text:
Why Convert?
Robert P. Imbelli March 25, 2014 - 11:42am
Rod Dreher shares a letter that Mother Thekla, an Orthodox nun, composed for a possible convert to Orthodoxy. She said in part:
I have not been told why you are about to convert, but I assure you there is no point whatsoever if it is for negative reasons. You will find as much "wrong" (if not more) in Orthodoxy as in the Anglican or Roman Churches.
So – the first point is, are you prepared to face lies, hypocrisy, evil and all the rest, just as much in Orthodoxy as in any other religion or denomination?
Are you expecting a kind of earthly paradise with plenty of incense and the right kind of music?
Do you expect to go straight to heaven if you cross yourself slowly, pompously and in the correct form from the right side?
Have you a cookery book with all the authentic Russian recipes for Easter festivities?
Are you an expert in kissing three times on every possible or improper occasion?
Can you prostrate elegantly without dropping a variety of stationery out of your pockets?
Have you read the Gospels?
Have you faced Christ crucified?
Commenting Guidelines
For me a real stumbling block to faith is that there are 2 churches, Orthodox and Catholic. The various Protestant denominations don't have that effect on me perhaps because they're breakaways from the Roman church and they don't have[all] the sacraments.Or because they're so much part of our culture.A real sign from God would be for me the reunification of the 2 churches. I know even looking for a sign is a temptation against faith that I should not pay any mind to.I have experienced the awesomness of their mass and I love the book" In Search of True Wisdom".Perhaps the fact that Pope Francis explicitly recognizes the fact of the schism as a true scandal, is/should be sign enough for me.
An aside:
I was hoping that on the great feast of the Annunciation of the Lord (Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, Epiphany, Annunciation) some reflection on the feast would have been provided on the dotCommonweal site.
And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us.
John Page,
Matthew Boudway in his post has thoughtfully complied with your request for an explicit reflection on the Annunciation.
But I had hoped that the above letter of Mother Thekla offered some indication of what the Word dwelling among us truly entails.
This reminds me that in his Easter sermon to the newly baptized St. Augustine frequently warns them that they are going to encounter lots of imperfect and even wicked Christians. And in the model catechesis he offered in his work on catechizing, he mentioned that "it is inside the Catholic Church itself that the greatest care is needed, so that no one is tempted and misled by people whom the Church carries along like chaff until the time of winnowing." And he offered an example of what might be said:
In the Church you are going to notice numerous drunkards, misers, cheats, gamblers, adulterers, fornicators, people using sacrilegious amulets, consulting spell-chanters and astrologers or soothsayers using all sorts of wicked arts. You will also notice that the same crowds that fill the churches on Christian feast-days fill the theatres on pagan solemnities, and seeing these things, you will be tempted to imitate them. And why do I say, "You will see," when you already know this: you're not unaware that many called Christians do all the wicked things I have briefly mentioned and that they sometimes may do things even worse." (De catechizandis rudibus, 25, 48)
If St. Augustine and many other devout christians such as Mother Thekla are right that those in the church, in any and all denominations, are as bad as those outside the church, and may actually be, according to St. Augustine's counsel that the "greatest care is needed", even more dangerous as far as "misleading or tempting" others because of being in the church, then why should people join any church? Maybe it's better to avoid formal religion and instead study and pray alone and with a few others that you trust rather than risk being misled by those who carry the cover of church authority. This seems to be the conclusion that more and more people in America are reaching. Mother Thekla and Augustine have given some good reasons for people to "not convert". They don't need formal religion to read the gospels and try to live as Jesus would have us live and by staying unchurched people avoid the snares of being too trusting of those in formal religion. Mother Tekla offered a lot of warnings in her letter and talked about joining for "negative reasons" but she also didn't offer any positive reasons why anyone should convert to Orthodoxy, or any other formal denomination for that matter.
I really wish Mother Thekla's letter (or Flannery O'Connor's letters to her convert friend, or something like them) were the starting point for RCIA. Instead of talking about what form you may have been baptized with or whether you'd been divorced, it would be nice to be challenged with, "Have you faced Christ Crucified?"
I feel that Americans, even those who regular church-goers, are losing the language with which to talk about God and religious experience. Many of us us walk around with this vague yearning for real dialog, but what we get after Mass (Anglican or RCC) is usually gossip about the neighbors. The people I find myself talking about God with tend to be evangelical Protestants. These are faith-filled and lovely people (though they're a bit heavy on the Daddy Jesus imagery for my taste, and, big drawback, no saints). But they have retained an enthusiasm for talking about faith that's lacking in many mainline Protestant congregations and Catholic parishes.
Jean Raber, what do you mean by "facing Christ crucified"? How do you personally "face" Christ crucified? What do you believe about why he was crucified? Was it to "redeem" human beings for their sins because otherwise God would send every human being to hell because there was no blood sacrifice? Or is it some other reason? What does the crucifixion say to you? I find that a lot of people drop phrases/questions like that (such as "face Christ crucified") but when I ask more, they can't really elaborate much on what the phrase or question really means to them. If you were running an RCIA class, what would you tell the students? Is there a "right" or "wrong" answer to "have you faced Christ crucified"? I wonder how many different ways people would answer that question.
Jeanne, I don't know how to give your questions a simple answer. Here is a stab, which will perhaps illustrate my point about our losing the language with which to talk about faith:
1. I don't think you can "personally" face Christ crucified. I don't believe in a Christ who is my "personal" savior. If Jesus were right here and I said, "Thank you for being my savior," I think he would heave a great big sigh and tell me he is everyone's savior, and why aren't I doing a better job helping spread the word? For more in this vein, see Teresa of Avila, "Christ has no body but yours." I think you meet Christ in community with others through the sacrament of communion (whether you take it physically or, like me, hope for spiritual communion at Mass). Watching the breaking of the bread is a reminder that we are part of Christ, broken, but that we have, perhaps, the power (if you want to call it that), to call Christ to us and heal.
2. No, I don't believe Jesus was sacrificed like a goat for a God with a taste for blood, though I know a lot of people who think that. Maybe they're right. But I believe Jesus showed us what love does when love is pushed to the limit. Love crawls up on a cross and dies rather than punishes others for their stupidity and sins--even when Love has the power to end the whole show with a great big flood or bolt of lightning.
3. Looking at a crucifix asks me what I am willing to die for. What means more to me than saving my own hide. Would I truly follow the Prime Directives: Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself if it meant I have to die for them? Um, well, I think I could probably figure out ways to let myself off the hook if push came to shove, which is why we all need to be fed with the bread of heaven in some form. So that in "eating" Jesus we can be consumed by him and become more like him. It's a mystery. It's a paradox. Some days I get it. Some days I don't.
4. There's no way an apostate like me is ever going to run an RCIA class. But the first question out of my mouth would not be, "Now, how are your marriages? Because if you decide you want to come into the Church by Easter, we need to get the paperwork rolling." Some candidates don't even know what the RCIA people are talking about.
5. Is there more than one right answer? I don't know. It took me 60 years to be able to answer questions 1-4.
It is certainly the case that there are "many different ways people would answer." And, undoubtedly, individuals would answer differently at different stages of their own journey of faith. But i think many would dwell on the conviction that in Christ crucified they see God's unbounded and unmerited love for them and for all people.
After I started to write the above, Jean Raber's reflection came in. She says it more eloquently than I, so I won't continue!
Maybe it's better to avoid formal religion and instead study and pray alone and with a few others that you trust rather than risk being misled by those who carry the cover of church authority."
No. Then we never would have met a John XXIII, a Francis, a Thomas Reese, a Bernard Haring, many on this blog and so many other great friends and examples who aid us, sinners that we are, in this great journey.
Are you prepared, in all humility, to understand that you will never, in this life, know beyond Faith; that Faith means accepting the Truth without proof.
And yet... we can still try to understand, knowing that it is beyond our understanding. Try to make sense from faith, knowing that faith is beyond logic. Try to eliminate contradictions, knowing that we will never be completely satisfied. We can always learn more about God and make progress in understanding. She's right that we'll never acquire complete knowledge of truth here in this life, but why should that prevent us from trying to acquire partial knowledge?
Additionally, Mother Thekla is dismissive of "happiness", but why does she say not one word of the happiness that comes from living a Christian life?
of course the letter is a brief effort to make one crucial point. But I suppose were she to address the issue of Christian joy she might take as point of departure her assertion: "Poor, old, sick, to our last breath, we can love. Not sentimental nonsense so often confused with love, but the love of sacrifice – inner crucifixion of greed, envy, pride."
How would you begin to address the question you pose concerning "the happiness that comes from living a Christian life?"
On the spot I can think of two ways in which we Christians are happy. One, we are not lost: we have a sense of direction. Two, we are not alone: we know that we are loved. How about you?
I don't think the variety of Christian churches should be a stumbling block to faith. Christianity has never been a single pure entity, and no church within it has ever been such. A living faith, responsive to our neighbors, in all their foreignness and increasingly discovered human diversity, and responsive to the signs fo the times, often radically new, will embrace the "mess" wherein the divine has pitched its tent. Such an embrace might not lead to a change of church affiliation but it would certainly make one sensitive to the riches of other traditions and ready to rejoice in them. Living faith cannot become obsessed with the puriy of a single church package, for it is responsive to stirrings and energies of the Spirit coming from all directions.
" love of sacrifice – inner crucifixion of greed, envy, pride."
Actually I reacted negatively to that sentence. It's a little bit imprecise, don't you think? You don't love sacrifice for its own sake, but rather because it makes room for Christ, right?
But the more important question is: what are the authentic Roman Catholic recipes for Easter festivities?
"You don't love sacrifice for its own sake, but rather because it makes room for Christ, right?"
yes -- and that's the joy.
Bill Mazella, it is very possible to "meet" people such as those you name, such as Francis, Thomas Reese, and thousands of theologians like Haring without being a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mother Thekla was warning a potential convert that no religion is "perfect", and Fr. Imbelli pointed out that this echoes what St. Augustine said. Of course they are right and no single denomination nor even a single religion has all the insight and understanding out there.
So why limit yourself to membership in just one - there is a huge family of godly and wise people out there. You can find spiritual companions and community outside of churches. You can read what Francis says or Haring or Kung or other Catholic theologians but you can also read N.T. Wright and Rowan Williams or even Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan. You can learn from Jewish theologians like Abraham Heschel or Orthodox philosophers like Nikolai Berdyaev. You can study the insights of the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh or Rumi. You can read mystics like Eckhart or Julian of Norwich or Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and you can read contemporary spiritual writers like Thomas Merton and Evelyn Underhill or Henri Nouwen. You can study Bede Griffiths and Raimon Panikkar. I am not a theologian so don't read too much of the heavy theological writers because they have a specialized vocabulary. But, there is a lot out there for we non-scholars, for ordinary people that is easy to grasp and provides ample thoughts for reflection. All have something worthwhile to say, reflecting their own backgrounds and cultures and assumptions and life experiences.
So, to go back to Mother Thekla's question – why convert to any single denomination if you are christian? Because you can learn from all major branches of Christianity and you can learn from all the great non-christian religions also. I do like what she points out about knowledge and faith though - it accepts the reality that we humans can't actually know and I also like her focus on reading the gospels and on love. Since Jesus in the gospels tells us to love, nobody really needs a formal church to tell them that do they?
Jean Raber, I like most of what you say (and Fr. Imbelli), but it raises another question. What does it really mean to say that "Jesus is my/our (everyone's) savior"? That's another one of those phrases you hear all the time but nobody really explains exactly what they mean by it, except for some of the fundamentalists and evangelicals who believe that Jesus had to die on the cross so God would forgive sins, and that nobody is saved except for born again christians.
What did he save us from and how did he do it (for those who agree (in spite of the implications of the Agnus Dei) that Jesus wasn't a sacrificial lamb who had to die to appease an angry god?
Jeanne L,
I should have said most of all in the parish church. One can look for a better parish if one is too obnoxious. But a few friends can change. The Eucharist is pivotal. That unity should be everywhere in the world. Just not in a particular location.
The questions Jeanne asks are ones I think about too ... the idea that Jesus saved us by dying for our sins, for example, doesn't make sense to me. Despite his death, not to mention his life of teaching, humnan nature is still frail ... we still 'sin' ... and when we die it's taught that people who are bad still go to hell. So in what way have we been saved?
Anthony deMello proposes an exercise when you are suffering or experiencing intractable difficulties. He suggests looking at the crucifix, then glancing at your problem, then back to the crucifix and so on for as long as it takes. Strange as it may seem, this method does actually work.
The sign of the cross is one of those mysteries, a folly to the Gentiles and a scandal to the Jews but for those who believe, both Gentile and Jew, the wisdom and power of God.
There has to be a better answer to suffering than "it could be worse".
I didn't say that. There is no answer. But the method does work but not in any way that can be explained, only experienced,
De Mello is echoing Newman's unforgettable lenten sermon, "The Cross of Christ the Measure of the World". http://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume6/sermon7.html
Anthony deMello proposes an exercise when you are suffering or experiencing intractable difficulties. He suggests looking at the crucifix, then glancing at your problem, then back to the crucifix and so on for as long as it takes.
Hoo boy. This is nothing more than belittling the suffering of anyone but Jesus. "If you think you've got it bad, look at ME hanging here, I should be so lucky to have YOUR problems."
My mother-in-law used to do this. If you had a tragedy in your life, it was NOTHING compared with what she'd been through.
Moreover, Jesus' suffering took place over the course of a day or two. Visit a terminal cancer patient and tell me the Cross's message is, "Well, you could be a lot worse off."
No, I utterly reject that, and it pisses me off.
