In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us… We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. II Thessalonians 3:6, 11

In The Gathering this week, we are studying II Thessalonians 3.  I am always interested to see how our preset schedule of studies through the Bible interfaces with holiday seasons.  In this case, Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reminds me of something for which I am eternally grateful during this season of Thanksgiving: I am grateful for a church with laymen busy in ministry.

The American church is absolutely loaded to the brim with idle Christians.  We are a fat, happy bunch of church-goers for whom convenience is among the highest values.  Prayer meeting on Wednesday night?  Not very convenient.  Sunday night worship service after a full day of church stuff?  Not very convenient.  Miss soccer games or band practice or sleeping in on Saturday in order to work at the homeless shelter?  Not very convenient.  Being the “consumers” we are, we just want our Spiritual lives to stay within the very small slice of our week which we have assigned to them and, above all, we want God to stay convenient to us.

If Paul visited the American church today, I do think there are some things that would excite him…but mostly, I think he would just have a heart attack when he observed how low a priority our Spirituality has become in many cases.  Don’t get me wrong.  There are many, many churches who are getting it right.  But let us be honest here, it has been about a hundred or so years since genuine revival swept across our country and since the American church was even arguably the center of the Christian world. And even more unfortunate is the fact that much of the “busy-ness” in our churches today has more to do with conflict and power struggles than it does with genuine ministry.  Paul recognized it…idleness eventually gives way to busybodies.

So, I am feeling grateful this week for my own church who does mobilize its laity into ministry.  I am grateful for a church whose members are hitting the streets and ministering to the homeless with both food and clothing ministries.  I am grateful to a church who ministers to the emotionally broken through a support/recovery group ministry shaped, led and implemented entirely by laity. I am grateful for a ministerial staff who works tirelessly to equip and empower the members of its church toward meaningful ministry.  I am grateful for a pastor who emphasizes the importance of unity and healthy relationships in the church and who trusts God’s people to get it right, as flawed as they otherwise may be.  I am grateful for a God whose expectations of us are immense, but whose forgiveness is even greater.

I am grateful for another day to seek His face, to do His will, and to be busy with opportunities to lean into the lives of other believers and to pour myself into the needs of others.

Those are some things we can all be grateful for.

© Blake Coffee

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]]> http://marathonmaiden.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/5-days/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:22:38 +0000 marathonmaiden http://marathonmaiden.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/5-days/

Well I guess more like 4 days left in break.  All I’m thinking of is how am I going to survive 5 weeks for winter break when I can’t see myself getting through the next 5 days? Hell, after 5 hours yesterday I was ready to pop a cap in someones ass heh.  I guess it’s not as dramatic as I’m making it but gosh, coming home is soooo hard! I’m just thrown all responsibilities of the house and grrrrrr it’s enough to make me go crazy.

Another thing that I dislike about coming home is the lack of stuff to do.  Sure my school is in the middle of nowhere but I’m within jumping distance of my friends.  Getting together with peeps at home takes effort.  And planning.  Kind of hard to be really spontaneous when you have to A) drive to see ppl and B) drive places to go out.

Guess I’m in a whiney kind of mood today.  This morning I was just bumming around, you know procrastinating on my GeoPhysics paper by randomly surfing the net.  Nothing makes me feel worse then being idle but I had a bad case of inertia.  No matter how hard I tried to move and actually do something all I kept doing was watching The West Wing that was on TV and then the Law and Order marathon once it started.

I think it’s the whole rebounding from sleep thing.  I got 9 hours last night! It’s like since my body has been clutching onto any hour of sleep I’ve gotten lately at school the opportunity for more has me in a coma.  I don’t think I moved once last night! As nice as it was I was more than tired getting up.

But what do I do when I need to wake up? Yup, I run.

