As you have probably heard by now, a buffer overflow was recently discovered in GNU libc's resolver code which can allow a malicious DNS server to inject code into a vulnerable client. This was announced yesterday as CVE-2015-7547. The best sources of information on the bug are currently Google's Online Security Blog and Carlos O'Donnell's in-depth analysis.
Naturally, people have started asking whether FreeBSD is affected. The FreeBSD Security Officer has not yet released an official statement, but in the meantime, here is a brief look at the issue as far as FreeBSD is concerned.
First of all: neither FreeBSD itself nor native FreeBSD applications are affected. While the resolver in FreeBSD's libc and GNU libc share a common ancestry, the bug was introduced when the latter was rewritten to send A and AAAA queries in parallel rather than sequentially when the application requests both.
However, Linux applications running under emulation on a FreeBSD system use the GNU libc and are therefore vulnerable unless patched. I believe, but have not verified, that the linux_base-c6 port contains a vulnerable version of GNU libc while the older linux_base-f10 port does not. For now, it is safest to assume that they are both vulnerable.
The issue can be mitigated by only using resolvers you trust, and configuring them to avoid sending responses which can trigger the bug.
If you already have your own resolvers, you can configure them to avoid sending UDP responses larger than 2048 bytes. If the response does not fit in 2048 bytes, the server will send a truncated response, and the client should retry using TCP. While a similar bug exists in the code path for TCP requests, I believe that it can only be exploited by a malicious resolver, and interposing your own resolver will protect affected Linux systems and applications.
If your resolvers run something else, please consult the documentation and look for a way to restrict the size of UDP responses to 2048 bytes.
You must then edit /etc/resolv.conf on all affected systems to point to your new resolver. If you are running Linux applications under emulation, make sure that there is no /compat/linux/etc/resolv.conf, as it would override the system-wide /etc/resolv.conf.
Note that unlike FreeBSD libc, GNU libc does not automatically pick up changes to /etc/resolv.conf, so you will have to restart all affected Linux services and applications.
Still needs correction (trailing semicolon was OK; infix colon was not).
No, it's correct. Terminating semicolon for BIND, separating colon for Unbound.
You're welcome, but my name is not Dag.
My apologies. How are you addressed? Smorgrav? Dag-Erling?
The usual algorithm is to start at the beginning and stop at the first space, so Dag-Erling, or DES if you're in a hurry or can't pronounce Dag-Erling.
I am running Free BSD 6.3 and BIND Version 9.
Am I missing anything in the syntax ?
I doubt you're running 6.3, which was discontinued six years ago. Perhaps you meant 9.3? In any case, the golden rule when asking for help with a configuration issue is to include the configuration file (or a link to pastebin).
BIND 9.8.4.2 was discontinued three years ago.


text:
Remix of the Month – January 2011
Submitted by Mark / 11 years ago / Competitions
 So the time has come around once again where we as a community can collectively decide upon who unleashed the most jaw-dropping remix of last year. We have made a thorough record of every single remix that passed through our blog in 2011, with each track having an equal opportunity of making it through…
Britney Spears – 'Till The World Ends feat. Ke$ha & Nicki Minaj (The Femme Fatale Remix)
No sooner than news sprung that Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha would be jumping on the official remix of Britney Spears's new single 'Till The World Ends, it decided to leak onto the net a whole three days early. It seems that artists are asking their friends to jump on the single version of their releases…
Britney Spears – 'Till The World Ends
It was around this time we were expecting to hear Britney Spears's second single 'Till The World Ends from her new album Femme Fatale, but I didn't think it would necessarily be today. The interesting part of this track is not that Dr. Luke was behind it, but the fact that it was written by…
Ke$ha – Sleazy feat. Andre 3000 (Remix)
I have to apologise for being slow on this one, I was traveling for most of Friday so had no access to my computer or the Internet. What a shock I had in store for me when I did log-on though, who would honestly have thought before yesterday that Andre 3000 would jump on a…
Ke$ha – We R Who We R (Official Music Video)
Ke$ha has finally premiered the official music video for her smash hit We R Who We R, four weeks after the song originally topped the Billboard Hot 100, but still well ahead of its UK release. I guess she was going for a happy medium. The lack of a video obviously didn't perturb her US…
N.E.R.D – Hot-N-Fun (Official Music Video)
[pro-player width='560′ height='340′ type='video' image='http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/6596405/NERD+_pub+photo_small.jpg']http://video.ak.facebook.com/cfs-ak-ash2/33238/829/1480943070916_51194.mp4[/pro-player] N*E*R*D returned today with the premiere of their new music video Hot-N-Fun – the first offering from the boys' fourth studio album Nothing (which should be released September 7th). Telephone director Jonas Ã…kerlund was in charge of shooting the video, and I have to admit it does massively look like…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"Soon our (Wolk) movement entitled 'Dump the Lower Merion School Directors' will be active"
Arthur Wolk is a Philadelphia lawyer who is suing our school district for $55,000,000.
Sign the petition to stop this lawsuit against our schools.
Wolk's lawsuit states laptops should not be offered free of charge by public schools.


Rangemasters Elise captures the essence of classic French range cooking inspired by generations of gourmet excellence. Here you get a complete cooker package with cooker, splashback and extractor hood. Elise dual fual 90 cm has six burners, 3 spacious ovens and one storage compartment.


Can I automate net use K: \\IP_of_share\path_to_share /user: your_share_user your_share password command?
You can. Consult microsoft docs to see how to insert a start-up script in winPE image.
YOU DID NOT CREATE DHCP FILE. HOW IT WILL SUCESS.
Very nice guide but when I launch the pxe boot it hangs at wpeinit, tried goggling but could not find a working solution. Have you come across this issue?
Now I have newer motherboards and the network don't work. I think I have to include the NIC drivers for those board. Can you tell how to do that?
Is there a way to specify an unattend.txt answer file? Ideally I'd like to build the winpe to then get a just in time generated unattend.txt file from my katello/satellite6 server. My goal is to build win systems using Satellite that have puppet installed and use puppet for ALL post install work. The new systems would use a Satellite/katello capsule as the puppet master.
1.The file dnsmasq.conf, this line should be corrected dhcp-option=6,192.168.20.2,192.168.20.5, that my ip dns, use your property ip.
2. In the case of the Samba server, if you have SELinux active as it should be my recommendation is to use these three additional commands so as not to inconvenience once you want to access from windows to the samba server.
3. I had problems with the pxe when capturing the iso image, so I decided to make a change to use the same samba server to do the capture, leaving the menu as follows.
What if i have an ISO file with both architectures 32 and 64 bits? is there a way to make one WinPE with that?
No, I don't think will work, after all you can't run both architectures at the same time when you generate the PE image.
Check permissions on the share, reboot the system, verify or turn off windows firewall and antivirus, check credentials, make sure the client has enough memory.
Hi, used win 10 PE image, trying to install server 2012 over pxe.


text:
Home | Opinion | 'India emerged as the nerve center of global health': Prime Minister Modi lays foundation stone for AIIMS Rajkot
'India emerged as the nerve center of global health': Prime Minister Modi lays foundation stone for AIIMS Rajkot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rajkot in Gujarat on Thursday.
"Saying goodbye to this year with a new health infrastructure reflects the difficulties we face and also represents the hope we have for the year," said PM Modi, adding that the last day of 2020 is dedicated to all health workers who They are putting their lives on the line to keep us safe.
The project will mean the generation of thousands of jobs, good health care and the development of Gujarat, the prime minister said. "We were only able to establish 6 AIIMS after so many years of independence. In 2003, the Atal ji government took the initiative to establish 6 more AIIMS. In the last 6 years, we have started working to establish 10 more AIIMS, "said PM.
About 201 acres of land has been allocated for the project, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,195 million and is expected to be completed by mid-2022.
A country like India, which has a huge population, almost 1 crore of people have won their battles against the coronavirus. India has done much better than other countries in this field and the infection rate is also continuously decreasing, "he said.
Development of the vaccine is in its final stages in India, the prime minister said, adding that he was confident that India would move towards vaccination, showing the same drive it shows in fighting the virus this year.
"In recent years, people have had access to healthcare facilities. Government schemes and awareness about these schemes go a long way towards improving the health of the daughters of India, "said Prime Minister Modi, urging experts to study the effect of these schemes on the education of girls in our country. countries. "These schemes are a big reason why there is a drop in the dropout rate for girls," she said.
"India will play the most important role in the future of health, the health of the future," he said, adding that India has demonstrated its ability to adapt, evolve and expand ideas when necessary. "Our focus has always been on humanity," the prime minister said, adding that India has become the nerve center of global health, "he said.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief State Minister Vijay Rupani, Union Minister of Health and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Health Harsh Vardhan were also present on the occasion.
Sec 144 enforced in the city of Mangaluru before the New Years celebrations
Covid-19: India registers 21,822 new cases | India News
Box office collection : Jai Ho collects 88.78 crore in its first week (7 days)
ISRO Scientist/Engineer recruitment 2014
Bigg Boss 6 : Kareena Kapoor to perform Dabangg 2 item number Fevicol Se
MLA in Jharkhand assembly tears his shirt
Sony TV cuts 20% advt rates for IPL 6


text:
Q: Spurious recv() EAGAIN on OSX? Edit: Problem solved, I earlier incorrectly called fcntl(sock, F_SETFL, FD_CLOEXEC) on the server socket. This somehow got mapped to a mask containing O_NONBLOCK because FD_CLOEXEC is for F_SETFD, not F_SETFL and was inherited to client sockets too.
Hello,
I'm developing a networking application on Mac OS X 10.4. Something strange is happening here: Sometimes - pretty regularly and reliably - a recv() operation on a blocking TCP socket returns -1 with errno being set to EAGAIN.
This is very strange because, as stated, it is a blocking socket. Nor have I set any receive timeouts - which as the docs state can also cause an EAGAIN return. I used getsockopt() to verify that there is no timeout. If I slap in a usleep() and call recv() again, then I get data the next data just fine.
Has anyone encountered this before on OSX specifically or on other systems?
This application is pretty simple. It is single-threaded, makes no use of singals, there is no asynchronous I/O going on.

