Comments for connexions http://theconnexion.net/wp The blog of Richard Hall, a Methodist Minister in Wales. Tue, 21 May 2013 14:50:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on What is the opposite of faith? by Homer http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=11436&cpage=1#comment-487033 Homer Sun, 19 May 2013 13:30:21 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=11436#comment-487033 Read James 2:14-26. It speaks very clearly about the subject. The opposite of faith is <i><b>inaction</b></i>. It profits no one if your faith is sedentary. This is not implying that our work brings about favor or blessing, or that our work brings righteousness or salvation (I think any Christian work their weight in salt knows this). But a believer who says "I have faith" and does nothing to act upon that faith is as effective as a person who claims to have the world's greatest, most powerful vacuum, but never turns it on to demonstrate. Read James 2:14-26. It speaks very clearly about the subject. The opposite of faith is inaction. It profits no one if your faith is sedentary. This is not implying that our work brings about favor or blessing, or that our work brings righteousness or salvation (I think any Christian work their weight in salt knows this). But a believer who says “I have faith” and does nothing to act upon that faith is as effective as a person who claims to have the world’s greatest, most powerful vacuum, but never turns it on to demonstrate.

]]> Comment on UK Supreme Court rules that Methodist Ministers are not employees by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612&cpage=1#comment-487025 Richard Sat, 18 May 2013 12:47:58 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612#comment-487025 I was surprised how readable the judgement was. I was surprised how readable the judgement was.

]]> Comment on UK Supreme Court rules that Methodist Ministers are not employees by Mark Byron http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612&cpage=1#comment-487023 Mark Byron Sat, 18 May 2013 03:49:46 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612#comment-487023 Interesting case; it has loose parallels in the Tabor case in the US, where broad deference was given to a church's ability to classify folks as pastors exempt from labor law. I also like the clear lay-friendly writing of the case; it seemed more readable than US Supreme Court decisions. Interesting case; it has loose parallels in the Tabor case in the US, where broad deference was given to a church’s ability to classify folks as pastors exempt from labor law.

I also like the clear lay-friendly writing of the case; it seemed more readable than US Supreme Court decisions.

]]> Comment on Hymn of the day by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610&cpage=1#comment-487022 Richard Fri, 17 May 2013 20:06:44 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610#comment-487022 Still alive, but not quite kicking. I'll get there. Still alive, but not quite kicking. I’ll get there.

]]> Comment on Hymn of the day by Tony Buglass http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610&cpage=1#comment-486992 Tony Buglass Tue, 14 May 2013 12:06:17 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610#comment-486992 Oh, good, you ARE still alive. I was just beginning to get concerned. Or jealous that you'd escaped, or were having a longer after-Easter break than I did. ;) Oh, good, you ARE still alive. I was just beginning to get concerned. Or jealous that you’d escaped, or were having a longer after-Easter break than I did. ;)

]]> Comment on When will the madness stop? by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13086&cpage=1#comment-486984 Richard Sun, 12 May 2013 18:38:10 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13086#comment-486984 Thanks for your comment, John. You perhaps haven't noticed that the comments aren't mine, but come from Embrace (formerly the Biblelands Society) which is a leading Christian charity based in Israel/Palestine. We could argue for a long time about the narrative you've set out, but there isn't any point. You completely ignore the routine injustices which are visited by Israel on the Palestinians and unless that reality is acknowledged I don't think there's any basis for a conversation. Thanks for your comment, John. You perhaps haven’t noticed that the comments aren’t mine, but come from Embrace (formerly the Biblelands Society) which is a leading Christian charity based in Israel/Palestine. We could argue for a long time about the narrative you’ve set out, but there isn’t any point. You completely ignore the routine injustices which are visited by Israel on the Palestinians and unless that reality is acknowledged I don’t think there’s any basis for a conversation.

