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Gov. Pat McCrory has called for North Carolina lawmakers to return to Raleigh next month to consider overriding his first two vetoes on bills related to immigration and drug testing for welfare applicants.
McCrory issued a proclamation Thursday calling the reconvened session for noon on Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day. The state constitution requires him to order one by Sept. 4, or his vetoes would be canceled automatically.
Now, three-fifths of those present in both the House and Senate will have to vote to override, for a bill to be enacted. Both pieces of legislation passed by wide margins in the final days of the session in July. McCrory, a Republican, has been using video and Facebook to lobby legislators to uphold the vetoes. That's been rubbing some Republican lawmakers the wrong way and many are predicting overrides.
Despite the proclamation, the legislature could choose not to return if a majority of members in the House and Senate write saying they don't want to meet. McCrory "believes the General Assembly's best option is to not convene, thus saving tax dollars and ensuring" the vetoes are sustained, the governor's office said in a release.
One of the vetoed bills directs state health officials to administer a drug test to any applicant to, or recipient of, the Work First welfare program who the agency "reasonably suspects is engaged in the illegal use of controlled substances." McCrory has said the bill is fiscally irresponsible, potentially intrusive and punitive in restricting future access to benefits.
The other measure would exempt employers from using the federal E-Verify system for temporary workers of less than nine months in a calendar year, compared to no more than three months in a 12-month period that is currently law. North Carolina Farm Bureau wants the veto overridden because it would provide relief to farmers that need to hire workers in the fields. McCrory said the measure would make it easier to hire immigrants who are unlawfully in the country for agriculture and other employment sectors.
McCrory still has 34 bills on his desk from this year's session. He must act on them by Sunday night or they'll become law without his signature.


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Bid OK'd for sidewalk repair, streetscaping
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Gnarly bits of weeds protrude from concrete cracks outside the International General Store on North Chadbourne Street.
The uneven sidewalk has been a problem for customers, store manager Anna Barrientos said.
"We've had people who have fallen," she said, pointing to spots around the crumbling curb where people have taken a spill.
The San Angelo City Council has taken measures to remedy the situation with pedestrian improvements including safety and aesthetics.
The council on Tuesday awarded a bid for streetscaping and pedestrian improvements in downtown San Angelo to Templeton Construction for $1.198 million.
Part of the funding would come from a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation worth about $573,000, and the balance would be from Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone money. The TIRZ money is property tax revenue from areas of downtown that is used for improvements there.
"It's primarily a TxDOT grant to bring our sidewalks up to ADA compliance along Chadbourne, which is also our main public transportation corridor downtown," said Shawn Lewis, the city's director of community and economic development.
At the Concho and Chadbourne intersection, there would be decorative light poles with trees on the corners, and from Third to Fifth streets on Chadbourne there would be light poles, rebuilt ramps and re-striped crosswalks in a "full-blown streetscape," Lewis said. There would also be improvements and repairs from Third Street to Beauregard Avenue, covered by a Texas Department of Public Transportation grant.
Enhancements would include new lighting, trees, overhead utilities placed underground, benches, decorative brick patterns and newly marked crosswalks. The streetscaping would be similar to the work done between 18th and 20th streets on Chadbourne Street, Lewis said.
None of the TxDOT grant money would go to the enhancements. Those funds would go to the sidewalk repair and ADA compliance.
The agenda item didn't pass without a struggle.
Councilman Dwain Morrison didn't think it was fair that the grant went entirely to the South TIRZ. Morrison's district includes the North TIRZ zone, which stretches from Third Street to 29th Street on Chadbourne.
Councilman Fredd Adams and Morrison voted against granting the bid as it was presented.
Lewis said he looks forward to having the northern area of downtown completed.
"That's an area that has really seen growth and business development," he said. "We're excited about that and believe this will further enhance that."
The city had hoped to finish before Thanksgiving the southern area that is heavily traveled during the holiday shopping season, City Engineer Clinton Bailey said.
The TIRZ should still have enough funds for basic revitalization grants — facade grants, asbestos abatement and fire systems — for the next year and a half, Lewis said.
Dominic Santos, director of the Teacher Store downtown, said the beautification downtown is in the interest of all the businesses, even if pedestrian improvements don't have a direct effect on them, and he looks forward to the prospect of streetscaping.
"We would love any changes downtown," Santos said, noting that the northern area of downtown near the new transit hub serves as a gateway to the area. "I think any improvements overall will help everyone."
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|Athletics » Staff Directory
Swimming & Diving Coaches
|5th Season
|College of Charleston '98
|(239) 590-7099
Elizabeth Lykins begins her fifth season as the assistant swimming coach for the Eagles. Some of her responsibilities include coordination of team travel and maintaining team records/stats.
In 2010-11, Lykins oversaw the Eagles win their third consecutive Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Championship, winning by more than 250 points. FGCU also earned Most Outstanding Diver and Diver of the Year as well as Co-Most Outstanding Freshman of the Year, while head coach Neal Studd was voted Coach of the Year. Under her watch, 13 athletes earned All-Conference status and the team set eight varsity records. Lykins also assisted with coordinating the academics of the student-athletes and saw College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) name FGCU a Scholar All-American Team after posting a 3.29 grade-point average (GPA).
Lykins helped FGCU to its second consecutive CCSA Championship in 2010. The Eagles also had the Most Outstanding Diver and head coach Neal Studd won Co-Coach of the Year. Lykins assisted in leading the team that was once again recognized as a Scholar All-American Team by the CSCAA for the third year after posting a combined of GPA 3.35.
In Lykins' second year with the Eagles she helped lead the team to the program's first CCSA Conference Championship. The Eagles also brought home every possible piece of hardware from the CCSA Conference meet. The Eagles ran away with the CCSA team title by over 200 points. The Eagles also produced the Rookie Swimmer of the year as well as the Conference swimmer and Conference Diver of the year.
During Lykins' first year at FGCU she helped lead the team to a second place conference finish at the CCSA Championship. The Eagles earned Rookie Swimmer of the Year and Conference Swimmer of the Year during their inaugural season.
Lykins came to FGCU with five years experience as a Division I Assistant at Colgate and Georgia Southern. In June 2007, Lykins completed her third season as an assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming team at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. During her first two years, Lykins' primary responsibilities included coaching the distance swimmers. Her athletes posted 63 personal records, earned eight conference event titles and set 13 freshman school records. Her third year of tenure, Lykins coached the middle distance team. This squad recorded 107 personal records for the year, one freshman relay record, one individual varsity record and two varsity relay records. For all three years she coordinated travel and assisted with the publication of the program's alumni newsletter, the Webfoot Wave.
Lykins joined the Colgate staff after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. During her time in South Georgia the team successfully compiled three individual conference event titles, six All-Conference team members, one female swimmer of the championship meet and two top three team finishes within the conference.
Before returning to graduate school, Lykins resided in Telluride, Colo. She was an income auditor and financial reporter for the Telluride Ski & Golf Company while also being the head coach of the Telluride Torpedoes swimming team for four seasons. Lykins is a 1998 graduate of the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration after being a member of the athletic honor roll all four years. A four-year member of the swim team, Lykins was a captain for two seasons and was named women's team MVP in 1998.
Lykins received her master's degree in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University in May 2004.


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Paula always makes sure she cooks up a little extra ham every Easter so she has plenty for some of her favorite leftover recipes. These are her top five, but don't forget you can also add a cup or two of roughly chopped ham to your favorite vegetable casseroles, soups or mac and cheese to take them from ordinary to extraordinary! The possibilities are endless. What is your favorite dish to make with leftover ham?
Simple Southern Ham and Bean SoupRead More From Holiday.
Love your show Paula! Here's a great side dish to serve with ham. Serve it warm or spread it cold on your ham sandwich.
1/4 cup warm water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 – 20 oz. can unsweetened crushed pineapple (do not drain)
1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
cinnamon to taste (I use about 1/4 tsp.)
Dissolve cornstarch in warm water. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Pour into an uncovered 1 qt. casserole dish (spray the inside with Pam first to help with clean up later). Sprinkle top with more cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve warm or spread cold on ham sandwiches.
By Dorene on April 08, 2010
I love to make a pot of ham and corn chowder.
Saute: 1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped peppers (any color)
Add: 1 or 1 1/2 cups diced cooked potatoes
1 or 1 1/2 cups diced ham
Enough water to cover and have a bit extra
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Heat above ingredients to boiling. Boil a few minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups milk. If it isn't as thick as you like you can add some instant potato flakes (or you can add a can of cream of mushroom soup.) Serve hot. Sprinkle some cheese over the top, if desired.
If you have any left over carrots you can add them with the potatoes.
By Marilyn Wood on April 07, 2010
Hey Paula, Love your shows and your recipes. Ham Salad sounds good. Plan on fixing for lunch .
