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  • Open Access

C-reactive protein levels: a prognostic marker for patients with head and neck cancer?

Head & Neck Oncology20102:21

  • Received: 4 June 2010
  • Accepted: 2 August 2010
  • Published:

Recent advances in understanding complex tumor interactions have led to the discovery of an association between inflammation and cancer, in particular for colon and lung cancer, but only a very few have dealt with oral cancer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the significance of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a parameter for development of lymph node metastases or recurrence.

Materials and methods

In 278 patients with oral cancer, preoperative CRP levels were compared with development of recurrence and metastasis.

In 27 patients from the normal CRP group, and in 21 patients from the elevated CRP group, local recurrence was observed. Concerning lymph node metastases, 37 patients were in the normal group and 9 patients in the elevated CRP group. No significant correlation could be found between elevated CRP levels and metastasis (p = 0.468) or recurrence (p = 0.137).

Our findings do not appear to support a correlation between preoperative CRP levels and development of recurrence or metastases. In further studies, CRP levels in precancerous lesions and in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) positive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) should be studied.

  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Human Papilloma Virus
  • Oral Cancer
  • Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In 1863, Rudolf Virchow postulated the induction hypothesis that cancer originated at site of chronic inflammation [1]. Chronic inflammation is associated with the risk of cancer. For instance, human immunodeficiency virus, viral hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus are well known for their association with an increased risk of cancer [1]. An argument for the hypothesis that inflammation is associated with cancer is also derived from the reduced risk for colorectal cancer that has been associated with long-term use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [2].

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein and a marker for inflammation. The synthesis of CRP in the hepatocytes may be regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor-necrosis factor, which are also reported for different malignancies. Therefore, these pro-inflammatory cytokines are currently the subject of intense studies as influencing factors in various types of tumors. It is increasingly recognized that in addition to tumor stage, the disease progression depends on a complex interaction between the tumor and the host's inflammatory response.

Two hypotheses could be associated with increased CRP levels as a sign of chronic inflammation. First, the induction hypothesis: chronic inflammation results in excessive cell proliferation and activation of a cascade of cellular actions, leading to induction of irreversible DNA damage [1]. Second, the response hypothesis: the immune response of the host as a consequence of tumor growth itself could be the reason for the elevation in CRP levels [3]. However, it is still unclear whether CRP levels are elevated before the biological onset of cancer or if an elevated CRP level is also a risk factor for the development of cancer.

Findings from the studies, however, have been inconsistent. Some authors have observed an association between elevated serum CRP levels in some cancers, like colorectal [46] and lung [2]. On the other hand, some researchers doubt that CRP can be regarded as a prognostic marker [7]. However, raised CRP concentrations have been demonstrated to be an indicator of a poorer prognosis for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients with esophageal cancer [8, 9], but concerning the cancer of the oral cavity only a very few studies have dealt with this topic so far (Table 1). All of these data are consistent with the hypothesis that CRP levels increase after onset of oral cancer.
Table 1

Studies dealing with the association between oral SCC and preoperative CRP levels

Number of patients

Gallo et al. [10]

Significance of CRP and IL-6 in regard to tumour stage

Jablonska et al. [11]

CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α serum levels related to clinical stage of disease

Khandavilli et al. [12]

CRP level is associated with worse overall outcome

Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the significance of preoperative CRP levels as a parameter for development of lymph node metastases or recurrence.

Materials and methods

Chosen for evaluation were 278 patients (119 female, 159 male) with oral SCC that were treated between 1999 and 2008 at a single center (Department of Craniomaxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Hospital Zurich). All serum CRP levels (obtained between one and 5 days prior to surgical treatment), recurrence rate, and lymph node metastases were taken into consideration. The minimum follow-up time was 12 months. Exclusion criteria were inadequate information and a follow-up time of less than 12 months.

The patients were divided into two groups according to the preoperative measure of C-reactive protein concentration: those with CRP values in the normal range (< = 5.0 mg/L), and those with elevated RP levels (>5.0 mg/L) according to Khandavilli et al. [12] and Komai et al. [13].

For statistical analysis SPPS 18 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) for the Mac was used. P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank testing was used for univariate analysis.

Out of 278 patients with a mean CRP of 7.36 mg/L, 193 (69.4%) patients had a preoperative CRP level < = 5 mg/L; 85 (30.6%) patients had a CRP level >5 mg/L; and the distribution was independent of age (Fig. 1).
Figure 1
Figure 1

Distribution of age and CRP.

Local recurrence was seen in 48 patients (17.3%), with a mean time of 24.31 months (range: 7-84 months); 2cd tumors in 24 (8.6%); and no recurrence in 206 (74.1%). Cervical lymph node metastases were observed in 46 patients (16.5%) after a mean time of 18.27 months (range: 4-71 months), distant metastases in 14 (5%), and no metastases in 218 patients (78.5%).

It was striking that although recurrence appeared earlier in the elevated CRP group (Fig. 2), no difference was found concerning the time of metastases (Fig. 3).
Figure 2
Figure 2

Distribution of time to recurrence dependent on CRP level.

Figure 3
Figure 3

Distribution of time to metastases dependent on CRP level.

In 27 patients in the normal CRP group and in 21 patients belonging to the elevated CRP group, local recurrence was observed. Concerning lymph node metastases, 37 patients were in the normal group and 9 patients in the elevated CRP. No significant correlation was found neither for development of metastasis (p = 0.468) (Fig. 4) nor for recurrence (p = 0.137) (Fig. 5).
Figure 4
Figure 4

Kaplan-Meier analysis of development of metastasis in regard to CRP level.

Figure 5
Figure 5

Kaplan-Meier analysis of development of recurrence in regard to CRP level.

In order to establish prognostic predictors for oral SCC, several studies have been performed. The purpose of our study was to find a simple and cost effective indicator for oral SCC. The mean follow-up time was 35.97 months (range: 12-107 months).

In this study, the mean value of serum CRP was 7.36 mg/L; the serum level was raised in 85 patients (30.6%); the increase was mostly moderate (Fig. 1); and a high increase of more than 50 mg/L, seen in infectious disease, was found in 6 patients. The proportion of lymph node metastasis in the group of elevated CRP levels was smaller than that in the patients without CRP elevation. But no significant association between raised CRP levels and development of recurrence or metastases could be seen. Therefore this study does not confirm the results from other studies (Table 1) and we also disagree with Zingg U et al. [14] who suggested CRP-measurements in the re-staging process in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer in order to help to select patients who are likely to benefit from surgery.

In the literature there seems to be inconsistency concerning the CRP levels: some authors have described CRP levels of more than 5 mg/L as raised (13, 14), while others have considered a more precise differentiation into three groups: low (<1 mg/L), average (1.0 - 3.0 mg/L), and high (>3.0 mg/L). In the current study, a CRP level of more than 5 mg/L was considered as raised. But one has to keep in mind that CRP levels can be reduced with smoking cessation [15] and weight loss[16, 17].

Patients with cancer of the oral cavity can be in poor nutritional condition. For esophageal cancer, a correlation has been shown between elevated serum CRP concentration and malnutrition with impaired immunity [9]. Furthermore, smoking and alcohol abuse can also lead to chronic inflammation in the oral mucosa. Therefore, it would be of interest to investigate CRP levels in precancerous lesions--e. g., erosive lichen. Ki et al. [18] reported a significant correlation between the presence of acute mucositis and CRP level in 40 patients during radiotherapy for primary laryngo-pharyngeal cancer.

