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Baptist Press Stories for Jan. 17 2014
Prof takes long-held pro-life views to abortion clinic's doors
Smartphones join fight to save babies
Internet searches led them to choose life
Bible studies ready for Sanctity of Life Sunday
Racial diversity in churches remains elusive
CALL TO PRAYER: Protect all children
FIRST-PERSON: Silent amid the killing
EDITORIAL: Nuestra Victoria
Prof takes long-held pro-life views to abortion clinic's doors
By Matt Damico
Jan. 17 2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sunday, Jan. 19, is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Convictions come with a cost.
Owen Strachan has been pro-life for many years, but it wasn't until recently that the college prof decided to act on his convictions.
"I've been convictionally pro-life for a long time but hadn't taken an opportunity to get involved with the cause," said Strachan, assistant professor of Christian theology and church history at Boyce College. "I was a passionate advocate for pro-life thinking, but it wasn't until coming into contact with this ministry -- and finding people who were putting their convictions to work -- that I started to get practically involved."
The ministry is Speak for the Unborn, which came to life when Ryan Fullerton, pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., preached a sermon on sanctity of life Sunday in 2009. Dave and Stacey Hare, who were members of Immanuel at the time, decided to act on the message. The following Saturday, they went to an abortion clinic in downtown Louisville to do sidewalk counseling.
"They had no idea what they were doing," said Andrew King, who has led the ministry at Immanuel since the Hares left for the mission field in 2010. "But they went out there and started talking to people, pleading with them not to have abortions."
A group from Immanuel continues to go out every Saturday morning to do sidewalk counseling. On Tuesdays and Fridays, a group goes from Louisville's Kenwood Baptist Church, where Strachan serves as an elder.
As a professor at the undergraduate school of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and as a pastor, Strachan's primary calling is to teach, write and think. But he wanted to put his intellectual life to work.
"It's an extremely good thing for our faith and convictions to cost us something," Strachan said. "In a Jesus-like way, we can put boots on the ground and our doctrine into practice, and really experience the cost of Gospel ministry."
Sidewalk counseling makes the cost quite tangible.
"It's not a fun ministry," Strachan said.
The typical morning includes waking up early to arrive by 7 a.m., when the Speak for the Unborn volunteers stand on the sidewalk outside the EMW Women's Surgical Center next to the busy Market Street.
As women walk from their cars to the clinic door, volunteers try to engage them in conversations, which rarely last longer than a minute.
Speak for the Unborn volunteers use this brief time to try to persuade these women -- who often are with their boyfriends, husbands, friends or even parents -- not to abort their unborn children and to receive instead a free ultrasound at A Woman's Choice Resource Center, located next to the abortion clinic.
In the short time volunteers have to talk to these women, "you try to engage them quickly, you try to plant a seed, speak a Gospel truth. And then they go in and you lose them, so to speak," Strachan said.
The brief amount of time is not the only obstacle Speak for the Unborn volunteers must overcome. There are pro-choice volunteers there as well, wearing orange vests with the words "clinic escort" on the back, to help women enter the abortion clinic and to shield them from the pro-life volunteers. Interactions with escorts can turn hostile.
"They have pushed and sworn at us," Strachan said. "I had one escort tell me that she wished I had never been born. I had shared how thankful I was that I hadn't been aborted and that the people walking into the clinic hadn't been aborted, and she shouted to me that she wished I had been."
The hostility sometimes extends from the sidewalk to the Web –- at everysaturdaymorning.net -- where the pro-choice escorts blog about, among other things, stories from sidewalk interactions with people they call "antis" and "protesters."
It is no surprise to Strachan that standing against the culture's standards of morality can be difficult and disheartening.
"Jesus promised that ministry in His name is going to be hard," Strachan said. "We should expect some suffering."
Despite the uncomfortable situation and the direct contact with what Strachan calls "tangible darkness," there are reasons to endure. Just as the apostle Paul promised, God often uses fools and seemingly foolish efforts to accomplish His purposes -- even when that foolishness includes preaching to a window.
"Many of us will try to preach to the window of the waiting room where the women going into the abortionist's chamber sit before they're called in," Strachan said. "We've seen women leave that waiting room and tell us that they could hear what we were saying outside. That's a great thing to know, but when you're actually preaching to a window, you feel like a fool."
There have been other occasions for hope, as well.
Heather Van Roekel, a volunteer from Kenwood Baptist Church, talked with a lesbian woman on her way into the clinic, and through her kindness and pleading, the woman decided to go in for a free ultrasound at A Woman's Choice Resource Center.
After seeing the ultrasound, she decided against the abortion. Van Roekel has continued contact with the mother and has taken her and the baby to church events.
King has seen other examples of fruit in this ministry.
"I know people who have adopted children from crisis pregnancy situations," he said. "We do see women turn away, and we get to share the Gospel with those people. Every life we see saved is a reminder that the Lord is faithful."
Currently, Immanuel and Kenwood are the only churches formally taking part in Speak for the Unborn. There are several Catholics and other individuals who also do sidewalk counseling -- although the number of escorts usually outnumbers the pro-life volunteers -- but King wants to see more evangelical churches involved.
"We would love churches to claim days," he said. "We want to set realistic expectations, because it is a hard ministry. If your church can come out every third or fourth week even, we would love that."
Though individuals can volunteer with Speak for the Unborn, local churches have the advantage of facing the challenge with community.
"Due to the difficult nature of the ministry, it calls out for fellowship and community, support and prayer," Strachan said. "You can do the ministry as a lone ranger, but it's so much more empowering to go down with fellow members, to pray together, to encourage each other between conversations, to stand on the sidewalk together. You can be a lone ranger, but you'll miss out on so much of what God intends to give us in the local church."
Strachan knows that those who advocate for the unborn, whether with their churches or by themselves, will face obstacles. But the hope of seeing women choose life for their babies and of embracing foolishness for Christ's sake makes the obstacles worth enduring.
"What keeps me going is that I want to be a light," Strachan said, "and I want to suffer in His name, and I want my faith to taste and feel more real than it does when I try to risk-proof it."
Matt Damico writes for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 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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Smartphones join fight to save babies
By Bonnie Pritchett/Southern Baptist TEXAN
Jan. 17 2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sunday, Jan. 19, is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention.
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- "OnlineForLife: Center TX02 is speaking with someone considering abortion. Will you pray?"
The notification popped up on an iPhone and "Yes" is tapped, adding another intercessor in behalf of an unknown woman seeking counsel at an unknown Texas crisis pregnancy center. That the woman was even speaking with a life-affirming counselor can be credited to a simple yet underutilized tool in the pro-life movement: Marketing.
Attracting women to crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) often requires a personal touch. A woman facing a difficult pregnancy may confide in a friend or family member. The prayers of a sidewalk counselor may be the last words a woman hears before entering an abortion clinic. But what if there were a way to direct a woman to a CPC before she leaves her home and simultaneously rally a national network of partners to pray for her?
"We're business guys, and we test things so we can maximize the number of babies we save," said Brian Fisher, co-founder of Online For Life (OFL), a pro-life nonprofit business.
Drawing on the expertise of professionals in the business and technology industries, OFL has developed cutting-edge online marketing techniques to direct abortion-minded women to CPCs and their life-affirming message.
That work is then undergirded in prayer. The OFL iPhone application asks followers to pray. Being able to pray in real time for a woman considering abortion has powerful potential, Fisher said. Mustering the prayers of many thousands of people across the nation on behalf of abortion-minded women and their families could be a culture-changer.
"When you have that many people interceding, you're going to have babies saved," he said.
Fisher admitted the "abortion holocaust" was not on his radar in the 1990s. But the friendship of a crisis pregnancy center director in Pittsburgh and the birth of his first son in 1999 began an eight-year journey leading to his involvement in the pro-life movement. In 2007 Fisher and a co-worker at Coral Ridge Ministries in Florida toyed with the idea of using the Internet and social media to direct women from abortion clinics to CPCs. And it worked.
Fisher took the prototype to Dallas in 2009 and launched Online For Life. On June 21, 2010, the first OFL baby was rescued. That reality crashed over Fisher in a wave of gratitude to God. All of the hard work and dedication wrought a priceless reward -- the life of a baby rescued and a mother saved from the heartache of abortion.
"That's our baby," declared Lori Szala, executive director of Pregnancy Resource Center South Hills in Pittsburgh.
One of three CPCs involved in the 2007 test project, the Pittsburgh center became the first CPC in the nation to affiliate with Online For Life, and the partnership has proven invaluable.
Szala said nonprofit centers like hers cannot compete with government-subsidized abortion giant Planned Parenthood and for-profit abortion clinics in the Internet marketing arena. But OFL gives them an edge.
For a monthly fee, the Pittsburgh center partners with OFL to get the clinic's foot in the marketing door. That has translated into a 75 percent increase in inquiries from abortion-minded women, Szala reported.
Fisher and Tim Gerwing, OFL vice president of technology, would not divulge too much detail about OFL operations out of concern that abortion advocates might use that knowledge to undermine their efforts. Gerwing called OFL an extension of a pregnancy center's ministry. Leaving careers in highly competitive businesses and technology ventures, OFL employees now dedicate their skills to saving babies and their families.
OFL works with 50 CPCs in 23 states to direct women in crisis to their affiliated centers as quickly as possible. Just as in the business world, there is competition in the abortion industry -- nonprofit CPCs are competing against well-financed and market-savvy abortion providers to see who can be more persuasive.
"We have to out-fund or outwit them to get the same person," Fisher said.
Using Internet target marketing, OFL programming recognizes Internet searches for abortion services. The goal is to have OFL affiliates pop up on the first page of results along with the abortion clinics, giving the searcher a choice of services.
Research indicates 80 percent of the Internet traffic OFL monitors is on mobile devices. That puts a woman just one tap away from an abortion provider or a life-affirming pregnancy center.
"Our goal is to get her talking to a pregnancy resource center as fast as possible," Gerwing said. "It's like a 911 call. Clearly she's shopping for an abortion."
As a result, staff at CPCs have been retrained to counsel women on the phone. Szala said getting callers to calm down and think clearly is the greatest challenge. Once that is done, the counselor details the options available, including a visit to the CPC. Callers are told in the initial conversation the center does not provide abortions or abortion referrals.
Gerwing said it is gratifying to be a part of that connection. From its Dallas office, OFL connects scared, panicked, vulnerable women to "people willing to love and care for [them] in the name of Christ."
The endeavor hasn't been without growing pains. As the network grew, more phones calls were coming into the pregnancy centers than there were available people to answer calls. Because the centers have limited office hours, only 42 percent of calls coming in were answered by a person.
"You only have one chance to pick up," Gerwing said.
With no one answering at the CPC listed on her Google search, an anxious woman would simply scroll to the next listing, possibly an abortion clinic.
So OFL established a 24-hour phone service. Calls going to centers after office hours are rolled over to an OFL counselor in Dallas who can schedule an appointment with any affiliated center in the country.
And because OFL is staffed by business and tech wonks, the urge to tweak and improve never stops. That is why the logical next step for the organization is the establishment of their own pregnancy resource center in the Dallas area.
"We've designed the end-to-end care center that rescues families and children," Fisher said.
Recognizing the impact abortion has on women and their extended families, the new center will serve not only as an outreach to women in crisis but as a learning laboratory for OFL. As entrepreneurial businessmen, Fisher and his team are always looking to discover how they can do their jobs better so that more babies will be saved.
Such is the motivation behind the upgrade of the iPhone app. Gerwing said the new version -- due to roll out in January in time for national sanctity of life emphases -- is designed for all smartphones and Windows applications.
