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Some of the Biggest Misconceptions About Life Insurance
(NewsUSA) - So much for fancy cars, houses and jewelry.
Eighty-one percent of Americans believe their "most valuable asset" is their family, according to a new survey by Edward Jones and the nonprofit consumer-education organization Life Happens. And one quarter of respondents in the national sampling of adults confessed that their biggest fear was saddling their nearest and dearest with unexpected financial burdens if they're unable to work or die prematurely.
Which begs the question: If we're so worried about protecting what we treasure most, why don't more people have life insurance?
Ask most experts, and they'll tell you that such policies can help provide crucial resources for anyone with loved ones to support. And yet the latest figures show only 41 percent of U.S. households have individual life insurance.
"Most Americans have little or no safeguards for their financial goals," says Ken Cella, principal of the Client Strategies Group at the financial services firm Edward Jones. "They may understand the value of having emergency funds to cover unexpected financial expenses in the short term, but they're less protected for the long-term financial implications."
Faisa Stafford, president of Life Happens, puts it even more bluntly: "Emergency savings aren't a long-term financial solution, especially if a family's primary breadwinner were to die."
Much of the disconnect between what we'll call "the urge to protect" and the reality on the ground can be blamed on one or both of the following misconceptions:
* It's too expensive. Think of this as the equivalent of the alligators-in-New-York-City-sewers myth. When Life Happens and LIMRA, a global life insurance research and consulting group, asked participants in their 2017 Insurance Barometer Study how much a $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 30-year-old would cost, NerdWallet reports, the median estimate was $500 a year - more than three times the actual annual amount of $160.
But let's say that would-be policy holder wanted even more protection for his dependents. Forbes magazine recently calculated that that same incorrect median estimate - $500 - would buy a healthy, non-smoking, 30-something male a 20-year term policy with a million-dollar death benefit. Some people spend more than that in a year on caffe lattes.
That said, prices do vary based on factors like age, health, amount of coverage, and whether you opt for term or permanent insurance. The former - the most affordable - covers a specific time frame (usually 20 years or less), while the latter stays in force for life (as long as you continue to pay the premiums). Online aids like Edward Jones' complementary Life Insurance Needs calculator can help with factors to consider when determining how much life insurance may be appropriate for you.
* The policy I have through work is good enough. And if you're no longer employed there? Not only is group life insurance generally not portable, it typically only provides benefits equal to one or two times your annual salary.
"Growing families usually need greater protection than that," says Scott Thoma, an investment strategist at Edward Jones, "and they need coverage that's not contingent on work status."
Know that life insurance doesn't simply assign a monetary value to someone's life. Which brings us to another revealing finding of the Edward Jones-Life Happens "Protect What Matters" survey.
Twenty-three percent of participants didn't know it can even cover expenses like college tuition for a surviving child.
Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico, and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
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The Cell as a Machine
Part of Cambridge Texts in Biomedical Engineering
Michael Sheetz, Columbia University, New York
Hanry Yu, National University of Singapore
Date Published: January 2018
This unique introductory text explains cell functions using the engineering principles of robust devices. Adopting a process-based approach to understanding cell and tissue biology, it describes the molecular and mechanical features that enable the cell to be robust in operating its various components, and explores the ways in which molecular modules respond to environmental signals to execute complex functions. The design and operation of a variety of complex functions are covered, including engineering lipid bilayers to provide fluid boundaries and mechanical controls, adjusting cell shape and forces with dynamic filament networks, and DNA packaging for information retrieval and propagation. Numerous problems, case studies and application examples help readers connect theory with practice, and solutions for instructors and videos of lectures accompany the book online. Assuming only basic mathematical knowledge, this is an invaluable resource for graduate and senior undergraduate students taking single-semester courses in cell mechanics, biophysics and cell biology.
Uniquely links together the biology, biophysics, and engineering principles underlying cell functions
Avoids complex mathematical treatments, making it accessible to students with only a basic mathematical background
Additional information about many of the functions described in the book can be found online at www.mechanobio.info
contains: 2 b/w illus. 136 colour illus.
Part I. Principle of Complex Function in Robust Machines:
1. Robust self-replicating machines shaped by evolution
2. Complex functions of robust machines with emergent properties
3. Integrated complex functions with dynamic feedback
4. Cells exhibit multiple states, each with different functions
5. Life at low Reynolds number and the mesoscale leads to stochastic phenomena
Part II. Design and Operation of Complex Functions:
6. Engineering lipid bilayers to provide fluid boundaries and mechanical controls
7. Membrane trafficking – flow and barriers create asymmetries
8. Signaling and cell volume control through ion transport and volume regulators
9. Structuring a cell by cytoskeletal filaments
10. Moving and maintaining functional assemblies with motors
11. Microenvironment controls life, death and regeneration
12. Adjusting cell shape and forces with dynamic filament networks
13. DNA packaging for information retrieval and propagation
14. Transcribing the right information and packaging for delivery
15. Turning RNA into functional proteins and removing unwanted proteins
Part III. Coordination of Complex Functions:
16. How to approach a coordinated function – cell rigidity sensing and force generation across length scale
17. Integration of cellular functions for decision making
18. Moving from omnipotency to death
19. Cancer versus regeneration – the wrong versus right response to the microenvironment.
Michael Sheetz, Hanry Yu
Figure captions
MBinfo
Chapter 1 figures
Chapter 10 figures
Michael Sheetz is Chair of Biological Science at Columbia University, Founding Chair of the Department of Cell Biology at Duke University, and Founding Director of the Mechanobiology Institute at the National University of Singapore. He is also a recipient of the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.
Hanry Yu is a Professor in both the Department of Physiology and the Mechanobiology Institute at the National University of Singapore, and a Group Leader at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore. He has co-taught the material in this book with Michael Sheetz at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and the National University of Singapore.
