Friday, November 01, 2013

Fri Nov 1st Todays News

Tony Abbott is taking the necessary steps to heal Australia after six abysmal years of ALP government. But more has to be done. Boats are being stopped, with a drop from 3000 illegal arrivals, by boat a month, to 300 last month. Still, a substantial number of very dangerous type of illegal arrival has introduced islamo fascist behaviour. NSW ALP have appointed as a dispute resolution person the husband of a liar. The ABC would complain if a conservative did it. Fracking is safe but socialists and reactionaries don't want it. If you ask why, they mumble things about Monsanto, water tables, bees, GM crops, and agenda 21. They seem to forget Catch 22. I welcome disagreement based on fact. ABC have just worked out Bolt is effective. Why is record cold in Victoria not trumpeted as loudly as warm weather in NSW? Maybe one has to slay the AGW Demon to find out? Shorten volunteers to commit electoral suicide, fighting for a tax in opposition, rather than trying to become an effective government in future. 
I would like to take this time to thank my supporters and friends who have stood by me in these tough times. I am in a concrete shell thanks to a raw sewage blockage a month ago. I am insured, but sadly, insured with GIO, who have done nothing to decontaminate the kitchen and bathroom area the insurance I have with them covers. Luckily, my home contents is with Allianz and they were here in the first few hours with specialist cleaners and removal experts. I have lost everything I once owned, including irreplaceable keepsakes of a lifetime, but important things will be replaced. For unrelated reasons, I am in danger of losing my unit, but this may be a blessing, improving any sale value and possibly delaying it. 
I note Tripodi faces ICAC today, and that brings my heart joy as corruption involving him is why I've been unemployed since '07. People who don't know me may not understand why my issue is so challenging. Partly Tripodi and stable mates have made it that way. I recently thought I had cleared my matters with the tax office. It turns out I hadn't. But this new issue may be a blessing too. ATO want to know why I accessed my superannuation early. They seem to feel I may have lived large on it. It is true I have visited Max Brenners more than is good for me. But that has nothing to do with it. What had happened was I had been granted early access through hardship to it, and my bank had signed off on the deal. But my bank reneged, and suggested a path I took which I don't advise anyone else do. I turned $220k into $99k and put it in my mortgage. It is still there. But I have been denied work in my trade (math teacher) for over six years. Soon, my bank will force me to sell my unit. And now ATO have decided to claim I was paid income of $153k (note that figure, super bodies already have $67k from my early access) a quarter went to mafia types who organised it. The blessing is the ATO might call in a federal investigation into the issue which should blow Tripodi and others sky high. The danger is the ATO might try to limit the issue to me and fine me and slap me with secrecy deals to protect the ALP. The ATO is a cat's paw .. do they like being a cat's paw? All I can do is to man up and take what is dished out. Accessing super early is wrong. No one can help me until I know the scope of what the ATO plan. 
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Hatches
Happy birthday and many happy returns all those born today, across the years, along with
Matches
Despatches
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The measured approach of a quiet achiever silences critics

Piers Akerman – Thursday, October 31, 2013 (8:55pm)

TONY Abbott is rapidly acquiring a reputation as the Quiet Achiever.
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The Bolt Report on Sunday

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (12:53pm)


On The Bolt Report on Sunday:
I’ve called Clive Palmer a buffoon. I was wrong. It’s more serious than that.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon on the Palmer menace and more.
The panel: Peter Reith and Kimberley Kitching.
And a sign that adults are back in charge. In fact, I might even include Bill Shorten among them. Let me think about that.
The twitter feed.
The place the videos appear.  
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Boats being stopped

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (12:51pm)


Early this year under Labor, more than 3000 boat people arrived each month. Under the Abbott Government, arrivals in October were down to 339.  No arrivals at all this week. 
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Why on earth did we let in this danger?

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:58am)


A more restrictive immigration program would not have exposed us to the utterly avoidable danger spelled out in ASIO’s latest report:
This year ASIO: 
investigated several hundred mostly Australia-based individuals who are advocates of a violent Islamist ideology;
managed the security threat posed by individuals working with al-Qa‘ida affiliated groups…
Throughout 2012–13, Australia’s security environment continued to evolve, with the terrorism threat posed by traditional extremist networks and groups being compounded by the threat from self-radicalising lone actors..
In Australia, there are individuals and small groups who believe an attack here is justified. Issues such as Australia’s military deployments over the last decade, the Syrian conflict, or a belief that the ideals
of Australia are in direct conflict with their extreme interpretation of Islam, fuel the radical views of this cohort....
The Syrian conflict has resonated strongly in Australia and is likely to have a lasting impact on Australia’s security environment for the foreseeable future.
Several hundred” advocates of “a violent Islamist ideology”? Most of them in Australia?
Not exactly the “tiny minority” that apologists claim. Who the hell let them in?
(Via Michael Smith.) 
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Mates, mates, mates

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:56am)


It’s all a bit clubby:

NSW Labor will nominate retired Supreme Court judge Greg James, QC, to become chairman of a new internal dispute resolution regime designed to help clean up the troubled branch. But the appointment will not be without some controversy because Mr James is also representing disgraced former Labor MP Craig Thomson
He is married to Barbara Ramjan, who controversially accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of punching the wall next to her head when they were students.
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Worse when a Liberal does it

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:54am)


The ABC is appalled by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman’s attack on the judiciary, yet somehow forgets Julia Gillard’s
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This fracking ban insults our reason, injures our economy

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:45am)


Peter Reith, Innes Willox and Paul Howes challenge the latest irrational ban on cheap energy:
IT IS not every day you will see a former Minister in the Howard Government, a union leader and the head of a nonpartisan employers association making common cause. However the gas crisis in Victoria and New South Wales and the serious threat it presents to jobs demands we put aside any differences…
Big changes to the gas market are lifting prices and reducing security of supply. That puts jobs in jeopardy and pushes up the cost of living....
We are very concerned that politicians from both sides of state politics are yet to take the necessary action to protect jobs and cushion families and pensioners from rising gas prices…
There is plenty of gas in the ground in Victoria and New South Wales, but it can’t help with supply or price spikes if it stays there. Yet governments and oppositions are so worried about a community backlash they are blocking most development…
[C]oal seam gas and ... hydraulic fracturing ... are the main opportunities to maintain Victorian gas production as conventional reserves decline. Blocking Victorian gas would deal a body blow to our manufacturing sector and worsen the price and supply problems that loom in other states…
There is no good reason why we can’t maintain high standards for safety and sustainability while also ensuring a secure and affordable gas supply. Indeed, gas is a much cleaner fuel than coal and many businesses could cut greenhouse emissions by switching to it - if they could get a secure, affordable supply.
Alan Moran objects to one of Reith’s proposals - to buy off farmer opposition:

The Reith report favours early termination of the ban but also wants to lubricate the political process by granting some of the royalty revenues to landowners and to regions where the gas is found.  Miners are normally very generous in recompensing landowners and often buy-out land of potential value at a premium to avoid cumbersome access requests. Formalising such measures would set unfortunate precedents and would transfer rights to farmers at the expense of the wider community or of the explorer developer.  Although it wold not kill off new exploration (landowners’ mineral rights in the US have co-existed with rapid development of unconventional gas), it would create a new form of reward in return for the outlay of no effort or skill.
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Shock finding. ABC host and academic discover I’m a menace

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:16am)


An ABC presenter and journalism academic Wendy Bacon, a warmist, groan that I’m around to fact-check warming alarmists.
Listen here.
What a bad person I am to contradict those warmists:

He says it in a factual way that they are lying.
Would it be better if I did it in a fictional way?
Note that in deploring my scepticism, not one example is given of what I’ve actually said that is wrong.

(Thanks to reader Keith with a dot, mem and Robin of the Hood.) 
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Puzzling silence

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (11:04am)


Hot October in NSW: global warming:

TRACY BOWDEN, REPORTER: Fire storms in October. Scorchingly hot, dry, windy days and warnings of more to come. Is this climate change in action?
Cold October in Victoria? Funny, that, says reader Jeff:
It’s official. For only the second time on record, Melbourne’s October average maximum and minimum temperature were both lower than September’s. The only other time this occurred was 1928.
I was sure this would have been big news on the weather segments of the evening news but neither 9 nor 10 gave it a mention.
Why would that be?
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Fighting the global warming religion

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (8:41am)


The Global Warming Policy Foundation announces what should be a fascinating lecture by former prime minister John Howard:
Mr Howard will deliver the 2013 Annual GWPF Lecture on 5 November at 7pm at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London SW1H 9JJ.
Title: “One Religion Is Enough: How Alarmists Have Hijacked The Climate Debate.”
UPDATE
image
It is disappointing that News Corp, of all media outlets, yesterday published this article on warming, revealing more faith than facts.
Here’s just some of the most egregious errors or misleading claims.

