Category Archives: Golden Rule

DES MOINES, Iowa Every spring and summer heating and cooling companies around the metro are flooded with calls from customers who after turning on the air conditioner find out that its not working right.

However, with routine maintenance, many problems can be avoided.

Bobby Johnson, a System Engineer and Marketing Director for Golden Rule Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical, said that yearly maintenance checks catch problems before they start.

Even if yours works that doesnt mean it will in June or July because you could have a minor issue but thats obviously going to get magnified the hotter we get, Johnson said.

Johnson said that knowing when to get professional help is also important.

If were paying attention to it something doesnt sound quite right we hear a rattle it seems like its struggling or the airflow doesnt seem quite the same whatever it might be in that individual home if youre noticing something different then somethings wrong, Johnson said.

Johnson said that replacing your air filter is an important part of preventative maintenance that doesnt require the help of the pros.

Theres a good portion of the calls that we go to just by being more diligent so theres different versions theres different lengths of time usually if you just have the little one-inch slide-in cardboard filters then just buy the cheap ones and do it every month thats the best for your system, Johnson said.

See the article here:

How to prevent HVAC havoc this summer - KCAU 9

Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, is the perfect time to practice being a master backyarder, according to the TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of backyards, community parks and other green spaces.

Backyarding is the act of taking activities that we normally do inside, out to our yards and parks, according to the foundation. Master backyarders elevate backyarding, using their personal and community green space for everything from working and exercising to entertaining and relaxing.

Master backyarders also understand the benefits of our yards and other community green spaces to the environment, stated Kris Kiser, foundation president and CEO, in a news release. Every day is Earth Day for master backyarders. They plant for pollinators, know to put the right plant in the right place, and recognize their backyard as an important part of the connected ecosystem.

The foundation encourages everyone to use Earth Day as an opportunity to practice being a master backyarder.

Here are a few tips:

Remember the Golden Rule of Backyarding: Right plant, right place. Putting the right plant in the right place is the key to successful master backyarding. It goes beyond identifying plants that will do better in sun versus shade. Master backyarders select plants that will thrive in their climate zone and work to create a backyard that supports their familys lifestyle. Use the USDAs Plant Hardiness Zone Map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.

Plant with pollinators in mind. Master backyarders understand yards and community parks are an important part of the connected ecosystem, providing food and shelter for pollinators. They plant with birds, bees, butterflies, bats and other creatures in mind.

Water wisely. After getting new plants started, master backyarders only water when necessary. Over-watered grass gets lazy, growing roots in a horizontal pattern. But with less water, grass sends its roots deeper vertically seeking water.

Bone up on backyard benefits. Master backyarders use the outdoors for activities like dining, entertaining, working and even vacationing. For humans, backyarding benefits include lower stress, increased happiness and improved memory. For the health of the planet, green space captures carbon, produces oxygen and prevents runoff.

Watch Lucky Dog on CBS for inspiration. Master backyarders arent too proud to take their backyarding cues from their furry friends. Afterall, no one loves and appreciates yards and green spaces more than dogs. On Earth Day, the foundation will be featured on the CBS show Lucky Dog. This episode highlights the Mulligans Mutt Madness pet adoption event at Equip Exposition, which helps rescue dogs find forever homes.

For more information, visit TurfMutt.com.

Original post:

Take the right care of your yard | News | hometownnewsbrevard.com - Hometown News

Simon Cowell has revealed why he reacted how he did after Bruno Tonioli broke a Britain's Got Talent rule.

Britain's Got Talent returned to our screens on Saturday (15 April) and it didn't take long for a golden buzzer to be slammed - so little time, in fact, Ugandan dance act Ghetto Kids hadn't even finished their performance.

In an exclusive interview with Mail Online, Cowell said: "Well, that was pretty quick! It was the second or third day.

"I was laughing my head off thinking, 'You definitely haven't watched the show, have you?' And then I thought, 'Actually, this is brilliant because it has never happened before.'"

Cowell notes no one really seemed to care, neither the act nor him, everyone simply 'happy' because the dance troupe 'really did deserve' the golden buzzer.

Cowell resolves: "And just looking at Bruno's face, he was happy.

"Then when someone ran up to him and said, 'Well, you're supposed to do it at the end,' he was mortified!

"I said, 'It doesn't matter, Bruno. You just gave them the golden buzzer. Who cares?'"

Tonioli explained he'd been watching the act and simply thought the dance troupe was 'genius' and so 'had to press the golden buzzer'.

Although, he reflected: "Now, I hold my hands up, I realise now I was supposed to wait until after they'd performed to press it! I just felt it in my bones and went for it! "

Thankfully for Tonioli, despite his somewhat daunting reputation for being slightly stern, Cowell was 'hysterically laughing' when the Strictly Come Dancing judge turned around realising what he'd done.