By jannie burkham on April 07, 2010
I love ham when i have it left over i use it in mac. salad, also in a omlet, and on pizza. I love all of Paulas recipes and all of her leftover ideas. Love you Paula
By Gayle Nelson on April 07, 2010
Enjoy hearing from you, I have several of your cook books, I love all of them and your magazines. Have tried several of your recipes.Thank you for your Ham recipes, I make ham salad after our Easter weekend. We eat a lot of Ham and Beans
By Barbara Burkhammer on April 07, 2010
All these recipes look yummy! I remember my mother always cooking Ham and Egg Pie after Easter using leftover ham and boiled eggs. It is so yummy.
By Jennifer on April 06, 2010
I used my leftover ham and leftover mac and cheese combine the two and warmed up ham and mac and cheese and then the ham bone is for a nice big pot of beans
By Cheryl Huffman on April 06, 2010
wish I could eat ham or even pork, but allergic( no details) Had authentic cuban sandwich fingers, devil crabs and my potato salad. unfortunately I can't eat the cuban sandwiches either…........ we also had veggies and fruit….
By vaness on April 06, 2010
First of all, I love you Paula.
This recipe I got out of a magazine but I love it.
Ham and Pea soup
8 oz ham Cut into bite size pieces
Tb canola oil
Fry ham in sauce pan for three minutes on each side without stirring
1 #10 can low sodium chicken stock
2 cups water
2 medium chopped carrots
2 stalks chopped celery
Bunch of chopped green onions
Few sprigs of fresh tarragon (if available, it has a very nice flavor)
Turn up heat and bring to boil
Lower to simmer add
10oz box frozen peas
Simmer covered for 10 minutes
Place in bowl and add the juice of ¼ fresh lemon
Serves four.
By Troy on April 06, 2010
Hey Paula, I need a recipe for ham & mac & cheese. My son had this at school , it was like a casserole.
By Teresa on April 06, 2010
Ham and Asparagus Pie! My favorite leftover ham recipe. Chop into bite size pieces enough ham for 4-6 servings. Steam some fresh asparagus and cut into bite size pieces. Make a white sauce by melting butter (about a stick) in a skillet and adding 1/3 cup flour, one tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp white pepper, whisking all together and then adding 2 cups milk or half and half. Cook sauce till bubbly, and then add ham, asparagus. Pour into casserole and top with ready made pie crust and bake till crust is brown in a 350* oven. Yummy! I have some leftover ham and this is what I will do with some of it.
By Penny Amann on April 06, 2010
i just love to use the ham after wards in a wonderful split pea soup.. its to die for..lol
By joan motta on April 06, 2010
We always have left over ham from Easter. We had some left-over peas. So I cooked some linguine, mixed in alfredo sauce, the peas and ham, spinkled with Parmesan Cheese and dinner was ready in 20 minutes.
By Christy on April 06, 2010
Looks like the soup recipe was added twice. Could we get the Three Meat Pasta recipe?
Love you Paula!
By Jackie on April 06, 2010
I Love to take ham slice it and roll pinto beans inside of it. Kinda like an enchilada. You put them in a baking pan and over the top pour red chili sauce. Then top each one with a fried egg. it is a yummy southwest twist on it. you can add cheese and tomatoes to them as well if you like.
By Jacki on April 06, 2010
When I click on the Three Meat Pasta recipe, the ham and bean soup recipe comes up.
By beth on April 06, 2010
I make a casserole, put a little milk on bottom then layer thin sliced potatoes, ham and cheese ending with potatoes sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake 350 for about an hour. Delicious.
By Deborah Sparkman on April 06, 2010
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Join the Deen Family for a Book Signing at The Lady & Sons from 10 am to 12 pm.
The event is free; 350 wristbands to be distributed starting at 9 am.
Come see Paula's live show at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL and get a heaping helping of Paula's recipes, and some good old-fashioned fun and laughter!
Tickets available from Ticketmaster here!
Sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms.
Come see Paula's live show at the Times Union Center for Performing Arts in Jacksonville, FL and get a heaping helping of Paula's recipes, and some good old-fashioned fun and laughter!
Tickets available from Ticketmaster here!
Sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms.


text:
I would say "The concept of..."
- Home
- Members
- Testing
- Reference
- Articles
- Forums
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- For Teachers
- eBooks
Is there anybody who can help me out with the following title?
The problem is if it needs definite article or not!
title is as in the below:
'THE CONCEPT of 'SOCIAL LIFE' in ARCHITECTURE' or
'CONCEPT of 'SOCIAL LIFE' in ARCHITECTURE'.
Best Regards to all...
I would say "The concept of..."


text:
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A teen found handcuffed and starving in his basement is making strides both physically and emotionally, a judge was told Thursday morning.
A custody hearing was held at the Clay County Courthouse. The judge ruled that the 17-year-old boy will remain in foster care for the time being.
The boy loudly said, "Hi Mom," and hugged his mother, Sandy Wilson, as she entered the courtroom.
The boy's mother supports him remaining in foster care, but said she is working to be able to have her son live with her in the future. Wilson said if she had known about the abuse that she would have stepped in sooner.
But the judge and other officials aren't so sure that Wilson was completely oblivious.
"We think she might have been aware of some things that may not have been necessarily appropriate," Clay County juvenile officer Alan Gremli said. "Whether or not she knew he was handcuffed to a pole, we don't know that for sure at this point."
The teen and his mother constantly smiled at each other during the hearing. The teen avoided looking at his father, who is seeking custody.
David Martin, 42, and his wife, Pamela Martin, 41, both have been charged with two felony counts each. The charges are felony restraint and abuse of a child.
David Martin, who remains jailed, appeared in court wearing handcuffs and a navy blue jumpsuit.
Martin said he cannot pay child support and asked to be allowed to be released on his own recognizance rather than pay $50,000 bond. He said he needs to be released from jail so that he can find a job.
The judge did not lower his bond.
The judge did order Martin to start paying $25 a month in child support beginning Aug. 1.
The judge also ruled that the boy will remain in foster care until he turns 18 because the judge said the teen continues to need the care of the court. But the boy is clearly making strides.
The boy told the court that he now weighs 151.2 pounds and has gained 50 pounds since police officers burst into the basement where officers said they found him handcuffed to steel pole.
He hopes to gain another five pounds or so because he hopes to play football next year at Liberty High School where he is now a student. The boy's goal is to become a running back and wrestler, and he said he is working out with weights. He is also taking guitar lessons.
The boy even made his foster family blueberry pancakes before court Thursday morning. A yummy breakfast is a far cry from what he was eating just weeks ago, authorities say.
According to court documents, the boy was thin, cold and wearing dirty clothes. Blankets on the cold floor were his sleeping area. His wrists had scars and abrasions from the handcuffs, authorities said.
The boy told officers that he had been locked in the basement since the end of September. He said he had managed to disassemble a bed he had been handcuffed to in a bid to escape. After that, he said he was handcuffed to the pole. He said he was given just oatmeal, bologna sandwiches and instant noodle soup for food.
According to court documents, the 17-year-old teen was given limited access to the bathroom and only allowed to shower once a month. The boy would often have to go up to 10 hours without access to a bathroom and would soil himself, according to authorities.
The next hearing involving the boy's care will be May 30.
Watch KCTV5 News at 5 p.m. for more on this developing story.
Copyright 2013 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
Taco Bell is offering an unusual contest prize: a "lifetime" of free food at its restaurants.


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Manufacturer: Made in USA
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text:
Town Square
'Random' knife attack in Old Palo Alto injures one
Original post made on Oct 3, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, October 3, 2013, 8:54 AM
Comments (10)
on Oct 3, 2013 at 10:41 am
FYI, 100 Block of Melville is not in Professorville. It's on the other (south) side of Embarcadero. That's OLD PALO ALTO.
on Oct 3, 2013 at 10:47 am
[Post removed.]
on Oct 3, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Old Palo Alto ain't what it used to be. In the old days, the most you had to fear was being egged by the Paly students.
on Oct 3, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Eric Van Susteren is a registered user.
You're absolutely right. We've changed the headline to reflect your astute correction. Thanks for your help!
on Oct 3, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I agree that this story does not make sense. Was his car searched?
on Oct 3, 2013 at 1:33 pm
To Anonymous, in another neighborhood...
You're right. Old Palo Alto isn't what it used to be. Now the cheapest house in Old PA, a two bedroom teardown, just a few houses in from Alma, costs $2M. And that's only if you have all cash.
on Oct 3, 2013 at 2:36 pm
1 bedroom apartment on lytton apartments ..$325.00 month. little dining area and bathroom. 1973.
on Oct 3, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Two condos near us, a few yards from Alma, sold for 2.2 mil each.....no yard, no garage. Go figure,
on Oct 3, 2013 at 9:00 pm
"He attacked the man with a 3-inch pocket knife."
Isn't it time to register pocket knives?
on Oct 5, 2013 at 6:29 am
Just think if he was able to get his hands on a gun.