"Our heart is to build a nationwide prayer network," he said.
The application will allow users to:
-- See real-time prayer requests from as many or as few CPCs as they wish.
-- See the number of people praying at a given time.
-- Post notifications to social media.
-- Allow churches and pregnancy centers to post needs or events advancing the pro-life cause in their communities.
And it will continue to notify users of the number of babies saved. Until recently, pro-life organizations did not keep such a public tally. Fisher said that tactical change is most notably seen in the work of 40 Days for Life. The organization not only announces the number of babies saved through their efforts but the abortion workers who leave the industry (most notably Abby Johnson) and the number of abortion clinics that close.
And that, Fisher contends, will be the impetus for cultural transformation. By celebrating the number of babies saved from abortion -- the exclamation point at the end of the pro-life message -- society will regain its appreciation for the miracle of life and champion its cause.
Keeping the numbers in front of the culture that engages so prolifically in social media while using that same media to draw women to CPCs will create a self-perpetuating paradigm shift, Fisher said.
"By accelerating the number of babies saved, you create the cultural transformation of more people wanting to save babies," Fisher said.
Bonnie Pritchett is a correspondent for the Southern Baptist TEXAN (www.texanonline.net), newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
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Internet searches led them to choose life
By Bonnie Pritchett/Southern Baptist TEXAN
Jan. 17 2014
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- The positive pregnancy test sent Brittany's life into a tailspin. She had plans -- college, career and, potentially, the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.
Her boyfriend Andy, a fellow student at California University of Pennsylvania, had pro football aspirations. The couple considered themselves pro-life but when they were confronted with an unplanned, life-altering pregnancy, all options were on the table.
Their Internet queries ranged from searches for free ultrasounds to abortion clinics.
Tech-savvy businesses wrangle their way to the top, or at least the first page, of those searches. With enough money, for-profit abortion providers and Planned Parenthood can do the same, leaving nonprofit crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) at a disadvantage in getting their message before desperate women.
Brittany and Andy's Web search gave them options not available just a few years ago.
There among the hits and advertisements for abortion services was an ad for a crisis pregnancy center offering free ultrasounds. The cash-strapped couple made an appointment, and their daughter was saved.
Using its marketing and technology expertise, an organization called Online For Life is turning Internet searches for abortion services into encounters with 50 life-affirming pregnancy centers in 23 states. No longer will Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers be the only results at the top of a page when a person types "abortion clinic" in the Google search bar.
Working from a base in Florida in 2007, pro-life entrepreneur Brian Fisher and his cohorts tested the idea of online marketing for pregnancy centers. One of those clinics was Pregnancy Resource Center of South Hills (PRCSH) just outside Pittsburgh. Five years later, because an Internet search for an abortion clinic also produced a hit for PRCSH, Brittany and Andy sought their help in the fall of 2012.
"It's a good thing we ended up there," Brittany told the Southern Baptist TEXAN in a phone interview from her home near Pittsburgh. "There is a chance that saved my baby's life."
When she and Andy arrived at the clinic for tests and counseling, Brittany had no idea how far along she was in her pregnancy. The ultrasound revealed she was 17 weeks pregnant. She was stunned. And the ultrasound also revealed more than the age of her baby -- it gave her and Andy a perspective that righted their upside-down world.
"There was this little baby with arms and legs kicking. I saw her on the ultrasound. I broke down. Andy was speechless," Brittany recalled.
She said the staff was kind. They shared their own experiences with abortion and their faith in God and the couple decided abortion was out of the question.
After the visit to PRCSH, Brittany told her family she and Andy were expecting. Her parents were supportive. On his way home from work, after being told of his daughter's pregnancy, Brittany's dad bought a stuffed lamb for the baby.
Looking into the face of her daughter Kaylen, born last June, Brittany said she gets physically ill thinking she ever considered an abortion.
One click on an Internet search was the first step in changing their family's history for good.
Bonnie Pritchett is a correspondent for the Southern Baptist TEXAN (www.texanonline.net), newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
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Bible studies ready for Sanctity of Life Sunday
By Aaron Earls
Jan. 17 2014
NASHVILLE -- In preparation for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (Jan. 19), LifeWay Christian Resources is making related small group lessons available free online.
The lessons are taken from LifeWay's three primary ongoing curriculum series: Bible Studies for Life, Explore the Bible and The Gospel Project.
Both leader and study guides are available online including:
-- Bible Studies for Life adult lesson: [URL=http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/free-session-is-every-life-sacred/]"Every Life is Sacred"[/URL] by Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, uses Psalm 139 to emphasize that God values life, and so should we.
-- Explore the Bible adult lesson:
[URL=http://www.lifeway.com/article/extra-sunday-school-explore-the-bible]"Value Every Life!"[/URL] by Jerry Batson, retired professor and administrator from Beeson Divinity School, teaches the value of every human life through studying Psalm 139.
-- The Gospel Project adult lesson: [URL=http://www.gospelproject.com/2014/01/2014-sanctity-human-life-lesson/]"Human Life: The Sacredness of Human Life"[/URL] by Adam Harwood, professor of theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, examines verses in Genesis, Jeremiah and Acts to show that every human life has inherent value.
The free lessons can be used by groups utilizing other LifeWay curriculum or another type of study related to focusing on the sanctity of life.
LifeWay plans to make the Sanctity of Human Life lessons free for future years as well.
Aaron Earls is a writer with LifeWay Christian Resources. 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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Racial diversity in churches remains elusive
By Bob Smietana
Jan. 17 2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 20.
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Having a racially diverse church remains more dream than reality for most Protestant pastors. More than eight in 10 (85 percent) say every church should strive for racial diversity, according to a survey from LifeWay Research.
But few have diverse flocks.
Most (86 percent) say their congregation is predominately one racial or ethnic group.
It's a reality that once led Martin Luther King Jr. to call Sunday mornings the most segregated time of the week.
Today, diverse churches remain rare, says Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, partly because of human nature.
"Everybody wants diversity," Stetzer said. "But many don't want to be around people who are different."
The research study also found 91 percent say "churches should reflect the racial diversity in their community," and 79 percent believe their congregations look similar to the people in their neighborhood.
But Mark DeYmaz, pastor of Mosaic Church, a multiethnic church in central Arkansas, is skeptical.
DeYmaz, who also helped found the Mosaix network of multiethnic churches, said pastors aren't always aware of how diverse their communities have become.
"Pastors would do well to look into the diversity of nearby public schools and gauge this against the diversity of their church to really understand their context," he said. "They might, too, spend one hour sitting at the front of the nearby Walmart or other local grocery to see if in fact their church reflects the community."
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows America is becoming increasingly diverse.
About 17 percent of Americans identify as Hispanic. African Americans make up 13 percent of the population, followed by Asian Americans (5 percent), and 1 percent Native American or Native Alaskan. Another 2.4 percent identify with more than one racial group.
Non-Hispanic whites make up 63 percent of the population. That number drops to about 49 percent for children under 5 years old, according to a recent report from the Associated Press.
DeYmaz sees the widespread support for the idea of diversity in the LifeWay Research poll as a good sign.
"We have gained tremendous ground over the past 10 years or so," DeYmaz said.
A decade ago, he said, the first meeting of the Mosaix network drew about 30 people. A similar meeting last November drew more than 1,000.
He said pastors are more aware of the need for diversity in churches. In the past, DeYmaz and other leaders in multiethnic churches spent much of their time trying to convince other pastors about the need for diversity. Now they spend more time talking with pastors about strategies for creating diverse churches.
"Increasingly, their question is not, 'Why should I?' but, 'How can I?'" he said.
Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic congregation in Indian Land, S.C., said if pastors want diverse congregations, they need to change their sermons.
He worries pastors support diversity for pragmatic rather than theological reasons.
Gray said the early Christian churches were racially diverse, but that idea was lost as churches divided along racial and ethnic lines.
He wants pastors to go back to the Bible to discover why churches should be diverse.
"We shouldn't long for racial diversity. We should long for the proclamation of Jesus, which creates ethnic diversity," Gray said. "The Apostle Paul didn't start one church for Jews and one church for Gentiles in the New Testament. The Gospel brought people together."
More focus on racial diversity in church could find a welcome audience.
A second LifeWay Research survey -- this time an online panel of 1,036 Americans -- found that three-quarters (78 percent) say "every church should strive for racial diversity."
More than half (51 percent) say they would be most comfortable visiting a church where multiple ethnicities were well represented. Three-quarters also said churches should reflect the diversity of their communities.
There are some signs the number of diverse churches in the United States is growing.
A 2010 Faith Communities Today survey, which included 11,000 congregations of different faiths, found that about 12.5 percent of Protestant churches were multiethnic. That means in those churches no one ethnic group makes up more 80 percent of the congregation.
DeYmaz said moving diversity from a dream to a reality will take hard work.
"Wishful thinking in this regard will not bring increasing diversity to local churches for the sake of the Gospel," he said.
Methodology: The telephone survey of Protestant pastors was conducted in Sept. 4-19, 2013. The calling list was randomly drawn from a stratified list of Protestant churches. Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church called. Responses were weighted to reflect the geographic distribution and denominational groups of Protestant churches. The completed sample is 1,007 phone interviews and provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed +3.1 percent. Margins of error are higher in subgroups.
The online survey of adult Americans was conducted Sept. 6, 2013. A sample of an online panel representing the adult population of the U.S. was invited to participate. Responses were weighted by region, age, ethnicity, gender and income to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,036 online surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error from this panel does not exceed +3.1 percent. Margins of error are higher in subgroups.
Bob Smietana is senior writer for LifeWay Christian Resources' Facts & Trends magazine. 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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CALL TO PRAYER: Protect all children
By Russell D. Moore
Jan. 17 2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: This column is part of the call to prayer issued by Frank S. Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, to pray for revival and spiritual awakening for our churches, our nation and our world.
NASHVILLE (BP) -- When I was a child growing up in a Southern Baptist church in south Mississippi, we used to sing a lot of songs in Sunday school assembly. One song had the line: "And if the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack."
As the years have gone by, I've realized there are a lot of things the devil doesn't like, in fact a lot of things the Scripture says the devil rages against.
One of those things is the sound of children singing. "Out of the mouths of babes," Jesus says, quoting the Psalms, "Your praise will come."
Every time we turn a page in the Bible, children are under assault from satanic powers. They're being killed; they're being marginalized; they're being left for dead.
Why? It's because the devil recognizes in the faces of children a picture of what the Scripture says is his ultimate defeat -- the offspring of the woman "will crush your head" (Genesis 3:15, NIV).
And as Jesus tells us, those who become as little children are those who will inherit the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2-3).
Satan sees the picture of his own defeat in those children's faces. That's why in every era we have to stand vigilant against a culture of death and stand up for a culture of life.
January 19 is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. One of the things we should commit ourselves to this Sunday is to work toward the day when not only, as one leader put it years ago, abortion will be illegal -- although we should work for that -- but also when abortion is unthinkable!
We should be standing up to protect the lives of children in law. We should be working in our voting, in our legislative process, to protect the lives of children.
