text: Baptist Press Stories for Nov. 27 2013 --------------------------------------- Philippine typhoon sparks global Baptist relief effort http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41568 Typhoon relief brings hope to rural Filipinos http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41569 High court to rule on Hobby Lobby suit http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41579 Religious liberty & ministers' tax exemption http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41570 WEEK OF PRAYER: Missionary helps European students connect to God http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41571 WEEK OF PRAYER: Biology student in Spain finds connection to God http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41572 WEEK OF PRAYER: A 'lesson in miracles' http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41573 Sudan: Sharia, women & religious freedom http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41577 Messianic Jew faces Israeli deportation http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41580 CALL TO PRAYER: Returning home for Thanksgiving http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41574 FIRST-PERSON: Thankful for grace http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41575 EDITORIAL: Actitud de Gratitud http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41578 --------------------------------------- Philippine typhoon sparks global Baptist relief effort By Don Graham Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41568 RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Less than 24 hours after Typhoon Haiyan roared through the Philippines, Southern Baptist missionaries and disaster relief specialists were delivering aid to dozens of towns and villages devastated by the super storm. Their efforts are just part of a larger, global response to Haiyan by the international Baptist community that is multiplying Southern Baptists' impact. Baptists in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Italy have already responded to the crisis or are pledging their support, as have numerous Filipino Baptist churches in the United States. Some are coordinating efforts through relief organizations such as Baptist Global Response (BGR), a key International Mission Board partner in disaster relief ministries, while others are channeling aid through Philippine churches. Images of destruction in places like Tacloban City bring back haunting memories for Joel Cuellar, evangelism and missions pastor at Tokyo Baptist Church. During the past two years, Tokyo Baptist has sent more than 300 of its members to serve in relief and rebuilding efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that decimated parts of northeast Japan. "It's hard to accept the reality that thousands of people passed away in such a short time," said Cuellar, 47, a native Filipino who moved to Japan more than 20 years ago. "It's becoming more natural for us to respond with the love of God when calamity strikes, because we've learned from firsthand experience." When Cuellar heard the news about the extent of Haiyan's damage, he said he immediately began praying about how Tokyo Baptist Church might help. "Our purpose is to rebuild lives, both physically and spiritually, with the Gospel of Christ," he said. "It's based on the Great Commission and Matthew 25, when Jesus asked us to feed those who are hungry." Cuellar's congregation has given $5,000 to aid typhoon victims through BGR and plans to continue giving through a special offering to be collected during the next few weeks. "No one can see the pictures of the Philippines on TV and relate more directly than the people here who were in the tsunami," said Dennis Folds, Tokyo Baptist's senior pastor. "The devastation looks the same." Folds emphasized that the typhoon is a reminder that Christians must work quickly to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of victims. "The urgency that we have right now to help the Philippines should remind us as believers to have a continual urgency to share the Gospel ... because we never know how an individual might be affected in a tragic event," he said. Though the majority of Tokyo Baptist's membership is Japanese, it is an international church with about 40 different nationalities represented. Among them are more than 100 active Filipinos including Raneil Ensomo, who is from a small village on the island of Leyte, where Tacloban City is located. Ensomo's parents told him that 60 percent of the homes in his hometown were destroyed; only 10 percent still have roofs. His parents are among the 10 percent, but their next-door neighbors weren't so lucky. "Everyone is focusing on Tacloban, and for a good reason, but the typhoon affected a very large area and I think there are lots of places that are not getting enough help," Ensomo said. Many outlying towns and villages, particularly in remote mountain areas, have yet to see any aid. "They don't know what to do; they don't have money to rebuild their houses," he said. That thought has kept other members of Tokyo Baptist's Filipino congregation awake at night. "I've been praying, I've been crying -- I can't even sleep, because I see all those people asking for help," said Karen Damian, who is thankful her family wasn't affected by the storm. The show of international support in Haiyan's wake has been encouraging, she added. "It's really overwhelming to me; they really love the Philippines, they really love my people," Damian said. Folds and Cuellar are meeting with Filipino members like Damian and Ensomo to help determine how Tokyo Baptist can meet typhoon survivors' needs most effectively, with the goal of working primarily through local Baptist churches in the Philippines. Folds adds that he sees God's providence in Haiyan's timing since many of Tokyo Baptist's Filipino members typically return home during the Christmas season. "Almost always those that return use that opportunity as a mission trip of sorts, and they share the Gospel in their local community," Folds said. "I know they'll go with a heart for evangelism because they always do." Filipino Baptists respond As Baptists in Asia and elsewhere around the world reach out to the Philippines, Filipino churches in the United States also are responding. Many Filipino Americans have families who live in areas affected by the typhoon, including Jerry Lepasana, who pastors Bible Church International in Randolph, N.J. Lepasana's uncle by marriage lives in Tacloban City and survived the storm, as did 10 other church members' relatives living in typhoon-ravaged communities. Though Lepasana's church is multi-ethnic, it started as a Filipino congregation and Filipinos still comprise the majority of its members. Lepasana himself is Filipino and grew up in Manila. Bible Church International (BCI) is serving as a coordination and collection hub for Philippine relief efforts in the area, gathering clothes, bedding, food and other supplies. The last time a large typhoon hit the Philippines, slamming metro Manila two years ago, BCI collected 100 boxes of clothes that were sent to victims. Lepasana said he expects to send much more in response to Haiyan. "Our church has always felt that though we are here in the U.S., we are very much connected with our country in the Philippines," Lepasana said. "We've been sending medical teams every two years from our congregation; so, when something like this happens, we are deeply touched and want to be the hands of the Lord to lift the burdens of the people suffering in our country." Paul Sasis is a Filipino pastor and church planter working in Fontana, Calif., in partnership with the North American Mission Board. He was on a mission trip to Manila when Haiyan struck; as the typhoon's winds buffeted the Philippine capital, it was surreal to watch the news on TV and see people dying just a few hundred miles away, Sasis said. "The city (Tacloban) is wiped out, that's how terrible it is," he said. "And those who have survived are dying [trying to find] food and water. ... We cannot wait -- they need the help now." Sasis' congregation at Be the Message Church is collecting boxes of clothing, toiletries and other supplies to send to Haiyan victims. "I think this is one of the greatest opportunities for us to share the love of Christ. People are desperate. I heard about a Philippine mayor [on the news] who was saying that God had forgotten them. I think it's time for us to show that God has not forgotten the people in Tacloban or the Philippines." Churches and individuals interested in going as volunteers to help with the disaster response should contact the Disaster Relief director of their state Baptist convention. International disaster response requires teams to be certified in certain skills, and the mobilization of volunteer teams to overseas disasters is coordinated with state conventions. To contribute to relief efforts, visit [URL=https://netcommunity.imb.org/SuperTyphoonHaiyan] imb.org/helpnow [/URL]. --30-- Don Graham is a senior writer at IMB. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Typhoon relief brings hope to rural Filipinos By Mark Kelly Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41569 MABUNAO, Philippines (BP) -- A murmur rippled through the crowd as the first families opened the food packages delivered Nov. 21 by the Baptist Global Response team. Those items included canned meat, rice, noodles, sugar, powdered milk, drinking water and instant coffee. Most relief organizations were only bringing rice -- two kilos per family -- but the Southern Baptists brought more than twice that amount. It was enough to feed a family of five for a week. In the rural community of Mabunao, on the northern end of Cebu Island, the entire community gathered at the plaza outside the town hall. They came to receive relief supplies provided by donations from the United States in response to Typhoon Haiyan that had devastated the Philippines Nov. 8. Volunteers from the U.S. accompanied the delivery, which was organized by Nabanglo Driz, a Filipino pastor and BGR partner. "There were so many people coming by and saying thank you," Mike Beasley, a volunteer with Trimble (Mo.) Baptist Church, said. "There were a lot of happy kids." Scottie Stice, pastor of Southwest Texas Cowboy Church in Uvalde, Texas, said "they hadn't had any coffee since before the typhoon." "The people were all very appreciative of what they gave out," Stice said. "The barangay captain [community leader] said, 'I cannot believe how generous you are, how much you have given us. We were not expecting this. This is more than we could have imagined receiving." Seeing the plight of storm survivors firsthand is very moving, Stice said. Many roofs were torn off houses, while other homes completely collapsed. Some people are trying to live in their now-dilapidated houses. Others are using scraps to build a lean-to for shelter. "We're seeing desperately poor people who have just gone through a typhoon and lost even more," Stice said. "The immediate need is the housing, but for me, I'm looking down the road. What will these farmers be doing? Their crops were damaged. It's not over with." BGR's strategy for disaster response looks beyond immediate survival needs like food and water and helps communities plot a course toward recovery, said Ben Wolf, who with his wife, Pam, leads BGR work in Asia Rim. "We had been having trouble finding suppliers for the food packages we are assembling," Wolf said. "With so much relief work going on, warehouses don't have much on hand. We found one warehouse that could supply us and went back to them today and they couldn't help us. We called another one and they delivered everything we needed. When one source dries up or something happens they can't meet the need, the Lord pops up somebody else. "I'm continually amazed -- daily -- by the divine appointments," Wolf added. "It's people who are coming alongside to help. It's knowing people are praying. It's arriving in communities and they say, 'You're the ones we've been longing to see." To learn more about how you can help storm survivors, visit [URL= https://gobgr.org/projects/project_detail/typhoon-haiyan/]BGR's Typhoon Haiyan project page[/URL]. --30-- Mark Kelly is a writer for Baptist Global Response. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- High court to rule on Hobby Lobby suit By Tom Strode Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41579 UPDATED WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27 WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if the federal government can enforce an abortion/contraception mandate against business owners who conscientiously object. The justices announced Tuesday (Nov. 26) they would review lower court rulings in lawsuits against the Obama administration's requirement that employers provide contraceptives, including abortion-causing drugs, for their workers. The high court consolidated two cases and will hear oral arguments next year but not before March. A decision is expected by the time the court adjourns next summer. The cases involve split opinions in two appeals court circuits: The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled in favor of the religious freedom rights of Hobby Lobby and its sister corporation Mardel, Oklahoma City-based retail chains owned by the pro-life evangelical Christian Green family, while the Third Circuit in Philadelphia decided against Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Pennsylvania business owned by pro-life Mennonites. The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which joined a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to review the appeals court decisions and rule in favor of the business owners, applauded the justices' announcement. "The Supreme Court's consideration of the [cases] is the most important religious liberty question in recent years," ERLC President Russell D. Moore said in a written statement. "What's at stake in this case is whether or not the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. "We cannot accept the theology lesson that the government has sought to teach us, that religion is merely a matter of what happens during the scheduled times of our services and is left there in the foyer during the rest of the week. Our religious convictions aren't reduced to mere opinions we hide in our heart and in our hymns. Our religious convictions inform the way we live. "I pray the Supreme Court recognizes what the founders of this country saw, that religious liberty isn't a gift handed to us by Uncle Caesar," Moore said. "Religious liberty is given to us by God and is inalienable." Hobby Lobby founder David Green welcomed the news. "This legal challenge has always remained about one thing and one thing only: the right of our family businesses to live out our sincere and deeply held religious convictions as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution," Green said in a written release. "Business owners should not have to choose between violating their faith and violating the law." A major question the Supreme Court will consider is whether owners of for-profit companies can exercise their religion in the conduct of their businesses. In its July ruling against Conestoga Wood, a divided three-judge panel of the Third Circuit said for-profit secular organizations "cannot engage in religious exercise." A month earlier, however, the 10th Circuit rejected the Obama administration's argument that protections under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act do not extend to for-profit companies. The 10th Circuit ruled corporations such as Hobby Lobby and Mardel "can be 'persons' exercising religion for purposes" of RFRA. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the abortion/contraception mandate on behalf of the Obama administration as part of implementing the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health care reform law. In addition to contraceptives, the mandate requires coverage of such drugs as Plan B and other "morning-after" pills that possess a post-fertilization mechanism that can cause an abortion by preventing implantation of tiny embryos. The rule also covers "ella," which -- in a fashion similar to the abortion drug RU 486 -- can even act after implantation to end the life of the child. HHS provided an exemption to the rule for churches and their auxiliaries but did not extend it to non-church-related, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies that object. Some conscientious objectors oppose underwriting all contraceptives, while some -- such as Hobby Lobby -- protest paying only for abortion-causing drugs. The administration also offered an accommodation for non-church-related religious organizations, but critics said it was inadequate because it still forces such groups to provide access to the drugs through third parties. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the administration believes the mandate "is lawful and essential to women's health and [is] confident the Supreme Court will agree." In a written statement, Carney said the rule "is designed to ensure that health care decisions are made between a woman and her doctor. The President believes that no one, including the government or for-profit corporations, should be able to dictate those decisions to women." David Cortman, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), said, however, the Obama administration "has no business forcing citizens to choose between making a living and living free." "We trust the Supreme Court will agree," Cortman said in a written release. ADF represents Conestoga Wood. "A government that forces any citizen to participate in immoral acts -- like the use of abortion drugs -- under threat of crippling fines is a government everyone should fear." Abortion rights advocates called for the high court to uphold the mandate." (B)osses have no business imposing their own politics on their employees' health and decisions," Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-choice America, said in a statement. For-profit and non-profit corporations have filed a total of 84 lawsuits against the mandate, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby. GuideStone Financial Resources, the Southern Baptist Convention's health and financial benefits entity, combined with two of its health plan participants to file one of the suits in October. The Department of Justice urged the Supreme Court to review the 10th Circuit ruling in the Hobby Lobby case. In an unconventional move, Hobby Lobby agreed the justices should hear the case, even though it won in the appeals court. Hobby Lobby, a national arts and crafts retail chain, has said it will not comply with the mandate. If it ultimately loses in court, the chain of nearly 580 stores could face fines totaling $1.3 million a day. Mardell is a Christian bookstore chain. Hobby Lobby seeks to honor God "by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles," according to its statement of purpose. Its stores are closed on Sundays. The Hahn family, which owns Conestoga Wood Specialties, has been living under the mandate since its group health plan was renewed in January. Refusal to abide by the mandate could cost the family an estimated $95,000 a day. Conestoga Wood is a wholesale manufacturer of kitchen cabinet parts. The 10th Circuit case is Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, while the Third Circuit case is Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius. Kathleen Sebelius is the HHS secretary. --30-- Tom Strode is the Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp]baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Religious liberty & ministers' tax exemption By Joe Carter Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41570 WASHINGTON (BP) -- A federal judge has ruled that an Internal Revenue Service exemption that gives clergy tax-free housing allowances is unconstitutional (see Baptist Press [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=41560]story[/URL] posted Nov. 25). In her ruling U.S. District Court Judge Crabb claims, "Some might view a rule against preferential treatment as exhibiting hostility toward religion, but equality should never be mistaken for hostility." Despite the judge's claim, appealing to "equality" is not enough to make the action non-hostile toward religion nor is it in line with previous court decisions. Not only has the Supreme Court previously stated that the Establishment Clause prohibits hostility against religion as much as it prohibits the establishment of a state religion, it has also noted that its "precedents plainly contemplate that on occasion some advancement of religion will result from governmental action." But aside from the question of constitutionality, the clergy exemption raises a question that many people -- whether religious or not -- are likely to be wondering: Why exactly do ministers receive a tax exemption for their housing allowance? To answer the question we must first consider how taxation of church property, including clergy housing, has historically been considered. Since at least the time when Joseph served in Pharaoh's Egypt, religious property has been exempt from certain forms of taxation (Genesis 47:26). The practice continued in the Roman Empire and through medieval Europe and was part of the common law, which America adopted from England. The common law granted tax exemptions to established churches and, through the equity law tradition, to all churches. From the 15th century to the 19th century, most pastors lived in the parsonage, a house provided by the church. Housing was thus a form of non-cash payment that was exempt from taxation since the parsonage was church property. By the early 20th century, though, both clergy housing and taxation had changed considerably. So in 1921, Congress passed the Revenue Act, which exempted from the gross income of ministers the rental value of any "dwelling