If you were a member and logged in you could track comments from this story.
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text:
You read their articles, you watch and listen to their interviews, but often the personal opinions of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media get brushed over.
These media members have inside knowledge of the sport and a unique perspective of the fighters they have the privilege of interacting with. Before you place that bet in Vegas or with your friends, be sure to check out what those most educated about the sport have to say about the upcoming event.
Read as 13 of the sport's writers and reporters break down and predict the UFC 156 featherweight championship main event of Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar.
Mike Bohn (MMA Mania): If Jose Aldo fights with a disciplined strategy, he should be able to take care of Frankie Edgar fairy handily in the UFC 156 main event. As we know, Aldo is a killer when it comes to the leg kicks. Edgar, on the other hand, has proven susceptible to leg attacks in his last two fights with Benson Henderson. If Aldo finds success attacking Edgar low, he surely won't abandon that strategy as Henderson did at UFC 150. Now obviously, using a kick-heavy attack on a fighter like Edgar leaves one open to takedowns, but that's not a huge problem for "Scarface" due to his tremendous takedown defense and scrambling abilities. Moreover, Edgar hasn't shown his ground-and-pound or submission game to be particularly lethal against elite fighters, which leads me to believe Aldo will be able to survive even if he is put on his back. From Edgar's standpoint, it's hard to see him winning any other way but a five-round decision. For Aldo, he has that Anderson Silva-esque feeling to his fights where he can explode and end his opponent's night in the blink of an eye. The reigning champion has a higher capability of bringing violence to the table and that's going to be the x-factor that leads him to becoming the first man to stop Edgar. Jose Aldo via second-round TKO.
Dave Doyle (MMA Fighting/SI.com): This is one of the most difficult fights to pick I've encountered in seven years covering MMA. Will Frankie's speed and footwork advantage hold up at the lighter weight class? Will Aldo be rusty coming off a year away from the Octagon? I reserve the right to change my mind between now and Saturday, but as of now, I think the cumulative effects of Aldo's leg and body kicks will make the difference in the late rounds. Jose Aldo via decision.
Damon Martin (MMA Weekly): I'm going with Frankie Edgar - I think the move to 145lbs will only be a good thing for Edgar, who was already one of the top lightweights in the world, and arguably beat the current champ if not for a controversial decision. Edgar's speed will translate just fine to featherweight, his boxing is on point working with coach Mark Henry, and he has very quick and effective takedowns. Also, don't forget Jose Aldo has been off for an entire year dealing with various injuries and if his timing is off even slightly, Edgar will capitalize.
Brett Okamoto (ESPN): I've been excited about Frankie Edgar dropping in weight for so long, my initial thoughts when this fight was announced was that I liked Edgar to get the win. Now that the fight is nearly here, I'm not as confident. He's at featherweight, but ironically, he's still fighting a pretty big guy in Jose Aldo. On top of dealing with Aldo's size, now he also loses that speed advantage he had when he was fighting lightweights. I still think overall speed, Edgar is a little faster than Aldo, but not as explosive. Big question mark for me here is Aldo's defensive wrestling. We've seen it's above average, but Edgar will be his toughest test in that area, more so than Chad Mendes. Edgar is so intelligent with his game plans and he reacts well in the cage. I think he'll get Aldo down at times in this fight and I think he'll challenge him in a way he's maybe never been in his entire career ... but I think he rises to it and keeps the belt.
Chuck Mindenhall (ESPN): Frankie Edgar wins a lot of different ways. His game plans are solid. He pressures, he reacts. He adapts well, and it seems like he has an extra gear as fights go along. And, as he has proven a million times, he can take punishment. It's this last thing that looks like a big red flag against a guy like Jose Aldo. Aldo is quicker than Gray Maynard and far more precise than Benson Henderson. He's quicker than those guys, too. So what happens when one of the games most dynamic strikers takes on a heart-driven champion with endurance and a chin? Aldo early, Edgar late. But a little too late. Jose Aldo by decision.
Guilherme Cruz (Tatame): UFC 156 has potential to be a historical night for the Brazilians, but it can go the other way into a complete disaster. In my opinion, Aldo's fight brings less "danger" if compared to Nogueira-Evans, Silva-Overeem and Maia-Fitch matchups, but is far from an easy one. Edgar has a great wrestling game, quick hands and tons of heart, but I don't see dealing well with Aldo's pressure. He had problems (twice) in the past against Maynard, and let's be honest, Aldo has more weapons and power than the former lightweight contender - who turns out to be his new occasional training partner. Jose Aldo wins by TKO.
Jason Nawara (Middle Easy): When it really comes down to it, I'm thankful for Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo. I'm thankful it's happening (fingers crossed), I'm thankful the matchup was even made, and I'm thankful that Frankie decided to move down a weight class. I truly believe Frankie could hang with the majority of lightweights in the UFC, and at 145, he's now a 'decent' sized featherweight who could probably go on a hell of a run in the division. With that said, I think Jose Aldo will probably be considered the best featherweight to step foot in the cage for years to come, until the inevitable happens and he moves up to lightweight. There's been talk back and forth of whether or not this is considered a 'super fight' and I personally think it is. One that we might see more than once if Frankie does the impossible yet again. So who wins? Jose Aldo if he can actually stop Frankie early, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to do that. But if it goes into deep waters I think Frankie has what it takes to slow down Jose and wear him out. Damn, I don't want to pick a winner... Let's go with Frankie, the underdog pick. Since we all got Cain vs. JDS wrong I will go with the pick I don't think the rest of the crew will take. A hipster move, I apologize.
Adam Martin (Sportsnet): Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar is a true super fight and one that's somewhat difficult to predict. On the one hand, you have Aldo, who has been nothing short of dominant during his long reign as both the WEC and UFC featherweight champ. And on the other hand, you have Edgar, who was the UFC lightweight champion and who many feel should be holding the belt right now instead of Benson Henderson. The biggest question coming into this fight is of course how will Edgar respond to the cut to 145? In my opinion, it will be the move that wins him another title in the UFC. At 145, Edgar is going to be faster than ever. And against Aldo, who is coming off a bad foot injury sustained in a motorcycle accident, that speed is going to help him dance around Aldo, pick up points, and eventually win a judges decision. Don't get me wrong, I respect Aldo a ton and he can knock out Edgar at any time over the course of the five rounds, but we've seen time and time again that Edgar can take a punch. We've also seen that his cardio is fantastic, while Aldo's is a little suspect. We've also seen that the key to beating Aldo is to take him down, and although that's been hard for everyone, Mark Hominick did it once so Edgar can too, especially when Aldo fatigues in the later rounds. This will likely be a close fight on the judges' score cards, but I'm going with Edgar to become the new UFC featherweight champion by winning a unanimous decision.
Jason Moles (Cage Potato): I'm just going to cut to the chase; Frankie Edgar will beat Jose Aldo... if he can survive the first round. Too many people, when they're analyzing this fight, are over thinking the room. Edgar hasn't lost a fight since his first scrap against Gray Maynard back in 2008 - regardless of what the judge's scorecards may have said to the contrary. Furthermore, the New Jersey native is the antithesis of the majority of Aldo's past competition. This man does not wilt under pressure nor does he fade as the fight progresses, but rather seems to posses reserves of strength, energy, and power for the championship rounds. The champ will face his toughest competition on Saturday night and his normal MO isn't going to be effective against "The Answer." It may not end in a highlight reel knockout or wicked submission, but one way or the other, the featherweight title is changing hands.
Jeremy Brand (MMA Sucka): Frankie Edgar is dropping down to his natural weight class and will be a very tough test for Jose Aldo. An even tougher test because Aldo has had such a long layoff. Aldo has not looked like the beast he was in his WEC days since moving over to the UFC, however I see him winning this fight. My pick is Jose Aldo by unanimous decision.
Karim Zidan (The Flying Knee): It is almost a crime that this fight did not happen sooner. Many fans and media members alike still believe that Frankie Edgar is the best lightweight in the world and come Saturday night, he could potentially become the best featherweight as well. Edgar arguably represents a tougher stylistic match-up for Aldo than any of the champ's recent challengers. Aldo may be the better striker of the two but he will likely have to deal with Edgar's varied grappling arsenal, constant pressure and potentially his superior stamina as well. With the champs documented weight cut issues and interest in moving up to lightweight the timing is perfect for Edgar to pull off the upset. If Aldo is unable to take control of the fight in the early rounds, look for Edgar to outpoint and out-grapple the long-time champ en route to a decision win. Frankie Edgar via decision.
