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We're going to look this morning, and next Lord's Day, at I Corinthians 12:12-31. We see here Paul talking about one body, many gifts. This is a very, very important and practical word to us, and my prayer is that the Spirit of God will use this, not just as encouragement or instruction to you today, but a catalyst to alter your behavior as a believer in relation to Him and to His church during all the years of your life. It's that important to study Scripture.
Unfortunately, Christianity has become very organized. As one writer put it, "When Christians get organized, they get very un- Christian." You hate to admit it, but he's right. I think this has to be, from any clear study of church history, the time when the church has become most like the world's organization. Maybe it's because the sophistication of organization today is greater than it has ever been. There is no question about the fact that the church has been turned into an organization.
The church was never designed to be ordered along the lines of the world's organizational principles. It was never designed to be a management outfit. It was never designed to follow business philosophy. The church was never designed to be a selling agency in which people are motivated by Madison Avenue promotion, gimmicks, or moneymaking schemes. Unfortunately, it has become that.
I was looking at two church ads this week that sort of illustrated this to me, the amazing gimmicks that churches will use to fulfill what, I suppose, they assume is their responsibility. One ad said to attend a certain church because this Sunday, they were featuring the Hanson Gospel Birds. I thought, "That's interesting, I'll read a little about that." I read, and it said, "These birds eat with a fork, fly backwards, open padlocks, ride airplanes, and swallow small swords." Hanson's Gospel Birds. I read another ad advertising a service that no one should miss on Sunday night where a converted alcoholic was going to play gospel music on converted booze bottles to illustrate the transformation in his life. Instead of drinking out of the bottles what was there, he was blowing gospel music back into them.
You say, "That is ridiculous!" Of course, but it just illustrates the fact that the church has, somewhere along the line, lost the concept of what it is supposed to be. It's not where you go to watch the gospel birds. It is not where you go to hear a man play the converted booze bottles. The church was never designed to be a gimmick to attract people.
Further, the church was never intended to be a business for profit-making, but it is. There are churches today that own monies, properties, businesses, and corporations, and they are turning a profit. At one of our recent elder meetings, some very kind and well-meaning organization wanted to give us a lot of stainless steel. This was tremendous because it was told to us that this was very valuable stainless steel. However, it was all built to fit a certain kitchen and we would have to take it out like that.
The question immediately came up, "Will it fit our kitchen?" No. "Can we use it in our kitchen?" No. "But it's very valuable. What are we going to do with it?" Well, the idea would be that we would take it, and then we would sell it to someone else for a profit. It was interesting, because Wayne Beatty said, "Oh, now we're in the stainless steel business." Of course, it was presented to us in such a way, it was a kind gesture, but our thinking was that we are not to be in the stainless steel business; we're a church. The church is not a profit-making brokerage for people who want to unload certain things for a charity write-off so that we can make a profit on them. That is not our business.
Further, the church was never designed to be run by paid professionals who do all the work while everybody else watches. We live in a society like this. We are watchers; we watch. We sit at home and watch the world happen on the tube. If we leave home, it is to go and watch something. We go and watch people play games, we watch and listen as people sing or make music. We have no involvement, no responsibility, and no commitment, but we watch. And the church has also fallen into that category as well.
If you will look at the church page on Saturday night, you will have difficulty distinguishing it from the movie page. It's "Who is playing where? Where will we go to watch what this week? Over here they are having a movie. Yes, but in this church it's a double feature. Over here they have Hanson's Gospel Birds, but over here there is a converted man blowing booze bottles." Where do we go? In other words, the church has been turned into a spectator place. It's like the local religious production that you go see.
Further, I am also convinced that the church was never intended by God to be a community social center where everybody goes because it's a nice place to go and it is not like a country club, you don't have to pay. Besides, you can get in on the power struggle and, if you're lucky, you can become a little tin god, you know. We see that happening, don't we?
What is the church? Well, I think that man was right when he said that when the church gets organized, it gets very un-Christian. The church is an organism, not an organization. This is the perspective that, I think, we at Grace Community Church understand because we've covered it many times. I want to take you into I Corinthians 12:12-31 in the next two weeks to look at this in the most intense way that Paul does here. What he is trying to say here is that the church is an organism, and an organism is something that is living. It is different than an organization.
A corpse is organized, but it isn't alive. You can look at a corpse and say, "Amazing! Look at it: all the limbs in the right place, the bone structure, flawless, all the organs are in the right spot and connected to the right things." It's all there, but it is not living. It is an organization at that point, but it has ceased to be an organism.
If you want another illustration, the difference between an organism and an organization is the difference between you and your car. The dictionary says that an organization is a structured system. But an organism is a living system. Your car is structured. It has a frame, it has steel, it has all the little things it needs, and it works to perform a certain function when you carry out things that are commensurate with its structure. But it isn't a living organism. You don't call up to your car and say, "Come and get me, I'm stuck down here!" Your car cannot respond as a living thing.
The church is not like a car. The church is not a highly structured organization with all the right parts, and pieces and frame, with nice, comfortable seats, worked on by a bunch of super-trained, tremendous technicians and mechanics, and driven by a hotshot preacher. No. The church is an organism. It is a living, breathing, vital life. I think this is something Paul wanted to get across with great fervency. Every individual in the church is alive. Pulsing through all of us is the life of God, eternal life, aionioszoe, God's life, God's Spirit. We are living. Just as every cell and every member in your body is alive, so everyone in the church is alive. We are a body, and that's his point.
Now, when the New Testament wants to speak of the church in terms of analogy, it frequently uses analogies of living organisms. For example, the church is called a bride. That is a living organism; that analogy is alive. The church is further called a vine and branches, Christ being the vine and we being the branches. Again, there is life flowing through that organism. The church, further, is called a flock. We are sheep and He is the Shepherd. Sheep are living, breathing, and vital. Further, in Ephesians 2 and Romans 8, the church is called a family and we are sons who cry out, "Abba, Father." That is something living and organic.
So, when God the Holy Spirit wants to show us the church, He shows it to us in organic terms, in terms that will say to us, "Everybody is a living part, nobody is a spectator." It isn't just a structured organization run by professionals; it is a living, breathing, vital organism. But the best metaphor that has ever been used to define the church, the unique one, the one never appearing in the Old Testament but unique to the church, is that the church is a body. Look at verse 12 and this will draw you into the text.
I Corinthians 12:12. "For as the body is one, so also is Christ." Like a human body is Christ's church; we are an organism. We are not a structured system; we are a living system. We are not just organized; we are alive. The church is a plurality of living cells, all alive, all beating with aionioszoe, eternal life, all vital, all necessary.
This is the message that Paul has for the Corinthians The reason that he has this message, as in all the other cases of his words to them, is because they are not functioning in that way. They are totally chaotic. Their particular manifestation of the body of Christ is definitely crippled, spastic, out of control.
They are not portraying the proper image of Christ in the world. They were carnal. They were immature. They were immoral. They were selfish. They were proud. They were heretical. They were divisive. They fostered parties of opposition. They were enamored with human philosophy. They identified in little cliques under certain spiritual teachers. They tolerated sin. They were suing each other as a rip-off. They had a Women's Lib movement. They were gluttonous. They were drunk. They were sexually evil. They allowed pagan worship ritual to be brought into their own worship. They committed orgiastic sins at the love feast. They desecrated the Lord's Table, and they perverted and twisted the area of spiritual ministries. As a result of all of this, the body of Christ was distorted and spastic and chaotic. The image of Christ in the world was lost.
I guess, when Paul reaches chapter 12, it's as if he says here, "Nowhere in any other area is there more discord or disunity evident than in this matter of spiritual gifts." In an area where the body ought to have been functioning, there was just chaos. Why? Because, as we've already seen, the Corinthians had, for one thing, counterfeited the true gifts. For another thing, Satan had moved in and was doing his thing in the name of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to that, everybody was seeking the showy gifts, the public gifts, the speaking gifts. The chaos that resulted was just terrible. People who didn't have those gifts felt inferior; people who did felt superior. There were people going around grumbling and griping because they couldn't get certain gifts, while others were lording it over the ones who couldn't get them. So, instead of the body functioning in beautiful harmony, it was chaos. The Corinthians, in their self-seeking, in their selfishness, in their attention-getting, ego-pandering efforts, were seeking the showy gifts.
Here, Paul is saying to them, "You are a body. In a body, it isn't for the hand to say, 'If I can't be the eye, I'm leaving,' or, 'I'm frustrated,' or, 'I've been cheated.'" That is his point here, that you must be content with the design of God. You must allow God to put the body together the way He did it, accept the sense of divine dignity that God has placed in every member, and go about ministering in the area God has given you.
When they began to seek for other gifts, they wouldn't minister the ones they had, and chaos resulted. In verse 11, Paul says, "All these gifts I've just mentioned are given by the same Spirit, who divides them out to every man as He wills." This is a divine and sovereign thing. There isn't anything to seek for or to chase after. To seek certain gifts shows discontent, it shows a selfish desire for the showy gifts.
There are some people who do not have the gift of teaching. Other people have confirmed they do not have the gift of teaching and yet they continue to seek the places of teaching. There are people today who believe that you haven't even arrived, that you haven't received a certain dimension of spiritual life, until you have received the gift of tongues. So they seek and seek for that, and that is not what God intends. It is precisely the thing that Paul is countering right here in I Corinthians 12. We'll see it today, we'll see it even more strongly confirmed next Lord's Day.
Beloved, there is nothing to seek. There is nothing to seek. You will find no such injunction or exhortation to seek spiritual gifts; only to accept what God has given in humility and faithfulness, and minister. But the Corinthians wanted the showy, self-seeking, glorifying gifts. I fear that many folks in the modern Charismatic movement have been caught in the same trap. God never intended all of us to have all the same things, that is the beauty of the body.
Here, Paul wants to make the Corinthians face the truth that they are not to seek other gifts. They are not to feel inadequate because they don't have some showy gift and they are not to feel proud if they do. The way Paul does this is by presenting an analogy of a human body and then drawing out of it an application. He says that the body and the church are similar. Each is an organism with many parts, each is complete only when all those parts function, and each part is unique and yet dependent. When the parts don't cooperate, there is chaos. That is his whole point here: the church is like a human body.
Let's look at his analogy, beginning in verse 12 and going through verse 26. Then in verse 27, he shifts gears and makes the application. We'll get to that further part of it next week.
Paul develops his analogy here along four lines: unity, diversity, sovereignty, and harmony. First of all, unity. He is going to discuss the body from the standpoint of its unity. Look at verses 12-13, and let me footnote by saying our last study covered these in detail, so we'll just allude to them.
"For as the body [that's the human body] is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are still one body, so also is Christ," or so is the church. In other words, the church is like a body. It is one, yet it is many; it is unity and yet diversity. He goes further to illustrate this by saying, "For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink one Spirit."
The point is very simple: a body is one and yet has many members. The church is one and yet has many members. Our unity is emphasized because we have all been placed into one body by one Spirit and made to drink one Spirit. We are born of one Spirit, we are placed into one body by baptism with one Spirit, we are indwelt by one Spirit. No wonder Paul, in Ephesians 4:3, says we have the unity of the Spirit. We are all one. We have the common life of God in our souls. The Spirit of God lives in us. We have aionioszoe, eternal life. We have that life pulsing through all of us; we are all one.
In Ephesians 2, let me just remind you of a Scripture you might be familiar with. Verse 15 says, "He has made in Himself," that is, Christ, by virtue of His death, "He has made in Himself of two [Jew and Gentile] one new man." He took Jew and Gentile and made them into one new man. The word 'new' there is not neos, new in time, but kainos, new in quality. A new kind of man, a new kind of existence, a new thing. Verse 16 says, "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body." One body.
