by Rev. F.B. MEYER, B.A., D.D.
It is no exaggeration to say that the one clamant need of the present hour is a General Revival of the Spirit of true religion. What the Methodist Revival did for the Church of the 18th century is urgently required by the Church of Today. Religion needs to be lifted from the merely intellectual level into the realm of the Spirit. The Breath of God must once more vitalise the Valley of Dry Bones. Never did parched lands more eagerly sigh for showers, than the Churches, however unconsciously, for another Pentecost.
The Author of the following pages has a claim to be heard in this matter. As the closing paragraphs tell, he has been led into a personal experience of profound significance and interest, and the conditions of Revival, which Pastor Fetler stresses, have already realised what we seek for universally. Even those who may question this or that item, must admit the fine sanity of the general statement that the Church has to humble herself before God, remove all that might grieve or obstruct the Divine Spirit, and at all costs remove from herself all that is foreign to the Purity, Spirituality, Gentleness and Love, which are the characteristics of the Christ-Ideal.
It will not suffice to read this brochure. It would be wiser and more likely to attain the desired result, if it could be read and considered, in paragraphs, by groups of those who yearn for another Pentecost. Then this little cloud, no bigger than a man's hand, might lead to a heaven dense with rain-clouds.
For some time I have watched with peculiar interest the distant spot where the writer of this treatise has been working and where for many years the «Fire» has fallen, for which we in this favoured country have so longed and prayed, but hitherto prayed in vain.
The Church of Christ is full of saints yearning and praying for a mighty outpouring of God's Holy Spirit, but He still lingers on His way — it has not come. There are indeed, here and there, places where a gracious shower of the Holy Spirit's Power enkindles our hopes and increases our desires. But the clouds return after the rain and we are still in a dry and thirsty land. Here, we are given two Laws as conditions of Revival, which we shall do well to ponder and take to heart.
Have we so truly consecrated ourselves to the service of God as not only to give up all known sin but even the many hindrances and doubtful things which may still cling to us?
With regard to the second Law, the grief and turmoil into which our Church controversies have plunged us in this country, is a warning signal! And provided we stand firm and true to the Word of God it may prove a blessing in arousing us from our apathy to a sense of danger and helplessness from which God alone can deliver us.
May the Lord bless this booklet to open the eyes of the leaders of our Churches, who have so woefully led us astray.
I hope it may be widely circulated and read by clergy and ministers and persons of every rank in life, for it is most important that the truths it contains should be made plain, and brought before the different sections of Christian communities everywhere.
«Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?
For those who have eyes to see, the present-day spiritual state in many places is not unlike the one described above, though in modern setting. There are such who understand it, and who deeply suffer in their souls about it. «Go through the midst of the city, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.» There are others in our midst, who are surprised, and even annoyed at our sighing, and who continue to say, «Peace, peace.» But there is no peace, for true peace can be only where there is true righteousness, and righteousness comes with justification, and justification comes with the forgiveness of sins through faith in the shed-blood of the Lamb of God, the God-man Christ Jesus.
This saving faith is the gift of God, and does not come except combined with childlike trust in the Giver, and in the whole of His revelation as expressed in both the Old and the New Testaments; and, furthermore, this saving faith is preceded by genuine repentance towards God, (Acts 20:21). This repentance, however, must consist of breaking with every known sin, of abhorring and giving up the whole of the «Old Life,» and it results in all things becoming new: in Regeneration, and Walking in Newness of Life. Such is, in a nutshell, the Philosophy of a Revival, the outcome of which is genuine New Testament Christianity. Whatever comes short of it is not true Christianity; at best, some of it may be the discipleship of John.
But these laws for spiritual revival are like every other law. In every law of nature, or chemistry, or physics, there is a formula which must be observed. Omit one of the factors, and you will miss the result. No commonsense person will expect the result of any natural phenomenon unless he strictly adheres to the order and number of the necessary factors. It is, therefore, a matter for great surprise, that in the question of religious revivals many even are not aware that there are any laws for revivals; while others, who are a little more initiated, are of the opinion that it does not matter how one goes about revivals. There are such who always pray for the «fire,» but it never comes. They wait for years, but never a response. Perhaps some of them are distant relatives of the prophets of Baal on Carmel, whose god was «in a journey, or asleep.» But the fact is that the true living God answers His true servants by fire.
If God were not willing to do that, He would he different in His nature from what He has revealed Himself in the Bible. The God Who does not want the death of the wicked, certainly wants his salvation.
In the same way, how surprised is the Apostle Paul, when in Ephesus he finds certain disciples who had repented of their past sins, and so had been baptized, but had not repented of their SIN, the Old Adam, and had not yielded it to be crucified and buried in the death of Christ. Nor, evidently, were they enjoying the victories of the Resurrection life.
Whatever, then, fails to comply with these basic principles falls below the normal Christian experience. It is not health, it is sickness. Such people are not fit for work, but for the hospital. «Tarry … until ye be endued with power from on high.» An unrevived church is living below the normal state of spiritual health. The revived church is the healthy church. Since, in every true revival, souls are being born again, the truly revived church will be a soul-winning church. And, vice versa, every soul-winning church is a revived church.
There is no parent who would be satisfied or happy about his children being sick. It would indeed be startling to enquire of a father as to the state of the health of his children, and to receive a reply: «Oh, never mind, my children are well one week during the year, but for fifty-one weeks they are sick in bed, but — that's alright. Next year they will be up again for one week.» Such a father, probably, may be more fit for a madhouse, than to be in charge of a family of children. And yet, that is exactly how many imagine God to act. They charge the blame for an absence of revivals upon their Heavenly Father, as if God were satisfied to have His Church unrevived for fifty years or so, then send a gracious visitation, and then again forget all about it for another fifty years. I am putting it so strongly to show the absolute impossibility of imagining God could act in such a way; and that He cannot be made responsible for the absence or scarcity of revivals. But the blame must be sought in altogether different quarters. The coming or passing of revivals is conditional upon certain attitudes of the Christians themselves; and this, once clearly defined and understood, may cause tremendous spiritual changes in many lives and in numerous places all over the world. «Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.» Revive Thy work, O Lord!
A genuine spiritual revival is the natural result of the meeting and carrying out of definite conditions laid down in the Word of God, just as an electrician would go about his business, doing this, number one, that, number two, etc., and then-just turn on the switch, and the natural outcome will be Light. Thus, granted that the conditions of God's revivals are definitely carried out, point by point, and with the accuracy of the strictest science, as prevails in an electrical lamp when it is switched on, — there will be Spiritual Light and Life in the house.
The first requisite for the working in our individual hearts, and in our communities, of the Holy Spirit, is that, wholeheartedly and sincerely, we assume the attitude of obedience towards God, and towards the whole of His Word. It is impossible to be converted on any other basis.
Breaking with sin means breaking with any «bad» habit, with any mode of life, or any practice, which dishonours the Lord. It means the ceasing to take pleasure in worldly friends and companions. «Evil communications corrupt good manners» (1. Cor. 15:33). It means parting with an unconverted sweetheart, an unbelieving business partner. «Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? … Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?» (2 Cor. 6:14,15).
Furthermore, obedience to God will mean separating from any Secret Societies or Fraternities, as not consistent with fellowship with the God of Separation and Light. «God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth» (1. John 1:5,6). «But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light» (Eph. 5:13). «Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you» (2 Cor. 6:17).
All this is of importance not only for the individual believer, but also for the whole of the church which is to enjoy the blessing of a genuine revival. The whole church or christian community must be ready not to tolerate things which are not tolerated by God.
It should also be specially emphasized, in this age of extreme laxity of morals, that obedience to God will call for chastity both in single lives as well as in family relationships. The spirit of unfaithfulness and divorce, whether actual or unmanifested, will be strictly judged and put to flight, and purity of spirit, soul and body will be fostered. The terrible sin of birth-control so loathed by God will be scrupulously avoided.
«I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God» (Rom. 12:1,2).
«Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them» (Eph. 5:11).
In a word, to sum up, there must not be a single conscious sin or doubtful thing in our lives, if we are to have God reigning in our hearts and His blessing resting upon our work. «If we walk in the light» — not as our minister, or our mother, or the best person we know, — but «as He is in the light»: this alone should be our true standard — «Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God» (Matt. 5:8).
«Hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked» (1 John2:3-6). «Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight» (1. John 3:21,22).
The whole of the old life is to be surrendered to the Cross, so that the life of Christ also may be manifested in us. For the Holy Spirit responds in human lives only to the Cross of Christ. «For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection» (Rom. 6:5).
But Scriptural breaking with sin will mean much more than that. It will mean a complete change of your tastes, and views, and aims of life. Up to your conversion you went your own way; you chose your own companions; you decided upon your own aims of life. But now you «are bought with a price, ye are not your own» (1 Cor. 6:20,19). Before, you were your own master, but being so you «have gone astray» (Isa. 53:6). From now on, however, having «returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,» you have voluntarily accepted your Saviour as your Master, and are looking to Him for orders for the rest of your life: «Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?» (Acts 9:6).
Thus, the second act of obedience is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to joyfully listen to His bidding; «This is my beloved Son: hear Him» (Mark 9:7). «My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me» (John 10:27).
The proper understanding of this listening to the voice of the Master will now mean getting acquainted with the whole Word of God, and gladly submitting to it. A saved person will now do the will of the Lord, not in order to become saved, but because he or she is saved. The genuine gospel faith will be proved by a consistent Christian life. «Holiness unto the Lord» will now be your daily atmosphere, Divine love will be your animating principle, and having purified your heart by faith you will be «seeing God» (Matt. 5:8). God's presence and blessing will appear in your personal life, and in your ministry. You will realise what it is in very deed to be «workers together with God.» «If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work» (2. Tim. 2:21).
Alas, says someone, all that I have met, my surrender to the Lord is complete, and yet I do not see the results you speak about, neither in my church, nor in my surroundings.
Here, then, we come to, what is probably the most important part of our message, for to many this has been an unanswerable question. Many have become perplexed and disheartened. Many have come to doubt their own spiritual experience.
The first most important consideration, in connection with this difficulty, is the failure to understand that the scriptural laws for Revival, or, in other terms, for God's victories, are exactly the same for individuals as for whole communities. If a believer meets God's conditions personally, God's promised blessing will be showered upon him individually. Remember Abraham, Joseph, Daniel! There was nothing in their faith, or in their lives to obstruct God blessing them individually. Only once Abraham failed to hold on to God's promise, and practically for fourteen years-between the birth of Ishmael and Isaac — his fellowship with God was broken, and there were no altars reared to the name of the Lord. There was a break in the «revival atmosphere» in Abraham's life all those years. But the atmosphere of fellowship with God returned to him, when he remembered God's promise, and no more «staggered at the promise of God through unbelief» (Rom. 4:20).
But a believer may be right personally, and yet, when it comes to God's blessing for a whole community, it will be found that his personal righteousness is not enough. There was nothing in the life of Joshua to prevent God blessing him. But there was in his camp an Achan, who had trespassed God's command, and Joshua's army was beaten before the men of Ai. The seventh chapter of the book of Joshua is the greatest lesson on Revivals in the whole of the Bible, both as to how to promote them as well as how to discover reason for their absence.
Later in the Bible we find in the history of Judah, that after the godly kings got rid of the idols in their own hearts, they also cut down the idols in the land. The converted priests not only preached about the need of cleansing the temple, but they actually went and did the cleansing.
God will not use a corrupt army to win holy victories. There was no need of many Achans in Joshua's camp; one was enough to cause God to withdraw. God could easily have caused Achan to perish by some supernatural means, but the Scriptures teach us that this is not God's way of dealing with sin in a community. God could have revealed to Joshua in a dream who the man was that had sinned, and Joshua could thus have been able by a short cut to mete out just judgment upon the guilty; but that is not God's way of dealing with sin in a community.
What God wanted was for Joshua and the whole of the congregation of «saints» to manifest zeal in «eschewing evil» from their midst. The whole of the people of God had to rally and take part in finding the sinner and then removing him from the camp. There was more than simply the offence of Achan at stake; the congregation was to be a holy congregation, but there can be no true holiness without just indignation and a zealous putting away of sin. Moreover the word of Jehovah was to be revered and feared by the people. They had to realize that the Word of the Lord is given to be observed, and not to be broken. In this searching for the offender, the whole congregation was called upon to take sides either with God or with Achan, with righteousness or with sin. By the very act of getting rid of sin they proved to the whole world that they were the people of God. Show me any church which has ceased to exercise church discipline, and I will show you a church which has ceased to be a congregation of the righteous. «Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous» (Ps. 1:5).
The absence of this fundamental law of God's revivals is, by the way, the greatest rebuke to Modernism, and the clearest proof that the modernist preachers are out of touch with God, on account of their flippant talk of sin, their denial of the Fall, and the consequent absence of God from their camp.
When, indeed, has any reader heard of a genuine revival in the power of the Holy Spirit in a Modernist Church? And why is the «modernist, evangelist» conspicuous by his absence from the field of soul-winning? In fact, there is no such thing in the Christian world, as a modernist evangelist. Soul-winning does not belong to their sphere of labour. They do not know what it is to gain victories in the name of the Lord. Against Satan they do not fight, for many of them have ceased to believe that the Devil exists; and how far some of them believe in a personal God, is also a question. «Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father» (1 John 2:22,23).
That Christ, in the New Testament, is as strict in demanding that His Church be holy, can be abundantly proved by many passages. The whole of the first Epistle of John is one compact argument against habitual sinning. Peter and James in their Epistles, and Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, and elsewhere, join in the same strain.
But, whatever be the attitude of the Church, God and Achan will never live together. «Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you» (Josh. 7:12). One of the chief reasons for the scarcity of genuine old-time revivals in the modern churches is the criminal neglect to preach against sin. The present-day Church, for the most part, is one where the sinner can feel himself pretty comfortable. And yet the stand, both of the individual, as well as of the whole church, on the question of sin, is a most vital one. In fact, everything else depends upon the stand of Christians against sin. No one can afford to be indifferent here. Indifference or compromise spells defeat everywhere.
All the old revival preachers were known for their uncompromising stand against sin in every shape and form, and against worldliness in the churches. Jonathan Edwards, Charles G. Finney, Dwight L. Moody, and many others, were strong in their denunciation of sin. The old Puritans might have been faulty in some matters, but they were right in their doctrine of total depravity. But the chief thing about that sort of preaching is that the Holy Spirit honours it and puts His seal of approval upon it. In fact, that is the very first work He does when He comes to a human being. «When He (the Comforter) is come He will reprove the world of sin» (John. 16:8).
A genuine heaven-born revival will result in a general increase of holiness and righteousness in the lives of the people affected. That there are better morals and safer living in Great Britain today than two hundred years ago is not so much due to education and scientific enlightenment, as to the revivals of Knox and Bunyan, the Wesleys and Whitfield and many others. Keswick and similar Conventions alone have done more to spread righteousness than all the schools put together. Education without sanctification will not bring us very far. And even cleanliness is next to godliness.
To secure, then, revivals at large, sound mathematics might help us. One will chase a thousand, but two will put ten thousand to flight, (Deut. 32:30). And again, «If two of you shall agree» (Matt. 18:19).
There is a law of strength in unity, and it is applicable in the spiritual realm as well as in the natural. But this unity, in matters of revivals, must be based upon quality, and not on quantity. The same denominational flag alone will not do: it must be a flag of the same spiritual principles. There were thirty-two thousand who belonged to the same «Union» with Gideon. But thirty-one thousand and seven hundred of them did not meet the Lord's conditions, and had to retire, or they would have spoiled the victory for the three hundred. When Achan was the cause of defeat, it would have been no use for Joshua to bring up fresh reinforcements. If Joshua had done that, the whole of his army had perished, and he with it. The victory was achieved not by addition, but by subtraction. This is the lesson that the present-day Church has to learn: the Lesson of Subtraction.
The question for the church of Jesus Christ, in practical application, would become very simple, if compared with some other cases on a different plane. The trouble often is that things which no one would even question — so evident are they — in the natural realm, become to many people questionable when applied, on the same principle, in the spiritual realm.
Let us look at an example or two. Here I have in a basket, let us say, twenty-five good and one or two bad apples. Every house-wife will know that if I leave all the apples together, in a few days the couple of bad apples will spoil the good ones. No wise person therefore would think of committing such a folly as to leave the bad apples together with the good. It would take a still more foolish person to suggest that I should exercise «charity» towards the bad apples, that after all they are not so bad, and that, if left together, the «good» apples might improve the bad ones!
The only way to save the good ones is to remove the bad ones. That is charity; everything else is folly.
Or, suppose, I want to build a ship. What would any wise man think of me if I were to pay no attention to the material for the work, whether good, strong timber, or rotten planks. Would it be «charity» to leave the rotten planks in the ship? Nay, it would be the biggest cruelty possible, for such a ship is bound to get a leak, and may sink with the whole of the crew; such a shipbuilder would be guilty of criminal neglect, and liable to be punished for the loss of property and lives.
Apply this to the regular church. There is much unfit material put into the Church by «the Builders.» Instead of using only «lively stones» (1. Peter 2:5), many of the churches are full of people who have never been born again. In the pulpits there are many preachers who have no idea of «old time religion», nor of a definite personal experience of being born of the Spirit. With some, even of the orthodox, their sound faith is a matter of head knowledge only, or the result of being brought up on sound doctrine. But sound Bible instruction is by no means regeneration, any more than good geographical knowledge about America makes one an American. «Ye must be born again» (John 3:7). «Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say unto Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (preached) in Thy name? And in Thy name cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity» (Matt. 7:21-23). «Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His» (Rom. 8:9).
From these passages it is clear, that one must be really born again, thus becoming a partaker of the divine nature (2. Pet. 1:4), and have residing in him the Spirit of Christ, in order to be reckoned by God a child of His, and a member of the body of Christ. For «by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body» (1. Cor. 12 : 13).
The First Epistle of John, this New Testament Classic of Regeneration, gives abundant proofs from which one can amply test himself or herself whether he or she has been really born again.
Such then are true Christians, and none else are. Of these alone must consist the membership of the visible Church of Christ, and through such alone the Holy Spirit can and will work in revival power. Christ, the Head, will work only through those who are members of His body. The sap of the vine can flow only through its branches.
There may be other people, not yet truly converted, not really born again. But all such must be outside the Church, so far as membership is concerned, not inside. For they, who are not as yet saved through living faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, are still of the «world.» What business then has the world in the Church? For it was the «world» which rejected and crucified Christ. Has then the Church let in the world to reject and crucify the Lord afresh? True, the ship must be in the sea, but the sea must not be in the ship. «They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world» (John 17:16), said the Lord about real disciples.
Who then has permitted these unconverted, unregenerate people to be reckoned as members of the Church of Christ? Has Christ, the Head of the Church, given this permission? If so, then He would contradict Himself, for most explicitly has He said, «Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God» (John 3:3). So it is impossible, and utterly out of the question, that the filling of the churches with the unregenerate has the approval of the Lord.
Whoever has done it, or is still doing it, is acting against the direct will of the Lord. The receiving into the churches of the unregenerate and making them believe that they are Christians when they are not, is a gross travesty of the rights of God, Who alone by His Spirit causes men and women to be born again, and thus fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
To retain in the Church unconverted sinners is both unscriptural and unwise, and is the biggest obstacle to revival. The bad apples will always corrupt the good ones, and the sinners in the Church will soon turn a holy Church into a corrupt one. Think of the Roman Catholic and of the Greek Orthodox Churches. Consider the state of the Lutheran Church in Germany, which once was alive, but now is in most parts utterly dead. A little leaven has leavened the whole lump. How then can God work in Revival Spirit through a Church which itself is dead? «I will remove,» saith the Lord, not «reform». The Lord never reforms. Saul had no second chance. «If the salt has lost his savour … it is … to be cast out.» «For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person» (1. Cor. 5:12,13).
Joshua might have wasted all his energies in an effort to save the situation at Ai: he would not have succeeded so long as Achan was in the camp. He could have announced special prayer meetings all over the camp, and days of praying and fasting, but all that would have been of no avail so long as iniquity was not purged out. «If I regard (tolerate) iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me» (Ps. 66:18). Moreover, Joshua could have arranged preaching stations all over the camp and sent out the best teachers and evangelists, who could have expounded the Law of God, and the meaning of the two Tables of Commandments and of the Pentateuch, but all that would not have made the slightest difference in the question of conquering Ai. There would have followed defeat upon defeat, until their final and complete destruction, in spite of their preaching and fasting, and praying and singing of psalms.
There are times in the Church of God, when one has to cease preaching, and even praying or exhibiting the tables of Commandments: when one has indeed to grab at the golden calf, smash it and scatter it to the four winds. When from the Word of the Lord your duty is clear, it is out of place to pray as to what your duty should be. There is a time when, with Moses, one has to cry out, «Who is on the Lord's side?» and when a definite separation of the godly from the ungodly must take place. One cannot compromise in moments like that.
The Church of Jesus Christ must consist, therefore, only of truly converted, regenerate people. All others have no right to be reckoned as members of the church, no right to partake of the Holy Communion, no right even to be counted as, or called, Christians. GOD does not call them thus, what right has man to improve upon God, or to correct the Almighty? «Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His» (Rom. 8:9).
To ensure a real visitation by the Spirit of God, there is only one of two ways: Either for the true believer in the Church to cleanse the temple, and to remove from Church membership all who do not manifest evidence of being born again, to call upon all backslidden believers to return to their first love, and then unitedly begin to pray and work for a revival, receiving into the Church only truly converted persons; or, if that is impossible, and the more so, if modernism is taught and tolerated in the church, to leave such a church in a Christlike-manner, and organize Sound Gospel Meetings elsewhere, on strict Bible Principles, shutting out sin and the world in every shape and form: then asking God to send a truly converted sound Gospel Minister, and together with him set out to win others to Christ.
That would be the beginning of a revival all over the country as has not been witnessed for many a day.
The Fundamentals of Revival, as set forth in this book, may appear to some to be an interesting and desirable theoretical philosophy. But the great question is: Does it work? For the best of philosophy, and the finest of theories will be of no practical value, unless, when applied, they produce the results suggested. No medicine, however well recommended, will be worth its money, unless the patients will prove on themselves its benefit.
Some such thoughts probably were worrying the mind of Elisha after his earnest pleadings for a double portion of his master's spirit, and after their sudden parting. Will it be true? Will it stand the test? «He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.» (2 Kings 2:13,14).
Thousands upon thousands of God's servants have likewise taken God at His Word, implicitly trusted His promises, have wholeheartedly submitted to His conditions, and they have found with Elisha that «all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.» (2. Cor. 1:20).
Nearly a quarter of a century ago God began to teach me these things in connection with Revivals of Religion. If God, in His own great mercy and providence, had not brought me into personal touch with these truths, probably my poor life had oozed out in much barrenness in some church work, like thousands of others. I would have had to regret that at the theological colleges there was no «Chair on Revivals of Religion.» I still believe that that is one of the greatest lacks of practically every theological College and Seminary. For what indeed is, or should be, the one outstanding aim of a school of theology, if not to prepare soul-winners? If in a theological school I cannot learn the science of winning souls, all the other learning gained there will be of but little value to me. And in view of that, I believe the schools of theology are to be blamed to a great extent that there is not more soul-winning done from the Protestant pulpits all over the world. The theories of a Wellhausen and the speculations of a Haekel have never yet contributed anything to the ability of a minister to win souls to Christ; nay, on the contrary, such theories and such sort of learning have had the direct influence of how not to win souls. And as a result, the poor sheep have been scattered over the mountains of Uncertainties and in the wildernesses of Negations.
No wiser measure could be adopted by any College or Bible Institute than to do all in their power to invite men, experienced in genuine Revival work, to give a series of lectures to the students on practical Revival work. And eventually this department of training, by men fitted for it, should become one of the main businesses of the School or College.
Suffering from the lack of such instruction, very likely I would have long ago suffered shipwreck in my ministry; or at best, would have eked out a miserable ministerial existence, as no doubt many are doing to-day. For even with the best of personalities, there is a difference between a lion in the cage and a lion in the open air. For a Revival is concurrent with the fullness of the Holy Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2. Cor. 3:17). But where true liberty is, there is power. Nobody fears the lion in the cage, but everybody fears the lion at liberty. The Church of Christ should be «terrible as an army with banners» (Song of Solomon 6:4).
The Lord had mercy upon me and met me in His own way. During my early morning hours with God and His Word, during my college years, He taught me lessons which I could not get in the classroom; I was fed on the hidden manna, which has been my sustenance ever since. Then some of these truths, as stated above, began to crystallize in my soul, one of them being the absolute necessity of a Revival as being the normal condition of the Church.
Another, the truth of a perennial revival, as the only state compatible with the Character and Nature of God.
And third, the strict observance of the condition of the elimination of the «Achan» from the Camp, in order to secure the benefits of the first two.
These three truths were at first only a very pleasant and acceptable doctrine with me, untried as yet on the field of soul-winning, except in my own personal experience. But there it did work. The change produced upon my own life was tremendous.
And then, tremblingly, having picked up this «mantle of Elijah,» I sallied forth from the College Class Room upon the wide field of humanity. «Where is the Lord God of Elijah?» And, let me with great awe and humility say, God was there. The prayers of the early morning hours God had heard. The principles as laid down in His Word He did honour. Souls were saved, many thousands of them. Wherever one went, God answered by «fire» in the hearts of men and women, and children.
It is not my objective here to tell the story of the past years; of the triumphs of the Gospel in St. Petersburg and Moscow and other places. My friend, Dr. McCaig, has admirably told that Story in his book, «THE WONDERS OF GRACE IN RUSSIA,» but it will be in keeping with the object of the present treatise to give but one illustration, the latest in order, of the truth laid down here, of the necessity of separation from the world and worldly people in order for God to work; in other words, the eliminating of the Achan, that is, the wilful sinner or opponent of God, from the camp.
It is now four years since I was led back in God's providence to Riga, the city of my youth. The years of the war had thrown me over to America, and after the Peace Treaty of Versailles, three years had been spent in work among Russians in Warsaw and Berlin. Although I had come for but a visit to Riga, I was on the very first Sunday elected Pastor of a large church of some six hundred members. It had been once the liveliest soul-winning church in the country, but during the years of the war callousness and worldliness, especially among the young, had crept into the church. Now, it has been my experience with churches as a rule, that one can feel the pulse of the spirituality of a church by the attitude of the young people. Where the young people in the Choir, or in the Young People's Society, etc., manifest an earnest and godly spirit, you can depend that the whole of the church is in a healthy spiritual state. But shallowness, levity, foolish jesting, unbridled and too free an attitude between young men and women, and a lack of proper reverence in the general behaviour of the young is a sure sign that the Church itself has lost, or is fast losing, its salt.
When such an attitude prevails, you can do nothing constructive unless the situation is radically changed; for, as already quoted above, «If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?» (Ps. 11:3). And here, in one sense, we may say, the young people are the foundation of the future church. We cannot get a building stronger than the material.
In order to win victories for the Lord, you must have soldiers. War is the most serious thing in existence. You can never have any kind of real revival with people who are «playing the church, playing the prayer meeting,» or looking upon the choir practice as a mutual amusement affair.
Until a minister can get the proper spiritual atmosphere among the young people, he may just as well give up any hope of a successful soul-winning ministry in the church. God does not work with Achans in the camp.
The absolutely erroneous idea of catering to the youthful lusts and tendencies of the young people in order to keep them in the church is as foolish as poisoning the food in the house in order to keep your children well. If we seek to retain the young people in our church rather than to retain them for the Lord, then we are not servants of the Lord, but servants of our church, and our own masters. According to the Word of God, people should be first added unto the Lord, then unto the Church (Acts 5:14). They «first gave their own selves to the Lord, and (then) unto us» (2. Cor. 8:5). But «they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts» (Gal. 5:24 ).
For this reason, anything introduced into the church for the benefit of the young people that is not conducive to true spirituality, will become a snare of the enemy, and will eventually stifle every bit of spiritual life in the church — whether it be billiards, or dances, or socials with worldly songs or anything like it. All those, things are an abomination to the Lord and should have no place in the house of God.
How then to reach these people? That they could be reached, and that they could be saved, there was no doubt in my heart. When sometimes men are inclined to complain of a hard ground for evangelism, one must realize that there is really no hard ground to God, with Whom nothing is impossible. The whole problem, really resolves itself into one thing: to secure the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, to be workers together with God.
I knew this work could not be accomplished in the usual way. It demanded people who would be willing to meet God's conditions; men and women who would be willing to pay the price; believers, dead in earnest for Christ.
I remembered Gideon and his three hundred. It was not the quantity but the quality that mattered. «As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children» (Isa. 66:8).
That was all. On the appointed evening six persons came. I was the seventh. I was not disappointed. I knew God's methods are often different from those of men. Men want to go with the crowd. God walked with Enoch. Because of our failure to keep step with God we often miss His blessing. Great showers of rain, when they come in answer to prayer, often begin with a little cloud «out of the sea» like a man's hand. And «who hath despised the day of small things?» (Zech. 4:10).
I was rather glad that we were not many; for now I knew we could be before God with one mind and heart. «If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven» (Matt. 18:19). «Two» unanimous believers is already a guarantee of success. Two spiritually-minded harmonious souls will accomplish more for the kingdom of God than two thousand members of a church who are not attuned to the melody of God's will.
And thus we fell upon our knees before God and prayed. Every one of us prayed. Some of us with tears, and «with groanings which cannot be uttered» (Rom. 8:26). We knew something of the travailing of Zion. And when we rose from our knees we could be sure that the work had been already done. The victory was already accomplished before the battle was fought. «God hath spoken in His holiness: I will rejoice. I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of Mine head; Judah is My lawgiver; Moab is My washpot; over Edom will I cast out My shoe.» (Ps.60:6-8).
These seven were the beginning of the new work of grace in the Capital of the Republic of Latvia. There is no need to go into details, but it will suffice to say that what happened afterwards, developed on the strict lines of the fundamentals of revival as set forth in the beginning of this book. It has worked.
And what is the result? In four short years the largest mission work in the whole of the Republic has come into existence, reaching all the classes of the population, peasants and professors, the man in the street and the man in the high Government office. Beginning our meetings in a former cinema theatre, we had soon to rent the largest concert halls in the city, until the need of our own spacious building was necessary, which by this time has been finished, and was dedicated on the 7th of August 1927 for the winning of souls, under the name of die Salvation Temple. The Temple, as well as the adjoining «Mission House» is throbbing with joyful life and activity for the Lord. A revival Bible School with over fifty students has been established as one of the branches of the work, every student having become imbued with the spirit of revival and soul-winning. And wherever they go on Sundays and on other occasions to hold meetings, crowds of people gather, in rented theatres and in barns, or in the open. Everywhere there is revival in the air, because the atmosphere of a revival is the presence of God with His people.
And never comes darkness down but he greeteth a thousand morns.
And going, he comes; and coming, he heareth the call and goes.
And rides God's battle-field in a flashing and golden car.