A strength of the current study was the high number of patients. One limitation is that CRP was measured at one point in time. Therefore intraindividual variations were not considered. Furthermore, general diseases associated with possible higher inflammation markers like diabetes mellitus or Morbus Crohn were not taken into consideration due to lack of informations.

However, CRP is a nonspecific marker of inflammation, and additional studies of specific cytokines that regulate acute-phase response are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms by which inflammation influences the risk of cancer.

In summary, our findings do not appear to support a positive association between preoperative CRP levels and oral SCC. Further studies should examine CRP levels in precancerous lesions and in HPV positive patients with oral SCC.

Authors’ Affiliations

Department of Craniomaxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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Archive for March, 2012

Good Christian Belles: Why It Isn’t That Big Of A Deal

Posted by Job on March 4, 2012

ABC – that’s right – the same company as “family-friendly Disney” that has been marketing sexualized images of teen girls for going on 20 years, and oh yeah has been promoting occult/witchcraft/magic to mainstream audiences from the very beginning – has a (yawn) “controversial” new show called “Good Christian Belles” or GCB (not the original more controversial title from the book on which it was based). As the “talent” behind this production have also worked on such products as “Steel Magnolias”, “Glee”, “Desperate Housewives” etc. (what, no “Sex And The City” veterans available?) and depicts Texas Southern Baptists, one can guess the tone and subject matter. And, as one can also guess, various “watchdog groups” purporting to represent evangelical Christians have professed themselves to be shocked and outraged. However, the truth is that this reveals more about the lobbying groups and the Christians that they represent than it does the TV show and those responsible for its existence.

Why? Because “Good Christian Belles” and those responsible for it – quite simply – are the world, and the world hates Christians and Christianity. Always has, always will. There is no way to sugarcoat it or tapdance around it: it is a fact plainly revealed in the Bible. Search the scriptures. As recorded very early in Genesis, history of those declared righteous on earth begins with elect Abel being murdered by the non-elect Cain. What was Abel’s crime that provoked Abel’s wrath? Being righteous. Cain killed Abel because Abel was righteous; because Abel had the faith that Cain lacked, acted according to that faith, and was rewarded by God because of his faith in action. Now Genesis is the first book in the Bible. In Revelation, the last book in the Bible, we see of persecution afflicting several churches in Revelation 2 and 3, and future times of persecution for the church throughout history are prophesied, including a severe global one at the time of the anti-Christ. In between, we see the Gentile nations’ persecuting the nation of Israel and God having to come to their aid time and time again (though God finally used those nations to destroy Israel because of their sins) towards the end of the Old Testament, the New Testament begins with the backdrop of the persecution of Israel by the Roman Empire. And of course, the climax of the story of the persecution of the righteous is the murder of Jesus Christ at the hands of His own Israelite nation and people (along with the Roman accomplices).

In addition to this context and background, Jesus Christ specifically told us that we would be hated and rejected by the world, told us the reason for it – because of our identification with Him, the true object of their hatred – and told us not to be surprised by it. Moreover, we knew that the early church did not see this rejection and hatred by the world for the sake of Jesus Christ as an occasion for grief and concern requiring “fighting back”, but rather an occasion for joy resulting in praising Jesus Christ. So, with these facts clearly laid out in scripture, why do (American) Christians react so churlishly in response to the world hating and rejecting us the way that the Bible says that it would? The answer: unbelief. We do not believe the Bible.

Now we do believe the Bible when it tells us that we are righteous, holy, and children of God. That is not the issue. What we do not believe is that the world will reject us because of it. The reason, the real problem: we do not believe that the world is sinful, unholy. Why? Because we do not believe that God is holy. Or more to the point: we do not believe that God is holy when compared to us! We do not see God as being truly holy. Instead, we see God as being “a better us.” We see God as being like us, only better. So becoming more like God does not require a miraculous conversion; for God to transform us into being like Him; for God to perfect us and glorify us in His image. No, instead we only need to improve through things like religious observance, good works, adherence to some moral code, plus some mystical mysterious religious experiences where we “feel God’s presence” and “encounter God”, not to mention the emotive experience of “having a personal relationship with God.”

Why do we not do this? Because coming to grips with God’s holiness means acknowledging the world’s unholiness. And as we are most certainly part of this current kosmos – this worldly system and its ways – it means coming to grips with our own unholiness. By this, I do not mean in an individual sense per se, especially as it applies to legitimately born again Christians whose sins have been forgiven and who are made holy through our identification with Jesus Christ. Rather, when I say “our”, I mean what we are a part of. Our communities. Our institutions. Our values. Our very friends and neighbors! We do not want to acknowledge that all of that is Babylon, and as such is going to come under the terrible judgment of an angry God on the day of the Lord.

And it is not merely that acknowledging that we and all that we know and love are part and parcel of a wicked worldly system is an affront to our human self-esteem, though it is most certainly the case. It also means accepting how truly isolated we are in a natural sense. It means accepting that we are not of this world, but merely pilgrims in it. It means accepting that we are indeed set apart from all else; that we are, well, peculiar. It means accepting being a Jesus freak, a holy roller, a religious fanatic, a fundamentalist, a cult member, a close-minded bigot, and all of those other perjoratives that you have heard directed towards Christians and probably used yourself. It means having to interpret and apply Luke 14:26 (“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple“) to your own life literally instead of making it into a metaphor or symbolism (or just ignoring and dismissing it and pretending that it isn’t there; that it is just pious Bible religion talk that HAS no REAL concrete meaning other than some general “ok you go love and follow Jesus now!” like that “cutting off your hand and poking out your eye if it offends you” stuff).

So, we don’t want to believe that God is holy because it means that accepting that the world that we love is unholy. So, instead of using “Good Christian Belles” as an impetus to sanctify ourselves, we feign outrage in an attempt to sanctify the world. Shock! Anger! Dismay! Why can’t we get positive depictions of Christians in the media? Liberalism! Political correctness! They wouldn’t dare depict Muslims in this way! How do we know this? Why? Because the orchestrated, well-funded religious right political machine tells us so. You know, the ones to tell us how to shoehorn Christianity into the world, so we won’t feel like such an outsider. The ones who tell us that Christianity is “family-oriented” and “family-friendly.” Everyone likes families, right? And when you are with your family, your spouse and kids and grandparents and relatives, you don’t feel isolated or alone right? Well, Christians who have no family … well hey life’s tough kid, but I have mine! And Christians who had to leave everything behind – including their family – for the faith … well that is a mighty fine testimony that I will read in Christianity Today or World Magazine or listen to on my Christian/gospel etc. radio station, but it has nothing to do with my life! And the fact that most of my family doesn’t go to church … who cares … my fellowship and companionship is based on my family and my values, not identification with Jesus Christ, and that is a good thing! Or so they tell us.

They also tell us about “values.” We can accept intellectually that most people may not be born again Christians in our beloved nation because of those inconvenient words of Jesus Christ about the “narrow road” and things like that. But you don’t have to be a born-again Christians to have “Christian values”, “family values”, “moral values” etc. Those shared moral values, based on a Judeo-Christian foundation (never mind that Judaism and Christianity are completely at odds with each other because the former hates Christ and the latter worships Him exclusively) can be embraced by “whosoever will” regardless of belief – or unbelief – and it makes us a good, moral nation … sanctified in a secular sense, right? And the reason why things like “Good Christian Belles” are being made today is because we have gotten away from our traditional moral values! Back in the day, when this country still respected moral values, Hollywood produced decent entertainment that respected Christianity!