The point is that Jesus is connected to us in some way (Jeanne L, I'll tell you right now I don't know how that works any more than I understand how I somehow feel a link to all cats through my cats or all children through my son), and he suffers when we do because he cares about us.
So why limit yourself to membership in just one - there is a huge family of godly and wise people out there.
Who said anything about limiting? I was raised a Unitarian Universalist. I was exposed to everybody from Albert Schweitzer to Gandhi to Fr. Damien of the Lepers. But at some point, you have to sort through all those examples and find the commonality. What are they? Those folks all died on the cross figuratively or literally. They suffered for (and sometimes because of other people).
I saw a story about a man on the news the other night who is the only mental health worker among half a million people in Liberia, where PTSD is rampant due to the civil war. His government salary was cut, so he does his work for free, walking to wherever people need him to offer talk therapy because there are no more drugs available. I have no idea what religion the man follows, if any, but he's already among the communion of saints in heaven. How do I know? Because Jesus tells me that what you have done to the least of these, you have also done to me.
Jesus was speaking to those who don't help others, but I think his remark cuts the other way, too.
What did he save us from and how did he do it?
Good question. He saved us from a life of meaninglessness and the emptiness of materialism. "All the way to heaven is heaven," said Dorothy Day.
You can believe that without even believing in heaven--and I didn't believe in heaven for a long time. I'm still not sure I do some days. Some days, I think heaven would be just fine if it were an eternal and dreamless sleep, our bodies going back to the elements. Some days, I think St. Brigid's version of heaven would be nice:
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all. I would like Jesus to be present. I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us. I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts. I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me. I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.
Crystal and Jean, I did not at all interpret the Anthony DeMello exercice proposed by George as a way to compare our suffering to Christ's and to consider how much worse off he was. No, I thought it was some kind of meditation on how he is connected to us. We suffer, he suffered. We are not alone, he "suffers when we do because he cares about us". This, I guess, could be what someone takes away from that exercice. It may help make Christ present to us. Bernardin, as I remember, once wrote that he could not pray when he was suffering. Maybe that exercice suggests a way to do it.
I'm not sure what would happen if you try it when you experience intractable difficulties, are in a deadend and are faced with some kind of Cornelian choice involving sin and death in every direction you consider.
'Hoo boy. This is nothing more than belittling the suffering of anyone but Jesus. "If you think you've got it bad, look at ME hanging here, I should be so lucky to have YOUR problems."'
Surely that's not the only way to think about this exercise. Does it have to be about comparison? I could imagine it giving meaning to your suffering, as when Paul says, "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" in Colossians.
I think many of us have experienced people in great affliction, physical or psychological, holding tightly and wordlessly to the crucifix as to an anchor in a raging sea.
As the Eucharistic prayer says in words that used to bring me into the prayer: "For our sake he opened his arms on the cross".
it is very possible to "meet" people such as those you name, such as Francis, Thomas Reese, and thousands of theologians like Haring without being a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mother Thekla was warning a potential convert that no religion is "perfect", and Fr. Imbelli pointed out that this echoes what St. Augustine said. Of course they are right and no single denomination nor even a single religion has all the insight and understanding out there. So why limit yourself to membership in just one - there is a huge family of godly and wise people out there. You can find spiritual companions and community outside of churches. You can read what Francis says or Haring or Kung or other Catholic theologians but you can also read N.T. Wright and Rowan Williams or even Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan. You can learn from Jewish theologians like Abraham Heschel or Orthodox philosophers like Nikolai Berdyaev. You can study the insights of the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh or Rumi. You can read mystics like Eckhart or Julian of Norwich or Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and you can read contemporary spiritual writers like Thomas Merton and Evelyn Underhill or Henri Nouwen. You can study Bede Griffiths and Raimon Panikkar.
This is all true, and a reason, I think, to rejoice. It is also sympathetic to what the 2nd Vatican Council noted about the relationship between the various churches, denominations and faiths: that, without glossing over the things that prevent us from being in full communion, yet we have many commonalities and connections - perhaps more than are visible to the human eye.
I also think that we see many real-life manifestations of these inter-denominational / interfaith relationships: in our marriages, in our friendships, on our theology faculties, in ecumenical dialogues, in formal and informal joint initiatives in our communities, in the music we sing in church - many ways in which we've managed to knock holes in the firewalls that separate one church from another. In our community, churches of many different denominations coordinate to provide shelter for the homeless. That is, I believe, the kind of thing that makes the angels and saints in heaven rejoice.
Maybe it's better to avoid formal religion and instead study and pray alone and with a few others that you trust rather than risk being misled by those who carry the cover of church authority. This seems to be the conclusion that more and more people in America are reaching.
Jeanne - right. A couple of thoughts:
- Your observation reminded me for some reason that, in the history of Christianity, there have been various ways that individuals have tried to keep the faith yet separate oneself from the problems that are all too evident in the hurly-burly of the mainstream Christian community. Monastics, hermits, anchorites/esses - probably many other forms. Most of them may seem strange to us today. Perhaps one of the paradoxes of modern life is that, now that there are many more of us than ever before, it has become easier than ever to wall oneself in and keep everyone else out.
- I have to say that I'm somewhat skeptical that Christian faith can flourish over the long run, separated from the nourishment and sustenance of a faith community. I just think that the challenges and temptations of the modern world will cause our faith to wither. I believe we see this happening in our world today, in many of the families in which the parents have faith or denominational differences, and so the children grow up rooted in neither denomination. They end up being rooted in no faith tradition in particular. I suppose they are candidates to be evangelized. The church has a mission to such people.
Claire and Fr. Imbelli are correct around the point of de Mello's exercise. It is not comparison and contrast. There is no sense to suffering, or any intrinsic meaning. It is something disordered, wrong, and somehow we all intuitively feel it. Christ too felt it and experienced it. So, when I have done the exercise, I am comforted knowing that he too went through the very same experience. Doubts, anguish, questions, anxieties...all of it is right there. No need for words just solidarity. And there really is a kind of grace that surfaces, a peace.
Granted, there are a great many people from all kinds of traditions that can have all kinds of methods but this one is one that can be shared among anybody of any religion. It is truly the sign of the cross.
In fact just last night i did. We received word on the weekend that my sister-in-law, only 41, has stomach cancer and needs to have her stomach completely removed and undergo chemotherapy. They are moving quick. She found out last Thursday and within a couple weeks the surgery is occurring so what does that tell you!
She has kids still in elementary school and was divorced a few years back. Thank God she has family in the community who can stay with her. In an instant, it has effected everybody in her circle. She is not, at all, a religiously oriented person but we are close and I would not suffest it but I did the exercise for me. Just helps to be able to be a comfort to my wife who is walking around like a zombie (understandably) as is I am sure her other family members.
So yes, exactly as Fr said, holding tightly as an anchor in a raging sea. Not that it will give answers but it is indeed a comfort.
When I'm suffering or when someone I care about is, I get more comfort from the bits in the gospels where Jesus healed people and raised them from the dead then I do from imagining him suffering too. The only time I've ever really dwelt on Jesus crucified was during a retreat ... a week of it ... and it was awful. I don't understand how anyone can find comfort in imaging someone they love suffering.
Crystal --
The comfort is in knowing that someone is loves us so much that they are willing to suffer for us. Aren't you willing to suffer for those you love? That doesn't mean you enjoy the suffering. Just the opposite, and that's why suffering is a proof of love.
Sure I'm willing to suffer for those I love, but is that the ultimate sign of love? Why isn't being willing to live for others better than being willing to die for them? And what of us .... do we really want those we love and who love us to suffer for us? I don't.
I don't think we an say what the ultimate sign of love is. I suspect it differs from person to person. But that doesn't change the fact that love can be the reason one chooses oo suffer. And what would be Christ's ultimate sign of love for us, if not dying for us as He did? It wasn't fair, but it was loving.
What exactly does the "for" entail in your penultimate sentence, Ann? I've never understood it.
I think the idea that Jsesus chose to die for us is such a basic and pervasive Christian idea that most people don't question it. Being a convert from atheism to Catholicism, all this stuff has been pretty new to me and it jusr doesn't all make sense to me. I can't help thinking that it is Jesus' life, his acts and words, that have saved us, and not by some magic atonement thingy but by revealing to us what God is really like. I think his death might have been inevitable given his times and the way he lived his life, but I don't think he came here purposely to die, and I don't want to celebrate his torture and murder. This probably makes me a heretic ;)
Oh, I should say I *do* believe in the resurrection, so not a total hereetic, I guess :)
It seems to me that one important element being missed is the incarnation (or the word became flesh as John describes in his gospel). Aquinas held that redemption began at the incarnation (appropros the feast of the Annunciation yesterday). God taking on flesh in Jesus was in a sense, then, taking on all human flesh.
So his death and resurrection, changes all of humanity by the incarnation alone. Paul says that just as all died in Adam, all rise in Christ (Corinthians 15:22). Thus, his death is ALL death, his suffering is ALL suffering, and his redemption is ALL redemption (I am with Origen on that one!).
Sin = death and the consequence of sin was death. The mystery is that death (i.e. sin) has been conquered. That is why in the funeral liturgy, it is written that "life has not ended, its changed"
Abe --
I don't understand *why* it is the case that when one actually chooses to accept suffering for the sake of another that that is a loving act, but I cannot help but see *that* it is so. If A loves B, then A will choose to suffer FOR B. And that's what the "for" means in my second to last sentence -- for the sake of. I'm not talking about any atonement.
You can say that is isn't fair that God made the world work that way, that some innocents (the lovers) *choose* to suffer for those they love -- they *chooe* something that is evil in some way, i.e., pain. But that just brings us back to the problem of the suffering of innocents, the biggest theological mystery of all. As to that mystery, the only thing that makes any sense to me at all is this: if God chose to make people, knowing that people are the kind of thing capable of suffering -- and of love -- then that limits His effects to a world in which there is pain in innocent beings. In other words, if there is pain in this world it is ulltimately because that is what WE are (beings capable of suffering), not because of what God is in Himself. Though, given that pain is a positive reality (we know that because we can distinguish different kinds of pain from each other), then it follows that pain itslef must somehow mirror what God is in Himself. In other words, God Himself suffers in some analogous sense..
How can it be right that God would choose to make such a world, knowing that there will be pain in it? It seems to me that that would be consistent with a loving God *only* if He knows from the beginning that the suffering creatures will ultimately be grateful for their existence in spite of their suffering. In other words, He knows that there will be a Heaven for the just, and the animals will be some place equivalent for them.
This also implies, I think, that God suffers with all His suffering creatures. And Jesus' death confirms that that is the sort of reality God is -- He suffers with us, but we also know that He was resurrected and has promised that we too shall be resurrected. He thereby teaches us this lesson: life in this world is hard, but eternal life shall make up for it and then some. The Crucifixion is for teaching us that.
St. Augustine says somewhere that Christ's death on the Cross was meant to teach us humility. I think that is consonant with the way I see the above -- we were not meant to be perfect creatures in *our* sense of perfect for the simple reason that we are by nature capable of suffering -- we think it's an imperfection. So we must learn that hard lesson, but we will agree that it will be worth it in the end.
Hey, guys,
Rod Dreher recommends this thread, quoting Jean Raber's and Jeanne L,'s exchange.
This is not snark, Ann: I am genuinely clueless as to how to respond to what your wrote, other than to say that it explains nothing to me.
Abe, returning to your contention that you don't fathom what "for" entails, I presume you don't mean the word itself, but its theological significance. "For" is surely one of the key words of the New Testament indicating Christ's loving self gift for our sake, for the many, for the forgiveness of sin.
I take it that your difficulty is not so much with the word as with the connection between one person's life and death and the salvation of all. Or do I misunderstand your point?
Jeanne L., without addressing all your points, it does seem to me that expecting individuals to carry forward a significant theological tradition through their own private means is not too different from expecting them to carry forward some other significant discipline -- science or liberal arts -- without there being universities. Even if all the institution does is give employment to the truly gifted, that makes it much more likely their gifts will be employed in a way that allows them to achieve more than they would have on their own. And certainly, organized efforts at charity and relief are difficult to a single person who is not wealthy without an organizational framework. This seems self-evident to me. The harder question is whether that same dynamic works all the way down to every single person sitting in the pews. This leads to a kind of person who is glad the church exists even if they don't personally go to church.
What I would not do is feel obligated to go to a particular church or to participate in church according to the traditional means laid out for you as proper. There are most likely alternatives if you feel inclined to pursue something.
Jeanne H.R.: That was a really lovely and moving reflection on your part. Thanks.
Father Imbelli, I believe that you have understood my difficulty. I understand what the primary semantic force of "for" tends to be when Christians say that Christ died for x or y (which is to say that I assume it's based in, say, Roman 5:8's use of huper). You are correct in observing that I don't understand the how. I suspect that the confusing way it gets talked about nowadays stems from the great remove of modern interpreters from the sacrificial context of the ancient Mediterranean, which is to say that the whole thing would make a lot more sense, if people were more willing to call it a blood sacrifice.
About the Author
Rev. Robert P. Imbelli, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is Associate Professor of Theology Emeritus at Boston College.