text:
Cannibal Holocaust – Revisiting the Controversial Classic
Ah, Cannibal Holocaust. A truly polarizing film. Some consider the film an essential horror classic. Others? An overrated mess. Having just watched the movie about a week or two ago,...
by	Jon of the Shred	March 31, 2017
Ah, Cannibal Holocaust. A truly polarizing film. Some consider the film an essential horror classic. Others? An overrated mess. Having just watched the movie about a week or two ago, I felt compelled to write about it. Technically it wasn't the first time I've seen the movie. I had watched a portion of it with an ex-girlfriend years ago. But we both fell asleep drunk before we got to the MEAT of the film. Don't read on if you haven't seen the film. It is a movie that is best experienced to fully grasp. So stop reading if you haven't yet seen the movie! Go watch it.
One of the main things cannibal holocaust is remembered for is the controversy surrounding the film. Real animal deaths were captured on film. Real human death was also shown. The actors and actresses were contracted to stay out of the media for a year after the film's release. This was to give the film's subversive nature even more weight. Ruggero Deodato was actually arrested when the film was released. It was that effective. He later had to get the actors to appear in court to prove they were alive and well.
But why was the movie so effective? The Blair Witch tried to recreate the Cannibal Holocaust marketing model. While it was a huge runaway success and became the poster child for the found footage genre, it was obviously a marketing campaign. Compared to Cannibal Holocaust, the Blair Witch might as well be a Disney flick. The Blair Witch was a novelty film. Cannibal Holocaust was the real deal. The real animal deaths, though controversial, messed with the audiences mind. The turtle dismemberment will forever be etched in my brain. The muskrat creature that is stabbed in the throat twice caused me to wince. But Ruggero argued these animals were going to be eaten by the local tribes. He filmed the acts, not endorsed them. He also made the point that a lot of the food we eat die in similar fashions. Are we the viewers hypocrites? Fair enough, Ruggero.
Real human death is also shown. There is no actual cannibalism on screen. But archived footage of an Uganda firing squad is put into the film. It is shown as a documentary within the film called "The Last Road to Hell." And that is when the movie's narrative takes a turn.
Once you make it past the initial set up of the movie, the narrative shifts from the first person perspective. The rest of the movie plays in a third person perspective. We watch as the main character watches the "lost documentary footage." But as more footage is unveiled, the twisted nature of the documentary makers are revealed. The climax of the film, arguably, is not the animal deaths. Nor is it the cannibalizing of the fictional documentary crew. The climax is when a tribe is corralled into a straw hut like cattle. And then the documentary makers set fire to the straw hut. They guard the exits with guns. The theme song of the movie is thrown over this scene to great effect. When the movie opens, a delicate acoustic guitar motif plays as aerial footage of the jungle is shown. It feels like a wink to the viewer. In the later context the song takes on a new meaning. Now it's almost mocking the viewer. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Despite the exploitative nature of the film, it works as a great commentary of exploitation films. Layers upon layers of subversion. The message in Cannibal Holocaust will be in your head for days after watching the film. But what the hell is that message, exactly?! That's something viewer can determine themselves. And while the animal deaths can be hard to watch, I don't think Ruggero was wrong for capturing on film what would have transpired regardless of his intervention. The movie is a gem of cult horror and a must watch for fans of horror and gore hounds alike.
Jon of the Shred is a multi-instrumentalist, graphic designer and writer. He is the CEO and Creative Director of Scythe Saga Records, a label that hosts an incredibly diverse roster of synthwave artists, metal musicians, producers and more.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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      Bitcoin (BTC) miner fees are high due to record demand for limited space on the Bitcoin network. BitPay does not receive and does not control bitcoin miner fees.

