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Special election rules detailed for Pueblo recall
Political party leaders met with the Pueblo County clerk on Monday to go over the mechanics of the Sept. 10 recall election against state Sen. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo.
"We're going to be making our processes up as we go along. I am going to include you guys with every decision I make. I'm going to let you know about any issues that may come up, after conferring with the secretary of state. If it's one of those issues where I need your input, I will ask for it," County Clerk and Recorder Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz told a small group of Republican and Democrat leaders.
Giron faces a recall because of her support of new, stricter gun laws in this past legislative session.
Ortiz, a Democrat, met with six party officials at election headquarters in what was a non-confrontational sit down that both sides said was educational and informative.
Special elections differ in various ways from a general election.
Republicans asked questions concerning election judges, methods of voting and how new election laws will play into the recall process.
Ortiz said he plans to launch a media campaign to inform voters on ballot wording and how to cast a vote.
Mail ballots will be sent out, but unlike voting in neighborhood precincts, only three locations will be set up where people can vote in person — Pueblo West Library, Colorado State Fair Southwest Motors Events Center and election headquarters, 720 Main St.
As part of the media campaign, Ortiz told party officials he'd let them review the information first.
"If you see any hint where there is a political issue, and I'm sure you guys won't have any problem commenting, I will do my best to make it neutral," Ortiz said.


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Topic: Creating children with reference to parent
An extremely dumb question.
I've got a model "parent", and a model "child".
Parent has_many children.
Child belongs_to parent.
All the foreign keys are set up correctly, and I know that it is possible to do the creation because I initially coded the admin system using the sub_list plugin, which created children just fine. But now I've decided I don't like this style of doing things, because my object structure is deeply nested and the admin form get really unwieldy from a usability point of view.
So, I'd like to take a much simpler approach, and have two forms. I want to make the form that allows me to create children as its own separate "new" form.
My big dumb question: how do i pass the reference to the parent so that the child can save itself properly?
For the "new" method in the child controller, i've got
def new
@child = Child.new
@parent = Parent.find(params[:parent])
This part works fine (e.g. @parent.title displays correctly in the page), but when i go to save the child, the @parent goes away, so i get a foreign key violation. Is there some way i need to store the value of @parent in the page so it can get passed back to the child_controller's "create" method?
This is perhaps the dumbest question I have ever asked in a forum, but I am quite honestly stumped as to how to do this.

subset: commoncrawl


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Much about the mating behavior of great white sharks is still unknown. Some scientists believe that scarred individuals suggest male-male aggression or that a male's gentle biting of females may precede mating. Bite marks observed on the dorsum, flanks, and particularly the pectoral fins of mature female great whites have been interpreted as the results of mating. It is most likely that the male bites the female during copulation. Great white sharks have also been known to propel two-thirds of their body out of the water and land flat against the surface, causing a large splash. This behavior is called a "pattern breach". This behavior might be used to attract a mate during courtship. Mating has yet to be fully documented in great white sharks, but it is assumed to be similar to internal fertilization in most sharks, where the male inserts his claspers into the cloaca of the female. Courtship behavior, if there is any, is unknown. ("MarineBio", 2009; Long, 2009; Shark Information - Fresh Development and Image Nation, 2009)
Mating System: Polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Reproduction is ovoviviparous, that is, fertilized eggs are retained within the body and develop there. Prior to birth, the young in the womb may feed on undeveloped eggs and possibly their unborn siblings. Litters consist of 2 to 10 pups. Newborns are more than 1 meter (about 3 feet) in length. Gestation is thought to take about 12 months, and females are assumed to give birth in warm temperate and subtropical waters, but specific nursery areas are unknown. Females give birth to live young, unlike many other sharks who lay eggs. It is possible that individual females only reproduce biannually, mating soon after giving birth, but this remains to be confirmed. Male great white sharks reach sexual maturity at 3.5 to 4 meters (about 11.5 to 13 feet) in length and about 10 years of age, whereas females reach sexual maturity at 4.5 to 5 meters (about 15 to 16 feet) in length and 12 to 18 years of age. (Dale, 2008; Shark Information - Fresh Development and Image Nation, 2009)
Key Reproductive Features: Iteroparous; Gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); Sexual; Fertilization; Fertilization :: Internal; Ovoviviparous
Female sharks may breed every two years.>p
The breeding season is unknown.>p
Newborns get no help from their mothers after birth. As soon as they are born they swim away and are independent. A newborn is about 1.2 m long and grows 25 cm each year, reaching maturity at 10 years (Dale, 2008). Offspring are capable predators the moment they are born. (Dale, 2008)
Parental Investment: No parental involvement; Pre-fertilization; Pre-fertilization :: Provisioning; Pre-fertilization :: Protecting; Pre-fertilization :: Protecting :: Female; Pre-hatching/birth; Pre-hatching/birth :: Provisioning; Pre-hatching/birth :: Provisioning :: Female; Pre-hatching/birth :: Protecting; Pre-hatching/birth :: Protecting :: Female


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Alba and I did some thinking about FoH today, and we're really keen to get the outside chalkboards up and running again. Having good events noices out there really helps bring people in and keep us looking alive, which is especially important as we drive on with fundraising.
Problem 1: rain. Problem 2: people leaning on the boards, erasing the listings and getting covered in chalk in the process. Problem 3:
Anyone got any know-how of rain- and foolproof methods of running outdoor chalkboards? And any suggestions of how to keep them updated regularly without piling more work on EVSers/KMs?


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Congratulations, it's a girl!! One of the most important events in every parent's life is when they are able to announce their child's birth to all their friends and loved ones. Here at Polka Dot Design, we know just how memorable this occasion is, which is why we offer some of the best and brightest girl birth announcements in the industry. With our delicate designs and colorful patterns, our announcement invitations are sure to tug and the heartstrings of each and every recipient you choose to send it to.
Our baby girl birth announcements truly are one-of-a-kind. Each announcement and invitations can be fully personalized to your liking. The most important part of planning an announcement to send is making sure that it incorporates your own personality, plus a bit of your child's personality into the mix, too. This is why we offer the option of the girl birth announcement with photos! Pick and choose your favorite photos of your baby girl and make sure to include them within your announcement. Not only does this allow for friends and family to appreciate the great news, but also allows for those who are long distance to get a glimpse of your new bundle of joy.
Share the joys of your newest addition with a creative and clever birth announcement from Polka Dot Design. These announcements help introduce your new baby to the world, showcasing just how delicate and precious they are. Customize each invite with colors, text, design, or photos in order to make it a truly unique and refreshing note. Sending out birth announcements mark an important milestone in a new parent's life, not only recognizing 9 months of hard work, but also acknowledging a lifetime of happiness with your new child.


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Celstran continuous-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite (CFR-TP) from Ticona, Florence, Ky., is used in the new Fiberflex-11 pressure pipe from Composite Fluid Transfer of Kilgore, Texas. The pipe recently won a JEC Americas 2013 innovation award in the Pipes & Water Management category. Sharing the award were Ticona, Composite Fluid Transfer, and Houston-based Valeron Strength Films, which supplies the protective outer wrap.
Fiberflex-11 pipe has 10.5-in. ID, 11.1-in. OD, and 250 psi operating-pressure rating. It incorporates Celstran continuous-glass reinforced HDPE tape, which is wound around an extruded thin-wall HDPE liner and consolidated with heat. A 30-ft section of the pipe weighs only 128 lb, easily lifted by two people in the field, while the same length of 12-in. HDPE SDR 9 pipe weighs 655 lb.
The pipe is designed for general water-transport infrastructure, including distribution systems, oil and gas operations, hydraulic fracturing operations, large irrigation systems, tank farm operations, and dewatering systems. The specific design of the pipe can be easily altered for larger diameters and to operate at higher pressures or temperatures, in tougher environments, and with any type of piping connections. For example, the burst pressure of the pipe can be increased as necessary from the current design level of 500 psi by varying the number of layers of Celstran tape applied to the HDPE liner.