Ian Bain (MMA Opinion): Like most fans, I anticipate a very competitive fight between two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA. It will be interesting to actually see Frankie Edgar fighting in a division that suits his body size. The fight ultimately I think will take place on the feet, Edgar is a fantastic wrestler but Aldo has shown stellar takedown defence. Now on the feet, the key will be for Aldo to use his excellent leg kicks to try and slow the movement of Edgar down. Benson Henderson did a good job of punishing Edgar's legs early on in their second fight and I see that being the champion's blueprint to victory. Edgar meanwhile will need to use his movement and push the pace of the fight, it has been over a year since Aldo fought so taking him in to the later rounds may bring joy for the challenger. I do think that even if he takes Aldo down he will struggle to keep him there long enough to score on the cards. It is for that reason that I think Aldo wins a close competitive fight. Jose Aldo takes a unanimous decision.
James Brydon (Sportsnet): Many people have questioned the quality of opponents that Jose Aldo has faced, but you can only fight the guys who are placed in the cage in front of you, and he has run through them in spectacular fashion during his 11-fight unbeaten streak in the WEC/UFC. If Frankie Edgar was unable to find his range or do enough against Benson Henderson to convince three judges he won a fight, I don't see him doing it against Aldo, who is faster and more elusive and probably hits harder than Henderson. Jose Aldo by unanimous decision
Media picking Jose Aldo: Eight
Media picking Frankie Edgar: Five
Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the UFC 156 PPV main card action, which is slated to start promptly at 10 p.m. ET. Up-to-the-minute updates and fight-by-fight coverage will begin to flow earlier than that, however, around 6:30 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook and FX.
For the latest UFC 156 news and notes check out our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest "Aldo vs. Edgar" fight card and rumors click here.


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He must be, right?
Tuesday, I caught the news that Cincinnati's Miguel Cairo was hitting the Disabled List. My immediate reaction was, "Miguel Cairo's still in the majors?"
Looked him up. Yup. Almost 38, Cairo's in his third season with the Reds despite a 78 career OPS+ and no demonstrated ability to play shortstop in a non-emergency situation. In fairness to Cairo, he's actually been a pretty good hitter in each of the last two seasons. Who knows, maybe he's just a late bloomer.
Anyway, I mentioned Cairo to my Baseball Nation colleagues, and one of those smart-alecks (/jeff) wrote back
check out juan castro when you have a moment
There are some things about Miguel Cairo and Juan Castro that make them seem alike. Cairo debuted in the majors in 1996, Castro a year earlier. Cairo's almost 39; Castro's almost 40. Cairo's been a utility infielder for most of his long career; Castro's been a utility infielder for his whole long career.
Castro first reached the majors in 1995, with the Dodgers. He played in parts of five seasons -- well, parts of four seasons and all of another (1998) -- and posted this line in 482 plate appearances:
.188 batting average
.244 on-base average
.255 slugging average
The Dodgers traded him to the Reds for someone named Lutz (no, not this guy).
Castro spent five seasons with the Reds, two with the Twins, two more with the Reds, a season with the Orioles, then the Dodgers, then the Phillies, and now he's a Dodger once more.
And through it all, Juan Castro hasn't batted, fielded, or run like a major-league baseball player.
- Castro's career batting line is .229/.268/.327, with a 55 career OPS+. Among players with at least 2,500 plate appearances since World War II, only infielders Rafael Belliard and Hal Lanier have been worse.
- Playing mostly shortstop, Castro has been worse than replacement level by one measure, and merely worse than average by another.
- In 1,103 games in the majors, Castro has stolen four bases ... and been caught stealing five times.
That last is probably my favorite Juan Castro True Fact. Four steals in 17 years. I feel like I should find all of them and make fun of the catchers who couldn't throw out Juan Castro, but that would be sort of mean, wouldn't it.
So, just to review ... Juan Castro has generally hit like a minor leaguer, fielded like a minor leaguer, run like a rusty fire hydrant ... and he's now playing in his 17th major-league season.
Which is why I will argue that he must be the Best Person in the World. Or if not the world, at least in Baseball. Because there really isn't any other explanation. And it's heartening to know that Baseball has room for persons like Juan Castro. Gives the rest of us hope, doesn't it?
Postscript: A bit after the above was published, I heard from Fred Claire, who was General Manager of the Dodgers when Castro first reached the majors. Claire:
A one-word summary of Juan Castro as a player comes very easy: Professional.
Juan was a professional in every way. He was very prepared but very calm as he approached the game.
In knowing Juan, I believe he realized that to have a successful Major League career he was going to have to be totally dedicated and to get the most of his natural ability.
In approaching the game in the manner he did, Juan became a shining example for other players and it was clear he had the respect of his teammates.


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Shaka Smart Calls UMass Basketball's Chaz Williams Best Player in Atlantic 10
Star UMass guard Chaz Williams had plenty to be happy about on Tuesday. In addition to being named to the Atlantic 10's all-conference and all-defense first teams, Williams also drew high praise from VCU head coach Shaka Smart. Andy Katz' three-point shot video this morning featured Smart picking UMass as the A-10's sleeper this year and his reasoning was Williams, who he called the best player in the league.


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The WEC 40 bantamweight title fight is the first fight I've ever had to do two dueling Judo Chops for.
This is a sequel to my earlier Judo Chop about Takeya Mizugaki's ability to close distance and score with punches at medium range.
Mizugaki surprised the champ a bit but Torres was able to win for three reasons:
- His peek-a-boo boxing skills allowed him to bob and weave and avoid the worst of Mizugaki's hooks to the body and head;
- As Mizugaki got tired, Torres began to score from the outside with jabs and straight kicks; and
- Torres figured out he could force Mizugaki up against the cage and punish him with knees and elbows. Early in the fight when they clinched in the center of the ring, Mizugaki held his own, but not up against the fence.
This bit of description from Josh Gross' live blog of the fight is telling:
Two nice elbows in the clinch from Torres. Another. Against the fence and in the clinch, Torres is winning. It's everywhere else he's having trouble. The champ once again gets on the inside following a right straight.
Four punch combo from Torres pushes Mizugaki back-first into the cage. He's strong here. Good work from both men as they trade in the Thai clinch.
Some gifs and more discussion in the full entry.
The gif on the right shows just what good peek-a-boo boxing skills can do for a fighter. Mizugaki came in behind a lazy Torres jab and fires off a ten punch combination inside. Backing up, Torres makes every punch miss by moving his head and upper body. I can't remember when I've seen this kind of evasive movement from an MMA fighter. Torres' defense on the inside put a big crimp in Mizugaki's game plan.
The gif on the left shows where Torres was able to score offensively and make it a definitive win for the champ: in the clinch, up against the cage. Mizugaki showed early on that he could dominate exchanges at close punching range and even put the thai plum on Torres and scored with knees from there a couple of times. But that was out in the open. Up against the fence, Torres owned the clinch.
Look at how he establishes a collar tie with his left hand, uses it to pull Mizugaki into a knee to the body, then releases to score with a nasty elbow at close range. This happened repeatedly and Mizugaki had no answer. The knees to the body sapped Mizugaki's strength and made it easier for Torres to score at range with jabs and straight kicks. With his back to the cage, Mizugaki couldn't get leverage to throw knees of his own and effectively found himself defenseless.
I've watched this fight several times now working on these Judo Chops and I have to say its one of the best technical MMA fights I've ever seen. Only two factors prevent it from being an ideal MMA fight -- the lack of any ground fighting and the lack of a defininitive finish. Still it was a hell of a performance from both fighters.
As always chime in an correct me where I'm missing something, I'm no boxing coach.


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Macaulay Culkin's band booed off stage
It was a "Blues Brothers" moment for actor Macaulay Culkin and his band Pizza Underground on Sunday at the Dot […]
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Relive the worst parts of childhood with this 'My Girl' video game
One of the saddest movies ever now has its very own video game. Relive the tear-filling glory.
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Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are engaged. "That 70s Show" is real.
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VIDEO: Man recreates 'Home Alone' in hilariously creepy video
YouTube user Paul Little decided to add a twist to the popular holiday classic "Home Alone" when he sent his friends a video e-card: The twist was his face.
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Macaulay Culkin is in the news, not because he's dead or because "Home Alone" is on TV, but because he has a Velvet Underground cover band to praise pizza.
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See Details
-London (Southampton), England
-Cruise the North Sea
-Edinburgh (South Queensferry), United Kingdom
-Invergordon, United Kingdom
-Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
-Portree, United Kingdom
-Belfast, Ireland
-Dublin, Ireland
-Waterford, Ireland
-Cork (Cobh), Ireland
-Isle of Portland, United Kingdom
-Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium
-Amsterdam, Netherlands
-Cruise the Skagerrak
-Copenhagen, Denmark
-Cruise the Baltic Sea
-Riga, Latvia
-Tallinn, Estonia
-St. Petersburg, Russia
-Helsinki, Finland
-Stockholm, Sweden
Founded as a Viking settlement, Dublin is the capital and largest city in Ireland. The city is located at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the center of the Dublin Region. The city has a population of a million people which is about a third of the total population of the country. It is a major European cultural centre and was the birthplace of many prominent literary figures, including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, and William Butler Yeats, to name a few.