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In this very special capsule collection, OC explores Las Vegas further by delving into the history of the one and only King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley! With help from Elvis Presley Enterprises, this capsule collection celebrates the legend through a selection of archival photographs, famous song titles, and crystal details in the style of the King's legendary "Taking Care of Business" ring.
This item is low in stock!
Opening Ceremony specializes in stocking one-of-a-kind pieces. By virtue of their uniqueness, some of these items are available only in limited quantities.
You will be issued a full refund if we are unable to fulfill your order.
If you have any questions, please contact us at email@example.com or (646) 237-6078.


text:
A few months ago, we introduced MyGSIs (personal server images) which allow users to create custom personal GSI (GoGrid Server Images) with all of their code, applications and data. These personal server images are then compressed and stored in GoGrid's Cloud Storage for use later instantiating copies of those MyGSIs within a user's GoGrid cloud. Building upon that framework, backend structure and concept, we have released Partner GSIs and the GoGrid Exchange.
A Partner GSI appears in the same list of servers or sandboxes available for deployment. GoGrid has a growing number of partners, each of which specialize in a variety of capabilities including internet security, backup, monitoring, web applications, compliance and application scaling. New partners are being added regularly so be sure to check the GoGrid Partner page for additions. Also, a new "microsite", called the GoGrid Exchange, will be launching shortly where you can get detailed information about Partners and the images they are providing.
To use a Partner GSI, simply select it from the server list as you are creating a new GoGrid cloud server. Do note that some partners charge an additional amount for using their pre-packaged GSI. If you use a Partner GSI that has some sort of "token based billing" attached to it, you will receive a charge for the use of that server in your next billing statement. Also, even if you use a Partner GSI that has a billing token assigned to it for an hour (or more), you are charged the full amount associated with that image. There is no partial or fractional billing for Partner GSIs. Partner images will show a different "owner" (see the screenshot below).
BitNami Open Source Web Applications
GoGrid and BitNami have partnered to make open source web applications easy to deploy on GoGrid. The BitNami GSIs make it fast and easy to run web applications for evaluation, development or production purposes. They are fully configured, so you can start using the application immediately after loading the GSI to your GoGrid account.
(more…) «GoGrid Exchange: BitNami Open Source Web Applications Images Available»