"Honestly, I had no idea. Nobody really ever explained that process to me. All I knew was I had a golden buzzer, but they never told me when I was supposed to press it!"

Indeed, Tonioli had not only never been taught the golden buzzer etiquette, but in an interview on Lorraine, the dancer revealed he hasn't ever actually watched BGT before either.

Alongside pressing the gold buzzer during a performance rather than at the end, Tonioli also pressed a red buzzer at the end of the performance rather than while it was taking place.

Luckily for the judge, it was only the variety show's first weekend, so he's got plenty more episodes to get the hang of it.

Link:

Britain's Got Talent: Simon Cowell speaks out after new judge Bruno Tonioli breaks rule on first appearance - LADbible

Amidst the Indian shooters performing in national ranking trials in Bhopal and preparing for upcoming big-ticket tournaments like the Olympics, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has once again changed the rules and regulations.

The Olympic qualification season for shooting in Paris 2024 has well and truly started, with some quotas already distributed for the Games next year in France. Nonetheless, the ISSF, the sport's governing body, has opted to experiment with the tournament format once more.

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has reverted to the previous competition structure for the finals, abandoning the one-on-one combat for the gold medal introduced last year. The approach used at the Tokyo Olympics is being reintroduced and will be utilised at the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, next month.

The ISSF has now scrapped the format with an additional stage in the finals that pitted the two top scorers for gold medals at World Cups and other prominent events, including the Olympics, and reverted to the old format.

After the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the ISSF incorporated an additional stage to the finals to determine the champion in pistol and rifle shooting. But now, it has returned to the original elimination system, with the highest scorer receiving the gold medal. The top two will no longer compete for the gold medal separately.

The modification will be implemented beginning with the ISSF Pistol/Rifle World Cup in Baku (May 815) and will continue through the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

This system was in force until the recently concluded ISSF Pistol and Rifle World Cup in Bhopal. The ISSF has made no changes to the qualification phase, in which the top eight scorers advance to the finals.

The ISSF has streamlined the scoring system while also making it easier for viewers to follow the proceedings by modifying the structure for the finals. According to the most recent arrangement, the finals will consist of two series of five match shots for each of the eight finalists.

Shooters and coaches have welcomed the revisions, believing that the former final format rewarded steady shooters while also being interesting for viewers. & quot ;We are shooters, not cricketers; we are used to empty galleries, New rules or old rules, shooters will do what they are there for: shoot."

National rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar said: "In the last couple of years, there have been many changes, but the shooters believe that all we need to do is shoot well. Ill rifle wont change to pistol. We will remain stoic. Theres no major statistical change. We are immune to changes in the rules."

When asked if the changes were applaudable and if spectators would like them, Olympian Karmakar said: "We cant bother about the applause." All we shooters want is to stay focused and perform well. We are not on the spectators bench to understand if it is applaudable for the spectators; we are shooting in the lane. We shooters are not cricketers; we are used to having empty galleries.

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After experimenting with directives, ISSF reinstates the Tokyo Olympics old-golden rule book for Paris 2024 - Free Press Journal

They found fame on Gogglebox ten years ago when their hilarious, often booze-fuelled commentary, made them a favourite with television viewers on the Channel 4 show.

Now Steph and Dom Parker, Inspire's former agony columnists, are celebrating 25 years of marriage.

Here, they reveal the golden rules that have helped them overcome huge emotional hurdles to reach their silver wedding anniversary... and which they believe could work for you, too.

It was on September 12, 1998, in a church in a Kent village, that I married my true love, 'The One'. We were living together within four months of meeting, and I moved countries to be with him. It was a whirlwind of a fairy tale I never regretted (well, maybe once or twice!).

Steph and Dom Parker, Inspire's former agony columnists, are celebrating 25 years of marriage

Over the quarter of a century that followed, we have endured the most unbearable challenges and pain, but also the most fantastically joyous and hilarious moments.

No matter what life has thrown at us, we've overcome it because we are together, and we will always be together. If the Dom I know now was to ask me to marry him, I'd still say 'yes' in a heartbeat...

Why do I believe in 'The One'? - because we're walking, living proof of it. Before that first date with Dom, I was a very independent woman who never needed to be with a man. I had a career I loved, my own money and I sure as hell wasn't going to compromise and settle for just anyone, as I'd seen so many people do.

At 30 I had been in a long-term relationship and was engaged, but I called it off. I couldn't fault the guy - he was lovely - but it just didn't feel right.

Within a day of meeting Dom, he'd totally rocked my world. It was the most natural response; it begged no questions, no argument, no doubt - just this instant connection.

Within a day of meeting Dom, he'd totally rocked my world. It was the most natural response

We'd met fleetingly in our 20s when he was my landlord, but I was with someone else at the time. But he came back into my life and, instantly, he was it: the path I was meant to follow and the man with whom I was meant to be.

