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Asylum News–Winter 2009/2010
ICE implements new guidance on parole from detention for asylum seekers
On January 4, 2010, a new policy by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guiding the parole and release decisions for asylum seekers who pass credible fear went into effect. Under U.S. immigration law, arriving asylum seekers are initially subject to mandatory detention. The new parole guidance issued by ICE requires that arriving asylum seekers who pass through the "credible fear" screening process be assessed for release from detention by ICE, and allows for the release of those who can establish their identity and do not present a flight risk or danger to the community.
Read more about Human Rights First's recommendations on the detention of asylum seekers and more about ICE's new parole policy.
DHS extends TPS to Haitian nationals in the United States
Three days following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced that the United States will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months to Haitian nationals, thus allowing Haitians already living in the United States to apply for permission to remain here for a limited time and work legally. As noted in the DHS announcement, TPS will only be available to Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010 – and is not available to any Haitian nationals who arrive in the United States after that date.
Read the Human Rights First statement.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service developed an online training titled: "Applying for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the U.S." You can download notes and a recording of the 1.5 hour training (or listen without downloading) here.
For more information on how to apply for TPS, see USCIS' website.
Hearing on U.S. compliance with international human rights treaties
On December 16, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law held the first ever hearing focused on how the U.S. is living up to its obligations under international human rights treaties. Human Rights First President and CEO, Elisa Massimino, testified before the Subcommittee, calling for implementation of human rights treaties across the U.S. government, noting that the United States must meet its own treaty obligations as it seeks to strengthen efforts to advance human rights abroad. Ms. Massimino noted that the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the United States, conducted this year, provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the commitment of the United States to uphold its international treaty obligations and to advance a better understanding of those obligations by domestic government agencies and the broader public.
Testimony of Human Rights First President and CEO, Elisa Massimino, and the appendix on U.S. asylum policies.
Read more about the hearing.
Read more about the Universal Periodic Review.
Rodi Alvarado finally granted asylum, ending her fourteen year legal battle
On December 16, 2009 – fourteen years after fleeing her home country of Guatemala, where she suffered a decade of brutal domestic violence – Rodi Alvarado's legal battle finally concluded when an immigration judge granted her asylum. Human Rights First is relieved that Ms. Alvarado's legal struggle has been resolved but continues to urge U.S. policymakers to promulgate regulations clarifying aspects of the "social group" basis for asylum so that other women who have suffered brutal persecution are not denied refugee protection in the United States – or forced to wait for years to have their cases resolved.
Read about Ms. Alvarado's legal battle and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies' successful advocacy on behalf of Ms. Alvarado.
Save the Date: "Renewing U.S. Commitment to Refugee Protection: The 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act," March 16, 2010
On March 16, 2010, Human Rights First and Georgetown University Law School will be hosting a symposium entitled, "Renewing U.S. Commitment to Refugee Protection: The 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act," in Washington, D.C. The 30th Anniversary of the this landmark piece of legislation offers an occasion to highlight the United States' achievements under the Refugee Act and honor the contributions refugees and their children have made to the diverse fabric of American society. Likewise, it is an opportunity to discuss the current challenges in the U.S. refugee resettlement and asylum systems and the ways in which policymakers can work together to overcome them. The forum will bring together members of Congress and their staff, UNHCR, officials within current and past administrations, faith leaders, members of the NGO community, leading academics in the field of refugee and asylum policy, pro bono attorneys, and refugees who have restarted their lives in the United States.
Read more symposium information and register.
Previous Asylum Newsletters
Systemic Injustice-Seeking Asylum
Asylum News 62
Refugee Crisis In Iraq Act Signed By President Bush On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law H.R. 4986, the Department of Defense Authorization…
5th Circuit Amicus Brief in State of Texas, State of Missouri v Biden: HRF Opposes MPP on the Merits
The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) also known as the "Remain in Mexico" policy was a humanitarian catastrophe: asylum seekers were murdered, raped, kidnapped, extorted, and…
A Special Reception Celebrating our Pro Bono Partners
IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD REFUGEE DAY HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL RECEPTION The support of volunteer lawyers is fundamental…
Addressing the Challenges of Immigrant Representation in Louisiana
By Eleanor Acer In yesterday's Times-Picayune, Assistant Professor Ken Mayeaux of Louisiana State University's Paul M. Herbert Law Center (LSU Law), discussed the gaps in legal representation…
Administration Should Abandon Texas Family Detention Center Plan
New York City – Human Rights First today said that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to move forward with a new family immigration facility…
Advocacy Groups Call on NATO Member States to Protect Afghan Civilians During Withdrawal of Forces
WASHINGTON – Today, Human Rights First and 16 partner organizations from seven countries published a letter calling on governments to act urgently to protect Afghan locally employed…
After Appeals Court Stay, Human Rights First Renews Call for Biden Administration to End Trump Expulsion Policy
NEW YORK – In the wake of an appeals court order yesterday, Human Rights First reiterated its calls for the Biden administration to stop defending the…
After Documenting Abuses at ICE Berks Detention Center, PHR and Human Rights First Welcome Biden Administration Decision to Close Facility
NEW YORK – Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and Human Rights First welcome reports that the Biden administration will end a contract with the Berks…
Alleged Sexual Abuse at Immigration Detention Facility in Karnes, Texas
Human Rights First called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate instances of sexual abuse at the Karnes City, Texas family detention center this week,…
Alternatives to Detention are a No-Brainer
By Eleanor Acer In comments on Tuesday in Nevada, Hilary Clinton called for reform of U.S. immigration detention, a system that the New York Times called…
Amicus Brief: Gomis v. Holder
Human Rights First, along with other groups, submitted an amicus brief in support of a petition for certiorari in a case involving federal court jurisdiction…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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MILLIONS OF SMART METERS MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED
Six million smart electricity and gas meters installed in homes since 2012 may have to be replaced to make them work with a new communications network which was switched on in November but is still not being used. Despite that energy companies are busy installing more of them to try to meet a government target to get one in every home by the end of 2020.
All the meters installed so far are an early design called SMETS1. They use existing mobile phone networks and the communications system is specific to each supplier. That means if you switch your fuel provider to get a cheaper deal – it is Government policy that you should – then the smart meter will almost certainly go dumb. Then it has to be read manually either by the householder or a meter reader. Some people have complained that reading a dumbed down smart meter is much more difficult than reading a traditional meter designed to be read by a human. Instead of a visible dial with numbers turning round buttons have to be pressed in the right - and forgettable - order.
The upgraded smart meters – called SMETS2 – have been delayed partly because a new £3 billion communications network was not ready for nearly a year after the planned date. It went live in November 2016. But five months on energy suppliers are still testing it with the new smart meters. They had to be extensively redesigned after security concerns and discussions with GCHQ. If all goes well fitting the new meters will start later in 2017. Those meters using that network should be able to work with all suppliers and allow switching supplier to be easier and quicker.
But the Data Communications Company, part of Capita which is responsible for the new network, could not tell me when or indeed if the old SMETS1 meters would be connected to it. A spokesman told me that the consultation on how that might be done had not even begun. He said it would "go live in the next few weeks". The consultation that is. He could not confirm a date for the start or the end of that consultation still less for when SMETS1 meters would be connectable or indeed if that would ever happen. He agreed it was possible that SMETS1 meters would have to be replaced with SMETS2 meters.
He repeated that to a Money Box colleague the next day. But when asked if he would confirm it in writing all DCC would say was "DCC will be consulting with industry on plans outlining how SMETS1 meters will be enrolled into the network." And he stressed the word 'how'. The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) would not deny that there may be problems but told us "The project is on working out how they will be enrolled into the new network not whether they can be enrolled. Our expectation is that all SMETS1 meters will be enrolled into DCC."
Others are not so convinced. Technology consultant Nick Hann, who was involved in early designs of smart meters, told me on Money Box on 29 April.
"It is something that the industry has been very aware for three or four years. The new SMETS2 meters are far more complex and there's always been a question of whether it's possible to upgrade the existing ones. But it is one of those things that everyone has been desperately hoping we can magically wave a wand and all the old ones will start working. It now looks as if reality's starting to bite and people are beginning to think that may not be possible."
The ambitious programme to replace more than 50 million gas and electricity meters in every home is expected to cost at least £11 billion. By the end of 2016 around five million had been installed, nearly a million of those in the final quarter of 2016. Today the number is probably over six million. The remaining 44 million should be replaced by 2020 which will mean trebling the current rate of installation.
If all the SMETS1 meters have to be replaced or modified that will add to the cost and increase the timescale. Nick Hann said it might add 50% to the costs and call the viability of the whole project into question.
Meanwhile the energy companies are busy encouraging people to accept smart meters – all of the old type – without any clear idea when or if those meters will make use of the new DCC network. Energy companies are not informing customers of these potential problems. And nor is Smart Energy GB which will spend nearly £50million in 2017 telling us all that smart is the way to control dumb old 'gas and leccy'.
Read my updated blog on the smart meter project with links to the Cost/Benefit Analysis
Listen to Nick Hann's interview on Money Box.
Vs 1.01
MOTHERS MUST PROVE THEY WERE RAPED TO GET BENEFITS
From 6 April 2017 the Government will make mothers prove they were raped or sexually abused to get benefits for a third child.
Rape will be the main exception from the UK's two child policy which now applies to low income families who claim tax credits, universal credit, or housing benefit. It will also apply in some areas for council tax support or reduction. In general there will be no extra money for a third or subsequent child born from 6 April 2017. That will apply to new claims and existing claimants.
The standard maximum amount for each child in tax credits or universal credit in 2017/18 is £2780 a year. So parents with a child who is subject to the new rule will get nothing rather than £2780. There will be some exceptions.
The most controversial exception to the two child rule is for a child born as a result of rape. The mother will be able to claim benefit for the third or subsequent child born from 6 April 2017 if she applies for the exception on grounds of rape and proves that the child was the result of rape or sexual abuse.
To do that she will have to talk to a social worker, doctor, or nurse and describe what happened and when.
A policy document issued – slipped out some say – on the day of President Trump's inauguration explained the procedure. A mother claiming this exception would have to "engage with a professional third party" who would provide "Evidence…demonstrating that the claimant's circumstances are consistent with those of a person who has had intercourse without consenting to it (at a time when the conception of her third or subsequent child might have resulted)."
The Department for Work and Pensions would then decide whether to grant the exception or not.
The exception would also apply if there had been a conviction or a criminal injuries compensation payment for the rape.
The Government ignored what it admitted were many responses to the consultation which said "it was unacceptable for Government to ask women to re-live the ordeal of a rape just in order to make a claim for benefit." It also dismissed "concerns around the mental health impact on victims and pre-conceived perceptions of what a victim should look like."
The Government also decided that it would include in the rape exception children born as a result of "coercion and control" in a domestic setting. But only if the victim stopped living with the alleged father. "Rather than financial support through benefits for those who do remain with the perpetrator, we think other forms of victim support are more appropriate."
Twins and multiple births
If someone has one child and then has twins they will get money for both the twins, even though one of them is a third child. But if they have two children already then twins born from 6 April 2017 will have to survive on the money given for their two older siblings. In other words, each child will have half the money it would get if the new additions had been born before 6 April.
Children adopted from local authority care are exempt from the two child policy as are children living long term with family or friends who would otherwise be in local authority care.
Universal credit is only available to parents with children in a very few areas - called full service areas. Until November 2018 anyone with a third or subsequent child born from 6 April 2017 who claims universal credit will be directed to claim tax credits instead. Those already on universal credit who have a third or subsequent child from April 2017 will get no extra for it.
These intrusive questions and complex rules will not apply to better off parents who claim child benefit where the means test starts much higher – at £50,000. Those parents will continue to get money for every child including those born from 6 April 2017.
Family premium
Another separate cut in the money given to families also begins on 6 April 2017. Parents making a new claim from this date will not get the extra payment of £545 a year previously paid for the first child. Nor will it be paid for a first child born after 6 April 2017. Family premiums were abolished for housing benefit from 1 May 2016 and for council tax support and reduction schemes from April 2016 in some areas.
Austerity bites. Particularly on families with children.
MOTHERS MUST PROVE THEY WERE RAPED TO GET BENEFITS...