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Addition/Shared folders with dovecot 1.2
Note by iRedMail team: It's recommended to try this tutorial for iRedMail-0.7.0 and later versions.
Enable shared folders under iRedMail with dovecot 1.2.
- A properly working iRedMail system;
- A properly working dovecot 1.2 instead of the default 1.1;
- This article was written with a CentOS-based system in mind. Adapt it for your system.
- You must have a good knowledge of the internal workings of iRedMail, mail services and so on.
- Do not mistake "shared folders" for "public folders". For shared folders, users must select which folder they want to share and with who, using an interface, like the ones available with SOGo and SOGo connectors.
Step-by-step configuration
- Step 1.
Add proper namespaces to dovecot.conf:
# Namespaces namespace private { subscriptions = yes separator = / prefix = inbox = yes } namespace shared { subscriptions = no separator = / prefix = Shared/%%u/ location = maildir:%%Lh/Maildir:INDEX=%Lh/Maildir/Shared/%%Lu list = children hidden = no inbox = no }
The private namespace is the default namespace, if it's already in the config do not add it a second time. shared is the one we need here.
- Step 2.
Add proper ACL dictionary to dict section of dovecot.conf:
dict { [...] acl = mysql:/etc/dovecot-acl-shared-dict.conf }
- Step 3.
Add ACLs to protocol imap in dovecot.conf:
protocol imap { [...] mail_plugins = quota imap_quota expire [...] acl imap_acl [...] }
- Step 4.
Add plugin section for ACLs in dovecot.conf:
plugin { acl = vfile acl_shared_dict = proxy::acl }
- Step 5.
Create the file /etc/dovecot-acl-shared-dict.conf:
connect = host=localhost dbname=vmail user=vmailadmin password=PASSWORD_HERE map { pattern = shared/shared-boxes/user/$to/$from table = user_shares value_field = dummy fields { from_user = $from to_user = $to } }
- Step 6.
Create table user_shares in vmail database:
CREATE TABLE `user_shares` ( `from_user` varchar(100) NOT NULL, `to_user` varchar(100) NOT NULL, `dummy` char(1) default NULL, PRIMARY KEY (`from_user`,`to_user`) ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;
- Step 7 - Optional - This is not needed if you use a version of iRedMail higher or equal to iRedMail-0.6.0, which already includes this fix.
If you haven't done it already when upgrading to dovecot 1.2, then add a new column, `enableinternal` to `mailbox` table, type bool, default true:
`enableinternal` tinyint(1) NOT NULL default '1'
--Maxie ro 11:11, 2 June 2010 (UTC)