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Nothing leads to a more peaceful life than a high-quality massage from Light Touch Therapy. Janice has spent years perfecting her art and taking her skills as a certified, licensed masseuse to the next level. Because in today's modern, fast paced world, it's very easy to accumulate stress. Stress can lead to worry and anxiety that in turn leads to health concerns.
To relieve stress it's important people take the necessary steps like exercise and fitness. Massage is also one of the primary ways a patient can reduce stress in their life. When a patient can effectively reduce stress in their life they live happier and healthier than ever before. Janice's massage therapy can also be used to drain the lymph glands and for other more specialized reasons like CranioSacral Therapy. Janice is happy to serve the people of Lewisville with her expertise and to learn more about the area please read more.
Lewisville is located in Denton County Texas and has a population of 77,737 people as of 2010 and it is growing rapidly. According to the 2010 census, Lewisville is one of the fastest growing cities in population in the United States.
There are 34.6 square miles of land in Lewisville and 6.07 of that is Lewisville Lake. Originally it was called Holford's Prairie and the name was changed in the 1840's.
Lewisville has a total square mileage of 42.47 square miles. There is a total current population of 101,074 and a density of 2,816 people per square mile. The Zip Codes used in Lewisville are 75029, 75057, 75067, and 75077. The Area Codes are 214, 469, and 972. Light Touch Therapy is proud to serve the people of Lewisville with all their massage therapy needs.
At Light Touch, Janice is the perfect example of what happens when someone loves what he or she does. Her specialized care and attention to the needs of her customers is unrivaled. Janice works hard at keeping her knowledge base of therapy up to date with the most current techniques used to give her patients the best experience possible. To learn more, please call or reach us through online.


