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Cosmic Web Readings are an opportunity for Pacha Maia to reveal to you what may seem invisible or intangible. It is her intention to assist you in awakening to your intuition and self love. Maia is a *seer of the *cosmic web and she tunes into this web via her clairvoyant intuition. She illuminates the stories you currently hold in your physical and energetic bodies and by offering herself as a neutral witness consiousness, the connections and roots of your traumas, pain, dis-ease and repetitve patterns aka "symptoms" are brought into the light for loving examination. This allows you a sacred opportunity to step "out of the box of stories" you may have placed yourself in, in order to reconnect with your truest self. Often these new awareness disrupt the old patterns that are creating your symptoms, allowing you to see differently or more clearly. It can also be a wonderful time to integrate personal practices that help maintain these new changes. During sessions Maia may use any of the tools in her repertoire to access information or assist you in your healing. Her sessions are often described as extremely creative, direct and unsensored, sacred, connected and inspiring.
Distance Readings:
45 min $70. 60 min $100. 90 min $160. 120 min $200.
Follow up questions/mini session 30 min $50
In Person Sessions:
45 min $80. 60 min $110 90 min $170. 120 min $220.
To schedule an appointment please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com or call 518.822.7534 with your desired dates and times. Appointments are confirmed once payment is made. 50% refund for cancellations less than 24 hours in advance. 30 min Follow up sessions are available for distance readings to review questions or if further guidance is needed.
What To Expect For all sessions both in person and remote you will begin with a check in and review of your questions, symptoms and focal points.
Distance: Maia accesses information, records the information and works energetically while you relax or at any time during your day if you cannot take a break.
In person sessions: Maia starts and ends the session with a verbal intake/review of the information she gathered and notes for you to take home.
In person sessions may experience more of Maia's indigenous and ceremonial aspects like smudging, chanting or singing, drumming, healing touch etc.
*Cosmic Web: the heart of the universe is alive in all things. the microcosm reflects the macrocosm to infinite ends. everything is connected through the web of the universe, the creative creator-creatrix. an infinite number of layers and realities co exist. for every person alive on earth there are that many different realities.
"when my wife came back from the doctor, the thing that we were so worried about, it was gone, he couldn't find it, and he couldn't understand how that was possible, that is a big weight off of her, thank you."
"After our session, I heard my connection to my intuition, or spirit, or whatever you want to call it, in a new and different way, it was magical and inspiring."
"...you are so gifted, I am lucky to have you in my life."
"And today was the day we reviewed my partners reading, you are so tapped in, it is hard to even process it! . . . The healing has begun!"
"...I loved watching the sacred fire while you were working on me, when you were whistling and moving energy, the fire was dancing along with you"
"I haven't felt this good in years, seriously."
"After you cleared my home, in preparation to sell it, within a few weeks I had a contract and the sale completed."
"I was faced with some big challenges after we worked together the first time, I needed to clear out and cleanse. After this second time I feel wonderful, thank you."
"...you gave me a gift, during our session I experienced what it felt like to have no burdens, to just be. It was so peaceful."
"Hearing all of your messages and downloads is like opening gifts on Christmas day!"


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Hey yall,
I am alive and well 😀 I just needed some time off the SNES Tracker wagonwheel. ???? Don't know what's in store! But I'm hoping to incorporate some GUI libraries or find some help on this project.. There's a large intimidation factor, plus I don't have a job, living with fam and hanging with friends. We'll see where it all goes!!
I've been learning about VJing thru my VJ friends and have started maintaining a private wiki for my own knowledge base it's really useful! I highly recommend you do the same, if you're like me.. Always working and learning new things, and building new ideas.


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We offer the most state of the art bleaching service available. We offer Luma Sapphire Bleaching system. This is an in office procedure that takes approximately 2 hours to achieve a whiter and brighter smile. With this service, take home trays and additional bleach and fluoride is provided for at home touch ups as needed.
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What Is A Woman Worth?
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PHOTO: Dyak women of Borneo, 1890
Bromance. Yeah, you know the word. A word that has gained such a following it now has a definition in the dictionary:
Bro.mance (noun) a relationship or friendship between two men that is extremely close but does not involve sex.
Having taken off in popularity these past few years, it leaves one wondering where the female counterpart to bromance is? Where is the womance? Why is this term lacking in our common vernacular and why does there seem to be a persisting sense of competition between many women?
Whether you did it when you were 13, or still do it to this day, most of us have been in a situation where we meet a new woman, and our first reaction is to size her up. Is she prettier than you? Smarter? Funnier? Is she flirting with all of your guy friends? Are they paying more attention to her than you? Suddenly this new acquaintance is thrust into the category of "competition" rather than "friend". The parallelism is quite often, she is sizing you up in the same way at the same time. But why do so many women seem to fall into this trap?
To understand where these deep-seated feelings toward our sisters come from, we need to briefly delve into our history—a history that is under-taught and underrated, and yet so enticingly revealing and miraculous: the history of women.
Step back with me, if you will, to around 500,000 – 15,000 B.C. and you find societies that differ dramatically from our modern day civilization. What you find is hunting and gathering societies, where all women live together and all men live together in separate huts. Men are responsible primarily for hunting and protection. The women are responsible for, well, pretty much everything else! Women built the huts, skinned the hunts, cooked the meat, crafted clothing and gathered the primary source of food for the tribe (in those days, meat was a rare supplement, while grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables were the largest contributor to diet). Furthermore, women were responsible for rearing the children, and not just their own—all women were mothers to all children (as all girls were sisters, and all boys were brothers). A child would call any woman of adult age "mother", and the strongest male role model in their lives was the mother's brother. The reason for this? Paternity was not yet known. In those days, women were believed to be blessed with a supernatural gift to create human life, and no notion of the male's role was considered. Because of this, women as well as men both enjoyed great sexual liberty from a young age.
It doesn't take much to imagine the bond between women in those days was very strong. Women depended mostly on one another for support, guidance and teaching. Even when marriages (and I use the term loosely) took place, the man would enter the realm of the woman as a visitor; she would not leave her home. This societal structure did not lead women to depend on men for survival, as they were strong and considered very capable.
"This societal structure did not lead women to depend on men for survival, as they were strong and considered very capable."
As Will Durant is quoted saying in Women's Roots, "The differences which now divide the sexes hardly existed in those days, and are now environmental rather than innate."
This perspective grants us understanding that any human is capable of accomplishing the tasks presented to them with persistence; women have been presented with home tasks for centuries, creating deep-seated conditioning, both mentally as well as physically. In fact, fossil skeletons have revealed female bones as massive as males, with muscular attachments almost as large. This comes as no surprise when the heavy workload of women of those days is considered. Indeed, even the weight they carried would far surpass the men, who upon traveling, needed to keep their arms free in case the need to defend arose; thus it was the women who did the majority of heavy lifting.
It is clear to see the difference between the society we live in today and the one of older times, but how did it come to be this way? What changed?
Fast forward to around 15,000 – 2,500 B.C. and a great change occurs — the shift from a hunting and gathering lifestyle to one of cultivation. Women are credited with being the first gardeners, as well as the first to learn how to keep livestock penned, sometime around 6,000 B.C.
A passage from June Stephenson's Women's Roots reads, "They were, so to speak, the first farmers and industrialists; the first scientists, doctors, nurses, architects, and engineers; the first teachers, artists, linguists, and historians."
However, with this new age of cultivation, came an even greater change. When men no longer needed to hunt, thanks to the development of agriculture as well as rearing and keeping animals (the primary function of the primitive male), men sought a new role in the society. As such, they took over the rearing and capture of livestock. Cattle thus became man's first experience with owning property, and the concept of such emerged. More significantly however, came a powerful knowledge – the knowledge of paternity. Through watching the cattle that have now been herded and penned, man at last learns the great truth of his contribution to the creation of children. Suddenly it is understood that the male who has sex with the female is the father of the child. It is at this point that the term and concept of "father" is created. Men now know they can lay claim to their children—but here's the catch—only if they know for certain the child is theirs.
Thus, we have the beginnings of the value of chastity, an enormously powerful cultural concept which stretches from that point on into present day. Men, in order to be certain a child was their own, now understood they also needed to be certain a woman had not had sex with anyone but them. The concept of virginity is created and suddenly held to a high standard of value; what's more is the ramifications of this – the sexual repression of women. Whereas before, woman was free to explore her sexuality with whomever she wished – if she is now to be considered "valuable" she must remain chaste. Stigmas form, labeling the non-virginal woman as "tainted" and "worthless". Men conversely, do not fall victim to this stigma and are allowed to continue practicing their sexuality freely. It is worth noting this double standard also began the trade of prostitution—for if you want the women to be chaste but the men promiscuous, there must be a separate class of women to fulfill this role.
"…if you want the women to be chaste but the men promiscuous, there must be a separate class of women to fulfill this role."
Even to this day, as I write this article in the year 2013, this stigma continues to have a firm hold on our psyche as sexually active women are deemed "sluts" while sexually active men are deemed "studs."
With the emergence of the concept of ownership, women's work began to shift from their hands to the hands of the men, and with the concept of virginity, women's main role shifted to vessel for man's children. In fact, this is exactly the belief which was now harbored. Whereas before, women were spiritually blessed with the magical gift of creating human life – now it was believed that women were merely a vessel for man's seed, which was the entire essence of creating life. With this new belief rose a powerful shift in the paradigm, where men sought to own their children, as well as the virginal women who would deliver their children. Some may ask why men were suddenly so keen on claiming ownership to their children, but the answer to this too lies in the development of the age of cultivation. Previously, in the hunter and gathering society, children were sometimes seen as a burden, another mouth to feed — but now, with much work to do around the home (ploughing fields, raising cattle, etc) male children became a valuable commodity to the community as another set of hands, another worker. Female children fell into the property category, able to be bought, sold and traded for valuable things such as livestock. By laying claim to his virginal daughter, a father could sell her to a man for a decent amount of livestock or other such commodities. The purchasing man, now lays claim to the daughter as his wife, and considers her purpose and duty to be that of bearing his children.
This is where we begin to get to the "crux of the biscuit" as Frank Zappa may say—the dissolution of women from workers into property. As poignantly written in June Stephenson's book, "…if a woman's work is not valued—her value becomes that of a sex object."
With men laying claim to women and children, the landscape of the family changes. Women no longer reside amongst each other, and instead begin to live with the man who purchases them. This begins to breakdown the sisterhood, the support of women by women. Without their sisters, women are no longer able to support themselves as well as their children independently from men. This course of events leads to what becomes woman's total and utter dependance on men for survival, and this becomes a long and exhausting reality for many centuries to come.
So let's take a look at this empirically for a moment—when your very survival depends on your ability to acquire a husband, the way you view your worth and other women changes drastically. This is what spawns our traditions that reach even into our present day. This is what creates the feelings of competition among women, since now they must compete to win a man to support them. Women are no longer friends and allies to one another, they are competition for their very chance at survival. This begins the eras and eras of women evolving through different obsessions with "beauty." Woman's worth has been made solely sexual, and as time progresses there are times when a woman's only choice for survival is to become a man's wife and child-bearer who is subject to the whims of her husband (which they are told a good wife is), or to become a prostitute and be forced into a life of demeaning and empty sexual acts for survival.
With all this comes the make-up, the corsets and girdles, and the striving to be the most beautiful, the most sexually desirable. Today, women still feel compelled to wear make-up in order to be "more beautiful," despite the fact there is a wonderful natural beauty they are covering up in the process. The bra, another remaining piece of evidence stretching back through the ages, cut down from the corset, is another reminder of the lengths we women will go to in order to modify our appearance. Surely, some large-breasted women truly benefit from this support—but what of those who could comfortably (and I can't stress how much the word comfort plays into this) go without? What of those whose bras are merely for aesthetics? Push-ups? Padded? We have come far since the days of being traded for cattle, make no mistake—but is it far enough?
Society tells us our beauty is ever-loving important. Put on your make-up, quickly hide your true face with this doll face! Get this bra, no wait get this one instead! It gives you maximum lift to hide the way your breasts naturally fall on your chest. Push them up quickly, make it tighter, tighter, fuller. Buy these clothes, get that look – and all the while make it sexy, you have to make sure you are sexy, because what good is the feminine if it is not represented first and foremost as sexual? What worth does the feminine have beyond sexuality?
Despite the fact we live in modern times where many of us are free to marry who we like, live how we want, have greater sexual liberties—these customs persist. Perhaps most tragically, the ingrained sense of competition among women persists. How different could our world be if we put these culturally conditioned feelings behind us and embraced the women in our lives as friends, allies, and sisters? Should women not be each other's greatest support rather than seen as competition? Why on earth are we still competing with one another? Over what? Do we still feel somewhere, deep down, inherited through our ancestors, we need a man for simple survival?
Surely, media influence plays a major role in this. The way women in media are presented is both misleading and conditions many women (especially impressionable young girls) to continue to believe their worth is primarily sexual. It's safe to say this way of thinking has been hard wired into women for centuries, and breaking free from this misconception will take some time, discussion, and persistence. Most of all it will take love; love for the women around us, love for our sisters. It will take some womance.
Wo.mance (noun) a relationship or friendship between two women that is extremely close but does not involve sex.
I think we could all use a little more womance in our lives; a feeling of support, love and connection with the women around us. In our continued evolution, I believe there is a strong need for women to come together and stand by each other—to eschew feelings such as insecurity and competition that come with our continued belief that our worth is sexual. Throw that shit away! Discard that notion! Turn your television off and tune in to what is real and right in front of you. Look around and realize the way women are portrayed in media is not reality, and many of the women you may look upon with a suspicious eye, could actually be one of your closest friends and biggest supporters if we only give each other a chance.