Climate change is global warming. The two are the same thing. It is the world getting hotter.
False. Climate change is, er, exactly that - a change in the climate. Hotter, colder, wetter, drier. Indeed, warmists now prefer the term “climate change” to “global warming” precisely so they can claim that unusual cold or unusual snow is evidence of man-made “climate change” as well. If by “climate change” we meant only “global warming”, then why not use the phrase “global warming”?
No one doubts it is happening. The last decade, 2000 to 2010, was the hottest on record. The big controversy is about what is causing it.
False. In fact, the biggest controversy right now is the one even the latest IPCC report had to address: why the world hasn’t warmed as the climate models predicted. Atmospheric temperatures have remained flat for at least 15 years. After that there are many other controversies: what, yes, did cause any warming we saw; why haven’t we seen the predicted disasters that warming was meant to trigger; is any warming actually good; is any warming likely to be swamped by natural factors; and is it worth the pain to try to stop any warming.

Warming up the planet is like knocking over the first domino. It has massive knock-on consequences which can affect all of us. The big one is food security. A rapidly warming climate will make some places wetter and others drier. This could affect the quality and quantity of available food on the table of every single person on the planet.
Sheer alarmism. Fact is that extra carbon dioxide means more plant food, and moderate warming means more rain overall. That, plus advances in gene technology and agricultural practices, have lead to record global harvests of food crops.
And sceptics have plenty of questions: What if the solar flares make the world hot? Doesn’t the climate always change? Isn’t it a good thing?
Actually, these are not the most pressing questions from sceptics at all. The main questions are the ones I’ve already listed and the IPCC struggles to explain: why there’s been far less warming than predicted and fewer climate disasters than predicted; and does it make any sense to spend trillions of dollars for such little effect on the temperature?
But you do need to know one small statistic: 95 per cent. That’s how certain the United Nations climate science panel is that climate change is manmade.
Here’s a more important statistic: 73. That’s the number of climate models which unanimously predicted more warming than we actually got. Seems this UN panel is more certain the more wrong its models prove to be.
By 2070, Australia is expected to warm between 1.0 to 5 degrees Celsius, according to the CSIRO.
In fact, even the IPCC, an alarmist group, estimates lower rises in global temperature - between 0.3 and 4.8 degrees by 2100. And that’s after almost zero rise in temperatures after 15 years.
But heatwaves and predicted drier conditions in southern Australia can help create the conditions where bushfires are more likely to happen, heatwave expert Sarah Perkins told news.com.au.
In fact, rainfall in southern Australia has, if anything, increased over the past century and even the Climate Commission denied there was anything unusual in rainfall patterns in southern or eastern Australia.
On average the nation will experience a 300-fold increase in “flooding events” by the year 2100, according to a report released by Australia’s Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre. That means one-in-a-hundred year floods will become considerably more common. That figure is what would happen if the country experiences an average sea level rise of half a metre.
In fact, if we get many one-in-a-hundred year floods this century, they aren’t one-in-a-hundred year floods at all. Nor are such floods likely to be severe. Even the alarmist IPCC now predicts median sea level rises by the end of this century of between just 26cms and 30cms.
We are actually lucky compared to the poor folk of the small nation of Tuvalu, found halfway between Australia and Hawaii. It’s easily one of the countries that will suffer the most. Much of the country could be flooded.
In fact, the main island of Tuvalu is growing, not drowning, and coral atolls tend to rise with rising seas.
The global average sea level could rise by a metre by the end of the century if emissions remain high. If they are lower, levels could rise between 28cm and 60cm.
An exaggeration. The latest IPCC report concedes the median sea level rises tipped under its four scenarios for 2100 are between just 26cms and 30cms, with a very upper limit of 82cms under the most alarming scenario.
Look, there’s more I should tackle - about “more acidic” oceans and the like. But you get the picture.
And remember: this is just a standard piece of alarmism of the kind the media pumps out almost every day.  
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More evidence of that earlier warming the IPCC ironed out

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (7:32am)

Global warming - propaganda

image
For years this now-discredited graphic was everywhere, including in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, allegedly proving the world hadn’t been this hot for thousands of years:
At some time or another, most people will have seen the hockey stick - the iconic graph which purports to show that after centuries of stable temperatures, the second half of the twentieth century saw a sudden and unprecedented warming of the globe. This was caused, we were told, by mankind burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For a while, the hockey stick was everywhere - unimpeachable evidence that mankind was damaging the planet - an impact that would require drastic measures to reverse.  The stick’s most famous outing however was just a couple of years ago when it made a headlining appearance in Al Gore’s drama-documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. The revelation of the long, thin graph with its dramatic temperature rise in the last few decades, and the audience gasps that accompanied it, is something of a key moment for many environmentalists.
But a new paper confirms the medieval period was actually warmer than today, and not just in Europe and not just on land:

We show that water masses linked to North Pacific and Antarctic intermediate waters were warmer by 2.1 ± 0.4°C and 1.5 ± 0.4°C, respectively, during the middle Holocene Thermal Maximum than over the past century. Both water masses were ~0.9°C warmer during the Medieval Warm period than during the Little Ice Age and ~0.65° warmer than in recent decades.
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Do you trust Clive Palmer?

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (7:25am)


What’s Clive Palmer’s word worth?
Palmer in June:

TONY JONES:  Hedley Thomas, ‘The Australian’s reporter, has ... raised questions over the financial viability of two of your key companies, the nickel refinery in Townsville is one of them and of course your resort hotel in Coolum. Are they both making big losses as is claimed?
CLIVE PALMER: No, they’re on track at the moment with the investment we’ve got, that I’m putting in of my money and the results are better than projected. If you take the resort at Coolum, when we took it over it had a total of $509 million of losses since it opened and the owner was going to close it down and cut it up for real estate. We stepped in, restructured it, we had to change some jobs and let some people go and put some other people on, and now it’s operating ...
Palmer yesterday:
LEIGH SALES: Let me also ask you: does your Coolum resort in Queensland operate at a profit?
CLIVE PALMER:: No, it’s where I live and where I enjoy myself and that’s - I keep people employed at a great subsidy ‘cause I love the Sunshine Coast and I love spending my money to keep people employed in the greatest state in Australia.
LEIGH SALES: And how long are you prepared to sustain that loss?
CLIVE PALMER: Well probably until I die.
LEIGH SALES: And what is the magnitude of that loss?
CLIVE PALMER: Who knows? Who cares?
UPDATE
I consider Palmer a bully who should never be trusted with political power. Hedley Thomas reports:

CLIVE Palmer ... once listed litigation as a hobby in his biography for Who’s Who. His lawyers take legal steps, presumably on his instructions, that prolong litigation and rack up costs for the other side.
These strategies can break his opponents financially. If they are like most people with limited resources, they are forced to raise the white flag, lick their wounds and move on…
Dean Andary is 79… The famed layout beneath Mount Coolum was expertly carved from land once owned by Andary… When he sold his property to a major developer, their shared vision of a world-class golf resort came to fruition with the creation of the Hyatt Regency. Andary’s lease guaranteed him a golf locker and the playing rights on the course, which would host the Australian PGA event..
[Palmer then] bought the resort and the course from Lend Lease...[and] went about getting rid of the Hyatt brand and the PGA championship, naming the place after himself, sacking most staff, preventing owners from using their properties, populating it with dinosaurs and erecting signs promoting his bid to be prime minister…
Without warning, in January last year Palmer, the founding head of the Palmer United Party, which may control the balance of power in the Senate from next July, instructed his staff to cease honouring Andary’s lease agreement with Palmer’s company, Coeur de Lion Investments…
Andary ... filed a formal statement of claim against Palmer’s company, seeking judgment for damages… The legal record shows Palmer counter-sued Andary for more than $7 million in damages for “breach of contract, unjust enrichment, interest on damages, and costs”.
The aggressive legal skirmishing has caused hundreds of documents about Andary’s private financial affairs to be brought into the public arena. Everything from his Australian Taxation Office annual returns and statements for a decade, to his family trust deed, private share portfolio, personal borrowings, pension plans, properties and mortgages are now on public display.
Palmer also has signalled his intention to run the battle as far as it can go - the High Court of Australia - at vast financial cost. His lawyers warned Andary in May last year that the cost of a 20-day trial, including High Court appeals, would be $1,587,000, adding: “We repeat our request for security of costs of $1m along with a guarantee"…
Palmer’s lawyers have recently dispatched about 80 detailed legal documents to golfers, accommodation managers, former staff and others, demanding they turn over “all notes, memoranda, receipts, correspondence, documents and other written records” relating to Andary’s lease agreement…

Andary is ... refusing to blink. Although he was not required to do so, he has provided a guarantee of security for legal costs of $150,000. He refused to comment ...  but one person close to him says: “It’s a matter of principle. He’s not going to be bullied into giving away his rights.”
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AEC should consider suing Clive Palmer for his smears

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (7:08am)


Conspiracist Clive Palmer is the first to fling dirt at the Australian Electoral Commission for losing 1375 ballots in the recount of the Senate result in Western Australia:
CLIVE PALMER, PALMER UNITED PARTY: Oh, I think they’re down the toilet, shredded somewhere or being sold on the black market in Thailand - who knows? An AEC officer may have his pension.
Let’s assume this is indeed a conspiracy. So who would benefit most from such corruption? Let’s see: Palmer’s candidate won the seat and if the recount must be abandoned, it is more likely that the first vote will stand than it is that a fresh election will be held, given that a new election will not represent the state of the mind of the voters back at the September 7 election and will be an unfair imposition on independent candidates.
Not that I believe any such corruption occurred. But Palmer is the last who should make such a toxic claim - and without any evidence.
Meanwhile the AEC should consider suing Palmer for defamation for this as well as earlier defamatory claims he has made against AEC returning officers, especially in Fairfax. The integrity of this institution must be upheld.  
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How did such a person with such an excuse emerge among us?

