A sphere; an orb; a hollow ball; a round, three-dimensional shape; a solid that is bounded by a surface consisting of all points at a given distance from a point constituting its center; an astronomical body; a representation of the earth. All of these are common definitions or synonyms for "globe."
Despite Dark Ages controversy regarding the flatness of the world and related dangers of sailing ships off its edge, the notion of a spherical earth was well-established by the ancient Greeks. The "Hellenistic paradigm" gained footing and spread until it was widely accepted in the Middle Ages. Though little was known about topography and the distribution of land masses, continents, and oceans, artistic renditions of a globe-shaped earth symbolically represented elements of land, water and air. Other examples showed seasons in quadrants, demonstrating an understanding that the earth had repeating weather cycles.
Exploration by intrepid travelers expanded physical understanding of the known world, but it wasn't until Magellan successfully circumnavigated the earth that a practical, applied understanding of a spherical world, reinforced by earlier Greek trigonometric calculations, became widely accepted.
The oldest surviving globe dates to the early 1490's in Germany. Referred to as the Erdapfel, meaning "earth apple," the globe is made of laminated linen, and its map is painted on as an overlay. The Erdapfel does not show the continents of North and South America…word of Columbus's discovery had not reached Martin Behaim, the German globe's creator.
Globes have been made from copper, using a lost wax casting method, from wood, from linen. In 2012, a globe dating back to 1504, and made from, of all things, the halves of an ostrich egg was discovered.
Modern globes are often made from cardboard or, increasingly, from thermoplastic. Finer examples are made from glass, resin, acrylic, metals, and other durable materials.
Further, globes are not limited to representations of the earth. The moon, other planets, and even the constellations have been rendered as globes.
Though some globes are a bit higher end in craftsmanship, presentation and appearance, it's fun to see how the average globe is typically made; here's a link to a video showing how globes are manufactured.
A globe is simultaneously educational and artful. It offers perspective, in that a globe offers a sense of where one is in the world. It reflects principles of geometry and construction and centuries of acquired knowledge about our world. It implies an interest in geography and worldly understanding. It can, depending upon its appearance and placement, lend immediate class and refinement to an office, a study, a living room or foyer. A globe goes far beyond decor; it is an invitation to explore.
Consider this an invitation to you to explore a global selection of globes for your home or office. What a wonderful, colorful, timeless, classy, educational and truly interesting gift!
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Though a young country by world standards, America is rich with its own sense of tradition, patriotism, history and art. It remains a land of opportunity and varied charms...not to mention skilled craftspeople and artisans! From Globes to garden delights and patriotic textiles, Americana is synonymous with pride and welcome. Visit http://www.globalhomeaccents.com/ for a patriotic choice.
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Thursday, December 26, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Why a Girls' School Education is Beneficial for your Daughter
Copyright (c) 2013 Stratique Marketing, Design and PR
It has long been believed that single sex education results in higher grades for our children but what are the actual benefits of sending your daughter to a girls' school?
The Guardian newspaper has reported that students at girls-only independent schools are much more likely to study maths, physics and chemistry than the national average. This report was taken from a survey conducted by the national Girls' School Association (GSA). The organisation, which represents 200 independent, single-sex schools in the UK, surveyed 5,000 girls and found more than 90% more GSA pupils chose physics or chemistry at A-level compared to the national average. More than 80% more took French, German or Spanish A-level and 70% more studied A-level maths.
The Independent Schools Council, a separate organisation, found that single sex schools for girls achieve much higher when it comes to public exam results. In 2011, for instance, the percentage of girls from Girls' Schools Association schools who achieved A/A* in their A Levels was 6.8% higher than it was for girls from independent co-educational schools.
Girls' schools, like any other institution, receive some bad press and often get stereotyped. So what do you really know about girls' schools? Do they all play hockey? Yes. Are all the teachers and the girls who are educated there jolly? Well, hopefully yes. But there's self-esteem, opportunity, freedom from stereotypes, friendship, leadership and success to name but a few of the positives your daughter can take out of a girls-only school education.
One of the great benefits of an all-girls school is that there is no gender stereotyping. Girls are leaders, they excel as much in physics, engineering and design technology as they do in English, drama and art, and they are free to pursue and achieve in every sport their school offers. Research by Ofsted has revealed that girls at single-sex schools are more likely to avoid preparing for "stereotypically female" careers than their contemporaries in co-educational schools.
In this increasingly competitive world, every parent is concerned as to how you can give your daughter the best start in life? Could a girls' school be the answer? A place where the curriculum and the teaching are girl-centred and where she will have endless opportunities to discover her talents. It is definitely an education that is worth exploring further for your daughter's future.