The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 240 days before the cruise begins for guests receiving Concierge amenities, and 180 days before the cruise begins for all other guests. Guests receiving Concierge amenities will receive a 5% discount off of the prices shown below for Regent Choice tours.
Be treated to a view of Dublin's finest works of art and the fun of antiquing in this vibrant Irish city on this excellent tour.
As you travel by coach from the pier, you will soon pass The Customs House, located on the north bank of the River Liffey. It was designed by James Gandon and completed in 1791. Crossing the River Liffey to Dublin's south side, you will next pass The Old Parliament House, now the Bank of Ireland, and Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Over 400 years old, Trinity is Ireland's oldest college and is located in a prime 40-acre city center site.
Continue on to your first stop, the famous National Gallery of Ireland. This impressive gallery contains many fine works by such painters as Michelangelo, Rubens, El Greco, Goya, Gainsborough and Caravaggio. In the Irish room there are works of the greatest of modern portrait painters, John Butler Yeats, father of the poet W.B. Yeats. Before leaving, enjoy a coffee in the Gallery's café.
Following your visit to the National Gallery, you will rejoin your coach and follow a route that takes you past Dublin Castle, City Hall, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Founded in 1190, St. Patrick's is perhaps best known for its association with Jonathan Swift, who was Dean from 1713 to 1745.
Just a block away from the famous Cathedral is Francis Street. At the heart of the city's antiques trade, this street is lined from top to bottom and on both sides with small, welcoming shops crammed with antiques of varying historical, aesthetic and monetary value. Dealing mainly in later-period furnishings and ornamentation, the shops here exude a dusty, dreamy atmosphere, but don't be fooled - the easygoing façade hides a world of experienced dealers running a big business with a brisk turnover. You will have plenty of free time here to explore the shops on your own and browse through decades of Irish history, and perhaps purchase a piece telling its own tale of days gone by.
Rejoin your coach and guide for your return journey to the pier.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2 1/2 hours of walking and standing. The tour is available to guests who utilize a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their way on and off the coach and who are accompanied by a companion. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Weather appropriate clothing and flat, comfortable walking shoes are suggested. Guests should be prepared for the possibility of rain. The order of sites visited may vary.
Terms & Conditions:
Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tour Departure times are subject to change so please reference your actual tour ticket for the correct departure time. Tours operate rain or shine. Minor children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a an adult parent or guardian on all shore excursions. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.
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Palestine Public Library offers many
services. Below is a list of these services and the
costs associated with them:
Book (including large
print), Video, Audio and Magazine Checkout
eBook lending service through
Overdrive for digital reading devices
Public Access Computers
The library has seven public access computers.
There is a one-time (lifetime) charge of $3 (for maintenance)
to use the computers. For
non-residents the charge will be $5 lifetime or $1 each user time.
computers are equipped with Office 2010 (one has Office 2007), Encarta Africana, Encarta
Encyclopedia, Encarta Dictionary, Encarta World Atlas, Microsoft
Streets and Trips, and many games.
All computers are Internet accessible.
Printing costs are $1.00/page for color, $.20/page for
grayscale and $.10/page for laser.
There is a penny per page charge for printing information from the
Internet or software when the project is for school research.
Wireless access is
available free of charge- ask the front desk for the PIN
Scanning -- No charge
for scanning, but costs for printing are $.50/page for color or $.20
for grayscale; $1.00 for 8-1/2X11" premium
photo paper.
Photocopy Service --
$.10/page (per side) for regular size paper; $.20 per side for legal
or ledger size paper.
Computer Literacy
Crawford County Adult Literacy Program
Discarded Book Sales
Equipment Rental -- 16 mm Movie
Projector, Movie Screen, Carousel Slide Projector
Fax Services -- $1.00/page to send and
$.50/page to receive
Interlibrary Loan
Internet Access
Laminating- $1.00
Microfilm & Microfiche
Reader and printer
Reciprocal Borrowing
Non-resident Card --
the fee for non-resident cards is $60, effective February 2, 2012
Reference Service
School Reading Program & Visits
Talking Book Program
Talking Computer for the Blind &
Physically Handicapped
TDD Available for Deaf
Typewriter for Public Use
Typing Service --


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Working to eliminate illegal activity
As reported in the press, there have been a few sellers and companies acting illegally in the secondary market. Let us assure you that we are undertaking every possible step to ensure that no illegal activities are carried out through our website.
Everybody wanting to sell or buy tickets via viagogo has to agree to the terms and conditions, which include a clause on stolen property and illegal activities.
We reserve the right to suspend the membership of any seller we feel has attempted to commit fraud or sell illegal tickets.
We also reserve the right to withhold seller payment or charge seller credit cards in order to recover damages related to fraud or illegal activity.
In order to assure this, all sellers have to register their credit card details when signing up. Any attempts to abuse the viagogo website for illegal activity will be investigated very seriously.
We are working very hard to bring trust and safety to the secondary ticket market and are determined to make sure that fraud will never pay.


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Baptist Press Stories for Jul. 30 2012
U.S. archer: God has used struggles to 'deepen my trust'
Miss. wedding refusal not indicative of SBC
Democratic platform to endorse gay marriage
Polish immigrants pull Baptist duo to London
Victory in the Lord's hands, U.S. archers say
Boudia wins bronze in synchronized diving
Scherer 7th in women's 10m air rifle
UPDATE: Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible
GuideStone funds tally more high marks
BP Ledger, July 30
FIRST-PERSON: Spiritual claustrophobia
U.S. archer: God has used struggles to 'deepen my trust'
By Tim Ellsworth
Jul. 30 2012
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, is in London to cover the 2012 Olympics in tandem with Baptist Press' London bureau. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover Baptist initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and among Londoners' rich cultural milieu.
LONDON (BP) -- Jennifer Nichols admits that the road to this year's Olympics has been one of the most trying times of her life.
"My faith has been challenged more than ever before in the last few years," the U.S. archer said. "I really can see how the Lord has used the struggles and hardships I've had to deal with to deepen my relationship with Him and my trust in Him."
The trials, however, have proven to strengthen Nichols' faith in the Lord and to help her rest on Him in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.
"All I had was Him to run to," she said. "It has been hard and painful but so sweet at the same time. I can see how He has brought me back to really grounding myself in my identity in Christ, knowing that I am called to come and die and follow Christ to the cross for the sake of love.
"This is a firm foundation that cannot be shaken."
One of the challenges Nichols went through was the changing nature of the relationship with her sister, who got married in December. Nichols' sister was her traveling and training partner; the two had been practically inseparable for years. And while Nichols' knows that her sister's marriage was a good thing, it also meant that the one person who had been her closest companion now had someone else who was a higher priority.
She also faced some other family struggles as well as setbacks in her performance (failing to make the 2011 Pan American team) that took a toll on her confidence.
Through all of the difficulty, Nichols said she started questioning her faith. Was she really a Christian? Was she really walking in the favor and grace of God? She also realized that she had been living more legalistically, focusing on what she could do on her own to gain righteousness before God.
But Nichols said God ultimately brought her to repentance and a fresh understanding of His grace in her life.
"In all of it, the Lord just proved Himself so faithful," she said. "He showed me that I had placed so much of my identity and my priority in my family, rather than in Christ."
The Lord blessed her in other ways as well -- namely in providing a husband. At age 28, she will marry Chris Hardy this fall and shift her focus away from archery to being a wife and eventually, she hopes, a mother.
"Love requires sacrifice, and love for God requires obedience," Nichols said. "Because I love the Lord with my whole heart, I want to be able to lay down my life for this calling that He has for me going into marriage and being able to meet that calling as my husband's help-meet."
But before that happens, Nichols has her third Olympics before her. Though the U.S. women's team failed to medal in the team competition in London July 29, Nichols will compete in the individual event later in the week.
"Archery is not everything, and my value is not caught up in my performance," she said. "My treasure is in heaven and is in the love that I receive from my Lord.
"My purpose is to glorify God, and that's what I want to do at the Olympic Games. Of course, I would love to medal. But ultimately I want to place wherever the Lord has me so that I can give Him the most glory."
Tim Ellsworth, in London covering the Olympics for Baptist Press, is editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations for Union University in Jackson, Tenn. 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 --
Miss. wedding refusal not indicative of SBC
By Diana Chandler
Jul. 30 2012
CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. (BP) -- The inability of an African American couple to wed at predominantly white First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Miss., is not indicative of Southern Baptists, denominational leaders said.
The pastor's decision to change the wedding venue, after a few members' reaction because of the couple's race, is an unfortunate, isolated incident from which pastors can learn, Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter said.
[IMG=33157@right@110]"We just have to be aware that the enemy will use anything he can to come against our churches and our ministries with something like this. And so we've always got to be aware that the enemy is out to kill, steal and destroy," said Luter, the first African American elected as SBC president. "It's unfortunate that it happened, but we've got to learn from it, and be able to go on and do what God has called us to do.