text: Our Nest signs in the shop! on September 29, 2008 Get link Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Other Apps 12" Cream Small - Listed on NestingDesignsI've had a lot of interest in these, get yours before they sell out!16" White Medium - Listed on HooMadeIt bird craft craft-blog Decorating etsy nest Get link Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Other Apps Comments JillSeptember 29, 2008 at 11:18 AMBeautiful!Glad to see your etsy shop is back up!!!!ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyJori HodgsonDecember 3, 2009 at 4:56 AMFantastic! Since I'm new to your blog, I'm not seeing your etsy anywhere. How can I find ya on there?ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyAdd commentLoad more... Post a Comment Comments are awesome!


text: Fixing "Image" Thing I'll just Save thi... <*BOOM*> <Roaring Laughter> <Fuck> So after actually sitting down and finally writing The Article On How To Not Go Fucking Insane Using Thunderbird, a misconfiguration in CKEditor and/or Media Library and/or Multiple Uploads and those moving parts (I'm assuming) or a bug (less likely but possible) wiped it out. Yep, an hour and some change vanished and went to Bit Valhalla. I've seen the behavior once before so I've got two data-points. So the "Main" images in these articles are actually a completely separate field from the body of the content and then I use some Bootstrap and custom classes to position it. For WordPress people: I've made it like Featured Image, because it's really convenient, right? That works actually so very much better than I had any right to think it would, was something I could not easily carry out in WordPress Themes (including the Bad Ass builder Julie uses), and happens to be the visual layout I've been wanting since all this shit was sitting over at Toaster. Read Article Submitted :: elf : Tue, June 12 2018