A: The man page reads:

[EAGAIN]           The socket is marked non-blocking, and the receive
  operation would block, or a receive timeout had been  set, and the timeout expired before data were
  received.

note the "timeout" part.

A: I found my mistake:
I called fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, FD_CLOEXEC); when I should have used F_SETFD for this flag :-(
I don't know how exactly this got mapped to a mask containing O_NONBLOCK - because they have different values - but that's what happened.
Thanks for your time.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
ACC Network Studio Reveal
The ACC Network revealed its' new studio set to the media today, and followed that up with a call with ESPN executives.
By KappaCane@KappaCane Aug 8, 2019, 6:02pm EDT
Share All sharing options for: ACC Network Studio Reveal
Melissa Rawlins / ESPN Images
The new ACC Network is set to launch on August 22nd, 2019. In anticipation of the launch, ESPN took some time to do a soft launch and reveal its new in-studio set to the media today, and it is quite impressive.
The kickoff experienced a bit of a bumpy start as there were technical difficulties that prevented the media from seeing the broadcast.
@accnetwork Please confirm you're not broadcasting the studio reveal because all I am seeing is this screen on a loop. pic.twitter.com/hUduJDOdkZ
— KappaCane (@KappaCane) August 8, 2019
The issue was quickly addressed by the network as the technical issue with the live feed was discovered and a workaround was offered, so kudos to them for working through the issue.
Hey, in true Live TV form, we're standing by with technical difficulties for @accnetwork studio reveal. It's like a christening for new networks. Stand by...
— Keri Potts (@MsPotts_ATL) August 8, 2019
Once we were able to jump into the reveal, it was short and to point and we got to see two former Miami Hurricanes on display with former Miami Linebacker @jonbeason appearing first as a member of ALL ACC, a news and information show about the conference.
Jon Beason (Left) on the ACC Network Studio Reveal
Next, we had a chance to see and hear from our former Head Coach, Coach Mark Richt, who will be a staple of the ACC Show "The Huddle" which will air on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the fall.
Coach Mark Richt on The Huddle
The reveal didn't end without some controversy as Beason showed off the new touch screen technology on set by selecting the Gators to win the Camping World Kickoff.
ACC Network talkin Canes v Gators pic.twitter.com/OehODlcuGR
— Armando ♀ (@LakersCanes305) August 8, 2019
Now before you light him up, consider the fact that he is a true supporter of the program and led the way for the IPF with a generous give of $250k before it was fashionable to do.
(*Of note, Coach Richt is also a former player and donated $1 Million of his money to the IPF.)
Here are a few words from Jon on why he chose to giveback to the University:
"Anytime you can affect change in young people's lives I think you should do it." - @jonbeason
Contribute today: https://t.co/kXvlMH3EYS pic.twitter.com/uq4P0PDpTQ
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) February 16, 2017
We are proud of what both of these Alumni are doing, and if you'd like to see the debut for yourself, you can catch the full 6 minutes and 20 seconds of it here:
We're home pic.twitter.com/zMXR1Uo0lT
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) August 8, 2019
Executive Discussion
When the reveal ended, we had a chance to speak with, and hear from, some of ESPN's Executive team to discuss the launch of the network in depth. Here are some of the highlights of what we discussed.
Keri Potts, ESPN PR/Senior Director, College Sports started the call with a thank you for our patience with the hiccups they experienced during the reveal. She went on to introduce Amy Rosenfeld, Senior Coordinating Producer for ESPN. Amy quipped about describing the technical issues as a liberal arts major, and then shared the vision for the set design:
"Ultimately the overarching theme for us was to try to be reflective of the conference itself, and so what we tried to demonstrate through the look and feel of the studio is sort of an ode to the past, a nod to the academic strength of the conference, but also at the same time being forward-thinking, tech forward."
Problems lead to innovation
Amy mentioned an interesting part of the process to her was that with problems, come innovation. Because the studio is shaped "like a giant Thomas' English Muffin", getting around proved to be difficult.
"So the idea of trying to get from the main desk to the conversation area nimbly and quickly, which looked great on paper, was like one of those bumper car events like at a carnival. So the problem created innovation."
The team devised a solution of robotic cameras that are part of the scenery on set. Fully robotic cameras are embedded into tables that pop open and allow a camera to telescoptically lift out of it. (This is demo'd in the video above.)
Robotic camera - Bristol, CT - August 7, 2019 - Studio G: ACCN set (Photo by Melissa Rawlins / ESPN Images)
Amy highlighted these as being complicated, but great, because the studio space now houses both the on air talent and content delivery mechanisms such as smart screens. There are monitors everywhere that provide content for the staff, and she mentioned "Teaching Coach Rick how to use the touch screen was pretty cool. Smart guy."
Network Launch
In speaking with Rosalyn Durant, Senior Vice President, College Networks, Programming she was upbeat about where the network is with four national outlets (DirecTV, Hulu Live TV, Sony PlayStation Vue, and YouTube TV) providing access to the Network, and mentioned talks are ongoing with more outlets to bring the content to as many homes as possible.
"...we are very pleased with the distribution agreements that we have in place currently, and as you'd imagine, we continue to have lots of conversations, and productive conversations, with other distributors for ACC network coverage, in the ACC footprint and beyond the footprint."
When pressed for specifics, Rosalyn declined to speak further, but added this:
"...do know that these discussions, negotiations take time, and timing matters here. So while we are very pleased, incredibly pleased with the options that we have in place with our streaming partners and others, we are confident that there will be other announcements in the very near future."
Let's hope that includes COX, Comcast, DISH Network, and Spectrum cable amongst others.
When asked about the network's emphasis on Women's athletics, Amy offered a great comeback:
"We just have an embarrassment of riches that there are many great sports teams in this conference and a whole bunch of them are played by female student-athletes. The emphasis on women's sports, I would just say the emphasis is on great sports, on great student-athletes, and oh, by the way, some of them happen to be women. We're really lucky here."
As reporters from around the country returned to distribution questions, Rosalyn shared that the media landscape is vastly different from linear network launches of the past. One major difference being the multiplicity of providers, both traditional and now streaming.
I asked Rosalyn if she had any info on specific programming related to the University of Miami that she could share with us at this time and she stated:
"Well, we have a wonderful relationship with the University of Miami, and you will see what you've seen, some of our talent announcements. We have talent coming straight from the university. There isn't anything to announce today as it relates to access programming specific to Miami. I think we've announced a couple of games that will be coming from there, including our alternate -- we're going to do an alternate production of the week zero game against Florida, so you can expect that on the network as it relates to Miami, and I can tell you, your staff there, your athletic director to the coaches, have been as welcoming and as excited about this network as anyone and have already offered to lean in and to be helpful where we need them to. So while I don't have a lot to announce today, you should expect that there will be more to come from your university."
There you have it, fresh from media day in Bristol, CT, you're up to date on the latest news and info. Now let's make Jon regret his pick!
Here is a gallery of Photos from the event, enjoy!
Let me know your thoughts on the set, the network, and what you're looking forward to in the comments section below.
#GoCanes #TNM #UFamily


text:
STEVE HACKETT On A Genesis Reunion Possibilities
A Genesis reunion is unlikely because of the competitive nature of the band members, says guitarist Steve Hackett.
He last played with the band 30 years ago this month, and says the reason that lineup hasn't regrouped since then is that one member used the power of veto to knock a suggested project on the head – leading original frontman Peter Gabriel to lose interest in any future work with them.
Hackett, who's completed his second volume of Genesis Revisited songs, tells Rolling Stone: "When I heard about the reunion concert with Peter Gabriel I got on a plan immediately and joined them just in time for the two encores.
"There was a lot of talent on that stage and it was very emotional. In their wisdom they didn't film it – these are the kind of corporate decisions that hold a band back. Sometimes a band tried to agree to something and you end up just cancelling. One says black while the other says blue.
"That's why there's been no reformation of Genesis from that period since that night."
In 2004 the band held discussions about staging a life performance of classic album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. But Hackett says: "We also discussed the possibility of doing it as a musical. The idea was rejected – I'm not going to name names, but on person employed the power of veto.
"I think Pete lost interest right there and then. The idea of coming together and doing that was killed stone dead at that point."
Hackett last met former bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks at Prog Magazine's Progressive Music Awards in September – but revels they didn't talk about Genesis Revisited II.
"The conversations we have are the following: I get to compliment Tony on what he's doing, and Mike on what he's doing. That's the way it goes, and the rest of it is in ellipsis. There's a certain amount of stiff upper lip, British style, and a tremendous amount of competition.
"I'm much looser than that – if I like something that someone's done, I'll tell them."
The guitarist describes his relationship with Phil Collins as "warm" but he's unsure whether the extent of the drummer and singer's health issues is really what's preventing his involvement in a reunion.
"When we see each other, we talk," says Hackett. "But there's always the great unspoken, the elephant in the room. It's weird. It's competitive. It's Genesis."
Source: http://www.progrockmag.com
Related ItemsConrad KellyFrancis DunneryGenesisGenesis reunionGenesis RevisitedGenesis Revisited IIInsideOutJakko JakszykJohn HackettJohn WettonMarillionMikael AkerfeldtNad Sylvannew albumNick BeggsNik KershawOpethPeter GabrielPhil CollinsPorcupine TreeProg SphereProgressive Rock & Progressive Metal NewsProgSphereRoine StoltSteve HackettSteve RotherySteven WilsonWatcher of the Skies
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Q: Apply parent component css to child not in sibling component in Angular 11
*

*i have 2 types of component, i) before login ii) after login

*want to add 2 different css for both parent component,

*with using ViewEncapsulation.None it apply in sibling component also, here is the structure of code
 - ParentComponent1
   - ChildCompoent1.1
   - ChildCompoent1.2
 - ParentComponent2
   - ChildCompoent2.1
   - ChildCompoent2.2

*if i add CSS in ParentComponent1 then it only apply in ChildComponent1.1 and ChildComponent1.2 not in 2.1 and 2.2, same thing apply in ParentComponent2

is there any way to remove ViewEncapsulation.None or apply CSS only in child component not in Sibling component