"What we can learn from it is that we need to talk to our membership about issues. I think if the pastor would have talked to more members about this … when this situation occurred … it probably would not have happened the way it happened," Luter said.
Jim Futral, executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, said the state and nation have long worked toward racial healing.
"Mississippi Baptists both reject racial discrimination and at the same time respect the autonomy of our local churches to deal with difficulties and disagreements under the lordship of Jesus," Futral said. "While there may be hurts, wrongs and mistakes that must be addressed, the context for this to happen is in a historical church with a genuine caring pastor and thoughtful leaders who are seeking to do right."
Roger S. Oldham, vice president for convention communications and relations with the SBC Executive Committee, said the SBC affirms in Article 15 of its doctrinal Baptist Faith and Message that racism is against God's will.
"The convention's position on race relations is clear: 'In the Spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism,'" Oldham said. "We are all saddened when any sin, including the sin of racism, rears its head in our midst. It is equally unfortunate when a group within a church seeks to determine church policy without giving the church an opportunity to discuss the matter and take formal action as a congregation."
First Baptist Crystal Springs is in the headlines because a black couple, Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson, was forced to move their wedding to a second location just one day prior to the event. The church's pastor, Stan Weatherford, conducted the wedding July 21 at a nearby African American church, telling the Wilsons some members of the 150-year-old First Baptist objected to the wedding because it involved a black couple.
"This [the wedding of a black couple] had not, had never been done here before, so it was setting a new precedent. And there were those who reacted to that because of that," Weatherford told WLBT-TV in Jackson. "I didn't want to have a controversy within the church and I certainly didn't want a controversy to affect the wedding of Charles and Te'Andrea. I wanted to make sure that their wedding day was a special day."
According to news reports, "five or six" church members, who had not been identified as of press time, objected to the wedding. Weatherford's job was on the line, according to the Wilsons.
They "had decided that no black couple had been married at their church and that if he went on to … marry us, then they would vote him out and he would be put out of the church," Charles Wilson told WLBT.
The couple had been attending the church -- she one year and he one month -- but had not officially joined. Te'Andrea's father was a member of the church and her uncle was a custodial employee, according to news reports.
Richard Land, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said that while there may be valid reasons a couple may be denied a church wedding, "the race or ethnicity of that couple is never a valid reason."
Numerous members of First Baptist Crystal Springs have expressed dismay that a few members could bar the wedding. At the July 29 service, a church deacon read a joint statement from the church's deacons.
"Our many ministries here are open to everyone and have been for many years. We would never consider doing otherwise," the deacon said, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger newspaper. "In the coming days and weeks our congregation will gather as a body of believers to pray and seek God's blessing and direction as we move forward. We will ask for forgiveness where God reveals it is necessary and for His guidance as we look to the future of our congregation."
Weatherford has stated he was looking for a "win-win" situation in moving the wedding to another venue.
"I was prepared to just go ahead and do the wedding here, just like it was planned and just like we had agreed to," Weatherford told WLBT. "I was just looking for an opportunity, an option to be able to address a need within our congregation and at the same time minister to them."
Luter sympathized with Weatherford's position.
"I felt for the pastor because being a pastor myself, I know how awkward situations like that can be, whereby you have a handful of folks who have influence and will cause issues that the other folks are not aware of," Luter said. "From all the indications that I've seen and read, the majority of the members were in support of this marriage happening at the church and it's just so unfortunate that it came to this."
Luter encouraged pastors to stand firm in serving the Lord.
"So I just want to encourage those pastors out there to, I even want to encourage pastor Stan Weatherford who went through this, just … learn from this as we all need to learn from this, and go on," Luter said. "It's unfortunate that it happened, but we've got to learn from it, and be able to go on and do what God has called us to do."
Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' staff writer. 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 --
Democratic platform to endorse gay marriage
By Staff
Jul. 30 2012
WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Democratic Party's new platform is set to include a plank endorsing the legalization of gay marriage, marking the first time that either major party has taken such a position, several media outlets reported Monday (July 30).
A 15-member platform draft committee approved the pro-gay marriage language over the weekend, according to Politico.com. One source told the news site it was "not controversial." The language won't become official until the full platform committee meets Aug. 10, Politico.com said.
Rep. Barney Frank, D.-Mass., who is gay, told the Washington Blade newspaper that the party's position has been established by President Obama -- who endorsed gay marriage in May -- and by House leaders. A Democratic National Committee staffer also told the Washington Blade the proposed language rejects the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman and gives states the option of not recognizing another state's gay marriages.
The Democrats' 2008 platform did not endorse gay marriage explicitly, saying, "We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation." The Republicans' 2008 platform endorsed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. It said, "Because our children's future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives."
Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of 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]).
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Polish immigrants pull Baptist duo to London
By Elaine Gaston
Jul. 30 2012
EDITOR'S NOTE: Baptist Press' London bureau, in tandem with Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, will be providing coverage of London Olympics. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover Baptist initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and among Londoners' rich cultural milieu.
LONDON (BP) -- Doug Shaw points out the wave-shaped roof of the 2012 Olympic aquatics center as he looks across the tracks from Platform 4B at London's Stratford railway station. In the distance, the triangulated exterior of the main Olympic stadium is visible.
The Olympic Park has been a rapidly developing scene for passengers who commute daily through this station to other parts of London and beyond.
They've also watched renovations at the station that have boosted capacity to prepare for the tens of thousands of international visitors who will travel to the Olympic Park each day during the 2012 Games. The station will operate around the clock, with a capacity for 250,000 people daily, said Doug Shaw, an International Mission Board missionary who has become something of an expert on the logistics of how the Olympic Games operate.
Doug Shaw, who has served in Poland and London with his wife Marcy, is the Olympics volunteer coordinator for Southern Baptists.
The real reason the Shaws moved to London, however, was not the global sporting event, but the internationals themselves -- in particular, the Polish population now living in London.
Just standing on this station platform or walking down a nearby road reveals the multicultural reality of London today, with immigrants from nearly every country imaginable making this city their home.
On Stratford's High Street -- the British equivalent of an American Main Street -- Eastern European women push babies in strollers, and covered women draped with headscarves carry shopping bags home.
Faces reflecting a variety of ethnicities and nationalities run to catch buses, read in the public library and work in the restaurants and shops in this east London community.
Shaw knows the area well. He has frequented Stratford to observe various stages of the Olympic grounds development as he planned for the hundreds of volunteers who will come to be a part of the Southern Baptist volunteer force assisting during the Olympics. But that's just part of his job.
Before relocating to London in 2008 to reach out to the city's large Polish community, the Shaws had served nine years in Rzeszów, Poland, as church planters, deep in the language and culture there.
They were set to return to their former country of service after Shaw worked a stint in the stateside offices of the IMB and were praying about what city to return to in Poland.
In the course of work he was doing for the IMB's Global Research Department, though, Shaw passed through London several times.
"We were getting ready to come back to Poland," Marcy Shaw recounted. "We were praying over it. But every time Doug traveled through London he'd come back and say, 'You wouldn't believe all the Polish there. Everywhere I go, they're all speaking Polish. My waiters were Polish, the people on the bus were Polish, the people on the underground were Polish, the people in the stores were Polish.'"
So the pair began praying that God would send someone to England to work with Poles.
"And God said, 'Yeah, OK, I'll send you,'" Marcy Shaw said.
The fact that the Shaws speak Polish smoothes the way for connecting with Poles in London. "We can meet people really easily," Marcy said. "It's unusual for the English or for Americans to speak their language. When we were studying in Poland, they would say, 'Wow, most Americans expect us to learn English and you're learning Polish.' So it really had an effect on them."
One would think that the Shaws have their hands full with Polish work. So why are they also supporting the logistics for Southern Baptist volunteers for the Olympics?
Shaw laughs about how he came to be in charge. "I asked my supervisor: 'Are we doing something for the Olympics?'"
Elaine Gaston, who lived in London with her family in the mid-1990s, is a writer for Woman's Missionary Union. To download a copy of the WMU International Mission Study on London in which this article appears, visit http://www.newsfromeurasia.com/?p=629.
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Victory in the Lord's hands, U.S. archers say
By Tim Ellsworth
Jul. 30 2012
LONDON (BP) -- Brady Ellison, Jacob Wukie and Jake Kaminski became the first Americans to capture a medal in the London Olympics, winning silver in the men's archery team competition July 28.
The U.S. trio scored a big win over South Korea in the semifinals before falling to Italy 219-218 in a gold medal match that came down to the last arrow. The Italians needed a perfect 10 on the last shot and got it.
During the match, Ellison wore the Scripture reference Proverbs 21:31 on his right hand: "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
(For our previous feature on Wukie, visit [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38360]http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38360[/URL].)
He described why the verse is meaningful to him in a press conference following the match, noting that it's important to work hard and to be as prepared as possible.