Integrative Mechanobiology
Micro- and Nano- Techniques in Cell Mechanobiology
Zygote is an international journal dedicated to the rapid publication of original research in early embryology. It…
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics (QRB) covers the whole field of biophysics, from ion channels to DNA topology and…
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1 AHI Opposed to Passage of Legislation Authorizing Transfer of Naval Vessels to Turkey 01/02/13 3665
2 AHI Member’s Company to Cater Presidential Inaugural Luncheon 01/11/13 3797
3 AHIF is pleased to bring the 2012-2013 Issue of the AHIF Online Policy Journal 01/23/13 2948
4 AHI, AHEPA Meet with United Airlines; Goal to Establish Direct Route to Athens 01/25/13 3341
5 AHI Assesses Findings of European Commission’s “Turkey 2012 Progress Report” 01/28/13 3230
6 AHI Hosts Welcome Dinner for Greece’s Opposition Leader 01/29/13 6909
7 AHI President Congratulates Vice President Biden at Inaugural Reception 02/01/13 2986
8 AHI Welcomes Hellenic Navy Chief to Hellenic House 02/01/13 3939
9 AHI Submits Letter to the New York Times; Columnist: EU’s Leverage Over Cyprus is Ephemeral 02/15/13 3277
10 AHI to Host 38th Anniversary Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner 02/20/13 2957
11 USA Today Columnist: IOC at Odds with U.S. Interests 02/23/13 3124
12 UN Special Rapporteur Issues Report on Freedom of Religion in Cyprus 02/28/13 3416
13 The Guardian Article Examines Greece’s Debt Forgiveness Toward Postwar Germany 02/28/13 3028
14 AHI Applauds Bilirakis’ Statement on Turkish Prime Minister’s Offensive Remark Calling Zionism a “Crime against Humanity” 03/04/13 3058
15 AHI Releases 2012 Annual Report 03/12/13 2743
16 AHI Saddened by Passing of Andrew Athens 03/14/13 3327
17 AHI Makes Available Awards Dinner Journal, Photos to Public 03/19/13 2856
18 AHI Submits Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2014 Foreign Aid to Southeastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean 03/20/13 3078
19 Numerous Articles Examine Cyprus’ Financial Crisis 03/21/13 3025
20 AHI Legal Counsel Appears on NPR’s “The Diane Rehm Show” to Discuss Cyprus Banking Crisis 03/22/13 3459
21 AHI Hosts 38th Anniversary Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner 03/22/13 6371
22 AHI Hosts Annual Congressional Salute to Greek Independence Day 03/25/13 3965
23 AHI Disappointed in Obama Administration’s Recent Actions regarding Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean 03/26/13 4097
24 AHI, ANCA: Future Trade Measures with Turkey Must Require End of Turkey’s Military Occupation of Cyprus, Blockade of Armenia 03/28/13 3611
25 AHI Welcomes Former Greek Interior Minister to Hellenic House 03/28/13 3185
26 Numerous Articles Report on Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean 03/29/13 3353
27 AHI Releases Fact Sheet Detailing Greece’s Contributions to U.S. Security Interests, NATO 04/04/13 3628
28 AHI Forum Examines Cyprus’s Banking Crisis 04/05/13 16178
29 Houston Hosts Screening of AHIF-supported PBS Cyprus Documentary 04/05/13 3008
30 AHI Releases 2013 Policy Statements; Statements Advocate for the Rule of Law 04/15/13 5012
31 AHI Submits Letter to the New York Times; Rebuts Notion that Cyprus Should “Play Nice” with Turkey 04/17/13 3634
32 AHI Celebrates Greek Independence Day at the White House 04/22/13 3162
33 AHI-backed Cyprus Resolution Introduced by Congressman Bilirakis 04/26/13 3569
34 AHI Statement: Reject the Turkish Caucus-led Congressional Letter on Restart of Cyprus Negotiations 04/29/13 3700
35 AHI Appalled by U.S. Commission’s International Religious Freedom Report Upgrading Turkey 05/02/13 3769
36 AHI to President Obama: Place Cyprus, Aegean Sea, Ecumenical Patriarchate on Agenda with Turkish Prime Minister 05/02/13 3175
37 AHI Supports Trade, Investment Agreement between U.S., European Union 06/01/13 3218
38 AHI Hosts Book-signing Events Featuring Former Head of 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee 06/06/13 3353
39 AHI Conducts Annual Trip to Greece, Cyprus 06/06/13 5303
40 AHIF’s Foreign Policy Students Embark for Greece, Cyprus 06/14/13 3232
41 AHI Applauds Passage of Gibson-Grimm Amendment to Farm Bill 06/21/13 2963
42 AHI Saddened by the Passing of Longtime AHI Supporter 07/01/13 3480
43 AHI Welcomes Commentary Published by Hudson Institute 07/08/13 3185
44 AHI Welcomes New Cypriot Ambassador to U.S. to Hellenic House 07/16/13 3234
45 AHI Statement on 39th Anniversary of Turkish Invasion of Cyprus 07/16/13 3771
46 AHI to President Obama: U.S. Should Engage in a “Special Relationship” with Greece 07/24/13 2927
47 AHI Applauds Selection of Trans Adriatic Pipeline; Demonstrates Greece’s Role as Energy Security Provider 07/29/13 2892
48 AHI Welcomes Greece’s Defense Minister to Hellenic House 07/30/13 2987
49 AHI President’s Op-ed: Mr. Samaras Comes to Washington 08/01/13 2948
50 AHI’s Congressional Briefing on Cyprus Yields Bipartisan Support for Congressional Hearing, Action on Cyprus 08/02/13 2832
52 Newly-confirmed American Ambassador to Greece Meets with AHI 09/09/13 2515
53 Fifth Annual AHIF Foreign Policy Trip to Greece, Cyprus a Success 09/10/13 8138
54 AHEPA Supreme President Visits Hellenic House 09/23/13 2360
55 AHIF Student Foreign Policy Trip Participants Describe their Personal Experiences 09/30/13 3007
56 AHI President Accepts Appointment to American Community Schools of Athens Advisory Council 10/01/13 2333
57 AHI President Participates at AHEPA District Workshop 10/01/13 2280
58 AHI Announces Benefit Program with Stream Energy 10/08/13 2316
59 AHI Forum Commemorates 91st Anniversary of Smyrna Catastrophe 10/16/13 14399
60 AHI Assesses Findings of European Commission’s “Turkey 2013 Progress Report” 11/01/13 2150
61 AHI Forum Details America’s Formidable Contribution to Greek War Relief Commemorates 73rd Anniversary of Oxi Day 11/05/13 2465
62 AHI Hosts Tenth Annual Golf Classic; Panel Discussion on Sports Held Prior to Tournament 11/05/13 2465
63 AHI Welcomes Greek Prime Minister’s Top Economic Adviser to Hellenic House 11/08/13 2218
64 Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Meets with AHI 11/08/13 2366
65 AHI Applauds Hudson Institute Conference on Greece, Cyprus, and Israel 11/08/13 2440
66 Turkish PM Statement on Cyprus “Outrageous and Incendiary” 11/14/13 2682
67 AHI Deeply Saddened by the Passing of Former President of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides 11/18/13 2205
68 AHI Welcomes Top Greek Military Official to Hellenic House 11/19/13 2203
69 Top Greek Diplomatic Official Visits Hellenic House 12/22/13 2190
70 AHI Presentation in Athens Features U.S. Ambassador to Greece 12/30/13 2641
71 AHIF Hosts 12th Annual Future of Hellenism in America Conference 12/31/13 4633
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Make a Donation | Sign up for Automatic Death Notifications
POSTED | January 3, 2011
Back to Obituaries/Notices
Anderson, Rodney
Rodney Cecil Anderson
Peacefully in Picton
Husband of the late Margaret, father of Brian (Arlene) of Vancouver and the late Jim (Wendy) of Picton, grandfather of Jessica, Brent, Natalie and Rachel, brother of the late Ed (Aida), Les (Helen), the late Dorothy (Ken) Brown and Pat (Charlie) Tomlin, brother-in-law of Donald (Betty) Southwick, Lorraine Southwick and Dorothy (Joe) Babiak, and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario on October 4, 1919 and raised in Nipissing Junction, as a young man, Rod rode the rails and worked in mines and construction camps across Northern Ontario. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1939 and was a radio operator in the R.C.H.A. First Canadian Division in Sicily, Italy, Holland and Germany until 1945. Rod enjoyed working with his hands and built a cottage in Lake Simcoe, a house in Scarborough and his dream home on Lake Ontario in Wellington. He was an avid reader of history, a gardener and grower of apples.
A family memorial will be held at a later date.
Rod?s family wishes to thank the staff at Hallowell House for
their compassion and excellent care.
The family would appreciate donations in Rod?s memory to the
Wellington Library, Box 370, Wellington, ON K0K 3L0.
Arrangements entrusted to
Ainsworth Funeral Home, Wellington, ON (613.399.3177)
www.ainsworthfuneralhome.com
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News sport April 19, 2018
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson discusses Champions League hopes
Chinese Super League club’s sponsor ‘positive’ over deal for Iniesta
Man City will go down in history for their Premier League performances
Champions League glory
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has discussed the side’s chances of winning the Champions League but insists they will not underestimate Roma.
The Anfield side will face off against the Italian giants next week in the first leg of their tie after they stunned Barcelona in the last round.
Mohamed Salah’s former club overcome a three-goal deficit to shock the Catalan giants and progress through to face Liverpool.
Now, captain Henderson has revealed he has dreamed of getting his hands on the European cup but they must take it one step at a time.
“I think you dream about those things from when you are a kid really,” said Henderson.
“Of course I have, as many other players have, but one step at a time.
No complacency
As expected, Henderson will make sure his side will not under-estimate Roma in any way after they shocked Barcelona.
“Roma are a fantastic team and it will be a tough test for us, so we will just have to wait and see,” he explained.
“We certainly won’t under-estimate them.
“They beat Barcelona 3-0 and they are a top team. It will be a difficult game both home and away.
“I’ve watched them a few times and they’ve got some very good players. It will be a tough test, as it always would be in the semi-final of the Champions League.
“It is a challenge for us and we’ll be confident with the way we’ve been playing, especially in the last round.
“We have to go there and do what we’ve been doing and hopefully get to the final.”
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Home Articles Australian real estate start-up OpenAgent has raised $1 million in funding from...
