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Lesson Plan
King of the Middle March Discussion Guide
- Grades: 6–8
About this book
Discussion Guide to The Arthur Trilogy
The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing Places,
and King of the Middle March
by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Introduction to the Series
The legendary stories of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table have captured the imagination of countless generations, circulating first in medieval oral tradition and manuscripts and later as one of the first books ever to be printed in England in (Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, 1485). In recent times they have been the subject of film versions and even a Broadway musical, Camelot. The stories have been retold, reworked, and rewritten many times throughout the last thousand years largely because they are an allegory for our humanity—the longing, fear, anger, despair, hope, and love that occur in all our lives. In The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing Places, and King of the Middle March Kevin Crossley-Holland has interwoven these legendary tales of Britain with a coming-of-age story set at the turn of the 13th Century. The story of Arthur de Caldicot incorporates the social life of a country manor in the English/Welsh border country and the cataclysmic historic events of the Fourth Crusade with an adolescent boy's longing for adventure and self-knowledge. Arthur's imaginative life in the world of his "seeing stone," a magical device that reveals to him the legends of King Arthur, informs his growing knowledge of his own world.
About the Book
Twelve-year-old Arthur lives in an English manor house in the Welsh borderland in the year 1199. Through a flat piece of obsidian, his "seeing stone," a gift from his father's mysterious friend Merlin, Arthur spies the unfolding story of his namesake in an earlier age whose life, though very different, seems to parallel his in strange ways. In the present, Arthur interacts with the village people — in particular his special friend Gatty, the daughter of his father's overseer — and worries about his future. Will he be able to be a squire and eventually a knight, or will he be directed toward a career in the church through his skill in writing? As the story in the obsidian unfolds, Arthur sees his namesake pull a sword from a stone and become hailed as the king of the Britons . . . and he is increasingly puzzled by the connections between his life and that of Arthur-in-the-Stone. Near the end of the book Arthur's world turns upside down when he learns that his parents are actually foster parents and his own father is the harsh man he believed to be his uncle. Merlin poses the question to him: "But who are you? And who do you want to be? That's what matters."
Discussion Points
- How is Arthur's life changed by his possession of The Seeing Stone? Does the Stone illuminate for him questions he has about his own life, his own world? Describe specific places where this might happen.
- What is the importance of Gatty in Arthur's life? What does she mean to him? What does he mean to her?
- Compare Gatty and Grace. How are their lives different? What are the differences and similarities in their personalities?
- Compare Arthur and Serle. Why is there so much tension between them? Is Serle's treatment of Arthur simply the teasing of an older brother?
- Why does Oliver dislike Merlin so much? What does Merlin represent to Oliver?
- The character of Merlin appears both in the Stone and at Caldicot. Is he the same person? What does he represent in each story? What does he mean to each Arthur?
Setting and Theme
- How does the author establish a sense of time and place in this book? What are the images, the sights, the sounds that come to your mind as you think about Caldicot, the village, Tumber Hill, Arthur's writing room?
- How does the setting of the world in the Stone differ from Arthur's world at Caldicot? And how does that difference affect the life of each Arthur? Are their characters shaped by the times in which they live?
- Sir Pellinore, in the Stone, says, "Each of us must have a dream to light our way through this dark world." What does he mean by this? What does Arthur need to do to find his dream?
- The manor court is a pivotal scene in the book. How would you have voted when Lankin was accused of theft? Was the court a fair way to determine guilt or innocence? What did this scene mean to Arthur?
- Sir John says to Arthur: "Who we are isn't only a matter of blood; it's what we make of ourselves. And you, Arthur, are fit to be a king!" What has Arthur done throughout the story that causes Sir John to feel this way? Does this theme apply to other characters in the book? Does it reflect the general beliefs of medieval society?
- Can stories we hear or scenes we witness from another era affect the way we conduct our lives? What is the meaning of the story in the stone for Arthur's growth in 1199-1200? What stories from the past have influenced your understanding of yourself and your own world?
About the Book
The story continues as Arthur leaves Caldicot early in the year 1200 to take his place as Lord Stephen's squire. On arriving at Holt Castle he encounters Lord Stephen's niece Winnie, saving her when her horse bolts. Lord Stephen has decided to join the latest Crusade, and Arthur as his squire is to accompany him to the Holy Land. Preparations for the journey occupy much of Arhur's time, but he is also consumed with his desire to find his birth mother, who he discovers is a village woman from his father's estate. The circumstances of his birth have been shrouded in secret until now, and he is discouraged by everyone from trying to uncover the truth. In the Seeing Stone, King Arthur's story again parallels Arthur's in some ways and not others. He sees the young King meeting his own mother Ygerna for the first time and taking his rightful place as leader of the Britons, forming the fellowship of the Round Table. Arthur-in-the-Stone and his knights follow many quests, while Arthur seeks to understand his own needs — the quest to find his birth mother, to understand his relationship with his distant birth father Sir William, to join the Crusade, to define his future relationship with Winnie, and to comprehend the story unfolding in the Stone.
Discussion Points
- How does Arthur's life at Holt differ from his life at Caldicot? How does he deal with his homesickness?
- Compare Lord Stephen to Sir John and Sir William. Do they have character traits in common? How do they differ in the way they conduct their households, in the way they treat their families, in the way they treat Arthur?
- Compare Winnie to Grace and to Gatty. What attracts Arthur to each of them? What do we know of Arthur through his interactions with them?
- Servants at Holt play an important part in the story, largely in their betrayals. How does the anger of Alan the armorer, the depravity of Haket the priest, and the theft of Lady Judith's jewel by Rowena affect Arthur and others in the household? What is the importance of Rahere, the jester?
- What is the importance of Arthur's trip to Wenlock priory?
- Through the Stone, Arthur views many scenes of relationship between men and women, between husbands and wives, between knights and ladies. He sees his namesake, King Arthur, tricked into being unfaithful. What do all these scenes mean to him and how do they affect his own life?
- Merlin seems more elusive in this volume, both to Arthur and to his namesake in the Stone. Why is the character of Merlin not as present as Arthur grows older? What is the explanation in the story in the Stone? What is the explanation in Arthur's story?
Setting and Theme
- When Arthur-in-the-Stone asks Sir Pellinore where he will find his quest, Pellinore replies: "Allow yourself to be lost, and you will begin to find it." What does he mean?
- What are the "crossing places" referred to in the title? What does the concept of "crossing places" mean to Arthur?
- When Merlin helps Arthur understand magic he identifies different "degrees" of magic: conjuring (trickery), understanding, concentration, and finally divine magic. What do you believe about different forms of "magic" and how these forces might be explained in Arthur's world? Do these forces exist in our world?
- Arthur says his life and the story in the Stone are "like my left and right eye, which overlap but can each see more than the other." What does he mean? How do the themes of good and evil, right and wrong, that are at work in the Stone affect Arthur's perception of his own world?
- Both the Crusades and the quest for the Holy Grail are linked to Christianity. Discuss the importance of religion in the shaping of historical events both in King Arthur's time and in the 11th-12th century. How are people who practice Judaism and Islam viewed by Arthur? By the villagers? By Lord Stephen?
- What is the meaning of Arthur's vision in the last chapter? What do you think his hopes are for the manor at Catmole, and how will the story in the Stone help him to achieve it?
About the Book
The year is 1202. Arthur and Lord Stephen arrive in Venice where they are camped on St. Nicholas Island (known today as the Lido) with other knights, squires, and fighting men from all over Europe, waiting to begin the Fourth Crusade. The Venetians want to be paid for the ships they have built before the Crusade can be launched, but the Crusaders cannot raise the money. Arthur's father, Sir William, arrives with his mistress, Lady Cecile, and his presence further complicates their problematic relationship. Arthur is knighted by Milon de Provins and befriends Milon's young squire Bertie. The Crusaders are in a state of confusion, quarreling among themselves, until a bargain is finally struck. The Doge of Venice persuades them to help him subdue the rebellious city of Zara in exchange for part of the debt they owe the Venetians. Arthur and many of the Crusaders question this turn of events, that they will be attacking a Christian city, and Arthur especially is dismayed by the violence he witnesses in the attack. Quartered in the captured city, Arthur's growing unease is reflected in the violent events that occur in his seeing stone. His journey reaches its climax when Lord Stephen is wounded in a dispute with Sir William who, in turn, is accidentally killed by Arthur. Leaving the Crusade, Arthur accompanies the ailing Lord Stephen home to England and at last is able to claim his inheritance of Catmole, the manor he intends to rule justly and well.
Discussion Points
- In what ways has Arthur changed from the earlier books? What are the indications that he is growing up and what are the ways in which he still acts like a boy?
- Who is Arthur's greatest mentor in this story? What role does each of the adults he encounters play in his life at this point: Lord Stephen, Sir William, Milon, Milon's fighting men, Lady Cecile, Sister Cika?
- What is the importance of Bertie in the story? What does Bertie's friendship mean to Arthur?
- Discuss Arthur's relationship with his father as it develops in this book. How does Arthur feel about his father's death?
- Arthur says, "Sometimes I think I'm almost at war with myself because I'm anxious and in a hurry, but Sir Launcelot and Tom are both easygoing." What do you think of Arthur's assessment of himself? What makes him compare Tom to Sir Launcelot?
- Discuss the character of King Arthur in the stone. How are his life and his kingdom changing and how does he react to these changes? How does Arthur de Caldicot react to the increasing violence in the stories of King Arthur's knights?
- Describe Arthur's feelings for Winnie and their betrothal. Does he expect Winnie to wait for him to come home from the Crusade? How does he react to the news that Gatty has gone to Jerusalem? Discuss Arthur's meeting with his natural mother. Does it meet his expectations after he has waited so long?
- Discuss the character of Merlin. Why is he seen so seldom in this book, both in Arthur's life and in the story in the stone? Why does Merlin take the stone back from Arthur as he is approaching Catmole?
- Arthur says, "My stone is much, much more than a mirror or a pond. It is a world." What does he mean? What role does the world of the stone play in Arthur's life?
- Discuss the setting for the Crusaders on St. Nicholas Island. Why do the Venetians keep them on the island? Why is there so much fighting among those camped on St. Nicholas?
- How does the experience of being in Zara affect Arthur's feelings about the Crusade? How does the capture of Zara affect the way the Crusaders behave? What is the effect on Arthur of finding Sister Cika's garden?
- What emotions does Arthur experience when he returns to England? Discuss how he feels in each place he visits — Holt, Caldicot, Verdon, Catmole. What are his dreams for Catmole? Do you think he will be able to create the community there that he has imagined?
- What is the meaning of being a knight? Arthur has many role models, good and bad. Discuss the various lessons he is given, in his own life and in the Stone, and what they mean to him. How would you react to those experiences?
