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Project by djm555 | posted 06-28-2011 02:16 AM | 7802 views | 14 times favorited | 19 comments |
Over the past two years, I've managed to run out of room in my garage and decided to build a shed. I found the plans for this particular shed in a book titled "Building a Shed" by Joseph Truini. It's part of Taunton's Build Like a Pro series. The plans are available from Better Barns Hardware (http://www.betterbarns.com/thisPlan.asp?ProductID=2015). They also sell the sash windows and door hardware that I used. A neighbor and my brother helped with much of the framing. It took a team of four to place the gable ends. I did much of the finish work myself.
19 comments so far
#1 posted 06-28-2011 02:19 AM |
Very sharp looking. Well done! -- Grace & peace, Chris+ |
#2 posted 06-28-2011 02:29 AM |
That's one nice looking shed!! -- Scott in Texas |
#3 posted 06-28-2011 02:36 AM |
what did you finish this with? |
#4 posted 06-28-2011 03:26 AM |
Chris & scarpenter002, Thanks for the compliments. Brian, It's finished with Sikkens Cetol products. I sanded everything with 80 grit using a r.o. sander and then applied one coat of Cetol 1, followed by two coats of Cetol 23. At least o/n drying between coats. http://www.sikkens.us/en/Products/Exteriors/Pages/Cetol1.aspx |
#5 posted 06-28-2011 03:35 AM |
Very cool, something like this would probably help to convince my wife that sheds are cool. |
#6 posted 06-28-2011 01:56 PM |
Now that's a tool shed you can be proud of. Great job. |
#7 posted 06-28-2011 02:12 PM |
Gorgeous… and it looks pretty big, too. I love that the wood shines through so well. -- Nate, Harvard, MA |
#8 posted 06-28-2011 02:27 PM |
Beautiful job! It looks just like the one in the book! I do CAD/Sketchup work for Better Barns, they are a great company. I built the 12×16 Plywood sided version of this shed with the gable extensions…I had a 5 man crew working when we put up my roof trusses! -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248 |
#9 posted 06-28-2011 08:33 PM |
Very, Very professional looking. What type of wood is that? -- A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. -- Mark Twain |
#10 posted 06-28-2011 08:35 PM |
Wow, it's very handsome. Really nice work. I'm glad you paid for the cedar and not me;) -- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog |
#11 posted 06-28-2011 09:41 PM |
Willie, It's western red cedar. This gives me a chance to put in a plug for the local lumberyard that provided all of the cedar. The guys at Braundera are great. http://www.braunderalumber.com/Home.php Brad, I was really impressed with everything that I received from Better Barns. That's cool that you get to work with them. Gillyd, My fiancee has been very patient with me for the past several months. I couldn't have done it without her support. |
#12 posted 06-29-2011 01:56 AM |
Very well done. I built my shed from the same book but went with the more basic plan because I'll be leaving it in a few years. When I move, I'll build to this plan. The book is very good for folks like me without a lot of building experience. The steeper pitch roofs really add some style although they are a little tricky to shingle. Are you storing wood in the collar ties like I am? |
#13 posted 06-29-2011 04:45 AM |
I cut out the center truss bottom chord and framed the opening, then I decked the truss chords with 9 dollar a sheet HD 1/2" plywood…now my barn has a loft that almost doubled the storage… -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248 |
#14 posted 06-29-2011 04:57 AM |
Great suggestion, David. I'm still working on the interior. I encourage you to do a post on your shed, so I can borrow more of your ideas! Dusty, I haven't finished the interior. Post some photos of your shed if you get a chance. |
#15 posted 06-29-2011 06:14 AM |
that is GORGEOUS… I'm so jealous. |
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How would Chomsky categorise this? (Update: Corrected c&p typo per Erez post below.) Output Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
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You forgot to reset the clock on your camera.
Printable View
You forgot to reset the clock on your camera.
Your the only one who calls me on my camera date! I dont feel like changing it, it keeps you amused!
Train...I just heard buddy. Good luck. Didn't he win some CU beauty contest or something some time back?
P45, I hope he bites you hard for posting that cone pic of him. He looks like he needs steak and crab stuffed mushrooms and maybe some boneless chicken wings and a nice ale. Some strawberry shortcake too.
Hey! He won 2 beauty contests!:biggrin-new:
The dang vet wants him to lose weight! Usually he gets 4 cups of chef Michaels dry food, 1 large can alpo and 3 hotdogs, thats not counting his doggie snacks during the day.
So he'll bite me for the cone pic and his new diet!:biggrin-new:
Glad he's ok! He looks pretty good, except for the cone. :biggrin-new:
Glad everything went well....he doesn't look to happy about the cone though...lol
Glad he got through the surgery so well. And he won those beauty contests/personality contests in competition with a bunch of CU pooches.
Seriously might be good to deep 6 those hotdogs. The "girls" Bella and Darlene had gained weight the last time we took them to the vet. They used to get 1 cup of meal twice daily, now get 3/4 cup 2x daily. Instead fo a whole can of dog food, we mix in a couple tablespoons and a bit of broth. They're slimming down and running faster.
Poor ATrain, that's a bunch of change coming with that darned cone and the diet.
Dear lord, I had a 90 lb Rotty who ate less than that.
2 cups of Hundenflocken (goof for allergies)
2 huge carrots raw
1 Checker Burger w/no bun or condiments
any food my mother's dogs left in their bowls when we would come and visit
the occasional loaf of bread, stick of butter, submarine or anything else left on the kitchen counter
glad to see your puppy cam through ok
Yeah we all have to get used to his new diet, I guess 118 lbs is a little heavy for a Lab! Now his hot dogs are just to get him to take his pills, we break up the dogs and push the pills inside sneaky like!. Now we are giving him 1/2 cup dry and 1/2 cup can in the morning and in the evening and we aren't so easy with his doggy biscuits.
He; gonna hate us!:biggrin-new:


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Wides are the lenses most photographers turn to when they're heading out of the door to photograph landscapes thanks to the exaggerated field of vision they give. However, sometimes you can snap your vista and what you see on screen isn't quite as 'wow' as you envisioned but with a few simple tweaks, you'll soon have a shot you're happy to hang on your wall.
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Add Foreground Interest
A large part of your shot will be foreground so if it's not very interesting it'll make your shot boring. So if you find the spot your stood at doesn't have anything particularly interesting in foreground consider moving to a different location or if the vista you're trying to capture won't look as good from somewhere else switch lenses to one that has a long rather than wide focal length.When you're looking for foreground interest it can be anything from the shore of a lake to interesting boulder/rock formations or lines such as fallen tree trunks, paths and fences. A little bit of careful framing will also ensure that the foreground interest will help guide the eye through the shot to what's in the background.
Size Matters
Objects that are towards the back of the frame will appear even smaller when photographed with a wider lens so you may have to move closer to your subject than you first thought. If you have objects such as a building close to your lens perspective distortion can occur. On buildings this can mean the front of the building appearing much larger than the rest of it.Wides also have a tendency to cause verticals to converge too so if you have a lot of verticals in your frame, make sure you keep an eye out for it. To avoid it, you can compose your shot so the verticals aren't in frame, shoot the shot as you wanted to so you can correct the distortion later at your computer or there is a chance you may like the effect. It can work quite well if shooting in forests, shooting up towards the sky through a circle of trees, for example.Focus
When shooting with wide-angle lenses so you have fore-, middle- and background interest you must make sure you have front to back sharpness in your shot. Using a small aperture will give you the extensive depth-of-field you're looking for but if you find you have objects really close to your lens you may need to use hyperfocal focusing to get the shot you want. Have a read of this depth of field article for more information on this: Depth of field.Claim Up To £85 Cashback When You Purchase A Pentax Camera. Click For More Info.


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DonateEunice was born on February 25, 1916 and passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2013.
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scrives is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
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A group for gamers in NW Ohio. Looking for players of D&D, WoD, Shadowrun, whatever. Let's meet up and roll some dice!
Upcoming Events for the Next 30 Day(s)
This community currently has no upcoming events within the next 30 days. It's feeling sad and lonely. Why not schedule something?