In Ephesians 4:4, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, above all, and through all, and in you all." The emphasis here, also, is one. In Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Romans 10:12-14 is the same thing, there is oneness. Paul calls us fellow citizens, fellow partakers, fellow members, and fellow heirs.
You'll recall the words of Jesus, I'm sure, in His high priestly prayer in John 17:20. He says, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one."
Jesus says, "I want them to be one." The Holy Spirit comes on Pentecost, and we are one, and Jesus' prayer is answered positionally. So it is, then, that Jesus wanted this unity. The Spirit of God then brought about that unity and we are one body.
Listen to this: there are no spiritual loners. There are no outside people. There are no hangers-on. There are no drifters. There are no spectators. We are one. You have the life of God pulsing through you as I do through me. You are as vital to the organism as any limb of a human body is vital to that body. There are no degrees of importance or responsibility in terms of more or less significance. They are all of equal, spiritual necessity. We are an organism, and an organism depends, for it's total life, on every single part, no matter how minute it is.
So, get the picture of the church. We are not an organization, a business, or a group of people who come to watch what happens happen while the paid professionals do their thing. We are a living cell, we are an organism. We are a community of people who live and breathe the same air. We are citizens of the same Kingdom, members of the same family, a bride for the same bridegroom, sheep of the same flock, branches on the same vine, and best of all, members of the same body. You are just as important as me, and I am just as important as you. There is never any other way to look at it.
There is no real reason for you to say, "I don't matter. I can hang loose on the fringe. I'm not really a part." Oh yes you are! If the life of God lives in your soul by the presence of the Spirit of God, you are vital. And if you are not an active and practical part of what is happening, then the body is crippled. You say, "You can't really mean I'm that important." That is what God is trying to say to you. Maybe you don't understand how important you are because you have never tried to fulfill your importance and never saw what could be done. So the basic unity underlies the body in its function.
Let's go to the second thought, and that is diversity. Unity and diversity. You know, unity demands diversity. You know the Chevrolet plant over here? I was thinking about that the other day. What would happen if, in the plant, where they assemble those cars, all the workers got together and had a big labor meeting and then announced to the management, "We are united. We have solved our problems. We are of one mind, and we have an announcement to make. There is such unity in this plant that we have all decided, without any dissent, that we are all going to screw on rear taillights." Management would look around and say, "Will you run that by us again? You're all going to screw on rear taillights?" You know what? There would not be anything to screw the rear taillight onto! In order for one something to come putting off that assembly line that is one unit, there has to be diversity.
The same thing is true of the body of Christ. God does not want a bunch of spiritual rubber ducks dropping out of some divine mold. There has to be distinctions. Look at verse 14. That's where Paul drops us into this concept, having stated the basic principle of unity, then he comes to diversity. "For the body is not one member, but many."
There have to be many, many different functions. We've talked about the fact that every Christian is a spiritual snowflake. There are no two alike. You are unique and so gifted as to be essential to the body of Christ and to a local community of believers who are the representation of that greater body. You are absolutely essential. Unity and diversity form the basic theme.
I gave the illustration a few years back of a football team. If all the members of a football team said to the coach, "We had a meeting, and are we united! We have all decided to play quarterback," you don't want 44 quarterbacks. But I look at movements today, and I see 44 quarterbacks. I see seven thousand people screwing on rear taillights. Everyone is saying, "If you don't have that gift, you haven't arrived." So everyone chases after the same thing, and you know what happens? They aren't doing what they should be doing to make the body what God wants it to be. They get a case of spiritual hydrocephalus; everyone is going to the head; everyone wants to be showy.
I remember when I watched a "Flash Gordon" episode and there was a race of people who were all head and no body. Remember that? Just a head sitting there. I see that in the church today. Everybody is running to be the head, or to get on the face, be an ear, an eye to be seen, or a mouth that can speak. Unity demands diversity. We all have to do different things and listen.
This is precisely what was going on the city of Corinth: everyone was like mad trying to get the same gifts, the showy ones. Look in I Corinthians 12:29. Paul asks, "Is everyone supposed to be an apostle? Is everyone supposed to be a prophet? Is everyone supposed to be a teacher? Is everyone supposed to work miracles? Is everyone supposed to heal? Is everyone supposed to speak with languages? Is everyone supposed to interpret?"
What is the implied answer? "No, of course not!" But you will notice that those are all the showy ones: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, speaking in languages. And today I see the church doing the same thing all over again, the very thing that is being dealt with here.
Paul's point is clear: a body is one whole because it has all the necessary, functioning parts. We had better operate or the body is not going to properly present the picture of Jesus Christ. I don't know what your gifts are, but you ought to know how the Spirit of God uses you, and you ought to be able, somehow, to define your ministries and be useful to God.
Do you know what I see the church doing? A whole bunch of living, breathing members of an organism ministering, doing what they do. If you don't do what you do, you really jam up the works. Can you imagine a body in rebellion, where you say, "Go, hand," and the hand says, "I'm not going anywhere"? It happens in the church. So we have to train a foot to do what the hand does because there aren't enough hands to do the job. We compensate. One of the reasons that the church gets organized is to do what the organism won't do. You have to get organized in order to bypass the carnal people. That's unfortunate, because what really ought to be done is to deal with the carnality instead of organizing around it.
Diversity is not accidental. God isn't up in Heaven saying, "Let's see, I will throw a few gifts down there and see where they land." No, gifts are not accidental, it is the very essence of the body. The way the church works is when everybody is in the area of ministry they've been given, and we've been through those gifts in detail. If you weren't here for that study, you should really listen to those tapes to get an understanding of that. Whatever your gift, you need to just begin to minister.
I remember about six or seven years ago, it was the first time that I had ever said it and it kind of revolutionized our church. One day I said, "If you're waiting for this organization to give you a ministry, forget it. We are not going to give you one until you show us that you're a faithful minister. So you had better take your gift and take off, do something. Go out and minister."
One lady came up to me and said, "I have the gift of teaching, but I've checked and there are no openings in the primary department." And I said, "Are there any kids in your neighborhood that age?" "Oh, yes!" "Teach them." "You mean, just go right out and teach them?" "Go right out and teach them." Some people say to me, "I feel that I have the gift of teaching, but I don't have a class." I say, "Do you know somebody that knows less than you?" "Yes." "Then teach him."
I will never forget what happened. Little by little, people began to minister, and now we have a ministering staff in our church of somewhere around 22 and 25 people, and all of them have come out of the congregation. Every one! Why? People developed a ministry, God touched their lives, blessed their ministries, and they grew to a place where we wanted to support that ministry. That's the way it goes. And then the body is functioning. Then you are saying to people, "Be faithful at this level and God will be faithful to put you in the place of a strategic service." Minister; you are a living part of this body. This isn't for spectators.
You say, "Well, why do you get up there and talk at us?" All I am doing is giving you the input so you can minister. This is feeding time. I am trying to pour in some fuel that you can thrive on. We provide a kind of spiritual smorgasbord. We don't expect everyone to come and do everything.
We don't say, "If you don't come on Wednesday night, that's a vote against prayer." We don't say that. If you don't have a Bible study, "You're against the Bible." No. I have actually heard preachers say that. All we say is: "It's all here, and if you want to take advantage of it, we will try to feed you what you need to develop a ministry within the body of Christ, a ministry God can bless." A believer who doesn't have a ministry is a contradiction. You're denying God the right to use you in the way He has gifted and prepared you to be used. So diversity is no accident. There is unity, diversity, and third thing.
The third is sovereignty, and for this one I'm going to skip from verse 18 to 24 to 28, those three verses. We'll fill in the gaps next week. The third reality in his analogy is sovereignty. People, this is really potent. Verse 18. "But now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the body, as it hath pleased Him." Sovereignty. Here, Paul turns to the One who created the body.
By implication in this analogy you can prove once and for all that Paul was not an evolutionist. He believed God created the body as well as the church, by virtue of the statement in reference to the analogy. "But now hath God set the members." God designed every member. God did not put out a monotonous line of uniform Christians; He put out a group of people who were one and yet every single one was unique.
The word 'set' in verse 18 refers to the act of divine appointment. Just as God planned the physical body with all of its parts, so He planned the church. You have the gifts you have because you are exactly what God wanted you to be, minus your sin. Exactly. Does that give you a sense of divine dignity? Instead of saying, "Well, why didn't I get this gift?" or, "Why don't I have this gift?" or, "I'm going to seek for this gift," or, "I'll tarry for that gift," why not just be content with what God has given you and get into your mind the sense of divine dignity that God has granted you? Unparalleled dignity is given to every part of the body.
"God has set the members." How many of them? Every one of them, "In the body as it pleased Him." When you are not content with your gift, you are rebelling and acting selfishly against the sovereign and supreme will of God. You are like the imaginary antagonist in Romans 9:20 saying to the potter, "...Why hast thou made me thus?" instead of saying, "God, I just want to thank You for making me like this so I can minister in a way that is necessary for the body."
The dignity in the body of Christ does not belong to the people with the showy gifts. The dignity in the body does not belong to the people who are up front. The dignity in the body belongs to every member, because every one of you is what he or she is by the very sovereign will of God; get hold of that. You are that spiritual snowflake; you are that marvelous one that God has made out of all the world of men to be what you are, and to be it in His body for His glory and the blessing of all the other saints.
I think sometimes we think that the only people who are important are the people up front. No. I think if the people up front really think, they know that the people who are important are the people behind the scenes creating the opportunity for the people up front to be there. You, with your gift, are God's masterpiece, "As it has pleased Him."
Beloved, notice this footnote, it says, "As it hath pleased Him." Please remember this: a Christian does not select his own gift. You don't have any part in it; God does it. Do you realize the chaos that would be created if everyone were running around, seeking their own gifts ? Do you think that you can organize the entire body of Christ? God had to do that! For me to question God, feel inferior, or to feel superior is ridiculous. There is a sense of dignity in every individual believer.
You have not only been created in Christ Jesus, but placed within you is a marvelous capacity to minister to the body of Christ and to God Himself. And you ought to get a grip on that lofty dignity. I think that it is terrible when some Christians are not content with what God has given them as a ministry and are proudly pursuing something showy.
There is never a single command in the Bible to seek a spiritual gift. Never. You say, "What about I Corinthians 14:39?" `Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy." Is brethren singular or plural? Plural; brethren, many of you, all of you. What is Paul saying? He is saying, "When you, as a church, come together and meet together, seek to see the gift of prophecy used. Don't forbid languages, because God may want to use that if there are some unbelieving Jews present. But seek to prophesy."
He is not saying to an individual, "Go seek the gift of prophecy." He is saying to the Corinthian assembly, "Brothers, when you come together collectively, seek that prophecy be exalted. Let's get some teaching going on in there." That verse is not an individual command to a Christian to seek the gift of prophecy. You cannot seek a gift. We'll talk about I Corinthians 12:31 next week, which is another you hear verse used along that line. I think you'll see something very interesting about that verse when we get into it.
So there is no place for discontent. There is no place for selfishness. There is no place for conceit. In Hebrews 2:4, you have the same word. It says, "God bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will." It's always that way; the gifts are always according to His own will. I Corinthians 12:11, "Dividing to every man severally as He will." Verse 18. "But now hath God set the members as it hath pleased Him." The gifts, beloved, are all up to the sovereign will of God. In Romans 12:3, he says, you have been given gifts, "According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
God saved us. God placed us in the body with certain gifts. So Paul says to the Corinthians, "Quit chasing the showy ones." If you chase a gift that you don't have, will you get it? No. What will you get? A counterfeit. Believe me, you'll just get a counterfeit. We see a lot of that today. There is a next step, and I love it. Verse 24. This is just a very beautiful thought. We'll skip the first line, because we'll get into this verse next time in detail, but look at the second line.