Australian real estate start-up OpenAgent has raised $1 million in funding from notable investors
Gerald Ainomugisha
OpenAgent founders Marta Higuera and Zoe Pointon
Local real estate start-up OpenAgent has closed a $1 million funding round with prominent investors including Pete Flint, the co-founder of US online real estate behemoth Trulia.
Founded in 2012, this is big news for the agent review platform. This latest contribution brings the total funding to $1.4 million, after co-founders Marta Higuera and Zoe Pointon (pictured right), last year reeled in an initial round of $400,000.
Other notable investors who have joined Flint in investing in OpenAgent include co-founder of One Big Switch, Paul Hunyor, and Ellerston Capital Advisory Board member Anthony Klok, whose previous investments include Temando and Deals Direct.
OpenAgent helps Australian home owners sell their property, by providing rankings of all real estate agents based on past sales and customer reviews and connecting them with the best agent in their area and for their property.
Excited about the vote of confidence from the big investors
OpenAgent co-founder Zoe Pointon said securing the confidence of such high profile investors was almost as exciting as securing the actual funds.
“Having Pete Flint come on board as an investor and advisor is just huge,” she remarked.
“Pete knows this space better than just about anyone, having built Trulia – one of the world’s biggest online real estate businesses – from the ground up.”
“Pete loves what we’re doing, and clearly thinks OpenAgent has a bright future. You can’t get a better vote of confidence than that.”
“After closing the initial round last year, we put all our energy into proving the model. We are now focused on scaling the business up,” Pointon revealed.
How did OpenAgent come to life?
“The idea for OpenAgent was motivated by my own experiences dealing with real estate agents of such varied quality. After a few conversations with friends and colleagues, it became clear that I wasn’t the only one,” Pointon shared with Anthill.
“Some agents had poor communication, didn’t turn up on time to open homes and were negotiating against their vendors,” she added, “On the other hand; some agents were extremely professional and committed to providing the best service possible.”
“The problem was not being able to tell the difference before deciding to work with them.”
Pointon further pointed out that given the fact that the sale of a property is the largest transaction most people will ever make, it seemed like there should be a way for people to find out quality performance information about the agent they were hiring and that all this information should be available in one place.
“We both have a strategy consulting background so we worked part time to fund the business in its initial stages – we were working from my kitchen table,” she further revealed, “Once we were confident that we had a profitable model, we held a seed funding round and raised AU$400,000.”
What strategy has OpenAgent used to reach this point of working with a notable real estate giant of Pete Flint’s calibre?
“The biggest thing we’ve done is been ruthless in testing before we build,” Pointon told Anthill, “Early on we had a lot of ideas about how OpenAgent could or should work, but we had to figure out which assumptions were right and which were wrong.”
“We had to test to see if people were more interested in finding the cheapest agent or the best agent to sell their house, we had to test whether people prefer us to call them and talk them through the options available, we had to test how to engage with the best agents and get the best results working with them,” she explained.
Pointon further highlighted that as they were initially small and unfunded, they had to find super-MVP ways of testing these assumptions, to quickly and cheaply get to a business model that works.
“This helped us to get traction quickly, and that of course helps you get a meeting. But by going through this process we were able to talk to the smartest people in the industry and answer their questions confidently and with real facts rather than just ideas.”
Anthony Klok
Australian start-ups
Deals Direct
Ellerston Capital
Marta Higuera
One Big Switch
OpenAgent
Paul Hunyor
Pete Flint
real estate start-ups
Temando
Zoe Pointon
Previous articleAustralian developer is bringing game-based learning to China. Sounds like fun!
Next articleIncreasing your average transaction value with your clients [PODCAST]
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Home>FFTC Agricultural Policy Articles>Production policy>Articles/ Related published articles
Dragon Fruit Production in Vietnam: Achievements and Challenges
Trinh Xuan Hoat*, Mai Van Quan, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hien, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Ha Minh Thanh, Nguyen Van Liem
Plant Protection Research Institute, Duc Thang ward, Bac Tu Liem district, Ha Noi city,
In Vietnam, the total production area of dragon fruit is approximately 50.000 ha with White Flesh variety accounting for about 95% and Red Flesh variety accounting for about 5%. Dragon fruit is mainly grown in Binh Thuan, Long An and Tien Giang provinces with more than 37.000 ha. The average yield is 22.7 tons/ha with the total annual production of nearly 700.000 tons. Fresh dragon fruit is used primarily for domestic consumption (15-20%) and for exportation (80-85%) to 40 countries and territories. In addition to traditional markets such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Taiwan, dragon fruit is exported to fastidious markets like USA, Italy, Japan and Singapore, and some new markets (India, New Zealand, Australia and Chile). In the first 8 months of 2016, China - the main export market of dragon fruits, accounting for 91.2% of total turnover - reached 518.1 million USD; USA - the second largest dragon fruit export market of Vietnam - reached 11.64 million USD, accounting for 2.1% of total turnover. Thailand became Vietnam's third largest dragon fruit export market with a turnover of US$1.09 million. However, dragon fruit production in Vietnam is facing many difficulties including: (i) The impact of climate change, diseases and insect pests, (ii) The price of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) always tend to increase. This leads to the increase in the production cost and reduction in the competitiveness of dragon fruit both in the domestic and international markets, (iii) The price of dragon fruits is unstable and always depends on the cropping season and other market factors. The expansion to other markets meets high requirements mainly due to technical barriers, while the ability to meet quality standards, pre-processing technologies, preservation and long-distance transport in the dragon fruit production chain is slowly being improved, (iv) Major competitors in dragon fruit production such as China, Indonesia and Thailand are developing raw materials and penetrating bigger markets, especially in China and Indonesia. To develop the dragon fruit industry, the following solutions are necessary: diversification of products, organization of production, enhancing the effectiveness of pests and diseases management, development of diversity distribution channels, management of dragon fruit business, development of cooperation in dragon fruit production and procurement, and investment into processing of dragon fruit products.
Keywords: Dragon fruit, disease and insect pests, market, processing
DRAGON FRUIT PRODUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN VIETNAM
Vietnam has the largest area and output of dragon fruit in Asia and is the leading exporter of dragon fruit in the world. Dragon fruit is currently being grown in almost all provinces, but it has grown into large-scale intensive farming areas in Binh Thuan, Tien Giang and Long An provinces. The planting-area of dragon fruit in the three provinces accounts for about 92% of the total area and about 96% of the country's output (Table 1).
Binh Thuan province has the largest area and output of dragon fruit accounting for 63.2% of the total area and 68.4% of the country's output, followed by Long An (accounting for 17.3% and 14.2%) and Tien Giang province (accounting for 10.9% and 13.7%, respectively). The remaining planting-areas are in some southern provinces such as Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and some provinces in the north such as Lang Son, Vinh Phuc, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa and Ha Noi (Table 1).
Most of the dragon fruit grown in Vietnam is Hylocereus undatus, with red or pink/white skin and White Flesh accounting for about 95%, the rest is Red Flesh accounting for about 5%. Dragon fruit planted in recent years has high yields that brings high income to the growers. It can now be available all year-around through an off-season production technology that mainly happens by manipulating the environment through artificial lighting lamps. The price of fruit from off-season is usually from US$0.15 to US$0.25 higher in comparison with that from the main-season, which is very favorable for export. The dragon fruit season is from April to October, the most from May to August. Many dragon fruit varieties are bred to increase productivity, quality and suitability of land and climate. As a result, dragon fruit become economically viable and have a high competitive advantage over other crops.
Dragon fruit is mainly marketed in the form of fresh fruit in which the domestic market accounts for 15 - 20% of the output; while the remaining 80 - 85% of the output is from exports.
