text:
DeFi surge, rising TVL and new partnerships underpin Ren's 100% rally
The DeFi boom and search for projects offering interoperability recently sent Ren's price and total value locked to new all-time highs.
Interoperability between blockchains is rapidly becoming one of the buzz phrases being thrown around when discussing decentralized finance and the coins most likely to rally during an altcoin bull run.
The rapid growth of DeFi, its ever expanding total value locked and soaring ETH gas fees further highlight the sector's need for a layer 2 option that also supports the ability to transact value across different networks.
REN's open protocol is designed specifically to fill this need by providing interoperability and liquidity between the top blockchains including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Zcash.
Over the past three weeks the price of REN has increased by more than 200%, going from $0.251 on Dec. 27 to a new all-time high of $0.778 on Jan. 20 driven by a record $369 million in 24-hour volume.
REN/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: TradingView
Three reasons for the recent price surge in the price of REN include the announcement of a collaboration with Google, the continued increase in total value locked on the platform and the ability to earn passive income in multiple cryptocurrencies through the operation of a darknode.
Google software pivot boosts sentiment, addresses RENvm scaling issues
On Jan.19 the REN team tweeted:
Ren has been researching & building on @Asylodev, an open and flexible framework by @Google. @GCPCloud confidential computing relaxes RenVM's economic constraints, allowing for an unbounded scaling solution. #RenVM."
Not long after the tweet, REN price began to rally to a new all-time high. As mentioned in the tweet, Asylo is an open and flexible framework from Google designed to help build portable applications that run on Secure Enclave hardware.
The secure enclave hardware allows users to run general-purpose applications in a secure environment where both the data, and the application itself, cannot be compromised by anyone, including the user. This makes for a more secure experience for all parties involved and helps protect against malicious code and backdoor attacks.
Asylo also makes it possible to port an application from one type of hardware to the next, meaning that developers can support multiple implementations with relative ease, including Intel implementations, AMD implementations, and any others that appear in the future. The diversity of choice this allows is an important feature to ensure decentralization on the network.
Total value locked soars to a new high
Community engagement and added value are key factors when it comes to the long-term success of a blockchain project.
Since the release of the Ren virtual machine mainnet (RenVM) in May 2020, engagement on the platform has steadily increased as Bitcoin holders now had another way to bring their BTC to Ethereum and the growing DeFi space.
As seen in the chart below, the total value locked on the Ren platform reached a new all-time high of $653.6 million on Jan. 20 and a total of 14,670 BTC are locked on the platform to create renBTC.
Total value locked in RenVM. Source: DeFi Pulse
The list of assets that RenVM supports continues to grow with BTC, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Zcash (ZEC), Filecoin (FIL), Terra (LUNA), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Digibyte (DGB) currently available to transact on the Ethereum and Binance blockchains.
Development is currently underway to make it possible to interact on the Polkadot (DOT), Solana (SOL) and Cosmos (ATOM) networks as well, which would further enhance the interoperability provided.
Darknodes, passive income and a decreasing supply
The third driving force behind the recent price appreciation of REN relates to the Ren token use case and how it can help users earn passive income. RenVM is a network of virtual computers that make up a virtual machine, which are also referred to as Darknodes.
REN token holders who wish to operate a darknode need to lock up 100,000 REN which wiil enable them to process transactions on the network and earn a fee in the form of the token transacted. Thus, a darknode operator has the opportunity to earn passive income in the form of multiple different cryptocurrencies from one location.
Ren Darknode Statistics. Source: Renproject
As can be seen in the above graphic, 17.13% of REN's total supply is currently bonded on the platform and supports the operation of darknodes.
During the most recently completed cycle, the network as a whole earned $839,128 in fees in the form of BTC, ZEC, FIL and BCH. The total network fees collected since the launch of the RenVM equals $2.975 million.
The continued addition of new tokens and interoperability with new blockchains will likely see increased usage of the network and an increase in the amount of fees earned. At the current price of $0.6157 it costs $61,570 to operate a darknode.
RenVM total users over time. Source: Dune Analytics
As activity on the network increases, the amount of fees generated will also increase, making it even more lucrative for token holders to operate a darknode. This has the potential to lead to further price appreciation from REN as every new darknode results in a direct decrease in its circulating supply.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should conduct your own research when making a decision.
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Dragon Boat Festival is around the corner, as the 2018 World Cup is also getting underway. Guangdong is expecting a four-day travel rush starting today (June 15th).
Authorities announced that Guangzhou's metro services will be extended by one hour for Dragon Boat Festival (June 18th), and that the Humen Bridge Highway will have traffic controls in place during that day.
It is estimated that the downtown area will see "severe" evening traffic from 17:00-19:00.
The Inner Ring Road (near the Zoo and Xichang Motorway Interchange), Liede Bridge, Zhongshan Avenue West, Huanshi West Road and Dongfeng West Road, as well as the city's main avenues including the Guangzhou Middle Avenue and Huadi Middle Avenue are expected to be worst hit.
Zhujiang New Town, Beijing Road, the Zoo, Canton Tower and Chimelong Safari Park will be the hottest spots and are anticipating more tourists than normal during the holiday.
Since the 2018 World Cup will be in full swing, bars on Xingsheng Road, Yanjiang Road and Yuejiang West Road are expected to become hot spots, roads near these places expect a spike from 5PM - 11PM.
According to Guangzhou Metro, services except on the Knowledge City line will be extended by an hour on June 18th, and more trains will be scheduled to run during the holiday.
On June 17th, metro services on Line 2 will be extended by half an hour and two more night trains will be arranged from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Jiahewanggang Station.
Authorities remind people that travel on highways will NOT be free of charge for cars under seven seats during the Dragon Boat Festival Holiday.
At the same time, Humen Bridge Highway will implement traffic control from 10:00-20:00 during the holiday, especially for trucks with a certified weight of 10 tons or above. It is estimated that 9AM to 8PM will be the rush hours for cars traveling to Guangzhou and Zhuhai and 10AM to 11PM will be the peak time for cars traveling to Dongguan. Authorities suggest that drivers carefully plan their travel to avoid these times.