- What does Lord Stephen mean when he says a knight must have two hearts, one hard as a diamond and one soft as hot wax? Identify places in the story where Arthur's heart must be hard and where it is soft.
- What does the Holy Grail represent in the story in the stone? Why is it so difficult for the knights to ask the right question in the presence of the Grail? What is the equivalent of the quest for the Grail in Arthur de Caldicot's time? What meaning does the quest for the Grail have in our time?
- In the stone, Sir Gawain says, "we often do things we believe for the best, and then they turn out to be for the worst." How does this phrase apply to the story in the stone? How does it apply to the Crusade?
- Arthur exclaims, "All this hatred and suffering. How can one person make any difference at all?" Does he find the answer to that question? What is the answer to that question for you?
- The Crusades produced much bloodshed and tension between nations and cultures. Were there any positive results of the Crusades? What did Arthur learn about himself and his own values from his experience in the Crusade?
- Discuss the format of these books. Each is written in a series of exceptionally short chapters. How does this style affect your comprehension of the story?
- Why do you think the author chose to use the diary format for telling this story?
- Discuss the use of the intertwining stories and the device of the Seeing Stone. How is Arthur's understanding of himself and his world affected by the stories he sees in the Stone?
- The themes of good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace are interwoven throughout these three novels. Give examples of how these themes are worked out. What other themes can you identify that occur in the parallel worlds of Arthur's life and the story in the Stone?
- Discuss the idea of a quest. What does it mean in King Arthur's time? What does it mean for Arthur de Caldicot? What does it mean in your own life?
Background Reading
Bailey, Linda. Adventures in the Middle Ages. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press, 2000.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Beowulf. Illustrated by Charles Keeping. Oxford University Press, 1999.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The World of King Arthur and His Court: People, Places, Legend, and Lore. Illustrated by Peter Malone. Dutton, 2004
Hanawalt, Barbara A. The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History. Oxford University Press, 1999
Kerhaghan, Pamela. The Crusades: Cultures in Conflict. Cambridge University Press, 1993
Macaulay, David. Castle. Houghton Mifflin, 1977
Rice, Chris, et. al. Crusades: The Struggle for the Holy Lands. DK Publishing, 2001
Snyder, Christopher. The World of King Arthur. Thames & Hudson, 2000
Related Fiction
Cadnum, Michael. The Book of the Lion. Viking, 2000
As a knight's squire, Edmund travels through Europe and across the Mediterranean, during the Crusade led by King Richard. While awaiting the arrival of the king, he learns the everyday reality of Crusader life-heat, poor food, sickness, and boredom.
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. Clarion, 1994
A feisty 13-year-old girl living at the end of the 13th century keeps a daily record of her life, most notably her efforts to keep her father from marrying her off, providing insight into medieval life as well as her own lively mind and spirit.
Cushman, Karen. The Midwife's Apprentice. Clarion, 1995
When a homeless waif decides to take charge of her life, she becomes the helper to the local sharp-tongued midwife and learns much about courage, fear, and becoming responsible for her actions.
Gregory, Kristiana. Royal Diaries: Eleanor of Aquitaine: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine, France, 1136
Fictionalized diary of Eleanor, first daughter of the duke of Aquitaine, from 1136 until 1137, when at age fifteen she becomes queen of France. Includes historical notes on her later life when she married Henry II of England, mother of King Richard and King John.
Jinks, Catherine. Pagan's Crusade. Candlewick, 2003
Pagan Kidrouk, an enterprising urchin, joins the Knights Templar in late 12th Century Jerusalem in a desperate attempt to escape the violence of the streets. His quick wit is a foil for the devoutly serious Lord Roland as the two live through the city's capture by Saladin. The adventures continue in Pagan in Exile (2004), Pagan's Vows (2004), and Pagan's Scribe (2005).
MCaffrey, Anne. Black Horses for the King. Harcourt, 1996
Galwyn, a mistreated lad, is chosen to accompany Lord Artos because of his facility at languages and handling horses. The Lord has a vision of using great, black Libyan stallions to carry him and his Companions into battle against the Saxons in 6th century Britain.
Temple, Frances. The Ramsay Scallop. Orchard, 1994
Elenor and Thomas, unhappy and confused about life, are sent on a pilgrimage by their village priest in 1299. As they travel to the shrine in Spain, they learn much about fellow travelers, themselves, and the world around them.
Weil, Sylvie. My Guardian Angel. Scholastic, 2004
Feisty 12-year-old Elvina lives in Troyes, France at the time of the First Crusade and can read and write, rare skills for a girl of her time. When three Crusaders pound at her door one cold afternoon, she has to make a difficult decision that may be a matter of life and death.
Beckman, Thea. Crusade in Jeans. Front Street, 2003
Winner of the Gold Medal award in the Netherlands, this riveting tale follows a 20th century teenager who is transported by a time machine to the 13th century and becomes embroiled in the Children's Crusade.
Retellings of the Arthurian Legends
Morris, Gerald. The Squire's Tale. Houghton Mifflin, 1998
The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady. Houghton Mifflin, 1999
The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf. Houghton Mifflin, 2000
Riordan, James. Tales of King Arthur. Illustrated by Victor Ambrus. Rand McNally, 1982
Stewart, Mary. The Crystal Cave. Morrow, 1970
The Hollow Hills, Morrow, 1973
The Last Enchantment, Morrow, 1979
The Wicked Day. Ballantine, 1996
Sutcliff, Rosemary. The Light Beyond the Forest, Dutton, 1980
The Sword in the Circle, Dutton, 1981
The Road to Camlann, Dutton, 1982
Thomson, Sarah L. The Dragon's Son. Orchard, 2001
White, T. H. The Once and Future King. Putnam, 1958
The Book of Merlyn. University of Texas, 1977
Web sites
About the Author
Despite failing his Anglo-Sazon exams, Kevin Crossley-Holland developed a passion for the Middle Ages and Anglo-Saxon literature while he was a student at Oxford University. While working as a children's book editor after graduation, he began writing his own retellings of medieval legends as well as his own poetry. He has taught in various universities, including extended periods in America, and now lives with his wife on the coast of the North Sea in Norfolk, England. Kevin Crossley-Holland is best known for his many retellings of folk tales and legends, including his version of Beowulf. His Arthur Trilogy combines his interest in folklore, and particularly the tales of King Arthur, with his study of the Middle Ages and the period of the Crusades in a vibrant series that has won much praise and many readers around the world.
Interview with Kevin Crossley-Holland (August 24, 2004)
by Connie Rockman
Many of your earlier books are retellings of folk tales and legends. What led you to write a story set at the turn of the 13th Century?
When I was a boy, I took over the shed at the bottom of the garden, and displayed fossils and potsherds and coins in it, and proudly called it my 'museum'. I charged people to come in, and my most prized possession was a Saracen shield dating from the Crusades. Since then, I have been absolutely fascinated by the medieval world — its passion and piety and color. It's true that much of my work has been with traditional tales, but actually my first two books, Havelok the Dane and King Horn, were novels based on medieval Romances.
Would the stories of King Arthur, interwoven into this narrative, have been familiar to a boy living in the year 1200? How did you decide which of the Arthurian stories to have the Stone reveal to Arthur de Caldicot?
The reason for setting the trilogy at the turn of the 13th century is that this is when stories of King Arthur were just, but only just, becoming known in Wales and England. King Arthur is the central figure in the priest Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain. Geoffrey died in 1154, and during the following generations many medieval writers were attracted to his portrait of a warrior-hero-king, and made use of it. My choice of episodes was determined by two objectives. I wanted them to throw light on what was happening to Arthur de Caldicot in his own life, and on the values underpinning it, and I wanted my readers to experience a full-bodied version and exploration of the King Arthur story.
What types of research helped you to create such a vivid picture of the middle Ages?
Total immersion! I read and read and read; I listened to early medieval music; I went to museums and galleries and stared at artifacts and paintings; I talked to friends more expert than I in the medieval world; I traveled to places named in the novels (Ludlow in England, Venice in Italy, Zara in Croatia) and stripped away their modern clothing and soaked them up. I imagined.
You give many details of life in earlier times in these books, and yet the writing is so fresh, the voices so compelling. Could you tell us something about your writing style and the way you approached the series?
For each detail I include, I throw dozens away. So I guess the first trick is to pick the right details, the most revealing details. Then I think one must simply write quick, clean, bright prose. For me, this means rewriting and rewriting: almost never adding, almost always cutting. It also means listening to the music my language makes, and constantly tuning it. This is never more important than with direct speech. Each of us makes his/her own music. I think that my work as a poet and librettist (writing words for opera and music theater) have colored the way I approached the trilogy. The little short chapters, for instance, are like arias: moments of anticipation or reflection, rather than full of action. And they're written in quite intense prose. That's OK for a few paragraphs, but the reader would probably die of indigestion if I went on like that for page after page. I handwrite my books, incidentally, with my lovely Waterman pen. Black ink. A waiting page…
What do the old legends mean to you, to all of us in the present day?
The Arthurian legends are not the product of one person or place or time. The very opposite, in fact. They're a great treasure hoard, a great quarry, like the Old Testament stories or the Greek or Norse myths. And within them they contain stories revolving around just about every aspect of human behaviour. Our idealism and generosity of spirit and laughter and energy and resourcefulness but also our greed and dishonesty and even cruelty…All this is there in the Arthurian legends and in traditional tales as whole: and that's why they are just as startlingly alive and relevant now as they have always been. They show action and consequence. They are concerned with the utter joy and predicament of being human. They give us back ourselves.
The character of Merlin, present in the lives of both Arthurs, is a mysterious figure. What does he represent to you?
My Merlin gives Arthur de Caldicot his seeing stone, moves between worlds, and educates both Arthurs (as often as not by answering their questions with questions). He points out that the best way we can learn is to work out things for ourselves. In his person, the best of Christianity and Paganism combine; he is eclectic and tolerant. In a way, Merlin makes all this happen- the legends of King Arthur, and Arthur de Caldicot's exposure to them. He is a sort of magical impresario.
It's hard to imagine that we are finished with Arthur's story. Do you have any plans to write more about him and his life at Catmole?
I'm writing a novel about Gatty, the village girl who is Arthur de Caldicot's friend. I'm sending her on a great journey. A pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When she comes home, Arthur will be there, won't he, there and eager to hear her story. And then? Who knows!
Discussion guide prepared by Connie Rockman, Children's Literature Consultant, Adjunct Professor of Literature for Children and Young Adults at the University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University, and editor of The Eighth and Ninth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators (H.W. Wilson).
- Subjects:Crusades, Content Area Reading, Literature, Reading Comprehension, Literary Devices, Literature Appreciation, Feelings and Emotions, Courage, Bravery, Heroism, Determination and Perseverance, European, Monarchy and Royalty, Magic and Supernatural, Europe, Social Studies through Literature, Middle Ages, Honor, Loyalty, Foster Care, Friends and Friendship
- Skills:Literary Elements, Reading Comprehension, Social Studies


