak Foundation please go to William John Bankes: The Exiled Collector – WGBH
Spectator Books of The Year 2004:
The Exiled Collector "The stuff of which novels are made.
For Feature article on Kingston Lacy and William Bankes in the Bournemouth Echo please see PDF
exiled collector article


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We now offer the 5th Gen TSS bumpers in Limited form. Feel free to inquire
We love the stock capabilities and the look of the Toyota 4runner, however, we felt there was room for improvements in clearance, approach angles, winch adaptation, and accessory mounts.
Bumpers are shipped bare metal to avoid damage. All orders ship truck freight and must go to a business address with a forklift or loading dock. If you do not have a business address available, YRC will contact you when your order arrives at your local terminal.
Test fit your bumper before coating and contact us via email for a solution if there is an issue, we will not cover recoating a bumper that has a defect needing repair. 20% restocking fee on all product refunds before shipping. We will not issue refunds on products already shipped.
Lighting: 2020+ fits 6 pods and 2 10" light bars.
Recovery: Shackle Mounts, Winch-ready, compatible with most 10k winches.
Bare bumper weight is approximately 115lbs
Compatible with: Factory, TRD, and most any aftermarket skid plates.
It is HIGHLY recommended that you have a professional install this product due to its weight and difficulty.
For local pick-ups, powder-coat is available for an additional $400. Bumpers will be sandblasted, primed and coated satin black. This adds an additional 2-3 weeks to lead time.