Sunday, March 23, 2014

Sun Mar 23rd Todays News

It is a little discussed fact that when Patrick Henry gave his famous speech on this day in 1775, now known as "Give me liberty or give me death" he was employing rhetoric. He wanted liberty. He was willing to fight, and possibly die for it, but he had one goal. So too do the ALP. In South Australia, liberty is to be denied for another term of office. The election a week ago delivered no majority, although the ALP, with 35.3% of the vote, has the most seats of any party. More than the Liberal Party which got 45.1% of the vote, with over 90% of votes counted. This is a clear gerrymander and the electoral office has failed in its' duty. On the plus side, there will be a working example of failure that can be pointed to whenever some journalist chooses to say that the ALP would run the federal government better. It might be good for the second independent who is now in line to be speaker of an ALP administration again. His conservative seat will be impressed. The truth is if you want an ALP government then don't vote conservative. 

On this day in 1801, The Tsar, who loved marching a lot, and flogged anyone who made a mistake in a marching ceremony, was put to death excessively. His killers, including a nephew of his tutor, hit him with a sword in his bedroom, demanded he sign an abdication, then strangled and trampled him to death. Tsar Paul seems to resemble the Catch 22 character of Scheiskopf. Or maybe it is the other way around. Also excessive, happening on this day in 1908, Durham White Stevens, US ambassador to Korea, was holidaying with his sisters in San Francisco. Stevens had previously expressed the view that Japan's protectorate of Korea was working well. A few students disagreed. They challenged him over this, first making sure that he had said what they had heard. He corrected them, but they had heard enough. One night, they hit him with a chair. The next day they rushed at him and shot him a few times, before being stopped by a crowd. Stevens survived his wounds until the the 25th. However, the most bizarre excess happened on this day in 1909, one year after Stevens was assassinated. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt went on safari and was sponsored by National Geographic and the Smithsonian. That is right, the Smithsonian and National Geographic sponsored a holiday of shooting animals for sport. I don't think such enlightenment is possible today. 

For twenty two years I have been responsibly addressing an issue, and I cannot carry on. I am petitioning the NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to remedy my distress. I leave it up to him if he chooses to address the issue. Regardless of your opinion of conservative government, the issue is pressing. Please sign my petition at http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/nsw-premier-barry-o-farrell-remedy-the-persecution-of-dd-ball?
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Hatches
Happy birthday and many happy returns Stephen TranTruc Do and Danny BuTzka Georgiev. Born on the same day, across the years. But only Steve can successfully imitate Grumpy Cat
Matches
Despatches
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Shorten’s hypocrisy knows no bounds

Piers Akerman – Sunday, March 23, 2014 (5:51am)