]]> Comment on When will the madness stop? by John Vagabond http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13086&cpage=1#comment-486983 John Vagabond Sun, 12 May 2013 16:53:37 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13086#comment-486983 I used to live in Israel and know its people and politics well, so cannot let your comments pass without remark despite a time lapse of some months. In 1947 the Jewish people accepted the UN partition plan, which established the borders for both a Jewish State and a Palestinian state. It was the Palestinian Arabs, as well as every Arab nation around Israel, that rejected the partition plan and immediately attacked the fledgling state with the intent of destroying it and, as they so famously stated, "pushing the Jews into the sea." In recent years the Palestinians have rejected at least two offers of statehood. Despite these realities, the media speaks repeatedly about "the Occupied Palestinian Territories," and "Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem." But in reality the Western media supports the radical Arab position that the entire State of Israel, the territory at the time of independence in 1948, and not just territories held since 1967, is "occupied." Furthermore, it accuses Israel's pioneers of failing "to treat the indigenous Palestinians with respect and good judgment," ignoring years of Zionist advocacy for equal rights and fair treatment for the Arab inhabitants of the land, before and after statehood. The Israeli Declaration of Independence, the ultimate Zionist document, explicitly proclaims "the equality of all its citizens," including Israeli Arabs. Do you seriously imagine that organisations like Hamas will simply lay down their arms and stop their aggression if a two state agreement were reached? Of course they won't. The Muslims want it all in response to a deathbed hadith of the Prophet where he claimed all of the Arab peninsula for Islam and the multinational pan-Arab group which has historical roots in Israel will not rest until that happens. I used to live in Israel and know its people and politics well, so cannot let your comments pass without remark despite a time lapse of some months. In 1947 the Jewish people accepted the UN partition plan, which established the borders for both a Jewish State and a Palestinian state. It was the Palestinian Arabs, as well as every Arab nation around Israel, that rejected the partition plan and immediately attacked the fledgling state with the intent of destroying it and, as they so famously stated, “pushing the Jews into the sea.” In recent years the Palestinians have rejected at least two offers of statehood. Despite these realities, the media speaks repeatedly about “the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” and “Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” But in reality the Western media supports the radical Arab position that the entire State of Israel, the territory at the time of independence in 1948, and not just territories held since 1967, is “occupied.” Furthermore, it accuses Israel’s pioneers of failing “to treat the indigenous Palestinians with respect and good judgment,” ignoring years of Zionist advocacy for equal rights and fair treatment for the Arab inhabitants of the land, before and after statehood. The Israeli Declaration of Independence, the ultimate Zionist document, explicitly proclaims “the equality of all its citizens,” including Israeli Arabs. Do you seriously imagine that organisations like Hamas will simply lay down their arms and stop their aggression if a two state agreement were reached? Of course they won’t. The Muslims want it all in response to a deathbed hadith of the Prophet where he claimed all of the Arab peninsula for Islam and the multinational pan-Arab group which has historical roots in Israel will not rest until that happens.

]]> Comment on Remembrance Sunday: Siegfried Sassoon ‘At the Cenotaph’ by A Cosgrove http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=6231&cpage=1#comment-486961 A Cosgrove Thu, 09 May 2013 10:21:51 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=6231#comment-486961 I read this poem as part of my English Literature 'O' level. It stirred me then and still to this day. It ignited my interest and appreciation of poetry, demonstrating how powerful it could be in communicating a message. The last line still makes me shudder. I read this poem as part of my English Literature ‘O’ level. It stirred me then and still to this day. It ignited my interest and appreciation of poetry, demonstrating how powerful it could be in communicating a message. The last line still makes me shudder.

]]> Comment on Etymology of “luck”? by Cindy http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=5954&cpage=1#comment-486952 Cindy Wed, 08 May 2013 13:16:36 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=5954#comment-486952 Online Etymology Dictionary: luck (v.) by 1945, from luck (n.). To luck out "succeed through luck" is American English colloquial, attested by 1946; to luck into (something good) is from 1944. However, lukken was a verb in Middle English (mid-15c.) meaning "to happen, chance;" also, "happen fortunately." ---So Bishop Jackson was correct when saying "luck” presupposes a random universe rather than one in which God moves in the affairs of those who seek His help. Online Etymology Dictionary:

luck (v.) by 1945, from luck (n.). To luck out “succeed through luck” is American English colloquial, attested by 1946; to luck into (something good) is from 1944. However, lukken was a verb in Middle English (mid-15c.) meaning “to happen, chance;” also, “happen fortunately.” —So Bishop Jackson was correct when saying “luck” presupposes a random universe rather than one in which God moves in the affairs of those who seek His help.

]]> Comment on Etymology of “luck”? by Symphathy http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=5954&cpage=1#comment-486913 Symphathy Fri, 03 May 2013 12:25:35 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=5954#comment-486913 The basis of the statement is from the word. God called that we walk in blessing. No where in the bible do we speak of living by luck. If we recognize that nothing happens by chance, we will understand the origin of the word luck. Refer to: - Deutronomy 28:1 - If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. 12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. The basis of the statement is from the word. God called that we walk in blessing. No where in the bible do we speak of living by luck. If we recognize that nothing happens by chance, we will understand the origin of the word luck.

Refer to: - Deutronomy 28:1 - If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

]]> Comment on Hymn of the day by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604&cpage=1#comment-486748 Richard Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:57:12 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604#comment-486748 That's very true. That’s very true.

]]> Comment on Hymn of the day by Jason Goroncy http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604&cpage=1#comment-486744 Jason Goroncy Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:30:59 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604#comment-486744 'The Father’s co-eternal Son Bore all my sins upon the tree. Th’ immortal God for me hath died' Day don't write 'em like day use ta. ‘The Father’s co-eternal Son
Bore all my sins upon the tree.
Th’ immortal God for me hath died’

Day don’t write ‘em like day use ta.