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"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."
In fact, James seemed to have a couple of ideas of which teams could go and some players that would make other teams better right now.
"[Contraction] is not my job; I'm a player but that is why it the league was so great," James said.
"Imagine if you could take Kevin Love off Minnesota and add him to another team and you shrink the [league]. Looking at some of the teams that aren't that great, you take Brook Lopez or you take Devin Harris off these teams that aren't that good right now and you add him to a team that could be really good. Not saying let's take New Jersey and let's take Minnesota out of the league. But hey, you guys are not stupid, I'm not stupid, it would be great for the league."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/ ... id=5952952
Doesn't this seem really stupid? The NFL is thriving like mad, and some of it's more popular teams are cities like Green Bay, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and yet are able to balance it out with popular franchises like New England, both New York franchises and Dallas.
But go ahead and follow ledouche's fantasy Mr. Stern, I'm sure that you guys will plummet below Arena Football and Soccer in no time!

subset: commoncrawl


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'Tis the season to be giving...so we won't speculate as to why Lindsay Lohan looked considerably more polished than her overworked, overstuffed black Hermes Birkin when she headed out to do an interview for "Good Morning America" last week. Or why she was photographed God knows how many hours later looking like a drunken caricature of her mom. We'll say something nice. Lindsay, I love your new old hair color. It reminds us of when you did the Parent Trap move, or Mean Girls, and you were still an upbeat, fresh-faced youth, and not...you know. Also, I love those Giuseppe Zanotti Ankle Boots. Where did you...acquire those from?
No, but seriously. Lindsay. You're just a few months away from being on Dr. Phil. Everything Amy Poehler said during that infamous opening sketch of SNL when you hosted in 2005 has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You've already got one Lifetime movie in the bag. I say this sincerely - please hand that Birkin over to someone who will love it and treat it with respect. Someone who won't load it up with what is clearly a handle full of vodka, and then abandon it at a club at 4 am. And please find some modicum of sobriety before it's forced on you by hard jail time.


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Building and departmental course prefixes are described in the abbreviation guide and information about specific courses is found in the KCTCS Catalog.
The UK College of Engineering offers classes on our campus leading to degrees in chemical and mechanical engineering.


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Who Said It: The Real Housewives or The Walking Dead?
Jun 29, 2016 2:30 PM EDT
The Walking Dead and the shows in the Real Housewives franchise are concerned with a lot of the same themes - family, trust, honor, throwing wine in your enemies' faces... (Actually, that last one may just be Real Housewives.) The point is, the ficti… Read more