FEDERAL Labor is asking way, way too much of the public with its high-minded moralistic posturing over Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos.
Sinodinos, who stood aside as assistant treasurer on Wednesday to give the government clear air in the lead-up to the May Budget, has been called as a witness in the current NSW ICAC hearings into whether former NSW Labor heavyweights Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly misused their positions to favour Australian Water Holdings.
No allegations of any criminal activity have been made against the NSW Senator, a former chief of staff to former prime minister John Howard, with an enviable reputation for honesty and integrity.
Yet former AWU boss and Labor leader Bill Shorten, who is likely to be called before the royal commission headed by former High Court justice Dyson Heydon into alleged trade union corruption, has occupied almost all Question Time with his attempts to besmirch Sinodinos and by association, Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
As Education Minister firmly told Parliament on Thursday, the Abbott government “will not be judged by the party of Craig Thomson, and the party of Michael Williamson, and the party of the AWU slush fund, and the party of Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald”.
Thomson, the former Health Services Union official and former Labor MP, has been found guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court of misusing union members funds to pay for prostitutes and personal expenses. He will be sentenced next Tuesday.
Williamson, a former national president of the ALP and a former head of the Health Services Union, pleaded guilty last October 15 to four charges of cheating or defrauding as a director, fabricating invoices and recruiting someone to hinder a police investigation.
His bail has been revoked and he in prison awaiting final sentencing this Friday.
The AWU slush fund affair is likely to see former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard called before the Heydon royal commission where she is likely to be asked to explain her role in assisting her then boyfriend Bruce Wilson establish a fund that was kept secret from both Wilson’s union, and Gillard’s employers, the Labor law firm Slater & Gordon.
Both Obeid and Macdonald were found to be corrupt by the NSW ICAC in connection with the issuance of mining licenses.
Little wonder that Pyne pulled Shorten up firmly.
Labor has clung to tainted MPs, even defended them, when the stench of corruption was evident to all (except, perhaps, Labor’s media arm, the ABC).
As Shorten and some unwise souls on the Opposition benches feigned outrage, Pyne walked through them through Labor’s sad record, reminding the smarting Opposition MPs that their party lacked all credibility and left itself shamefully exposed on the topics of ministerial accountability and parliamentary standards.
He said Labor presided over a “sewer” in the past three years with “an endless list of atrocities committed against this parliament”.
He reminded the House that Labor had not only suborned former Liberal MP Peter Slipper by offering him the Speakership (replacing the universally respected Labor MP Harry Jenkins) but had kept Thomson in their party room until April 29, 2012, even though there a cloud had been hanging over the former NSW Central Coast MP as early as January, 2009, well before the 2010 election, when the Fair Work Commission commenced its inquiry into the HSU’s Victorian No. 1 Branch.
So concerned was Labor about the allegations engulfing Thomson that former prime minister Gillard’s chief of staff Ben Hubbard rang the then Industrial Registrar Doug Williams in early 2009 to inquire into whether Thomson was under investigation – before the fraud allegations were made public.
Then, despite the New South Wales police launching Strike Force Carnarvon, in September, 2011, despite the Victorian police fraud squad’s confirmation of its investigation into Thomson in October, 2011, despite Fair Work Australia’s publication of its investigation into the HSU in April 2012, and its release of its investigation into the Victorian HSU No. 1 Branch, Labor continued to protect Thomson and his caucus vote.
No allegations, I repeat, have been made against Sinodinos. He has been called before ICAC as a witness.
Labor has had its share of MPs and ministers called as witnesses before ICAC, not least being former climate change minister Greg Combet who was questioned about a letter he wrote supporting a controversial mining licence sought by union official John Maitland.
The noisy Senator Doug Cameron was called to give evidence about the Obeids.
In neither case did the Liberals demand either be stripped or their responsibilities or disciplined.
The contrast between the behaviour of the two principal parties in Australian politics could not be greater.
Labor is the party of smear, innuendo and hypocrisy.
There is probably no greater example of Labor’s gutter tactics than the ugliness revealed by Gillard herself during the confected frenzy of her extremely personal tirade against Tony Abbott during which she falsely claimed he was a misogynist as she attempted to distract the public from her personal appointment of Slipper, a man who had made the most appalling references to women’s sexual organs, to the highest parliamentary office.
“I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man,” she shrieked. “Not now, not ever.”
Pathetic and baseless charges eagerly seized upon by the mindless twitterati who chose to ignore Gillard’s moral deceit and betrayal of principle in regard to Slipper’s promotion.
“Not now, not ever,” Gillard screeched theatrically.
Well, “not now, not ever”, should anyone from Labor try and lecture anyone about morality, about ethics or parliamentary standards.
Labor over the past six years has demonstrated it lacks all understanding of the terms. 
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CHURCH OF ONE

Tim Blair – Sunday, March 23, 2014 (2:47pm)

This won’t come as a surprise, but Peter FitzSimons worships himself
For the photo for my licence, I was asked to remove my bandanna …
The lady confirmed that in NSW exceptions were made for hijabs, so I said I wanted to wear my bandanna for my religion.
‘’And what is that?’’ she asked.
‘’The Me religion,’’ I said, deadpan.
She conferred with a colleague, and came back.
‘’OK, you can wear it,’’ she said. 
UPDATE. “You missed the best bit about the Fitzy column,” emails PWAF. “Read the Gillard segment aloud in a Jiminy Glick voice. You’ll thank me later.”
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1-800-MUTILATE