"But when it comes down to it, victory is in the Lord's hands," Ellison said. "He gives out the medals at these Games, or at least, that's my opinion."
Wukie, who narrowly made the U.S. team, echoed Ellison's sentiments. Throughout the trials process and the Olympic competition, Wukie said it was important for him to keep his focus on the Lord whether he made the team or not.
"I work hard and do my best to the best of my ability, and I trust God with the results," Wukie said. "He said that all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus, and so that's really my focus.
"I can't necessarily always say how people are going to view me or view that, but I can trust the Lord that He'll allow the truth to be shown to other people."
Ellison said he and his teammates "all decided that the team event is where we wanted to spend the most time, because it was going to be the most memorable. We could share it with each other, and that would mean so much more to us to go out there and win a medal together than individually. So we put a lot of work into practicing team rounds."
Wukie joked that the silver medal may end up in his sock drawer.
"It's a huge blessing to have been here and to have gotten a medal," he said, "and we couldn't be more excited about it. We all tend to be pretty humble about our accomplishments and don't like to brag about it too much."
He added that he hopes the team's medal will have a positive impact on archery's popularity going forward.
"To be able to take a medal, I think, is going to be really helpful in making people want to participate in it more and be involved with it," Wukie said.
In the archery women's team competition, the U.S. team of Jennifer Nichols, Khatuna Lorig and Miranda Leek lost to a lower-ranked Chinese team 218-213 in the quarterfinals July 30, leaving the Americans without a medal in the event.
"We came out and had high hopes," Nichols said. "We felt really good. We were shooting really well all this week and especially in practice right before we came out. However, it just wasn't our day.
"When our arrows didn't go in, China's did. It happens sometimes. China shot really well, and I'm really happy for them."
From a personal standpoint, Nichols said she gave the results, her expectations and how she felt to the Lord.
"I kept praying, even the whole time during that match, 'Lord, just guide our hands. Help us to shoot well, and you be glorified,'" Nichols said. "I'm still praying that He's glorified, even in our loss as much as in our wins."
Nichols will begin competition in the individual event on Tuesday.
Tim Ellsworth, in London covering the Olympics for Baptist Press, is editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations for Union University in Jackson, Tenn. 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]).
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Boudia wins bronze in synchronized diving
By Tim Ellsworth
Jul. 30 2012
LONDON (BP) -- When U.S. diver David Boudia looks at the bronze medal he won July 30 with his teammate Nick McCrory in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform event, he sees change.
Boudia and McCrory put together six solid dives for a score of 463.47 points to finish third behind the teams from China (gold) and Mexico (silver) and ahead of the hometown team from Great Britain.
Boudia, making his second Olympics appearance, said at this year's Games he has a "totally different mind frame" from what he did four years ago.
"Going into 2008, I was just excited to be on the team, and it was deer in the headlights," Boudia said. "I was chasing after things that are temporary."
(Read BP's previous feature on Boudia at [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38360]http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38360[/URL])
But at Purdue University following the Olympics, Boudia's diving coach Adam Soldati told Boudia about the ultimate fulfillment that comes in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Boudia became a Christian.
"Going into 2012, I knew the one main goal I had was to praise God and to love others while doing it," he said.
Soldati said Boudia is a different diver this year than what he was in Beijing.
"He was holding onto diving like it was going to satisfy him," Soldati said of Boudia. "Now as a Christian he realized that's not going to bring ultimate satisfaction, and that just gives you a peace. We're in a sport of movement where you need to be relaxed, so if you're at peace, you're probably going to perform better."
Boudia said he has been greatly encouraged by the messages of support he's received from his home congregation, Faith Church in Lafayette, Ind.
"I get so many messages, whether it's Facebook or Twitter or text messages, letting me know that they're praying for me," Boudia said. "The coolest ones are that they're not praying for the victories. They're praying that God's name would be revealed and lifted on high. Now I have a crazy opportunity. I'm going to be in front of thousands of media people and I get to speak the name of Jesus and praise Him for what He's done."
Tim Ellsworth, in London covering the Olympics for Baptist Press, is editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations for Union University in Jackson, Tenn. 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]).
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Scherer 7th in women's 10m air rifle
By Tim Ellsworth
Jul. 30 2012
LONDON (BP) -- U.S. shooter Sarah Scherer advanced to the finals of the women's 10-meter air rifle competition July 28 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London before settling for a seventh-place finish overall.
"I'm very happy with my performance," Scherer said after the competition. "It was one of those things where I had some struggles, but I gave it my all. I overcame them. I really put everything that I had out there."
China's Yi Siling took gold in the event. Scherer's U.S. teammate Jamie Lynn Gray finished fifth.
The competition started with 57 shooters, with the top eight advancing to the finals. Scherer's score of 397 in the qualifying round (out of a possible 400 points) was good enough for a fifth-place tie with four other shooters. The five who tied advanced to a shoot-off, with the top four moving on to the finals.
Scherer, who was an alternate in the 2008 Olympics, vowed at that point that she would dedicate herself to training and making the 2012 team. (Read BP's previous feature on Scherer at [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38361]http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38361[/URL].)
"Every single day you put in your full effort, and that's all you can do," she said. "The rest is up to the Lord. I'm here, and I've done well. I think I prepared well, and I'm happy to be here."
Her road to London was unexpectedly complicated when her brother Stephen, who was a member of the U.S. men's shooting team in 2008, committed suicide in 2010. "The number one way I got through that," she said, "is because I have a very strong faith in the Lord…."
"I know that my brother was here four years ago, and I'm following his footsteps and kind of carrying on with the work he accomplished," she continued. "What he accomplished encourages me every day."
Scherer, a junior at Texas Christian University, attends Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. She said her church family has provided significant support for her throughout her Olympic preparation and experience.
"The college ministry I'm a part of, they're all rooting for me and everything," Scherer said. "So many in the congregation are praying for me, and that's an amazing peace and comfort to have."
Tim Ellsworth, in London covering the Olympics for Baptist Press, is editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations for Union University in Jackson, Tenn. For the July 27 feature on U.S. shooter Sarah Scherer, go to http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38361. 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]).
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UPDATE: Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible
By Benjamin Hawkins
Jul. 30 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- In 2008, news outlets reported on an ancient stone, inscribed in Hebrew with a pre-Christian text, that reportedly spoke of a messiah who would suffer, die and rise again after three days.
Currently on display at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible exhibit, the stone is known as the "Jeselsohn Stone" or "Gabriel Stone." During the seminary's Joan & Andy Horner Lecture Series, July 24, Matthias Henze discussed this unique piece in Southwestern's exhibition.
"In his early work, professor [Israel] Knohl made what turned out to be somewhat exaggerated claims about the content of the [stone's] inscription," said Henze, the Watt J. & Lilly G. Jackson Chair in Biblical Studies and professor of religious studies at Rice University. "Among these was his hypothesis that the Gabriel Revelation speaks of a messiah who dies a violent death and rises again on the third day.
"Since this Hebrew text pre-dates Christianity, Knohl went on to argue that … the idea of a dying messiah who rose from the dead on the third day was not new to Christianity, but was an idea early Christians borrowed from Judaism."
According to Henze, the stone does not mention the death and resurrection of a messiah. Even Knohl now rejects this interpretation. However, the text does predict "the advent of the Davidic messiah."
"The most striking feature of our text," Henze noted, "is how closely it is modeled after the texts of the Old Testament." The stone alludes particularly to eschatological passages in Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. "This strongly suggests that the Gabriel Revelation too is a text that is concerned with the end of time."
To learn more about The Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible exhibition at Southwestern's campus in Fort Worth, Texas, visit seethescrolls.com.
Benjamin Hawkins is senior newswriter for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (www.swbts.edu/campusnews).
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GuideStone funds tally more high marks
By Brock Anderson
Jul. 30 2012
DALLAS (BP) -- Noteworthy accomplishments continue to be recorded for GuideStone Funds in 2012.
Morningstar, a leading provider of research for the financial industry, has recognized the MyDestination 2005 (Target Date 2000-2010), 2015 (Target Date 2011-2015) and 2025 (Target Date 2021-2025) funds with four stars for the quarter ending June 30, 2012. Meanwhile, Morningstar awarded the MyDestination 2035 (Target Date 2031-2035) and 2045 (Target Date 2041-2045) funds with three stars.
Additionally, Morningstar awarded its top five-star rating for the three-year period ending June 30, 2012, to the MyDestination 2015, 2025, 2035 and 2045 funds. The MyDestination 2005 Fund received four stars for the three years ending June 30, 2012.
The MyDestination Funds are GuideStone's most popular funds, with nearly 25 percent of every dollar contributed by participants going into one of these funds administered by the Southern Baptist entity. For many GuideStone participants, the MyDestination funds serve as vehicle to appropriately manage their retirement accounts over time.