After four months I quit my job in Brussels and moved in with him in Kent. I told Dom that if he hadn't decided I was The One after a year, and proposed, then I was off. In true Dom fashion, he waited a year and a day before he got down on one knee.

In our case it's been torrential, with a side order of cyclone. I'd met my Prince Charming, we'd had our fairy-tale wedding, we were comfortably off and for two years everything was magical. Then... boom, Max our son arrived and life was never the same again.

Max, 22, is seriously disabled. [They also have a daughter, 19-year-old Honor.] He is autistic and severely epileptic with the mental capacity of a six-year-old.

But his condition took all the focus off us - it stopped us getting too obsessed with our own relationship and each other; we had much bigger things to worry about.

Max, 22, is seriously disabled. He is autistic and severely epileptic with the mental capacity of a six-year-old. Pictured from the left: Steph, Max, their daughter Honor and Dom

Only 23 per cent of marriages survive bringing up a chronically disabled child, and I'm so proud we're one of them.

But we'd never have got through if we weren't as rock solid as we are. Through each storm we've clung to one other, never let go and refused to let it blow us apart.

Learning the art of compromise will save you a lot of grief in a marriage. I've had to learn to meet Dom halfway, even when, as a proud and stubborn person, I really haven't wanted to.

We have to fight for so much in this life - our job, our finances, our kids, our health - that you don't want to waste precious time bickering.

We laugh like drains most days. The worse the situation, the more important it is to find humour in it

If you find yourselves having a trifling row where you are going back and forwards, tackle it once and for all, say sorry and move past it.

I believe that men can lack emotional intuition sometimes. They seem to bumble through life without noticing things.

Women tend to process things more deeply, while men can be much more basic in their thinking. It took me years to realise this and learn to back down and say sorry for a more peaceful life.

I was a massive sulker, too. It used to take me four days to come round; now it's only four hours. Progress!

At the end of the day, we chose each other, and learning to be gentle and kind to one other is a big part of marriage.

Surviving 25 years of marriage is also down to a deep-rooted respect for myself, as well as Himself.

There are times when I think he's the biggest goof in the world, but that's between us, and I would never put him down in public.

Dom is a gentleman. He holds open the car door for me and he stands up when I leave the table, even when it's just the two of us at home. His respect for me is absolute and lovely. I would never ridicule him in front of friends with a cheap shot.

There are times when I think he's the biggest goof in the world, but that's between us, and I would never put him down in public, says Steph

I can't bear it when I see women put their men down in public, even in a jokey way. I think it's unnecessary and cruel.

We don't argue in public either, it's a social no-no, as it makes the other people uncomfortable. Dom would never deliberately hurt me in public either. When we're out we present a united front against the world.

We have a rule in our marriage that we never throw the word 'divorce' into an argument or make light of it. I think once you mention it, even in jest, it's out there and on the table as a possibility.

Marriage is hard work and it's much easier to quit and throw in the towel then to keep taking the hits, but it lessens you as a human being if you give in.

I'm proud of the fact we're still fighting together. We took our vows before our friends and God, and I have too much respect for them to throw the D word around, however infuriating Dom can be.

I tell Dom I love him every day. It will never not be wonderful to have someone tell you that. But even more importantly, I try to remember to thank him for every act of kindness or selflessness.

Over the past five years I've been quite infirm with one injury after another (including double pneumonia that nearly killed me and a heart infection) and Dom had to care for me. I was mindful of saying 'thank you so much' when he made me a sandwich or brought my phone to me.

Women can be a little quick to notice when their chap doesn't do something - 'when was the last time you...' etc - but we must appreciate the times that they do do things for you.

Mind you, he'll be getting his revenge soon when I'll have to wait on him for six weeks after his upcoming back surgery. He'll be a nightmare. He's already suggested I get him a bell. Not a chance!

Since the day I met her, Steph has felt like my other half. We know each other inside out.

Her overpacking for every trip drives me to distraction, and if I stress too much about her constant lateness I'll have a heart attack. But I love her

Of course, that's not to say we don't drive each other potty. 'I can't hear you!' is one of the most-used phrases in our home.

Steph is convinced I am deaf or have selective hearing when I fail to pick up what she's saying as she tries to speak to me from a different room on a different floor.

Her overpacking for every trip drives me to distraction, and if I stress too much about her constant lateness I'll have a heart attack. But I love her, even though the word 'love' somehow feels inadequate.

What we have transcends love and, whatever it is, needs protecting, feeding and nurturing and hard work. But that's OK, because it's work I'm happy to put in till the day I die.

It was 35 years ago that a young, strong, beautiful woman came into my life and left an instant impact on me. I was a landlord and she came to look at the flat I was renting. I was enchanted - she couldn't have cared less.