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Fire ants can be a serious problem all over. They like to make home at the gap between your drive way and your lawn. Water is the number one thing that brings them to your house. If you disturb a nest, they are very likely to swarm and attack you. Just removing the water source doesn't solve the problem either. They will move closer to the home where there is more protection. You have to treat for the pest completely.Transcription:
This a perfect example of where fire ants will set up camp in the lawn right by the driveway. The driveway tends to pick up more water and the water comes off the driveway and consolidates here they tend to bring the dirt up above the lawn and to make some sort of nest if you disturb the mound your going to see millions of these fire ants come out and attack whatever disturbs the mound whether it's a three-year-old or a dog or you or the lawnmower they just have this natural tendency to attack and bite cause homeowners a lot of problems when this dries out they'll move for more water usually towards a house where you have plants that shelter water and/or your walls.
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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/42k8s9/global_convergent) has announced the addition of the "Global Convergent Charging Software and Services Market 2011-2015" report to their offering.
This report, on the Global Convergent Charging Software and Service Market 2011-2015, is based on an in-depth analysis covering the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions. The report aims to aid decision makers' understanding of the significant trends impacting this market.
Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Telecom team said: ''In real-time convergent charging, the session control layer of the convergent charging system supervises the ongoing sessions for voice calls, data usage, and the limit of multimedia services, and terminates the services when the charging layer indicates that the customers' credit has been depleted to the minimum level. Hence, real-time convergent charging enables a telecom operator to terminate a service once the credit of the customer crosses the limit, which thereby prevents revenue leakage. Thus, along with managing and generating a single invoice for various telecom services, convergent charging software helps in minimizing the revenue loss of the telecom operators. The increasing adoption of real-time convergent charging is an emerging trend in the market.''
According to the report, one of the main drivers is the increasing adoption of triple-play and quad-play services. Telecom service providers are migrating from legacy charging software to convergent charging software in order to be able to generate a single invoice for both triple-play and quad-play services. Convergent charging software also enables telecom service providers to offer various combinations of these two services to their target customers.
Further, the report reveals that the need for a skilled and trained workforce is posing a major challenge to the growth of the Global Convergent Charging Software and Service market.
The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.
Key Topics Covered:
01. Executive Summary
02. Introduction
03. Market Coverage
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05. Geographical Segmentation
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10. Market Challenges
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12. Market Trends
13. Key Vendor Analysis
14. Other Reports in this Series
Companies Mentioned
- Ericsson (LM) Tel-Sp Adr.
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- Orga Systems GmbH
- Telcordia Technology Inc.
- Comverse Technology Inc.
- Convergys Corp.
- Datatronics Corp.
- Ericsson (LM) Tel-Sp Adr.
- Hewlett-Packard Co.
- Huawei Technology Co. Ltd.
- IBM Corp.
- Logica CMG Ltd.
- Nokia Siemens Network Inc.
- Oracle Corp.
- Tech Mahindra Ltd.
- ZTE Corp.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/42k8s9/global_convergent.


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Told you there would be tears
Shocking performance. Whilst I'm gutted, I could see it coming, certaintly not this score or not even today but I think I said it in another thread we were due a stinker, especially as everyone is going on about winning everything. Hopefully the team will respond like they did last year after we lost at home to city. Take nothing away from you lot though. You turned up we didn't.
I'm still extremely confident we'll win the league. Today was just one of those days.
That's it, please excuse me I'm off to hide and cry under my pillow.
Unfortunately, I was either at work, or on my way home, so I only have R5's commentary to judge on so far.....................I won't say anything until I've at least seen the highlights, especially with regards to the pens & the sending off.............
That being said (), whilst it was a sweet result, I very much doubt it's going to have any bearing on the league
BFC.........D Will #27.............D Nash #29..............K Mc #11
You'll Never Walk Alone
The Whiskeyteers ~ One for all, and all for more
My son billed it as a do or die game, I saw it more as a die with dignity game, a chance to reclaim some pride after throwing away so much in the past couple of months. To see them put four past Man U today in their own stadium was so sweet and went some way towards making up for that I feel a four point lead and a game in hand is not something that Man Utd will allow to slip away easily. What I'd like to see now is Liverpool make this victory count by winning every single game their expected to win and not go lose to some turd teams. If Man U are going to win it I want them to have to earn it, not get any more extra help from Liverpool.
2015 Wk 1 Pick'Em Winner Sig by Mastershake
Sorry, couldn't resist this
NEWSFLASH..... Greater Manchester
have arrested 14 men from Liverpool in
connection with a vicious beating that
occurred in Manchester Saturday! A fifteenth
man, believed to be Spanish, is still at large.
They are appealing to 75,569 witnesses to
come forward though its believed only
a small portion viewed the whole event.
Contact GM police on 016 1-4 1-4 1-4.
BFC.........D Will #27.............D Nash #29..............K Mc #11
You'll Never Walk Alone
The Whiskeyteers ~ One for all, and all for more
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hey guys i was wondering if anyone in maryland has had there car tuned in maryland i just put a s trim vortech on my car and wanna get a tune before i drive it. thanks guys
I reccomend JPC in millersville off of route 97. I've been burned by performance shops in the past. ELD was always a joke and HBH was a real a-hole the couple times I went in to talk to him. Heffners was a good place but last I heard a few years ago he was in Florida running his shop there or working for a race team, something along those lines
Yeah Jason Heffner moved up and works on lambos, ferraris and vipers down in FL, his shop is extremely impressive....stangs are long gone, but he has done some GT40's


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Virginia Post Licensing (PL) course for salespersons within their first two years of being licensed. Agency Law carries 3 hours of PL credits with DPOR. You must stay for the entirety of a class to obtain the credit. Arriving late or leaving early will disqualify you from receiving credit hours.
Thursday, September 7, 2017 1:00 PM - 4:00 PMEastern Time
University of Long & Foster - Roanoke3922 Electric Road, SWLong & FosterRoanoke, Virginia 24018USA540-772-6985
Karen Price
20 (20 remaining)


text: What astonishes me more than the array of data, is the apparent lack of attention it receives, at least from the departments, agencies, and councils that produce it. I think this a terrible oversight, and presents a huge opportunity for big data use. If there is one thing that every company, from global leaders to bedroom start-ups, knows, is that you never ignore data.


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How to hitch-hike
By Simon Calder
We've all been there. You're travelling around, and need to get somewhere, but don't have many readies to hand. What to do? Well, if you play it smartly and safely, hitch-hiking can be an efficient option. Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent, gives his tips:
"Stay safe: choose a sensible place to thumb, where traffic is moving reasonably slowly and where drivers can pull over without causing a hazard for other traffic. The ideal is a roundabout exit with an adjacent lay-by."
"Smile and make eye contact – humans can connect in an instant. But be selective: ignore the family people-carrier and focus on the single driver in a comfortable saloon."
"On a long-distance motorway trip, hop from one service station to the next. You get a more predictable flow of traffic than at junctions, and a freshly replenished driver is more inclined to stop."
Rotating column: Post-festival blues
By Gillian Orr
When you return from a magical place where, for three days, you start drinking as soon as you've brushed your teeth, develop numerous idiotic in-jokes with your nearest and dearest, and even watch a band or two, it can be hard to settle back into normal life.
You can spot the ones suffering from a festival come-down. For the next week they'll cry when informed that their coffee shop is out of soy, and every sentence will start with a variation on, "Well, at Latitude...".
They don't care that the real world has showers, and that they no longer have to subsist solely on over-priced pizza slices. They've got Post-Festival Stress Disorder.
And those who were enjoying something a bit, shall we say, stronger than a gin and tonic, will really be on Struggle Street.
Be gentle with them. But for goodness sake cut off their festival wristband.
Next time: just watch it on the TV?
Micro extract: New world order
"The Hapsburg Empire had been frozen in a state of impending collapse during the 1918 German offensives. For its peoples, the alternatives had at least become clearer. German victory would mean a Dualist empire..."
'Ring of steel' by Alexander Watson (£30, Allen Lane)
Instant Ethics
By Ellen E Jones
Dear Ellen
Q. I believe my friend's ugly shoes are ruining her chances for love. Should I weigh in?
A. Real love makes no distinction between last season's wedges and next season's sandals; though your pal must be as forgiving about a partner's shoes. Expose her to the horrors on Jeans and Sheuxsss Tumblr and ask if she's happy inflicting such pain on others.
Four play: National honours
1. Légion d'honneur (France)
2. Victoria Cross (UK)
3. Medal of honour (USA)
4. Medal for courage (Russia)
*Medal of honour created this day in 1861
Takin' it easy: Wedding planning
By Larry Ryan
I've been to a few lovely weddings recently: they were in different countries so that meant I arrived a day early rather than rolling up just before the sucker began. Being around early presents problems; namely that tasks begin to emerge for willing, helpful or merely visible guests. This is when I (and you, pal) channel the teachings of George Costanza from 'Seinfeld'. The Jack Nicklaus of doing shite-all, he knows the drill: always have something in your hand, he once prescribed, and look irritated or angry, then people assume you're busy. I picked up flowers, scissors, chairs. I maintained a look of studious concentration. The work was getting done.
All Good Things
By Charlotte Philby
Foot work
Inspired by the hippy movement, the latest collaboration from British label YMC and Clarks Originals is a limited-edition moccasin boot with a floral tooling effect on leather (above). £120, clarks.co.uk
Card tricks
Following the success of her 'Chineasy' book, Shaolan Hsueh has created 'Chineasy: 60 Flashcards' (above) – visual prompts for Chinese words and pronunciation. £12.95, thameshudson.co.uk
Herbal high
The Urbio storage unit is perfect for beauty products, stationery, flowers, herbs... They are made from recycled materials with various sized containers that can be added any which way. We like it as a makeshift wall jungle (above). £75, johnlewis.co.uk