house and appurtenances thereof" provided by a church as part of clergy compensation. This parsonage exemption, however, applied only to ministers who lived on property owned by their church and disadvantaged ministers whose churches provided a housing allowance rather than a church-owned parsonage. In 1954, Congress amended the tax code to allow ministers to exempt a portion of their income to the extent used by the minister for housing. According to the Senate Report at the time, the purpose of this addition was to eliminate the disparity in the tax code between ministers who lived in a church-owned parsonage and those who were given a stipend with which to secure housing. The clergy, of course, are not the only ones to receive such an exemption. Congress included several categories of tax-free housing allowances to demonstrate a willingness to give tax breaks to classes of taxpayers who have little choice about their personal living space, such as members of the military, members of the Peace Corps, members of the Foreign Service, etc. As CPAs Peter J. Reilly, a taxation specialist, and Frank Sommerville, a nonprofits specialist, explain: "Whether the employer provides a cash allowance or a home, each benefit serves the same purpose; that is, often the employer's needs affect the living space needs of its employees. Many times, these classes of employees frequently relocate, thus preventing them from settling down and hindering long term close friendships. Further, the employers frequently require them to use their homes to conduct employer business. Additionally, the employee's place of service may not be desirable. These employees must reside where their employer requires and must frequently use their residence for employer business. Some employees sacrifice amenities that most citizens take for granted, such as long term stability in one locale and privacy" (Forbes, Sept. 6, 2012). The constitutionality of the parsonage exemption would be difficult to challenge since it has been encoded in statutory law for nearly a hundred years. That is why critics of clergy exemptions have focused on the housing allowance. The obvious counter might appear to be for churches to simply buy a parsonage and directly provide housing for their ministers. But this ignores the fact there may be theological reasons based on church polity for not providing a parsonage. As Justin Butterfield, Hiram Sasser and Reed Smith explain in an article for The Texas Review of Law and Politics, a "congregation's choice to offer a housing allowance rather than allow the minister to live in a church-owned dwelling is not one of mere accounting or convenience, but rather one rich with theological and ecclesiastical underpinnings" (see http://bit.ly/17VhYLa). The parsonage exemption, for instance, provides a preference for institutional churches whose ecclesiastical properties are owned by a central governing body (e.g., Roman Catholic). Smaller, independent local churches often have less money to provide a parsonage. It also presents a bias in favor of wealthy, established churches over younger congregations and church startups. For instance, how could a congregation that can't even afford a church building afford to buy a parsonage? Because of this reality, the courts cannot allow the parsonage exemption and exclude the housing exemption without showing preference for certain religious groups over others. Both the parsonage and pastor housing exemption are part of a legal tradition that serves to prevent the entanglement of the state in ecclesiological concerns. By her decision, though, Judge Crabb has -- albeit unintentionally -- incorporated a form of denominational favoritism into the tax code. In her attempt to prevent an imaginary violation of the Establishment Clause, she has inadvertently created a real infringement. --30-- Joe Carter is director of communications for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. This article first appeared at the ERLC's website (www.erlc.com) on Nov. 25. -- End of story -- WEEK OF PRAYER: Missionary helps European students connect to God By Marie Curtis Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41571 EDITOR'S NOTE: IMB missionary Martha Moore and the Connexxion student ministry she initiated in Europe are featured in the Dec. 1-8 Week of Prayer for International Missions in the Southern Baptist Convention. This year's theme is "Totally His heart, hands, voice" from Matthew 22:36-39. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches support nearly 5,000 international missionaries in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at [URL=http://www.imb.org/offering]imb.org/offering[/URL], where there are resources to promote the offering. This year's goal is $175 million. BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany (BP) -- Martha Moore doesn't waste time dreaming small. The Southern Baptist missionary has learned to look to God for something miraculous. She expects that to happen tonight when her apartment in Germany will be filled with students -- some excited to be with other believers, some still wondering if the Christianity they are hearing about can be trusted. Moore fills her table with a traditional German abendbrot -- a meal of bread, sausage and cheese. She knows there won't be much left over.As students escaping a cold drizzle fill her apartment, she's quick to make newcomers feel welcome in seemingly effortless German. Moore cut her teeth doing student ministry in the university hubs of Vancouver, Canada, and Los Angeles after graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. When she began her missionary work in 1998, someone asked why she had come to Jena, Germany, to which she responded that was going to help people explore who God is. "Good luck!" came the reply. "Do you know where you are? You're in East Germany. Nobody cares about God here. You don't have a chance." Not one to back down from a challenge, that's all Moore needed to hear. Seeking out the few Christians she could find, she started building relationships among college students in Jena, a city of 110,000 people. Fellowship dinners led to discussions about the Bible. Laying out tables full of sandwiches and gummy bears (a variety of the popular candy made in Germany), Moore opened her apartment to anyone who would attend. Sometimes she invited people to meet her at caf�s to discuss their spiritual questions. Even before she had an established campus ministry, she could see her prayers being answered. "I trust God and pray that He will put people in my path that are seeking and that want to know Him," Moore says. Within two years of beginning her ministry in Germany, the students who had been meeting faithfully in two small group studies became known as Connexxion. It is exactly what Martha dreamed about -- a reproducible evangelistic campus ministry staffed and led by local believers. Today, it has spread to two other German campuses and one in Seville, Spain. Life's challenges As Moore moves through her apartment in Braunschweig, Germany, she lights several candles in her windowsill and adjusts a Christmas light strand that stays lit year-round. Behind her, the windows reveal the grayness of the day. "We don't see a whole lot of sun here. It can be very depressing," she says. She uses the candles and decorative lights to help counteract the darkness and lift her spirits, but some days she grabs her journal and a fresh cup of tea and confesses her struggles to God. It takes a lot to break Moore's enthusiasm, but on those emotionally dark days, she says that God has led her to pray to be the mist that rains down His love in Germany, where only about 3 percent of the population are evangelical Christian. She remembers one particularly challenging time in her ministry when she had trained several leaders, only to have them move away. Feeling weary, she confessed to God that she had lost her emotional energy. In time and with the prayers of her faithful family and friends, God renewed her spirits. Moore is grateful for the prayers of congregations, like her home churches of Christ Fellowship in Tampa, Fla., and Seabreeze Church in Huntington Beach, Calif. She also appreciates the generosity of Southern Baptists in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Cooperative Program, which support her and nearly 5,000 other Southern Baptist missionaries around the world. Most U.S. churches don't realize the spiritual lostness of Europe, Moore said, because many Europeans perceivably have access to the Gospel. But what's worse in Moore's mind than not having access to the truth of God's Word is having it and not caring. Evangelicals, Moore explains, are typically viewed as a cult in Western Europe. Some cling to the atheist teaching of past communism. Others are content with a nominal relationship to the state church. The majority of students Moore meets follow the postmodern view that belief in any absolute truth is ignorant. Biblical teachings seem antiquated and constricting of their personal freedoms. Families discourage involvement in groups that teach a change of lifestyle or need for repentance. Moore remembers, for example, the time she spent toward leading to faith a young woman she met when she first moved to Jena. But when the woman's parents discovered her Bible, they tore it up. With only a few exceptions, the 30-plus students active in Connexxion in Braunschweig are the only Christians in their families. Those who choose to actively follow Christ are routinely ridiculed as religious fanatics. While the spiritual ground of Germany seems hardened to the Gospel, Moore remains strong in her belief that God will continue to do a great work in people's hearts. Henning, for instance, was raised to hate God but now follows Christ with passion as an active leader in Connexxion. The only religion Birthe knew was paying a yearly tax to the state Protestant church. Now she trains others to share their faith in Christ. Nikola stands strong in her faith, though her family will not support it. Anja was so afraid in her first Bible study that she never spoke. Today she leads the Braunschweig Connexxion team. The list of students transformed by God's grace is lengthy, and Moore expects it to continue to grow amid the challenge of reaching a community that most think won't turn to God. For more about the Connexxion ministry, visit [URL=http://ConnexxionEurope.wordpress.com]Connexxion Europe[/URL]. --30-- Marie Curtis writes for the International Mission Board from Richmond, Va. See a related video [URL=http://vimeo.com/70781162]here[/URL]. -- End of story -- WEEK OF PRAYER: Biology student in Spain finds connection to God By Marie Curtis Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41572 EDITOR'S NOTE: This year's Week of Prayer for International Missions in the Southern Baptist Convention is Dec. 1-8 with the theme of "Totally His heart, hands, voice" from Matthew 22:36-39. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches support nearly 5,000 international missionaries in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at [URL=http://www.imb.org/offering]imb.org/offering[/URL], where there are resources to promote the offering. This year's goal is $175 million. SEVILLE, Spain (BP) -- Abraham Rios, age 29, has a full day ahead of him. He has a discipleship meeting to plan, along with an English conversation club and a Bible study. In between these events, he is studying for a final exam to receive an advanced biology degree. Today, Rios lives with purpose, knowing that God is at work in and around him. But he remembers when life felt empty and confusing, and he's grateful to Christians who pointed him to Jesus. Rios, who was raised Catholic in tradition only, was a university student in Seville, Spain, when he met these Southern Baptists in 2009. "At that time, I was looking for something in my life, because I am a curious person that needs to understand the meaning of things. That is why I became a biologist, to understand the world around me," he recalls. "I wanted to know more things that can't be easily explained through formulas or empiricism." So Rios says it was perfect timing when a group of students from the U.S. asked him to fill out a survey on how he would describe God. They showed him a selection of photographs and asked him to choose which ones represented who God was to him. Intrigued by the concept, Rios chose the vast landscape of a mountain and a sunset on a beach "because if there was something I sensed about God ... that He was ... something incomprehensible and immense that, at the same time, is beautiful." One of the volunteers conducting the survey was Katherine Gidley from Big Sandy Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She was part of an International World Changers (IWC) team spending two weeks in Seville to assist a campus ministry called Connexxion started by IMB missionary Martha Moore from Tampa, Fla. Gidley and the IWC team turned in their survey response cards to Yasmin Vila Limo, a student missionary from Oklahoma serving alongside Moore for a semester in Seville in the IMB's Hands On program for collegians and recent college grads. Not accustomed to receiving a response to her follow-up inquiries from the surveys, Limo was surprised when Rios wanted to ask her questions about God. Limo, a Spanish speaker from Peru, was able to answer Abraham's questions directly without need of a translator. Their discussion lasted two hours. "He said, 'I know there is more to this religion than what I've been taught,'" Limo recalls. She invited him to a Connexxion event. When Rios met Moore, the missionary recalls thinking: This young man is ready for answers. "He was a people magnet who would invite other people to our group, even though he was still seeking," Moore says. Rios began to study Scripture and attend a church plant. Since becoming a believer in Christ, he has been a strong advocate for Connexxion, wanting to point others to Jesus as the Southern Baptist students and missionaries did for him. Rios has served as a leader on the Seville Connexxion team, working with Limo, who returned to Seville in 2013 as a two-year IMB journeyman missionary. Limo began to lead the Connexxion team in October when Rios moved to Brazil for an internship in biology and for opportunities to share his faith in another culture. "I am very grateful for those people that talked to me about God," Rios says. "It is not a simple thank you that comes out of my mind. It is something that really connects with my spirit." Hearing about the transformation in Rios' life kickstarted by the IWC team approaching him is "validation that you never know what will happen with that one encounter," Gidley, from the IWC team, says. "To come to know the impact that was made that day on Abraham is unimaginable." To learn more about the Connexxion ministry, visit [URL=http://ConnexxionEurope.wordpress.com]Connexxion Europe[/URL]. Go to [URL=http://www.imbstudents.org]imbstudents.org[/URL] to find out more about IWC and Hands On service opportunities. --30-- Marie Curtis writes for IMB from Richmond, Va. Kate Gregory, an IMB writer/editor, contributed to this story. For additional Week of Prayer resources, go to [URL=http://www.totallyhis.imbresources.org]Totally His[/URL]. -- End of story -- WEEK OF PRAYER: A 'lesson in miracles' By Maria Elena Baseler Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41573 EDITOR'S NOTE: This year's Week of Prayer for International Missions in the Southern Baptist Convention is Dec. 1-8 with the theme of "Totally His heart, hands, voice" from Matthew 22:36-39. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches support nearly 5,000 international missionaries in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at [URL=http://www.imb.org/offering]imb.org/offering[/URL], where there are resources to promote the offering. This year's goal is $175 million. ASUNCION, Paraguay (BP) -- Inside a small Buddhist temple in Shiojiri, Japan, 23-year-old missionary Steven Kunkel -- who hails from Paraguay -- sits at a grand piano, playing one of his original compositions called "Creation." Seated on the floor nearby, a Buddhist woman listens to the music, enthralled. She's the caretaker of the temple and an adjoining Buddhist training center, and she's giving a tour of the place to Steven along with a Japanese pastor and a media crew from the International Mission Board. The impromptu concert develops after Steven spots the Yamaha piano and asks the woman's permission to play it for her. She watches and listens, transfixed, as Steven's fingers glide across the keyboard. When he finishes, she wants to hear more. His next song, another original called "The Battle," leaves her equally captivated. Listening to Steven's music, I feel my own heart stir a bit, too. I remember the first time I heard him play these songs -- a half a world away in Asunci�n, Paraguay. It was the day after he was commissioned by his church as an independent missionary to Japan. Steven sat at the piano in his parents' home, sharing his music with family friend Jonathan Yao, IMB photographer Rebecca Springer and me. As Steven's moving melodies filled the living room, I glanced at his parents -- IMB missionaries Tim and Iracema Kunkel -- who listened nearby. The joy in their eyes told a story. It was a story I started writing more than 13 years ago, when Tim and Iracema were IMB missionaries in Salto, Uruguay. Then I worked as a writer at IMB's home office in Richmond, Va., but I knew God was calling me to serve overseas as a missionary. "There's no way I'll go," I told God. I loved traveling to the mission field, reporting stories about missionaries and their families. But go myself as a missionary? "Please don't make me do this," I prayed. I had every excuse in the book and voiced each one of them to God. Often. "Forget it, Lord," I actually prayed. "I don't have what it takes." In the midst of that struggle, I spent a week with the Kunkel family in Uruguay, on IMB assignment for what was then The Commission magazine. Steven was just 10 years old; his older brother, John Glenn, was 12. Their older sister, Julia, had already left home for college. Down-to-earth, authentic and fun, Tim and Iracema opened their home to an IMB photographer and me that week. In an interview I'll never forget, the couple shared candidly what they experienced the day they learned Steven had autism, a developmental brain disorder causing problems in communication, behavior and social interaction. "It was like I lost one child and then another one was born," Iracema remembered. "But I knew God had a plan for Steven." "At first I thought, 'Let's just pack up and go home,'" Tim admitted. "But then I realized that when God called us to missions, He knew the children we were going to have. He allowed this to happen and He has a purpose in this." The Kunkels saw that purpose unfold while staying faithful to their missions calling and trying to help Steven -- and their two older children -- become all God created them to be. At the same time, they shared the Gospel, trained Uruguayan church leaders and helped Uruguayan Baptists start churches. "I'm realizing now that a lot of what God's had us doing on the mission field ... [wasn't] so much about us as missionaries. It was about Steven," Iracema said. Because Uruguay offered few educational programs for people with autism, Iracema studied special education so she could teach Steven herself. Soon, God opened doors for sharing Christ with Uruguayan families affected by autism. Other doors opened through the Kunkels' friendships with Uruguayans. "Many people we've met think we've been dealt a 'bum hand,'" Tim said. "But when they realize we don't feel that way, it helps us be a witness of God's power." I saw that power for myself one night in a restaurant while we shared a meal with the Kunkel family. After we finished eating, Steven walked up to the restaurant host and looked him straight in the eye. "Do you have ice cream?" he asked in Spanish. His parents watched, amazed at how far God had brought Steven. Six years earlier Steven couldn't even speak English, let alone Spanish. "He's a walking miracle," Tim said. Iracema added, "A lesson I've learned through Steven is that miracles don't always happen in the blink of an eye. Sometimes God does miracles through a long slow process, using many different people. "Autism is never cured. But I feel God has been healing Steven little by little." From South America to East Asia After I returned to Richmond, I prayed for the right words to tell this family's story. "Call it, 'A lesson in miracles,'" God seemed to say. Soon after that, God did a miracle in me, too. Five months after the story was published, I was appointed an IMB media missionary. In the years that followed, I lost touch with the Kunkels. But this past year at an IMB meeting in Chile, I heard Iracema call my name. "When I saw your name on the list [of participants], I couldn't wait to talk to you!" she said. "You won't believe what's happened with Steven! He's going to be a missionary -- to Japan!" Over a meal the next day, she and Tim shared the rest of their story. At age 15 in Uruguay, Steven felt God's call to Japan. No Japanese people lived in Salto, so Steven started trying to learn Japanese on his own. Iracema bought him a Japanese phrasebook and he soon mastered all of it. "He couldn't stop talking about Japan," she recalled. The next year, the IMB transferred the Kunkels to Paraguay, where many Japanese immigrants live. Steven attended a Japanese school, served in a Japanese-Paraguayan church and learned to speak and read Japanese. In 2011 Steven visited Japan with family friend Jonathan Yao, and that trip opened the door for him to serve as a volunteer missionary there. Three weeks after seeing the Kunkels in Chile, I flew to Paraguay to attend Steven's commissioning service at a Japanese-Paraguayan house church in Asunci�n. "I've felt today that so many