Pathway in the Sea

Ever see a butterfly flutter by? John 3:7-8


Psalm 77:19

Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.



"The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick along side it."

-D. L. Moody

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Luna Sea

Spurgeon's Morning by Morning
September 1


"Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." --Psalm 73:24

The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God's counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord. The blind man leans on his friend's arm and reaches home in safety, and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always safe to trust the All-seeing God. "Thou shalt," is a blessed expression of confidence. He was sure that the Lord would not decline the condescending task. There is a word for thee, O believer; rest thou in it. Be assured that thy God will be thy counsellor and friend; He shall guide thee; He will direct all thy ways. In His written Word thou hast this assurance in part fulfilled, for holy Scripture is His counsel to thee. Happy are we to have God's Word always to guide us! What were the mariner without his compass? And what were the Christian without the Bible? This is the unerring chart, the map in which every shoal is described, and all the channels from the quicksands of destruction to the haven of salvation mapped and marked by one who knows all the way. Blessed be Thou, O God, that we may trust Thee to guide us now, and guide us even to the end! After this guidance through life, the Psalmist anticipates a divine reception at last--"and afterward receive me to glory." What a thought for thee, believer! God Himself will receive thee to glory--thee! Wandering, erring, straying, yet He will bring thee safe at last to glory! This is thy portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go in the strength of this text straight to the throne.


Courtesy of E-Word Today and
Classic Bible Commentaries
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Spurgeon's Evening by Evening
September 1


"Trust in Him at all times." --Psalm 62:8 

Faith is as much the rule of temporal as of spiritual life; we ought to have faith in God for our earthly affairs as well as for our heavenly business. It is only as we learn to trust in God for the supply of all our daily need that we shall live above the world. We are not to be idle, thatwould show we did not trust in God, who worketh hitherto, but in the devil, who is the father of idleness. We are not to be imprudent or rash; that were to trust chance, and not the living God, who is a God of economy and order. Acting in all prudence and uprightness, we are to rely simply and entirely upon the Lord at all times. 

Let me commend to you a life of trust in God in temporal things. Trusting in God, you will not be compelled to mourn because you have used sinful means to grow rich. Serve God with integrity, and if you achieve no success, at least no sin will lie upon your conscience. Trusting God, you will not be guilty of self-contradiction. He who trusts in craft, sails this way to-day, and that way the next, like a vessel tossed about by the fickle wind; but he that trusteth in the Lord is like a vessel propelled by steam, she cuts through the waves, defies the wind, and makes one bright silvery straightforward track to her destined haven. Be you a man with living principles within; never bow to the varying customs of worldly wisdom. Walk in your path of integrity with steadfast steps, and show that you are invincibly strong in the strength which confidence in God alone can confer. Thus you will be delivered from carking care, you will not be troubled with evil tidings, your heart will be fixed, trusting in the Lord. How pleasant to float along the stream of providence! There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God. We have no care, for He careth for us; we have no troubles, because we cast our burdens upon the Lord.

The super yacht, Luna, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, sailed by Martinez yesterday. (8-31-13) She passed us going upriver at the mothball fleet and again going downriver off of  Benicia. (Michael Medved actually solicited listeners to cite aspects of his own radio show as evidence of a sinister conspiracy. I responded by citing the suffix of his phone number... before ever seeing Nabokov's / Kubrick's "Lolita". A few weeks ago, I was passed on I-680 northbound by a large, silver Mercedes Benz sporting a license plate emblazoned with "MEDVED 1". Coincidence? Sure. Mr. Medved absolutely ridicules conspiracy theories, and contemptuously derides public figures like Alan Keyes and Ron Paul who advocate rigid adherence to clear Constitutional principles rather than being blown around in the winds of aimless and easily manipulated public opinion.Methinks thou dost protest too much.) We were out in our 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 186 on a shakedown cruise after a major overhaul precipitated by a spun connecting rod bearing.

Acquisition of Sibneft, aluminium wars, and loans-for-shares  [edit source | editbeta]

In 1995, Abramovich and Berezovsky acquired a controlling interest in the giant Soviet oil company Sibneft. Affiliates of Abramovich, with affiliates of Boris Berezovsky, purchased Russian oil company Sibneft for US$100.3 million (the company was worth US$2.7 billion at that time). Sibneft produces around US$3 billion worth of oil annually.[20] Abramovich established several fly-by-night firms and together with his friend Boris Berezovsky used them to acquire the stock of Sibneft. As a result, the tycoon managed to pay for the company 25 times less than the market price.[20] Bought for a total of US$200 million, Sibneft is now worth seventy five times as much.[21]
The Times claimed that he was assisted by Badri Patarkatsishvili.[22] This acquisition was under the controversial loans-for-shares programme initiated by then President Boris Yeltsin.[23][24][25] AfterSibneft, Abramovich's next target was the aluminium industry. After privatisation the 'aluminium wars' led to murders of smelting plant managers, metals traders and journalists as groups battled for control of the industry. Abramovich famously emerged winner in the aluminium wars.[22] The Times stated that in a BBC investigation into Abramovich's wealth, reporter John Sweeney noted that, after the oligarch (Abramovich) emerged at the top of the trade, the murders stopped.[26]

Yachts  [edit source | editbeta]

Abramovich has become the world's greatest spender on luxury yachts, and had been linked to five yachts in what the media have called "Abramovich's Navy":[73]
  • Eclipse 162.5 metres (533 ft) – ultramodern design by Hermidas Atabeyki. Similar to Pelorus with even more aggressive lines and a tri-colour scheme, also with an interior by Terrence Disdale.[74]Built in Germany by Blohm + Voss, she was floated out in September 2009.[75] Abramovich was due to take delivery of the yacht in December 2009,[76] which was delayed for almost a year after sea trials. She is believed to have cost Abramovich around US$400 million, and was at delivery the world's largest privately owned yacht, having been eclipsed in 2013 by the 180 m (590 ft) Azzam. The specification includes at least two swimming pools, a cinema, two helicopter landing-pads, several on-board tenders and a submarine. She has been reported to have an "anti-paparazzi" photo-shield system installed.[75]
  • "Motor Yacht Luna" 115 metres (377 ft) – Delivered to Roman Abramovich, the world's largest expedition yacht.[77]
The world's largest expedition yacht, Luna, is seen docked in San Diego.
  • "Titan" 78 metres (256 ft) – built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 2010 with both exterior as well as interior design created by Reymond & Langton Design.
[78] Former boats:
  • Pelorus 115 metres (377 ft) – Built in 2003 by Lurssen for another client who received six offers to sell her before she was even completed, in 2004 he accepted Abramovich's bid. The contemporary interior was designed by Terence Disdale. Pelorus was refitted by Blohm + Voss in 2005 adding a new forward helipad and zero speed stabilizers. She was partially refitted once again by Blohm + Voss in 2007–2008. Most often found cruising the Western Mediterranean, Abramovich annually took her to the Caribbean to celebrate New Year's Eve in St Bart's. Given to Irina in 2009 as part of the divorce settlement, she was approached on David Geffen's behalf by broker Merle Wood, with Geffen paying US$300 million to take ownership in 2011.[79]
  • Le Grand Bleu 112 metres (367 ft) expedition yacht) – formerly owned by John McCaw, Abramovich bought her in 2002 and had her completely refitted including a 16 ft (4.9 m) swim platform and sports dock. He presented her to his associate and friend Eugene Shvidler in June 2006
  • Ecstasea 85 metres (279 ft) – Largest Feadship built to date. She has a gas turbine alongside the conventional diesels which gives her high cruising speed. Abramovich sold the boat to an unnamed buyer in 2009.[80]