You are here: Home / Next Generation BC practice / Days of Future Past / A 'New Dawn' or a 'Deadend'?
A 'New Dawn' or a 'Deadend'?
"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual.
When experience is not retained we don't grow and mature … lets try to remember some contributions from the past. Do you remember these three contributions from 2010?
A New Dawn or a step too far?
A new decade and the JAN/FEB 2010 issue of Continuity Magazine had this article from then BCI Technical Director Lyndon Bird. I would love to link the article but I cannot find it in a search. I do have a PDF, if you really want to read it shout and I can share it.
The challenge for the next decade? "full acceptance by top management as a strategic part of business success." How do you think we are we going with that 7 years later?
Fascinating that Lyndon talked about the contemporary environment in 2010 – economic crises, emerging threats like energy security, climate change and cyber crime. Things that are still not fully understood and included in the BC arena.
When I interviewed Lyndon on my podcast a year or so back I asked him about the fact that much of current practice (e.g. BIA and the Lifecycle) is 30 years old and is it time to dump it? You will have to listen to see how he responded.
Perhaps the "30 year rule" explains some of the present day pre-occupation with the idea of resilience.
Lyndon included some positives that he considered positioned the discipline well for the future such as no longer being focussed on the high impact/low probability events and that BC has become a standardised management (Systems) practice. Interesting that the challenges he warned against are often the flip side of those positives – being seen as a purely compliance regime (flip of management systems thinking), perceived as recovery arm of risk and promising more than delivers (generally because people are still clinging to the high impact low probability Disaster Recovery Planning model).
'The Department of Unlikely Events' was how Nathaniel Forbes described the practice in his 2010 article. He labelled BC is this way because he saw that many/most practitioners were actually focussed on the High Impact/Low Probability events. Here is the Continuity Central version, the original was on his Forbes Calamity blog. This is in many ways a bleak perspective describing a non-strategic, loss leading, cost-centre. The type of area that is tolerated in good times and cut in tight times.
Personally I don't see any conflict between the two articles. Lyndon was pushing ideas for the next decade and Nat was (is?) describing the current context of practice.
Nat's proposition for the future had three core elements – but it is a good article so please go and read for yourself.
Most likely future is in merger of similar/related disciplines such as Security, Risk, etc. The challenge here is will these be hostile takeovers or collaborative activities.
I think we are already seeing this happen, again it often seems to have the Resilience label.
To be relevant we need to expand the range of risks and consequences that BC addresses to include strategic risks, non-physical events and to adopt collaborative approaches to response and recovery.
Most importantly BC folks need to develop new skills – especially something he called "executive Gravitas".
Again we see similar visions, more and better skills – especially in terms of being credible and relevant to Executive management. The first step to build that relevance is probably to focus on those wider and strategic risk domains.
Have we lost sight of the bigger picture?
Not just today, but did we really understand the bigger picture back in 2010? That was the title of Tim Armit's contribution (or some may say 'lament') in 2010 based on his 21 years of practice.
This was in response to BC practitioners from failed companies telling Tim that they did not fail due to a BC event!
Tim's article also highlighted that a number of regulatory agencies had effectively embedded the narrow BC focus into their policy and the result of that would inform the risk and compliance processes in many entities.
Skills and wider focus are key ideas suggested 7 years ago. But I cannot see where the core practices and techniques were reframed to accomodate this.
You can still find plenty of debate defending the narrow "Unlikely Event" practices.
Some homework that doesn't require reading, but does include learning, is to watch this video from Simon Sinek and think about the "Why?" of BC in our current threat and organizational contexts.
How should we reframe the problem we are trying to address?
I will have 3 more historic articles with future suggestions in the next post.
Glad you found it useful Tracey. Too often I suspect the 'hostile takeover' is a reflection of the relative power/credibility or even relevance of the disciplines – and perhaps in some instances the specific practitioners involved.
Certainly supports Nat Forbes comment re the need for Executive Gravitas, and making the overall practice more relevant and strategic going forward.