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More than 1,000 post offices have shut or been put up for sale this year, with some not showing up in official closure lists, according to new research today.
The Communication Workers Union said there was a "growing trend" of closures in 2010 which it warned would get worse if the Government pressed ahead with controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail.
A study by the union showed that 162 post offices were listed as "long-term temporary closures" this year and over 900 were put up for sale,
Many are likely to stay closed indefinitely and those that do re-open are liable to provide a diminished service, such as an outreach van with no access to financial services, said the union.
The CWU said almost 10% of the entire network was currently up for sale, warning they could also be lost to the "temporary closure loophole".
Many subpostmasters are retiring or leaving the business because of the low levels of revenue generated in sub-offices, and in many cases it is difficult to find alternative premises or service providers, according to the CWU.
General secretary Billy Hayes said: "Post offices have been closing at an alarming rate this year, but didn't register because they are misleadingly classed as temporary closures.
"We're seriously concerned about empty government rhetoric on avoiding post office closures. These promises are contradicted by government taking business away from the Post Office and by the planned privatisation of Royal Mail.
"Post Offices rely on work generated by mails business and most would be unsustainable if this was removed. Many of the proposals in the Postal Services Bill, including privatisation of Royal Mail and splitting the postal group apart, seriously threaten mails business arrangements for the Post Office.
"With uncertainty hanging over Royal Mail and the post office network, it's no surprise that buyers are hard to find. The government must change its approach or face the decimation of our cherished post office network. Who's going to buy a business which stands to lose a substantial part of its income?"
Ministers have pledged there will be no repeat of the closure programme under the previous Labour Government, arguing that the plan to privatise the Royal Mail will safeguard the branch network.
A Post Office spokesman said: "The Government has already said there is no programme of closures.
"The Post Office has the largest network in the UK and there will always be an element of turnover. The figures quoted by the CWU simply reflect the number of temporary closures and the number of branches that change hands.
"The important thing to remember is that the majority of branches reopen when there is a temporary closure.
"In fact, more than 200 branches change hands every three months and historically, up to 10% of the network of more than 11,500 branches will change ownership annually."
A Department for Business spokesman said: "This is scaremongering from the CWU. The reality is that at least 200 branches change hands every quarter - there is nothing unusual about this figure."
- More about:
- Private Sector
- Privatization
- Royal Mail Holdings
- Sales


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In the past year, the National Institute of Corrections has sponsored research to assess private sector involvement in prison services and 22 operations. Survey findings indicate health (and mental health) care and residential community services are those most often purchased under contract by adult corrections agencies. Reduced staffing needs, better quality service and more cost-efficent operation were the motives most often reported from those correctional agencies contracting for services. It was the expectation of correctional administrators surveyed that contracted services will expand, that whole institutions will be run privately (Kentucky has already issued a Request for Proposal for a 200-bed minimum security facility), that contracts will become standardized, that the American Corrections Association will support private sector involvement and that most growth will be in specialized areas. For example, a recent issue of Corrections Today contained articles concerning 23 contracted health care ' and a variety of services provided by contract in Canada. Criminal Justice Information Systems Cooperation. The Arrest Disposition Reporting System (ADRS) of the Oklahoma District Attorneys is maintained by a staff at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. District Attorneys' offices report charges filed, hearings held and case dispositions. The participation of DAs statewide is the highest it has been since the program was automated in 1977. Although not well-known in the state, this program is recognized as exemplary by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Criminal Justice Statistics Association. In a current cooperative program with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, ADRS supplies the Department with a monthly computer tape of cases filed in the state. At ODOC, this list is compared by computer with a roster of all persons under probation or parole supervision in the Department. Any matches are distributed to the appropriate Probation and Parole District office so that the cases may be investigated and the appropriate actions taken. Previously, if a client from one county committed an offense in another, it was often only by luck or long hours of court records searching that the supervising officer would learn of the incident. Since the inception of this inter-agency cooperative effort in Spring 1984, numerous probationers and parolees have had revocation proceedings initiated for previously undetected violations. The importance of such cooperation to the public safety and the effective operation of the Department of Corrections will be made more manifest in the near future when the program will be expanded to help monitor House Arrest participants.
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.


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Brights Zoo is a private, family-owned facility nestled in the hills of East Tennessee.
Animals living here include some rare & endangered species such as addax, bongo and scimitar-horned oryx. The center also contains more common but exotic creatures like red kangaroos, spider monkeys, bactrian camels and pygmy goats.
Tennessee Vacation eGuide
The 2016 eGuide gives you instant access to Tennessee's irresistible attractions and destinations. Peruse venues online, then put in your order to get a free guide delivered to your doorstep.


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Schmolke TLO setback seatpost 350 mm
lightweight seatpost for racing
the tip of the currently feasible for lightweight
Two screw fastening, continuous fine adjustment
Scale structure of the head: no tipping of the saddle even with loose screws
10 mm rearward displacement of the clamping head
optimized wall thickness for the racing use (slightly lighter than MTB models)
Designed wall thicknesses depending on the load (9-17 carbon layers)
Technical specifications:
Material: carbon, titanium, aluminum
Length: 350 mm
Offset: 10 mm
Minimum insertion: 85 mm
Extract from the context: 195-265 mm
Diameter: 27.2, 30.9 or 31.6 mm
Surface: Carbon structure shiny
Finish: 1K fabric (on request, 3K, 12K or UD (30 ? charge) with 3 weeks delivery time)
104g - 27,2mm
106g - 30.9 mm
108g - 31.6 mm
Schmolke TLO and SL attachments are released to a rider weight of 90kg. For riders over 90kg Schmolke provides parts with adapted wall thicknesses, please to inquire.


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Invaluable cannot guarantee the accuracy of translations through Google Translate and disclaims any responsibility for inaccurate translations.
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Lot 5: Bonnie Franklin Hand Signed Check....
October Autograph Sale
by Autograph, Collectibles Etc.
October 21, 2016
Worcester, MA, USA
Live AuctionPast Lot
Looking for the realized and estimated price?
Description: Hand signed in ballpoint pen...Bonnie Gail Franklin (January 6, 1944 – March 1, 2013) was an American actress, known for her leading role in the television series One Day at a Time (1975–1984). She was nominated for Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe Awards.


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Local blog Handjobbin', as if it weren't already plenty filthy, got waaay filthy over the weekend. Also this one.
Local blog Handjobbin', as if it weren't already plenty filthy, got waaay filthy over the weekend. Also this one.
Overheard in Dolores Park on Friday night: "Hey did you see that half-naked girl going down the hill in a wheelchair?"
No I did not, and does anyone have any video?
Found on 24th st by KayVee.INC:
Warning: Death Trap
(It turns on in the middle of the night, lighting itself and yourself up in a nuclear (oven) fireball)
Rather than keeping their multi-award-winning formula all to themselves, Katherine and Natalie have opted to share it with us all, via a feature on Chow. Win! It looks like exceptionally hard work, but it's definitely worth it because when you're done you get to eat MAC & CHEESE PIES. Link.
Schlomo today posted a quick video depicting the Banh Mi Cart staff hard at work perfecting their sandwich recipes. Their secret? They went to Saigon Sandwich and got some of the real thing to study. Link.
If you haven't been to the Secret Alley yet, check it out. They've got skate ramps and an artifical grassy knoll, and even their bathroom is full of interesting stuff, like this book. Photo by Penelope Popsicle.


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(2) An acceptance of an offer becomes effective at the moment the indication of assent reaches the offeror. An acceptance is not effective if the indication of assent does not reach the offeror within the time he has fixed or, if no time is fixed, within a reasonable time, due account being taken of the circumstances of the transaction, including the rapidity of the means of communication employed by the offeror. An oral offer must be accepted immediately unless the circumstances indicate otherwise.
(3) However, if, by virtue of the offer or as a result of practices which the parties have established between themselves or of usage, the offeree may indicate assent by performing an act, such as one relating to the dispatch of the goods or payment of the price, without notice to the offeror, the acceptance is effective at the moment the act is performed, provided that the act is performed within the period of time laid down in the preceding paragraph.
Legislative history || Case law || Scholarly writings || Links to related articles || Words and phrases || Other Formation issues || CISG (full-text)
The cisgw3 bibliography contains over 8,000 citations. It is therefore likely that, in addition to case law, you will find scholarly literature - often a wealth of such literature - on virtually every aspect of the CISG you research.
* Most members of the Autonomous Network of CISG Websites also offer bibliographies. Many are tailored, concentrating on commentaries by authors from or writing on CISG issues of special interest to specific countries or regions; some, e.g. CISG online are general and extensive; some, e.g., CISG-Belgium and CISG-Finland also list commentaries by individual articles of the CISG.
Bibliography citations on acceptance
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* The cisgw3 bibliography contains over 500 pages of citations. Analyzing these listings can pay dividends.
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Words, phrases and concepts
See also:
For a Doctoral thesis on "Reasonableness" in International Commercial Law, go to Guillaume Weiszberg, Le "Raisonnable" en Droit du Commerce International [pour le doctorat en droit de l'Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II), 7 novembre 2003]
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- Last updated January 15, 2014
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BBQ Steak Wrap
Nutritional Info
- Servings Per Recipe: 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 405.5
- Total Fat: 11.4 g
- Cholesterol: 46.1 mg
- Sodium: 593.5 mg
- Total Carbs: 45.1 g
- Dietary Fiber: 8.7 g
- Protein: 31.5 g
View full nutritional breakdown of BBQ Steak Wrap calories by ingredient
Submitted by: FORMERFATTY
This no-hassle dish is a sure crowd pleaser! Packed with kid-friendly ingredients, it's a quick and nutritious meal that's adaptable, too. This no-hassle dish is a sure crowd pleaser! Packed with kid-friendly ingredients, it's a quick and nutritious meal that's adaptable, too.Number of Servings: 4
4 8-inch whole wheat fat free tortillas
2 cups baby spinach (bagged)
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed & drained
1/2 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese
8 ounces thinly sliced cooked steak -OR-
8 ounces thinly sliced cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Divide the spinach, corn, beans, cheese and steak among the tortillas. Drizzle BBQ sauce over and wrap them up.
Heat thoroughly in baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray for 10 minutes.
Heat thoroughly in baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray for 10 minutes.
Rate This Recipe
Member Ratings For This Recipe
Very good [I didn't follow the recipe to a tee, though]. Instead of beef I used chicken, omitted the cheese, and instead of putting the corn and spinach in the tortillas without any heat to them, I mixed them in with the shredded chicken and cooked for about 10 min. b4 wrapping it all up & baking. - 5/1/09
Thank you so much for posting this one! This was the first recipe I fixed since I rejoined yesterday, and it was a winner! Very satisfying to both my taste buds and need to feel like I'd eaten well! I used a Porterhouse Steak cut thin (beef loin) and it was perfect, cut in strips, not too bulky. - 8/16/14
Great recipe!
We put everything in the skillet, steak, corn, beans, and spinach, added a little garlic and cooked it until it was all warm and the spinach cooked down and then added it to the tortilla. Then I baked them. This may help for those who are so/so on the leafiness and texture of spinach - 4/3/14
I save some calories by using full size flatouts,only 90 calories. Also some tortillas I found full large size at 60 calories. Then I can have reduced sour cream. I like to add sweet peppers, red,yellow, even green. I usually skip the bbq sauce, don't care for it. Makes a very filling meal. - 6/14/12