text:
USM has options for busy people.
At USM we can help you find the time to finish your degree, take a class, or learn a new professional skill. As an adult, it's tough to fit school into a life full of work and family responsibilities. At Professional and Continuing Education we're flexible. We have options that work for you - online, in the evening, on weekends - fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Here's what you can accomplish at USM:
- Finish your degree.
For many people, an undergraduate degree is unfinished business - life happened on the way to graduation. At USM we offer bachelor completion programs, both online and on campus, designed for adult students with busy lives. Connect with an Enrollment Counselor today to get started.
- Take a course at USM.
USM offers courses year-round. You can take courses at USM even if you haven't been admitted to a degree program. Take a class to fulfill job requirements, prepare to enter a degree program, or advance your career. USM welcomes all students. Call our office at 780-5900 and we'll help you register.
- Advance your career.
Workshops and professional development certificate programs offer short, intensive boosts to your career . The focus is on current information and practical skills that you can learn today and apply tomorrow.
- Earn or maintain a credential.
We offer training and test prep in Human Resources, Project Management, or Lean Six Sigma to help you earn and renew your certification.


text:
below you find the common parts that will need replacement
Overhead Torsion Spring
You can locate the overhead torsion spring above the garage door when down. The spring will be on a horizontal bar that stretches across the the top of the garage door. If you notice a crack in the spring or a separation in in the body of the spring, then you must have it replaced by a professional.
We offer the most affordable installation rates on all springs, backed up by a 2 year warranty on the torsion springs.
* WARNING-Overhead torsion springs hold extreamly high tension and must be installed by a qualitfied professional. Installation of any torsion spring may result in major injures.
Side Cables
The side cables are located on each side of the vertical track of the garage door. You will find the cables reach from the top of the cable drum to the bottom of the garage door connected to a bottom bracket. Most cable repairs are cause by a rusted bottom bracket or a rusted cable loop.
We always recommend changing both side cables to ensure equal strength.
Rollers and Hinges
Rollers are located on the ends of each panel and allow the garage door to run up and down the tracks of the garage door. The garage door rollers must all be inserted into the garage door tracks level in order for the garage door to run smoothly.
Hinges can be located at the ends and down the panel in order to attact each panel together. All hinges must be tight and leveled in order for the garage door to run properly.
All our parts carry an extended warrenty depending on the part. All our repair services carry 30 days on and repair or installation.


text:
ATLANTA — One of the most distinctive symbols in sports, the iconic green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters golf tournament, is at the center of a lawsuit over whether one of them can be sold at auction.
Dr. Steven Pyles, a Florida collector of golf memorabilia, bought a green jacket he believes was worn by Art Wall, Jr. when he won the tournament in 1959. After paying $62,000 for it, he wants to sell it through Heritage Auctions of Dallas for a profit.
Five days before the auction was scheduled to begin, Augusta National Incorporated moved to halt the sale. A hearing in the case was scheduled for Monday in Dallas.
The collector told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the jackets and any memorabilia from the tournament are in high demand and sell for thousands of dollars. He contends that winner's jackets are available for sale. A green jacket belonging to the famed Bobby Jones sold at auction in 2011 for $311,000.
Augusta National Incorporated claims in its lawsuit that all green jackets are the property of Augusta National and that this particular jacket was stolen from its clubhouse.
Mark Senter, the attorney for Pyles and Heritage Auctions, said there was no police report to back up a claim of theft.
Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
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text:
Phone: 419-885-5291
Toll Free: 800-878-3210
Fax: 419-824-3916
Office located on the lower level of the Russell Ebeid Hall
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Evenings: By appointment
Dean C. Ludwig, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Vice President of Enrollment
Office: LH 222
Phone: 419-824-3686
Email | Bio
Shawn T. Bussell
Director of Admissions
Recruitment Territory: Lucas County Whitmer, Northview and Southview High Schools, International Students and College Credit Plus students
Phone: 419-824-3785
Email | Bio
Amy Houston
Associate Director of Admissions
Recruitment Territory: Veteran's Certifying Official; works with first-time adult college students; works with transfer students with last names: A-L
Phone: 419-824-3522
Email | Bio
Justin Veigel
Associate Director of Admissions
Recruitment Territory: Lucas and Wood counties; Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington
Works with students who wish to audit a class
Email | Bio
Madison Beauch
Admissions Coordinator
Recruitment Territory: Lucas County LIC; Adams, Athens, Auglaize, Mercer, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Galla, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Shelby, Vinton, Warren and Washington counties, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties; Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Remy Fleurima
Admissions Coordinator
Recruitment Territory: Ashland, Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Erie, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Monroe, Noble, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties; Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington D.C., Puerto Rico
Tyrone Green
Admissions Coordinator
Recruitment Territory: Toledo public and charter schools; Allen, Crawford, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Seneca, Vanwert, Williams and Wyandot counties; Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina
Email | Bio
John H. Hairston
Admissions Coordinator
Recruitment Territory: Cuyahoga, Portage, Stark and Summit counties
Email | Bio
Erin Harper
Admissions Coordinator
Recruitment Territory: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties; Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming
Works with transfer students with last names: M-Z
Works with all transient students
Email | Bio
Debbie Kennedy
Administrative Assistant
Email | Bio
Becki Bair
Senior Administrative Assistant to the V.P. of Enrollment
To provide quality personalized service to all who inquire about Lourdes. A vital aspect of the Admissions Office is to be a guiding, supportive hand through the admissions process, as well as being the initial channel to opening the doors of the Franciscan mission. With reverence and respect, we welcome each person into the community that is Lourdes.
Transition and Enrollment


