Looking through the Gospel text this week I was reminded of the story of the priest who gets pulled over by a policeman after running a red light, and when the window is wound down, the officer is immediately confronted with the smell of alcohol emanating from the car!

“Have you been drinking, Father?” the policeman asks. “Not a drop”, the priest replies.

“Well … would you mind telling me what you’ve got in that flask”, the policeman asks. “Ah … that would be water”, says the priest.

The policeman picks up the flask, opens it and sniffs it. “I believe this is whiskey, Father”, says the policeman.

“Mother of God!” says the priest, “Another miracle!”

And as I read through the Gospel reading today I find myself making the same response: ‘Another miracle!’

We’re actually only in the first chapter of the Gospel according to St Mark, and yet already we have been confronted with a whole series of miracles!

No sooner had Jesus entered the synagogue to teach than he was confronted by a wild, crazy man, screaming out at him, and Jesus healed the man.

And within a day of that event, or so it seems, everybody who is sick or possessed is crowding around Jesus, and Jesus is healing them of their illnesses and driving out demons, and the activity becomes all-consuming, though the irony is that Jesus seems to be engaging in the whole process a little reluctantly!

We sense a degree of frustration, I think, with Jesus early on, as He tries to quieten the testimonies of the possessed – “You are the Holy One of God!” – lest the whole thing get out of hand. And yet it does get out of hand, and Jesus seems frustrated by the hordes that press on him. It appears that He wants people to listen to what He has to say, and not just to get carried away with His miracles or His mysterious identity.

This is made quite explicit at the end of our reading today, where we see Jesus, having escaped from the crowds that were pursuing him to a ‘lonely place’ (vs.35), telling His disciples that it’s time to move on.

“Let’s go to the neighbouring towns so that I can preach there, too. For that is why I came out here.” (vs.38)

And it seems that Jesus, after having taken some time to think things through, realises that His priority has to be spreading His word of hope about the new world coming. The great well of human need that He sees round about him is, it seems, a distraction that threatens to divert Him from His real work.

Surely there were any number of others who could take up the task of healing the sick. Jesus must focus on spreading the word, “for that is why I came out”!

As I say, there is a fair degree of irony in this because despite Jesus’ words, He never actually acts in accordance with His own pronouncement!

Perhaps indeed the ordinary needs of ordinary human beings are a distraction from the greater work of spreading the Gospel, but if so, Jesus seemed to consistently allow Himself to be distracted!

So many people come to him, we are told, that there isn’t room at the door, and yet we don’t see Jesus standing up and saying, “Look! I want everybody to put their physical issues on hold for a moment. I have some things I’d like to say.”

No! There is a well of human misery surrounding Jesus as He begins His ministry, and Jesus wades right into it!

Jesus does not detach Himself. He allows Himself to be distracted. He reaches out. He heals. He liberates both the infirmed and the possessed, and He does so knowing full well that this is detracting from the work that He was sent to do, but He does it anyway!

Yes, at the end of the day he creates some distance for Himself and He decides that it’s time to focus on preaching, and yet the immediate follow-on from this pronouncement is that a person afflicted with leprosy finds Jesus and asks for help.

And Jesus doesn’t say, “Not now, buddy! I’ve got other things I need to be doing. At least wait until the end of the sermon!” On the contrary, St Mark records that Jesus was ‘moved with compassion’ for the man (vs.41), and so He healed him. And so the pattern of preaching AND healing (where there always seems to be a lot more healing than preaching) continues!

Now that story of the man with leprosy is in next week’s reading, I think, and I don’t want to snatch the thunder from next week’s sermon, so perhaps I should focus on the main healing that is dealt with in this week’s story – namely, the healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law – a healing that I must say has to be one of the least spectacular healing stories ever recorded in any of the four Gospels!

It is preceded by the healing of the crazy demoniac and proceeded by the story of the man with leprosy, and it seems like a rather innocuous example to focus on relative to those two!

We are told that Simon Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever, but there is no suggestion there that it was life-threatening. It may have been, of course, or she may have just had a slight touch of the flu!

It does make you wonder why the Gospel writer chose to include this particular incident when it does seem to detract from the action-packed nature of the adventure that’s unfolding.

Was it just that the Gospel writer and his first readers all knew Peter’s mother-in-law personally? If so, it’s a bit of a surprise that she doesn’t receive a name in the story!

Some scholars suggest that there is a movement in the story of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law that is archetypal for the process of discipleship.

As you read the narrative, you do feel that movement:

• Jesus goes to her

• He takes her by the hand

• He lifts her up

• She is healed!

And it’s almost like a dance that Jesus and the woman are sharing in together, where Jesus leads the dance but where, you will notice, the woman makes the final move, for we are told that no sooner has she been healed than she begins to ‘serve’ Jesus – literally, to ‘wait on Him’ but the implication being that she has now become a disciple, and so the dance of love and healing and service will continue!

