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Hebrews 12, verses 5-11; we have been attempting to answer a very important question and that question is why do bad things happen to God's people? The atmosphere in today's Evangelicalism, the atmosphere in today's church, which is I think in the media, basically dominated by the modern charismatic movement is a view of Christianity that frankly is quite foreign to Scripture.
If you watch Christian television and draw your conclusions about Christian theology from that you might be able to conclude from all that you have seen that Christianity is a path of life that leads to wealth, that leads to outrageous hairdos and amazing wardrobes, it leads to garish sets, and strange looking chairs and gold on everything, etc., etc., etc. It leads to wealth and prosperity and happiness, and comfort, and feeling really good about yourself.
You will hear preached in the Christian media the prosperity gospel that Jesus wants you rich and Jesus wants you comfortable and Jesus wants you successful, and if you suffer it is because you're weak in faith. If you suffer it's because somehow you're not claiming what is rightfully yours.
There is also in contemporary Evangelicalism the notion that somehow Jesus will fix all of the troubles of your life and so we are told today in that part of Evangelicalism which is different then the charismatic movement, that the real issue is that we have to approach people on the basis of their felt needs. In other words, what are the anxieties, the troubles, the pains, the sorrows, the sufferings, the discomforts, the issues of life that people feel badly about? We need to address those and we need to bring Jesus to them as the one who fixes all the troubles of life. The one who solves all your problems, the one who makes you comfortable, the one who brings peace to your troubled life; Jesus will eliminate every uncomfortable event, every uncomfortable and unfilling relationship, somehow Jesus will bring peace to every difficult circumstance. That's the felt need gospel; so you have on the one hand the prosperity gospel which promises you that you can be rich in Jesus and solve all your own problems, then you have the felt need gospel, which says that well God really wants to fix your life and make it absolutely placid and peaceful, and comfortable, and fulfilling and satisfying in every way imaginable.
In fact, both of those viewpoints would probably conclude that if difficulty comes into your life it is probably the devil, it's probably the devil. What you may want to do is figure out how to chase the devil away because it's the devil who's bringing all these bad things into your life. They don't come from God, they come from the devil, and so that leads to some kind of training that you need to get involved as to how to bind the devil, and you get into that foolish notion of pronouncing some kind of doom, at least on a temporary level, or at least as far as your life is concerned in Satan himself, attempting to bind him, and than bind demands who are the cause of all your problems. If you can successfully engage in binding Satan and binding demons, then you can eliminate the discomfort and the suffering and the lack of tranquility in your life.
Now all of this is unbiblical, all of this is a misconception. In fact, this misconception that Christians should be above suffering is a sad dishonor to all those faithful and noble believers through the ages, through the history of God's Kingdom who have suffered, who have suffered severely, who have suffered persecution, who have suffered martyrdom, all of those heroes. For example, listed in Hebrews chapter 11, Abel and Enoch and Noah, and Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Moses, and Rahab, and Gedeon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthae, and David, and Samuel, and the Prophets, all of those who quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword in the midst of weakness were made strong, had to fight wars, who had their own beloved killed and received back their dead by resurrection were tortured, not willing to accept a release because they wouldn't recant their faith.
Those who experienced mockings and scourgings, and chains, and imprisonment, or stoned, and sawn in half, and put to death with a sword, and went about in sheepskin and goat skins as bait for wild animals were destitute, afflicted, ill treated, wandering in deserts and mountains, and caves, and holes in the ground, and none of these, it says, was the world worthy of. What about those people? Were they people of weak faith? Were they people who just didn't cash in on their options? Were they people who didn't take advantage of what was theirs? Couldn't they find God able to meet all their discomforts? Was it because they just didn't trust God? Was it because they didn't know that they were supposed to be prosperous? Maybe it was because they didn't know how to bind Satan; maybe they didn't know how to bind those demons. What folly, what heretical thinking all of that is.
These are the men and women of the noblest kind. These are the heroes of the faith. These are the best of God's people. These are the great believers of the ages and they suffered immensely. You could add to that list and probably would if Hebrews were being written today. The Apostles who were systematically executed and finally the last of them John, died in exile on the isle of Pathmus.
What about all those early Christians? What about all those early Christians who died under Rome in persecution who were torched in Neroes garden parties to light up the darkness. What about all those who died under the terrible persecutions prior to the fourth century? What about all those who died during the time of the reformation? What about those who died for the faith in the Catholic inquisition and were martyred there? What about all of those pre-reformational believers who were slaughtered and martyred? The Huguenots and others.
What about those who suffered martyrdom since the time of the reformation? What about all the missionaries that were killed by the people they went to reach with the Gospel? It might be shocking to you to know this, but according to David Barrett, editor of World Christian Encyclopedia, 300,000 Christians are martyred each year right now, 833 a day. Somewhere in the world are being martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ in hostile countries that hate the truth. What about all those people? Were they people of weak faith? Were they less then noble believers? Shouldn't they have known that this whole deal is about comfort and prosperity? About having all your felt needs met, isn't this all about that? Isn't this all about feeling good? Isn't this all about having a perfect environment in which to live?
Faithful believers through the ages have suffered, and the more faithful, the more they've suffered. Not the more faithful, the less they've suffered. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation," John 16:33. The Apostle Paul said, "All who live Godly in this present age will suffer persecution," 2 Timothy 3:12. Paul the Apostle, certainly if anybody did understood that bad things happen to God's people. He says in 2 Corinthians 4:8, "We were afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but now destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus." He understood that bad things happen to God's people, bad things have always happened to God's people. Those bad things include persecution, those bad things include martyrdom, they actually can include execution. As I say it's a shocking statistic and it's one that the government of the United States doesn't want to deal with. We've been writing letters, there's an organization attempting to deal with this, it's shocking to realize that around the world 300,000 Christians are being martyred every year.
Nothing has changed. There is tremendous suffering for those who name the name of Christ. In the end, it's really the most faithful who suffer the most because they will not deny the faith under pressure and under the threat of death. Now, underlying everything that occurs in this world, even allowing for Satan to be active in doing certain things, to thwart the cause of Christ, underlying everything that occurs is the sovereign rule of God. I'll say something that you may not have thought of, but it is true, Satan is God's servant. He's only allowed to do that which God permits. He is the servant of God and the servant of God's sovereign purposes, everything occurs under the sovereign rule of God.
Isaiah 45:7 says that, "God is the one forming light and creating darkness causing well being and creating calamity. I am the Lord who does all these things." Suffering, trials, persecution, all kinds of adversity are under God's sovereignty and fit His purpose and especially His purpose for His own beloved children. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 demonstrated extraordinary obedience in the face of severe trial and they demonstrated at the same time unwavering trust in the purposes of God, unwavering confidence in the sovereignty of God.
God's purpose in suffering is the issue that must be understood. God has a purpose for our suffering. With that in mind let's read the text, Hebrews 12 verse 5, "Have you forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons? My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord." That is the phrase that I want you to get a hold of, this is the discipline of the Lord we're talking about here. "Do not regard it lightly nor faint when you are reproved by Him, for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline of which all of have become partakers then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them, shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seen best to them, but He disciplines us for our good that we share His Holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, yet to those who have been trained by it afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
Now what that passage identifies for us is the discipline of the Lord. That is to say, God brings into our lives difficult trials for His own purposes. This is all part of Him conforming us through the image of His Son, perfecting us calls for discipline. Now as we saw last time in introducing this passage to you, God has four purposes in the discipline, four purposes in the discipline.
Purpose number one retribution, some discipline that comes into your life, some negative circumstances, some on the surface bad things, trials that come into your life are because you have sinned and need to be punished because God is Holy and wants his children holy. In other words, it is retribution to create an aversion to sin because of its painful consequences. We saw that last time, we saw David as an illustration. David suffered immensely in his life as God was punishing him or chastening him for his sin that he might learn to be holy so that he could honor God and be blessed.
Secondly, God brings suffering into our lives for prevention. We saw that in the case of Paul, God actually thrust a spear as it were through the very heart of Paul, a thorn in the flesh he called it to keep him from being proud. God brings things into our lives to humble us. Some of His discipline is because we would sin and we would harm ourselves and dishonor God if He didn't cause certain things to happen in our lives that restrain us. Thirdly, God brings suffering into our lives for the purpose of education so that we may in that trial learn something about ourselves and something about the greatness of our God. The illustration of that we use was Job, Job came to a truer understanding of himself through his terrible suffering and a greater understanding of God then he had ever had before. It is in the trials, it is in the pain and sorrow, and the suffering that we discern who our God is more clearly.
Then fourthly, God brings suffering into our life for the purpose of anticipation. Because we need to long for heaven, we need to have a more heavenly perspective, we need to be loosened up from earthly attachments, and we saw John the Apostle as the classic illustration of that. John suffering greatly as an exile suffering broken hearted over the demise of five of the seven churches in Asia Minor. John, in sorrow upon sorrow, because of what he was seeing was given a glimpse of the future, a glimpse of eternal glory and said, "Even so come Lord Jesus." He'd had enough of earth's sorrows.
Paul had the same thing. He longed to be in the presence of Christ and be released from the suffering of this world. So for purposes of retribution, prevention, education, and anticipation it is God who disciplines His children. Now look at verse 5, just the beginning of the verse, and I'll remind you of where we ended last time. "Have you forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as Sons?" He goes on in verse 5 to say, "My Son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor faint when you are reproved by Him." He is reminding them of Old Testament Scripture, he quotes from Proverbs 3:11 and following. He is quoting an Old Testament passage because the question that comes up here, natural question you've had all of that wonderful chapter 11, all those great heroes, and they all suffered a profound suffering for the cause of Christ.