A: You can use Emulated encapsulation
encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.Emulated,
Similar to ViewEncapsulation.None, Angular adds the styles for this component to the head of the document, but with "scoped" styles.
Therefore, only the elements directly within this component's template will match its styles. Since the "scoped" styles from the EmulatedEncapsulationComponent are very specific, they override the global styles from the NoEncapsulationComponent.


text:
Swimmers get second chance to break records at Fast Chance meet
Rachel Steiner, '18, talks to Fred Evanoff, diving coach, about her dives at the Kenyon Fast Chance meet on Feb. 21. Steiner placed second in the event and earned a qualifying score for NCAA Regionals.
Contributed by Henry Ditzel
Alex Holmes, Sports Editor
The Gator men's and women's swimming and diving teams ended conference competition on a high note at NCAC Championships, but a few swimmers and divers practiced an extra week to compete at the Kenyon Fast Chance Meet on Saturday, Feb. 21.
"I didn't hit the time I wanted at conferences and I had one final shot to hit that time," Megan Feeney, '17, said. "It gave me an extra week of taper and our bodies were rested for a fresh swim."
Feeney started the Fast Chance meet with a first place finish in the 200 back, placing her in the finals for the event. In finals, she finished with a time of 2:04.80 breaking the school record of 2:06.90 previously set by Jennifer Erdos in 1996. Feeney's swim was the third record breaking swim the team had this season.
"I was really excited when I finished," Feeney said. "It was the second time I swam the 200 back that day and it was a good way to end the season with my best time."
Following her performance at the Fast Chance meet, Feeney was named Athlete of the Week for the second time this year.
"It's an honor and a great way to end my sophomore season," Feeney said.
Patrick Hollenback, '17, said watching Feeney break the record was the best part of the meet.
"Feeney has worked hard all year and it was nice to see it pay off for her, and we saw a smile from her," Hollenback said.
Along with Feeney's record breaking swims, others on the team swam personal bests and supported each other along the way.
Hollenback said he decided to compete another weekend to end the season without any regrets and swim events that he did not have the chance to during dual meets.
"Conference wasn't the best for me so to turn around and get personal bests, I got to see it pay off," Hollenback said.
Hollenback sets personal bests in the 200 free with a 1:50.92, the 400 I.M. at 4:28.90, and the 100 butterfly at 56.78.
On the diving side, the team is sending two divers to NCAA Regionals on Saturday, Feb. 28. Rachel Steiner, '18, performed qualifying scores at the Fast Chance meet.
"For regionals you need two qualifying scores and I had one, so I went to get that second score I needed," Steiner said.
Steiner scored a 415.00 on the one-meter board, placing her second in the event.
"Overall the team was strong in the conference, and I'm happy with my times because they show that my hardwork paid off," Feeney said.
Kenyon Fast Chance
Megan Feeney
Gator football confident after first season victory
College swimming and diving teams prepare for new season
Women's tennis looks to build on successful season
Men's Golf team looks to season, works toward goals


text:
The other watch features a man on top of Notre Dame looking toward the Eiffel Tower.
"It's a classic love story. Boy meets girl, a romance is sparked, but fate has intervened and they are separated, but both are left longing to find one another," said Marisa Neira, watch product manager for Van Cleef & Arpels.
Figures on both watches move, and the faces are surrounded by diamonds. The woman's watch strap is silk, the men's is alligator.
Each watch is "a little work of art," Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder said.
The accompanying trip takes buyers to Paris, where they can see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame themselves, and Geneva, where they can tour the Van Cleef & Arpels watchmaking workshops.
While the watches and trip cost $1,090,000, those with smaller budgets can take heart. Almost 40 percent of the items in the catalog cost less than $250. The least expensive item is a $10 monogrammed mug.
Reeder said the nine "fantasy gifts" that highlight the catalog are a nod to the spirit of the holiday season and the fantasies children have about Christmas gifts.
"All we've done is notched up what's on the list or what's available to be on your list," Reeder said.
The other fantasy gifts include a $150,000 wood-paneled trailer designed for tailgating with a sound system and bar stocked with bourbon and rye; a $99,500 water-propelled jetpack; a $90,000 gaming machine; and a $70,000 video portrait of an owl by artist Robert Wilson.
All are paired with a charity that will benefit from their sale.


This workshop uses version 3.4.3 of the Python programming language.
To configure your computer to understand Python 3.4.3 instructions, download the installer for Windows or MacOS from www.python.org/downloads and run it.
On Windows, I recommend using Notepad++ as your text editor. Download its installer from https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ and run it.
On Windows, use the built-in Command Prompt program to execute Python instructions.
Run the Command Prompt program to open a window.
If the response is Python 3.4.3, you're done!
On MacOS, use the built-in TextEdit application as your text editor.
On MacOS, use the built-in Terminal application to execute Python instructions.


text:
Q: Package JavaFX into an executable fat JAR with Maven not generating valid classpath I am trying to package my JavaFX application into an executable fat JAR, but it never works. I have tried several guides found online including aswers here on SO but I had no luck. I can manage to set the main class correctly, but the class path is always missing, which then throws an error that JavaFx runtime components are missing. I am now using maven-shade-plugin (I have tried other plugins) and here is the configuration in pom.xml:
<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-shade-plugin</artifactId>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <goals>
                <goal>shade</goal>
            </goals>
            <configuration>
                <shadedArtifactAttached>true</shadedArtifactAttached>
                <transformers>
                    <transformer implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ManifestResourceTransformer">
                        <mainClass>com.sjsm.App</mainClass>
                    </transformer>
                </transformers>
            </configuration>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>

Edit: as requested in the comments I am adding 3 links I used and none of them worked. Also note I have tried other sources than these over the past 2 or so weeks.
link1
link2
link3


text:
Tibetan Diaspora in the Shadow of the Self-Immolation Crisis: Consequences of Colonialism
Robert Sloane, Boston University School of LawFollow
Susan M. Akram and Tom Syring
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
This chapter for a book on protracted refugee crises argues that the origins of both the unresolved Tibetan refugee crisis and the tragic and unprecedented wave of some 120 self-immolations in Tibet since 2009 lie in Tibet's unacknowledged status as a colony. China illegally invaded and annexed Tibet in 1950, and it remains under belligerent occupation to this day. Contrary to the official views of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the United States, and (to my knowledge) every other state in the world, it is a fiction to refer to the Tibetan people as a Chinese 'minority nationality'. Every credible study (excluding, that is, PRC 'white papers') of Tibet and its people's legal and historical status so concludes. The Tibetan people's history as a nation extends back millennia. Despite the nebulous law on self-determination in the post-Cold War era, if any people merit what international law denotes 'external' self-determination — that is, the right (afforded to virtually all other colonies since 1945) to choose among independence as a sovereign state, integration with an existing state, or free association status based on a free and fair referendum — it is the Tibetan people. Their right to external self-determination arises from several facts, each independently sufficient, but even more compelling in combination: Tibet's status as a colonized nation; the PRC's continuing refusal to afford Tibetans any genuine autonomy consistent with the right of peoples to 'internal' self-determination; and more than half a century of systematic and severe human rights violations inconsistent with even the PRC's own view of Tibetans as a minority nationality. Hence the self-immolation crisis within Tibet, a drastic act of dissent and protest in a political environment that enables few other forms of dissent, arises from the same circumstances that perpetuate the unresolved refugee crisis without (i.e., outside of Tibet). Acknowledging Tibet's colonization is a necessary but insufficient step to resolving both crises.
Boston University School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 13-44
Robert Sloane, Tibetan Diaspora in the Shadow of the Self-Immolation Crisis: Consequences of Colonialism, Still Waiting for Tomorrow: The Law and Politics of Unresolved Refugee Crises 55 (2014).
Human Rights Law Commons


.NET Native is an ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation process—it turns your managed .NET code into native machine code at compile time. In contrast, traditional .NET uses just-in-time (JIT) compilation, which defers the native compilation of a method until its first execution at run time. .NET Native is more similar to a C++ compiler. In fact, it uses the Visual Studio C++ compiler as part of its tool chain. Every managed (C# or Visual Basic) Universal Windows app will utilize this new technology. The applications are automatically compiled to native code before they reach consumer devices. If you'd like to dive deeper into how it works, I highly recommend reading the MSDN Library article, "Compiling Apps with .NET Native," at bit.ly/1QcTGxm.


The most optimal/optimally thing concerning porcelain tiles would be that it may withstand blot and moisture. So, drinking water will not hurt the tiles and nothing could leave stain on the top layer of the porcelain. Aside from that, additionally it is very simple to wash of course, should there is a fracture onto the top layer of the ceramic tile round the sink, it will be less noticeable. That's the reason why in defending the sink area utilizing backsplash , choose the backsplash tiles produced from porcelain. It will undoubtedly be the ideal solution for such a wet area. The tiles will last from the sink more than you can ever count on. Even the vinyl wood flooring can create your own sink seems more easy as effectively.


text:
Using technology to keep people out of hospital
Apple's MacBook Air M1 drops to $850 at Amazon
Don't worry about paying full price for the MacBook Air M1. Amazon is selling Apple's well-known ultraportable laptop in gold and silver for $850 after a $49 automatic discount at checkout. That's the lowest price we've seen in a while, and not much more than the record low from November.
Buy MacBook Air at Amazon – $850
The MacBook Air M1 may be over a year old, but there's a good reason why it remains one of our top picks for ultraportables. It's still fast for the category, completely silent (as there's no fan) and long-lasting on battery. Combine those with a superb keyboard and trackpad and this might be the laptop you want if you need to last through a long workday while juggling multiple apps.
There are still just two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, and the 720p webcam won't be thrilling. There's also the matter of timing. Rumors persist of Apple launching an M2-based MacBook Air in the spring, and it may be tempting to hold out if you're more concerned about having the latest hardware than the best price. If you need a laptop now or would rather save money, though, the M1 model is still a fine choice.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
AirAmazonApplesdropsMacBook
Beijing Winter Olympic Could See Dangerous Air Pollution Levels
AT&T's Faster Fiber Internet Plans: Speeds, Price, and More


text:
{-# LANGUAGE DeriveGeneric #-}

import GHC.Generics (Generic)
import Control.DeepSeq (NFData(..))