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Throughout our website, you will find an abundance of information about our practice, procedures, and our approach to Complete Family Dentistry. Our promise to you is simple. At Dr. Freidell you will experience:
• The highest standard of personalized care and the best quality of dentistry our profession has to offer.
• A comfortable dental experience in Central Austin.
We appreciate this opportunity to introduce ourselves and look forward to partnering with you to achieve your optimum dental health.
Preventive dentistry maintains your healthy and beautiful smile. It includes regular dental cleanings and exams, as well as fluoride application, sealants and night-guards.
Restorative dentistry is the study, diagnosis and management of diseases of the teeth and their supporting structures and the rehabilitation of the dentition to functional/aesthetic requirements.
Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person's teeth, gums and/or bite.
We are so happy our patients have given us a perfect 5-star rating! We invite you to read our reviews and ask that you share your experiences at Dr. Freidell Complete Family Dental!
Follow us for the latest specials, contests, and dental news.


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@article {2012, title = {Profile of the chemicals industry in California: California industries of the future program}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, year = {2004}, month = {6/1/2004}, abstract = {
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) established the Industries of the Future (IOF) program to increase energy efficiency, reduce waste production and to improve competitiveness, currently focusing on nine sectors. The IOF is a partnership strategy involving industry, the research community and the government, working together to identify technology needs, promote industrial partnerships and implement joint measures with all partners involved.
The State Industries of the Future (SIOF) program delivers the accomplishments of the national Industries of the Future strategy to the local level, to expand the technology opportunities to a larger number of partners and reach smaller businesses and manufacturers that were not initially involved in the IOF effort. The state programs bring together industry, academia, and state agencies to address the important issues confronting industry in the state. These public-private coalitions facilitate industry solutions locally and enhance economic development. California has started a State Industries of the Future effort in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is leading the SIOF program in California, as part of many other programs to improve the energy efficiency and performance of industries in California. The California State IOF program aims to build a network of participants from industry, academia and government in four selected industrial sectors as a basis for the development of a strategic partnership for industrial energy efficient technology in the state. In California the IOF effort focuses on petroleum refining, chemical processing, food processing and electronics. As part of this effort, the SIOF program will develop roadmaps for technology development for the selected sectors. On the basis of the roadmap, the program will develop successful projects with co-funding from state and federal government, and promote industry-specific energy-efficiency. This report aims to provide background information for the development of a research and development roadmap for the Californian chemical manufacturing industry.
}, keywords = {california, industrial energy analysis}, author = {Christina Galitsky and Ernst Worrell} }


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Total pharmaceutical sales, per capita in US-Dollar at exchange rate, 1980 - 2013
Table | 01.09.2014 | Details | Download | Visual Story
6. Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical reimbursement and pricing policies pursue two goals: costs should be kept low relative to benefits and R&D should be encouraged. A commonly-used policy strategy is the concept of value-based pricing: reimbursement of pharmaceuticals is regulated on the basis of their therapeutic value. There are also value-based pricing policies taking into account both therapeutic relevance and economic considerations.


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Jamal Naji
McClatchy Newspapers
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
FALLUJAH, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi forces raided a neighborhood in the longtime Sunni Muslim insurgent stronghold of Fallujah early Wednesday, Iraqi officials said, killing seven people in the deadliest joint operation since President Barack Obama announced the end of the American combat mission in Iraq two weeks ago.
The incident underscored how American forces remain engaged in offensive operations despite Obama's declaration that the fewer than 50,000 remaining U.S. troops would focus on advising and training the Iraqi military and police.
Having A Supply Of Healthy Foods That Last Just Makes Sense (AD)
Iraqi police officials said that the raid, which also wounded three people, began when the U.S.-Iraqi team set off explosives around 1:30 a.m. in the Jubail neighborhood of Fallujah, about 40 miles west of Baghdad. American military helicopters supported the joint operation, according to residents.
Witnesses said that soldiers fatally shot several members of two families and raided the neighboring home of Yaseen Kassar, a former lieutenant colonel in the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein. Kassar also was killed.
This article was posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 10:06 am
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November 6th, 2015 by John Kim
Right now, Kobe Bryant needs whatever help he can gets. Whether it be physical rest or a limited role, or the mental boost of having a fresh pair of sneakers, the Black Mamba is struggling like he's rookie all over again. These sick new yellow/black Kobe 10 Elites should provide that "swag" one gets when rocking some new shoes, even if the man is used to wearing PEs night in and night out. Check out an official look at the Kobe 10 Elite High "Opening Night" below and let's see how the five-time NBA champion bounces back from this poor start.
Nike Kobe 10 Elite High "Opening Night"
Style Code: 802762-707
Release Date: November 11th, 2015
Price: $225
Filed under: Featured Kobe Upcoming Sneakers
Tags: Kobe 10 Nike Kobe 10


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In astrology, Scorpio refers to those born 24 October through 22 November, and is the eighth sign of the Zodiac. A Fixed Water sign, people born under this sign are said to be stable in character, but also very sensitive and emotional. Evolved Scorpios understand that possessiveness and jealousy are not only negative to others, but to themselves as well.
Scorpios have the power to turn rejection and hurt into a positive redirection or regeneration of themselves and their spirit. Along with Capricorn, it is emotionally the strongest sign of the Zodiac.
Like Aries, Scorpio is ruled by Mars, the planet associated with activity and power. These people are dynamic, powerful, and passionate. They may have secret obsessions. Pluto also rules Scorpio, and is associated with rebirth and reinvention as well as destruction and unrest.
The Scorpion is the symbol for this sign. Like the Scorpion, the personality can sting when hurt or angered. Otherwise, however, these people can be quite compassionate as well as passionate.
The typical Scorpio often makes a thoughtful, active partner and a loyal, protective friend. He or she can be the toughest enemy, as these people are often one step ahead of the game with their powers of perception, steely intuition, and suspicious nature. Yet, outwardly they can look as if they don't suspect a thing. If Scorpios want something, they usually get it as they are focused, ambitious and rarely give up. They are the supreme chess players of the Zodiac.
Classic Scorpios are suited to careers in management, medicine, advertising, and the creative arts. They also make good funeral directors and scientists. The Scorpio may rarely use sick days at work and can be hard working to the point of being a workaholic. They are usually intense and confident in their abilities.
Colors often associated with Scorpio are dark red, violet, and black. The metals for this sign are iron and steel. Scorpio rules the genitals, bladder, and colon. Keywords for the personality are power, passion, intensity, and desire.
Pisces and Cancer, as the other Water signs, have an unspoken, emotional connection with Scorpio and are the most compatible signs. Capricorn, Virgo, and Libra are other fairly compatible signs. Aries and Gemini have neutral compatibility with Scorpio, while Aquarius, Taurus, and Leo may not be compatible in the long run. The worst possible match for a Scorpio is another Scorpio as their powers may clash. Famous natives include Pablo Picasso, Nelly, Roseanne, Bill Gates, and Indira Gandhi.
sobugdg Post 5 |
If you are looking to try your hand at online dating, finding a free dating site is a must! These free sites provide you the opportunity to mix and mingle with individuals that interest you. |
dbuckley212 Post 4 |
I try to avoid lending too much significance to constellations and astrology, although they are interesting global trends in ancient beliefs all over the world. Funny to think that, although the distant stars project their light upon us, we also project our mental images onto them. |
BostonIrish Post 3 |
The Scorpius constellation could also have connotations of a virus, with a stinging poisonous tail and multiple tendrils on its front end. A Scorpio will often be a charismatic and infectious person, popular and driven. |
BigBloom Post 2 |
The sign of a scorpion seems appropriate to be ruling the genitals. Like a strong and contagiously ambitious person, the scorpio stings others with its ambitions, driving the horse with its strong spurs, or tail. Over time, living with such a doggedly driven person may be difficult, but is quite rewarding, because he or she will make a successful way for himself, and drag you along with him. |
sevenseas Post 1 |
It is said that Scorpios are strong and healthy. They have a lot of energy and tend to push themselves toward accomplishments, sometimes to their own detriment, by ignoring their limitations. |


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Lot 466: Bronze Candle Holder
Eclectic Collection Of Estates Worldwide
by Akiba Antiques
09 November 2016
Dania Beach, FL, USA
Live AuctionPast Lot
Looking for the realised and estimated price?
Description: DESCRIPTION: Bronze candle holder stands on three feet featuring a long stem ornately decorated with figural animal heads along the base. Finished with a blue candle. CIRCA: Late 19th ORIGIN: France DIMENSIONS: CONDITION: See lot description for details on item condition. More detailed condition requests can be obtained via email (firstname.lastname@example.com) or SMS (305) 333-4134. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Akiba Antiques shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.