"But God hath tempered the body together." Just that much. The word 'tempered' in the Greek means 'mixed together.' It is a term used for mixing colors, an artistic term. Mixing colors, a beautiful thought. It is harmonious blending. God not only chooses the gifts for you, but He mixes you in with the right people, so that the right combination will work in the right location. Isn't that fantastic?
You say, "Why am I at Grace Church?" God mixed you in here for ministry. Imagine it this way: in a previous illustration we had an artist's palette that contained the primary colors. Those primary colors represented the gifts of the Spirit, the permanent, edifying gifts of the Spirit, such as giving, mercy, teaching, prophesying, and so on. We said that when the Spirit of God goes to make up your gift, He takes a little bit from these, in different combinations, and mixes up a color that is yours and yours alone. When He gets your color together, that's just you. You are a combination of many gifts, or areas of giftedness.
This analogy goes a step further right here. Once the Spirit has made you the color He wants you to be, then He transfers you over to the canvas of the church exactly in the spot He wants you to be right next to the other colors that ought to be what they ought to be. So, when all is said and done, everybody is in the right spot. When the picture is finished, it is a picture of Christ. You are not only the right color, but you are the right color in the right place. Isn't that a beautiful concept? God not only gifts you, but He mixes you into the body in just the right place.
Can you imagine some color saying, "I'm going to fade. I'm going to run, take that. I'm going to drip all over the guy next to me," or, "I refuse to be a color"? You know what happens when the portrait is held up before the world, what do they see? It is hard to tell. I'm not sure they really know.
You need to think of it like that. You are a combination of the primary colors designed to be a gifted individual like no other. God wants to put you right on the canvas. You are strategic because if you're not there, part of the portrait is gone. If parts of the portrait are missing from different places, the world looks at the canvas that is the church and cannot really see very well what it is that they are trying to say. It is sad, selfish, and inconsistent when we rebel and the portrait of Christ is lost. So the choosing and mixing of the gifts is God's work.
Verse 28, the third verse related to this thought of sovereignty, says this. "And God has set some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers." Again, you have the same term that was in 18, "God hath set," divine appointment. In addition to the gifts, and in addition to the blending of the gifts, He brings gifted men who lead the church, who direct.
When I studied the lives of da Vinci and Michelangelo, and some other artists, I used to read some writings about them. Did you know that many of them had artists who would work for them? They would do the basic thing, and then the other artists would fill in and touch up any gaps under the direction of the artist. The Holy Spirit is the artist, and He puts us on the canvas in the right place, but He also has some helpers who come in, and that's the gifted men. God has given to the church, according to Ephesians 4:11, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teaching shepherds. Their job is to perfect the saints, to make those colors as vivid, as bright, and as beautiful as they can so that the portrait of Christ is clear. Again, that is God's calling. God chooses the men and women to have the responsibility in different areas of leadership.
When the Lord Jesus came to earth, the first thing He did was to choose out twelve men. When one of them defected, and through the selection process in Acts 1:24-26, He chose Matthias. Later on, He chose Paul. And Paul even says he had nothing to do with it: "I was going to Damascus. The next thing I knew, I was in the ministry." When God wanted two missionaries to go to the Gentile world, the Holy Spirit stopped off in Antioch and said, "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them to do."
So it is that God's sovereignty chooses the leadership. God's sovereignty selects those who shall be the gifted men to assist the Holy Spirit in making the portrait all that it should be. Beloved, we have to recognize that we are in a body and that the body is one. We are a part of that oneness. We must sense that. We have the life of the Spirit in us just like everyone else, and he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit, we are all in it together.
Yet there is diversity, and every one of us is unique and exactly as God made us to be. There is a tremendous dignity in that. You are not an accident. You were planned before the foundation of the world to be you. And you are to use what you are, and to realize that this is God's plan. Not to chase something you don't have, not to be something you can't be, but to say, "God, if this is what I am, I sense that You wanted it so. I sense the dignity in that, and I will minister for You."
We should never have movements after certain things. But when we have them, they always go to the showy things. Have you ever heard of a giving movement, where everyone is seeking the gift of giving? Or have you ever heard of a helps movement? In the history of the church, there has never been a helps movement. Has there ever been a showing mercy movement? No. What you have is always a tongues or healing movement. All it does is create chaos, because God has put it together in the way He wants. And when God says it, that's the way it ought to be.
There was a baseball umpire in the major leagues by the name of Bill Clem. He was an interesting guy, and one day, he was umpiring an important game. There was a guy on third base, and the batter hit a deep fly to left field. The left fielder went way back, caught the ball, he had a shotgun arm and rifled the ball home as the runner on third broke for the plate. It was a perfect throw on one hop to the catcher.
The ball, the catcher, and the runner all hit the plate at the same time as dust flew everywhere. The umpire hesitated in his decision until the dust cleared. One bench screamed, "He's out! He's out!" The other bench screamed, "Safe! He's safe!" Bill Clem turned around and looked at both benches and said, "He ain't nothin' til I call it!" You want to know something? God looks at us and says, "You ain't nothin' til I call it." But when He has called it, then you are something. And the something that you are is the something He wanted you to be, and it is desperately needed by the rest of us. Let's pray.
Father, thank You for our time this morning in Your Word, and how rich it is. Thank You for the good fellowship in the body. I thank You for the area in which You've gifted me and all those beloved ones here. Thank You that all of us are so dependent on each other, that we couldn't do it alone. Give us a sense of that dignity that comes from knowing that we are made of You, and You have called it, and we are something. That something needs to be used for Your glory.
Lord, if there are some people here who have never come to Jesus Christ and don't know what it is to have a sense of being called of God, of being connected to the divine purpose of the ages, who don't understand what it is to have forgiveness of sin, to have eternal life, to have, pulsing in them, the life of God, I pray that this morning, somehow, You would draw them to Jesus Christ. For the rest of us, Father, let us be committed to the truths of the Word that we've heard this morning. May we know that Your church is our church, and that You've got to be the biggest gambler that ever was for banking on us. Let us fulfill it and make the portrait of Christ clear. Help us to be faithful, in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Monday, October 27, 2008
John McCain - American Hero
I cry when I think about the horrors they endured in Hanoi.
Please Watch this recount of his POW days by his cellmate and one of the most decorated war veterans, Bud Day:
Barack Obama does not place hand on heart during National Anthem
I saw this event live on C-Span when it first happened. I know it is true.
It's evident by those standing next to Obama... that this is how we Americans respect the song and our country when our Anthem is played. We don't make up our own rules. We honor the flag, our troops, and America according to the standards and traditions that we are taught as children. You rise, remove your hat, act reverently, and place your hand on your heart!
Obviously, when Obama was growing up in Indonesia they didn't teach him this.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sarah Palin -- my view on the VP candidate + Who I'm Voting for...
Today, I'm veering off of the usual subject of Family Movies. Even though, I just updated the Christmas TV Schedule, I'm not going to discuss that today.
I'm very excited to share with you all... that I attended a Sarah Palin Rally and it was wonderful! I went with my family and just had the best time. We wore red to show our support- to make our state stay RED! Sarah's message rang out loud and clear and I am proud to be a McCain Palin Supporter... a true Conservative.
I met wonderful kind people at the rally and was able to wave outside, alongside my family, as her motorcade went by - about 10 feet away! It was an awesome moment... a part of history I'll cherish forever.
Some of you who read this may also support the McCain Palin ticket (that's Great!) and others may not, but I'd like to share with you all why I support John McCain and Sarah Palin for President and Vice President of the United States.
1. I am Pro-Life
I believe Life begins at conception, as John McCain and Sarah Palin believe. Barack Obama's answer to when life begins: It's above his pay-grade.
Also, as a State Senator in the state of Illinois- Barack Obama voted 4 TIMES against providing medical care for babies who survived abortions and were fully alive and out of their Mother's womb. Instead, these babies were left to die in soiled utility rooms. He supported infanticide. This matter is very upsetting and horrible. These poor innocent lives were left to just die - often alone. It's sad and cruel to think there is any human being who could support such a thing - yet Barack Obama did. (You can read more about it at BornAliveTruth.org.)
Obama is Pro-Abortion to the extreme. Barack Obama supports Partial Birth Abortion... this is the procedure where they stabb half-born babies (with their head still in their Mother's Womb) in their neck with scissors, suctioning out their brains and crushing their skulls. President Bush signed a law to pro-hibit this action... Obama wants to reverse it.
Barack Obama opposes parental notification of minor girls before they abort their baby.
Barack Obama has stated "the first thing I'd do as president" would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would overturn every local, state, and federal abortion law passed in the past 35 years.
The Bible says this....
"I knew you before you were in your Mother's Womb." - Jeremiah 1:5
Wake up America... we cannot keep killing the weakest among us! We cannot continue to slaughter 5,000 babies in this Country everyday and look the other way.
What will God say to you...
2. I believe in Less Government
Conservative values say Government get out of the way... I can handle it myself... I'll work hard, love my neighbor, and provide for my family.
A Liberal view is that we are helpless and we need their hand-out... thus the reason why John McCain supports TAX CUTS for everyone and why Barack Obama believes, as he shared with Joe the Plumber, that we need to "Spread the Wealth Around". Sounds like socialism to me, too, Joe.
My family owns a small business... (we are a family of hardwoking generational farmers) and we work hard for every penny. We live the American Dream, but higher taxes would hurt us.
It's important that we keep America and businesses - (big and small) strong especially in this tough economy. Business is what this country is founded - where our people are employed and where we get our goods and services. They have to have tax cuts to keep this Country Strong!
3. National Security
And nevermind the fact that Obama wants to sit down with dictators like the Iran, Cuban, and Venezualan Preidents without pre-conditions. This is unprecendented in American History.
Obama has also said that Iran is a small country and not a threat to us... yet they are busy building up their weapons against us.
Scary? I believe.... yes!
During the Tom Harkin Fish Frye where the National Anthem was sung - Obama was the only candidate there - who did not place his hand over his heart. This action is disgraceful, in my opinion.
I was always taught - when the anthem played- you show respect and place your hand on your heart. This is another reason why I like Sarah Palin - she said she still gets a lump in her throat whenever she hears it.
I love my Country, our Troops, and I cherish everything about America!
John McCain is an American Hero! He has served our country since the age of 17. He was a Navy Pilot who survived a terrible fire on his aircraft carrier where many men perished. He was shot down in his plane and became a POW for over 5 years. He was beaten severely... near death many times... nearly every bone in his body was broken. Yet, John McCain survived and came home in honor and continued to serve his country.
Well, that's three reasons... but I have plenty more -- including Energy Independence, The Definition of Marriage, and Experience- I believe John McCain has the experience and knowledge to be a Great President!
Well, now you know where I stand...
with the unborn, our veterans, our troops, our small business owners, and with you, my fellow American....
Choose Life -- That you might Live!
Until next time...
God bless you all,
Net Movie Blogger
Thursday, October 16, 2008
New Christmas Movies Coming to TV
(Pictured below is Tom Arnold (from Roseanne) as Santa and Candace Cameron-Bure (from Full House) from the new Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie - Moonlight & Mistletoe.
Hallmark Channel -
Accidental Friendship -November 15, 2008
An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving - November 22, 2008
Moonlight & Mistletoe - November 29, 2008
The Christmas Choir - December 6, 2008
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - December 13, 2008
ABC Family -
A Miser Brothers Christmas
Snow 2 Brain Freeze
Nickelodeon -
Drake & Josh: Best Christmas Ever
Lifetime -
Flirting with 40
Letters to Santa -- A Muppet Christmas
Little Spirit: Christmas in New York
Front of the Class (Hallmark Hall of Fame) - December 7, 2008
(I'm not 100% sure that Front of the Class is a Christmas Movie - but I'm pretty certain that there must be a Christmas Scene within the movie somewhere - for them to choose to air it during December.)
Hopefully there will be a few more to add on to this list. I expect Lifetime will have a few more and possibly one of the local networks, or maybe Disney, ABCfamily, ION, or TNT. Please e-mail me if you have any information on any movie listed or not listed here.
By the way.... After you check out the New Christmas Movies coming to TV List, you may also want to check out all the wonderful Christmas Movies being released on DVD in 2008! There are New Christmas CDs listed there, as well!
God bless, Net Movie Blogger