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (6:45am)


image
He was one of the Muslims who rioted in Sydney against an American YouTube film Innocence of Muslims:

Omar Halaby, 18, pleaded guilty in the same court to smashing the windscreen of a police vehicle with a milk crate.
For some bizarre reason, we’d been paying this man a disability pension since he was just 16:

HE has no trouble smashing police car windscreens with milk crates but it seems Muslim rioter Omar Halaby is not fit to work, receiving a $200-a-fortnight disability support pension.
The 19-year-old from Padstow last week escaped with a good-behaviour bond for his role in September’s violent Muslim protest in the CBD - partly because of remorse, his previous clean record and health issues he suffers that include sporting injuries and literacy problems…
In documents tendered to the Downing Centre Local Court, Legal Aid lawyer Sophie Edin said Halaby suffered from “certain disabilities” which had seen him claim the pension for the past three years...
How disabled was he really?
While the taxpayer supports accused rioter Omar Halaby, he spruiks about terrorism and illegal drugs on his Facebook page – and even does the odd day’s work on a construction site, despite receiving a disability pension.
How surprising. He’s in court again:

Halaby, 19, of Padstow, pleaded guilty to using offensive language and resisting arrest over an incident on the corner of Bryant St and Gibson Ave in Padstow on September 21.
A familiar story of a thug using Islam to excuse himself:
During the car stop last month he was a passenger in a BMW and shouted out of the car window “f . . . off dog c . . . .” to police officers involved in another incident, police alleged. When the car was stopped Halaby continued his tirade, refusing to get out of the car. “Make me. I’m f . . . . . . not getting out of the car. Youse don’t have any intell to pull this car over,” he is alleged to have said.
He refused to give officers his name or any details 10 times and one officer knocked away a Coca-Cola can Halaby was crushing in his hand, with his chest puffed out in an “aggressive stance”, fearing it could be used as a weapon.
At Bankstown Police Station he refused to be fingerprinted by a female officer. “Don’t f . . . . . . touch me, my religion says women aren’t allowed to touch me, don’t touch me you f . . . . . . bitches,” he is alleged to have said.
What family, what culture, produced such a person?
(Thanks to reader Peter.) 
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A disposition to splash your cash

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (12:16am)


How I would have written the lead:
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to rule out more handouts for automotive companies despite his Industry Minister admitting there was a chance car manufacturing might not survive in Australia anyway.
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was reported as saying that there was a “possibility that the [car] industry is not able to be saved in terms of the level of support it might require”. 
How The Age wrote it:
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to pledge extra money for automotive companies despite his Industry Minister admitting there was a chance car manufacturing might not survive in Australia.
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was reported as saying that there was a “possibility that the [car] industry is not able to be saved in terms of the level of support it might require”.
UPDATE
Bye bye:
Holden will stop manufacturing in Australia in three or four years no matter what Canberra does to prop it up, senior ministers in the federal government now believe.
The bleak conclusion, which has not been stated publicly, is fuelling strong resistance inside the government to further taxpayer subsidies to the automotive industry.
Also fuelling ministerial anger is the assistance sought by Holden in current crisis talks, which according to one is “in excess of $200 million” per year from 2015, when the current car plan expires.
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Shorten’s first big decison has probably finished him

Andrew Bolt November 01 2013 (4:33pm)

Carbon tax

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten makes his first big decision, and it’s hard to think how much worse it could be:

Labor would propose amendments to the government’s carbon tax repeal legislation, aimed at moving to an emissions trading scheme…
“However, if our amendments are not successful we will oppose the government’s repeal legislation, in line with our long-held principle position to act on climate change.”
Let’s walk through this.
Abbott will not for a second agree to an emissions trading scheme. He’s already promised not to impose it.
So Shorten will in the blink of an eye will be joining the Greens and blocking the repeal of a carbon tax until the new Senate sits. That gives Abbott around a year to paint Shorten as “Elecrticity Bill” - the man who is keeping your power bills higher than they should be.
And it doesn’t stop there.
After that, Shorten will go to the election promising an emissions trading scheme that its last Budget said would rise to $38 in just five years. That’s much higher than the current price of $25.15.
Who ever won an election from Opposition promising a new tax? Worse still, it is a tax that will not achieve its aim of cutting the world’s temperature and will just hurt Labor’s own voters by driving up power prices.
Shorten’s first big decision has probably guaranteed he will never be Prime Minister.
I know he would have outraged die-hard warmists on Labor’s Left had he dropped any promise of a price on carbon dioxide emissions. But here is where he could have used Labor’s preposterous new leadership rules to his advantage. He knows those rules essentially mean he cannot be sacked before the election, and if he miraculously wins that election he cannot be sacked as Prime Minister.
So he could have made the call on the carbon tax that would have outraged his Left but pleased voters of the centre. Instead, he went for the easy option, and looks doomed even before he starts. 
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Some haven't thought through this issue. Banned in decent places .. female circumcision is barbaric and unrelated to male circumcision. The posters of this meme are not ones I trust. But the issue is serious. It isn't legal in NSW, but happens here. - ed===
Where is the drive to excel? To do work better. More. Faster. Less effort. These people don't think like town planners. And yet they do. - ed
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ALP offers to suicide on carbon tax/ETS - ed
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Yep. Doogie Howser MP does have a bit of a point. 
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The young adults may go looking for it. Sex with strangers is dark and dangerous. Maybe that seems appealing to some? But it doesn't lead to nesting, or building a life. It is no different to a curse. - ed

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A jewel .. please treat her well Andreas Herrmann
It’s a long way from Mildura:

Siobhan is from Mildura, Victoria and attended Mildura Senior College.

Living the dream:

After completing her formal training in June 2013, Siobhan joined the Salzburg Festival’s Young Singers Project… For 2013/14 Siobhan joins the Deutsche Oper Berlin

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James Calore

Be careful out there...
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Overcast, but still colorful day in the Lakes — inMedford Lakes, NJ, United States.
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JOHN WAYNE
Happy Halloween!===
Pastor Rick Warren

This scares adults! 
Pumpkin carving winner at Saddleback's annual#BlocktoberParty for 30,000 kids tonight. 120 acre party for the community. Join us!
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On this day in 1926, Harry Houdini died of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital after a burst appendix poisoned his system. Find out how by going here: http://histv.co/1bFPiCE SHARE with your friends if you’re looking forward to HOUDINI starring Adrien Brody, coming in 2014.
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Sarah Palin
President Obama flew in to Boston today to deliver another “ShamWow”-style infomercial for Obamacare, and it went about as well as his entourage’s snarled traffic debacle in Beantown.

As millions of Americans are being kicked off their desired insurance plans and seeing their premiums skyrocket, the President had a lot of 'splaining to do today. For starters we anticipated a Presidential apology for lying to Americans repeatedly when he promised things like, “If you like your current health care plan, you can keep it.” Make no mistake, he knew he was lying when he said that. And make no further mistake, after five years of false Obama claims, no one should actually expect contrition on this administration’s part.

Bloomberg reports that in June of 2010, the administration knew millions would be kicked off existing healthcare plans due to Obamacare; but President Obama continued to knowingly deceive the American people with repeated claims that if we liked our current plan we could keep it.

So, finally busted, did the President apologize? Was remorse and sympathy shown for Americans who now can’t afford health insurance thanks to Obamacare? Nope. He instead informed us that Americans who receive cancellation notices have been on “substandard” plans supplied by “bad apple” insurers. That’s right. Obama didn’t lie to you when he said, “if you like your plan, you can keep it.” Why? Because, you sillies, you DIDN’T REALLY like the plan you chose for yourselves! No arguing. Barack Obama knows best and he’ll tell you whether you actually liked your insurance plan or not. If you’re an elderly bachelor, your old plan was clearly “substandard” because it didn’t offer maternity care. What’s that you say? You don’t need maternity care? Well, according to the President today, he says you do, and any insurance plan that doesn’t offer it is a “junk” plan provided by a “bad apple” insurer.

But don’t worry, the President also promised that only “rich” people making $250,000 or more will see their premium costs rise. This lie is so appalling and so easily debunked that the brazenness with which he made it is simply breathtaking. But who will hold him accountable for it? Media, you know I love you... so let me help you save your hide with the American public by suggesting you fact-check that.

Despite the Obamacare rollout disaster and the broken government website (which HHS Secretary Sebelius admitted is a “debacle” in her testimony before Congress today), the President gleefully highlighted the few people signing up for Obamacare as indicative of his socialized medicine’s “success.” He neglected to mention that the government is forcing Americans to sign up for his program or pay fines that will increase each year we fail to do so.

