Wednesday, 6 August 2014

COMMENT: Bookmakers were wrong to tip gambler Alex Salmond in independence TV debate, Scottish Daily Express

alex salmond, alistair darling, independence, referendum, hopeless, crushed dream, ducking question, currency, Scotland, Scottish, debate

The bookies obviously reflect the mood of their punters, who do not as a rule enjoy taking too many risks with their hard-earned cash.

But sometimes bookies, and their punters, can be wrong, and last night they were.

Almost everyone has at least a grudging admiration for the swashbuckling, everconfident manner of Mr Salmond - which is why he was the bookies' favourite - but with little more than a month before the referendum, most people were watching from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

And they will have been looking for reassurance and stability.

Now that we are virtually on the last lap of this seemingly interminable campaign, the thought of taking the kinds of risks that Alex Salmond and his Nationalist supporters propose is distinctly unappealing.

Mr Salmond, as lubricious as ever, did not fail his admirers.

But most of last night's viewers, I suspect, would not wish to follow this man - and his wonky financial nous - into the dense thicket of uncertainty he proposes.

That is why, in the absence of any immediate verdict by STV's 350-strong audience, last night's winner - out there in the real world - was Alistair Darling.

He was never going to set the studio in Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire alight with his booming oratory, but his calm, incisive delivery, and his ability to unravel the untold consequences of Mr Salmond's reckless venture, will surely have told on the electorate.

Scotland’s accountants demand answers from nationalists | Better Together

Scotland’s accountants have picked apart the nationalists’ plans for a tax system in a separate Scotland in a crushing new report. In “Scotland’s Tax Future” ICAS, the body representing Scotland’s accountants, criticises the SNP’s lack of detail saying the nationalists are “virtually silent” on the matter in their plans to break up the UK.

The report clearly shows Scotland’s fiscal position is better off as part of the UK. With public spending £1300 higher than the UK average, we get a good deal out of the UK. If we were to separate this extra spending would be lost. It is clear that in the UK we have the best of both worlds; the ability to make the decisions that matter most to Scots here, backed up by the strength, stability and security of the UK.

The report, which is highly critical of several areas in the SNP’s manifesto for separation, says:

• The lack of numbers in the SNP’s plans “leaves a gap”, especially regarding the impact of oil and gas revenues on Scotland’s spending capacity.

Words for The Wise, From Basics to a Better Way, Hebrews 6 NASB

Hebrews 6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Peril of Falling Away

6 Therefore leaving the [a]elementary teaching about the [b]Christ, let us press on to [c]maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, [d]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often [e]falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close [f]to being cursed, and [g]it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that [h]accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the [i]saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence [j]so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by [k]one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 [l]In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, [m]interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have [n]taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 [o]This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters [p]within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Bible Panorama

Hebrews 6

V 1–3: PROGRESS The readers are urged to progress from the foundational truths of the gospel in order to get to know God better. They are not told to abandon those truths, but to go on from them, as a boat would leave the harbour. It still needs that harbour!

V 4–6: PARTAKERS There are those who come to the very edge of faith in Christ and even partake of some of the Holy Spirit’s blessings (partake literally means ‘to go along with’) without ever having turned to Christ. Their hearts have become hardened by tasting God’s Word without taking it in, and by skirmishing around the border instead of entering into the blessing.

V 7–8: PARABLE The parable used here, of thorns and brambles coming up from the ground, reminds us that our fruit will show whether we are truly saved or not.

V 9–12: PERSUADED The writer, however, tells his readers that he is confident that they are saved and that there are things that accompany their salvation that he has noticed. This includes labouring in love for other Christians. He urges them to be diligent to walk with God day by day, through faith and patience, inheriting God’s promises.

V 13–18: PURPOSE Just as God confirmed His word and intentions through Abraham, He has confirmed it through His promise and His oath, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

V 19–20: PRESENCE The Christian’s sure hope is anchored, as is his soul, in the presence of Jesus Christ in heaven. Like an anchor securing a boat, Jesus is there to ensure that those who trust in Him will be there with Him.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

6745 sanctification, nature and basis of

The process of renewal and consecration by which believers are made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the consequence of justification and is dependent upon a person being in a right relationship with God.

Sanctification is grounded in the holiness of God

God is holy Eze 39:7 See also Lev 22:32; Jos 24:19; Ps 30:4; Hos 11:9; Isa 6:3; Rev 6:10

God demands that his people should reflect his holiness Lev 19:2 See also Lev 11:44-45; Lev 20:7-8; Heb 2:11; 1Pe 1:15-16

Sanctification is the will of God for his people 1Th 4:3 See also Eph 1:4; Eph 2:10; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:1-2

The basis for sanctification

God’s election of his people 1Co 1:2; Eph 1:4-11; 1Th 5:9

The atoning death of Jesus Christ Heb 13:12 See also Ro 6:11; Ro 7:4; Ro 8:2; 1Co 1:30; 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:25-27; Heb 10:10-14; 1Pe 2:5

The grace of God Lk 1:69-75; Php 2:13; 2Ti 1:9; Heb 12:10

The work of the Holy Spirit Ro 15:16; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2

The word of God Jn 17:17; Eph 5:25-26; 2Ti 3:16

The need for sanctification

The universal sinfulness of humanity Isa 64:6 See also Job 15:14-15; Ps 51:5; Ro 5:12-19; Eph 2:3

Enslavement to evil can only be broken through the death of Jesus Christ Jn 8:34-36 See also Ro 6:16-18; Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17-24

The need for renewal and growth 2Pe 3:18 See also Ro 12:1-2; Col 1:10; 1Th 4:3-6; Heb 6:1-3

The nature of sanctification

A process which has already been initiated 1Co 1:2; 1Co 6:11

A process of growth in holiness Ro 12:1-3; 2Co 3:18; Eph 4:15; 1Th 4:3-7; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 2:1-3; 2Pe 3:18

Consecration to God Ex 32:29; 1Ch 29:5; Pr 23:26; Ro 12:1

Views, Visions and Values.