s like Sanjay has a clarification I would say this wasn't a big point of discussion in the working group I'm not sure how much we talked about but my understanding of the intention there is what gene is saying that the You know the the visibility would apply in the neighborhood Right because that's where we continue to have the setback right the the corner visibility makes sense It does not make sense to have it apply in the business districts because we don't have it to find the business districts And so the same was true for Mn Whatever Massav Because the commercial the possibility of commercial So that makes sense. Thank you So what I said was what the intention was Yes, it was not a MBMF to NB. Yes, and MF. Yes Steve any applies and then saying that it applies in the end neighborhood multi-family district is fine with me Okay, no, nothing. Okay The next one is Gene 5.9.4d8 This is the this says the height buffer area shall not apply So we have a height buffer area It only applies Under the rules where you look at the chart and the chart has two heights We don't have a chart in the overlay district with two heights So technically We don't need this in here because it doesn't apply. I think it should apply though. I Think it should apply Because we could end up with a six-story high building backing on You know a one-story high or a two-story high building with very little space 20-25 feet between them and we intend to Change the height buffer, but either this time I don't think we can do with this town meeting We'll get to that. So I would prefer to keep to instead say the height buffer area does apply to Six-story buildings In the overlay district so the so it would if if written out in conventional To height form it would be six and five or five and six if yeah, and that's fine So you're saying it only applies to six-story buildings. Well Steve suggested five and six well no So the the height buffer would apply to the sixth floor, but not the fifth floor sixth floor. Yeah So essentially six-story building. Yeah Now I know that could be a little bit of a disincentive for somebody to build the sixth floor, and I'm concerned about that but for me the overriding thing is We have this height buffer in the regs in the bylaw already That affects a lot of the buildings along Mass Avenue and Broadway or theoretically could Once they get above four stories because that's usually the code of four story or six story And I would prefer that we figure out what to do with the height buffer Regulate bylaw rather than Jerry rig something here. That's my feeling anyhow, and I think can this Also addresses. I know you wanted to circle back to the way that buildings Address excuse me. Let me speak into the mic. I know that you wanted to address the way that buildings Interact with a residential parcel behind them. So this would be one vehicle for for doing that So six story so six story building it applies for six-story building adjacent to a residential building a residential zone Which that's in essence what the yeah essentially that doesn't happen because We only allow six story buildings on primary quarters here and adjacent neighborhoods are But that's now of what four stories now or or three stories. I don't know what stories So it would never have this thing will never happen. No it could happen on Mass Ave There are some that do not have So that's what I'm saying this this then if is if there is a residential house on Mass Ave this one this one look at all of these that don't have any neighborhood parcel behind them Well, those are on Broadway and those are no longer six-story buildings Here here here here. That's just in East Arlington So in effect for question for mr. Benson, you would be keeping the buffer Areas that are in the bylaw so 200 foot until we fix them Yeah, 200 foot northerly 100 foot southerly and 150 feet on the other two sides You have a suggestion The problem before your suggestion and we'll get to this later the problem I have with going from 200 to something else is we don't have any. How do you get to something else? Yeah, we can we can talk about that. We'll get to whatever article that is. Yes, right? Okay, the next was the underlying district versus the Already talked about that the overlay district Can you wanted to talk about how we turn the corner on step backs Yep, what would you like to? discuss there Well on the corner lot Two sides are considered fronts one's primary one secondary and then the other two the other two sides of our property are considered side Side side yard setbacks there on a corner lot. There are no rear lot rear setback. So when you Turn up turn the corner from primary to it to a secondary Front yard and then that goes along It the setback on that side at the end of that road is only five feet and it's let's say if it's residential I mean sorry if it's commercial and it happens to be retail or whatever that fits in your category there There's a zero lot setback there. So that comes out all the way to to the front there and then it's a five-yard setback Yeah setback and then there might be a residential house or a two-family house or three-family house on the next property over So that's where the reduced height buffer applies That's where my question is right now because if that's the case and then it's then you're gonna if it's a hundred feet down now that Pushes that building way up the other side and now you're pretty far away We need to fix the reduced height buffer. Yes, but That's limiting what we're trying to do here on MBTA. I completely understand So what regarding regarding corner lots the definition for The bylaw our bylaw granted does not make this easy to understand the definition for lot line rear You know goes on to say that in the case of a corner lot The owner shall have the option of choosing which of the two lot lines that are not front lot lines is to be considered a rear lot line so I read it as You have two fronts you get to pick what the rear is and you and then the rest of the side now It's a little messier when you have three fronts in that case you have the rear is the side and you're there is no rear But I think that That's what it says yes, I thought I interpreted differently if I did then that's Yeah, well, we just table that All right section e2 there was the Where was the word additional Steve that needed to be added So the it was actually after the word addition story the second additional one additional story yes, I'm sorry It may just be that I'm tired where where does it show me where this needs to go in story. Thank you very much Okay, it's the second additional. I was looking at the first. Thank you I had story after second additional and See f1 and f4 we already addressed Just to confirm how it came out so since we settled on a minimum parking of one space and TDM I think we keep four Yeah, I think f4 is the one that we keep but in F1 the last sentence for business use is no off-street parking is required for the non-residential space I think we keep that part two and then we can strike the first two lines of f1 And we're editing that to say developments under this section are encouraged to provide fewer parking spaces Then what is required under the provisions of section one point six point six point one point five no six point one One point five is the parking reduction We need both because one is the minimum and one is the reduction. We need four and one You just need to say six point one We didn't talk about that No, no, no, no, I when I said get removing the first two lines is f1 not removing F2 is perfectly fine. We should keep that Well, we talked about it Okay, so six so we're removing the first two lines of one we're replacing those with the requirement to follow 6.1 mm-hmm and adding to it the Number four so basically condensing one and four into a single that's fine Okay, and then kin wanted to add in discussing bonuses for the neighborhood multi-family We're doing that, right It's not in here currently It's unless I missed it's not hasn't been in there the bonuses have only been on Broadway and So there's no bonus in In Broadway right now. No, there is bonus on Broadway and mess if there's no bonus in the neighborhood multi-family district Okay. Yep. Yeah, correct I'm sorry. Okay. We're good All right, so that brings us any anything else on Article 12 Nothing here. No So we're gonna go and I don't mind approving it in a whole But there's certain section that I'm gonna object to I understand and we'll leave it at that understand okay, so what I will do is run through the list of Changes that I have written down here if I miss any please Please let me know I will can Identify those which you do not agree with if that works for you. Yes And again Raise your hand or let me know if I miss one or if I mischaracterize one. Okay. Thank you So the modifications So I'm going to phrase this in the form of a motion so that I don't have to restate this yet again Is there a motion to? recommend favorable action on article 12 every TA communities overlay district with the following amendments reduce the nmf max height to three stories knowing that kin is not Yeah Descends on this one three stories and 36 feet. Thank you 36 feet or 35. What is what is it the current regs are 35 35? Thank you Apply current off-street parking requirements of 6.1 including reductions per 6.15 with kin in Kin as dissenting We also Discussed although this will not be in the Well, I'll not put that in motion We will combine F1 and 4 into a single item under off-street parking Under height options we are going to accept Alternate to as proposed for the Arlington Heights section of the map Or something that wasn't it? I think there were only two options Please correct me if I'm wrong you could be right Believe it. We had either labeled alternative one and alternative two Sorry got it all sheets. That's okay. I'm sorry Claire. You said there was a two in a 2a. No, I'm sorry Just to just to okay, so we're good on alternative to correct. Okay We are modifying we are accepting alternative 3a for Mass av scenario three scenario. Thank you 3a to exclude parcels on Mass av from or or this to a life Brooke Parkway with the exception with the additional Modification of Including one additional parcel in the NMF district on the north side from winter to Henderson and on the south side from Lake to Fairmont And I'm ejecting that Okay, and with the removal of Here with the removal of three four five six seven eight Eight small parcels identified on the map exhibit. Thank you. I've got you know on the whole thing. Okay, okay Let's see. So the next item is We are accepting jeans Recommendation for Modifications