As much as I dislike my suburbia hometown it was really nice getting to run through it.  Not to say that it wasn’t tough: my hometown is wicked hilly.  At least compared to the town my school is in, I felt like I was running through the Appalachians or something.  The first mile was tough and my whole body was reeling from ‘em.  Since this place could not really be defined as hilly my body did a really quick adjustment and the rest of the run felt great.

So naturally (I’m sure y’all could’ve seen this a mile away) I ran 9.3 miles.  I think it’s my (new) favorite distance.  It’s a nice round number in the metric system, 15k, takes over an hour to complete and isn’t double digits so it doesn’t make me feel excessive.  Just far enough to feel tired but not enough to knock me out for the rest of the day.

After two slowish runs already this week I was very happy to be slightly slower than goal “easy” pace.  I had thought that with the hills I would have been running wicked slowly.  The weather was foggy and upper 40s so I never felt like I was overheating but I didn’t feel cold either.  The fog actually felt kind of good and prolly helped me stay cool too.

Likely kept me going through the last miles. As I mentioned the first few miles were tough as I adjusted to the “hills” (and gosh what am I going to do when Boston training starts and I really need to get used to hills?!) but the last few miles felt like I was on firrrrrre (well not really because like I was just saying that I felt cool haha) but there was a noticeable pep in my step and I could feel a difference in my pace.

Ending a run strong is maybe my favorite thing. And helped me get over my earlier whiny-ness.  Granted that did nothing to get over my avoidance of my work, as evidenced by my current NCIS marathon (and since they’re on DVD I don’t have to even watch commercials ahah).

But I’m still feeling antsy, so maybe a trip into Boston? First I’d need some ppl to want to as well but hopefully *something* happens tonight.  Send good vibes my way ppl!!

waktu terus berjalan, akhir tahun akan segera tiba, kapan saya sidang? arggghhh memikirkan hal ini memang tiada hentinya, padahal tinggal selangkah lagi, tapi saya jadi tiba tiba “idle”, entah mengapa, mungkin banyak yang saya pikirkan, mulai dari uang (always) dan merembet ke masalah lain lain, suck isn’t it?

biarlah, nanti juga pasti ada jalan keluarnya, bagaimana saya keluar dari status “idle” ini menjadi “available” kembali, hahaha… tapi mau tidak mau hari itu (sidang TA) akan datang, so prepare myself, sory belum bisa mereview film lagi karena banyak hal ini dan itu yang harus saya pikirkan dalam status “idle” ini, tapi tetap semangatlah!

when idleness is come..here it be..i don’t want to get up my buttock from my chair or should i say a floor? hahah.. i am so damn! i not finish yet all my fyp! oh my! don’t have any idea.. sorry guys..i still blank…hope u guys not mad at me(my fyp team)..but yet,i still do aa…=) just now i had a tiny fight with my love..honey,y u dun ever want to trust me? just u in my heart! no one can sit on that..no one can ever replaced my heart..just u honey..i am so sorry…i never do anything wrong behind u…never honey..please smile at me just one..i miss to hear ur laughing…ur voice when u in happy mode..i miss u damn much…

Check out the Queen of the Queendom and Rebel Starr front lady as the feature artist on the Hip Hop Culture Center’s website.

She’s also been published along with over 100 other powerful womyn…..

Check out Rebel Starr next Saturday at SouthPaw

Ford Powerstrokes with a 6.0L engine have one of the worst reputations in the diesel world. Ford has been frequently asked, “Why didn’t you just keep the 7.3L engine?” But really the question is unfair given the circumstances at the time of creation of the 6.0L engine.

After January 1st, 2003, the federal government set tougher diesel emission standards. All the top diesel application manufactures had to restructure and invest a substantial amount of money to abide these new standards. Ford was one to do the same. Some say Ford should of added an exhaust gas recirculation system, a variable geometry turbo, and a high pressure injection system to the 7.3L engine. But others say nay, a clean burning 7.3L engine would have a horsepower disadvantage compared to the GM Duramax and the Dodge Cummins applications at the time. Also with Dodge Cummins Bosch’s latest Common Rail Injection, Ford 7.3L engines were much too loud.