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About the Author: Jose W. Fernandez serves as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.
2010 was my first year with the State Department. And a full year it was. As I started in late 2009, the economic and financial crisis was ongoing, resulting in job losses in this country and around the globe. In early 2010, it was clear we were in for another economic rollercoaster of a year, as the financial crisis intensified in Europe. Meanwhile, at the State Department and across the U.S. government, we took steps to grow our own domestic economy. In a time of limited resources, I have asked everyone in the Economic Bureau to think creatively to encourage economic growth at home and abroad for the coming year. And so here's a look back at the year that was and a look forward to my resolutions for 2011.
Resolution 1: Keep Building U.S. Jobs The economy grew very slowly in 2010, but we are nonetheless seeing more growth, and we will keep fighting to expand the U.S. economy in 2011. In January 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative in his State of the Union address. This ambitious, government-wide effort aims to double U.S. exports in five years and support millions of U.S. jobs. I went to Miami's U.S. Export Assistance Center to talk about the NEI, and we will continue our advocacy, trade missions, and assistance to U.S. business as they look to expand outside our borders.
Speaking of trade, we celebrated World Trade Week in May 2010. All of our U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are working hard to open markets and support U.S. businesses -- in places like Singapore, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. We also celebrated the conclusion of negotiations for the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, a landmark agreement that if passed is expected to increase annual exports of American goods by up to $11 billion and support at least 70,000 American jobs. We will work toward the passage of the Colombia and Panama agreements in the coming year.
We also helped open international markets in 2010 through our Open Skies agreements. We just negotiated our 100th Open Skies agreement. These agreements eliminate government interference in airlines' decisions about things like routes and pricing, help lower prices for consumers and increase opportunities for U.S. carriers. We will further expand Open Skies agreements in key markets as we move into 2011.
Resolution 2: Build Alliances As Secretary Clinton recently said at the ACE Awards, "Government knows that we cannot imagine solving global challenges alone…We're in partnerships that can push the envelope for social innovation, unleash markets to solve problems, create opportunities that transform lives."
In 2011, we will implement and expand the Building Remittance Investment for Development, Growth, and Entrepreneurship (BRIDGE) Initiative. This multi-agency effort aims to create sustainable economic growth in developing countries by harnessing the power of billions of dollars that workers abroad send home -- without disrupting their use by the workers' families. We are also rapidly expanding the Global Entrepreneurship Program to promote economic growth and free and prosperous societies. After launching the North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity in Algiers, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and fostering job creation, we look forward to the second annual U.S.-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference in Morocco in late 2011.
When it comes to agriculture, we are focusing on biotechnology as a way to literally do more with less, as biotech crops need less water, less land, less fertilizer and pesticide, yet provide more food. Biotech products are a key way to accelerate agricultural sector growth, reduce global hunger, and mitigate climate change. On the energy front, a priority in 2011 will be achieving greater energy security in environmentally sound ways, like our efforts with the Global Shale Gas Initiative to help countries better utilize their unconventional natural gas resources by developing them safely and economically.
Resolution 3: Keep Us Safe This year we saw the UN, the EU, the United States and others enact the most comprehensive sanctions against Iran yet. The results of the State Department's efforts in this coalition-building are clear: companies are recognizing the increased risks of doing business in Iran and are terminating their operations or committing not to engage in any new activities in Iran. The price of Iran's continuing pursuit of nuclear weaponry and support for terrorism has been clearly brought home to the Iranian leadership.
We also worked with multilateral organizations like the WTO and OECD to come to consensus on important economic issues. In 2011 Secretary Clinton will lead the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the OECD in recognition of international organizations' role as effective proponents of open, competitive, innovative market economies.
Resolution 4: Keep the Faith Our work is not always easy, and the payoff is not always immediate. But we believe in what we do, and we will keep working to sustain a more democratic, secure and prosperous world. We will do our best, and then we will do some more. My best to you and yours in 2011!
You can follow Assistant Secretary Fernandez on Facebook and @EconEngage on Twitter.
Pamela G. in West Virginia writes:
It is imperative we correct our trade deficits. We cannot continue to be the nice guys.
Dr. G. in West Virginia writes:
The BRIDGE Initiative seems awkward or very complicated. I'll look up more about it.
Dr. G. in West Virginia writes:
BRIDGE Initiative goes back to my comment last year that aid to Pakistani flood victims should only be dropped from Marine helicopters to the people below so that interlopers ( corrupt government officials or organized criminal elements ) don't steal the goods from those that need it.
BRIDGE money apparently goes almost directly to poor individuals from USA migrant workers with only Western Union getting a piece of it, and not corrupt government workers. Right?
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@Jose W. Fernandez, Asist. Secretary of State
As the leading exporter of peace and stability, development, and democracy on this planet, how is it possible that America even has a national deficit on record of any kind?
There seems to be a fundemental disconect in who owes who what?
How would you resolve this conundrum?
Thanks for taking this question and posting your thoughts on the matter.
Best regards and Happy New Year!
Miguel R. in Spain writes:
Hello, fantastic article!! tanks!!
Greetings from Spain


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Some pet owners may view a trip to the veterinary clinic as necessary only when a pet has a clear medical issue. However, yearly check-ups can help catch important signs and changes not visible to the untrained eye indicative of serious diseases, according to the Dayton Daily News.
When owners get a new puppy, they're in the veterinarians office quite often for dog vaccinations and other appointments critical to a dog's early health. Yet owners need to continue the routine as their animal grows, visiting the veterinarian at least once per year, if not more.
The veterinarian will perform a complete exam of the dog. Often, this detects issues that the owner may have missed, such as the early signs of dental or heart disease. By going every year, the veterinarian can track the dog's progress and will notice if anything has changed.
This is also a great opportunity for pet owners to begin a dialogue with their veterinarian about their pet's health and behavior. Be sure to bring up any unusual incidents with the pet over the past year, no matter how minor. If necessary, the vet might schedule a follow-up appointment or run some tests to delve deeper into pet health issues. It is best to detect medical issues early so appropriate treatments can be started for the best possible outcome for your dog.


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Saturday, November 3, 2012
Crystal Ballroom Property
Happy Hour Music
Jonah Luke
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
All ages welcome
Jonah Luke
Jonah Luke is a singer/songwriter/musician hailing from Portland, OR who plays playful folk-rock with a dash of a cappella and a pinch of sweet harmonies. He is also a recording engineer, producer, and lover of big cities.
Jonah's debut, the I Don't Need You To Know EP, was recorded by Jonah in his college dorm room and self-released to a small but loyal fan base in Portland and Chicago. The title track explores Jonah's love of a cappella and folk music, blending the two styles to create many different sounds with only a guitar, a few shakers, and the human voice. Other songs in the album include Almost Gone and Something Left To Do Here, call-to-action songs written after his experience studying in the Dominican Republic.
Growing up on Chicago's North Side, he was fed a healthy diet of Funk, Cajun, and Paul Simon's Graceland album, and learned to sing and play drums, guitar, piano, and trombone. Jonah started playing in a Cajun/Zydeco band at age 11 and has since been in 4 Rock/Folk bands, 2 orchestras, an a cappella group, and a trombone choir.
At 22 years of age, Jonah has played at some of Chicago's premiere music venues (Millennium Park, The Metro) and participated in 16 studio albums, including 2 with producer Brian Deck. In 2007 his band The Audians was played on Chicago's XRT radio.
Recently, Jonah has graced the stage of Portland's Crystal Ballroom, and opened for renowned singer/songwriter Joe Purdy as well as Portland's Chris Robley & The Fear of Heights. He graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland in May 2011. An instrumental piece he composed and recorded appeared in a commercial for Dannon in Super Bowl XLVI.
- Official Website:
- http://jonahluke.com
- Myspace Page:
- http://www.myspace.com/jonahlukemusic


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A distinguished historyFounded in 1848, AAAS serves some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world. AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.
- Anne Carter (emeritus)
- David DeRosier (emeritus)
- Chandler Fulton (emeritus)
- James Haber
- Liz Hedstrom
- Judith Herzfeld
- Robert Hunt (emeritus)
- Ray Jackendoff (emeritus)
- Kenneth Jones (emeritus)
- John Lisman
- Susan Lovett (pictured above)
- Eve Marder
- Richard Palais (emeritus)
- Gregory Petsko (emeritus)
- Dagmar Ringe
- Michael Rosbash
- Leonard Saxe
- Silvan Schweber (emeritus)
- Andrew Szent-Györgyi (emeritus)
- Serge Timasheff (emeritus)


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One Financial
One Financial is an online market maker providing 24-hour CFD trading facilities to investors in Foreign Exchange, stocks, indices and futures. Based in London and Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority, One Financial has long established and dynamic contacts within the international financial community and offers a trading platform which is unique to One Financial, providing clients with consistent liquidity and tight trading spreads.
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Blue Folding Wagon
by Mac Sports | Item #: 154225 | Model #: WTC-101 |
Top Rated
Non-members pay 10% surchargeJoin now!
- Free Pickup
Delivery estimates, taxes, and fees are based on ZIP Code. Club Pickup orders are based on your club's current price and item availability on the day of payment.
About this item
Why We Love This
This handy wagon, like our fun-toting members, is all over the place. From groceries to gardening, you can rely on its strong wheels and durable polyester to make quick work of your large loads—on any terrain.
- Sturdy carrying cart holds up to 150 lbs.
- Great for camping, shopping, yard work and beach trips
- Folds away to 8" thick for easy storage
- Durable wheels for all-terrain use
- Strong polyester with two mesh pockets for storage
Save Yourself Multiple Trips No more back-and-forth or items that get left behind. This cargo wagon can carry loads of up to 150 pounds on a sturdy steel frame and strong 600D polyester. Your gear sits on top of four hard wheels to help you carry large loads through grass, dirt and sand. Have everything you need with you for those jobs around the yard, tailgating parties or outdoor adventures. It's great for kids activities and camping trips, too. Two readily accessible mesh pockets keep your mobile phones, keys and water bottles from getting lost in the load.
Store Easy and Keep It Handy Break your foldable wagon down with one hand. It collapses down to eight inches, making it easy to tuck away in small spaces. Hang it on the wall, store it in the closet or keep it in your car trunk or RV. That way, you always have it when you need, and hardly notice it when you don't.
- Wagon folds to only 8" thick
- Folding feature provides for easy storage in closet, on the wall or in the car
- Durable 600D polyester fabric for easy cleaning
- Sturdy steel frame
For questions or concerns regarding this product, please contact the Manufacturer's Customer Service Department at 1.800.938.9886.
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35.5"L x 20.2"W x 22.5"H
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TORONTO — The blog "Whispers in the Loggia" beat us to this one, but it bears repeating: Our Sunday Visitor interviewed Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, on last month's papal visit to the United States "now that the dust has settled." OSV notes that Archbishop Sambi was one of the key figures involved in planning Pope Benedict April 15-20 visit. The interview, combined with today's address to the Catholic Media Convention here in Toronto by the pope's chief spokesman, gives an inside look at how top Vatican officials are assessing the trip.
Our Sunday Visitor interviews papal nuncio to U.S.
Posted on May 29, 2008 by Administrator1


