You’ll get nothing and like it!
Holliday has for several years been predicting that blackouts could become a feature of power systems that replace reliable coal plants with wind turbines in order to meet greenhouse gas targets…. Under the so-called “smart grid” that the UK is developing, the government-regulated utility will be able to decide when and where power should be delivered, to ensure that it meets the highest social purpose. Governments may, for example, decide that the needs of key industries take precedence over others, or that the needs of industry trump that of residential consumers. Governments would also be able to price power prohibitively if it is used for non-essential purposes.
Blackouts: not a bug. A feature. And don’t worry. You can trust the government to know when you need electricity and how you may properly use it.
Added: More on this at Pajamas Media.
But...
You didn’t seem to remember to put the comment button on the Mardi Gras post. Anyway, I would like you to compare and contrast:
“You know what also doesn’t glorify Him? The street preachers who march around telling people they’re going to hell.”
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” (Luke 3:7)
I think John the Baptist would have made an awesome street preacher! And I doubt spelling counts for much in the heavenly places. To your point, I suppose the difference is whether such declarations are made out of love or hate. Whether it is a plea from a fellow beggar or a denunciation from a moral superior.
Sorry! I do pretty much the same Mardi Gras post every year, with minor updates, and forgot to open the comments up on that one. And your point is taken about JtB but my objections to the Mardi Gras/Decadence street preachers are pretty much what you stated – I’ve seen them in action and I have not seen love from them. They seem to have no interest in provoking a dialog – they deliberately provoke in a mean way, and the one time I asked a guy about it he said the more people oppose him and hate him, the more it proves him right – he was enjoying stirring people up against him. It was all about him, not about the gospel.
I can’t see into the soul of every one of these people – I hate to call them “street preachers” because they’re not preaching, they’re really counter-protesting – but only can assess their behavior, and that assessment can be faulty. But if these street preachers were serious about reaching out to people they could. Other ministries do work in the French Quarter, year round, not just during Mardi Gras and Decadence. I’ve seen plenty of video of street preachers related to a ministry by, I think the guy’s name is Ray Comfort, he’s associated with Kirk Cameron. They get people involved in a dialog, not just scream at them. What I’ve observed about these event-based “preachers” is that it seems a lot like this is kind of a Christian “spring break” for them – a mission trip where they conveniently get to see Mardi Gras yet be superior toward everyone who participates in it. Yeah, I’m a cynic. But that’s how it looks to me.
But since I’ve been kind of pounding the topic of hell lately, given the whole Rob Bell/Gandhi and now this, I think a post is in order on why I think it’s different to declare that I think Gandhi is probably in hell versus why I object to these protesters screaming it at Carnival and Decadence-goers. I hope you’ll read it and give me your feedback; I’ll post it tomorrow or the next day.
Wonderful reply and some really spot-on observations. Thank you.