text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58753562014-12-08T17:15:13.552Zthe blue fish projectDave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-84096354275020709882014-12-08T17:08:00.001Z2014-12-08T17:08:31.399ZSo much of the story is in the telling

Forbes reviews the new Exodus film (HT: Andrew Wilson)

"Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings (trailer) is a terrible film. It is a badly acted and badly written melodrama that takes what should be a passionate and emotionally wrenching story and drains it of all life and all dramatic interest. It hits all the major points, like checking off boxes on a list, yet tells its tale at an arms-length reserve with paper-thin characters. It is arguably a film intended for adults, with violence that makes a mockery of its PG-13 rating, yet it has far less nuance, emotional impact, and moral shading than DreamWorks Animation's PG-rated and seemingly kid-targeted The Prince of Egypt."
And a recent study shows...

Fiction readers make great friends as they tend to be more aware of others' emotions...Literary fiction enhanced participants' empathy because they had to work harder at fleshing out the characters. The process of trying to understand what those characters are feelings and the motives behind them is the same in our relationships with other people.
Five thoughts:

1. Good stories are hard to tell.

2. It's easy to see what a good story lacks than what a good story should contain. I'm particularly struck however by the observations about well developed characters and the problem of telling a story at arms length.

3. As a lover of fiction - who rejected it altogether for a couple of bleak and unimaginative years before University, and who is enjoying introducing his five year old to good fiction I'm encouraged at the wide ranging benefits to his imagination and character that this might bring.

4. I'm also helped by the thought that there is correlation between social skills and reading great literature. As someone who doesn't exactly have outstanding interpersonal skills, it's good to know that the pages of a good book can help rather than hinder me in my journey... as long as I don't spend all my time in a book.

5.. As a preacher, I realise it'd be easy for good preaching of Exodus, for example, to fail in the same way this film apparently does. I've not seen the film so I'm merely reflecting on the review rather than the film. Even the best stories can be killed by the way they're understood and told.

Pic: Brioso (Creative Commons)Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-24551136596744334022014-11-28T14:08:00.001Z2014-11-28T14:08:26.791ZWe all have myths

We believe myths about the origin of the world, about what's wrong with the world, about what can fix that, about where the world is going.

Literary scholar CS Lewis noted that we all have stories to explain how we see the world. We all have myths. The questions that matter are whether your myth gives a good account of life, and whether your myth is a true account of life.

Lewis and his friend Tolkein considered the possibility of a True Myth, the Christ story.

For me, coming to the opening chapters of Genesis is a great opportunity for mythunderstanding. To think in terms of story. I want to avoid getting into a faith vs. science debate especially when that leaves both a cheapened view of science and of the world... derived in the context of chapters of literature that promote science and give the richest possible understanding of this world.

Take an example.

The story of the fall in Genesis 3 is a story that makes emotional sense of our sense of broken intimacy, of our desire to be known and our disposition towards hiding from one another. This is how we experience life and we sense it's not meant to be that way. This myth says that this same brokenness impacts every one in every generation, in every culture, a fracture running through us at the very deepest level. It doesn't make relationship impossible but it does to some level interupt the yearning to be safe with someone else.

We might object to this myth. We might note the presence of an elephant in the room: a talking serpent! Surely that breaks the myth and renders it nothing more than a fanciful Tinga Tinga Tale. Blaming the serpent isn't a new issue for this story.

Perhaps, however, the real elephant is that this story makes us culpable. It puts the heart of the human problem in the heart of the human being. It says our betrayal of the Lord Christ is what fractured relationship and bred alienation. That's not an easy story for any of us to bear.

It's ok to be honest that the issue is at least as much that we don't want to believe the story as that we find some aspect implausible. That kind of honesty would be refreshing and promotes open discussion. Many of the stories we believe have plausibility challenges in different ways. I'm yet to see a fish grow legs. Plausibility rather depends on your overarching myth. What is allowed to make sense - the big story and the smaller stories cycle back and forth to create plausibility structures.

Those telling stories to others need to know that we have a tendency to prefer stories that scratch our itches and that changing our story has consequences and costs, losses as well as gains. Those telling stories should tread carefully. Stories capture the heart, the imagination... and so shape lifes. Stories are powerful, and perhaps, amongst other things, this is a world made for stories.

Image: Silvia SalaDave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-86783402182332765152014-10-06T13:34:00.001+01:002014-10-06T13:34:47.533+01:00The 50p challenge reveals an ugly posture

I wrote a reflection on the implications of Sainsbury's recent poster gaff at Think Theology: An Ugly Posture.

Photo by Chris Dodd.Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-78297530995439273772014-08-30T10:59:00.003+01:002014-08-30T10:59:48.479+01:00New: Grace Church Exeter

I've recently joined the staff team at Grace Church Exeter. We're learning to explore, experience and express the goodness of God in our city.

My role is as Communications, Ministries & Training Coordinator. This occupies me with a great mix of things I love to do with communicating, producing resources, teaching and training people to equip them for life in our city.

You can have a look around our new website and get a feel for what we're up to in our city.Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-36074636548411899412014-06-17T09:43:00.001+01:002014-06-17T16:46:34.795+01:002003-2014: An end, and a new beginning...

I started this blog when I joined the UCCF staff team in September 2003. Eleven years and more than 3300 blog posts later... I'm still doing both.

However, my time with UCCF is soon to end. I'm moving on to a new role on the staff team of our church in Exeter as Communications, Ministries and Training Coordinator. A new season with new rhythms of life. I'm looking forward to new opportunities and a newly localised life (after seven years of itinerant ministry across the South West) as I dig into living in our city, raising my family and building our church.

I'm not sure where, if at all, this blog fits within that new shape.
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-19554005829760133372014-05-31T11:04:00.004+01:002014-05-31T11:04:47.117+01:00Union: A new Gutenberg and a new GenevaWatch Mike Reeves launch Union Theology, a new reformation moment for church and academy to come together to train leaders

Union launch Keynote from Wales Evangelical on Vimeo.Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-23621272150737114582014-05-25T14:18:00.000+01:002014-05-25T18:41:52.295+01:00What's my role? (Nehemiah 3)

MP3 via frontiers church blog.

Hugo lives in the walls of a station in Paris in Brian Selznick's magical novel (now a Martin Scorsese film). He keeps the station clocks running as he explores the question he shares with many of the other characters in the film. Who am I? What's my place in the world? Looking out through the glass clock face he muses:

"You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need… if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too."
Who can't empathise with Hugo? At our different stages of life we might ask ourselves what it means for us to make a meaningful contribution. And we could talk about church which is good enough but much more about our city. And by city I don't just mean the metropolitan area but the city and its area - some live in the city and work outside it, some live outside and are connected to it...

Hugo's story is set in Paris - picture the Arc de Triomphe from above and see the machine that is Paris. The image works well but is somewhat dehumanising, unrelational.

Consider another city. Beautiful from the ground level its hard to fully appreciate the order and design of the Barcelona street plan. Cities are place and populated by people. They're about the location and the inhabitants. And cities are both beautiful and broken, injustice lurks under the surface of even the most glorious cities.

Nehemiah sees his city in ruins. His city, Jerusalem, is both a city and more than a city. As William Blake shows in his hymn, Jerusalem has a spiritual meaning - it embodies the great heavenly city to which the garden to city storyline of the Bible runs.

 "And was Jerusalem builded here, among these dark satanic mills"

We might say no. And likewise Jesus didn't walk on Englands hills... and yet in a sense the answer is yes! Jerusalem wasn't build among the factories of Bradford, but the city of God - the pursuit of peace between people and with God was... and is wherever people find peace with God in his good news.

Much as the Catalan coast was beautiful before Barcelona was built, the Bible story is one of cultivation. We can learn about human cities and God's bigger story. Nehemiah 3 doesn't say rebuild the walls of Exeter - knocking down Topshop and Next and Waterstones to reinstate the wall and north gate of the city. We see the people work together for the safety and good of their fortress city. Exeter had walls as the Roman outpost to keep out the celts in Cornwall, today the walls are fallen but the city has different needs to flourish.

In Nehemiah 2:18 our leader says - "rise up and build". In 3:1, Eliashib does that, with his brothers. Its a call to get out of bed and get to work... and a call to move from death to life. We see rulers and priests, servants, men and women, goldsmiths and perfumers, families and individuals rise together.

The chapter is a list of names. A feast of awesomeness if we'll listen. These are real people remembered for their contributions. Just as the electoral roll reflects my vote, so their work is remembered.

Two questions and an observation.

I. WHAT CAN I CONTRIBUTE?

v13 - Hanun (whose name means Gracious) builds from the Tower of Ovens to the Dung Gate. 1000 cubits, 450 metres.

v29 - Zadok (whose name means righteous) builds opposite his house.

Both are positively listed. But one can do much more.

Two sub-questions.
1. At this time, in this season, can I do more in the church... and more importantly in our city?
Can you stretch further? Can you train up more? As you read this what ideas might spark?
Some say the church is middle class, not necessarily, but it might sometimes drift up the social scale as its members find fresh motivation. Now of course you don't have to follow Jesus to contribute to the good of the city, but just as Hugo sought identity in The Big Machine, so too those who follow Jesus find dignity and value in their work.

Others,
2. At this time, in this season, are there limits you need to accept?
At times we can do less. We may feel sadness but we need not feel guilt. I remember singing "I'm gonna be a history maker in this land" and with youthful ambition thinking we'd have to be famous. Most people don't have biographies written of them. But its not just Churchill who makes history. At this time you might "only" be able to do the washing day to day... but if that's what God has put in front of you to do, that's great! Nehemiah doesn't impose a strategy - the people are free to turn their hand to what is in front of them.