For sheer chutzpah, the President closed his speech by praising America’s “rugged individualism.” Because nothing says “rugged individualism” like heavy-handed big government forcing individuals to buy a product they don’t want and arrogantly telling them they didn’t really like the product they wisely chose for themselves and could afford.

Thanks for the infomercial, Mr. President. I don’t know anyone who wants your “ShamWow” product, but the IRS will make sure we call that toll free number or go online to order it right now…. well, just as soon as your impossibly broken $600 million website is fixed and your phones lines aren’t busy.

Happy with this, America? Make your voices heard. 2014 is just around the corner.

- Sarah Palin

P.S. Take a look at this article by Fox’s Eric Bolling:

http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/10/30/eric-bolling-why-healthcaregov-website-failure-mattersbig-time

As Eric asks, “If they can’t get a basic website up and running in three years… How on God’s green Earth are they going to administer health care to 300 million Americans? So, with billions upon billions of health related communications clearing through the government medicine portal annually, our very health will be hanging in the balance…Therefore, you must conclude: The Obama administration has our lives in their hands…Ask yourself… Do you trust President Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Kathleen Sebelius and Jay Carney with your life? I certainly do not!”
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http://davidbowles.us/creature-feature/
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Who's going to be carving a #DoctorWho themed pumpkin for Halloween (or as we like to call it,#Wholloween)? Send your photos to us via doctorwho@bbc.com! Here's one created by Whovians Dmitri and Joey last year.

And if you need some top tips on how to make your pumpkin stand out from the crowd, here'sBBC Good Food's guide to creating the spookiest pumpkins: http://bit.ly/PumpkinCarvingTips
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Matt Granz. .. bass player
https://bandpa.bandcamp.com/track/right-between-your-lips-1995
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Matt Granz
Gooooood Morning San Francisco!
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Aprille Love
#regram with @bamitsjoanne from last night's#boohoosocialdiary #bestpartyever

Cuz we run the night! #boohoosocialdiary photo thanks to Tim W. #bestnightever #bestdressed#hallowen
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http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0068713/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068713/
Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee... Classic. Tele Savalas as a kossack.
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Looking forward to hearing from irate lefties no doubt being forced at gunpoint to read his papers because he "controls 70% of newspapers in Australia".

*Smirk*>

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How Lou Reed helped the fight against lefties.

http://reason.com/blog/2013/10/27/how-lou-reed-inspired-anti-communist-rev
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Sometimes, Sydney shines - ed
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http://www.ramint.gov.au/.../downloads/mintissue99.pdf

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This is what happens when he expects a death penalty .. and there isn't one. - ed
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Aprille Love
@thebachelorau @guysebastian @tiffsocialdiary#boohoosocialdiary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MXdWSNSawg
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http://myemail.constantcontact.c...
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1913 Video of Israel, with Historical Jewish Hero – Trumpledor!!!
He is a Jewish hero from our past, and here we can see him in this video!
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Revolutionary Parking Technology App from Israel!
Holy moses, how did they program this nifty app!
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Singing Halelu – Praising the One Above for Everything
Enjoy!
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Sheldon Adelson calls for nuclear strike on Iran
This is the best advice to the US on how to solve the Iran nuclear problem with diplomacy!
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This must be one of the best video presentations that clearly explains international law and the legal case for Israel and Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria. Definitely watch this to have a better understanding of international law so you can talk about Israel's situation intelligently with others.
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Join our mission - Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to help us grow our network to reach hundreds of thousands of people to make a difference for Israel.
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HonestReporting's Israel Daily News Stream: Everything You Need to Know About Media Coverage of Israel and the MidEast

Today's Top Stories

• Israel responsible for mysterious attack on Syrian missile base?
• 30,000 foreign jihadists now in countries bordering Israel.
• Questions about Ayatollah Khamenei's health raise specter of power struggle.

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Friend,
I had lunch with George Will a few weeks back to talk about what happened in 2012, the future of the Republican party and 2016.  The excerpts below are a result of that get-together.  I hope you'll take a read of "For Santorum, The Fight Goes On."   
With disarmingly cheerful ferocity, he relishes combat in what he calls "a two-front civil war" within the GOP. The party is, he says, in danger of becoming "a one-legged stool." The "Eastern establishment types" want to saw off the cultural conservatism leg, concentrating on economic issues. The rising libertarian faction, exemplified by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, wants to saw off the strong foreign policy leg. Furthermore, Santorum says, "Americans are not ready for a dramatic withdrawal of government from their lives" of the sort many tea party types advocate.
This self-described "blue-collar Republican" insists, "We are not the anti-government party." Government has a role in the creation of jobs for the many "who are not going to college."
Santorum became a senator at age 36, a member of the Republican Senate leadership at 42 and an ex-senator at 48, when in 2006 he lost by 17 points in his bid for a third term. In 2011, however, this devout Catholic thought the other candidates for the nomination were perfunctory in their embrace of the social issues - principally, opposition to abortion - so he headed to all 99 Iowa counties.
Each rival had a brief moment as "not Romney"; Santorum's moment came, serendipitously, on the eve of the Iowa caucuses. In the first vote tabulation he lost by just eight votes. Sixteen days later, a revised tally showed that he had defeated Romney by 34 votes, 29,839 to 29,805. He believes he might have won the nomination if the first headlines had said "Santorum wins." He won 10 more states, but his campaign essentially ended when he lost by seven points in Wisconsin, where he had hoped to prove he could win where evangelical Christians were relatively thin on the ground.
Looking to 2016, Santorum rightly says Republicans "have got to work on the hopeful and optimistic side" of politics. But he wants to compel a troubling conversation the nation would rather not have.  Read the full article here.
Sincerely,
santorum-signature

Rick Santorum 


Texas Court Rolls Back Historic Pro-Life Legislation
I want to make sure you saw that on Monday a Texas court struck down portions of the abortion law that passed last summer, which put important restrictions on abortion.  While the most significant piece of the bill - banning abortions after 20 weeks - was maintained, it is unfortunate that the court chose to block full implementation of this law.This decision only reaffirms my commitment to keep fighting for life at every stage.
I traveled to Texas last summer to support the efforts of Governor Rick Perry and members of the Texas legislature to protect the lives of unborn children, and Patriot Voices collected thousands of signatures on our petition asking Americans to stand with life.
The Christmas CandleUpdate
You can now pre-order tickets for hundreds of theaters here.  More theaters will be added so keep checking back!
Strikeforce in Virginia
It's not too late! You can still sign up for our Virginia Strikeforce!  A new poll shows that this race is getting close. According to Peter A. Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac University Polling Institute:  "It goes without saying that turnout is the key to this race and the harshly negative tone of the campaign is the kind that often turns off voters."  If you can't join us on the ground, support our efforts on Twitter: @patriot_voices #vagov #vastrikeforce!
pvpac2

Listen to Bennett and Huckabee
On Monday, I joined both Bill Bennett and Governor Mike Huckabee on their radio shows to talk about strategies for stopping ObamaCare.  You can listen to the interviews by clicking on the links here (Bill Bennett's show and Mike Huckabee's show).
Defeat the United Nations Disabilities Treaty
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to reconsider the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on November 5 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  Please join with Patriot Voices in helping to defeat this treaty!
You can quickly and easily email your Senators by visiting our CRPD page. You will be able to generate a personalized email to immediately send to your Senators.  After you do that, please call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected with your Senators.  Tell them to vote NO on CRPD. 
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Liberal Logo



Today’s decision by the Labor Opposition not to support the unconditional removal of the Carbon Tax confirms that nothing has changed with Labor.

Bill Shorten has failed his first test of leadership.

Instead of supporting the repeal of the Carbon Tax, Mr Shorten and Labor now want to “amend it” and, importantly, keep in place the laws that underpin the Carbon Tax. 

Labor wants to keep the Carbon Tax, so that they can easily re-start it, if they are elected again.

A strong leader would have stood up to Labor’s left and opposed the Carbon Tax – but Bill Shorten was too weak to do so. 

Bill Shorten’ s refusal to unconditionally support the removal of the Carbon Tax threatens local jobs and will mean higher electricity prices.

Only the Coalition opposes the Carbon Tax and will remove it - no "ifs" or "buts".
 
Regards,

Brian Loughnane
Federal Director
Liberal Party of Australia
Authorised by Brian Loughnane, Cnr Blackall and Macquarie Streets, Barton  ACT 2604.
 
Copyright © Liberal Party of Australia.
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Hi everyone! Here's the MichelleMalkin.com newsletter for October 31st. Enjoy!

From the Blog

More From the Right Side of the Web

Featured Video

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Check out the newest dance craze: The Healthcare Mash!

Michelle's Top Tweets

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And ... Our Hate Tweet of the Day

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Heh ... "devil woman." Happy Halloween, everybody!
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November 1All Saints' Day (Western Christianity);National Day in Algeria (1954); Rajyotsava (Formation Day) in Karnataka, India (1956)
Arecibo radio telescope
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Events[edit]

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Holidays and observances[edit]

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“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9NIV
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning

"Renew a right spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with "renew a right spirit within me." Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel's strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life--"Lord, renew a right spirit within me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, "Renew a right spirit within me."