questions about Steven's autism have been answered, like a veil is being lifted from my eyes and I'm seeing things through God's eyes," Iracema told me after the service. "I'm thinking, 'for this day you were born, Steven.'" A few months later, I saw some things through God's eyes, too. On location in Japan's Nagano province, our IMB media crew interviewed Steven about his work as a missionary there. For a "Kids On Mission" video we titled, "God Can Use You," Steven shared what God had done in his life. "My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,'" Steven said. "No matter how disabled you are or what kind of house you live in or what kind of country you're from or what kind of race you are, you just know that if God is with you, who can be against you, because through Him we can do all things." He added, "I'm fulfilling the work that God called me to do, and I feel I am following my vision and my dreams for what God wants me to do on this earth." Listening to Steven's interview that day, I realized I was following God's dream for me, too. "Thank you, Lord, for your 'lesson in miracles,'" I prayed. Remarkably, the miracles of the Kunkel family began to unfold a century earlier. In the 1880s, Southern Baptists sent William and Anne Bagby as one of the first Foreign Mission Board (now IMB) missionary couples to Brazil. The Bagbys led Iracema's grandparents and their 13 children to Christ. "Four generations later," Tim reflected, "and missions is still working!" --30-- Maria Elena Baseler serves as an IMB writer/editor in the Americas. -- End of story -- Sudan: Sharia, women & religious freedom By Robert P. George Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41577 WASHINGTON (BP) -- A Sudanese business owner and women's rights activist defied a police demand this fall that she cover her hair to satisfy their application of Sudan's laws on personal dress. Amira Osman Hamed now faces the prospect of corporal punishment in the form of 40 lashes if convicted of the charges brought against her. Her hearing was postponed earlier this month while the government prepared a response to her challenge to relevant portions of its criminal code. Hamed's case highlights how Sudan's women bear the brunt of a brutal legal system rooted in a draconian interpretation of Islamic (Sharia) law and corresponding hudood (classes of crimes with set punishments). The same regime which openly harbored Osama bin Laden and other international terrorists nearly a generation ago continues to trample on the fundamental rights of its own people, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. In accordance with the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. government continues to designate Sudan as a country of particular concern, marking it a world-class violator of religious liberty. For Sudan to merit the withdrawal of this designation, serious reforms are needed, and the United States and other nations must do more to help instigate change in decades-old practices. Khartoum laid the foundation for its freedom-abusing system 30 years ago in September 1983 when it imposed Sharia on its people, including non-Muslims in the predominantly Christian and animist south. Imposing Sharia helped ignite Sudan's 20-year north-south civil war, leading to the deaths of more than 2 million Sudanese and to South Sudan's secession in 2011. Khartoum's action continues to fuel support for anti-government rebels in the country's Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. Under the Sudanese regime's interpretation of Sharia, floggings and amputations have been instituted for criminal offenses and broadcast on television. In 1991, two years after seizing power in a bloodless coup, Sudan's current president, Omar al-Bashir, made a bad situation worse, implementing the current criminal code which applied punishments not only to criminal conduct but to harmless personal behavior, irrespective of faith or belief. The 1991 Criminal Act identifies and harshly punishes infractions, including hudood offenses which violate "public order." Such offenses include apostasy (ridda), adultery (zina), defamation, unchastity (qazf), drinking alcohol, armed robbery (hiraba) and capital theft. These offenses carry fixed sentences that include death by hanging, stoning, crucifixion and flogging.� In a profound attack on religious freedom, those convicted of apostasy, for example, may be sentenced to death. Under the guise of protecting morality and preventing the co-mingling of the sexes, which is deemed "prostitution," government officials have deployed the public order regime against unmarried men and women alike who dare to share office space and taxi rides or attend parties together. But the public order regime disproportionately harms women and girls, especially those from religious and ethnic minority communities. Each year, hundreds of Muslim and Christian women and girls are flogged for "indecent or immoral dress." Because the law fails to define "indecent" dress, arresting officers and prosecuting judges are free to impose their own views arbitrarily on others. In Hamed's case, authorities deemed it "indecent" to refuse to wear the hijab or Muslim head scarf. Such actions are contrary to international religious freedom standards which clearly protect the right of Hamed and others to wear or not wear religious dress. How should the United States respond to these abuses of religious freedom and other human rights? First, it should spotlight the plight of Amira Osman Hamed and women like her. Second, our government and our allies should urge Sudan to abide by international standards of freedom of religion or belief by amending or repealing the 1991 Criminal Act and subsequent laws and practices which infringe on religious liberty and related rights. Lastly, the U.S. should make clear that normalization of relations with the United States hinges on respect for religious freedom and other human rights. Simply stated, a regime that fails to renounce the use of terror against its own people cannot be trusted to cease its support for terrorizing citizens of other nations. Amira Osman Hamed and others in Sudan have taken a courageous stand for freedom and we must stand with them. --30-- Robert P. George is chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He holds Princeton University's McCormick Chair in Jurisprudence. This article first appeared in the Washington Times on Nov. 25. -- End of story -- Messianic Jew faces Israeli deportation By Staff/Morning Star News Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41580 CAIRO, Egypt (BP) -- An Israeli immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a Messianic Jew who was arrested for taking part in a Jews for Jesus evangelistic campaign in southern Israel, according to a report by Morning Star News, a leading monitor of international religious freedom issues. Barry Barnett, 50, a London-based worker with Jews for Jesus, was ordered on Nov. 24 to leave Israel by Dec. 3. Barnett was volunteering at Jews for Jesus' "Behold your God Israel" campaign around the city of Be'er Shiva when he was arrested Nov. 20 at about 4 p.m. Baptist Press sought comment from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism via its Atlanta office. As of press time, the Israeli agency had not responded to Baptist Press' query. "They did not really give a reason why they detained him," Dan Sered, Israel director for Jews for Jesus, told Morning Star News. "All they said is that he was doing 'missionary activity.' That is correct, he was doing missionary activity, and that is legal to do in Israel." Sered said Jews for Jesus would fight Barnett's deportation. If the order is not overturned, there is a risk it will become a legal precedent that could be used to expel missionaries or any expatriate engaging in religious activities deemed unacceptable by the Israeli government -- or by government officials acting alone. The evangelistic team at the scene of the arrest consisted of Israeli citizens except for Barnett. Sered noted in a news release, "As an Israeli, I have been proud that our country allows for freedom of religion." But, he said, "[T]hose who seized Barry and took him to prison have done a shameful thing." Barnett's wife Alison told Morning Star News that six immigration control officers took Barnett from Be'er Shiva, about 80 miles south of Jerusalem, to an immigration office just outside of Jerusalem. Barnett was held there for several hours without charge, then transferred to an immigration-holding unit of a prison near Tel Aviv. He spent four days in jail before his court hearing Nov. 24. Sered said the presiding judge at the hearing ruled that Barnett was not allowed to engage in "missionary activity" while in Israel. "But the global ethics code for tourism, which the state of Israel signed and even advertises on its own Ministry of Tourism webpage, states that tourism for the purpose of exchanging religious beliefs is not only valid but also should be encouraged," Sered said. "Therefore, his deportation and arrest by the state of Israel was done without a real legal cause." The Israeli immigration officers who arrested Barnett seized a banner he was holding with the evangelistic team. Julia Pascoe, UK branch leader for Jews for Jesus, said there was nothing inherently offensive on the banner. The banner read, "Salvation equals Jesus." It also had a telephone number to contact Jews for Jesus. Alison Barnett said the ultra-Orthodox, anti-Christian group Yad L'Achim had followed Jews for Jesus teams to their campaign sites in Israel since the start the "Behold your God Israel" campaign. Yad L'Achim has a longstanding history of links with sympathetic government officials who take legal actions on their behalf. Yad L'Achim has worked to deny Messianic Jews (who believe Jesus is the promised Messiah) the right of return to Israel and to deny spouses of Messianics immigration visas. They also picket and harass Messianics at their homes and their congregations and have been linked to different government agencies revoking the licensing of Messianic-owned businesses. On Yad L'Achim's website, the organization reported about interfering with the Jews for Jesus campaign's "spiritually poisonous propaganda." "Yad L'Achim has been dispatching beefed-up teams of activists wherever the missionaries are taking up positions in order to alert the public as to their nefarious goals," the organization stated. This is the first time a Jews for Jesus member, either a worker or a volunteer, has been arrested in Israel, Pascoe said. "We have enjoyed freedom of religion in Israel over many campaigns similar to this one; the treatment we received was atypical of the way the law is usually enforced," she said. "We have never experienced this before." Barnett's wife also noted, "This is the first time we have had any problem like this at all, and we have done eight campaigns." Nevertheless, Alison Barnett said she expects "opposition" when in Israel. "And quite frankly," she added, "if we don't get any [opposition], we probably aren't doing our jobs right." --30-- This story first appeared at Morning Star News (www.MorningStarNews.org), a California-based independent news service focusing on the persecution of Christians worldwide. Used by permission. -- End of story -- CALL TO PRAYER: Returning home for Thanksgiving By Erich Bridges Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41574 RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- On a recent visit to India, I met a father of two sons. One son has been dutiful and loyal through the years. The other? Well, let's just say the police were familiar with his activities. The wild child was a big, hard-punching brawler. He picked fights all over town. When he grew up, he got involved in criminal gangs, bringing shame on the family name. "Do something about your son, or we will!" angry neighbors demanded. "Please, give him a little more time," pleaded the heartbroken father, a Christian leader in the community. "I am praying for him." The father wept many tears and prayed many prayers, refusing to give up on his wayward son. One day, the son came home, seeking forgiveness. Today, he joyfully works alongside his father and brother to spread the Gospel in Hindu villages. When asked about his son's formerly evil ways, the father waves his hand, as if sweeping the painful memories away. Those days are past, he says. My son has come home. "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in," wrote the poet Robert Frost. But here's the thing: They don't have to take you in. They probably will, if they love you. But they don't have to. Nor does the Lord have to take you back when you come stumbling home -- hungry, ashamed, afraid even to ask for restoration as His child -- after abandoning Him yet again. But He will, if you ask with a repentant heart, because of who He is. What makes the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) one of the Bible's most moving descriptions of God's grace is the way the rejected father responded before his returning son even opened his mouth: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20b, NASB). I heard a preacher put it this way: God's mercy is not giving us the punishment we deserve. God's grace is giving us the love we don't deserve. That's what I'll be thinking about during Thanksgiving this year. Another Scripture passage I've rediscovered is Isaiah 30:15 (KJV): "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not." "And ye would not." How sad is that? Instead of returning to the Lord and quietly trusting Him to defeat an invading enemy (mighty Assyria), Jerusalem panicked. God's people sought help from Egypt, Israel's old slave master, without even consulting the Lord. It was a political, military -- and above all spiritual -- mistake doomed to failure. But His offer of salvation stood, and as Isaiah later prophesied, it would be extended to all nations with the coming of the Messiah. It stands today, as an invitation both to wandering souls and to wandering nations (peoples). America seems very far from God at the moment. Other nations and peoples are even farther from Him -- so far that they don't even know He is Lord of all. But He is standing at the doorway of His kingdom, scanning the distance for any sign of His children coming home. "Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us," appealed Hosea, Isaiah's contemporary and the prophet of a God heartbroken over the unfaithfulness of His people. "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth" (Hosea 6:1-3, NASB). Saint Augustine knew all about wandering from God. He was an enthusiastic sinner in a pagan age. But he yearned to return to his true and eternal home. "Life with You is the good life indeed," Augustine prayed in his "Confessions." "When we live apart from You, our life is a twisted life. Let us come home to You, Lord, lest we be lost. Life with You is a life in which nothing is lacking, because You are life. We do not fear that there is no home to turn to. We may have turned away from it. But it remains. It did not fall because we fell away. Our home is Your eternal life." Make that your prayer this Thanksgiving. Come home to the One who is waiting for you. --30-- Erich Bridges is an International Mission Board global correspondent with a blog at [URL=http://worldviewconversation.blogspot.com/]worldviewconversation.blogspot.com[/URL]. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: Thankful for grace By Kathy Ferguson Litton Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41575 SARALAND, Ala. (BP) -- Grace. Unfortunately in the Christian culture it is far too easy to grow numb to the depth and reality of biblical terms. We throw them around casually. Our minds and hearts disconnect to their powerful, very real daily implications. Yet old words can take on new meaning. Grace has for me. My late husband, Rick Ferguson, in a sermon series some years ago crafted this definition of grace: "The disposition, pursuit and provision of God toward fallen men, whereby He freely offers Himself as a sufficient resource for their every need." Yes, a mouthful -- yet a rich picture of the grace of God. He is a sufficient resource for every need. God by His grace empowers us to do things we would not otherwise have the strength to do on our own. My first understanding of grace came with my own childhood salvation. Jesus Christ was a sufficient Savior to provide for my need to be made right with God. I did not have in my own strength the ability to be right with the God who created me. "Saved by grace" is the entry point of relationship with the God. Yet, God's grace does not end there. His grace to BE the resource for every need is His perpetual disposition to us. Eleven years ago on Thanksgiving my "every need" was recent widowhood. At our Thanksgiving table was an empty plate and empty chair that left us devastated, brokenhearted and grieving. It was a meal that was nearly unbearable to my heart. I remember it well. Does God offer Himself as a sufficient resource for the common human experience of death that seems to come far too soon? He does. His tender care, His mercy, the hope of heaven and His strength in the midst of our weaknesses was more real to that 45-year-old widow than I can recount. With tears in our eyes, He was enabling us to walk even if feebly so. On this Thanksgiving I look back on the years that have swiftly passed. His grace, His sufficient resource for my every need has not failed, even in dark days of grief, financial uncertainty, single parenting, disappointment and loneliness. He truly empowered me to do things I did not have the strength to do on my own by grace. Perhaps as you face this holiday season you also have a bitterly empty place at your table. The heartache of that is overwhelming. Let me remind you and testify to this truth: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." I am thankful for grace. It truly is amazing. --30-- Kathy Ferguson Litton is the North American Mission Board's national consultant for ministry to pastors' wives. Her husband, Ed Litton, is pastor of First Baptist North Mobile in Saraland, Ala. This column first appeared at NAMB's www.Flourish.me website, an online equipping community for ministers' wives. -- End of story -- EDITORIAL: Actitud de Gratitud By Gustavo Su�rez Nov. 27 2013 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41578 NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edici�n de hoy de BP en espa�ol. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/espanol]http://www.bpnews.net/espanol[/URL] KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Uno de ellos, al verse ya sano, regreso alabando a Dios a grandes voces. Cay� rostro en tierra a los pies de Jesus y le dio las gracias, no obstante que era samaritano. Lucas 17:15-16 En la celebraci�n del d�a especial de "Acci�n de Gracias" la corriente secular apunta a reuniones familiares, y una rica comida que incluye normalmente pavo y jam�n. Sin embargo, el cristiano debe de incluir a Jesucristo en estas celebraciones. La Biblia establece que nuestra "ayuda proviene del Se�or, creador del cielo y de la tierra. (Salmo 121:2)." En este d�a de celebraci�n d�mosle gracias a Dios por lo que �l nos ha dado. En Lucas 17 encontramos a diez leprosos que a gran voz claman: "�Jes�s, Maestro, ten compasi�n de nosotros! Este encuentro manifiesta varias ense�anzas que debemos recordar durante estos d�as festivos. Los leprosos eran personas rechazadas. Muchos cre�an que la causa de la enfermedad de estos leprosos era pecado. Por tanto, eran excluidos por la sociedad. El pecado nuestro nos excluye de la presencia de Dios. Sin embargo, estos diez reconocieron que la �nica soluci�n a sus problemas se encontraba en la persona de Jesucristo. �Y t�? �En qui�n conf�as tu para una salvaci�n eterna? D�mosle gracias a Dios por el perd�n de nuestros pecados. Los leprosos vieron a Jes�s como Maestro. Si estos leprosos estuviesen llamando a cualquier persona para ayuda probablemente pedir�an limosna. Pero aqu� identifican a Jes�s como "Maestro." Lo vieron como una persona de autoridad. Toda persona que busca ayuda de Dios lo debe de recibir como "Se�or." Y, si Cristo es Se�or de tu vida tambi�n es el salvador de tu vida. D�mosle gracias a Dios porque �l es nuestro Se�or y Salvador. Los leprosos confiaron que Jes�s pod�a sanarlos. Jes�s respondi� al clamor de estos leprosos dici�ndoles, "Vayan a presentarse a los sacerdotes (Lucas 17:14)." Ellos simplemente obedecieron lo que Jes�s les dijo y se presentaron a los sacerdotes. Bien pudieron haber pasado tiempo, como acostumbramos hacer nosotros, dialogando si el sacerdote los recibir�a ya que eran personas leprosas. No, ellos actuaron demostrando su fe en Jes�s. D�mosle gracias a Dios que �l siempre nos da lo mejor a nosotros. D�mosle gracias a Dios que Su palabra es siempre firme! Solo uno de los diez leprosos regreso a Jes�s para dar gracias. De los muchos que experimentan la gracia de Dios, tambi�n hay muchos que demuestran su ingratitud. Lo sorprendente aqu� es que el �nico que regres� a darles gracias a Jes�s no era Jud�o sino Samaritano. D�mosle gracias a Dios continuamente por su gran amor para cada uno de nosotros. Amigo, permite que cada d�a del a�o lo puedas celebrar con una actitud de adoraci�n a un Dios tan grande como nuestro Dios. Permite que est�n sean tus palabras en este d�a de acci�n de gracia: Ir� plantando con regocijo Ir� sembrando semilla de amor Ir� cantando de su belleza Grandeza eterna en Cristo Jes�s Grandes cosas ha hecho el Se�or Grandes cosas ha hecho el Se�or Nos alegramos en El Nos alegramos en El �Feliz d�a! --30-- Gustavo Su�rez es profesor de iniciaci�n de iglesias y director del centro Nehem�as para Iniciaci�n de Iglesias en Norte Am�rica en el Seminario Bautista Teol�gic de Midwestern. -- End of story -- Copyright (c) 2014 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615.244.2355 Fax: 615.782.8736 email: email@example.com