to section five point nine point one C with regard to how to deal with projects in and out of the overlay district and adding For the that was for the second sentence right in the first sentence. We are adding For a maximum of one parcel depth into the NMF. Yep And can you are not in agreement on that one either correct? No, I was I changed my mind when you said that one parcel Okay, it's allowed to go one parcel. Okay, great The next item we are doing is We are not going to be adding the street trees that's going we're going to be addressing that in article 10 And and yeah, we can come back if we can come back and amend this vote if we need to the next item is we are adding Section 6.4 to apply to the MBMF for the solar roof requirements And can you are in support or not in support of that one? I'm not in support of that one Okay, just because it's the same as the trees Solar roof requirement in the MBMF. Yes, that's what I have Thank you for signs. We are adding requirements for the NMF to comply with the residential sign district as per section 6.4 no six point Six point two. Thank you. And and then I gave you which one yes Go on each district. Thank you residential and then the MBMF residential is the residential slash business sign districts the MBMF Mixed use is the business sign district Okay thumbs up for the we're modifying the bonus relative to green building requirements To read that a minimum of lead gold certified or equivalent level of alternate green building standard as reviewed and approved by the redevelopment board is the Bonus requirement related to green building standards We are adding the to the purpose statement 5.9.2 to add to encourage environmental and climate protection sensitive development in section 5.9 point 4.10 We are removing the first sentence and moving the second and third sentences to the district chart in number 12 We are also removing the word public from the descriptor of art we are adding the provision in the next use bonus provision that For the additional two floors no residences shall be included on the first floor and that the Business uses shall be eating and drinking establishments business services child care and retail Noting that can is in descent on this one. Yes Thank you for the yard and minimums chart on 5.9 point 4 D 12 We are adding minimum the word minimum to front side and the rear setbacks And did you want to add yard? Yeah yard and add the word yard We are also updating the Side yard setbacks for the NMF to indicate that where there is one side yard the minimum is 5 feet And With the two side or excuse me for the NMF the total is 20 20 feet for the side setbacks With a minimum of five feet on on one side Or one side minimum of five feet two sides minimum 20 feet total. Yes. Yes, correct We're adding some Scriveners notes with regard to capitalization in sections 5.9 and 5.93 We are adding the requirement to comply with step back standards in 5.3 point 1 7 We are Correcting 5.9 point 4d 5 traffic visibility to indicate that it applies to the NMF district not the MBMF district applies only to that only in the NMF district. Yes correct In section 5.9 point 4d 8 We are identifying that the height buffer area shall apply to the sixth floor And can you are not in agreement with that one correct? No, I'm okay. You're okay with that one. Yep, okay And in section e2 we are adding story after the additional for after the second word additional Did I miss anything? I think you've covered it I'm just asking Claire a question. Yeah, of course. We'll hold and then I will ask for Someone to make the motion Okay So do I hear? Someone to make that motion for Favorable action with the previously stated amendments for article 12. I'll so move Third second second. We'll take a vote starting with Jean Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well Sweet pre-development board has recommended favorable action with stated amendments for article 12 Okay, nine more to go Let's head over to article 3 By the way, thank you all. I know that that was a lot to get through. I appreciate Everybody working so hard To get through all of these this evening. So thank you Rachel. Thank you. I apologize for my stubbornness You know, it's it's important that we feel like we can all express our Opinions freely and honestly and respect each other's point of views. So I appreciate you bringing those up Okay, excuse me one second while I pull this up Want me to go through these that would be great Article 3 was the exact same as last time it just Corrects a reference Should we vote on these individually? Yes, we're going to vote on them individually Can any questions on article 3? No Steve no questions. Is there a motion to recommend favorable action for article 3 so moved Second take a vote starting with Jean. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well We have recommended favorable action of a vote of 4 to 0 for article 3 Next is article 4 All right, so when we last saw article 4 there was a scrivener's error and the wrong warrant article Wording was there. So we thought we couldn't do anything. This has the correct warrant article wording That was presented I didn't make any change in the reduced height buffer area So that wording is the same as it carried over from last year some time my feeling about it is that Because the article wording says will vote to update To define finding it's not within the scope to change the height distances here and I don't know How we would determine what a better height distance is without some discussion and and looking at what the options are So that would be my first thing. I don't think it's within the scope to change the height and We haven't had a discussion about how to change the height And my second is I Don't see how the new wording is particularly better than the old wording. I'd prefer to Do no action and go back to town meeting with a complete package that includes New wording if we want any and lower heights. So that's where I am on this Steve yeah, in terms of In terms of heights or in terms of the actual buffer areas The best suggestion I could do is note that you know, the heights were maximum heights were larger when this was written And just simply scale the triangle down I agree that it would be worthwhile to actually spend time looking at it So I I'm I'm inclined not to want to do too much do anything with it this year Yeah, same here great, and I agree. I think we we did take a look at this We had not yet come to consensus We had several different options that we were considering and I think that I'm taking a little bit more time to review those together would be helpful. So is there a Motion to recommend no action on article four so moved Second take a vote starting with Jean. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well Let's move to article five article five if you look at the definitions. The only thing I changed was the Underline wording that starts with the word accept To make it clear that the change only applied in the business Districts because that's what we had talked about doing and was in the warrant The other Let me see if there's anything else That I changed You scratched out section D. Well, I'd scratch out section D before section D was Necessary because I wrote I slightly rewrote section C So it says in all districts accept the business districts are calculated on gross floor area for Business districts see the note if you look at the note at the end of B5 you would delete the word and in the second line after the word space That was an error and that's the note. So those are the changes Since we saw it last time Any discussion Steve? Yes, I have one Request in one concern. Okay, so as far as a request go We for context I would suggest Including the definition of open space You know in addition to the ones for a landscape and usable My reasoning is that and I'm saying this is a town meeting member. I don't Don't I don't Believe I feel like town meeting doesn't quite have its head around open space as Defined in our bylaw and we saw some of that in the comments where you know people would assume it would meant Public space or it meant green space and it's a defined term in the bylaw. It means something completely different So yeah, my first suggestion is to include the definition of open space or context my second my one concern my concern is that the The topic of balconies and rooftops is especially Not well understood by town meeting and I was wondering how members of the board felt about Leaving the definitions as they are and just making the dimensional changes Ken, I don't know. That's a you got me there. I did not know that that was gonna come up I do agree of you. We need to do better explaining what we mean by open space or what open space means that what we mean at the last meeting people who are thinking that That open space allowed cars to park in the backyard and so forth like that and I don't believe that's the case They think it was made fairly clear by the building commissioner that they Park in the car in the backyard has different regulations. It's under the driveways There's only ordinance not this so I think making it Much much clearer is the way to go and if we can't do that For this article here. It's gonna end up with what happened at the last meeting. So My question is if can we get something to better to find this or otherwise? Let's Table it for the next meeting Because it'll be we'll be bringing up the same stuff again and I think the result will be the same Jean I think it's a good idea to add the definition of open space Here, I mean, we're not gonna amend it But just to add it to give some more context. I I don't understand what you're proposing Steve if we take the accept Pieces out of the definitions. Where would you put them to have the same effect? So in other words, I'm proposing that we not change that part so and I I I know you I don't agree with the 10 no more than 10 feet above any limited or any, you know, the lowest occupied story for residential use but My concern is I've seen town meeting get Kind of caught up on that or it's been a point of You know, it's been it's been a point of surprise Where you know you where they'll see this and they'll say we why are we allowing it on? Why are we allowing open space on balconies? Well, it's been in the bylaw for the last 50 years They but this is not something that's well understood So if we took those out the only thing that this would do is change how you calculate The dimensional requirements in the business districts to be based on lot area. Yeah, so I believe that so section D which is marked as strikeout would stay struck out and Yes, we