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Conscientious consumers and investors are influencing the marketplace by selecting sustainably sourced products.
In the award-winning American movie classic Forrest Gump, Forrest's mama famously tells him, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Perhaps that was a true analogy in the era of that movie's setting, but in these days of heightened awareness and accountability, chocolate is one of the most scrutinized foods on the planet. Dark or milk chocolate, 52 percent or 82 percent, non-GMO-verified, certified organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance Certified—conscientious consumers, increasingly endeavoring to change the world with their choices, know what they're getting when it comes to chocolate and many other products.
They also know what they won't be getting. Consumer watchdog groups such as Sum of Us (www.sumofus.org) advocate boycotting popular chocolate candies produced by food giant Nestlé because of the company's reported lax environmental standards as well as forced child labor allegations involving the company's cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast. Ethical Consumer, a UK-based consumer activist magazine, maintains a list on its website (www.ethicalconsumer.org) of the best and worst boxes of chocolate based on the palm oil content. The worst list includes boxed chocolates that contain palm oil that is not sustainably sourced. The magazine also ranks 28 boxed chocolates and 101 chocolate bars based on their respective company's environmental and ethical practices.
Charged by Pope Francis to "care for creation through daily actions," supported by the policies of world leaders who ratified the Paris Climate Change agreement, encouraged by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio (environmental philanthropist, UN Messenger of Peace, and co-producer of Before the Flood), buoyed by dynamic social media, and aided by eco-friendly apps (Buycott, Oroeco, and GuideGuide), consumers are increasingly choosing to consume differently—making decisions based on whether a product has been manufactured with environmentally sourced materials, assembled by workers who are treated fairly, and produced in factories that adhere to fair business practices.
Consumers are changing priorities
"Sustainability practices are increasingly cited as an important factor in purchase decisions," affirms Basak Kalkanci, an assistant professor of operations management at Georgia Institute of Technology's Scheller College of Business. She cites a 2015 Nielsen Global Survey that indicated that 66 percent of global respondents say they're willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact, up from 55 percent in 2014 and 50 percent in 2013.
Kalkanci, whose research interests are in supply chain management (including social and environmental reporting and sustainability), notes that younger consumers (future decision-makers) are especially supportive of sustainable offerings, with the Nielsen Survey indicating 72 percent of 15-to-20-year-olds were willing to pay extra for sustainable offerings. "It appears that companies that are branding themselves as environmental stewards have a distinct opportunity to grow market share and build loyalty among millennials," she adds.
Investors are going green, too
Consumers aren't the only ones voting with their dollars. "Investors are also increasingly paying attention to the social and environmental impacts—and any future costs associated with them—when they assess a company," Kalkanci explains. "For example, a research study shows that analysts are more optimistic about the future financial performance of firms with better corporate social responsibility ratings."
Designated sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investors are significantly shaping the investment industry. According to a report released in June 2016 by the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, in the United States, the value of assets that take into account environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment analysis or shareholder engagement grew 76 percent between 2012 and 2014 to reach $6.57 trillion. Accordingly, last year investment research firms MSCI and Morningstar each launched products that provide investors with assessments of how mutual funds perform on ESG issues. This increased transparency and accountability has resulted in companies making greater improvements in their environmental practices.
The vilification of palm oil
For a rapidly growing number of consumers and investors, the size of a company's carbon footprint can be perceived as a tremendous asset—or as a liability. Palm oil, an edible oil derived from the pulp of the fruits of the oil palm, is one of the most widely used oils on the planet, found in everything from cosmetics to cookies, and it is arguably one of the most destructive. Climatologists, human rights organizations, and business experts alike frequently point to palm oil plantations as one of the worst business models in existence. The traditional palm oil production methods that have been practiced for the last few decades resulted in mass deforestation of essential tropical rainforest (and the subsequent emission of a tremendous amount of greenhouse gasses from burning peat bogs), significant social injustice, and an entirely unsustainable future for the industry. In Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, deforestation has doubled since 2001, and now more than 10.8 million hectares that were formerly rainforest are used to grow the oil palm. In the process, vital habitats for numerous species of animals (elephants, orangutans, and tigers) are destroyed, and villagers are displaced and sickened by the noxious slash-and-burn smoke.
For decades, the devastating impact of palm oil production wasn't a mainstream concern—only a few scientists, environmentalists, and ethical investors were concerned about the ongoing irreversible damage to the rainforests and the dire effect on the planet. But due to better scientific research and much greater public awareness, conscientious consumers are scrutinizing every step of the supply chain, and palm oil buyers are now putting pressure on growers to adopt more sustainable practices. In 2004, the industry, with help from the world's leading conservation organization, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), created the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to set standards for sustainable production that address environmental, economic, and social issues.
According to an August 2016 Bloomberg article, currently only 17 percent of the world's supply of palm oil is certified sustainable, and numerous companies have been cited for violations. Last year, the large Malaysian plantation owner IOI Corp. Bhd. had its certification suspended for four months, prompting buyers, including several international producers (Nestlé, Unilever, Kellogg's, and Mars), to cease trading with IOI. The esteemed ratings agency Moody's responded by noting that IOI has suffered a blow to its reputation that could result in further losses if the suspension is not resolved within a year.
Environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Union of Concerned Scientists can also harm companies' reputations by publically calling out the ones that they determine aren't doing enough to make suppliers adhere to RSPO standards. Last September, World Wildlife Fund released its 2016 Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard, which reviewed the palm oil policies of 137 companies across the world and graded them accordingly. WWF reported that 107 out of 137 companies assessed indicated that they had some sort of public commitment to use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO), but only 77 companies had committed to use 100 percent CSPO by 2015—the year widely declared by the industry itself as being its target "tipping point." Ninety-six companies reported that they had used some CSPO in 2015.
Meanwhile, on a small island in the Philippines …
With corporations, small businesses, consumers, investors, and nongovernment and government organizations across the globe increasingly making sustainability a priority, dedicating resources to sustainability practices, and hiring sustainability professionals, it's safe to say that sustainability isn't just today's popular buzzword. "Sustainability is a non-negotiable megatrend," says Bernd Seger, head of the Fiber Competence Center, Fiber Management, for Glatfelter's Composite Fibers Business Unit. "In 2008, when we first committed to sustainable sourcing for abaca, a plant we use for specialty fibers, I often had to explain [to farmers in the Philippines] what sustainability meant. There were no Fair Trade products on the shelves at ordinary grocery stores; you had to go to a specialty store. But it is obvious that the idea is spreading and becoming mainstream, and the market for sustainably sourced products is rapidly growing," Seger says.
Glatfelter, a global supplier and leading manufacturer of specialty papers and fiber-based engineered materials headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, began using the fiber from abaca (pronounced a-ba-KA), a tropical plant related to the banana plant, in the 1960s, and over decades, grew to become the largest producer of abaca pulp in the world. Seger says along with that milestone came a sense of responsibility for the people who make a living growing abaca and the realization that Glatfelter needed to do things differently than had been done in the past.
"In the Philippines, where 85 percent of the world's abaca comes from, smallholder farmers with small plots in remote areas are the primary growers of abaca. There are more than 120,000 farmer families. It's nothing like the big banana plantations that practice monoculture farming and use a great deal of pesticides and insecticides. It's indigenous here: Abaca is grown on small plots where nature planted it, so there is little need for harmful chemicals. We realized the need for sustainable growth and harvesting of abaca to secure the supply chain and to ensure that these farmer families continue to have the income they need," Seger explains.
Seger launched the Catanduanes Abaca Sustainability Initiative (CASI) in 2012, using sustainable agricultural network standards already established by the Rainforest Alliance, a nongovernment organization committed to ensuring sustainability and operating in more than 70 countries. The rigorous environmental and social standards, which are applied similarly to crops such as tea, coffee, and cocoa, are designed to protect ecosystems, support biodiversity and waterways, conserve forests, reduce agrochemical use, and safeguard the well-being of workers and local communities. Glatfelter provides the farmer families technical farming support, aid to cover the costs associated with sustainable crop certification, education supplies, medical assistance, and social programs. Seger explains, "We play an active role onsite where the raw material is grown and produced (primarily on the island province of Catanduanes). We build communities and give a face to the Glatfelter name."
It's a win-win situation, according to Seger. Glatfelter is able to provide abaca farmers with a sustainable, environmentally stable livelihood while satisfying customers who are committed to using certified-sustainable raw products to meet consumer demand. "It has not been an easy path. It requires effort and resources, but it is working. It is rewarding, and it is worth it," Seger says.


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You have gifts and talents to share… trust me on this. But doubting the value of these gifts – and the fear that others won't see the value – can stop you from sharing what you have to offer… or from allowing yourself to be compensated for what you do. I hope this will help you more fully appreciate what you offer, which will help others do the same.
If you are new to tapping, it will be beneficial to also watch the first episode in the "Tap Out Your Fears" series — which explains the basics of EFT — click here.
As with any of my tapping videos, this is an abbreviated process for releasing uncomfortable feelings and enhancing good ones. Some folks may find their fear dissolve after just one tapping session, but for others, it will take some repetition, bringing the discomfort down little by little each time. (Still others may uncover specific issues that are best addressed directly with a wellness practitioner.) In any event, this brief video should help at least take the edge off the discomfort, freeing you up to enjoy life much more. Let us know how it helped you!
For a picture of the tapping points — and more info on EFT — click here.
Tapping can sometimes bring up long-buried emotions, which is why I state that, before tapping along, folks must take full responsibility for their own well-being. For more information about that, please read this disclaimer.
Until next time, feel free to tap along with any of the many videos I have on YouTube or the many recordings I have at www.TapWithBrad.com.
For EFT with kids, please visit: www.TheWizardsWish.com.
For more by Brad Yates, click here.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
GPS for the Soul – The Huffington Post
Special News Bulletin-http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News