data Point = Point
    { x :: Int
    } deriving (Generic)

instance NFData Point

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
// **************************
//  ** sophia.brain.js
// ***************************
// ** Autor/Author: Victor Ribeiro (@JVRibeiiro)
// ** Licença: MIT
// ***************************
// Changelogs previstos para a partir da versao 2.0

// * Dados na localStorage comecam com um _
var _userName = window.localStorage.getItem('user-name'),
    _userAge = window.localStorage.getItem('user-age'),
    _userBirthday = window.localStorage.getItem('user-birthday'),
    _userGender = window.localStorage.getItem('user-gender'),
    _userDefArticle = window.localStorage.getItem('ls-user-defArticle'),

    local = window.localStorage.getItem('user_city'),
    dialog = window.localStorage.getItem('histórico'),
    ip_remoto = window.localStorage.getItem('ip_remoto'),
    user_lat = window.localStorage.getItem('user_lat'),
    user_lon = window.localStorage.getItem('user_lon'),

// Define a data de "nascimento" da assistente
    aiBorn = new Date(2015,8,24,21,01,46), // Data de criacao: ano, mes (-1), dia
    born = aiBorn.getFullYear(), // Ano de criacao
    bornM = aiBorn.getMonth(), // Mes de criacao
    bornD = aiBorn.getDate(), // Dia de criacao

// Compara com a data atual
    now = new Date(),
    y = now.getFullYear(), // Ano atual
    m = now.getMonth(), // Mes atual
    d = now.getDate(); // Dia atual

// Corrige de acordo com o dia de aniversario
function age(aiBorn, now) {
var ageDif = y - born;

if ( new Date(y, m, d) < new Date(y, bornM, bornD) )
  {
    ageDif--;
    return ageDif;
}
 else
   {
    return ageDif;
    }
};

var ageY = age(aiBorn, now), // Idade (anos)
    ageM = month - bornM, // Idade (meses)

// Corrige o plural em "anos"
    _years, _months,
    years = ['ano','anos'],
    months = ['mês','meses'];

    if (ageY === 1)
    {
        _years = years[0];
    }
     else
       if (ageY > 1 || ageY < 1)
        {
          _years = years[1];
        };

    if (ageM === 1)
    {
        _months = months[0];
    }
     else
       if (ageM > 1 || ageM < 1)
        {
          _months = months[1];
        };

// Idade final
if (ageY >= 1)
{ // Se ela tiver 1 ano de idade ou mais, a idade e contada em anos e meses
var age = ageY
        + ' '
        + _years // ano(s)
        + ' e '
        + ageM
        + ' '
        + _months; // mes(es)
}
 else
   { // Se nao, e contada apenas em meses
     var age = ageM
        + ' '
        + _months; // mes(es)
    };

var ai =
  { // Informacoes da Assistente
    name        :   'Sophia', // Nome
    nick        :   'Sofia com F',
    age         :   age, // Idade
    birthday    :   aiBorn.toLocaleString(), // Criacao
    gender      :   'feminino', // Genero
    article     :   'a', // Artigo definido
    version     :   '1' // Versao do APP
  };

var user =
  { // Informacoes do usuario
    name        :   _userName, // Nome
    age         :   _userAge, // Idade
    birthday    :   _userBirthday, // Criacao
    gender      :   _userGender, // Genero
    article     :   _userDefArticle, // Artigo definido
  };
//

// * Identificadores de Data e Hora
var h = now.getHours(),
      min = now.getMinutes(),
        sec = now.getSeconds();

var _mes = ["01","02","03","04","05","06","07","08","09","10","11","12"];
var __mes = ["Janeiro","Fevereiro","Março","Abril","Maio","Junho","Julho","Agosto","Setembro","Outubro","Novembro","Dezembro"];
var week = ["Domingo","Segunda","Terça","Quarta","Quinta","Sexta","Sábado"];

var month = _mes[m];
var _month = __mes[m];
var w = week[now.getDay()];

strSeg = new String (sec);
if ( strSeg.length === 1 )
  {
    sec = "0" + sec
    };
strMin = new String (min);
if ( strMin.length === 1 )
  {
    min = "0" + min
    };
strHor = new String (h);
if ( strHor.length === 1 )
  {
    h = "0" + h
    };
strDia = new String (d);
if ( strDia.length === 1 )
  {
    d = "0" + d
    };
//

// * Conversação
// * ***************************************

// * Algoritmo de saudações dependentes do horário
if ( h < 5.59 )
{
  greetings = "Boa madrugada";
}
else
  if ( h < 8 )
  {
  greetings = "Bom dia";
}
else
  if( h < 11.59 )
  {
    greetings = "Bom dia";
  }
  else
    if( h < 18 )
    {
      greetings = "Boa tarde";
      }
      else
      {
        greetings = "Boa noite";
        };
//

function _falar() {
      texto = document.getElementById('texto').value;
      if (event.keyCode === 13 && texto === "") {
        return false
      } else if (event.keyCode === 13 && texto !== "") {
        falar();
        return false
      }
    };

var usuario = "";
var historico = dialog;
sistemaArray = [greetings+vocativo2+tratamento+" "+nome+".", greetings+vocativo+tratamento+"."];
sistema = sistemaArray[Math.floor(Math.random()*2)];

function rotina(nome) {
var nome = window.localStorage.getItem('nome');
if (nome === null || nome === undefined) {
  nome = "anônimo";
};

usuario = $('#texto').val();

historico = historico
+ nome
  + " em " + dia
    + "\/" + omes
      + "\/" + ano
        + " às " + hora
          + ":" + min
            + ":
"
              + "
" + usuario +  "
\r"
                + "
";

padroesSophia();
/*
$("#dialogo").animate({scrollTop:$("#dialogo")[0].scrollHeight}, 1000);
$( "#sophia-user--reply" ).show('bounce', 500, callback);
function callback() {
			setTimeout(function() {
				$( "#sophia-user--reply:visible" ).removeAttr( "style" ).fadeOut();
			}, 10000 );
		};
*/
historico = historico
  +  "\r"
    + "
";
atualizarTela();
//saveHist();

$('#log4').val($('#resposta').html()); voz();
$('#log5').val($('#pergunta').html());
};
//

function padroesSophia()
{
for ( i in brain )
  { // Inicia um loop que executa apenas uma vez cada elemento da array brain.
exReg = new RegExp (brain[i][0], "i"); // Usando o contador [i] do loop, coloca um padrão da array no mecanismo de expressão regular na variável "exReg".
if ( exReg.test(usuario) )
  { // testa a entrada do usuário contra o "exReg" e se ele corresponder executa o próximo bloco de instruções - se não houver correspondência o loop vai continuar a carregar o próximo valor.
tamanho = brain[i].length - 1; // cria uma variável "tamanho" e a deixa igual ao número de respostas possíveis
index = Math.ceil(tamanho * Math.random()); // gera um número aleatório baseado no número de respostas possíveis
reply = brain[i][index]; // cria uma variável temporária "reply" para manter a resposta escolhida aleatoriamente
sistema = usuario.replace(exReg, reply); // usa o método de expressão regular replace para transformar o padrão de resposta e colocar o resultado variável na "soutput"
sistema = capitalizar(sistema); // faz da primeira letra da variavel "sistema" maiúscula se ela ainda não for

historico = historico
+ "
"
+ sistema
+ "
\r

"
+ "
"
+ "
";
break
  }
 }
};

function sophiaIni() {atualizarTela()}

function atualizarTela() {
$('#dialogo').html(historico);
$('#resposta').html(sistema);
$('#pergunta').html(usuario);
$('#texto').val("");
};
//


text:
import babel from 'rollup-plugin-babel';
import uglify from 'rollup-plugin-uglify';
import nodeResolve from 'rollup-plugin-node-resolve';
import commonjs from 'rollup-plugin-commonjs';
import json from 'rollup-plugin-json';
import replace from 'rollup-plugin-replace';

/*
 * The function generated by CoffeeScript is misused by the xmlbuilder library.
 * Somehow the value of the parent parameter turns out to be undefined. This little
 * hack fixes that issue.
 */
const patchedExtend = `
  extend = function(child, parent) {
      for (var key in parent) {
        if (hasProp.call(parent, key))
          child[key] = parent[key];
      }
      function ctor() { this.constructor = child; }
      ctor.prototype = parent ? parent.prototype : null;
      child.prototype = new ctor(); child.__super__ = parent ? parent.prototype : null;
      return child;
  },`;

export default {
  entry: 'src/main.js',
  dest: 'dist/book.js',
  format: 'cjs',
  banner: '#!/usr/bin/env node',
  plugins: [
    json({
      include: [
        'node_modules/normalize-package-data/**',
        'node_modules/lcid/**',
        'node_modules/spdx-license-ids/**'
      ]
    }),
    nodeResolve({
      jsnext: true,
      main: true,
      extensions: [ '.js', '.json' ],
      browser: false,
      preferBuiltins: true,
      include: [
        'node_modules/**'
      ]
    }),
    commonjs(),
    replace({
      ' extend = function': patchedExtend + '//'
    }),
    babel({
      exclude: 'node_modules/**'
    }),
    uglify()
  ],
  external: [
    'fs', 'child_process', 'util', 'url', 'assert', 'path', 'constants', 'stream', 'crypto', 'events',
    'os', 'buffer', 'zlib', 'timers', 'string_decoder', 'process'
  ]
};