would be changing the way that right the the dimensional is calculated So we keep D struck out we we'd amend C and then we'd add the note at the end of the Um That's been a huge challenge for us though dealing with this 10 foot I mean to me that's that's the most important part of this entire thing that we're doing in some ways Well, there is I'm raising it as a point of concern. I understand, you know, I'm it's not something that were I would not oppose the definition changes that are suggested I agree it's a it's a it's something that Well, let me just preface it by saying quite a number of the comments that I got and I think all of us got on MBTA communities either said directly or implied that they thought that open space was not open space owned by the owner of the property but Public open space. So, you know, if I have a 15 Yard setback on my front yard It's public space according to what quite a number of people said and so they're concerned about the setbacks or Well, I won't have access to that space anymore, so I know that's a problem and I know it's difficult and I know this has come up before I just sort of feel like And I know this this will require two-thirds vote to pass town meeting I feel like we can make a good case about why this makes a lot of sense and maybe we can even find for the for the Display about this pictures of a couple of those buildings you can see in Europe that have Greenery all over the front coming off the balconies, you know, because people look at those and say wow That's great. Or, you know, look at like the biophilic Cities website and it's full a lot of that. So I agree with you Steve, but I Guess I just feel like How long are we going to be gun shy about this? Okay. No, that's her. I think we need to have the conversation Yeah, as long as although it's not readily apparent from the draft amendment, you know But when we do the final report, I hope that it clearly shows that, you know, the text about Rooftops and balconies is in the bylaw Because it's it's there But it's already there. Yes, there's already there Yeah, I mean if people read this they would they would see that but yeah, I think that the other thing to Ensure that it is highlighted is that the percentage of landscaped open space is increasing in the table In terms of what is proposed For open space Yes, it is and For some not for some for them for the mixed-use properties, right? Which makes a lot of sense because that is actual green space as opposed to usable open space Which has no requirement that it be planted or have any type of Yeah, any type of greenery whatsoever. So I think it's a net positive specifically in the mixed-use In the mixed-use properties It could be a paved tennis court It could be yes, that's what the bylaw says Okay, are there any other Changes or discussion on this item? I think I think Steve highlighted how Important it will be for us to get this right as we present it to town meeting so I can share that I This weekend put together a list of potential graphics that I thought would be helpful and in in this one specifically I think illustrating how Unfortunately with usable open space tied to the building square footage how that Increases as the building height increases as opposed to being tied to the lot line actually reduces the percentage of commercial space that we can have on the you know less than 4% of you know space that's devoted to business districts in the town And that again by increasing the landscape open space. We're actually we can visually show that we are increasing the amount of Space devoted to that is specifically identified to be devoted to green space As opposed to usable open space which has no explicit requirement for that So if you are in agreement that those illustrations are helpful, that's what I I'd suggest it Okay, is there a motion to To Is there a motion for favor to vote for favorable action for article 5? With adding the definition of open space. Thank you with the amendment of adding the definition of open space. I Will so move there a second second We'll take a vote starting with Jean. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well We won't vote favorable action on article 5 4 to 0 Okay article 6 Rear yard setbacks I didn't make any change from the last time We saw it it just changes it from from a formula to an amount depending on what's behind it Ken any thoughts No comments Steve nothing here many windows open. I apologize right and so again because we need to put this into the board report here. This is really around the the simplification and the the application of The setback excuse me based on we find my notes here The distance of off of the parcel behind a lot rather than the length of the parallel wall Well, the right both the distance and the height of the building correct. Yeah, so yes It's much saner. Yes before exactly more predictable and to Ken's point Understandable and and Again predictable in terms of the I would also add contact sensitive contact sensitive. Yes, that's exactly the right phrase Great. Is there a motion to For to vote favorable action for to recommend favorable action for Article 6 so moved. Is there a second second take a vote starting with Ken Ken yes, Gene. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well We'll recommend favorable action Article 6 article 7 7 all right, so I Did make a change in this when we had the discussion last time Ken wanted to keep The setback on the fifth floor Steve and Rachel and I thought it should be on the first floor on the fourth floor. Excuse me So I moved it to the fourth floor and That's the only change That I made in this so it now says in for building an excess of three stories in height This step back Provides on the fourth floor rest of the same principal facade presumed can be changed by us I Added what Steve suggested step back requirements should not apply to buildings in the industrial zones and That's it great any discussion starting with kin I'm gonna know for this Do you want to talk about I still believe that? Setback should be on the fifth floor not the fourth floor Okay, Steve Nothing further here nothing here And I am also in support of this one We'll take is there a motion to recommend favorable action for article 7 so moved or seconds second We'll take a vote starting with Jean. Yes Ken no Steve yes, and I'm a yes as one so we will recommend favorable action with a vote of three to one I Think it's important in the report that It's made clear that the no vote wanted a higher Yeah, Claire won't just need to make sure we know that in there. We don't have to say it was kin, but Which is yeah, typically we just identify the right All right article 8 no changes from the last time we saw it And this is height and story minimums Steve so I recall seeing an earlier version where there were dimensional tables involved in it looks like we're just Putting in a paragraph rather. Yeah after going through the dimensional tables. I said to myself This is crazy. We just need to put this in in this particular section I think that's a that's a nice way to do it Just wanted to make sure there was nothing missing no nothing missing that that disappeared the previous Yeah, great kin I'm supportive of this I Amal I think that it's important that we Again are driving home the fact that in again the less than 4% of land that is owned for business that we're incentivizing a more intensive and Valuable land use on these properties Yeah, I am Chad I was good to I am also supportive and yeah, this to me This is you know the the motivation behind of this and several of the other articles is to encourage higher value redevelopment that produces More tax revenue for the town and hopefully ideally would lead to fewer overrides or smaller overrides Thank You Steve. Is there a motion To recommend favorable action for article 8 so moved there a second second Take a vote starting with Jean. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes I'm a yes as well. We are Recommending favorable action with a vote of 4 to 0 And article 9 There was no change since the last time You saw this as we pointed out last time we have the authority under a section of the bylaw to modify or wave the The front yard the corn a lot depths and so this just Makes it easier for somebody who's coming in to understand how this works Thank You Steve in a comment. Yes. I think it's a it is a an accurate way of Way of codifying the board's interpretation of Section 5.3 point 16 Great, thank you. Ken. No, I think this ties in with the previous article But Jason height some different buildings great Great. Is there a recommendation? Is there a motion to recommend favorable action for article 9 so moved? Is there a second second take a vote starting with Jean? Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well We'll recommend favorable action as a vote of 4 to 0 Next is street trees Street trees. All right, the one difference is we're going to add something so we'll say in the business residential and Multi-family housing overlay district in the business district residential district and multi-family housing overlay district And then the rest will be the same and that was will be the only change from the last time You saw it except at some point.  