It takes a city to run a city.

A glass of water comes to you in a primative world from a stream, but as the world develops you'll need civil, mechanical and electronic engineers to build sewage plants, builders to lay pipes designed by mathematicians, entrepreneurs to set up water companies, sales people and lawyers to agree a contract, bankers to set up your payment... and cleaners to ensure that the tap you get water from isn't infested with bacteria. Even the simplest things take many people to build.

It'd be naive to think we can build heaven on earth. But we can cultivate. We can add order. We can restrain evil and injustice. We can work in politics and dentistry, in the council chambers and with our neighbours. We can create in science and art and business. We can seek the peace of the city in limited but real ways.

The brokennes is beyond our repairing. Amid the action scenes Christopher Nolan explores this in his Batman trilogy. In the first film the city is viewed as unredeemable by the villans - the only hope is to burn it down. In the second hope has come until chaos is unleashed by The Joker. In the last the question is about how to overcome evil.

What can we contribute?

II. WHAT WILL I CONTRIBUTE?

The Tekoite Nobles - the people of the Trumpets - decide to blow their own trumpets instead of joining the building project.

Malchijah - whose name means My Lord is King - rebuild the dirty dung gate, ensuring that the city is not full of poo.

We each have value systems that shape us. We're like the monkey who sticks his fist in the jar to get a nut out,... and gets his fist stuck because he wont let the nut go. How easily we might be devoted to our monkey jar gods. We all draw lines - some of them good - but sometimes we have things that stop us contributing well. Some of us prefer ourselves to giving ourselves to our city... others of us can't let go of things that are beyond us at this time.

III. SEE JESUS' CONTRIBUTION
Nehemiah oversaw the rebuilding of his city. Not the final city. But his was the one to which Jesus would walk 500 years later. Consider Jesus.

See that he can do what we can't do. We can't get over the barrier of the depths of deathliness. But he became one of us to build the true and greater Jerusalem. He put all that is broken to death in his death, rising to new life to make the new city possible.

Moreover, he will do what needs to be done. If anyone could blow their own trumpet it was him... but he stooped to serve us. Jesus is the true and greater Tekoite Noble who stooped. And he came to deal with the sewage of our lives, he is the true and greater Malchijah.

And, finally, rather than consoling ourselves with The Big Machine, we find that he rises up with his brothers and sisters to build. Jesus is the true and greater Eliashib who builds with his family and who will finally build Jerusalem as a place of peace for people with people, and people with God. In him we can join in the renewal of all things, as we seek the peace of our city.

Explore further with John Dyer's book From Garden to City.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick.

Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-34239143397806725062014-05-19T17:07:00.001+01:002014-05-26T18:33:51.366+01:00Good news for The Narcissist

The centre of the book of Galatians is the geekiest verse in the Bible. Galatians 3:16 says that promises were made to Abraham's offspring and that is not many but one. One offspring who is The Christ.

The Galatians, like Peter at Antioch, and me have fallen into a narcissistic legalism where legal standing with God and belonging to the family have become about what I do rather than these things having been fully accomplished by the gospel of the Triune God.

Paul constructs from personal testimony and from Biblical Theology at response centred on the revealed Son of the Father who is proclaimed to all peoples (1:15-16), the crucified Son of the Father who loved me and gave himself for me, who brings those from all peoples into the blessedness of the Triune life as adopted Spirit-filled Sons of the Father.

The difference between a self-centred life and finding your life in the life of the Triune God is bigger than the difference between thinking the sun orbits the earth and how things actually are.

A promise was made to Abraham for his offspring, in truth a promise from the Father to his Son, the Christ. This promise is made in a Universe of unchangeable covenants and inheriting sons. What's signed can't be changed.

But that raises a huge question in Biblical Theology. Around 2000BC a promise is made to Abraham and this is the gospel that in Abraham's one offspring all the peoples of the world will be invited out of curse into blessing. But, 430 years later God gives the 10 Commandments and a whole lot more law to Israel. What is that? A change of plan? A different way to all that God gives? A rival plan?

No, says Paul, its not plan B. It's something else. Something that serves the promise. Like a fridge serves an oven. For a while you don't need a fridge but the passing of time and the room temperature may mean that you temporarily need a fridge otherwise the work of the oven will be undermined.

In the Old Testament we need to get from Abraham to an identifiable Christ who will be one of us and who will give himself in love for us, in a way that is meaningful and effective.

The law will help! It's a good gift.

For 430 years we have a family in Canaan and then a large ethnic group contained in Goshen. The Exodus sets a million people free to interact with the peoples of the world and their gods. And they rapidly start intermarrying and following new gods (See The Book of Judges). The law restrains this a little, but there's still only a remnant 1500 years later. Yet a remnant. An identifiable people are preserved so that Matthew can trace a line from Abraham to David to the Exile to Jesus the Christ... and indeed a further 2000 years later people can still count themselves among the descendants of Abraham. The outward life-style markers of the law identify the people as different to the other peoples. It makes them look a bit like God, a community with care for the fatherless, the widow and the orphan. Holy as he is holy.

The law isn't mostly about ethics, mostly its about the tabernacle and then helps us to interpret the cross of Christ, to understand about curses and curse-bearing substitutes. Together these things mean there can be an identifiable Christ who can have a curse bearing death and so bring the peoples of the world into the blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit, legally adopted into the family of the God who loves the fatherless.

Once the Christ comes the law isn't need to lock up the people. They don't need a guardian to keep them distinctive. No such law is needed to mark them out any more. Righteousness was always by faith in the promise and for a time it came with certain ethnic markers about ethics and the tabernacle.

The law is still very precious Scripture but it's purpose as a guardian/prison has been completed.

Can any book interpret the cross better than Leviticus? As Hebrews shows the grammar of the gospel come from the law (see also Gal 3:10-14).

Can any book tell better a story of rescue to beautiful relationship more than Exodus? Etc. What was said to them then for that time still describes a life lived like the Triune God, but not as command to them or us now. The Spirit bears fruit that fills up what the law describes and will far exceed it for all who repent and believe the gospel.

Any people of any of the peoples who hear with faith after Christ came will be people adopted into the life of the Son and filled with the Spirit.

Anyone from any people who looks to the Christ receives the Spirit of the Son.

The greater law of Christ, the promise of the one offspring, will lead those in union with Christ to be crucified with Christ, living by faith in the resurrected Son, pursuing the desires of the Spirit, sowing to his ways. Maturing not by outward signs but mature by repenting and believing the gospel of the Son.

Fallen humanity is expert at curving in on themselves. Giving us things to do is exactly what we like, but that just feeds the flesh and makes things worse. The cure is the gospel. Hear with faith. Look and live. The cure is Christ, the one to whom the promise is made. Get in him and freely share in all his life. Come to the Father, anointed with the Spirit exactly as the Son does, crying "Abba!"

Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-78816615807347045852014-05-14T15:19:00.001+01:002014-11-29T11:07:44.596ZBlessed is The Man! (Psalm 1-2)

Who are the blessed? The rich? Famous? Talented? Those with autonomy? Those free from others constraints. Other cultures would differ but this is our story. The haunting memory of a better story makes us cynical about such a story, yet still we fawn over our celebrity gods.

Psalm 1-2 say there is one blessed man who meditates on the law, as kings could. Like Joshua/Yeshua by the word he prospers, a kingly tree. He's the LORD's Christ (Anointed). The king of the Holy Hill. The Father's Son. He inherits all creation.

But, we don't believe Bible reading makes you rich so what is this? Not I? Who is this blessed champion?

Against him are the wicked and sinners. Kings of the world who rage against Christ to overthrow and dethrone him. The autonomous... they will be blown at like chaff, they perish, .they will be broken. Their apparent victory is hollow. Their blessedness quickly fades.

The song speaks to them. The wicked are warned and invited to align with the blessed man, not merely deferring to him or inspired by him. They're to take refuge in him. As with a passenger in a plane, where he goes they go.

The wicked who hide in him will be blessed, share his Spirit anointing, share his Sonship, share his prosperity which gives the privilege of sharing in his crucifixion and suffering. Can it be me? Even I?

This is the story of Psalms. A glorious gospel.

The blessed man is Jesus and unlike the excluding agenda of the blessings of the world which favour the strong and cut off the weak, his blessing is for any and all peoples who will hide in him.

"Blessed is the man... this is to be understood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Man..." Augustine

The Man isn't so much over us or inspiring us, we're in him. Rory Shiner notes: Sitting under a plane gets you no where, watching a plane doesn't mean you can sing "I believe I can fly." You have to be in the plane to fly. The Psalmist never thought of planes but the principle holds.

Blessed is The Man and blessed are all who take refuge in him, whatever gender, class, talent, character...the issue isn't us but him.
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-43376830314605855582014-05-11T17:04:00.001+01:002014-05-11T17:04:28.044+01:00This is my Father's world

We've used this song a few times recently at our church. Matt Giles adaptation of Maltbie Babcock's hymn. Matt's ability to freshen up the musical arrangements and lyrics of old hymns is a precious gift.