The Client wished to refurbish and extend an important Grade II* listed historic building. We were appointed by the Client to bring together and manage the team of specialist construction professionals with expertise in historic buildings. The team's expertise needed to include knowledge of sympathetically repairing and maintaining the historic fabric, working with frescos and painted canvas panels which formed part of the structure as well as achieving modern standards of interior finish in a historic Georgian property.
The house and grounds had legal restrictions which required us to liaise with the relevant covenanters and historic organisations. Using the expertise of the historic and specialists consultants we had brought together we were able to obtain consent for significant alterations and to undertake development of the house far in excess of the scope we had been advised would be possible.
In order to minimise delays we programmed and sequenced the less contentious external repair works during the more protracted internal alteration consent process. This allowed us to create a dry and stable external envelope. Utilising the time to obtain consents we carried out opening up works to identify risks associated with the internal alterations thus minimising risk of unforeseen and costly works during the internal refurbishment.
We were appointed by a private Client to manage and oversee the full development and refurbishment of a large Grade II listed country estate in South England. Managing the selection and appointment of the full design team and coordination of all related works associated with the proposed development.
The works include new basement extensions, internal alterations, upgraded services, a new pool building and ancillary accommodation linked to the estate including the conversion of a barn to an energy centre fuelled by biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps. The new energy centre will serve the entire estate.
The works to this substantial Grade II* listed London property included specifying and managing a full external refurbishment and re-roofing scheme together with a complete internal refurbishment.
Appointed as the Client's Representative and Project Manager, Davenport Associates were responsible for the administration of the building and services contract; obtaining all planning and listed building consents; tendering and supervising the building works; negotiating on all cost matters and on completion setting up maintenance contracts.
This project involved the complete strip-out and refurbishment of this imposing Grade II house.
Our responsibilities included assisting the Client in the selection of the Interior Designer; putting together the full project design team including negotiating fees and appointments; Coordinating and managing design development, control of budgets and ensuring designs complied with the Client's aspirations; Arranging for Landlord Consents and Listed Building Consent together with Building Regulation approval; Supervision and monitoring of the entire refurbishment project.
This project involved the full refurbishment of a period house. The works included full external repairs together with new internal finishes, replacement bathrooms and kitchen and a thorough overhaul of all existing services in order to create a durable and practicable property for letting purposes.
This was a full refurbishment of a large detached property on a fast-track basis for a private client. The works involved the complete redesign and refurbishment of all areas. Working with the Client's Interior Designer we coordinated the design development during the construction process to ensure that the Client could occupy in the shortest possible timescale.
We were appointed by the Client to assist in various refurbishment projects over a period of time. The works included replacement bathrooms, dealing with control issues associated with heating and AV systems and providing general support and advice in relation to all construction and property matters.
We acted as project manager and contract administrator on a new master bathroom suite built completely out of onyx. Working with the Client's New York designer we coordinated the complex design issues and managed cost and programme and coordinated the full construction process which included strengthening of floors and internal structural alterations.
All works were managed so that the Client had full access to other areas of the house whilst the works were on-going.
On this project we were appointed to work with landscape designers acting as Client's representative to supervise and coordinate the landscaping scheme for this large private garden in Central London.
We were introduced to the project half way through the construction phase to provide advice to the Client on the management of a building contract. Building works had exposed defects within the building structure and electrical services which required a quick analysis and remedial works to maintain continuity of the remaining works.
We acted as Client's representative to assist and provide advice on strategy and to overview the performance of all the consultants including the overseas Interior Designer and monitoring the installation on the Client's behalf.
We were appointed as the Client's representative to coordinate and manage the complete refurbishment, reconfiguration, dressing and letting of an investment property on the Client's behalf.
The role involved liaison to develop the internal layout to maximise letting returns; obtaining all necessary consents; coordination of consultants and contractors; supervision of all works and reporting on a regular basis to the Client on key matters; liaison with staging companies and letting agents to ensure the investment achieved the maximum returns in the shortest timescales.


