Kenny
indeed :)

Boaz, it is quite mesmerising at times to watch you drift to the left when you are directly challenged on human rights issues. But how bigoted and patronising you sound when backing up your right-wing god-bothering mates who populate this website.

Perhaps you think this is your ministry, to find something to agree with in everyone's posting, pop in a few smiley faces and then follow this up with a hefty serving of biblical quotation. Be nice and you might snare a convert. Its not working Boaz, but nevertheless, you have a made a few friends along the way in unlikely places, including me.

Perhaps on the other hand, you are ripe for conversion Boaz. Try believing in two things at once: secular human rights AND your biblical god. Its possible, lots of christians do it, and they don't see the need to bang on to others about their divine inspiration, insulting just about everyone in the process. They just get on with the job of raising families and doing good in the world.

Now I know you won't get this, and will respond with a whole swag of tracts to prove that human rights can only be derived from the bible, or whatever. Spare me, Boaz. Perhaps Pericles will come back and argue the toss with you, he seems happy to follow you down every rabbit burrow, and the rest of us enjoy the sport.

Grace
u almost stump me for words... :) OOPS.. scratch that smiley....
Human rights Grace, .... now see ? u predicted what I would do and now if I DONT do it u will think its because u said not to. *muddles around a bit*..... but I'll say this, I dont see human rights apart from the God given version. And where the heck am I drifting to the LEFT ???? now that truly boggled my mind. Ooh.. I just noticed it, my 'backflip' on my 'delusion' comment about Aboriginals. No, it was just my pathetic english. I MEANT as I corrected. The healing of the aboriginal self perception is something of great importance to this countries collective conscience. It is surely not something I would leave in the hands of the Left. As soon as u say 'left' u imply 'right' also, and that implies and always means political points scoring at the expense of aboriginals. I'm less in favor of 'land rights' as they are currently being exploited by all and sundry and MORE for a truly holistic approach, which may include land as part of the total package.

To me there is no left /right, there is just the Biblical pattern.
"RIGHT" is usually associated with 'big business' etc etc, but thats not where I come from. I have as many axes to grind with them as I do with the Left. You should have a read of the prophet Isaiah, how he cries against those who would take advantage of the fatherless and the widow, and the minor prophets (small books) just to see how LEFT they are ! But to suggest that the 'Left' is in any way connected to the Biblical concept of justice is something I'm not prepared to concede, because it feels like they have hijacked the truth but rejected the author.
I get sickened when I see those protests at Detention centres which are more about advertising the Socialist Alliance and raising its profile than justice for assylum seekers. (In my opinion)

Sooooo.... just call me mr predictable.

So predictable, Boaz, but I won't cross you off my dance list..

MINISTRY 101.

Step 1. "Find something to agree with" .. that will put them at ease.
Step 2. "Slip in some Bible verses to capitalize on the new 'at ease' feeling u have produced in Step 1 above.
Step 3. "Gather the 'flock' together and sing 'Kum ba ya' "

C'mon Grace.. finding something to agree with is surely plain good manners and is in harmony with "Credit where credit is due". I don't want people to think of me as being too small minded to acknowledge good things they say. Besides, its good social interaction.

If I apply the Word to any issue, its because I believe it is appropriate, and as u can see, it does not win me any popularity contests, nor is it likely to be more effective because I mention agreement with people about some things.

If you were Christian Grace, this is what I'd be saying to you ==>
"I love this forum, its a place where we can share with people meaningfully, such a change from just 'taking in' all the time like we do at Bible study." U see Grace, sharing Christ is what its about. On some issues we will find ourselves at total loggerheads such as on THIS thread, but on the others, its more congenial. Pericles and I have had a good go, looking at important issues. If that kind of thing (as with you) constitutes a small seed in the heart which later may produce fruit, well and good. If not, its not that I didn't try.

When the first missionaries went to China, they buried more of their own children than they had converts, for years and years... but if u look at China today, the church is bigger than the whole population of Australia. One of our church members is involved in bible translation among the Yali tribe in New Guinea which murdered his own father.

http://www.worldteam.org/yali/ttools-tc.htm
That link has reference to the actual thread here.. (homosexual behavior-see "politically incorrect translation") and how the Yali reacted when they FIRST heard about it, because they had never known of it in their whole tribal history. (they spat on the floor and gaggled)

The least I can do is spend a few moments on an internet forum.
Though last night we had a good gathering of about 20 people who will attend the Maroondah festival and 'minister' to all and sundry.

arrrgh... I posted that and heard the 'u have mail' noise, and it was yours, so that big post is not connected to your 'not removing me from your dance list' :)