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Jones's real interests lay within the grand traditions of English taste and connoisseurship, and all of his professional life was devoted, in one way or another, to the care of our cultural heritage and the promotion of the arts.
He was born in London to parents who were both teachers. But it was at Cambridge, where he came under the influence of dons such as David Watkin and, in particular, Malcolm Burgess, that he formed many of the passions that would shape his life and career. As a prominent member of Magdalene's artistic and theatrical set, he had already begun to develop particular enthusiasms that embraced not only English 18th-century classical architecture, opera and contemporary dance, or the work of Victorian novelists such as Henry James, but also, more specifically, the deep interest in English 19th-century painting of the Aesthetic period that would remain the central focus of all his subsequent activities.
After brief spells in the old Education Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he laid the seeds of his later suavely brilliant and entertaining lecturing style, and as an editorial assistant to the irascible Denys Sutton on Apollo, he was appointed curator of Gainsborough's House in Sudbury. During the two years that he served there, he made the gallery, and also himself, prominent features of the intellectual and artistic landscape of Suffolk, staging exhibitions that ranged from the work of Peter Blake and the Brotherhood of Ruralists to one devoted to the patronage of Frederick, Prince of Wales, based on a great deal of original research.
In 1981, Jones arrived in London to become the curator of Leighton House in Kensington, the role with which many will most readily associate him. He found the dusty shrine to the great 19th- century academic painter both poorly cared for and sadly neglected; this changed rapidly. With tremendous energy, but guided too by rigorous scholarship, he set about a full-scale restoration of the house, putting it firmly on the map of artistic London in the process.
With the backing of the museum's Friends and the help of the architect Ian Grant, the interiors were carefully coaxed back to life, wallpapers and silks were conserved or meticulously copied, and correct lighting installed to bring back the 19th-century feel of the place. Once again the house became Lord Leighton's "Palace of Art", but also through a scintillating programme of exhibitions, lectures and more social events, Leighton House during the years of Jones's curatorship attained an extraordinary cachet as a venue for parties, fashion shoots or the making of videos as much as for more conventional art-world events. Jones, always at heart the utterly serious and professional academic, took great delight in the tale of his chance encounter with an old acquaintance who, upon being told that he was running Leighton House, replied "Oh yes, I heard; it's a sort of night-club isn't it."
Following Leighton House, in 1989 Stephen Jones moved to the National Art Collections Fund as the editor of all its publications. Working there closely with the fund's then director, Sir Peter Wakefield, he developed the NACF's Art Quarterly into a stylish and highly readable journal. Moreover, as Wakefield recalls, "It was a great period of expansion for the fund, and we all came to realise the immense value of Stephen's fertile brain in every area of our activity."
Then, almost five years ago to the day, Jones was appointed Director of Spencer House. This was an immensely demanding role, for this was by no means simply another house-museum, but rather the cultural flagship of the vast mercantile empire of that contemporary Maecenas, Jacob Rothschild. Jones rose to the challenge with customary energy and eclat, earning Lord Rothschild's praise for "the quite remarkable way in which he combined a commercial hard-headedness in running the business side of things with an extraordinary taste and sensitivity to the house as an historic building". Such a combination of skills is extremely rare, and marked Jones as one of the exceptional figures of his generation. "It is tragic," says Rothschild, "that he did not live to go on to even greater things, for he could surely have run one of our great museums with both imagination and flair."
No one who came into contact with Jones could have failed quickly to become aware of the intelligence and erudition that informed everything he undertook, nor of his fastidious requirement that anything with which he was involved should be carried out with style and to exacting standards. This integrity was brought to bear in many areas of his activities, not least perhaps in those spheres, such as the Victorian Society, the Walpole Committee and the Architectural Advisory Board of the World Monument Fund, in which he took an interest and played an influential part.
From time to time, Jones found time to write. He frequently contributed articles and reviews to Country Life and to other journals and newspapers, whilst his short but lucid study The Eighteenth Century, published some 15 years ago in the Cambridge Introduction to Art History series, continues to be reprinted in more than a dozen languages. His greatest academic achievement however was the part he played in curating and cataloguing the major Frederic Leighton centenary exhibition earlier this year; a project planned for 10 years, but completed only months before his death from cancer. Along with his friends and fellow Leighton scholars Richard and Leonee Ormond, Jones had played a crucial role in raising the sponsorship and persuading the initially reluctant Royal Academy to stage the show. It proved in the event an aesthetic triumph, filling the rooms of Burlington House with Leighton's vast, heady canvases in their magnificent gilt architectural frames.
Those who knew Stephen Jones well will value most his great gift for friendship, and recall with pleasure his brilliant conversation, enlivened by the sparkling thrusts of a rapier-sharp wit and by a gift for mimicry of both speech and mannerism that could reduce his hearers to helpless tears of mirth. Always fond of parties, he loved the fact that he shared his birthday, 24 September, with that great wit of the 18th century Horace Walpole; to celebrate his 40th birthday, with characteristic stylishness and liberality, Stephen Jones gave a great dinner at Walpole's Gothick house, Strawberry Hill. No setting could have proved more apt for an aesthete of rare sensibility, and one who, in Walpole's celebrated phrase, contrived always to "inform, entertain and innovate".
Stephen Calloway
Stephen Richard Jones, art historian and museum curator; born London 24 September 1954; Curator, Gainsborough's House, Sudbury 1979-81; Curator, Leighton House, Kensington 1981-89; Editor of Publications, National Art Collections Fund 1989-91; Director, Spencer House, London 1991-96; died London 1 June 1996.
- More about:
- Architecture
- Arts
- Prince Charles
- University Of The Arts London


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Get a lesson in summer grill-outs at Edge this evening
The "Simon Says" Summer Grilling Series continues at EDGE Restaurant, 1111 14th Street, tonight. Every Thursday through September, chef Simon Purvis will oversee a class geared toward grilling in the summer; the series kicked off last week, and although Purvis on Monday took the inaugural United Airlines Dreamliner flight to Japan, where he was featured on a cooking show, class will continue tonight.
See also: - Photos: Behind the scene at Edge - Feast with the 1-percenters at Edge in the Four Seasons - Beer Calendar: Party with Great Divide, Avery, River North and Copper Kettle
This evening's lesson starts at 6:30 p.m., and will focus on a "healthy grilling option": golden trout with whole grain mustard, cress and cashew vinaigrette. The $40 cost includes tastings, one well cocktail, draft beer or house wine, and a spice rub to take home.
Next week's class? Baby back ribs. Call 303-389-3343 to reserve a seat; click here to find out more information.
For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings -- and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Follow @CafeWestword
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October 27th, 2009
Troubling statistic… get lit!
This quote from WashCycle makes you stop and think…
"While only three percent of bike rides happen at night, over half of all cyclists killed are hit while riding at night without lights. In conjunction with the distribution of the bike lights, WABA and its partners will be handing out bicycle safety literature while reminding cyclists that it is the law in the District of Columbia and Virginia to have a front white light and rear red reflector, or rear red light, when riding in the dark."
I know, I know… we tend to babble on a bit about lights but this is the main reason; do yourself a favor… get lit!


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"In her new book, Hubbell becomes a Shakespeare of advocacy for some of the more ignored denizens of our complicated planet. For, she says, hath not a (millipede, earthworm, cricket, etc.) its own life, beaty, rightness and place in the scheme of things? Can't we see them, admire them, appreciate their simplicities and their complexities, marvel at their durability?- remembering, meanwhile, that we humans are, compared with many of them, the most insolent upstarts of evolution? Along the way in this engaging tribute, you find that you are being educated-by Hubbell of course, and by the array of dedicated scientists and partisans of each invertebrate she seeks out." Newsday
"Hubbell makes life more interesting." Nature
"From a tidal pool in Maine and rainforest treetops in Belize to the Missouri Ozarks, [Sue Hubbell] sees everything and speaks of it in words that blend passion and insight and wit and charm." Kansas City Star