subset: commoncrawl


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Customer Service
800 334 3750
The first-choice trousers for British walkers.
Read more…
SALE PREVIEW - Sale starts 27th June at 8PM EDT
We believe our Roamers are the most comfortable and functional walking trousers around. And lots of our most active customers seem to agree. They're our best-selling women's trousers - by a country mile.
And it's no surprise.
They're made from a sophisticated blend of polyamide and stretchy elastane so, naturally, they're tough, wind resistant and durable. But they're also light, highly breathable and supremely comfortable.
They've got a nice, understated appearance too - they don't look too 'technical'. So, whilst they'll go the distance on the toughest treks they don't look or feel out of place when you're bobbing around town or enjoying a meal in a posh country pub.
They feature two hand pockets and two security pockets - one hidden inside the right-hand pocket and one in the right leg seam. They're not large but they're perfect for keeping small valuables and travel documents safe, secure and close at hand.
Roamers are a great mild-weather, versatile choice - if you're walking in Britain from spring through to autumn, you'd be hard pressed to find a better choice.
And, if you're wearing them in the high Summer, you'll be pleased to know that the fabric offers a very good (UPF40+)* level of protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Not absolutely essential in the UK but very nice to know if you're planning a walking trip to Mallorca, Corsica or Morocco.
*A Note on Sun Protection
All Rohan garments which carry our sun protection icon, have been tested in accordance with recognised international standards for ultraviolet radiation protection. As a guide to the level of protection offered to covered areas, garments are awarded a rating of UPF 40+. Protection may be significantly reduced with extended wear or if the garment is stretched or wet; the reduction of associated health risks will vary with other factors such as skin type or individual medical history.
Multiflex Light™ 94% polyamide, 6% elastane.
Pack Size:
Drying Time:
3 hours
Cutting down windchill can make more difference to your comfort and safety than the amount of insulation you are wearing. Garments that carry this icon are Highly Wind Resistant.
Keeping comfortable in the heat can be harder than keeping warm in the cold. Comfort strategies are limited. We choose the right weight of fabrics, employ Airflow™ weaves and use Dynamic Moisture Control™ technology.
We pioneered the testing of fabric for UV penetration in the UK over fifteen years ago. The health risks are now, of course, more widely recognised. All Rohan fabrics for hot weather, that carry the sun icon, are tested for their Ultraviolet Protection Factor and rated UPF 40+.
Pocket science at Rohan is all about precision and detail of design, but most of all, it's about keeping your most important stuff safe at times when losing keys, passports and wallet is more than just an inconvenience. We use several different methods – whichever is the most appropriate. Some pockets are completely hidden with micro zips, some are touch and close with roll-over tops and some are high quality zips.
Building stretch into our fabrics offers some big advantages. It allows us to make very comfortable, streamlined clothing. And a close fit has big advantages for active people. Clothes don't flap in the wind, they work well in a layering system without bulking up and because there is less fabric, they are lighter, dry quicker and pack smaller – all critical Rohan virtues.
Our Dynamic Moisture Control™ finish is a permanent, wicking treatment that rapidly spreads moisture, such as sweat, over a wide surface area of the fabric. This ensures the garment dries more quickly and you stay more comfortable - even in the hottest and most humid conditions.
We were the original lightweight revolutionaries. Back in the 1970's we realised that cutting weight without losing performance meant that you can take less and do more. Everything we make is engineered to achieve this.
Low pack size is a benefit whether you're packing for a day's walking or for the trip of a lifetime. We continually scrutinise fabric specification and garment construction to minimise the packed size of our clothing. The actual pack size is tested and listed.
All Rohan clothing is designed to be very fast drying – as much a benefit for unexpected downpours as anything else. It's easy to wash and often needs no ironing. Almost all garments will dry overnight, meaning you can take less with you. We test every item and list its drying time.
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To submit a review, we need you to create a secure Rohan account. It only takes a few minutes.
There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. Rohan is your constant companion for every journey, whatever the journey.