We also need to be working within our congregations to teach and remind ourselves that there is no such thing as a wasted human life. There is no person who is less than a person. Everyone, including the unborn, is created in the image of God and therefore, bears all of the rights of life and of liberty.
Let's stand up for the unborn. Let's stand up for women who are being harmed and hurt by the abortion industry and by predatory men who pressure them into abortions.
Let's speak to those of you who have had abortions in order to say that, although this is an awful and unspeakable sin against God, the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin every conscience that cries out to Him in repentance and faith.
Always speak with kindness and grace. Be careful to maintain a Christian testimony when engaging others, even when you disagree with one another.
Establish a local crisis center. Check Care Net (care-net.org) and find a center nearby where you can volunteer. See if your church can help partner to raise money for the center. If there isn't one in your area, prayerfully consider spearheading an effort to start one. You might begin by speaking with the leaders in your local church or with prolife organizations such as The Psalm 139 Project (psalm139project.org).
Establish an outreach to young, single moms at your church.
Young moms need support and are often very open to parenting help. Consider launching a Teen Mothers of Preschoolers chapter (mops.org/teen).
Support education efforts. Consider supporting organizations that offer smart, compassionate efforts to educate the public on the issue of abortion, such as the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (erlc.com).
Support local legislative efforts. The real momentum in codifying protections for the unborn into law seems to be on the state level. Organizations like The National Right to Life Federation or local Right to Life groups are great resources to follow on pending legislation.
Pray. Pray for the women and girls who are considering abortion, that they will choose life. Pray for the millions who are living with the trauma of having chosen abortion in the past. Pray for the staff of pregnancy care centers as they minister to everyone who walks through their doors.
We preach the Gospel. We stand for justice. And we fight the devil, recognizing that every time we preach the Gospel, every time we seek to protect children, we're saying what many of us once sang: "Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world."
Russell D. Moore is president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. For Sanctity of Human Life resources and to download a 3-minute video suitable for use in your church's worship service, go to http://erlc.com/life.
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FIRST-PERSON: Silent amid the killing
By Kelly Boggs
Jan. 17 2014
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- That 6 million Jews were put to death during the reign of Adolf Hitler and his Third Reich is a historic fact. So, too, is the evolutionary philosophy that defined the Jews as subhuman and was used to justify the Holocaust.
A book by an American historian and a German sociologist makes the case that a significant number of German citizens were complicit in the systematic murders due to their silence.
"What We Knew: Terror, Mass Murder, And Everyday Life in Nazi Germany –- An Oral History" published by Eric Johnson and Karl-Heinz Reuband in 2005 contains the results of hundreds of interviews and surveys conducted with Germans who lived under Hitler's Third Reich.
From their extensive research, Johnson and Rueband conclude that information about the Holocaust was widespread among Germany's Jewish and non-Jewish populations during the war years.
Reuband believes that one-third of the Germany people were aware of the Holocaust while it was taking place. Johnson believes the number to be up to one-half of the population. "[R]egardless of the estimate one uses, this means that the mass murder of European Jews was no secret to millions of German citizens while it was still being carried out," according to the authors.
Information about the mass murder of the Jews was available to the average German via a variety of sources.
Foreign-language radio broadcasts, particularly from the British Broadcasting Company, reported on the reality of the German death camps. Though the Nazis labeled it a crime to listen to such broadcasts, Johnson and Reuband found that many Germans regularly tuned in.
Soldiers on leave who were involved in the transport of Jews to the concentration camps were another source of information. One woman interviewed by Johnson and Reuband indicated the soldiers spoke freely about what they had observed.
And those who lived in close proximity of the camps were keenly aware. One young man recalled riding his motorcycle and stopping at a community near a camp. "I don't know what town it was...," the man told Johnson and Reuband. "But, anyway, we made a stop there and the place was stinking: 'What is that smell?' 'Over there is a concentration camp, that's where the corpses are being burned, where soap is being made from the Jews."
Johnson and Reuband noted that great numbers of Germans also knew about the killing of the mentally ill and the handicapped.
"This unspeakable crime against humanity," Johnson and Reuband conclude, "could not have been possible without the indifference and complicity of a large part of the German population."
Here in the U.S., Jan. 22 will mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court's infamous decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. More than 55 million unborn babies have been murdered in their mothers' wombs in the 41 years since Roe became law.
Though information about abortion abounds in America, abortion on demand for any reason, or for no reason, continues unabated. While some states have made it difficult to obtain an abortion, the killing continues.
Studies have found that more than 90 percent of all abortions in America are not medically necessary and occur as a matter of convenience, while 90 percent of unborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.
Medical science has proved the baby in the womb is indeed a living being. Tests have established that the unborn child experiences pain.
With all the information on the horrible reality of abortion, how does the practice remain unfettered in America?
Too many Americans remain indifferent to the practice. It's as if we have come to accept the killing of unborn children as normal.
Amazingly, Johnson and Reuband found that some Germans viewed the mistreatment and subsequent killing of the Jews as just part of life. In the introduction of their book they wrote, "As one we interviewed for this book told us in the comfort of his home in Michigan in May 2001, 'To us it was the most exciting time of our lives.... You see, when the Nazis came to power, I was five years old. I grew up in this. So it was a normal part of life for me."
History, it seems, is once again repeating itself.
Yet there's a huge difference between the Holocaust and the tragedy of legal abortion in America. Germans risked imprisonment and worse if they sought to oppose the extermination of the Jews. But there is no such threat to Americans who take a stand against abortion.
Our silent indifference makes us complicit in this unspeakable crime against humanity.
Kelly Boggs is a weekly columnist for Baptist Press, director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention's office of public affairs, and editor of the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. 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 --
EDITORIAL: Nuestra Victoria
By Michael A. Gonzales
Jan. 17 2014
NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en espańol. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- Cada nuevo ańo trae nuevas oportunidades para servir al Seńor. Pero a la vez tenemos que aprender que el pasado ya no se puede repetir pero si podemos aprender de él. Y debemos comprender que el futuro será próspero si servimos a nuestro Dios con todo nuestro corazón. Cuando el pueblo de Dios estaba a punto de conquistar la tierra prometida, Dios le da a Josué instrucciones y exhortaciones para tener una victoria segura.
"Nadie te podrá hacer frente en todas los días de tu vida; como estuve con Moisés, estaré contigo; no te dejaré, ni te desampararé. Esfuérzate y sé valiente; porque tú repartirás a este pueblo por heredad la tierra de la cual juré a sus padres que la daría a ellos. Solamente esfuérzate y sé muy valiente, para cuidar de hacer conforme a toda la ley que mi siervo Moisés te mandó; no te aparte de ella ni a diestra ni a siniestra, para que seas prosperado en todas las cosas que emprendas. Nunca se apartará de tu boca este libro de la ley, sino que de día y de noche meditarás en él, para que guardes y hagas conforme a todo lo que en él está escrito; porque entonces harás prosperar tu camino, y todo te saldrá bien. Mira que te mando que te esfuerces y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque Jehová tu Dios estará contigo en dondequiera que vayas."
Josué 1:5-9
Para tener un ańo lleno de victoria tenemos que aprender y aplicar los consejos que vemos en este pasaje.
1. Sabemos que si estamos en Cristo y Él está en nosotros, la victoria es segura. Dios nos dice que Él siempre está con nosotros y esa es una promesa firme y constante. Podemos servir al Seńor y saber que Él nunca nos va a dejar desamparados. Cristo nunca nos dejará solos y Él siempre estará con nosotros en las luchas y en las pruebas.
2. Dios nos dice que debemos de actuar. En este pasaje vemos que la exhortación para Josué era de esforzarse y que fuera valiente. Se repite tres veces y en la segunda vez la exhortación en el versículo 7 se da con más fuerza, "... Solamente esfuérzate y sé muy valiente...." Todo lo que queremos emprender para el Seńor en este ańo podemos hacerlo con éxito, pero requiere de nosotros una acción. Tenemos que poner manos a la obra y tener valor para enfrentarnos con lo que venga. El ministerio no es fácil; tenerlo por seguro que tiene sus luchas y malos momentos. Pero si nos esforzamos y somos valientes podemos tener la victoria y vencer toda oposición.
3. Vemos que el consejo clave era de guardar la ley. Para nosotros ahora nos toca seguir toda la Biblia. Si hacemos y vivimos lo que está en las Sagradas Escrituras vamos a prosperar. El problema es que muchos quieren vivir la vida cristiana pero no están consultando y contando en la Palabra de Dios. El mandato es de meditar en ella de día y de noche.
Veamos lo que dice 1ra de Juan 2:3-5
"Y en esto sabemos que nosotros le conocemos, si guardamos sus mandamientos. El que dice; Yo le conozco, y no guarda sus mandamientos, el tal es mentiroso, y la verdad no está en él; pero el que guarda su palabra, en éste verdaderamente el amor de Dios se ha perfeccionado; por esto sabemos que estamos en él."
La victoria es nuestra porque Dios siempre estará con nosotros pero hay un requisito muy importante; hay que guardar sus mandamientos.
Mike Gonzales es director de los Ministerios Multiétnicos de la SBTC.
-- End of story --
Copyright (c) 2014 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press
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There's no bigger ruh-roh in baseball than when you hear a team's best starting pitcher has shoulder soreness. That's because it always starts with the soreness, and then it devolves into a morass of MRIs, side sessions, and retroactive DL stints. At least, that's what it seems like.
David Price missed Saturday's start against the Rangers with shoulder soreness. That seemed like a miserable sign for a team in the middle of a playoff tussle. But the worst fears of the Rays weren't realized. Price really did need nothing more than a rest.
From the Tampa Bay Times:
LHP David Price said his bullpen session went very well, and he is set to start Friday in New York.
"I felt good today,'' Price said. "I felt very good. It was a a good step forward today. We should be good to go.''
Price skipped his Saturday start due to what was described as "general soreness" in his shoulder. He said the Rays still don't know the cause, but is confident whatever it was, "I feel like it's gone now.''
Good for the Rays. Bad for the Yankees. Which is good for the Rays. The prognosis couldn't be much better for Tampa Bay, and they'll have their best pitcher starting on Friday against the team they're chasing.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
SIDNEY, OH (WTOL) - An Ohio manufacturing business is badly damaged and two people are in the hospital after an explosion at the facility Friday night.
Residents nearby reported hearing a loud noise and feeling their homes shake.
Walls were blown out at the Protecpac building.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Ron Wolfe, the company uses isobutane to expand plastic in making a foam product used in packaging.
Wolfe said fire investigators are still investigating the cause of the explosion.
Two worker were sent to the hospital. Their injuries are not considered to be life threatening.
A third worker declined medical treatment.
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As if oysters on the half-shell aren't pricey enough, oystermen say the appetizer could soon force the shellfish lover to "shell out" more to slurp them down. Governor Jodi Rell proposes to charge Connecticut commercial shellfishmen a $1 tax per bushel of oysters and clams. "These businesses now are right on the cusp of surviving," State Rep. Terry Backer said. Senator Bob Duff added, "I would ask the governor if she would put the same kind tax on a bag of potatoes, or a bag of carrots." Neededless to say, both legislators, won't support the proposed "shellfish harvesting fee."
Gov. Rell wants the tax to help pay down the state's projected $8 billion deficit.
On his docks to protest the plan, Norwalk oysterman, Norm Bloom, complained shellfishmen already pay expensive taxes and fees to the state just to operate. "Our last bill for those franchise grounds was about 4,000, it went from 4 up to 20 something," Bloom divulged. "It won't put me out of business, but it's going to make it definitely a lot harder, a lot harder on reseeding the beds." That could stunt the growth of one of Connecticut's priciest catches and harvested crops.
Connecticut reportedly accounts for 94% of the oysters harvested in the Northeast.
If the tax were to pass, Sen. Duff is certain it will make it that much easier for fishing operations from southern states to corner the market with their much cheaper oysters.