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings,and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world, He shines in all that's fair;
In rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world, yet here His Son was slain,
Though God from God, He esteemed it not,
by human hands betrayed
This is my Father's world, His works shall not be lost
God's love would bring us home to Him
Though Jesus be the cost

Maltbie D Babcock, Matt Giles ©2014 Matt Giles MusicDave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-13625952777498660012014-05-06T09:19:00.002+01:002014-05-07T21:26:57.213+01:00Standing in a queue: A parable on serving people

I live in a provincial city. Small enough to walk across in just over an hour or so, and its serviced with a branch line railway that makes transport a bit quicker. From time to time I get the train into the city centre because it's a 6 minute journey and that saves me 25 minutes walking time plus is a bit easier when I'm carrying stuff. Invariably I then walk home.

This morning I did that journey. I boarded the crowded train and was delivered to my destination. I'd not been sold a ticket on the train (and there isn't a ticket machine at my station) so I knew I'd have to queue. I found myself quickly the 20th person in a queue that soon stacked up behind me. With one person serving.

This post isn't really about railways.

And nothing I'm writing here is to complain about the station staff who are generally excellent and friendly.

I've worked in Customer Service and it's often a thankless task and gladly forgive occasional grumpiness. The shriek at someone up the line paying for their ticket with a £20 note was probably a bit unnecessary and not quite comic enough... legal tender is legal tender! But, I digress.

Around me in the queue obedient British people rocked from one foot to the other... a few grumbled to the air and I took out my smartphone and tweeted to the business who run the station. Unlike other train companies they really take social media seriously and have it staffed with friendly people who respond quickly and helpfully. This morning was Jess.

I politely pointed out that the company ought to remember that they are a customer serving business. Twenty five people who got held up, the back end of the queue by over 15 minutes, is not good for business. That's not the Top Box service I learned in retail banking. I amiably suggested to Jess on Twitter that this wasn't a staffing issue but a business leadership issue. Three tweets in reply:

"Hi Dave, sorry about this. We only have a certain number of staff available, so there can be a queue at peak times.

As its busy for a relatively short period of time, having staff would be a waste of resources for the rest of the day...

...I appreciate its frustrating having to queue like this though. Glad you think the staff there are great though."

Excellently and friendly and instant social media engagement. And its not Jess' place to do more than represent the company policy. But there's a problem isn't there? It's the company culture.

There's a brief peak time period so we consider it better to save our money than to save your time. Despite the fact that if all our customers left us we'd cease to exist we still think we are more important than you.

This peak time period is so insignificantly brief that we charge much higher fares for travel at this time of day but its not so we can serve you better then.

We'd rather have a queue for a few minutes at the busiest time of day than people think traveling by train is easy and efficient and the way forward.

We'd rather people walk into their office grumbling about the trains again than commend us.

Obviously I can walk. I could drive. I could get the bus. Other options are available. But in a business each ought to want my business and know that their reputation stands and falls on each customer experience.

When I worked in retail banking you'd see the Branch Manager on the tills if it was particularly busy. We'd thank people for their patience, and we'd bend over backwards to keep the queue short. It can't always be done but when it can't something needs to be done. There are businesses that deliver consistently brilliant service. It can be done.

And, I don't really mind queuing. I'm British.

But, I'm also arrogant enough to think that most problems in life have solutions. This is a values thing. I once heard someone say "I'm speaking better than you're listening..." No, sir! Communicators have the responsibility to engage their listeners, they don't get to have the right to have a go at them. And if you want people to give you their business you should build your business around serving them, around something they need, even if you have to persuade them initially that you're really offering something that adds to life and is worth paying for.

I think of my work: serving but how eeasily I'm self serving. Or our church: do we say you can be here on our terms, when it suits us. Mercifully we're asking the kind of questions so hopefully we're moving in the right direction but its easy for me to forget that service works best when its serving the right person.
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-77297254341715724562014-04-21T08:00:00.000+01:002014-04-21T15:59:52.202+01:00Something as simple as a glass of water

In a fictional tale, told by David Foster Wallace, an older fish swims past two younger fish and sayswe can't live long without waste "Morning boys, how's the water?" They swim on for a while until one turns to the other and says "What the hell is water?"

It's said we take for granted the technology that already exists when we're born. We adapt to what is developed as we grow up. And then we get suspicious of the stuff that arrives after we turn thirty.

The middle aged person today critiques today's youth for relationships based on texting and snapchat, wishing they would just make phonecalls... and yet that's a call for one kind of technology instead of another. Face to face unmediated contact is ultimate (1 Cor 13) and so maybe a phonecall is better than a text message, but we all have technological bias.

I graduated University without having a mobile phone, and having never drunk real coffee. I'm not sure how long I could survive today without both of those.

The ability to drink a glass of water is one of those things we take for granted. But in a well populated world where you can't often just drink from a river and be sure it's clean... we depend on the ability to turn a tap and get water.

We can't live long without water.

The glass takes a lot of technology to make - glass from sand with heat... tools, machines, electricity (power plants, oil rigs and pipes, boats, navigation systems, drills etc).... and then the water has to be piped from somewhere, cleaned, delivered through a network of pipes, through a tap into a ceramic sink with all the technology required to design and make and deliver and install each of those things and the many more parts that don't occur to me along the way.

And it's all part of our story of cultivating this world. Genesis, when you get past the God vs. Science fog tells of a God of spreading goodness who paints in broad brushstrokes and commissions humanity to add in the detail, taking up words and tools to do that, cultivating wilderness into a garden and a city for God and man to dwell together. And it takes everyone's work to do that.

We can't live long without water.

Hearts get re-made by the technology of words through which the Spirit brings new life... because the technology of execution crucified the Christ, and roads and language and much more enabled that news to spread. But that story finishes pretty fast without food and shelter, and most of us depend on the work of a great many people to have those things today.

I'm thankful, and learning to open my eyes just a little bit more to the simplest things like water.

Richard Sibbes noted:

"We commend the witty industry of those that from springs remote bring rivers to cities, and by pipes from these rivers derive water to every man's house for all domestic services..."

We can't live long without water, and so also (which Sibbes was illustrating) the even greater living water, but that's for another day.
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-65086736352041536882014-04-18T08:00:00.000+01:002014-04-18T09:54:23.080+01:00Video: Find me in the city
Find me in the city from Trinity Media on Vimeo.

I wrote this for my Word Alive seminar on God and Technology. Much credit to John Dyer's book From Garden to City and UCCF's long standing clarity on doctrine of creation and the value of work. The video doesn't have any audio. I think Kings Kaleidoscope's Higher Throne makes a good musical backdrop. Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-88932855593434589332014-04-17T08:30:00.000+01:002014-04-17T14:46:05.171+01:00Awesomeness: Word Alive 2014

It was 1am on a Friday morning in the Spring of 2002 when I sat down with a group of Reading University students to watch Paul Thomas Anderson's film Magnolia. Our host that night is now a tutor for the OCCA and I remain thankful that he gave us the experience of this unsettling and outstanding film.... and for the 4.30am ride home through the cold of the night on the back of his scooter.

I've been on the UCCF team for 13 years now and its nights like that that capture what UCCF is about for me. Gospel-loving people, engaging constructively with people about the ideas and imagination of this world, together. And Word Alive is a part of that family - with all the grown-up graduates, their kids and many others around too for a week around Easter.

Last week was my first time at Word Alive since 2008.
I wish my family had been there with me.
I wish *all* the students I work with had been there.
I wish my church Community Group had been there.

We experienced:

The Don Carson on Jeremiah.

Flapjack and coffee with students discussing the big issues.

The excellent Brad Green on the Christian Mind and recommending Francis Schaeffer.

Gospel-centred worship led by Lewis Green, Kat Buckley and Stuart Townend.

A beach BBQ with Bristol CU.

The refreshing Krish Kandiah on Social Media.

Catching up with old friends and hearing about the kids programme that makes this event unmissable for them.

Making new friends.

Tracking down the man who taught me how to read the Bible - 13 years ago at UCCF's Biblical Evangelism Conference - to thank him.

A Hog Roast.

A full evening session from Bill Edgar on the roots of Jazz! (even better in week 2 I'm told with Ruth Naomi Floyd singing live).

Quality applied gospel preaching on Luke.

Plus the tracks I couldn't get to by Caroline Cox on Justice, Kathleen Nielson on Wisdom Literature, Mike Ovey on Humanity & Human Rights, church planter Richard Coekin doing the Word Alive staple of a Chronological Bible Overview, Becky Pippert (Week 2), Krish Kandiah on Adoption....and many more.

 And then there was Ted Turnau.

I was at Word Alive on team and I got to pick which week I attended.
Confession: Ted was why I picked Week 1.

Four 90min sessions on God and Culture with uber-geek academic Ted Turnau leading us towards a high quality alternative to the superficial saccharine shouty work that tends to pass for "Christian" art and culture. I don't think I'll be writing the novels or making the films, but I'd like to help make space for those who can, and to help the rest of us love art more as a vital part of life in this world.

Ted Turnau's Five Steps for Interpreting Popular Culture

What's the story (or quasi-story)?

Where am I (the world of the work)?

What's true here?

What's false here (and how to subvert it)?

How does the gospel apply?

I'd read Ted's book Popologetics before, and it was great to finally meet him (I dared to cross the line from Twitter-follower to personal acquaintance...) and to hear him live on a subject that he's clearly passionate about. He was a great example of someone enjoying their subject which is awesome in itself. He has an infectious enthusiasm.

We explored how to read a films and music. We worked examples from Magnolia (!!) and Avengers and music from Audrey Assad.

We considered the vital importance of the imagination in how we see the world.

"We experience this world as our world through our imagination...for the imagination, the cross makes us sensitive to the wreckage of our lives, resurrection sees hope... "
Plus we worked through examples from Polish film maker Kieslowski.