Evening

"I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought."
Hosea 13:5
Yes, Lord, thou didst indeed know me in my fallen state, and thou didst even then choose me for thyself. When I was loathsome and self-abhorred, thou didst receive me as thy child, and thou didst satisfy my craving wants. Blessed forever be thy name for this free, rich, abounding mercy. Since then, my inward experience has often been a wilderness; but thou hast owned me still as thy beloved, and poured streams of love and grace into me to gladden me, and make me fruitful. Yea, when my outward circumstances have been at the worst, and I have wandered in a land of drought, thy sweet presence has solaced me. Men have not known me when scorn has awaited me, but thou hast known my soul in adversities, for no affliction dims the lustre of thy love. Most gracious Lord, I magnify thee for all thy faithfulness to me in trying circumstances, and I deplore that I should at any time have forgotten thee and been exalted in heart, when I have owed all to thy gentleness and love. Have mercy upon thy servant in this thing!
My soul, if Jesus thus acknowledged thee in thy low estate, be sure that thou own both himself and his cause now that thou art in thy prosperity. Be not lifted up by thy worldly successes so as to be ashamed of the truth or of the poor church with which thou hast been associated. Follow Jesus into the wilderness: bear the cross with him when the heat of persecution grows hot. He owned thee, O my soul, in thy poverty and shame--never be so treacherous as to be ashamed of him. O for more shame at the thought of being ashamed of my best Beloved! Jesus, my soul cleaveth to thee.
"I'll turn to thee in days of light,
As well as nights of care,
Thou brightest amid all that's bright!
Thou fairest of the fair!"
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Today's reading: Jeremiah 22-23, Titus 1 (NIV)

View today's reading on Bible Gateway

Today's Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 22-23

Judgment Against Wicked Kings
1 This is what the LORD says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: 2‘Hear the word of the LORD to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates. 3 This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. 5 But if you do not obey these commands, declares the LORD, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”
6 For this is what the LORD says about the palace of the king of Judah:
“Though you are like Gilead to me,
like the summit of Lebanon,
I will surely make you like a wasteland,
like towns not inhabited.
7 I will send destroyers against you,
each man with his weapons,
and they will cut up your fine cedar beams
and throw them into the fire....

Today's New Testament reading: Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it....
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Ruth