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Archive for the 'Orthodoxy' Category
Scriptural Skepticism
It is fairly likely that much of the criticism put forth by skeptics in regard to the scriptures is due not to some evidence which exists that proves the scripture to be false, but actually a misunderstanding of the nature of the scripture itself. Indeed, the Bible is a throroughly unique book, both in subject and authorship, yet if both attributes are not properly understood, skepticism is likely to follow.
In one sense, the Bible is a quite human book. It was written by many authors and recalls many accounts that underscore the humanity of its characters. Nowhere does it claim to have been written by anyone other than a human being. Yet, the combined narrative of the many authors is a remarkably singular and cohesive account. On the other hand, it is also a quite spiritual work. It contains the law delivered to Moses from God. It contains prayers and prophesy; sometimes the very words of God. Its writers also claim such spiritual power on behalf of scripture. Consider the author of Hebrews 4:12, who writes, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." However, it has always been and always will be considered a testament of God. In other words, scripture is an account by many witnesses of the work of God in history. It is not an account written by God's physical hand and dropped on Earth from Heaven, nor should anyone expect such an account to exist.
This distinction is important to make given much of the nature of skepticism toward scripture. It is often said by skeptics that the Bible is untrustworthy because it was written by men and used to promote their worldly agendas. Or, that God, if He really existed, would make Himself known in some other fashion, preferably one which all people at all times could interact with and would be beyond dispute. Often, I wonder if what skeptics really want is for God to dictate scripture to them personally- only then could they trust its contents! However, one of the key points of scripture is that God acts in history. Unfortunately for us living in the twenty-first century, time progresses and leaves history in the unreachable past and accessible only by that which remains. The Bible, then, is precisely what we would expect to find: a collection of accounts of God working in history intentionally preserved by those who believe in Him for posterity.
Yet, skepticism persists. Incidentally, as I was considering this topic I ran across a quote from Mortimer Adler, in his book "How to Read a Book," which provide good examples of how skeptics receive the scriptures. He writes:
"Dogmatic theology differs from Philosophy in that its first principles are articles of faith adhered to by the communicants of some religion. A work of dogmatic theology always depends upon dogmas and the authority of a church that proclaims them. If you are not of the faith, if you do not belong to the church, you can nevertheless read such a theological book well by treating its dogmas with the same respect you treat the assumptions of a mathematician. But you must always keep in mind that an article of faith is not something that the faithful 'assume.' Faith, for those who have it, is the most certain form of knowledge, not a tentative opinion. Understanding this seems to be difficult for many readers today. Typically, they make either or both of two mistakes in dealing with dogmatic theology. The first mistake is to refuse to accept, even temporarily, the articles of faith that are the first principles of the author. As a result, the reader continues to struggle with these first principles, never really paying attention to the book itself. The second mistake is to assume that because the first principles are dogmatic, the arguments based upon them, the reasoning they support, and the conclusions to which they lead are all dogmatic in the same way. (Adler, Mortimer: How to Read a Book, pg. 292)"
At first glance, Adler seems to offer a sound and logically consistent defense of theology. In fact, he suggests, in a way, that the core theological tenets of a certain religion be thought of much like premises in a logical or mathematic syllogism. Therefore, as he writes, modern readers (or perhaps better said secular readers) err in rejecting such tenets as they read theology. Indeed, theology would be quite useless and irrelevant without at some point acknowledging some core premises or doctrines. In other words, Adler encourages even skeptical readers to patiently allow the theological point to be developed, rather than prematurely rejecting it before it has been fully articulated. While I heartily agree, it should be pointed out that Adler's advice seems to assume that a theologian can do such a thing with clarity and intellectual honesty. Again, I would concur. However, Adler proceeds to write what can only be received as a blunt contradiction of this point:
"Consider any institution- a church, a political party, a society- that among other things (1) is a teaching institution, (2) has a body of doctrine to teach, and (3) has a faithful and obedient membership. The members of any such organization read reverentially. They do not- even cannot- question the authorized or right reading of the books that to them are canonical. The faithful are debarred by their faith from finding error in the 'sacred' text, to say nothing of finding nonsense there. (Adler, Mortimer: How to Read a Book, pg. 293)"
If the faithful are, as Adler argues, intellectually impotent in regard to the study of theology, one must conclude at least two staggering possibilities. The first, though logically tied to both of Adler's statements, is hardly likely: That the theologians who teach the faithful through preaching, teaching and writing are themselves not among the faithful. In other words, Adler's first statement assumes that theology is worth studying. Yet, in his second statement, he claims that the faithful are so intellectually "debarred" that they cannot discern truth from "nonsense." If both ideas are true, then the theologians must themselves not be believers. Frankly, theologians who do not believe what they teach are no more than liars, or at best, concoctors of fairy tales. Perhaps, then, Adler is confused. The second, and possibly more troubling conclusion one could make from Adler's statements, is that only religious skeptics, or unbelievers, are in the position to accurately develop theology. Clearly, this is absurd. Theology is the study of God. Without an interactive belief in God, theology could not be received by Him and taught. That is, of course, unless the theology amounted to a belief that God does not exist.
To be fair, I think that these thoughts are somewhat misplaced in "How to Read a Book," if not definitely undeveloped for publication. Indeed, Adler redeemed himself intellectually, specifically in regard to philosophy of religion, since in his book "Truth in Religion," which he demonstrates that the three religions "of the book" (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are the only world religions which do not dismantle themselves through logical contradictions. However, this type of faulty thinking is quite prevalent among intellectual skeptics, many of whom take the position that the Bible was not simply written by men, but its contents were completely invented by men as well. It is almost as if they believed that if God truly existed, he would appear before them individually, on their terms, explain Himself (and everything else, for that matter) leaving them compelled to belief. Yet, this would mean that God would have to do such a thing to every single person in history, probably simultaneously, however impossible, to satisfy those who do not believe in Him. Otherwise, at some point, one would have to rely upon the testimony of another who was present to witness what God did, which is precisely what we have in the testimony of the Bible.
I don't expect that my brief treatment here will dismantle every type of skepticism that exists toward the scriptures, so perhaps my title is a bit broad. However, the misunderstandings and illogical claims that I have mentioned are often at the root of most skeptical criticism that I have encountered in my study of the scriptures. When the character of the Bible is properly understood, in terms of its content and also its historical context, it seems to be exactly what one might expect to have at the root of a religion which affirms the existence of God and His activity in history.
Fundamentalism and the 'Virtue' of Moderation
In a recent interview with Tom Ashbrook on NPR's radio program On Point (listen to the program here), author John Updike discussed his latest novel, Terrorist, which depicts the life of an eighteen year-old American Muslim turned terrorist. Within the discussion, which reflected not only upon the book, but also upon issues related to religious extremism and its effect on our current culture, Updike made several comments specifically in regard to religious fundamentalism. While I have not yet read Terrorist, though this program has certainly encouraged me to do so, I would like to address some of Updike's comments as I think they are particularly indicative of a modern misunderstanding of fundamentalism in the philosophy of religion.
Updike introduces the novel by reading from its opening passage, which describes his main character, Ahmad's, point of view toward his American peers and authority, and describes those who claim to be religious as weak and unauthentic. While he describes Ahmad's attitude toward the insipidness of American religion and culture as being "extremely disgusted," Updike himself would only claim to be "moderately disgusted." Incidentally, a caller, who reminded Updike that for the Muslim (and I would argue also for the Christian) there is no and should not be any separation between the sacred and the secular, really propelled the conversation toward religious fundamentalism. Updike attempted to brush off the comment by asking to see an example of a thoroughly religious and morally perfect society- indicating that this should be the result of fundamentalism. Of course, this is obviously not realistic. Later, Updike responds to another caller who indicts fundamentalism as the root of all modern problems by commenting in agreement,
"I am myself a Christian and go to church, but there does seem to be a point at which fundamentalism Christianity becomes a dangerous and really crazy, crazy thing. These mothers who kill their children to send them to heaven…take a shortcut to heaven… are the kind of thing that also motivates suicide bombers. Whatever your religious beliefs, it seems to me, this world is the one that we're in, this is the one we should deal with, and this is the one in which we should try to be more kind and reasonable and all those other virtues of moderation."
Not unlike many who comment on religious fundamentalism, often casting it as a direct catalyst of ignorance, hate, violence, and oppression, Updike demonstrates a basic misunderstanding of the meaning of the term. On the one hand, Updike expresses disgust toward fundamentalism, but on the other, disgust for the shallow and vapid confession of many religious followers. It would seem to me that to be fundamentalist in regard to religion would be the antithesis of the shallowness and fickleness that many, like Updike, rightly criticize. However, I think the pejorative connotation, clearly intended within this discussion, of fundamentalism that has lately subsumed the actual meaning of the term, is unjustified. Rather, fundamentalism should be thought of as the comprehensive approach to religious life.
Religious fundamentalism is based upon the belief that certain religions affirm particular core fundamental beliefs. To call oneself a Christian, for example, in the fundamental sense, would mean that one believes certain particular things about Jesus Christ, his divinity, our relationship to Him, and the Bible. To believe otherwise would make the label 'Christian' dubious. Likewise, a fundamentalist Muslim would also affirm certain doctrines in regard to God, Muhammed, and the Koran. In neither case is extremist violence or force a part of the fundamentalist identity. While I won't deny that these things have sometimes resulted from the irrational behavior of self-confessed fundamentalists, it does not follow that all fundamentalists are inherently irrational. In fact, I would argue that fundamentalism is a reasonable approach to the philosophy and practice of religion and reiterate that it would facilitate a comprehensive and thorough religious life.
