Election

A year ago people in Australia kept asking me who would win the US election. I kept insisting we wouldn't know anything until a year on (August 2008). The two factors would be the war in Iraq and the economy. Nothing else really matters. Eventually everything is subjugated by those factors. External security and internal wallets.

Now the two slates are filled in with McCain/Palin (who?) and Obama (who?)/Biden.

But the factors that remain are Iraq and money.

The reports are coming in well in the Republican column. We are winning in Iraq. The surge is working. Iraqis have a lot of extra money and are growing in peaceful and democratic life. That says a lot for the Repubs.

Economic news will be spun and respun over the next 60 days, but if petrol prices drop or remain steady, if the grocery bill drops even a bit, and if people have a bit more money in their wallet (not in comparison to 2002, but in comparison to last year or even January), they will stay the course.

Follow the money. That's who will win.

Termination

The Beijing Olympics came and went. 16 days of gold, silver, bronze. 2 weeks of tennis and swimming and diving and ping pong. Nations at war actually hugged after each race and contest. Nice to see. But unfortunately, it's over. Terminated. All done.

Down in Sydney, Colin is a memory now, the lost baby whale who found its way to Pittwater last week, and eventually was put down. The Australian newspaper reported, "The decision was made at a meeting of NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) workers, scientists and representatives of other agencies after the calf's deteriorating health took a drastic turn for the worse.

Rescuers opted against making another attempt to shepherd the starving 4.5 metre whale calf into open water, the NPWS said.

The calf unexpectedly appeared on Sunday at The Basin, inside Sydney's Pittwater, and returned on Tuesday after being towed out to sea."

The country mourned the loss of the baby whale.

Meanwhile in Victoria "MPs will have a conscience vote on the bill, which, if passed, would remove abortion from the Crimes Act.

Under the legislation, introduced in (VIC) Parliament last week, women would be able to choose to have an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Late-term abortions would be allowed if two doctors believe the termination to be appropriate on medical grounds and with regard to the woman's physical, psychological and social circumstances.

Women's Affairs Minister Maxine Morand also said that there was no link between the abortion rate and the restrictiveness of abortion laws." (The Age)

Wow, the nation as one cared about a whale, but the Brumby government thinks abortion on demand, well, it's ok. Abort...doesn't that mean to stop something? Terminate...doesn't that mean to end something? So what are the termination services really providing? An end of a life? End of the choice of the baby?

We care about Colin...let's care about all the babies in Victoria and beyond, and give voice to abortion causes, and stand for life.

08.08.08.08.08

It's almost 8 in the morning on the 8th of August. There is nothing significant about the timing of today. But some sign-watching community may say otherwise.

It is Friday, so oh, maybe "TGIF, Thank God it's Friday" is a good thought. But 08.08.08... is that significant? I suppose if your birthday is today, it's a fun day. If you are living near Beijing today, the Olympics begin today. And that's probably why the Chinese chose the date for the Summer Olympics to begin.

On this date in history:

In 1945, the Soviet Union declared war against Japan during World War II.

In 1963, Britain’s “Great Train Robbery” took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.

In 1968, Richard M. Nixon was nominated for US president at the Republican national convention in Miami Beach, Fla.

In 1973, US Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew branded as “damned lies” reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vowed not to resign — which he ended up doing.

In 1974, US President Richard Nixon resigned after all the exposure from Watergate and the commensurate scandal.

In 1978, the U.S. launched Pioneer Venus II, which carried scientific probes to study the atmosphere of Venus.

In 1994, Israel and Jordan opened the first road link between the two once-warring countries.

So if you look at 08.08 in history, some things of significance occurred.

But what about today? 08.08.08. Does it herald something of significance in your life?

Here's my 8 am observation. If you are ready, and willing, and have never done this before... why not make today the most significant day of your life, by asking God to forgive you of all your sins, once for all, and receive Y'shua, the Jewish messiah, as the sin-bearer, and be forgiven?

God loves you and wants to be in relationship with you. Our sins separate us from Him. He sent Y'shua to bridge that gap. Asking Jesus to be your Saviour and sin-bearer..that's the way over to the other side.

If you can, do it this morning in a few minutes. At 8:08. Or at 8:15 or at 8:30 or as soon as you read this. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.
Then 08.08.08 will be the best day of your (eternal) life.