As an aside I loved Ted's family rules:

1. Salvation is by grace alone... but dessert is earned.
2. No spoilers.
Word Alive is a gospel-centred Bible 'holiday' for all ages. Around the site were people from all kinds of different church backgrounds, being given opportunities to explore the implications of the gospel for all parts of life, experiencing the life-changing nature of life in God, and being prepared to express his goodness in local churches, in the work place, at University, at home, or wherever else they find themselves.

There was a rich diversity to the programme, and quality of teaching that was sky high.... drawing on the best of so many 'tribes' and 'streams' through a common commitment to the good news of Jesus.Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-71264432780447754622014-04-14T21:00:00.000+01:002014-05-06T10:33:12.583+01:00The knock at the door: a real life parable on the challenges of communication

Photo by Jackie

I opened the door.

"Hello Mr Dish."
I assume salesperson, and in the middle of dinner quip back, with a smile:

"Not a great start, thats not my name..."
"Really?" comes the reply before a check of the clipboard and a second attempt. (Later my wife will gain a new surname too...)

I'm handed a flyer, and it turns out this is our long serving local Councillor.
"Do you vote?" (Only about a third of the neighbourhood do...)
"Yes."
Checks clipboard.

"Oh, yes I see you do." (I confess I'm not really warming to her at this point...)
She reminds me for a second time that she's been representing us for a long time.

"Will I have your vote?"
"To be honest, it'll depend on policies..."
"I'm sure you've read my six monthly newsletter..." (I don't recall...)

"I'd love to see what you can do about the speeding on our road."
"Well, if you will live on a main road. .." begins a long and fairly condescending answer about traffic volume and how she's working on that by trying to bring in an evening cafe culture in town. She begins to walk off...
"I know there will be lots of traffic, but I asked about the speeding... We lost an elderly neighbour to a speeding motorist ..."

(For most of this conversation my two year old is stood by me... that I am a concerned parent is visible.)

"Oh, yes, I knew her well, she was a loyal voter of mine... "
"I'm concerned for my kids.. "
"I've been your Councillor for a long time, not even worth getting into that issue... "
She begins to walk off again..
"A few speed limit signs on lamp posts would help..."

I'm mostly bemused.

This conversation happened because she wanted my vote... and was a bit of a car crash.

We all have bad days. I could've been a touch less antagonistic in my opening reply... though only one of us entered the conversation with any preparation. I was just heading out to the shop.

This long serving public servant of our city and neighbourhood may yet get my vote.

As I chew over the experience I'm reminded that its easy to get communication wrong. I get it wrong.

# Knowledge creates opportunities. She had my name and knew that I vote but failed to wield that constructively. She also missed the detail of me being a parent. I was an open book waiting to be read. A meeting between a voter and a politician is a match made in heaven, but anything the politician does that is confrontational, dismissive or alienating makes the whole thing pointless. I can easily miss the mark too - I don't have to deny my cause but if I don't take you with me, we're not going anywhere.
# Posture makes a huge difference. She presumed that her place in the establishment and a bi-annual newsletter meant her unexpected knock on my door secures my buy-in to her cause. When the posture is "I'm important" then I'm not drawn to someone. When it's "How can I serve you?" everything changes.
# Listening is rule number 1. She was more interested in promoting her issues than listening to my questions and concerns for the neighbourhood. Even if I'm not sure you can fight my cause, if you care enough to listen you probably win me.

Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-36963996083501317302014-04-07T15:00:00.000+01:002014-04-11T09:39:33.537+01:00Top 5 tips for your Weekly CU email

Image Cesar Garza. Creative Commons

I've been receiving weekly emails from Christian Unions for most of the last 17 years since I signed up for one as a fresher. I've been working with CUs pretty much ever since.

Here's my top 5 tips on using this medium well which I'd suggest as part of a wider communication strategy. For some strategy is a dirty word but being organised and well ordered is a deeply spiritual thing, and sponteneity is often used as an excuse for disorder and laziness.

Longest and most important point first.
Please add your tips and thoughts in the comments.

1. Pretty much anyone can sign up for the CU email.
That means this is not an "in house" commmunication but a public communication. Assume you have a mixed readership.

Don't talk about "non-Christians" (lets ban the term please!), beware of stuff that would be weird if your friends who don't know Jesus read it - because they (or someone elses friends) probably are reading it. You wouldn't talk about someone in their presence as if they weren't there so don't do it in an email. The CU exists for "every student" so write like you're writing to every student. This is a skill that takes a lot of practice but needs working on.

When you do this you start to realise that a whole lot of words and event themes and tones of voice that get used among Christians are unintentionally offensive and counter-productive and need changing too.

And, even if your email was "in house", maintaining a bilingual culture is self-defeating. Let's develop one language that we can use every where in the University. A high level of emotional intelligence is needed to do communication well, and that's increasingly true the further the medium is away from being face-to-face. Most people wouldn't be deliberately rude face-to-face so don't be carelessly and thoughtlessly rude in an email.

2. People misinterpret emails.
Email is a really bad form for anything complex or requiring nuance. Intention can be misread very easily. Clarity is vital. There are things that shouldn't go in the email.

3. People can publish your emails.
It was already a public communication but it can be copied out of context. Think about what you write! There are things that really are too sensitive to go in an email. If you wouldn't want it to appear in the Students Union paper or a National Newspaper or the Huffpost then don't put it in your email.

4. People don't read (long) emails.
Keep it punchy. Brevity is vital. The subject line is important. The opening paragraph is vital and should contain the top thing you want to share. Not everything needs to go in the email. Less is more.

5. People use other channels too.
Good emails are a start, but you need a Communications Strategy. The CU exists to be a community who communicate so this is really important. Think Twitter. Think Facebook. Apply the above lessons appropriately to all your media communications. Think about the interesting articles that CU members can write on all kinds of subjects for the SU paper. Think about your flyers (minimal content, maximum clarity -for instant impact), posters, hoodies (no dates and diaries on clothing and no Bible verses please...)

One other thing... Communication with local churches, with alumni and others also needs some thought. Three things can improve communication with local churches - and they're largely dependent on your logistics and administration strategy being excellent. Clarity, generosity and long-term planning. Do these things well and everything else will run better. Do it badly and you're running up hill all year.

Over to you... Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-62940276274762110852014-04-04T12:07:00.000+01:002014-04-04T21:58:22.877+01:00Misread

With thanks to James and Dan, a meditation on Luke 10...

Standing tall, standing proud. Ready to impress, ready to win.
To ask the killer question. In the Emporer's New Clothes.
He's misread himself and the one standing there.

Blind to the obvious. The king of his castle.
Is lying in the gutter. Beaten up and dying.
He's misread himself and the one standing there.

Now his chosen victim is coming. The roles reversed.
The most unlikely of friends, for the most unlikely of men.
He's misread himself and the one standing there.

The true good Samaritan. The one he wanted to crush.
Has come to bind his wounds. Has come to lift him up.
He's misread himself and the one standing there.

Blind to my blindspots. Sure of myself.
Wise in my own eyes. While everyone sees the fool.
I misread myself and the one standing there.

"I'm giving you my dreams." With so little idea of my loves.
Things I never knew mattered. Until they're taken away.
I misread myself and the one standing there.

Yet he came to befriend me. He came to bring me home.
Welcomed into his family. All of him, none of me.
When the sun's light failed, finally I could see.

Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-47127487756271971002014-03-30T07:30:00.000+01:002014-04-02T10:03:30.349+01:00Find me in the city

In the beginning, the creator paints in the broadest of brushstrokes.
The sky and the land, the land and the sea.
Cutting through the formlessless to give it form.
With the technology of language 'let there be light'.
The creator creates sub-creators who live in each of these.
Filling up what was empty with the possibility of fulness.
The birds of the sky, fish in the sea.
Animals and Homo Faber on the land.
To each he says - multiply and be fruitful.
First the Creator, then the sub-creators.
Make more of you like you.It is good but not finished.
Good but incomplete.
And to humanity last of all he says - have dominion.
It is very good but not finished.
Very good but incomplete.
Add the detail.
Wield language and name animals.
Duckbilled platypus, a pig and a cow.
Take up tools and work the land.
Sub-create form and fulness, make a garden for praise.
A fracture, a scar, a cut in what's good.
Now, cultivate the wilderness of the land into habitats for life.
Garments to clothe you.
Farm and hunt.
Make fields and roads, irrigation systems.
Cities.
Bridges, storehouses and distribution centres.
Make music.
A boat.
Learn and discover, imagine and innovate.
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Explore the ends of the earth and all its landscapes and colours.
Spread out and bring order to chaos.
Pitch tents and built altars and bury your dead.
Bake bread.
Entertain angels.
In this place I will meet you, in the mud and the dust.
Learn to paint and have houses with doors.
Paint blood on your doorposts.
Construct what you see according to plan.
Write these things down.
Build houses and gardens, marry and have children
Work for the good of those around you.
The urban legend of a wall visible from space.