I told you last week about my continual reading of the story of William Kerry and it's just the suffering in that man's life is just more then one would imagine a person could bear. Just in reading yesterday for several hours, further in the story he had a son named Felix and Felix was 37 years old when he died; 37 he died and he was a great linguist and a great missionary, been through a number of struggles, but just recounting the life of his son and the pain of that life. His first wife died when she gave birth to a child, he was left with two little children, his wife dying at childbirth. He married another lovely Christian girl and after many years of preparation he had done translation of the Scriptures into a language of another Asian country. He got on a boat with his wife and now five children, two from a prior marriage and I think three with her, and they had five children and they were going together. He had a little printing press, he had all of his life's work of this translation work and they were headed to the mission field and a storm hit the boat in a wide place in the river, sunk the boat, his wife died, and three of his five children died and he struggled in the water to save them and couldn't. He sat on the shore, having lost his family, his life's work, his printing press and everything.
Then William Kerry hears that this his son, in whom he poured so much of his life, who was being launched into a mission, he had lost everything precious to him, including all of his life work. The question comes up, does God do that or did the devil do that? Nothing happened in the life of Felix, it didn't happen in the life of Job, nothing happened in the life of William Kerry that didn't happen in the life of Job. The spiritual strength; admittedly Felix went through a dark, dark and sorrowful time having lost two wives and now most of his family and all of his work, he went through a terrible, dark time but in the end was restored to his father and restored to the ministry there, and restored to the work of the mission until at the age of 37 he died in his youth, another great grief to his father because of his tremendous skill and talent for ministry.
This sorrow upon sorrow shaped William Kerry into the man that he was. The Old Testament reminds us that the discipline of the Lord is just that, "It is from God, do not regard it lightly and don't faint when you're reproved by Him." It speaks to you, look at the first part of verse 5, "If you've forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you his Sons, don't regard lightly the discipline of the Lord." This is a message to believers, you understand that? He's talking to believers, this is addressed to sons he says, that passage isn't addressed to unbelievers; it's addressed to you, to sons. It speaks to you.
Now we've already seen the purposes of God and I want to take you now into the text, and I want to show you three different things that appear in this text that help us understand the discipline of the Lord. Two perils in discipline, two proofs in discipline, and two products in discipline; perils, proofs and product. Let's look first of all at the perils in discipline. We're all going to be disciplined and coming with that discipline are some perils. Two things that are dangers to the purposes of God in discipline; God wants to accomplish something in disciplining us. He wants to conform us to the image of Christ; He wants to reveal more of Himself to us, that's education. He wants to prevent us from sinning; He wants to humble us so that we're more useful. He wants to chasten us for sins committed so that we don't do it again. He wants to fill our hearts with the anticipation of glory, all those things that we saw, but that only works if you avoid the two perils.
Peril number one, do not regard lightly, literally the Greek language here says, despise not, that's the first peril in discipline. The Lord brings a purposeful discipline into your life, the Lord brings training into your life through difficulty and you despise it instead of embracing it. It means to misjudge, but to treat as lightly rather then as profoundly as it ought to be treated. Do not fail, it means to consider the real purpose of this discipline. The real scope of it, the real end of it, see discipline not as a momentary affliction but as an accomplishment that God is in process of bringing the past for your good and his glory.
Frankly, there are many people who never see past the pain because they're self absorbed, they're self centered, they're caught up in their own comfort and let me tell you in Evangelicalism today, I mean if it has to be true that these people who claim to have this great faith to believe Jesus can make them rich and these people who come and want Jesus to fix all of their problems and demonstrate a kind of faith that believes in, at that level, I believe those people are serious casualties to life's real issues, because it just literally devastates them as if it were a surprise that it should happen because they have been expecting nothing but prosperity and comfort.
There are many people who can't get past the pain because they think Christianity is somehow a blank check and when you become a Christian God's going to deliver to you everything you want, and when you don't get it you are angry, you despise, you treat lightly, or you misjudge, you fail to consider the real purpose and scope of what is happening.
This can happen a number of ways. You can get yourself in a position where you can't see past the pain by callousness, that's hardening against God. You just become hard, you become resistant rather then melting it as discipline. Rather then doing a hard examination as we saw last time in saying, look is this because of retribution? Is this part of God's prevention in my life? Is this part of my education? Is this part of God wanting to build in me anticipation for glory? Instead of saying that you get angry at God, you get hostile, your heart gets hard, you become callous, and this is the peril. You then cut off the purpose of God from being achieved and no doubt will guarantee to yourself greater chastening.
Not only by callousness can you treat this lightly but by complaining. Like Israel in the wilderness, griping, complaining, people get cross with God, they become sour with God, they become angry with God, they fret and fume at God as if He didn't know what He was doing. Arthur Pink said, "God always chastises twice if we're not humbled by the first one. Remind yourself of how much dross there yet is among the gold, view the corruptions of your own heart and marvel that God has not smitten you more severely." That's wisdom isn't it? Count your blessings that your trials weren't what you really deserved.
You can treat lightly the discipline of the Lord then by callousness by complaining, and even by questioning. Why is this happening? What are You doing this? Why me? Why me? All of that kind of attitude thwarts the purpose of God in the chastening and leads to greater chastening. But I think perhaps most importantly, I mean while it's important to mention callousness and complaining, and questioning, the most common way that you will despise, that you will treat lightly the chastening of God is by carelessness, a failure to change, a failure to change. You just let it come and let it go and it doesn't make any difference in your life. You go on in your own sin, you go on in your own selfishness, in any or all of those ways you can treat God's discipline lightly, you can look down on it, you can think little of it, that's really what the term means. It means to think little of it, not to see it for what it is.
I guess because of the years of studying Scripture, when a trial comes into my life I, by God's grace, I go immediately to the question of this is a profound thing. This is something God has wrought; this is something that God is doing in my life. In fact, I didn't mention my own recent experience, and my doctor who really saved my life was here last Sunday and he said, why didn't you mention what you just went through? I said, well I don't do that very often, it's kind of rare thing for me to do that, but he said, well you should mention that. So I said well maybe I will, and I said, well I don't know that I knew how serious I was. When I walked into your office, just trying to get some help for my pain and inability to breathe, because I had blood clots all through my lungs and I didn't know that, but when I walked into your office I didn't know how bad I was and I don't know that I've ever asked you. I said, how bad was I? He said, you had somewhere between two hours and 24 at max to live. Whoa! I said then I was fairly serious.
Well I knew it was serious and I thought that I might be able to die, but the only thought that entered my mind in the whole process, and I know this is the grace of God, and because of constant exposure to the Word of God, was the thought Lord what is this purpose in this? What is are you trying to accomplish? What do I need to know from You? This is a deep and profound experience; this is not a trivial experience. None of life's suffering is trivial and you don't want to treat it lightly, you want to treat it profoundly, but you want to look at it from God's perspective. Don't despise it.
That's the first peril in discipline. The second peril, look at verse 5 again, "Not only don't treat it lightly, don't faint when you're reproved by Him." Don't lash out, that's the external and don't break out against God, and don't break down inside. This is just as bad, there are some people who don't - they don't get hard against God, they don't question God, they don't get callous, they just collapse. Oh this is more then I can bear, oh... they just - you know they're ready to tell you the whole sad tale every time you see them, instead of saying, you know I'm going through some of the wonderful times God has refined in me. Oh I don't understand, I'm holding on brother.
They just - these people give up and become inert, they just - I don't know if I'm saved. They forget Psalm 34:19, I think its verse 19, Psalm 34 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, many are the afflictions of the righteous." We get more afflictions then the unrighteous, you know that? But they're over when we die, but we get more then the unrighteous; because we are afflicted by the unrighteous who hate what we stand for and we're afflicted by God who wants to make us more righteous.
These people sometimes find their faith begins to fail, they begin to doubt, doubt God's wisdom, doubt God's plan, doubt God's love, and than they wind up in Psalm 42, like the psalmist, and they have to do a double take and say, "Why are you troubled oh my soul, why are you troubled in me, hope in God I will yet praise Him." They have to pull themselves up, don't they? Despise not and faint not, don't break out and don't break down, those are the two perils in discipline that hinder what God wants to accomplish.
Secondly, there are two proofs in discipline here. Two proofs, two things that are proven by this discipline and we'll see that in verses 6 to 8, "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure God deals with you as with sons for what son is there for whom His father doesn't discipline. If you are without discipline of which all have become partakers then you are illegitimate children and not sons."
You know Satan is the victor often in our trials on the basis of how we respond. Many Christians take trials with despair and despondency, others despise them, some feel God is far off, instead of trust doubt comes, instead of quietness turmoil comes, instead of contentment resentment comes, instead of hope knowing God is perfecting us, that the testing of our patience has a perfect work, instead of hope and giving of thanks, thoughts of bitterness arise toward God, and we cry like the psalmist in Psalm 10:1 who says, "Why are You standing so far away oh Lord? Why are You hiding Yourself in my times of trouble?" Our Lord isn't hiding Himself, the same psalmist says, "The Lord is a very present help," isn't it? He's not hiding; don't despise and don't faint.
Well you say, how can I keep from doing that? By understanding two proofs that should really lift you up. The first thing that your chastening proves, the first thing your suffering proves is God's love for you. Verse 6, "For those whom the Lord," what? "Loves, he disciplines." That's no reason not to despise or think lightly of it. That's no reason not to become callous or questioning, or careless because it is an evidence of love. It all proceeds from His love. When you came to Christ you were rooted and grounded in love, we love Him because He first loved us. We should have a rooting and a grounding of love. What does Paul mean in Ephesians 3 when he says that? He means we should have a settled assurance of God's love for us; the foundation of my life is that God loves me, right? God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son. God so loved me that He chose me before the foundation of the world. God so loved me that He set His love upon me and forgave my sin and granted me righteousness in Christ. God so loved me that He has Christ preparing a place for me in His own house in glory. God loves me, that's an assurance that nothing should ever be able to shake. Have the sweet assurance that love is behind all your chastenings.
A man asked a little boy, why are you looking over the wall? The little boy looked at him and said, because I can't see through it. Life can be like that, at some point discouraged Christian you've got to climb up and look over the wall and what you're going to see is a loving Father. You're going to see a loving Father, look above the dark clouds of discipline and see the sunshine of His never changing love. It's like flying in a plane through the dark clouds and hitting the brilliant sunlight. You're going to find behind the clouds is God's love, He loves you. All discipline flows from God's love. It was love that elected you before the foundation of the world. I tell you the heart is warmed and thrilled when it goes back to God's sovereign love and eternity past. Ephesians says, "In love," chapter 1, "Having pre-destined us; in love having pre-destined us. It was love that chose us; it was love that redeemed us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us as an act of love. It was love that effectually calls us." Jeremiah 31:3 says, "With loving kindness have I drawn you." Ephesians 2 says, "He loved us with a great love and it was that great love that drew us out of our spiritual deadness. God being rich in mercy," verse 4, "Because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved. Chosen by love, drawn by love, redeemed by love, and kept by love, it is love also that disciplines us. He loves us so much, He corrects us, and He withholds from us what would harm us."