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All I want for Christmas
The Columbus Dispatch - December 02, 2012 05:51 PM
My Christmas wish list always consists of mostly fitness gear. Maybe yours does, too. I thought I'd make it easier for our families by providing my top 10, complete with links.
1) bodybuilding.com's shaker bottle: my shaker bottles never seem to be clean when I need them, so obviously I need more. This one from bodybuilding.com offers a bonus - a whisk ball that assures you won't be drinking your whey protein in lumps. They have 20 and 28-ounce sizes in a variety of colors.
2) running socks: I'm not a seasoned runner by any stretch of the imagination, but I've been running a lot more lately and hope to do the Cap City Half Marathon in May. Problem is, I have foot pain every time I run a long-ish distance, so I could really use some good socks (and shoes, but that'll be something I get myself). Not sure how effective these are, but they're worth a shot.
3) wristband: speaking of running, something like this for my keys and debit card would be handy. I have some tops and pants with zipper pockets, but I'm not keen on sticking my keys in them. I'm sure my husband knows better than to get me anything pink. Not that there's anything wrong with that; I'm just not a pink kind of girl.
4) lululemon headbands: ok, so I'd take lululemon anything, but I especially like these headbands because they keep layered hair all tucked in nice and tidy. With thin headbands, I get flyaways galore. Not that I'm too concerned with how my hair looks at the gym, but I don't want to look like Medusa, either.
5) skull kettle bell: my trainer picked up a 72-pounder for the gym from a friend who makes them at Ironskull Fitness. Sure hope he's not planning to use it on me. How appropriate is a skull on this equipment, right? I've wanted a kettle bell anyway, so this is perfect. I would go for the 26-pounder.
6) Fat Gripz: my trainer showed me these during a recent session. They are designed to increase hand and grip strength. One of my goals is to be able to do unassisted pull-ups. Problem is (despite my lack of strength, of course) that my hands always slip off the bar. I have the same problem when doing hanging leg raises. You can put these on any dumbbell or barbell.
7) Sport Beans: I'm told by regular runners that these help boost energy during long-distance runs. Plus they taste good.
8) cold-weather top: I only have a couple of long-sleeved workout tops, so I could use another. I lead an outdoor class every saturday, so this Nike top with the thumb cuffs would be ideal. Red, please.
9) subscription to sweatybettiesfitness.com: I've got it covered through the end of the year, but I could use some help after that. Danny J has created a fantastic online fitness community, complete with workouts and meal plans. You can sign up for a free membership, but only upgraded members get access to everything she has to offer, and that is a TON.
10) rubber floor mat : I plan to keep my workouts outside during the winter, but, honestly, I know there will be times that won't be possible. The best alternative is my garage, but I would need proper flooring. This is perfect. I would probably need two sets to cover enough area for several people to work out on.
Happy fitness shopping!
Don't forget to find me on Facebook at To Di For Fitness and on twitter at @fromthegymblog. You can also e-mail me at email@example.com


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|300: Rise of an Empire
|103 Minutes
|Rated: R
|Rated R for strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity and some language. - Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
|More Info... Reviews...
Now Showing At:
Click times for Online Ticket purchases.


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Music by David Shire
Book by Sybille Pearson
Directed by Bill Jenkins
Musical direction by Jodi Cotton
Choreography by Christie Zimmerman
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Based upon a story developed with Susan Yankowitz
Baby is the celebrated musical that follows three very different couples on their nine-month journey to becoming parents. Set on a college campus, two students, a thirty-something sports coach, and a middle-aged couple who thought they had seen the last of parenthood until a night of passion lands them back where they started...each face their own individual questions, joys and sorrows as they anticipate impending parenthood. Baby is an amusing emotional roller coaster ride that examines the rewards and agony of this universal experience.
Baby is a part of the 2014-2015 Strother Studio series.
Tickets go on sale August 25, 2014.
General Public: $12
Students: $10
Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. and one hour before each performance. For more information call 765-285-8749.
Copyright © 2017 Ball State University 2000 W. University Ave. Muncie, IN 47306
800-382-8540 and 765-289-1241


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What's Hot: May 2013
Genre Pergola necklace with diamonds, coral and agate by Van Cleef & Arpels; porcelain Japanese cherry blossom and small carnation by Nymphenburg from Kneen & Co.; Decorative rosette by P.E. Guerin; all set against the new Pardes fabric by Rubelli.
Van Day Truex side chair by Jonas, upholstered in Praying Mantis cotton chintz by Bob Collins & Sons from Todd Alexander Romano; recycled iron–framed Leaf mirror by Arhaus; hand-thrown earthenware vase by Frances Palmer Pottery.
The Top 10 Folding Screens


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Compare great Ford Specialist Tyres prices in Hackney with Who Can Fix My Car.
Enter your registration, compare quotes, and find a great garage near you. Get your competitive local prices now!
Compare great Ford Specialist Tyres prices in Hackney with Who Can Fix My Car.
Excellent workmanship I am very pleased thank you very much
Excellent service, very happy with Daniel and his team, ended up spending more than i was prepared for but I was completely happy with service I received..
Excellent service. Picked up and delivered the car in the given time. Car also cleaned. Thanks Daniel for your honest and excelllent service --Regards Suresh Canning town
Daniel's friendliness and customer service is second to none. Audi A3 cambelt kit, water pump and coolant fitted. Work completed as scheduled at the price estimated. Car cleaned inside and out too. Can't fault the whole experience, I'm so happy I've found a mechanic I can trust.
Superb. Great customer service. Daniel is a person who will tell You what exactly need to be done and he's mechanic who is not inclined to rip his clients off. Also very clean garage. Great communication during the whole process - even if You are not there. I can honestly recommend!
Had clutch problems and couldn't move my car. Jagg managed to pick my car up and fix my clutch very quickly. Excellent customer service too, he was very friendly.
All done properly + some extras. Truely recommend!
Jagg is really a good guy!Customer service is efficient and the quote was fair. Job was done nice and neat!Kindly provided one year guarantee for the job and parts. Timely made explanations to avoid my doubts over brake fluid leak when the mechanic pushed pistol back without prior opening the fluid capping. Kindly did test drive to make sure the new discs and pads worked well. We later drove on up and down hill roads having not felt the brake performance compromised with the new parts, although initially we had a little bit concern about the performance and reliability of the not so familiar Bremsen pads and Automative Excellence discs. Thanks Jagg!Will recommend to friends!
The garage was very helpful friendly and honest. Work was done when they said it would be and also did extra work for me to get it through the MOT I'm extremely happy with the service and would recommend and use again. Thank you so much
better than i was expected, price was the same as quoted,done some extra job without charge,advise me what I should consider to change in the future. very good garage, fast and reasonable prices will recommend
Wonderful and honest and reability
All good!
Very good service.
Really great job at a really great price!
Excellent, friendly and fair service. I would definitely use this garage again. Thank you.
One star because you did not write the report I asked and you don't respond to my messages.
Samet has been very professional and has fixed the problem very quickly and at the right price. Will use his services again. Thanks
nice guys, found my problem.
Very professional and quick service
We hadn't agreed on an exact tiime for my MOT because I had a prior appointment but when I did turn up they were fast and efficient. I couldn't have asked for more to be honest.


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DPAA: Standard Advertising Units
February 24, 2012
The DPAA (Digital Place-based Advertising Association) provides standard advertising unit guidelines which are recommended for acceptance by all digital place-based networks.
Members Only Content
This content is available to ANA Members only. Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


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Our Monday Morning Fueled By Ramen Lyrics come from Cobra Starship today. The song 'Good Girls Go Bad' featuring Leighton Meester from the album Hot Mess. Happy Monday!
|November 12, 2012
Starting today you can preorder a limited edition vinyl pressing of Fall Out Boy's Take This To Your Grave and Panic! At The Disco's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. All details are listed above and below:
Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave
Coke Clear Vinyl - 950 Total
200 Available in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore - order HERE
also Available at Hot Topic - order HERE
Multi-Color Randomly Mixed Vinyl - 950 Total
200 Available in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore - order HERE
also Available at Hot Topic - order HERE
Panic! At The Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Gold Vinyl - 1150 Total
400 Available in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore - order HERE
also Available at Hot Topic - order HERE
|November 09, 2012
Happy Friday! Today we're offering the Fun. Beach Party Tote Bag is $5 today only in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore - click HERE to order now!
|November 08, 2012
A new blog from Hayley Williams of Paramore was posted yesterday! Click HERE to read the latest update on the Paramore 'In The Studio' blog.
|November 07, 2012
Get a ticket now to see Nick Santino of A Rocket To The Moon do a performance on StageIt tomorrow at 8PM EST. Click HERE to purchase a ticket now! Nick will also be doing a Q&A on the @ARTTMupdates twitter starting at 6PM EST. Get your questions ready!
|November 07, 2012
Subject: Thom Skarzynski, Marketing Manager
Interviewed By: Adam Walker, Marketing Intern
What is your most memorable musical moment? (Could be a band you played in, concert you attended, album you heard, etc.)
I have a few that each changed me and made me want to get into the music industry. The first one was definitely growing up and listening to the Beatles – the first time I heard "A Day In The Life" I remember getting chills and wanting to learn an instrument from there. My first concert – Our Lady Peace at the Birch Hill Concert Hall in New Jersey – I'll never forget seeing a band's live show for the first time and singing every word. And I still get amazed sometimes – hearing the crowd sing the words louder than Nate can at a fun.
|November 06, 2012
Help the Fueled By Ramen Street Team spread the word about the twenty | one | pilots preorder for their debut Fueled By Ramen release, Vessel.
Click HERE to find out how you can help spread the word!
|November 06, 2012
Here's another photo of Fun. from this past weekend when they performed on Saturday Night Live. Click HERE to watch their performance of 'Some Nights' and 'Carry On.'
|November 06, 2012
|November 06, 2012


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Navy to study noise of new Whidbey jets
WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION, Wash. - The Navy plans to prepare an environmental impact statement on the effect of basing EA-18G radar-jamming Growler jets at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, replacing the EA-6B Prowlers that have called the island home since the 1970s.
The Daily Herald reports community meetings on what should be included in the study are scheduled for Dec. 3 at Coupeville High School, Dec. 4 at Oak Harbor High School and Dec. 5 at Anacortes Middle School.
The Navy issued a notice last week of its intent to assess the impact of operations at the air station and the Coupeville Outlying Field.
In July, the group Citizens of the Ebey's Reserve for a Safe, Healthy and Peaceful Environment filed a lawsuit seeking the study because of jet noise levels.