Excellent theory. Except that it isn’t true. The Christian movie “The Timechanger” does an excellent job of debunking this myth by pointing out that from the very beginning, Hollywood was not only secular but subversively so … seeking to exchange Christianity with secular ethics and values. The best example of this are “Christmas movies” which make fleeting references to Jesus Christ, none of actual Christianity, and instead promote secular humanist – and situational – morality. How does the idea that Hollywood ever respected and embraced Christianity coexist with the reality that Hollywood took the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and transformed it into a vehicle to promote anti-Christ humanistic religion? Simple: by watching “It’s A Wonderful Life” or “Miracle On 34th Street” or the innumerable “Santa Claus” movies (and it was Hollywood – and big business – that turned Santa Claus from being a little known figure to being the most recognized figure in the world, known of by more people than Jesus Christ!) and being entertained by them.

The same with other “classic” films and TV shows. Sure, some of them might have depicted a few characters as pious, moral and religious, but even that is a long way from Biblical Christianity. Christians who saw those characters often projected their own beliefs – or more likely themselves – onto them and identified with them. But the idea that Hollywood regularly depicted characters who attested to such doctrines as sola scriptura, sola fide, substitutionary atonement is simply false. The problem is that Christians were willing to accept so little from the “Christian” characters that Hollywood presented that these characters were readily taken for Christians despite the lack of it.

And those were just the characters that were overtly taken to be practicing Christians. Make no mistake: the overwhelming majority of the characters in movies and TV shows even in Hollywood’s so-called “golden”, “classic” or “moral” era were not. And though censorship boards and cultural sensitivies (i.e. market pressure) kept them from making the equivalent of R-rated movies today, the characters not only led amoral and immoral lives, but glamorized it. It was often in a subversive fashion: the movie would depict someone given to swearing, adultery/fornication (even if it was not allowed to be consummated), drug use, lying/deception, violence etc. as the hero or sympathetic character. Realize that Hollywood movies were promoting infidelity and divorce as early as the 1930s, such as in this Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie! (The Family Values Coalition and similar would have you believe that the culture wars began with the likes of Barbra Streisand and Cher, not Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!)

Bottom line: Hollywood has never liked Christianity. It has never supported Christianity. It has never respected or feared Christianity. Instead, it has been a force acting against Christianity from the beginning. That fact causes us to stumble because we want to believe that Hollywood was once moral and good but lost its way when it was perverted by the socially liberal movements, i.e. the 60s and 70s. Why? Because Hollywood has always been extremely popular and influential in America. Accepting that Hollywood has always opposed legitimate Christianity would mean accepting the “America was once good and virtuous because its mainstream respected Christian values before its institutions were hi-jacked” notion. We are told that demonic “Avatar” became the top box office grossing film in history because the culture no longer respects God. But the box office champion for most of Hollywood’s history (when adjusted for inflation and number of tickets sold): Gone With The Wind! With Scarlett O’Hara, Rhett Butler and many other clearly immoral characters! (For example: when Scarlett declares “As God as my witness I will never go hungry again”, it was not a prayer or even a vow, but a blasphemous oath of the sort made by wicked people in the Old Testament!) That movie came out in 1939. During the Great Depression and World War II: “the greatest generation.”

This is not to say that things have not gotten worse. Clearly they have. But merely because things were better back then does not mean that they were good. To put it another way: just because Hollywood – and the mainstream American culture that it represents (the idea that Hollywood are these “cultural elites” that are disconnected from and do not reflect “the real America” is a right wing political device no different from the plot devices that screenwriter hacks contrive to keep stories moving along) – was less overtly antagonistic towards Christianity in the past doesn’t mean that they ever supported or respected Christianity. Today, “Good Christian Belles” depicts western Christians as liars, cheats, adulterers and schemers. 50 years ago, movies set in the “old west” commonly depicted preachers as being particularly fond of whiskey, gambling, swearing, violence or other vices. The difference is only a matter of degree.

The solution to the problem posed by such things as “Good Christian Belles”, then, is not to manufacture offense or outrage. It is certainly not to choose to believe a lie by pretending as if “the good ole days” actually were good. (Note that the Bible never instructs us to indulge in nostalgia, but instead to seek the holy God who never changes instead of preserving in memory the fallen culture that does change, and usually so for the worse.) Instead, it is to believe what the Bible says, and to embrace it. God is holy. God’s people are holy because God makes them holy. The world is wicked. Because of this, God, His people and the world are going to be at emnity (God and His people on one side, the world and the other) until the last day, when time shall be no more. Instead of pretending as if the world was never evil, or America was not originally part of the evil world because of its “values”, of its being a “Christian nation” or “founded on Christian principles”, or mourning over the time when America was “less evil”, we should look forward to the day of the Lord when all evil, all that opposes Jesus Christ and His church, are destroyed forever.

Remember the warning of Luke 9:62: “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Join that with Luke 17:32’s “Remember Lot’s wife.” Instead of being deceived by false teachers into loving this worldly system, we should endeavor to separate from it, be holy and embrace the world to come, which is New Jerusalem where we will be with Jesus Christ – and separated from those who hate Him and us because we are in Him – forever.

If you have not separated from the world and its wickedness, I urge you to do so immediately. Repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe that He died for sins, that He was worthy to do so in the place of sinners because of His being the Son of God, and that He rose again from the dead. If you need more information on how to accomplish this, please click on the link below.

Follow The Three Step Salvation Plan

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Let Him In By Winans Phase 2: Why It Is Not Gospel Music But Blasphemy

Posted by Job on March 4, 2012

As concerning Christian music and other things concerning worship, I am not a traditional fundamentalist. I disagree with the position of John Calvin and other leaders of the Protestant Reformation, which is that songs, music and dance were primarily related to the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament religion of the Hebrews, those things were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and therefore the only permissible form of worship is hymns sung a capella (without music). Yet, that position is actually superior to the common claim that the only permissible mode of worship is that which dominated western culture in the 18th and early 19th century, a cultural/ethnocentric position because it is an indisputable fact of history that the early church – the ancient predominantly middle/near eastern one recorded in the New Testament – did not worship after the manner of Europeans that came along over 1500 years later. So, Christian country, Christian classical and opera music, Christian rock, Christian rap, gospel music (both contemporary and traditional) and the many other varieties under the sun by members of Body of Christ that is indwelt by and serves as a tabernacle for the Spirit of Christ are permissible, so long as it – along with everything else in Christianity – is governed by God’s revelation as preserved in the Bible.

The mere fact that the music is being performed by Christians does not make it acceptable to God, and neither does the intent of the performers or the effect that playing the music has on the regenerate (i.e. causing vigorous worship) or the unregenerate (i.e. helping them understand the gospel and lead them to conversion). The music is also not sanctified by the message (i.e. the lyrics) or the venue (i.e. being performed at a church or in a Christian concert). Moreover, the purpose of the music is to worship God, not to entertain people. Again, merely because it was made to entertain, inspire or aid Christians does not make it Christian music. If it was made to evangelize the lost to cause them to become Christians, then it is not Christian music. If it was made for people, then it is “people music.” Only if it is made for Christ does it become Christian music. And as with everything else, Jesus Christ did leave us in His Bible guidelines for what are acceptable.

Without going into a “theology of worship” discussion, two scripture texts that can be used as guidelines for choosing which music to listen to, include in worship, or (if per chance you are one who creates Christian music) compose are Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 12:28-29. The former reads “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Now this does not mean that Christians are commanded to reject popular or other music forms created or embraced by the world as worldly, or to create a distinctively Christian music form.