text:
We, at NUST, Zimbabwe are a new architecture school (est.1998), we have formed a students association and we are in the process of starting a newsletter, so, we are looking for any other students who are willing to share ideas, give advice, combined research, basically DIRECT COMMUNICATIION AND INTERACTION in various issues related to architecture ,design and the built environment,we would gladly co operate with scholars, teachers and proffessionalls in the fields . we are ready to answer questions as well as ask
we also appreciate article contributions to our newsletter even comments and analysis. we will also send copies of the newsletter to any one who responds. if you are interested you can mail me amessage on the following address
you can also visit our universities website
we are looking foward and waiting for you guys.........!!!!!!!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Launched in 1996, DVCAM is Sony's enormously popular professional version of consumer DV. Compared to DV, DVCAM uses wider recording tracks (15µm rather than 10µm) for greater reliability, has a higher signal-to-noise ratio, is ideal for archival purposes and yet retains full DV compatibility.
The advantages of the DVCAM format are further extended by a comprehensive product range, including both entry-level handheld camcorders and Master Series VTRs with unique high-end features tailored to broadcast requirements.
Typical DVCAM applications range from wedding videography to feature film production, corporate video to broadcast television. It is the ultimate ubiquitous digital broadcast and professional format.


text:
Los Angeles Dodgers owners Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt have been embroiled in a messy divorce, and a key component of the separation is a dispute over who owns the team. On Friday, the two parties came to a settlement. From the Wall Street Journal:
After a 20-month battle, Mr. McCourt and his wife, Jamie, announced a deal Friday that allows Mr. McCourt essentially to buy out his wife's interest in the Dodgers for $100 million, pending the outcome of a one-day trial in August.
The one-day trial in August has been set up to determine if the Dodgers are community property between the two McCourts, or if the team is solely Frank's possession. If Frank McCourt is granted sole ownership, he will then buy out Jamie McCourt using the money from a TV deal with FOX that Major League Baseball has not approved yet. If the deal with FOX is void, so is this settlement. If Frank McCourt loses the trial in August, the team will likely be sold.
See? Crystal clear. So there's a chance, Dodger fans, that Frank McCourt might stick around after all. Rejoice!