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Applications for USA Badminton's High School All-Americans are now being accepted. All students who were high school juniors and seniors during the 2012-2013 school year are eligible. Recipients will be chosen based on Junior National titles held, badminton and academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, and a coach's recommendation. The time period under consideration is from August 2012 through completion of the 2013 Junior National Badminton Tournament.
Applications are available online and will also be available at the 2013 U. S. Junior National Badminton Championships. Interested students can request an application form from the USA Badminton National Office at (719) 866-4808, ext. 3 or by email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Please note that all completed applications must be received by the USA Badminton National Office no later than May 31, 2013. All applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the USA Badminton Junior Advisory Group.
CLICK HERE for the application!


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Volumous Curly Red Hair
Here is a hairstyle for you that has full blown volume. This full bodied wedge shape is edgy and chic. With all the curls, this is romantic and sexy.The cut is layered.This is one red-hot look.
TOOLBOX Collection Hair: Patrick Kalle, Art Director Farouk Systems Europe & The Artistic Team Photographer: Ivo Rikkert Stylist: Marco Marcus Make up: Lydia Thann


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Today, Secretary of State John Kerry recognized Taylor Guitars, Plantronics, and Fruit of the Loom with the Secretary's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), which recognizes the contributions businesses make to improving lives at home and abroad. Established in 1999, the Award spotlights the important role businesses play as good corporate citizens. Watch this "State in 60 Seconds" video to learn more about ACE, and visit the Department's website to read the Secretary's remarks at the 15th annual ACE ceremony.
About the Author: Srinivas Kulkarni serves as a Foreign Service Officer in the State Department's Office of Digital Engagement.


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Thanks Greg, you nailed this one on the head. Andy was truely underappreciated during his time in Cleveland. And good a player as he was, he was 10x better as a man.
I had the pleasure of living in the same complex as he and his family his first year in Cleveland (along w/ Larvell Blanks and his family). I played with little Andre and his daughter Theresa and had dinner with his first wife Gertie when the Tribe was on the road. They became an extended family to me in a way and it was devastating to learn of the accident that took Gertie and Theresa away from us. At the age of 10, it was the first time that I lost people who I was close to and it was difficult to come to terms with that. The next season, early in May, I went down to a game with the Blanks family that was eventually called for rain. Andre invited all of us back to his new home in Chagrin Falls for dinner and time to visit as he had not seen the Blanks family or me since the team broke spring training. He was excited that little Andre would get a chance to play with his friends he had made the previous summer. It was an important visit for me as Andre spoke openly to us about the death of his wife and daughter, went through his grieving process and told of his delight that one day he would be reunited with them once again. His strength and willingness to share this had helped me come to terms with what had happened.
Unfortunately, this was one of the last times I would have a private audience with Andre. I would see him years later down the road after he retired at different functions and would make sure I would go up to him just to see how he was. The handful of times that this happened he would light up when I told him my name and each time he thanked me for being a friend to his family when he first came to Cleveland.
As the years have gone by, those days seem so distant and I haven't thought of them in quite a long time. Thank you Greg for bringing back the memories of a wonderful time in my life when I not only met a big league ball player, but became friends with a truly wonderful family who meant the world to me.


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Linear Power Supplies: 0 Products Found
Wide voltage input range chassis, enclosed, DIN rail mounting and UL94V0 encapsulated PCB-mounting models. Wide operating temperature ranges, adjustable output voltages, protections and remote sense. Medical approval and EN60950 compliance products available. Single or multiple, fixed or variable voltage outputs. Power supplies with safety transformer functions. Remote programming, current-sharing models.


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"What shall we do about the elderly dying with dementia, losing who they are — how do we help them 'die well'?
My mom is at the end stage. She is losing her abilities to speak, to eat. How do I help her? Is it okay to talk about dying with her? I do read to her, I tell her I love her, I see her as often as I can at her long-term care home. But as she declines, I am not sure how to help her 'die well.'
I have had a great sense of healing in my time with her in this stage of life, but as I see her becoming less and less connected I am not sure what to do. How can I help her at this stage? Perhaps just being there, holding her hand, reading, I am not sure. How do we address her dying? Is it okay to talk about it? I don't want her to die without being at peace about it."
—Annie Voldman, in response to "Contemplating Mortality"
We received this powerful note with searching questions yesterday from a listener in Vermont. What advice would you offer her, or suggestions on resources that would give her good counsel? Please leave them in the comments section and we'll forward on. Many thanks for your help.


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A Scottish take on 'Celtic Carnival'
With Old Man Winter unleashing a deep freeze on us, it's not too hard to believe that the annual Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake is only four weeks away.
Now's the time of year when volunteers start clearing snow off the ice of Pontiac Bay (letting it freeze deeper in preparation for Ice Palace block cutting), when locals are asked to nominate community benefactors to be king and queen (the deadline is Jan. 16), and – this is when the excitement really gets humming – when we get our first glimpse at Garry Trudeau's new button.
And another wonderful button it is.
We plead guilty to loving all Mr. Trudeau's pins, which he's designed for every Winter Carnival since 1981. Every year's pin has its critics – and we can already see where this year's objectors will come from – but we're not among them.
This year's button may be controversial due to its interpretation of the "Celtic Carnival" theme. Thousands of Irish descendants in this area – including our own managing editor, Peter Crowley – had assumed the dominant motif would be from the Emerald Isle, but no. Mr. Trudeau instead went Scottish, with bagpipes and tartans. To mediate between the Celtic nations, perhaps, he made it a green tartan and threw in a four-leaf clover for good luck – gambling that the local Irish won't go too hard on him.
We don't think they will, though. Sure, there'll be some good-natured grumbling over pints, but remember that the Scottish Highland parade bands from Canada are such an iconic part of Carnival that this image is perfectly fitting. We can already hear the blast of the bagpipes and the crack of the drums, just from looking at this pin. Therefore, we urge the proud Irish-Americans of the Saranac Lake area to wear this button gladly, reveling in their multi-faceted Celtic heritage.
Meanwhile, we're happy that Duke has ended his nephew Zonker Harris' seven-year run as the Doonesbury cartoon character on this year's pin. One could have reasonably suspected Zonker would make a return, given his new career as a pot farmer and this year's green-tinged Carnival theme – perhaps Zonker smoking amid a field of shamrocks? Now that would have been controversial.
Duke is smoking, too, but not with his normally omnipresent cigarette holder. Instead he's puffing through the bagpipe; the smoke pluming out of the drone pipes is a clever touch.
Duke was originally a caricature of "gonzo" journalist Hunter S. Thompson, something Mr. Thompson apparently hated. The character has had many careers, all of them dubious – this according to his Wikipedia page: Rolling Stone writer, governor of American Samoa, ambassador to China, manager of the Washington Redskins, National Rifle Association lobbyist, smuggler, drug dealer, medical school founder, condom manufacturer, cruise ship captain, maximum proconsul to Panama, arms smuggler, Kuwaiti bar owner, David Duke campaign manager, JFK assassination photo forger, orphanage founder, black-market Beanie Baby dealer, bodyguard, bounty hunter, presidential candidate, stem cell trafficker, mayor of an Iraqi city, New Orleans hurricane exploiter and a lobbyist for dictators and oil companies.
This is Duke's second appearance on a Winter Carnival button. The last time was in 1986; then the image included a snowball whizzing toward his top hat.
Happy Carnival!


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Ed.M. Degree Requirements
Requirements for the
Ed.M. Program in Economics and Education
(60 points)
Core Requirements
(minimum 12 points)
EDPE 4050 Economics of Education (3)
EDPE 4056 Microeconomics (3)
Statistics: minimum level of competence HUDM 5122*
(Students not prepared for HUDM 5122, may need to take HUDM 4122 beforehand); G6412Econometics II, and G6417Econometrics III (alternatives are subject to the approval of the adviser)
Field Requirements
(minimum 18 points)
Courses within the program:
EDPE 4051 Education and Economic Development (3)
EDPE 4055 Resource Allocation (3)
EDPE 4057 Economics of Urban and Minority Education (3)
EDPE 4058 Economics of Higher Education (3)
ITSF 4060 The Latino population of the
EDPE 4097 International Comparative Studies in Ed Finance (3)
EDPE 4155 Education, Privatization and School Choice (3)
Courses outside the program:
Labor Economics: W4400
Ph.D Applied Labor Economics: EDPE 6052 (for advanced students)
G6451-G6452 Economics and Labor I & II (3)
Public Finance: G6807 Public Finance III (3)
Breadth/Electives Requirements
(minimum 9 points)
Three courses (at least 2 credits each) must be taken outside the program. Only courses taken at
Final Requirement
Master's thesis: an integrative project