I mean how many times have we said to our children, I'm doing this because I love you and than we take out the rod, and it's true, that is why we do it. Because we love them too much to let them follow a path of behavior that will lead to their own destruction; we love them too much to have them bear the weight of sin, the consequence of sin. We love them too much to bring upon themselves devastating judgment. It says in Lamentations 3:32, "If He causes grief then He will have compassion according to His abundant, loving kindness. For He does not afflict willingly or grieve the Sons of men to crush under His feet all the prisoners of the land." In other words he says, God doesn't do this just because He gets some pleasure out of doing it, He doesn't do it because He enjoys our suffering. If He did enjoy our suffering and if He found pleasure in our severe pain then He wouldn't have to do anything and we would bring upon ourselves through our inequities pain enough.
God does, in a sense, what is painful to Him. He doesn't do it willingly, He doesn't grieve the Sons of men because it's His pleasure, He does it compassionately and He does it out of His loving kindness because He knows it's for their benefit; He loves us that's why He does it.
Remember, the great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the book of Hebrews is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, right? In all points tempted like as we are, He's touched with the feelings; what does that mean? That means He feels the actual pain of our weakness. He knows, He has compassion, tenderness, empathy, sympathy, but He still employs discipline just like a parent. I feel the pain when my children have pain, I hurt when my children hurt, I'm touched with the feelings of their infirmities, and yet I use the rod because love demands it.
So the first thing that discipline proves is that God loves you. God is love and nothing is so sensitive as love and yet He chastens. In fact, when He chastens you, in a very real sense He does feel that pain. Isaiah 63 says, "In all their affliction He was afflicted." It pains the Lord to chasten His children, just like it pains a father or a mother to chasten his or her children, but His love is unselfish. When you see a parent that says, oh I love my child too much to spank them, they don't love that child, they love themselves and are not willing to suffer the pain that inflicting pain on their child might bring, they'll suffer another kind of pain to be sure. Love is unselfish and love says even though it hurts me deeply to do this, I do it because I love you, and that's how God loves us.
First thing proven by discipline is love, secondly our sonship. Verse 6 again, "Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom He receives." Every son in the Kingdom will be scourged, that's a proof of sonship, that is a proof of sonship, every son, no exceptions, but only sons, it is both inclusive every son, and exclusive it doesn't involve people who aren't his children. He scourges mastigoy, that's the act of flogging with a whip, that's the act of hitting someone with a lash, every son he lashes. God here is pictured as a father using a corporal correction for faulty sinful, wicked behavior and God does it to every one of us and the fact that He does it is evidence that we're His children.
He says in verse 7, "God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline?" I mean fathers do that. Proverbs 13:24 says, "He that spares his rod hates his son, but he that loves him, chastens him many times." You have, in all your children, fallen individuals, totally depraved, reprobate, sinful, and they must be dealt with firmly with the rod. Proverbs 19:18 says, "Chasten your son while there's hope and don't let your soul spare for his crying." Sure they're going to cry, don't stop. Proverbs 22:15, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, with the rod of correction it will be driven far from him." Proverbs 23, "Withhold not correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod he shall not die," even if he says you're killing me.
Furthermore, it says in Proverbs 23:14, "You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell." It's all part of training. Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame." Our society is filled with undisciplined children and we understand what they're like, it's tragic. The fact that God chasten us indicates we are His sons.
It is for discipline, verse 7 says, "That you endure." Discipline in the Christian life doesn't come in spite of sonship it comes because of it. It's not some aberration, oh why is this happening? It must be the devil, no this is God, it's because you're a son that you're being disciplined.
I just have to put this in here, I really do wonder whether these people who live these lives of outrageous, outlandish wealth and prosperity, and comfort even belong to God at all. I question that on the theological level often; I even question it on the level of this text. Where is the suffering? Where is the discipline? The disobediences manifest where is the discipline? Are they at all His children? A child who is disobedient, who wanders away, will be disciplined by a loving father who really cares. He'll keep a firm hand on him because he cares what he becomes. The discipline of my children proves they're my children, it proves I love them, it proves they belong to me.
I saw a lady in a market just wailing on some little guy and I made an immediate conclusion, she's his mother because that's who does that. That's evidence of sonship, and it's the same with God, His discipline is for every son that we may know He loves us and cares what we become. This is something to keep in mind now; the common reaction is to be envious of the person who escapes suffering. The common reaction is be envious of the person who escapes suffering when we really ought to be envious of the person who suffers. Don't envy unbelievers; don't envy the false teachers who show nothing but prosperity and comfort. Verse 8 says; "If you're without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons," don't envy that.
I used to tell my children, it's a privilege to be a MacArthur, it's a privilege to be in this family, it's a privilege to have me as your father and Patricia as your mother, that's a privilege, and we endeavored to show them the privilege of it and the joys and the blessings of it, but along with the privilege came the discipline. It's a privilege far beyond anything like that to be the child of God, isn't it? Indescribable privilege; it's equally a privilege to be disciplined to become the best child that I can be to the honor of God my Father.
Jerome said, the early church father, this is pretty profound; he said the greatest anger of all is when God is not angry with you. He meant that the Supreme punishment was for God to be indifferent to your discipline. That's true in parenting, the supreme act of disdain for a child is not to discipline, that's indifference. We're disciplined by God because He loves us and because we belong to Him and it proves His love and our sonship.
Lastly, there are two perils in discipline, there are two proofs in discipline, and there are two products in discipline. What is God exactly trying to do in the end? Well, God has something very definite in mind. Verse 9, "Furthermore we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them, shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seen best to them, but He disciplines us for our good that we may share His Holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, yet to those who have trained by it afterward it yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness." He hears into the product, he says, let me contrast the natural Father and the supernatural father; our earthly fathers disciplined us for a limited period of years and received respect for it. I'm certainly thankful for my father's discipline, my mother's discipline; we accept it with gratitude knowing it was for our good. Father and mother, if you want true respect from your child discipline firmly in love with consistency and with justice.
Now, if we can accept that from our earthly father, He says in verse 9, "Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits? Shouldn't we be willingly subjected to whatever discipline God wants to bring? Why? That we may live," that's the first thing. The first product is life; life, what is He talking about here? Well He's not talking about physical life, we have that. He's not talking about spiritual life in the simple sense of salvation because we're already in the family, we already are a part of the Kingdom, we're already His children, what He is simply talking about here is living life in this world to the maximum benefit and blessing, really living, really having the fullness of life.
Psalm 119, "Great peace have they which love thy law." To enjoy that fullness, that great peace, that great joy, happiness, He just wants us to live to the fullest, that's the first thing; that we may enjoy the fullness of His blessing, the fullness of His goodness, the fullness of His power and usefulness.
Second thing is also mentioned, you see it at the end of verse 10, "The Father's disciplined us for a little time, He disciplines us for our good, what good that we may share His Holiness." He wants us to hate sin; He wants us to learn to stay away from sin. He wants to bring consequences into our lives when we sin that cause us to think twice about doing it again. Earthly father's short time, discipline us, and we learn to avoid certain things because they'll be pain associated with them, we don't do that because it's a painful experience and God is the same way. He disciplines us that we may stay from sin and become increasingly partakers of His Holiness. Be Holy for I Am Holy He says in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Hosea 5:15, "In their affliction will they seem Me early God said. When I start to punish they'll begin to seek My face."
It's the same thing He's referring to at the end of verse 11, the fruit of righteousness, righteousness and holiness being the same thing. God wants to bring us the positive blessing of full life, rich, joy, peace, satisfaction, blessing, usefulness, and Holiness. If then, trials and tribulations under God produce life and Holiness, then we should welcome them, right?
Let the rains of disappointment come if they water the plants of spiritual grace; let the winds of adversity blow if they serve to root more securely the trees that God has planted. Let the sun of prosperity be eclipsed if that brings me closer to the true light of life, so I welcome discipline. I counted all joy, James 1, "When I fall under various trials because it's God at work in me producing joy." Carnal senses and natural reason object, verse 11, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful." We find no joy in the trial, we often can't see the profit at the moment, we can't experience the fullness of life, we can't know the Holiness at the time, even the sense of God's love and our sonship is not perceivable to the carnal mind and the natural reason. All the natural senses see the experience as painful and grievous and the reason is because we are locked in the present, yet to those who have been trained by it, here's the key word, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteous. You've got to get the future view, you can't get locked in the present, afterward, when it's over it will produce righteousness to those who have been trained by it, to those who have responded properly and avoided the perils of either breaking out or breaking down. To those who respond rightly to it, it produces righteousness. If you understand the discipline of God, if you understand His purposes in it, if you understand what He's doing, it will produce in you righteousness, Holiness, life.
As the bee sucks honey out of the bitter flower, so faith can extract blessing from trouble. It can turn water into wine and make bread out of rock. It hopes and says triumphantly with Job, "Though he slay me yet will I trust Him? And when he has tried me," he said, "I'll come forth like gold." In our pain and not our pleasure we learn the deliverance of God and are made to know life and Holiness.
Remember Mary? Martha's sister, she stood at the empty tomb and she wept at the very thing designed to bring her greatest joy, the resurrection. She had the present view, not the afterward, don't stand in the middle of your trouble and weep at the very thing God has designed to produce ultimately your greatest joy.
One little footnote on this, I don't mention this very often but I wrote a book called, The Power of Suffering. If you want more help on this get that paperback book, The Power of Suffering, we'll learn all that God has to say about this wonderful discipline.
Father, we are again in debt as always when we come to the Word of God, in debt to You for this treasure, this incredible mine of divine truth, life changing truth, life giving truth, heavenly truth. Father, help us to count it all joy when we fall into these difficult trials, to treasure Your discipline, no matter how painful at the moment, may we know that afterwards, for those who are properly responding to it, it produces life and Holiness in which we will rejoice. Thank you Lord, thank you for all You're doing in our lives, to make us like Your Son who Himself was perfected through His sufferings. We thank you for the fellowship of His sufferings and we pray in His, Amen.
This article is also available and sold as a booklet.
This sermon series includes the following messages:
Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource.Publisher Information