So the 6.0L was created with four goals in mind:

• Meet Emission Standards
• Have More Horsepower than the competition
• Have Better Fuel Economy
• Make a quieter engine

When 2003.5 came to be, the Ford Powerstrokes 6.0L were out on the market. In stock form this was a consumer dream. The 6.0L engine met all emission standards and passed all testing performed during research and development. Obviously stock vehicles have been factory tested, so they are thought to be more reliable, which is mostly true for 6.0L engines. 6.0L engines rarely experience failures when operating at stock power levels. But let’s be honest, why own a Diesel if you can’t MAX IT OUT! This seems to be the area where 6.0L engines are having trouble, because now with aftermarket modifications your now turning more rpm, fueling heavier, and creating more heat and higher cylinder pressures. But Orange County Diesel feels that aftermarket modifications aren’t bad for 6.0L engines, they just have to be the RIGHT aftermarket product!

Here is a list of common problems of the Ford Powerstroke 6.0L 2003.5-2007

• Turbo Failure
• Variable Geometry Turbo Vanes Sticking
• Leaking Oil Under Turbo
• Rough Idle Related to the Fuel Injection Control Module
• Fuel Injection Control Module Calibration(s)
• Fuel Injection Control Module Harness Wear
• Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve Sticking
• Exhaust Gas Recirculation
• Blown Head Gasket Cooler
• Oil Cooler
• Oil Rail Plug(s) Leaking Oil
• Sticking Spool Valve Inside Injector
• Cracked Intercooler Boot
• Coolant Leak
• High Pressure Oil Pump Leaking Oil

Good News!! Orange County Diesel is THE DIESEL EXPERT!!! Especially when it comes to Ford! We house a Ford Master Technician with knowledge and experience in all Ford Diesel Applications!

Plus Orange County Diesel is a ONE STOP SHOP!! We Service, Repair, Install, and host an Online Retail Store, for ANY and ALL diesel needs!!

Call, Click, or Visit!

1.888.OC.DIESEL

www.OCDiesel.com

17242 Gothard Street Suite A&B, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Discovered a new use for Jackie’s wish necklaces while emptying her office trash. She had tossed one that had a messed-up card, so I ripped the card off, wrapped the string twice around my ankle and tied a nice fishing knot. We’ll see how long it takes to fall off.

Everyone has been asking what’s Neo Quantum Retro Music….what does Rebel Starr sound like…who is Rebel Starr??? Everyone wants to know. Well, the time has finally arrived.

It has been rumored that the airbending trio has been seen making aye okay strides by assembling beautiful creations with x-men and a host of musicians. Not to mention they’ve fumble through the good book a few times, because the road has been a rocky journey. You can’t ig‘ them, they’ve bounce back several times like spalding. Reigning supreme like queens and kings…the Starrlem representatives are finally have made leeway, and are ready to leak a couple tracks and lyrics right in time for their upcoming stage date with Talib Kweli’s Idle Warship.

Be sure to get the full single release on November 28, 2009 @ South Paw….

Check out the leak of their lead off single “About Ta Monkey” featuring Lyric Jones on Rise Up Radio tonight on WBAI Radio.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, an “international organization helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalized economy,” released some startling facts about Toronto this week.

Apparently, traffic congestion in the region costs the entire country of Canada $3.3 billion in lost productivity each year. This comes as a result of several factors:

• Urban sprawl
• A disjointed public transit system
• Decades of underinvestment in public transit by Ottawa

We sit in traffic, unproductive and idle. Meanwhile, our idling cars emit noxious gases into the atmosphere, decaying the ozone layer and lining lungs everywhere with air pollution. And that’s just in Toronto.