Dragon fruit has been present in most of the domestic market, with much concentration in the north, south and central Coastal provinces. The purchasing of dragon fruit in the market is conducted by businesses, the purchasing and packing dragon fruit through the distribution channels, wholesale markets in the provinces and cities. Dragon fruit is also present in all domestic supermarkets, but always be in high competitive with many other kinds of fruit. It is estimated that dragon fruit consuming in the domestic market is only about 15 - 20% of total production (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Table 1. Growing area, yield and production of dragon fruit in Vietnam in the year 2015
Growing area (ha)
Yield (quintal/ha)
Productivity (tons)
Red River Delta
Vinh Phuc
Ha Nam
Nam Đinh
Cao Bang
Bac Cạn
Lang Son
Yen Bai
Phu Thọ
Lai Chau
Đien Bien
Son La
Hoa Binh
North Central Coast
Quang Tri
South Central Coast
Binh Đinh
Phu Yen
Đak Lak
Đak Nong
Lam Đong
Đong Nai
Binh Thuan
Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Mekong River Delta
Đong Tháp
Source: MARD, 2015
Vietnam’s dragon fruit is exported to 40 countries and territories such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, Italy, Japan, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, etc. According to the statistic data, Vietnam exported about 900,000 tons of dragon fruit in 2015; in the first eight-months of the year 2016, dragon fruit export of Vietnam accounted for 49.8% of the total fruit export turnover, reaching US$567.88 million that up to 123% over the same period of the year 2015.
In the first 8 months of 2016:
China - the main export market of dragon fruits, accounted for 91.2% of the total turnover, reached US$518.1 million, up 165.3% compared with 8 months of 2015.
US - the second largest dragon fruit export market of Vietnam, reached US$11.64 million in the first eight months of 2016 accounting for 2.1% of the total turnover, up 48.2% over the same period of 2015.
Notably, Thailand became Vietnam's third largest dragon fruit export market with a turnover of US$1.09 million, a surge of 73.3%. The first eight months of 2016 reached US$9.73 million accounting for 1.7% of the total (Table 2, Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Table 2. Key export markets for dragon fruits in the first eight months of 2016 (Unit: thousand USD)
Compared with August of 2015 (%)
DIFFICULTIES OF DRAGON FRUIT PRODUCTION IN VIETNAM
Although dragon fruit production area under GAP standards is about 9,000 ha; however, the abuse of pesticides and growth regulators on dragon fruit is still occurring and not meeting the demand of markets for food safety. Infrastructure for intensive production of dragon fruit has not been invested properly, lack of electricity and irrigation systems, especially in drought and water shortage conditions. This has led to the decrease on the planting area of dragon fruit in Vietnam in recent years.
The brown spot disease (also known as white spot disease that caused by the fungus Neoscytalidium dimidiatum) (Nguyen and Quan, 2017) - infected area has recently decreased, but the risk of spread and outbreak of the disease is still high since there is no specific pesticides to control effectively the brown spot disease; the disease inoculum in the infected plant debris is still available in the field and there is no method for completely destroying the debris.
Although there were many enterprises and farmer organizations (such as the associated group, the cooperative group, the dragon fruit alliance) were established and went into operation; however, the associations have not formed effective links to promote sustainable production and consumption of dragon fruit in Vietnam. The dragon fruit growers sell products mainly through traders where they do not get good price, especially in main-season. Not being able to spread the crop in dragon fruit production to regulate the quantity of dragon fruits for consumption (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Consumption and processing of dragon fruits
The domestic market has not been expanded, main export categories are low, export markets depend mainly on the Chinese market that will be high risk for dragon fruit production in Vietnam. The expansion of the export market is still limited. The volume of dragon fruits exported to China in the form of border trade accounts for a large proportion, but unregulated, the phenomenon of congestion and stagnation of goods at the border causes many risks for enterprises. Dragon fruit exports to the Chinese market in the form of cross-border trade do not require high quality, transport procedures, delivery and easy payment. The majority of dragon fruit exporters in Vietnam are medium and small scale with limited foreign trade knowledge, limited funds for trade promotion activities. In addition, the provincial budget for marketing and trade promotion for dragon fruit products has not been strong and has not meet the demand of the market.
In the management of dragon fruit trade, consumption is still limited, lack of tight; especially, the lack of management in intermediate traders causes many problems such as scramble for purchase rights, price disputes, quality and depreciation rates, etc. This contributes to the price fluctuation of dragon fruit in the markets.
The propaganda and promotion of trade in dragon fruit products is weak, not regular and not bring into play the geographical indications of Vietnamese dragon fruit in the international markets.
The technology of packing, preserving and processing of dragon fruits are also simple leading to the reduction in the competitiveness of Vietnamese dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is mainly consumed in the form of fresh fruit, processing factories from dragon fruit is limited and in small scale (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
From 2009 to 2010, brown spot disease has appeared in small areas in Binh Thuan province. Until 2012, the disease has re-emerged in Ham Thuan Nam and Ham Thuan Bac districts of Binh Thuan province and is now widely spread in the dragon fruit growing areas of the Binh Thuan, Long An and Tien Giang provinces causing great damage, high yield loss and reduction in quality and price of dragon fruit in the markets. At the end of 2012, the total infected area of Binh Thuan province reached to 827,5 ha and up to 1,393 ha in 2013 and 12,870 ha in 2014 accounting for about 50% of the total dragon fruit growing area of the province (VAAS, 2016).
In addition to brown spot disease, other disease and insect pests such as anthracnose, bacterial soft rot diseases, oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis H.) and guava fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta B.) are also important pests of dragon fruit in Vietnam. From 2015, the root rot disease has occurred and severely damaged, serious threaten to dragon fruit production (Hien et al., 2011, 2016).
The main causes of the increase in the number and the incidence of pests are due to:
The high level of investments in intensive but unsustainable cultivation (use of many chemical fertilizers and less organic fertilizer);
The level of over-exploitation of fruit in both main-season and the off-season using electricity technology has led to the loss of resistance of plant;
Farmers are not interested in integrated pest management measures, especially pruning, removing and destroying of the infected debris, but rather focusing on using pesticides;
The inoculum of brown spot disease is existing in the field; however, farmers are not actively doing hygenic practices in their farms as recommended by the agricultural sector in the rainy season, this leads to the spread of diseases rapidly to new areas.
There are no biological products or specific pesticides for controlling of brown spot disease, and the efficacy of current chemical pesticides is low due to the smooth characteristics of dragon fruit that is very difficult for pesticides to stick on the surface of branches and fruits. The efficacy of pesticides is reduced especially in the rainy season. In addition, farmers use plant growth regulators that lead to the reduction of plant resistance against pests and decrease in product quality;
Vietnamese farmers produce dragon fruit spontaneously in small scale by traditional methods and beyond their experiences, using inappropriate pesticides; so that the quality does not meet the demand of the big international markets. Farmers sell their product to the traders which is very risky for farmers especially in the "high yield but low price" situation;
The price of dragon fruits is unstable and always depends on the cropping season and other market factors. The expansion to other markets meets high requirements mainly due to technical barriers, while the ability to meet quality standards, pre-processing technologies, preservation and long-distance transport in the dragon fruit production chain is slowly being improved;
The price of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) always tend to increase. This leads to the increase in the production cost and reduction in the competitiveness of dragon fruit both in the domestic and international markets;
Major competitors in dragon fruit production such as China, Indonesia and Thailand are developing raw materials and penetrating bigger markets, especially in China and Indonesia (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Diversification of products
In addition to the White Flesh variety, there are other varieties such as Red Flesh variety named LĐ1, Purple and Pink Flesh variety named LĐ5. Diversification of varieties will contribute to diversified products in the market while reducing competition pressure for traditional White Flesh variety. This is true especially for the LĐ5 variety which have the advantages of long-term preservation, good quality, beautiful appearance, high disease resistance that promis a new potential future for the dragon fruit production in Vietnam. In addition, this variety is being monopolized and will be highly competitive and not dependent on the import market.
Organization of production
Strengthening the management of dragon fruit - growing area according to the approved plan; advise people not to develop new gorwing areas but focus on improving product quality and ensuring food safety;
The production of dragon fruit must be oriented in accordance to GAP standards, with emphasis on quality not to follow quantity to ensure quality, food safety for export;
To carry out synchronously from the production to processing stages under the provisions of the Law on Food Safety; absolutely no abuse of plant growth regulators and pesticide use on dragon fruit products.