text:
Lowcountry Lawyers: Litigation in the American Adversary System
Author: Sam Bauer
Not all lawyers are trial lawyers—those whose practice of law exists largely within the courtroom. In fact, some of the best lawyers never set foot in a courtroom. Hilton Head's own Herb Novit, recognized as one of the best and brightest lawyers in the State of South Carolina, isn't a trial lawyer. But everyone who has ever encountered him knows they've met a true genius. So, it isn't genius or legal acumen that separates trial lawyers from the rest of the bar. But trial lawyers clearly are separate. Litigation is not a "specialization" recognized by the South Carolina Supreme Court. It is, instead, a type of practice focused on by the lawyer.
The American system of justice depends of an adversary system, backed by skilled trial lawyers. Some other countries, notably France, have adopted an inquisitorial system of justice, wherein the judge takes a very active role in determining the parameters of the conflict, narrowing the issues and determining the evidence available to each side. The inquisitorial system, though not without some merit, despite centuries of experimentation, has proven to be too expensive, too slow, and too easily manipulated by those in power.
The adversary system is, at its worst, antagonistic and combative, but it has existed and become better refined during the thousands of years of its existence. Cicero gained his celebrity in Rome by virtue of his skill as a trial lawyer. It is entertaining to note that even during the dark ages the adversary system was used to settle disputes. In the absence of trained lawyers, the litigants endured trial by combat. The adversaries fought to the death, with the assurance that God would protect the party in the right.
At its best, the adversary system operates much in the same way the free market governs economics. The stronger legal position and greater weight of evidence are trusted to be the winner in the free market of independent jury deliberations.
Adversary litigants are in a better position to understand which issues are important to them and what evidence they have available to support their claim than would an inquisitorial government agent. The adversary system has proven to be nimble, relatively inexpensive for litigants, and adaptable to changes in economics and regional-cultural differences. The only real repeated criticism of the adversary system is that the outcome of a contest is so dependent on the skill of the lawyers involved. American Poet Laureate Robert Frost wrote, "A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer."
It must be conceded, that no one should trust their cause to an unskilled litigator, and the best litigators have been acclaimed for their terrific victories. Lawyers like Clarence Darrow, Alexander Hamilton, and Barry Scheck have earned their laurels. But, I for one, place great faith in the wisdom of juries. Despite, Norm Crosby's quip,
"When you go into court, you are putting your faith in to the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty," we have seen amazing wisdom and insight exhibited by the citizens of Beaufort County on our juries. These average citizens, called to serve the common good, have listened patiently to days and weeks of testimony and sometimes endured sequestration from all outside contact. They have faithfully done their best to divine the truth behind the testimony and arguments. The justice system itself puts great weight in the value of a jury's insight and truthful verdict. An appeal can be taken because of a mistake made by the judge, but there is no right to appeal a jury decision. Verdict itself comes from the Latin phrase veredicto, meaning "to speak the truth."
Automobile Accident? What you need to know and do
Dotting the I's and Crossing the T's: The legal side of buying a home
2017 Lowcountry Lawyers
Are You Breaking the Law?
Secrets and Privileges of the Law
Lowcountry Lawyers: Workers' Compensation
Lowcountry Lawyers: Nearly Inevitable- Navigation the South Carolina Judicial System
Lowcountry Lawyers: When Parents Can't Agree
Duty Calls....
Bauer & Metro, P.A: Personal Injury Taken Seriously
August 2011 - Our Town – The Curry Foundation 2nd Annual Curry Cup Chairty Golf Event
Health Note - Fitness on the Run
The Baker's Dozen Returns to Hilton Head
June 2018: Editor's Note
When Every Day is Take Your Child to Work Day
Celebrity Chefs: Why all the Fuss?
Gifted Hilton Head: All the blessings, none of the headaches
21 Faces of Lowcountry Hospitality: Frank Gatson
The Best of Vacation Guide
January 2019: Editor's Note
Riding Forward: Lawton Stables Introduces New Riding Acadademy
2019 Women in Business: Cynthia Groff
Fast -Teks...Before You Throw Your Computer in the Lagoon
2019 Women in Business: Darcie Patrick