We will search for useful hints for Japan's healthcare reform by studying specific approaches to healthcare reforms taken by other countries. In 2018, focus is placed on measures that should be taken if Japan's government bonds are undersubscribed, interrupting the flow of public funds to medical fee payments.
- Considering that the two-tier public medical insurance system is gaining more understanding, the project will sophisticate its theory based on examination of literature regarding the latest situation of healthcare systems in other countries.
- The impact that a potential financial collapse in Japan would have on healthcare services for low income people and welfare recipients will be examined.
- FY 2017 financial statements of social healthcare corporations will be collected and analyzed.
- The project leader will attend a conference of ISQua, an international healthcare society, which will take place in Malaysia in September 2018.
- The project will organize a symposium on healthcare reform in the fourth quarter of 2018.
- Many columns will be written and published in English on Aging, Safety-net and Fiscal Crisis, along with associated data, in anticipation of growing international attention on Japan in these fields.
The project will make policy recommendations on the desirable model of social welfare corporations (SWCs), which play a primary role in regional comprehensive care.
- Under the amended Social Welfare Act of 2016, Japan creates a database of the financial statements of all SWCs, approximately 20,000 across the country, from FY 2016 onward. The project makes recommendations on how the database should be analyzed and disclosed.
- A system that allows people with disabilities and the elderly to work on farms with the help of the able-bodied is expected to serve as an important safety net. Some SWCs have already launched initiatives toward this. The project will study challenges for the dissemination of these efforts across Japan.
Under a new framework launched in 2018, the authority and responsibility over healthcare, nursing care and welfare systems are concentrated on prefectural governments, and there is a shortage of specialized human resources to support this move. This project will provide useful information for the development of such professionals.
- Many countries are accelerating knowledge accumulation in population health as a social science. This project will gather literature in this field again to gain a big picture understanding.
- The project leader will visit selected developed countries to examine the use of population health and ICT firsthand.
Makoto KOBAYASHI(Director and Chief Operating Officer, Crecon Medical Assessment Inc.), etc.
Assuming that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will start the full-scale implementation of health technology assessment (HTA) in April 2019, this project will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program continued until FY 2018, and identify the agenda and challenges for the full-scale implementation.
The project also aims to use its research results for the development of future HTA leaders in Japan in cooperation with the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy and international academic societies. Emphasis will be placed on making Japan a global leader in the "value-based healthcare" age by enabling Japan to present solutions to problems associated with HTA systems around the world.
Under the current economic circumstances, local governments need to be increasingly independent in their administration. To help local governments restore a sound financial position amid continued difficulties, the project aims to identify the factors deteriorating their finances and consider improvement measures, while exploring a new form of fiscal discipline that integrates the Act on Assurance of Sound Financial Status of Local Governments with public accounting and local allocation tax.
Through on-site visits and literature reviews, the project has identified typical processes for local governments to fall into financial difficulty and has related them to national policies (individual financial measures taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, such as economic policies, semi-public bonds, and special bonds for public hospitals). Ways to improve the financial status of local governments are studied with attention on local allocation tax, public infrastructure and public facilities. How the efficiency of healthcare administration can be improved will also be considered. By ascertaining the situation of public accounting, the project ultimately pursues a new form of fiscal discipline that integrates the Act on Assurance of Sound Financial Status of Local Governments with public accounting and local allocation tax. Public corporation accounting will also be covered. The nation-wide spread of problems involving land plots with unknown owners will also be examined in the project, in relation to the fixed property tax.
Japan and other advanced nations are searching for efficient and streamlined tax administration to cope with the recent economic situation. The aim of our research is to understand efforts made by other countries (e.g., information technologies used and regulations imposed) and help Japan incorporate them into its tax system.
In FY 2018, the project will study the fixed property tax and FinTech in relation to the tax system. FinTech is considered to contribute to tax filing and tax collection for its bookkeeping function, as well as its payment function. This project will examine ways to use FinTech in the interest of the tax system because it has the potential to make a major contribution to the tax system if its security and tracing features are employed in addition to currently recognized benefits. Regarding the fixed property tax, taxation on the deceased and issues associated with foreign nationals, as well as house and building valuation, will be examined in connection with land plots with unknown owners.
Considering the need for closer cooperation between tax authorities and financial institutions regarding improvement of the efficiency of the tax system, the project will propose better forms of such partnerships. We will also continue studies to promote safeguards against ID theft, current-year imposition of local taxes, unified taxation procedures for national and local taxes, abolishment of salary payment reports, electronic distribution of income tax withholding slips, and special tax collection.
Healthcare expenses are a major fiscal challenge not only for Japan but each nation. Japan has been developing a health insurance program that covers all of its citizens by modeling after the British universal national healthcare system. As the UK is due to leave the EU, its national healthcare is entering a new phase, facing difficult challenges, most notably how to secure healthcare professionals. It is helpful for Japan to study the issues that a national healthcare system must overcome when the country changes direction. For this reason, the project focuses on the British national healthcare system before and after Brexit. We will also study facts about Japan's healthcare finances. With an awareness of the need to research the financial aspects of welfare, the financial situation of welfare in Japan will be studied as well.
Challenges expected for the UK healthcare system include securing outstanding healthcare professionals and finding new sources of research funds as the UK will no longer be able to obtain such funds from the EU. The project will summarize the challenges currently facing the UK healthcare system by estimating post-Brexit healthcare finances based on healthcare finances under the current Conservative Party administration after the end of the previous Labor Party administration. Regarding Japan's healthcare finances, the situation of municipal hospitals under the Local Public Enterprise Act will be studied. Municipal hospitals are the foundations for regional healthcare and their business environment needs to be improved. Local public enterprise accounting will also be examined.