The Woman Who Rose From Obscurity to Riches
Scripture References - The Book of Ruth, Matthew 1:5
Name Meaning - Since the Ruth of ancient Bible times, her name has ever been a most popular one for girls. Elsdon C. Smith, in his compilation of the first hundred female names in America, places Ruth seventh in the list, with an estimated number of almost one and a half million bearing the name. The author's only daughter bears this honored name. As to its significance, we cannot do better than the interpretation Wilkinson gives us in his Personal Names of the Bible, in the chapter on "Heathen Names" -
The most distinguished person of the Moabitish race is Ruth, who became the wife of Boaz, and ancestress of David. Her name is a contraction of reuth , which may either be the word for "the act of seeing," "sight" and hence, as in English, objectively "a sight," "something worth seeing" - or the word for "friendship" or "a female friend," like reu in Reuel, "friend of God." If the former etymology be adopted, we must ascribe the name to the early beauty of the child; if the latter, it may be due to the exhibition in infancy of that amiable and affectionate disposition which was so characteristic of the woman.
Both meanings of the name were true of Ruth, for as a beautiful girl from Moab she was certainly a sight worth seeing, and her character revealed her to be a woman capable of rare friendship.
It took the grace of God to befriend a bitter woman as Naomi became, but Ruth was bound to her mother-in-law by the cords of love, and literature has no exhibition of friendship comparable to that dramatic episode on the way to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1617 ). Not wanting to go back to Moab, as Orpah did, Ruth, cleaving to Naomi said with passion in her voice -
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lorddo so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
What an appealing and stirring demonstration of undying friendship that was, and Ruth meant it, and through it changed Naomi's sourness into sweetness! We have dear friends like Ruth who cling to us, and others like Orpah whose friendship is only veneer and who quickly leave us (see Naomi and Orpah). Scripture gives us a fivefold profile of this famous Moabitess -
A Young Widow
The first glimpse we have of Ruth is as a young wife robbed by death of her husband. In our previous cameos of Naomi and Orpah we have already seen how Elimelech and his wife, along with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, in order to escape prevailing famine in Bethlehem, emigrated to the neighboring country of Moab, the inhabitants of which were idolaters. After a while Elimelech died, and the two fatherless sons married women of Moab. Mahlon took Ruth to wife, and Chilion, Orpah. After some ten years' sojourn in Moab, Mahlon and Chilion died leaving their wives childless. In marrying women of Moab those two Hebrew men sinned against the Mosaic Law which prohibted any association with the idolatrous Moabites (Deuteronomy 7:323:3).
Mahlon means "the sickly one," or "invalid"; Chilion, "the pining one," or "wasting away" - names probably associated with their natal frailty. They may have been twins, and from their birth Naomi had to surround them with great care and attention. This is evident that life in Moab, with all its food and comfort, hastened their end. Like their father, Elimelech, they found graves in foreign soil, and the desolation of widowhood came upon both Ruth and Orpah, who became sharers of Naomi's desolation. Ten years of widowhood brought the two younger women to a mature age. How far they had been influenced Godward by their marriage into a Hebrew family, with its recognition of God, and not their idols, as the only true object of worship, we are not told. As Ruth's husband, Mahlon, was the first-born of Elimelech and Naomi, we can imagine how he would strive through their years together to draw her from her heathen ways. With all we know of Ruth's honest nature, it is quite possible that she warmly received all her husband told her of the mighty Jehovah.
Bereft of her husband, Ruth, as well as Orpah, would be left without material resources of support, and would face the hard and bitter lot of a biting poverty, as many widows do when the breadwinner is taken. But if Ruth shed any tears over her sorry plight as she faced a gloomy future without her husband, there is no record of them. She did not seek for self-pity neither did she manifest the bitterness that had gripped the heart of Naomi because of her sad lot. Amid the shadows, Ruth maintained a poise and a serenity which even her mother-in-law must have coveted. When happy homes are ravaged by death, it requires grace to say, "The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Naomi's self-confessed bitterness over the loss of husband and sons spoke of her lack of faith in God's good providence. But Ruth, heathen though she may have been, seems to have calmly acquiesced in the divine will.
A Faithful Daughter-in-Law
Bound together by a bond of common grief, the three widows found consolation in each other's company. "Fellow-feeling, makes us wondrous kind." The widowed Naomi, now bereft of her two sons who died childless, had no links with Moab. As famine had passed in Bethlehem, the decision was made to pull up stakes and return to her own country and people, perhaps with a faint hope that God would prove Himself to be the Guardian of widows. "Let thy widows trust in me." What about Ruth and Orpah? Deeply attached to their mother-in-law, who had become a second mother to them, and to whom they clung as their friend and counselor, they decided to accompany the pilgrim on her way. Naomi used no persuasion, but left the two young widows to make their own choice. Therefore all three left Moab together, but on the way they stopped and Naomi urged them to return to their own country, marry again and settle down. She did not want them to face uncertainty in a strange land. With poor Orpah, ties of kindred and her own idolatrous practices won out. Her heart failed, and kissing her mother-in-law she went back to her people and to her gods. It is possible that when among her heathen friends again, her conscience often whispered to her of the wrong course taken.
As for Ruth, the choice was different. She loved Naomi and was willing to leave her own land and share the unknown future with the aging woman in whom her life was bound up. In her happier days with Mahlon, and then in her desolation and bereavement, Ruth found in Naomi a home for her heart. Orpah manifested a show of passionate affection as she kissed her mother-in-law good-by! But Ruth, as always, revealed a quiet fidelity so characteristic of her association with the embittered woman now returning to Bethlehem. We agree with the sentiment of Alexander Whyte that there is not a love story comparable to the love of the Moabite daughter-in-law for her Hebrew mother-in-law.
Ruth's love for her dead husband's aged mother is as pure as gold and as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench Ruth's love. And her confession of her love, when she is constrained to confess it, is the most beautiful confession of love in all the world.
Ruth's declaration of love and loyalty for Naomi marks it out as being the purest and most unselfish form of devotion, especially when we remember that Naomi was more than twice the age of Ruth, and that, proverbially, it is not easy to live with a mother-in-law. Here we have a strong contradiction to modern flippancy - the passionate affection of a young widow for her widowed mother-in-law. History and literature cannot provide a more exquisite expression of love and loyalty as that to be found in the lovely idyll bearing the name of the lover herself. The matchless beauty of the character of Ruth appeared when she cried, "Intreat me not to leave thee." As A. S. Geden puts it, "The piety and fidelity of Ruth are early exhibited in the course of the narrative, in that she refused to abandon her mother-in-law, although thrice exhorted to do so by Naomi herself, on account of her own great age, and the better prospects for Ruth in her own country." In an age like ours with its ever growing number of strained relationships, broken homes and loveless lives it is most refreshing to go back to the charming picture of loyalty found in a short yet sublime book in which every prospect pleases.
A Determined Convert
In spite of her heathen background and association with the degenerated tribe of Moab, Ruth became a devout worshiper of the true God. Just when she cast off her idolatry with its folly of bowing down to gods of wood and stone, and turned to the beauty and blessedness of true religion we are not told. Perhaps in her somewhat short married life, her heart was stirred by what her husband told her of the greatness of Jehovah. Then she must have seen that Naomi's God was totally different from the lifeless deity she worshiped. This much is evident, that her outburst of song of life devotion on the road from Moab to Bethlehem was the birth-strain of a new life. From henceforth the Hebrews would be her people, and Naomi's God her God. Her new-found faith constrained her to say, "The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me."
Had Ruth accompanied Orpah to Moab and to obscurity, she would have returned to the altars of Baal. But now with God in her heart, she longed to live with those people "whose God is the Lord." Faith burst forth into the light of day, took the form of quiet, humble service, and remained untainted by any trace of pride or of spiritual haughtiness, as Kuyper expresses it. To which we can add the sentiment of Fausset that, "Ruth is an instance of natural affection made instrumental in leading to true religion. A blossom of heathendom stretching its flower cup desiringly towards the light of revelation in Israel."
The firm decision of Ruth to follow Jehovah, and to completely identify herself with His people, brought her a rich reward when she became the ancestress of the Saviour who came into the world to save idolaters and sinners of every race. With her surrender to the claims of God, Ruth's "beauty of heart, generosity of soul, firm sense of duty and meekness" were sanctified, and were used to place her winsome portrait among the immortals. There are thousands of Christian parents whose heavy load would be lifted if only their unsaved children would come home one day confessing. "Thy God shall be my God, thy people my people." The miracle happened in the heathen heart of Ruth, and God is still the same today as when He won the young widow of Moab for Himself.
A Humble Gleaner
Back in Bethlehem, Naomi was reminded of how her afflictions had changed her. Friends found it hard to believe that this was the beautiful woman who had left them ten years before. At that time she was clothed so well, but now she is clad in a poor and sorrowful dress. Her brow was wrinkled and her back bent, but by her side was the "foreigner," to share her sorrow, and to taste any joys that might come to her. At first it seemed as if they were to remain desolate and uncared for, but fortunately it was harvest time, and the golden sheaves were being gathered in. Naomi and Ruth must live, and Ruth, with her characteristic thoughtfulness, knew that her aged mother-in-law was not able to work. Thus she went out and was directed to join the poor gleaners in the fields of the rich, godly landowner, Boaz.
We find ourselves in disagreement with those who try to portray Ruth as a lonely girl overcome with homesickness for her old Moabite friends as she bent her back to glean in an unfamiliar field. In his Ode to a Nightingale, Keats sought to immortalize such a feeling in the arrestive lines -
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Thro' the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn.
There is no trace whatever of such a doleful note in the record of Ruth. Having deliberately severed all association with Moab, she found joy among the strange people whom she had made her people, and when she went forth that bright morning to follow the reapers, it was with joy and confidence that the God under whose wings she had come to trust would undertake for her. Thus we much prefer the beautiful tribute Thomas Hood gives us in his poem on Ruth.
She stood breast-high amid the corn,
Clasped by the golden light of morn,
Like the sweetheart of the sun,
Who many a glowing kiss had won.
On her cheek an autumn flush,
Deeply ripened - such a blush
In the midst of Brown was born,
Like red poppies grown with corn.
Round her eyes her tresses fell,
Which were blackest none could tell,
But long lashes veiled a light,
That had else been all too bright.
And her hat, with shady brim,
Made her tressy forehead dim -
Thus she stood amid the stooks,
Praising God with sweetest looks.
"Sure," I said, "Heav'n did not mean,
Where I reap thou should'st but glean;
Lay thy sheaf adown and come,
Share my harvest and my home."
Ruth was not ashamed of the low order of her work as she took her place as a gleaner with the poor and outcast. The sacred historian tells us that as Ruth went out to secure food for Naomi and herself that it was "her hap to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." But her entrance into the field of Boaz, and not into another man's field, did not just happen. Under Jewish law Ruth had the right to glean in any harvest field. It was no mere chance, then, that brought Boaz and Ruth together, for even the steps of God's children are directed by Him. In His plan for His own there is no such a thing as luck . Determined not to eat the bread of idleness, industrious Ruth walked right into the arms of divine providence. Little did she dream that she would become the much-loved wife of the master of the field in which the reapers had given her a friendly welcome (Ruth 2:12;Psalms 17:836:7).
Being one who feared God, and one who cared for the poor, Boaz went among his reapers, spoke kindly to them, and earned their benediction. Coming upon Ruth he was arrested by her staid and modest look. Although poorly clad there was a dignity in her mien, a refinement giving her distinction, and Boaz is arrested by her beauty and personality. Making inquiries about her, Boaz learns of her sacrifice for Naomi, and of her conversion to the worship of Jehovah (Ruth 2:6), and commands the reapers to purposely drop extra sheaves for Ruth's benefit. Boaz also bade Ruth to glean only in his field, and to stand fast by his female workers. He wanted to preserve her from coarse contact with men who might take advantage of such a poor woman, who was in his admiring eyes a superior one. She was not to eat with others but present herself at his feasts.
As for Ruth, her heart was full because kindness had been shown her by a stranger in the solitude of a strange land. How excited she must have been when she reached home and told Naomi all about her good fortune, and showed her all the parched corn she had gathered. Was there a lyric note in Ruth's story of that first day? Had she sensed that somehow Boaz had been strangely attracted to her, hence his generosity in spite of the alien blood in her veins? As for Naomi, when Ruth came to mention the name of her benefactor, Boaz, she recalls the name as that of a kinsman of her deceased husband, Elimelech. It may be that in the mind of Naomi there entered a feeling that perhaps a brighter future may be hers and Ruth's.
An Honored Mother
We all know how matters between Boaz and Ruth developed which caused Goethe to say of the Book of Ruth that "we have nothing so lovely in the whole range of epic and idyllic poetry." The name of Boaz became immortalized because of his loving-kindness toward Ruth, the poor Moabitess, while the kinsman who would not mar his own inheritance is unknown. It turned out that Boaz was one of Naomi's nearest relatives and one of the few remaining kinsmen of her husband's family. Therefore he was able to befriend the widow of Mahlon, Elimelech's son, according to the deep principle pervading the law of Israel regarding the preservation of families. This Levirate Law stated that where a husband died without issue, the nearest brother-in-law (levir) might be called upon by the widow to perform for her all the duties of a husband, and raise up seed for the deceased.
In the case of Ruth, however, no brother-in-law was available seeing the only sons Elimelech had were dead. Consequently, the nearest of kin could be called upon to act as "redeemer" (goel) for the unfortunate, relieving them thereby of their distress. The nearest relative to Ruth by marriage was unable to function as her goel, and being the next relative, Boaz did not shirk his responsibility toward the lovely woman who had won his heart. Before the council of ten men at the city gate he announced before witnesses his decision to buy Ruth's inheritance and marry her. Although bachelor Boaz was advanced in years, he was determined to play his part and as Naomi said, "The man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day" - and finish it he did! So the idyllic conclusion was reached, with Ruth being lifted out of obscurity into a happy union with Boaz, the mighty man of wealth. This story provides us with one of the first records in world history of a rise from rags to riches, from poverty to plenty.
God smiled upon the marriage of honorable Boaz and virtuous Ruth, and blessed them with a son whom they named Obed which means "a servant who worships." As Ruth was the servant who came to worship Jehovah, we can imagine her son's name as being expressive of her own conversion from idolatry. Through the birth of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who, in turn was the father of King David, Ruth found herself numbered among the elect, and God wove the thread of her life most intricately into the web of the history of His people, both before and after Christ. A Gentile by birth, Ruth yet became the chosen line through which later the Saviour of the world appeared. As He came to redeem both Jew and Gentile alike, it was fitting that the blood of both should mingle in His veins. "A good name," says Solomon, "is rather to be chosen than riches, and loving favour than silver and gold." Ruth found it so, and thus her good name found a place in the royal genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5 ). As George Matheson so beautifully puts it, "In the soul of Jesus the wedding bells of Ruth and Boaz are rung once more. Here again Moab and Israel meet together. In the heart of the Son of Man the Gentile stands side by side with the Jew as the recipient of a common divine fatherhood."
Those of us who are Christians praise God for Ruth's inclusion in His portrait gallery, for she was the ancestress of Him who, by His death, brought us nigh to God. It was from Boaz, an Israelite without guile, and from Ruth, who became an "Israelite not in race, but in mind; not in blood but faith; not by tribe but by virtue and goodness," that Jesus came as the most perfect expression of all graces.
One could say much of the merits and message of the book to which Ruth gave her name, as well as of the many lessons to be gathered from it. Benjamin Franklin, who was ridiculed at one time in Paris for his defense of the Bible, was determined to find out how much of it his scoffers had read. He informed one of the learned societies that he had come across a story of pastoral life in ancient times that seemed to him very beautiful but he would like the opinion of the society. A night was arranged for Franklin to read to the assembly of scholars a lyric which impressed him. The Bible lover read the Book of Ruth, and when he had finished the scholars were in ecstasies and begged Franklin to print it. "It is already in print," said Franklin. "It is a part of the Bible you ridicule."
There is nothing in the entire range of biography sacred or profane, comparable to the idyllic simplicity, tenderness and beauty of the story of Ruth, the young widow of Moab. There are only two books out of the sixty-six forming the Bible that are named after women. Ruth is one, and the other is Esther - and both books have enchanted succeeding ages. The Jews have a peculiar regard for both books. At their Feast of Purim they read Esther, and at the Feast of Pentecost, the scroll of Ruth. Among the many typical features in the latter, the most outstanding is that of the composition of the true church of Jesus Christ. Ruth was a Gentile, Boaz a Hebrew. Boaz redeemed Ruth's possession and then became her husband. All have sinned, both Jews and Gentiles, but Jesus died for all, and His church is composed of regenerated Jews and Gentiles whom He calls His Bride. Thus "the marriage-bells of Ruth at Bethlehem were the same bells which sounded at the marriage-supper of the Lamb."
From Ruth's outstanding qualities of unselfishness and loyalty we learn that such virtues are the only foundation upon which true happiness can be built. Without them, abiding friendship is impossible, home ties are loose, and the social structure weak. Ruth also teaches us that attractive graciousness is worth cultivating; and that racial hatred and religious bigotry can be solved by a right relationship to Him who made of one blood all nations. Further, the rare literary gem of the Book of Ruth, which takes one some fifteen minutes to read, shows us how our industrial and labor problems can be solved. Boaz was a wealthy farmer, yet he maintained a delightful relation to those who worked for him in a dark, chaotic period of Israelitish history. As he walked through his fields, meeting his servants he would say, "The Lord be with thee," and such was the harmony that prevailed that they would reply, "The Lord bless thee." In our time, the strained relationship between masters and employees would be quickly solved by the application of the good will manifested in those ancient days. Combining as it does all the traits of human life and character, Ruth is a book all can read with both pleasure and profit.
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Job