I’m sure this story has deliberately been framed to encapsulate this movement, as a sort of template for discipleship. Even so, there’s no reason the Gospel writer could not have overlaid that template on any number of other more spectacular healing stories too

My guess is that Mark deliberately included this story of the healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, in all its ordinariness, simply because it is so ordinary, and hence so familiar!

We see healings like this all the time, don’t we? We are often involved in healings like this, are we not?

It may be that you, like me, have seen a handful of spectacular healings and/or exorcisms in your time, but for the most part it is these little miracles that we are familiar with, and perhaps part of the point of this passage is that little miracles are still miracles, and the fact that they are small and familiar does not mean that they are unimportant!

I think of all the little miracles I’ve been privileged to be the beneficiary of over the years – not normally directly from the hand of Jesus, but more often through the healing touch of one of Jesus’ people.

I think back to the time when I was struggling with depression, trying to survive my own family breakdown many years ago. And I remember all the little acts of healing that took place back then – the little miracle of a friend who would sit up with me and share a beer with me and let me talk until I was able to go to sleep.

We’ve been remembering the lives of dear old Margaret and Thelma today, and I remember well the small miracles that they would dispense – nothing spectacular, but a gentle word, a loving embrace – coming to me, taking me by the hand, lifting me up and giving me healing and strength. Life’s little miracles!

“Let’s go to the neighbouring towns so that I can preach there, too. For that is why I came out here.” (vs.38)

As I say, there is a subtle irony in this pronouncement, in part because Jesus seems to be incapable of following His own advice!

If Jesus really was psyching up the team for a more focused ministry where words came first and acts of healing second, it was a program He never carried through with. His compassion got the better of Him.

And yet there is another irony here too, and it’s found in the text of the Gospel itself!

Jesus’ priority, we are told, is preaching and teaching, and yet if you read through this extensive first chapter of the Gospel according to St Mark, there’s not a single word of Jesus’ teaching recorded! It actually not until we get to the latter part of Mark chapter 2 that we get any of the actual teachings of Jesus recorded!

I’m not suggesting that this makes the teachings of Jesus any less important – not at all – but I am suggesting that (at least so far as the Gospel-writer Mark was concerned) these were not the things Jesus was best remembered for!

And this is true to life!

As we are remembering today the lives of dear Thelma and Margaret, I must say that I remember them very well, but it’s not their wise words I remember, though I’m sure Thelma (in particular) had plenty for me. It was her compassionate touch, her loving looks, the affectionate kiss, the healing embrace …

St Francis of Assisi is said to have said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words”. I don’t know if he really said it, but it makes sense.

Of course we don’t do anybody any favours by holding back the words of the Gospel, for indeed these words can be the source of life and hope. And yet words by themselves can be very hollow.

When we die it will most likely not be our words that we are best remembered for. Most likely it will be the little miracles that we were a part of. And it may seem sometimes that our contribution is not that great (‘ah … another miracle’) and yet every miracle – great and small – is a part of that great dance that Christ is leading us in.

For Jesus is more than just a teacher, just as His teaching is more than mere words. He is “the visible image of our invisible God”, says St Paul (Colossians 1:15).

Or in the words of Charles Wesley:

Jesu, Thou art all compassion.
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation.
Enter every trembling hear!

‘Fighting Father’ Dave – Parish Priest, Community Worker, Professional boxer, Martial Arts master, Father of three. Dave’s goal is to offer an alternative culture for young people, based on values of courage, integrity, self-discipline and teamwork. He is available to help work your corner as you fight the good fight. Visit http://www.fatherdave.org for more information.

The stubby holder includes a number of benefits to the local business trying to extend the amount of familiarity with their brand. Firstly, the holders are probably to be used again and again, whenever there is a hot day, or a cool drink is required. Giving them out to sports fans nearly ensures that they will be used at some point. The stubby holder can be used and then re-used, and are more durable than that other common give-away, the biro. The stubby can not run out within some weeks and be discarded, but rather will be used for several summers, year after year. This is often why personalising the holders with a company logo can be thus efficient.

Another reason for their popularity amongst businesses is their cost-effectiveness. They will be bought in bulk, from fifty to literally thousands at a time, and this enables the businesses to get a reduction. Such prices permit the business to avoid having to allow their entire marketing budget to the promotion, allowing them greater leeway to do different things as well. Additionally, there is often no extra cost for printing a name or emblem on the side of the stubby holder, which ensures that the most necessary part of the campaign is actually cost-effective.

Thanks to their low cost and the ease with which they could be personalised, many businesses will provide away a free stubby holder to guests at a trade fair, a product launch, or similar. They may also target students by giving them a stubby holder as part of a welcome pack when they be a part of the university. All of this will help the business to confirm that at least some of those people later recall and use their services, or buy their products. The promotional importance of stubby holders should not be overlooked by any business in Australia.