Then, years later, a friend started to talk about a girl he knew that I must meet and who would be perfect for me. I wasn't convinced but I agreed to go on the only blind date I've ever had.

Halfway through our evening the penny dropped and we both said: 'Oh my God, it's you!' It was my thunderbolt moment, I knew immediately this was it.

You hear people say 'there's someone for everyone', and, like many, I used to think 'yes, but given the world's population, what's the chance of ever meeting them?' I absolutely believe that, for Steph and me, it was written in the stars, especially as she wasn't even living in the UK by the time we had our date.

When we met ten years earlier, the timing was wrong for us, but fate stepped in to give us a second chance.

Marriage had been a disaster for my parents. I was only six years old when my father walked out. My mother had poor health so I had to assume responsibility from a very young age, doing all the shopping, cleaning and cooking.

Consequently, I grew up believing firmly that marriage was a crock of s*** and not something we were meant to do. I was completely wrong. In fact, a big part of my speech at our wedding was me apologising to my friends for being so rude about marriage.

Other people's experiences are theirs alone. Quite simply, my parents hadn't found the right partner. I did.

As something of a control freak, I'm not the sort who likes surprises, yet Steph has a habit of springing them on me. Every time she announces she's planned something, my immediate reaction is: 'Oh God, what now?'

Learning to relax and relinquish control and leave your comfort zone can lead to the sort of exciting adventures you'd never experience if left to your own devices

Like the time I came home to find a taxi driver sitting in our kitchen drinking tea surrounded by our packed suitcases. Steph had arranged a ten-day trip to Vegas. Flights booked, hotel room reserved, taxis arranged without a word to me. I thought, 'I'm going to hate this', but we had the time of our lives.

Learning to relax and relinquish control and leave your comfort zone can lead to the sort of exciting adventures you'd never experience if left to your own devices.

Steph and I laugh like drains most days, and the worse the situation the more important it is to find humour in it.

At the beginning of this year, we decided to celebrate our 25 years together by going on a trip around the world, just the two of us.

In typical Parker style it went horribly wrong when I badly hurt my back in Mauritius and we had to be repatriated.

I was in agony but we still found time for lots of bladder jokes about me wetting myself! We've been through a lot together, especially with our son, Max, and Steph's poor health, but we always find time to tell funny stories and make inappropriate jokes.

Laughing is a powerful, emotional release, right up there with crying. We got the keys to our hotel, The Salutation, back after our tenants went bankrupt then we went straight into lockdown. Brilliant! Having all the maintenance costs without any guests meant we took a huge financial hit and then it took another two years to sell. But we joked that at least we didn't have to worry about the dusting! Without the laughter we wouldn't have made it.

When we were on Gogglebox people used to remark on how we were often holding hands when we watched TV. It wasn't contrived, it happened quite naturally.

It's something we did from day one and have never stopped. It's the simplest gesture, yet there is something very pure, grounding and comforting about it. We're one unit, co-joined and we reach for each other's hand instinctively.

When I was stranded at our hotel in Mauritius for ten weeks, I noticed the couples who held hands seemed to be happier.

If you already do this, never stop, and if you're not hand-holders then it's never too late to start.

When we were on Gogglebox people used to remark on how we were often holding hands when we watched TV. It wasn't contrived, it happened quite naturally

There are many days when Steph and I are together 24/7. We work and live together, yet some people are horrified by the idea. Why? I married her, I should want to be with her all the time.

Sometimes, you'll hear couples talk about how they're dreading spending a week together on holiday or at Christmas. If that's the case then I'd say you have a problem. It's probably why so many relationships faltered during lockdown.

We can escape each other if we wish, but my private time includes, not excludes, my wife.

When we're apart, I like to know where she is and use the Find My Friends app to check on her. She does the same to me. It's not stalking; we've nothing to hide. My life would fall apart without her and I like to know she's safe.

See more here:

Want to stay married? Gogglebox's Steph and Dom reveal golden ... - Daily Mail

As we move through the Spring holidays towards the summer, we continue our look at bears and spirituality. As part of our mind, body, spirit theme this month we explored possible paths back to spirituality for queer people in general, and then took a deeper look at Queer Judaism with Rabbi David Dunn Bauer last week. This week we turn our eyes towards Christianity with Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, an out gay minister and proud bear.

Rev. Dr. Stringfellow is the Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church Detroit who also works with congregations on LGBTQ inclusion as the Managing Director of the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies (CLGS) in Religion on the campus of the Pacific School of Religion.

In addition to that, Rev. Dr. Stringfellow has been consulted by media outlets numerous times regarding his work on marriage equality and religious liberty and the role people of color and communities of faith play in this national debate. He is also affiliates with the Black Bear Brotherhood, Detroit chapter.