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Paul's Prayer for Harmony
Paul's prayer for unity in the church based upon the truth of God's Word and for the glory of Christ should be on our lips as well. How often do you pray for the peace and purity of the church ...Read More
The Value of the Old Testament
Certain books and passages of Scripture have played greater roles in the history of theology than others; thus, it's no surprise that some portions of the Bible are read more often than others. However, we must not make the mistake ...Read More
Bearing with the Weak
As servants of Jesus, we are not greater than our Master. In serving others, bearing God's wrath to atone for our sin, He endured unimaginable suffering. We will "suffer" as well when we have to refrain from exercising the full ...Read More
Faith and Acting Against Conscience
John Calvin comments, "Every work, however splendid and excellent in appearance, is counted as sin, except it be founded on a right conscience; for God regards not the outward display, but the inward obedience of the heart." If we are ...Read More
Passing Judgment on Ourselves
Though we sometimes feel guilty for things that are not actually sins, we should always pay attention to the voice of our consciences when we experience guilt. When we feel guilt, we must endeavor to understand, according to God's Word, ...Read More
Keeping Faith to Yourself
Commentators on this passage also note that the idea of keeping our faith to ourselves does not mean we may never share with weaker believers our convictions regarding matters where God has left us free. We may, and indeed must ...Read More
Protecting the Work of God
Christian freedom carries with it the heavy responsibility of never using our freedom in a way that harms tender consciences, and the duty never to impose our personal scruples regarding indifferent matters on others. Besides studying God's Word, one of ...Read More
Peace and Mutual Upbuilding
Paul's call for mutual peace and upbuilding is directed primarily to the strong Christians in Rome as an appeal for them to act in such a way that would benefit the immature. Still, its inclusion in a letter addressed to ...Read More
Righteousness, Peace, and Joy
Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary Romans: "Life in the kingdom is about loving the things of God and loving those for whom Christ died. That is the recipe for mature Christian unity." When we keep in first ...Read More
Preserving Christ's Sheep
Christians who choose not to exercise their liberty before immature believers need not do the same when they are not with immature believers. The weaker brother may not bind the conscience of the stronger believer, and as we will see, ...Read More
DevotionalsDaily readings to encourage your heart and mind in the pursuit of God and his glory.
- All
- Angels and Demons
- Atonement
- Basic Reformed Theology
- Irresistible Grace
- Limited Atonement
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- The Church
- Church Discipline
- Church Leadership
- Creeds and Confessions
- God
- Holiness
- Sovereignty
- Heaven and Hell
- Heresies
- The Holy Spirit
- Jesus Christ
- Cross
- Incarnation
- Resurrection
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- Last Things
- Man and Sin
- Sacraments
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- Scripture
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- Bible Figures
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- Bibles
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- General Reference Works
- Introduction to the Bible
- Jesus' Ministry
- Life of Jesus
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- Parables
- Prophecy
- Sermon on the Mount
- Ten Commandments
- The Lord's Prayer
- Controversies in the Church
- Arts
- Bible Translation
- Covenant Theology
- Creationism
- Inclusivism
- Law and Gospel
- Lordship Salvation
- Politics
- Sabbath
- Spiritual Gifts
- Stewardship of Creation
- Theonomy
- Women in Ministry
- Marriage and Family
- Divorce
- Parenting
- Practical Theology
- Discipleship
- Evangelism and Missions
- Grief and Death
- Pastoral Ministry
- Preaching
- Worship
- Spiritual Growth
- Anxiety and Worry
- Apostasy
- Assurance
- Conscience
- Depression
- Doubt
- Fellowship
- Godliness
- Guilt
- Humility
- Joy
- Knowing God's Will
- Legalism
- Love
- Money and Stewardship
- Oaths and Vows
- Prayer
- Pride
- Repentance and Forgiveness
- Sanctification and Growth
- Service
- Spiritual Fruit
- Suffering
- Thankfulness
- Vocation
- Ancient Church
- Biography
- Enlightenment and Modernism
- Historical Theology
- Reformation
- Twentieth Century


text:
Here's an idea for those who have the new iPhone 5, looking for a cradle solution, and cannot wait until BMW releases its snap-in adapter next year… make your own!
Here is a DIY by a BIMMERPOST showing how he managed to fabricate his own iPhone 5 cradle for the BMW center console using a base plate of the original cradle adapter and the Apple USB to lightning cable, he's managed to come up with a solution that holds his phone and provides all features except iPod … CONTINUED
Apple recently released its iPhone 5 and with it came a change to its connector from the previous 30-pin to the new 8-pin 'Lightning' connector.
This change unfortunately means that the new iPhone will no longer work with BMW's current iPhone snap-in-adapters. So when can we expect the the new adapters for the iPhone 5 from BMW?
We've learned that BMW has already started work on the snap-in-adapters for the newest iPhone. The changes however, are said to be quite complex (due to the new connector) and development … CONTINUED


text:
statelinetack.com > Shop By Brand > Farnam > Item # SLT100725
promotional discount applied. Cart total will reflect savings.
Buy 2 or more, each at $18.39 Buy 3 or more, each at $17.99 Buy 6 or more, each at $17.59
Quantity discount will reflect in cart.
Sometimes, manufacturers require that products be advertised only at their suggested prices.
When we choose to sell these items for less, we display the sale price only in the cart. To see the price, click Add to Cart.
One-time delivery
Save 10% with Auto Ship
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Heart to Horse Box
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Product Reviews by Customers
This item is not eligible for Canadian shipping.
Some items everyday price is so low we can't discount or we have marked down the item to a final sale price. These select items will not be included in your order total when determining if your order qualifies for a promotional event.


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/ USDA Schedules Hearing on Proposed Citrus Marketing Order Amendments
News Release
Printable version
USDA Schedules Hearing on Proposed Citrus Marketing Order Amendments
AMS No. 041-13
Gwen Sparks, (202) 260-8210
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing on April 24, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to discuss proposed modifications to the federal marketing order for Florida-grown oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos.
The hearing will be held at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, located at 500 3rd Street NW, in Winter Haven, Fla. The hearing will be extended an additional day, if needed, to ensure sufficient time to hear comments.
The proposed amendments, recommended by the Citrus Administrative Committee which oversees local administration of the marketing order, would:
- Authorize regulation of new citrus fruit varieties and hybrids
- Regulate intrastate fruit shipments
- Revise the process for redefining production area districts
- Modify committee member terms of office and tenure requirements
- Authorize mail balloting procedures for committee membership nominations
- Increase financial reserve fund capacity
- Authorize different pack and container requirements for in-state, out-of-state and foreign shipments, and the different markets therein
- Eliminate separate acceptance statements in the nomination process, and
- Require handlers to register with the Citrus Administrative Committee
If the evidence presented at the hearing favors the proposed modifications and the USDA determines that the revisions will enhance the marketing orders operation, USDA will conduct a referendum.
The hearing notice and proposed amendments will be published in the March 28, 2013, Federal Register. For more information or a copy of the amendments, please contact Melissa Schmaedick, by phone: (202) 557-4783, email:
or U.S. mail: P.O. Box 952, Moab, Utah 84532. You may also contact Michelle Sharrow by phone: (202) 720-2491, email:
, or U.S. mail: 1400 Independence Avenue SW. Stop 0237, Washington, D.C. 20250-0237, if you have questions.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at
or follow us on Twitter
. You can also
read about us on the USDA blog
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
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text:
after checking some of my mags and hearing some of the problems people are having with the 7.62x39 mags.
i thought i would double check mine and here is what i have found.
on the mags that wouldn't hold more than 27-28 rounds the mag spring was installed backwards-- this lets the nose of the follower dip /nose dive and causes a bind in the mag.
turning the spring around seems to pick up the nose of the follower and lets the mag hold a more proper 29-30 rounds.
i just opened two brand new in the wrap C-prod 7.62 30 round mags and the same thing--the springs were backward. they would not hold over 27 rounds and the follower would nose-dive.
these are the slick finish new i got from palmetto for $9 a pop back last year that don't have the no-tilt followers. so there the old style mag.
i turned the spring around to get the spring lifting the front of the follower and they now will hold 30 rounds. cycling the rounds through the mag by hand they seem much smoother.
on the mags i have been shooting all but one had the springs in correctly. -- i don't know if i took them apart and put them in correctly or if they came correctly assembled.
anyway try this and see if it helps if your having problems with a 7.62x39 mag.