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Looking for ways to observe All Souls Day? File this away for next year: One of the oldest cemeteries in Arkansas had its headstones scrubbed and power-washed last weekend as part of a general cleanup in preparation for tomorrow's feast. The story is here in the Arkansas Catholic.
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Description: The iLEAPS Science Plan and Implementation Strategy defines the scientific objectives and key research issues of the land-atmosphere project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. It also outlines a strategy for addressing the key research questions. The scope of iLEAPS research spans from molecular level processes - such as synthesis of volatile organic compounds in vegetation - to Earth System science issues, climate and global change. iLEAPS research emphasises the importance of connections, feedbacks and teleconnections between the numerous processes in the land-atmosphere interface. Due to the complexity and wide range of scientific issues, iLEAPS stresses the need for increased integrative approaches and collaboration, involving scientists from various disciplines, experimentalists and modellers, and international research projects and programmes.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone: Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
Date: 2005
Creator: Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone
Description: Coastal zones play a key role in Earth System functioning, by contributing significantly to the life support systems of most societies. Human activities modifying riverine hydrology and riverine material fluxes to the coastal zone, have increased in both scale and rate of change in the last 200 years. The underlying processes that drive changes to coastal systems occur at a multiplicity of temporal and spatial scales. These changes alter the availability of ecosystem goods and services. However, disciplinary fragmentation impedes our ability to understand the regional and global changes that affect coastal systems, and thus limits our ability to guide management and decision making. Progress has been made in understanding the changes in Earth System processes that affect the coastal zone, and the role of coastal systems in global change. This includes identifying proxies that describe the state of coastal systems under existing conditions and change scenarios. Typologies have been developed to assist in the interpolation of results into areas where primary information is lacking. This has enabled a first-order up-scaling to a global synthesis.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
Date: 2006
Creator: International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC)
Description: The IGAC Science Plan and Implementation Strategy lays out the scientific objectives and key research issues of the atmospheric chemistry project of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) as both IGAC and IGBP enter their second phase. It also lays out a framework for addressing these objectives and issues, recognizing the need for collaboration with partner programmes and projects. The scientific focus of this document emerged from the first decade of IGAC research, much of which was conducted in the context of focused, intensive measurement campaigns. The scope of IGAC in its next phase includes both regional characterisation and the extension into issues that cross more expansive boundaries in space, time and discipline. While local and regional-scale atmospheric chemical composition will be a primary focus, it is now clear that issues such as intercontinental transport and transformation of chemically active species and the interactions between atmospheric chemistry and climate must also be addressed in order to better understand atmospheric chemical composition and to provide guidance to the public and policy-making community.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
Date: 2006
Creator: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
Description: This Science Plan and Implementation Strategy sets out the research agenda for the second phase of IGBP. The document describes the IGBP strategy for producing high quality, unbiased, credible, fundamental scientific research in the area of global change: a strategy centered on ten projects, to be carried out by the several thousand scientists worldwide who are part of the IGBP network. Further, the document describes how the organization will communicate the results of this research to different audiences, in order to realize its vision: "to provide scientific knowledge to improve the sustainability of the living Earth".
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
A Strategy for Climate Change Stabilization Experiments with AOGCMs and ESMs
Date: May 2007
Creator: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
Description: This report outlines a strategy for the new AOGCM/ESM modeling components in terms of aerosols/atmospheric chemistry and carbon cycle/dynamic vegetation components that are under development and implementation in ESMs that involves a proposed experimental design that integrates impacts and scenarios (represented in IPCC WG2 and WG3, respectively) and physical climate science (WG1). We summarize with a suite of recommendations for the joint WGCM, AIMES and IPCC communities.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
The Surface Ocean - Lower Atmosphere Study: Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
Date: 2004
Creator: Broadgate, Wendy & Young, Bill
Description: SOLAS (Surface Ocean - Lower Atmosphere Study) is a new international research initiative that has as its goal: To achieve quantitative understanding of the key biogeochemical-physical interactions and feedbacks between the ocean and the atmosphere, and of how this coupled system affects and is affected by climate and environmental change. Achievement of this goal is important in order to understand and quantify the role that ocean-atmosphere interactions play in the regulation of climate and global change. The domain of SOLAS is focussed on processes at the air-sea interface and includes a natural emphasis on the atmospheric and upper-ocean boundary layers, while recognising that some of the processes to be studied will, of necessity, be linked to significantly greater height and depth scales. SOLAS research will cover all ocean areas including coastal seas and ice covered areas. A fundamental characteristic of SOLAS is that the research is not only interdisciplinary (involving biogeochemistry, physics, mathematical modelling, etc.), but also involves closely coupled studies requiring marine and atmospheric scientists to work together. Such research will require a shift in attitude within the academic and funding communities, both of which are generally organised on a medium-by-medium basis in most countries.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries


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My Bride is a Mermaid
Minority Report
Episode 16 | TV-14
Akeno's job is to snoop around and send mermaids who don't fit in on land back to the sea. It doesn't take much to fail her tests, and now Sun's happiness is at risk!!
Sub Expires: 09-20-2013
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/my-bride-is-a-mermaidHide Details


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Into The Woods: Henry David Thoreau would have made an excellent trail runner - Page 2
Start out at a slow, even, pace, and let yourself settle into the new terrain. Yes, it's bumpy. Nope, it's never really going to "level out" or get not-bumpy. This, my friend, is the new normal. Embrace it. Attack it. Leap over it, buoyed by green leaves and oxygen. (You can breathe in here! Pine needles! Flowers! Inhale.) And, there's Mr. First Hill. Wow. Large! No matter. You are Trail God/Goddess, and this is a mere appetizer for you, devourer of all topography. Lean slightly forward, keep your cadence even, and rock on up. Before you know it, you're on the amusement-park-ride down which, depending on your predilection, is either the best part or slightly terrifying (or if you're me, it's both; I actually found myself yelling, "whoaaaa!' like a cartoon character on a particularly spinning-out-of-control downhill recently). Be careful, but try and roll with the downhill grade rather than fight it. Take a moment to watch with awe the experienced senseis who can barrel down a tooth-jarring grade at full-bore sprint, rocks and roots be damned. This will be you someday, grasshopper. Patience.
Along the way, get out your mental paintset and capture the amazing scenery around you. Nary a car, traffic light, or errant delivery truck will mar your way. From the branch-cracking stillness of early autumn to the pristine golden light of a summer dawn, it's yours to savor. And unlike many of your familiar road routes, it will never look the same way twice. Eventually, you will learn if you prefer to run on the dirt or the grass part of the trail, how to keep your root-detecting radar sharp, and how to welcome the hills the way you welcome that difficult-but-oh-so-entertaining relative at the family reunion. You will keep bug spray in your car, and sunscreen, and towels. You are sipping the trail running Kool-Aid, and it tastes oh so fine.
As it penetrates your bloodstream, you will divine the virtues of trail shoes, learn to appreciate the ingenious means of transporting your various essential beverages, and marvel at a host of other gear designed to make half a day on the trails sustainable. You may become even more brave, and in the best tradition of medieval knights throwing down for the joust, put your colors into the ring for a trail race. (They're not all 100 miles long; my local Minneapolis running store, TC Running Company recently started a three-race trail series with nothing over a 10K distance.) At least at the very local level, you will not find gimlet-eyed age-group competitors eying each other up at the starting line of these events; rather, you will find pre-race encouragement, during-the-race cowbell, and post-race support, community, and often beer. (One must replace one's carb stores, must one not?)
Best of all, you will have done it. You will have begun, as Thoreau said, "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."
You will have jumped off the carousel of relentless work, pounding-crowded runs, and impact-related aches and pains, and found a soft landing in the welcoming and wondrous dirt.
Amy Clark continues to marvel at the amazing trails and trail people of the Twin Cities.


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Group trying to purchase Ford
ALPENA – The 110-year-old J.B. Ford, the only remaining vessel of the W.A. Hawgood Fleet, could be facing the scrapyard in six months. This piece of maritime history last operated in 1985, and has since been used for cement storage at Lafarge North America in Superior, Wis., where she awaits her fate to this day.
The Great Lakes Steamship Society hopes to keep the Ford from the scrapyard. Society President Steven Haverty, along with other maritime historians and preservationists, want to buy the Ford and turn her into an interactive museum, forever preserving this rare and resilient ship for future generations.
"The more people that know about it, the better our chances are of saving the Ford," Haverty said.
Alpena is the hopeful destination of the Ford, since she was primarily home ported here, but before she can be restored, the GLSS must own the ship.
"This is a huge undertaking," Haverty said. "We are trying to gain support, donations, and funding from anywhere available, but restoring a ship of this size is costly. Dozens of people have offered to help restore the ship, but the first hurdle is actually obtaining it from Lafarge. The outpouring of community support is amazing, I just hope people don't drop the ball and forget about the Ford."
The most prominent problem surrounding the Ford is the environmental hazard the ship currently poses. Lafarge is willing to sell her, but she needs to be approved for sale by the marine group in Washington because of asbestos and lead paint still remaining all over the ship.
"Lafarge is responsible for the asbestos and lead paint being disposed of properly," Mark Thomas, Lafarge marine manager, said. "If we donate it, the money for the proper hazard disposal would have to be provided within six months by whoever purchased it. Even though Lafarge would sell or donate the ship, they are grandfathered with it until the asbestos is properly disposed of."
Thomas said the cost of this task will be enormously high.
If the Ford is approved for sale by the marine division, Lafarge can donate it to whomever has the money for the hazards removal. Thomas hinted that there are two parties besides the GLSS interested in the Ford, and one of them intends to sink the ship and use it as a diving exploration site.
The Ford was built in 1903 for the Commonwealth Steamship Fleet, one of the W.A. Hawgood Fleets. Originally named the Edwin F. Holmes, the Ford delivered iron ore with a 1,500 hp triple-expansion steam engine, fed by two coal-fired marine boilers.
She survived the "Mataafa Storm" of November 1905, and later the Great Storm of 1913 while sailing on Lake Superior. During the storm Lake Huron wind gusts reached 90 mph and the Holmes was hit by a wave over 70 feet high, which caused damage to the pilot house. This storm is remembered as the worst natural disaster in the history of the Great Lakes, claiming 12 ships without survivors, and running another 32 aground, taking 235 lives, 178 in Lake Huron, and three dozen more ashore.
The Holmes was sold to Pittsburgh Steamship Company and renamed the E.C. Collins. The Collins served the steelmaker into WWII. In 1944, as the result of an incident between the Pittsburgh and Kinsman fleet, the Collins was given to the Steinbrenner family's Kinsman fleet where she carried grain.
In 1956, the Collins was sold to the Huron Portland Cement Company and converted to a self-unloading cement carrier and was renamed J.B. Ford in 1959. She was converted from coal to oil firing boilers, and hauled cement from the Huron Portland Cement plant for over 25 years.
In 1987, Huron Cement was sold to Lafarge and Inland Lakes Transportation managed the fleet. The J.B. Ford never sailed again.
Nicole Grulke can be reached via email at firstname.lastname@example.com or by phone at 358-5687.