Tim Blair – Saturday, March 22, 2014 (11:47pm)

Britain’s female genital mutilation helpline receives an unexpected call: 
A suspect contacted an FGM helpline to request the procedure for his two daughters after misunderstanding the purpose of the service for victims. 
Mark Steyn comments
What an unfortunate “misunderstanding”. The gentleman had called the Female Genital Mutilation Helpline thinking it was a helpline set up by Her Majesty’s Government to help you find someone to genitally mutilate your daughters. In the rich, vibrant diversity of the modern multicultural state, it’s easy to see why the poor fellow might make that assumption. Just give it a couple more years, sir. 
It’s a life-imitates-art moment. Observe this scene from Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator.
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The Bolt Report today

Andrew Bolt March 23 2014 (6:31am)


On the show today:
Unwanted boat people - and a little chat about activists who cry “racist”.
Guests Josh Frydenberg, Peter Costello and Bruce Hawker.
In NewsWatch, Sharri Markson on the ABC’s weird war against the Murdoch media.
Plus Your Say - and a few hypocrites exposed.
On Network 10 at 10am and 4pm.
In my interview with Frydenberg we discussed the regulatory burden. I drew on figures supplied by Chris Berg of the IPA. Chris has written an excellent paper on the explosion of laws which you can read here.
The videos of the show appear here.
UPDATE
I think it is time other Jewish leaders stepped forward to support Josh and marginalise those pushing the extreme position. There must be room for compromise, because the damage being done by the uncompromisers is not just to the cause of free speech but to their community and their more reliable allies:
THE government’s only Jewish MP, Josh Frydenberg, has placed himself at odds with the nation’s Jewish leadership by backing the Coalition’s reforms to the Racial Discrimination Act.
UPDATE
THE BOLT REPORT
23 MARCH 2014
INTERVIEW WITH JOSH FRYDENBERG
ANDREW BOLT, PRESENTER: The last Labor government said it was a success because of the number of laws it passed.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LABOR FRONTBENCHER (FEB 2013): We’ve been stable. More than 430 pieces of legislation through the House of Representatives. (SEPT 2013) We got through almost 600 pieces of legislation.
ANDREW BOLT: That’s the kind of attitude that’s given us too many laws and too little freedom. Now let me show you. To set up and run Australia at the start of last century, our parliament passed 358 pages of legislation in the first two years. A pile of paper this high. But in the last full year of the Gillard Government, Parliament passed 8,150 pages of legislation. Have a look, pages of laws in our first two years, pages of laws in the last full year of the Gillard Government. Well, the Abbott Government will on Wednesday introduce another measure of government success - not passing laws but scrapping them - around 10,000 regulations and Acts of Parliament. Now, Josh Frydenberg joins me, he is the parliamentary secretary in charge of this annual bonfire of laws. Josh, you’ve promised to cut red tape by $1 billion a year. Your press release says that on Wednesday you’ll be cutting just about $700 million of red tape. Why have you fallen short?
JOSH FRYDENBERG, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY: Well, we’re going to have two repeal days a year, Andrew, and the second will be in the second half of the year. And I’m hopeful that, by the end of the year, we would have met our $1 billion target. It’s an ambitious target. It’s, as you say, succeeding where Labor failed, and it’s really important to job creation in this country, to investment, to innovation in this country, even for the not-for-profit sector. They’re all going to benefit out of cutting red tape.
ANDREW BOLT: Maybe you fell short by failing to get rid of the gender reporting requirements, you know, forcing companies with 100 or more employees to say what they’re doing for female workers. Now, why did you back off such stupid nanny-ism?