[Jōb] - hated, one ever returning to god or he that weeps.
  1. The third son of Issachar(Gen. 46:13). Called Jashub inNumbers 26:24 and 1 Chronicles 7:1.
  2. A descendant of Aram, son of Shem, dwelling in Uz, and possibly contemporary with Abraham, and who died at the age of 240 years. References to the patriarch apart from his book are to be found in Ezekiel 14:14 and James 5:11.

The Man of Patience

This renowned Old Testament saint dwelt in the land of Uz on the borders of Idumaea. Job's portrait is clearly defined for us in his dramatic book.
I. As to his character, he was perfect and upright, feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). Here we have the manward, Godward and selfward aspects of his life.
II. As to his family, he had seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2, 18, 19).
III. As to his possessions, he was a wealthy landowner, having seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses and a large household (Job 1:3, 13-19).
IV. As to reputation, Job, who lived long before Israel with its religious, social and political organizations existed, was reckoned as the greatest of all the men of the East (Job 1:3).
V. As to his friends, candid friends, there were Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu ( Job 2:11; 36:1).
VI. As to his foes, we have mention of the Sabeans and Chaldeans (Job 1:15, 17).
VII. As to his sufferings, he lost his property, sons and wealth. But his losses were doubly recompensed (Job 42:11-13).
VIII. As to his prayer-life, Job knew how to seek God. Thus we have restrained prayer (Job 15:4), purity of prayer (Job 16:17), empty prayer ( Job 21:15), profitable prayer (Job 22:27), blessedness of prayer (Job 33:26), interceding prayer (Job 42:8), emancipating prayer (Job 42:10; see 8:5).
IX. As to his patience, the Bible presents him as our model. Faith was strained but Job emerged victorious ( Job 19:1-27; Jas. 5:11).
As to the remarkable book bearing Job's name, the following summary might suffice:
Its purpose. It is not an apologetic vindication of the ways of God to man; not a philosophic proof of the doctrine of immortality; not an argumentative refutation of the so-called Hosaic doctrine of retribution; not a word of exhortation to man not to pry into the deep designs of providence, neither is it the testing and improvement of Job's piety. That is acknowledged by God and admitted by Satan to be perfect. It has been written to prove:
That God can be loved for His own sake; that goodness may be unselfish and disinterested; that the righteous can serve God for nought and trust in Him even when He seems to be an enemy.
That the painful riddle of human life is capable of a blessed solution; that the sufferings of the righteous are not necessarily due to their own sins; that the inequalities of this life are to be redressed in the life to come. Justice will be done somehow, sometime, somewhere.
But the Bible is the Book of Christ, and the great theme of Job is the mystery of the Cross: How can the sufferings of the righteous be reconciled with the justice of God? Job is a type of the righteous man, of the Nation, of the Church and of Christ Himself.
Hence we have in Job the picture of a righteous man suffering because it pleased the Lord, for a wise purpose, to bruise him. God reversed the verdict of the men who rejected him and numbered him among the transgressors.
Key VerseJob 13:15 . "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." This is an Old Testament anticipation of the cry of dereliction that came from Christ upon the Cross: "Why didst Thou forsake me?"
Key Thought: Confidence in God (Job 23:10; 27:2-6). He knoweth. In the depth of his darkness and in the agony of his suffering, Job held on to God. My Redeemer liveth.
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October 31, 2011
Fresh Hope for the Journey
Part 2
Today's Truth
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God (Psalm 40:1-3, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Hard times will come and the darkness will find each one of us. At some point in life, we all will face some kind of pit. It may be a pit that we have dug with our own hands of wrong choices or it could be a pit that has been uniquely designed for us by the enemy. What can we do to find hope in the midst of the darkness?
Step 1: Identify the purpose of the pit.
Step 2: Choose a response to the pit.
We have several choices about how to deal with the pain and darkness in life. We can become bitter and blame God for the pain or we can give up and wallow in the mire and mud of that slimy pit. I am guilty of plastering a smile on my face, gritting my teeth and denying that the pit even exists. However, the choice we should make is to trust God, knowing He will deliver us in and from the pit. The Apostle Paul was an expert when it came to squeezing a seed of victory and truth out of every tough circumstance.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "So that I would not become too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me, a painful physical problem was given to me. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you.'"
Paul was not sinning by asking God to remove his affliction. Paul may not have understood what God was doing, but he chose to accept it because he knew God's heart. Paul may not have understood God's process but he trusted God.
Step 3: Embrace the power of the pit.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.' So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me."
God was sending Paul a message of hope. It is important to note the tense of the verb in this verse, "But he said to me" can be translated "He (God) has once-for-all said to me." It is an eternal promise.
The story is told of a business man who was selling warehouse property that had been empty for months. Since vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows and left garbage, the building needed expensive repairs. As the owner showed a prospective buyer the property, he was quick to explain that he would make any repairs needed. The buyer said, "Forget the repairs. When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building - just the site."
God's grace turns defeat into victory, tragedy into triumph and weakness into strength by providing real power over circumstances. People without Christ can muster up enough courage and human strength to get through a trial. God will not only enable us to survive the hard times, He wants us to thrive in and because of them. Paul used his pain and chose to make that pit work for him - and God's power was unleashed in Paul's life.
Step 4: Find joy in the pit.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me."
Joy is not an earthly treasure but a heavenly gift from our loving Father who is committed to the joy of His children. I am convinced that God entrusts the greatest trials to those who will respond to them in the right way. Some of the most joyful people I know have suffered the most because they have learned not to live on explanations but on promises - the promises of God.
I love the story of the little girl who misquoted her favorite Bible verse, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-laughing life." Jesus wants to give us a life of joy, pits and all. We need to remember that joy is the deeply-rooted confidence that God is in control and that our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outer circumstances. We can find joy in the pit.
Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book, Man's Search for Meaning, was imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II because he was a Jew. His wife, children and parents were killed in the Holocaust. As the Gestapo stripped away his clothes and cut off his wedding band, Victor said to himself, "You can take away my family and destroy everything I possess, but there is one thing that no person can ever take from me - my freedom to choose how I react to what happens to me."
Let's Pray
Father, thank You that You are my strength and my joy at a time when I feel so weak, trapped in a pit of despair. By faith, I turn to You and seek Your forgiveness for the pride that blinds me to the hope I can find in You. Please help me to see Your hand at work in my life and even when I can't, give me the power to walk by faith and not by sight.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize Psalm 40:1-3.
Record these verses in your journal.
When the darkness comes, remember each promise and count on God's grace.
More from the Girlfriends
I really hope and pray that these devotions have met a need in your life. We are living in difficult and dark times for so many people. If you are one of them, we want you to realize that you are not alone. Maybe God wants to use you to encourage someone else battling the darkness. Know that we are praying for you and walking with you - over every mountain - through every valley - girlfriends in God. Blessings.
Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies that you can download for your personal use and/or for a small group study. Are you or someone you love battling the darkness? Get Mary's book,Hope in the Midst of Depression, and discover how God delivered her from the pit of depression.
Mary's weekly online Bible studyLight for the Journey, is a great Bible study tool as well. Check it out! The current topic isCome As You Are.
Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Face book or throughemail. She loves hearing what God is doing in your life!
Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
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P31Header
Rachel Olsen
October 31, 2011
A Time to Pray
Rachel Olsen
"Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
GUILT. Many Christians I talk to equate this word with their prayer life, and I can relate.
I used to feel guilty. People would ask me to pray, or I would volunteer to when I heard they were going through something difficult. With a heart of compassion, I'd reply, "Oh, I'll pray for you!" And I fully intended to. But then I'd forget ... get busy ... say that to five other people ... and often never get around to doing it despite my good intentions.
I'd put off praying in the moment, in favor of waiting until I had a big chunk of time. Then life would happen and that chunk of time wouldn't materialize. By the time I carved some out, I couldn't remember all I'd intended to pray about.
One perception I had was that I needed to spend a lot of time in prayer in order to do it "right." I thought short prayers wouldn't have much power or impact. Then I noticed something that shifted my thinking. In Matthew 6, Jesus is teaching about prayer. He says, "When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask" (Matthew 6:7-8, CEV).
Wow, so I don't have to talk for hours, coming up with eloquent ways to phrase my petitions? It was freeing to see this coming from Jesus' own lips.
That was followed by another ah-ha moment. In the next verse, Jesus said: "You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil" (Matthew 6:9-13, CEV). This is often called "The Lord's Prayer."
Pause, look at the clock, and recite the Lord's Prayer aloud. Check the clock again. How long did that take? This was Jesus' illustration of how to pray-what does that tell us about feeling we need to pray l-o-n-g prayers to be effective?
Hear me on this, there are needs that call for extended time in prayer (see Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46 for instance). But many things can be prayed for in short prayers as we move throughout our day.
Now, when a friend sends me an email with a troubled story, I rarely respond by saying, "I will pray for you." Instead, I pause and pray for her, and then I reply, "I haveprayed for you." If someone calls me, or tells me in person about their prayer need, more often than not I'll offer to pray with them right then.
If I encounter a reason to pray while reading the newspaper or scripture, I do it in the moment. My aim is not to be lengthy and elaborate with these prayers, but rather to do it while my mind is on it.
If I feel the need to pray for someone repeatedly over time, I follow through with my carefully considered plan as I've gotten intentional about prayer. Deciding several years ago to pray short, in the moment prayers, was key for me. It's a doable way of "praying continually" and it helped relieve feelings of failure, pressure and guilt.
Most importantly, this ensures that people's needs are in fact being prayed for-which is the ultimate goal, right?
As I read the Bible, I see instructions to pray frequently, to pray with faith and persistence, and to pray over all our cares and concerns. But I do not see that we must talk for hours over each request for God to hear them.
I hope that does for you what it did for me-replaces feelings of guilt with a renewed passion to pray.
Dear Lord, help me to pray frequently and persistently with faith, in accordance with Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Did it help you today to learn this "divine secret" to an effective prayer life? If so, you'll want to check out more divine secrets for Christian living in Rachel's book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.
Come leave a prayer request at Rachel's blog today.
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
Application Steps:
Purpose to pray in-the-moment-prayers today.
Reflections:
Is prayer a regular part of my day, or something I "save up" for later?
Power Verses:
Psalm 66:20, "Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me." (NLT)
© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
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LeadershipBible-Header-550