Christianity is not a religion of rules and rituals, but a religion of the heart. Thus, if your heart is not right, then your music will not be right either. So, rather than being some rule that would enjoin worldly musicians from making worldly music and from worldly listeners from hearing it – which appears to be the position of some of my fundamentalist friends – the message of Romans 12:1-2 is to not be worldly. Worldly musicians will make worldly music. Worldly listeners will listen to worldly music. The reason is that those people are of the flesh and will live accordingly. But Godly people will make and listen to Godly music because they are of God’s Spirit and will live according to God’s Spirit. No rules, regulations, rituals, customs, traditions etc. will made a worldly person Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-led in worship or anything else. And of course, such vain external trappings of false religion (John 7:24) should not keep true believers in bondage. So, if you are worldly, the world is what an artist will be thinking about, striving to emulate and please, when he makes his music. Further, if you are a worldly listener, you will not want music that reminds you of God and His attributes, but rather music that reminds you of the world that is your first love. But if you are Godly, then your desire to know and please God – your first love – will be reflected in the music that you make and/or listen to.

Now for the second text, Hebrews 12:28-29, which is not only an explicit command to guide worship, but tells us why this command or rule exists. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” Note that “we may serve”, as the King James Version translators rendered it, is the Greek word latreuō, which can means “to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship.” This definition fits the context, which is why other good translations use “worship” or “praise”. The English Standard Version renders Hebrews 12:28 with this very issue in mind (arguably making it more of an interpretation/commentary than a mere translation!) with “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”

So make no mistake, this text commands us to worship God in an acceptable manner, and that the only acceptable manner is reverence. Again, reverence is not a rule, ritual or tradition, but a matter of the heart. The Old Testament bears this out. God gave Israel a specific, detailed collection of rules and rituals to follow concerning the manner in which He would be worshiped. What happened? They didn’t follow it. Why? Because their hearts were not right. They did not love God, they did not have a desire to know or serve God, so they did not consistently keep the religious forms that God gave them for any length of time. This was so as a general rule anyway. The remnant, the elect chosen and preserved by God, DID worship God to the best of their ability. So, even from the Old Testament we know that rules banning rock guitars, hip-hop drumbeats, or everything but hymns without musical accompaniment are vanities in a heart that is hardened. Just as a worldly heart will lust after the world, and irreverent heart will never know reverence in its cold, dead and depraved condition.

By contrast, a regenerate heart will revere God. Why? Again, Hebrews 12:28 tells us. Be not deceived: it is not mere mutable emotion that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon, but something far more permanent. 1. Born again Christians are grateful to God for our permanent kingdom that cannot be shaken; that we will spend an eternity with Jesus Christ in New Jerusalem (commonly called heaven). This fact serves as a powerful hope, inspiration and driving force that remains constant no matter our circumstances or emotional state. 2. Our God is a consuming fire! Born again Christians do not erect false idols of nonexistent deities that will not punish the wicked. Instead, we love the truth – that God will punish and destroy the wicked – because this truth confirms God’s holiness and power, and we love God because He is holy and powerful! A safe god, a god that we can transgress and disrespect without consequence, or one who only punishes us for crimes committed against His creation (i.e. only sending murderers, thieves and rapists to hell for what they have done TO PEOPLE) and not for offenses done against God’s holiness is no God at all. Scripture makes it clear from beginning to end that God is One who demands and is holiness. God does have the whole world in His Hands after the manner of the children’s nursery rhyme, but make no mistake: God is no child’s toy, or anyone’s toy for that matter. The elect is indeed safe in the arms of Jesus Christ, as an old hymn asserts, but this same Jesus Christ – the same One who drove the thieves out of the temple with a whip and will one day return riding a white horse and carrying a two edged sword with which to horribly punish the wicked – isn’t safe! For those who reject this and deny that our God is a consuming fire, they should instead be confronted with the reality that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31, plus a rather well known sermon)!

It is not merely a “we must worship God in this manner or God will send fire down from heaven and consume us” sort of fear, though Christians should certainly remember Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah, and Ananias and Sapphira when that very sort of thing did happen if only for the typology. Instead, it is simply a truth that God has disclosed His Divine Nature to us in the Bible, and those that are regenerate and hence truly love God will respond to God’s self revelation by acting in accordance to that revelation, not against it. Again, this is something that will not happen by way of adherence to ritual, or creating rules based on human comprehension of the facts of scripture, but as the elect are carried along by God’s Holy Spirit. Similar to salvation (consider what Jesus Christ told His disciples when they were astonished after the rich young ruler incident) with man, it is impossible to achieve worship that is spiritual and reverent, for man is only capable of worldly irreverent worship that mocks, hates and rejects God. But with God, it is possible to attain reverent spiritual worship that is liberated from the rusted shackles of carnality, and it is indeed achieved. This is done because it is God’s will to receive reverent spiritual worship that is pleasing to Him, and God’s will is most certainly done.

In conclusion, I will provide the example – a negative one – which motivated this entry: Let Him In By Winans Phase 2. It is simply one of the most egregious ones that I have encountered. For those who are uninitiated as concerning the R&B music genre, this song is – not emulates but is – a “slow jam”, meaning a romantic song. The purpose of the “slow jam” is to create a mindset – or mental atmosphere – of emotional and physical intimacy, including – but not limited to – sexual intercourse. (Of course, not a few artists in this genre make such songs solely and entirely for the purpose of promoting sexual intercourse, and take it as a compliment when their fans inform them that their music was played on their prom nights, wedding nights, when their children were conceived, etc.) And keep in mind: when such intimacy is not available or attainable, the purpose of the music is to remind people of such intimacy, or cause them to desire for or aspire to it! Make no mistake, that is the primary reason why such music exists, it is the primary reason why it is so popular with the artists who make it – as many of the artists are lovers of sensuality – and it is also why the music is so commercially successful.

And “Let Him In” by Winans Phase 2 is a song after this genre and spirit. The musical accompaniment is entirely sensual. So is the way that the song is sung. But that is not the main problem.Consider this: the “Let Him In” title of the song – and it is also a refrain, repetitively sung in a soft, sensual manner! – is an evangelistic plea to convert to Christianity. (It is based on the very common misapplication of Revelation 3:20, but the issue here is not the free will salvation theology advocated by the song, but the song’s irreverent form.)  Again, based on the musical and lyrical style, the purpose of it was to emulate an R&B “love song” (when in truth most “love songs” should be renamed “amorous songs” as they are far more often concerned with physical attraction and emotional infatuation than actual, Biblical love). Further, “let him in” is a widely known euphemism that has the purpose of requesting sexual intercourse. Make no mistake, as a large number of R&B (and rap/hip-hop) songs have a very similar musical and vocal sound and use the same “let him in” phrase according to its common meaning, how is it possible for one very familiar with the genre to listen to that song without making that association? Of course, it is possible to suppress it, and undoubtedly the professed Christians who listen to this very popular song do so. But had this song been reverent in the first place, it would not have been necessary. It is not the duty of the listener to suppress what the song would have certainly meant were it in a different genre, the genre that this song was intended to sound like. Instead, it is the duty of the Christian performer not to make a song that sounds very much like an entreaty for the listener to consent to Jesus Christ performing a sex act on him (or her)!