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The Sin of Counting
I'll admit to being weary, to the point of irritation, whenever I hear ministers of the gospel reporting their statistics as external evidences of success. And I know I'm not the only one. (The first minute-and-a-half of this video makes the point.)
Enough already.
I'm not saying I'm less tempted than the next guy to hope for big numbers and stats, the apparent signs of God's blessing on my ministry. I am. But I've seen the focus on numbers as a temptation to be resisted, not something to be embraced. And when preachers find a way to mention the numbers in public, and often, it comes across as bragging; it's worldly and unbecoming of Christians who are to be characterized by humility and meekness.
One of the worst plagues to hit Israel came about when David numbered his troops, taking pride in his military might. For all the external, visible signs of success David could see and count on a human level, only God could knew the true condition of Israel. Widespread spiritual decay would soon divide David's kingdom and eventually expel the people of Israel and Judah from the land of promise.
Counting isn't always pride, right? God commanded Moses to take a census of the people (Numbers 1:1-46; 26:1-62), and for very practical reasons (e.g., to register the fighting men, to determine per-tribe ransom for servicing the temple). Here at Grace to You, we have to keep track of certain numbers to make sure we're good stewards of the resources God entrusts to us.
But just like David's pride in counting the troops, we too can tend to grow proud when we look at the stats—baptism numbers, conference attendees, book sales, etc. It can get ugly pretty fast. Big numbers, or maybe just upward-tending numbers, can flatter. They're like the applause of a crowd, patting you on the back and making you feel good about what you're doing. Numbers can easily lull you into a false sense of security, keeping you from the hard and painful work of self-examination before the Word of God.
Our modern preoccupation with numbers—the emphasis on the visible, external, measurable—reminds me of a few theses in Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, which proved to be at the theological center of the Reformation.
19 That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the invisible things of God as though they were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened.
22 That wisdom which sees the invisible things of God in works as perceived by man is completely puffed up, blinded, and hardened.
19 That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the invisible things of God as though they were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened.
22 That wisdom which sees the invisible things of God in works as perceived by man is completely puffed up, blinded, and hardened.
Without getting into the details, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church justified themselves by pointing to external, visible signs of success. They assumed, as Luther pointed out, that God's work (which is invisible) are visibly manifest, something that could be perceived, measured, and counted. Simply put, if it worked, if it was successful, if it was mighty, if it was manifestly glorious, then God was in it. Luther called that a theology of glory, meaning a theology that is focused, not on the true glory of God, but on what appeared to be glorious in the estimation of man.
The error of the theologians of glory is the same as the pragmatists of our day. They assume they can perceive, measure, count, and glory in the invisible things of God, things that are truly imperceptible and uncountable. That kind of thinking, as Luther said, "is completely puffed up, blinded, and hardened."
As he confronted the heart of Roman Catholic theology, Luther pit the theology of glory against the theology of the cross. Here's how he put it in thesis 20:
20 He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross.
20 He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross.
The theology of the cross recognizes God's work as a subverting work, one that overturns human pride, thwarts human wisdom, and acts opposite of human expectation. The suffering of the cross—what is truly visible and manifest about God—is not impressive by any measure of man. That which is humble and weak and low and unimpressive—namely, the stuff of suffering—is not something that grabs attention, fills your conference, gains a following, or builds your fan base. But that's the way of the cross, which is God's true work, demonstrated "in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
The theology of the cross is not the message of pragmatic growth methodology, whether we're talking about old-school Seeker or today's more fashionable, hipster version. Pragmatists are like Luther's theologians of glory, practitioners of methodologies that "work." And the preoccupation with signs of visible success is making many Christian leaders, as Luther saw in his day, "completely puffed up, blinded, and hardened."
It's embarrassing to hear them couch their growth stats in pious sounding phrases like, "It's so amazing how many churches God is planting through us," or, "I'm so humbled to see that ___ people made decisions for Christ," or, "I was humbled to be speaking to ___-thousand people last week," and on and on. Parading acts of personal piety, completely contrary to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6, is proof positive of being puffed up. Those who are puffed up are blinded to their error and hardened to any correction.
None of us is completely free of the charge of pragmatism. Pragmatism is only a matter of degree, isn't it. But being sullied by the error of pragmatism doesn't exonerate us; it just shows how utterly in need of grace we really are.
That's what David learned, when God brought swift and deadly judgment against the people. "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done?" (2 Samuel 24:17). Would that today's church leaders would not only repent of their own sin of counting, but take a keener, more heartfelt interest in the good of the Lord's sheep.
Let us all strive to "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). In an attitude of humility and repentance, we'll truly find the grace and blessing of God.
Travis AllenDirector of Internet Ministry
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I aggree. Some churchs are simple focused on numbers. Not on preaching the whole word of God. If they did that their number would go down because some may be offenned. True growth is seeing new members stay because they are fed the word properly. True growth is watching as the excisting members faith in Christ grows because they are being fed the word properly. No true church should pour all their focus on numbers. It is not a bussiness.
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The heart matters of a christian and the unsaved whom searching for the truth is more important the poll. I been there seeing a pastor, I knew. He kept a chart of numbers of people whom attended at church and of how many visitors visit.. Focusing on the growth of a church make one lose focusing on teaching the members and visitors what God intends from us.
Thanks for the post. God bless..
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Tell me why J. Vernon McGee should not be on the radio today? Is God's word not the same today, yesterday and tomorrow? McDonald and Driscoll seem way too focused of how irrelevant their messages will be years after they die. Why? If they are preaching the true timeless message...what is outdated? Nothing is, unless you are preaching to please and relate to your audience rather than giving them the timeless Gospel message.
it seems those three guys are business men.. they are as if the church were a company.. the church isn't a organization but a organism.
In a simple way.. i would say that it is obvious they do not want to help people reach heaven but they're more interested in the amount, numbers and stats... this is very sad 'cause this kind of preachers are always doing a critic to the traditional church and the elders.. they just want to put their own philosophical view about the gospel..
it is better quality than quantity...
Am also tired of dis vain ideal of taking Jesus out of the picture to focus on large congregation,i see dis as been competitive with each other,showing off their asset ,instead of saving the people and mending broken heart.dis men of God want to be worship adore which is wrong.they ve thought so many things dat are not wholly with the word of God taking advantage of the weak one. may God open the eyes of his children to see what is going on and not lose faith in all dis.thank u pastor john for ur teaching am so glady i saw ur message at this time
Perhaps I am wrong in rocking the boat...but here goes.
I live in Kansas, which is far from California. I rarely pay attention to Joel Osteen, Warren, or Willow Creek.
I have NEVER met a pastor whose sole purpose was to fill seats and thump his chest...all that I have met want people to grow in Christ in some way. Perhaps their methods are wrong, but COUNTING doesn't seem to be the sole purpose. Now, perhaps in a Pastor's conference people go around comparing numbers. That is prideful for certain, but does that necessarily speak to the MOTIVATION AND PURPOSE of their churches???
ON THE OTHER HAND, I have been to churches that are very small, and they are VERY prideful of that. "Yes, amen, we just trust the Loooorrrrddd...". They haven't done evangelism in a decade. If a young couple comes in with a baby who cries they ask them to leave. If a man/woman is divorced its all over. Worse yet a single mom who was never married (gasp)....how dare she come here....YES, I have seen this with my eyes!!!
So, NOT COUNTING can be bad to...perhaps you have the gospel right, but your love walk, attitude, countenance, and character is all messed up. Perhaps that is why people stay away????? Perhaps you embrace the idea that, since the GOSPEL IS A STUMBLING BLOCK, our dress, music, and other church techniques and methods might as well be to...
Since we are throwing stones, I thought I would bring a rock of a different sort to throw...
Sincerely in Christ,
Mark A Smith:
I'm having a hard time understanding what your comment has to do with the post. Are you agreeing or disagreeing with the point we're making in the post?
Your last paragraph seems to be saying exactly the opposite of what we're criticizing in the last two posts. Are we reading you rightly?
The mentality seems to be, if the numbers are growing, then God is in it. When there are a couple of months or even years with slow growth, then this is not from God. Not necessarily.... failures can come through God, and most often much can be learned from what we see as failures. God can work through the mistakes and failures, just as He works with the successes. In fact, in my own life, God has taught me more from mistakes than successes. BUT, we have to humble ourselves and seek His direction through prayer and His Word.
Oswald Chambers: "Our Lord told us how our love for Him is to exhibit itself when He asked, "Do you love Me?" (John 21:17). And then He said, "Feed My sheep." In effect, He said, "Identify yourself with MY interests in other people," NOT "Identify Me with your interests in other people."
Today, lots of programs and activities permeate our churches to "bring in the lost" and then the Gospel gets lost or is never taught. To quote Oswald Chambers once more: "The Great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament, but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation..... For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)
Let me try to be clear. I have never visited Grace Community Church. I would love to but given the realities of life it is too far away and too expensive right now...It seems to me, from having read a lot from John MacArthur and watching video and conference feeds, that Grace is a wonderful place. They are trying to be leaders in the evangelical community and these blogs are part of that. I appreciate their needed effort to clean things up...
But, I am trying to get a grip on what "pragmatism" is. IF you mean that "pragmatism" is watering down the gospel of Jesus Christ, then I agree it is an error. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior is NOT a trivial event, as some make it. I agree with MacArthur on that. We should make it clear that salvation is a serious issue, and it is led by the Holy Spirit drawing men and women to God. Living the Christian life is not what too many say today, with a total focus on money, present happiness, etc...
