Ukraine / Russia

[Nick87]

And just like that, covid no longer is a big deal with the media..

Yup

 

[Gerald Martin]

I'm going to entertain this for one post and one post only, because I have been dealing with this mindset for the entirety of my ministry.

America is not and never was a Christian nation. There were men involved in the founding of this nation who were almost certainly genuine believers but the vast majority were either a) following the vain tradition and dead religion of their fathers, b) closet deists with Christian language, or c) full-on deists. Largely due to influence from people like David Barton, contemporary Christians have attempted to rewrite the history of this nation. Puritan replacement theology paved the way for the unregenerate men to follow as whitewashed sepulchers claiming they were reclaiming the promised land for the true Israel and the bad theology has continued to spiral. God sets up and takes down nations of His own accord. America's rise to prominence is not because it has been a more righteous nation than others, God has seen fit over the course of history to allow plenty of pagan nations to be major regional or world powers.

Regarding morality in this nation, one must remember several things. First, America is not dealing with the first crisis of morality in its history. The chattel slave trade that underpinned the economy of the south in the fledgling nation was an abomination and the resulting atrocities have been ignored or downplayed be Christians for far too long. Second, goats act like goats and sheep shouldn't be surprised by that. The rise in abortion and other cultural streams that run counter to Scripture is solely on the shoulders of weak Christians who have not taken ownership of their responsibility as an ambassador for the Lord. Instead of being as wise as serpents and harmless as doves they have often been the opposite.

Finally, the terrible hermeneutics used to attempt to justify the rhetoric employed by last-days-scare-tacticians serve no purpose but to give those outside looking in good cause for believing Christians are off their rockers. The OT prophets, Mt. 24, 1 Tim. 4, and the book of Revelation (without the s) have real value for believers today. God has a plan for the future and He will accomplish it in His timing. You don't have to make the news headlines fit into Scripture. One of the final things that Jesus told the disciples before ascending to heaven was "its not for you to know" when He's returning, so stop thinking you have it figured out.

The idol of many believers today is political influence and power. Its easy to see because they can't conceive of how difficult or impossible ministry will be if America doesn't tolerate their faith. And yet they forget that the environment that Christianity was born into and spread like wildfire involved religious and political persecution for hundreds of years. That doesn't mean that I have forgotten Paul's command to pray for those in authority that we might live quiet and peaceable lives, but I also remember Hebrews 13:14; that here we have no continuing city but seek one to come. I'm looking for the blessed hope, not hand-wringing about the headlines.

Sorry @Big Fin for contributing to thread creep, but this is a personal sticking point of mine. It will truly be my last post on the subject.

Well stated. I wish everyone who complains about the decline of a Christian America would read and understand this.

 

[VikingsGuy]

Is this the first time we've seen global corporate power wielded against a belligerent nation directly like this?

Not fighting wars, but corporate pull outs in light of boycotts and public opinion have happened a bunch - South Africa, Iran, some trying to push on Israel.

 

[RobertD]

No Netflix in Russia, no TikTok either

@wllm1313 any thoughts on reports of buyers holding back voluntarily from purchasing Russian oil and how that might affect chances of formalized sanctions

 

[RobertD]

Not fighting wars, but corporate pull outs in light of boycotts and public opinion have happened a bunch - South Africa, Iran, some trying to push on Israel.

That's a good point. I think it's the fact that so much is done digitally that makes it feel different now. Instead of "We're not shipping flats of Coca-Cola to Johannesburg anymore" it's like "We're pressing one button and a couple million Russian credit cards stop working."

 

[The Hedgehog]

Putin is allegedly a church going Christian..

 

[Deleted member 28227]

No Netflix in Russia, no TikTok either

@wllm1313 any thoughts on reports of buyers holding back voluntarily from purchasing Russian oil and how that might affect chances of formalized sanctions

Seems very plausible given operators like Shell and Exxon dropping Russia ties.

Also… it’s not all that much oil ~75,000 barrels a day, which isn’t nothing but also thats what Kansas produces.

 

[Irrelevant]

I am not convinced nations have morals or conscience, rather they have interests. Sometimes those interests may appear to align conveniently with morals. I include the US in this critique.

It just seems like China’s interests would be for Russia to create chaos in the west. The only angle I can find is that they need a happy and easy spending west to prop up an economy with a serious real estate bubble, huge unfunded pension system and an aging population. Maybe this economic calculus favors economy over issues like East China Sea islands and status of Taiwan.

Could a counter sentiment be that if Russia pushes the envelope to the point where the rest of the world gets involved that's it sets a bad precedent for China's plans with Taiwan. I could see China preferring to not have anyone already shouting from the top of the moral high ground when they push their own war.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

No Netflix in Russia, no TikTok either

@wllm1313 any thoughts on reports of buyers holding back voluntarily from purchasing Russian oil and how that might affect chances of formalized sanctions

Mmm ok looked into it a bit more, so crude imports is super low… we do import a decent amount of high sulfur content unfinished oil, basically our refineries were designed with Venezuelan imports in mind.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Putin is allegedly a church going Christian..
View attachment 214470

You can read Jesus’ perspective about this topic in the Gospel of Matthew 7:21.

 

[BackofBeyond]

You can read Jesus’ perspective about this topic in the Gospel of Matthew 7:21.

I’m not well versed, but this situation may call for a little less lovey dovey New Testament, and a little more fire and brimstone Old Testament…

Like Ezekiel 25:17 as told in the letters of apostle Samuel Jackson.