text:
Divinity: Original Sin - The Board Game Update #29
Written by ValH on July 18th, 2022
Following several months of radio silence and some discontent among the backers, Larian Studios brings us this new Kickstarter update for the board game adaptation of Divinity: Original Sin. The update talks about the reasons for all the delays and then goes over some of the recent mechanical changes.
There's also this video:
And here's an excerpt from the actual update:
Hello all and welcome to Update #29 for Divinity Original Sin: The Board Game.
While we're still above the fold, we want to announce that we'll be hosting an AMA live on our Twitch channel (https://www.twitch.tv/larianstudios) on July 19th from 10am to 11:30am Pacific, hosted by Kieron Kelly and designers Noah Cohen and Brian Neff. While we hope this update answers some of your most pressing questions, during the AMA we'll be answering questions from the comments section of this update as well as questions that come in from the live chat. Please post your AMA questions below, and we'll see you Tuesday.
Secondly, we apologize for the long silence in between updates. When we last spoke, we'd recently onboarded new designers and were already beginning to make great strides in solving the design challenges we'd been struggling with for some time. Those problems proved more complex than initially anticipated, and paired with our hesitance to update you with some key elements of the game still in flux, well, here we are posting our next update seven months later.
In hindsight, we wish we had kept you in the loop with smaller updates instead of holding off for so long. Thank you for continuing to show us patience and understanding.
So, let's dig into it: what's been taking so long?
Last year, our playtests were showing us that the game we had was just too complicated and too intimidating. We saw playtests where it took a person with intimate knowledge of the game an hour to explain how to play it, and where some players sitting at the table spent perhaps a total of ten minutes actually playing the game in the space of a two hour session. This told us that a radical rethink was needed, because all of the superfluous complexity was getting in the way of the fun.
Divinity *is* a complex series though, with a focus on depth of gameplay and player choice, so we didn't want to reduce and oversimplify the board game. From a design perspective, we had to go back to the drawing board. With those changes came necessary changes to the art, layout, etc. It was clear the game needed a lot more development & fresh ideas, so we started looking for the right folks to help. In a sense, we took many steps backwards in order to take a giant leap forward, which is what we're presenting today.
Because we were on the cusp of a great game, we weren't ready to cancel the project and begin to refund everyone. We've always said that we wouldn't ship the game unless we were 100% happy with it, so we decided to double-down - quite literally - on our investment. What started as a period of assessment slowly became a reimagining of the game, aimed at solving the issues brought up throughout playtesting.
This is a beast of a board game in terms of scope, so it naturally took the new team some time to come to grips with it, and to really understand how it played and how it could be improved. We were already a few months into that process back in December.
We've added more new folks to the team in the months following that update – Peter Wocken, Matt Paquette and Sarah Kelly have since joined to work on graphic design.
Since our previous update, the game has come a very long way – we're at the means print/production whiteboxing stage as of now – and it's time that we simply sat down with it and *showed* you what's new. There's a lot. In the below video, we'll run through the key changes with two of our designers, showing you actual gameplay as we go. Please note that at this stage, board pieces are flat-printed prototypes for testing, so everything will look much better in premium punchboard when the game goes to print.
We've outlined the major changes below in text form, if you'd rather skip the long video[...]
Related Games: Divinity: Original Sin, Divinity: Original Sin II

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Bills Injury Report: January 13th
by: Mary Margaret Johnson
A Buffalo Bills helmet rest on the sidelines before an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The injury list looks the same on Wednesday as it did on Tuesday for the Buffalo Bills ahead of Saturday's AFC Divisional Round game against the Baltimore Ravens.
DID NOT PRACTICE:
— DE Darryl Johnson (knee)
LIMITED AT PRACTICE:
— WR Cole Beasley (knee)
— WR Stefon Diggs (oblique)
— LB Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring)
— DT Ed Oliver (ankle)
— DT Justin Zimmer (groin)
— QB Jake Fromm (non-injury)
FULL PRACTICE:
— K Tyler Bass (hand)
More Buffalo Bills Stories
Bills will take the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game
by Heather Prusak / Jan 17, 2021
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - Next Sunday the Bills will get a chance to not only advance to the Super Bowl but knock off the defending Super Bowl champions as they'll face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
The Chiefs beat the Browns, 22-17 in the divisional round to move on to host the conference title game as they earned the No. 1 seed this year.
by Allie Berube, Nexstar Media Wire / Jan 17, 2021
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHTM) -- Buffalo has done it again, melting the hearts of NFL fans across the country. As Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left the game in the second half in concussion protocol, Bills fans began donating to "Blessings in a Backpack," a charity helping feed children in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jackson left the game on the last play of the third quarter when his head snapped back and hit the end zone turf. Baltimore was trailing 17-3 and would go on to lose the AFC Divisional by that score, sending Buffalo to the AFC Championship.
"We took it as a challenge." Defense answers bell by slowing down Lamar Jackson
by Paul Stockman / Jan 17, 2021
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - All week long the Bills defense heard about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. There was a lot of talk about whether or not they would be able to contain the dual-threat QB, but they answered the doubters on Saturday night.
"We took it as a challenge," defensive lineman Jerry Hughes said. "So when we see the guys on TV talking about how they don't play defense in Buffalo, and we're going to give up 30 points, yeah that's a challenge that we all see. We take it as a challenge and we accept it, so we went out there and played like we had something to prove and that's how you're supposed to play football at your house, especially in the playoffs."