]]> Comment on Antarctic Melt Has Increased Tenfold Over Past 1,000 Years by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595&cpage=1#comment-486741 Richard Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:41:02 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595#comment-486741 I'm undone. There's no secret too deep for you, is there Kim? ;) I’m undone. There’s no secret too deep for you, is there Kim? ;)

]]> Comment on Antarctic Melt Has Increased Tenfold Over Past 1,000 Years by Kim http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595&cpage=1#comment-486740 Kim Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:31:33 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595#comment-486740 Yeah, Richard. But I see through you. You've done it in code: Ant<b>ar</b>ct<b>ic</b> M<b>el</b>t: Rearrange the letters and you get "Icrael". Close enough. Yeah, Richard. But I see through you. You’ve done it in code:

Antarctic Melt:

Rearrange the letters and you get “Icrael”. Close enough.

]]> Comment on Enough food if… by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590&cpage=1#comment-486729 Richard Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:52:05 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590#comment-486729 >> <em>"...he’ll pollute until forced not to"</em> In a nutshell, why purely market based solutions to environmental problems won't work! >> “…he’ll pollute until forced not to”

In a nutshell, why purely market based solutions to environmental problems won’t work!

]]> Comment on Antarctic Melt Has Increased Tenfold Over Past 1,000 Years by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595&cpage=1#comment-486728 Richard Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:45:12 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595#comment-486728 ??? ???

]]> Comment on Antarctic Melt Has Increased Tenfold Over Past 1,000 Years by Avraham Reiss http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595&cpage=1#comment-486727 Avraham Reiss Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:37:41 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595#comment-486727 Richard, I find it strange that you haven't managed to place the blame for the Antarctic Melt on Israel. Not a word about "poor, frozen palestinians". What is happening? Richard, I find it strange that you haven’t managed to place the blame for the Antarctic Melt on Israel.

Not a word about “poor, frozen palestinians”. What is happening?

]]> Comment on Enough food if… by Mark Byron http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590&cpage=1#comment-486690 Mark Byron Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:11:41 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590#comment-486690 Internalizing external costs would be a fair description; the pollution harms the society at large but since it only mildly inconveniences the owner, he'll pollute until forced not to. The trick is whether the taxes needed to clean up the emissions are on par with the problems caused by them. I do recall from a stretch writing on shipping/logistics issues that ships often have diesel engines that wouldn't pass emission muster in cars. Getting newer, cleaner engines in could be problematic, especially in an industry that has a surplus of ships available; shipping hasn't had a good patch since the economic downturn of 2008 and on. Internalizing external costs would be a fair description; the pollution harms the society at large but since it only mildly inconveniences the owner, he’ll pollute until forced not to.

The trick is whether the taxes needed to clean up the emissions are on par with the problems caused by them. I do recall from a stretch writing on shipping/logistics issues that ships often have diesel engines that wouldn’t pass emission muster in cars. Getting newer, cleaner engines in could be problematic, especially in an industry that has a surplus of ships available; shipping hasn’t had a good patch since the economic downturn of 2008 and on.

]]> Comment on Enough food if… by Richard http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590&cpage=1#comment-486686 Richard Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:13:45 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590#comment-486686 The levy wouldn't make shipping more expensive. It's just a way of accounting for costs which already exist but which are not currently borne by the industry. Isn't 'the polluter pays' a fair and reasonable principle? The levy wouldn’t make shipping more expensive. It’s just a way of accounting for costs which already exist but which are not currently borne by the industry. Isn’t ‘the polluter pays’ a fair and reasonable principle?

]]> Comment on Enough food if… by Mark Byron http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590&cpage=1#comment-486667 Mark Byron Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:52:41 +0000 http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590#comment-486667 Interesting bait-and-switch. Making shipping more expensive cuts down on global commerce (a feature if you're not a fan of globalization, a bug otherwise) and makes imported goods more expensive, including food moving from places where climate change helps farmers to places that are struggling like the gal in the video. That's not to say that moving to cleaner engines on shipping isn't a good thing, but it wouldn't be my first move to fund global farmer-education ("extension services" in the US, where the state ag college reaches out to farmers to teach them the state of the art) services, which is a great idea to help folks adapt to changes, which are likely to happen even if global warming doesn't kick back into gear as feared. Interesting bait-and-switch. Making shipping more expensive cuts down on global commerce (a feature if you’re not a fan of globalization, a bug otherwise) and makes imported goods more expensive, including food moving from places where climate change helps farmers to places that are struggling like the gal in the video.

That’s not to say that moving to cleaner engines on shipping isn’t a good thing, but it wouldn’t be my first move to fund global farmer-education (”extension services” in the US, where the state ag college reaches out to farmers to teach them the state of the art) services, which is a great idea to help folks adapt to changes, which are likely to happen even if global warming doesn’t kick back into gear as feared.

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