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If you have an idea that can turn a farm-raised commodity into something more valuable at the farmer level, the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) may be willing to help out with some seed capital. The organization is now assisting producer groups in applying for USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) value-added agriculture grants.
$13.2 million in competitive grant funds is available for fiscal year 2004 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. The grant will fund one of the following two activities:
(1) Developing feasibility studies or business plans (including marketing plans or other planning activities) needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product; or
(2) Acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture or an alliance that will allow the producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.
Value-added products are defined as follows:
(1) A change in the physical state or form of the product (such as milling wheat into flour or making soybeans into consumer products);
(2) The production of a product in a manner that enhances its value, as demonstrated through a business plan (such as organically produced products);
(3) The physical segregation of an agricultural commodity or product in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of that commodity or product (such as an identity preserved marketing system).
"Value-added" also includes using any agricultural product or commodity to produce renewable energy on a farm or ranch. Applications must be completed and submitted to the appropriate State USDA Rural Development office as soon as possible, but no later than 4 p.m. on July 30, 2004. For more information, visit: http://www.agmrc.org/business/valueaddedgrant.html.


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Sandy Hook gun hearing draws 1,300 to testify
Long lines, raw emotions as lawmakers react to school massacre
The passionate national divide over private ownership of weapons came into sharp focus today in the state that suffered the unimaginable massacre of 20 school children as a winding line of citizens two hours long led to a public hearing in the Connecticut capital.
More than 1,300 people were signed up to testify at the hearing of the Connecticut General Assembly's Bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety, including family members of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown last month.
The signs on the way in to the legislative office building in Hartford further stirred supporters of the Second Amendment who find themselves on the defensive as federal and state lawmakers propose unprecedented, far-reaching controls on gun ownership.
"No Weapons Allowed," the signs read.
Inside, the citizens were screened by two metal detectors and hand-held wands.
Philip Mauriello of Watertown, Conn., called the beefed-up security an overreaction and didn't like the implications.
"Because it's a gun thing, they are figuring it's a bunch of gun nuts out here," he told WTNH-TV of New Haven, Conn.
The hearing Monday was the second of four public hearings held by the 52-member task force, which was formed to craft a legislative response to the Sandy Hook shooting. Recommendations will be forwarded to lawmakers by Feb. 15.
Along with a comprehensive ban on "assault" weapons and restricting the size of ammunition magazines, proposals include limiting ammunition sales and increasing background checks.
'Tyrannical subjugation'
Family members of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting were given the first opportunity to speak.
The father of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, Neil Heslin, said he dropped off his son at 9:04 a.m. the morning of Dec. 14, and 20 minutes later, his son was dead.
He insisted there is no need in homes or on the streets for so-called "assault weapons" like the AR-15 Bushmaster rifle allegedly used by accused killer Adam Lanza.
"I still can't see why any civilian, anybody in this room in fact, needs weapons of that sort. You're not going to use them for hunting, even for home protection," he said. "The sole purpose of those AR-15s or the AK-47 is put a lot of lead out on the battlefield quickly, and that's what they do. And that's what they did at Sandy Hook Elementary on the 14th."
But lifelong Connecticut resident Jeffrey Epstein pointed out in written testimony presented to the task force that the Second Amendment isn't primarily about hunting or even home-defense.
"The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or shooting sports but guarantees our ability to defend ourselves against all threats, foreign and domestic," he wrote, according to a copy he provided to WND. "Specifically, our Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution and the accompanying Bill of Rights to protect our citizenry from tyrannical subjugation."
Epstein, a counter-terrorism activist who directs the non-profit America's Truth Forum, asserted the responsibility for the Newtown massacre lies squarely with Lanza.
"Realistically, emotionally-charged legislation cannot prevent the occurrence of such evil acts of bloody cowardice," he wrote. "If anything, encroaching on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners will make all of us less safe."
Nevertheless, a blog posting by Hartford Courant editorial cartoonist Bob Englehart, a gun-control advocate, reflected the emotions that washed through the testimony Monday.
Englehart said that "listening to the parents and family of the Newtown victims testifying at the gun hearings in Hartford today is unbearable."
"I had to leave the room. We have such a very long way to go to control gun violence in America and it starts here in Connecticut," he said. "We have been designated; we who have lost so much."
Englehart said that as he listened to the testimony, "I wondered what the extremist gun owners might be thinking, if they too were listening."
He cited a song by the rock group Police called "Murder By Numbers." The opening line is "Once that you've decided on a killing, first you make a stone of your heart."
"I think that's what these extremist gun nuts have done and continue to do. They've made a stone of their heart," he said. "To do anything else would demand compromise and they are incapable of compromise. They also seem to be incapable of rational thought, but that's a topic for another day. That topic goes under the heading of mental illness."
'A lack of civility'
But Epstein argued gun control has been shown to have "no bearing or impact on criminal elements, terrorists, or sociopaths."
"A far wiser approach would be to implement test-proven measures such as enforcing the laws already on the books and expanding facilities to treat those suffering from mental diseases – not penalize thousands of law-abiding citizens over the actions of a few," said Epstein.
He pointed to a recent poll showing the majority of New York-state gun owners, including several lawmakers, will choose civil disobedience over compliance with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's new sweeping mandates to control guns.
In addition, he noted, more than 70 percent of Americans will not comply with any federal registration schemes or the reinstatement of an assault rifle ban.
"The State of Connecticut will fare no better from implementing draconian measures," such as gun bans and restrictive magazine capacities, he said, "and will certainly face nothing but resistance and judicial challenges."
The testimony of another father of a Sandy Hook victim, Mark Mattioli, echoed Epstein's.
Mattioli, whose 6-year-old son James was killed at the school, said Connecticut already has more than enough gun laws and should enforce the ones already on the books.
"The problem is not gun laws," he testified, according to NBC Connecticut. "The problem is a lack of civility."


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Eden Crest
A warm welcome awaits you at Edencrest with free Wifi. Enjoy the Irish Bed and Breakfast experience in our family owned Bed and Breakfast, established since 1995 with tea/coffee and home-baking on arrival.
Guests can relax in our garden with magnificent views of Bantry Bay, Beara and Sheeps Head Peninsulas or in our guest lounge with a selection of tourist information and maps. Our car park is onsite, private and secure. In each cosy bedroom we provide thoughtful touches to enhance your comfort, giving you a feeling of staying in a hidden gem. Our home is an ideal base for touring West Cork and an ideal stopover on the Wild Atlantic Way driving route.
After a comfortable night's sleep we can provide you with a delicious mouth-watering home cooked breakfast from our varied breakfast Menu, including a choice of vegetarian and gluten free breakfast, freshly brewed coffee, home-baking and a selection of teas. All diets can be catered for once known in advance.
Barry and I are only delighted to assist you plan your day with suggestions on other hidden gems, the best cycle, walking and touring routes. Edencrest is less than 1km from Bantry Bay Golf Course, and Bantry House. Sailing, fishing, water sports and cycle hire are nearby. Guests can choose to walk along the foreshore of Bantry Bay with its breath taking views of the Cork and Kerry mountains. This walkway is an easy stroll to the town centre. Bantry is an old fishing port, market town and heritage gem. The pub is still the centre of the Irish nightlife and here there are many, 'Ma Murphy's' a must, for talking, meeting people, catching up on some local gossip and generally having a good time. Bantry also has an excellent choice of Restaurants to choose from, which we can reserve for you in advance.
Telephone: +353 (0)27 51110


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A North Carolina mother is upset because her preschooler's homemade turkey sandwich was deemed unhealthy by school officials. Her daughter ate three chicken nuggets instead. Huh?
Turns out the little girl attends a state school and her turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the Carolina Journal.
"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines," the Journal reports. "That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables…"
Even lunches brought from home must meet this requirement and if they don't, the childcare provider must give the student additional food.
In the case of this little girl, her packed lunch was supplemented with the school lunch that included chicken nuggets—and she ended up eating only three chicken nuggets that day. What's more, the preschooler returned home with a note telling her parents that they owed $1.25 to pay for school lunch.
"She came home with her whole sandwich I had packed, because she chose to eat the nuggets on the lunch tray, because they put it in front of her," the mother, who asked to remain unnamed, told the Journal. "You're telling a 4-year-old. 'oh. your lunch isn't right,' and she's thinking there's something wrong with her food."
The Journal reached out to the school district and it sounds like the situation might have been a big mistake. State officials were doing inspections that day and the girl's lunch was probably pulled due to the potato chips.
"With a turkey sandwich, that covers your protein, your grain, and if it had cheese on it, that's the dairy," Jani Kozlowski, the fiscal and statutory policy manager for the division, told the Journal. "It sounds like the lunch itself would've met all of the standard."
Mistake or not, this story highlights the USDA's restrictive rules around school lunches. Where I live in San Francisco, many parents complain about their children's public school lunches. The hot entrees are assembled at a kitchen in Illinois by Preferred Meal Systems and then put on trucks headed for California. Kids often don't eat their food and a lot of it ends up in the trash. I've heard many parents say, "Why can't schools just give kids a turkey sandwich and an apple?" The problem is that this wouldn't meet the USDA guidelines.