If we’re to be more productive in our cars, Ontario erred in passing a law restricting the usage of cell phones in automobiles. That is also notwithstanding the fact that if the provincial government were serious about its efforts to keep drivers’ “eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” it would have completely banned cell phone usage while driving. After all, according to the Ministry of Transport, “driver distraction is a factor in 20 per cent of all road accidents.” But I digress.

I’m not even quite sure what kind of productivity we are expected to produce while driving, but whatever it is must surely be easier done with a phone in hand.

The fact is, if we are to be more productive in our cars, Ontario erred in passing the law restricting the usage of cell phones in automobiles. If the aim is to increase productivity while driving (which also defeats the purpose of attempting to eliminate driver distraction), let us use cell phones.

Better still, offer us a reasonable alternative to driving.

Realistically, the TTC is not a reasonable alternative to driving. Nor is any public transit system in Toronto, as the OECD notes that “transit service in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area has not kept pace with population growth.”

Don’t tell us to use the TTC. Instead, make it more attractive to potential riders. Transit City is on the right track, though light years behind, and – given the bureaucracy inherent in Toronto and the TTC – indefinitely ongoing. Hell, I’d sit through 10 years of traffic congestion, construction, and closed roads if it meant my kids would grow up with a transit system on par with those in New York, Hong Kong or London.

We don’t want to be told to use the TTC, we want to want to use the TTC.

            It is a very common scenario where some users were created in your database at a past time, the software that owns those users became obsolete but as a dba you are unaware of that because nobody has informed you. Or you may have inherited a database in your new job, which you had no control before. In such a situation the first thing you have to do is to detect users who no longer needs to stay in database and delete their accounts or at least lock them.

Here are the steps to accomplish this:

Step 1: Capture Logon-Logoff Events

* Auditing should be enabled and audit trails must be configured to be kept in database.

sql> alter system set audit_trail = db scope=spfile;
System altered.

SQL> shutdown immediate;
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL> startup;
ORACLE instance started.
Database mounted.
Database opened.

* We have enabled auditing and our audit records will be kept in database. Now lets enable session auditing and capture logon-logoff events.

SQL> audit session ;

* That’s all. From now on whenever a user logs in an audit record will be created. Now you have to wait to let active users login. One month is a reasonable duration.

Step 2: Detect Database Users Who Has Never Logged In

* Audit trails are kept in DBA_AUDIT_TRAIL dictionary view. Lets query the view to detect who has logged in since we enabled auditing.

sql> select distinct username from dba_audit_trail where action_name in (‘LOGOFF’,'LOGON’)

* The information of all database users can be seen in DBA_USERS dictionary view. Now simply extract the active users from all users list.

sql> select username from dba_users where username not in

(
select username from dba_audit_trail where action_name in (‘LOGOFF’,'LOGON’) and username is not null
)

** Now you have got a list of users who have never logged in to database since you enabled auditing.

Step 3: Take Action

* Feel free to lock all users that are inactive.

sql> alter user <inactive_user> account lock;

* Those inactive users never needed to login but they could have login privileges. We unlocked their account. Now they can’t login even if they have login privileges. Our database became more secure.

Step 4: Evaluating Users and Deleting Unnecessary Schemas

* Is it enough lock accounts only or should we also delete users and their corresponding schema objects. Well, it depends. If user does not own any object do not hesitate to delete the user.

sql> drop user <inactive_user> ;

*  But if they own objects, active users may be using those inactive users’ objects like reading from their table, executing their procedures etc. It is better to keep the inactive users with objects at first. Try to find the owner of those users within your organization. If you can’t find anyone who owns them, those schemas are good candidates for removing. User’s creation time may also give you an idea.

sql> select created from dba_users where username=’INACTIVE_USER’

* If you are skeptical you can check one more thing before dropping users. First find objects belonging to an inactive user.

sql> select owner,object_name,object_type from dba_objects where owner=’<inactive_user>’ and status=’VALID’

* Audit every activity on that objects

sql> audit all on <inactive_user>.<object_name> ;

* Give time to your users. Again one month is a reasonable duration. After that, query audit records. If you detect any activity on those objects, it means that although schema owner never logs on to database, his objects are still used by other active users. Do not ever drop such schemas.

