October 2007 - Journal summary

News and information from this journal ... plus the full editorial (at bottom of page).

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"Who falls asleep in a democracy will wake up in a dictatorship". Otto Gritschneder.

Salt Shakers Journal Summary October 2007

Editorial (in full below)
Seventy people gathered for the third Salt Shakers Annual Dinner on September 8th and, as well as enjoying good food and good fellowship, they also enjoyed good entertainment and heard a keynote speaker with a great message.

Separating Secular Humanism and the State
Chuck Edwards looks at the worldview of Secular Humanism and analyses is asking whether it is a religion or not.

News Update
RU 486; Gaming losses; Victoria: Abortion; Californication

Marriage and Transexuals
A Victorian who had transsexual surgery to change from a man to a woman has been denied permission to have his birth certificate changed.

Victoria: Discrimination Review
The State Government is planning to review the state’s Equal Opportunity Act AGAIN!

Stem Cells: The Good and the Bad
The Good: Adult stem cells are successfully being used in many cures and treatments. There are currently 73 documented cures and treatments.
The Bad: Stem cell researchers and doctors have warned patients against travelling to China and India in search of untested treatments for spinal injuries and other conditions. The treatments use stem cells from embryos.

Cloning Bill in WA - and Tasmania
The Western Australian Legislative Assembly passed the bill to allow the creation of embryos for stem cell research in the second reading by 31-11.

Flight from Reason
Dr. Murray Adamthwaite looks at logic and argument and identifies some tactics that are often used to avoid the issue or win the argument without the use of facts or evidence.

Election Focus: Party Policies
Jenny Stokes analyses party policies on religious vilification, abortion, homosexual rights and our responsibility for this election.

The power of talk back radio
John Tary looks at the power of this medium and gives us some tips about how to impact Australia when we make the call.

Brazil: Homosexuals sue Christians
We thought things were getting tough in Australia, with laws being passed to ban discrimination and vilification to stop people criticising homosexuality. In Brazil things seem to be even worse. A law has been proposed to prohibit criticism of homosexuality, but has not been passed yet.

World News
USA: Lutheran clergy; USA - Iowa: marriage; USA: Abortion; Kenya: Occult symbols

Editorial (full version)
Seventy people gathered for the third Salt Shakers Annual Dinner on September 8th and, as well as enjoying good food and good fellowship, they also enjoyed good entertainment and heard a keynote speaker with a great message.

Guryel Ali, winner of the 2005 Australian Gospel Music Gold Award for “Every Little Thing”, not only sang that particular song but shared some of his own remarkable personal story. It is an amazing testimony to God’s enduring love and demonstrates the difference a loving community can make to a family in need. He also managed to have most people singing along to some catchy tunes.

Colin Bunnett, General Manager of Focus on The Family Australia, introduced everyone to The Truth Project. This remarkable DVD series is designed to help Christians gain a thorough understanding a true Biblicallybased, Christian worldview. It is designed for use in small groups. Colin also spoke about “Savoury Salt”. He pointed out that an American survey showed that only 9% of “born again” believers believe in absolute truth and that 63% of active teenage Christians lose their faith by age 30. One of the reasons for this is that the church has not been the savoury salt it should have been, partly because it has failed to ‘remember what God has done’. The Old Testament is full of examples of God telling the Israelites to build a monument by which future generations could remember their heritage. The church is supposed to be one of those stone pillars for today, with Christ as the cornerstone. Its presence in the community is the reminder of what has gone before. The Church is God’s anointed body here on earth. (Eph. 4:11-14), demonstrating God’s heart (Tapeinos) through its involvement in the community.

Today we also have other ‘stones’ to look back on. Colin reminded us that we have recently been remembering the “Wilberforce Stone” and this story reminds us that...
Culture is not greater than God
We need perseverance
Our focus needs to be sharp
There will be steep personal cost

Wilberforce was committed to the strategic importance of a band of like-minded friends devoted to working together in chosen ventures. This is a good description of the church. He believed deeply that the power of ideas and moral beliefs could change culture through sustained public persuasion. He was willing to pay a steep cost for his courageous public stands and was persistent in pursuing his life task.

And especially today there is a real need to let our lives lovingly express truth in all things. (Eph. 4:15). Colin also pointed us to Eph. 4:16, in the Amplified Bible, and paraphrased this as ‘Because of Christ, the whole body (the church) was joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied when each part is working properly (in all its functions) and grows to full maturity, building itself up in love (with Christ the head).

An old saying is, “that there are only two things which are certain in life, death and taxes”. We know the faith we have within us is also certain and we need to humbly, but fervently, share it with the world around us. It will not always be seen as loving, but that should not stop us putting our shoulder to the wheel.

Yours in His service
Peter & Jenny Stokes