Why not contact some of your local independent girls' schools and see if you can visit for an open day? You may be pleasantly surprised by the warm reception you received and impressed by the facilities these schools have. More importantly, speak to some of the girls who are pupils at these schools, see how confident and able they are. If you'd like to instil some of this self-esteem and high level of achievement on your daughter then this is the right education choice for your family.
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For more information about Saint Martin's School, please contacts us on 0121 705 1265 or visit http://www.saintmartins-school.com
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It has long been believed that single sex education results in higher grades for our children but what are the actual benefits of sending your daughter to a girls' school?
The Guardian newspaper has reported that students at girls-only independent schools are much more likely to study maths, physics and chemistry than the national average. This report was taken from a survey conducted by the national Girls' School Association (GSA). The organisation, which represents 200 independent, single-sex schools in the UK, surveyed 5,000 girls and found more than 90% more GSA pupils chose physics or chemistry at A-level compared to the national average. More than 80% more took French, German or Spanish A-level and 70% more studied A-level maths.
The Independent Schools Council, a separate organisation, found that single sex schools for girls achieve much higher when it comes to public exam results. In 2011, for instance, the percentage of girls from Girls' Schools Association schools who achieved A/A* in their A Levels was 6.8% higher than it was for girls from independent co-educational schools.
Girls' schools, like any other institution, receive some bad press and often get stereotyped. So what do you really know about girls' schools? Do they all play hockey? Yes. Are all the teachers and the girls who are educated there jolly? Well, hopefully yes. But there's self-esteem, opportunity, freedom from stereotypes, friendship, leadership and success to name but a few of the positives your daughter can take out of a girls-only school education.
One of the great benefits of an all-girls school is that there is no gender stereotyping. Girls are leaders, they excel as much in physics, engineering and design technology as they do in English, drama and art, and they are free to pursue and achieve in every sport their school offers. Research by Ofsted has revealed that girls at single-sex schools are more likely to avoid preparing for "stereotypically female" careers than their contemporaries in co-educational schools.
In this increasingly competitive world, every parent is concerned as to how you can give your daughter the best start in life? Could a girls' school be the answer? A place where the curriculum and the teaching are girl-centred and where she will have endless opportunities to discover her talents. It is definitely an education that is worth exploring further for your daughter's future.
Why not contact some of your local independent girls' schools and see if you can visit for an open day? You may be pleasantly surprised by the warm reception you received and impressed by the facilities these schools have. More importantly, speak to some of the girls who are pupils at these schools, see how confident and able they are. If you'd like to instil some of this self-esteem and high level of achievement on your daughter then this is the right education choice for your family.
----------------------------------------------------
For more information about Saint Martin's School, please contacts us on 0121 705 1265 or visit http://www.saintmartins-school.com
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Thursday, November 7, 2013
How Did We Get Our Ideas About Hell?
Take a moment or two to really think about hell.
As you see those pictures of hell in your mind, consider these questions. Where did those images come from? Were they formed and shaped simply by the Scripture in it's original languages? Or is it possible that those images were greatly influenced by pagan belief and ideas which infiltrated the church about five hundred years after the time of Christ? Is it even remotely possible that the popular orthodox view of hell has been formed primarily by Dante's Inferno rather than the Scriptures?
In your opinion, what purpose does hell actually serve? Is it a torture chamber where people will be forced to endure merciless and unending agony as an expression of God's justice? If that is the case, how could a never ending torturous penalty for a limited amount of sin be considered true justice?
God repeatedly commands humanity to love one another, including our enemies. Not only are people commanded to love our enemies, but we are also told to forgive and keep on forgiving over and over. Along with that we are told to be merciful toward those who have hurt us. Think about that. If the traditional view of hell is correct, does that mean that God holds humanity to a much higher standard than He holds Himself to? How could that be possible? Doesn't it seem that since God is love, His mercy, grace, and compassion should be much greater than that of any human being.
The penalty the sin of Adam was death. How did death turn into the idea of eternally living in torturous agony in hell? If eternal conscious torment is the penalty for sin, why didn't God say so at the beginning in the book of Genesis? Why would Paul teach that "the wages of sin is death" rather than living forever and ever in a torture chamber?
In the Old Testament Scriptures, the word translated as hell in some places is simply translated as grave in other places. How can that be? How can the same word mean two very different things? After all, there is a very big difference between a grave and a fiery eternal chamber of horrors.