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Sophisticated bandeau bikini top with intricate gold embellishment at centre front.
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Manufactured for Inner Desire
Additional Information


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Euro Brand
- Telephone:
- 07956 900900 | 01920 739409
- Rushgreen Farm, Rushgreen, Hertford, SG13 7SB
BMW X5 3.0 30d M Sport SUV 5dr Diesel Automatic xDrive (s/s) (164 g/km, 258 bhp) DEMO PLUS ONE OWNER
Key factsPrint summary
1 OWNER IN SPACE GREY WITH BLACK LEATHER SPORT SEATS.WIDE SRCEEN SAT NAV..Bi XENON LIGHTS.FRONT & REAR PARKING SENSORS.ELECTRIC HEATED MEMORY SPORT SEATS.CRUISE CONTROL WITH BRAKING FUNCTIONS.MEDIA PACK.DVD PLAYER.BMW ON LINE.FOLDING MIRRORS.PRIVACY GLASS.HEATED REAR SEATS.12 MONTH MOT.WARRANTY INCLUDED.PARK EXCHANGE WELCOME.FULL FINANCE PACKAGE. , Grey, 0, £23,995
This car comes with
Navigation System - BMW Professional, Auto Start - Stop, Automatic Air Conditioning with Two-Zone Control, Cruise Control with Brake Function, DAB Digital Radio, Front and Rear Park Distance Control (PDC), Voice Control, 19in Light Alloy M Double-Spoke Style 467M with Run - Flat Tyres and Locking Wheel Bolts, Alarm System (Thatcham 1) with Remote Control, Auto-Hold Function and Hill-Start Assistant, BMW Professional Radio with Single CD Player (with MP3 Playback Capability), Bluetooth Hands - Free Facility with USB Audio Interface, Dakota Leather Upholstery, Electric Windows - Front and Rear, with Open/Close Fingertip Control, Anti - Trap Facility and Comfort Opening/Closing Function All Round, Metallic Paint, On - Board Computer (OBC), Rain Sensor, Seat Adjustment - Front, Electric with Driver Memory, Tyre Pressure Monitoring
- 201906138988861
- 2014
- 14
- £23,995
- 2400
- 52,000
- Cars
- Q4u1OvBCppY=
Vehicle summary
|Body style
|Engine size
|2993 cc
|Fuel type
|Number of doors
|Number of seats
|Gearbox type
|CO2 emissions
|164 g/km
|Insurance group
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (miles)
|No details available
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (years)
|3 years
|Standard paintwork guarantee
|3 years
Performance & economy
|Fuel consumption (urban)
|40.4 mpg
|Fuel consumption (extra urban)
|49.6 mpg
|Fuel consumption (combined)
|45.6 mpg
|0 - 60 mph
|6.9 seconds
|Top speed
|142 mph
|Engine power
|258 bhp
|Engine torque
|413.06 lbs/ft
|1762 mm
|Height inclusive of roof rails
|No details available
|4886 mm
|2933 mm
|2184 mm
|Width including mirrors
|No details available
|Fuel tank capacity
|85 litres
|Minimum kerb weight
|2070 kg
|Interior features
|Exterior features
|Automatically Dimming Rear-View Mirror
|Metallic Paint
|Interior Trim - Aluminium Hexagon
|Exterior Trim - High-gloss Shadowline
|Anthracite Headlining
|Tailgate - Split-Top Section with Remote Electric Release and Soft-Close Function
|Four Securing Rings in Luggage Compartment
|Exterior Mirrors - Aspheric, Tinted, Heated with Electric Adjustment
|Outside Temperature Display
|Rear Wash Wipe System with Heated Washer Jets
|On - Board Computer (OBC)
|Auto Start - Stop
|Power Sockets - One 12V in Small Folding Compartment in Centre Console, Two 12V in Rear Centre Console and One in Luggage Compartment
|Body Coloured Bumpers
|Armrest - Front with Storage Compartment
|19in Light Alloy M Double-Spoke Style 467M with Run - Flat Tyres and Locking Wheel Bolts
|Smokers Package
|Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
|BMW Professional Radio with Single CD Player (with MP3 Playback Capability)
|Roof Rails - High-gloss Shadowline
|Automatic Air Conditioning with Two-Zone Control
|Headlight Wash
|Start - Stop Button
|Windscreen Washer Jets - Front and Rear, Heated
|Loudspeaker System with Six Speakers
|Centrally-Lockable and Illuminated Glove Compartment
|Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
|40:20:40 Split - Folding Rear Seat
|Rain Sensor
|Cruise Control with Brake Function
|Multi - Function Steering Wheel with Gearshift Paddles
|Heated Rear Screen
|Front Sport Seats
|Navigation System - BMW Professional
|Seat Adjustment - Front, Electric with Driver Memory
|Steering Column with Manual Reach and Rake Adjustment
|Dakota Leather Upholstery
|M Leather Steering Wheel
|Bluetooth Hands - Free Facility with USB Audio Interface
|Sport Automatic Transmission
|Electric Windows - Front and Rear, with Open/Close Fingertip Control, Anti - Trap Facility and Comfort Opening/Closing Function All Round
|Centre Console
|Heat-Insulated and Green-Tinted All Round Windows
|M Sport Steering Wheel
|Front and Rear Cup Holders
|DAB Digital Radio
|Voice Control
|Velour Floor Mats
|Dynamic Stability Control (DSC+) Comprising - Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
|Tyre Pressure Monitoring
|High Level Third Brake Light
|Electro-Mechanical Parking Brake
|Front and Rear Head Restraints
|Centre Rear Seat Belt
|First and Second Seat Row Head Airbags
|Electronic Brake - Force Distribution (EBD)
|Engine Immobiliser
|Child Locking System, Rear Doors
|Drivers Airbag
|Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
|Front and Rear Park Distance Control (PDC)
|Auto-Hold Function and Hill-Start Assistant
|Front Passenger Airbag with Deactivation
|Seat Belts - Inertia Reel with Pyrotechnical Belt Latch Tensioner, Belt Force Limiter and Belt Restrainer
|LED Front Fog Lights
|Automatic Headlight Activation
|Alarm System (Thatcham 1) with Remote Control
|Remote Central Door Locking Including Integrated Key with M Designation
|Rear Child Seat ISOFIX Attachment
|Anti - Lock Braking System (ABS) Including Brake Pre-Tensioning and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
|Xenon Headlights
|Servotronic Steering
|Side Airbags
Please note
This includes MPG figures which are calculated under European Standards, in test conditions, and will vary under normal driving conditions. The information displayed above describes the typical specification of the most recent model of this vehicle. It is not the exact specification for the actual vehicle being offered for sale which may vary. Specifications for older models may also vary. Please contact us prior to purchase to confirm the exact specification of this vehicle.
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Simple: use GenealogyBank's database of newspaper obituaries and follow these steps:
Let's say you are looking for the obituary of Elayne Singer who died in 2004.
- Go to the obituary backfile at GenealogyBank.com
- In the search box – type her name: Elayne Singer
- Look just below the "Begin Search" button and click on Advanced Search
- Under "Include Key Words" – type: Newsday
- Click search
Instantly your search brings up her obituary notice.
TIP: Use this same technique to narrow your search to any one of the 3,500+ newspapers. Simply type the name of the newspaper in the "Include Key Words" box. You may also limit your search by date, place of publication etc.
Elayne Singer sounds like a special woman – her grandson, Scott Resnik said of her: "She was the family matriarch and my best friend."
It's good that we have such easy access to the obituaries in Newsday and over 3,500 newspapers to remember what has been written about our ancestors. Click here to see a list of the more than 3,500 newspapers – that you can search.
Newsday (Melville, NY) – August 4, 2004
Elayne Singer, 80, bookkeeper, family matriarch
Agonizing that her older sister, Marion, had a matter of hours to live, Elayne Singer told her grandson, Scott Resnik, in a telephone conversation Saturday morning that she hoped her own death would be quick and painless.
Less than two hours after that telephone conversation, Singer, a liver transplant survivor, died at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow from injuries sustained in an accident on Sunrise Highway. Singer, 80, and her husband, Irving, were on their way from the couple's Uniondale senior complex to the Merrick Long Island Rail Road Station to pick up another of Singer's sisters for a farewell visit to their dying sibling Marion when a car slammed broadside into their Honda Civic. Her husband was hospitalized with two fractured ribs.
"She was the family matriarch and my best friend," Resnik said of his grandmother. "I called her my hero."
Singer, the youngest of five children, all girls, was born and raised in Brooklyn. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1942. A fan of the big band music of the day, the former Elayne Lieberman was at a Manhattan dance hall, her grandson said, when she met Irving Singer not long after his discharge from the military in 1946.
The couple married two years later and subsequently moved to Levittown, where they raised two children.
When the children had grown, she became a career bookkeeper, working until she was almost 70 for a variety of local companies.
His grandmother may have been diminutive in stature, but she had a giant heart, Resnik, of Mastic, said.
As relatives fussed over her at a recent family barbecue, tripping over each other to cater to her, she just waved them off, insisting that there must be some tasks to which she could be assigned, Resnik recalled. "She was very petite but she had enough love in her to feed an entire city and more. She constantly wore a smile."
In addition to her husband and grandson, Singer is survived by two daughters, Hope Martinsen of Afton, N.Y., and Cindy Nadelbach, of Levittown; three sisters, Pat Eagen of Manhattan, Marion Seplow of New Hyde Park and Bea Krebs of Brooklyn; and two other grandchildren, Josh and Lauren Nadelbach.
The funeral was yesterday at Boulevard Riverside Chapel in Hewlett followed by burial at Wellwood Cemetery in Pinelawn. Family will be sitting shivah in Levittown until tomorrow, relatives said.
Donations may be made to the American Liver Foundation, P.O. Box 5218, Toms River, N.J. 08754-5218.
Copyright (c) 2004 Newsday, Inc.
Search GenealogyBank today to search newspapers and obituaries to find your ancestors!