Thank you, Jean. Ken any commentary nope not here Steve Yes, I Recall the intent of this. Oh, I mean to encourage Street trees any time there was redevelopment and here we're limited limiting it to things under review of ARB in the ZBA so that takes a big chunk of the town out of the picture All right, so I I want to answer that but there was something else I meant to do and I didn't if you look at administration It should say section We can't say section 9x because we don't know if that's going to get passed And so I think we should say and site plan review So even if it doesn't get passed we still have it in here So I would change that to site plan review. Well, here's the thing my understanding was and based on Conversations we had from Arlington Green Streets that we were going to make in a requirement for street trees the same way we did previously for Commercial buildings, but right now there's a whole there are some Ways that you don't need to put a street tree like if the street trees are already there if The utility lines are in the way Etc etc. So when it was just the redevelopment board doing it for Site plan for EDR We could we could do that But under this there are going to be times where it's in front of the ZBA Times when it's in front of us and times when it might be in front of neither of us Let's say it's just a regular Single-family house going up somewhere so the way we attempted to deal with this is if it's in front of the ZBA for Some reason and it could be then they will determine whether they're going to Do one of the Allow some of the changes if it's That's you know where there's no other suitable thing if it's if it's just a single-family home that's not subject to ARB or ZBA then the The planning department Administratively can make that decision. So so my concern is in the applicability section. Okay, so we're I'm reading In the business and residential districts and the multifamily overlay district right new construction Additions over 50% of the existing footprint or redevelopment subject to review by the Arlington redevelopment board or zoning report Okay, okay Yeah, I'm I'm just as it could to toss an idea out and please let me know what you think I'm wondering how my colleagues would fear feel about striking The words subject to review by the Arlington redevelopment board or zoning board of appeals So that you know it would apply to new construction additions over 50% of the existing footprint or Redevelopment that makes perfect sense to me point blank Yeah, the first the first time I read the first time I read this it it took well I'll just say it took several times for the for that extra order creed in or Yeah, I think like it was it would have Excluded things that we're just going to inspectional services for a planal building permit. Yeah, that makes sense I'm just working through whether there's any scenarios. I'm not immediately thinking of where we could encourage Additional tree planting, but that Fair I mean if you pull permit to build a you do your bathroom. I don't make planting a tree Okay, that makes sense. So we will Strike in six point three point two or subject to review By the Arlington redevelopment board of the zoning board of appeals and then in six point three point three will strike and section Nine dot X and say and site plan review. I meant to do that and for God Because we don't know section nine is gonna pass Yes, I have that one in there to gene. Okay. Yeah site plan review instead of nine point X Right. Yeah. Okay. Is there a motion to recommend favorable action with the proposed amendments? so moved Is there a second? Modified amendment, right? We wouldn't have to say modified or Yes, as modified as modified. Yes No, sorry We'll take a vote starting with gene. Yes, Ken. Yes Steve yes, and I'm a yes as well It's getting very late for me. Oh my gosh Not only you favorable action was recommended on street trees article 11 residential in the business districts gene. Take it away Um, I didn't make any changes from the last time you saw it if you saw an earlier draft Then might have been tables and tables and tables, but after thinking about it I realized we only needed to change the use table To make this happen So that's all we've done and then the district in purpose and the reason I changed the purpose district in purpose Is because the purpose is changing Thank You gene kin any questions or comments We're on Residential uses in the business districts Okay, no Steve No questions or comments And I am also in favor of this article Is there a motion to Recommend favorable action on article 11 so moved There's a second a second We'll take a vote starting with gene. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve. Yes, and I'm a yes as well We will recommend favorable action for article 11. All right in the absence of any other articles Exos is Agenda item number two will now go to agenda item number three, which is to review our meeting schedule Claire, I will hand it over to you Great, thank you. Currently we are scheduled to meet on October the 10th to approve the ARB report As I'm sure amended and edited by members of this board We also are currently scheduled to meet on October the 16th Although the chair will not be in attendance at that meeting The question is is whether or not the board Would like to meet on Monday October 23rd, which would be prior to town meeting We've done this in the past where we've met in the conference room for about an hour before Town meeting and then adjourned to town meeting if that is something the board wishes to do on the 23rd we can Schedule I can certainly schedule Some items for an agenda if the board does not wish to meet on that day that is perfectly fine, too Okay, I like to keep the meeting on October 23rd Just scheduled so that if we need to do some talking points prior to town meeting We have the ability to do so and make any, you know Little last last minute two weeks just There's a precursor for the meeting I'll actually just add to that before I go to my colleagues. Now that you've brought that up one of the things if there are Amendments for example that are proposed for articles. We have not yet heard we have often found it helpful to be able to have a discussion and thoughtfully weigh in on support or Reservations we might have about some of the proposed amendments So I I would agree with with Ken and thinking about it in that terms It it makes some sense to keep it on in case we need it great sounds good Steve any thoughts on that now I agree that it's useful to have a meeting scheduled before town meeting to tie up loose ends and Talk about things that need discussion I agree. Okay. If we can be in that little Roman annex All right any other questions on Agenda item number three, which is the meeting schedule Ready for number four. Okay. Is there a motion to adjourn? So motion Just say something yes before we adjourn. I know they're only like maybe two people here or three four people here from the Working group. I just want to say that I think you guys did terrific work I really appreciate all the time and effort and and the report which was just wonderful I know we made Some changes to what you recommended, but I know you understood that that was part of this iterative process that we're going through so You know, I just wanted to say thanks to and to YouTube The whole the whole department. Yeah, yeah for all the work and also to the members of the public We received a lot of outreach. It was all read every single word every one. We really appreciate it all Before we may take a motion to adjourn I would like to offer to do another Sort of like build-out analysis similar to what You know what I provide what once we once we have a new compliance model Yes, if that would be useful for reporting and it's I could turn that around fairly quickly quickly once once I have the spreadsheets Okay, well then I my offer stands. Okay. Thank you. Any other items before we adjourn? All right, there a motion to adjourn so motion second. We'll take a vote starting with Jean. Yes, Ken. Yes, Steve Yes, and I'm a yes as well. Thank you all this meeting is adjourned


Five Historic Crypto Milestones Despite its relative youth, the crypto industry has had its fair share of historic milestones. Let's take a look. Creation of Bitcoin Everything began with a single white paper. On October 31, 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto released a white paper describing the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. The white paper was merely a theory. The Genesis block is where Satoshi really put his cryptocurrency where his mouth was. On January 3, 2009, Satoshi created the Bitcoin blockchain, Genesis block, or block zero, containing the first 50 Bitcoins. Satoshi left a message in the code of the first block, The Times, a January 3, 2009 chancellor on Brink of second bailout for banks. The message referenced an article from The Times in London dated January 1, 2009, which detailed banks receiving a massive bailout from the British government. Nakamoto's purpose was clear, to make banks obsolete. Now to put it in use. First Bitcoin transaction. For a long time, you couldn't buy goods with cryptocurrency. But on May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyich made the first real purchase using Bitcoin. He bought two Papa John's pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins, or 25 bucks at the time. Now these pizzas are worth around $100 million. May 22 is now celebrated as the Bitcoin Pizza Day. People soon realized you could buy more than pepperoni pizza with Bitcoin. The Silk Road. The first online store to accept Bitcoin as payment was launched in February 2011. It was Silk Road, also the first dark net market where users could buy illegal stuff like drugs and weapons. All the transactions were anonymous and made in Bitcoin. Silk Road was a very popular site. In total, 9.5 million Bitcoins exchanged hands on the Silk Road. In October 2013, the FBI arrested its owner, William Ross Ulbricht.  The FBI later sold them for almost $50 million, enjoying healthy returns. After the big drug bust came, an even bigger hack appeared. MT Gox Hack. In February 2014, MT Gox, the largest crypto exchange in the world at that time, was hacked. 850,000 Bitcoins worth half a billion dollars were stolen. A subsequent investigation discovered that the exchange had been hacked several years before. Mark Kerpeals, former CEO of MT Gox, was arrested and charged with fraud and financial manipulations. After this incident, new KYC and client identification measures were developed, allowing more security. Enough with the closures already. There were positive news as well. Ethereum, smart contracts and ICOs. In 2011, a 17-year-old started to see a common problem in the crypto world. There are so many exciting projects, but they all needed their own blockchain to build applications. The existing Bitcoin blockchain simply couldn't do. The young man realized that since there was one internet for everyone, why not one blockchain for everyone to build applications on? The young man was Vitalik Buterin. And in 2015, Ethereum went live into the world. Ethereum like Bitcoin is a blockchain. This cryptocurrency is called Ether, but Ethereum is different from Bitcoin as it features smart contracts. Smart contracts allow for the creation of new cryptocurrencies and digital assets like tokens. Actually, thanks to Ethereum, there is now the ICO, or the initial coin offering. It is a crowdfunding mechanism that is used by blockchain startups. It quickly became a very popular way to raise funds due to its simplicity. How important is Ethereum to the ICO? Very. Its ERC20 tokens became the industry standard, allowing for the much needed integration of different tokens. Now, almost all the ICOs are done using ERC20 on Ethereum blockchain. Crypto and blockchain are emerging technologies, so we expect many more new and exciting milestones to come. If we missed any, let us know in the comments. Like, subscribe and huddle. This is Cointelegraph.