Here is what he had to say about queer adults looking to re-examine their relationship with Christianity.

John Hernandez (JH): Is there a path of return for queer people to a religious tradition that may have alienated them as children/ young adults?

Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow (RDRS): To travel back to a path of religious practice and community, there first has to be an invitation. I believe there is an internal invitation that comes from the need to have equilibrium in ones life the balance of mind, body, and spirit. This is also known as holistic health. It is good to work out your body for good health, have intellectual pursuits for your mind, but what often goes neglected is the spiritual side. If a person is feeling a disturbance or lack of peace, then this is an internal invitation to seek God once again. There are many Christian congregations that welcome LGBTQ+ individuals to come as their authentic selves. I call it worshipping in Spirit and in Truth. Even if the church of your youth still does not welcome you in your authenticity, finding another community that will is a great way of recovering from the spiritual violence inflicted as a youth.

JH: What LGBTQ+ welcoming Christian congregations you can recommend for queer people?

RDRS: I have been a member of the Metropolitan Community Churches for the past 18 years serving as clergy. The MCC was founded by the Rev. Troy Perry, who was shamed from his pulpit as a Pentecostal preacher. He considered taking his own life but was inspired instead to begin a church in his living room in Los Angeles in 1968 welcoming anyone who wanted to worship as their authentic self. Today, the MCC is a worldwide denomination in over 20 countries (visitmccchurch.com) and practices queer liberation theology and supports human rights globally. Even if there is not an MCC near you, there are many congregations that host their worship services online. My congregation, MCC Detroit, host a hybrid service (both in-person and online) each Sunday.

JH: Is there a need to reconcile your queerness with your religious beliefs?

RDRS: Some may believe there is no need to heal the spiritual violence that was inflicted by the churches of our youth. But just like carrying the burden of any violent act in our bodies and minds, it has a way of keeping us stuck. Spiritual violence is defined as any word or action used to shame or condemn someone in the name of God or a religious community. The natural response is to simply walk away from the hurt or embarrassment. However, healing only comes when we begin to separate those violent words and actions from the unconditional love of God. Our sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are gifts from God given so we may create love and accept others. I believe there are bridges found in the Bible to help queer people in this reconciliation process. One bridge is the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) who is a queer character told by the Apostle there is nothing to prevent him from being baptized and accepted by God. The same holds true for people today.

JH: Is it possible to be a solo practitioner of Christianity?

RDRS: It is certainly possible to be a solo practitioner of ones religion, but there is benefit in practicing religion in a community. Going solo helps with the self-introspection and spiritual spring cleaning as I like to refer to it. Asking ourselves, When I rest at night, am I at peace? Do I like/love myself? Identifying the old tapes in our mind that criticize is a good way of doing introspection on a regular spring cleaning basis. Being a member of a spiritual/religious community provides the structure of receiving spiritual truths and the benefits of friendship with others who can give support when going through tough times.

JH: Easter just passed on April 9th. What does the holiday mean to you?

RDRS: Easter is the culmination of all of who we are as human beings. For the Christian, it is Gods promise that all that is wrong in this world and in our lives has a bright ending. The hope of resurrection (what is dead will live again) gives a peace that surpasses our negative circumstances. Easter means that I no longer have to deal with performance anxiety or trying to be good enough to be accepted. Because of my faith in Christs resurrection, God sees me as if I have lived a perfect life. Clearly, I am far from perfect, but in terms of following the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule or any moral teaching, I am not accepted by keeping these, but by through accepting Christs love for me. I also look forward to the jellybeans!

JH: Is there anything about your work or ministry youd like to share?

RDRS: I began my ministry in 1990 as a pastor in the Baptist church. I was not a preacher on the DL, but I was someone who sincerely tried to change my orientation because I thought it was what God wanted (so I had been told). The more I denied my same-sex attraction, the more horrible I felt until I realized that I never had true peace in my life. I dared to accept myself as gay and that was when the presence of peace filled me. I left that church and enrolled in a theological school where I could study LGBT ministry at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Today I work at PSR as the Managing Director of the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. We train the next generation of queer theologians and engage in sacred activism with queer religious people to take a public stand for equality.

See more here:

Overcoming Spiritual Violence and Embracing Peace with Rev. Dr ... - Bear World Magazine

Again, in the spirit of those in our lectionary reading for whom the good news was that Jesus was alive, I want to share a small collection of encouraging quotations from other theologians who have deeply encouraged for me, and who have come to your same conclusion.

Welcome Readers! Please subscribe to Social Jesus Here.

(Read this series from the beginning atPart 1and Part 2.)