text:
You save:
Free Shipping
Free Shipping with use of RadioShack credit card
Get the battery kit that is the perfect companion for the charge station for Wii. Each kit comes with one Ni-MH rechargeable battery pack that provides up to 25 hours of playtime on a single charge. A rubberized battery cover specifically designed to work with the charge station's dual-port charging dock is also included. Get ready to charge up and play.
Online prices and product selection may vary from our retail stores. All prices and offers are subject to change. Copyright RadioShack Corporation 2014. All rights reserved.


text:
Baseball Falls to No. 11 Miami, 13-7
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team fell to the 11th ranked Hurricanes 13-7 on Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez at Mark Light Field. Josh Chester extended his hitting streak to 11 games while Zach Maxfield recorded three hits against the Hurricanes.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 22-16 overall while the Hurricanes improve to 27-13.
CJ Evans (Tampa, Fla.) saw his first start as an Eagle. Evans appeared in just four games before tonight's contest. Evans threw four full innings, allowed four runs on five hits while striking out two in the no-decision.
Jacob Barnes (St. Petersburg, Fla.) received the loss. Barnes (0-1) threw two innings, allowed four runs and struck out two. Daniel Miranda (3-2) received the win after throwing 1.2 innings while striking out two Eagles.
Josh Upchurch (Cape Coral, Fla.) opened up the Eagle first with a leadoff double to right field. Mikel Alvarez (West Palm Beach, Fla.) drew a walk followed by an RBI double by Zach Maxfield (North Port, Fla.), Alvarez would score on a Hurricane error by the left fielder. With one-out in the inning, Josh Chester (Weston, Fla.) added another Eagle run on a single up the middle to put the Eagles up 3-0.
The Hurricanes answered in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single through the right side by Jason Hagerty to score Scott Lawson. Lawson reached on a leadoff double to left center.
In the top of third, Tim Roberson (West Palm Beach, Fla.) doubled down the left field line with one-out. Maxfield reached on a fielding by the Hurricane third baseman. With runners on first and second, Chester pulled an inside fastball to first, Vickash Ramjit turned and threw to the Hurricanes shortstop Ryan Jackson who threw the ball away trying to complete the double-play. The Eagles scored one in the inning to go up 4-1.
The Hurricanes evened the score in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run home run by Harold Martinez.
The Eagles regained the lead in the fifth. Alvarez drew a leadoff walk, and with one-out Maxfield doubled to right center. With runners on second and third, Chester grounded out to the second baseman to score Alvarez. With 2-1 count, Stephen Wickens (Whiby, Ontario) sent a chopper just over the third baseman's glove to score Maxfield to put the Eagles up 6-4.
The Hurricanes took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Hurricanes put up three courtesy of a RBI double by Hagerty, and RBI singles by Chris Herrmann and Harold Martinez to take the lead 7-6.
The Eagles tied the game at seven in the sixth on a RBI single by Maxfield, his second RBI of the night and his 42nd of the year.
FGCU reliever Jacob Barnes retired the first two Hurricanes in the bottom of the seventh. With an 0-2 count, pinch-hitter Iden Nazario doubled to right center and was driven in by a RBI single up the middle by Herrmann. Martinez drew a walk before Dave DiNatale homered to left field to give the Hurricanes the 11-7 lead after seven.
The Hurricanes increased their lead with a two-run single by Nazario in the eighth to give the Hurricanes the 13-7 lead heading into the ninth.
The Eagles would strand two runners in the ninth as they fell to the Hurricanes by a score of 13-7.
Three Eagles recorded multiple hits, Upchurch went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Maxfield went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Wickens finished 3-for-5.
The Eagles will be back in action on Friday, April 24th at Swanson Stadium as they host A-Sun foe USC-State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The Eagles currently sit in a half game behind Kennesaw State, so catch all the action this weekend on A-Sun TV as the Eagles look for their second straight A-Sun regular season title.
|Copyright ©2014 FGCU Athletics. All Rights Reserved.