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Brad Chambers of Galax is among a group of 14 golfers chosen to represent Virginia in the 28th Virginia-West Virginia team matches scheduled for The Greenbrier Sporting Club's Snead Course on April 16-17.
Chambers, the reigning VSGA public links champion, will join Tim Kelley of Ashland, Ben Keefer of Glen Allen, Roger Newsom of Virginia Beach, Allen Barber of Yorktown, Mike Kirby of Falls Church, Lee Fisher of Altavista and Jake Mondy of Blacksburg. Monday is the VSGA junior stroke play champion and is the youngest member of the team at 18.
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It's a sad moment for me but due to a baby on the way i have to sell my prized music collection.
I have a copy of Snowball promo cd available for sale, it's in excellent condition.
Sensible offers in GBP welcome !!
ps: does anyone have a jpeg of the sleeve ??
Yello - Snowball For sale
Complete your collection.
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Jon has it on his site
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This is an awesome article that really speaks to the heart of social media – it can be great if you have a plan, just doing Facebook, Twitter, blogging bc you think you should won't get your company anywhere. Credit to James Fry of Earthwatch for forwarding me this.
Right now, there are a lot of blinking lights and distracting excitement surrounding social media. Businesses are throwing ad and management dollars into social with the broad hope that customers will come stampeding through their doors. For most businesses, this just isn't happening.
Social media isn't a magical way to gain new business with a few ads and aggressive networking (e.g., posting on your wall, tweeting about your business). Remember in the late 1990s when the Internet became widely adopted and businesses threw big money into hollow online ventures with no revenue model? The same will occur in social media without a true marketing plan.
If you don't have a true marketing process attached to your business's social environment, save yourself some time, money and headache and move your investment somewhere else. Why?
Social networks such as Facebook are platforms for people to connect with one another based off of their common interests, location, connections, and other personal attributes. Nobody I know goes to Facebook to see what ads are showing on their wall – they go there to connect with their friends and share their lives with other people they care about. I don't log on and say, "I wonder what Ford Motor Company is talking about today." I log on to see what new photos my family has uploaded or what movie my sister is recommending I see this weekend.
With the sheer number of marketing messages the average person is bombarded with each day, it is becoming progressively more difficult to capture someone's attention long enough to effectively present your brand, especially when they are not focused on seeking out your brand in the first place.
When a business does capture a Facebook user's attention, shouldn't there be a process to draw them in and engage them in a way that moves them closer to becoming a customer? Shouldn't it be fun, easy, and casual for the user? Yes. And yes.
I see many businesses on Facebook today making a major mistake. They spend ad dollars to drive potential customers to their wall, get them to like their page and then expect the conversational nature of Facebook to take over and provide free nurture marketing all the way to checkout. The number of fans you have doesn't mean a thing unless it's attached to a solid marketing environment – one that moves each fan closer to a sale.
Read the full article here: http://mysupermarketer.com/index.php/blog/entry/dont-waste-your-marketing-dollars-on-social-media-1