Icon Arrow Continue reading 'The Bolt Report today'
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Independent calls sick in SA. Ugly draw now possible

Andrew Bolt March 23 2014 (6:27am)


South Australia might be headed to a fresh election to sort this out:
INDEPENDENT MP and powerbroker Bob Such is in hospital and likely to require extended sick leave from parliament — throwing negotiations to form the next state government into chaos.
Dr Such is one of two independent MPs who hold the power to select the next state government, after last weekend’s state election ended in a hung parliament.
His sudden illness could even result in the state being forced back to the polls.Dr Such, 69, is in Flinders Medical Centre and Advertiser.com.au understands he will take sick leave that could last for months.
The exact nature of his condition has not been revealed, but it is understood he has been scheduled for surgery in coming days… Dr Such’s absence throws open the possibility of another state election if Mr Brock decides to back the Liberal Party, resulting in a 23-23 deadlock…
More:
Advertiser.com.au’s revelation yesterday that independent MP Bob Such is taking extended leave on health grounds ... piles immense pressure on the Port Pirie independent MP and reluctant kingmaker Geoff Brock. He now shoulders an even greater burden in this historic decision.
If Dr Such is unable or unwilling to back either party to form government then Mr Brock, a former mayor from a conservative electorate, faces an diabolical choice.
He could back Labor and give it a clear two-vote advantage on the floor of State Parliament…
If Dr Such remains absent, Mr Brock could throw his support behind the Liberals and deliver a 23-23 voting gridlock on the floor of Parliament. It would struggle to find a speaker as both sides refused to lose votes from the floor and a government would be hard to form in the mess.
Or he could just support neither, leaving Labor with most seats but no majority.
UPDATE
Brock makes the only call in the circumstances that avoids the risk of calling another election. He backs Labor, giving it 24 votes in all to the Liberals 22, with the other independent off sick.
Brock will be as nervous as hell that he’ll become another Oakeshott or Windsor, but in his press conference today insisted he’ll be free to vote against the government on every issue bar supply and a vote of no confidence. I suspect he’ll be looking at chances to prove he’s independent, too.
(Thanks to readers CA and Peter of Bellevue Hill.) 
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Talking about “an unconscious bias”, dear Judge…

Andrew Bolt March 23 2014 (5:30am)


Hypocrite alert:

On Friday, [Queensland] Supreme Court of Appeal president Justice Margaret McMurdo questioned in a speech whether “an unconscious bias” by the LNP leadership meant women were being ignored for judicial ­appointments.
It drew an angry response from the politicians yesterday… [Attorney-General Jarrod] Bleijie said Justice McMurdo had been consulted about a replacement when Justice Margaret White retired from the Queensland Court of ­Appeal last year, and did not recommend any women, but did mention her husband ­Justice Philip McMurdo

“(She said) if I couldn’t appoint her husband, or promote her husband to the Court of Appeal … then I should appoint Justice Peter Lyons....
“She said ... you have to appoint the best people for the job, and the best person for the job is not a woman at the bar at the moment.”
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A natural misunderstanding

Andrew Bolt March 23 2014 (4:55am)


Mark Steyn on a little misunderstanding on the multicultural help line:

Meanwhile, across the North Sea, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service is bringing to court the first cases over female genital mutilation. But not for everyone:
The CPS has decided to take no further action in four other cases of alleged FGM.
In one of those cases… a suspect contacted an FGM helpline to request the procedure for his two daughters after misunderstanding the purpose of the service for victims.
Oh, dear. What an unfortunate “misunderstanding”. The gentleman had called the Female Genital Mutilation Helpline thinking it was a helpline set up by Her Majesty’s Government to help you find someone to genitally mutilate your daughters. In the rich, vibrant diversity of the modern multicultural state, it’s easy to see why the poor fellow might make that assumption.
Just give it a couple more years, sir.”
(Thanks to reader Bruce.) 
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One of those rules we should worry were needed

Andrew Bolt March 23 2014 (4:51am)


The NSW Government actually needed to tell this to teachers?