Then the murmur of global communications.
Take the road to your family home.
The original language embodied.
Raised in the home of a skilled worker.
He speaks.
And walking towards the city.
Executed by an engineers woodwork.
Go to him there.
Outside the city.
Use the technology of roads.
Shared language spreads his goodness fast.
Go with him there.
Councils and creeds.
Libraries and Abbeys.
The Printing Press.
Empires on which the sun never sets.
Guillotines.
Creativity in the art studio and creativity in the lab.
Develop tools to communicate and tools to understand.
Sail for the missionfield, out there.
Or build knowing those feet will walk here too.
Schools and sewers.
Fight against the frustration and the decay and the futility.
Parlimentarians and Toilet cleaners.
Bin men and Dentists.I believe I can fly.
Physicists, authors and customer service officers.
I have a dream.
One small step. One giant leap.Geeks in garages. IKEA. Google. iPhone.
Artisan coffee.
Sub-create.
Write the next line.
See God's image in people.
The God who validates work.
Knowing physicality and order.
Fulness and form.
The first technologist leads the way.
From a garden in the wilderness.
To the end, in a Temple, a garden that's a city.
No disembodied future.
A renewed physical world.
With God.
With God who says:
Find me less in uncultivated wilderness.
Find me more in your work.
Find me where it's busy.
Find me where you are.
Find me in the city.Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-45980168431535034072014-03-28T17:25:00.000Z2014-03-29T17:40:22.567ZLess policy; more gospel theologyPeople who follow Jesus differ. Maintaining unity isn't easy. How do you do it? We need something better than requiring conformity.

In Romans 14, Paul identifies one cause of difference as being due to the strength/weakness of faith. He anticipates in Rome's church that people will look at the cleanness of food and the specialness of certain days differently. All food is clean and all days are holy for someone who follows Jesus, but some have weaker faith and don't embrace that freedom.

Principle 1. Welcome as God welcomed you (neither the weak or the strong in faith should judge the conservatism or liberty of the other).
Paul addresses how they welcome one another - 14:1-3. Knowing God's welcome of someone else (and yourself) defines your welcome of others. A strong faith appreciates God's welcome deeply, and is surely exponentially welcoming.

Principle 2. God cares about the heart more than its actions (tick box pastoral care isn't the gospel way).

We can want to keep everyone in line - but people aren't meant to live for people. We live for Jesus. And you need to get what you do right with him... which can look deeply contradictory as one person's read on what will honour Jesus isn't quite the same as another person. The question is - what can I do with thanksgiving, what can I do worshipfully... for one they eat, another doesn't... one keeps a day special, another doesn't... and so on. Messy! The heart matters more than the outward action.

Some things are objectively right and others wrong. And Paul stands very confident for himself....

Yet, in the same breath, Paul takes the conscience very seriously. He who says he is 100% sure that foods are clean (Jesus said so!) values personal thinking and conscience very strongly. If your faith is "weak" so that you can't bring yourself to fully live in the freedom you have in Christ, that's not something to take lightly. It's really serious:

Which stands as a strong warning to take care of our conscience. He says in the previous chapter that we should be submissive to authorities "for the sake of conscience" - because if we tolerate a rebelliousness towards government in our conscience it'll multiply a sense of rebelliousness in other decisions we face.

Principle 3. Certainty doesn't make you dogmatic, it makes you flexible (gospel-depths mean you're less shockable, less worries about other people, more self-forgetful).

Paul has deep convictions about what he believes. He is convinced. Certainty doesn't make for dogmatic approaches... Paul sees that certainty leads to flexibility. And the stronger the certainty the more flexible we should be - especially on things that aren't 'gospel issues'.

 e.g. The Kingdom is not a matter of food and drink... so don't fall out over food and drink. Don't make something secondary into a headline... don't divide over something that you can viably flex about. Ask what's good for the gospel more than what do I want. Ask what really matters and what really shouldn't.

The conscience can be re-calibrated and corrected... and it can be seared. We should take seriously what we think to be good and bad so that we don't harm ourselves... and also so we don't harm others. Those in Christ aren't to seek to destroy the work of God in others by riding roughshod over the conscience of others in Christ.

In matters of unity then....

Let's avoid making issues of things that aren't gospel/kingdom issues. There are hills to die on and there are hills not to die on. There are issues that should define us and issues that surely shouldn't.

Let's embrace the ambiguity and messiness of accomodating one anothers consciences. That'll draw some flak, it'll look messy and inconsistent, but guarding the gospel means guarding people's consciences.

Let's give room for faith to grow rather than destroying one another in a quest for neatness and people-pleasing.Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-39525321000257361302014-03-27T11:31:00.001Z2014-03-27T11:41:04.402ZNo God in the Old Testament unlike Jesus

Luke is a meticulous historian, gathering up eyewitness evidence about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But he's also a stellar theologian, interpreting the eyewitness testimony he records in light of the writings of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms to show the necessity of the death, resurrection and subsequent global proclamation about the Christ.

Luke says: this Jesus who was eyewitnessed is that Christ of the Scriptures.

Luke reports that Jesus' coming will bring forgiveness of sins like the sun rising for a new day (Luke 1). As Jesus dies Luke tells that the sun's light failed. Yet at dawn on the third day the Son comes, telling his witnesses that forgiveness is to be heralded to all people groups. No imperialistic imposition, but warm beams of divine love shining out from the risen Son.

Mike Reeves has said "there is no God in heaven who is unlike Jesus" and Luke would agree wholeheartedly. The Son reveals his Father whom only he knows.

But, Luke can go further and say that there is no God in the Old Testament who is unlike Jesus. There are gods who are most unlike him, vicious, lonely, manipulative idols whom Israel and the surrounding nations foolishly chase, but the LORD, the God of Israel is Jesus-shaped.

For us that raises questions because we live in days where we are prone to read a violent god off the pages of the Old Testament. There is wrath no doubt. There is divine jealousy. And exile and death. Pointing to the Christ's suffering...

Luke says: the message is clear - God's story with Israel sets the stage, provides the grammar, and all points to Jesus of Nazareth being the long expected Christ, the Son of God. There is much to wrestle with, but much is clear too: The Christ will suffer and rise, and repentance and forgiveness will be proclaimed to all peoples.

Could it be that to get an insight into Jesus' Emmaus Road bible study is to read Luke's gospel? Luke tells of the things that have been fulfilled (accomplished - Luke 1:1), things that the Old Testament had told must happened, the very theme of Jesus' third day teaching. Things to make your heart burn warmly within you, especially when taken with Bread. Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-65937596869916792022014-03-25T08:00:00.000Z2014-03-25T08:00:00.785ZJesus enjoyed wine. Jesus had blisters.I love this short video from Tanya Marlow

On Sunday I was reflecting on the resurrection appearance of Jesus with his friends in Jerusalem. I appears and they are doubting and troubled, though they become joyful and marvel. They assume he's a spirit but Jesus' kind of spirituality isn't 'spiritual' -- it's embodied, physical. Unlike Plato, unlike Mani, unlike so many of today's secular religion that struggle with bodies and food and sex and death, the follower of Jesus finds one who validates and values all of these things. And amazingly, there is now a physical human body in the life of the Triune God... and one day, he'll be back here on this planet, walking with his followers... and the frustration will be over, the blisters will heal and the wine will be better than ever.Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-52372762000180648022014-03-24T08:00:00.000Z2014-03-24T08:56:54.009ZCan we talk about talking about Jesus without sounding sinister?

On Sunday I spoke for our church on Evangelism. Usually talks on evangelism aren't presented in evangelistic contexts, but our church is exactly that. We operate on the assumption that we're not just gathering followers of Jesus but all kinds of different people.

For me it felt like the latest in a long line of real-life exercises contextualisation, trying to embody the good news of Jesus so it can be heard by our city. It was hard work but I really do think its possible to talk about pretty much anything to do with the good news of Jesus with anyone - you just need to think hard about your tone and your language and your heart.

The follower of Jesus doesn't exist in a bubble away from everyone else in this world. But if we live like we have our own sub-culture we'll start to use language (which reflects attitudes) that is at best rude, and at worst at odds with the very good news we believe.

Terms like "Non-Christian" are major red-flags, for example. Conceptually I agree that the divide exists but to label 95%+ of the population with a term they'd never use to describe themselves is really strange and counter-productive. I want everyone to have the opportunity to explore the claims of Christ and to be assured that there's no hype or pressure or forcefulness going on.

Evangelism is a dirty word for many. Evangelism sounds sinister. Something unpleasant you "do" to people. I decided to take that head on attempting to take apart some of the bad stuff and suggest other ways of seeing things. There really is good news to be considered and I want to do whatever I can to enable others to consider Jesus for themselves and to know that telling that to others is not at all weird. In the end, evangelism only means telling others good news. And Jesus left people as witnesses, with personal experience and written testimony. Plenty that can be considered.

I wanted those who were exploring with us to have an opportunity to explore further, in some cases in the hope that they might begin to follow Jesus, and for others to see that they might be involved in telling others what they've seen.You can hear/read how I went about this here. Far from perfect, but hopefully some small steps in the right sort of direction. I took Luke 24:36-53 as my text, with these headings:

1. Witnesses of Physical Evidence

2. Witnesses of Written Evidence

3. Witnesses with Heavenly Power

MP3: Hearing God Speak through Telling Others.

PDF script: Hearing God Speak through Telling Others. (I speak without notes but it is scripted in the preparation)
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-89593842557823166662014-03-22T13:26:00.001Z2014-03-22T13:26:59.072ZVideo: Baroness Cox speaking at Bristol CUDave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-50111579880616898042014-03-17T16:43:00.001Z2014-03-17T16:43:28.714ZHe was known to them in the breaking of the bread

On Sunday we considered Hearing God Speak through Communion. I was personally refreshed to consider this again and then to take and receive the bread and wine - physical proclamation of the good news of Jesus. We saw, from Luke 24:35 - "how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread."