text:
The Langstone Hotel Portsmouth: Bedrooms
Enjoy style and comfort in your spacious Hayling Island accommodation at The Langstone Hotel; situated between Portsmouth and Chichester, the perfect retreat for you to relax or to explore the south coast.
Luxury Hayling Island Accommodation
The Langstone Hotel in Portsmouth has 103 Executive and 45 Luxury bedrooms available, all beautifully decorated, with many featuring breathtaking views over the Langstone Harbour. All rooms offer double beds with luxury bedding and a spacious en-suite bathroom. Tea and coffee making facilities, iron and board, hairdryer and 1 hour complimentary high speed internet access are included in each room. Smoking rooms, accessible rooms, cots and rollaway beds are available on request.
Hotel in Portsmouth: Luxury Room
Luxury double and family rooms offer all of the benefits of the executive room and more; more space and more luxury. Wind down in your fluffy robe while watching your favourite programmes on the 32inch flat screen LCD TV.
Enjoy complimentary mineral water in the room on arrival, and order breakfast in bed.
Wake up in the morning and refresh yourself in our rain showers, with luxury toiletries as a great start to your day.
Hotel in Portsmouth: Standard Room
Relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in our Hayling Island accommodation. These spacious modern rooms complete with large writing desk and chair. Sit back and watch a movie from the pay per view selection, and order from our tasty 24 hour room service menu before settling down for a peaceful night sleep.
View our bedroom image gallery.
Hotel in Portsmouth | Hayling Island Accommodation | The Langstone Hotel