That sounded strong to you? Well, consider the lyrics to this song. Now they deny that the song is carnal on one hand, but the song elsewhere says – concerns Jesus Christ – “He’s making love to my heart.” Which by the way … A REFERENCE TO APPEARS FOUR TIMES! (I want to point out: THIS SONG IS BEING SUNG BY MEN. It would still be blasphemy were it sung by women, but I just wanted to point that out.) Some other lyrics from this homosexual love ballad – excuse me, gospel song: “Sweet as can be”, “I love the way he talks to me”, “Oooh I’m so happy.” Also, one of the “He’s making love to my heart” references asks the listener to “let him make love to your heart.” Again (and I do not intend this to be Mark Driscoll vulgar here): “let him in” in is colloquial context is a request to allow a man to have intercourse with you made by some intermediary. A common application is when a man is dating a woman, wants to have intercourse with her, but she is reluctant. So, the man gets a mutual friend of theirs to go to this reluctant woman on his behalf and tell her “Come on. He’s your boyfriend. You know you like him. You know you want him. You have been dating how long? Three months? What are you waiting for? How much longer are you going to wait? Come on, let him in!” When you read the lyrics, it honestly appears as if the meaning of the “let him in” phrase was not something that they were unaware, or some horrible accidental coincidence, but instead something that they directly, purposefully incorporated into the song, as the entire song itself is concerned with sexuality! The song explicitly says, in multiple occasions – “Jesus Christ is making love with my heart, let Jesus Christ make love with your heart!” And then it makes use of Revelation 3:20 (which is directly referenced in with “I’m here to let you know he’s knocking at your door to let him in”!) to make the connotation of the euphemism direct and complete. The song purposefully, directly associates – indeed depicts – Christian conversion and Christian living with sexual encounters with Jesus Christ in the same way that Paul associated the Christian’s life with an athlete running  a race. Now John MacArthur spoke of the rape of the Song of Solomon by Mark Driscoll. Well “Let Him In” constitutes no less than a (homosexual!) rape of Revelation 3:20 by Winans Phase 2.

This is merely the most egregious example that I am aware of. As I no longer listen to Christian music radio of any genre and merely happened upon this song, there are probably many others as bad or worse. But it serves as a good example of a song that is not reverent and is very much worldly. Though this song purports to be evangelistic, the truth is that it represents an attempt by carnal-minded people to win converts by relying on the basest of means. It is the “sex sells” approach to evangelism and discipleship that is advocated in this age by many, including Rick Warren and Ed Young Jr.

Rest assured, one cannot be carnal and worldly and be saved. One must be made holy, and this holiness is only achieved through Jesus Christ. The Bible does not tell us to become converted by lustfully imagining a sexual encounter with Jesus Christ. Instead, it tells us to repent of our sins and believe that Jesus Christ died for sins in the place of the sinner, was worthy to do so because of His being the Son of God, and was resurrected from the dead. If you have not done so already, I urge and entreat you to do so immediately. Click on the link below to receive some information on how to do so.

Follow The Three Step Salvation Plan

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Diorskin Star Foundation – New Holy Grail?!

Hey lovelies,

today I’m giving you a review on the lovely Diorskin Star foundation. I’ve been trying this amazing stuff for the past 2 weeks already and I’m so excited to share my thoughts on it with you guys.

One thing, that is probably the most important thing for me, when it comes to doing my makeup is  having that look of a flawless skin. I don’t always need dramatic eye makeup or a bold lip but one thing I always strive for is a flawless base. It just gives me such a confidence boost. Now my skin isn’t incredibly awful looking, however, I just feel so much better covering up some little flaws because let’s face it: we all have them.

When I try a foundation, I expect it to even out my skin tone and cover up some flaws. I want it to feel light on my skin and most importantly I want it to match my skin tone and I often have trouble with this part because I’m so pale and most Ivory shades aren’t really Ivory. But this little beauty does all of those things and is a perfect match. I’m in the shade 010-Ivory and it’s actually just perfect. When I apply this on my face it looks just like my skin only about 10 times better. You seriously wouldn’t be able to tell, that I was wearing any foundation because it melts into my skin and blends so perfectly.

Another plus is the formula. It’s incredibly light and feels really hydrating. Especially if you’re more on the dry side, like me, you should give this ago. It’s not drying at all, doesn’t get cakey and just looks incredibly natural. Additionally this foundation uses a formula that doesn’t clog up your pores “A new generation of hollow silica beads captures and diffuses light in a correcting halo with no shine. At the same time, colour-filter pigments neutralize colour imbalances to recreate the perfect light.” Through this new formula your skin can actually improve, because it covers anything you want to cover without blocking it or clogging anything up.

Now to another important part: the finish. It’s actually a bit tricky to describe the finish this foundation leaves. It’s definitely not matte but it’s not dewey either. It’s somewhere in between and it gives you that glow form within kind of looks. It just gives your skin a healthy, natural and illuminating look. There’s not other way to describe it really.

I know this almost sounds like a love letter but I’m honestly beyond impressed with this foundation. I’m so picky when it comes to my foundations. Most of them are either not my exact skin tone, so it takes a lot of effort to blend it all well or they are too drying or feel too heavy or don’t last long enough. I usually always find something I dislike butI haven’t found anything, that I don’t like about this foundation yet.  My skin has never looked this good and healthy, and stayed that way all day, and I’ve tried so many foundations already.

I wouldn’t say it’s my new holy grail just yet because I’m on my first bottle and it’s still very new but I think there’s a good chance it might become one though.

Have you tried this foundation? What were your thoughts?


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During 2015, Australia was said to have 2,800 residential aged care facilities providing care to more than 160,000 elderly people. This number is expected to increase to approximately 250,000 in the next 10 years with the highest area of growth being among residents aged 95 and older. One of the greatest challenges for the Australian aged care sector is in relation to dementia as it is the main reason that individuals seek out admittance to residential care facilities. It is estimated that up to 50% of care facility residents have dementia and that the number of people who develop the condition will increase from the 220 000 in 2015 to around 730,000 in 2050.

As hard as it may be to witness a loved one deteriorating due to dementia, it can also be very rewarding to see how much joy they get from simple, everyday experiences. Having someone you love be physically present but mentally absent is not easy to endure, especially on special occasions like Christmas and birthdays which no longer hold the same significance for your loved one. There is no need to discard these celebrations altogether, not even if the person is living in a care facility. It will, however, be necessary to make certain changes to ensure that the day maintains a sense of festivity without making anyone feel overwhelmed.

Shift the focus towards creating positive emotions instead of memories

Generally, we look for ways to make special occasions such as birthdays as memorable as possible. Due to the fact that people with dementia have problems with their short-term memory and will more than likely quickly forget any grand party, it is better to focus on creating a more simplified celebration with a happy vibe. Positive emotions can linger for numerous days in someone living with dementia, even long after the event that caused them is forgotten. Let go of the impulse to recreate old traditions in the care facility, rather ensure that the atmosphere is warm and pleasant and that your loved one is surrounded by a lot of happy smiles.

Find a new way of giving gifts

Finding the perfect gift for an older person can be a challenging task and even more so for someone living with dementia.  Your loved one may not be able to identify your gift as a present and may therefore be unsure of how to respond accordingly. Be sure to express the appropriate responses for your loved one by exaggerating your expressions; it is often easier to read and understand body language than it is spoken words.

Create a guest list around quality, not quantity

Changes in routine, excessive noise and fuss can all put tremendous stress on someone with dementia. Depending on personal circumstances, it may not be viable to include all the care facility residents in a birthday festivity for your loved one as it may be too overwhelming. Consider setting up a small space in a secluded area like a dining area or even your loved one’s room where an intimate celebration can be held instead.