Vape pens can be rigged for BHO, also know as dabs, the most potent form of marijuana with THC going up to 96%. Since anyone in California over 18 can get a "medical" marijuana card, vaping has been the way to go for many of our youths on the fast track to addiction and marijuana psychosis. What is also interesting is that it is illegal to manufacture or import Butane Hash Oil (BHO) in California, yet 40% of the medical marijuana sold by California dispensaries is BHO, used for vaping.
Josh Drayton, an advisor to California Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León accepted more that $85 from a marijuana lobbyist in late May. Drayton's acceptance of the gifts while presenting himself as working for de León violates the spirit of the law passed in the 1970s saying that legislative aides may not accept more than $10 in gift. Nate Bradley, head of the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) at the end of 2012, donated the gifts.
Since founding the CCIA, Bradley, a former cop, has spent his days roaming the halls of the Capitol building and his nights hopping from reception to fundraiser. The intent was to influence legislation, particularly AB 266, a bill to regulate, legitimize and protect marijuana. California illegally supplies 60% of the nation's marijuana supply, a clear indication that the cannabis grown under the guise of medicine is not just for "medical" marijuana "patients." It's all about the money.
In the meantime, Senator Leno is introducing a bill that would make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under age 21. A coalition of groups in California, including Stoppot 2016 and CALMCa insists that the bill include "medical" marijuana, because more young people smoke pot than tobacco, and more vape rather than use traditional cigarettes.


The Anderson-Morgan Tasmanian Open DanceSport ChampionShips for 2013 are on at the Launceston Silverdome on Saturday, August 10th, and I will be there to photograph the many events.
Come and watch some of the best local and national couples competing in all styles of ballroom dancing in an action-packed day of competition at the Launceston Silverdome.
All images will be available in the weeks following the Tasmania's dancesport event from the Galleries menu under Dancesport. As there will be thousands of images to work through, it will take a few weeks to process and upload all the images.
With $20,000 in prize money, fabulous dancers from all over Australia, this years event promises to be the best ever.


VENUE: University Permanent Site, along Kalgo-Bunza Road, Birnin kebbi, Kebbi State.
Therefore, candidates are hereby advised to visit the University portal at www.screening.fubk.edu.ng to apply.
The sum of N2,300.00 only (inclusive of bank charges) shall be paid for the screening exercise through any commercial bank nationwide, by using the Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) and invoice generated on the University portal. Payment can be made immediately.


There is no need to spend lots of money on car polishing. Polishing can be done at your home and your vehicle will look as good as brand new. Car polishing can be done in two ways. One is by hand and another is by car polishing machine. In this article, you will be guided on how to refresh the exterior of your vehicle.
Most of the people don't know how to polish a vehicle properly. So before you start polishing you must have to wash it. With the help of hose rinse the vehicle downwards. Once the washing is done use car wash shampoo with microfiber pads or sponge and gets the dirt off from the surface of the vehicle. Rinse off the remaining soap and dry your vehicle with Microfiber cleaning cloth.
As you have decided to polish your vehicle by hand make sure the polish should be light abrasive which you are going to apply. Use the new sponge to apply polish or Wash the sponge before you use it.
Let's talk about how to polish A Car step by step but before starting which tools will be needed in polishing are mentioned below. So keep it with you or if you don't have a product you can buy from the Car Care products store.
Take car polishing pad and spray a mist of water on the surface of the pad.
Apply a small amount of car polish on the pad and then apply it to the surface of the car with the help of pad. Don't apply it with hand or finger.
Experts suggest you to start polishing process from the roof and then working downwards.
Pressure plays an important role in car polishing. So apply a small amount of pressure while polishing.
Spread polish on the surface evenly in a circular motion. At this point people made mistake. They don't apply polish in a circular motion and apply polish by stroking randomly on the surface. Stop this process when the polish dries out. Leave the polish to dry for at least 10 minutes.
Now it's time to remove the polish. Take the microfiber towel and fold it into four. Car polish removal has three phases. In the first phase lightly rub off the polish with cloth. The biggest amount of the polish will be removed in this first phase. Don't forget to flip towel and use a new side for each section like roof, bonnet, left side and right side.
Now repeat the process again but with the new microfiber towel. In the second phase, you have to remove the rest of the excess polish. Apply some additional pressure to remove the excess polish. Don't forget to flip the cloth each quarter.
Now the last and final phase to perfect the surface by taking care of all the little corners and areas to get the best results.
Car polishing should be done in a shaded area like a garage. Don't polish under a tree. Bird droppings and tree fragments may land on the car. So always try to polish your car into the garage for better results.
Wear gloves and remove rings and belt you wearing because this can leave a scratch on the surface during the polishing process.
Experts suggest polishing your car twice in the year, not more than that. Because it can be harmful to the clear coat and it causes swirls in the long run.
Polishing should be done before wax is applied. Waxing can be done without polishing but polishing can't be done after waxing your car.
That's it. You are done with Car polishing by hand in just 10 steps.
In this world where almost everyone is aware that the resources accessible to us are limited, there grows a concern on how to do our daily task without wasting our natural resources. Because of this more and more people are turning to waterless car wash.


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A Reason to Kvell Today
By Bonnie Rosenbaum | November 11, 2013
LGBT Resources for Holocaust Remembrance Day
LGBTQ Jewish History Quiz
Keshet is a national organization that works for LGBTQ equality in Jewish life. The organization equips Jewish leaders with tools to build LGBTQ-affirming communities, creates spaces for queer Jewish teens to feel valued and develop their own leadership skills, and mobilizes the Jewish community to fight for LGBTQ justice. Keshet's blog spotlights this work, as well as the voices of LGBTQ Jews, our families, and allies.
The Forward 50
Keshet's Executive Director, Idit Klein, has been named to the Forward 50, The Jewish Daily Forward's annual list of American Jewish leaders who have made an impact on Jewish life. Idit is not the only LGBTQ Jew on the list this year. Perhaps it's a sign of the times, but the lead honoree this year was none other than Edith Windsor, the 84-year-old whose Supreme Court case struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act!
In less than two decades, Keshet has evolved from a small grassroots group in Boston advocating the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Jewish life to a nationwide organization that, today, operates on a $1.7 million budget and has educators in over 200 Jewish communities across the country.
Much of this success can be attributed to Idit Klein, 40, who became Keshet's first executive director in 2001. Shocked by a wave of LGBT teen suicides in the 1990s, Klein envisaged eliminating the roots of discrimination by raising the awareness of teachers and parents as well as by boosting the confidence of LGBT youth.
Under her leadership, the organization developed a training curriculum for inclusion, which teaches community leaders about Jewish perspectives on sexual orientation and how to respond to homophobic bullying, among other topics. Keshet also offers support and networking opportunities for Jewish LGBT youth, LGBT parents and, since 2012, parents of LGBT youth.
In 2010, Keshet merged with Jewish Mosaic, a Denver-based Jewish LGBT inclusion organization. In June 2011, Keshet opened its third office in San Francisco.
Klein was the executive producer of the 2005 documentary "Hineini: Coming Out In A Jewish High School," which screened in more than 14 countries. It depicts the struggle of a lesbian ninth grader, and, according to Keshet, inspired several LGBT youths and their parents to address the issues they faced in their communities.
This spring, a writing contest organized by Keshet lead to the publication of "The Purim Superhero," the first English LGBT-inclusive Jewish children's book. The first printing sold out within months.
Pronounced: PUR-im, the Feast of Lots, Origin: Hebrew, a joyous holiday that recounts the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre during the Persian period.
Orthodox Judaism and LGBTQ Issues
Efforts to make the community more compassionate have stopped short of sanctioning gay relationships.
Judaism and LGBTQ Issues: An Overview
Attitudes have shifted dramatically in recent decades, with sharp differences between the Orthodox and liberal movements.
How to Choose a Ketubah, or Jewish Marriage Contract
A guide to finding the right document for your wedding.