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One of the best choices you can make in your life is to become your own best friend. The earlier, the better. But don't worry. It's never too late.
I believe that we are souls in bodies that each have their own individual path. We can affect this path by setting up goals and visualize, but in the end, the universe has the last word. And it is always the best choice for you. The universe loves you deeply. And the universe has brought you here today. Welcome! Let me give you some advice I've learned on the way of becoming my own best friend and developed a healthy self-love.
What does it mean?
Being your own best friend means that you are stronger when you're alone, when others are against you, you make the right choices for you and are more in peace within yourself. Sometimes the universe puts us in situations that are challenging because we need it. We might not understand it during the challenges but afterwards we realize how much we grew and how much we learned from the experience. Being our own best friend makes us tougher and stronger in our mind and soul to work through the challenges without giving up. We don't hate ourselves and our bodies. We accept our flaws and are grateful for the talents we have been gifted. We have a positive outlook on life, we trust the universe and spread love and energy around us.
5 tips to become your own best friend
Here are 5 of the most important steps you can take in the journey of becoming your own best friend.
Practice gratitude
Everything starts with gratitude. You must learn the art of being grateful towards yourself, what you have and life itself. Only then you can grow. Gratitude and willing to develop and earn more in life is better without greediness. Start practicing gratitude. Take a few minutes a week or day depending how fast you want to go and think of all the things you are grateful for. In life, in your job, your partner – and yourself. Be grateful for all the good personality traits you have. Be grateful to your body and how it works for you. Many of us have things we want to change on our bodies, but please try to see the whole picture. Just because you change something on the outside, doesn't it mean you'll be a happier peson. Try to love your own unique body first.
Focus inwards – soul empowerment
Being connected to your soul, can give you so much happiness. I cannot stress this enough! If you have never really meditated, start as soon as you can! You don't have to believe in anything like astrology or the soul. But you can pretend. When you see results, might start believing in something powerful within you. Connecting with your true self is not only through meditation. You can isolate yourself a few days, do trips and creative things by yourself. Simple, hang out with yourself. You'll probably realize things about your life you never understood before. You'll think clearly. And you'll find a genuine happiness right where you are, whether you are far from your biggest goal or already there. It's a really good sign when you find happiness just being by yourself.
Out with bad influences – in with good influences
Shut off influences from the outside that make you judge yourself. Liberate yourself from self-hate and judgement. Unfollow accounts on Instagram and Facebook that give you a negative view on your body and your life. Instead, follow accounts that really motivate you. Even better – less social media, more personal development. Read more books and articles in subjects you love and in personal development. In my opinion, you'll gain more from that than scrolling through Kim Kardashian's Instagram all the way back to 2014. Unless she is a positive role model to you, which is completely fine 🙂
Visualizing and plans
Where are you in life? Is it mediocre to you? Are you really where you want to be? Are you studying something you find interesting? Are you working with you passion? Do you love your partner? If you're not exactly where you want to be, it's time to take control over the situation and go on the journey towards your dream life. It requires more than a day. And it's ok! Enjoy the journey and all that you get to experience. Life is more than an end goal.
- Install the habit of visualizing. Write down in detail how you want every domain in life to look like. Visualize (imagine it in your head) regularly and your vision will constantly be in the back of your mind.
- Make plans on how to get there. You might have heard about "The Law of Attraction". It basically means visualize, believe and you shall receive. What they forgot was WORK. Yes you can't receive all you want if you don't step out the door. Start doing things to get closer to your goal. If you want to become a journalist, start freelancing and email blogs to do guest posts. If you want new friends, attend different types of events. If you take one step towards that goal, you'll see how you'll attract it much faster than if you stayed at home and wished.
- Listen to your intuition and follow it. This is one of the hardest things I will tell you to do. I don't even know if I do 100% as my intuition tells me. All I know is that every time I do, everything falls into place. Why can it be hard? Well sometimes, we might be in a totally comfortable situation and still feel uncomfortable. Like something's wrong. We don't get out of there because it's so comfortable. But the feeling of discomfort will just grow. When you finally let go, you'll be so liberated and relieved. Not until you hear your intuition (a.k.a. gut feeling) clearly and trust it fully, you will find yourself push through instead of letting go and you'll do it until you can't bare it anymore. When you let go, you will know in your heart it was the right decision to make.
Body empowerment
Lastly, take care of yourself! Give your body some loving as well, and not just through gratitude but through treatment. Nourish it with good food, less alcohol, more water and work out now and then. Do yoga, treat yourself a massage, paint your nails. Make yourself a body oil and rub it on the skin after a hot nice shower. Feel beautiful and have some alone time in front of the mirror. Admire what you see. Love what you see. Be happy in your own skin.
This is now over a thousand words, straight from my heart. Am I my best friend? Definitely! I love myself before expecting someone else to love me. Do I do all these things regularly? No, but I try. And so should you. Becoming your best friend takes time. See it as a process. Maybe you have to cry and work through hard things and that's ok. Take your time. It will be worth it.
- Practice gratitude towards everything in life and especially towards yourself
- Focus inwards and connect with your soul
- Cut on bad influences and replace them with good ones
- Start visualizing, making plans and listening to your intuition
- Love and nourish your body
Good luck on your journey x