I'm so proud of Emily. Two weeks ago we were there (boys/Emily's parents) for her graduation ceremony. Even in recovery she's a straight-A student. She worked hard, took advantage of every training and therapeutic opportunity, and put in the effort. We even met a few of her pals. Of course, everyone in the residence talked about her kind heart, lovely soul, authentic care for others. It was a great celebration full of real life struggle and victory. We went to dinner at a cool restaurant and got home — together again after many weeks. It's good to have Emily home.
One question that gets asked in recovery is "will it work?", which is an obvious question without a simple answer. There is no guarantee, no warranty. People are more complex than refrigerators. It's like when I hit a weight loss goal. Did it work? Yes. Will it work? That depends on the decisions I make each day. I'm currently 20 pounds over, thanks in large part to the wonderful ministry of casserole and cake that our family has been blessed by. But yeah, recovery is an ongoing process with milestones, a process made complex by the desire all of us struggle with — we want to do the things we know we shouldn't. Addiction is that plus a million, because now our brain chemistry is part of the hijacking.
If I were Emily, I would feel like everyone was watching me, which isn't much fun. I remember a moment in 4th grade where I fell off my chair and let out a seismic burst of gas from my pant region. Everyone turned around. Even the teacher was appalled. Sure, I can laugh about it now. Or you can, whatever.
People have been very supportive during this time. I have a new appreciation for our family, our friends, and the community of believers. It's going to be tough for some people to know what to do in response now that Emily's home. I would take the low and slow approach: say hey, but don't feel pressure to do an inventory or give a rundown or anything. Most of us have the inborn desire to make sure we ask how someone is doing — we ask how they're feeling, what they need, and how they really feel. That's a great, caring inquiry that can become overwhelming through repetition. If 2-3 people ask, that's one thing. Imagine hundreds giving that kind of attention, albeit with good intention. Just thinking about it makes me want to take a nap. I can't imagine what that must be like for Emily. You have permission to smile without making your concern overt. We know you care.
I think her post puts it well.
It was announced yesterday at Renovation Church that I am on a Leave of Absence for the month of February. I want to tell you why that is, what's been going on, and what we're doing right now.
Our lives have been full and good, blessed by the Lord and a delight in many ways, but it should be said that our family has its share of challenges. We were totally surprised to discover that our daughter had Down Syndrome. Our oldest son underwent a serious cranial surgery at 18 months old. My mom died way too young, leaving us without a mom/grandma who loved us and supported us in many loving ways. And the joys of ministry are always paired with intense demands that will take a toll on any family.
Through all of this, my wife Emily has been dealing with depression/anxiety. Though she pursued various levels of treatment over the past 14 years, it has proven to be an ongoing struggle for this awesome wife and mom who committed to stay home with the kids while I worked. Treatments and therapies were in the off-and-on mix as Emily soldiered on to make our daily lives happen. All of this with a special needs daughter and two rambunctious boys, plus a husband who surely means well but still leaves dried toothpaste on the sink, often sprinkled with stubble. I know it sometimes felt like having three little kids and a pretty big kid. Nonetheless, Emily always made it work. We always had clean clothes to wear, food to eat, and the bills paid. I'm telling you: she's amazing. I did as much as I could to help at home, but she carried much of the load, pressing on through all kinds of stuff that had largely been pushed out of the way so our family could keep going.
About two years ago and out of nowhere, Emily had a seizure. As far as radamdavidson.com goes, this post about what happened has been the most popular thing I've ever written. Family and friends were wonderfully supportive. We discovered that her seizure was caused by a lack of sleep. All that to say: make sure you're getting enough sleep! Of course, I say that as a guy who can fall asleep in a matter of seconds. Emily, on the other hand, has dealt with insomnia for most of her life.
It was just a bit after that time that Emily had a common cold. She took an over the counter medication that helped with the symptoms but also, to her surprise, helped her cope with the depression/anxiety. Over time and initially unbeknownst to me, she developed a habit of always taking this particular medication, not for its intended purpose but rather as an anxiety management tool. As the months rolled on, she was taking it with greater frequency and at greater amounts. As can happen with any person regarding nearly any substance, Emily developed an addiction to the cold medicine.
I should pause here and say that I'm no expert when it comes to addiction. I once thought it to be an ethical issue, but it's not. I believed that the best thing you could do is tell a person to stop because it could destroy them and everything they've got, but addiction isn't rational. In fact, as I understand it, addiction rewires the brain so that a person will do anything to get their drug of choice. No, this doesn't absolve personal responsibility. But it does help optimists like me come to terms with the fact that you can't be positive and pray this away (God can heal broken arms, but He tends to heal through doctors and casts), you can't will this away, and you can't guilt this away. Save your logic for another day. Addiction is a disease. Telling someone to stop based on reason alone would be like you telling me to grow hair on my head again. I am a man of great faith, but that's probably not going to happen.
As we (myself, extended family, close friends) confronted Emily on this, trying to strike the balance between grace and truth, she faced the fact that indeed this was an issue, and that something needed to be done. She pursued counseling with an addiction specialist, did some intensive impatient and outpatient treatments, and even went to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. All along the way, only one person in the medical/therapy world said that they had heard of such a unique case of addiction, especially when it came to her drug of choice. Nonetheless, Emily soldiered on as I reduced some of my extracurriculars to be home more. We did our best to keep a balance. It kinda worked.
When we got around to Christmas/Winter break 2018, it became apparent to me and to our extended family that things were not getting better. An appointment with her doctor confirmed that yes, Emily was still using. Everyone we talked to stressed the need for her to go to a treatment center. Of course she hesitated because of 1) cost 2) inconvenience and 3) the honest belief that she could kick this on her own. Early on I believed that she could stop with the right treatments and the growing support network in our community. With this new level of severity, our extended family members who were fully in the know were all thinking the same as me: we need to do something more to help Emily.
Someone may be asking "why didn't you say something sooner?" The church is an amazing community that is designed for mission. One critical component of this unique community is that we carry each other's burdens. Believe me, I get it. But I knew that once this went public, it would be out there. It's not that I wanted to live a lie or keep things covered so we'd look good. Far from it. I was motived first and foremost to protect Emily from yet another layer of pressure as a Pastor's wife. I wanted to maintain the dignity of my wife and children. I believed, until about a month ago, that she could do this on her own. And, I didn't know it was quite this bad.
I reached out to the area Superintendent (my boss & the person who oversees the group of churches that I'm part of). He listened well, offered support and encouragement, and helped lay out a plan of how best to respond so that Emily could get the care she needed, the church would continue to function, and our family could find healing.
I called our insurance carrier and asked them about coverage. I didn't know until now that some rehabilitation centers can run $1,000+ per day, and that insurance like ours will often cover some of a one-month stay. Every bit helps, but it sure did limit availability. Like before, I was on hold as our insurance rep called different facilities to see if they could take Emily as a client. And, like before, the on-hold music blared on as an ironically cheerful soundtrack to our family crisis. I was connected with a place in Grand Rapids that sounded perfect but, upon deeper investigation, turned out to not take our insurance. I cannot describe to you the feeling of utter helplessness I had in that moment. The person on the other end said "you know, there is a place that does take your insurance… write this number down." I wrote it down. Desperately. She said "I'm going to let Roy know you're calling." Okay. Who's Roy? Doesn't matter. I called Roy and he said "oh yeah, just got the text about your situation. Sounds like we need to get a place for your wife tonight." I sighed in relief. We set it all up and made plans to hit the road as soon as Emily's parents got to the house to watch our kids.
A few minutes after we left our medical insurance rep called me back to see if we made any progress. I let her know about the bizarre chain of phone calls that led us to Emily's instant treatment option and the rep said "that's such a relief… I was praying for you guys the whole time because I knew it was desperate…" Mind you, this isn't a Christian insurance carrier per se. It was apparent that the Lord was lining things up in miraculous ways.
For the past few weeks Emily has been in a residential treatment facility where she takes classes, does therapy/counseling sessions, and works hard to get the right coping tools. Deep issues that have knocked around in there for years are finally getting the attention they've long needed. Though it's no island getaway, she's getting the time away she needs to make it so that she can once again be the wife and mom that God has wired her to be — and undoing the bad wiring of addiction.
Yesterday I preached about the Power of Disclosure. I went out on a limb and talked about all this stuff in both services. I laid it all out there, doing my best to point to Jesus in all of this. Do you know what happens when we're real? When we tell the story as it is? When we expose the darkness to light? God has room to heal like never before. I won't start preaching again, but I will say that sharing this, first with church leaders, then congregation, now you, is a great risk. A published blog post can't be unpublished. People will see and think differently. The stigma attached to addiction is something we all know and either despise or hold to… often a mix of both. Yet, for every one point of risk in this, I believe that there are ten if not a million opportunities for someone to find the grace of Jesus in a new and freeing way. If this helps you in your journey, I'd like to think that it's worth it.
My only regret is that this is Emily's story, and I wish it was she who was able to share it and not me. I can only share my perspective. So here's where I'm at. I have been given the gift of a Leave of Absence so that I can focus on self-care and family care. I will be working with a counselor to process all of this. I will be… taking up a hobby? I don't know. As it turns out, my job is what I'd be doing for fun anyway, so this will be interesting. In the meantime, the church will function well without me (I really believe this) and I'll do my best to focus on what only I can do. I'm going to lean into Jesus and let Him do His thing, which is something only He can do.
As I'm doing my part, Emily will do her part as she continues through rehabilitation. We talk via phone with some regularity, and she even has the opportunity to do video calls with Lexi who insists on another rendition of The Wheels on the Bus. Emily sings her heart out. She's a good mom who's doing her best to come back again. I love Emily and I'm proud of her. I look forward to the time where she can share some of her journey with you. I trust that God is building a great big story of grace out of all this mess.
Thankfully we have a supportive family and congregation. People are stepping up in amazing ways. We are humbled by the love and support, but not surprised. After all, we are part of a community that is doing its best to become more like Jesus. Though I dislike the attention, I can't help but get excited about how God is going to use this.
Am I happy? Um… no. Not right now. I'm kinda in shock. However, I know I'm being formed; I trust the Lord, I choose joy.
This is just a side thought, but Leave of Absence, which is kind of a redundant phrase, isn't it? It's a customary and fitting title for what I'm doing, it's just that I'm struck by the oddity of a Leave of Absence. I'm on a leave. What kind? A leave of absence. Oh… is that the kind where you're gone? Yes — very different from a Leave of Presence, which is where you ignore what's going on around you. I wasn't daydreaming, I was on a Leave of Presence: still here, but not really.
That's kinda funny to me (and probably to me alone).
I look forward to sharing more as time goes on. Thanks for reading. We appreciate your prayer in all of this. Pray for Emily, for our family, for healing, and for God's redeeming of bad stuff. The Lord has been so faithful in all of this, and, quite frankly, He's the only one who can make this right again. I believe; help my unbelief.
My friends: choose joy. You are not forgotten.
Someone emailed me yesterday and, at the end of their email, wrote "can't wait to hear the first message of 2019!" which reminded me of two things: first, this is the first Sunday of the new year. It's hard to believe that it's the first week of January with it being 50 degrees outside, by the way. Yesterday I joined with many other Michiganders in wearing our state outfit for balmy wintery days: shorts and a winter coat. I know it looks strange, but it totally makes sense if you live where we live. This outfit is a two-peninsula combination of denial and acceptance. We accept that it's winter with our winter coat, but we deny winter with our shorts and sandals. I don't know why this works but it does. So yeah, this is the first Sunday of the new year, and we're going to be running our air conditioning on the car ride home. That Saturday email reminded me that tomorrow would be Sunday. With the kids home from school for the past two weeks, we've been kinda disoriented on the day, the time, the season, etc. As a parent, I can't wait for school to start. As a pastor in a church with more than a few school teachers, I say to you that I'm so, so sorry. But yeah, it's Sunday, and it's a new year, and here we are, ready or not.
The end of the year is always busy for me. But even with everything else that's been going on for the last few weeks, I want you to know that I've been thinking about this particular Sunday with great intensity. My family life has been more than a handful lately, the Christmas season at Renovation was chock full, our year-end stuff in the office was intense… but through it all I've had a little piece of my mind settled on Sunday, January 6th. I sensed God calling us to something in 2019 — something unique — a theme for the entire year. 2019 will be a very important year for Renovation church.