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A Night in Brooklyn by D. Nurkse
D. Nurkse's deeply satisfying new collection is a haunted love letter to the far corners of his hometown, Brooklyn, New York, and a meditation on the selves that were left behind in those indelible places.
Here Nurkse brings alive the particular details that shape a life, in this case unique to the world of Brooklyn—a job at the Arnold Grill, "topping off drafts with a paddle" for the truckers who came in; the deaf white alley cat that mysteriously survived the winter on a stoop in Bensonhurst; the narrow bed where young love took place; the wild gardens behind the tenements. His exploration of this almost mythic city past is combined with a sense of the future speeding toward us—the ongoing riddle of time and being in a larger universe.
. . . And she who was driving said,
We know the coming disaster intimately but the present is unknowable.
Which disaster, I wondered, sexual or geological? But I was shy:
her beauty was like a language she didn't speak and had never heard.
From "The Present"
D. Nurkse is the author of nine previous books of poetry. His recent prizes include a Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A former poet laureate of Brooklyn, he has also written widely on human rights.
Meet the poet on his book tour


Our unique collection of traditional Christmas ornaments consists of your favorite brands such as Christopher Radko and Ne'Qwa, which are painted on the inside. Or, select traditional glass ornaments such as spun glass, miniature glass balls and other holiday favorites. You can find decorative ornament sets by color to accent your themed trees and non-personalized options that are simply too pretty to personalize. These traditional ornaments are perfect gifts for an ornament exchange or hostess gift!
2/23/2019 - "Tried to order at Christmas but it was out of stock. Unexpectedly, I received an email stating it was in stock. I was elated as this was for my daughter. Was not expecting to get it this year so I am very happy with Ornamentshop.com. Amy H."
12/25/2018 - "You can be assured that I will order again next year! Our great grandson, 4, was Harry Potter at Halloween this year. How happy I was to find the ornament that we could have Jack's name put on! Perfect, thank you! It was a huge hit. Our great grandson, 5, does crafts and lots of painting, drawing, etc. His mom is always looking for ways to have creative time and less tablet or tv time! His ornament was the little boy with the baseball hat, looking like he's been painting. We had you personalize his ornament with, "Drew's Masterpiece". His mother said it was "perfect". Thank you so much! Hopefully I will get a reminder from you next year. We have a lot of grandchildren/great grandchildren so any sales would be great! God bless you and Merry Christmas! Robin S."


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SYNONYM

#### According to
Index Fungorum

#### Published in
null

#### Original name
Agaricus capnoides Fr., 1818

### Remarks
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Abortion could play role in Crist-Scott governor race
By Anthony Man and Sun Sentinel
Charlie Crist, left, and Rick Scott
New Florida legislation making abortions more difficult to obtain could become a lynchpin issue in the Charlie Crist-Rick Scott race for governor.
Already, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and state Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, have joined forces in an attempt to use the proposed new abortion restrictions as a way to rejuvenate their party's long-running charge that Republicans are engaged in a war on women.
And they're aiming squarely at Scott, the Republican governor running for re-election.
"It's clear that Florida Republicans want to follow the misguided leadership of Governor Scott and take their extremism a step further by restricting the right of Florida women to make their own health care decisions," Wasserman Schultz said during a recent conference call with reporters.
Berman said the "real intent" of Scott-led Republicans is to "turn back the clock" and limit women's ability to get access to abortions.
When Democrats push the so-called war on women, it infuriates establishment Republicans and social conservatives. "If you want to talk about a war on women, what about the war on women in the womb," said Tami Donnally, a Lake Worth Republican activist.
"The real war on women and war on children is abortion," said Jannique Stewart, of Coconut Creek, the founder of Love Protects, a Christian ministry that believes in a biblical approach to sexuality, and strongly opposes abortion.
The Florida legislation, House Bill 1047, redefines the viability of a fetus to reduce the number of abortions. Current law bans most abortions after 24 weeks, the start of the third trimester; the new legislation could move that up to 20 weeks.
Also, a woman could not seek a late-term abortion unless two doctors certified in writing that it was necessary to save her life or to avoid irreversible physical impairment. And it would eliminate abortions based on the emotional health of the pregnant woman.
The Legislature passed the proposal last month. Anti-abortion activists expect Scott — who was honored last year as a "champion" by Florida Right to Life — will approve the measure, something that would please social conservatives in the Republican Party.
"I'm obviously pro-life. I believe life begins at conception," Donnally said. "I appreciate anything the governor signs to help move us in that direction," Donnally said.
That's exactly the point, in the view of U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat who represents most of coastal Palm Beach County and parts of Broward County. She said the latest Florida measure is one more step in a coordinated Republican effort to keep an important part of its base happy.
"We're actually very happy to see what happened with this bill," Stewart said.
For their part, the Democrats would love to turn the Florida governor's race into a replay of last year's election in Virginia, where abortion played a big role in Democrat Terry McAuliffe's 48 percent to 45 percent victory over Republican Ken Cuccinelli.
After a barrage of TV ads from Democrats and their allies pushing the message that the Republican would roll back their rights to abortion and birth control, exit polls showed McAuliffe won 51 percent of women's votes to the Cuccinelli's 42 percent.
The public's overall impressions of Scott and Crist, the condition of the state's economy and voters' views of President Barack Obama will be the biggest factors in November, said Berman and Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter.
But if the race stays tight, an issue like abortion could influence the outcome even if it only generates interest in a relatively small number of voters.
"It's not going to motivate a huge number of people, but it can motivate some pockets," said Daryl Glenney, a Palm Beach communications, marketing and political consultant. If Glenney were working for Crist, she said she'd search for the pockets of Democratic-leaning voters who care about the issue "because I wouldn't want to take the chance that they just wouldn't vote."
It could also help motivate millennial voters, aged 18 to 31.
"This is an issue that can motivate young people to come turn out," said Harstad Strategic Research pollster Michael Kulisheck — if a candidate or party can sell it in a way that's relevant to millennials' lives.
Nearly 7 in 10 millennials don't want government involved in abortion decisions, according to polling this spring for the Youth Engagement Fund and Project New America.
Crist's position on abortion isn't completely clear. The fact-checking website PolitiFact found that, "Overall, he's been all over the map on the issue, calling himself both 'pro-choice' and 'pro-life' in the past."
Crist was elected governor as a Republican in 2006, ran for U.S. Senate as a no party/independent candidate in 2010, and is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for his old job this year.
And a Scott signature on the abortion restrictions could help Crist if Democrats who are still lukewarm about him need a reason to support him over the Republican governor in November.
He is far ahead of his primary opponent, former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston – a longtime supporter of abortion rights – in polls and fundraising.
Rich's strongest supporters, many of whom are liberal women, are among the Democrats who Glenney said have "been suspicious of Crist, not necessarily convinced by his conversion on the road to Damascus."
aman@tribune.com, 954-356-4550


text:
package org.wikipedia.server.restbase;

import org.wikipedia.Site;
import org.wikipedia.WikipediaApp;
import org.wikipedia.server.PageCombo;
import org.wikipedia.server.PageLead;
import org.wikipedia.server.PageRemaining;
import org.wikipedia.server.PageService;
import org.wikipedia.zero.WikipediaZeroHandler;

import retrofit.Callback;
import retrofit.RetrofitError;
import retrofit.client.Response;
import retrofit.http.GET;
import retrofit.http.Path;
import retrofit.http.Query;