Leithart puts it this way in a sermon on Luke 24:

"But Word by itself is not enough. Even after Jesus has explained everything about Himself in the Scriptures, the two disciples still don't recognize Him. That occurs only when He breaks bread with them It is the same for the church throughout the ages: The Word without the Bread is merely intellectual, detached from the things of real life; the Bread without the Word turns into a magic act. When the Scriptures are taught and the Bread is broken, then Jesus can be known."
Elsewhere he also notes from the structure of Luke 24:

"the point of the structure is to highlight the mission that the disciples are being given. Through an encounter with the Risen Jesus in Word and Meal, the two disciples go back to the base of operations in Jerusalem and are transformed into witnesses."
Spare half an hour to hear Stu's sermon here:
Hearing God Speak through Communion.
Dave Bishhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875356.post-52301083136198293782014-03-10T12:43:00.002Z2014-03-10T12:43:48.173ZThe Resurrection - Unbelieveable? (Michael Green)Here's New Testament scholar Michael Green speaking to students at Bristol University on the resurrection of Jesus.
Dave Bishhttps://email@example.com


text:
Tue, Mar 19, 02 at 8:11
|Trying to keep my sodium down, any toppings other than salt? Or low salt recipe ok too. Thanks.
Follow-Up Postings:
|Sprinkle some Cumin over the popcorn. Not bad!
|Parmesean cheese :)
- Posted by montereymom (email@example.com) on Tue, Apr 23, 02 at 1:21
|Spray with "Can't believe its not butter" spray, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, or garlic powder and parmesan cheese, or chili powder or spanish seasoning for the spicier variety, I make it taste like kettle corn by sprinkling with sugar, the spray gives a nice taste and I don't think adds too much salt. The spray makes what ever powder your use stick to the popcorn...good luck.
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Special Diet Recipes Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Message from the Director
Work Order or Service Request
Campus Map
WKU Building Coordinator
DFM Executive Reviews
2012 DFM Executive Review
2013 DFM Executive Review
FY 2013/2014 DFM Executive Review
DFM Monthly Reports
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view,
download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Note: documents in Excel format (XLS) require Microsoft Viewer,
download excel.
Note: documents in Word format (DOC) require Microsoft Viewer,
download word.
Note: documents in Powerpoint format (PPT) require Microsoft Viewer,
download powerpoint.
Note: documents in Quicktime Movie format [MOV] require Apple Quicktime,
download quicktime.


text:
Gaiam TV Continues The "Russell Brand Revolution" On Mind Shift Talk Show
BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of people are viewing the Gaiam TV show Mind Shift, a new kind of talk show for a new era. This provocative original program produced in New York City is exclusively available to subscribers of Gaiam TV. Outspoken New Age philosopher and activist Daniel Pinchbeck, who frequently writes about the deepest issues impacting our world today for publications including Esquire, The New York Times Magazine and Rolling Stone among others, is the host of Mind Shift.
Pinchbeck interviews intellectual heavyweights and cultural superstars such as Russell Brand, American playwright and creator of The Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler, and Howard Bloom, an American author and scientific thinker who served as a publicist for musical artists including Prince and Billy Joel. Together, Pinchbeck and his guests explore New Age topics like the future of civilization, technology, spirituality and an emerging new paradigm for humanity.
In the show Brand tells viewers, "We must transform and become enlightened so we can access the next realm of consciousness for transformation."
Gaiam TV has produced a 6-minute trailer for free viewing on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rzslKd3IA. Mind Shift viewers can also view the entire episode for free here.
Select the service that is right for you!COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUSTry it NOW
Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
- Weekly roundups
TheStreet Quant RatingsTry it NOW
Only $49.95/yr
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
- Upgrade/downgrade alerts
Stocks Under $10Try it NOW
David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
- Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock AdvisorTry it NOW
Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
- Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Real Money ProTry it NOW
All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.
Product Features:
- Real Money + Doug Kass Plus 15 more Wall Street Pros
- Intraday commentary & news
- Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options ProfitsTry it NOW
Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- 100+ monthly options trading ideas
- Actionable options commentary & news
- Real-time trading community
- Options TV


text:
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see 35 projects made from this pattern and much more? join Ravelry now What am I missing?
© Laura Bryant
© Laura Bryant
Lush Cowl
This pattern is available for free.
A generous cowl with subtle shaping offers several styling options.
For more information, see: http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/95267.aspx


text:
We had to laugh this morning. I keep getting on the scale dreading and anticipating 120 - today I dropped 1/2 pound after eating 2600 calories yesterday! I even ended the day with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter trying to put my calorie deficit into negative territory. I went so far as to count the amount of time walking my sisters dog, even though that is a very slow walk indeed.
And I lost weight! That is just the funniest thing for me! But I don't want to go crazy with putting back 5 lbs. I want it to be more natural. So again, one day at a time.
**back to needing to regain 5 lbs today
Today's blog is very difficult for me. I was turned away at the Blood Bank because my weight is too low for my platelet count; and my platelet count was much lower than ever before. A decent enough level, but not for my weight and not for my history. The pheresis machine would not allow me to be hooked up.
I had tried (successfully) to lower the amount of cholesterol consumed - there was no change whatsoever on my cholesterol count - and all it accomplished was to lower my platelet count because of eating less meat products. The protein and fiber in black-eye peas is extraordinary but I guess it will not make platelets. Some of us really do need to eat meat products.
I do not have a cholesterol problem and never have. My walking is a natural way to lower my cholesterol. My platelet donation is a natural form of blood thinner.
I was advised to gain back 5 lbs.
After much soul-searching while driving home I told Ray of my thoughts. He loves the new me. Before he could say anything I acknowledged that it was a cop-out on my part because he loved the old me too, even at 210 lbs. He said he loves me at any weight and thinks 125 would be terrific.
I told him I really like wearing size 4 jeans. But I admitted that is only vanity. I want to be healthy and I had decided that if I was ever turned away from the Blood Bank it would mean my weight was too low for my body. Today that happened.
I made a Pro-Con list in my head and all the reasons to stay where I am have nothing to do with health. Yes I do feel great but I worry about occasional dizziness too. I have plenty of energy but I feel a sugar drain sometimes and need a mint. I am a borderline case of blood sugar; I can go either way, high or low. This is because my father has a low blood sugar and my mother had high blood sugar. The doctor said this combination often shows up in the offspring as borderline.
It was not an easy decision, but it was an educated decision to add a couple of pounds to my weight and see where I am in 2 lbs and hopefully in 2 weeks.
This gives new meaning to One day at a time, One pound at a time.
**edit 9/12- I have decided to go for the entire 5 lbs as recommended!
123 is a beautiful number! I have changed my weight ticker to reflect 123 but no, I didn't gain 5 lbs overnight. Today I am 119.1 again. Tomorrow? We shall see! But this way I am now eating to maintain 123 lbs and my Nutrition Tracker is reflecting this as I gain.
My goal is to have a Zero Deficit or even a Negative Deficit for a slow gain back up to 123!
What kind of emotional atmosphere are you creating?
Positive people are almost always natural leaders and motivators. People gravitate towards them, just as they avoid individuals who continually mope or complain. Take a look at your own attitude. Is it one that others would want to emulate in their own lives? Instead of jumping to throw in a negative comment, try to think of something good to say instead. By no means hold in your feelings, but remember that no one likes to be surrounded by constant pessimism. Attitudes are contagious so fill your environment with happiness, enthusiasm, and optimism!
This is the same premise as smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone. But sadly that isn't the whole truth. A bad attitude is contagious. A person having a lousy day can turn around totally happy people just with negativity. I try to remember to smile.
I think it was in Reader's Digest, "if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all." Another good one to live by. Sometimes I have to look really deep but generally something positive can be found to comment on in most situations. If not, offer to cry with the other person rather than chance making things worse. Not always doable, but well worth the trying.
I do try to create a happy atmosphere.
"Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?" - Anonymous quote from Healthy Reflections.
In the last 2 weeks, 3 people have stopped me and asked me if I have cut my hair and then telling me they like it. I said, "thank you."
But no, I have had short hair for about 30 years now, lol, although I did start coloring it again.
I just thought it funny that people know something is different about me but can't quite put their finger on it.
**edit: it is kind of funny though. I wonder if people ever figure it out later on?
From today's Healthy Reflections:
Winning victory against yourself
No one likes to lose. The thrill of victory after competition is hard to match. But the wins that leave the most significant, long-term impressions are the ones where you win against yourself. Beating a friend in a game of hoops is much less meaningful than setting a personal best time while running. We live in a highly competitive world, and everything around us screams that we've got to be number one in order to feel successful. Truly though, the best measuring sticks are your past and your potential--not against someone else's standards. Raise the bar for yourself!
"The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves.- Anonymous"
Every time my walking partner and I go a bit further we both feel exhilarated. It still amazes me that we can do a 9 mile walk at 3mph.
Cathy 'found' a pedometer in a purse my sister was getting rid of and since then she is really racking up the steps. It felt great the first time I could "WooHoo" her for having more steps than me. (My sister swears she looked through all the purses but never found her pedometer - she told Cathy to keep it and we bought a new one for Nancy.)
It just isn't competition to either of us, it is more like cooperation - trying to help each other to reach new achievements.
SparkPeople is like this; SP wants us to be the best that we can be.
Hugs y'all,