Did you know that in the New Testament when we find the word hell in red letters, the word Christ used (Gehenna) was actually the name of a physical, geographic location just outside the city of Jerusalem? Did you know that if you take a trip to the "holy land" you can visit that location today?
If as many people teach, hell is separation from God, how could the Psalmist say in Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." Please read those words carefully once more. How could hell be separation from God and being with God at the same time?
Is the problem the Scripture in the original language? Or is the problem with some of our English translations and many of our traditions? If hell is a condition that is unending for any who enter into it, how could David say, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell" (Acts 2:27). If as many teach the wages of sin is eternal conscious torment in hell and they also teach that Jesus suffered in hell for the sins of humanity, how could he have paid the full penalty without continuing to this day and through all eternity to be in hell?
As you take time to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider these questions, you may very well find yourself in the position of having to re-think some of your beliefs. If fact, if you take the approach of the Bereans and you begin to search for the answers yourself in the Bible, you might find that the redeeming work of Christ is far greater than you ever thought possible and that the ultimate plans of our heavenly Father are far more beautiful than orthodox teaching and creeds have ever given Him credit for.
In upcoming articles the focus will be on the four words that have been translated as hell in some of our English translations of the Scripture.
----------------------------------------------------
Blogger and guitarist James Flanders has produced many audio teachings on the topic of hell and the redeeming work of Christ Jesus. You can listen to them on his main website and YouTube. After years of extensive study he has come to believe that the wonderful redeeming work of Christ is far greater than most of us have ever imagined.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/james-flanders/id392064778
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jtflanders
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=346592
As you see those pictures of hell in your mind, consider these questions. Where did those images come from? Were they formed and shaped simply by the Scripture in it's original languages? Or is it possible that those images were greatly influenced by pagan belief and ideas which infiltrated the church about five hundred years after the time of Christ? Is it even remotely possible that the popular orthodox view of hell has been formed primarily by Dante's Inferno rather than the Scriptures?
In your opinion, what purpose does hell actually serve? Is it a torture chamber where people will be forced to endure merciless and unending agony as an expression of God's justice? If that is the case, how could a never ending torturous penalty for a limited amount of sin be considered true justice?
God repeatedly commands humanity to love one another, including our enemies. Not only are people commanded to love our enemies, but we are also told to forgive and keep on forgiving over and over. Along with that we are told to be merciful toward those who have hurt us. Think about that. If the traditional view of hell is correct, does that mean that God holds humanity to a much higher standard than He holds Himself to? How could that be possible? Doesn't it seem that since God is love, His mercy, grace, and compassion should be much greater than that of any human being.
The penalty the sin of Adam was death. How did death turn into the idea of eternally living in torturous agony in hell? If eternal conscious torment is the penalty for sin, why didn't God say so at the beginning in the book of Genesis? Why would Paul teach that "the wages of sin is death" rather than living forever and ever in a torture chamber?
In the Old Testament Scriptures, the word translated as hell in some places is simply translated as grave in other places. How can that be? How can the same word mean two very different things? After all, there is a very big difference between a grave and a fiery eternal chamber of horrors.
Did you know that in the New Testament when we find the word hell in red letters, the word Christ used (Gehenna) was actually the name of a physical, geographic location just outside the city of Jerusalem? Did you know that if you take a trip to the "holy land" you can visit that location today?
If as many people teach, hell is separation from God, how could the Psalmist say in Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." Please read those words carefully once more. How could hell be separation from God and being with God at the same time?
Is the problem the Scripture in the original language? Or is the problem with some of our English translations and many of our traditions? If hell is a condition that is unending for any who enter into it, how could David say, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell" (Acts 2:27). If as many teach the wages of sin is eternal conscious torment in hell and they also teach that Jesus suffered in hell for the sins of humanity, how could he have paid the full penalty without continuing to this day and through all eternity to be in hell?
As you take time to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider these questions, you may very well find yourself in the position of having to re-think some of your beliefs. If fact, if you take the approach of the Bereans and you begin to search for the answers yourself in the Bible, you might find that the redeeming work of Christ is far greater than you ever thought possible and that the ultimate plans of our heavenly Father are far more beautiful than orthodox teaching and creeds have ever given Him credit for.
In upcoming articles the focus will be on the four words that have been translated as hell in some of our English translations of the Scripture.
----------------------------------------------------
Blogger and guitarist James Flanders has produced many audio teachings on the topic of hell and the redeeming work of Christ Jesus. You can listen to them on his main website and YouTube. After years of extensive study he has come to believe that the wonderful redeeming work of Christ is far greater than most of us have ever imagined.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/james-flanders/id392064778
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jtflanders
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=346592
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