But all too often, "pragmatism" is a negative label for a style we don't like...The gospel is a stumbling block because it is a work of God, but is music supposed to be? Is dress supposed to be? I appreciate the blogs, but I often "hear" the responding posters as opposing STYLE, and calling that negative "pragmatism".
If pragmatism means changing the gospel to make it more palitable, that is wrong. But if we include other topics like dress, music style, etc, then we have gone off track.
I had to take care of some business...now I'm back to finish my thoughts.
As far as counting, I agree that superficial concern over numbers is wrong. Many pastors and boards use that to gauge their success. I inadvertantly signed up for a church growth website email of "tips" on how to grow your church. I still receive them...they would be comical if they weren't so sad. Little mention in them of Biblical reasons for doing any of it. Instead, it is "do what I did in starting a church in NYC..."
Since that is so problematic, I agree with much of what Travis wrote above....
The problem is I know all too many WHO SIMPLY DON'T WANT THEIR CHURCH TO GROW!!! They have their friends at church, their pastor, their hymnal, and they don't want anything else. New people are seen as threats to the "old order" of things. THAT IS NOT THE WILL OF GOD EITHER.
I realize this blog is NOT addressing that per se, but I suspect some concern of some posters is NOT purely theological and ecclesiological, but are much more personal. Many hide their concerns under the label of opposing "pragmatism".
Mark Smith
Pragmatism is an approach that says the end justifies the means, which is not a biblical approach. So, issues of style (music, clothing) may or may not have to do with pragmatism; it depends on each person.
The problem with church growth pragmatism is with both ends and means. The current post has to do with the end in view (big numbers) and the previous post had to do with the means used to achieve the end (doing whatever it takes to get big numbers).
I can praise the Lord in the preaching of an accurate gospel, even when the pastor is in every other way a pragmatist (he wants big numbers and he'll use whatever means necessary to get them). That's akin to Paul's attitude in Phil. 1:18.
However, a pragmatist has taken his eye off the ball in a big way. It won't be long before the gospel he preaches ceases to be accurate, before he stops championing the sound doctrine that saves sinners. That's exactly what's been illustrated for us in the recent Elephant Room debacle.
So, it's not so much the question of losing the jacket and tie when you preach, or wanting a contempoary sound in your church music. The question is, are you doing that to attract people or keep people in your church.
Preach the gospel. Teach doctrine. Go deep with theology. Immerse yourself in the historic Christian faith and spend time with the saints of old who proclaimed the faith powerfully and profoundly. Let all of that fill you with knowledge and zeal. Preach the Word with passion and authority, and the with conviction that comes from hard, diligent study.
Then leave the results to God and the work of His Spirit.
Hope that helps.
McDonalds comments to Pastor Devers as being a "brother, mentor, and theological genius" were obviously tongue-in-cheek and were meant to mock him. The comments that followed confirmed their disdain for him. The arrogance and pridefulness of these two men, Driscoll and McDonald is palpable in their manners and behaviors and confirmed in their words. Their love affair with numbers is likely just an outgrowth of their love of self. If they could ever really die to self it would be reflected in their words and behaviors. I cannot put faith in any pastor as a true pastor who lacks humility. That sin is the worst we can commit and is the one that led the god of this age to be cast from heaven. To see pride manifest in all it's sinful glory, watch the above video again and observe the facial expressions and behaviors closely of Driscoll and McDonald. To observe humility, watch Pastor Devers. I know something of pride. It continues to be the sin I commit most often against our Lord and one I repent of daily. This is because once you recognize and master it's more obvious forms, the Holy Spirit allows you to see the more insidious and hidden forms that must be repented of. I will pray for McDonald and Driscoll as I do for myself; all three broken individuals in need of God's loving grace.
Amen. This is something that not only branches into the more liberal circles but is absolutely rampant in the fundamentalist circles. As a fundamentalist this is something that affects me deeply, seeing how fundamentalist/evangelicals have adapted worldly means to judge spiritual success. Great article.
I heard of some churches that do signs and wonders. They are doing it for money and a crowd. Why and how do they get away with it? Just a thought. like Benny Hinn, Hagee and more.
The disturbing element of the video for me was the over-emphasis on preaching with no mention of pastor involved shepherding. While I agree that preaching is the climax of a worship service and the primary responsibility of Pastor/Elder is to preach, there must be a balance of the call to shepherd as well.
The idea that a pastor is called only to preach and is to delegate all other responsibilities is foreign to the Scriptures. If a church grows to be big enough where the Pastor is unable to partner effectively with his leadership to know and minister to his congregation effectively - that would be a sure sign that it would be time to plant a church and hopefully that church recognized the growth while it was happening and had been raising up leaders to take over with that plant.
One of the greatest joys and the most effective ways to share the gospel is at the dinner table with members of the church or visitors of the church, or at the hospital bedside, or during a counseling session. I for one would not like to be relegated to only be viewed as the "preaching pastor" and my elder team will disciple you. My love for the Word is only equaled by my love for people.
Thoughts on Joshua Frazer's comments:
I think Joshua raises a very valid point that we all need to keep in mind. Far too often we get so pumped up about one issue we neglect the broader picture. However, I also must point out that a ~10 minute video is hardly enough time to address anything at all, let alone discuss all the complexities of pastoral duties - so I think their omission of shepherding was simply a wise and intentional choice to discuss a specific topic other than shepherding.
General thoughts:
All that said, I think there is some validity to the multi-site approach for the purpose of church planting. But the lack of humility on the part of Driscoll and MacDonald is what is disturbing. I think Dever's approach to not go multi-site shows much more long-term wisdom because he doesn't want to end up seeming to have a monopoly over all the churches in his area.
The danger I see down the road is nobody knows what's going to happen when these mega-church pastors start dying. What will happen when John Piper dies? What will happen when John MacArthur dies? Will it affect their church attendance? I'm not even talking about the multi-site issue or the issue of counting so much as the issue with pastors becoming such renowned icons that the momentum of the church is strictly driven by their own personality. And as a member at The Church at Brook Hills, where David Platt is our senior pastor, I see the potential for this to creep in on a regular basis - even in my own life. I think the reason is that it's so much easier for us (in our sinful nature) to embrace a human icon rather than the omnipotent and invisible Ruler of the universe.
I'm trying to figure out how to sum up what bothers me about the mega-church (and multi-site) model. And interestingly, I think it goes back to J. Frazer's point about shepherding. As a member of a mega-church, who is your shepherd? Even at Brook Hills (which is not multi-site), it certainly is not David Platt. Simple logic and some basic math quickly shows that a single person can't know every single person in a +1,000-member church. So who do church members go to? Do they ever actually build relationships with the "Minister of ___" that is assigned to their age group? Why would they, especially if they never get to hear him preach? And I think when you go multi-site it just makes it worse. I can see where multi-site makes people not be dependent on the tele-pastor (since he clearly isn't there at all), but then what message does that leave people with? They are left feeling like this is the way it should be - you're on your own - go figure it out the best way you can - "buy my book and go start a small group". I think there's a serious potential for major ego problems with mega-church pastors - and I think it's being manifested in their desire to go multi-site rather than turn it loose to let it be what it should be - another church in the body of Christ.
In Christ,
-Bob Browning
#4 Anderson, I agree. Sounded a bit like a sales meeting to get everyone's sales forecasts and to monitor and see if each is making his quota to date.
Wow...I just got around to watching this video and it offended me for the sake of Christ on many levels. I used to listen to James MacDonald's radio sermons last year and was generally pleased with the quality of his messages and thought pretty highly of him. I've never been a fan of Driscoll.
About half way through when James talks about removing his sermons from broadcast when he dies, and the quickness with which his sermons will in-effect lose their potency, it just denies the power of God in his messages. Adrian Rogers is the most gifted preacher I've ever heard, and he is now with Christ. I think the world would lose one of it's brightest lights the day Love Worth Finding ministries goes off the air. Should we just stop reading our Bibles because all of the apostles are dead?
And then both James and Driscoll are talking about putting younger, greener pastors in smaller congregations and working up to larger, how vain! What about 1 Timothy 3:6 which speaks of against having young pastors to begin with? Should I feel fortunate to be in one of their smaller congregations? Seems like they care less about the smaller congregations, almost like they're not worthy of more mature leadership. "Oh, the startup church? Yeah, just give them the guy with 1 year of Bible college."
How offensive.
I somehow initially missed that there was a video linked to...
I watched it, and I have to say I was appalled. I think MacDonald and Driscoll were both condescending towards Dever. The attitude of MacDonald and Dever stunk, to put it lightly.
Did you catch MacDonald say Master's Seminary graduates come to his church and take notes for a year??? Dear, I hope not. I have caught MacDonald a handful of times on the radio. I know nothing of Driscoll except what has come up from MacArthur over the "sex" issue...
I have to say the LAST PROBLEM in this link is the comparing the number of services and satellite churches. Their whole attitude is a stench.
You could tell Dever was pretty uncomfortable.
I meant to say the attitudes of MacDonald and Driscoll were appalling. Certainly not Dever.
I agree that pride is something believers need to guard against. It can be in the form of relying on self rather that God, or in the form of wanting to take credit for what God has done. However, I don't think that the sharing of numbers is always done out of pride. Specifically, I am thinking of the times when someone is giving an update on their ministry to those who have been praying for, or financially supporting, the ministry and who are eager to hear how things are going. Obviously, numbers are not the only measurement, but they can help convey in part what God has been doing. That said, I tend to cringe when I hear the number of conversions given, not because I suspect the speaker is being prideful, but because I don't always trust the conversions are true conversions. Sometimes it takes a while before the quality of the soil, which received the seed of the gospel, is truly known (Matthew 13:3-8).
I agree, many young kids whom came to Christ, either walked away or doubted. For example, some kids baptized at my old church and decided to live for the Lord. At young bible study, they don't seem into deep reading of God's word and bored.. looking at cell phones and still in their old ways. I prayed for them to stand strong.
To many kids at my old church focused on tougues, and prophecy.. and some believe they got that gift.. ..
Numbers should not be use.. Walk by faith, not by sight..