Link to form the production chain, the dragon fruit consumption on the basis creating the best conditions for enterprises to associate with the farmer organizations and strengthen cooperatives producing dragon fruit to improve the production capacity and link with the business (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Promoting trade activities
For Domestic markets
The enterprises handle the distribution and consumption of dragon fruits in provinces and cities throughout the country. The demand for dragon fruit in the domestic markets is still capable of further development. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on marketing and promoting Vietnamese dragon fruits in the form of participating in fairs and exhibitions in different regions, provinces and cities in the whole country to develop distribution systems in wholesale markets, supermarket; especially, focus on the markets of big city such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and some coastal provinces in Central Vietnam and Central Highlands.
Dragon fruit production and trading cooperatives and dragon fruit trading enterprises should closely coordinate with the implementation of cooperative programs between dragon fruit - growing provinces and markets on the supply and consumption of Vietnamese dragon fruit and other products (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
For international markets
Continue to boost exports to the Chinese market to maintain the form of cross-border trading, to promote the formation of linkages with traders who are specialized in fruit and vegetable distribution in Lao Cai (Vietnam), Ha Khau (Yunnan, China) to strengthen exportation of dragon fruit to the Southwest markets of China.
Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway has been completed, which will facilitate the transportation of export goods to develop this market. Along with that, the trade opened stronger through the Thanh Thuy border gate of Ha Giang province - Thien Bao (Yunnan, China). Encourage businesses to boost export of dragon fruit by sea to inland China such as Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Zhejiang, Hubei and Qingdao (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Management of dragon fruit business, development of cooperation in dragon fruit production and procurement
In the coming time, it is necessary to review and list all of dragon fruit business enterprises. Cooperate closely with relevant authorities to identify and closely monitor the activities of traders.
Dragon Fruit Group according to VietGAP (VietGAP Group) standard should appoint representatives to provide services to produce dragon fruit to work directly with the consumption business to limit through intermediary traders. Mobilizing the farms, the VietGAP Group priority to sell products to enterprises in the system.
Reorganizing the supply chain of the enterprise to control the trader objects to limit the situation of competition between enterprises together, disrupt the supply chain of each other. Enterprises should thoroughly understand about international traders before deciding to sign trading contracts; only dealing with reputable traders, knowing the business, having financial power;
Enterprises must really unite, closely coordinate with each other to penetrate market expansion, coordination of delivery plans; it is important to avoid competing massively at the same time at a border gate. Interested to associate with the producers by the hard contract - consumption products to actively develop business plans - consumption (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Investments into processing of dragon fruit products
The State should set out guidelines for attracting investments; encouraging and supporting enterprises to invest in factories for heat treatment and dragon fruit irradiation according to the technical requirements of markets. This is an important condition for dragon fruit to be exported to these difficult but potential markets.
In addition, it is necessary to encourage and support businesses to invest in processing dragon fruit products to reduce the pressure on fresh fruit consumption and to have policies to support and solve problems of the enterprises who have invested in processing dragon fruits for stable operation. This leads to the expansion in scale and improvement in the processing capacity of quality products. At the same time it ensures food safety and encourages the practice of proper hygiene to meet market requirements.
To mobilize enterprises in the provinces who have financial capability, have markets and experience in the international markets to set up enterprises to invest in processing and export business to create new consumption capacity, contribute more actively into dragon fruit sustainable development (Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association, 2016).
Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association. 2016. Report on the consumption status of dragon fruit in domestic and international markets (In Vietnamese).
Hien, N.T.T., L.D. Khanh and L.Q. Khai. 2011. Fruit fly species (Tephritidae: Diptera) and their hosts in dragon fruit production area of Binh Thuan province. Journal of Vietnamese Agricutural Science and Technology 9: 41-45.
Hien, N.T.T., L.D. Khanh, H.T.K. Lien, V.V. Thanh and V.T.T. Trang. 2016. Seasonal abundan of oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis H.) and guava fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta B.) in Binh Thuan province. The 2nd National Conference of Plant Science. Page 905-909 (In Vietnamese).
Nguyen, D.T. and M.V. Quan. 2017. Morphological and molecular identification of Neoscytalidium dimitatum causing white spot disease of pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) in Vietnam. Science and Technology Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development (In Vietnamese).
Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS). 2016. Report on the urgent measures for management of brown spot disease (Neoscytalidium dimidiatum) and other pests on dragon fruit. http://vaas.org.vn/ date of access: 8 March 2018.
(Submitted as a Country Report for the Dragon Fruit Regional Network Initiation Workshop, April 23-24, 2018, Taipei, Taiwan)
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DISCOURSE IV.
MISSIONARY APPLICATION OF THE EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT.
"For the whole world." --- 1 John ii. 2.
Let us now consider the universal and ineradicable wants of man.
Such a consideration is substantially unaffected by speculation as to the theory of man's origin. Whether the first men are to be looked for by the banks of some icy river feebly shaping their arrowheads of flint, or in godlike and glorious progenitors beside the streams of Eden; whether our ancestors were the result of an inconceivably ancient evolution, or called into existence by a creative act, or sprung from some lower creature elevated in the fulness of time by a majestic inspiration, --- at least, as a matter of fact, man has other and deeper wants than those of the back and stomach. Man as he is has five spiritual instincts. How they came to be there, let it be repeated, is not the question. It is the fact of their existence, not the mode of their genesis, with which we are now concerned.
(1) There is almost, if not quite, without exception the instinct which may be generally described as the instinct of the Divine. In the wonderful address where St. Paul so fully recognises the influence of geographical circumstance and of climate, he speaks of God "having made out of one blood every nation of men to seek[Pg 107] after their Lord, if haply at least" (as might be expected) "they would feel for Him"[157] --- like men in darkness groping towards the light. (2) There is the instinct of prayer, the "testimony of the soul naturally Christian." The little child at our knees meets us half way in the first touching lessons in the science of prayer. In danger, when the vessel seems to be sinking in a storm, it is ever as it was in the days of Jonah, when "the mariners cried every man to his God."158 There is the instinct of immortality, the desire that our conscious existence should continue beyond death.
"Who would lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, These thoughts that wander through eternity, To perish rather swallow'd up and lost In the wide womb of uncreated night?"
(4) There is the instinct of morality, call it conscience or what we will. The lowest, most sordid, most materialised languages are never quite without witness to this nobler instinct. Though such languages have lien among the pots, yet their wings are as the wings of a dove that is covered with silver wings and her feathers like gold. The most impoverished vocabularies have words of moral judgment, "good" or "bad;" of praise or blame, "truth and lie;" above all, those august words which recognise a law paramount to all other laws, "I must," "I ought." (5) There is the instinct of sacrifice, which, if not absolutely universal, is at least all but so --- the sense of impurity and unworthiness, which says by the very fact of bringing a victim. "I am not worthy to come alone; may my guilt be transferred to the representative which I immolate."
(1) Thus then man seeks after God. Philosophy unaided does not succeed in finding Him. The theistic systems marshal their syllogisms; they prove, but do not convince. The pantheistic systems glitter before man's eye; but when he grasps them in his feverish hand, and brushes off the mystic gold dust from the moth's wings, a death's-head mocks him. St. John has found the essence of the whole question, stripped from it all its plausible disguises, and characterises Mahommedan and Judaistic Deism in a few words. No, the philosophical deism of Christian countries comes within the scope of his terrible proposition. "Deo erexit Voltairius," was the philosopher's inscription over the porch of a church; but Voltaire had not in any true sense a God to whom he could dedicate it. For St. John tells us --- "whosoever denies, the Son, the same has not the Father."[159] Other words there are in his Second Epistle whose full import seems to have been generally overlooked, but which are of solemn significance to those who go out from the camp of Christianity with the idea of finding a more refined morality and a more ethereal spiritualism. "Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of Christ"; whosoever writes progress on his standard, and goes forward beyond the lines of Christ, loses natural as well as supernatural religion --- "he has not God."160 Man wants to pray. Poor disinherited child, what master of requests shall he find? Who shall interpret his broken language to God, God's infinite language to him? (3) Man yearns for the assurance of immortal life. This can best be given by one specimen of manhood risen from the[Pg 109] grave, one traveller come back from the undiscovered bourne with the breath of eternity on His cheek and its light in His eye; one like Jonah, Himself the living sign and proof that He has been down in the great deeps. (4) Man needs a morality to instruct and elevate conscience. Such a morality must possess these characteristics. It must be authoritative, resting upon an absolute will; its teacher must say, not "I think," or "I conclude," but --- "verily, verily I say to you." It must be unmixed with baser and more questionable elements. It must be pervasive, laying the strong grasp of its purity on the whole domain of thought and feeling as well as of action. It must be exemplified. It must present to us a series of pictures, of object-lessons in which we may see it illustrated. Finally, this morality must be spiritual. It must come to man, not like the Jewish Talmud with its seventy thousand precepts which few indeed can ever learn, but with a compendious and condensed, yet all-embracing brevity --- with words that are spirit and life. (5) As man knows duty more thoroughly, the instinct of sacrifice will speak with an ever-increasing intensity. "My heart is overwhelmed by the infinite purity of this law. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; let me find God and be reconciled to Him." When the old Latin spoke of propitiation he thought of something which brought near (prope); his inner thought was --- "let God come near to me, that I may be near to God." These five ultimate spiritual wants, these five ineradicable spiritual instincts, He must meet, of whom a master of spiritual truth like St. John can say with his plenitude of insight --- "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."