text:
Juoksengi kyrka är en kyrkobyggnad som hör till Övertorneå församling i Luleå stift. Kyrkan ligger i samhället Juoksengi tre kilometer norr om polcirkeln. Några hundra meter åt öster ligger Torne älv och gränsen till Finland. Kyrkan är en stiftelsekyrka som ägs och förvaltas av byborna. Församlingen ger årligen bidrag till stiftelsen och delar av kyrkans drift sker genom gratis utförda arbeten.

Kyrkobyggnaden
Kyrkan som invigdes 1963 är uppförd efter ritningar av arkitekt Jan Thurfjell i Luleå. Byggnadsmaterialet är tegel och trä. Gavlarna är murade i rött tegel, medan långväggarna är vita. Kyrkan har ett brant sadeltak belagt med eternit. De ihopbyggda församlingslokalerna har platta tak belagda med papp. Kyrkorummet har rektangulär plan och ett brant takfall som är klätt med vitlaserad träpanel och bärs upp av limträbalkar. Långväggarna täcks av vitlaserad panel, medan gavelväggarna är vitputsade. Kyrkorummets golv är belagt med trä och har bänkar i öppna kvarter. Altarväggen pryds av tre vertikala fönster i färgat glas.

Historik
Förslaget att bygga en kyrka i Juoksengi väcktes vid biskop Bengt Jonzons visitation 1943. En insamling startades och 1951 bildades stiftelsen Juoksengi kapell. Kyrkan började uppföras 1962 och vid jul samma år hölls den första julottan i den ännu ej färdigbyggda kyrkan. 2 februari 1963 på Kyndelsmässodagens kväll invigdes kyrkan av biskop Ivar Hylander. År 1983 byggdes kyrkan ut med församlingssal, kök och andra biutrymmen. Utbyggnaden invigdes 18 februari 1984.

Inventarier
1969 fick stiftelsen överta en orgel som varit placerad i Övertorneå kyrka. Orgeln är tillverkad av Grönlunds orgelbyggeri och har en manual med pedal.