/**
 * Retrofit web service client for RESTBase Nodejs API.
 */
public class RbPageService implements PageService {
    private final RbPageEndpoints webService;
    private WikipediaZeroHandler responseHeaderHandler;

    public RbPageService(final Site site) {
        responseHeaderHandler = WikipediaApp.getInstance().getWikipediaZeroHandler();
        webService = RbPageEndpointsCache.INSTANCE.getRbPageEndpoints(site);
    }

    @Override
    public void pageLead(String title, final int leadImageThumbWidth, boolean noImages,
                         final PageLead.Callback cb) {
        webService.pageLead(title, optional(noImages), new Callback<RbPageLead>() {
            @Override
            public void success(RbPageLead pageLead, Response response) {
                responseHeaderHandler.onHeaderCheck(response);
                pageLead.setLeadImageThumbWidth(leadImageThumbWidth);
                cb.success(pageLead, response);
            }

            @Override
            public void failure(RetrofitError error) {
                cb.failure(error);
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    public void pageRemaining(String title, boolean noImages, final PageRemaining.Callback cb) {
        webService.pageRemaining(title, optional(noImages), new Callback<RbPageRemaining>() {
            @Override
            public void success(RbPageRemaining pageRemaining, Response response) {
                cb.success(pageRemaining, response);
            }

            @Override
            public void failure(RetrofitError error) {
                cb.failure(error);
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    public void pageCombo(String title, boolean noImages, final PageCombo.Callback cb) {
        webService.pageCombo(title, optional(noImages), new Callback<RbPageCombo>() {
            @Override
            public void success(RbPageCombo pageCombo, Response response) {
                cb.success(pageCombo, response);
            }

            @Override
            public void failure(RetrofitError error) {
                cb.failure(error);
            }
        });
    }

    /**
     * Optional boolean Retrofit parameter.
     * We don't want to send the query parameter at all when it's false since the presence of the parameter
     * alone is enough to trigger the truthy behavior.
     */
    private Boolean optional(boolean param) {
        if (param) {
            return true;
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Retrofit endpoints for MW API endpoints.
     */
    interface RbPageEndpoints {
        /**
         * Gets the lead section and initial metadata of a given title.
         *
         * @param title the page title with prefix if necessary
         * @param noImages add the noimages flag to the request if true
         * @param cb a Retrofit callback which provides the populated RbPageLead object in #success
         */
        @GET("/page/mobile-html-sections-lead/{title}")
        void pageLead(@Path("title") String title, @Query("noimages") Boolean noImages,
                      Callback<RbPageLead> cb);

        /**
         * Gets the remaining sections of a given title.
         *
         * @param title the page title to be used including prefix
         * @param noImages add the noimages flag to the request if true
         * @param cb a Retrofit callback which provides the populated RbPageRemaining object in #success
         */
        @GET("/page/mobile-html-sections-remaining/{title}")
        void pageRemaining(@Path("title") String title, @Query("noimages") Boolean noImages,
                           Callback<RbPageRemaining> cb);

        /**
         * Gets all page content of a given title -- for refreshing a saved page
         * Note: the only difference in the URL from #pageLead is the sections=all instead of 0.
         *
         * @param title the page title to be used including prefix
         * @param noImages add the noimages flag to the request if true
         * @param cb a Retrofit callback which provides the populated RbPageCombo object in #success
         */
        @GET("/page/mobile-html-sections/{title}")
        void pageCombo(@Path("title") String title, @Query("noimages") Boolean noImages,
                       Callback<RbPageCombo> cb);
    }
}


text:
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Department of International Law and Inter-American Institute of Human Rights present The CJI's Updated Principles On Privacy and The Protection of Personal Data
On Thursday, September 23, the Department of International Law (DIL) of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the OAS, and the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIDH) jointly held a virtual seminar to present the Inter-American Juridical Committee's (CJI) Updated Principles on Privacy and the Protection of Personal Data.
This OAS body approved the Updated Principles in April 2021, fulfilling a mandate from the General Assembly. The 13 Updated Principles, the result of a broad consultation process among OAS Member States and some international organizations, are enhanced with a set of annotations that develop and detail their content.
The event started with a welcome from Dr. Claudio Grossman, President of the IIDH, who pointed out that the pandemic we are experiencing has evidenced the need to protect personal data; therefore, the sanitary measures that have been implemented in several States of the region and that imply the treatment of this type of data must be proportional, lawful, justified and limited. He further called on the General Assembly of the OAS to approve the Updated Principles of the CJI in its next session.
For his part, Dr. Dante Negro, Director of the DIL mentioned that the great challenge is to achieve a balance between ensuring the protection of personal data and the flow of this type of data for legitimate purposes. He also noted that the CJI seeks to contribute to achieving that balance, particularly since privacy is a concern in everyone's daily life.
Next, the rapporteur for protection of personal data at the CJI, Dr. Mariana Salazar Albornoz highlighted that the technological acceleration that the pandemic has produced has not been proportional to the regulatory advances in the matter, evidencing a need for minimum standards that serve to strengthen the protection of privacy in light of these developments. Subsequently, she proceeded to succinctly develop each of the 13 Updated Principles.
Dr. Felipe Rotondo, former president of the Ibero-American Data Protection Network (RIPD), shared some reflections on the Updated Principles vis a vis the Ibero-American Standards approved by the RIPD itself in 2017. In this regard, he considered that there is full compatibility between both instruments, highlighting that the Updated Principles and their corresponding annotations are sufficiently didactic and flexible to remain current in the face of future technological advances.
Participants had the opportunity to submit questions to the panelists in a session led by the event's moderator, Ms. Claudia Barrientos, OAS representative in Uruguay. Subsequently, Dr. Eduardo Bertoni, representative of the IIDH's Regional Office for South America, highlighted the value of the consultation process undertaken by the CJI as part of the preparation of the Updated Principles since, by incorporating the contributions of the States Members of the OAS, its adoption by these same States becomes more feasible and advisable.
Finally, Dr. Jaime Moreno-Valle, Principal Legal Officer of the DIL closed the event by highlighting that the vertiginous development of technology regarding the collection and processing of personal data makes it necessary for the OAS and the CJI in particular to continue strengthening the set of tools that it makes available to its Member States, citing as an example the "Declaration on Neuroscience, Neurotechnologies and Human Rights: New Challenges for the Americas" adopted by the CJI in August 2021, which draws attention to the need to protect the personal data obtained through the use of neurotechnologies.
» To read the Updated Principles on Privacy and the Protection of Personal Data,	click here.
» To visit the event's web page and view the video (available in Spanish only), click here.
» To visit the DIL's web page on personal data protection,	click here.
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Unless otherwise indicated, the materials published on this website, including opinions expressed therein, are the responsibility of the individual authors/compilers and not those of the Organization of American States (OAS), or its Member States.
© 2021 Department of International Law, Organization of American States. All rights reserved.
19th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC 20006 USA


Alysia Mazzella dissects written word and moving image to tell stories of human experience. She happily lives and works in Newburgh, NY.
Fon Borrello is a human artist moving lines and forming shape. He is alive in Newburgh, New York with his pet rats, Mama and Babe, and his bearded dragon, Nancy.