Kelly Brown Douglass gets us started:

Jesus takes on evil. He takes on and defeats . . . not granting the power of death any authority over him . . . he does not respond in kind, by adopting the methods of this power. The final triumph over the death of the cross is the resurrection of Jesus . . . The resurrection is Gods definitive victory over the crucifying powers of evil . . . The cross represents the power that denigrates human bodies, destroys life, and preys on the most vulnerable in society. As the cross is defeated, so too is that power [defeated] by life-giving rather than a life-negating force . . . That is, it is not the power that diminishes the life of another so that others might live. Gods power respects the integrity of all human bodies and the sanctity of all life. This is a resurrecting power . . . Gods power never expresses itself through humiliation or denigration of another. It does not triumph over life. It conquers death by resurrecting life . . . If indeed the power of life that God stands for is greater than the power of death, this must be manifest in the way God triumphs over death-dealing powers. The freedom of God that is life requires a liberation from the very weapons utilized by a culture of death. In other words, these weapons cannot become divine weapons . . . The culmination of this liberation is Jesus resurrection. (Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God, p. 181-182)

Next is from Delores Williams:

It seems more intelligent and more scriptural to understand that redemption had to do with God, through Jesus, giving humankind new vision to see the resources for positive, abundant relational life. Redemption had to do with God, through the ministerial vision, giving humankind the ethical thought and practice upon which to build positive, productive quality of life. Hence, the kingdom of God theme in the ministerial vision of Jesus does not point to death; it is not something one has to die to reach. Rather, the kingdom of God is a metaphor of hope God gives those attempting to right the relations between self and self, between self and others, between self and God as prescribed in the sermon on the mount, in the golden rule and in the commandment to show love above all else. (Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk, pp. 130-131)

Lastly is a passage from Joanne Carlson Brown and Rebecca Parker:

Suffering is never redemptive, and suffering cannot be redeemed. The cross is a sign of tragedy. Gods grief is revealed there and everywhere and every time life is thwarted by violence. Gods grief is as ultimate as Gods love. Every tragedy eternally remains and is eternally mourned. Eternally the murdered scream, Betrayal. Eternally God sings kaddish for the world. To be a Christian means keeping faith with those who have heard and lived Gods call for justice, radical love, and liberation; who have challenged unjust systems both political and ecclesiastical; and who in that struggle have refused to be victims and have refused to cower under the threat of violence, suffering, and death. Fullness of life is attained in moments of decision for such faithfulness and integrity. When the threat of death is refused and the choice is made for justice, radical love, and liberation, the power of death is overthrown. Resurrection is radical courage. Resurrection means that death is overcome in those precise instances when human beings choose life, refusing the threat of death. Jesus climbed out of the grave in the Garden of Gethsemane when he refused to abandon his commitment to the truth even though his enemies threatened him with death. On Good Friday, the Resurrected One was Crucified (In For God So Loved the World?)

Maybe there are so many atonement theories that fail to adequately explain how Jesus death saves because it doesnt save. Maybe our questions as to how Jesus death saves go unanswered because we are asking the wrong question. I, like the scholars mentioned above, find much more life in focusing on the intrinsic, saving value of the teachings of Jesus. For me, this intrinsic salvific value is life-giving good news.

The resurrection story elements in the gospels tell me that violence, bigotry, misogyny, patriarchy, racism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, classism, authoritarianism, environmental destruction, and a host of other injustices in our world today dont have to have the last word. They may interrupt our work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for all, but if we keep at it, they will just be interruptions. Love can transform hate. Elements of our communities and societies that are death-dealing can be undone by our choosing things that are life-giving. Death and injustice dont have to have the last word.

For me, in the wake of Easter, this is much needed good news.

Herbs new book, Finding Jesus:A story of a fundamentalist preacher who unexpectedly discovered the social, political, and economic teachings of the Gospels, is now available at Renewed Heart Ministries.

Originally posted here:

Good News, Part 3 of Resurrection as the Good News | Good News ... - Patheos

If you've been involved in an auto accident and need legal representation, it's important to seek the advice of a skilled criminal defense and personal injury attorney who can advocate for your rights. Auto accidents can be traumatic, to say the least.

Not only do you have physical pain from injuries sustained in the accident, but there's also a lot of emotional and financial stress that comes with it as well. However, if you know what steps to take after an accident happens, handling the aftermath can be significantly less bothersome.

This step-by-step guide will provide insight into how to navigate through post-accident procedures such as exchanging insurance information with all involved parties, filing police reports, and seeking medical attention so that your rights are protected should legal action need to be taken further down the line.

Getting into an auto accident can be a very stressful and frightening experience.

It is important to remember that remaining calm in this situation can make a big difference. After an accident occurs, the first thing you should do is assess the situation for any injuries that need immediate attention. Whether it is yourself or others involved, getting prompt medical attention for any injuries is crucial.