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A lot of people do not reach their full potential – try as they could, happiness and success elude them. Sadly there are many samples of unhappy people with discontented lives. More and more people are beginning to realise that choosing to become a life coach not just empowers them to re-shape their lives, however to even assist others attain what they want. It can be rare to find such a win-win occupation. It’s simple to see why coaching is in such high demand.

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Are you Motivational?
Probably the most tough aspects a person has to get over when making modifications to their life is staying motivated to achieve their goals. Through your ability to encourage others you can support your consumers to seek genuine prospects for individual improvement and exceed the obstacles that may lead them to failure. If you possess such motivational skills then a certification for coaching can be what you are looking for.

Are you Inspirational?
In addition to the characteristic of being motivational, another helpful source is having the ability to inspire others. Change is a very hard concept for many to embrace, especially after we are hard-wired to remain in our comfort zones. Your capability to inspire others will assist to create an internal force in your customers that will allow for life-changing success to be accomplished. Obtaining a certificate in life coaching allows you to take your treasure of inspiration to help inspire modification in others.

Are you Driven?
The final characteristic which is essential to being a life coach is having your own individual drive. When an individual seeking coaching does not sense that drive from their coach, it will not encourage them to tap into their own internal resources essential to make real change among their life.

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Fortunately, once we hack through the jungle of B-grade clichés we figure out that modern self-development and genuine spiritual paths both provide instruments and ideas that can radically change our time on this planet. There is so much really worthwhile stuff, in fact, that it can be tough to choose from the options, so my goal in this article is to look at what spirituality can stand for, and why you might want to explore it a bit more.

To start with, here is a quick questionnaire:
Firstly, do you think happiness comes from inside?
And, just out of curiosity, do you act as if you do, i.e. do you target more attention on what is within, or on other stuff?

Most of you will have answered yes to the first question, and presuming you’re fairly truthful with yourself I am guessing that an even bigger majority will have said no to the second. Oops! Isn’t it interesting the way we see the map, that says “Turn right”, and yet we drive left instead?

Modern self-developers generally say “you will be able to have more riches, a fulfilling career, amazing relationships (etc. etc.) and spirituality (+/- “whatever that implies to you”)”. Spirituality becomes an item on the objects-that-make-you-happy menu, one more glossy “thing” to “obtain”. But how about if spirituality could signify something else? Ultimately, the Buddha didn’t say “you can have gold, power, dancing girls, much more cattle and enlightenment”; he said “here is a way that will take away your sadness and give you enormous happiness, and it is entirely about changing what’s happening in your head”.

Spiritual paths emphasise (if I may paraphrase the “Go to Jail” card in the famous board game Monopoly) that you will be able to “Go straight to Happiness; do not pass Go; totally no need to collect $200”, and that this is not just possible but also the absolute best choice you can ever make in your life.
Tempted?

I guess that one reason I attract clients who are serious about their happiness is as I too believe that time spent on the “external” stuff is generally unnecessarily slow.

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The purpose of retiring to a specially-build village within the UK is to produce yourself with the means to live independently, while still having assistance and support from the wider community. The latest UK retirement villages are often larger estates, containing both personal cottages and sheltered accommodation. The people living in these villages typically feel the requirement to live by themselves, but also are anxious about access to amenities. Living in retirement homes in these villages implies that there are plenty of shops, doctors and restaurants within walking distance. The residents of retirement villages could also get all of the other care and attention that they need, therefore if they need further in-home care than the community provides, they can have 24-7 live in staff or a home visitor on a daily basis. This gives retired people better freedom.

Something that must be careful is what type of home the retired people could be purchasing. Many of the homes are either bungalows, or independent flats inside a sheltered accommodation setting. You should discuss matters with the owner of the village, answering any issues about the living arrangements. For instance, some retirement villages will not allow pets to reside in homes. These rules could sometimes be challenged, or might be mentioned in meetings with an aim to improving the lives of all the residents.

When you have bought your home within the village, you may look forward to a range of entertainments. As each village could be a completely separate community, with its own facilities such as hospitals, post offices, and libraries, you may still be able to go down to the village and be sure of all of your requirements, while popping into the village shop on the way back for any essentials.

There are a number of factors why moving into a retirement village can improve your life once you have left your job, including the extent of care and community which are not usually found in the rest of society.

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Digestion plays an integral role in the human body so it’s important that you exploit resources which will support your digestive system and improve opportunities like colon health. When you consume food there is a long process of digestion which is associated with consumption, breakdown, absorption of nutrients, and disposal of waste. When these systems are interrupted by bad health or unsupportive elements it can create immense discomfort for the individual. The resources of probiotic supplements help to supply the body with necessary probiotic strains which will assist the body in improving digestion and eliminating weaknesses.