text:
Nikon D4s Video Review
We test the performance of the Nikon D4s. Check out all the specs and see how it performs.
G-Technology unveiled two impressive raid options with their new STUDIO lineup. Get the details straight from the show floor at NAB.
Zacuto showed off two new EVF's with impressive features. Check them out from the show floor at NAB.
This beast of a drone from DJI turned heads at NAB. Hear about all the features from the show floor.
© 2014 Videomaker, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
reddit's stories are created by its users
This sponsored link is an advertisement generated with our self-serve advertisement tool.
Use of this tool is open to all members of reddit.com, and for as little as $5.00 you can advertise in this area. Get started ›
This area shows new and upcoming links. Vote on links here to help them become popular, and click the forwards and backwards buttons to view more.
Enter a keyword or topic to discover new subreddits around your interests. Be specific!
You can access this tool at any time on the /subreddits/ page.
Iron Heel -- Sokushinbutsu [Sludge/Doom-Metal] (2013)Heavy (music.iron-heel.com)
submitted by Sluisifer to /r/listentothis
Iron Heel - Book of Grief (music.iron-heel.com)
submitted by leadhead9 to /r/stonerrock


text:
Cheap and exactly what I needed to preserve my audio chord on my headphones. Input and output work great. Quality is good, but the plastics are a little cheap. Meaning: not too flexible. No problem here, though. Is a great instrument to prevent breaking of the original head-phone audio jack. Like a buffer ... Read more
Envío correcto y en un tiempo bastante prudente, unas 2 a 3 semanas. El cable funciona a la perfección, que es lo que se espera de el. Consigues unos centímetros más de longitud para conectar unos auriculares. Ninguno, longitud es la esperada No me funciona con unos auriculares del ... Read more
It does what it is supposed to do. It is just a little cable extension for your headphones, very useful in case you have headphones with a really bulky plug, or a case with a very narrow cutout. The build quality is OK. Cable is a little flimsy, but nothing to worry about I bought it in order to be able ... Read more
Prolongs headphone life Cheap to replace Not all that strong, but just as strong as your average cord, if not stronger. Like an additional life for your headphones. I'm always breaking my earbuds, but with this, this will break instead of my headphones. I can just put on another one. It's not that strong,... Read more
If you have a bumper or case on your phone/pad your favorite headphones might not fit in the headphone jack. This short extender is iPhone headset sized so it fits perfectly in a cased iProduct. Can have some bad contact sometimes. I guess the material it's made of is not 100% oxidation free. Just give ... Read more
Light weight and fits all audio devices. The lenght is adequate and the material looks to be durable and stable. The silver coat is yet to wear off and I'm inclined to believe that the quality is just fine. There is some noise within the jack. A small disturbance sometimes when you hook into any audio ... Read more
A small adaptor that enables you to use any 3.5mm minijack headphones with the first generation iPhone. If you still use that phone, do yourself and ears a favor and buy this adaptor! The quality of the cable seems good. Nothing at all, works like a charm! Even though it is "just" a short minijack ... Read more
- let`s you use standard 3,5mm headphones on your iPhone 2G - No more crappy apple headphones - improves sound quality if you use high quality headphones (Dealextreme has a nice selection) - gives you about 10cm more cable length -build quality isn`t too great, lasted only a few months, but for less ... Read more
with this cable you can use any headphones you want, there are no quality loses, no distorsions,nothing. it has a perfect size, not too long, not too short, it has a golden head for improved conductivity, it has a good build so it seems like it won't brake while using it normally great buy if you want ... Read more
5 stars all around. Works great, just as if my head phones were plugged directly into the iPhone. I was really surprised that it sounded so clear. Some people talk about the cable being kind of skimpy, but this adapter cable is fatter than my headphones cable. My headphones have a better chance of breaking ... Read more


text:
- Home
- Offices
- Advisement and Transition
- Non-Traditional Student Support
- Non-Traditional Students' Organization (NTSO)
Non-Traditional Students' Organization (NTSO)
All students are welcome, but our goal is to meet the unique needs of students over 24, and those with dependent children.
The Non-Traditional Students Organization is funded through the Student Government Association. NTSO invites non-trads to be members and officers to lead the organization. NTSO sponsors open houses, special events for students and their families, and informational programs on topics of interest.
NTSO Officers 2014-2015
Ashlee Prewitt, President
Michael Adams, Vice President
Angela Gustafson, Treasurer
Jessica Garrow, Secretary
Sante Feaster, SGA Representative
NTSO Meetings
Don't try to juggle it alone.
Join us in the Non-Traditional Students Lounge, Cornish Hall, Room 1221.
Next meeting: Spring Semester
Come for information, support, and fun!
Meetings are held when at times when all of the officers can attend. Every attempt is made to hold meetings at different times of day and days of the week, if possible.
Contact NTSO at firstname.lastname@example.com
All events occur in the Non-Traditional Student Lounge,Cornish Hall, Room 1221, unless otherwise noted.
Check out events for non-traditional students!
Past events sponsored by the NTSO
- Spring Siesta for Non-Trads Luncheon
- Macy's "Believe" Program/Fundraiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation
- Non-Traditional Students Week 2013 (See flyer.)
- End-of-the-Year Picnic at Suggett Park in Cortland
- Non-Trads on Ice!
- Spring into Fun Family Day
- Social Gathering at Garcia's Restaurant in Cortland
- Family Recreation Day
- Family Bowling Event at Cort-Lanes
- Open House during Non-Trad Week
- Coffee and treats during final exam week
- Relay for Life fundraising team - sponsoring the Locks of Love, haircuts and manicures
- "You Know You're a Non-Trad When..." statement contest.
- Informal Chat Sessions on "Living Up to Your Own Expectations" and "Juggling Your Relationships" w/Steve Smith, Senior Counselor, SUNY Cortland Counseling Center
- Non-Trad T-Shirt Day
- Bottle and Can Drive with donations benefiting the American Red Cross of Cortland County
- Food drive to benefit Loaves and Fishes of Cortland
Let us know what your needs are, and we will plan events that meet your interests. Information sessions facilitated by faculty and staff about topics of interest to current non-traditional students can be offered.
For general questions, please contact the Advisement and Transition Office.
Non-Traditional Students Organization Constitution
NTSO Advisor
The NTSO Advisor and Coordinator for Non-Traditional Student Support, Cheryl Hines can be contacted through the Advisement and Transition Office.
"Non-traditional students enhance the campus culture tremendously because of the life experience they bring to the campus"
-Former SUNY Cortland President Judson H. Taylor


text:
#8337 of 0 points
- 1 Everything
- 1 Review
- 0 Questions
- 0 Photos
- 0 Videos
Castelli Super Nano Gloves
I had originally bought these gloves thinking they would be for my Idaho winter rides. Well, they are good to about 40-degrees. I ended up with the Capo Limited Editions, which are good from 15-degrees to the 30s. However, the Super Nanos are sublime. They proove that a tight-fitting leather glove can be more comfortable than one with googleplex of pads. The fit perfectly, but be sure to buy them one size bigger than your size because the Italians have teeny little hands.
These are the best, most comfortable gloves I have ever had, or tried on.
0 Comments


text:
|Life is doubt, and faith without doubt is nothing but death.
– Miguel de Unamuno
|Life is easier to take than you think; all that is necessary is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable and bear the intolerable.
– Kathleen Norris
|Life is easy greediness adds complexity
– Simm
|Life is eating us up. We shall be fables presently. Keep cool it will be all one a hundred years hence.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
|Life is either a continuous process improvement, or a terminal disease that we will all die from anyways.
– Randy J. Hinrichs
|Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
– Helen Keller
|Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.
– Helen Keller
|Life is either always a tight-rope or a featherbed. Give me a tight-rope.
– Edith Wharton
|Life is endless after death.
– Alex Saturn
|Life is everywhere. The earth is throbbing with it, it's like music. The plants, the creatures, the ones we see, the ones we don't see, it's like one, big, pulsating symphony.
– Andrew Schneider
|Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.
– Oscar Wilde
|Life is filigree work. What is written clearly is not worth much, it's the transparency that counts.
– Louis-Ferdinand Céline
|Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams. You are the center of your universe, and you can make anything happen.
– Ashley Smith
|Life is full of change, and that change eventually leads to whatever in our hearts.
– Dustin Houde
|Life is full of changes; if you don't change, it will change you.
– Vikrant Parsai
|Life is full of doors that don't open when you knock, equally spaced amid those that open when you don't want them to.
– Roger Zelazny
|Life is full of good times, but the ups and downs of life have made it so difficult to understand.
– Vikrant Parsai
|Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon.
– Woody Allen
|Life is full of obstacle illusions.
– Grant Frazier
|Life is full of surprises, good and bad!
– Pauline Musariri
|Life is God's joke on us. It's our mission to figure out the punchline.
– John Guarrine
|Life is God's novel. Let him write it.
– Isaac Bashevis Singer
|Life is going to give you just what you put into it. Put your whole heart in everything you do.
– Vivian Baxter
|Life is good, if you like that sort of thing.
– overheard in Palo Alto...
|Life is hard and it can be made easier only by working hard.
– Vikrant Parsai