Take a deep breath and try to remain clear-headed as you assess the situation. This will ensure that everyone is safe and that any necessary medical attention is received quickly.

Remember that accidents happen, and the most important thing is to prioritize your safety and well-being in the aftermath.

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident in Indiana or need legal representation, it's important to seek the advice of a skilled Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer who can advocate for your rights.

After an accident, assessing the situation and taking necessary action is crucial. The second step is to contact the police and file an accident report. This step is often overlooked or avoided, but having an official record of the incident is important.

The police can gather valuable information, including eyewitness accounts, photographs, and an accurate description of the damages. This information can be extremely helpful if you need to file an insurance claim or take legal action.

Don't hesitate to call the police, even if the accident seems minor. Having a report on file is better than regret not calling them later. Stay safe and take the necessary steps to protect yourself after an accident.

After an auto accident, it is essential to collect details about all parties involved in the accident. This includes not only their contact information but also their insurance details.

By doing this, you will be better equipped to handle any potential legal issues that may arise. Its important to gather as much information as possible to ensure that all parties involved are held accountable for any damages or injuries resulting from the accident.

Remember, even a minor fender bender can have long-lasting consequences, so it's crucial to take this step seriously. So, be sure to take the time to gather all the necessary details so you can move forward with confidence.

After an auto accident, it's important to keep a level head and take the necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety and gather important information.

One crucial step is to exchange information with all parties involved. This includes obtaining the other driver's name, contact information, and insurance details.

Additionally, it's helpful to gather contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident. Taking photos of the scene can also be beneficial, as it can provide evidence in case of any legal disputes.

However, safety should always come first, and if anyone is injured or the situation is unsafe, calling emergency services should be the first priority.

If you've been involved in an Uber car accident and need to file a claim, it's important to notify your insurance company promptly, as well as seek the advice of a skilled attorney who specializes in Uber car accident claims.

Getting into an auto accident can be overwhelming and stressful, but taking the necessary steps afterward is important to ensure a smooth process. One crucial step is to notify your insurance company of the accident promptly.

Not only is it required by most insurance policies, but it also ensures that your claim is processed efficiently. Waiting too long to notify your insurance company can result in delays and potential denial of your claim.

Remember, the sooner you notify them, the sooner they can begin investigating and resolving the claim. So take a deep breath, gather all the necessary information, and notify your insurance company immediately.

Auto accidents can be jarring experiences, both physically and mentally. Even if you don't feel pain or discomfort right away, it's important to seek medical help after an accident.

Step 6 of the process involves doing just that. It's not uncommon for pain or injuries to become apparent hours or even days after an accident, and delaying treatment can worsen the situation.

Seeking medical help can not only ensure any injuries are properly assessed and treated but can also provide valuable documentation for any potential legal action you may need to take.

Don't hesitate to seek help if you're experiencing any pain or discomfort after an auto accident, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

It can feel very overwhelming to think about all the steps you need to take after an auto accident without the help of a car accident lawyer in Indiana. But, following this step-by-step guide will make sure that you are safe and prepared for any potential legal battles that might arise from the incident.

When in doubt, follow the golden rule: remain calm and collected in the moment. Take deep breaths, assess the situation, and remember to be courteous with other drivers even if they weren't as understanding or easygoing during the argument that may have taken place after a car crash.

Staying organized (collecting details and proof through photos) is essential so you don't waste time fretting over paperwork or calling insurance companies.

Ultimately, it is also important to seek medical attention if neededfor both physical and mental health purposes. Car accidents may involve property damage, but your safety always comes first, it should be at the top of your priority list no matter what happens on whatever road you travel on next.

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What to Do After an Auto Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide - BBN Times

It has been said time and again that the most dangerous of lies are half-truths. The very nature of propaganda is that it is built around half-truths. In an interview with Amy Goodman, Chomsky says, Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens. Thats what governments do lie through their teeth when they pretend to follow the rule of law, after making a mockery of the legal process.

This is the background to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh setting up a 3-member judicial panel to probe the cold-blooded murders of the mafia don, Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, before the media and in police presence. Atiqs 19-year old son Asad, who was a law student, was killed along with an associate by the police in an encounter on April 13. When the police wanted to move him to Uttar Pradesh from Sabarmati jail, the don already predicted I know their planThey want to murder me.

All this would seem like material for a C-grade Bollywood movie, where the entire sequence of events leading to the murders is dramatized for an audience that is not expecting anything logical from the filmmakers. If these kinds of murders seem implausible for a Bollywood movie (where literally anything goes), imagine how much stranger the truth is when compared to fiction. The truth, which most people seem to believe, is that these murders took place under the direction of the political party in power in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Ive two points to make:

One is that, the idea of a nation-state is built on the principle that there is a system of law and order which will not be sabotaged to suit the whims and fancies of individual persons, irrespective of their position. In other words, whoever is at the helm of affairs, preserves the mechanism that is expected to deliver justice to ordinary citizens. In the case of these cold-blooded encounters the idea of the state is completely lost. The persons in power stop seeing themselves as members of a government and instead act like leaders of a cult.