While the memories and traditions you hold dear may no longer have the same relevance for your loved one if they have dementia, nothing prevents you from making the effort to celebrate special occasions in a new way. Individuals living with dementia has not lost the ability to enjoy and appreciate happy occasions, they just do so in a different way.

What do you have to say? Comment, share and like below.

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Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center: Bringing Out the Best in You

Oct 6, 2018 by

Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center: Bringing Out the Best in You

There’s nothing wrong with loving yourself for who you are. However, nothing should stop us from bringing out the best in us, and Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center is here to help.

The owners of Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center – Mara Cassandra Fernandez and Dr. Kevin Oliver Manalo – believe that confidence is beauty. A lot of people require a little boost of confidence. This is where Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center can help.

The clinic does this by reshaping aspects of the body to improve their clients’ personal appearance and boost their confidence in the process. It’s all about self love, and it’s easier to love yourself if you know that you’re at your best.

About Dr. Kevin and Aesthetic and Medical Center

The clinic opened last March 8, 2018. However, planning started years before that. Dr. Kevin and Mara used to work together at the United Doctors of St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital. In the emergency room one fateful early morning back in the year 2014, the duo had this idea of opening a clinic together. Plans were put into motion. They did research, worked on strengthening their credentials, and scouted for a good location.

Dr. Kevin has the following credentials:

  • Fellow Philippine Academy of Aesthetic and Age Management Medicine
  • Member Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery
  • Fellow Aesthetic Medicine Institute
  • Member Philippine Society of Cosmetic Surgery
  • Training Fellow Pan Pacific Aesthetic Institute

Services Offered

They specialize in different kinds of facial treatments, diamond peels, anti-aging treatments, whitening treatments, different surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments and more.

The clinic aims to provide high quality patient care with these services at affordable prices. They aim to help patients improve or restore their appearance and in the process, help them enhance their physical and emotional well-being.

Check out their menu of services to see how affordable their services are.

Their facial services are their most popular services to date. Their basic facial starts at just PHP 300, although most of their patients take advantage of their anti-acne treatment package that has all your favorite facial treats for just PHP 999.

Alternatively, you can check out their skin lightening treatment.

Better yet, you can trust their expertise and ask them to mix and match the services that are right for you. That’s what I did and I enjoyed the following services:

  • Dr. Kevin Signature Facial
  • Diamond Peel
  • Facial Massage
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

I highly-recommend their facial services and I plan on making it a regular habit. I’m not really big on facials. I used to get one once a year or so. But their facial treatments are not only effective. They’re also very relaxing especially when enjoyed as a package.

Speaking of being effective, I met one of their relatively new clients – Franz Andre.

The 19 year old teen from Batangas City makes the trip to Dr. Kevin here in Lipa simply because he’s seen great results in just one and a half months of treatment.

Another regular client is blogger and dancer Cleng Dalanon.

In her last visit, she also went for their facial treatments.

She also tried Eyebrow Shading.

This semi-permanent treatment gives you fuller eyebrows. There’s no need to waste half an hour each day for those kilay goals!

Cleng will also be walking around with a regular glow in her face with the BB Glow treatment.

This gives you a semi-permanent foundation. It’s very popular among Koreans! Get that Korean glass skin glow!

They also offer semi-permanent make-up. Cleng got the Blush On.

Look at how she looked immediately after the treatment!

With this treatment, your friends wouldn’t believe that you “woke up like this”.

Try Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center Today!

They want to change their clients’ life for the better by boosting their confidence and well-being. That can be you. Try Dr. Kevin Aesthetic and Medical Center today and let them bring out the best in you!

Contact Details

Address: Unit 2 Ground Floor CLEAN FUEL Gas Station, Brgy. Marawoy, Lipa City. They’re just across Floral Garden.

Fan Page

Contact Number: 0905 572 2787

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM

Disclaimer and Disclosure

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Jay Recinto

Co-Founder/Head Blogger at Hello Lipa
As a frustrated chef, Jay puts his Certificate in Culinary Arts from the International School for Culinary Arts & Hotel Management to good use by eating...a LOT. As the co-founder and head blogger for Hello Lipa, you'll often see Jay touring the city for the best places to dine in and the most fun events to attend. If not doing Hello Lipa duties, you'll see Jay either at a Starbucks or at the gym, if not doing hubby and daddy duties at the Recinto/Hello Lipa HQ.
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Review your Strokes Gained

Review your Strokes Gained

18Birdies Premium  Round Summary now includes Strokes Gained data vs. your Skill Level!

Off the Tee

Tee Shots on par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s.

Approach the Green

Includes all tee shots on par 3s, 2nd shots on par 4s, as well as 2nd and 3rd shots on par 5s.

Strokes Gained Around the Green

Chips, Pitches, Flops, Lobs, Greenside Sand Shots, etc taking place within 30 yards of the green.

Strokes Gained Putting

Putts on the green

The sum of strokes gained off the tee, approach the green, and around the green.

Sounds awesome, right? Click here to open the app on your device and start your round!

Looking to take your game to the next level?  Download the 18Birdies app today!

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In Toky you have three different alternatives to configure the working days and hours and to avoid calls at inappropriate times.

At company level

Set the business hours for your business from the Company Profile

Select Office Hours

Here you can configure your working days and times at a company level. You must select the Timezone according to your business location.

At agent level

Each agent can set their own working hours on their own account according to their country, time zone, and availability.

There you must configure your own working days and times in the My Office Hours tab.

If you are an Admin, you can set this information for any agent. You must click on Agents and next click on the Edit icon.

Select the Agent office Hours tab

At virtual phone number level

Each phone number can have a set availability for the time zone and conditions of each country and city. You must click on Phone Numbers option, and click on the Edit icon

Select the Number office hours tab

If you have problems with your business hours, you must validate that they are correctly configured. The multiple management of working hours allows an adequate coverage of the time zone of each case. Many businesses initially leave their agents and numbers with a 24 hours configuration and only set the company profile office hours.

Did this answer your question?


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Welcome to Wicked Device Help!

Welcome to the Wicked Device community forum.

If you have questions about our products, need help, or would like to know more about something, post a question here!

You can purchase our products at shop.wickeddevice.com and with our resellers, including the Maker Shed and Micro Center.

PS: We have moved away from our old forum to this Discourse based forum because (a) we we think it is better and (b) it should have a lot less spam, which was becoming difficult to control.


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1. Home
  2. General
  3. How do I edit my signature?

How do I edit my signature?

To make edits to your signature sign into your WiseStamp account at webapp.wisestamp.com/login. Once the editor loads you can make changes to your name and personal information on the left hand side. Just click into the desired area and type.

If you have a signature designed but no information filled into this area, you may have a legacy signature. Please email our support team via help@wisestamp.com for help with editing.

If you want to choose a new template simply click on “Template Gallery.”

To make edits to the apps you’ve added to your signature locate the “Added apps” section and click the pencil icon.

We’ve also put together this video to demonstrate how to edit different parts of your signature.

Updated on November 2, 2017

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1. Home
  2. Is WiseStamp worth it?

Is WiseStamp worth it?

WiseStamp is very worth it! Dozens of thousands of professionals just like you are already PRO users. But, don’t take it from us, take it from them!

Here are a few 5 star reviews from our Chrome Webstore:

I love WiseStamp, and their support team. The moment I needed help, they were on it immediately and sorted it for me at the speed of light! Not to mention how professional and memorable my emails now are… great way to be remembered as a person and as a pro. Highly recommend it to everybody! – Gianluca G.