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2019 Annual Meeting
As an investment in our youth, we're committed to the future of rural Minnesota. We're pleased to announce the following scholarship opportunities and invite all high school seniors to apply.
The FRS College Scholarship Program awards scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each to winning applicants across the nation, with a $500 match by the sponsoring telco (for a total of $2,500 each). This year, they will be awarding $125,000 in scholarship's in honor of the Foundation's 25th anniversary. FRS Scholarship applications are due in the WCTA office by February 18.
Students may also be eligible for a Staurulakis Family Scholarship valued at $5,000 or a TMS Scholarship for $1,500 each. Students who are majoring in math, science, engineering, or medicine are given preference for the Staurulakis Family Scholarships. One $7,000 Everett Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship will also be awarded this year. In addition, students could receive a $500 Roger Alan Cox Scholarship.
For applications and guidelines, see your high school guidance counselor or download the application from the FRS Website at http://www.frs.org
The Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation is offering $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors who graduate in 2019. Scholarships are awarded after the student demonstrates successful completion of the first year of college or technical school. The application deadline is February 22. Applications must be returned to WCTA for signature. Click here for scholarship application
High school seniors can also apply for one of eight scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. The deadline for the WCTA Scholarship applications is April 5.
Our scholarship program has been established to encourage youth in our area to further their education after graduating from high school and is made possible through unclaimed capital credit checks. Because of our cooperative status, we are able to use these funds to benefit the scholarship program. Click here for scholarship application
Current college students are urged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship through the 2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship. Students who graduated from high school and are from any one of the telephone exchanges of WCTA currently attending 2nd year or beyond higher education are eligible. Past scholarship winners are also eligible. The deadline on the 2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship application is May 31. Click here for scholarship application
West Central Telephone Association (WCTA) was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program. WCTA was awarded $718,850 for a project that will expand their fiber optic infrastructure into portions of Otter Tail and Wadena Counties. The total amount of grants awarded was $34 million to 42 broadband projects across Greater Minnesota.
Wednesday, January 11th, Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith announced that WCTA was among the recipients awarded funds from the Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program. WCTA applied for the grant to further expand their fiber optic infrastructure into adjacent rural areas including portions of Bluffton and Blowers Townships in Otter Tail County and also in Wadena County covering portions of Rockwood, Leaf River, North Germany and Wing River Townships, including the community of Bluegrass. Once complete, WCTA will provide gigabit broadband services to residents, businesses and anchor institutions that are currently unserved.
This funding partnership between WCTA and the State of Minnesota will bring fiber into these unserved areas up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit) surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. The project will bridge the digital divide for government, businesses, residents and students in the area.
Chad Bullock, the CEO of WCTA said, "We are pleased to be named as one of the grant recipients. Our neighbors in these rural areas of Wadena and Otter Tail Counties have had no options for reliable Internet service. When surveyed, some stated that they didn't even have basic telephone service. This grant provides forty-nine percent of our $1.5 million project; we're committed to a $778,755 local match to make gigabit broadband a reality."
This project is the second phase of a much larger fiber project as it builds off of last year's Border to Border grant area. WCTA submitted the grant application in partnership with the National Joint Powers Alliance, the West Central Economic Development Alliance and Region Five Development Commission. They also had extensive community support from local public and private sector organizations and businesses, and local citizens.
Construction could begin as early as spring of 2017, although the specific details have not been finalized.
West Central Telephone's Nominations & Election committee are meeting March 8 at 6 pm to appoint official candidates who wish to serve on the board of directors. If you are interested in serving on the cooperative's board, you should contact a committee member before the meeting. Members include Pat Pederson, Kay Oehlenschlager, Pam Johnson, Karen Kocurek, David Anderson, Jim Runyan and Harvey Aho. This year, the committee will choose candidates for the Menahga and Nimrod exchanges, currently held by Dave Kriens and Dave Pulju, respectively. Although expected, protocol requires that Kriens and Pulju be contacted by the committee prior to the meeting to confirm their decision to seek re-election.
The cooperative will hold its election at the 66th Annual Meeting that will be held May 9, 2016. A spokesperson for West Central Telephone stated that if a person is interested in becoming a board member, they should review the Bylaws found in the 2016 Telephone directory. You may also call the office at 218-837-5151 or 1-800-945-2163 for more information or if you have questions about the election process.
West Central Telephone Association is a full service telecom cooperative transforming rural communications with advanced fiber-to-the-premise technologies. Services to members include telephone, local and long distance, broadband Internet, TV, security and surveillance, personal emergency response systems, and smart home automation.
A $10,000 Broadband Innovation Grant from the Blandin Foundation will help connect Minnesota State Community and Technical College students and residents of west central Minnesota with the latest in technology innovations.
The grant, part of the Blandin Foundation's Community Broadband Program, will support the planned What the Tech Expo, with area business and industry invited to display and demonstrate technology on M State's Wadena Campus.
The expo, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, is a collaboration with local businesses and area health organizations, along with broadband and energy service providers. Grant funding will allow students in M State's Network Administration and Security program to build and support a network connecting a variety of Internet-enabled devices and introduce the community to technologies that can improve their lives.
"Attendees will have the opportunity to talk with experts and gain hands-on experience in how technology can be used to help improve their daily lives, making them more likely to adopt the technologies," said Janet Johnson, an instructor in M State's Network Administration and Security program.
She anticipates that the expo also may spark interest in information technology careers.
"Rural Minnesota has struggled with finding sufficient employees in the IT industry," Johnson said. "This event and equipment will help not only promote use of the latest technologies, but also promote IT careers and provide the latest equipment to a program that is helping address this workforce shortage."
"The expo includes 'how to' and 'what not to do' training on technologies designed to improve health, home and business," according to the Blandin grant application submitted by the Wadena Area College Foundation.
The foundation and college are partnering in the project with West Central Telephone Association.
The expo targets residents of Wadena, Todd, Morrison, Cass and Crow Wing counties and also is open to students at area high schools and Central Lakes College in Brainerd. Lunch will be provided.
The Blandin Community Broadband Innovation Grant Program provides matching funds to eligible applicants in rural Minnesota communities for projects that promote access, adoption and use of broadband technologies. The Blandin Foundation, based in Grand Rapids, is engaged in a range of programs designed to help strengthen rural Minnesota communities.
As a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, M State serves more than 8,000 students in credit courses each year in more than 70 career and liberal arts programs at its four campuses in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena, and through eCampus. By partnering with communities, the college also provides custom training services and other responsive training programs.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and is an equal opportunity educator / employer. Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats.
Center, Lt. Governor Smith pictured with representatives of Greater Minnesota companies awarded grants;
far left, Chad Bullock, CEO/GM and Geri Salmela, Marketing Director of WCTA
West Central Telephone Association (WCTA) was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program. WCTA was awarded $189,525 for a project that will expand their fiber optic infrastructure along the Hwy 71 North corridor. The total amount of grants awarded was just under $11 million to 15 entities investing in unserved or underserved regions.
Friday, November 20th at the Blandin Foundation's 12th annual statewide broadband conference, Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith announced that WCTA was among the recipients awarded funds from the Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program. WCTA applied for the grant to expand their fiber optic infrastructure into adjacent rural areas along the Highway 71 corridor north of Wadena. Once complete, WCTA will provide gigabit broadband services to residents, businesses and anchor institutions that are currently considered unserved or underserved.
The state defines an unserved area as an area of Minnesota in which households or businesses lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds that meet the FCC threshold of 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload. An underserved area is an area of Minnesota in which households or businesses do receive service above the FCC threshold but lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds that meet the state broadband goals of ten to 20 megabits per second download and five to ten megabits per second upload.
Chad Bullock, the CEO of WCTA said, "We are pleased to be named as one of the grant recipients. Our neighbors in rural Wadena have asked WCTA to bring broadband services to them. This grant will offset our project costs enough to make gigabit broadband in rural Wadena a reality."
The project was designed to provide a robust fiber backbone that can accommodate a much larger project area over time. WCTA submitted the grant application in partnership with the National Joint Powers Alliance, the West Central Economic Development Alliance and Region Five Development Commission. They also had extensive community support from local public and private sector organizations and businesses, and local citizens.
Construction could begin as early as spring of 2016, although the specific details have not been finalized.
WCTA's Pam Mahling & Tony Mayer
WCTA's Tony Mayer along with others in the Telco industry share their views and opinions with FCC policy makers in D.C.
Representatives from West Central Telephone Association were in Washington, D.C., last week for two events highlighting the work of community-based broadband providers, including one event that brought members to within steps of the Oval Office.
Dozens of NTCA members were invited to the White House Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 28 for an event hosted by the White House Rural Council and focused on the association's Smart Rural Community initiative.
Smart Rural Community award winners spoke during the event about the innovations their companies have been able to offer their communities through the deployment of high-speed broadband. Joining NTCA at the event were officials from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service and the FCC.
WCTA General Manager Tony Mayer said of the event, "We appreciated the opportunity to share our stories and concerns about the future of rural broadband with key policy makers in DC. People in our communities might not be aware but as a Smart Rural Community, we're being held up as a shining example of what can be done using WCTA's robust fiber broadband to improve education, economic development, healthcare and agriculture in our rural area. We were proud to represent our community at this event."
"Members of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association are proven solutions providers when it comes to broadband services for the communities where they live and work," NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield said in a news release. "We are appreciative for this opportunity to engage members of the administration who are also dedicated to improving education, health care, agriculture and public safety in rural America through broadband deployment."
"Expanding telecommunications is a central component of this administration's comprehensive effort to build jobs and economic security in rural America," said Doug McKalip, senior policy adviser for rural affairs for the White House Domestic Policy Council.
NTCA also held its first Telecom Executive Policy Summit (TEPS), with more than 100 association members fanning out for dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill. During the two-day summit, members discussed issues critical to rural telecom providers with industry leaders, advocates and policymakers, including FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, who shared ideas and provided an outlook on U.S. communications policy in the coming years.
"In the face of change and challenge, some may be tempted to throw up their hands. But I think it is critical to move forward with our reforms," O'Rielly told summit participants. "That doesn't mean that I've come here today with a magic solution or the answers to all of your questions. I recognize that every major reform that has worked has succeeded in part because you all [NTCA members] helped shape it."
Maureen Ohlhausen, a commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission, also gave an overview of her agency's top priorities, including providing greater access to telemedicine services for rural patients.
When internet fraudsters impersonate a business to trick you into giving out your personal information, it's called phishing. Don't reply to email, text, or pop-up messages that ask for your personal or financial information. Don't click on links within them either – even if the message seems to be from an organization you trust. It isn't. Legitimate businesses don't ask you to send sensitive information through insecure channels. Test your Phishing knowledge by taking this quiz.
Recently, the west central area including the communities of Sebeka, Menahga, Verndale, Aldrich, Nimrod and Wolf Lake received national recognition as one of seven Smart Rural Communities. West Central Telephone (WCTA) submitted an application packet for the Paradigm Award that highlighted how the communities in their service area have been working for nearly two decades to build a robust fiber to the home broadband network to be used as a foundation for community development strategies.
While the team at WCTA is proud to have served a leading role in this effort upgrading all of their copper lines to fiber optics, they give credit to their members from the communities they serve who are ultimately responsible for the progress. WCTA CEO/General Manager Tony Mayer stated "Our members could have lobbied for lower rates or higher capital credit checks, but instead have fully supported the more expensive path of investing in our fiber infrastructure. They have joined the committees and supported the many projects that were required to transform our rural area into the "smart" community we are today!"
Letters from both the Menahga and Sebeka schools were included in the application packet outlining the innovative ways they've benefitted from the fiber optic infrastructure WCTA built. Take for instance the Menahga School's wish to be "connected." WCTA provided the technology to connect the school district with a 10 Gigabit Network Backbone which eliminated the existing bottleneck they had with their infrastructure, while also providing bandwidth with a wireless upgrade. They have virtual field trips, connections with any university or high school classroom expanding their educational options, and engaging online programs that allow them to individualize their instruction. The Sebeka School District, with identical technologies, added that the use of flipped classroom activities and online college courses that benefit many students would not be possible without the availability of high speed internet in school and at home.
Many leaders in these communities have partnered with WCTA, pushing educational efforts to get people using applications that broadband supports. Maxine Norman, of the Minnesota Extension Office spearheaded the "Connecting Rural Communities" project; Suzanne Heinrichs via Blandin Foundation's "Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities" taught community education classes on broadband use; city governments have realized the need for Wi-Fi hotspots and have installed them in various public places; and Mark Hanson of West Central Economic Development Alliance has worked hard to promote broadband in our area to attract new businesses and support existing businesses.
Being designated as one of seven of the first trailblazing "Smart Rural Community" award winners is exciting, but it's also a testimony to WCTA's dedication for a fully connected broadband region working towards a prosperous future. WCTA received the Paradigm Award because of reliable communications, commitment and a great partnership with community members, and they hope that their broadband backbone continues to be the leverage that the region needs to create innovative economic development and growth.
There is an email floating around to wcta.net customers addressed to Dear wcta.net subscriber.
The following is the email in its entirety:
Dear wcta.net subscriber,
We are currently engaged in account maintenance service.
As a subscriber, you are required to confirm your continued membership.
Failure to confirm your continued membership will lead to service suspension.
Click here to Login and confirm in one simple step.
This is to improve our service quality. We are sorry for inconveniences
NOTE: You are required to update your account within 24-hour
Thank you.
©Webmaster Unit [West Central Telephone Association]
High-speed broadband Internet access has become today's essential service, but new government rules being proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could impact your access to broadband Internet service. You can help by lending your voice to the debate.
At the onset of telephone service back in the 1950s, the federal government created a universal service policy to ensure that all Americans—including those in rural areas—have access to affordable communications services. The government decided these were essential services that required financial support to build and maintain. As a result, it created something called the Universal Service Fund (USF).
Like many rural companies, WCTA has been the recipient of USF and invested millions of dollars over the years to build advanced networks to meet the needs of customers. We've done this with the understanding that the government would continue to support our efforts through USF. Without receiving support from the federal government, it would be impossible for us to maintain our existing infrastructure as well as expand our capabilities to meet our customer needs in the future. As with our national highway system, the information highway costs money to sustain.
Federal support has made it possible for our company to deliver the network that spurs economic opportunity, supports educational options and increases our ability to attract new businesses to our area. Now the government is thinking about changing the fund. But if this federal support gets cut, our town and outlying areas could get stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide.
The FCC wants to do away with USF and other financing methods that support rural, high-cost telephone and broadband services. It wants to create something called the Connect America Fund. While this is a good idea to help facilitate the transition to support for increased broadband services in rural communities, FCC officials need to ensure that they don't destroy the funding that now delivers telecommunications services to the rural areas of America.
All rural consumers need to get educated about the proposed policies and communicate to members of Congress and the White House about the negative impact this could have on our community. The current FCC proposal would penalize rural broadband providers such as our company, and put existing affordable, high-quality broadband service for rural areas in serious jeopardy. Also, it would undermine our ability to upgrade that service in the future.
The current USF structure has been a great success story for our country. It has enabled our country to stay connected. It has allowed our company to deliver on the promise of affordable, advanced communications services for rural consumers and business. But the job isn't done.
As consumers, you can make a difference in this debate. Your contact with policy-makers will ensure that the FCC makes the right changes to USF so that rural communities remain connected to the global world and may reap the rewards of an accessible, affordable and sustainable broadband network.
To support this effort, send a letter to your members of congress and the White House by visiting www.saveruralbroadband.org.
Project Nominated by Xcel Energy for National SLICE Award
After more than two years of intensive research, system tinkering, and number crunching, Zenergy by West Central Telephone Association (WCTA) has completed development of a small wind and solar power kit for remote telecom equipment. The kit can also be used for other remote power needs such as farms and cabins. The research was funded by a $137,000 grant from the Xcel Renewable Development Fund (RDF)*, and a final presentation of the research project was made to the RDF Advisory Board in May, 2010.
The RDF grant administrators were was so impressed by the project that they have nominated Zenergy by WCTA for the national State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) award. The award is given to recognize state programs that are most effectively accelerating adoption of clean energy technologies and advancing clean energy markets.
For the research project, the Zenergy team installed five test systems at West Central Telephone's remote switching nodes and collected data over several months to determine the technical and financial feasibility of using the kits to power the telecommunications equipment. They also experimented with different settings and system configurations to find the most efficient combinations for various applications.
The kits have been developed to provide backup power to the nodes for three days in a worst-case scenario of having absolutely no sun or wind resources, and indefinitely when green power is available. Each kit produces 2,245 kWh annually on average, offsetting 4,500 pounds of carbon dioxide, seven pounds of sulfur dioxide, and over one-half gram of mercury. (One gram of mercury is enough to contaminate a small lake.) Each kit will also offset the use of over 30,000 gallons of fresh water per year used to produce electricity.
The payback periods for the five different setups were based on the grants and rebates available at the time of the research, and were found to range from 10 to 15 years, using a modest estimate of 5 percent electric rate increases, and not including the potential financial gains from advertising, and renewable energy and/or carbon credits.
Market research performed as part of the study showed that in addition to the large potential of the telecom market, where reliable backup power is an inherent and vital cost of doing business, many other markets might benefit from the remote power kits, including ranches, cabins, weather stations, and even developing nations.
The project included designing a remote internet-based monitoring software solution, as well as a custom equipment cabinet, both of which are now commercially available through Zenergy (www.zenergyguide.com). The kits are expected to be available for mass-market by the end of 2010.
RDF grant administrator Mark Ritter said of the project, ""WCTA has exhibited leadership in the renewable energy field by going beyond the normal telecommunication business model and looking at new ways to add additional reliability and stability to their services. Their research is not only applicable to telecommunication but is also appropriate for other sectors that need remote power. Their project has been exemplary in demonstrating how rural cooperatives can bring innovative solutions to meet shareholders needs at affordable rates."
* Project funding provided by customers of Xcel Energy through a grant from the Renewable Development Fund.
Another Phishing email now titled "INFORMATION" has been reported. This email is not from WCTA, so please delete this message. This email was propagated by a spammer, and upon closer inspection originates from a Google email address.
Please keep in mind that WCTA will never ask you for your email address or password or any other sensitive information, nor will we ask you to download directly from an email, and the only links we ever email you are the ones we provide inside our monthly e-newsletter. If you receive a message from any company, whether it be WCTA, your bank, your electric company or anti-virus provider, etc., that asks you to click on a link, double click on a file, or submit personal information, your best bet is to delete the email and call the company directly, making sure that you use the phone number that appears on your statement and not the one provided in the email.
Financial Donation Information (FROGGY 99.9)
The City of Moorhead will install a demonstration solar project this summer. The system is expected to be built by the end of September.
From Moorhead Public Service:
After 11 years, Moorhead's wind turbines are going to get some company. In a joint venture between Moorhead Public Service (MPS) and the City of Moorhead, a solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration project will be constructed this summer between Moorhead's existing wind turbines. The project will consist of three solar arrays that will track the sun and produce up to 10 kilowatts of electrical powerÑenough power to light up a small business or a few homes.
MPS' first renewable energy project, a wind turbine, went on-line in 1999. This solar PV demonstration project now marks an exciting new chapter in promoting renewable energy in Moorhead.. "The solar demonstration project is a continuation of Moorhead Public Service's commitment to renewable energy," said MPS' General Manager Bill Schwandt. "Moorhead was a leader when it began its wind turbine project over ten years ago and now Moorhead is a leader, again, in promoting renewable energy."
The project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This grant will provide up to 40 percent of the total funding for this project, which is expected to cost a total of $99,500.
"This project will demonstrate how homeowners and businesses can engage in their own renewable energy projects," said MPS' Energy Services Manager Dennis Eisenbraun. "This project will also determine the viability of solar PV technology in Moorhead's weather extremes."
This solar demonstration project is scheduled to be fully operational by September 30, 2011. Project management will be performed by MPS' Energy Services Manager Dennis Eisenbraun and the City of Moorhead will act as the fiscal agent for the grant. The primary contractor is Zenergy based in Sebeka, Minnesota.
MPS is a community-owned utility serving the residents of Moorhead, Minnesota, with electricity and water.