Actually, Updike's quote shows that his own view of the relationship between sacred and secular is backward. When he states that "Whatever your religious beliefs, it seems to me, this world is the one that we're in, this is the one we should deal with, and this is the one in which we should try to be more kind and reasonable and all those other virtues of moderation," he seems to suggest that religion should take its cue from humanity, rather than humanity from religion. If religious belief is at all authentically theological, then this idea is obviously absurd. Religion is the human practice in response to the nature of God, through which humanity rightly aligns itself to that nature. But what does Updike mean by moderation, anyway? He appears to suggest that certain moral values are the result of a fundamental virtue of moderation. I would ask, moderation in regard to what? Moderation in and of itself is meaningless. If he means moderation in regard to the revelation of God, then he foolishly casts aside the intent of his own maker and arrogantly prioritizes his will over the will of God. If he means moderation in regard to truth in general, and therefore how truth applies to religious dogma regardless of its theistic authenticity, then by what measure are we to affirm moderation as an objective virtue? This moderation appears to be the same type of vapid creed by which Updike is "moderately disgusted."
The call for religious moderation implicitly denies the possibility that certain religious doctrines could actually be objectively true. Since this assertion is impossible to justify, I would reverse the inertia of this discussion to again suggest that fundamentalism is actually the reasonable approach to religion. In other words, if a particular religion is true, then one aught to believe it and practice it comprehensively, not with some sort of ambiguous and arbitrary moderation. How could one be "moderately Christian," anyway? Might one say, "I don't believe that Jesus actually existed, nor do I really think there is a God in the traditional sense, but I am a Christian because the religion has taught me morality?" If so, on what basis does a religion founded upon a lie credibly instruct anyone on morality? Perhaps one could say, "I believe in Jesus, but I also believe that Buddha was right too." In this case, one must either misunderstand Jesus or Buddha, as the contradictions between the two teachings are irreconcilable. Moderation in regard to religion denies either truth, power, or both.
Now, I certainly don't take Updike for a fool. After all, he has produced Terrorist in the twilight of a long and critically successful literary career to which any American is culturally endebted. Despite his intellect, it is also true that some of the most brilliant thinkers make some of the most foolish blunders in thinking when it comes to matters of faith. Perhaps this is not the case for Updike. Perhaps it is more a blunder in semantics, and what he really had in mind was a behavioral moderation. If so, this is certainly something I could get behind as it relates to terrorism, which seems to be more of an outworking of emotion and irrationality then a fundamental approach to religion. But again, this is not moderation for moderation's sake, nor moderation of religion or reason, but moderation in regard to rash human fallibility.
The Last Supper
One of the central images used by Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code is the mural Leonardo painted at Santa Maria delle Grazie, which depicts Jesus and the twelve disciples gathering for the Passover meal prior to His crucifixion, The Last Supper. It was at this gathering that Jesus shared with the twelve his coming betrayal by one of them, as well as the practice of sharing communion with one another in remembrance of Him. However, Brown's character Sir Leigh Teabing alleges that the painting provides clues within an elaborate conspiracy to conceal a relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene:
"'It's a matter of historical record,' Teabing said, 'and Da Vinci was certainly aware of that fact. The Last Supper practically shouts to the viewer that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were a pair.'"
Leonardo, beginning work on the mural in 1495, was known for his desire to depict images in a realistic fashion and his criticism of other artists for embellishing imagery. Yet some conspiracy theorists, like the character of Teabing, argue that Leonardo's painting is an elaborate clue to a secret he was under charge to protect as a member of the Priory of Sion. It might be helpful to point out at the outset that lacing a very public work with overt clues to a secret he was supposed to protect might be a conflict of interest. It would seem to me that a better motive would need to be suggested for Leonardo to want to reveal the "secret" but only through cryptic symbolism in his paintings. Nevertheless, many allege that the incriminating symbols are in fact there.
The famous allegation is that the figure to the right of Jesus, appearing to swoon in the direction of Peter, standing to his right, is actually Mary Magdalene, not John, as was traditionally understood by the Church and art historians alike. The theory cites the feminine appearance of this figure as obvious evidence that Leonardo was intending to paint a woman, rather than a man. Some indicate that Jesus and the figure to His right are painted as mirror images of each other with symmetrically matching clothing, forming a 'V' shape, which represents a female womb and thus homage to the "divine feminine." Additionally, the shape of Jesus and the mysterious figure to His right are also said to form the shape of the letter "M," perhaps for the word "matrimony" or "Magdalene." I think that such interpretations require far too much of the presupposition that Leonardo had some sort of secret agenda with the painting, which ultimately begs the question. However, the claims of Teabing get even more farfetched. He says, "Oddly, Da Vinci appears to have forgotten to paint the cup of Christ," indicating that the absence of an actual cup in front of Christ proves that the grail is something other than a literal cup- perhaps the bloodline of Jesus Himself!
Such theories are ultimately fantasy. In fact, they seem to rely upon the assumption that Leonardo was a reliable source regarding the event of the last supper, as if he had himself been there. However, Leonardo depicted the scene over 1400 years after it occurred, presumably relying upon the Gospel accounts themselves to do so. Given the likely reliance upon the Gospels, it is no surprise that the cup is not a central element of the depiction as it was certainly not in the Biblical narrative. The legend of the Grail having supernatural power resulting from Jesus' use came much later and has no scriptural precedent. Moreover, the assumption that Leonardo would have even been motivated to lace the painting with clues to a conspiracy is based upon his membership in the Priory of Sion, a legendary secret society which has been proven to have been a hoax invented in the 20th century. Without the Priory connection, there really is no substance to the theory.
Art historians, however, have consistently approached The Last Supper as being both typical of Leonardo and typical of contemporary Florentine trends. They interpret the figures and their expressions as follows: From left, Bartholomew, James the Lesser, and Andrew (his hands up as if to say 'stop!') form a group and are surprised. Judas Iscariot, Peter, and John form the next group. Judas is depicted as withdrawn and somewhat sinister as he holds a small bag presumably carrying the silver he received as payment for his betrayal. He appears to be in shadow, symbolizing his spiritual lostness. Peter wields a knife, pointing toward Bartholomew (some say to reference Bartholomew's future martyrdom, others to foreshadow Peter's actions at Gethsemane), while John swoons in Peter's direction. Thomas, James and Philip are the next group to Jesus' left. Thomas shows distress, while James throws his arms out in dismay. Philip seems to ask for clarification. Finally, Matthew, Jude, and Simon the Zealot form the last group, the former two appearing to consult Simon. Incidentally, this interpretive scheme was confirmed by the discovery of a document known as The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, found in the 19th century.
The feminine appearance of the figure historians almost unanimously interpret to be John is no surprise given that it was typical of Leonardo's depiction of young men, as well as the Florentine tradition of painting John as beardless and youthful. What's more, this character appears to be wearing men's clothing, not those of a woman. The traditional interpretation of art historians seems a much more likely explanation than Teabing's, which relies on too many assumptions to be justifiable. Another problem raised by interpreting this figure as Magdalene is that her presence would reduce the count of the disciples to eleven, with one missing, which contradicts the Biblical and traditional accounts.
While Brown creates a compelling narrative around the imagery of Leonardo, conspiracies and esoteric knowledge, the historical credibility is just not there. However, even if Leonardo had been a member of a secret society with fantastic ideas about Jesus and Mary Magdalene, which he decided to hide in his paintings, there is no supporting evidence to suggest that anyone should take him seriously in this regard. Even the recently proven hoax of the Priory of Sion set its date of establishment at 1099, a millennium after Christ! Leonardo, painting four-hundred years later, likely did not have accurate insight into the details of the real "last supper," nor does it seem that he had any feasible esoteric agenda.
The God Who Wasn't There, Part 1
Beneath the popular current of The DaVinci Code controversy (which I have addressed in several articles) is another attack on the Christian faith, this one more of a grassroots effort, not sheltered by the guise of fiction, but overtly labeling itself as a factual documentary which exposes the "truth" about the Christian faith. This "documentary" is called The God Who Wasn't There, and was produced by Brian Flemming and distributed through a network of "guerilla-style" operatives who attempt to plant the DVD and other literature on church grounds and other Christian gathering places (I mentioned this project briefly in an earlier post called 'The War on Easter').
The basic premise of The God Who Wasn't There is that Jesus never existed, and that fact, among many others pertaining to the traditional Christian faith, is a fabrication without any historical basis. Now, I must initially state that such a claim is so fantastic and on the extreme fringe of scholarship in theology, religion, history, and other fields as to be simply incredible and not worthy of discussion. However, and as I think the DaVinci phenomenon illustrates, we seem to be at a point at which we are more likely to extract truth from incredible sources, especially fictional ones, rather than those which exist to provide it. In other words, entertainment seems to have a more authoritative voice in our society such that outrageous claims and simply erroneous statements slip by and are taken as reliable while they cleverly hide within a seductive narrative context. To be fair, this is not exactly the sort of context in which The God Who Wasn't There is presented; as I said before, it clearly intends to be a documentary. However, it is one with a particular agenda which provides a substantially skewed portrayal of just about every known fact pertaining to Christianity, yet its growing popularity suggests that many are convinced by its claims. In my next few posts, I will be examining some of the major issues related to this documentary and its distorted portrayal of the Christian faith.