1 Corinthians chapter 16. We'll begin with verses 13 and 14, and then we'll move into verses 15 to the conclusion at verse 24. 1 Corinthians chapter 16, beginning with verses 13 and 14. Paul is giving his last directions to the church of Corinth, and he begins his conclusion by saying this. He says, watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done with love. Throughout this book, Paul has needed to bring both rebuke and correction to the church in Corinth, Greece. As we began this particular study all the way back in chapter one, let me remind you how that Paul had received a report from the household of Chloe, and they had said that things were not going well in the church there in Corinth. The church was experiencing things that were threatening to undermine the effectiveness of that church. And as we have gone through 1 Corinthians, we've seen that the church was developing real discord over a variety of things. There were things that were happening that were undermining its effectiveness. There was division, comparison of teachers. There was an issue of sexual immorality. The church had questions concerning marriage, idolatry, the rule of women, communion, spiritual gifts, the resurrection, personal stewardship, and all of these questions had to be answered. Now interestingly enough, the church considered itself to be tolerant and culturally sensitive. And so Paul corrected them by pointing out that they didn't even know what love is. And that's why he gave to us 1 Corinthians chapter 13, because love had to be defined for the church, because the church didn't even know that very basic thing. And so as the church's founding pastor, Paul had a great love and a great concern for them. As we saw, they had come to faith through his ministry, and Paul made it very clear that he loved them and he loved them very deeply. He planted the church, but there were those who were claiming equal authority in their lives. And because of this, Paul had to write a reminder to remind them who he was. We saw that in chapter four, verse 15, when he said, though you might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel.  We could bring that to the 21st century and same kind of thing could be said. A pastor could say to somebody, you may have access to a lot of teaching and a lot of ministers who can bring valuable things and insights into your life. You can turn a radio on and listen to radio ministry. You can turn a television on and you can watch a televised program. You can go on the net and you can watch various church services live. There are people that you perhaps know who will watch a service for the worship and they'll worship along with the singing over the net. Then they will turn off when the last worship song is concluded, then they turn on another program to watch the teaching and they basically what they're doing is they're creating a custom church for their own pleasure and they do that and there are people who do that. Perhaps you know people who do that or maybe you've done that yourself. You watch one program because it has a certain thing you like. You watch something else from something else and you kind of blend them together. Well, teachers today, pastors today could say a similar thing. They could say, you may have 10,000 fathers, 10,000 instructors rather, 10,000 people who are breathing into your life things of the spirit but you only have one father. And that's what Paul was saying. I begot you in the gospel. And as a person, Paul would be saying who has been the one whom God used to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ then even though you have others who are adding to that which I have given to you yet I have a father's love for you even what could be called a father's jealousy because fathers do have a jealousy for the children, don't they? They wanna make sure that whomever it is that is influencing their child is the right person and there's a fatherly jealousy that you have a protective instinct that you have because that's my child, that's my baby. Well, Paul was saying that though you may have 10,000 instructors yet you have but one father, I begot you in the gospel. And I have a pastor's love for you he is saying and I want you to grow in your faith. Well, he wrote an entire book of corrections but now he's concluding with five commands. And each one of these commands can be seen as the logical conclusion of this letter. Now I want you to notice how we begin here in verse 13. He begins with a single word. Verse 13 begins with the word watch. Now this command to watch is a word watch is a word that is used some 22 times in the New Testament. The word that we translate watch can also be translated vigilant or be awake, be on guard, even be on fire. It's a word that is used that is opposed to being indifferent and being asleep. Now as we studied first Corinthians we saw how they seem to be spiritually asleep in the church. Again, they were divisive. They were substituting human wisdom for spiritual wisdom. They were immoral. They were unconcerned for the spiritual welfare of other people. They were misusing their gifts. They were simply unloving. They seemed to be completely oblivious to the spiritual climate that was around them. And because of this, Paul begins to command them. And he's saying to them, be on the alert. He's saying to the church, his first word is wake up. Wake up. Now that seems to be common. This need to wake up seems to be something common in the body of Christ. Paul writes in Romans 1311 and says, do this knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now our salvation is near than when we first believed. Wake up out of sleep. Now wake thou that sleepest and Christ will shine on you, he told the Ephesians. There is a need to be on the alert. There's a need to be awake. There's a need to be on guard. There's a need to be on fire. And so he's closing his letter by beginning with that word. Watch, be on guard, be on fire, be on the alert. What am I to be on the alert for? Well, one, you are to be constantly on the alert against Satan. The Bible tells us in first Peter chapter five verse eight, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Now this is where they were making a tremendous mistake. They really didn't believe that the devil was there to bring them harm. But that idea is very basic in scripture. There are believers even to this day who don't believe, and I've heard the interviews and I've read the statements where they really don't believe that there's a personal devil that is actually intending to do them harm. Or do anybody else harm for that matter? They look at him as being a metaphor. They look at him in a different sense than the real thing. It's the real deal. But Paul and all the writers of the scripture from the old to the new, when speaking of one who would be referred to as Satan or the devil indicates that that's a real being. Now you see an example of the enemy and action in the book of Job in chapter one verses six through 11. In that particular portion of scripture, we read now, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, from where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth and from walking back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? That there's none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man when who fears God and shuns evil. So Satan answered the Lord and said, does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household and around all that he has on every side who have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land.  Be on the alert against the enemy. He walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. You may be thinking of yourself as being insignificant and nothing he would even care to bother with.  He sees you as an enemy. He sees you as somebody he once held captive to do his will. He sees you as an individual who has escaped from him and he's not happy about it. Oh, it's true, he's probably not chasing you around right now personally. He is aware of you. And a third of the angels fell with him. They became the demonic hordes that show their allegiance to him in rebellion to God. And they are very aware of you. And they are aware of your habits. They are aware of your friendships. They are aware of the things that you like. When you think you're by yourself, they see what you're looking on on TV or the net or whatever. They watch you. And now I'm on TV. Or the net or whatever. They watch you. And now I'm not trying to teach you paranoia. You're gonna be walking out of here looking over your shoulder, driving with your mirror, looking at yourself. He's very real. I was, our church was maybe two years old at the most at the time. I was teaching a Bible study in the Gospel of Mark. It was a Wednesday night. And I climbed into my van and I pulled out of my driveway and I was driving to do the Wednesday night study. I was teaching on demons and demon possession that night. And so my mind is on the activities of the enemy, the kinds of things devils do. And I'm thinking through the message and I'm thinking through some of the points that I want to make and the warning that I want to give to people. Be on the alert the enemies after you. And I notice that I'm almost out of a gas so I pull into a gas station. When I pulled into the gas station and it started to slide off the seat so I could go and fill up my tank, suddenly I felt claws on my back. And I screamed like a girl. I yelled, Jesus! It was a cat. The neighbor's cat had gotten into the van and I was taking it bye-bye. It was going for a ride with me. And when I opened the door, he saw that as his chance to get out of my van and jumped on my back and dug its claws into my back and then bolted out the door and ran down the street. But I have to tell you, man, I had my mind on the devil and he showed up.  No, I don't want you to be that way. I'm not asking you to drive home, looking over your shoulder, waiting for something to grab you, some claw. But we do need to be aware of the fact that he is alert and aware. He never sleeps and he always means harm. Don't forget that. Don't forget that. One big problem we have is we give him too much credit. The other problem we have is we pretend that he doesn't even exist. We need to have balance and moderation, but we need an awareness beyond the alert. The enemy is after you.  He has a way of destroying you through other people because when he attempts to take you out, well, because you're wearing your armor, so very often he may cause some damage, but he doesn't do that much. So what does he do? Well, he'll go after your family. He'll go after your marriage. He'll go after your children. He'll go after something that matters to you, and he tries to do damage that way. That's one of the reasons we have to remain alert. We have to be prayerful because the enemy is wanting to destroy. A second thing is we need to be alert against temptation. Now, Paul had made it very clear that they were to be on guard against a false confidence. In chapter 10, verse 12, he had said, therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. As someone once said, an unguarded strength is a double weakness. Pride always will result in failure. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, we know that Jesus went into a garden and we know that he went to pray. And as he was laboring there in prayer, his men became sorrowful and they fell asleep. And Jesus and Matthew 26, 40 and 41, well, it's recorded concerning him that he came to the disciples and he found them asleep and he said to Peter, what could you not watch with me one hour? And then he said this, watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. So watch for the temptations of the flesh. And sometimes you can be tempted to do something evil by something that appears to be good.  But your friends still remain with drinking problems and you want them to be saved. And so you go to visit them. And as you go to visit them by yourself, they invite you to have a beer or two or three. And you think that as you're there sharing the gospel with them, that you're getting through to them.  