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The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office took a man into custody who allegedly brandished a pencil at staffers in the little bank in downtown La Grange Wednesday.
LA GRANGE � A local man was placed in the custody of the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office Wednesday after allegedly attempting to rob the little bank downtown.
Warren Stidham, 22, of a group home at 202 E. Railroad St., walked into the South Caswell Street bank around 3:50 p.m. and demanded a teller give him money, according to an LCSO news release.
Stidham was brandishing what appeared to be a weapon -- it turned out to be a pencil -- in a "threatening manner."
Bank staffers "recognized that the man may have been suffering from a drug impairment or had a mental disability," the news release stated.
Staffers were able to calm Stidham down and get him to leave the bank. The alarm was activated once he left and deputies arrived a short time later.
They took Stidham into custody "without incident," according to the release.
He was being questioned as of Wednesday night, and information on charges was not immediately available.
David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.
LA GRANGE � Lenoir County deputies responded to an incident at the little bank in La Grange on Wednesday after a developmentally challenged man reportedly walked in and pretended the pencil in his pocket was a gun.


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Neutropenic Fever
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago. She had surgery and has been going for chemo treatments. She was taken to the hospital today for fever and chills. They admitted her and are keeping her through the weekend- she is on strong antibiotics and fluids and no visitors are allowed without a mask, Can you tell me what is going on and if this is a bad sign?
Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN, OncoLink's Medical Correspondent, responds:
It sounds like your friend has what doctors call "neutropenic fever". Neutrophils are white blood cells that are the most important in fighting infections. These neutrophils can be severely decreased in number by chemotherapy drugs, (a state called neutropenia ), leading the patient to be very susceptible to infection. Furthermore, if a neutropenic patient develops an infection, he or she is unable to fight off the infection as well as someone with a normal neutrophil count can (normal in adults is 1800-3500).
So if a chemotherapy patient develops neutropenia, we take it very seriously - this might be the only sign that he or she has an infection. The patient must come into the hospital to receive antibiotics through an IV and continue to receive them until the neutrophil count comes back up (above 500 is the number most hospitals use as a cut-off). As for visitors, this varies from hospital to hospital - all visitors should wash their hands and wear a mask (particularly if they have a cold). Anyone who is sick should probably stay at home and give a phone call. This is all done to protect the patient from further infection. This is not a bad sign in regards to the cancer. What it does mean is that the dose of chemotherapy the patient is getting may be a bit high. The dose can be lowered next time, or the patient can be given a growth factor shot to help the white blood cells grow back more quickly.


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Run And Separate Items Interior Polish Furniture For The Living Room
Hi, there. Do you feel tired after getting a busy day? It is time to take a rest in your house. Do you feel enjoy staying in the house or your penthouse? If yes, you will be amazed of these pictures. You can re-decorate your penthouse with present functional furniture like presented in these pictures here. Are you curious? Let's see these pictures.
In this picture, you can see a fascinating bathroom with white theme. There are a mirror attached on white wall. You can see a bathroom, a closet, and a sink are designed in white theme also. The combination of black floor and white wall give charming atmosphere. There is a shower room with glass door here. But, the most important thing is the presence of a luxury and small white staircase inside this bathroom. What is the function of this white staircase? It is design to prettify this bathroom. Whit this staircase and green plant on it, generate fresh nuance.
There is a wooden accent presented here with decoration of the floor and the staircase. Look at this picture. You can see here, near wooden staircase there is a high shelf used to put some accessories in it. On the other side of the wooden staircase, a cozy living space with some white chairs and a round table. It looks so awesome with black rug on the wooden floor. So, you can utilize a small room near this staircase with a cozy living area here. Read more »


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Forensic file formats
Many computer forensic programs, especially the all-in-one suites, use their own file formats to store information. This page lists many of those formats. Note that this page represents a subset of all of the known file formats.
Proprietary Formats
The proprietary formats are usually created by the vendor of a particular tool. In most cases they are named after that tool. Where documentation exists, we link to it.
Perhaps the de facto standard for forensic analyses in law enforcement, Guidance Software's EnCase Forensic uses a proprietary format for images, reportedly based on ASR Data's Expert Witness Compression Format. EnCase's Evidence File (.E01) format contains a physical bitstream of an acquired disk, prefixed with a "Case Info" header, interlaced with CRCs for every block of 64 sectors (32 KB), and followed by a footer containing an MD5 hash for the entire bitstream. Contained in the header are the date and time of acquisition, an examiner's name, notes on the acquisition, and an optional password; the header concludes with its own CRC.
- iLook
- We're told it has it's own format.
- SMART from ASR Data.
- This format uses a raw image and a second file with proprietary metadata (at least it did a couple of years ago).
- FTK Logical Image Format
- According to FTK's documentation, "The image created will include only logical files; it will not include any file system metadata, deleted files, unallocated space, etc. It cannot be converted to a sector image (such as .E01) because it does not store sector information. Although logical images can be examined in FTK Imager 2.x or newer, they are not supported by the current version of FTK. Logical image support will be added to FTK in a future release."
- Safeback images
- Some people have used Safeback for forensic purposes, although these images always need to be restored before they can be used.
Older formats, not really in use anymore
- DIBS Disk Image Backup System, by Computer Forensics
- Vogon Imager
- Vogon imager claims that it can handle EnCase. There is some evidence that it may have (or had) its own file format as well. http://www.vogon-forensic-hardware.com/
Ones we aren't so sure about
- FTK by Access Data.
- We think that they use their own format, but we have never used FTK to acquire. ?
Open Formats
- Full details of the format and a working implementation can be downloaded from http://www.afflib.org/
- Seekable GZIP
- This format is used by the PyFlag disk forensics system. Although it's compressed and supports seeking, it does not support the inclusion of metadata in the image file.
- ProDiscover format from Technology Pathways.
- This format is documented at http://www.techpathways.com/uploads/ProDiscoverImageFileFormatv4.pdf


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Best known for their race winning supermotos and the stunning X-Bow, KTM are launching their first Quad bikes. The 450 XC and XC feature the same powerful single cylinder engines as the Austrian company's dirt bikes, which should make them an equally wild ride. The full press release follows the jump.
KTM presents the first ATV models in the USA! Ready to Race on four wheels! KTM introduces the brand new ATV models 450 XC and 525 XC to the media. With the presentation of these new ATVs, KTM extends its range of products to include a completely new model family. And just like the two-wheeled KTMs, the brand philosophy "Ready to Race" was also firmly in the foreground when developing both the 450 XC and 525 XC ATVs. The world leader in the production of offroad motorcycles has invited the international media to Providence/USA to test these four-wheeled sport machines that represent pure objects of desire "made in Austria". Riding on a challenging course, the journalists at the launch can decide for themselves about the quality of these innovative and sophisticatedly constructed sport ATVs. And to suit this brand new area of business activity, both of the innovative new ATVs are driven by a powerful and extremely reliable KTM single-cylinder four-stroke engine. The stand-alone and extremely light-weight chassis, exclusive use of highest quality components and the typical, purist and fascinating KTM design has already transformed these new models into the most dependable sport ATVs of all time. And the rest of the world also has reason to celebrate: After the introduction of the new KTM model family on American soil, the all-terrain vehicles will be available via through the entire KTM sales distribution network from the summer of 2008.