* And finally if no activity is detected on objects drop those schemas.

sql> drop user <schema_name> cascade ;

* The command above will drop user and its objects including those which depend on them.

* It is a good idea to take a dump of your schema before dropping it. Keep your dump files in a safe place. If one day the owner of those users come and ask for their data back you can restore them.

$ exp system/<my_system_user_password>@<my_db_net_service_name> file=<export_file_location> log=<location_of_log_gile>  owner=<inactive_user>

* The command above will backup your schema and store it under <export_file_location>.

** Finally the work is completed. Now you have a cleaner database where there is no obsolete users and data. This means your database is more secure and you have more control over it.

New image in the hand sign photoshop contest

Only the source image was used. …
Idle OKs photoshop picture

In a land far away, in a time long ago, there was a man who had enough and had he not just enough, but to excess had he. His hours were long, his toils sincere, and his earnings quite dear. He ate well, he lived well, and he slept well. For this was a man with enough to spare and did he, with others share. For this, he was well regarded by his brethren, kin and neighbor, too. Even his foes kept a fond distance, for they were few and their character untrue, with only the cowardice of envy to spare. And so, the man slept well and he lived well.

It was common in those times, as in times now, for like to live by like. And so it happened that in a dwelling nearby lived a second man, well to do as he was. This man, too, had more than enough, enough even to excess. He ate well and he lived well, but he did not sleep well. Though his hours were likewise long, his toils were not sincere. The wind hums in question, how were his earnings dear? With cunning and not without conniving, this second man pondered and plotted his hours away. He left his toils to others near, that they may have reason not to stray. And stray they did not, their fear keeping them near. His foes were neither few and ever nearer they drew. Respect for this man fell away; in its place, stood only their contempt. And so, the second man, though he lived seemingly well, did not sleep so well.

It was true in those times, as in times now, that where a mountain stands tall, a valley lays nearby. And so it were that a third man lived not so far from the first and second men. But though he ate well enough, he did not live well and he did not sleep well. His toils were many and his hours even more. And whilst he would utter not such words, it was for the second man that he toiled so. Neither foe had he, nor friends with which to be. His hours filled with anger true and one part angst, and toil alone did he. And so, the third man did not sleep well, because he did not live well.

It was inevitable in those days, as in days of now, that where the sun shines upon a tree, never the land below is a golden ray to see. And so there was a fourth man, who served below all the others. Of excess and its meaning he understood not, knowing it to be a thing only that he lacked. His toil was not much, his time of rest neither more. For his hours were long and he never knew when, if, it would end. Foes he had not; for nothing did they fear nor more was there to envy dear. Friends were likewise few, too afraid of filth to stand even near. He ate not well, and by no man’s standard did he live well. But he did sleep well. With little to weigh him down and not a regret to hold him back, only the night was his friend, ever to return and always to keep him until the morn. And so, the fourth man did not live well, but he slept so very well.

With a heavy heart do we toil away what otherwise would we idle, or with light heart shall we rest when the day has met its end and bids farewell the eve.

This story of four men is but a tale of two: two ways to eat, two ways to sleep, and keeping true –there are but two ways to live.

We are stoked about this show coming up. Plus I’m a huge fan of Idle Warship. I just love the way that music genres are meshing and how there is less of a divide between style and artistic expression. If you feel like Hip Hop is moving light years ahead of where listeners are willing to follow, you had better learn to change your air wave frequency. Judging from this line up, music is going, going, gone…out of the realm of constraints.

Matt. 12: 36-37  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  37 the words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.  Words have a lasting effect on us.  When I was a little girl, my dad said something to me that had stay with me for most of my adult life.  My sister was good at everything, (it wasn’t her fault) and what my dad said to me really hurt.  He said, “why can’t you be more like your sister.”  Those words not only left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but they made me feel like I would never be good enough.  We have to be very careful with what we say to others.