Interesting piece. I'm a member of FBC Durham and the following are a few short explanations that I hope will help you better understand FBC, its plans, and its mission.
1. FBC is not "itching" for a new sanctuary. We are steadily growing and eventually will have need for increasing the capacity and amenities of our facilities in order to meet the increased demand created by a larger membership body. However, any large construction projects of this sort are barely a blip on our radar screen, so far.
2. FBC is hugely concerned with ensuring that any physical changes to the existing structures and any construction of new facilities be performed in such a manner as to strengthen the fabric of downtown. To this end, we have been actively engaging in dialogue with the various members of the COD planning department, hoping to foster open exchange between the COD and FBC. If we can strengthen Durham through any of our future development, we earnestly desire to do so.
3. FBC is working with an Architect to develop a master plan for our facilities. This is a 20+ year outline of what types of facilities we may be looking at expanding, renovating, or adding to our physical plant as our congregation grows. This master plan will not offer specific design solutions for particular structures, but, it will be sensitive to the historic importance of FBC's current structures while seeking to strengthen the church's presence east of Roxboro and its involvement with the downtown west of Cleveland.
4. There is nothing we are concerned with less than "packing in more people from afar." However, "packing in more people from" the depressed, hurting, and needy east side of Durham weighs heavily on the hearts of both our members and pastoral staff.
I hope this gives you a slightly better understanding of FBC and its future plans. You are cordially invited to join us any Sunday or Wednesday evening for prayer, Bible study, and worship.
We ache for the suffering masses surrounding us. Perhaps you would consider helping us "reconnect the residential areas east of Roxboro" with the abundant life found in Christ. Maybe then, He will work to return the prosperity and growth to these neighborhoods that is being experienced, already, elsewhere in Durham.
Glad to hear that you are concerned with strengthening the fabric of downtown. Perhaps you aren't aware of how damaging the entire block of surface parking is to the east side of downtown. I hope you expeditiously move to develop it - hopefully with mixed-income, mixed-use development. I am sure the neighbors would welcome more of your congregation into their community.
I would also like to make you aware that many members of the community to your east are building and rebuilding their neighborhood through their hard work and good hearts - regardless of their particular faith. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you attended one of their neighborhood potlucks so you could learn more about your neighbors - no requirement to participate in their faith rituals. They are a diverse group of people that could use services that most neighborhoods have more access to - like grocery stores, restaurants, laundromats, etc. I point this out to make you aware that, as you move forward, you should listen to your neighbors, and only build things that your congregation would not hesitate to build in their own neighborhoods.
Yeah, I hate that big empty parking lot to our North, as well. I've been pushing for a skate park and basketball courts over there, until we've a need to develop it. Unfortunately, the city loves all that parking. I guess we give them a cheap lease or something.
It is my hope that whatever FBC builds (if and when it builds), will be useful for the church body, the surrounding communities, and the City of Durham at large. When the final master plan proposal is presented, I'll try and remember to let you know so that anyone interested can have a chance to see the direction that FBC's physical plant might take!
As someone who grew up among the FBC congregation during a very volatile time in Durham's, and America's social & political history, I have to confess to have very strong feelings about the church's historical role during this time on many levels, that have profoundly informed my values and my identity, though in ways that were likely not intended by the church. I am very sensitive to the role the SBC did--and didn't--play, in the fate of the homes that were bought and demolished to clean out the "riff raff" as a result.
I remember well the discussions about it around me in the church halls. It was the behavior of the church "leaders" during those years from 1968-1972 that forever drove me away from the church. I knew many of those poor families that were displaced from many of those homes, and I know what happened to many them after they were pushed out. I went to school with those children; they were my friends, and it drove me, then only an 11-12 year old girl. The world was upside down, and the SBC and the majority of people in FBC landed on the wrong side of right. I came to prefer the company of those families, in those decrepit homes, however rundown, to the church "family" that surrounded me during that time. I often sneaked out of church to spend that time with those families.
I truly hope that the FBC demonstrates a sensitivity to supporting the community that surrounds the church, not only those of its members. I would really love to see the church make real efforts to integrate with the surrounding commmunity and enrich it.
When I was a child, I remember well the church bussing poor white kids & families to the church from east Durham. I also remember how the church made it a point of announcing in church how they had bussed these people in to "bring them to Jesus."
Having been one of those very poor children coming to church, I can't tell you how humiliating that was. I can't begin to describe to you how painful it was to be given hand-me-downs from the wealthier families and then be jeered and taunted when I showed up in church wearing them. And while the church was bussing in white families, we were also working to bull doze the homes of the poor black families who could have walked to the church had they been welcome. We did NOTHING to help them. My pet name for FBC back then was "The Millionaire Club." I hope that FBC has experienced a great deal of cultural change since that time.
I did not intend this note to be a flame, and I truly apologize if anyone is offended by my emotional reaction to the church's tainted past. I hope that FBC's concern for the poor and the needy is now truly color blind, blind to class AND gender, however, what I hear of FBC's history in recent years and SBC in general tells me the jury is still out on whether FBC will get there in the near future.
With all of the wealth that the church has accumulated over the years, surely the church is capable of making a significant effort in this regard.
The church was designed by R. H. Hunt of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The presentation drawing was published in Mouzon William Brabham's Planning Modern Church Buildings (1928).
I've recounted the history of the First Baptist Church in Durham in detail here. The church decided to move from its N. Mangum St. location during the 1920s and construct a larger sanctuary on Cleveland St. Although Cleveland St. was a residential neighborhood of large well-appointed houses, it appears that there was a previous Primitive Baptist mission located at or near this site.
Rendering of the proposed new building, 1924.
The resulting large, neoclassical structure was completed in 1927.
Below, a clip from the H. Lee Waters films of Durham, showing kids playing and rollerskating in front of the church. In the northward-facing shots, you can see the Blackwell Markham house in the background.
View of the northeast portion of downtown ~1960, with First Baptist at the end of Chapel Hill St. Notice the surrounding residences.
An education building wing was added to the south side of the church in 1962.
The loop and the conversion of the last block of East Chapel Hill St. into a parking lot have somewhat diminished the effect, but this building remains the best remaining terminating vista in downtown - from the moment you cross Five Points heading east on Chapel Hill St., you see this impressive building at the end of the road.
First Baptist is also likely the largest private landowner on east side of downtown, owning approximately two city blocks, the vast majority of which is parking.
Across that gulf of parking are the remaining houses of Cleveland St., in the Cleveland St. portion of the Cleveland-Holloway historic district. The big and beautiful houses that once surrounded First Baptist were demolished via urban renewal, the Loop, and by the church itself.
Rumor on the street is that the church is itching for new sanctuary. I don't know if they would plan to build it on their vacant block to the north or not. I would encourage them to think more broadly. It has been awhile since I've directly criticized churches on here - although Housing for New Hope arose somehow out of (and I may not have this right) First Presbyterian and St. Philips. But churches are often the last ones standing in an obliterated urban area, and accumulate large land holdings. Too often, they create large landscapes of surface parking that are little utilized outside of Sunday. At worst, they are, nationally, frequent agents of demolition of historic structures as they expand.
Building community, a mission for most churches, is a broader endeavor than fellowship among the people who drive to the church and providing charity. The physical environment surrounding churches is extremely important in determining the success of the surrounding neighborhood. What is needed on the majority of the big, nearly empty lot to the north of the current First Baptist sancturary is mixed-use (corner grocery + residences), mixed-income development that will reconnect the residential areas east of Roxboro (and the Holloway portion of the historic district) with those west (the Cleveland St. portion of the historic district, which connects to Little Five Points.) I hope that they will consider reconnecting community as part of their mission - not just packing in more people from afar on Sunday.
The church was designed by R.