text:
La Tienda de los Milagros
This is the workshop of British ceramicist Matthew Weir and his Spanish wife Isabel Hernandez, who produces quality jarapa rugs. As well as ceramics, Matthew produces woodblock prints and works with stoneware and porcelain. The workshop is distinctive for its playful exterior murals and is located midway down the hill, before the jarringly modern craft centre.


text:
Russia's Misha Aloyan, Puerto Rico's Jeyvier Cintron, Uzbekistan's Jasurbek Latipov, and Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar advanced to the flyweight quarterfinals this morning. Bad Left Hook has the...
Great Britain's Freddie Evans, Canada's Custio Clayton, Russia's Misha Aloyan, and more are in action this morning in Olympic boxing. Bad Left Hook has live coverage and a stream.
Team USA flyweight Rau'Shee Warren makes his 2012 Olympic debut today in London. Bad Left Hook has the full schedule of flyweight and welterweight bouts.
Puerto Rico's Jeyvier Cintron and Egypt's Hesham Abdelaal got questionable wins, but the action was good this morning in London. Bad Left Hook has early flyweight results.
Team USA light heavyweight Marcus Browne is in action this morning in London, facing Australia's Damien Hooper. Bad Left Hook has live coverage and results from the 2012 Olympics boxing.
Bad Left Hook has the boxing listings from London at the 2012 Olympic game for July 30, featuring the flyweights and light heavyweights.
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ОписаниеThe Conscious Thought of the Day™ (CTOTD) will open your mind to the possibilities. The daily message is an insightful and illuminating thought which includes Spiritual Laws and Principles, Truths, psycho-spiritual lessons and life affirming statements.
The daily thought is a reminder of your Divine nature and will assist you in creating consciously, instead of unconsciously.
The Conscious Thought of the Day™ covers material about conscious creation, connection to Source, Cause and Effect, The Law of Attraction, manifestation on the physical plane and the part you play in it.
Open Your Mind to the Possibilities™ ~
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The app contains the written Conscious Thought of the Day™ statements, optional audio player with music and archived statements from previous days.