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Beautiful Biggera Creek lent this suburb its name which is famous for its heritage-listed "land's end" site, but there is nothing final about a visit here. Those searching for a sedate spot in the northern part of the coast will adore a trip here, opposite the bustling Broadwater and the sizzling Gold Coast Spit and across from Wavebreak Island.
One of the best ways to explore Biggera Waters is to hire a boat and travel around the creeks, estuaries and islands for which this part of the Gold Coast is best known. There's plenty of fishing spots among hidden channels, mangroves, rock walls and creek mouths. Or, if you prefer your fish already caught, enjoy the cafes and restaurants which are springing up along this sunny spot.
Wander along the waterfront promenade and select from a wide-range of accommodation from luxury resorts, apartments, motels, self-contained units, caravanning and camping. Snatch a spot of shopping at popular Harbour Town, a destination within itself and home to discount designer fashion, homewares and accessory stores. It may have once been known as land's end, but here, it's really just the beginning.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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What's that song that begins "the night we met I knew I needed you so?" There are two new mashups that can help you find the answer to that--right now. Both use the MusixMatch API for lyrics search and present the results "instantly." We wrote about APIs fueling the instant frenzy in September, shortly after Google Ajax-ified its search. Including the two lyrics mashups below, we now list 22 instant mashups.
And what about those lyrics I referenced above? That's from Be My Baby, made famous by the Ronettes (video embedded below) in 1963. The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson considers it the best pop song ever made. Give a listen and see if you agree, then visit the mashups above to find the lyrics stuck in your head.


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Caesars Palace Poker
Caesars Palace Las Vegas Poker
The most action-packed Las Vegas Poker Room is perfect for recreational players and seasoned pros alike.
Caesars Palace poker recently relocated to the heart of the gaming floor between The Colosseum and the Race & Sports Book. Step into our 4,500-square-foot casino poker room and let the excitement spread. The spacious layout features 16 tables with free upgraded Wi-Fi and USB charging ports (for mobile devices) at each seat. Caesars Palace offers 24-hour poker action with cash games of all stakes and a full daily schedule of Las Vegas poker tournaments.
For more information, contact the Caesars Palace Poker Room at (702) 785-6566 or follow @CLVPoker on Twitter.
Why You'll Love It
Enjoy 16 tables with free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports at each seat.
Daily guaranteed tournaments
The most action packed Las Vegas poker room


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This article is from the archive of our partner .
Quick: What's Mitt Romney's real first name? (No Googling!) If you didn't guess "Willard," you're in the same boat as 94 percent of America that somehow still doesn't know all that much about a guy who's been running for president for five years. According a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll, a 20 percent plurality of us thought that "Mitt" was his real name and not a glove-like nickname. 18 percent said "Mitchell"; 8 percent, Milton; and only 6 percent correctly said "Willard." But the most important stat from the survey is that somehow, in some way, 2 percent of real-life adult voting Americans believe that his name is "Mittens." As in what you'd name your cat -- but instead of being a cat, Mittens Romney is a leading contender to be the leader of the free world. Another 2 percent thought his name was "Gromit," which is almost equally as ridiculous sounding (and also, coincidentally, the name of a dog). Maybe he should just go with "Mittens." Romney needs more people to like him, and the Internet has clearly demonstrated people's love of cats. They also like pranks, so maybe this is the 2 percent of the public that likes giving funny answers to pollsters. Or it may be evidence of the (modest) success of Gawker writer Jim Newell's aggressive campaign to advance the nickname when he was at Wonkette. Whatever the deeper meaning, Mittens makes for certainly a better animal association than newt-like Newt Gingrich does.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Quick Search by Genre
New Books
Coming Soon
Current Reading Program
The Adult Winter Reading Program is an annual initiative of the Kansas City Public Library aimed at encouraging leisure reading among adults. Every year, the program advances a different theme as a means of recommending literary classics and overlooked gems to the reading public.
Kansas City is consistently ranked among the top 10 cities nationwide in terms of Library usage * – a status that should be celebrated and rewarded, which are both part of the goal of the Adult Winter Reading Program.


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FORMULA ONE GOES OVER THE TOP! Get ready to experience FORMULA ONE cars, teams and circuits like never before with F1 Race Stars from Codemasters Racing, the home of the BAFTA-awarding winning series of HD official FORMULA ONE games. Coming this November, F1 RACE STARS is a fast-to-the-fun arcade racing game for all ages featuring the official FORMULA ONE cars, teams and circuits as they've never been seen before. Drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have been transformed into personality-packed heroes bursting with charm and character and stunning FORMULA ONE locations have become exhilarating racing theme parks designed for speed and wheel-to-wheel competition. Players will jostle for position on every straight, hairpin, jump and loop-the-loop with chaotic racing and a range of power-ups for players to collect and deploy as they sprint for the chequered flag. Officially licensed to feature the full cast of FORMULA ONE stars and teams and packing an extensive range of game modes, including numerous Championships, Time Trials, 4-player split-screen racing and online multiplayer, F1 RACE STARS takes FORMULA ONE over the top for racing fans of all ages.


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Shopping Bag
Petite Vegan Leather 33mm
Free worldwide shipping
- Specifications
- Warranty
- Shipping & Returns
Specifications +-
Case - Silver case
Strap - Navy blue vegan leather
Case width - 33mm
Case depth - 7mm
Glass - Mineral crystal
Movement - Japanese quartz movement
Water resistance - Up to 3ATM (splash resistant)
Warranty +-
Each Aubry watch comes with a 24 month guarantee from the date of purchase.
Further details on your Aubry watch warranty can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Shipping & Returns +-
As part of our continual commitment to animal-friendly and sustainable style, this watch is created from 100% vegan and cruelty free materials.
The straps for our vegan leather collection watches are made out of premium polyurethane (PU), which is kinder to the environment than other leather alternatives.
The straps for our mesh collection watches are made out of premium PVD plated stainless steel mesh and are easily adjustable and comfortable to wear. All of our straps are interchangeable within their collection, allowing you to personalise your look.


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In social media circles, Facebook just became a senior citizen.
Facebook turned 10-years-old last Tuesday, a monumental milestone for the social media giant. Facebook has paved the way for a new wave of networking platforms and has changed the way companies, organizations and individuals connect to others in its decade-long reign as one of the internet's titans.
Amidst all of Facebook's past triumphs are recent questions about the site. Many are wondering if Facebook is in a permanent decline and the social network is fending off attack after attack on its future.
We still think Facebook can be a great tool for non-profit organizations to connect with the community, build relationships and grow. So in honor of Facebook's 10th birthday, we're bringing you 10 ways the platform can benefit organizations.
1. Photo Albums
Images can inspire many emotions and effectively send important messages. Both of these are beneficial to non-profits who want to draw new connections and serve current ones. Facebook gives a lot of flexibility when it comes to posting photos, allowing users to upload whole albums, tag people, caption the photo (including hashtags), share them and set the location. Numerous studies also show that Facebook posts generate the most engagement and click-through rate.
2. Contests
Contests can be an interesting and engaging way to connect with members, donors, volunteers and the community and increase awareness. Facebook is a great platform to launch social media contests, especially with its new rules, instated last year, that make competitions easier, cheaper and more effective.
3. Mobile Capability
Mobile usage has exploded in the last couple years and it only keeps growing. More than 50 per cent of mobile users use their mobile device as their primary internet source. Appealing to mobile users is, or should be, a big consideration for organizations.
Facebook has a strong presence on mobile with an easy-to-use app. The social network also develops and releases new apps often. This makes the social experience even easier and more engaging for users and more important for organizations looking to build connections.
4. Videos
Videos are a great way to tell stories and the popularity of Vine, Instagram and YouTube underline how important they are to social networking.
Facebook allows organizations to upload videos to their page, capitalizing on the effectiveness of the medium. Combined with the ease with which connections can comment and share on posts, Facebook's video capabilities measure up quite well against those of other platforms.
5. "Donate Now" Button
Facebook introduced its "Donate Now" button almost two months ago, making it easier for people to give to non-profits and charities. Online giving increased by over 20 per cent in the last year and it continues to trend upward. The "Donate Now" Button helps organizations capitalize on this trend, makes giving easier, and strengthens relationships between non-profits and the community.
6. Event Planning
Getting the word out and coordinating the details of an event can be difficult. That is why Facebook's event feature is so effective. It enables organizations to plan gatherings and convey information quickly and simply. It also allows attendees to spread the word themselves, helping initiatives grow and thrive. Last, but not least, Facebook's event feature is unique among social media platforms. No such thing exists on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.
7. Hashtags
Hashtags help organizations appeal to a wider audience and gather great content to share to members and their other connections. While Facebook hashtags took a little while longer to catch on than their Twitter cousins, they are seeing wider acceptance in recent months. Facebook hashtags also keep them level with other social networks that also use hashtags.
8. Networking
Having a space to network with others is the big reason for people to be on social media. Giving people that space will draw people to your organization. Facebook is one of the best platforms to achieve this. Conversations on your organization's page can be vibrant and sharing the contributions of others can be done in various, engaging ways. At the end of the day, your organization isn't the only one who will be gaining new friends on Facebook, so will your members.
9. Turning Negative to Positive
Sooner or later, your organization is going to receive some negative feedback. Whether it's blunt or thinly veiled, criticism is a way of life on social media. The real key is knowing how to deal with negative criticism. Facebook provides a great space to turn that negative into a positive. Other platforms are limited in the amount of characters or the medium you can use and this often limits an organization's response. Facebook has very few limits and thus provides a forum to turn that frown upside down.
10. Promote Other Platforms
Many non-profits have a multi-faceted approach to social media, using several platforms to serve the community or members. Facebook is a great way to let others know about these other platforms. Promoting your blog, Twitter feed or an infographic you pin on Pinterest is just a click away on Facebook.
Facebook may be getting up there in years, but the social network hasn't lost its appeal or its effectiveness for non-profits. Happy belated birthday Facebook!
What do you like about Facebook? What non-profits use the platform best? Let us know in the comments!