text:
Q: webpack-import-glob-loader not working with `.scss` files in Rails 6 + Webpacker project I'm in the process of migrating at Rails 6 project from sprockets to webpacker. So far, so good, up until this point.
In the original original application.scss of the project, there are statements that import stylesheets that are within subdirectories. The folder structure looks like this:
app/assets/stylesheets
- components/
- helpers/
- layout/
- mixins/
- settings/
- variables/

Accordingly, the application.scss has the following statements:
@import "variables/*";
@import "mixins/*";
@import "settings/*";
@import "layout/*";
@import "components/*";
@import "helpers/*";

I've followed the installation instructions of webpack-import-glob-loader. Because I'm using webpacker, there is no webpack.config.js. Instead, it's in config/webpack/environment.js. I added the recommended configuration to environment.js like this:
const { environment } = require('@rails/webpacker')
environment.config = environment.config.merge({
  module: {
    rules: [
      {
          test: /\.js$/,
          use: 'webpack-import-glob-loader'
      },
      {
          test: /\.scss$/,
          use: 'webpack-import-glob-loader'
      },
    ]
  }
});

module.exports = environment;

I also configured webpacker to use app/assets as the source_path, so it should be able to see all the folders within app/assets.
To be sure this works, I commented out all the import statements in application.scss and added this:
@import "stylesheets/variables/colors.scss";

This built fine when I ran ./bin/webpack.
Now when trying out webpack-import-glob-loader, I tried this one statement:
@import "stylesheets/variables/**/*.scss";

This returns the following error when I run ./bin/webpack:
ERROR in ./app/assets/packs/styles/application.scss
Module build failed (from ./node_modules/mini-css-extract-plugin/dist/loader.js):
ModuleBuildError: Module build failed (from ./node_modules/sass-loader/dist/cjs.js):
SassError: Can't find stylesheet to import.
  ╷
9 │ @import "stylesheets/variables/**/*.scss";
  │         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Any suggestions?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We are in the midst of designing our reusuable shopping bags and they will be in store in the next few months. In the meantime these recyclable paper bags will have to suffice for or bulk food shopping. Do you have reusable shopping bags? No? Stick around because a giveaway will be on its way.
Play along with our Creatively Squared challenge to win one of three vouchers to use in store.
I needed to create a space where not just functional eco-friendly or zero-waste products were sold, but aesthetically beautiful products were available.


As soon as he was born, Sonya's baby was taken from her. Diagnosed with spina bifida, he went to live in an institution 100 miles away from his home.
With access to good quality health and education, it's hard for us to imagine being told you are not equipped to look after your own child. Here, disabled children with complex disabilities tend to live at home with their families. Parents provide their care regardless of whether they are tube fed or need regular medication. But, in many countries, parents of disabled children are told they cannot provide the care that their child needs.
Sonya instinctively knew her son would be better off with her. But, where the culture expects a disabled child to be raised in 'care', it's difficult for parents to speak up.
Lumos worked with Sonya to bring her baby home. We provided her with support before he came home and we continue to support Sonya and her son now that he is living with his mother where he belongs.
Watch Sonya tell her story in her own words in a video about life with her son.


With this brand new generic travel blog generator you can generate automatically new travel blogs wherever, however, or whenever you travel.
Lol, this is really funny, although Im a little upset that mine isnt the first generic travel blog!
Thanks, Sammy! You have an impressive travel blog at sammysgenericblog.blogspot.com.


To override dh_command, add a target named override_dh_command to the rules file. When it would normally run dh_command, dh will instead call that target. The override target can then run the command with additional options, or run entirely different commands instead. See examples below.
This can be used without a debian/compat file.
Note that dh normally skips running commands that it knows will do nothing. With --no-act, the full list of commands in a sequence is printed.
Often you'll want to pass an option to a specific debhelper command. The easy way to do with is by adding an override target for that command.
Sometimes the automated dh_auto_configure(1) and dh_auto_build(1) can't guess what to do for a strange package. Here's how to avoid running either and instead run your own commands.
Here is how to force use of Perl's Module::Build build system, which can be necessary if debhelper wrongly detects that the package uses MakeMaker.
Here is an example of overriding where the dh_auto_* commands find the package's source, for a package where the source is located in a subdirectory.
If your package can be built in parallel, please either use compat 10 or pass --parallel to dh. Then dpkg-buildpackage -j will work.
Here is a way to prevent dh from running several commands that you don't want it to run, by defining empty override targets for each command.
Adding to the example above, suppose you need to chmod a file, but only when building the architecture dependent package, as it's not present when building only documentation.
In compat 10 (or later), dh creates a stamp file debian/debhelper-build-stamp after the build step(s) are complete to avoid re-running them. Inside an override target, dh_* commands will create a log file debian/package.debhelper.log to keep track of which packages the command(s) have been run for. These log files are then removed once the override target is complete.
In compat 9 or earlier, each debhelper command will record when it's successfully run in debian/package.debhelper.log. (Which dh_clean deletes.) So dh can tell which commands have already been run, for which packages, and skip running those commands again.
Each time dh is run (in compat 9 or earlier), it examines the log, and finds the last logged command that is in the specified sequence. It then continues with the next command in the sequence. The --until, --before, --after, and --remaining options can override this behavior (though they were removed in compat 10).
The following options are deprecated. It's much better to use override targets instead. They are not available in compat 10.
In the above options, cmd can be a full name of a debhelper command, or a substring. It'll first search for a command in the sequence exactly matching the name, to avoid any ambiguity. If there are multiple substring matches, the last one in the sequence will be used.


text:
Emirates expands code sharing deal with South African Airways
The agreement will see the two airlines leverage each other's route networks, cargo services and flight schedules
South African Airways (SAA) said on Tuesday that it had signed a deal with Emirates to expand an existing codeshare agreement, in a rare bright spot for the cash-strapped airline.
The state-owned carrier, which has not made a profit since 2011 and survives on government handouts, said the agreement would see the two airlines leverage each other's route networks, cargo services and flight schedules to boost passenger flows.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been at pains to stabilise ailing firms like SAA, but the extent of their financial difficulties has meant slow progress.
SAA, which hopes to turn a profit by 2021 by cutting jobs and routes, expects to make another large loss this financial year, despite a recent government cash injection of 5bn rand ($350m).
"The expansion of our commercial relationship will further strengthen key focus areas of the implementation of our turnaround plan," SAA CEO Vuyani Jarana said.
Reuters December 18, 2018