text:
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Ruby Memorial Hospital and WVU Children's Hospital have new rules for visitors to help curtail the spread of the flu.
Starting Sunday, patients are limited to two visitors at any given time. Children under 12 are discouraged from visiting.
Hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WVU Hospitals president and CEO Bruce McClymonds says the changes will help protect patients, staff and the community at large.
He says the more exposure is limited, the less the flu will spread.
Anyone who has experienced flu-like symptoms in the previous 24 hours should not visit a hospital patient. Those who exhibit flu- or cold-like symptoms will be asked to wear a mask.
All visitors must register and obtain a badge before entering patient areas.
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text:
Their semester began as any other would. But in mid-February, everything changed.
Now students at the University of Dallas campus in Rome are watching history as it happens.
"We're so honored to be here, now of all times," said Ada Thomas, a student from Lincolnton, North Carolina.
"It's truly a blessing," added Maria Buckner, of Saint Ann, Missouri.
Five students used Skype to speak with News 8 on Monday, on the eve of the papal conclave, where cardinals will elect the next head of the Roman Catholic church.
"We had no idea this was going to happen... totally unprecedented," said Clare Myers of Michigan. "We definitely picked the right time to be here."
The University of Dallas campus in Rome is at the bottom of a hill where Pope Benedict's summer home is located, and that's where he is now staying. The UD students were in the audience for his final address.
"There was so much energy," Buckner said. "Rome just came alive, even more than it usually is."
"Rome already has a bit of a frenetic pace to it," said Alex Taylor of Austin. "But it's a lot more now. And, in a way, more introspective than it normally is."
While the Dallas campus of the University of Dallas began spring break on Monday, the Rome students' break begins Thursday. Many of them are planing to travel away from Rome during that vacation, so they are hoping and praying for a decision soon.
"A lot of us are planning to camp out every day we're here waiting to see the white smoke," Sally Krutzig added.
It is a momentous time for the Catholic church and for the wold. And these young people feel privileged to see it live and in person.
"A lot of the priests and our chaplains who are here on campus live and work at the Vatican, so we're hoping that if we're not there when the white smoke goes up, they'll make the phone call here to campus and we'll find out," Ada Thomas said.
"It's been so great to see the living church come together," Taylor added.
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text:
Thinskins Superlight L/S Crew
Mens oneill thinskins superlight l/s crew... 100% ultraflex ds neoprene/ 4 way flex nylon-spandex lycra... Longsleeve crew neck neoprene/ lycra top... Oneill logos and designs throughout top...Highlights:-our thinnest and lightest neoprene product-100% ultraflex ds neoprene-seamless ultraflex paddle zones-boardshort connector loopFeatures:-all 0.5mm construction-unfinished bottom edge-flatloc stitching: non chafing-uv protection
*Sorry folks...Oniell, Billabong, Element, RVCA, Nixon, Sector 9, Dakine, Tigerlilly, Honolua, and Kustom brand items cannot be shipped outside the US.
**SPECIAL ORDER ITEM**This is a special order item. Please allow 3-5 business days for this item to be delivered to our Torrance, CA warehouse after which this item will be shipped out to you with the remaining items in your order. If you are in a rush for the instock items in your order we ask that you place a seperate order for any special order items so that we can quickly ship your other goodies! If there are any unforeseen delays and/or availablilty issues we'll contact you. Please note that upgraded shipping will not expedite this item.
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text:
Transformation of the FBI After September 11
Justice Department officials testified about the transformation of the FBI since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Topics… read more
Justice Department officials testified about the transformation of the FBI since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Topics included the role of the Science, State, Judiciary, and Commerce Subcommittee's role in the changes. They also testified about preventing acts of terrorism, the investigation of the FBI's Virtual Case Files program, and protecting civil liberties.
Cumming and Masse wrote a report on the FBI and testified about their report. close
People in this video
- Cumming, Al Co-Author Congressional Research Service
- Fine, Glenn A. Inspector General Department of Justice
- Hite, Randolph Director Government Accountability Office->Information Management and Technology
- Masse, Todd Co-Author Congressional Research Service
- Mueller, Robert S. III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Thornburgh, Richard Attorney General (Former) Pennsylvania
- Weldon, Curt U.S. Representative [R] Pennsylvania
- Alexander, Rodney U.S. Representative [R] Louisiana
- Kirk, Mark Steven U.S. Representative [R] Illinois
- LaHood, Ray U.S. Representative [R] Illinois
- Mollohan, Alan B. U.S. Representative [D] West Virginia
- Serrano, Jose U.S. Representative [D] New York
- Wolf, Frank R. U.S. Representative [R] Virginia
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Fiscal Year 2006 FBI Budget
Director Meuller testified about funding requests for bureau operations. Among the topics he addressed were…