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This week we have lyrics from Cobra Starship's 'One Day, Robots Will Cry' from their 2007 release, ¡Viva La Cobra!.
Sleep for days.
Come over, come over.
I won't make the same mistakes.
I'm dying not to hurt you.
In our dreams we can be complete
If we go to sleep
We can wake up home again.


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This photo is of some of my favorites. I am a huge fan of Sarah-Kate Lynch, as you can see. She is from New Zealand and some of her books can be difficult to find here, but well worth the hunt online for overseas booksellers. All of these have been inspirational or thought-provoking in a lasting way. I also love how pretty they are.
Do YOU have a book stack YOU would like to share... email us a photo and description!


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TRAINING LEVEL: Basic
CLASS SIZE: Minimum: 1 Maximum: 1
The Materials Testing and Reducing Aggregate Samples course will cover the two methods for splitting a sample; using a mechanical splitter and quartering. The purpose of these procedures is to reduce large samples of aggregate to the appropriate size for testing. The end product should be a sample that is representative of the source.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials or AASHTO procedures and specifications are used throughout the course. The course covers two methods used for splitting, the mechanical method and the quartering method. Both of these processes are covered in detail. There are questions for the students as a review of the material. References are given for further information.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
This training is targeted to the beginning technician that will be reducing samples for testing using mechanical spitting and/or quartering for a contractor, producer, agency, or consultant. This training is recommended for the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council levels I and II.
If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at
email@example.com or 877.558.6873.


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A husband and wife must wait for the chance to tell legislators what their pain means.
By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published April 20, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Halfway to the state Capitol, Michelle Allen couldn't help thinking:
I wish Brooke could have taken this trip with us.
Then she remembered:
Brooke isn't here anymore. It's because she's not here that we're making this trip.
Allen and her husband, Chris, had left St. Petersburg just ahead of rush-hour traffic Wednesday afternoon. They drove nearly 300 miles, hoping that once they reached Tallahassee, they could convince legislators they should be paid $1.3-million in compensation for the 2005 wrongful death of their 8-year-old daughter, Brooke Ingoldsby.
They knew they would have only about three minutes to make their case. What they didn't know was how in the world to accomplish that.
"If I were coming before them to talk about taxes or property insurance, I'd have no problem," Michelle Allen said. "But to try to explain to them in three minutes what kind of child Brooke was, that's just impossible."
Allen remembers the morning of Feb. 11, 2005, as if it were yesterday.
She drove Brooke to her bus stop at 90th Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N. Brooke kissed her cheek and said, "I love you, Mom," before sprinting toward her bus.
The next time Allen saw Brooke, she was in the emergency room at Bayfront Medical Center. Brooke had suffered lung and liver damage, broken bones and serious head trauma after she was struck by an SUV as she tried to cross busy King Street on her way home from school.
The bus driver, who had never driven the route before, dropped Brooke off on the wrong side of the street. School officials later found out the driver had lied about the accident. He said he had written down incorrect information when he called a dispatcher for directions.
The school district would later admit fault, after the Allens had buried Brooke and affixed a statue of a sleeping angel on her gravestone.
* * *
The Allens first heard the term "special claim bill" about six months after Brooke's death, when they hired the St. Petersburg law firm of Ciarciaglino, Coyle and Gell to sue the district.
Deborah Gell explained that state law caps a government agency's liability at $200,000, which is what the district agreed to pay the Allens. Anything over that must be approved by the Legislature.
But Gell said it's extremely difficult for victims to be compensated for acts of official negligence. While lawyers argue special claim bills are the only way clients can get justice, some lawmakers consider it inappropriate for victims of accidents or their survivors to petition legislative committees for financial relief.
In fact, Gell told them, the Legislature might not even decide to hear the case. If it did, the Allens would get little more than 48 hours notice to appear in Tallahassee to testify.
Once there, they would only get about 15 minutes. And after lawyers spoke, that would leave the Allens about three minutes.
Allen says she was asleep, dreaming about Brooke earlier this week, when Gell called to tell her a Senate committee would hear the case on Thursday.
Suddenly, she realized: We're really doing this. After all this time, it's really going to happen.
The next day, Michelle, 30, and Chris, 29, thought about the December hearing in Largo, when they appeared before two administrative law judges, the first step toward bringing a special claim bill to the Legislature.
During testimony, they learned Brooke's body had nearly been crushed by the 2-ton SUV, and that the impact had shattered her cervical vertebrae. They also heard from the school district's routing coordinator that the accident could have been prevented if the driver had followed instructions.
Sitting through the hearing was like reopening a wound barely healed, Allen recalled.
She braced herself for the next round.
The Allens spent Wednesday night at a hotel a few blocks from the Capitol. Before going to bed, they asked the question they had already asked a thousand times: What will we say?
If she had the time, Allen thought, she'd like to tell the legislators Brooke slept in a bunk bed with a pink cover surrounded by Lizzie McGuire posters. That she loved the beach and her older brother and her baby sister. That her generous spirit always reached out to those less fortunate.
Instead, on Thursday morning, Allen grabbed a piece of hotel stationery and started making notes. She was clutching the scrap of paper two hours later as she and her husband waited to testify.
At 2:45 p.m., Allen began to worry. The committee chairman had said the meeting would end promptly at 3:15, and there were still bills ahead of hers.
Finally, one of the special masters who had presided over the December hearing went to the lectern. Allen listened once more to the facts about Brooke's death.
With time growing short, Allen's lawyer suggested she not speak after all. The worst-case scenario would be if 3:15 arrived and no vote had been taken.
After the special master finished, the Senate committee chair called for public testimony.
"Waive and support," said Patrick Bell, the Allens' lobbyist.
"Waive and support," said Debra Gell, the Allens' lawyer.
"Waive and support," Allen said.
The chairman called the vote. The senators voted unanimously to support the bill.
Just that quickly, it was over.
A few minutes later, the Allens were outside, walking to their Pontiac Grand Am for the long ride home. Michelle Allen reached in her pocket, pulled out the slip of paper and read what she had written:
Thank the senators for hearing our bill. Tell them that every day when we get up, we know we won't see Brooke again in this lifetime. Let them know we're praying for changes in the school district's transportation system so no other family ever has to go through what we've been through.
The Allens' bill still has a long way to go. First, it has to come to the floors of the House and Senate and pass both chambers by majority vote. Then it has to go to the governor, who can either sign it into law, allow it to pass without his signature, or veto it.
Or it might not go anywhere at all.
In that case, the Allens vow, they'll begin again next year.
[Last modified April 20, 2007, 00:57:47]
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USA Badminton Partners with BCI Technology
In an effort to provide USA Badminton (USAB) membership with an exceptional level of service, convenience and the latest in rankings reporting, we have entered into an agreement with BCI, Inc., the developer of the RAILSTATIONTM System. The BCI Team provides a combination of information technology, internal controls, benchmarking, and management consulting products. BCI was founded in 1991 by Mike Barnet, BCI's President, who is a CPA and MBA. BCI is a Certified Microsoft Partner.
RAILSTATIONTM is a membership & event management system which displays real-time results, drill-down rankings, tournaments, leagues and ladders. It enables current members to track their personal data for any USAB sanctioned event by opening a web browser.
"This partnership with BCI provides USA Badminton a leap forward in technology that provides us with a superior Event & Membership Management platform and also a turn-key solution for managing our back office operations and administrative functions," says Dan Cloppas, Chief Executive Officer of USA Badminton. "BCI's knowledge & experience in the sports management industry, coupled with their use of technology to move us forward, was immediately apparent the first time we viewed a demonstration of their solution. USA Badminton is delighted to have found an online system that will meet the needs of our membership and enhance tournament functions."
Please check http://www.usabadminton.org/ News for more updates and developments as we move closer to rolling out the new system. We expect to have on-line membership processing available in December, where new and existing members will be able to go online to: Join, Renew, Set up a login and review their profile.
For more information about the RAILSTATIONTM System, please go to: https://www.railstation.org/railstation.html