Richard Browning, Chief Test Pilot and Founder of Aeronautical Innovation Company, Gravity Industries.
Launched in March 2017, the dream was to reimagine human flight with an elegant partnership between mind, body and machine, exploiting leading edge technology. This vision lead to the creation of the Gravity Industries Jet Suit.
Gravity has to date been experienced by over a billion people globally with video views alone running at more than 60m within seven days of launch. In the first 12 months Gravity executed 46 flight events across 16 countries including four TED talks.
Both members of the IMechE and non-members are welcome to attend this event.
To book online, select the number of tickets and click the "Book now" link above, then proceed to the Shopping Cart and sign in using your online account details.
If you don't have an online account, don't worry as it only takes a minute to create one! (watch a video on how to do it by clicking here).
Alternatively, you can pay by BACS / cheque, email for details.
During the afternoon, there will be a lecture presented to school children at Bishop Wordsworth's School.
Richard Browning, Chief Test Pilot & Founder of Aeronautical Innovation Company, Gravity Industries. | Launched in March 2017, the dream was to reimagine human flight, this lead to the Jet Suit. | Gravity have executed 46 flight events, with videos having been viewed by over a billion people.


text:
Salone Adopts "Saly Declaration on Women's Access to Information, Right to Communicate"
HomeNewsBreaking NewsSalone Adopts "Saly Declaration on Women's Access to Information, Right to Communicate"
Participants from Governments, Media, Civil Society, Inter-Governmental bodies, from eleven West African countries (Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, The Gambia, Mali, Togo, and Liberia) have adopted a Declaration called the "SALY DELCARATATION ON WOMEN'S ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RIGHT TO COMMUNICATE (December 2020)" after a three-day meeting in Saly-Senegal on December 8-10, 2020, under the aegis of Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA) and its partners.
The resolutions reached recommended among other issues that Governments shall set up information and documentation centers (physical and digital) to facilitate access to information for citizens, especially women; and to Decentralize and Digitize access to information that will enhance proper records and data management.
It shall also produce gender-specific data to enable women to make informed decisions and also to better participate in governance; should capacitate the media to produce comprehensive and gender-sensitive information; should Amend any law(s) that limit women's access to information and to communicate and encourage countries that already have access to information laws to amend their laws to specifically recognize and guarantee women's rights of access to information and to ensure that the implementation of these laws specifically give effect to women's rights.
It could be recalled that four delegates from various institutions in Sierra Leone including the Ministry of Information and Communications, the National Commission for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED), Women in the Media Sierra Leone and Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) participated in the three days colloquium held in the Senegal (Royal Hotel) from the 8 – 10 December, 2020.
Organised by Panos West Africa Institute (PIWA) in collaboration with UN Women, UNESCO and other partners, the objective of the meeting was to strengthen synergies for the promotion of the right of access to information and women's right to communicate.
It was also aimed at facilitating the exchange, within countries and at regional level, initiatives, experiences and good practices in the promotion of Right to Access Information (RTI), and its follow-up.
National Stadium Neglected?
UN P.R Bids Farewell to President Bio


Declared as legally blind at the age of 15 after a bout of illness, Shanmugam, now aged 51, had lost all hope.
With just his aged mother to look after his every need, life was difficult. Sankara's team lit up his otherwise dark life by providing mobility orientation and training in activities of daily living. He was taught to identify food, color, sounds and textures.
He was also provided a coconut ripping machine free of cost through which he could make a livelihood. He was given a walking stick and bus passes and train passes. He is able to lead an independent and dignified life.
Shanmugam is able to cook a simple meal for himself and wipes away a tear as he remembers his mother who passed away a few years ago. But then, a smile lights up his face as he points out his neighbours who helped even out the ground near his doorstep to make it easier for him to walk.
There is light, after all.


We are an unstoppable mother - daughter team with a passion for photographing every joy-filled moment on your special day. Whether it's your proposal, engagement, wedding or honeymoon, we are here to capture your love.
Lisa DeNeffe Photography has been capturing families in the Palo Alto Bay Area for over twelve years. When Lisa's daughter Audrey joined the team, Lisa realized she could embrace the world of engagements and weddings. This dynamic team breathe fun and passion into wedding and engagement photography.
Our passion is simple. We take beautiful photos to capture your love. We create stunning finished products that will last a lifetime and create legacy beyond your special day.
At DeNeffe Studios, we believe that each wedding is a unique, one of a kind experience, and our collections reflect this. Each of our collections are custom designed to enhance your wedding day experience. A variety of beautiful finished products are available based on how you choose to preserve your memories. Included in every Collection are the best digital files from your special day.
Our portrait sessions are perfect for proposals and engagements. Each of our wedding collections include a complementary engagement session. Otherwise, our hour long proposal or engagement sessions begin at $695.
Thank you Lisa and Audrey for being a huge part of the success and celebration of our wedding day! We can't thank you enough for magically capturing our day and being so fun to work with. You were both so discrete throughout our day, yet were able to capture stunning images of those in-between special moments as well as our extended family shots. We are so excited for our album!
Lisa and Audrey just recently took our engagement pictures and we honestly had such a great time and made some great memories while doing it! They make you feel comfortable and enjoy your experience. Not only was the photoshoot a blast but the pictures were absolutely stunning!! I could not have been more happy with my experience working with her and her team and plan to shoot with them again very soon!
Lisa and Audrey photographed our wedding in May and we are thrilled with what they captured while remaining unobtrusive throughout the day. It has been a pleasure working with Lisa; she is patient, caring, and helpful! I highly recommend Lisa for weddings and family portraits because she is artistic and professional, yet easy-going. We are looking forward to having her photograph our family as it grows!
Lisa and her team went above and beyond to capture the most beautiful photos of our wedding day. She strategically and beautifully captured every moment, even our horse-drawn carriage ride! We couldn't be happier with our beautiful wedding photos!
Thank you Lisa! OMG the photos look so beautiful, we can't thank you enough! We had so much fun doing our engagement shoot (even though we both don't like having our photos taken!) You and Haley made us so comfortable and it meant everything to us to have our fur baby be part of it!
Lisa DeNeffe is a true professional. Lisa not only flawlessly executed our vision, but also she was able to capture the small moments that we will cherish forever. We look forward to working with her again in the future!