I agree, Mary.. Good post..
Sad, I see 1920's Germany here. Flat screen pastors who should be training men to train men etc. Every Church should be its own mini-Seminary. McDonald and Driscoll have made it about them and not about training the next generation of Pastors. Teach the Bible and God will bless by creating a Biblical literate congregation who can rightly divide the word to be a credible witness to the world. People don't usually get saved by going to a Church service, they get added to the Church by God's sovereign electing grace then we come to share Acts 4:12, right???
Awesome article. I went to a mega church here in Miami,fl. When it got old is when the bible wasnt being used or opened. Really when they would put pressure on you to bring people to church. It drove me nuts. Thanks to the G12 system by cesar castellanos. The Government 12 church growth system. There are more concerned growing physically than growing sprirtually. Im a witness to its lies. It has caused division in the church, destroyed families and people. I remember they gave me a small group to teach when I was only 5 months walking with the Lord. I was like "OK". I didnt know what I was doing. I was never discipled. Thank you Lord for you Holy Spirit that taught me everything I know. Praise God for this article. Travis you should do a research on the G12 and do an article on them. They are the ones putting their system all around americas churches and the church is adapting this system. . Be blessed my brothers. JP
#21 Mary, you're guarded like me. When we see them coming in droves, we have to wonder about that narrow and broad road? We wonder, "Lord, what is many and what is few?"
I also question, aren't they doing salvation by works when they are so obsessive about numbers? And aren't they trying to redesign the bride of Christ? I have no problem with growth if it is by God's design. I rather like being edified. I really like being equipped. Am I selfish? I don't want false converts and pastors of them steeling God's thunder and my opportunity to learn His Word, my opportunity to go deep into His word.
#22 Dan, these guys are so results oriented, aren't they. Well, you're seeing results, alright but not what they had in mind. Very negative results. It is so frustrating to watch.
#23 RICHARD GIANNOTTI - Great great perspective. That is it in a nutshell. The Holy Spirit makes it rather simple, right? Not to mention Jesus gave us the prototype! Very serious situation going on with these men.
#24 Jose - You answered just what I had been wondering about true converts that find themselves in these mega churches. I had wondered how long before they tired of all the hoopla and left? Not that I expect a massive exodus from those churches but those that truly have the Holy Spirit to stir their hearts as you did. Those results you named are rarely if ever mentioned. Not that I think they care that much or even notice someone that leaves. You know how there are some sales programs where they aren't looking for return customers? It's a numbers game. For every dissatisfied customer that walks, they have one ready and ripe to fill their slot. A constant turnover. Your experience speaks volumes. I will personally research this G12 system you speak about. I hope more former mega church members as well as former church leaders come forward as you have. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Beware of what some of these multi-site pastors are leading you into. If you go to You-Tube pull up the Spiritual Warfare videos by Mark Driscoll. Pay particular attention to part 5+6, where he talks to demons/evils spirits. This is very serious, and cannot be stressed enough; it will be a sad eternity for so many who blindly follow his teachings. Should we discuss this aspect of the multi-site churches? Yes, because not ALL multi-site churches are equal. Some are far worse than others.
Don't ever think for a moment that you/me have sounded the alarm too often concerning these false teachers, we live on the brink of eternity, and your friends, neighbors and loved ones are depending on YOU, dear Christian, to show them what is good and what is evil, to give them a word of hope, to guide them toward our Savior, and disciple them in God's truth. We, as Christians, of all people on this earth should know better. Don't let these people down. Live your life with a clear conscience before God.
Excellent article Travis.
I'd suggest that Driscoll and MacDonald are right in wanting the gospel to be preached and people to be saved, but that's not the extent of the great commission. Two thoughts:
1. Size is often far more of a curse than a blessing when it comes to making disciples.
When a church hits a certain size (5,000+), there tends to be several groups in the main church that are basically churches unto themselves. Practically speaking, discipleship in huge churches is highly difficult and it's hard to maintain control of the discipleship program; false teachers regularly start crazy churches as a small group in a mega-church. I'd guess that adding campuses (i.e. geographic isolation) makes matters of discipleship only more difficult.
2. Pastoring is more than preaching.
If Driscoll and MacDonald are basically a face on a screen preaching once a week and everything else (discipline, discipleship, leadership, shepherding, etc.) is done on campus by the campus pastors, I struggle to understand in what sense Driscoll and MacDonald are shepherds of their multi-site churches.
- Side note - Why in the world was Driscoll fighting with Dever about the lexicography of "ekklesia"? That doesn't align well with a bunch of compliments about Dever's intelligence...
I watched the video for about 3 minutes and had to turn it off. Not once during that time did they Glorify God, nor Jesus. Not once did they say 'Jesus planted/God planted'...they consistently gave glory to themselves saying 'I planted/I see decisions'/'I have x number of'... very sad...
Thanks Travis!
The fight for truth is a worthy effort...keep strong.
Watch the Spiritual Warfare videos by Mark Driscoll. Could'nt get though the second one. He thinks he has the power.. sad.. No, he does'nt and wearing the Mickey Mouse shirt seems like a kid.. He is decieved.. Only Jesus does command demons, not us.. Thanks for the info..
Well....... I just watched the video. Thankfully it was only about ten minutes long. Hard to watch but can you imagine what it was like for Mark Dever? Did anyone count all the personal pronouns? I , Me, My!! Seriously, who's church is it anyway? Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 3 come to mind.
"But let each one take heed how he builds on it". Are we building with gold, silver and precious stones or wood, hay and straw? The Day will declare it. Thank you Travis for another good article.
Since James MacDonald is not here to defend himself, let me just post a brief summary of an article he just wrote. If you would like to read it all, you can find it on his blog.
Preach the authority of God's Word without apology.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
Read that right. The authority is in God's Word—not the preacher. We don't preach with authority, we preach the authority of God's Word. And we do it without apology. Don't spend any time thinking about what your people want to hear; think instead about what God wants said. We've built our whole church on the principle that if we're saying the things that God wants said, God will fill the seats with folks to hear it. How obvious does that seem? If God looks down on the northwest suburbs of Chicago and sees our church, I hope He chooses to "get some more people over there—they want to hear My Word and they're fired up about My Son."
You might think, "Well, that's easy for you to say since you've got a big church." We've held to the priority of preaching the authority of God's Word without apology when we had 100 people. I can still remember the stinging comments from visitors who said at the door or when I'd call them on the phone that week, "We're never coming back to your church; we don't want anyone to talk to us like that."
When you apply this principle consistently over time, you'll endure a crucible of testing and proving how committed you are to God's Word. You'll be systematically preaching through some passage and the week that you're coming down hard on the topic of repentance, your board chairman tells you that his unsaved aunt is coming to church with them for the first time in twenty years. As you're preaching you notice her sitting in the front row looking like a deer caught in your headlights. Should I have changed the topic to accommodate what I know would be easier for her to hear? No—I trust God. I preach what His Word says and give up control over topics and timing. James MacDonald
As for Mark Driscoll, I have no comment. However, as for James MacDonald, he is a godly man who preaches the Word of God.
Travis, James is not what you have portrayed him to be with your 12 min video segment. Why would you throw him under the bus like this? I agree that there seems to be an arrogance about him in this particular clip, and even perhaps a lack of respect for Dever. But, seriously, why slam his entire ministry? I love the ministry of John MacArthur and appreciate the wonderful teaching. I pray that you would pick your fights better in the future. I don't agree with much of what James said, but it does not make him a false teacher as many have called him on this topic (not you travis), that is just irresponsible. Wake up Church!
I pray your wrong about your comment:
[ However, a pragmatist has taken his eye off the ball in a big way. It won't be long before the gospel he preaches ceases to be accurate, before he stops championing the sound doctrine that saves sinners. That's exactly what's been illustrated for us in the recent Elephant Room debacle.] referring to James MacDonald.
However, as far as I can tell, MacDonald IS championing sound doctrine and preaches the gospel accurately. Why so presumptuous? If he (MacDonald) begins preaching unsound doctrine and starts teaching an inaccurate message, THEN, call him out on it.(or denies the trinity) Again, I don't see that here, unless I'm missing something. Perhaps you are sounding a warning of a possible future change in MacDonalds teaching, but as for now he is proclaiming the authority of God's Word. If I am missing something , please share. In Christ,
Trying to get back to the topic at hand, I would like to share an observation from my own past and my own misconception of the church's responsibility. As a young married couple with a newborn, my husband and I became very active in our very small Bible-believing/teaching church that was dedicated to equipping the saints through sound doctrine and expository preaching. I would look around each week and try to think of the ways we could make this church grow, and that was my entire focus. However, the Pastor and his wife recognized that a strong, Biblically strong congregation, no matter the size, was the goal. I was so arrogant (freshly out of Bible college) and was so disenchanted by lack of growth that we evenutally left the church.
God showed me, through the study of Scripture, that my attitude was completely erronous, and how I LONG for those days in that small, Bible loving church. As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, it seems almost impossible to avoid it. All we seem to ever hear is numbers, numbers, numbers! We visited a small PCA church that we really loved . . . . until they announced their new "focus" for the church was strategic growth. They had no desire to water down the gospel, but every activity, ministry, etc. was now geared toward growth in numbers, which my husband and I had no interest, sadly, in being involved in. We decided to stay in our LCMS church, but we still hear all about the huge amount of growth they've experienced, so forth and so forth.
I does make me sad that the American church is so focused on this. People think persecution is so bad, but could you imagine how strong the true church would be if we were truly stripped of everything but the Gospel?
I also understand what Mark Smith is saying. I have met small congregation that wanted to stay small/country/"exclusive", touting they were truly disciples because they weren't growing during these "end times". That's bunk as well.
The logic behind strategic church growth saddens me because the gospel is truly simple--"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Teach/disciple, then send out. I see that every week on the entrance and exit of our church: Enter to worship/learn, Go in peace, sharing in the love/evangelism of the Lord: Corporate worship and edification leads to personal evangelism, thus causing "natural" growth. My 2 cents, anyway . . . .