text: Some herbal supplements, including products labeled as 'natural,' have drug-like effects that can be dangerous. So it's important to do your homework and investigate potential benefits and side effects of herbal supplements before you buy. And be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you take medications, have chronic health problems, or are pregnant or breast-feeding.


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text:
Back in 1955, Sam Lioon founded Douglas Laboratories on a simple promise: provide the highest quality nutritional supplements available with the highest level of personal service—anywhere. And with that promise began a legacy of leadership—and a never-ending quest to exceed customers' expectations to Raise the Standard for Nutrition and Wellness. Today that legacy lives on as Douglas Laboratories proudly joins the Atrium Biotechnologies group of companies. Atrium Biotechnologies is an international company and global leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of dietary supplements, specialty fine chemicals, and active cosmetic ingredients.
LuckyVitamin is proud to offer this exceptional line of Health Care Practitioner Brand products for your convenience. LuckyVitamin employs certified and licensed Health Care Practitioners who have experience with Douglas Laboratories formulas and our available to assist with questions regarding these products. For direct contact with our certified support staff please use this e mail address, hcp-support [at] luckyvitamin [dot] com. Gary Michael, B.Sc. Pharmacy, CNHP,CNC will be happy to assist you. Please note that our support staff is not able to diagnose or prescribe but is happy to assist with questions regarding Douglas Laboratories and their product offerings.
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Douglas Laboratories is supported by more than 300 Douglas Laboratories employees all dedicated to keeping the promise Sam made 50 years ago. Raising the Standard is more than a slogan—it's a promise. As they enter their second half-century, Douglas Laboratories will continue to keep their promise to Raise the Standard with a custom approach to ytheir patients' nutrition and wellness. With custom formulations ytheir patients can't find anywhere else. Custom labels. Custom daily packs. And the industry's largest and most innovative product line. And they'll back up their promise with the kind of stringent criteria many other companies overlook, such as:
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text:
Drive Smart to Save Gas
Safe Driving
I grew up in Watkins Glen, New York, back in the day when it hosted the U.S. Formula One Grand Prix every year on the first weekend of October. There I watched drivers like Graham Hill and "Wee" Jackie Stewart as they throttled race cars up and down straightaways at speeds approaching 180 mph and banked them around turns and through chicanes that sometimes -- depending on the weather and road conditions or a momentary lapse in a driver's judgment -- would whip the cars off the road or jettison them through midair to the fright of driver and spectator alike. So you might forgive me if I let on that I have a thing for driving fast, right?
What I really learned from those drivers was not how to drive fast but how to use terrain -- road pitch and curve -- and gravity (one thing you can all always count on) to maintain traction by using a car's momentum to drive safely and efficiently. They taught me that cars are precision driving instruments that obey Newton's laws of physics without fail: force equals mass times acceleration. By knowing your car's weight and center of gravity you can make intelligent driving decisions by using the car's momentum to safely carry you through a curve or over snow just as you can use a downhill slope to save gas -- if you maintain traction. Thinking about how I drove became important.
With time I also learned that cars get greater gas mileage on the open road than in city driving because there is less stop-and-go driving -- there are fewer traffic lights and stop signs, and on and off ramps have been designed to merge traffic flows and to keep traffic circulating with few interruptions. With less stop-and-go driving it is easier to maintain a car's momentum, which boosts gas mileage since you don't have to pay to get your car moving from a standing position as often. Getting your car moving from a standstill eats up the most gas.
In addition to regular maintenance (keeping your engine tuned and tire pressure set right) and cleaning out the trunk to avoid toting around dead weight, there are plenty other of smart-driving techniques you can learn to boost gas mileage.
First, use common sense. Do not drive to a service station simply to tank up -- doing so will cost you the gas you use to get to the station and back home afterward; instead, tank up as you pass a service station en route to somewhere else. Also, avoid crowded drive-throughs; if you see that the drive-through has a long line of cars, park instead and walk inside -- this will save you the cost of idling your engine for a long time. And learn your roads and local conditions: Knowing local routes' rush hours and where construction projects are under way will let you change your driving schedule to avoid them or plan alternate routes.
Second, practice smart in-town driving techniques; here, a baker's dozen.


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Postgraduate Courses at Bangor University
A postgraduate taught course (e.g. MA/MSc) provides you with specialist knowledge and advanced grounding in your chosen field, enhancing your employment and career prospects in today's increasingly competitive job market.
A research degree such as a PhD will allow you to explore your chosen field under your own terms, driven by your own questions and intrigue under the guidance of an experienced research professional.
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text:
Eukanuba Dog Adult Medium Breed meets the nutritional requirement of dogs and supports body and organ function. Key Benefits: Supports strong defences and intestinal health. For a healthy digestive system. Helps reduce tartar build up. Helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels after a meal. Supports a strong and healthy immune system. For healthy skin and coat. High quality animal protein. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Beet Pulp. DentalCare System. Carbohydrate blend (barley and sorghum). Antioxidants. Balanced Omega-6/Omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 5-10:1
Medic Animal


text:
Just for fun I thought it would be interesting to try and set a points target for the club for the season.
Below are the points totals of first and second place over the last 12 seasons:
2011-12 CIty 89 United 89
2010-11 United 80 Chelsea 71
2009-10 Chelsea 86 United 85
2008-9 United 90 Liverpool 86
2007-8 United 87 Chelsea 85
2006-7 United 89 Chelsea 83
2005-6 Chelsea 91 United 83
2004-5 Chelsea 95 Arsenal 83
2003-4 Arsenal 90 Chelsea 79
2002-3 United 83 Arsenal 78
2001-2 Arsenal 87 Liverpool 80
2000-1 United 80 Arsenal 70
So on average to beat the second placed team you would need 82 points - though interestingly the average for the winner was 87.25 points (lets just round that down to 87). If we set a target of 82 points then we will be there or there abouts at the end of the season - so what routes could we take to achieve that.
The pragmatic approach
Last season we finished 6th. Therefore I have considered the 5 teams that finished above us to be a tough assignment.
The plan therefore is we aim to draw the home and away games against City,United,Arsenal,Spurs and Newcastle. This gives us 10 points and 28 more games.
Given that the winner on average loses 4 games we then take these out of our 28 games (doesn't matter who these are against as long as not top 5).This equates to a loss every 7 games (from the 28). So we are left with 24 games to get 72 points. Simple - we win them all.
The rip-roaring out of control approach
Under this method we give up the concept of balance in the side and elect to take part in scoring contests with our opponents. Target home wins against the top five and away defeats against the same - 15 points from 10 games. This gives us 67 points to win from 28 games. Using this method we are incapable of drawing and win 85% of our 28 games.