Klockstapel
1971 uppfördes en klockstapel efter Thurfjells ritning och ersatte en tidigare stapel ritad av Erland Aasa. 31 oktober samma år invigdes klockstapeln av domprost Olaus Brännström. Stapeln drabbades dock av rötskador och ersattes 1994 av en likadan.

Referenser

Tryckta källor
 Våra kyrkor, sidan 656, Klarkullens förlag, Västervik, 1990,

Webbkällor

 Övertorneå församlings webbplats

Externa länkar

Kyrkobyggnader i Luleå stift
Kyrkobyggnader i Övertorneå kommun
Kyrkobyggnader invigda 1963
1963 i Sverige

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Listen, we all live in the world of peak television. There are more people creating television shows than ever before and that doesn't include people producing exclusively for other platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. So, it is easy to miss something but here at Nerds on Earth Headquarters, we occasionally hit the Nerd Alert button to make sure that you don't miss something that is truly good and worth supporting. And today, we hit the button for Netflix's recently released show The Dragon Prince.
Now, part of why you should look at this animated show is that it has some quality storytellers working together. First, Aaron Ehasz is one of the creators and his most well known work before this was the fantastic Nickelodeon show Avatar the Last Airbender. (If you have never indulged in the greatness of that show because it was a cartoon, you should, as it was maybe the best show being made on television in any format during the time it was released.) Second, Ehasz partnered with Justin Richmond, who has previously worked in the realm of video games, notably Uncharted 3. The storytelling credits and experience they bring give you reason to check out the show, but the first 5 minutes will let you know if the show is for you or not.
While The Dragon Prince is a cartoon, it is telling an epic story, which is set up from the very get-go. There are dark histories, explaining how the humans and the elves have come into conflict, warring especially over the death of the egg that housed the great dragon's prince. Personally, a great, epic setting will always get my attention and this show does an excellent job of setting up enough of the story without overwhelming me with all the details. It is a good hook; there is enough there to start but you know that the potential exploring could be realized in the series over time. So, it checks the epic box and catches your attention. But that alone is a hard sell for digging in to a new show. You need more.
And this show brings that in spades. We very quickly get the set-up of our three main protagonists: a boy prince, his prince half-brother and an elven assassin, who, on her first mission proved unable or unwilling to kill someone who she encountered. To avoid spoilers, I don't want to say much more but these characters serve as the backbone of the first season of the series. But the side characters are also interesting.
The King is richly and robustly introduced and he feels like a noble king with a kind heart. When he becomes aware of a plot on his life by powerful assassins, he wishes to protect his sons so sends them away, while also admitting that he may pay the price for the dark magic humans have used. His right hand man is a magic user, who also is the father of a magic using daughter, who is the same age as the oldest son, and an arrogant knight son. The tapestry of the show is rich but it is made richer by how great the characterizations of the people involved are. Does some of it rely on fantasy tropes? Certainly. But it does so in a way that doesn't feel dated. And the show works well to show fantastic representation across the series.
Rayla is the above mentioned assassin character and she proves to be fully capable but also doubts herself. Powerful and yet questioning. That character, especially in this genre is a needed one for young girls, who need to know that power and confidence aren't the same thing and sometimes it takes working through doubt to realize.
Additionally, the creators made the interesting choice to make one of the side characters, General Amaya, deaf. Again, we see a powerful, smart, capable leader who happens to be deaf. Her use of an interpreter and American Sign Language is really refreshing and completely unexpected but I think it makes the tapestry of the show that much richer.
Now, there have been complaints about The Dragon Prince and its computer generated animation style. In general, I am much more likely to care about story over visuals, so I may not be the best critic on this point. The show's CGI style is said by some to be too choppy to watch but personally, it felt like I was just watching an older cartoon along the lines of Belle and Sebastian, and, having been raised on that style, it didn't bother me the way it did others.
All in all, you should be willing to give season one of The Dragon Prince a try. It has the starts of a compelling world, some great characters who exhibit far more than the normal cartoon and fantasy tropes and it has a story that you can get invested in. For certain, it is a kid-friendly show and the 9 episodes average around 26 minutes, so it moves fast, doesn't get bloated and, thankfully, we know that production is underway for season 2 on Netflix as well!
Horror for the Pathfinder RPG: Do you get excited about jump scares?
Dragon Prince Season 2 is just as great.


text:
Q: open exported excel file and try to save it, is saving as web page format When I  exported an Excel file through asp.net / C# code, it's saving as a web page:
It's exporting, but when I open the same excel file and try to save it, it is saving as a web page format, how can I change that?
these are the functions I am using for exporting to excel:
Response.Clear();
Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment;filename=Report1.xls");
Response.ContentType = "application/ms-excel";

const int BUFFER_SIZE = 16 * 1024;
int bytesRead = BUFFER_SIZE;
byte[] bytesBuffer = new byte[bytesRead];
///
memoryStream.Position = 0;
do
{
    bytesRead = memoryStream.Read(bytesBuffer, 0, bytesRead);
    Response.BinaryWrite(bytesBuffer);
    memoryStream.Flush();
} while (bytesRead > 0);
///

A: Please try to delete your aspx code (see below) into your webpage and leave just this:
<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true" CodeBehind="Default.aspx.cs" Inherits="Test.Default" %>

Part to delete below:
<!DOCTYPE html>

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>
    <title></title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>

    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>

... and in your code behind:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;

namespace Test
{
    public partial class Default : System.Web.UI.Page
    {
        protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Response.Clear();
            Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment;filename=Report1.xls");
            Response.ContentType = "application/ms-excel";

            const int BUFFER_SIZE = 16 * 1024;
            int bytesRead = BUFFER_SIZE;
            byte[] bytesBuffer = new byte[bytesRead];
            ///
            memoryStream.Position = 0;
            do
            {
                bytesRead = memoryStream.Read(bytesBuffer, 0, bytesRead);
                Response.BinaryWrite(bytesBuffer);
                memoryStream.Flush();
            } while (bytesRead > 0);
        }
    }
}

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Fujitsu-Siemens fails to meet targets
AFP - [email protected] • 6 Mar, 2008 Updated Thu 6 Mar 2008 09:13 CEST
Prominent European computer manufacturer Fujitsu-Siemens has announced it won't reach upcoming sales targets, which could mean problems for the joint venture.
Leading European computer manufacturer, Fujitsu-Siemens, will not meet sales targets it fixed for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, a press report said Thursday.
"I think we will have to push back our targets by a year," company boss Bernd Bischoff told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Fujitsu-Siemens had aimed for sales of 10 billion euros (15 billion dollars) in the year to March 2009, and net profit of 250 million euros, but has been stymied by fierce price competition in the sector. The news could raise questions about the future of the Japanese-German joint venture, which is based on a contract that expires at the end of next year.
Siemens has decided to trim unprofitable units and has been disappointed in results from the computer maker, which was to release 2007/2008 results in April.
Fujitsu-Siemens has tried to carve out a niche for itself by offering made to order computers, giving customers the chance starting in May to specify which components and software programmes they want. The machines are then to be assembled within three or four days and delivered.
#Business #technology #siemens


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Unchained Eagle is an autobiographical work covering Robert Certain's experience as a combat aviator (B-52 navigator) during the Vietnam War, his shoot-down over Hanoi, his time as a prisoner of war, and his life after war as an Episcopal Priest. Written as a "spiritual journey" it chronicles the way in which the experience of combat and prison continued to effect his life, decisions, and peace of mind for many years. Click for Kindle Edition: $2.99
Spiritual Quest is a course in spiritual discipline and prayer that bases the insights of 12-step recovery groups (i.e. AA) with the structure of worship found in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. No longer in print.
Yankee Air Pirates is a fictional account of Linebacker II, the B-52 campaign against Hanoi, North Vietnam in December 1972. Written by C. K. McCusker in collaboration with Robert Certain, it has been called the Catch 22 for Vietnam. View this video of Air Pirates at the Hanoi Hilton
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Trinity Church: A Sesquicentennial History of the Episcopal Church in Yazoo County, Mississippi This first published work was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Episcopal Church in Yazoo City, Mississippi. No longer in print.
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This year we have decided not to put a flyer for Wesham Fun Day through everyone's door. Instead the schools are giving a flyer to each of the local families, hopefully before the kids break up for half term. We are also putting larger flyers in shops, restaurants and anywhere else we can think of !
If you want to support the event then please help us promote it.
Maybe print off a flyer and stick it in your window ?
Share a Facebook status ?
So much going on this year – we just need you all to turn up and have a great, local, day out !!