Jonathan Pruett # 32
I admire your desire to believe the best about the pastor(s) you trust. But…here are a few quick thoughts:
1) Other than linking the video, Travis said nothing about MacDonald or his ministry throughout the entire article. You're the one dragging the James MacDonald issue front and center.
2) Since you brought it up, It seems to me that James threw himself under the bus. If he made the decision to appear in a video and openly tout his church planting successes, knowing the clip would become public domain, he should expect—and even welcome—feedback.
3) You said: I pray that you would pick your fights better in the future. I don't agree with much of what James said, but it does not make him a false teacher as many have called him on this topic (not you travis), that is just irresponsible.
If you think the purpose of this article was to "pick a fight" with James MacDonald, then you've certainly missed the point. MacDonald wasn't the main feature of the article, or even a marginal feature. Carnal, pragmatic counting was the issue, robbing God of His glory. I think that's a worthy fight to pick, don't you? Travis merely used the Driscoll/MacDonald ego-trip as a sad illustration of the pragmatism-by-numbers he was decrying.
Jonathan, Jesus said: "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." I think what you saw and heard in that video was a glimpse into the heart of MacDonald and Driscoll. As Travis said, none are immune from the temptation of glorying in their perceived achievements. May God have mercy on us and protect us from eclipsing His glory in building our own crumbling kingdoms. "He must increase, but we must decrease."
Jonathan Pruett # 33
Here's the point, Jonathan. Nobody wakes up one day and decides to abandon the gospel they "championed" for years. It's a process, not an event—a slow, nearly imperceptible decline built on one compromise after another. Judging from what I've seen in Driscoll's ministry (and recently in MacDonald's), I'm not encouraged. Don't let the bright lights surrounding popular pastors blind your discernment, brother. That's a lesson we all need to heed.
Best to run from one that cast demons out.. or do signs and wonders.. Psalm 1 is best for this blog..
About the video.. it seemed staged. McDonald said that Devers could explain himself and then he'd (McDonald) and Driscoll would tell him why they are right and he is wrong. But Pastor Dever's was interrupted immediately. It was so obviously unfair and rude, I thought, at first, it was a joke, a setup. They would not let him speak. And Pastor Devers had a half grin that looked to me as if he knew they were making fools of themselves and he was just gonna let them or he was in on the joke. Which is it? They pounced on him like they knew they better not give him the floor. It was weird to me to think that these grown men couldn't realize in that moment how they were coming across. Sometimes we don't know how we sound but when you have a buddy with you echoing your statements, your thoughts, your sentiments, then you gotta hear.
The other thing....when any pastor that has been faithful to teaching God's Word and faithfully shepherding his flock and his reputation reflects that....and yet, decides to start rubbing elbows with an obvious heretic, he's a major accident waiting to happen. That's a limb he does not want to go out on. I thought the unpardonable sin was blaspheming the Holy Spirit which happens to be part of the Trinity? What does light have to do with darkness? 2Corinthians 6:14. Does McDonald think he can expose Jakes in front of all the other evangelicals? Does he have a plan to publicly humiliate him? Or is he including him so as to lead him to the Right God of the universe? What is this all about? His blog indicates that he is doing so to prove his sensitivity to the black Christians? Make it more balanced. What? So there, we added Jakes. Are you happy? If I were a black person, I'd be insulted.
Well, I guess I got off the subject, didn't I? This is about mega churches and how they love numbers. But since McDonald and Driscoll are pro multi-site churches and since they did this silly video, their credibility came into play. Right? Can you separate the foolishness of some of the line up of speakers for the next ER with the conversation on the video? Should one not affect the other? Are they totally separate issues? Maybe. Or is the issue for both about discernment or the lack thereof? Is it showing a trend here? A need to be all things to all people..a need to expand .....even to heretics? Usually one wrong turn causes you to take many wrong turns before you get your compass working again
I have not really followed James MacDonald but have heard wonderful things about him in the past from those I am familiar with and trust. So I sincerely hope he is able to take some time away from all of this and spend it fasting and with the Lord. I really hope the world is not having the influence on him that it appears to have now. Well, I just pray it's not as bad as it looks. I really do.
Somebody tell me....was that video a joke? Is the joke on me?
You're right Rebecca --- That was one disturbing video!
When a trusted church leader shows a lack of discernment, it's red flag
time. There's a bit of truth in the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together".
I was disappointed to see MacDonald and Driscoll both agree that once they're dead, their messages will be irrelevant (along with the comment that J Vernon McGee shouldn't be on the radio). Are their messages merely 'hip' to the times? Ugh.
I am very thankful for JV McGee still being on the radio -- one my favorite sources for scriptural teaching when I was a younger Christian (and I still enjoy his messages). I'm thankful Dr. MacArthur's messages will still be broadcast as well. Does the gospel go out of style? MacDonald has preached a number of messages that are timeless, and it is sad and frustrating he has such a wrong view of the power of scripture, rightly preached.
I am increasingly dismayed at the blind spot of these two (MacDonald and Driscoll) when it comes to the Gospel and pragmatism, it seems to be getting bigger and bigger of late. May the Holy Spirit open their eyes.
#39 Marla- That confused me too. I've been wondering why they said that? Could that be their efforts to be humble and declare,"Look, I'm not a rock star preacher and therefore, to prove it, my voice does not need to go on and on after I'm gone. Because the message and the Holy Spirit will bring forth new expositors of God's Word. Our job will be done."? So are they trying to show humility? Or are they trying to put the idea of humility on display? That desire could have been made public after they are gone. Why announce it now?
Paul's words via the Holy Spirit continue to be read. I don't think it was because the Lord expected there to never be another to preach His Word. God equipped Paul and gave him a gripping testimony. That gift did not stop with Paul as wonderful as he was. The Holy Spirit has given some wonderful gifts to pastors that the church has benefited from. Those gifts are not and never will be obsolete this side of the rapture.
So, if that's where they are coming from and believe that another is quite capable of filling their shoes and preaching the timeless Gospels, I don't see why that isn't practiced full time at each of their campuses? Take the satellites down, let an in the flesh pastor speak up close and personal. Remember our Lord is omnipresent. With the help of the Holy Spirit, that pastor will do just fine....before they die as well as after.
Like I have mentioned, I really don't know these men or their hearts. But they must be aware that they are being watched and listened to and read and since most of us won't be at their homes for Thanksgiving or Christmas or any other intimate setting, we only know them by what we hear and see and read. I wouldn't go around purposely doing cliff hanger sound bites and not expect some to misunderstand or not expect to have to explain myself. Unless I thought my numbers spoke volumes and I owed no one an explanation or help with the context?
My concern with all of what has been happening at such a rapid pace lately is the apathy being demonstrated by some leaders as seen in their participation in panel discussions, round tables, conferences, etc with the guys who champion the very ideologies being called out on GTY and other sites.
Look at a couple of the well respected leaders within modern evangelicalism sharing stage at the event shown in the video clip listed in this blog. Whether or not they are there for a counter perspective is questionable. The truth is that simply by being in company with some of the folks being talked about here and elsewhere does nothing but lend credibility to their false doctrinal positions. There is something to be said about separation!
Would one have expected Augustine to share stage with Pelagius, or Luther sit down publicly to converse with Erasmus, or John Calvin/Beza buddy-up with Jacobus Arminius all in an effort to try and find some common ground...to build unity?
The fact is that the battles over truth brought to mind when the men I listed above are mentioned were fought because Augustine, Luther, Calvin, etc all pointed out the gross errors of their day and made efforts to eradicate the church of such teaching. Embracing modern day false teaching in an air of "new revelation" , as if all points of view are valid (or at least contain some measure of validity), is a dangerous trend.
I am surprised at the amount of judgement that is so quickly passed against Driscoll and Mcdonald. Keep in mind that this is a staged, planned discussion that all 3 agreed to have. If you look on the Gospel Coalition website you can see plenty of discussions regarding different matters. How can we judge Driscoll and Mcdonald unless we actually spent time working within their ministries to see who they really are out of the camera's light and how many lives they are affecting in their personal time. I agree that they do sound prideful and arrogant and in no way am I justifying how they are carrying themselves. I think of the times I have these discussions with my leaders and we bounce ideas and views off of each other sometimes in a stern way which in the eyes of someone watching from the outside might say we were talking against or at each other in pride or arrogance or it resembles this video, but we are merely bringing to the light most of the times things that need to be corrected and I believe that was one of the intentions of this video to cause us to think which Travis laid out thoughtfully. The focus was not on the the men talking and discussing but that which was being discussed. I would agree with Travis though and I would reiterate His last thoughts, Lets remember that we all utterly need God's grace, we need to continue to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and yes examine ourselves daily. Thank you for the post Travis, your writing shows your serious and sincere concern for this matter.
"I was disappointed to see MacDonald and Driscoll both agree that once they're dead, their messages will be irrelevant (along with the comment that J Vernon McGee shouldn't be on the radio). Are their messages merely 'hip' to the times? "
My take on why they would state such is simply to thwart someone from referencing historical figures in the Church to prove them wrong. If past spokespersons for God (as they portray themselves) have no current authoritative standing they are free and clear to do as they have stated..."develop their own theology."
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13-22 August, 2012 - Kathmandu, Nepal - Lawrence Hislop, Bjorn Alfthan and Riccardo Pravettoni take part in the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) Regional Review and Planning Workshop that is hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
The workshop is designed to: (1) enhance interactions and understanding among HICAP partners about the programme and their respective roles; (2) review activities carried out by partner organizations and achievements in terms of outputs and outcomes; (3) identify new/potential areas of partnership with existing as well as new partners; and, (4) draft the workplan for the second half of 2012 until December 2013. The workshop is expected to provide a clear picture of the activities and outputs achieved by the operational partners. It will also provide a framework of collaborative field research that needs to be further carried out jointly by promoters and operational partners in each of the 4 sub-basins.