text:
Iris Giallo House Apartment Maiori
Official Contact Details - Iris Giallo HousePhone: 0039 089 877779 Fax: 0039 089 877779
Amalfi Coast - Maiori. In centre town, but in very quiet place, far from traffic and noise.
- Price from 60 EUR / Day
- Capacity up to 6 people
- 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom
(click on a photo to view it)
Last updated: 06/24/2009
This is your property ?
Right in the historical centre, at a few steps from the sea, completely renovated, this flat consists of a spacious double bed room, a living room, kitchenette and bathroom with shower. Ideal solution for 4/6 persons
Prices & deals
- Lowest Daily Price:
- Highest Daily Price:
- Lowest Weekly Price:
- Highest Weekly Price:
- Cleaning fee:
- Charging Method:
- Payment Types:
- Cash
- Credit Card
- Cheque
- Travellers cheque
- Paypal
- Wire Transfer
Location & area
A cluster of white houses grouped around a golden cupola, a high tower, terraces of lemons anf the perfume of their flowers....a modern seafront, with mansions, swimming pools, elegant hotels, the long beach with all amenities.....You must not miss Maiori: it marries ancient and modern, art and suntan!
- Address:
- 22 Corso Reginna, 84010, Maiori, Italy
- Accommodation located in:
- city, coastal, leisure area, near cultural interest, near fishing area, near historical interest, near restaurants & bars, near shopping area, near tennis courts, near the beach, near water sports, town, village!
Amenities & services
Right in the historical centre, at a few steps from the sea, completely renovated, this flat consists of a spacious double bed room, a living room, kitchenette and bathroom with shower. Ideal solution for 4/6 persons
# of Units: 1... and each unit includes:
- Bedrooms: 1
- Bathrooms: 1
- Single beds: 1
- Double beds: 1
- Baby cots: 0
- Single sofa beds: 0
- Double sofa beds: 2
- Bath:
- Hair Drier:
- Shower:
- Towels:
- Washing Machine:
- Work Desk:
- Bed Sheets:
- Bikes:
- Cable/Satelite TV:
- Internet Broadband:
- Internet Dial Up:
- Ironing Board:
- Stereo/Radio System:
- Library:
- Telephone:
- DVD Player:
- Fax:
- Butler Service:
- House Chef:
- Local Guides:
- Local Transportation:
- 24h Concierge:
- Tours & Excursions:
- Fridge & Freezer:
- Crockery & Utensils:
- Dish Washer:
- Microwave:
- Oven:
- American Kitchen:
Living room
- Fireplace:
- Sofa Bed:
- Table & Chairs:
- Private Beach:
- Barbecue:
- Sauna:
- Garden:
- Shared Bathroom:
- Spa / Jacuzzi:
- Swimming Pool:
- Lift / Elevator:
- Disabled Facilities:
- Tennis Court:
- Terrace:
- Parking:
- Pets Welcome:
- Safe:
- Sea View:
- Central Heating:
- City View:
- Daily Cleaning:
- Air Conditioning:
- DVD/Music Collection:
- Ensuite Bathroom:
- Balcony:
Review - Iris Giallo House
Iris Giallo House - Contact the owner
Important Notice : Avoiding Fraud
It's rare, but some helpful hints to watch out for with regards to fraud:
- It is important to NEVER wire funds or use/employ other fund transfer mechanisms such as western union: Always use a credit card to protect yourself against fraud. If owners pressure you into providing a deposit or refuse to accept credit cards, there is a high probability that this is a scam.
- If at all suspicious of fraud, ask to see their website, or any other literature they can provide or send to you. Ask them for contact details for guests who have previously stayed on their property insisting on telephone numbers. Be suspicious of emails that originate from free email services (yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc)
- Research the property thoroughly on the internet to see if there is any history or mention of scams associated with the property.


text:
September 8, 2013
Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner (98) celebrates his touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Stories this photo appears in:
Michigan offense makes Irish defense look ordinary
Sunday, September 8th, 2013 7:25 p.m.
Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner did what Denard Robinson and just about every opponent outside of Alabama failed to do last season: make the Notre Dame defense look ordinary.
[ report these comments ]
Comments are welcome, but require a Facebook login. Please be considerate of our rules when posting a comment. We do not allow swearing, name calling, slander or advertisements. We operate under a zero tolerance policy; If a rule is broken once, you will no longer be able to leave a comment. To see a complete list of rules that apply to commenting, see our Terms of Service If you see a user breaking the rules, use the "report these comments" link.


text:
main index
You take the moon and you take the sun,From C.H. Greenblatt, formerly a writer and storyboard artist on both Spongebob Squarepants and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, comes this little crazy series inspired by food and Dr. Seuss.Set in Marzipan City, an odd place full of weird and wonderful creatures, and even weirder and more wonderful foods, the show tells the story of Chowder, a little fat lavender bear-cat-rabbit boy who is the apprentice of Mung Daal, chef and owner of his namesake catering company. Along with Shnitzel, the gigantic rock monster who works as a cleanernote and can only say "Radda" (though everyone still understands him), and Truffles, Daal's fairy wife, they spend many crazy and wacky adventures together in the realm of cooking, while Chowder dreams of one day becoming a chef himself, though his eating habits might prove a problem...The series finale aired August 7, 2010. In it, Chowder holds a single note for twenty years. While he's singing, the characters around him are continuing with their lives without him there, and Chowder must find out how to become a master chef, and how to fix the people's lives which he has so heavily influenced. Everything in the show is resolved in this Grand Finale. Series creator C. H. Greenblatt guest stars as adult Chowder.The series returned through Cartoon Planet in 2012 as a part of Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary. As of March 2013, you can also find it on Netflix. As of June 2, 2014, you can catch reruns on Boomerang.Now with a recap and Shout Out page!
You take everything that seems like fun!
You stir it all up and when you're done,
Radda radda radda radda radda radda!
Chowder provides examples of:
open/close all folders
Tropes A-C
Tropes D-K
Tropes L-P
Tropes R-Z


text:
BeesFree Enters Consulting Agreement With Chief Scientist, Dr. Francesca Del Vecchio
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BeesFree, Inc. (OTC QB: BEES), the worldwide distributor of BeesVita Plus™ and the Beespenser™, announced today that it has entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Francesca del Vecchio, the Company's Chief Scientist. Dr. del Vecchio will continue in her current capacity through October 31, 2015. Dr. del Vecchio is the inventor of both BeesVita Plus™, an innovative composite food supplement for honey bees that works to prevent the effects of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), and the Beespenser™, an automated external honey bee feeding system.
Dr. del Vecchio possesses more than 18 years of professional research experience in a variety of academic, corporate and private research and development centers. She has managed projects in the fields of biology, chemistry, botany and biochemistry. Her specialty is in the development of advanced techniques for the formulation and preparation of biochemical compounds and DNA sequencing, e.g. DNA library construction, ligation in plasmid cloning vectors and analysis of genomic DNA sequencing results. Dr. del Vecchio has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Cambridge University, United Kingdom and a University Degree in Biology from the University of 'La Sapienza' in Rome, Italy.
"We are excited to have someone as talented and knowledgeable as Dr. del Vecchio committed to the company for another three years," stated Mr. David Todhunter, CEO and President of BeesFree, Inc. "Her knowledge of honey bees both from a scientific perspective and as a beekeeper will help keep our products on the cutting edge. We believe that her experience and key industry relationships will continue to present the company with opportunities for market expansion."
"I am very happy to be part of a company so dedicated to the health and welfare of honey bees worldwide," stated Dr. del Vecchio. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of keeping our products at the forefront of technology."About BeesFree, Inc. BeesFree, Inc. (OTC QB: BEES), a company focused on developing innovative solutions for the global beekeeping community, owns a patent pending nutritional food supplement that helps honey bees avoid the effects of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and a patent pending automated honey bee feeding system. Visit www.beesfree.biz to learn more about why the bees are disappearing, and how beekeepers can combat the honey bee decline. Forward-Looking Statements Statements about the future expectations of BeesFree, Inc. and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. BeesFree, Inc. intends that such forward-looking statements shall be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, BeesFree Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from expected results. Contact Investor Relations Contact:TPW Capital, Inc. Thomas Walsh, PresidentTelephone: (201) 424-4573Email: email@example.com SOURCE BeesFree, Inc.
Select the service that is right for you!COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUSTry it NOW
Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
- Weekly roundups
TheStreet Quant RatingsTry it NOW
Only $49.95/yr
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
- Upgrade/downgrade alerts
Stocks Under $10Try it NOW
David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
- Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock AdvisorTry it NOW
Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
- Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Real Money ProTry it NOW
All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.
Product Features:
- Real Money + Doug Kass Plus 15 more Wall Street Pros
- Intraday commentary & news
- Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options ProfitsTry it NOW
Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- 100+ monthly options trading ideas
- Actionable options commentary & news
- Real-time trading community
- Options TV


text:
You must log in to access this feature. Sign in with Twellow or Facebook to get started.
By signing in to Twellow, you indicate your agreement to our terms of service.
Simply connect with Facebook and kiss those password blues away,
or go here to reset your password.
Helping you make the most of your home with Interior Design, Home Makeovers, Home Staging & De-Cluttering #Wirral http://t.co/macbta3Eo3


text:
Spain's financial authorities may take over Caja Espana-Caja Duero, a Spanish lender, if Unicaja, another bank, doesn't merge with it, ABC reported.
New rules requiring Caja Espana-Caja Duero to recognize losses on its real estate holdings have made Unicaja wary about completing a merger the two agreed to in September, the newspaper said, citing people close to Unicaja it didn't identify. Bank of Spain, the nation's central bank and financial watchdog, is demanding to know the status of the planned union, according to the report.
Telephone calls for comment to media relations officials at Caja Espana-Caja Duero and Unicaja went unanswered today. A spokesman for the Bank of Spain, who asked not to be identified by name in line with the agency's policy, declined to comment by phone on the report.
To contact the reporter on this story: Charles Penty in Madrid at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Frank Connelly at email@example.com