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If you have a very small child, between the age of 5 and 10, then you will be happy that Paper Eskimo party supplies come in a choice of different styles that will be fitted to themes, for instance the Jungle Party theme that is usually a favourite with little boys.

You can purchase a complete kit which is sufficient for 12 children (including the host, and you may also find appropriate Jungle party favours including small plastic animals, or perhaps ink stamps with animal images. The party essentials are fairly basic in the Paper Eskimo party supplies choice, as you can expect for something that is intended for smaller children.

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Answering a call for bids begins the procedure. Equipping bid writers with the best resources is vital. Improving success rates within the bid method will be improved by taking a look at the following sections of the qualifying procedure. Examining these factors can help companies stand out and have a larger achievement rate in bid creation and management.

1. Include a cover letter as response to the RTF with a summary of the organisation’s point.

2. Introduce your company and also the deserves you offer. Whereas this isn’t a resume, firms would like to indicate that these are capable to deliver the products or services described.

3. Present the price for the bid in a thorough fashion with sub-categories, budgets and a transparent plan for the bid procedure.

4. Provide suggestions that hold up your company’s name together with previous client testimonials.

5. Writers beginning the bid management process want to write in a clear, concise way that can be easily read by the evaluators.

6. Bid writers would like to proof and edit the bid proposal carefully before submission for any grammatical mistakes or misrepresented facts.

7. Following the desired bid letter standards to the letter is equally vital for bid writers seeking a successful bid process.

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9. Present your bid or tender on time and in the correct format. Many bid submissions are on a very firm time schedule. If a bid chance comes up immediately, internal bid writers might not be able to complete the bid submission in a very timely manner. Hiring an external bid management firm might be a better option to compete within the submission.

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As the manufacturers are familiar with the problems which the elderly and the disabled face, there are a number of safety features designed to ensure that the user is totally protected from harm when they are using the stairlift. Firstly, so many of these lifts come with a seatbelt, making certain that the user doesn’t fall off of the seat when it is moving. There are even automatic brakes which are developed to stop the lift from getting in to trouble if there is a defect with the drive shafts or engine.

There are also many other protection features on the straight stair lift, so the user feels completely protected as they get up the steps. A seat lock ensures that the user won’t have difficulties remaining in the seat when the stairlift is in action, and there are even several other security features such as adaptable speed, so you don’t get up or down the lift very quickly for your own comfort. There are also additional battery-related features on few lifts which enable you to get up and down the stairs even at the time of electrical failures.

When you are selecting a straight stair lift, you will need to look into what features you want to have in your personal lift. You may not like to have seat locking, as the pace of getting in and out of the seat is much more vital. You may also want to reduce the amount of safety features on the lift so that you will be able to keep within budget. The latter is generally a vital consideration when you are buying a lift for your own personal use.

Discussing with somebody about the right lift for your needs could be significant in protecting the perfect model. Discussing with a specialist regarding your house, the angle of your stairs, and many other issues will even enable you to choose a stair lifting system that will assist you get up and down stairs with comfort.

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Lot of people who suffer from lung cancer stimulated by asbestos are finding reliable mesothelioma attorneys to try and claim against the business or firm, who exposed them to asbestos, but this is often a battle and several lawyers are simply not up to the case.

If you talk to any mesothelioma lawyers, they will tell you that the largest obstruction between the cancer sufferers and compensation cash is their previous employers. Big businesses that subjected their staff to asbestos in the 70s, 80s and even 90s are still working, and they need the money and supremacy to fight any court case, irrespective of who the sufferer is. There are several cases exposed by mesothelioma attorneys of those firms hiding important details from victims of cancer.

Several of these instances concerned hiding records regarding asbestos in the corporate, to concealing the elimination of asbestos, the latter of that frequently subjected their workers to huge amounts of the cancer-causing fibers. So as to find these records, mesothelioma lawyers have had to look for court injunctions, work with investigative journalists, and even have whistleblowers in the corporate to speak regarding what they saw there. In many cases, the court proceedings are costly and drawn out, and generally the cancer sufferers don’t live long enough to see the case through to the end.

Several accountable clients are just not ready to confess their fault, and pay their former employers what they owe. This can signify that people suffering from very aggressive and malignant cancers should spend the last months of their life preparing to go to court. In these cases, the sufferer needs a company of mesothelioma lawyers who are prepared to fight the case for the victim, and guarantee that they do not need to struggle too much so as to get the compensation they’re owed. Rather than go to a family lawyer, who might not be able to provide the sympathy and speed of action that is needed, choose to employ a firm of mesothelioma attorneys who can assist you to uncover the wrongdoing of previous employers, and get you the money you need so that you may spend your final days in comfort.

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