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by John MacArthur
One of the most hopeless aspects of unrepentant sinners' lives is that they have no answer for anxiety. They're forced to put their hopes in flimsy, fallible plans and institutions. They aren't able to rest firmly in the unchanging promises of God—they have to ride out every wave of calamity, every unexpected disaster.
Our relationship with the Lord is one of the best guards we have against descending into crippling anxiety. Because of who our heavenly Father is, we don't need to worry about finances, the basics of life, and what we eat, drink, and wear. Have we forgotten what He's like?
If your concept of God is right and you see Him as owner, controller, and provider, and beyond that as your loving Father, then you know you have nothing to worry about. Jesus said, "What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11).
Because of God's sovereign control and His fatherly love, we can rest assured that He will faithfully provide for His children. In Matthew 6, Jesus illustrates God's care for us with some observations from nature.
God Always Feeds His Creatures
In Matthew 6:26, Jesus says "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
Let's consider the birds for a moment. They don't possess self-consciousness or the ability to strategize or reason. In fact, all they have working for them is their God-given instinct to survive. And incredibly, they do! The Lord doesn't just create life; He also sustains it. Job 38:41 and Psalm 147:9 tell us that baby birds cry out to God for their food. Jesus tells us that even though they don't sow or reap or stockpile surplus, their heavenly Father hears and provides for them.
Now that isn't an excuse for idleness. You won't see birds standing out on limbs with their mouth open to the sky, waiting for it to rain worms. God feeds them through the instinct that tells them where to find worms. He's instituted a system that involves their working hard for their sustenance. Birds are always busy searching, gobbling up little insects, preparing their nests, caring for their young, teaching them to fly, pushing them out of the nests at the right time, migrating with the seasons, and so on. All that work is to be done if they're going to eat—that's how the Lord sovereignly designed them.
And because of that design, birds don't worry about where they are going to find food. They just go about their business until they find it, and they always do because God is looking out for them. Birds simply have no reason to worry, and if they don't, what are you worrying for? Jesus put it this way: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31).
Are you not much better than a bird? No bird was ever created in the image of God. No bird was ever designed to be a joint heir with Jesus Christ. And no bird ever had a place prepared for it in heaven. If God faithfully sustains the life of a bird, don't you think He can and will take care of you? Life is a gift from God. If God gives you the greater gift of life itself, don't you think He will give you the lesser gifts needed to sustain that life? Of course He will.
Keep in mind, of course, that like the bird, we have to work because God has designed that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:19). If we don't work, it is not fitting that we eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Just as God provides for the birds through their instinct, so He provides for man through his effort.
Tomorrow we'll look at two more biblical examples from nature of God's fatherly care.
(Adapted from Anxious For Nothing.)
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What if my anxiety is not concerning the basics of life? What do you do when your anxiety is a physical or mental issue? I wake up with a tight knot in my stomach, a feeling of anxiousness, but I couldn't tell you why. How do I address it? I literally have anxiety daily.....about nothing. It's a heavy angst, but it is not in relation to anything going on in my life. It is simply this nagging feeling that latches on to my emotions and exhausts me endlessly. I've tried medication, but feel like I am being faithless. How should I deal with this? We take medication for headaches and viruses, is it reasonable to take medication for anxiety when it is not related to life events, but perhaps a mental problem? I guess I could take prayer but taking medication seems to work faster, and praying about it seems trivial, like praying about being hungry....just eat. I feel the same about my anxiety....just take the medication. If not, I spend hours fighting off the feeling with bible scripture and prayer, but I would rather spend time reading the bible for knowledge pertaining to anything other than my anxiety everyday. Sigh…more than anything, it's simply annoying. I'm sure I could link it to my childhood and go for counseling and all that rubbish, but I'd rather take a pill in the AM/PM which handles the anxiety within minutes and allows me to carry on with the rest of my day.
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Hello Everyone and Pastor MacArthur,
What about people who are fairly young (mid 40's) and suffer chronic pain from a variety of sources and cannot work? (on disability and praise God we won our case) Do we not eat? This is part of my problem because I am in that situation and everything has been reversed where we have young children and our (wife and I) roles have been reversed. On top of that I am a perfectionist and OCD and find it hard to forgive myself although I know certain things are beyond my control, but I have a tendency to "beat myself up".
As I mentioned before, the hardest person to forgive for the sin we see in ourselves and hate is yourself even though we know that God has already forgiven.
I pray and have shed many tears that God would break this cycle because it impacts everyone around me and time with children goes by fast. I'm not mean and will speak to anyone concerning the Lord and His salvation with joy! Unfortunately, many people do not want to speak about pain or the Lord, the two things I know.
I love the Lord and I love His word, but feel as though I have let everyone around me down and the cycle repeats itself.
I am the one in the previous blog (yesterday) who feels like I am hanging on a bridge by my finger tips and loosing grip and have shed many tears over the past few years in prayer to the Lord and He seems to be silent; so I figure I am either not one of His or I am in some continual sin that only God can break, which I continue to pray he will if I am. If for no other reason; for the sake of my godly wife and wonderful children. Lord help me for their sake and bring glory to Your name.
God bless all of you.
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I am enjoying your series on anxiety. In my life God has always provided everything I need, sometimes is awesome and unusual ways where you know it was very much a God-thing! However I struggle with these verses in the context of the fact that people, especially children, are starving to death all over the world. Why does it seem like He more often meets the needs of those of us blessed to have been born into a 1st world country as opposed to those born into a 3rd world country. Even if these verses are meant for the believer, it seems presumptuous to think that every person/child who starves to death wasn't a believer. I was hoping you would have some thoughts to share on this. Thank you! And thank you for your ministry!
I too suffer from anxiety brought on by my thoughts and thought patterns and these can be troubling and disturbing to me. But the word does tell us 'to be anxious for nothing'. NOTHING! I pray and continue to read my Bible. I really do not know what else to do. I just keep going and believe that in due time I can replace the anxious thoughts with that of truth. I do believe that Satan can gain a foothold in our thinking and that maybe I have opened myself up this area of my mind. I just continue to believe Heb. 4:12 and keep reading and filling my mind with the word.
Hi brother, if you already know the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ it may be helpful to perhaps do a study (word study - you and His Word only) on pride and fear. Prayerfully consider this. It will require work but I am sure that His Word will bless you.
May He enlighten your understand and give you wisdom into your own heart and into the knowledge of the glory of Christ who frees us from the bondage of sin. Amen.
In response to post #3 by Angela Lambright
I believe Scripture infers that in God's tender mercy and grace that anyone who has died before the age of accountability is with the Lord and John MacArthur has preached to that effect. You can look at it from the reverse; what send people to hell? The rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ and since children, mentally ill, and others have no mental capacity to affirm or deny Christ, then by default they will be in Heaven.
Also, too who much is given (knowledge and freedom of religion in the US), then much is expected and as MacArthur has preached that he has met Russians now living in the US and they say it is much easier to follow Christ there, then in the US because of all the materialism and other things (I would add many false teachers fleecing flocks).
Also, real missionaries like Paul Washer will tell you the same thing that it is easier to be a Christian in a 3rd world country than the US. Why? Because there you don't have all the distractions and ALL you have is Christ or you have nothing. Of course that statement is true everywhere.
Live long enough and we will know what it is like to suffer prosecution and do not be shocked when the Bible is banned as a hate book and biblical preaching will be called "hate speech" and those who practice these things will face prosecution. This will purge the church of many false teachers and false professors of our Lord.
Expect to see in the near future the anxiety levels of all people in our nation to rise; it is already a nation of people full of anxiety - greater than most if not #1 all 1st world nations.
I expect John MacArthur sees the writing on the wall with the upcoming economic changes to this country and the world and the upcoming changes to Biblical preaching and is ready to prepare God's people as best he can with God's grace to help us to understand and I thank the Lord for Grace To You; it has ministered to our family and strengthened me in the Lord and I know more about ancient history than I ever would otherwise.
We need to pray daily for GTY and other faithful ministries and support them financially as well in my opinion as times are going to get very hard. I looked at the major coal companies today - just messing around because I know that some in our gov't are going to unleash a war on that industry and it was unbelievable that 65 of 69 plus companies stock prices were down and most more than 60% of their value - now that will cause a lot of anxiety for those miners, their families, owners and people in our country who depend on that industry and these are located in some of the poorer areas.
Lord I pray for these people that we, as a nation, would subdue the earth as you have commanded in a way that demonstrates good stewardship. Bless and keep those who will be affected and grant Salvation to our leaders..amen!
In response to #5 Posted by Tania De Carvalho