We shall better understand the fulness of St. John's[Pg 110] thought if we proceed to consider that this fitness in Christ for meeting the spiritual wants of humanity is exclusive.
Three great religions of the world are more or less Missionary. Hinduism, which embraces at least a hundred and ninety millions of souls, is certainly not in any sense missionary. For Hinduism transplanted from its ancient shrines and local superstitions dies like a flower without roots. But Judaism at times has strung itself to a kind of exertion almost inconsistent with its leading idea. The very word "proselyte" attests the unnatural fervour to which it had worked itself up in our Lord's time. The Pharisee was a missionary sent out by pride and consecrated by self-will. "You compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him tenfold more the child of hell than yourselves."[161] Bouddhism has had enormous missionary success from one point of view. Not long ago it was said that it outnumbered Christendom. But it is to be observed that it finds adherents among people of only one type of thought and character.[162] Outside these races it is and must ever be, non-existent. We may except the fanciful perversion of a few idle people in London, Calcutta, or Ceylon, captivated for a season or two by[Pg 111] "the light of Asia." We may except also a very few more remarkable cases where the esoteric principle of Bouddhism commends itself to certain profound thinkers stricken with the dreary disease of modern sentiment. Mohammedanism has also, in a limited degree, proved itself a missionary religion, not only by the sword. In British India it counts millions of adherents, and it is still making some progress in India. In other ages whole Christian populations (but belonging to heretical and debased forms of Christianity) have gone over to Mohammedanism. Let us be just to it.[163] It once elevated the pagan Arabs. Even now it elevates the Negro above his fetisch. But it must ever remain a religion for stationary races, with its sterile God and its poor literality, the dead book pressing upon it with a weight of lead. Its merits are these --- it inculcates a lofty if sterile Theism; it fulfils the pledge conveyed in the word Moslem, by inspiring a calm if frigid resignation to destiny; it teaches the duty of prayer with a strange impressiveness. But whole realms of thought and feeling are crushed out by its bloody and lustful grasp. It is without purity, without tenderness, and without humility.
Thus then we come back again with a truer insight to the exclusive fitness of Christ to meet the wants of mankind.
Others beside the Incarnate Lord have obtained from a portion of their fellow-men some measure of passionate enthusiasm. Each people has a hero, call him demigod, or what we will. But such men are idolised by one race alone, and are fashioned after its likeness. The very qualities which procure them an[Pg 112] apotheosis are precisely those which prove how narrow the type is which they represent; how far they are from speaking to all humanity. A national type is a narrow and exclusive type.
No European, unless effeminated and enfeebled, could really love an Asiatic Messiah. But Christ is loved everywhere. No race or kindred is exempt from the sweet contagion produced by the universal appeal of the universal Saviour. From all languages spoken by the lips of man, hymns of adoration are offered to Him. We read in England the Confessions of St. Augustine. Those words still quiver with the emotions of penitence and praise; still breathe the breath of life. Those ardent affections, those yearnings of personal love to Christ, which filled the heart of Augustine fifteen centuries ago, under the blue sky of Africa, touch us even now under this grey heaven in the fierce hurry of our modern life. But they have in them equally the possibility of touching the Shanar of Tinnevelly, the Negro --- even the Bushman, or the native of Terra del Fuego. By a homage of such diversity and such extent we recognise a universal Saviour for the universal wants of universal man, the fitting propitiation for the whole world.
Towards the close of this Epistle St. John oracularly utters three great canons of universal Christian consciousness --- "we know," "we know," "we know." Of these three canons the second is --- "we know that we are from God, and the world lies wholly in the wicked one." "A characteristic Johannic exaggeration"! some critic has exclaimed; yet surely even in Christian lands where men lie outside the influences of the Divine society, we have only to read the Police-reports to justify the Apostle. In volumes of travels, again, in the[Pg 113] pages of Darwin and Baker, from missionary records in places where the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations, we are told of deeds of lust and blood which almost make us blush to bear the same form with creatures so degraded. Yet the very same missionary records bear witness that in every race which the Gospel proclamation has reached, however low it may be placed in the scale of the ethnologist; deep under the ruins of the fall are the spiritual instincts, the affections which have for their object the infinite God, and for their career the illimitable ages. The shadow of sin is broad indeed. But in the evening light of God's love the shadow of the cross is projected further still into the infinite beyond. Missionary success is therefore sure, if it be slow. The reason is given by St. John. "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the whole world."
Ch. i. 5 to ii. 2.
Ver. 5. The Word, the Life, the Light, are connected in the first chapter as in John i. 3, 4, 5. Upon earth, behind all life is light; in the spiritual world, behind all light is life.
Darkness.] The schoolmen well said that there is a fourfold darkness --- of nature, of ignorance, of misery, of sin. The symbol of light applied to God must designate perfect goodness and beauty, combined with blissful consciousness of it, and transparent luminous clearness of wisdom.
Ver. 7. The blood of Jesus His Son] Sc. poured forth. This word (the Blood) denotes more vividly and effectively than any other could do three great realities of the Christian belief --- the reality of the Manhood of Jesus, the reality of His sufferings, the reality of His sacrifice. It is dogma; but dogma made pictorial, pathetic, almost passionate. It may be noted that much current thought and feeling around us is just at the opposite extreme. It is a semi-doketism which is manifested in two different forms. (1) Whilst[Pg 114] it need not be denied that there are hymns which are pervaded by an ensanguined materialism, and which are calculated to wound reverence, as well as taste; it is clear that much criticism on hymns and sermons, where the "Blood of Jesus" is at all appealed to, has an ultra-refinement which is unscriptural and rationalistic. It is out of touch with St. Paul (Col. i. 14-20), with the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. ix. 14) (a passage strikingly like this verse), with St. Peter (1 Pet. i. 19), with St. John in this Epistle, with the redeemed in heaven (Apoc. v. 9). (2) A good deal of feeling against representations in sacred art seems to have its origin in this sort of unconscious semi-doketism. It appears to be thought that when representation supersedes symbolism, Christian thought and feeling necessarily lose everything and gain nothing. But surely it ought to be remembered that for a being like man there are two worlds, one of ideas, the other of facts; one of philosophy, the other of history. The one is filled with things which are conceived, the other with things which are done. One contents itself with a shadowy symbol, the other is not satisfied except by a concrete representation. So we venture respectfully to think that the image of the dead Christ is not foreign to Scripture or Scriptural thought; simply because, as a fact, He died. Calvary, the tree, the wounds, were not ideal. The crucifixion was not a symbol for dainty and refined abstract theorists. The form of the Crucified was not veiled by silver mists and crowned with roses. He who realises the meaning of the "Blood of Jesus," and is consistent, will not be severe upon the expression of the same thought in another form.