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BatangTech: Closing The Technology Gap
Posted by OffCrowd | Sep 9, 2018 | Education, Video | 0 |
Erik envisions that through early access to technology and basic programming, the children will gain a better chance in adapting as they grow older and face new jobs created for the expected future.
Technology is ever evolving. Every year there's new inventions, new devices, and new possibilities. To the average person, it's normal and it's easy to adapt to the conditions of a highly tech world, but to the majority—the underprivileged—it's an environment difficult to grow with.
BatangTech, headed by Erik Lacson, hopes to narrow the gap further through education programs directed to the underprivileged youth.
Erik believes that the resources given to most to understand and learn technology is oftentimes taken for granted, but it's different for the children under the poverty line who have yet to understand its capabilities.
"I think [the technology gap] is an issue that a lot of people don't look into. A lot of organizations look at resolving hunger, giving shelter, giving education," explains Erik, "but not a lot of people, or probably locally—there's no one actually looking into this issue."
The BatangTech team
As they are a newly established organization, they have begun with the sheltered children of Virlanie Foundation, Inc., and hope to expand to more institutions to cater to more children.
BatangTech uses a single board computer, the Raspberry Pi, to teach basic computer skills, while using the program Scratch to teach basic programming perfect for kids.
Currently, they are looking for teacher-volunteers to help with managing the children during their education programs. Volunteers however do not need to know engineering or programming to help out as BatangTech will provide the training prior to the interaction.
Volunteer for BatangTech and help decrease the technology gap
BatangTech provides a training program for people willing to lend them a hand
Learn a thing or two
Contact the BatangTech team to see how you can start a program of your own
Help them get in contact with institutions to allow them to grow and teach more children
We hope to continue producing stories of hope, innovation, and solutions for as long as we can. However, we'll need your help to achieve that. Please help us sustain this idea and cultivate the community we want to establish with this publication. Thanks!
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IFP ExclusiveFeatured NewsForeign PolicyMiddle EastSelected
Iran-Turkey Cooperation Imperative in Countering Regional Threats: Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says mutual cooperation between Tehran and Ankara can play a key role in countering common regional threats.
Speaking in a Sunday phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Rouhani hailed as "good and developing" the relations between Iran and Turkey, as two important and influential countries in the region.
He stressed the need to strengthen Tehran-Ankara cooperation and relations in addressing common threats as well as to resolve regional issues.
President Rouhani expressed his support for Turkey against US sanctions, and stressed, "The only way to counter the United States' unilateral and illegal actions is unity and empathy of the countries under its sanctions."
Emphasising the need to increase trade and economic relations between the two countries by amending the preferential trade agreement, the Iranian president stated that the implementation of the agreements of the sixth meeting of the Iran-Turkey High Cooperation Council is important.
He also expressed Iran's readiness to host the 28th meeting of the Joint Commission in the near future.
Referring to the illegal behaviour of the previous US administration, Rouhani said, "The lifting of sanctions by the United States is a legal and reasonable demand from Iran, which we have emphasised several times, and Iran will return to its obligations at the same time as the lifting of the sanction."
"Iran's strategy, as has been repeatedly stated, will be action against action," added the President.
He stated that Iran has always been in favour of dialogue and the use of peaceful methods for resolving disputes in Syria, and called for the continuation of the dialogue process between the leaders of Iran, Turkey and Russia (Guarantors of the Astana Process).
He also stressed the efforts to resolve Syria's issues, including paving the way for the return of Syrian refugees to their country and drafting a constitution.
Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis between Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia and the ceasefire between the two countries, Rouhani said Iran adopts the approach of supporting the settlement of disputes through dialogue and negotiation.
Welcoming the regional cooperation initiative with the participation of Iran, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, the President said, "This plan can have significant benefits for all parties and Iran is ready to cooperate in specialised fields with countries in the region."
In turn, the Turkish President stressed the importance of developing bilateral relations, holding a meeting of the two countries' joint commission, developing trade relations, especially by using preferential trade and cooperation capacities, and effective dialogue to strengthen peace and security in the region.
Erdoğan also emphasised the use of diplomatic solutions and dialogue as well as using the positive international environment to resolve problems and lift unfair US sanctions.
Hassan Rouhani
Iran-EU Relations
Iranian MP: Double-urgent legislation would respond to EU over IRGC
Iran-Europe faceoff flaring up: Expert
Iran announces new sanctions on EU and Britain
Iranian lawmaker: Leaving NPT and expulsion of IAEA inspectors on the table
Iran FM: Emotional behavior to prove costly for Europe
Iran condemns EU, UK bans on real and legal persons, vows own sanctions
EU's Borrell says the bloc cannot designate IRGC as terrorist before court ruling
Iran's intelligence ministry slams EU parliament's resolution against IRGC


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Q: How can I cache specific object inside array in redis laravel then return the cache together with the array I need to store specific object from array and retrieve it together with the other object inside array.
 $data= array(
["apple", "red"],
["banana", "yellow"],
["orange", "orange"],
)
$cache = {
 [fruit:"banana", color:"yellow"],
 [fruit:"apple", color:"red"]//from cached in redis,
 [fruit:"orange", color:"yellow"],
}
return $cached


Hello there, we suggest you consolidate all of these points into a single email so they can be tracked properly. Thanks. Specifically with moderator post approvals, this is not in the core functionality. It would be a custom plugin.