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Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
INSIGHT: Pets get blessed at Madrid church
Opening Sequence
House Democrats struggle over border aid bill
Trump threatens Iran with 'obliteration'
Chairman Powell stands firm on Fed independence
Melania Trump announces new WH press secretary
U.S. launches Mideast peace plan amid skepticism
Exclusive: Facebook to ID French hate speech suspects
San Francisco bans e-cigarette sales in the city
Celebrities turn Mueller report into a play
Closing Sequence


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Video: Bombing Exercises In London Underground
This video clip is taken from CBC news and features an interview with Peter Power, managing director of Visor Consultants, who were running an exercise for an unnamed company that revolved around the London Underground being bombed at the exact same times and locations as happened in real life on the morning of July 7th.
Related: London Underground Bombing 'Exercises' Took Place at Same Time as Real Attack


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Abstract Fluid Monochrome V2 - Art Print
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Commercially printed by fine art printers, using high grade anti-fade inks. Our prints are of the highest quality and will stand the test of time.
Art Paper is Unframed, unless Stretched Canvas or Framed Art is selected.
Framed art shown in photos, for display purposes only.
Stretched Canvas & Framed Art - for Australia only. We can supply internationally, but please contact us first before trying to place an order. USA & Canadian sizes differ slightly, please see size guide picture for details.
1. Art Paper (unframed) - Printed on thick Sihl 210 gsm matte art paper. Fully archival, in warm white. Has a slightly textured surface, creating a velvety finish. Acid & chlorine free. Made in France. Printed by our fine art printer in Melbourne. We only print on matte paper. Gloss or lustre prints (shiny finishes) will stick to glass if not framed correctly. Matte prints won't and dont need any further preparation. Our paper is enviro friendly with FSC-C007888 mark of responsible forestry. As our art paper prints are made to order, please allow 0.2cm (0.08 in) size tolerance as each piece is hand cut using a guillotine.
2. Stretched Canvas - Printed canvas stretched onto a wooden frame 30mm deep and made of pine (kiln-dried to last). Edges are mirrored or stretched to artwork and wrap around the frame seamlessly. Wall hooks provided, ready to hang. As our stretched canvases are made to order, please allow 1.5-1cm (0.4-0.6 in) size tolerance as each piece is handcrafted.
3. Framed Art - Our art paper in gorgeous frames! Individually handmade, created from high-quality sustainable plantation timber, milled with simple clean lines, in a satin finish. The frames have a square profile which works in both contemporary & traditional environments. Available in 3 colours - White, Black or Oak. 2cm thick on the front face (border thickness) on all sizes, and 3cm deep (up to 100cm frames) and 4cm deep (over 100cm frames). We use Shinkolite (3mm cast clear high grade acrylic) instead of glass. It offers UV protection, is extremely robust (much greater impact resistance compared to glass), and is safer to transport. Frames are sealed at the back with acid free tape, to help guard against elements such as dirt, water & moisture. Ready to hang on your walls with a sturdy plastic coated wire attached to the back, and felt bump-ons to help to protect your wall. As our frames are made to order, please allow 1cm (0.4 in) size tolerance as each piece is handcrafted.
All our artwork is made on request for you, we do not hold old stock.
This prevents possible storage / environmental damage, and you can be assured our prints come to you brand new. Due to this, please allow up to 10 business days for production from the time of your order placement, plus freight time on top (this varies depending on your location in Australia). International orders, please add an additional 10-20 business days to above timeframes.
We provide close up photos for each product, so you can see the resolution of artwork easily. All our prints are commercially printed to replicate the texture, colour & vibrancy of each unique artwork. We frequently use paint, sketch, and watercolours through our art, and are these are not meant to have photographic clarity. Please carefully view all product photos to ensure you are happy before purchase.
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There are two major trends causing organizations to rethink the way they approach doing analytics.
Big data. First, data volumes are exploding. More than a decade ago, Wayne Eckerson, director of TDWI Research, participated in the formation of the Data Warehouse Terabyte Club, which highlighted the few leading-edge organizations whose data warehouses had reached or exceeded a terabyte in size. Today, the notion of a terabyte club seems quaint, as many organizations have blasted through that threshold. In fact, he contends, it is now time to start a petabyte club, since a handful of companies, including Internet businesses, banks, and telecommunications companies, have publicly announced that their data warehouses will soon exceed a petabyte of data.
Deep analytics. Second, organizations want to perform "deep analytics" on these massive data warehouses. Deep analytics ranges from statistics — such as moving averages, correlations, and regressions — to complex functions such as graph analysis, market basket analysis, and tokenization. In addition, many organizations are embracing predictive analytics by using advanced machine learning algorithms, such as neural networks and decision trees, to anticipate behavior and events. Whereas in the past, organizations may have applied these types of analytics to a subset of data, today they want to analyze every transaction. The reason: profits.
For Internet companies, the goal is to gain insight into how people use their websites so they can enhance visitor experiences and provide advertisers with more granular targeted advertising. Telecommunications companies want to mine millions of call detail records to better predict customer churn and profitability. Retailers want to analyze detailed transactions to better understand customer shopping patterns, forecast demand, optimize merchandising, and increase the lift of their promotions.
In all cases, there is an opportunity to cut costs, increase revenues, and gain a competitive advantage. Few industries today are immune to the siren song of analyzing big data.
This slideshow features a basic set of guidelines from TDWI and Aster Data for implementing big data analytics.
10 Tips for Making Websites Stickier Develop an effective strategy to keep customers engaged.
The Mobile Work Force Today Mobile employees carry an average of 2.68 mobile devices, including laptops, smartphones and increasingly tablets.
10 New Smartphones for Business New smartphones for today's business user.
Related Topics : Box.net, IT Management Automation, SharePoint, Facebook, T-Mobile
Enterprise social collaboration solutions are most successful when they contribute to business value and benefits that address company goals. ... More >>
Chosen carefully, collaboration tools will save time, cut costs and reduce complications associated with storing and retrieving documents throughout a company's operations. ... More >>
With the consumerization of AR, it appears the technology is finally within arm's reach for those savvy enterprises willing to reach out and grab it. ... More >>