How do I know that? Because it happened to me. Because I wanted to win my friends to the Lord. Why don't you just have a beer with us, Dave? It's no big deal. You can drink a beer, can't you? I mean, does God not want you to have a beer? Well, before you know it, there's one glass and then there's another glass and there goes my testimony and there goes my witness. Even though I wanted to bring the gospel to them as a young believer, I fell pray to simple temptation. And so watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. You have to be on watch against it. A third thing is to be on the watch against lukewarm indifference. Lukewarm indifference. There's the old illustration of the frog in the kettle. You get that frog, you put it into water because the frog doesn't have the ability to monitor the change of temperature. You can put a frog in a kettle, you can put them on the burner. You can turn the heat on very low and the frog will remain in that kettle, not noticing the temperature of the water and the water begins to rise in its temperature and boils the frog to death. Frog never even noticed it was in danger. It was incapable of doing that. And there are a lot of believers whom I would say are kind of like that frog. They're saturated by the culture that is all around us. And they begin to accept it as being normal. And then instead of remaining alert, they become calloused. They begin to accept it as it is. And they stop seeing the value of encouraging people to come to faith in Christ because they become dull themselves. In Ephesians 5, verses 15 through 17, Paul said, see then that you walk circumspectly. Not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time. Because he said, the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Walk circumspectly, walk carefully. Walk as if you're in a spiritual mind field and the wrong step can set off a mind. Be aware of the fact that the days are in evil opposition to you. The cultural climate, the spiritual climate is of such nature that it resists the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be aware of that and do not become indifferent. When Paul was in Athens, he revealed what righteousness does when surrounded by godlessness. It's found in Acts 17 in verses 16 and 17. And there we read, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. And therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Paul was in a city that was known for its intelligentsia, for its philosophy, its higher learning. Paul was a premier intellectual and intellectuals have a tendency of being attracted to intellectualism. They are the type who like to learn and like to be around people who also like to learn. And the Athenians were known for hearing some new thing and discussing it constantly. Paul was there in this center of intellectualism, but the Bible says that he wasn't taken captive by it, but rather his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that they were given completely over to idolatry and as a result of that because he was on the alert, he was there to share with them the good news of what God can do and what God had already done. So be on the alert against apathy because it leads to acceptance instead of resistance. Be careful because the church is asleep in the light. Right now the body of Christ is asleep in the light and I see it clearly and it grieves me to be honest with you that there are so many people and this is not a judgment against those whom I love is just a fact. There are so many people who have given up the fight. They seem to think it's just not worth it anymore that there's just, we've lost this entire generation that's coming up and I don't believe that. I believe that God wants to do a revival. I believe that. I believe that God wants to wake up young people, but I believe that also that the older people have got to wake up to our own indifference and our lack of hope that we have and we need to pour ourselves into the young people who are willing to receive from us. Now there are some young that we encounter who have never taught a Bible study but can instruct me at any given moment because they know everything there is to know. All you need to do is ask them and they'll let you know. They know how everything should be done and sometimes that kind of youthful arrogance is off-putting to say the least and then all you need to do is remember yourself at the same age and how you knew so much more than everybody else. I know nobody in this room I'll speak into myself, I realize it. I knew so much more than my dad. You know, my dad just didn't know it. My dad, you know, what could he really know? Come on. You know, it's like what Mark Twain said, paraphrasing where he said when I was 17, my father was completely ignorant, but I was amazed when I turned 21 how much that old man had learned in four years. And when we're young, we know everything. We know things that nobody even wants to know that we know and we will end the tell them in any given moment. But the fact is there is so much untapped energy, so much untapped potential, so much untapped ministry in young people. My great desire is to see revival amongst those who are younger because let's face it, you know, we're getting older, I'm getting older, I know none of you are, I'm getting older. And as I'm getting older, I'm also aware of the fact should the Lord tarry that one day I'll hand the baton of this ministry to somebody else. And I wanna hand it to a younger man, somebody who's gonna be able to take this church until Jesus comes and to lead them in the way of the Lord.  I want them to do things. You wanna change the interior of the sanctuary, go for it, you wanna change colors and carpets and whatever, I'm good with that. You wanna bring a different style of music in, fine with me, whatever's current, whatever's right, whatever reaches, I'm good with that. I don't have a problem with that at all. You know, sometimes I get letters from people here. Sometimes they filter through to me. Most of the time there are people who are reading letters and then they distribute ones that I can personally respond to and I do that every week. I answer several letters a week and some are handed to staff who handle some of the things and on occasion you'll get the letter, it's cold in here. I mean, it's a prayer request and yet the prayer, that's cold in here. Well, I'll pray for you.  You know, the music before the service is bar music. That's true, I'm telling you. Where's the tip jar? And I can tell you it's a guy my age writing that. It's gotta be some old goat. Cut it out, cut it out.  I don't wanna be in the way of the young people. I don't wanna get in their way. I want them to lead. I want them to take us into the future. I don't think my way is the best way. I believe that God's way is the best way and if God has a new work he wants to do, then God do your work. We've gotta remain flexible and we've gotta be open to what the spirit wants to do because we are pushing young people out the doors with our old stupid attitudes. We have to watch out. And I'm not gonna do that. I will not be guilty of that. And if anybody ever thinks that I don't like young people, they don't know me at all. I love the young people. I love 18 to 35 especially. If it's 36, I love you too. But I love that group. It's a messy group. They're messy. Got all kinds of drama and issues. But I love them. I do because that's the future of the church. I was 20 when I got saved. What a mess I was. And God did something in me. Why can't he do it in everybody, right?  Get out of the way. Let God move. Does that sound harsh? Forgive me. Get out of the way. Let God move. He wants to do a new and fresh work. He does. I want to be part of that. I want to be part of that. And I really believe that God wants to do something fresh right now in these days. A fourth thing to be alert against. Beyond the alert against false teachers. I stand alert against that. Before the service I had somebody I was speaking to was telling me they received a rabbinic ordination seven years ago that Yahweh himself gave. And that I was ignorant because I didn't understand that. See, I'm aware of those things. I keep my eyes on those things because Jesus told us when asked a question concerning the signs of the times and how do we know when you're about to return? You see this in Matthew 24 specifically but other passages, Mark 13 and others. And Jesus said take heed that no one deceives you. The primary sign that you're living in the last days is deception is rampant. Deception is rampant. Jesus said that. He did speak about earthquakes and wars, rumors of wars, famines, plagues and things of that nature. You see that in Matthew 24 but the question was what is the sign and the answer is be careful that no one deceives you. That was the answer. The answer is deception. And so the infiltration of the church by false teachers is the preeminent sign of the last days. In 1st Timothy chapter four verse one Paul said the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith. They will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. In 2nd Timothy 4, 3 and 4 he said the time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2nd Peter chapter two verse one there were false prophets among the people just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. And so beyond the alert against false teaching just because he is so cool or she is so sensitive when they say it does not make it true. In our generation today that I've been observing if it feels true it is true. If I feel good when I walk out then I must have been given truth. How many of you realize of course that sometimes when the Lord speaks to our heart it doesn't feel that good. Everybody know that? You all know that? Yeah, I know that. I hear that almost every day from the Lord in one way or another. It doesn't always feel good. It doesn't. It doesn't. When I went in and I had some cancer removed from my face it didn't feel good. It doesn't feel good when they put needles in your face.  That doesn't feel good and it doesn't smell good. Smells like a chicharron but that's something else.  Doesn't feel good. It really doesn't. When they sliced my nose from my eyebrow down to my nostril that was not something I wanted done. I promise you though when the surgeon was operating I didn't move. I was as still as you can be. I didn't move. When the Holy Spirit is operating don't move.  Let him remove it. Let him take it out. Sometimes truth when it's spoken even with a smile can come in a painful way and it can hurt. It can hurt your feelings. It can make you feel bad inside but I've learned something. Sometimes I need to feel bad inside. As a matter of fact that's a sign that I still have a conscience and I'm still aware of God when I can be grief for something I've done. Don't get apathetic. Just because somebody is saying something you like does not make it true.  Just because the guy up there is so cool. He's got those skinny jeans on and his hair's all spiked so cool and he uses those cool neat profanities to kind of show you that he's with it and he knows what's happening because he's the hipster preacher. Just because all of that's taking place doesn't mean you're being led in the right direction. Do you know that? Do you understand that? Because some of the better known preachers that I'm aware of today that people flock to here are taking people down the wrong path. And when people like me stand up and say, you know this is not right then their devotees, their followers the ones who are their cheerleaders the ones who are behind them oh you're just jealous because you don't have thousands showing up to hear you. I don't want to be accountable for such error. I don't want to have to stand before the Lord and say I led 20,000 people in the wrong direction. I don't want to be accountable for that. I want to teach the truth and you have to be careful. And I realize it, you know because people used to say well Calvary Chapel's the cool. You know it was the cool movement and we were maybe you have to look back we were 20 years old, 22 years old, 23 years old. We're starting to do ministry starting pastor churches some of the largest churches in the United States today are pastored by Calvary guys. And we were looked at as being cool and our music was cool and cutting edge you know but guess what? Times change people are looking for different things. It could sound like sour grapes when I as a pastor stand up and say watch out. Somebody say oh you're just jealous because your church isn't big as if a size of the church has ever really mattered. And it doesn't. God gives the increase. One sows one waters God brings the increase. That's never been our goal anyway. But because people are always looking on the outside they're always looking to see what the outer appearance is. Oh that's successful because it's big and so many people show up and they have to have a stadium for this and that must be true they're on TV they write books. Jesus would be looked at as being a terrible failure because he only had 12 real close guys and one of them was Judas. You have to be careful that you don't look and see and say oh numbers mean everything or exposure means everything very famous. So they must be true. No be very careful deception comes in a variety of ways. Be very careful. And then finally on a more encouraging note believers should be alert on the alert for the return of Jesus Christ. In Mark 13 verses 34 through 37 we read the coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You too must keep watch for you don't know when the master of the household will return in the evening at midnight before dawn or at daybreak. Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone watch for him. That's what motivates us by the way is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is coming at any moment. We ought to be living as if he is. And so we're watching for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so that's the first word we better move into the rest of the verse. Then he goes on and he says stand fast in the faith be brave be strong. So secondly stand fast in the faith. When he says stand fast in the faith be firmly planted in proper doctrine. The faith is another way of expressing the counsel of God. Hold firmly to revealed doctrinal truth. It's not a matter of opinion only. You see in a time when people preach that all faiths are the same what are believers to do? Well we're to hold firmly to the truth of scripture. The Corinthians were being moved by various teachings that had infiltrated the church. This was a common occurrence in the early church and Paul warned believers constantly about it. Colossians 2.8 says beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ. Ephesians 4.14 says that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. So instead of swallowing everything that is fed to us exercise discernment. Stand fast in the faith. I've shared this before. It always comes to mind for some reason. Babies swallow anything. We're constantly having to watch our granddaughter Stella because if you hand her something she's eight months, nine months old now she will put it right in her mouth. Babies are not discerning, right?  If they see something, that must taste good. And they try it, they put it in and out. They swallow anything. Like my nephew Patrick when he was less than two years old and he was playing in the backyard at his mama's house. And my sister Madeline said, you know what Patrick did? And I said, what? Patrick was playing in the flowers. With the flowers? You know, and I looked at him and I said Patrick what do you have in your mouth? And he had something on the side. You could see it. And she said, what is that? And he wouldn't open his mouth. So every mama knows you have to sometimes put your finger and push it in. And she did that and she found something that he had in his cheek and she pulled it out. She said, it was a snail. He had found a snail. That's when we found out we're French. We did not know that. We now know it. That's how we found out. A snail. Babies put anything in their mouth. And you know what new believers do too? If somebody opened the Bible in Redferment, must be true. Be discerning. Don't swallow everything that is coming down the pike. Acts 17, 10 through 12 says it like this. The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed. And also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. They received the word with readiness but searched the scriptures and therefore they came to faith in Christ. Be like a Berean. A third thing, be brave. The term be brave can also be translated be a man. But it speaks of being mature in your faith. You're saying you need to grow up. And you need to be willing to pay the price for courageous faith. Like it said in 1 Corinthians 14, 20, stop thinking like children in regard to evil, be infants in your thinking, be adults. So grow up and mature. Then he says be strong. When he says be strong, this speaks of an inner moral strength. You have an inner strength, not by trying to have inner strength, but you have an inner strength by yielding to the Lord who gives inner strength to us. And our inner strength is really a confidence that we have in God. That's why Ephesians 6-10 says be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. That's why 2 Timothy 2-1 says you then my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. So be strong. And then he goes on and he says be loving. Verse 14, let all that you do be done with love. Above all, 1 Peter 4-8 says love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. If you were to ask me what was it that got me interested in God, the answer is very simple. Someone says well, it was the power of the preaching. Not really, I can't honestly look back and say oh yeah, I've never heard such articulate speakers. That's really not true. Some would say well, it's just your lost condition in and of itself. Not really because they didn't even realize I was lost. You can be lost without knowing it. We men call that an adventure. My dad was a truck driver and there were times that he made the wrong turn. And my dad was one of these proud men. I mean he was a truck driver. He knew all the routes and he knew all the streets and every once in a while my dad would take the wrong turn and he'd get lost. But I'll never forget what my dad would say. When my mom would say Frank, we're going in the wrong direction. My dad would look at her and say you know, I just have always wanted to see this part of town. It's always been curious what's over here. He was lost, you know. You can be lost and not even know it. You know what got me? I don't know what it is that God used to get you but what got me was love. That's what got me. Love. Because the background I had, I didn't know what that word meant. I didn't know how to define it. I didn't know what it was. As a little boy, there was a time when I heard, I hate you a lot more than I ever heard I love you. That was just my upbringing. So I didn't know what love was. I didn't know what it meant, right? So love means that you use a word that other people appreciate to get basically what it is that you want from them. So if they need to hear love as part of the bargain, then I'm fine with that. You want to hear love? I'll give you an exchange. I'll say love and we'll exchange favors. That's kind of how I was. I didn't really think of love as being something that I just didn't understand it. But I was around believers. And they started showing me something I'd never seen before. It was so thick and so real. It was so different. It was so winsome. There was something about it that was very attractive. I didn't even know what it was until I got saved. It was love. It was the love of God. It was the love of God. That somebody, it still gets me, that somebody could actually, just because they do. Not because he'd do something for them. Or you offer them money, but just because they do. That's what won me to Christ, the love of Christ, that I saw in the body of Christ. That's why Jesus said, by this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you love one another.  I understand that we have people who come on Sunday nights, sometimes regularly, sometimes not. Some of them are members of this fellowship. But if you're a believer, we need to love one another. We really do. We need to love one another. We need to care sincerely and deeply. And that's what he's saying. And he's saying, let all that you do be done with love. May we love one another in the Lord Jesus Christ. May that be the mark of this fellowship. That we have people here who actually really love. And by the way, I will say it this way and I boast in you, I've had more than one friend who's come and done ministry here who told me that they have felt great love from this church. I have a lot of people who've told me that almost all of them have, except for Raul, he hates you. But that makes him feel comfortable hating. He goes on and I'll close because these last verses can be just an upsized. I urge you, brethren, you know the household of Staphanus, that it is the first fruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints, that you also submit to such and to everyone who works and labors with us. I'm glad about the coming of Staphanus Fortinatus and Achaicus for what was lacking on your part, they supplied, for they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord with the church that is in the house. All the brethren, greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The salutation, salutation with my own hand, Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let them be accursed. O Lord, come. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus, amen. Very briefly, closing. Verses 15 through 18, just a synopsis. Paul is speaking of Staphanus. This is a man who was very dear to him. And when you look into chapter one verse 16, he was one of the first converts from this area. And he and his household had been personally baptized by Paul. So Paul uses him as an example and he refers to the household of Staphanus. And he's basically saying, even as I have said in verse 14, that all that you do be done with love, he's basically saying, let me give you an example of somebody who does that. And this is Staphanus. And these are the ones who serve. These are the ones, he says in verse 15, who have devoted himself to the ministry of the saints. So they serve. And because they serve the people and the love of Jesus, it has earned them both respect as well as place them in a position of authority. Now, in verses 19 to the end, he simply speaks of the churches of Asia. He mentions Aquila and Priscilla. They were friends of Paul. He stayed in their home in Corinth, according to Acts 18. They were very mature believers and they were a great support to his ministry. Now he says something in verse 22 that's interesting. If anyone doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. That's a very strong word. It's a word against those who should not be allowed to be seen as believers. He's saying if a person does not have affection for Jesus Christ, they cannot be genuine Christians. They cannot be the real thing. And therefore, they're gonna reap what they're sowing. Now, one last or two last thoughts. One, when he says, all the brethren, greet you, greet one another with a holy kiss. When I first read that, I sure liked that verse. Greet one another with a holy kiss. And so, I thought that's, let's be biblical.  Let's be biblical. Let's greet one another. But you know what that's speaking of obviously is the common thing during that day was the salutation. It was speaking not of simply kissing one another because many cultures contain within it outward demonstration of affection. We know that. We have people in this church who are from certain cultural backgrounds where kissing me is something they don't mind doing. And I had to grow used to that. You know, I'll give you an example. Years ago, I was speaking to somebody after a service this was about 30 years ago. And this fella was a man's man. I don't know how else to put it. Just a real kind of rugged guy. He was a sky diver and he was a very macho kind of guy. And he had been brought to church and he was trying to check out Christianity and to see what you guys are all about. And he was giving me the third degree after church. And I'm telling you, this guy was a real rugged, rough guy. And he was standing as straight as a board as he was speaking to me and was just kind of a rough guy. And I'm trying to minister to him. Well, I have a friend in our church who's very dear to me. And he's still, you know, I still see him. Well, anyway, he's still with us. And for many years, he's not here tonight because he's backsliding. But a very good friend of mine. I love him very much, but he's very affectionate with me. Has been all these years. So he comes walking by and as he's walking by, he stops and he says, David, I said, how you doing? He says, fine. And I'm trying to minister to Mr. Macho here when my friend walks up and says, I haven't kissed you in a long time.  He still kisses me. I had to get used to that. It's a sign of affection. And there are a lot of cultures, you know that. Some of you come from cultures that do that. It's just part of your culture. You just do that.   What's he talking about? He's saying have a real affection and make sure you actually greet one another. See, the church family is supposed to be that. It's not supposed to be where we just kind of get together and then let's run to the door to see who gets into the parking lot first. It's not supposed to be that way. Is it? It's not supposed to be that way. If we have that mentality, I promise you, in your time of struggle and trouble, when you need prayer, you're gonna look around and there's gonna be nobody around you.  But in reality, sad thing is sometimes we don't make the effort to even have relationships and then we're mad at others for not being close to us. The church is to greet one another. It's more than simply showing up and leaving. It's being willing to invest into one another's lives and care about them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Well, the men actually kissed the men and the women kissed the women. And they basically were just showing affection to one another because that is again the mark of a believer. And finally, what we are to do is we are to love one another and look forward to Jesus' return. And that's why he says, finally, my love be with you all in Christ Jesus, amen.  And isn't that what Christianity is? In the end, love in Christ is all that matters.