Home / Blog / Dog Nutrition: What Dog Food Should I Buy?
Dog Nutrition: What Dog Food Should I Buy?
Like us, what your dog eats will determine how they look, feel and act. It is really important for all dog owners to choose the best dog food for their dog's health. With so much choice nowadays, it can seem like a bit of a minefield when selecting the best route of dog nutrition. Options include homemade dog food, natural dog food, wellness dog food, dry dog food to raw dog food. All of the different foods have their pros and cons and they all may or may not suit your particular dog and its vitamin and nutritional requirements.
We have explored many of the options and focused on six key areas related to dog nutrition and dog health.
There is a saying "you get what you pay for", however this is not always true and certainly not always the case with dog food. When considering your dog's nutrition, the ingredients that go into your dog's food are more important than the price.
Let's go back to basics. Dog food is broadly speaking classed into two categories: complete dog food and complementary dog food. Complete dog food should have all the necessary ingredients for good dog health. On the other hand, complementary dog food is exactly that, it adds to a good diet but doesn't have all of the nutrients required for your dog's wellbeing.
Once you have decided what type of food you are going for it is then worth checking the ingredients. The same rule of thumb can be applied as with human food, the further up the ingredients list an ingredient is, then the more of it in the food. Dog food is well regulated in the UK and any meat that is contained in dog food should also be fit for human consumption. If a specific ingredient is on the packaging (for example 'with chicken') then the % of it must be listed on the ingredients list.
You will often see 'animal derivatives' as a listing. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but more a methodology for pet food manufacturers to group different protein sources (for example it may be chicken and turkey).
Look for 'whole' ingredients when analysing vegetables, fruits and grains. There are sometimes by-products listed (e.g. rice bran) which are less ideal than the complex original source although they still provide nutritional benefits. Consideration should also be given to whether you provide dry or fresh dog food. This is important when considering the protein content. Fresh meat will contain more water and so by weight doesn't necessarily provide as much protein as you might expect versus a dry food which has a lower water content.
If you chose a complete food, then all your dog's nutrition should be provided. If you decide to go down the complementary route, then make sure you are supplementing appropriately and seek expert advice if you are not sure. It is worth noting that any dog food that is labelled as complete has to provide all of your dog's nutritional requirement by European legislation.
Where do treats fit into your dog's nutrition?
Dog treats are often used in training, as a reward or just as treat for being good. Like us humans, they can also be provided as part of a routine, so in an evening you may always give your dog a treat.
This is all ok if you consider your dog's overall calorie requirements as part of your dog's health. Every dog's calorie requirements are different and based on: weight, life stage, activity levels, and whether your dog has been neutered. So, an average 30kg Labrador might need 1500 calories per day but this is dependent on all of the above factors.
If you wanted to be really scientific about it, you can use a formula of dog's weight to the power of ¾ times 70. This gives you RER (resting energy requirements). The RER can then be factored utilising the other factors we mentioned earlier. An enlightening article by Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Centre can be found here.
In simple terms if you are giving your dog treats then you should reduce their normal food to account for the extra calories.
Does your dog's age make a difference?
As dogs get older their activity levels are likely to change as are their dietary requirements. Older dogs may have health issues which should be considered first when thinking about your dog's nutrition. Once you are clear on any health issues (heart disease, cancer etc) then you should look to feed the most appropriate food.
Older dogs are well catered for with 'senior' dog ranges recognising the need for specific characteristics aligned to your dog's health. Make sure you find the best food suited to your dog. If you are unsure you should always consult your vet. The same can be said for puppy stage food, and any credible breeder or rescue centre should be able to recommend the appropriate food.
Homemade dog food or shop bought?
When you see a sign that says 'homemade' most people feel this is a good thing and definitely better quality than shop bought food. This is mostly the case but when it comes to dog food things can become a little more complicated.
The evidence shows that the majority of homemade meals for dogs are deficient in nutrients and the necessary dog vitamins. A study conducted by University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine found 95% to be lacking in a minimum of one key nutrient and 84% in at least two or more.
Is raw dog food good for your dog's health?
There has been much debate over the benefits vs. the risk of feeding your dog a raw food diet. We will address some of the myths and facts associated with raw dog food. The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet was coined in 1993 by Ian Billinghurst (an Australian vet) borne out of a belief that dogs would fare better on a diet pre-domestication of dogs, i.e. when dogs were wild and hunting for their own food (raw and primarily carnivorous). There is some logic in this but equally eating the food of our ancestors may not lead to a longer life…. Of course, since then there has been significant developments in the raw food diet.
You can do raw food in two ways; homemade or buying ready prepared raw food. Homemade raw food does create the challenge already discussed regarding giving the appropriate level of nutrition to your dog. Commercially prepared raw dog foods will be either complementary or complete (as discussed earlier). Supplementation is likely to be required if preparing homemade food or using a complementary raw food.
Like other foods we have already discussed, raw dog food has its pros and cons. We have tried to simplify them here. Positives can include: cleaner teeth, reduced bad breath, shinier coats (albeit some professionals believe this is linked to higher levels of fat in raw foods) and higher levels of energy. The cons of raw food include the risk of infection from bacteria in raw food, the potential for dogs to swallow or choke on bones, and as with all food, you could be providing inadequacies in nutritional requirements.
It's fair to say the topic of raw dog food has led to divisions across the pet world with some vets very much against it and others all for it. Our analysis suggests that whilst there are risks, these can be managed effectively by any responsible owner. We would definitely urge a word of caution regarding bones (choking risk) as well as bacteria, which doesn't pose a risk if you wash your hands, dog bowl etc. However, if any harmful bacteria are present they may not affect your dog but may be present in your dog's faeces. This is certainly worth bearing in mind if you have young children playing in the garden. As with all food, if you have any concerns then you should consult a specialist.
Should I choose grain free?
There is certainly a trend in the pet food world to focus on grain free food (grains include rice, wheat, maize etc.). There is a belief that dogs gaining their energy source from protein is better than from carbohydrate. It is of course worth noting that carbohydrate is present in many foods other than grains.
Again, choosing a food that is balanced and contains all of the nutrients your dog requires is extremely important. If you prefer a grain free diet for your dog, then there is now a very good choice of well-balanced foods on the market. Some recommend grain free for dogs with intolerances. It is worth noting the allergies and intolerances in dogs are pretty rare (approx. 0.1%) so always check with your vet before you assume your dog has some form of allergy.
Grain free doesn't necessarily mean better, although it is another choice that any consumer can make.
In summary, although choosing a dog food can be a minefield, there are some key dog vitamins and nutritional requirements that should drive your decision making. Once your dog is settled on a food and is happy and healthy then you know you have made a good choice. Other dog owners and pet food companies will often instil the virtues of their own brand of dog food but be careful not to be swayed if your dog is already settled and healthy. Paying more doesn't always mean getting the best. For a quick way of seeing how balanced your dog food is, visit all 'about dog food'. Whilst it doesn't replace expert advice it does summarise the many attributes of dog food available on the market.


All trib copies will be sent as PDF copies of the completed zine. If you would like a paper copy the PDF zines will include covers and they can be printed at a local office supply or copy store. Since we're not printing papers zines we cannot make paper trib copies available.


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By Sam Ord
Protest over sacking of woman bus driver in Manchester
Her supporters joined a protest on Tuesday at her final appeal hearing
Protesters gathered on Tuesday (Pic: Geoff Brown)
Bus driver Tracey Scholes is facing dismissal by Go Ahead bosses for being too short. Now she and her colleagues are demanding that Go Ahead immediately reinstate her on full hours and pay.
Many people are outraged at Go North West, the regional organisation of company Go Ahead, for the height restriction that will mostly target women.
Tracey faced her final appeal on Tuesday at the Queens Road, Manchester depot. Around 100 workers and local people marched alongside her to the gate where they protested against management's decision.
Protesters chanted, "Go North West, listen to us, just let Tracey drive her bus."
Tracey was the first woman bus driver at the Manchester depot and has been in the profession for 34 years.
The new height restriction comes after the company altered the position of the bus wing mirrors. This forced Tracey to look behind a post and remove her feet from the pedals to view them.
She faces dismissal from her job unless she accepts losing five hours' pay a week. This would mean she'll lose £230 a month driving school buses where the wing mirrors have not been repositioned.
Tracey, a widow and a mother of three, can't accept any cut in pay.
She and her colleagues have described the profession as a man's business. Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, she said, "I tolerated comments, sexist remarks and much more. I never complained to management, I solved it for myself and kept going."
But now many activists and workers claim Go Ahead have worsened the feeling that busses are built for men.
Currently over 25,000 people have signed the petition calling for Tracey's reinstatement and over a thousand people have written to Go Ahead boss Christian Schreyer.
The protest, petition and letters are part of a campaign launched by Tracey's union, Unite, to support her fight.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, "Tracey Scholes' appointment broke the mould for women in the bus industry.
"She has given 34 years of unblemished service. It seems inconceivable, that due to the blind intransigence of its local management in Manchester, Go Ahead is now ready to watch unlimited damage to its international reputation as a result of the tawdry treatment of Tracey."
The campaign has exposed how sexism in the workplace comes from decisions made at the top. Socialists, trade unionists and women's rights campaigners must escalate the fight.
Sign the petition for Tracey's reinstatement here
Topics Bus workers, inequality, Unite, Women, Women's Liberation
Manchester bus workers strike for pay justice
Fightback at Stagecoach South Yorkshire buses continues


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Arnie Bellini: To Understand ConnectWise, Look to Iron Man
The ConnectWise CEO says that the company's long history and intimate knowledge of the space makes it easier for it to predict what's coming next.
If you've ever talked to anyone who's owned the first issue of a comic book series like Iron Man or X-Men, you know they can tell you everything there is to know about that series. They can tell you who created it, who drew it, and who's authored every storyline. They know the plot twists, the double timelines, and every surprise ending. There's no expert like the one who has been there from the beginning and is invested in knowing the ins and outs of a story.
If the Iron Man series is the evolution of PSA and RMM, ConnectWise is that first-edition owner. So says Arnie Bellini, ConnectWise CEO.
"We watched Al Gore create the internet!," Bellini laughs. "Then we asked what we could do with this amazing creation. We saw that you could actually connect two computers together, and they could share an application, and they could share a database. We were at every one of these 'aha!' moments."
Bellini says that when it comes to professional service automation (PSA) and remote monitoring and management software, ConnectWise's biggest advantage is being able to see where the industry has come from in order to predict what's coming next. In 2018, the company is betting big on security services and "managed everything."
It's the same Digital Transformation song and dance, only a little further up the stack. Every company is a tech company, and every industry is being redefined by an always-connected, service-based economy. The explosion in business technology opportunities has created a skills gap, where there aren't enough tech workers to meet demand. It creates a perfect storm for channel partners, who are primed to fill that gap.
Bellini says that ConnectWise, with its mission of connecting the entire channel ecosystem, is the solution that's going to enable those IT channel shops to leverage that opportunity this year–if it can keep being able to predict where Iron Man is going next, so to speak.
"All of us, all channel partners, are going to be asked to do a whole lot more than just remotely monitor and manage onsite computing," says Bellini. "Just as RMM is now indispensable, management of all different types of solutions has to be connected to where you're doing your job every day. If it's not, then it's too many clicks away."
Bellini posits that this next phase of ConnectWise's mission may be even more transformative than the advent of PSA and RMM. The end goal is the same: How can you do more with the same people you already have? But because of the advanced nature of the technology, and the sheer breadth of applications needing to be managed, it's an even bigger opportunity.
That opportunity is top-of-mind for ConnectWise as it plans for 2018, particularly when it comes to security.
"We're going to be delivering a lot on security this year. Managed security is the biggest growth opportunity for the future, and this is the year to get in on it."
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