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1. stray - noun
· an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal)
Hypernym(s): domestic_animal, domesticated_animal
2. stray - verb
· move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town"
Synonym(s): roll, wander, swan, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabond
Hypernym(s): travel, go, move, locomote
3. stray - verb
· wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course"
Hypernym(s): travel, go, move, locomote
4. stray - verb
· lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking; "She always digresses when telling a story"; "her mind wanders"; "Don't digress when you give a lecture"
Synonym(s): digress, divagate, wander
Hypernym(s): tell
5. stray - adjective
· not close together in time; "isolated instances of rebellion"; "a few stray crumbs"
Synonym(s): isolated
6. stray - adjective
· (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home; "a stray calf"; "a stray dog"
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There may be no better time to escape the city for a sun-drenched jaunt to the desert than spring. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are moderate, and music and art beckon with two major festivals — the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival April 15 to 17 and the Stagecoach country music fest April 30 and May 1.
This is all on top of the year-round lure of golf, tennis, pools and spas.
And for the serious shopper? There's a small but mighty fashion scene to be found in Palm Springs and its southeastern neighbor Palm Desert that includes the same sartorial trappings available in the city (Gucci, Trina Turk, Sephora) but with the Midcentury Modern flare characteristic of the area.
Whether you're heading out for a music fest or simply to enjoy a quiet weekend respite, here's a guide to five of our favorite Palm Springs-area shops, both new and old, that are worth checking out.
Resale Therapy
This resale shop — a favorite of the Palm Springs social set — is just across the street from the Parker Hotel and is packed to the brim with contemporary and vintage clothing and accessories in a range of prices. On a recent visit, we unearthed a long, label-less 1960s metallic cocktail gown ($74.99), a 1980s Givenchy couture polka dot short-sleeve shift ($239.99) and a blue beaded Louis Feraud flapper dress that appeared fit for a 1920s screen siren ($1,000). Mixed in with the hearty selection of eveningwear is a rack of St. John pieces in every color of the rainbow as well as gently worn shoes from the likes of Jimmy Choo, Alaia and Alejandro Ingelmo. But Resale Therapy's real gems are in the back room, where everything is 75% off and your fifth item costs a mere penny. Be prepared to dig through some fairly putrid ensembles to find gems such as Pendelton wool skirts ($6.75) and Costume National button-down tux shirts ($9.25) that are yours for little more than the price of a McDonald's lunch.
4109 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. (760) 321-6556. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Secret Service
Across from an IHOP and next to a vacuum cleaner store lies a former Chevron station that, at first glance, seems abandoned. But a look beyond the failing facade reveals Secret Service, the 5-month-old brainchild of Crate denim founder Chad Hilton. Like the store's by-appointment sibling in downtown L.A., Secret Service Palm Springs features an abundance of button-downs, grooming products, denim and even furniture for Coachella-bound guys. Think Brixton straw fedoras with ribbon detailing ($50), vintage rugged wash Levi's ($215) and musky, whiskey-scented shaving soap by Portland General Store ($13) that is sure to garner attention from the festival-loving ladies. And though it's technically a men's shop, nestled among the cork-and-chalk walls and huge California state flags is gear that's appropriate for women too — including vintage skeleton key necklaces ($26) and oversized canvas and leather doctor satchels by founded-in-L.A. label Billykirk ($338) that come courtesy of Amish leathersmiths in Pennsylvania.
490 S. Indian Canyon Road, Palm Springs. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. (760) 778-8880.
Route 66 West
"People always walk in here and say, 'This looks like my grandma's jewelry,'" says Matt Burkholz, whose Route 66 West accessories boutique is packed with enough blingy Bakelite and head-turning Lucite costume jewelry from the 1920s and beyond to fill a museum exhibit. "And I say, no, it doesn't — unless your grandma was a Parisian prostitute." Route 66 West's vast selection of colorful, vintage pieces doesn't attract ladies of the night but instead the likes of actress Diane Keaton, designer Trina Turk and "Mad Men" costume designer costumer Janie Bryant, who are customers. They come for Burkholz's stock of rare, Hawaiian-style tubular Bakelite bracelets from the 1930s ($375 each), 1950s Kenneth Jay Lane chunky coral and jade chokers ($495) and sweet, circa 1960s enamel floral pins ($25 to $65) as much as they come for his vast knowledge of vintage baubles. (The self-professed "King of Bakelite," who grew up working in his family's Miami Beach jewelry store, Burkholz has written a book on the 1930s plastic as well as one on vintage copper jewelry). There are few things in the tiny shop that can't be called "standouts." But not to be missed are huge, acrylic geometric gem necklaces from jewelry designer Judith Hendler, who is the stepmother of late fashion photog Herb Ritts and is collaborating on a new collection of ice cube-inspired wares with Burkholz that are available in his store.
465 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. (760) 322-6669. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, closed Wednesday.
Kate Spade
"Those women always know how to wear color," Kate Spade creative director Deborah Lloyd said at a recent luncheon celebrating the label's new color-filled branding strategy. She was talking about stylish desert dwellers. And her notion couldn't be more evident than in the New York-based company's latest retail location in Palm Desert's ritzy El Paseo shopping district. Color is everywhere in the jewel-box boutique — on the multi-hued striped floors, the Midcentury Modern orange and wood furniture and, most important, all over the merchandise. Expect a small but mighty selection of ready-to-wear garb including a yellow-and-white patterned Hillary dress with a sweetheart neckline ($245), coral and sky blue Sandra miniskirt ($225) and a bright yellow pineapple-encrusted cardigan ($295) that would all look at home poolside at the Parker. Accessories are fully stocked too, with the studded wicker Kayla bag ($225) and an oversized red fabric Date Night floral ring ($55) in the merchandise mix. Espadrilles ($99), vintage-inspired cat-eye shades ($128) and a selection of stationery and barware are also carried at the sunny, rainbow-hued emporium.
73425 El Paseo, Palm Desert. (760) 346-0403. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Wil Stiles
For 15 years, Wil Stiles and wife Molly Bondhus owned clothing stores in Minneapolis. Fed up with shoveling snow, the couple headed west, opening a psychedelically infused boutique in downtown Palm Springs' bustling uptown design district in late 2009. Inside the space-agey shop, which is right next to Trina Turk's Palm Springs lifestyle emporium, expect to see a selection of sporty, hard-to-find gear for men and women from international labels including Montreal designer Samuel Dong, England-based United Kingdom of Luke and Jakartan statement jeweler Manik Kami. "I like things with nauseatingly optimistic prints," Stiles said, standing in front of a bright yellow geometric-printed men's button-down ($139) that fit the bill. In addition to vintage reproduction chrome cruiser bicycles ($350) and a wall of new designer shades from Dior, Valentino, YSL and Gucci, shoppers can score retro-tinged flight bags from Fred Perry for a mere $39 and Peter Grimm's desert-appropriate lavender woven fedoras for the same price.
875 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. (760) 327-9764. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.


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The February issue of SunSations, delivered Thursday, takes a look at community, local and national politics. Benjamin Franklin steps off the pages of history and into the Wall Street Room to pose for this month's cover. With Sun City's election season just getting started, you'll learn what our Election Committee is doing. Two of our residents who are serving as elected officials beyond Sun City also sit down with the SunSations team. Plus, you'll find two light-hearted approaches to politics with a look at the primaries and an explanation of the two-party system from a couple's perspective.
Of course, let's not forget that February isn't just about political battles; it's also the month for love. As we celebrate Valentine's Day, our recipe column presents a romantic menu for two. It's also heart month, and the Health & Wellness department is bringing programs to keep us "heart-strong" for life.


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By STEVE KARNOWSKI
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Costco Wholesale Corp. has joined a growing list of retailers and restaurants in asking suppliers to phase out tight confinement pens for pregnant sows.
The company acted after an animal welfare group shot an undercover video showing conditions at one of the chain's pork suppliers.
Gestation stalls have been a major target of groups like Mercy for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States.
Mercy for Animals had been preparing to release a video shot in a sow barn at Minnesota-based Christensen Farms. Costco then gave the group a letter it sent to its pork suppliers Tuesday urging a phase out of the crates by 2022. The group supplied the letter to The Associated Press.
Mercy's director of investigations, Matt Rice, says he commends Costco.


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29 dead dolphins found since oil spill
GALVESTON - Scientists are trying to determine whether an oil spill two weeks ago in Galveston Bay contributed to a higher-than-normal number of dolphin deaths.
At least 29 dead dolphins have been found in the Galveston area since a ship and barge collided, spilling nearly 168,000 gallons of thick oil into Galveston Bay. The number brought the total for March to 47, above the average of 34 dolphin strandings for the month and triple last years' total of 15, said Heidi Whitehead, state operations coordinator for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Testing will needed to determine what role, if any, oil played in the dolphin deaths. But it is certain that oil is affecting hundreds of birds, and the numbers appear to be increasing, said Richard Gibbons, Houston Audubon conservation director.
Nesting season began April 1 for the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the Texas state sea turtle, but unusually cold weather appears to have kept them and green sea turtles away and out of harms way, said Ben Higgins, sea turtle program manager for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
A high number of dead dolphins are typically found during what is known as the stranding season from January through March, Whitehead said. But the oil spill has caused so much concern that more resources and effort than normal are being devoted to the investigation into the dolphin deaths, she said. Biologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are assisting the Stranding Network, she said.
"Even though we cannot definitely say that oil has caused this increase in the number of strandings, we can say there is concern and will be concern and that is why we are increasing our level of investigation," Whitehead said.
Help from 2 states
Of those stranded, two have been confirmed to have oil on their bodies and two are being tested for possible oil, she said. Two of the visibly oiled dolphins were found near Matagorda Island, where oil blown out of Galveston Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico washed ashore six days after the spill. The two were among nine stranded dolphins found on the island, said Blair Mase, NOAA's southeast marine mammal stranding network coordinator.
Mase said four NOAA biologists had been sent from labs in Mississippi and Florida to assist the Texas stranding network, but only one remained in Galveston as of Friday.
Determining whether any dolphins ingested oil could take weeks or months, Whitehead said.
Most of the dolphins were found in Galveston and Brazoria counties, but one was found in Harris County, she said. The most recent finds were Wednesday, when four were found. She said several also had been found on Matagorda Island, where oil drifted from Galveston Bay.
One possibility is that dolphins that otherwise would not have been found are being discovered because of the large number of personnel working along the coast to clean up oil that has washed ashore, Whitehead said. The Stranding Network typically relies on the public to report stranded dolphins, but some 1,500 people are involved in cleanup operations and they are finding dolphin bodies in places never frequented by the public, she said.
Even if the oil does not kill the dolphins immediately, it could cause health problems for the mammals in the long run.
"Long-term chronic effects can also happen," Whitehead said. "It's going to be something we are going to be investigating for a long time following this event."
More oiled birds
Gibbons, the Audubon conservation director, said officials had expected the number of oiled birds to dwindle as time went on, but instead the numbers appear to be increasing. The number of affected species has climbed to 20, including the endangered Piping plover. Especially troubling are the numbers of marsh birds spotted with oil on them, indicating that oil has seeped into the environmentally sensitive marshland. So far, the Unified Command, which comprises agencies that responded to the spill, has not reported oil entering the marshland.
"I don't know where it is in the marsh, but we are seeing some marsh birds that have been oiled," Gibbons said. He said that determining how many birds had been oiled is difficult, but a single volunteer on Galveston Island counted 300. The Unified Command is capturing oiled birds and taking them to be cleaned at a rehabilitation facility in Bay City, but most of the birds cannot be caught.
So far 258 oiled birds have been recovered, only eight of them alive, said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Steve Lehmann. Three were released Friday, he said.
Higgins said two dead Kemp's ridleys had been found, one on Galveston Island and one on Matagorda Island, both very decomposed. Thirteen dead and five living green turtles were found stranded in the Galveston area.