 

[Big Fin]

Mmm ok looked into it a bit more, so crude imports is super low… we do import a decent amount of high sulfur content unfinished oil, basically our refineries were designed with Venezuelan imports in mind.

As much as I don't trust any of those folks in control down there around Lake Maracaibo, I distrust Putin completely. I'd rather prop up those folks down south, with hopefully some sort of influence and understanding of what is mutually beneficial and put more pressure on Russian O&G. Not sure how easy it is to turn on the tap down there.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I’m not well versed, but this situation may call for a little less lovey dovey New Testament, and a little more fire and brimstone Old Testament…

Like Ezekiel 25:17 as told in the letters of apostle Samuel Jackson.

I never considered the lead up to “ depart from me, I never knew you” as lovey dovey.

Although, after watching that clip, Ezekiel 25:17 probably fits too.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

As much as I don't trust any of those folks in control down there around Lake Maracaibo, I distrust Putin completely. I'd rather prop up those folks down south, with hopefully some sort of influence and understanding of what is mutually beneficial and put more pressure on Russian O&G. Not sure how easy it is to turn on the tap down there.

I agree, but I think it’s actually pretty difficult, big industry brain drain/scary place for OG employees.

Seems that those conversations are already underway though.

U.S. Officials Meet With Regime in Venezuela, to Discuss Oil Exports to Replace Russia’s

Venezuelan oil would return to the open international market under proposals that the U.S. is discussing in rare face-to-face meetings with officials of the Maduro regime, according to people familiar with the talks.

www.wsj.com

The elephant in the room is the Keystone XL, folks in Calgary, I’m sure, are pissed we are even talking to Maduro.

 

[Big Fin]

I agree, but I think it’s actually pretty difficult, big industry brain drain/scary place for OG employees.

Seems that those conversations are already underway though.

U.S. Officials Meet With Regime in Venezuela, to Discuss Oil Exports to Replace Russia’s

Venezuelan oil would return to the open international market under proposals that the U.S. is discussing in rare face-to-face meetings with officials of the Maduro regime, according to people familiar with the talks.

www.wsj.com

The elephant in the room is the Keystone XL, folks in Calgary, I’m sure, are pissed we are even talking to Maduro.

Well hell, I like Canadians.

 

[SAJ-99]

I agree, but I think it’s actually pretty difficult, big industry brain drain/scary place for OG employees.

Seems that those conversations are already underway though.

U.S. Officials Meet With Regime in Venezuela, to Discuss Oil Exports to Replace Russia’s

Venezuelan oil would return to the open international market under proposals that the U.S. is discussing in rare face-to-face meetings with officials of the Maduro regime, according to people familiar with the talks.

www.wsj.com

The elephant in the room is the Keystone XL, folks in Calgary, I’m sure, are pissed we are even talking to Maduro.

WTI and Brent Oil futures jump on the news, sitting at $124brl and $129 respectively. The market has to know that this Russian oil will find a home eventually (China, India), right? (That's a half statement half question, clearly showing i'm not 100% sure). Why would China and India get cold feet? I just assume no one wants to get in front of run and short it.

Also, wheat limit up again.

 

[Sytes]

Interesting how compelled Ukranian citizens are empowered to counter Russian incursions.
From armed citizenry, Presidential calls for underground hackers, to drone enthusiasts turning tables with their use of drones against Russia.

Ukrainian drone enthusiasts sign up to repel Russian forces

In better times, Ukrainian drone enthusiasts flew their gadgets into the sky to photograph weddings, fertilize soybean fields or race other drones for fun.

apnews.com

And... this comedian turned President is extremely satisfying to listen! Far too long we've tolerated the lesser of political evils to vote into office.
This guy has brought a light on leadership! Most endearing time where shit hits the fan is when true leaders shine. Make the vast majority of our leaders look and smell like the garbage they are.
In a sense, I believe, if not for the lobbyists demands upon our "leaders" they're sensing a true leader and comparisons drawn/ing by Americans glued to the setting!

 

[406dn]

Regarding Canadian tar sand oil, it likely has higher cost of production, also farther away from gulf coast refineries.

It is also a syncrude, that is it is fed thru a coker and the overhead portion becomes the crude. The refinery where I worked refined a decent amount of that crude. The biggest inconvenience of running it is that when producing jet fuel, it had to be backed out of the crude unit, since no cracked oil can be used in jet fuel. That fact ultimately got our refinery out of the jet fuel business.

Speaking parochially, the keystone pipeline if built, would likely put the Montana refineries in a world of hurt. Part of what keeps them going is much of the crude they run is bought at distressed prices because getting it to the open market is not feasible.

I do support denying every possible outlet for the Russians to sell their crude.

 

[SAJ-99]

The elephant in the room is the Keystone XL, folks in Calgary, I’m sure, are pissed we are even talking to Maduro.

Again though, that oil finds a home, just has to go a different route, no?

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Again though, that oil finds a home, just has to go a different route, no?

Absolutely… maybe…?

I was talking to my uncle today, I predict either $55 or $200 lol

The squeeze is totally artificial, there is plenty of global oil. The draw downs before the invasion didn’t have prices that high and it was looking like they would drop, also all the cancelled flights to Russia… that’s less demand.

I can 100% see a scenario where Putin relents or is disposed and oil is used as a bargaining chip.