The MyDestination Funds are designed to be a diversified one-fund approach to investing. Participants interested in choosing a My Destination Fund are encouraged to choose the fund closest to their retirement date and to make consistent and appropriate retirement contributions. The investments within the chosen fund will automatically become more conservative allocations as the participant approaches and then moves through retirement.
Morningstar's high rankings of GuideStone's MyDestination Funds follows the announcement by the Lipper ratings agency in March that GuideStone Funds ranked No. 1 out of 182 funds, receiving Lipper's 2012 Best Overall Small Fund Group award, one of the nation's premier financial industry honors presented to mutual fund families with up to $40 billion in assets.
Rodric E. Cummins, senior vice president and chief investment officer for GuideStone Capital Management, said these recent accolades point to the mutual fund industry's recognition of GuideStone Funds' strong risk-adjusted performance resulting from the consistent implementation of its manager-of-managers investment philosophy.
"Our investment process is designed to provide thoughtful, high-quality, strategic investment options to our participants and is executed by what we believe to be world-class investment management firms," Cummins said. "This process delivers proven value to our clients and provides GuideStone Funds with a competitive advantage relative to other mutual fund companies."
John R. Jones, chief operating officer for GuideStone Financial Resources and president of GuideStone Funds, said, "These accomplishments continue to illustrate that a dedication to values doesn't have to be sacrificed to achieve investment performance."
For more information on GuideStone Funds, including the prospectus and other funds' individual rankings, visit www.GuideStone Funds.org. Retirement plan participants who want to determine if any of the MyDestination Funds are an appropriate component of their portfolio can use GPS: Guided Planning Services by logging into their accounts at MyGuideStone.
Brock Anderson is senior marketing communications editor in retirement marketing development at GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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BP Ledger, July 30
By Staff
Jul. 30 2012
EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received.
Today's BP Ledger contains an item from:
Judson College
New Orleans Seminary Prison Program Models Kingdom Living
By Michael J. Brooks
BUFORD, Ga. (Judson College) -- The director of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's bachelor's degree program at Phillips State Prison in Buford, Ga., calls the program "incarnational."
"Jesus came to the most depraved--all of us sinners--and modeled what kingdom living is all about," said Dr. Jeffrey Farmer.
"In prison we work with inmates who will incarnate the life of Christ and minister to others inside these walls."
Farmer is the fourth director of the Phillips program which is part of the seminary's Leavell College, and he currently oversees the second group of students in their degree program. The inaugural class graduated in 2009 and graduates are now disbursed throughout the Georgia prison system serving as assistants to prison chaplains or in other ministries.
Many advocates of prison reform point to the alarming rate of recidivism. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, up to two-thirds of inmates are rearrested within three years of their release from prison. The Phillips program is one attempt to rehabilitate prisoners.
"We don't just educate," Farmer said, "we rehabilitate. If we don't rehabilitate, then all we have is smarter criminals! We want our graduates to model Christian behavior and to be missionaries for Christian culture."
Professors from the New Orleans extension "hub" in Atlanta are most often enlisted for teaching, including Farmer, and adjuncts are brought in as needed.
"We're limited in class size to 28 or 29," Farmer explained. "That's all we have room for. Inmates from around the state apply for admission and must have endorsements from their chaplain and other prison staff. Our local screening committee selects men for the program and we have a long waiting list."
Farmer explained the ideal seminary candidate has at least 10 years remaining in his sentence so that after graduation he can minister for four to five years in a prison. Upon release many of the graduates hope to serve in local churches or to start churches.
For this reason, Farmer explained, no sex offenders are admitted to the program since they wouldn't be able to work in churches.
"Some of the Phillips students have very long sentences," Farmer said," and may not be released. They are, nevertheless, committed to serving Christ in prison."
One of the Phillips students admitted to "syllabus shock" when he was admitted to the program and saw how much work is required.
"We tend to get mentally lazy in prison, but I'm working hard to make good grades," he said. "I have better writing skills and am learning to do better speaking."
Another student said that he was raised in a Baptist church and was baptized at 11 or 12. He quit school as a teen-ager and fell into a life of crime.
"I've been in prison for six years," he said, "and it's been a good thing for me. I earned my GED in prison and through the Kairos ministry, learned about the New Orleans classes. It's a challenging program, but it's helped me draw close to God."
A third student explained that after a few days of violence in 1997 he received a 50 year prison sentence. At age 50 with 35 years remaining, he has little hope for release. But in prison he found Christ.
"I prayed, 'Jesus, if you're real and want what's left of my sorry excuse for a life, you can have it.'"
The inmate said the New Orleans program has been life-altering.
"Prison tests a man through a multitude of adversities, disappointments and temptations," he said, "But I feel called of God to minister to the men here and to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me."
This student now works as an aide in the mental health ward of the prison.
New Orleans sponsors three other prison programs in the Southeast including those at the Louisiana State Prison (also known as Angola), the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women at St. Gabriel and the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Since no Cooperative Program funds are used in these programs, the seminary relies on benefactors with interest in the work.
Farmer said Baylor University became interested in the Angola program and is now conducting statistical research.
"When this study is completed, we'll have our first longitudinal research data about how we're doing in rehabilitation and how we can improve," Farmer said.
"We're grateful that the Georgia Department of Corrections and the staff at Phillips are so supportive of our work as we try to impact the Kingdom of God."
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FIRST-PERSON: Spiritual claustrophobia
By Mark Heath
Jul. 30 2012
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) -- I've always enjoyed the country. I grew up in a fairly small town in South Carolina that had three stoplights within the city limits. My grandparents owned 100 acres of farmland in Middle Tennessee with a few cattle. We used to visit there every summer. I loved riding the tractor, walking up and down the hills. Open spaces give my mind room to think and my soul room to breathe.
I remember a time when I was very young, maybe 5 or 6 when I was playing in the front room of my childhood home. We had a couple of formal sitting chairs that were just high enough off the floor for a young boy to crawl under. Up until that age, I could fit under them easily, but this one time, I got stuck. I was wedged between the floor and the chair with my head and upper body directly beneath the chair and my legs sticking out. I remember feeling trapped, and I got very nervous. I began to panic and wriggled and squirmed until my head was finally free and I squeezed my way out. I never crawled under any furniture after that. Since then, I've been just slightly claustrophobic.
In Iraq, where I worked more than a year with a Christian organization, I lived in the same building where I worked. I was confined to the area close to my house/office most days. If I wanted to leave, I had to schedule it with my local colleagues and they had to approve of the location. I lived in what some have called a "golden prison." It's golden because all of my meals were prepared for me. If I needed something from the market, I put it on a list and my Iraqi colleagues got it for me. Yet it was a prison because I didn't leave the house unless it was necessary or very safe for me to do so. These occasions were rare.
I was totally stuck.
Even if I had the chance to go out, I couldn't speak English while I was out. I stuck out like a sore thumb, and if the wrong people had seen me, I might never have come back. Some days I felt like I was under house arrest, especially spiritually. I love meeting new people and I got to do this quite a bit, but I also love deep conversation, and I didn't get enough of it. I like to engage people's minds and steer them toward truth. As a matter of fact, this is my life's calling.
In Iraq, however, I didn't get to do this enough to sustain my spiritual need. I didn't have space to think. I was in constant tension because of all of the things going on in my city that I needed to be aware of. I had very little "room" of my own and some days it felt suffocating.
I think there's a correlation between my physical claustrophobia and my spiritual well being. Most days, I felt like I was trapped in a spiritual prison, with nowhere to go. I didn't get the chance to do ministry like I did in the States. I didn't have the chance to go to my church and fellowship with others on a regular basis. If I was going to have an influence on people, I had to do it between 9 and 5 among the people who came to me.
The Apostle Paul was in a situation not unlike mine, and I've noticed something spectacular about his life while under house arrest: He never stopped doing God's work. I know Paul may have had sleepless nights, because I had them. He may have cried out to God and asked him to deliver him from his situation, because I've done it. I am hardly the man that Paul was, and if I was struggling in my prison, Paul may have struggled in his. Yet, Paul remained faithful to his calling, and he continued the work he was called to.
It's been 16 years since I committed to following Jesus wherever He called me, even if that means staying in one place and having to get creative as to how I carry out His work. This was the case for Paul. He knew he was going to be confined, and he may not have known how long it would last. Yet, his commitment to Christ didn't stop. He had to find new ways of fulfilling his calling and doing God's work. I've learned to accept the fact that, sometimes, this is exactly where God has me. I've had to learn it the hard way this past year, but I've learned it nonetheless. A few years ago while participating in the IMPACT 360 gap-year program for college-age students, God opened my eyes to the world He created. I never dreamt that He would put me under house arrest. If I can learn anything from the life of the Apostle Paul, it's to remember my commitment to Jesus and find ways of keeping it.
Mark Heath is a former Christian worker in Iraq and current student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. IMPACT 360 is on the Web at www.impact360.net. 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]).
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