text:
Crisis Management Information
table test
UNC-TV Learning Opportunity
Free Meals for Children
How to Talk to Your Child about Coronavirus
Responding to Xenophobia
Emotional Safety for Students
School Closing and Coronavirus Updates
This week, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released directions to school districts for reopening school buildings. We appreciate their thoughtful leadership in developing guidance that provides a path forward to reopening public schools.
The state requires that we prepare three plans for the 2020-21 school year.
Plan A - Minimal Social Distancing: This plan allows for most students to attend school on a school campus. All campuses are operating under enhanced health and social distancing protocols.
Plan B - Blending Learning: In this plan, schools must reduce the number of people in the building to at least half. This means that some students will be learning from home and some will be on a school campus. All campuses are operating under enhanced health and social distancing protocols.
Plan C - Remote Learning Only: In this plan, all students are learning from home. There are no students or employees on school campuses.
Based on public health data, state and/or local health officials will determine under which plan we operate. We anticipate that health officials will require us to shift plans throughout the school year, in response to our community's public health needs.
Governor Cooper's office is expected to announce by July 1 how schools should operate on the first day of school.
The state also called for an option for a virtual school for students who, for health reasons, cannot return to a school campus. We are also actively exploring this option for a wider group of families.
We know you have many questions and we're working on those answers now. We still anticipate sharing details about each plan, a virtual school option and enhanced health and safety measures for our school campuses in early July.
As we shared last week, we are basing all decisions on health guidance from trusted sources – the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Wake County Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As we begin to make these important decisions, the health and well-being of every member of our community is at the forefront of our minds.
We also arrive at our decisions cautiously, with the understanding that as the public health response to COVID-19 changes, so may our plans.
We close by reminding all families to remain vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
When you leave home, practice your W's: Wear, Wait, Wash.
Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Share with your child that these habits protect our families, friends and neighbors. They are acts of kindness that when practiced collectively can have a tremendous impact on our community, especially for those at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
With warm regards,
Cathy Q. Moore, Superintendent
June 26, 2020 - FYI: No Food Distribution on July 3, 2020
June 12, 2020 Update on re-opening schools
June 5, 2020 - Please join us in a virtual conversation about reopening schools
June 2, 2020 - School Calendars, COVID-19 Testing


text:
NIOSH All CDC
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Youth farm worker is killed when he becomes entangled in PTO driveline of an old grinder-mixer.
Iowa Department of Public Health
Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 99IA003, 1999 Jul; :1-6
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ia/99ia003.html
NIOSHTIC No.
In January 1999, a 17-year-old high school student working part-time for a dairy farmer was killed when his clothing was caught by the unshielded power take-off (PTO) driveline of a grinder-mixer. He had been helping the farmer add sacks of feed supplement to ground corn in the mixer. The task was almost complete and the farmer was closing the hammer mill cover while the youth stood near the PTO driveline in front of the flywheel. Although the flywheel was disengaged, the PTO driveline and unshielded flywheel clutch were rotating at about 200 revolutions per minute (RPM). The farmer heard a thump, then noticed that the boy had been caught and entangled around the driveline at the flywheel clutch. He died instantly from severe head injuries. Iowa FACE investigators concluded that, to prevent similar incidents, employers should: 1. Ensure that PTO drivelines and other drive-line components are completely shielded to prevent worker contact with rotating machine parts. 2. Ensure that workers are trained to recognize the hazards of working near exposed rotating machine parts. 3. Ensure that damaged machine components and systems are repaired and maintained in proper working order.
Region-7; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Training; Machine-guarding; Machine-operation; Clothing; Farmers; Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-machinery; Agricultural-workers; Children
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
NTIS Price
Identifying No.
FACE-99IA003; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-708674
NAICS-11
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
IA; WV
Performing Organization
Page last reviewed: September 2, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division


How do you 'call' your element?
Re: How do you 'call' your element?
I think you could use the parchment paper posters. I saved the photos but I didn't try it yet. You could find them on google image and some Wiccan shops.
I didn't call my element. i just know, is like knowing my name.
I feel calm and safe by watching a flame on the candle.


For all those who have started to follow the blog since the beginning of the year, or anyone who might have missed a post, here is a summary of the most read posts of the year. I've grouped them into 'families' for ease of use.
Actually, though, there is a really wide spread over the posts, and, even more pleasing for me, people continue to call up old posts a long time after their publication. As a blogger, it is really satisfying to know that the posts are still useful and don't fall into the "published and forgotten" basket!
EU's DGT translation memories triple in size and EU translation memories updated *again*!
Note: You can also use the "Categories" in the side-bar to the left if you want to find other posts; or the "Search" box at the top right. The "Top posts & pages" list that appears in the sidebar is updated in real-time and thus only shows the posts that are most viewed at the particular time you are consulting the blog.


A deadly 'Star Wars lightsabre' is being sold to UK consumers for just £135. The 'Star Wars' style device produces a laser that can burn skin and cause instant blindness.
But junior Jedis hoping to recreate the clash between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader should think again, as the Spyder III Pro Arctic is not a toy and its force could prove deadly, according to the manufacturer.
The 1watt tool, said to be the world's most powerful portable laser, features a blue ray that is 1,000 times stronger than sunlight on skin.
'Extremely dangerous is an understatement to the power,' says Hong Kong manufacturer Wicked Lasers.
The powerful beam can be seen by aircraft pilots 72km (45miles) away and should not be pointed at vehicles, children or animals, Wicked adds.
But, even though it is a potentially lethal weapon, it seems anyone with a credit card can order one.
Britain is listed as one of 70 countries the laser will be shipped to and there do not appear to be age checks on buyers.
Customers must agree to a Class IV Laser Hazard acknowledgment form before ordering online and the document says 'people have been arrested, fined and jailed for misuse'.
The Spyder III comes with safety goggles but even these cannot fully protect against the rays.
The $200 (£135) device was built by adapting blue lasers from home cinema projectors.


If you're looking for Boston synagogues, you have come to the right page! This Boston synagogue map shows the synagogues of all denominations in our directory. The legend on the right toggles the synagogue denominations on and off. Use the controls in the top left corner of the map to zoom in and move the map, or double-click the map to zoom in and click and move your mouse to move the map.


UPDATE!! to update you all- Eos did take step and corrected that anomaly . Making noise HELPS! . Hope we will learn HOW and WHY that has happened.
All Cryptos TODAY are now BELOW 100$ Except BTC – so your sentiment is real!!.
Good People, I sparked this debate.
(2) Some people from Ethereum tent.
Is XRP a Crypto Hyena? Is it even a crypto?
More like me : time do fly didn't notice ? 2017 was a great crypto year . So we remember that more. However, correction EOS main-net launched in 2018 not 2017. I can tell that was your honest mistake, I do make that mistake when writing about crypto.


Do any of these sound like a recent conversation with your teen or pre-teen?
How do you help your teen navigate life-shaping conversations about the world around us? As parents we need to know we're not alone in this whirlwind of parenting teens. We want to share about an amazing experience you don't want to miss.
Tomorrow is the first day of the brand new Parenting Teens Summit: Hope presented by Axis. This online-only summit starts September 11th with the final session airing on September 30th. Axis enlisted over 50 of the most influential and informed voices in faith and culture to speak to you.
Who are these speakers? Dr. Paul David Tripp, Craig Gross, Kimm Carr, Craig Groeschel, Dr. Kathy Koch, and over 40 others.
LTH Founder and President Bill Henson will be speaking on Monday, September 18 on "How to Serve the LGBT Community." We would love for you to join us for our session. Put it on your schedule and follow the access link below to join us.
Axis will be streaming each video for just three days each during the summit. If you'd like to access any of the videos beyond that time, simply purchase an All-Access Pass for unlimited access to all sessions, as well as bonus material and resources for on-the-go consumption this fall. You will have the opportunity to upgrade to the pass after you opt-in for the free ticket.