I assume you are speaking tome, but I could be wrong. If not for the daily reading of His word, listening of His word (I have the entire Bible on CD), listening to sermons throughout the day, then I would hate to see where I might be.
I do know that God works in and through these things with us and the devil helps to add doubts, but with chronic pain and small children you loose most of your friends and physical life and as having smaller kids you cannot do the things you did and want to share with them. Add the perfectionist mentality, hatred for sin, and OCD and you beat yourself up routinely. With OCD/perfectionism the smallest sin you see in yourself is enough to drive you nuts, but your desire to be with the Lord is greater than one can imagine - a perfectionist haven...LOL.
I would do anything to go back to work and rid this body racked with pain.
Thanks for the encouragement and the specific suggestion. MacArthur has a sermon titled "Breaking Sins Grip" and I have listened to that a few times over the past few days. I need to learn to forgive myself and learn to live with pain that gets worse each year.
Pray for those things for my family and I - anyone who reads this please pray for us. This is much a spiritual battle as it is a physical and I believe it is more a spiritual one.
Thanks and God's best to all, which is Christ!
Thank you, Can you please explain what you mean by pride and fear being related to anxiety. Again, thanks for your help.
Well, I found out that in my case when I started looking into the root of my anxiety in light of Scripture the answer were either pride or fear. So I recommended just looking it up and letting the Scripture be a mirror to you, revealing the thoughts of your heart and renewing your mind. I don't want say much about it because I don't want this to become by any means one of those cases where the Bible is used as a self - help book. That is not my intention. We study the Word so we know how to walk in a manner worth of our calling, for the renewing of the mind, to grow in the knowledge of our Lord. We struggle with many things at time, but it seems to me that the root goes down to one or two things. So I just suggested that if you are struggling with anxiety, prayerfully consider looking into what God says about pride and fear and how they are manifested in your life. Then, bring every thought captive to what you learn, meditate on it. That is all, just a suggestion based on my belief on the sufficiency of Scripture to guide you even in your anxieties. It will be more profitable to you if you let the word explain to you how they relate to anxiety than me trying to. It requires time and work but I still feed on and guard my heart based in what I learned years ago. May the Lord draw you even closer to Himself and bless you with the knowledge in your soul that in the Prince of Peace you have all that you need for life and godliness indeed. Amen. :)
sorry brother, perhaps the way I wrote was not good - it was not meant to offend. I am sorry to hear about your pain and I will have you and your family in my prayers for sure. Blessings!
If only this were printed as a warning on all prescription bottles:
"If, after receiving wise counsel from faithful ministers of the gospel according to God's will for you, you are still determined to remian (and wollow) in your present state of spiritual affliction, see Mark 4:11-12 before opening"
And this were printed over the header above the threshold of every ungodly counselor's den of confusion: Psalm 19:7
I am not speaking to any particular comment. I love the title to this: Our Father Overcomes Our Anxiety. Oftentimes, we have anxiety because we are either internally focused on ourselves/situation or we externally focus on events/issues, instead of being wholly focused on Christ, what He has done for us and how we are to live in light of that. We can often be our own worst enemies in dealing with things. Anxiety is a mental/emotional state that is manifesting itself in a physical way and that in turn effects other systems in our bodies and continues in what is known as a downward cascading effect. But oh what a deal our minds play in this beginning of anxiety! And ought not our minds be captivated by and even enslaved to Christ? I do believe that meditating on God's Word and living for Him keeps the focus where it should be and guides us in all things and overcomes all things. Does that mean it is easy or of no hard/sustained effort on our parts? Of course not. But God is Sovereign and He is able to overcome. Tania - post #9 - good thoughts!
Everyone has made great comments about anxiety so that I am somewhat hesitant to write more. My problem with anxiety started about a year after my husband died. I could see God's sovereignty and providence immediately before and after his death so strongly that I had no problem trusting the Lord. It was only after things settled in to a routine that I started having anxious thoughts. I found it much easier to trust when God was so obviously a part of what was going on in my life, but trusting Him to be sufficient for my emotional and physical needs on a day to day basis seemed almost impossible. This is when I realized that I did not necessarily need to study His commands to not worry or be anxious, but to understand who He is and why He can promise me peace. I had too small a view of His love for me. It finally occurred to me that my Lord loved me enough to come to this cesspool of a world, be rejected by those He came to save and then die a shameful death on the cross. As a result, I could say NO to those nagging emotions and thoughts that were all lies. I realized that in everything else in life I am able to logically understand the truth, but when it comes to things of the Lord, I want to operate on emotion. I found what I needed was not His commands to trust Him, but His promises of love and comfort. After I realized that His commands come from His love for me, I was then able to repent of my mistrust and to rest in the thought that He will take care of me not because I obey His commands (which is important) but because He loves me and will do what is best for me. In other words, my desire to obey came from my overwhelming gratitude rather than fear of retribution. He is indeed my FATHER who lovingly cares for me. I hesitate to even quote this verse because it has become to so many just a cliche, but it is so true: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. (Pro. 3:5-6)
Thanks Pastor MacArthur! I'm so blessed to hear God's Word being accurately handled and preached! I also struggle with this worry...For me, I always look ahead ...Like I worry about what people think about me or why do people don't like me and ect! And I always have to remind myself, by reading in the Scripture about Paul...He went thru a lot...He went thru persecution, turmoil, beatings, hatred, without food, and also was mocked, ridicule, and laughed at. I remind myself that God is in control! And I should rest in that! Thanks GTY!!! And God bless your ministry!
Although you wrote a lot of words in answering Angelas' question in post # 6. You did not answer her question at all. She mentioned people (especially children) that starve to death, as an example of how not everyone is provided for by God & how that our faith is tested when we see these kind of tragic realities in this world. God does indeed feed the birds & every other life form everywhere. But on an individual basis, many suffer through a very hard & painful life right to the day they die! Suffering, I believe, was the question she was addressing (and wanted you to address). Suffering is a reality & the fear of it, can bring about the anxiety that the Lord commands us to not engage in. To not fear the very real possibility that some serious suffering can happen to our self or those close to us, may be the best example of Very Great Faith! I'm afraid my faith is not like that. I pray that God will make me like that, but it is obvious to me that He uses that very suffering to bring about that kind of faith. Johnny Mac preaches a lot about this subject & I really appreciate his insight. God bless this ministry!!
Pastor John helped me in my perspective on why it almost seems like God is not fullfilling His promise to provide, especially to those who seem to suffer their entire lives. At the end of one of his sermons dealing with anxiety he said something like this.
"God promises to supply everything I need all of the days of my life. And, I don't know about you, but I don't want even one extra day of life than what he has ordained for me."
I realized that my life is all about what God has planned for me and my questioning what He provides is simply me forgetting these words:
"Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
This encourages me to look at my challenges in life from God's perspective or as "momentary, light affliction" that produces the future eternal glories of heaven. Heaven becomes more appealing to me each and every day.
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Hey All,
Tried the Fu tea yesterday
http://www.puerhshop.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=582
and here's my thoughts- remember now, I was looking for an "adventure"
Got the brick and looked at the packaging. It has Asian characters on the front and what looks like Arabic on the back (can someone explain that?). The first thing I noticed was what looked like a piece of used dental floss laying on top of the brick. Always nice to find surprises in things, huh?
The brick was very dry and easily crumbled. It's a mix of green, black and brown and has very large twigs imbedded in it. Not just tea leaf stalks, there's plenty of those too, but large sticks close to an inch in length.
Jim says in the description that it's fermented, but it doesn't appear to be. More like a sheng than a shu. Since I had no way of knowing how to brew this up, I tried two different ways- both "western" style with differing times and water temps. I used 6 grams of tea for my 2 cup tea pot and brewed the first batch like I would a green tea (180 degree water for 3 minutes). That infusion and the picture of the tea and Arabic writing is shown below:
The second brew was also 6 grams with boiling water and a 6 minute infusion. Surprisingly, it wasn't a whole lot darker than the first. That infusion and the spent leaves are here:
In the spent leaves, there are NO whole tea leaves, just tiny pieces of leaf along with the sticks and stems. It actually looks like a plate of collard greens to me.
Now, to the good stuff: Both infusions were much better than I expected. I think the lower water temperature is the way to brew it, though. Both brews were very mild in flavor and aroma, with almost no bitterness but a touch of that "buttery" taste that can be found in some teas. The longer/hotter infusion actually took on a slightly salty taste that I didn't find in the first infusion. Both infusions became noticeably sweet after they had cooled to room temperature and my kid (who tries all my teas) said he wanted us to make up some sweet iced tea with it and it passed his test at least. I'll wait on some more aging and see what happens, but right now it's typical (overall) of the inexpensive young sheng I've tried- at least compared to the shu that I usually drink.
It was a fun purchase, but not something I'd ever order again. This brick will last me several several years...