The second point is that these kinds of murders are the surest way to create a state of anarchy. When the people in power who are supposed to safeguard state institutions do not believe in them, why would ordinary citizens care for these mechanisms? A state cannot afford to be an extremist; it has to follow the path of moderation. The golden rule with power is that, for a significant part, it is the skillful use of negotiation to achieve desired results; a very small, although indispensable part, is the application of force.

Sultan Saladin, Henry IV of France, Queen Elizabeth I and Abraham Lincoln for the most part were brilliant negotiators who did not hesitate to use force where it mattered. The blatant use of power without any legal and social sanction results in an authoritarian state, which is only another term for permanent anarchy. Anarchy of that kind can be seen in some of the Latin American countries where murders happen on a regular basis. This is what we are witnessing now in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh where encounter killings are becoming the norm.

Extreme situations like these ones lead to extreme responses. Violence is met with violence and collective suffering becomes the reality of everyday life. The worst part about these encounter killings is that the same mechanism is used against a lot of people who are fighting for a just cause, because theyre perceived to be a thorn in the flesh of the state. This is apart from the innocent people who get killed in the crossfire, because they have no idea which side to turn to.

Ive never known of a state of violence that led to a state of peace. I dont think something like that has ever happened before. Unless the citizens become politically conscious and resist the lies routinely manufactured by their governments there is no hope that this situation would ever change.

References:

Atiq Ahmed: The brazen murder of an Indian mafia don-turned-politician https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65291781

Murder of law and order: On the Atiq Ahmed case in Uttar Pradesh https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/murder-of-law-and-order-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-atiq-ahmed-case-in-uttar-pradesh/article66744554.ece

Original post:

Death Of A Don Foretold By Himself OpEd - Eurasia Review

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If you're interested in finance, you've probably discovered that there are many different fields to choose from. Between accounting, investment banking, personal finance, and everything in between, it can feel overwhelming. For example, investment banking, commercial banking, and investment management are all related concepts, yet they serve different purposes. If you're curious about the investment banking world, you're not alone. Here is what investment banking is in simple terms, as well as how the industry works.

Investment banking may sound intimidating, but it really just means helping companies, institutions, and governments raise money and make better financial decisions. Imagine you have a lemonade stand but you need more money to buy cups and lemons to make more lemonade.

Investment bankers help you find people who have money that want to invest it in your lemonade stand. They help startups as well as big companies raise billions of dollars to fund new projects. It's like being a matchmaker between people who have money and people who need money.

Investment banking also focuses on helping companies manage their money. Think of it like a financial advisor who advises large organizations and the government. Instead of just recommending the best savings account, an investment banker helps them make big financial moves like buying and selling businesses, maximizing their investments, and minimizing their risks. So, it's like having a super-powered stock broker with access to tons of resources and experts to help large companies make the best decisions possible.

The answer varies depending on their specialty. There are different fields within investment banking. You may have heard of terms such as securities underwriting, initial public offerings (IPOs), and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) dominating headlines. Here are some of the types of services they provide:

Investment bankers help companies raise money through equity or debt financing, private placement, and securities underwriting. This means helping companies issue stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments to investors for capital.

For example, investment bankers provide advisory services to companies going public. As part of the IPO process, they will determine the valuation of the company, identify potential investors, and help the company prepare to be a publicly traded entity.

M&A involves assisting companies with buying, selling, or merging with other companies. When two companies come together, there are two different ways it can happen. One is a merger, where they blend to form a new entity. The other is an acquisition, where one company buys or takes over another. The process can be complicated and complex.

Using the lemonade stand example, an investment banker would help you find a similar or complementary stand and help determine if you should buy it, sell yours, or merge them together. They will recommend the right buying price as well as selling price.

Investment bankers also guide companies through complex financial decisions, financial restructuring, and corporate strategy. They provide research from financial analysts who examine various economic trends, investment opportunities, and the dangers and potential financial benefits. At its core, investment banking is about being smart with money, which is why investment banking is one of the best-paid professions.

In short, investment bankers act as intermediaries between issuers (the ones seeking capital) and investors (the ones providing capital). They are the financial wizards behind many successful business deals and ventures. They also provide valuable advisory services to clients who seek to maximize their investments, minimize their risks, or manage their projects. With skilled professionals acting as intermediaries between issuers and investors, investment banking plays a vital role in the world of finance, helping businesses and governments raise capital and achieve their financial goals.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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You've Heard of Investment Banking. But What Exactly Is It? - msnNOW