The first portion of The God Who Wasn't There is essentially a barrage of ad hominem (or "against the man") attacks against the Christian faith, mentioning the Galileo controversy (which I addressed in an earlier post called Valid and Invalid Conclusions from the Galileo Controversy), and several notorious individuals who have associated themselves with Christianity. In particular, Flemming mentions Charles Manson, Pat Robertson, Dena Schlosser, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, David Koresh, and then concludes, "So, I guess it's kind of a mixed bag." I assume that at this point, the intention is for the viewer to have developed a distaste for Christianity based upon the provided roster of Christian "spokespersons" known for being insane, homicidal, publicly outrageous, and controversial. Yet, attacking individuals for various reasons says nothing about the veracity or the value of the Christian faith.
Augustine of Hippo is known to have said 'One must not judge a philosophy by its abuse.' Flemming's use of Charles Manson as an example of Christianity is an obvious distortion of what Christianity actually is. It would be obviously ridiculous to say that, regardless of whether it is true, Christianity teaches white supremacy and homicide. Additionally, it would be incorrect to conclude that if Charles Manson, an admitted killer, claims to be a Christian, Christianity must be a lie or a failure. What Augustine means to show is that a proposition, or in this case a systematic faith, can be true regardless of how people respond to it or whether people even believe it. Needless to say, we cannot know how sincere any of these people are in their claim to be Christians. What Flemming is doing is establishing a distorted version of Christianity by intentionally selecting a list of notorious figures to represent it, likely hoping to build a strong foundation of resentment and anger upon which to build his weak historical case.
Ironically, while Christianity does not logically establish a basis upon which to behave as someone like Charles Manson has, Atheism cannot logically support the derivation of objective morality and thus can lead to such behavior. In fact, the most notorious crimes against humanity in the 20th century have been committed under the auspices of atheistic regimes like those of Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Mau and Pol Pot. I am not saying, of course, that an atheist cannot live a moral life. Many atheists do live a moral life, yet they do so by adopting a system of morality from some external source which does not fit within the scheme of atheism. Thus, what I am saying is that atheism as a philosophy cannot account for a moral law and thus opens the door to such atrocities. If there is no God, then there is no moral law objective enough to which we must be accountable. If there is no objective moral law, then there is no logical reason why Stalin, Hitler, et al should have acted differently. On the other hand, Manson, though he may claim to be a Christian, committed acts which represent a clear rejection or diversion from the teachings of Christ, and thus cannot be a credible representative of the teachings of Christ.
The first portion of The God Who Wasn't There, while trying to establish an atmosphere conducive to belittling and debunking Christianity actually backfires and reveals the subjectivity and personal angst of the filmmaker himself. Sadly, this is very common in the church and should serve as a convicting reminder that our works should be indicative of our faith, and will be how the faith is represented to those who are on the outside looking in. While this issue is obviously a logically flawed and illegitimate means of building an argument against the Christian faith, it does show the profound cost of poor stewardship of the church throughout history. We must be compelled to look to the example of Christ and act accordingly!
The Claims of The DaVinci Code
As there have been many requests for information regarding the claims of The DaVinci Code, I would like to direct readers to the following posts.
Claim: The four Gospels were chosen from 80 other gospels.
I discuss this claim in What About All the Other "Gospels?" Part 1
Claim: Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene and left the church in her charge.
I discuss this claim in What About All the Other "Gospels?" Part 2
Claim: Pre-Biblical documents tell the true story of Jesus and Mary and are located in Mary's tomb.
I discuss this claim in What About All the Other "Gospels?" Part 3
Claim: The New Testament scriptures are unreliable.
I discuss this claim in The Reliability of the New Testament Scriptures and A Survey of New Testament Documents and The God Who Wasn't There, Part 2
Claim: Leonardo's The Last Supper contains visual clues to the secret of Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdalene.
I discuss this claim in The Last Supper.
Some additional recommended resources:
Biblical scholar Dr. Craig Blomberg has done two excellent lectures related to the claims of The DaVinci Code, available for download here:
The DaVinci Code (Part 1): Was There a Plan to Suppress "Secret" Gospels?
The DaVinci Code (Part 2): Was There a Conspiracy to Concoct a Divine Jesus?
Also, Stand To Reason has produced a great 10-page PDF document addressing The DaVinci Code, available here:
CNN refutes The DaVinci Code!
Click here to read a decent article on CNN.com dealing with the credibility of the claims of The DaVinci Code.
CBS 60 Minutes debunks Priory of Sion!
Click here to read an article at cbsnews.com detailing the forged origin of Priory of Sion documents used by Dan Brown in his 'historical' research for The DaVinci Code (thanks BB for the link).
US News & World Report sets the record straight!
Click here to read an article at usnews.com generally outlining the historically incorrect claims of the DaVinci Code and the corrections to them.
Orthodoxy and J. Gresham Machen
In the early years of the 20th century, modernist philosophy began to erode the orthodoxy of the Christian church at large. Though this was not the first time, nor would it be the last, that social theory and philosophy would challenge the essentials of Christian doctrine, it was one of the most significantly yet subtly pervasive threats the Church had experienced. J. Gresham Machen was a strong voice in response and opposition to the Modernist threat to orthodoxy by rooting the entirety of Christian life in doctrine and not accepting the reduction of the Christian faith to malleable and ambiguous values. 'I tried to show that the issue in the Church of the present day is not between two varieties of the same religion, but, at bottom, between two essentially different types of thought and life. There is much interlocking of the branches, but the two tendencies, Modernism and supernaturalism, or (otherwise designated) non-doctrinal religion and historic Christianity, spring from different roots.In particular, I tried to show that Christianity is not a "life," as distinguished from a doctrine, and not a life that has doctrine as its changing symbolic expression, but that–exactly the other way around–it is a life founded on a doctrine (J. Gresham Machen on his own book, Christianity and Liberalism, 1923).' Machen spoke of a controversy which not only compelled him in his initial grappling of spiritual identity but also had an emphatic and determining effect upon his life's work and ministry. Though he spoke directly to a philosophical climate that has since dissipated, his words remain applicable to today's climate of postmodernism. He indicted the encroaching influence of philosophical Modernism upon the theological grounding of the Christian faith, and admonished his brethren to retain their reliance upon Christ as the giver of life, rather than let the achievements of man erode the integrity of their own words, let alone the Word of God.To briefly summarize the context of his writing, Machen had himself witnessed the unprecedented changes brought about by the industrial revolution, and had been present among the philosophers whose thinking had begun to pull the rug out from under the conservative churches of America. He acknowledged the sweeping changes in capacity of our country and the elevation of utility above meaning; this made possible by the fact that an attitude of self-reliance had retracted the feasibility of the supernatural. Ultimately, this attitude gave birth to a general suspicion of the institutions of the past, and to be fair, one cannot help but sympathize with such thinking: After all, looking back over millennia of what was perceived as stagnancy, why would anyone desire to maintain any of the ideas, beliefs and institutions which must have stifled the progress and has finally broken through to improve society from bottom up? Machen's thinking exposes, however, the fickleness of such an attitude.
In expounding upon his train of thought, it can also be shown that it retains its application toward the Church amidst the contemporary challenge of the postmodern mind. Just as Machen did in the early 20th century, so also do we today feel the pressure of claims that our expanding capability and practical understanding of the world has exposed not just the impotence of scripture, but the impotence of Christ! As we collect and arrange data from various sources with which to piece together even a meager narrative of origins, we assume that a document meticulously preserved for thousands of years by a culture known for its dedication in this area, and done so for the purpose of preserving a history and worldview, must be more myth than fact, more propagation than sincerity, more naïve wishful thinking than sophisticated skepticism. Yet improved means cannot simply invalidate that from which it came. Was it not the obsession of those who dwelled in Shinar with their own means that trampled upon modesty, stewardship and thanksgiving? Did it not ultimately result in their incapacitation (Gen 11, 1-9)? Was it not the worship of might which destroyed the foundation upon which it was built and rendered the people weak? Yes it was, but the effort, capacity and result are in themselves untarnished until they are motivated by a heart disconnected with God.
Machen was not advocating for a rejection of industry, nor of technology, nor even of improvement or a desire for improvement. He points out, and rightly so, that the means had illegitimately claimed sovereignty over all that had preceded them, rendering history suspect, faith futile, and the supernatural impossible. In fact, what truly incensed him was the compulsion many Christians felt to accommodate their faith for the revelation of means- many who were willing to reduce Christianity to an ethic under the pressure of scientific methods, historical scrutiny and a change in philosophical climate. Christianity is essentially tied to history; this is an undeniable fact. If history should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a man named Jesus had never lived, then Christianity would be in totality made irrelevant. Paul affirms this as he calibrates the whole of Christianity upon one fact: 'But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty (1 Cor 15-16).' Machen stridently called out those who would reduce their witness to the cajoling of an ethic. He refused to support those who ministered in the name of Christ while at the same time denying the truth of His existence. He refused to submit orthodoxy, which Webster defines as 'the conforming to established doctrine,' to the erosion of a type of thinking which overstepped its own bounds and attempted to usurp truth for its own purpose, not considering that as it built its kingdom it had not only destroyed its own foundation but had eradicated any hope for a resilient and philosophically consistent one to support it.
In today's terms, as truth itself has been reduced beyond even utility, orthodoxy is still relevant. Improved means, though they may reverberate now more in our thinking than in our doing, cannot justify the arrogance with which faith is continually debunked. We may have the luxury of indulging in such thinking now because of the exorbitance of our capacity, but that will surely not last forever and if we have, in the meantime, set adrift from truth and a reverence for truth, we are not just then, but already, lost.


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Small Tits
Welcome to another installment of Homegrown Select's award-winning teen amateur series. What makes this series such a big seller is that many of these hot barely legal teens are experimenting with on-camera sex for the very first time. Sometimes, the girls will move on to making more porn, but more often than not, this is the only place you will ever see these girls on tape. This is what teen amateur is really all about!
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