Let's talk a little bit about what's happened in the past year at Renovation. Our church has gone through much change. We changed our building, our seating, our staff, and even our name. 2018 had a theme: that theme was "change". We didn't plan it that way, we certainly didn't brand it that way, but that's kinda how it fell into place. I'd like to hope, with humility and thanksgiving, that the changes were healthy and good, and I trust that it will increase our ability to achieve our mission to help people find, follow, and be like Jesus. And I pray that, as God led, we made changes that were necessary — sometimes difficult, but always exciting. And with that physical change with our building, our name, etc. came personal change. People's lives were changed. I've changed. You've changed. Hopefully, both of us for the better, by which I mean, more like Jesus. 2018 — it truly was a year of change. It kinda happened by accident. No, let's say it better: it happened, I believe, by God's perfect timing.
So let's talk about how God might be leading us in 2019. Just as He led us through a year of change, and 55 years before that of faithfulness as His church, so I believe He will continue to lead us forward into the year ahead.
I'm learning that sometimes God speaks to us through our dissatisfaction and discomfort. As a leader, I've had a growing discomfort with how we've been doing as a church. We still don't have it quite together yet. Don't get me wrong: I'm not complaining, I'm not unhappy, and I'm certainly not thankless. By God's grace, Renovation Church is a strong church. We are generous, having raised more than double our goal for One Less Gift 2018, and that on top of that you gave for Project 2018, early proceeds to Project 2019, the operating budget, Snack Packs, benevolence, mission trips, and more. I praise God for His generosity through you. We are a praying church. We saw some bold, renovating prayers lifted up and answered in 2018. We are a worshipping church. We lift up our voices and sing out, hands and hearts raised. We are a serving church — as we serve the community around us at places like Colonial Acres, with Jesus Loves Kalamazoo, in Haiti, and right here at Renovation in all the ministries that happen every week. We are a Christ-Centered church, meaning that we lift up and follow the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. We value and listen to the scripture, we show strong hospitality and kindness toward others, and are unique — not looking to be hip but rather simple and down to earth. We exist to help people find, follow, and be like Jesus. We are a church on a mission. Just last month you shared over 100 names of people you were praying about inviting to a Christmas Eve service. We saw almost 500 people here between three services — over 100 more than last year.
We're blessed to have a solid Kids Ministry under the leadership of Pastor Tiffany Cronin. We see God regularly moving in our kids — from the deep questions they ask to the prayers they pray and the fun they have. They're drawn to this place, and that's a gift. We have a talented and committed ministry team working with our kids in each service, and, in Tiffany, a pastor who demonstrates servant leadership and excellent ministry.
We have an amazing Student Ministry under the leadership of Pastor Scott Osborne. Our Middle School and High School students show regular signs of spiritual formation in how they take their faith seriously, follow God passionately, and invite friends to join each Wednesday. Our adult leaders who work with small groups of students make a major impact, and Pastor Scott leads and serves that ministry so well.
We see the effective and passionate leadership of Lynda Haskins in our Go ministry, the wisdom and pastoral care and community leadership of Pastor Craig Glass with our adults, the effects of a well-run church in Christa Hauke, our Director of Operations, and the depth and passion for worship in the leadership of Hank Bunting. I'm so grateful for God's blessing of Renovation Church, and in how He works and blesses through our lead staff, and I know you're thankful for our lead staff, too.
But there's one place in our church — at major part — where I feel some discomfort. And, like I said, sometimes speaks through our dissatisfaction and discomfort, especially as we lead. The area I'm talking about is community. In our church, community is designed to happen in groups. We have some lifegroups that meet and have met for years. It's not that we're bad, it's just that we need to focus more energy and resource into groups, especially as we transition to a multisite church. In every church I've been part of, small groups took the most effort and offered the greatest challenge. Small groups are tough! But we need community, and we're going to find community, not in a big group like this, but in smaller groups of 8 to 10 people.
Community is a big word that has multiple meanings. Dictionary.com defines community as a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. That's how you describe a neighborhood, a city, a region. We are Southwest Michigan — we reside in a specific locality, share a government, bump into each other at stores and games, call soda "pop", wear shorts with our winter coats, etc. That's level 1, basic community, but it doesn't describe the church. There's a second definition that goes deeper: community: a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists. This is more of a community within a community. Common interest, distinct from the larger society. This would be like the Rotary or maybe a disc golf team or people who like to hunt or build robots or something. Quite honestly, some view the church this way — it's like a club, we have a common interest, and we're different from the outside world. But that doesn't quite cut it. This definition doesn't describe the community of a church, either. It's not enough because it's not what Christ died to give us. Right? Did Christ die to give us a common interest? No! He died so that we could live. That's way more important than a chess club or a golf tournament.
Here's a definition I cobbled together for community that might get us closer to what we're going for: a group of diverse people who share a common connection with Jesus Christ. Called by God to be the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and commanded to love each other and impact the world. This might be closer to what community in the church is supposed to be. It acknowledges that we live in a communal region, but there's more. It acknowledges that we're set apart from the bigger community, but it goes deeper. Much deeper. We're different, diverse, not the same as each other. Yet we have a common connection through Christ, like the spokes of a bicycle wheel, with Christ as the hub. We are called by God — chosen and sent on a mission to be the church. We rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit, not our own, which reminds us, too, of the fact that we're called to be holy. And we love each other, not because it's a good idea but because Christ commanded us to (we'll see that in a minute). Not only do we love each other, we love the world that God loves and try to make an impact with the gospel.
For community to work, we need a bunch of different people gathered around Jesus. We need to see ourselves as a community of people called out, which means we abandon our will and follow the will of God. We need to operate by the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving our own powers behind. And we've got to love each other. Only then will we impact the world.
Can I ask a question: how can we truly love each other if we don't really know each other?
Maybe you're asking me a question: what do you mean by "love" each other? You say "I love my spouse. I love my kids. I love my extended family. I love tacos. Whatever." What is love? Haddaway asked that question with a song from 1993. eHarmony offers a handful of definitions of love, most of them pushing you to upgrade to their platinum dating service (from what I briefly researched). Psychology Today talks about what love is and isn't. The Greeks had words, multiple words and definitions for love — different variations. Eros is the kind of love between husband and wife. Phileo is the kind of love between brothers. Agape is the gracious love that God has for us — an unconditional, divine love. We are made to experience and know different kinds of love. So when we ask this question (how can we truly love each other if we don't know each other) — what kind of love are we talking about?
John 13:34 — Love one another. The Greek there is agapao allelon. Agape love is divine, unconditional love. Allelon is "one another." That's the love that Jesus has for us: he says "as I have loved you unconditionally with a divine love, so you must love each other unconditionally with a divine love." That's the kind of love that people in the church are supposed to have for each other. How can we have that if we don't know each other? If we don't have community?
Did you notice that Jesus calls this a command? It's not a suggestion, or a strategy, or an option. It's a command. Jesus commands us to do stuff because, if we had the option, we probably wouldn't do it, even if it's good for us. Kinda like going to the gym. New year's resolution, anyone? Has anyone made themselves — commanded themselves — to go to the gym?
It may not sound very loving for Jesus to command us to love — but it is. Just like we tell our kids when they're young to obey us, not for their displeasure but for their safety and success in life. Jesus has the same motivation. You will love one another. You won't feel like it, it won't come naturally, and you'll tend to avoid it with plenty of good, maybe even spiritual sounding excuses. Just do it. Jesus is our Lord, our boss, our leader, and He commands us to love one another. Not for our displeasure but for our safety and success.
This is a good command with a positive effect for everybody involved. When we love each other, everybody wins. When you love me, I find a spiritual and relational safety that I need, that can't be satisfied anywhere else. I know that I can come to this community, brokenness and messiness apparent, and you'll love me. When I love you, even when you may not seem to "deserve" it, it reminds me of how gracious God is to love me even though I certainly don't deserve it. He commands it because we need it. You need to be loved, and you need to love. I'm not talking about romance, and I'm not talking about just family — I'm talking about the church. This is important enough for Jesus to command it of us.
Did you notice, too, that this command to love each other, when it's carried out, has an impact on the world? He says "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." There's a "side effect" to community that shares the love of Christ: people notice. And they'll find it peculiar and odd and maybe even think it's kinda cult-y, yet they'll be drawn to it because they need agape love. I'm here to tell you that the world is longing for the kind of community that the church — Renovation Church — is supposed to be. We have something here that people are dying to discover.
Here's irony: we live in a hyperconnected world where you and I can be reached via telephone, email, text, snapchat, fax, telegram, facebook, instagram, and through Siri and Amazon Echo, yet our culture has never been more lonely. Loneliness is becoming an epidemic — a health crisis. Experts say that loneliness is just as much of a health risk as being obese. A recent study by the American Psychological Association shows that lonely people are at greater risk for premature death. Roughly 53% of americans polled reported that they have meaningful, daily face-to-face social interactions with friends or family, which means that almost half of us have no meaningful daily interactions with friends or family. Adults age 18-22, deeply entrenched in technology and interconnectivity, proclaim boldly that they are the loneliest generation.
There's a difference between connection and community. In connection: we can communicate, one self to another, as needed. In community, together we share something beyond ourselves. Connection is what happens when you're standing in line at Little Caesars and talk about the sunshine with the person behind you while you're waiting for your pizza. It's nice to converse, but there's not a lasting bond. Community is where bonds are made over a shared experience, a constant commonality, a shared love and purpose. Jesus provides this: we have the shared experience of spiritual formation. We have the constancy of His presence in every second of our lives. We know the love of God and share that love with each other. And we have a shared purpose: our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price.
Think about the loneliness epidemic. What does the scripture say to our isolation? What does it say to people who are hyperconnected but lack community? Where does God speak to this issue?
The church, if when it works right, is the answer to the loneliness epidemic. Actually, we should say that Christ is the answer, and that the church is trying her best to keep up. That's why we're having this conversation today, right? Jesus said "love one another… that way, people will know you are my disciples." It didn't come easy for the first disciples. The early church had to work on this constantly. Something in us resists one-another-ness.
If they had to work on loving one another in community, so will we. But it will be so worth it.
Impossible? Yes. But only for one reason. The only thing that makes this kind of community impossible is if we don't seek out this kind of community. In other words, it's there if we want it.
Renovation Church, welcome to 2019, and welcome to a Year of Community. This is so important for us to figure out as best we can. It's important enough that we're dedicating the year to this overarching goal of deepening our community with each other, with the people you see around you and the people who aren't yet here. Community will be the underlying theme, evident in all we're doing.
Throughout all of 2019, we're going to be working at deepening this kind of community at Renovation Church. We're launching something this Tuesday — the Life Group Experience — that we hope you'll consider being part of. Our kids connect in Renovation Kids on Sunday mornings; our students connect on Wednesday nights… for the next 6 weeks we want to experiment with a way to connect adults in an instant life group. We're calling it the LifeGroup Experience.
What is the LifeGroup Experience? It's a bunch of people who connect with each other in medium and small groups to build community and become more like Jesus. It's interactive. It's accessible. It's encouraging. It's challenging. And it's an experiment. We're going to try it: 6 weeks, 90 minutes long, childcare and food provided. But it's so much more than that.
Just a bible study – of course we will study passages of scripture, digging deeper and applying wider, but bible mastery is not the ultimate goal.
Just a social gathering – obviously we will connect with each other, learn names, play a ridiculous icebreaker game or two, and get to know people, but a casual nametag party is not the ultimate goal.
Just a class lecture – sure, there's going to be somebody talking for little bit and maybe even a few notes jotted at an "aha" moment, but information dump is not the ultimate goal.
Just a checkbox on the list – churched people expect to be nudged into a small group, and rightly so, but being in a group so you can put a checkmark [DONE] in your small group box is not the ultimate goal.
So… what is the ultimate goal of the LifeGroup Experience? Spiritual formation in community. That's it. The ultimate goal of our LifeGroup Experience is spiritual formation, which is the ongoing process of becoming like Jesus.
No. Spiritual formation is something we do individually and together. Our individual times with Jesus build into our together times with Jesus, and our together times with Jesus feed into our individual times with Jesus. In other words, spiritual formation is incomplete without a meaningful connection in Christ-centered community. This, by the way, is what the church is meant to be: a Christ-centered community.