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Good quality CTC Crush Tea Curl Black Tea BOP BP Grade
Ctc Bop Black Tea, Wholesale Various High Quality Ctc Bop Black Tea Products from Global Ctc Bop Black Tea Suppliers and Ctc Bop Black Tea Factory,Importer,Exporter at blacktealeaves. MENU MENU .Dust is a fine powder, much finer than fannings, made of tea particles left over from producing higher grades of tea. Tea made by pulverizing larger pieces of leaf or the tea plant, such as Matcha, is not classified as dust. OPD .Grades of CTC tea: CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea is tea that has been produced by a modern, mechanical process that tears the leaf in order to induce oxidation, rather than manually rolling it to bruise the leaf, as in the production of orthodox tea. Because the CTC .Black Tea Grade's : CTC Tea Kind of Tea Grade name Nomenclature Broken PEK Pekoe BP Broken Pekoe BOP Broken Orange Pekoe BPS Broken Pekoe Souchong BP 1 Broken Pekoe one FP Flowery Pekoe Fannings OF Orange Fannings PF Pekoe .Good quality CTC Crush Tea Curl Black Tea BOP BP Grade Hunan Tianwang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. US $1-3 / Kilogram 1 Ton (Min. Order) Contact Supplier Transaction Level Tags: Ctc Dust Tea Compare High quality PF CTC black tea .CTC Black tea from Hunan Tianwang Tea Industry Co., Ltd.. Search High Quality CTC Black tea Manufacturing and Exporting supplier on blacktealeaves. blacktealeaves Sourcing Solutions Services & Membership 5 YRS Hunan Tianwang Tea .Grades of CTC tea: CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea is tea that has been produced by a modern, mechanical process that tears the leaf in order to induce oxidation, .yunnan black tea 01 12 Results This Product is no longer available. You may also be interested in: Compare Premium Handmade Yunnan Red/Black Dian hong Tea Changsha Ayhhed Biotechnology Co., Ltd. .Wholesaler of Assam CTC Tea – BP Tea offered by The Apical Group, New Delhi, Delhi . Barseem – Shanti-81 Barseem – Punjab Ki Saugat Mustard (IMP.) – Abhay Mustard (IMP.) – Kishore 100 Mustard (IMP.) – Kishore 1001 Mustard (IMP.)Making of CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) Tea Withering: This is the process by which tea leaf is induced to lose moisture substantially. . The grades generally produced are named as follows: Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP), Broken Pekoe (BP), Fanning and Dust. The .Aimed at helping everyone more understand about orthodox black tea and CTC black tea. We are happy to introduce : Crush, Tear, and Curl (also Cut, Twist, Curl) is a method of processing black tea, similar to that of orthodox tea manufacture. Instead of the leaves .Bright infusion of good quality black tea. Cream Tea A meal featuring delicacies and sweets at which tea is the main beverage. CTC Stands for Crush, .1. Introduction Black CTC tea made after crushing, tearing and curling operations is a fermented tea and its physical characteristics are usually different from other unfermented tea varieties (Roberts, 1962). The black CTC tea is most popular in India and its .Wholesaler of Assam CTC Tea – BP Tea offered by The Apical Group, New Delhi, Delhi . Barseem – Shanti-81 Barseem – Punjab Ki Saugat Mustard (IMP.) – Abhay Mustard (IMP.) – Kishore 100 Mustard (IMP.) – Kishore 1001 Mustard (IMP.)size reduction of 2 to 4 mm by CTC (crush tear and curl) machine allow for the infusion process. In this stage . This process has to be stop at the optimum point for making good quality tea [1]. Color is a very important factor in tea industries. For assessment .Black Tea CTC dust Tea Factory Supply,complete details about Black Tea CTC dust Tea Factory Supply provided by Hunan Tianwang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. in China. .This kind of tea is a high class grade well grained black tea. The quality of Organic Ctc Tea depends on its particle size. . Ctc Tea is processed using the crush, tear and curl (CTC) method. Tea processed using CTC tend to brew faster and yields more cups of …. etc. Black tea may be of the orthodox or CTC (crush, tear and curl) type. Tea contains vitamins A, B, C, E and K, and minerals such as iron, copper, fluoride, manganese and zinc. .They are long and considered to be of good quality when the tea grade is classified. FOP: 'FLOWERY ORANGE PEKOE' – These are whole leaves with flowering tea plant. Also one of the good grades in the Tea classifications. …. Green Tea, Black Tea, Organic Teas, Flavored and Herbal Infusions. We also cater to our clients with private labels as well as providing services and expertise which meet various order quantities and specifications according to different consumer markets .