Texas State University President Denise Trauth has scheduled four Open Door sessions with students for the fall semester.
President Trauth will meet with Texas State students 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, October 4 and Wednesday, November 2 in LBJ Student Center room 3-8.1; 2-3 p.m. Thursday, October 13 during the President's Cat Chat on the 11th floor of the J.C. Kellam Building; and 5-6 p.m. Monday, November 28 at a Student Government round table event in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.
The president's office schedules Open Door sessions each semester. The sessions are designed to promote clear lines of communication between Trauth and Texas State students. All students are invited to attend to discuss with the president issues and concerns relevant to university life. No appointments are necessary, except for the President's Cat Chat, which requires advance registration at www.vpsa.txstate.edu/catchat.
For further information on the president's Open Door sessions, contact the president's office at (512) 245-2121.


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Want more Primary Gasket Seal And O-ring similar ideas? Try to explore these searches: Angel Sterling Silver Link Bracelets, Maryland Cycling Jersey, and Unscented Tealight Candles.


VMworld 2017 here we go! I am so happy to be back this year, flying in on Friday this time to sit on the PEX Workshops. I am refreshing all my NSX knowledge this Saturday.
As a technology enthusiast, I like to write about what I do, the things I design, implement and especially those problems that I find and that there is no official documentation on how to solve them.
Here I have a few study guides, some tricks of the trade and from time to time I share my opinion on current topics. When I learned that VMware had a program called VMware vExpert, I decided to apply. This program helps me sharing my knowledge and multiplies my effort in contributing back to the community.
The VMware community is something special; you can request assistance from a lot of great engineers out there. There is a certain camaraderie among all the users, vExperts, employees and everyone that in some form is related to VMware that feed the community and brings it all together. One of my favorites is the vBrownBag (https://vbrownbag.com/) community that meets weekly and is a great contributor during VMworld each year.
For me, VMworld provides a stage to grow as a professional. Each year I select the sessions that will provide me and ABS the most advantage taking into consideration our current client base, my knowledge gaps and what we think is the direction and possible adoption of new technology.
The VMware vExpert program supports the community by providing access to the software via evaluation licenses. It helps with private channels and forums, and honestly, it is cool to have a group that gives you the feeling that you belong and that you are giving something back. The program provides a lot of training not only about VMware products but also about the integration with everything the different companies use every day on to of their vSphere environment.
To apply to be a vExpert the most notable feat is to have a hunger for learning and sharing. If you feel awesome when you write a blog about the things that you do then in your heart you are good prospects.
Previous Post Top vBlog 2017!