Thank you, Alex, and thank you, Michael, good to see you again. And we agree on most of the issues that he discussed here because we were working together on the issues in the past. However, on certain issues, we look at them from different perspectives. If we look at the process of or efforts to negotiation with insurgents, I'm not going to use the word Taliban because it's not only Taliban, it's the insurgents. Afghanistan actually faces an insurgency, an insurgency environment, not only one faction of the Taliban. And as Michael said, you call all these insurgents Taliban whether or not. So the hallmark of the failed efforts of the past seven years actually include two points. One is the missed opportunities. And second, failure to integrate the negotiation or reconciliation in the context of an overall counterinsurgency strategy because there was no counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan in the past eight years. So all what we see, we have seen in the past seven or eight years were either fragmented, rhetoric, and at the same time, not transparent and not effective. So therefore, I think if we look at three stages as Michael also referred to it, born and after born and then the way that some efforts, fragmented efforts at the place I will come back to this. But if you look at the Afghan psyche, Michael in his book referred to it, that there's a potential for reconciliation in Pashtun society. And however, I think there's one thing that I want to stress that the kind of potential is more for peace rather than for reconciliation because and Pashtun is actually living in a very difficult environment faced so many difficult times. They want to prefer to delay the final decision. That's why when he refers to Tiga or Moritoria, one thing, that's because they, okay, we will stop here, we will wait for final decision. That is the second. And this affects the whole process of reconciliation in Afghanistan with the Pashtun society. In the 70s, I went to Bakhtia of the government to resolve the dispute between two tribes, Jadiz and Mangal, over the rights of logging and a mountain. And I realized that there are 70 issues not resolved. They're all Tiga's or all these Moritoria's truths. In some cases the government wanted that to not to resolve issues, but now today the same way. Those who are in Helmand or in Kandahar or in Farah, they are not going to make a commitment unless they say, okay, that's the only way. They will talk to you and therefore I think Afghanistan missed two opportunities for a grand deal. One was at Bonn. As Michael said that it failed to address the causes of war and also to include all parties. That's one, because at that time all Taliban's were terrorists, all Taliban's were linked to Al-Qaeda or that was a perception. So neither the international community nor the Northern Alliance were willing to include although at that time 85% of Taliban were ready to join the political process, renounce violence and including the leadership that I know. The second opportunity was missed in 2002-2003. That was the time that Taliban finally decide what to do. They tried their strategies in Karachi in 2002 I think. And then finally decided okay, we are not ready to wage a conflict on conflict and there are so many problems in Afghanistan to negotiate with the government. So they actually created two teams. One was to look after the possibility of fighting the other one to talk to the government. That was the time that they were coming to us. They came to me, contacted me, contacted Minister of Defense Faheem, contacted President Karzai. And all they wanted was a guarantee for their protection. And in my conversation with them I said okay, I will protect you as a minister of interior. I said no, you are not the only person in Afghanistan. There are several centers of power in Afghanistan. You are here in the Ministry of Interior, yes. And then Minister of Defense as its own agenda, Faheem Khan. The intelligence chief out of Khan was his own network. U.S.'s own network, coalition forces, ISAF, intelligence agencies of these countries. If you can find a way, a mechanism that can guarantee the protection where all these actors will be involved then we will be assured that we but we were unable to create that kind of a mechanism. Because on the black list issue there was never a regional agreement who should be on the black list and the rest are fine. Whatever reconciliation was made was on an individual basis. Yes, 12 people of 42 of the UN list were reconciled but they were just individuals they came back. It did not affect the situation on the field. And at the same time there is always one question whether the insurgency the instability is caused by insurgency or insurgency is caused by an unstable environment. Failure of the government. Failure of the international community. Mis-treatment of people. In many cases the three wars that was going counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and state-building. This sometimes worked across purposes. What was done in the interest of counter-terrorism it actually alienated people and caused resentment that is bad for winning hearts and minds which is the key to women insurgency. What was being done for counter-insurgency actually was not good for state-building because some very un-you know people with questionable past were co-opted in state-building so they were not interested in a stable state. Michael referred to the 2002 and I haven't experienced in 2003 when two militia corps were fighting with tanks and artillery in the north and I was there two months to stop that war and then to disengage them and to collect the heavy weapons because the civilians were losing their lives and there were tanks who were waiting when to loot Mazar Sharif in October 2003 and then the international community was looking it was green on green as they said and so all these created that environment. Now in any negotiation I think unless you create the strategic context it will be fragmented it will be ineffective. Yes I agree with Michael that the small reconciliation even small they actually will help. I don't agree that it will help all the time because if you sustain them it will help otherwise if you cannot sustain them this will discourage others from doing the same kind of a deal. Look at Mousaq Allah what happened Mousaq Allah Yes at the beginning that was a very attractive deal Mullah Salam a commander with the Taliban he came to the side of the government he took over in Mousaq Allah with his men and there were so many VIP visits there to praise them and to brag about it but what happened today the last time Mullah Salam talked to me about a month ago before he went to India he said nobody even can protect my family in Kajaki I had to go myself there to Kajaki to protect my family and what is the difference Mullah Salam today who is manning only a post in Mousaq Allah the building of the district administration in another government district administrator who is in Nadi Ali or in Greshk that he is only confined to that building actually this discouraged many others from making the same deal now suppose that the Taliban commander and Helman today said okay I will go to the side of the government what are you going to do with his men and can you find him a job can you integrate him into the armed forces I think there was one bad experience that Michael knows would be with the Greshk that there was an idea that I would get the men of Mullah Salam and the Khmer band and the security built of Greshk and if I remember correctly Michael and then this was a conspiracy the government, suspicions which has very present consequences therefore there is no plan unless you have a major plan and you integrate it the overall counter-insurgency strategy it is not going to work because all the rebellions in Afghanistan had one common strategy to outlast the other side as long as that tendency is there as long as there are cries around the world that we are going to lose in Afghanistan why they would come there are many reports about these negotiations in Saudi Arabia I have spoken with many of those people who were involved they said there was nothing substantive in it unless you change the environment it will be very difficult to reach a kind of agreement that will not create more problems in the future so therefore there are three points that we have to take into consideration first for reconciliation I mean sustainable reconciliation not tactical deals there should be incentive for negotiation both sides should realize that they can get something through negotiation that they cannot get through fighting the second is the who can deliver in this negotiation as I said Mujahideen has reconciled 6,000 people but it made no difference on the people and so you have to find who can deliver when you negotiate with them and finally what costs are acceptable there are some costs you pay but the opportunity costs are higher which after you make a deal maybe that will spawn more problems if the negotiation reaches that aims at turning the clock back to 2001 or 2000 I think it is going to be the source of more problems in Afghanistan Afghans are not going to go back to 2000 not going to go back to 2001 so therefore I think you have to what costs are acceptable to both sides so therefore I will stop here but just one last point is that the time for a grand deal is gone it is very difficult because there is no one group there is no possibility unless Afghanistan, Pakistan all can work together so it has to be local deals but local deals that eventually will make the top leadership irrelevant and that is possible only if the country stabilizes the country when the people then it will make the deal eventually I think to defeat the insurgents in Afghanistan is to make it irrelevant not to kill the fighters thank you very much