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An amateur theatre group is hoping to get even more bums on seats for its shows after taking delivery of new chairs.
The Seaton Delaval Pantomime Society has bought 80 foldable chairs and two modern storage racks after receiving £2,800 from First Class Supply teaching agency.
The group, based at Seaton Delaval Arts Centre, produces a summer musical and Christmas pantomime each year, as well as other events.
Young and old alike can take part in productions, both behind the scenes and on stage.
The former chairs were donated second-hand in 2007 and were in dire need of replacement, so First Class Supply, which had previously bought-out a pantomime performance and given the tickets to schools, offered the funding.
Agency director Steph Boulton said: "We are delighted to be able to support the Seaton Delaval Pantomime Society again."
The Whitley-Bay based agency works in schools across Northumberland.


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Every week, I encounter hundreds of indie game trailers. I usually try to limit the trailer roundup to ten of those, but this week there are too many good ones. Here are 18 trailers about silly games and serious ones, action games and thinking games, fast games and slow ones.
Albino Lullaby
Windows | $9.99/episode, $24.99/season | Ep. 1 Winter 2014 | Kickstarter
This is an Oculus Rift-compatible first-person horror game with a surprising amount of bright coloring. Bright colors or no, it still looks pretty disturbing. Developer Ape Law will be present at the Boston Festival of Indie Games.
Altitude0: Lower & Faster
Windows | $18.99 reg., currently on sale | Early access
Aerial obstacle course racing with the ability to customize your airplane. It's in early access on Steam.
Battle Brothers
Windows, Mac, Linux | $TBA | Release TBA | Greenlight | Demo (Windows)
It seems the developers of Battle Brothers haven't been idle since we covered its demo back in May. Now they're looking for votes on Steam Greenlight.
Windows | Free | Available now
This trailer is a bit long, but it's interesting. ChildGod996 is an artistic game "about a god imagining her passed lives in order to find herself."
Death Skid Marks
Windows, Mac | $9.99 | Q4 2014
This looks like a cross between the original Spy Hunter and the motorcycle mini-game from Final Fantasy VII, only with a variety of destructive missions to complete. According to the developer, it's designed to be hard, completed in an hour or so if the player succeeds, and require multiple playthroughs to unlock everything.
iOS | Future: Windows, Mac | $2.99 | Available now
A first-person runner with a wireframe aesthetic and a single-button mechanic that works really well on mobile. Hold to run, lift to jump, hold again to land. The player starts out on an upper level within the stage and will fall to lower levels before falling into the abyss.
Goblin Sword
iOS | $1.99 reg., currently on sale | Available now
A platformer for iOS with high quality pixel art.
Hero of Many
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | $3.99 | Available now
This action adventure game has been out on mobile devices for a while now, but is hitting Windows and Mac via Steam today with controller support, achievements, and upgraded graphics.
Heroes Never Lose: Professor Puzzler's Perplexing Ploy
Windows | $10+ CAD | Release TBA | Kickstarter
This is an action-puzzle game in which all of the characters have special abilities. The game is to have online multiplayer capabilities and it's very nearly funded on Kickstarter with Mac and Linux as the first stretch goal.
The Keep
Nintendo 3DS | $12.99 | Available now in North America, Sept. 18 Europe
An old-school first-person dungeon crawler for the 3DS. The European price will be €9.99.
Lore Arcana
Windows, Mac, Linux | $TBA | Late 2015 | Greenlight
An open world fantasy adventure game that allows players to craft their own spells with a drag-and-drop programming system.
Mayan Death Robots
Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One | $TBA | Early 2015
From the developer: "In Mayan Death Robots, you play a massive alien killer robot who lands 1500 years ago in the Mexican jungle during the peak of the Mayan civilization. The Mayans, who think their god has descended from the heavens, will worship you and fight on your side." It's to be a local multiplayer game with simultaneous turn-based combat.
Revolver 360 RE:ACTOR
Windows | $9.99 | Available now
Although the trailer is in Japanese, the game is available in English. It's a sidescrolling shoot 'em up in which gameplay takes place on a 2D plane, but the whole field of play can be rotated to change the perspective. It's hard to explain, but the trailer shows the mechanic off really well.
Browser (Unity) | Free | Available now
Saboatage, which is a stealth action game about sneaking onto a boat, sabotaging it, and getting out alive, is the newest monthly game from Sundae Month.
Six Miles Under
Windows, Mac, Linux, Wii U | £7+ | Release TBA | Kickstarter
A 2D brawler set in an underground city post-apocalypse. The main character is a mob enforcer who gets betrayed and finds the mob coming after him. It appears that Six Miles Under's look and heavy metal soundtrack will contribute to an uncommon atmosphere for games in the genre.
Striker Arena
iPad | Free | Late 2014 | Kickstarter
A 2-player tactical action soccer game for iPad. Wizcorp is trying to raise $5,000 CAD to fund the creation of a game they intend to release for free.
The Sun And Moon
Windows | $TBA | October 31, 2014 | Ludum Dare original
This is a post-compo version of the winner of Ludum Dare 29's 48-hour compo. It will have new worlds with different types of environmental challenges.
iOS (then Android, Windows) | $TBA | Q4 2014
Pirates in three-masted ships battling on the open sea. It's to be a real time tactical game with cannon fire and krakens. There seem to be no web pages for the game yet; the above link just goes to the developer's web site.


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Leeds residents have the most positive outlook in life according to a new study.
Research released by AmazonSmile, Amazon's platform which donates to charity as you shop, has uncovered what makes city folk happy.
The poll revealed that an upbeat seven in ten Brits claim their glass is "half full", however, Loiners registered the most positive outlook on life in the UK, with 83% reporting that their glasses were "half full".
The AmazonSmile platform includes a number of local charities that Amazon users can give to.
These include St. Gemma's Hospice, the Children's Heart Surgery Fund and Barnsley And District Animal Welfare among many others.
Jan Lakotta, UK Manager, AmazonSmile said: "We're offering a simple way for customers to support good causes and with more than two thousand new charities from across the country now available to choose from, everyone should be able to find a cause close to their heart"
"Following in the footsteps of AmazonSmile in the US, where more than $69 million has been donated to charity since launching, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to support the charities they care about without having to change the way they shop."
Revealed: Leeds's secret underground tunnels
Revealed: The Leeds urban legends that turned out to be true
The 13 memorable things you can only do in Leeds
19 photos you'll only understand if you're from Leeds