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- Apply Now!
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Theatrical performance is one of the most significant art forms in the history of civilization; it exemplifies the connection between Art and people. Unlike most forms of studied literature, dramatic literature is intended to be performed for and experienced by an audience. As a result, Dramatic literature exists between scholarly and practical realms. It requires the acquisition of both analytic and practical skills. UPEI's Minor in Theatre Studies offers students the opportunity to develop their analytic, practical, and creative skills required for theatrical production. The Minor in Theatre Studies provides students with foundational skills on which they can pursue their interest in the Theatre, or any area of study.
Visit our Theatre Studies at UPEI website to find out about auditions, see photos of past shows, and find out how to get involved.
Visit the Theatre Studies program page to obtain requirements and complete course descriptions for the Minor in Theatre Studies.


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Only hotels in 08102 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Camden, NJ for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 08102 hotels and motels so you can review the Camden hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Camden county and area code 856 are also listed.
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The SYST-M line of ready-made motor starters includes basic non-reversing and reversing starters in non-combination and fused combination configurations. All starters are housed in a NEMA 1, 12, or 3R heavy-duty enclosure that features a manual reset button preinstalled on the front cover. Optional control power transformers (CPT) are offered with both a fused primary and secondary. Available incoming voltages include 208V, 240V, 480V, and 600V, and output voltage is 120V to match the contactor. In addition, a remote adaptor option is available for use if the starter is being controlled from a remote location.
For more information, visit www.moellerusa.net.
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D & J has not received any gifts yet
I love your site and your philosophy, undergarments and underpinnings are essential to any outfit. Must feature your site on my blog...I am really new at this but have been preaching about what I write for years to all the mothers and non alike.
Thank you for reaching out to me. It is hard to connect with all the other fashion bloggers/sites on this network because there are just so many members.
My name is Missy and I am also a member of the Mom Bloggers Club. I have a blog,www.luxurybeautyproducts.blogspot.com and I also run the blog hop network.
I wanted to let you know that I am following you, and hoping when you get a chance you can follow me back. I also want to invite you to join my groups, The Blog Hop Network, Beauty Bloggers, and Children's businesses. Also, I would love to place a link to your site on my blog if you want to do the same with my blog on yours. Please let me know by sending me an email regarding this and it has been nice meeting you via the web.
I hope you had a great weekend!
I wanted to let you know that I have a 12 codes for a FREE night rental to any Blockbuster Kiosk on my site Dazzling Daily Deals with most good through the end of June. If you would like to share this on your blog, Im sure everyone would be thrilled (please give a credit link back to my site). If you havn't so already make sure you "LIKE" me on facebook and get real time info on the latest hot deals and freebies.
I hope you are have a super Monday, I wanted to make sure you didn't miss out on the FREE Blockbuster rental code for tonight. I look forward to sharing many more deals and great finds with you!!
If you havn't already please "LIKE"me on facebook and you will get real time info on the latest deals.
Thank you,
I'm doing my part to help raise awareness regarding the issues surrounding cervical cancer and HPV. Please feel free to pass it long!
Blog: http://julnet.typepad.com/ibelieveintomorrows/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelieveinTomorrows
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BelievnTomorrow
Love and Hugs!
Welcome to Mom Bloggers Club. I am fairly new to MBC as well and I have met some really awesome supportive ladies here. I will stop by your blog and I hope you get a chance to stop by mine.
My blog is TractHer TrailHer where I write all about my life as a truck driver's wife. Just stop by when you get a chance.


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At Itron, we know that we are in the midst of an energy and water technology revolution. We are committed and proud to apply leading edge technologies to solve key challenges.
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With your collaboration and knowledge, we are discovering ways to more accurately and effectively measure, manage and plan for a more sustainable future. Developing a knowledge-sharing community and supporting you in your efforts to take on the challenges ahead are critical to what we do. From our annual Users' Conference to our rich library of product information, we provide you with comprehensive online resources and knowledge to help you shape the new energy and water reality.
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Learn about the safety, security and privacy of Itron's technologies.
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Stay ahead of the threat. The Itron Security Center provides world-class cyber security information and analysis to Itron customers around the globe.


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Before you contact a Realtor or mortgage lender, you need to know if your credit is good enough to qualify for a mortgage. This is the time when you should pull your credit reports and take the necessary steps to ensure you have built up a sufficient credit history and that your score is as high as it can be. The higher your credit score, the lower the mortgage rate you'll receive. This is the appropriate time to correct any errors or inaccuracies on your credit report which may trip you up later.
For help on how to improve your credit, be sure to read:


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A professional caterer, who prepares and cooks food to the highest standards at sea or on land, and also plays a part in the many varied tasks necessary on a modern warship.
VIEW THE ROYAL NAVY BY:people
- Aircrew
- Air Operations Support
- Catering & Hospitality
- Chaplain
- Combat Operations
- Communications & Intelligence
- Dentistry & Dentistry Support
- Engineering & Mechanics
- Engineering & Mechanics (Aircraft)
- Fleet Air Arm
- Information Technology
- Logistics Officer
- Medical & Medical Support
- Personnel & Supply Chain
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- Seamanship
- The Royal Navy Submarine Service
The Fleet
Leading-edge technology and systems make the Royal Navy a 21st-century fighting force - one that is envied around the world. Thousands or spare parts and supplies are needed to help maintain those systems, and the people who operate them must be fed, paid and given the support they deserve. That is where Logistics comes in.
- A fully integrated member of the ship or submarine's company, who specialises in providing official hospitality services and carrying out other key tasks necessary on a modern warship.