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The Register-News
---- — Marie Hawkins Lasater, 91, of Morris, formerly of Mt. Vernon, passed away at Joliet Community Hospice Home in Joliet, on Friday, May 17, 2013.
She was born July 23, 1921, the daughter of Luty and Hazel (Hanes) Hawkins. Marie grew up in Mt. Vernon, graduated from Mt. Vernon High School and attended the University of Illinois.
Marie was married to Harry Anson Lasater, Jr. on April 2, 1942. Together they had three children, Glenn (Carol) Lasater of Englewood, Colo., Jo (Phil) Truty of Joliet and Luty (Sue) Lasater of Phoenix. Three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive her, as well as five beloved nieces and their families.
Her husband; her parents; her brother, Haynes Hawkins; and her sister, Joyce Puckett preceded her in death.
Marie and her husband owned and operated Roads West Trucking Company for many years in Kansas City, Mo. and Phoenix. After Harry's death, she was a realtor in Phoenix until she retired in 2001, and moved to Morris to be near her daughter.
Private services were held in Joliet. She will be buried with her husband in Fairfield.


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24 Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas
Bright construction paper becomes an offbeat ribbon with the help of a hole punch and some double-sided tape.
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How do I.... ?
Moderator: Team Cub
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New Board Question
In profile it asks for minimum 255 character message. Don't understand what that is for.
Are you refering to the "signature" block? It is looking for a MAXIMUM of 255 characters. I left it blank.
If you fill something in there, it will get automaticly stuck on the end of all of your posts.
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Thanks, that is what I was asking about. I guess I just got things backwards.
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Farmington Hills, MI (Vocus/PRWEB) April 18, 2011 -The 5-hour ENERGY® team is amplifying the anticipation surrounding the upcoming 5-hour ENERGY® 200. The title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Race, which will be held May 14 at the Monster Mile in Dover, Del., will start a major NASCAR ticket giveaway Monday.
For three weeks, the 5-hour ENERGY® team will dole out free tickets to the 5-hour ENERGY® 200. Lucky fans can enter to win daily and weekly via Twitter and Facebook by:
The three contests will run simultaneously from Monday, April 18 until Friday, May 6. 5-hour ENERGY® fans are encouraged to enter all three contests to improve their chances of taking home free tickets to the NASCAR Nationwide 5-hour ENERGY® 200.
All NASCAR Nationwide Series fans attending the 5-hour ENERGY® 200 on May 14 will have the opportunity to sample free shots of 5-hour ENERGY®. Brand representatives will be stationed at various locations throughout the Dover International Speedway to make sure race fans stay energized while enjoying the action on the Monster Mile.
About 5-hour Energy®
5-hour ENERGY® currently sponsors the #66 Toyota racecar driver, Steven Wallace. Wallace races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the Rusty Wallace Racing team.
Introduced, in 2004, 5-hour ENERGY® is the original liquid energy shot. It contains a blend of B-vitamins and amino acids, zero sugar and four calories. It is available at retail outlets in the United States and Canada as well as throughout the U.K., Ireland and the Netherlands.
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Original 5-hour ENERGY® contains caffeine equivalent to a cup of the leading premium coffee. Extra Strength 5-hour ENERGY® contains caffeine equivalent to
12 ounces of the leading premium coffee. Limit caffeine products to avoid nervousness, sleeplessness and occasional rapid heartbeat. Decaf 5-hour ENERGY® contains about as much caffeine as a half cup of decaffeinated coffee.


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Washington Nationals fans -- and indeed, baseball fans everywhere -- have been following the progress of right-hander Stephen Strasburg from Tommy John surgery, through several rehab stops, and now to his scheduled start Tuesday night against the Dodgers in Washington.
There's only one potential problem with all of this, and it can be best displayed by this picture:
That's right, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, interacting with a slow-moving cold front, are moving very slowly up the eastern seaboard this week, and rain has been falling off and on in the Washington area most of the day. The forecast doesn't look so good, either:
Tonight: Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 65. East wind between 3 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Our SB Nation Dodgers blog True Blue LA has more information:
Per @masnsports, Mike Rizzo said decision won't be made on postponement until gametime, & doubleheader likely for Wed w/Strasburg in one gm
That's all well and good, but the Washington-area forecast doesn't look good for Wednesday, either. In any case, the Nats will likely try to get this game in tonight, as they have a significant advance ticket sale. But if they can't, the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore has some information about a possible Strasburg appearance on Wednesday:
If tonight's game is banged, Strasburg will pitch at 1 pm in the 1st game of a split doubleheader tomorrow.
For more info, stay here with Baseball Nation or our Nationals blog Federal Baseball.


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Where do you guys think Blake Griffin took off from on this dunk? Nashville? Chattanooga? Knoxville? Lexington? Wherever it was, it was a long way outside the paint.
For all news and information regarding the Memphis Grizzlies, please visit Straight Outta Vancouver. For updates and perspective on the Los Angeles Clippers, head on over to Clips Nation or check out SB Nation Los Angeles. For complete coverage of the 2012 NBA playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.


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Carolina Panthers
Jordan Gross - #69 - T
|6' 4"/ 305 lbs.
|Fruitland, ID
|Years played
|2003, 1st round, 8th pick by Panthers
Panthers choose Pike over Cantwell for third QB
The Panthers have kept QB Tony Pike on the 53-man roster and have cut Hunter Cantwell.
Panthers place WR Wallace on I.R.; trim roster to 75
The Panthers placed WR Wallace Wright on I.R. Tuesday, one of five transactions made by the team.
OT Barton does not report to Panthers camp, may retire
OT Kirk Barton decided not to report to Panthers training camp one day after being claimed off waivers. Head coach John Fox believes Barton has decided to retire from football.
Panthers DE Brown restores optimism with recent play
Expectations have been high for DE Everette Brown since the Panthers traded a first-round pick to move up in the second round and draft him in 2009.
Clausen's toe injury will linger through season
Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen learned he will have to play the 2010 season through the pain in his right big toe.
Panthers OLT Gross' rough start not a big concern
Panthers OLT Jordan Gross' start to the preseason was ugly, but we hear the team is not panicking about his future.
Panthers QB Clausen competing to become top backup
Speculation that Jimmy Clausen would challenge incumbent Matt Moore for a starting job has mostly died down since the spring, and now he'll need a strong showing just to win the backup job.
Reports: Panthers reach agreement with Clausen
The Panthers have agreed to terms with second-round pick Jimmy Clausen on a four-year deal, according to reports.
NFC South training-camp reports
In the seventh chapter of our training-camp reports, we look at the NFC South teams, including a Panthers team led defensively by LB Jon Beason.
Panthers sign third-round pick LaFell
The Panthers announced they signed third-round pick Brandon LaFell on Tuesday.
Three players competing to become Panthers' starting right guard
Mackenzy Bernadeau, Duke Robinson and Geoff Schwartz are Carolina's top contenders at right guard, and each took reps with the first-team offense during offseason practices.
Job security not an issue for Panthers GM Hurney
There are reports that Panthers GM Marty Hurney's contract expired June 30, but we hear Hurney is in good standing with the organization and will not be looking for a new employer any time soon.
Panthers sign fourth-round pick Norwood
The Panthers announced they have signed DE-OLB Eric Norwood.
Panthers sign sixth-round pick Pike
The Panthers announced they have signed one of the two quarterbacks they drafted in April.
Panthers' Smith could miss start of training camp with broken arm
A source close to Panthers WR Steve Smith told PFW that Smith suffered a broken arm — the same one he broke in a game in December — on Saturday and could miss the start of training camp.
Gross says he's agreed to take a pay cut to remain with the Carolina Panthers.||||||| Gross' new deal is worth $5.5 million in 2013 and will void out after the season, making him a free agent. That's significantly less than the 10-year veteran was scheduled to make the next two seasons. The two-time Pro Bowl selection was scheduled to earn $8.7 million this year and $6.7 million in 2014.
Gross is inactive for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons with a right ankle injury.||||||| Gross injured his ankle in last week's win over Tampa Bay.
Gross estimates he's lined up opposite Julius Peppers more than a thousand times in seven years of practices with the Panthers. On Sunday, they'll go one-on-one again - only this time in a real game for the first time- when the five-time Pro Bowl pick Peppers returns to Carolina with the Chicago Bears.||||||| Gross got a quick introduction to the NFL as a first-round pick in 2003, facing Peppers in training camp a year after the 6-foot-7 defensive end was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. "It's not like there are any easy weeks in the NFL. This one is just a little more special than others," Gross said. "I've been going against Pep as long as I've been in the pros, and he's always given me a handful. It's not going to be any different on Sunday."
Gross broke his right leg, not his ankle, as the team first announced. The 2008 Pro Bowl pick still plans on being ready for the start of next season.||||||| Wearing a large cast and leaning on crutches, Gross visited his teammates at Bank of America Stadium on Monday for the first time since suffering the gruesome, season-ending injury against Atlanta on Nov. 15. "For next season, I have no concerns at all," Gross said.
The Panthers signed All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year deal on Thursday, the same day they placed the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers.||||||| Terms of Gross' deal were not immediately available, but he's expected to become one of the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman. The agreement Thursday ends more than a year of negotiations and removes a big obstacle in their efforts to deal with Peppers.