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CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) Oregon State running back Storm Barrs-Woods came alive in the third game of the season, just in time for Pac-12 play.
The senior running back, whom the Beavers will depend on this season since they have a still-learning freshman quarterback, ran for 151 yards and a touchdown in Oregon State's 35-21 victory last weekend against San Jose State.
The breakout came after he sat out of the first half of the Beavers' previous game, a 35-7 loss at Michigan, because of a lingering knee injury.
But he'll face a bigger challenge this Friday night when Oregon State (2-1) hosts No. 21 Stanford (2-1).
''We've got to just focus up,'' Barrs-Woods said. ''That's what it comes down to. We've got to focus up. We can't get penalties against them, we can't beat ourselves against them.''
The Cardinal are coming off a 41-31 upset victory over USC last Saturday in Los Angeles, which popped Stanford back into the AP rankings at No. 21. In that game, Stanford limited the Trojans to 155 total yards on the ground.
Through three games this season, Stanford has allowed opponents an average of 139.7 total rushing yards and just two total touchdowns on the ground.
The Cardinal also have a history of success in stopping Oregon State's rush. Last year, in a 38-14 rout in Palo Alto, Stanford held the Beavers to just 12 yards on the ground.
Since 2009, Oregon State has not managed to clear 100 yards rushing in games against the Cardinal.
The Beavers know now would be a good time to change that, but the young team is still very much a work in progress.
''We still have a ways to go in the run game,'' coach Gary Andersen said. ''Last week, we ran the ball effectively. One place we need to improve on is when we get into those third-and-2, third-and-1 situations. There's been a couple times where we have not been able to produce in those situations and we'll continually work at that.''
Against San Jose State, Barrs-Woods had the second-best rushing performance of his career and the Beavers totaled 305 yards on the ground, the first time they've gone over the 300-yard mark since 2008. Quarterback Seth Collins added 114 rushing yards.
It was just the 15th time in school history that two or more Beavers have each surpassed the 100-yard mark in a single game.
Barrs-Woods put to rest any lingering concern about his knee when he broke free for a 38-yard dash in the third quarter.
''Storm always runs hard when he's ready to go and I thought he had some good, physical runs,'' Andersen said. ''It was just good to see him out there. It brought a smile to my face to see him break some tackles.''
Barrs-Woods, who hails from Pflugerville, Texas, had his best season in 2012 when he ran for 940 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's struggled at times since then because of different injuries.
But, with 2,410 career rushing yards, he's within striking distance of fifth place on Oregon State's career rushing list - behind Beavers stars Kenny Simonton, Jacquizz Rodgers, Steven Jackson and Yvenson Bernard. Pretty solid company.
Collins, who got his first good look at Barrs-Woods in action, was impressed with his pre-game roommate.
''I expect nothing but greatness out of Storm,'' he said.
AP college football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org


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6' Gardenfall Floor Fountain With Silver Mirror And Stainless Steel
Regular price
- Dimensions: 72"h x 24"W x 15"D
- Glass: 20"W x 58.5"H
- Base: 9.5"H
- Header: 4"H
- Shipping Size: 78"H x 48"W x 40"D
- Shipping Weight: 180 lbs
- Suitable for indoor or outdoor use
- Brushed stainless steel construction
- Rear mounted, silver mirror face
- Can add logo (additional cost)
- Water flows down one side
- Adjustable water flow
- Water Capacity: 8 Gallons
- Welded and polished edges
- LED Color Light Display System
- Certified Simple 5 Step Setup : Installs in less than 30 mins with no tools required
- Recirculating electric pump
- Intake filter
- Polished river stones
- Adjustable flow valve
- Inline micron filter
- Fountain Warranty: 1 Year manufacturer
- Pump Warranty: 6 Months
We love the 6' Gardenfall Floor Fountain With Silver Mirror And Stainless Steel, with its timeless look and feel, it is definitely one of our most modern water features. The rear mounted, silver mirrored panel makes this free standing water feature ideal for installation against any of your existing walls. The simple installation process does not require any additional tools so you can have your new fountain up and running in less than thirty minutes. Just like us, you will love the way the stainless steel frame blends with the mirrored face to accentuate the already gorgeous waterfall.


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Born 1935, Kolkata, India.
Art Education, Kolkata and Paris. His early experiences in France and exposure to the Renaissance frescoes of Italy strongly influenced his style. Settling in Paris during the mid 1950s, he had his first solo show there in 1958. However, he retained his links with India, regularly visiting and exhibiting in the country. A fine lithographer, he has published several portfolios of lithographs and has illustrated a number of books, one being the collection of Mallarme poems.
Burmans creations have been exhibited around the world, including in Europes most prestigious galleries. He features in several Indian and international collections and has received the highest French awards for his contributions to art. He lives and works in Paris, France.


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Third party car insurance vs Comprehensive package policy : Which is the Best
Third party car insurance vs Comprehensive Policy
Auto, car, vehicle or motor insurance helps protect you from the financial damaged you might incur from driving accidents. Insurance companies are willing to cover a numerous sources of damage such as accidents, scratches and thefts. The most important part of your car insurance policy is the Insurer's Declared Value or IDV. This is what your insurance premium is weighed on. Your Insurer's Declared Value is what determines the value of your premium. A small change in your IDV can produce a large change in your insurance premium. Therefore, it is very important for any policyholder to always check up on the insurance policy and to properly compare the offers of all available financial institutions.
Why compare car insurances?
If you are looking for car insurance, it is possible that you come across car insurance adverts every day. All of them may be offering various kinds of cheap schemes but very few of them are more than fraudulent advertising. Some insurance policies go beyond the insurance premium and offer towing facilities and depreciation cover etc. Therefore, it is necessary that you compare all possible facets of car insurances before deciding on one kind of financial institution. Information is power and you can save significant amounts of money on premiums, this makes it increasingly important to compare policies with databases such as policybazzar.com
Car Insurance Coverage
There are, in general, two types of car insurances which can provide the necessary coverage. Which one you choose depends on you and your needs. They are examined in detail below.
Third party car insurance
These types of insurances cover any legal liability of yours that may result from a vehicle accident. It covers property damage, death or injury to a third party involved in an accident. Some types car insurances provide comprehensive built in road side assistance. Legal cover from third party insurance can provide coverage of up to Rs 2 lacs for a premium as low as Rs 100.
Comprehensive package policy
This second type of insurance policy coverage is very extensive and is the one that most people. The coverage includes things like mage from accident, theft, third part legal coverage and personal coverage for the driver. Some institutions providing comprehensive coverage also provide road side assistance and extensions to accessories cover, engine and medical expenses. Naturally the premium for such coverage can be a tad on the high end.
Car insurance can be of great of help and use. It protects you from being financially responsible for an accident or damage. Online car insurance quotes are not a problem and it can be gotten very easily. Most institutions will also being processing your insurance policy application online. Several policy databases such as policy bazaar new customers. Note that most institutions will provide a different kind of insurance when it comes to second hand car insurance policy. Getting the cheapest car insurance is not as difficult anymore and it is almost criminal to have a car without proper insurance; that is self-sabotaging.


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When logged in, you can choose up to 8 games that will be displayed as favourites in this menu.
This is a quick fix so you can use a custom race in the Boethia Shrine quest and compete in the Tournament of Blood. A slight change to the script delcares you to be a Redguard, so you won\'t fight him.
This author has not provided any additional notes regarding file permissions
This author has not credited anyone else in this file
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Your Church Needs You
Church unity does not mean sameness. Though each church member shares the same value, they do not share the same function. This diversity within the unity of the church is what makes its members interdependent. We need one another. Just as a foot cannot serve the same function as an eye, or an eye the same as an ear, each church member serves a peculiar and important role in the church. The ear needs the eye's vision and the eye needs the ear's hearing. No matter how well the eye can see, it never makes the ear unneeded. Likewise, no matter how others are gifted or to what degree they are gifted, they never make your contributions unneeded. We are all different, valuable, and interdependent so that we can be unified as one.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Q. v25. What will we not neglect if we care of other church members?
Q. v25. What should we continue to do as we see the return of Christ ("the Day") drawing near?
Acts 28:15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
When Paul saw fellow believers he "took courage". He was encouraged to see men and women who shared the same faith, same devotion to Christ and same commitment to carry out His will. Never underestimate your importance to the local church. When you are living an obedient life towards God and are participating in your church, you are a tremendous encouragement to others. Even your simple attendance provides encouragement to others. They see in you, one more believer who loves their Lord and has given their life in obedience to him. This corporate worship and united fellowship is exactly what God has designed his children for.
Caring for One Another
1 Corinthians 12:25-27 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Q. v26. How should the church respond when a member is honored? Suffers?
Our interdependence, spiritual unity and love for one another should cause us to empathize with one another. Being a part of a church means sharing in the trials and victories of our fellow church members. No church member should feel alone, inferior or unloved.
You are an integral part of the body. God has united you to every other believer in the congregation. He has gifted you in such a way as to make you indispensable to the church. You supply something to the body that no one else could. You may not teach or preach, hold an office or a title, but when you are living in obedience to God you make an invaluable contribution to the church.
1. How is the church both diverse and unified?
2. What are spiritual gifts? What are their purpose?
3. What is a good way to determine what one's spiritual gift is?
4. In what way are believers "stewards" of the grace of God?
5. How should the fact that God himself distributes gifts according to His choice, discourage any rivalry or jealousy within the church?
6. In what ways should our weaknesses make us dependent upon one another?
7. How is faithful attendance an encouragement to the church?