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- Home
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text:
United blew an eight-point lead in the final six games of last season as six successive wins gave rivals Manchester City a first English championship since 1968.
City's task is stiffer yet this time around, and even victory at Tottenham on Sunday would leave them with just five games to bridge a 10-point gap at the top.
But United have won just one of their last three league games and Kidd, who won four titles as Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford assistant, still hopes City can cash in on the "jitters" at his old club.
"This time last year everybody said it was all over," said coach Kidd, whose boss Roberto Mancini has been writing off City's chances for weeks.
"You were talking about eight points in six games. Nobody thought Manchester United would drop eight points in six games. Nobody knows.
"The title is not over yet until it is mathematically finished. It is United's to lose but make no mistake, there will be some jittery moments and with what happened last year it was a bad experience for them and they will be shocked by it.
"Stranger things have happened in football. It is poor if we thought it was all over. It could turn out a great season for Manchester City, we could win the league and the FA Cup."


text:
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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck co-scripted and star in this drama, about rebellious 20-year-old MIT janitor Will Hunting (Damon), gifted with a photographic memory, who hangs out with his South Boston bar buddies and his affluent British girlfriend Skylar (Minnie Driver). After MIT professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) stumps students with a math formula on a hallway blackboard, Will anonymously leaves the correct solution, prompting Lambeau to track the elusive young genius. As Will's problems with the police escalate, Lambeau offers an out, but with two conditions -- visits to a therapist and weekly math sessions. Will agrees to the latter but refuses to cooperate with a succession of therapists. Lambeau then contacts his former classmate, therapist Sean McGuire (Robin Williams), an instructor at Bunker Hill Community College. Both are equally stubborn, but Will is finally forced to deal with both his past and his future.
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Movie Picture for Good Will Hunting
Photo Credit: Miramax Films
Tags: Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon
Pictures from the film Good Will Hunting (1997) starring Matt Damon & Ben Affleck


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On January 25, a video of Logan Walmart cashier Kayla Slone singing was posted to the facebook page of Sabrina Slazo. That video went viral and has been shared close to 8,000 times.
The popularity of the video has also gone national, and it has been reported that Slone will be a guest on the Good Morning America show on Friday, Feb. 8.
Slone says singing at work is something does quite frequently. She says she sings at her register, throughout the store, or anytime she is asked.
"I'm trying my best to make it in the singing business," Slone posted to facebook. "I would love for that to be my career."
The video of Slone singing can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=108643429315259


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Mostly Cloudy
Wind: 3 mph
The Mad River Glen Naturalist Program is offering a number of educational and informative snowshoe tours during the next few weeks.
All About Bears offers participants the chance to discover the Black
Bear Snowshoe Trail and learn facts and lore about the large mammal that
make their homes in the MRG forests. The tours are scheduled for
January 22, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The Full Moon Snowshoe Tours on January 21 and 22 offer participants the opportunity to explore Stark Mountain in the moonlight at night. The tours are easy to moderate in difficulty, and all ages are welcome. Reservations are required by 4 p.m. the day of the event, the tour starts at 7 p.m. Call 496-3551 extension 117.
The Art and Science of Tracking on January 23, from 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
lets guests seek out the tracks and signs of forest animals and birds and discover the wild side of the Green Mountains all while learning about their ecology and habitat.
For more information, visit www.madriverglen.com/naturalist.


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To watch or listen to the action live online, log on to www.chicagowolves.com
--- DARREN HAYDAR: Named the AHL's most valuable player for the 2006-07 season after leading the league with 81 assists and 122 points - both career highs - and sharing third with a career-best 41 goals in 73 contests ... Selected to the 2006-07 AHL First All-Star Team ... Paced the AHL with 24 points in 15 postseason games ... Recorded 146 total points in 2006-07, four shy of the highest combined total in the league's 71-year history
--- JASON KROG: Averaged 1.82 points per game with Chicago last season, which includes ranking fifth in the AHL with a career-high 54 assists and sharing seventh with a career-best 80 points in just 44 outings ... Accrued three goals and three assists in 23 NHL matchups with Atlanta and the New York Rangers ... Shared second in the AHL with 14 assists and fourth with 19 points in 15 postseason outings with Chicago
--- ALEXANDRE GIROUX: Ranked second in the AHL with a career-high 42 goals and paced the Hershey Bears with a career-high 70 points in 67 games ... Helped Hershey reach the Calder Cup Finals with seven assists and 11 points in 19 postseason tilts ... Netted four points (2G, 2A) in nine NHL games with Washington ... Recorded at least 32 goals in each of his last three AHL campaigns, leading his squad in markers in each of those seasons
--- NATHAN OYSTRICK: Shared fourth among AHL defensemen with 15 goals and ranked third overall among league blueliners with 47 points in a team and league-high 80 games during his rookie year last season ... Named to the 2006-07 AHL Second All-Star Team and the AHL All-Rookie Team
Saturday's game in Houston marks the 10th time in the Wolves 14-year history the team has opened the season on the road. The Wolves have posted a 7-3-1-2 mark in regular-season openers, which includes a 4-3-0-2 mark away from the Allstate Arena.
--- Last season, the Wolves reached the conference finals for the seventh time
in franchise history and third in six years as a member of the AHL.
--- Chicago finished second in the West Division and third in the Western Conference during the 2006-07 regular season with 101 points (46-25-3-6), the
franchise's 13th straight year of finishing .500 or above.
--- Three players from last year's Wolves squad are currently on the Atlanta Thrashers' opening night roster: forwards BRETT STERLING and BRIAN LITTLE and
defenseman MARK POPOVIC.
--- The Wolves' current roster contains 16 players that skated with the squad last year and nine players that have never dressed in an AHL contest.
--- Chicago smashed more than 30 franchise records last season, which includes netting an AHL-best 331 goals (4.14 per game) and a league-high 112 power-play markers.
--- The Wolves matched both a league and club record with 27 road wins during the regular season; nine of Chicago's first 13 games this season will come away from the Allstate Arena.
Left wing TOMAS POSPISIL led Chicago in preseason scoring with three goals;
forwards MATT ANDERSON (2A), COLTON FRETTER (2G) and defensemen CHAD DENNY
(G, A) and SCOTT LEHMAN (2A) shared second with two points apiece.
Sat., Sept. 29
(at) Milwaukee 4, Chicago 2
--- The Wolves tied the contest late in the second period but allowed two third-period markers in dropping a 4-2 decision in their preseason finale against the Milwaukee Admirals at the Kern Center in Milwaukee
--- Rookies COLTON FRETTER and CHAD DENNY registered goals for Chicago
--- Goaltenders FRED BRATHWAITE and ONDREJ PAVELEC each posted 12 saves on 14 shots in PAVELEC's loss.
Fri., Sept. 28
Lake Erie 6, (at) Chicago 3
--- Chicago opened up a 3-0 lead midway through the contest before allowing six unanswered goals in a 6-3 loss to the Lake Erie Monsters at the Hoffman Estates Park District Community Center and Ice Arena
--- Left wing TOMAS POSPISIL posted two power-play goals, while center LOU DICKENSON chipped in the other marker
--- Netminder DAN TURPLE recorded 18 saves in two periods of action for the Wolves, while goaltender LARRY STERLING registered eight saves in the third period.
Wed., Sept. 26
Milwaukee 8, (at) Chicago 4
--- The Wolves scored twice in the first 12 minutes of play but the Milwaukee Admirals poured in four goals in the second period and eventually topped the Wolves, 8-4, in the preseason opener at Glacier Ice Arena
--- Forwards COLTON FRETTER, JORDAN FOX, KORY KARLANDER, and TOMAS POSPISIL lit the lamp for Chicago
--- Goaltenders DAN TURPLE (13 saves) and CRAIG KOWALSKI (10 saves) combined for 23 saves in KOWALSKI's loss