I’ve been using WiseStamp Pro for about six months now and love it! I have everything set up for my business, so all my emails are sent with FREE advertising of my business. And of course, the expense can be written off on my taxes as an advertising expense. Win-win situation. Support is top-notch, responding almost immediately, or at least within 24 hours at most. Sure beats trying to make up my own signature file that was blah, blah, blah! – Cathryn P.

I love my Wisestamp! I have 4 different signatures that I’ve created to use and it was so easy. Also, when I’ve needed help they’ve been great and very helpful. – Janeen B.

I’ve been using it for several weeks now with no problems Love it and it makes my emails look a million times more professional. I’m using the free version, with Gmail. (As I was writing this I suddenly decided to upgrade to the PRO version, that’s how much I like this program.) I’m very busy re-branding myself and this tool is helping me immensely in that effort. – Eric D.

I LOVE how professional my Wisestamp signature looks and how quick & easy it is to update. Most of all, the support team is friendly and very accommodating. – Maria F.

This is my second year using wisestamp and I am hooked. The personal branding options are first class.
I did encounter a couple of hiccups but support always responds (via email) in a timely and personal manner.
The pro-version is a wise investment (in your branding to use WiseStamp. – John C.

Updated on November 21, 2016

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Focus on food, and you create a space to examine so many of the factors impacting on human prosperity.

Published: Tuesday 19 September, 2017

Have we reached ‘peak democracy’?

Certainly, if we look at some global measures of democratic societies, it looks as though progress has stalled – and perhaps even gone into reverse.

The Economist Intelligence Unit made waves earlier this year when it downgraded the USA to a “flawed democracy”. Citing record low levels of trust in government and political disenchantment, the world’s most powerful country is judged to have joined other advanced economies like Japan and Italy in the second tier of democratic societies globally.

Many other parts of the world fared no better. In fact, looking at the map, ‘full democracy’ seems to be very much a minority pursuit.

The lack of democratic advancement on the ground seems jarringly at odds with the principles outlined in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 16’s aim is to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”. These are goals, remember, which are meant to be achieved over just 15 short years to 2030.

Democracy can, of course, take many forms. But at its most basic, it involves active participation by people in determining their own destinies. It means having a say and the ability to effect change.

If we take that as a yardstick, it’s clear that many people lack the agency they need to influence their circumstances and create sustainable prosperity for themselves and their families. This lack of control is perhaps at its most extreme when it comes to the most basic requirement we have for life – food.

No matter where we live in the world, food production has become something alien as urbanisation intensifies, cutting us off from processes that would have occupied almost the entirety of our ancestors’ time and labour.

But even for those who still derive their livelihoods from growing crops or raising animals, food has become just another industry, with manifold pressures to produce as much as possible for minimal cost, to maximise profit. As with other industries, the beneficiaries are all-too-often those at the top – the landowners, commodities traders, processors and retailers who control the means by which food gets from the fields to our plates.

For many producers, especially those in the Global South who are typically small tenant farmers and smallholders, freedom of action is limited by outside forces compelling them to exploit their land to its utmost to satisfy the demands of international markets. What this means in practice is a restriction of the ‘democratic’ choices once integral to the communal nature of agricultural work, from narrowing the variety of crops grown to a few in-demand staples such as maize, wheat and rice, to the privatisation of formerly shared land and water resources and the cost of inputs such as seeds and fertilisers.

It’s little wonder, therefore, that the issue of ‘food sovereignty’ has become a hot topic in recent years. Following the landmark Nyeleni Forum, held in Mali in 2007, the 500 delegates drawn from a range of global campaign groups produced a declaration that defined food sovereignty as “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems”.

It’s a concept that goes far beyond established notions of ‘fair trade’, with its modest aim of giving farmers a bigger share of profits from conventional cash crop production. It amounts to a radical prospectus of reform for our entire agricultural system.

This ethos provides the philosophical basis for the numerous grassroots movements that have sprung up worldwide to advance the food sovereignty agenda. In the Global South, some of these groups have become very large and influential indeed: La Vía Campesina, founded in 1993 and describing itself as an “international peasants’ movement”, comprises 164 local and national organisations in 73 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, representing about 200 million farmers.

Its influence has been credited not only for spurring national policies enshrining food sovereignty in countries including Ecuador, Bolivia, Senegal and Nepal, but also for prompting the UN’s Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) to embrace its central tenet: the importance of sustainable, environmentally friendly methods of agriculture grounded in traditional practices, referred to collectively as agroecology.

In simple terms, agroecology takes into account natural ecosystems and uses local knowledge to plant a diversity of crops and manage water responsibly to boost soil health, supporting the sustainability of the farming system as a whole.

The need is certainly there. The past 70 years have seen a steady industrialisation of farming practices across the world. The so-called Green Revolution saw techniques from the Global North transplanted to the Global South, with vast tracts of land turned into monocropped green deserts, ostensibly to allow poor farmers to escape poverty by supplying global markets. But, taking little account of different climatic conditions and soil types, this approach has wreaked havoc on fragile ecosystems.

One expert survey found that 65% of soils on agricultural lands in Africa have become degraded since the middle of the twentieth century, caused by water and wind erosion, nutrient loss from overuse of chemicals and pesticides, and overgrazing. With the global population hurtling towards 10 billion by mid-century – much of the increase in the poorest nations of Sub-Saharan Africa – and climate change increasing the frequency of droughts and floods, the International Panel on Climate Change has estimated that crop yields in Africa could fall by 22% over the same period.

But the impact on human health from ‘mainstream agriculture’ also manifests itself in the falling nutritional value of diets stripped of their former diversity. It’s why we can simultaneously have malnourishment at both extremes – from the 1.9bn overweight and obese people in the rich world and the 795m hungry in the poor world.

A criticism often levelled against agroecology is that the natural methods it entails simply cannot produce the yields needed to sustain a still-growing world population.

But there’s increasing evidence putting paid to that notion. For instance, in Burkina Faso – one of the world’s poorest countries - an NGO, Association Nourrir sans Détruire (ANSD), has led efforts to improve livelihoods, concentrating on 125 villages spread across three districts. Working with farmers and drawing on their expertise, they’ve been able to scale practices proven to aid soil health and water retention. The results are impressive: yields have increased between 40% and 300% compared to earlier methods. But an important dimension of this and countless other projects is democratic decision making: in nearly all of the villages that have embraced new methods, agricultural committees have been set up, involving thousands of people and promoting joint action plans.

Increasingly too, such democratic forms of food production pioneered in the Global South are being embraced by those in the Global North, especially in the emerging area of urban agriculture. In London, for instance, the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity has used its UnUrban project to examine the use of green space in the traditionally deprived East of the city, including possibilities for creating local food supply chains to boost health and wellbeing. Fundamentally, such efforts are as much about civic engagement and participation as they are about the raw mechanics of food production and point the way to an active, ‘daily democracy’ of common endeavour towards shared goals.

Johan Rockström and Pavan Sukhdev from the Stockholm Resilience Centre have demonstrated how food connects all the SDGs. Food, they argue, isn’t just a matter of production per hectare. It’s also a billion jobs, culture, nutrition, health and wellbeing.

Food is also inherently political. Its production forces us to confront sometimes difficult realities around our economic systems, competing priorities for land use and ownership, environmental sustainability, access to nutrition and much more. Focus on food, and you create a space to examine so many of the factors impacting on human prosperity.