Skills: Communicating Vision

Moses learned firsthand how to communicate a vision. Our last two studies depicted how God had moved Moses from downright rejection of a vision to becoming its primary spokesperson. Moses spent the rest of his life leading others to fulfill the vision that he himself had initially resisted. His experiences both as God's student and Israel's leader provide us with some valuable insights for communicating a vision.
In this passage, Israel was poised to move into the promised land. Faced with the possibility of strong opposition from fortified cities, Moses knew that his followers would not take the risk involved if land were the only prize. With God's guidance, he envisioned more for this people, but he had to communicate that vision. In doing so Moses demonstrated that the vision:
• was rooted in the followers' values (1-9). He emphasized that this move was essential to Israel's identity as God's people (4-9) and that it would provide a safe place in which to raise their families (2-3). Visions that don't communicate value won't be embraced.
• had utopian elements (10-12). People need a compelling reason to sacrifice their safety and comfort. They won't commit to sacrificing for something that's merely "nice." An effective vision offers something better than the present situation, something that is worth working to attain.
• required the followers' participation (13-19). When something is perceived as being precious and costly, it will be respected. The realization of this vision depended upon the people's dedication. Moses couldn't accomplish this formidable task alone.
• had long-term ramifications (1-2,20-25). A vision must be worth passing along to the next generation.
• required faith to complete. The Bible teaches that God is involved with his people. A vision that is limited to human resources robs followers of a fundamental element of Christianity. An omnipotent God blesses leaders and enterprises that are committed to him. That is the greatest distinctive when a Biblical leader communicates a vision.
This Week's Verse to Memorize Matthew 21:21-22

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Communicating Vision and Who God Is
Jesus teaches us so much about leadership that we would be foolish to ignore his teachings on as essential a subject as communicating vision. Early in his ministry he called his disciples to leave everything and follow him. How did he do it? Turn to Luke 5:1-11 and its accompanying study note.
Communicating Vision and Who I Am
Throughout his ministry, Jesus focused people's attention on great and eternal visions. Matthew recorded an instructive incident of vision casting in Matthew 13:24-52.
Communicating Vision and How It Works
God's prophets were visionaries. If we want to learn about effective communication of vision, we can learn from these masters. Turn to Micah 4:1-5 and catch a glimpse of a master craftsman at work.
Communicating Vision and What I Do
We come back to our Moses study for a review and a last look at how God led Moses to fully embrace his vision for Israel's future. Turn to Exodus 3:1-10 for today's reading.

jesusexperimentpaddedhandbookleadership150Handbook to Leadership: Leadership in the Image of God
by Kenneth Boa
Buy the Handbook!
The Handbook to Leadership includes: 52-Week Leadership Guide, Topical Leadership Guide, Leadership Character Studies, and Books of the Bible Leadership Guide.


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NIV Devotions for Moms

Time Wasters

Today's reading: Joshua 10:1-15
Where does your time go? Do you ever look back at the end of the day and wonder? Do you sometimes wish God would stretch your days, as he did for Joshua fighting the enemies of Israel?
One reason you may not have enough time is that you waste the time you do have. Before you go on a guilt trip, think about it.
Do you waste time by overdoing? Why, exactly, does the kitchen have to be spotless every time you leave it? Is there a law that requires that you always wash your car after it rains?
Maybe you waste time by under-planning. Going to the store without a list is okay sometimes, but when you're planning a big meal for company, you'll probably have to head back again for overlooked items.
And how about overreacting? Do you have to race to the phone every time it rings? Is it necessary to start wallpapering all over just because you made a tiny mistake or could you force yourself to patch it?
Maybe you can't make the sun stand still to give you more time. But you can add minutes and hours to your days by trimming time wasters.
Additional Scripture Readings: Psalm 37:5; Matthew 6:34

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Once and for All

Today's reading: Leviticus 16:10, 20-22
In a dusty, desert wasteland, a man slowly unties a rope from the goat's neck. His fingers trace the dried blood on the goat's forehead, where a few hours before the priest had laid his hands. The transfer of sin is complete. All that remains is for it to be far removed from sight.
The man slaps the animal's rump and it jumps. It runs a few paces, then stops and looks back. "Go on," the man yells. "Run. Run away!" He claps his hands. He chases the goat. And it runs. But it keeps looking back, hesitating, waiting and wondering if the man will change his mind.
But the man doesn't change his mind-he can't. When he is sure the goat has gone far enough, he turns to leave. He makes the dusty journey back alone, without the sound of trotting hooves or bleating to keep him company. The sin of the Israelites has been temporarily atoned for, sent away on the head of the goat that was left in the desert.
The Day of Atonement was Israel's most solemn holy day. On that day, God made a way for his sinful people to set things right with him, the Holy One of Israel. But like the scapegoat that kept looking back, sin and guilt always returned. Year after year, goat after goat, the ritual was repeated: One goat slaughtered to atone for sin, the other sent far into the wilderness to remove the presence of guilt. But it wasn't enough. It merely symbolized what was to come.
When Jesus died on the cross and was banished to the tomb, he fulfilled the requirement for the two goats on the Day of Atonement. His sacrificial death on the cross atoned for our sin, finally making us one with God for all time. His journey to death removed our guilt for all time. He took our sins with him to the pit of hell, just as the scapegoat was banished into the solitary wasteland.
It was a high price to pay. The scapegoat didn't have a choice, but Jesus did. He chose to die because of his unfathomable love for us. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" ( 1 John 3:16).

Reflection

  1. What do the images of the sacrificial goat and scapegoat tell you about the high price of sin?
  2. What does the image of the scapegoat reveal about how far Christ was willing to go for you?
  3. What guilt are you holding onto? Speak it out loud to Jesus today and ask his forgiveness so he can carry it far away, never to be seen again.
Leviticus 16:22
"The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness."

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