text:
Rock 'n' Roll and Wed
Tessa and Ryan exchange personalized, and quirky, vows at Romare Bearden Park and keep the party rolling at The Fillmore.
Details that Pop
From touches of gold to a vintage Rolls Royce, Katie and David wow their guests.
Southern with a Twist
Classic down-home traditions get a new spin with these inspired designs.
Tea Time
Let your girlfriends shower you with love over darling decor, sweet treats, and pops of pink.
Family Affair
After a surprise proposal at his family reunion, Gaby and Jesus plan a lavish wedding with a focus on family.
Featured Vendors
Sherri Kwence & Brad Bissell
October 19, 2013
Abigail Brown & Ryan Burle
November 30, 2013
Meghan Green & Henry Seyller
November 9, 2013
Jessica Davis & Niko Chiaparas
October 12, 2013
Joel Bowen & Kayla Helmuth
June 16, 2013
Featured Blog
Planning Your Wedding
Take the Cake
In the hands of a professional baker, the process of choosing your cake can be easy as pie.
The Ultimate "After Party"
Dreaming of a destination wedding but dont want to exclude family or friends? Hosting a party to celebrate your marriage is the perfect compromise.
Return the Flavor
Let your favorite brunch spot, your most craved sweet treat, or your go-to 5-oclock cocktail inspire you!


text:
We really enjoyed the cruise itinerary, and booked a tour of some sort through Celebrity in every port. My absolute favourite was 'Florence on Your Own,' which provided bus transportation to and from the city with a hilarous tour guide (Samuel) who told us all about Tuscany and his hometown of Pisa on the beautiful drive to and from Livorno.
I liked the Thalassotherapy pool, which reminded me of the solarium on the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas. The gym was great, and was never crowded. I made a little routine of taking a dip in the pool and then doing some cardio before dinner. It's so relaxing to ride a recumbent bike or run on the treadmill while gazing out at the ocean. Most of the cardio machines also have satellite tv access if you'd rather gaze at CNN! My mom had her hair done a couple of times, and was very satisfied with the service in the salon.
From start to finish, we really enjoyed this cruise, and I highly recommend the itinerary and the ship.


text:
Reel Asian invites you to join us for a fun day while raising funds for this year's 17th annual film festival celebrating the best in Asian cinema! Mix and mingle with other film and entertainment professionals while enjoying one of the GTA's most prestigious ClubLink courses.
Date & Venue:
NEW DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 2013
King's Riding Golf Club (14700 Bathurst St, King City ON L7B 1K5)
Event schedule:
11:30am - Registration
12:00pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Shotgun start
6:30pm - Cocktail reception
7:30pm - Dinner
$300 - Includes Golf, Cart, Lunch and Dinner (buy here)
$85 - Dinner only (buy here)
Thank You to the following sponsors for supporting Reel Asian's Charity Golf Tournament!
Presenting Sponsor: National Bank
Major Sponsor: ROGERS
Golf Hole Sponsors: FOX, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, CHCH, EC Designs, Ernst & Yonge, Aurora Chrysler, Highway Entertainment and Airtime Television Sales Inc.
Hospitality Sponsors: Ocean Food, Grace Foods
Reel Asian would like to also recognize and thank our prize donors.
Amarula, Barefoot Wine, ClubLink, Columbia International College, Disney, Dru Soo (Arbonne International Consultant), Eileen Lam, Entertainment One, Evelyn Siu, Fairmont Royal York, Greenfield Golf, Investors Group, Metropolitan Hotel, Mildred's Temple Kitchen, Mongrel Media, Ontario Spring Water Sake Company, Pelee Island Winery, Pretty in the City, Sang Kim, SOMA Chocolate, Taipan Lighting, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), W Lifestyle Salon, and friends of Reel Asian.
For more event details or to donate a golf or auction prize, contact Eva Ho at
or call 416-703-9333.


text:
Mr. Fogh Rasmussen praised the United Kingdom's leading role in NATO missions, notably Afghanistan, in separate meetings with the British Prime Minister and William Hague, the UK Foreign Secretary. The UK is the second-largest contributor to ISAF, with 9,500 troops deployed there.
The Secretary General said that NATO's Summit in Chicago on 20-21 May will focus on three main goals: Afghanistan, building security in a time of austerity, and strengthening partnerships across the world. The United Kingdom is making a major contribution in all these key areas, said the Secretary General.
On Afghanistan, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said:"We agree we're on the right track, and we stick to the roadmap for a gradual transition to Afghan security lead, which will be completed by 2014. We reaffirmed the principle in together, out together."
The Secretary General said that Afghan troops and police are in the lead for the security of half of the population and are on course to assume full security responsibility by the end of 2014. "In Chicago we will decide how we continue to support them beyond that date, to make sure we maintain the gains made with so much investment in blood and resources," said Mr. Fogh Rasmussen. He made clear NATO Allies and partners will pay their fair share to finance sufficient and sustainable Afghan security forces after 2014.
In Chicago, he said, NATO heads of state and government will also take decisions to keep the Alliance fit for the future, making sure it is prepared for the security challenges of the 21st Century. The Summit is expected to make Smart Defence the Alliance's new approach to maintaining and developing capabilities into the next decade.


text:
AçıklamaFind your match in LovePark. Only real people, no email required, only love. Totally free.
Love Dating in LovePark. Chat, singles, relationships, marriages, matches. Men and Women.
LovePark is the most simple and direct app to search and find your partner.
You must be at least 18 years old to download and use this app.


text:
A New Batman and New Batmobile for 2016 Movie
Kaley Cuoco Shows Off Her Tennis Skills
27 Fascinating Movie Facts You Never Knew
Metal Gear Solid Movie Gets Director
Exclusive Batman Details You Never Knew
Here's What Happened To Your Favorite TV Animals
Is Johnny Depp Holding Up The Next "Pirates" Production?
Jaws Will Drop When You Learn Who is the Most Powerful Marvel Hero
5 TV Shows For Your 'Game Of Thrones' Withdrawal
What's The Deal With Jupiter Ascending?
Movie Characters from Our Childhood That Still Give Us Nightmares
10 Movies So Bad, They're Good
8 Movies That Turn to Crap After 20 Minutes
Big News About Shane Black's 'Predator'
10 Things That Still Bother You About "Friends"
They Are Rebooting Twilight Already?!?
Exclusive Details on The Next Bond Film
8 Historical Facts That Will Change Your Concept of Time Forever
The Best and Worst Marvel Villains
The Funniest Michael Bay Movie Reviews Ever
Can't Wait for The Prometheus Sequel?
Will The Hulk Come Back?
10 Movie Characters You Can't Root for Anymore
How The Winter Soldier Plays Into Avengers: Age of Ultron
First Official Photos from Avengers: Age of Ultron


text:
Every Saturday and Sunday mornings we screen ODEON Kids films at selected cinemas
Chosen especially for the little ones, all ODEON Kids tickets are only £2.50*
We also run ODEON Kids every day throughout most school holidays – please check your cinema listings for more information.
*Prices at the cinema are £2.50 except at: Weston Super Mare (£2), Dundee, Bristol and Belfast (£1.50), Worcester and Dorchester (£1), Dunfermline and Muswell Hill (£3). For tickets booked online, by phone, through the app, or on the mobile site a Remote Booking Fee of 50p applies to every ticket. If you use a credit/debit card to pay for 1 or more tickets in your online booking, Bookit Ltd will levy a single Card Handling Fee of 21p for processing your credit/ debit card transaction.
View the current season schedule of ODEON Kids below:
This summer Change4Life and Disney have teamed up to help kids have fun and get active with the brand new '10 Minute Shake Up'. ODEON cinemas will be supporting the 10 Minute Shake Up in our cinemas this summer.
Kids need to do 60 minutes or more physical activity every day which increases the heart rate. Doing 10 minute bursts of activity is an easy way to help kids reach this target. And with the 10 Minute Shake Up - moving's not just good for you – it's fun too!
To join in, just visit Change4Life and sign up for your free 10 Minute Shake Up pack, which includes a stopwatch, activity cards, a Disney themed wall chart and stickers. You can also access loads more games and activities online in the 10 Minute Shake Up zone to keep your kids active and having fun all summer long. Change4Life will keep in touch with weekly emails to let you know about new activities, offers and events near you for all the family to enjoy.
So make this summer one where the whole family moves more and feels great!
For more information and to sign up for your '10 Minute Shake Up' pack, visit Change4Life. (Packs available while stocks last, offer limited to one per household. Contents of pack may vary.)
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
(Week starting 28th August)
The LEGO Movie
(Week starting 5th September)
Muppets Most Wanted
(Week starting 12 September)
Please note that films and performances are subject to change.
Please check back here regularly for updates and visit your local ODEON cinema page (using the dropdown cinema list below) to find out confirmed ODEON Kids performances on the week of release.
ODEON are proud to have partnered with Aardman Animations and Crayola for a fantastic competition – create your own animated hand-drawn movie for your chance to win an amazing red carpet prize!
For more details, just visit www.mycrayolamovie.com where you can learn how to make your own animation and get some ideas and top tips, there is even a storyboard template to help you plan your own movie.
Details of the competition will also run in the adverts before ODEON Kids Screenings
Booking is temporary unavailable. Please try again later.