What we say reveals to not only others, but to ourselves what we carry in our hearts.  We should weigh what impact our words are going to have on others.  It is only by the Grace of God that I have been able to get past what my dad said to me.  God’s Word says that I am holy and dearly loved.  That I am the apple of His eye.  We must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us.  Stop believing what the world says about you.  Start reading God’s Word (the Bible) and find out what He says about you.

1 Pet. 3: 10  If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.    Before you say anything, ask yourself;  is what I’m about to say going to build someone up or tear them down?  Is it going to edify them or is it going to make them feel useless?  Is it necessary,  is it kind, or is it true?  So many people’s reputations have been ruined by just one word.  Let us not be guilty of this.  Remember, we are going to be held accountable.  God loves each and every one of us.  Let us show the world how much we love Him.

If you don’t have the Lord as your Savior and Redeemer, you can right now.  He will teach you how to speak words that will count in a positive way.  Confess your sins to him right now, ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart and life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Ask Him right how.   It’s the Best Decision you’ll ever make.  God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve just finished watching John’s interview with Tom Hodgkinson. Tom wrote How to Be Free which a friend bought me for christmas.

his book, i can confidently say, is what started me on the road to being where i am now. Ten months later i have given up my job as a school teacher and jumped feet-first into self employment.

Tom, in the interview, is absolutely right when he says that noone regrets going after their dreams. Even if this inventor lark doesn’t work out financially or whatever, it will still have been orth it. Just to know that it was something that i could do, and that i did it, gives a lovely warm feeling that would make office-drones puke.

Shortly after reading it i got help, from John, in the form of support and encouragement. John says that the ideal is to play all day and get paid. (one out of two so far, John!)

I got on to John through the ideas of Barbara Sher, who says that its okay to be intereseted in lots of different things, not just one thing. Halleluliah!

Its still early days, but at least im enjoying it

So thanks to everyone who’s influenced me a long the way, and to everyone who i’ve yet meet!

Cheers,

Philip

Today! there was thin attendance early in the morning, so our creative minds got into action and the result is as follows… actually the thread is in reverse order

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:32 PM, Atul Shinh  wrote:

kya baat kar rahe ho … iski  court marriage ho gayi hai..  and its with  F not M ( seems like )
I got pics

Mr & Mr Ranjeet Kumar Mahato In a wedlock

cheers

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM, Ranjeet kumar  wrote:

Ye sab affwayen hain. Kisi ne mere email id ka misuse kya hai .

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:25 PM, Hariprasad Panga  wrote:

Hope he is not under aged! Ranjeet for safety reasons please carry your X class certificate.

By the way who is the lucky guy (we all know your “special” preference)?

H

From: “Vivek Puri”

Congrats !!!
Looks like wedding season in Srijan.

On 10/14/09 12:21 PM, Ranjeet kumar wrote:

Hello All,
Today very special day for my life.I am getting engaged !!!.So i want to celebrate with you all.

Regards
Ranjeet

It’s hard to believe that we haven’t covered this one before. If you enjoyed out Barcode challenges from last week, perhaps now is the time for you to take the Python Challenge. We made it through the first 18 levels about a year back but with a total of 33 levels we’re not even close to being finished.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn Python if you’ve never tried it, or test your skills if you’ve already got them. We’d suggest using IDLE which is available as part of the Python language download. Because Python is an interpreted language, IDLE allows you to try out each line of the code you are writing and add it to your program as you get different sections working.

The levels start out fairly easy and require some sniffing around, such as looking at the source code, and dissecting images with Python’s various libraries. As you pass each level, you will be granted access to the Python Challenge forums in order to see how others solved the level. By solving each level and then seeing what different solutions entail you grow your knowledge of the language and reinforce your understanding of how to use it.