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She's a modern lover; it's an exploration, she's made of outer space
Hello, I'm Karla Bernardo. If you Google my name, you will find the Wikipedia entry of a Canadian serial-killer (and trust me, you do not want to read about that - but I'm sure you will because now you're curious), which is why I suggest you type Bombastarr instead so you can stalk me better.
I spent eight-and-a-half years of my life in the University of the Philippines, where I graduated with degrees in Creative Writing and Juris Doctor. It is also where I learned how to speak a bit of Italian, got a taste of the best tapsilog, and took striptease for PE.
I love telling stories, as much as I enjoy finding them.
Featured WorksStargirl (Cover story for Nadine Lustre, Scout, January-February 2017)
Surreal / So Real (at Scout)
Ode to a Great Love's 17-year-old Self (Love.Life, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Postcard from Diliman (Youngblood, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Writer for Philippine Law Register
A Call to Arms (January 2017)
Expecting the Expected (March 2016)
Former Writer for Stache Magazine
The Hero's Journey (June 2013)
The 8 People You Become In Your Youth (June 2013)
The Best Bad Idea That Is Argo (April 2013)
Mike Ross Remembers Everything You Don't (August 2012)
Style Between the Riffs (August 2012)
Book Lovers Never Sleep Alone (June 2012)
A Spectrum of Change (December 2011)
Digital Art (October 2011)
Elements of Style (June 2011)
In Her White Dress (All-Art April 2011 issue)
Morning After Pill (Fervore: Literary Folio 2013, UP Portia Sorority)
How To Make a Blueberry Cheesecake (Kalas: Kalasag Literary Folio 2011, UP College of Arts and Letters)
January 14th (100: The Hundreds Project, UP Writer's Club)
An Ode to The Pillow Book (at New-Slang)
Introductions (at TeenInk)
One by One (at TeenInk)
Blah's from the past
RecentlyLet your heart be light
Signs of life
Robin: What do you want me to do, Ted? Run up to t...
"Yes, it's a mistake. I know it's a mistake, but t...
A Song for You - Michael Buble But we're alone ...
Postcard from Abada
A cycle of violence
Karla - 2, Oblicon - 0
This Is How It Doesn't Startthis is how it doesn't start, in eleven parts
LabelsAn attempt at poetry; Books; Bullets; Creative nonfiction; CW; Featured; Feeble attempts at poetry; Fiction; Finger exercises; Law school; Mixtape; Playwriting; Poetry; Senioritis; Shuffle Wednesdays; Summer; The Pillow Book; Thesis; UP
ArchivesFebruary 2005; March 2005; April 2005; May 2005; June 2005; July 2005; August 2005; September 2005; October 2005; November 2005; December 2005; January 2006; February 2006; March 2006; April 2006; May 2006; June 2006; July 2006; August 2006; September 2006; October 2006; November 2006; December 2006; January 2007; March 2007; April 2007; May 2007; June 2007; July 2007; August 2007; October 2007; November 2007; December 2007; January 2008; February 2008; March 2008; April 2008; May 2008; June 2008; July 2008; August 2008; September 2008; October 2008; November 2008; December 2008; January 2009; February 2009; March 2009; April 2009; May 2009; June 2009; July 2009; August 2009; September 2009; October 2009; November 2009; December 2009; January 2010; February 2010; March 2010; April 2010; May 2010; June 2010; July 2010; August 2010; September 2010; October 2010; November 2010; December 2010; January 2011; February 2011; March 2011; April 2011; May 2011; June 2011; July 2011; August 2011; September 2011; October 2011; November 2011; December 2011; January 2012; February 2012; March 2012; April 2012; May 2012; June 2012; July 2012; August 2012; September 2012; October 2012; November 2012; December 2012; January 2013; February 2013; March 2013; April 2013; May 2013; June 2013; July 2013; August 2013; September 2013; October 2013; November 2013; December 2013; January 2014; February 2014; March 2014; April 2014; May 2014; June 2014; July 2014; August 2014; September 2014; October 2014; November 2014; December 2014; January 2015; February 2015; March 2015; April 2015; May 2015; June 2015; July 2015; August 2015; September 2015; October 2015; November 2015; December 2015; January 2016; February 2016; March 2016; April 2016; May 2016; June 2016; July 2016; August 2016; September 2016; October 2016; November 2016; December 2016; January 2017; March 2017; April 2017; May 2017; June 2017; July 2017; August 2017; September 2017; November 2017; December 2017; March 2018; April 2018; May 2018; June 2018; September 2018; October 2018; November 2018; December 2018; January 2019; February 2019; March 2019; April 2019;
Ask, and you shall be answered
Got a comment, question, violent reaction, love letter, or random piece of information you want to share with me? Just fire away. I don't bite.
(I changed my form and went back to Freedback because Ask.fm's being a bitch, requiring people to sign up for accounts before asking questions. Because I love you guys, I tweaked my ask box a bit, so that the questions will now go directly to my e-mail, but I'll be posting the answers still on my Ask.fm for convenience. TL;DR - I'll still be getting your questions so no worries. You're still free to harass me / send me your love.)
Most Frequently Asked QuestionAre you a pornstar?
No, I am not a pornstar, stripper, or your friendly neighborhood call girl. It's just a fancy pseudonym with a long history, and two R's. Rawr.
Bombastarr is my personal blog and my little corner in the Internet since 2005. Yes, I started writing here when I was 13 years old (aka when I was very angsty, hormonal, and always gushing at the littlest things) -- ergo, you'd have to forgive me if you come across an old post that reeks of immaturity and slightly unpolished grammar. I did a lot of growing up here, and from the looks of it, there's still a lot of growing up to do, so I don't think I'll be leaving this place any time soon.
The domain, Bombastarr.com, was purchased on June 2014 and launched on July 2014, on the blog's ninth year (and fifth month, to be exact).
It's crazy to think that this blog is now thirteen years old, because (1) that seems like an eternity in internet years, and (2) that means if my blog were a kid, it's a teenager! That's insane.
Here's to more tales, explosive and otherwise.
So, why Bombastarr?
If you've been living under a rock and think I'm a threat to world peace or an object of covetousness, sorry to disappoint you, folks: it's just a fancy pseudonym.
As in most things, it started in high school. It began as a joke between me and a couple of friends during our freshman year. We were practicing for a field demonstration dance which involved the use of shawls, and being the crazy-always-trying-to-be-funny person that I was (or I always attempted to be) I started doing poses with the garment. Someone started taking my picture using my phone, and one shot looked like I was posing for those B-list movies (or should it be R-list, as in R-rated?) of the vegetable-nomenclature variety. #IKYWIM. Hence, the word, "Bombastarr." Yes, very cheeky, I know, but for a 13-year-old, it was quirky enough to figure as a username. That was 2005, right around the time I trying to decide on a URL for a new blog. It's been a lot of years since, and what started as a joke became something I've eventually embraced as an identity.
Despite the many other chances I've gotten to permanently move (to Multiply, Livejournal, Tumblr, Wordpress; to a bigger platform where I can earn or use the blog as a venue for commerce), I've come to realize that Bombastarr is something I can never truly leave behind. It is a place I've grown to appreciate and love because it is a place I can call my own. It's a venue for my rants, my views, my writing. It is home, and it is who I am.
Bombastarr is a glimpse of my life: the thoughts, ideas, and stories that shape it into what it is, and what it will still become. This journal has been with me for all my crazy, often embarrassing adventures, but I'm sure there will be more anecdotes and feelings and people to write about. Which is something I'm really looking forward to. After all, you know what they say about the greatest stories - sometimes, there's still a lot that's left unwritten.
Credits and thank you's
This blog is hosted by PhilHosting.net, and powered by Blogger. The layout is coded entirely by me.
Photo hosting: TinyPic, Photobucket
Question box: EmailMeForm, Ask.fm
Elsewhere, she wanders
Friends, links & affiliates
Links & Affiliates


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Attach an Xbox Live Vision camera to your Xbox 360 console to use video chat, attach pictures to messages, and add pictures to your profile.
Enjoy video chat with the Vision camera or a Kinect sensor and an Xbox Live membership.
To set up the Vision camera, connect it to the Xbox console, and specify your Online Safety and Privacy settings.
To connect the Vision camera to your console
Online safety and privacy settings help you control access to video communication. For example, you can block video communication for child accounts and limit video chat to just friends.
Use your Vision camera with Video Kinect to have live video conversations with your Xbox Live friends. Make sure to set up Video Kinect before you use it with your Vision camera.To start a Video Kinect conversation
The Video Kinect session starts when your friend accepts the video chat invitation.
Note When an Xbox Live Vision camera and a Kinect sensor are both connected to an Xbox 360 console, only one can be active at a time. See Using an Xbox Live Vision camera and a Kinect sensor for more information.
You can use the Vision camera to take a gamer picture. People in your friends list see your gamer picture.To take and attach a personal gamer picture
Clean only with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Using cleaning solutions or trying to clean connectors might damage your camera. For the lens, use only soft, dry, lint-free cloth or lens paper.
Thanks for your feedback!
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Babe of the Day: Tracy Nova
Tracy is a 26-year-old hottie who was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, but has traveled all over the world. If this is how she travels, we can see why.Tracy has been modeling for 8 years, and was an American Curves cover girl in 2011. She loves to draw, paint, play piano and bass, surf, skateboard, and loves all things Japanese.
Height: 5'1 | Weight: 94 lbs. | Measurements: 34C-23-34