text:
We may be destined for another draw in Group A, which may not be a bad thing, as Uruguay and South Africa is shaping up as a interesting battle of approaches from coaches Oscar Tábarez and Carlos Alberto Parreira. But for those who don't worship at the metaphysical alter of these nebulous TAK*tiks, there is still plenty of star power: Forlán; Pienaar; Suárez ... ... and now, Cavani.
Uruguay, going forward: Earlier this week came word that Oscar Tabáraz would probably put Edinson Cavani in the starting lineup, most likely for Ignacio Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a midfielder was some limited creative flair, while Cavani is an striker, coming off a strong season for Palermo in Italy's Serie A. Two implications:
- You could infer this meant Nicolas Lodiero was supposed to start in this match, but having accumulated a red card against France, Lodiero is suspended. From that, we get that Uruguay never intended to carry forward the über-conservative play we saw against France.
- Diego Forlán may be Tábarez's best non-Lodiero distributor, and in putting Cavani in the lineup over another midfielder, Tábarez looks set to move Forlán back to a supporting striker's - if not outright attacking midfielder;s - role. It's an area on the pitch Forlán is comfortable operating within and one of the reasons why his partnership with Sergio Agüero has worked so well at his club.
For South Africa, this means more people to occupy the defense. If Uruguay stayed 4-4-2, Aaron Mokoena and the back line would have had to concern themselves primarily with Luis Suárez and Diego Forlán. Now, Suárez will be accompanied by Cavani, and when Uruguay establishes a presence in the final third, Forlán will also be looking for goals.
One of the drawbacks for Tábarez to going with this approach would be less of a presence in midfield, but against a South Africa team that seems to play best when trying to absorb the other team's attacks, this approach could work very well. With the power of his three strikers, Tábarez will not have to commit much to attack to think he can find goals, and if Bafana Bafana are going to allow Uruguay to play to them, he will not need such strong distribution in the middle of the pitch.
Once Uruguay crosses half-way, Forlán in his withdrawn role can take over.
The key for La Celeste will be taking the attack to South Africa rather than waiting to counter, which is often their want.
South Africa, going forward: Uruguay's new formation presents some potential problems for Bafana Bafana. As we saw against Mexico, the hosts are best on the counter attack, and they don't have much creativity when forced to form their own attacks. Uruguay will force them to do this, and it remains to be seen if Parreira is willing to play their game. He may wait for the Uruguayans to score before reacting.
Against a team that is committing another forward to their formation, you would want the South Africans to cut-off the supply line to the attackers and create a gap between midfield and attack - something that should be relatively easy to do against Uruguay. And that's where South Africa has a problem. To create that gap, South Africa would have to be more aggressive, play higher up the pitch and try to win the midfield battle. Still, over the last year, South Africa has been better when their midfielders are playing deep and winning the ball at the edge of the attacking third. After doing so, they can break out and create opportunities akin to the one on which they scored against Mexico.
So against an Uruguay team that is setting-up to not get exposed on counter attacks, what does South Africa do? They go about things the old fashioned way. They get their players to out-perform their Uruguayan counterparts.
In that way, South Africa is going to be more reliant on their elite players than they were against Mexico. Advanced midfielders Thabo Modise and Steven Pienaar need to be active when they get the ball and try open-up the attack. Piennar is going to have to do more creating than he did against Mexico, while Modise will need to finish his opportunities. These are the two players who, if they have strong matches, can force Uruguay's defense to break its ranks. Then, the other South African players will get opportunities.
Where The Match Turns: If Uruguay can avoid disorganization, mistakes at the back, they should be fine, which leaves the question of whether South Africa can go the full ninety without allowing the Uruguayans - Forlán, in particular - to find the extra attackers.


text:
Bad Credit Personal Loans: Simple Rehabilitation From Bad Credit
Unsecured Loans - Be Right For You As a result of Risk-free Borrowings
Making profits with free get compensated online surveys is not difficult, stress free and can be carried out at your home, why not sign up now? the full details You don't need to addle around every now and then for looking an effective package as payday loans is surely an good supply for getting together with vital needs. It helps to fix your real cash issues to get hold of important cash swiftly.


text:
Making a gingerbread house isn't as difficult as it might seem. If you have the right recipes and the right techniques, it's a snap.
1. First, Pick a Gingerbread House Style and Theme
2. Gingerbread House Dough Recipe
3. Betty Crocker Limited Edition Gingerbread Cookie Mix: A Review
This limited edition mix (don't confuse this with Betty Crocker's Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix) makes great houses. The dough bakes up sturdy enough to support lots of candy and icing. It's a real time saver. Read the full review of Betty Crocker's Limited Edition Gingerbread Cookie Mix.
4. Gingerbread House Patterns
Print and cut out these gingerbread house patterns or this fantasy house pattern. Transfer them to lightweight cardboard and cut again.


text:
Home Future StudentsCurrent StudentsFaculty & StaffPatientsAlumni
A-Z Index | School of Medicine Quick Links
Find a Health Care Provider | Contact Us | Maps and Parking
The 2nd Annual Colorado Skin Research Retreat took place on June 29, 2013 in Estes Park, Colorado. Fifty-five participants from UC Denver and other Universities representing basic science, translational science, clinical research and clinical practice discussed advances in the areas of skin biology and dermatology. Highlights included the development of new approaches in stem cell therapy of inherited skin diseases and basic mechanisms of skin development and homeostasis (see retreat program). Further, current and new Core service initiatives aimed at enhancing the research environment at UC Denver were discussed. Below is a short description of the participating investigators.
© The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are registered property of the University. Used by permission only.


text:
Despite the vilification of hackers in mainstream media, cybersecurity analyst Keren Elazari says they play a critical, creative role in the digital age »
A team of physicists has built a "nearly unbreakable" encryption system devised using the same mathematical principles that explain how the human heart and lungs function in unison »
A US cybersecurity firm claims to have found evidence that the Russian government has been spying on European, American and Asian businesses for economic gain, Reuters reports »
Raj Samani has been embedded in the world of cyber security his entire working life. Now McAfee's chief technology officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, he's shared a few of the highlights (or lowlights, depending how you look at it), of the idiocy (or naivety) of the workers he's been brought in to protect over the years »
Chinese tech giant Huawei will be opening a $200m (£125m) research and development centre in the UK, despite the government recently saying it will inspect the company's UK-based cybersecurity centre amid espionage fears »
The British government has said it will inspect the operations of a UK-based cybersecurity centre run by Huawei in order to allay fears over security threats »
China and the United States have formed a pair of working groups to examine and work together on the issues of climate change and cybersecurity »
Wired.co.uk talks to Frank Abagnale -- a former conman and the subject of 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can -- about fraud, cybercrime and security »
Evernote has reported that user data, including encrypted password information, has been accessed »
The order establishes better cybersecurity standards for US law enforcement and intelligence agencies, but is short of the legislation required to force private companies to also comply »
An EU cybersecurity directive will force key internet companies to report security breaches »
Israeli computer security expert Keren Elazari wants people to realise that they should protect their mobile devices just as thoroughly as they protect their PCs -- so, at Wired 2012, she decides to hack some phones »
A vulnerability found in Microsoft's Internet Explorer allows hackers to track the movements of your mouse cursor across the screen -- even when IE is minimised -- which could in turn reveal data entered on virtual keyboards »
An in-depth report today from the New York Times confirms the truth of that statement as it finally lays bare the history and development of the Stuxnet virus -- and how it accidentally escaped from the Iranian nuclear facility that was its target »
The US House of Representatives has approved cybersecurity legislation that privacy groups have decried as a threat to civil liberties »
The GCHQ -- Britain's secretive agency of intelligence experts -- wants to find new spies. To make sure it has a candidate who's up to scratch, the agency is inviting hobbyist cryptanalysts to try and break a code online »
The GCHQ, Britain's secret intelligence agency, is to market some of its security technologies to companies in the private sector, in an attempt to bolster defences against the foreboding threat of cyberwarfare »
A team of hackers at DefCon have exposed the "gross insecurity" of some of the latest security locks, such as a biometric lock that could be cracked with a paper clip »
Regretsy, the blog that highlights and mocks the most ridiculous listings on Etsy, has closed. Wired.co.uk interviews founder April Winchell about her next move »
The new working environment is at once rec room and high street, coffee bar and potting shed »
Wired.co.uk reviews the Vodafone Smart 4 Turbo »


text:
omiio.org is dedicated to fostering open source growth for mobile applications software development on TI's OMAP™ platform.
Through omiio.org, you can collaborate, share and grow open source hardware and software.
Chinese nike tn pas cher basketball basket ball park Baidu Video 98 Basketball Online me "> 2013-10-16 Basketball Park Thunder download 97 98nba Finals basketball fire episode 2013-10-16 Basketball Fire theme song Yao third game nba career Bryant lore Ten me" > 2013-10-16 Street Basketball Which company nba3 points standings Bryant salary 2013-10-16 Shot HD Baidu video football fights live online music video cctv me "> 2013-10-16 vanguard team basketball park Download Flags and signs street basketball 1.5 2013-10-16nba brawl video basketball office manager sunspot basketball 22.5 me "> 2013-10-16 Tencent Video Network Chen Jianan resume street basketball arcade Andrews 2013-10-163g Haruko fc blood Basketball Live Members Basketball Fire episode me "> 2013-10-16 Stankovic iron Sina 9158 virtual video street basketball caps basketball beauties wonderful park Baidu Video Audio Pioneers significance 2013 Li Ning ten kilometers wonderful thematic Baidu network disk landing Fantasy Basketball Managers from Brush Asian Basketball Ranking Last comments / Most Comments
Theme provided by Danetsoft under GPL license from Danang Probo Sayekti