"Note that which Estius has upon the blood of his Son, that in them there is a confutation of three heresies at once: the Manichees, who deny the truth of Christ's human nature, since, as Alexander said of his wound, clamat me esse hominem, it proclaimeth me a man, we may say of His blood, for had He not been man He could not have bled, have died; the Ebionites, who deny Him to be God, since, being God's natural Son, He must needs be of the same essence with Himself; and the Nestorians, who make two persons, which, if true, the blood of Christ the man could not have been called the blood of Christ the Son of God."
"That which I conceive here chiefly to be taken notice of is, that our Apostle contents not himself to say the blood of Jesus Christ, but he adds His Son, to intimate to us how this blood became available to our cleansing, to wit, as it was the blood not merely of the Son of Mary, the Son of David, the Son of Man, but of Him who was also the Son of God."
"Behold, O sinner, the exceeding love of your Saviour, who, that He might cleanse you when polluted in your blood, was pleased to shed His own blood. Indeed, the pouring out of Christ's blood was a super-excellent work of charity; hence it is that these two are joined together; and when the Scripture speaks, of His love, it presently annexeth His sufferings. We read, that when Christ wept for Lazarus, John xi. 36, the standers by said, "See how He loved him." Surely if His tears, much more His blood, proclaimeth His affection towards us. The Jews were the scribes, the nails were the pens, His body the white paper, and His blood the red ink; and the characters were love, exceeding love, and these so fairly written that he which runs may read them. I shut up this with that of devout Bernard, Behold and look upon the rose of His bloody passion, how His redness bespeaketh His flaming love, there being, as it were, a contention between His passion and affection: this, that it might be hotter; that, that it might be redder. Nor had His sufferings been so red with blood had not His heart been inflamed with love. Oh let us beholding magnify, magnifying admire, and admiring praise Him for His inestimable goodness, saying with the holy Apostle (Rev. i. 5), 'To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His blood, be honour and glory for ever.'" --- Dean Hardy (pp. 77, 78.) Observe on this verse its unison of thought and feeling with Apoc. i. 5, xxii. 14.[164]
Chap. ii. 1. We have an Advocate] literally Paraclete. One called in to aid him whose cause is to be tried or petition considered. The word is used only by St. John, four times in the Gospel, of the Holy Ghost;[165] once here of Christ.
"And now, O you drooping sinner, let me bespeak you in[Pg 116] St. Austin's[166] language: You committest your cause to an eloquent lawyer, and art safe; how canst you miscarry, when you hast the Word to be your advocate? Let me put this question to you: If, when you sinnest, you hadst all the angels, saints, confessors, martyrs, in those celestial mansions to beg your pardon, do you think they would not speed? I tell you, one word out of Christ's mouth is more worth than all their conjoined entreaties. When, therefore, your daily infirmities discourage you, or particular falls affright you, imagine with thyself that you heardst your advocate pleading for you in these or the like expressions: O My loving Father, look upon the face of Your Anointed; behold the hands, and feet, and side of Your crucified Christ! I had no sins of My own for which I thus suffered; no, it was for the sins of this penitent wretch, who in My name sued for pardon! Father, I am Your Son, the Son of Your love, Your bosom, who plead with You; it is for Your child, Your returning penitent child, I plead. That for which I pray is no more than what I paid for; I have merited pardon for all that come to Me! Oh let those merits be imputed, and that pardon granted to this poor sinner! Cheer up, then, you disconsolate soul, Christ is an advocate for you, and therefore do not despair, but believe; and believing, rejoice; and rejoicing, triumph." --- Dean Hardy (pp. 128, 129). In these days, when petitions to Jesus to pray for us have crept into hymns and are creeping into liturgies, it may be well to note that in the remains of the early saints and in the solemn formulas of the Christian Church, Christ is not asked to pray for us, but to hear our prayers. The Son is prayed to; the Father is prayed to through the Son; the Son is never prayed to pray to the Father. (See Greg. Nazianz., Oratio xxx., Theologiæ iv., de Filio. See Thomassin, Dogm. Theol., lib. ix., cap. 6, Tom. iv. 220, 227.)
Ver. 2. Not for ours only.] This large-hearted afterthought reminds one of St. Paul's "corrective and ampliative" addition; of his chivalrous abstinence from exclusiveness in thought or word, when having dictated "Jesus Christ our Lord," his voice falters, and he feels constrained to say --- "both theirs, and ours" (1 Cor. i. 2).
From The Epistles Of St. John by WILLIAM ALEXANDER, D.D., D.C.L. Oxon., Hon. LL.D. Dublin, published by Hodder and Stoughton, 27, Paternoster Row, MDCCCXCVI Lightly updated to the language of the 21st century by D. N. Pham. (c) 2012.
Discourse I
Discourse II
Discourse III
Discourse IV
Section II. (1)
Discourse V
Discourse VI
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Home Local Bahamians Shaunae Miller goes into history books – She Delivered GOLD for...
Bahamians Shaunae Miller goes into history books – She Delivered GOLD for Bahamas!
Shaunae Miller on the way to the World youth 400m title in Lille (Getty Images)
Miller entered the history books when becoming the first woman to win a World Junior and Youth 400 title with a thrilling win in a personal best 51.84.
Despite the swirling wind, the race was a classic and made even more memorable by the devil may care tactic of Canada’s Christian Brennan who flew from her blocks and roared down the backstraight.
At the halfway point the 16-year-old held a metre lead ahead of her more fancied opponents for the gold medal but Miller on the final bend and who herself had a fast start, was gathering pace.
She struck early in the home straight to claim The Bahamas first ever title and only the second the Caribbean nation has collected since the Championships began in 1999.
Miller said: “The Canadian’s good start didn’t bother me. I made the difference in the last 100.”
Behind her Brennan was flagging but rarely has such a small figure shown such a big heart as she held on to clinch second place by 0.02 in 52.12 from Jamaica’s Olivia James who also set a PB.
With world lead Hall wins USA’s first ever boys’ 400m gold
Arman Hall admitted before the Championships began that the 400 rival he feared most was the tiny Kenyan Alphas Leken Kishoyian and the final against him lived up to its billing.
The USA had never won a gold medal at previous meets over what is acknowledged as one of their strongest events but Hall put the record straight when lowering his world leading mark to 46.01.
He was quick out of his blocks but so too was Kishoyian as their battle for supremacy started down the backstraight and around the crown of the final bend into the home straight.
Hall coming off it had a half metre advantage but lengthening his stride and gathering more speed he thwarted the bid of last year’s Youth Olympic bronze medallist who was running out of steam.
But Kishoyian held on to match the silver medal fellow countryman Julius Kirwa achieved six years ago when holding off the late challenge of Poland’s Patryk Dobek who set a PB by 0.69 in 46.58.
“I had a really good start and it was a great race,” said Hall, also the world leader over 200m but not contesting that event as he prefers the 400m. “Now after all these races I’m just tired.”
Pasztor breaks championship hammer record three times
In the field Bence Pasztor produced a magnificent series of throws to win Hungary’s first gold medal at the Championships with a Championship record of 82.60m.
The World leader with 83.92m established his dominance of the competition when landing his first throw out to a distance of 82.13m which shattered the Championship record his fellow Magyar Sandor Palhegyi threw in Marrakech six years ago.
Then in the next round he increased it to 82.47m, followed by “only” 82.01m and two no throws. Then came his massive winner to improve the record for the third time.
Behind him no one matched even his lowest throw with Turkey’s Ozkan Baltaci taking silver with a personal best of 78.63m while Ukraine’s Serhiy Reheda thanks to his opening effort of 74.06m finished third.
Veale wins Ireland’s first ever 5000m Race Walk gold
Kate Veale scored a clinical 5000m Race Walk victory for Ireland with what was effectively a fantastic solo effort to crush the field in a world youth lead and personal best of 21:45.59.
The Emerald Isle in the past has won just a silver medal courtesy of Ann Loughnane in 2003 at the Sherbrooke Championships and Veale topped that performance when crossing the line ahead of China’s Yanxue Mao and Nadezhda Leontyeva of Russia who clocked PBs of 22:00.15 and and 22:00.84.
Veale despite the huge gap she held, insisted: “I felt strong during the whole race, but until the last lap I wasn’t sure I could be first. I didn’t know how far they were behind me.”