T-shirts, ripped jeans, strapless dresses and mid-riff tops will be prohibited, with male teachers required to wear collars, while females must banish clothes that are “revealing or suggestive”.
And although rubber thongs, singlets, tracksuits and clothes displaying alcohol advertising are also in the state government’s sights, the code does not go as far as banning tattoos and piercings.
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DID YOU KNOW?
What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?
No Cheating.....

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.
He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do....
probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.
It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?
"Water Displacement #40".
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound.
They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40.
The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.
If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass.
It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop.
It's now shinier than it's ever been.
You'll be amazed.


WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.
It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stovetops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

P.S.
As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......
Well.... it's FISH OIL....
Who would have guessed ? ? ?

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4 her, so she can see how she looks through my eyes
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Why is Julia Gillard getting herself photographed with children? This is such a lame thing to do!Just like kissing babies. She's done that too. Like a wolf kissing a lamb!
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March 23Republic Day in Pakistan (1956); Day of Hungarian–Polish Friendship in Hungary and Poland
Eleftherios Venizelos
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Holidays and observances[edit]

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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” -Ephesians 6:10-11
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
March 22: Morning
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed." -Matthew 26:39
There are several instructive features in our Saviour's prayer in his hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's.

It was humble prayer. Luke says he knelt, but another evangelist says he "fell on his face." Where, then, must be thy place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that he may exalt us in due time.

It was filial prayer. "Abba, Father." You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child's right to a father's protection. Be not afraid to say, "My Father, hear my cry."

Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.
Evening
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." - John 17:24
O death! why dost thou touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness hath rest? Why dost thou snatch away the excellent of the earth, in whom is all our delight? If thou must use thine axe, use it upon the trees which yield no fruit; thou mightest be thanked then. But why wilt thou fell the goodly cedars of Lebanon? O stay thine axe, and spare the righteous. But no, it must not be; death smites the goodliest of our friends; the most generous, the most prayerful, the most holy, the most devoted must die. And why? It is through Jesus' prevailing prayer--"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." It is that which bears them on eagle's wings to heaven. Every time a believer mounts from this earth to paradise, it is an answer to Christ's prayer. A good old divine remarks, "Many times Jesus and his people pull against one another in prayer. You bend your knee in prayer and say Father, I will that thy saints be with me where I am;' Christ says, Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.'" Thus the disciple is at cross-purposes with his Lord. The soul cannot be in both places: the beloved one cannot be with Christ and with you too. Now, which pleader shall win the day? If you had your choice; if the King should step from his throne, and say, "Here are two supplicants praying in opposition to one another, which shall be answered?" Oh! I am sure, though it were agony, you would start from your feet, and say, "Jesus, not my will, but thine be done." You would give up your prayer for your loved one's life, if you could realize the thoughts that Christ is praying in the opposite direction--"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Lord, thou shalt have them. By faith we let them go.
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Agrippa 
[Ä‚grÄ p'pa] - one who at his birth causes pain.
Great grandson of Herod the Great. Agrippa's father was eaten by worms. See Herod (Acts 25:13-26; 26 ). Was Agrippa almost persuaded by Paul's eloquent witness to become a Christian? Bible scholars disagree on the point. There are those who affirm that the original language indicates clearly that Agrippa interrupted Paul to warn him that he was going too far in presuming that he was admitting his argument. "Too eagerly art thou persuading thyself that thou canst make me a Christian." The RV of 1881 has it, "With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian." However, the words of Agrippa as they stand in the A.V. have formed the basis of many an earnest and powerful gospel appeal.
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Today's reading: Joshua 10-12, Luke 1:39-56 (NIV)

View today's reading on Bible Gateway

Today's Old Testament reading: Joshua 10-12

The Sun Stands Still
Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.3So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4"Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

Today's New Testament reading: Luke 1:39-56

Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"
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Today's Lent reading: Matthew 27-28 (NIV)

View today's Lent reading on Bible Gateway
Judas Hangs Himself
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself....


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