So in trying to kickstart a reinvigorated democracy globally, the best route to the heart of the matter may be, to coin a phrase, through our stomachs.

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Two Pinellas Co., Fla. families sue schools over bullying

Tampa Tribune
At least two families are suing the Pinellas County school district over allegations of bullying.

Velma Newman, the mother of one victim, said she wants to force the school district to take action so that other children don’t end up like her son.

Her son, Jerrard Jackson, 14, is an 8th grade honor student. His mother described him as very outgoing before he became a victim of bullies at Azalea Middle School in March.

Newman said despite her pleas to school officials to protect her son, bullies beat him, hurting his arm, chipping a tooth and cutting his lip.

“When this situation happened, he shut down completely,” she said. She added that he stays “in his room and doesn’t come out.”

Darryl Rouson, the family’s lawyer, said he filed the lawsuit to get the school district’s attention after school officials refused to talk about the problem.

“We want the schools to react strongly and firmly so that all of our children feel safe,” explained Rouson.

Newman said most of the bullies are still at Azalea intimidating her son.

“He shouldn’t come home and tell me he’s hungry and the reason he’s hungry is because he’s afraid to go in the lunchroom,” she said. Full story.

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Financial & Insurance

Image of tooth with insurance sheild

Insurances accepted at National Dental Hicksville

*If you do no see your insurance listed please call us for more information and Membership Club options!

Insurance & Patient Co-Payments

If you have insurance we will help you determine the coverage you have available. In order to best assist you, it is important that you submit your dental and/or medical insurance information to us with your New Patient Paperwork a minimum of two business days prior to your scheduled appointment. This allows us time to contact your insurance company and obtain a breakdown of the benefits you or your employer purchased from the company. Our business team will be happy to help you understand your policy.

Should you be diagnosed with treatment services, we will be able to provide you with a detailed plan which will give you an estimate of how much your insurance company may pay for each procedure, as well as the portion you will be expected to pay at the time of service.

Professional care is provided to you, our patient, and not to an insurance company. The insurance company is responsible only to the patient as a benefit from the individual or employer plan purchase, and the patient is responsible to the doctor. We will assist you every way we can in filing your dental claim and handling insurance questions from our office on your behalf.


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Police Chief targeted Obama supporters

bankers for Obama.jpeg

This bumper sticker was spotted on the stretch limousine belonging to disgraced hedge fund manager and former New Jersey governor Jon Corzine.

(May 13, 2013) Bandelier City, New Mexico:

Information has been obtained that the chief of police of Bandelier City issued an inappropriate directive to his officers during the last election cycle. The order stated that all police officers who spot motorists with Obama bumper stickers should immediately run their license plate numbers through the system to check for any outstanding traffic violations. When asked about this questionable practice, Chief Edgar Lee was quoted as saying that “it was not done because of any political bias.”

(Update) Nancy Pelosi and an unnamed official at the American Civil Liberties Union were heard saying separately today that the real issue is not that the police were abusing their power and using it to intimidate liberals for Obama, but that the real issue is that the Supreme court has ruled that bumper stickers are a form of free speech and that even the 1%-ers like ex-hedge fund manager Jon Corzine are people too and entitled to the protection of free speech. If we didn’t know any better we would say that Ms. Pelosi and the ACLU are coordinating their talking points in response to this egregious incident.

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Safety Program Development2016-08-12T13:16:36+00:00

Safety Program Development

Strategic Planning and Full Service Safety Support

Whether you’re just starting your safety journey, or you’re pursuing continuous improvement, we can help you take your safety culture to the next level for less than the cost of hiring an in house safety staffer.

Our objective is to protect your interests.

Strong safety performance is good business! Safety program development is about proactively protecting your workers, doing right by your customers, lowering your EMR, decreasing your risk of financial loss, and remaining competitive in your industry.

Our end goal is your safety program’s success.

We want to help you get your program off the ground and turn it over to you. We have been long-term resources to nearly all of our customers, and once we have helped you grow your safety program we can provide on going support when you need it.

Our approach is holistic and simple.

We combine our team’s 90+ years of safety management experience with your team’s industry expertise and we design your path to safety program excellence. Then we help you implement it.

What does the process look like and what are the deliverables?

Our process is consistent no matter who we are working with, and the deliverables will depend on where you are in your safety journey, but collaboration with a new customer often follows this path:

  • Introductory Meeting – We sit down with your team to identify stake holders, objectives, and business critical issues that may exist on day one (possible examples – recent injuries, recent OSHA enforcement actions, ISNET world requirements, customer vetting requirements, rapid growth outpacing safety resources, etc.)
  • Safety Program Review and Culture Assessment – This is a critical bench marking process that will allow us to establish a baseline and track progress as we move forward together. It typically involves a top to bottom review of written programs/policies/practices to identify areas for improvement, employee perception surveys, and SWOT analysis.
  • Executive Summary Report – When we have a thorough understanding of where you are, we will report back, and as a team we can collaborate to begin strategic planning to road map your path forward.
  • Safety Program Development – When the strategic plan is in place we will help your team drive it to completion. Our first goal is lay a sound foundation you can continue to build on in the future. This stage typically includes:
    • “Launching” or announcing your renewed commitment to safety performance
    • Defining and establishing how we will track progress
    • Establishing your Safety Committee
    • Written safety program/policy/practices editing, updating, or creation
    • Job site and project specific documentation development
    • Identifying training tiers in your organization and training material development
    • Job site safety inspection process development
    • Incident investigation process development
    • Sub-contractor safety management process development
  • Safety Program Implementation – As program elements above are developed they can be rolled out and implemented in phases, allowing leadership, managers, and workers to begin taking ownership of the program.
  • Ongoing Safety Training and E-learning – Ensuring your key staff is knowledgeable about job level risk management and OSHA compliance is critical. OSHA 10 and 30 hour courses and our Risk Management 101 course will go along way in educating your workforce and building your safety culture. Digital e-learning is also an excellent way to keep your staff up to speed without the burden and cost of live training.
  • Ongoing Site Safety Visits – As your new safety program takes hold, ongoing site safety visits are an essential tool to track progress and ensure that you are meeting your goals. Our team of safety professionals will work with site level management to ensure that they are “OSHA ready” and compile detailed written reports of findings at each job site to document hazards and deficiencies. These reports can be used as tools to track progress, identify trends, and close out needed corrective actions.
  • Annual Safety Day – Establishing an annual safety event, or safety topics to be delivered at staff meetings.
  • OSHA Enforcement Support – When OSHA calls, you call us! We can assist you on site during an inspection or afterwords.

Have a question about a new or existing project?

Contact Hilmerson Today


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Our Mission

Discover, Collect and Preserve Materials

To discover and collect any material which will help to establish or illustrate the history of Boonton Township and its neighboring communities.

To provide for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility as far as feasible to all who may wish to examine or study it.

Preserve Historic Sites

To help preserve historic sites, buildings, monuments and markers.

Disseminate information

To disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing material to stimulate the study of local history among elementary and high school students.


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Wehrmacht – Armed Forces of World War Two / Wehrmacht – Streitkräfte des Zweiten Weltkriegs

This group of pages will entail the German Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kreigsmarine from WW2. It will feature the different types of soldats and their uniforms in the Heer including the units. There are 2 other pages dedicated to the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine.

If you are looking for the SS or Waffen-SS then you have to look under the section ‘Third Reich’.

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HSOGMH – Largest Collection of Photos and Images of German History in the World with a focus on World War II.