Peru’s world leader Yuli Capcha showed her credentials when leading for the first two kilometres but then faded, and going gradually backwards, failed to finish.
It was just after that distance Veale heel and toed quickly to the front and by three kilometres (13:12.74) had a healthy 10-metre lead ahead of Alina Galchenko and Leontyeva last year’s Olympic Youth bronze medallist.
By four kilometres (17:26:34) she had a huge 30-metre lead as her Ukraine and Russian rivals fought a personal battle for the silver medal which unfortunately went wrong for them in the lap before the bell.
Possibly concentrating on their own head-to-head the world No 3. and 4. ranked walkers failed to notice that Yanxue Mao was closing them down and at the bell was a medal contender.
With Veale assured of claiming gold, ending four successive Championships of Russian dominance, the chase for silver saw Galchenko dropped over the final circuit and in a nailbiting finish which went to the wire Mao get the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
Fifth Kenyan 1-2 in 2000m steeplechase and sixth title
Conseslus Kipruto became the sixth Kenyan winner of the 2000m Steeplechase title when keeping his nerve he used his finishing speed down the home straight to thwart the challenge of fellow countryman Gilbert Kiplangat Kirui.
The Kenyan pair – also the fifth duo from their country to achieve a 1-2 in the event – stood head-and-shoulders above their rivals but it was Kipruto who took the gold medal when also lowering his world lead to 5:28.65.
Kirui, who missed his PB by just 0.49 with his time of 5:30.49, had no answer when after challenging coming off the final water jump he couldn’t respond at the remaining barrier, where Kipruto spurted away.
Sharing his victory with Kirui, he said: “With my friend Gilbert we were dreaming. We wanted to start fast and run together. It was our tactic. Both of us are happy.”
Behind them Uganda’s Zacharia Kiprotich claimed the bronze medal when in a spirited last lap he and Morocco’s Jaouad Chemlal rid themselves of Great Britain’s Zak Seddon who had also been a contender at the bell.
Van Der Merwe in control with 110m hurdles victory
World leader Andries Van Der Merwe ran a perfect race in the last track event of the evening to grab the 110m Hurdles title in a highly competitive race.
Der Merwe, surprisingly beaten earlier in the afternoon by Japan’s Takumi Takahata in the semis, bounce back brilliantly to convincingly win the gold medal in a time of 13.41.
The South African rose quickly from his blocks and leading throughout his dash down the home straight his perfect hurdle clearances saw him stifle the threat of main challengers New Zealand’s Joshua Hawkins in lane 7 and William Belocian of France inside of him in the fourth lane.
Jamaica’s Omar McLeod was also challenging strongly in the outside lane but it was Kiwi Hawkins who captured silver and Belocian bronze as all three set PB’s of 13.44, 13.51 and 13.61.
Galle wins France’s first gold medal in Triple Jump
Triple jumper Sokhna Galle, with the track action having finished and her teammate Wilhelm Belocian having won the 110 hurdles bronze medal, minutes later captured France’s first gold medal of the Championships.
Galle, who moved to third place on the world list after her 13.42m qualifier two days earlier, took the lead in the competition with an even better leap of 13.62m.
It withstood the challenge of her rivals with Jingyu Li making the strongest challenge when throwing 13.57m in the fourth round which won the Chinese World No. 2 the silver medal.
The battle for third place was extremely tight. Spain’s Ana Peleteiro clinched it on countback from Victoria Leonova on countback whilst Sweden’s Lynn Johnson and Ukraine’s Anna Krasutska reached 12.91m for fifth and sixth, again on countback.
Khaddi Sagnia had a night she will wish to forget. The Swede who set a world lead of 13.64m in her qualifier failed to make the final cut.
Grozav scores unexpected High Jump win
Romania’s Ligia Grozav, who came into the high jump final with a PB of just 1.80m which didn’t even rank her in the World’s Top 10, celebrated an exceptional victory.
The 17-year-old ignored the statistics to prove herself the best in the world when scoring a win no one forecast on countback ahead of world No. 1 Iryna Herashchenko with the bar at 1.87m.
It was Grozav’s vital first time clearance at 1.85m which was the key to defeating her Ukrainian rival who needed a second attempt before the pair both with their last attempts went clear at 1.87m which matched Herashchenko’s world best set in mid June.
But both failed all three leaps when the bar on a windy afternoon was raised to 1.89m leaving Grozav to steal the glory on an afternoon she’ll never forget.
“It was a great Championships and it was my first international competition,” said Grozav still coming to terms with her magnificent performance.
Jamaica’s Chanice Porter also won the bronze medal on countback sharing the same height of 1.82m the world No. 3 getting the verdict from Germany’s Laura Voss who improved her PB by two centimetres.
Mendieta the overnight Heptathlon leader
World leader Yusleidys Mendieta was sitting at the head of the heptathlon competition by only 77 points after a keenly contested first day’s action.
The Cuban, who achieved PBs in the 100m Hurdles and High Jump, then hit the front after the Shot Put and consolidated her position with another lifetime best in the 200m.
Mendieta’s performances saw her amass 3510 points, although Belgium’s Marjolein Lindermans had a day to remember after retaining second place throughout.
The Belgian’s highlights included having the best clearance in the High Jump whilst she also posted a 200m PB to finish the day with 3433 points.
Mendieta’s fellow Cuban Yorgelis Rodriguez, lying 11th after the hurdles, moved upwards to seventh and fourth following the High Jump and shot. Then a 24.76 clocking in the 200m saw her move into third just three points behind Lindemans.
Wilson looks sharp in 800m semi, fellow American Vaughan leads discus qualifiers
Ajee Wilson’s superb 800m personal best in her semi-final indicates she may be the girl to beat when the final takes place on Sunday afternoon.
The American fought a terrific battle over the final lap with Great Britain’s Jessica Judd who led through 400 in 61.00 to finish in 2:03.17, with Judd another medal candidate, just 0.63 behind.
However the tall Chinese athlete Chunyu Wang also looked extremely strong when again lowering her PB to 2:05.13 whilst in their semi Katie Snowdon of Great Britain and Amy Weissenbach, the USA’s world leader, comfortably ran times of 2:05.67 and 2:05.84.
Shelbi Vaughan the World No. 2 headed the qualifiers for tomorrow’s Discus Throw final when producing a personal best of 53.78m which easily bettered the 48.50m qualifying standard.
The American was joined by nine other contestants who progressed by right including world leader Rosalia Vazquez of Cuba who lofted her best effort out to 53.78m while the 10th qualifier, Ukraine’s Viktoriya Savytska, threw exactly the required distance.
Boys’ Triple Jump qualifying
World leader Latario Collie-Minns showed his credentials when with his last effort the Bahamian flew out beyond the automatic qualifying distance for the final of 15.25m.
The teenager who has cleared 16.55m achieved the distance at a venue where 16 years ago the legendary Briton Jonathan Edwards produced the world’s longest ever jump of 18.43m, unfortunately assisted by an over the limit wind of 2.4m/s.
The same B qualifying group saw the world’s sixth and seventh best performers this year, Maksim Lustin and Sabelo Ndlova, also make the final by right, the Russian doing it with his first attempt of 15.31m while the South African with his second raised his PB by 4cm to 15.51m.
David Martin for the IAAF
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well done ms. miller when people of the world thought the Bahamas was just place full of crimes and killings you let your light shine to show that there is still hope for the Bahamas.shine on m.miller shine on
Great stuff 242..
What a physical specimen!
Senator Clarke
Shaunae Miller well done. Very proud of you!! Happy 38th Bahamas!
spragga
NUFF RESPECT TO MY COUNTRY ( BAHAMAS )
CONGRATS TO YOU MS MILLEER !!!!
CONGRATULATION on your gold Shaunae Miller and to all the Bahamian athlete’s May be with you’ll and continue strengthening and blessing you’ll, keep up the good work.
Kim Sands
Big up to Shaunae Miller and all our Bahamian athletes, who put out their best to make our country proud.
she remind me of tonique w. d see get plenty gas in her thank go miller hats of to you well done.
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