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In case you're a bit out of the loop, Landon Donovan has returned to Everton on loan. In his first game that he was eligible to play for the side, he'll be starting. David Moyes has picked the American international to start straightaway against Bolton Wanderers, probably due to the massive fixture congestion they're going through right now. Moyes probably likes that he has any opportunities to rest any first choice players. Donovan will play on the wing. Bolton are also resting some first choice players. Here are the lineups.
Everton Lineup (4-4-2): Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Hibbert; Osman, Neville, Heitinga, Donovan; Stracqualursi, Saha
Bolton Lineup (4-4-1-1): Bodgan; Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Ricketts; M. Davies, Muamba, Reo-Coker, Petrov; Eagles; N'Gog
Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on both FOX Soccer Plus and FOXSoccer.tv in the USA. A few games on FSC might get bumped for optimum Donovan showcasing in the future, but they weren't about to bump Manchester United.


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After two games this season, question marks hung in the air surrounding the Buffalo Bills 2-0 record and offensive performances. They had blown out the Kansas City Chiefs and come back to win a shootout with the Oakland Raiders. Ryan Fitzpatrick had back to back solid games with 492 yards and a 7/1 touchdown to interception ratio. But Fitzpatrick and the Bills would definitely come back down to reality when Tom Brady and the big, bad New England Patriots came to town.
Not so fast. Ryan Fitzpatrick put together another strong performance as he passed for 369 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw a pair of interceptions that likely cost you four points, but he made up for it with the extra 105 yards of passing compared to last week.
Fitzpatrick is starting to emerge on fantasy rosters and if he still happens to be available in your league, he likely will be snatched up off waivers this week. The question is what to do with him if you've got him. The Bills travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals this coming week. The Bengals have played well thus far but did give up 200 yards passing to QB Alex Smith, which is saying something given the 49ers offensive struggles thus far. I'd imagine you have somebody else in place, but if that somebody happens to be say, Michael Vick, Fitzpatrick might be worth a start while Vick recovers from his broken hand.
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For more on the Bills, check out Buffalo Rumblings. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams.


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And, of course, the fine print:
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Manufacturers Website
User manual
Sound on Sound recently ran an article about a microphone preamp shoot out. In it, they tested out a number of different preamps using a modern version of a player piano and some great mics. The resulting recordings were then posted online for everyone to vote. Well to everyone surprise the preamp voted favourite by the readers with each mic – except the ribbon mic – was the Art Pro MPA II.
Clearly this preamp is not one that will make you sell your 1073′s, and as Sound on Sound reminded us, if you use a preamp properly you will get good results out of almost any one you choose. But, let's not get into comparing hi-end and budget preamps. Let's just take a look at a pre that has gained some recent attention.
Front Panel
Good sized knobs give you control over the usual array of parameters, as well as some less common features that are typically reserved for pricier units. The top row of controls have a gain pot which amplifies the signal before hitting the tube, an impedance control which can affect the tone on dynamic or ribbon mics, and an output control to tame the signal before hitting the A/D (I will go ahead and assume you are recording digitally). To the far right you will also find a Stereo / Dual switch which will link the output control of both channels to channel one's output pot, and turns channel two's output control into a pan pot. Neat.
Along the bottom row you have a High Z input on each channel (try driving a bass hard with this) followed by a low-cut filter. This is a tame filter by most standards as it's only a single pole filter (6 dB/octave) so don't hesitate to use this before you get in the box. Each channel also has four buttons in common – a +20dB gain, +48V phantom power, Plate voltage, and a phase inverse button. The +20 dB gain gives you an extra boost before the signal hits the tube, allowing you to get a driven tube sound on quieter sources. The phantom power and phase invert are self-explanatory, but feel free to google them if you want to know more. The plate voltage is a great feature which changes the behaviour of the tubes, giving you a cleaner signal with a higher headroom. Center on the unit you will also find the Mid/Side Matrix button which will decode your mid/side mic setup into a stereo left and right signal.
In the middle of the unit stands the metering, which includes two VU meters for the output levels (0 VU = +4 dBu) and an 8 LED segment tube warmth meter which lets you know how hard the tube is being hit by your signal.
A quick peek inside reveals just what one might expect. A clean, well laid out circuit board and two 12AX7 preamp tubes. The tubes are a basic Chinese 12AX7 and are a good place to start when looking at modifying this mic pre. For the purposes of this review, I will be using the stock tubes. All samples have been made after the preamp has warmed up for at least a half hour, which is where I stopped noticing a difference (or maybe just got a little impatient).
The following was a DI'ed guitar signal provided by Kennybro from the GearSlutz forum fed into an Epiphone Valve Jr Head > Traynor DarkHorse 2×12″ Cab > SM57 > ART Tube Pre > 003 Line input
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How Does It Sound?
In use, I found the pre to be pretty straight forward to operate. While recording I always had the +20 gain button pushed in. It makes sense though, why else would I choose a tube pre unless I wanted to get some tube sound? The addition of the tube warmth meter made it easy to set my gain control. With it tickling the yellow I knew I had some headroom before things would get a little out of control (see my driven sample at the end of the article).
I recorded a handful of sources and was pleased with the overall sound quality – nothing really stood out to me as an issue. The HPF being 6bd/oct meant that you could throw it on and take a tasteful cut out of the low-end junk without worrying about destroying the body of some lower notes. The plate voltage did in fact give more headroom before the tube saturated, but I found I never really wanted that. Perhaps if it was my only preamp, that might be a benefit – but for me it was a feature just for the sake of having another item on the features list. The inclusion of the +4 / -10 output was another feature I would never use, but provides a good service to those running directly into some consumer gear-like computer line-inputs, iPhones, etc. One thing to note is that adjusting the input impedance will cause a change of gain, so be mindful of this as you adjust your impedance.
The impedance is switched from the lowest setting or 150 ohm to the highest 3000 ohm part way through this clip. Can you hear where?
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/74825484" params="color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&show_playcount=false&show_comments=false" width=" 100%" height="81" iframe="false" /]
At first when listening back I could hear very little difference between the impedances. Which isn't too surprising since the 300 oHm output of the SM57 is right in the basic range of this preamp. Honestly I was expecting more difference (you will find a greater difference on a ribbon mic than dynamic). However, as I was about to give up on finding a difference I noticed a recording I had done a few days earlier as a warmup with my own playing. At the end I hit a sudden chord and the lower impedance had far more bite to it. Cool. So while this guitar part may not have been the best for demonstrating the variable impedance, there is a difference. Play with it!
All and all I was impressed with the preamp. It had pretty good overall sound quality on the sources I recorded. Due to fact that the other material recorded has not yet been released, I could only provide examples of the guitar track presented here. While it would not be my first choice of pre, with a couple of higher end options being my go-to's, it would always be a consideration. The combination of an expansive feature set and a low price point make this a no brainer for anyone looking into an inexpensive pre.
The ART Pro MPA II driven a little harder into distortion
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