Citation: Bandiera G, Romani O, Tokuda H, Hariya W, Oishi K, Serra X. Good-sounds.org: A framework to explore goodness in instrumental sounds. In: Devaney J, Mandel MI, Turnbull D, Tzanetakis G, editors. ISMIR 2016. Proceedings of the 17th International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference; 2016 Aug 7-11; New York City (NY). [Canada]: ISMIR; 2016. p. 414-9.
We introduce good-sounds.org, a community driven framework based on freesound.org to explore the concept of goodness in instrumental sounds. Goodness is considered here as the common agreed basic sound quality of an instrument without taking into consideration musical expressiveness. Musicians upload their sounds and vote on existing sounds, and from the collected data the system is able to develop sound goodness measures of relevance for music education applications. The core of the system is a database of sounds, together with audio features extracted from them using MTG's Essentia library and user annotations related to the goodness of the sounds. The web frontend provides useful data visualizations of the sound attributes and tools to facilitate user interaction. To evaluate the framework, we carried out an experiment to rate sound goodness of single notes of nine orchestral instruments. In it, users rated the sounds using an AB vote over a set of sound attributes defined to be of relevance in the characterization of single notes of instrumental sounds. With the obtained votes we built a ranking of the sounds for each attribute and developed a model that rates the goodness for each of the selected sound attributes. Using this approach, we have succeeded in obtaining results comparable to a model that was built from expert generated evaluations.


The ultimate eighties band available for clubs, weddings, private parties and corporate events.
A 6 piece live show dedicated to recreating the biggest hits of the 80s with songs from artists that include Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Van Halen, Phil Collins, Blondie, Huey Lewis and the News, B52's and Bon Jovi.
So, when you need to go back in time, pump up your hair and roll up your jacket sleeves, simply get in touch by clicking the Contact link at the top of the page.
We also have a Facebook site !
What are people are saying about us ?


text:
Q: Strategies for managing code size - PIC18 XC8 I'm new to embedded C development and I'm looking for some general principals/guidelines for managing the size of the generated code.
In my specific example I'm using XC8 on a PIC18F4550. My code so far uses about 13% of the space. Once I use "time.h" and 1/2 functions from it, the usage jumps to 45%! I realise that the free XC8 compiler does not optimise but I'm still very surprised to see just how much space is used.
What I'm looking for a tips / staring points along the lines of

*

*Alternatives to the standard libraries that implement on small targeted subsets of the functionality. E.g. a date/time lib. i.e. are there repositions I can get useful routines from?

*How to see what is using all the space. (Listing/map files - and tips for analysing them)

*Any other tips / resources.

EDIT:
I found a nice implementation without using stdlib here: https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/38275/convert-between-date-time-and-time-stamp-without-using-std-library-routines
The general question still stands though. Are there guidelines, good repository sources etc

A: I've done some looking around and here are the tips I can find

*

*Write better code. Code size and speed must be considered at each step of the way.

*C compiler/linker will only use the functions you actually use. So just including a .h should not increase code size (much)

*Standard functions are however often more generic than you require. It is possible to write smaller versions that only do what you required

*Shared strings as per @BrianK's answer

Then there are some alternatives that don't address the core issue of code size but may need to be considered if all else fails

*

*Use a PIC with more space

*Use an optimising compiler, e.g. MPLAB Pro

*Use assembler for some or all of the code

I would still like an easy way of seeing which functions and included functions are using the most space. I'll update here if I find an easy way to do so.

A: Implementing your own version of standard functions instead of including the entire library can help. There are a million smaller, more specific optimizations that you can do, but a good reference collection of those kinds of tricks is the book Hacker's Delight. It's very practical (especially for bit twiddling like you often do on a microcontroller) and I recommend it.

A: Here are some things I have done when using Microchips C18 compiler. Maybe the concepts will apply to your compiler:
- declare each string one time. Put in a separate .c file and use a .h file to reference them. In other words don't duplicate display messages multiple times.
- declare strings so that they go in rom. This wont help you with ROM (code space) but it will save memory.
- write tight code. If several lines of code are duplicated, put them in a function. Copy / paste is not necessary an embedded programmers best friend.
- like you already thought of, implement your own functions instead of including a library. I once saved a ton of space by creating my own itoa() function. Try not to use printf.


In understanding the realities of marketing in the digital era, Over The Moon Media ventures to apply the same ROI-based approach to digital advertising as well as its integration into your existing strategies.
While digital strategies don't all offer the same immediacy as traditional direct response vehicles, we seek to integrate both short and long term strategies into your marketing campaign as necessary. While on-line shopping habits can differ from traditional direct response buying patterns, we integrate both the long and short term approaches to filling your sales funnel and following potential new customers through the acquisition process.