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Shuttle Computer, a maker of small form-factor (SFF) systems, unveiled more details concerning its compact media center computer. The newcomer is expected to offer relatively high performance and broad multimedia feature-set, but is expected to come in form-factor similar to well-known Apple Mac mini computer.
"The XPC X100 is designed to save your desk space with performance specifications ideal for multimedia applications such as video editing, gaming, or just watching DVDs," a statement by the company reads.
Shuttle's X100 is based on the latest Centrino Duo mobile platform for Intel Corp., a set of chips designed for mobile computers. The default configuration of the XPC X100 features Intel 945PM chipset, 1.83GHz dual-core Intel Core Duo T2400 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics card, 512MB of dual-channel DDR2 memory, 250GB hard disk drive (HDD), DVD multi-format drive as well as necessary set of I/O capabilities such as 1Gb network adapter, wireless network adapter, card reader, USB 2.0 and Firewire ports.
Shuttle calls the XPC X100 as the ultra small form-factor: the new box is just 21cm x 29.86cm x 5.35 cm (depth, width, height). Nevertheless, Shuttle X100 is still larger compared to Mac mini, which has dimensions of 16.51cm x 16.51cm x 5.08cm respectively.
More details regarding availability and pricing of the product will be revealed at CeBIT show in


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Council hashes over MDD with EDC
Tue, 2016-06-21 05:00 News Staff
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Theft over $100 under $750: 1200 block Ritter Street. Stolen: electronics, safe. Total value: $550.
Arrested: Carter Jamark Braxton: 700 block West Ave. B. Assist another agency (Calcasieu County Sheriff's Office, Louisiana.) Carnal knowledge of a juvenile x 3.
Attempted suicide: 200 block Bridle Drive.
Debit card abuse, burglary of a vehicle: 2100 block Griffin Drive. Stolen: wallet and contents. Value: $70.
Accident: 1000 block West Avenue B.
by Darren Blair


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Standard of care
I went to Iron Mountain High School with Jerry Zacks. Jerry became a physician specializing in cardiology, practicing in New York City.
Jerry has become frustrated with insurance companies that refuse to grant approval for treatments that his medical expertise determines that his patients need. He feels that something must be done to hold insurance company physicians accountable for the decisions they make.
As a Registered Nurse, I was taught early on that if my patient suffered a poor outcome, I must be prepared to show that my actions were those that would have been taken by any reasonable and prudent nurse in that situation. Physicians must also be prepared to meet the standard for physicians.
That does not necessarily mean that there is only one right answer, just that the decision must make sense to others in the same profession.
Every physician is held to this standard. Every one, that is, except those who work for insurance companies.
We think that a physician who works for an insurance company, deciding who gets treatment, should meet the same standard of care as a physician who actually treats the patient in direct care. Why should they not be held accountable for their actions?
If you agree with me and Jerry, please go online to SignOn.org/Uniform Standard of Care for Physicians, and sign Jerry's petition. If you do not have a computer, they are available at the library, and someone will help you.
Lola Johnson


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If your child is not putting everything in their mouth for sensory input, or can tell the difference between something they can eat or not eat, then shaving cream or soapy foam can be used to help your baby with tactile stimulation, learning to open their index finger (pointer finger) and practice drawing. The whole body is engaged in this kind of play and opportunities for language development abound, too.
A typical baby's index finger begins to "unfurl" and become useful to them around the age of 8 to 9 months. At this time, they can pass an object from hand to hand and use their index finger and thumb to grasp objects (pincher's grasp) such as small bites of food. In a baby with low muscle tone, or with cognitive delay, this interaction between brain and finger comes later. It is important that it is encouraged early on in their development since it is the basis for the vast majority of finger and hand operations regarding self-care. Just think about how you use your pointer finger every hour! For a child, they can begin to push buttons, point out what interests them, poke holes in playdough, touch things for sensory input, feed themselves and a long list of other things.
In the video here, 22 month old Arabella is trying an activity that will encourage her to draw with shaving cream if she opens her fingers and (hopefully) uses her index finger to draw in the shaving cream. She is not using her index finger fully, and we are trying to get her brain's awareness of that finger and its control heightened.
Watch how Tad Bruneau, OTR/L, introduces Arabella to playing with shaving cream. She has played with it before, when it was safely encased in a Ziplock bag, but this time she has the full sensory experience of smell, touch, taste and visual reaction to the foam on her play table. Read the rest of this entry »


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $17.99 (50% off)
Posted by TinVal on Aug 22, 2012
The body is able to meet its need for amino sugars under normal circumstances; but as the body ages, this changes. Research has revealed that under a variety of less-than-optimal conditions, the body's production of amino sugars - and their assembly into larger molecules - may be impaired. These conditions can include surgery and/or surgical recovery, severe stress, burns and major injuries, as well as aging. - - - - - - - - By supplementing your diet with N-A-G, there are key advantages that may be obtained. Numerous steps in the conversion of glucose and amino acids to amino sugars are eliminated. Amino sugar production may be enhanced. Tissue-building properties may increase.
I take for osteoarthritis
Posted by Reviewer1142540 on Jul 13, 2014
The health books I have suggested this for osteoarthritis. I also take Jarrow Sam-e, Now Extra Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin, Megafood Ultra-C 400(whole food), Now Celadrin, Now Alfalfa Leaf(needed minerals), omega-3 oils softgels, Doctor's Best MSM(OptiMSM)(MSM has helped A LOT), Bragg Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar drink(directions on label). God bless you all.
NAG Source Naturals
Posted by Reviewer3107019 on Feb 15, 2011
I am happy with the price of this quality product purchased recently. My husband is taking it. I believe it takes an avg. of 5 weeks to show results. So far It seems there is some improvement and his system is able to tolerate it well
Posted by Reviewer2697933 on Dec 14, 2007
That is how I spell relief. N.A.G is the best and I couldn't do without it.
Arizona Girl
Posted by Reviewer2708105 on Jul 24, 2014
This is a quality product. I have researched others. This one has fast and efficient transport. It works. The Tabs are even chewable for an option and have a decent taste. Great for repair and less pain of tissue.
Posted by Reviewer2709363 on Dec 28, 2007
I have been using this for a number of years and wouldn't be without it!!! I like this brand.
Source Naturals, NAG 500mg
Posted by Reviewer3085463 on Jun 23, 2010
great product! been using it for a couple of years now!
Good Product
Posted by Reviewer1107606 on Jan 05, 2010
Good Product
Items 1-8 of 8 total


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Dr. Robinson is one of our very own WBU Phoenix graduates. Her 20+ years in the US Air Force give her a special understanding of how
a full time career and a full time student status work together. Lillian is still a student, working on her PhD at Capella University.
Presently she is an Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor/Diversity Manager with the Department of Interior, Bureau of
Land Management here in Phoenix. With her vast experience as both a Wayland graduate and with her continued pursuit of
education, Lillian offers our students both academic excellence as well as personal experience. Lillian also teaches for University of
Phoenix (Ethics/Diversity), Park University (Human Resource Management) and Webster University (Human Resource Management/Management).


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Responses to rail advocates' objections
To the editor:
As we look forward to a long-overdue state review to determine the best use of the 120-mile Remsen-Lake Placid rail corridor, opponents of the conversion have continued to raise some questions and objections that need to be addressed..
Remoteness: The 44 miles of Adirondack Park territory between Big Moose and Tupper Lake is anything but a desolate wilderness, as some trail opponents claim. It is remote, but it is not inaccessible. There are services at Beaver River, 8 miles from Big Moose, and public access points at Sabattis, Lake Lila, Horseshoe Lake, Mount Arab and Piercefield at 18, 27, 30, 35 and 39 miles, respectively, from Big Moose. Most cyclists would agree that 44 miles is not a difficult day's pedal, but the other access points make possible many shorter trips.
Safety: Once the tracks and ties are gone, any emergency vehicle could access the entire corridor, as opposed to the specialized rail equipment now needed for a train derailment. Remember that the state Department of Environmental Conservation is already responsible for safety on millions of acres where every rescue requires either a long hike or a helicopter. Being able to actually drive to any incident makes rail corridor safety issues very easy to deal with.
Maintenance: There has been some discussion that the state Department of Transportation, which currently subsidizes maintenance of the rail corridor, would not do this if the corridor were converted to a trail because its purpose would then be "recreational." It should be noted that rail operations on the corridor, both current and proposed, are also a "recreational" use of the corridor and clearly not "transportation." Moreover, the cost of maintaining the corridor without tracks and related structures will be dramatically less since ordinary highway equipment can be used. Snowmobile clubs and local volunteers will continue to perform foliage control, drainage maintenance and cleanup.
Status: The unit management plan that currently governs the corridor clearly states that it will remain a "travel corridor" with or without the rails in place. While the State Land Master Plan does not specifically deal with a travel corridor that is used for recreation, nothing in the SLMP contradicts the corridor management plan. Removing a portion of the tracks would not change the corridor's status as a railway right of way; nor would it render it any less a travel corridor.
Management: The Department of Transportation should see its charter as including an obligation to maintain all travel corridors and provide for the greatest economic impact during all seasons of the year. If not, and if no other state agency assumed maintenance responsibility, a private, not-for-profit organization like Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates could assume that obligation, as ARTA has already offered.
Tony Goodwin
Co-founder and board member of ARTA


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David Akers: Although not really a really rare issue, the 1915-S is certainly more difficult to locate than the 1915-D and some of the Philadelphia Mint issues in the series. It is, however, by a significant margin, the most often available Barber Half Dollar from the San Francisco Mint in all mint state grades, including Gem condition.
Superior 10/1990:3712 - Silbermünzen Collection - Heritage 5/2008:771, $29,900 - Dr. Steven Duckor - Heritage 8/2010:3245, $13,800 - Heritage 8/2011:7218, $12,020