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Mostly Cloudy
Wind: 0 mph
To The Editor:
On November 3 and again exactly 20 days later the Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team coordinated with Mad River Valley Ambulance Service to search for missing hikers along the Long Trail on the ridgeline above the ski areas at Sugarbush. In both cases the searches began late at night, in bad weather, and lasted until the next morning.
It is important to note that Jon Hammond, vice president of operations at Sugarbush, his staff of snowmakers and groomers, along with others at Sugarbush were absolutely key in conducting these searches. At great expense to the resort, they took valuable time away from their duties of making snow and grooming trails. Sugarbush provided transportation for the search teams to and from the summits. The resort quickly opened up its clinics to serve as command posts. Sugarbush even provided GPS-enabled portable radios to each team so that their positions could be monitored at every step. Both of these searches came off very effectively because of the folks at Sugarbush.
The Mad River Valley is very lucky to have Sugarbush as such an excellent corporate citizen. The resort deserves a huge thank you from all of the searchers and the lost hikers who were all found uninjured.
Brian Lindner, team leader
Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team


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Upper-Air Data and Severe Weather
Given the right conditions, on the right day, severe weather can take a bright, blue sky and turn it into the platform for violent thunderstorms to form. The only way to get a heads up is to know exactly what is going on in the air above our heads.
That is something Texas A&M Students in the College of Geosciences is helping to do for Brazos Valley and national meteorologists.
Dr. Don Conlee at Texas A&M leads a team of students that launch weather balloons. Not just your typical balloon filled with helium, but on that carries scientific packages into the atmosphere that provide information about variables that are important in severe weather forecasting.
Conlee says that these A&M students are helping meteorologists around Texas because they are "frequently called by the NWS offices in Houston, Fort Worth, and sometimes from the Storm Prediction Center. As the situation develops and [the Brazos Valley's] position has value, they'll launch a special weather balloon from campus."
Upper-air data is collected at specific National Weather Service Offices around the country. The closet data -- that is collected on a normal basis -- to the Brazos Valley is in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Corpus Christi, Texas or Fort Worth, Texas. That "upper-air" hole is filled by Texas A&M when severe weather is possible. With these extra soundings, forecasters gain the understanding of the atmosphere roughly 100 miles outward from College Station.
Texas A&M University, Junior Meteorology Major Rachel Sodowsky says that "just looking at it in class gets you disconnected, but when you are out there collecting [data], it's nice to see it all come together."
It's a two-fold benefit. While these students are getting valuable, hands on practice while in school, forecasters are gaining a better understanding of what is happening beyond the scope of the typical computer forecast model.
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Female Acupuncture Model - Small
Both Chinese and English coded points illustration.
A wooden base for display mounting and a point location booklet.
Height: 50cm.
Weight (including packaging): 1400g
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99 in stock
Now: £14.95 (£17.94 inc. tax)
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Margaret Rose Spradlin was born February 16, 1925 in Durant, to Donald and Rosalie (Jackson) Butcher. She passed from this life March 17, 2013, in Paris, TX, at the age of 88. Margaret married J.D. Spradlin, Jr. on December 25, 1943 in Durant. They had been married for 69 years and together, had raised three children. Margaret was an avid quilter and was a member of the Monday Miller Quilters for over 30 years, where she helped with design. Margaret was also a long-time member of the Pushmataha County Quilt Guild. She also shared her sewing talents through the Florence Extension Homemakers, which made garments for the county fair. Margaret enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Margaret was preceded in death by her son: Jimmy Lee Spradlin; and a brother: Harry Butcher. She is survived by her husband: J.D. of the home; son: Dewey Donald Spradlin of San Francisco, CA; daughter: Rosemary Ann Garcia & husband Lloyd of Los Altos, CA; two grandchildren: Megan Rose Garcia & Daniel Garcia; sister-in-law: Royce Butcher and her daughter Kellie Butcher of Durant; as well as many other relatives and friends. Graveside Services were held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Antlers City Cemetery with Reverend Aaron Reed officiating. Interment followed.
Funeral Services were conducted by: Mills~Coffey Funeral Home in Antlers


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When it comes to playtime, kids are the pros—and with the right kids' casual shoes, they're practically unstoppable. Whether they're running at recess or kicking back on the couch watching cartoons, they'll be all set in a durable pair of shoes from JCPenney. We've got your kids covered in sporty sandals, boat shoes, flip flops, boots and more.
When it gets closer to bedtime, keep cold toes away with a warm pair of girls' or boys' slippers. Tucking them in will be a breeze when they're sporting their favorite Disney slippers—from princesses to Toy Story characters to Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
For every season, rain or shine, take advantage of our fun selection of slippers and shoes for kids at great prices any parent can appreciate.


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Friday, March 29, 2013
One of the joys of going to cardiac rehab classes at Summerville Medical Center is the recipes dietician Ashley Cobb shares with us. They are, of course, heart healthy. And if it's good for the heart, it's good for the rest of you.
One of my new favorites is the chicken cacciatore, a dish that's welcome any season. Service it with a cucumber and chickpea salad. Make your heart happy. Give them a try.
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
4 medium size chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 red bell peppers, sliced, (2 cups)
½ large white onion (1 cup)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes (no salt added)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoons capers drained (optional)
1 ounce grated/shredded parmesan cheese
Coat a large non-stick pan/skillet with 1 teaspoon olive oil, add chicken breasts and brown on medium high heat, 2-3 minutes each side. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add the second teaspoon olive oil, pepper and onions to the pan and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring often until lightly browned and starting to soften.
Add mushrooms and half can of tomatoes and continue to heat, stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minutes.
Add the browned chicken breasts, basil, capers, garlic powder and second half of the canned tomatoes. Reduce heat to low-medium and simmer stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes until chicken is tender and no longer pink inside. Garnish with parmesan cheese.
Cucumber and chickpea salad.
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 can garbanzo beans (low sodium if you can find it) drained and rinsed
½ tomato, chopped
¼ red onion, minced
1 rib celery sliced
1 cucumber, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh dill or 4 teaspoons dried dill
1 ½ teaspoons red wine vinegar
Juice of half a lemon
Juice of half a lime
Cracked black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dried parsley to taste
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Stir in beans, cover and turn off heat. Set aside.
Gently toss remaining ingredients in large salad bowl. Add beans.
Serve with additional parsley if desired.
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