text:
Category Archives: Lesser known characters
Lesser known characters :: Zadok
Beethoven once said, "I would bare my head and kneel at his grave." recounting the greatness of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), who needs no introduction to the music lover. A composer during the Baroque period, he was known for his masterpiece rendition of the Messiah "Hallelujah" chorus. In addition to the Messiah, another composition of his that gained popularity is "Zadok the Priest". The lyrics of this rendition tell the story of king Solomon's coronation. But who is this Zadok the Priest?
Zadok, the high priest was a descendant of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron. So from a Levitical lineage, he was qualified to be a priest that would serve the Lord, but it was not his lineage that makes Zadok standout. He served alongside Abiathar, another high priest during the reign of David. When Absalom, the son of David, rebelled against his father and king David, Zadok remained faithful by David's side and followed David's request to stay with the ark of the Lord, in Jerusalem, and later we see that he was asked by David to accompany Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the protector (soldier) to crown Solomon as king, after David. Once Solomon, builds the temple in Jerusalem, Zadok becomes the inaugural priest to serve in the first Temple. Prophet Ezekiel, in fact, refers to those who remained faithful to the Lord, not succumbing to the pagan worship during his days, as the sons of Zadok, who would have the privilege of serving God in the New Jerusalem, where the Lord and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) himself would be the temple (Ezekiel 44:14-16; Revelation 21:22).
What can we learn from Zadok?
Zadok does not go down in history, just as the first high priest to serve in the temple of the Lord built in Jerusalem, by Solomon, but because of his faithful service to God in keeping charge of the ark of the Lord and his sanctuary, when the people of Israel went astray, he is remembered as the father of those who remain faithful and who will be given the privilege to serve God in the New Jerusalem, whose builder will be God himself, one far greater than Solomon. Like Zadok, we must remain faithful in serving God and those whom God has appointed over us, so that we may be known by God, not just for our current service but also for our service in the future, when we see Christ face to face.
Ezekiel 44:14-16 (KJV)
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
Revelation 21:22 (KJV)
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Standard | Posted in Christian, Lesser known characters	| Tagged Lesser known character in the Bible, Serving God in the New Jerusalem, The sons of Zadok, Zadok and Abiathar, Zadok and Benaiah, Zadok and David, Zadok and Ezekiel, Zadok and Nathan, Zadok and Solomon, Zadok the Priest	| 1 Comment
Lesser known characters :: Vashti
Even though the main characters in the book of Esther, are Hadassah (also known as Esther) and Mordecai, a lesser known character named Vashti plays a very significant and vital role. Vashti is the queen of king Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. King Ahasuerus, threw a party (feast) for the nobles and princes of his provinces and the powers of Persia and Media, that lasted for 180 days during which time he showed off his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his majesty to the officials. At the end of 180 days, he threw another party for all the people in the palace, both great and small, which lasted for another seven days during which time, he ordered his stewards to serve wine in glasses of gold to all men without any restriction, as much as they desired. On the seventh day, when the king was intoxicated (merry with wine), he still felt like he wanted to show off more than what he had already, and orders to have his queen Vashti, be brought before him and the drunk men in his palace and be displayed, for she was very fair (beautiful). Vashti refuses the order of the king and is exiled from the king's presence as a result of her refusal. Vashti refusal leads to the king searching for her replacement and this is how Esther is divinely presented to the king and becomes his queen.
What can we learn from Vashti?
The one thing that makes Vashti find a place in history and in a sense makes her immortal is that she said "No" where it mattered and refused a powerful king, not giving into his sinful desires. She was not only beautiful (fair to look at) on the outside, but she had far greater inner beauty (character) and respect for herself. The Bible says that beauty without discretion is akin to a jewel in a pig's snout (Proverbs 11:22) and Vashti refused to be known as such. Despite the fact that her refusal could dispel her from the king's court, divorce her from her husband or even bring her death for disobeying the kings commandment, Vashti chose honor over life. Though she was stripped of her royalty, Vashti goes down in history as a woman who said 'No', defying a powerful king, and will forever be remembered as one arrayed in purple.
Like Vashti, we must be willing to say 'No' when it comes to matters that will bring dishonor to God, even if it comes at the cost of being exiled from the luxuries and pleasures of this world. Can we be like Vashti?
Esther 1: 1-22 (KJV)
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
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Lesser known characters :: Uzziah
2 Chronicles 26 records the story of king Uzziah. The life and death of Uzziah is a classic warning to all, regarding the lure of success and a testament to the adage, "pride cometh before a fall." It is a story that began well but sadly ended otherwise.
Uzziah, the son of Amaziah and Jecoliah (from Jerusalem) was appointed to be king over Judah, when he was merely sixteen years old and he reigned for fifty-two years (2 Chronicles 26:3). The Bible says that he did right in the sight of the LORD and as long as he sought the LORD, the Lord made him prosper (2 Chronicles 26:4-5). Under the blessings of God, Uzziah became a very powerful king. He warred against the Philistines and the Arabs and won, breaking down enemy walls and building his own defensive walls in their territories (2 Chronicles 26:6-7). In order to appease him, the Ammonites, who were his enemies, sent him gifts and the fame of his strength spread far and wide, even as far as Egypt (2 Chronicles 26:8). On the non-military front, he dug many wells, loved husbandry, built vineyards and amassed a lot of cattle in the foothills as well as the plains, meaning that he was prosperous (2 Chronicles 26:10). Strategically, he erected towers for military advantage and invented devices that could fire ammunition (arrows and stones) from these towers. He had an army of 2600 mighty men from his own family under whom he led an army of 307500 soldiers, training them in the arts of war (2 Chronicles 26:12-15).
The Bible says that he was marvelously helped (meaning that God gave him success), until he was strong (powerful and prosperous) and when he became strong, his power and prosperity led to his pride, and his heart was lifted up (in pride) to destruction (downfall) (2 Chronicles 26:16). He entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense, which was an activity that was reserved only for the consecrated priests of God. Azariah, the priest with eighty other priests who were valiant men, went in after him and confronted him of his sin. This made Uzziah angry and while he was still angry, a skin disease (leprosy) broke out on his forehead and he was evicted out of the temple. He did not resist because, he himself desired to leave the temple, as he had been smitten by the LORD. Until the day of his death, Uzziah remained a leper and died a leper (2 Chronicles 26:16-23) and was succeeded by his son, Jotham, to reign.
What can we learn from Uzziah?
First, we learn that success comes from the LORD, but the secret to success is not attributed to our own doing, but in our seeking; in our seeking of the LORD. As long as Uzziah sought the LORD, the LORD made him successful. Jesus said, "But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33).
Second, we can erect defensive walls and offensive towers on the outside, but if we don't raise walls and towers against pride within ourselves, we do not have a strategic advantage in spiritual warfare. We must wear the armor of God to fight against the schemes of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Third, we can do things that bring us food (cattle/meat) and drink (wells and vineyards), but unless we are grafted in the True Vine (Jesus Christ), we live fruitless and futile lives (John 15:1-5).
Fourth, it is said, that pride cometh before a fall, but before pride cometh power and prosperity. So when we are marvelously (miraculously) blessed by God, and we become powerful and prosperous, we must watch and pray so that we do not fall into the temptation (Matthew 26:14) of getting proud (as did Lucifer in the heavens (Ezekiel 28:2,15) or Uzziah on earth) and lift our hearts to destruction. From the point of pride, the only way is down.
Fifth, just as it is important to start out well, it is equally important to finish well, as well. Uzziah started out whole and ended up unclean.
Sixth, ironically, Uzziah in Hebrew means "God is my strength", but toward the end of his life, Uzziah failed to live by his name.
Let us be like Uzziah in seeking the Lord, and let us not be like Uzziah in lifting our hearts in pride.
2 Chronicles 26:1-23 (KJV)
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.
13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
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Lesser known characters :: Uriah
2 Samuel 11 and 12 records the story of king David's adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite and many a times, we hear of this account from king David's perspective. Often told as the Sin of David that displeased the Lord (1 Samuel 11:27), seldom do we see this account from the perspective of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. Uriah was a soldier in king David's army, fighting against the Ammonites along with Joab, when he had his wife stolen from him by the very king for whom he fought. And when king David learns that Bathsheba was with child, in an attempt to cover his sin, he summons Uriah from the battlelines and attempts to have Uriah lie with Bathsheba. When Uriah refuses to do so by stating that he could not go to his own family to rest and relax with pleasure (eat, drink and lie), when God's ark, his people (Israel and Judah) are in tents and the servants of the Lord (soldiers in the army) are in open fields. To this, David invites Uriah for drinks and food and gets him drunk hoping that Uriah would go to his wife, but even under the influence, Uriah remained focused and did not go to his house, but instead slept at the door of the king's house, with the servants of the Lord. Realizing that his plans were failing, David plots to have Uriah murdered and commands Joab to have Uriah placed in the battle, where the fighting is fiercest, where only valiant men (2 Samuel 11:16) are placed and to pull back from him, when the battle is in full swing. Joab obliges and Uriah, the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba is murdered.
What can we learn from Uriah?
Uriah, the Hittite, was a principled man, with his priorities set right as we can learn from his response. He put God first (referring to the ark of the Lord in tents). Then he put God's people (Israel and Judah in tents) next, following which he thought about the soldiers in king David's army, whom he refers to as servants of the Lord. Interesting to note, that to be a soldier in the army of God is to be a servant of the Lord. In other words, our responsibilities to God, the Lord and Master (John 13:13-14), is to adorn the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and fight for Him. Only after God, God's people, God's servants, does Uriah even think about himself and his family. Even under the influence, Uriah had a clear mind regarding his principles and priorities. To the point of death, Uriah remained faithful and died amongst valiant men. Uriah means "God is my Light" and in light there is no darkness. It is recorded that what David did, displeased the Lord, and I wish that it had been recorded, that what Uriah did, pleased the Lord.
Can we be like Uriah, a faithful and valiant man/woman of principles and priorities, in whom God and his people and his work (as servants and soldiers) comes first, before our personal needs?
2 Samuel 11:1-27 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
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Lesser known characters :: Shiphra and Puah
When the king of Egypt gave the edict to kill the male child of the Hebrews, to the Hebrews midwives, they feared God instead and did not follow the edict. One of the midwife's name was Shiphrah and the other was Puah (Exodus 1:15). For their faithfulness in fearing God, God dealt well with the midwives.
What can we learn from Shiphra and Puah?
When earthly rulers give us commands to obey that contradict the requirements of God, like Shiphra and Puah and the other unnamed midwives, we must fear God and follow him, instead of heeding to the commands of man. God, being faithful, would deal well with those who deal well with others, as he did with the midwives.
Exodus 1:15-22 (KJV)
15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
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Lesser known characters :: Sergius Paulus
When Barnabas and Saul (who also is called Paul) come to the island of Paphos, there are confronted by a sorcerer and false prophet whose name was Barjesus, also known as Elymas. This false prophet was with Sergius Paulus, the deputy of that country, but the Bible says that Sergius Paulus was a prudent man and he called for Barnabas and Saul, from whom he could hear the word of God. Elymas the sorcerer however withstood them and sought to turn away the deputy from faith that comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Paul tells Elymas that for his opposition to righteousness and his perversion of God's right ways, he will be blind for a season and Elymas turns blind. Upon seeing this Sergius Paulus, is astonished and believes.
What can we learn from Sergius Paulus?
Even though Sergius Paulus had Elymas the sorcerer with him, he was wise to call for Barnabas and Saul and when he saw the sovereignty of God in blinding the sorcerer that wanted to blind Sergius Paulus from the faith, Sergius Paulus believed. Like Sergius Paulus, we must be prudent as well and seek to hear the word of God.
Acts 13: 6-12 (KJV)
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
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Lesser known characters :: Rhoda
Peter was imprisoned by Herod but miraculously an angel of the Lord came to him and rescued him from prison. Upon his rescue, Peter comes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had gathered to pray. As Peter knocked at the door, the one who answered him was a girl named Rhoda and when she heard Peter's voice, she recognized that it was him and with gladness, she ran and told how Peter was standing outside. In her gladness, she did not open the door. Those praying inside said unto her that she was mad, but she insisted that it was Peter. Peter continued to knock and when they opened the door, they were astonished to see that what Rhoda was telling them was indeed true.
What can we learn from Rhoda?
Rhoda heard Peter's voice and recognized him. She did not have to see that it was Peter but believed without seeing that their prayers was miraculously answered. Jesus said, blessed are they that believe without seeing (John 20:29) and behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, let him open the door and I will come in and dine with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20). Let us also be like Rhoda, believing without seeing for in doing so, we are counted as blessed, and if we hear Jesus knock at the door of our heart, let us harden not our hearts but let us open it, so that he can come in and commune with us.
Acts 12:12-16 (KJV)
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
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