Our wedding day took its own course. Our photographer was actually mean and a little rude. I remember him yelling at the wedding party to not look so grouchy in the photos as they all boiled in heat and squinted in the highest UV index of the summer. One of the vehicles carrying the wedding party broke down on the way to our picture location which was 45 minutes away from the reception instead of 15. And there was no cell service to call our parents to tell them we would be late. We were an hour (maybe more) late to our wedding reception (surprise, surprise, right?). Some of the DJ's equipment got stolen at the gas station but somehow he managed to still get everyone out of the floor. We headed to the nearby chalet where we would spend our first night together only to find we had grabbed one of the bridesmaids suitcases that looked like ours.
When I think about our wedding day compared to our marriage, it was just that, one day. It's almost comical to think of how much time and money we spend on crossing the starting line so to speak when running the actual race is where the rubber hits the road. A few lessons stand out as I reflect back on the last ten years this marathon called marriage.
1. Be on the same team.
At a friend's wedding ceremony, their pastor said, "If you were in a jungle and found yourself encircled by lions (why you'd be doing this I don't know), you wouldn't waste time arguing about who's idea it was to get out of the car. You would stand back to back, together deciding how you were going to get out of it safely."
Perhaps this resonated with me because I knew I would be tempted to blame him for getting out of the vehicle, when it fact, it was probably my idea and it would not change the fact that we were in a serious predicament. Denial runs deep. Blaming doesn't change where you are, it only determines how long you spin your wheels before moving together toward a solution.
Marriage has an enemy and it's not your spouse. The Bible says the actual enemy (the Devil) is on the prowl looking to devour. If he hasn't already, he will try to devour your marriage. Regardless of yesterday, today can be the day that together, having each other's backs, you say "What are we going to do next?" We are on the same team.
In 10 years, you'll be glad you did.
2. Fight for your spouse or you will fight with your spouse.
In the early years, exasperated with my not-so-subtle attemts, he said, "Why do you always want us to be better? We're fine!"
"Because," I said (or maybe shouted), "I refuse to have a mediocre marriage!"
By the grace of God, I've learned how to fight for, rather than with. And believe me, there will always be some sort of fight. Decide where you will put it. And hang in there because in approximately 9.5 years, he might even thank you.
3. Do it God's way.
Around the time we got married, a book called Love and Respect came out. In a very small nutshell, a man's greatest need is to be respected and a woman's greatest need it to be loved. I used to think that respect was something to be earned. I was mortified the day I thought about the reverse: if he were to withold love until I was "deserving" of it. It was a step of faith to believe that it had little to do with what was deserved, and everything to do with what was needed. And I do mean needed. The rest of the world does a dang good job of making your man feel not man enough. Unfortunately, I spent the first few years adding fuel to fire.
Let his marriage and home be a place where he is safe and where his greatest need is met. If he feels like a failure at home, you better believe the enemy won't have to work too hard to make the grass look greener elsewhere. Ask God to make your marriage the place he feels the most successful. Where he feels successful is where he feels respected. Where he is respected, he will feel safe. Where is is safe, he can be vulnerable.
If you are like me and you don't like it and don't want to, and at first you don't succeed, try try again. Because not liking it and not wanting to doesn't change the fact that it is his greatest need. On the day when your husband is boldly stepping up as the man you always knew God intended him to be, and his marriage is a safe haven, and he loves coming home because he feels respected, you'll be glad you did.
Even if it takes 10 years.
4. Go back to God.
In times of selfishness and frustration, I've often asked God, does this require me to forgive more than You've already forgiven me? Does this require more grace than You have given me? Does this require me to love more than You've loved me? For 10 years, the answer has been the same. Not even close.
The current will always pull you away from him. Schedules, jobs, kids, being tired, demands, other people, hurt feelings and hardened hearts. There have been many times where I was tired. Tired of initiating, tired of being the first one to apologize, tired of seeking reconciliation, or tired of forgiving. I told God these things, and He said: Do you want a good marriage or not? Move toward him. It wasn't him who would pay the price, it was us. (See #1).
As Christian women especially, we tend to have hang-ups about role of the guy being the spiritual leader. (By the way, call me if you know exactly what that looks like, or write a book!) He's supposed to do this and that and go first. (See #5). If you want to strengthen your marriage, just go first in some small but steadfast way. "We" wins when someone does. If you do the waiting dance, you'll actually do the drifting dance.
7. Pray first and always.
A wise friend once told me, I always talk to God before I talk to my spouse. He has a way of showing me what's really going on. Oh the fights that could've been avoided if I'd actually done this from the beginning.
Only God can change your spouse. Good news, you're free to pursue your calling in life because that isn't it. Do what God tells you to do in your marriage and pray pray pray for Him to do the rest. And pray until He does.
You likely know your man better than anyone else. This means you are the insider who knows how to pray specifically and strategically for your man. You likely know what he's afraid of (even if he doesn't), what he struggles with, what he's insecure about, and what he's gifted at. No one knows how to pray for your man like you do. So, do it– be his prayer warrior until he is the man you know God intended him to be.
The 30's are when some people start talking about paying off mortgages, saving for retirement and planning for the future. We rarely think about what we need to do now so our marriage is thriving decades from now.
We snuck away for a vacation in May to celebrate our anniversary a few months early. We wrestled a little with the decision because it seemed like there were a million more practical ways to spend money. Ultimately we decided it was an investment in us. Just like going to bed together is an investment in us. Just like having date night in or out is an investment in us. Just like not watching our show without the other person is an investment in us. Just like picking up his underwear and putting it in the laundry basket is an investment in us. Just like putting our phones down is an investment in us. Just like saying thank you is an investment in us.
I suspect a marriage that is invested in will pay big dividends to each other, our families and those in our circles of influence for years to come.
Mike and I went through this program last year and all I can say is I wish we would've done it sooner. We all have pain and baggage we bring into our relationships and marriage has a wonderful way of revealing what lies in our hearts. Marriage only intensifies insecurities, fears, pains and conflicts that existed before. Freedom Session is a tool that allows you to bring past pain to the surface, shows you how it is affecting the present and frees you to rewrite the future. Freedom Session will help you unpack emotional baggage over 28 weeks instead of over 28 years.
10. Let God be God so your spouse can be your spouse.
It was about 3 months into our marriage, and the first of many nights I would be awake and upset only further aggravated by the fact that he was sleeping soundly. I sat in our living room crying and saying to myself, this is not what I thought it would be. I flipped open our premarital counselling workbooks, probably looking for some sort of ammunition for the morning. I opened to the big bold letters, "you can only change you."
I couldn't tell you now what the conflict was. Only that like everyone else who thought marriage would satisfy the deepest longing for love, security and significance, it didn't. Don't get me wrong, my marriage is a place where I feel loved, secure and significant, but only because I stopped expecting Mike to fill my soul in a way that only God can. I slowly, over many years, changed who I was looking to for those deepest needs.
Marriage is simply an earthly picture of a heavenly reality. God's design for marriage works in a way that reflects HIM. What better way for the good news of Jesus Christ to be understood than a faithful, loving husband laying down everything for His beautiful bride. And the beautiful bride accepting His invitation to submit to a permanent, secure, and faithful kind of love.
This is the extravagent love of Jesus– God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.
It's the fairytale we all dream of– being gently but relentlessly pursued by the ultimate and perfect lover of our soul who laid everything down simply to be us.
By accepting this invitation from God, you are taking the first step to the most intimate, satisying relationship that will free your spouse to be your spouse, as you let God be God.