Have you ever wanted to actually see Jesus? I've never seen Him face to face, but I "see" Him in community — when someone looks me in the eye and reminds me that God is with me, when a person serves another with selflessness and joy, when I see how we carry each other's burdens in prayer. Without community, I miss these opportunities to see Jesus, which leaves a gaping hole in my spiritual formation. When I experience the presence of Christ in community, I find a spiritual strength that cannot be replicated in isolation. Left to our own devices, we isolate ourselves and become remarkably lonely and spiritually empty. It's our fallen human nature. God our Father calls us to community, gathered around His Son Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit. It's not that I am the church — it's that we are the church and Christ is the head.
Sometimes people hear the word "LifeGroup" or "Small Group" and a list of experiences and expectations subconsciously pop up. Or, if you've had no experience in a Small Group, you find yourself thinking about how bizarre and/or scary this might be.
You might be afraid you'll be singled out or put on the spot as a newbie. Have no fear. We expect that we will be meeting a bunch of people for the first time. When I started my last year of Middle School we moved, so I ended up changing from one school district to another. That was scary, since everyone in my grade knew everyone else, knew how to get around, where to get in line for lunch. For me, it was nerve racking. If you're thinking about coming to the LifeGroup Experience, don't worry. No one has ever done this before. Ever. We're all gonna be newbies.
You might feel like you don't know enough about the bible, church, or God, and there'll be a graded test where everyone gets an A and you get an F, and you're in your underwear because it's one of those school dream/nightmares. This is not a classroom or a lecture, and no one is looking for people to have the right answers. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you're in the right place. And you take your next step in finding, following, and becoming like Jesus. There is no entrance exam.
You might imagine a weird ceremony with candles and Latin and initiation rites. Nothing like that happens here. We will use traditional bulbs for our light source, speak in a regional dialect, and the only initiation rite will be when you write your name on a nametag. Just between us, you don't even have to put your real name.
You might assume that we'll sit at a table and talk on and on about uncomfortable things, and about 30 seconds in you'll hope for some kind of natural disaster to give you reason to bolt. This is actually a fitting concern.
If you've never been part of a small group, rest assured that the LifeGroup experience is designed with you in mind.
Now… if you have been part of a small group or two (or 20) in the past, we should talk. I don't think this will compare to your previous experiences in quite the same way. There will be similarities, though. Most people have a mixed bag of experiences in groups. We should first clear up some unrealistic expectations.
Dream: My ideal LifeGroup would be like the tv show Friends, where we have a Phoebe and a Joey and all the rest, and it would be funny but also have serious moments, and we'd hang out in a coffee house.
Reality: Most LifeGroups are at least a little awkward but always worth it because of a transformative experience, much of which comes as a result of being with people who may be very different from you.
Dream: If I join a LifeGroup, I will finally feel like I know everyone at Renovation Church and we can be like one big family again, holding potlucks and celebrating everyone's birthday, etc.
Reality: While our typical Sunday has about 300 kids, students, and adults between both services, our church is actually much larger. If we counted everyone who calls Renovation Church "home", we are more like 550 to 600 people. It's extremely difficult to know 300 people. It's impossible to know 600. At this scale we couldn't possibly know every person. The key is for everyone at Renovation to know at least a few people pretty well. We can maintain a limited amount of relationships, and LifeGroups are designed to maximize opportunity for connection.
Dream: A perfect LifeGroup should be inspiring, deep, fun, snack-fueled and worth my time as an important and busy person, so this better be good.
Reality: LifeGroups are intended to bring about Spiritual Formation, not meet a consumer need. We live in a culture that teaches us to be miserable until we get what we want. We are constantly pushed to displeasure with our experience and our stuff, so we throw it away and buy something new, which is the fuel of consumerism. Unfortunately the church in the US has been infected with consumerism, too, with much of it supported, mostly unintentionally, by leaders. For this to work, it will require a different posture: one of submission to Jesus, giving and not necessarily getting, and as much openness as we are able when it comes to our unique journeys.
That's the LIfeGroup Experience and it starts this Tuesday evening. Yes, childcare is available, and yes, there will be food. Now — for us to be able to watch your kids and for you to eat, you'll need to let us know in advance that you're coming. Sign up on your response card now. And if you're thinking "oh, I'll just grab some food on the way…" think again, because we plan on bringing in Chick-fil-a. Waffle fries. Amen.
The other thing we're launching is another chapter of Rooted. Rooted is a 10-week interactive small group experience like no other. If you haven't done Rooted, I highly encourage you to check it out. It's our hope that everyone who calls Renovation Church "home" will do a chapter of Rooted. We see major spiritual formation and community in Rooted.
So, between these two: the LifeGroup Experience and Rooted, would you prayerfully consider making a commitment to a year of Community? If you're already part of some kind of small group, where you have not just connection but community, where you are known, loved, encouraged, challenged, strengthened, please know that we're not asking you to bail on that group. But, if you're part of a large population here at Renovation, you probably don't have any kind of community connection. Here's your chance. We've done our best to remove the typical barriers (child care, food, accessibility, long time commitment) and now we leave it up to you. We know that Tuesday nights couldn't possibly work for everyone, schedules are tight, etc. It's our hope to get this off the ground and possibly launch other LifeGroupExperiences in different time slots. We need to get this one figured out first, though.
Look at 1 Peter 1:17-25. Peter was one of the disciples, by the way, who was standing there when Jesus gave the command to love (agapeo) one another. It's this divine, unconditional love that builds a community — not just a connection but true community.
Focus in on verse 22 — Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
By God's grace, we can do this. We can be the church that Jesus is calling us to be. The next step is ours.
First question: are you a follower of Christ? If not, today's the day to cross the line of faith. Be purified.
If you are — have you obeyed the truth? Are you remaining in obedience?
Do you commit to loving each other with the agape love of God, deeply — not at the surface but from the heart? It's a commitment, a choice, an intentional next step.
Jesus said it clearly: a new command I give you — love one another.
By God's grace, may 2019 be a year of Community at Renovation Church. Amen.
Secularism: There is no god who has created, who has revealed himself, and has redeemed the world. Reason and common sense help us make a new world of peace and prosperity.
Eastern or New Age spirituality: We are all part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution.
Christianity: We are all part of the problem. Only one man is the solution, and his name is Jesus. He stretched out his arms on a hard wood cross so that all of us could enter God's divine embrace.
We got our Christmas tree last night, a room-filling Douglas fir, complete with a few pine cones still holding on after the long ride from the forest. We can thank German Lutherans for the practice of erecting a tree and decorating it for Christmas. Without them, who knows what symbol we would've chosen — maybe a porcupine, or, perhaps, a furnace filter. I can't get excited about either of these, except for the idea of a Christmas porcupine, since that's the only decoration that cats would leave alone, especially if the porcupine were decorated with cucumbers. Aren't you glad we don't do something as bizarre as a Christmas Porcupine?!? Instead we stomp out to the deep woods, cut down a healthy, beautiful, growing tree, thus ending its life years before it even had a chance, and we drag it to our homes and put it up in our living rooms, like some kind of hunting trophy for herbivores, and attach myriad colorful things to its every square inch, as if celebrating its demise. After a few weeks we throw it outside so the people can take it away, or we burn it, or we throw it into the same woods — a sick homecoming, if you will. We certainly don't do anything as bizarre as a Christmas Porcupine adorned in cucumbers, and I'm ok with that.
Ah, what the aliens must think of us. If they exist. Do they celebrate Christmas and decorate their furnace filters?
Don't get me wrong — I love a good Christmas tree and I love Christmas. I just hadn't thought of the ceremony of the tree from this angle. And I sure hope Emily doesn't read this, since she might think me a grinch of a husband, especially after I complained about how I hate putting lights on the house for Christmas. I'm thrilled about our tree, and I'm honored that it gets to spend its last few weeks in our living room arboretum. It's already been decked out in lights. Ornaments are to come. The star will go up top, per usual. And Emily in her kerchief and I in my cap will soon settle down for a long winter's nap. Why are we tired? Because getting a Christmas tree is a lot of work, but it's okay because the kids love it and it stimulates the local economy.
We bought our tree from a greenhouse just down the road from our platz, aka zuhause, aka place where we keep our wohnzimmer. His name is Corstange and he sells excellent trees. He tied it to the roof of our station wagon with orange twine formatted in hearty knots. Mac was kind enough to cut the twine and release the tree from the luggage rack, which means the tree was indeed our luggage. We lugged it from our driveway to our living room (wohnzimmer) and put it in the tree stand. This is a special tree stand that cannot possibly tip over. The whole house would have to drastically change angles for that to happen, and the spoils of evergreen would be the least of our worries at that point. Our tree stand was given to us by Dave the Engineer, a kind radio professional and donator of practical gifts. It's made from a huge piece of OSB cut into a perfect circle of 4 diametrically measured feet, making its circumference 150.72 inches — over 12 feet! Can anything with a circumference of 12 feet tip over? Not likely! Imagine a paper clip held up by a cinder block. It's NASA-level redundancy here. All for Christmas.
But lo, the bolts that held the tree in place were bent by some aggressive tree work carried out last year by truly yours. 5/16", coarse thread, shiny and new. Thank you, Home Depot. Just one trip to a hardware store during a project is a triumph in my world. Zac watered it as Emily strung lights around it. That was last night. Who knows what today's adventure with tree will bring? History has taught me something here. When I get home in a few minutes, I know it'll need to be straightened up a bit, as the ol' beauty will have lost her center of gravity after some settling (I'm talking about the tree, mind you). Chances are that Mac and Zac have put ornaments on the moment they got home from school. Lexi has likely harvested an ornament to play with in some other room of the house. When I walk into the loving rom, Emily will exclaim "look!" with a big smile and arms open wide to present the tree. This moment will make me profoundly happy and I can't wait until it happens, which will be about 10 minutes from now. I love my family so very much.
Last night, while we were getting the tree settled, we had the movie Home Alone running in the background, setting the right mood. Yet one question remains: why isn't Kevin's dad, Mr. McCallister, bothered by the idea of his little kid being home alone for several days during the holiday season? He just doesn't seem to be all that concerned. We see Kevin's mom (Catherine O' Hara) smoosh her face together and shout "KEVIN!" on the plane, but what does dad say to this crisis? We don't know because the scene cuts away. I can't help but imagine Mr. McCallister telling his rightly concerned wife to relax, it's not that big of a deal, and that she should be more concerned about the garage doors being left open than about their industrious son. Admittedly Kevin McCallister is industrious, brilliant, and surely shows his mettle in bamboozling the Wet Bandits®, but it sure would be nice to see dad a little freaked out about the safety of his kid. Am I alone in this?
I remember something at this time nearly every year. I remember — vividly — that Christmas trees are very thirsty. I remember this because of the horror of discovering an empty water thing in years past and wondering if I had contributed any kind of discomfort to the poor giant plant, whose only crime was that it was too beautiful to stay outside. Then I remember that it's already dead. Then I remember how sharp those needles are, especially when they dry up. Guess what I'll do when I get home? That's right: ask Zac if the tree needs water. Thank goodness he's small enough to get under there. Yet another industrious child. He will not, however, be left Home Alone.
We hit the road early Friday morning to make it to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. Emily's folks got me tickets to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, which is where the Ford F150 is built and dreams come true. Our tour began at the museum. Pictured below are the Davidson boys and a window depicting Henry Ford's boyhood curtains (not really).
We were told to make our way to the blue podium. There weren't very many people in line for this tour, which was nice.
We got onto the bus, a classic in-the-city urbanish bus, very different from the classic Blue Bird School bus with brown seats and green paint.
"No flamethrowers, No street tacos, No old-timey radios!" Same as the bus in Junior High.
The view from inside the bus is what a baked potato sees when it looks through the microwave door.
I assume it was Henry Ford's boyhood confessional booth. That's the factory over there.
and were immediately told NO PICTURES. At one point, Mac got into trouble for texting his Nana and telling her how much fun he was having, which is the worst possible reason for a child to get into trouble.
The inside of the factory was even more impressive. Again, no pictures. Most of us have seen footage of the inside of a factory, so it's not too difficult to imagine. There's nothing like being in the middle of it, though. Parts move on conveyors below and above your head, everything is moving, people are crankin' out parts, and the smell is kinda like new car + your mechanic's overalls. A very confusing combination.
After the tour, you can see a demo engine and have your 9 year old pretend to fix it while your 13 year old pretends to not be awkward, pictured above.
Once we got back to the museum, everyone was pretty tired. Mac was down to only 3-4 texts per minute.
We went on the Detroit People Mover, which was like being on the El in Chicago, but like an El you built in your backyard.
It was especially meaningful to share the experience of being in the Big House for the first time ever with the boys.
I give this birthday 39/39 stars!