2010 May Journal
Â
Subscribe to the Salt Shakers Journal
Summary of the articles and information in the Journal.
Summary - Salt Shakers Journal May 2010
Editorial (full version below)
We know that evil knows no bounds but put evil and money together and the cocktail becomes even more explosive.
What You See Is What You Get - Or Is It?
Roger Birch writes on how the belief in naturalism and science, or liberalism and atheism, affects people's understanding of God's reality and rulership over history.
Overseas Aid - payback?
Since the last election, the rules for the distribution of overseas aid have changed. Money can now be spent on fund-raising activities in Australia, instead of overseas!
Yoga for children - now on ABC TV
Jenny Stokes explains about the BBC children's program Waybuloo, which features yoga, levitation and meditation and which encourages children to join in.
News & Action
Michael Kirby criticises churches; Jesus banished from Easter Show; 'Pride in Diversity'; Casino for Mildura
Victorian 'Hate Crimes' law review
Attorney-General Rob Hulls has requested a review of 'Identity Motivated Hate Crimes' that will consider criminal and civil law and the issue of harassment of homosexuals.
Call to remove 'soft porn'
Peter Stokes discusses the current campaign by Kids Free 2B Kids to ban easy access soft porn in terms of 'to little too late' when there is so much on TV and in advertising. This is an urgent call for action!
A sad day - Victoria restricts religious freedom
Victoria's Legislative Council passed the controversial Equal Opportunity Bill on Thursday 15 April, 2010.
Political Parties: What do they stand for? Part five: The National Party of Australia
Peter Stokes explains the history and function of the not-so-minor party - The National Party of Australia (The Nationals).
State Election News
The State Elections held in Tasmania and South Australia have resulted in a swing away from the Labor Party to the Liberal Party.
What's in a cigarette?
Jenny Stokes informs us of the startling revelation that not only does cigarette smoke contain more than 4000 chemicals, but that pig's blood is used in the manufacture of cigarette filters.
Book Review: The Third Choice
Jenny Stokes reviews the latest book by Mark Durie on Islam, which explores the concept of dhimmitude. The word comes from "dhimmi", an Arabic word for non-Muslims living under Muslim rule.
Updates
SA: Internet Law; Gender in NSW; R18+ rated games; NSW Relationship Registers
National Day of Thanksgiving - 29 May 2010
This is a great opportunity to express thanks to God and others. Resources and the website are included.
Married couples more likely to stay together
The Jubilee Centre has analysed data from the British Household Panel Survey and produced a document entitled Cohabitation in the 21st Century. This document has highlighted the fact that married couples are now more than ten times as likely to stay together until their first child is 16.
Ireland: Blasphemy law
A lobby group in Ireland has challenged the law concerning blasphemy by publishing 25 blasphemous statements on their website.
World News
Canada & Religious Freedom; UK: C of E & Homosexuality; USA: Health care bill passed; USA: Good Friday "re-named"; USA: Lesbian appointed to EEOC; UK: Equality Bill Passed
Editorial
We know that evil knows no bounds but put evil and money together and the cocktail becomes even more explosive.
As we see in the pages of this journal people will stop at nothing to make a dollar - or a million or two.
Selling adultery has become the latest way to make money. No, we're not talking about legal prostitution but encouraging married people to have affairs through an online dating agency that has been established specifically for married people.
Of course, hand in hand with the site goes the advertising that tells us we get bored with just one 'partner' and even that having an affair can make our marriages 'better' . Of course, we always know they are lying when they encourage us to do what God has clearly stated is wrong.
When sex takes hold of a community and the church's voice is muted by post-modernism, seeker-friendly political correctness, New Age self actualization and the happy clappy message of self esteem, the world really does have a problem. Who is going to be the voice of reason and caution?
Should it surprise us that people are looking elsewhere for 'values' and 'ethics'?
God solved the sexualised society problem once by reigning fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah It is thought the Canaanites and the Greek and Roman empires were destroyed from within because of rampant sexual immorality.
When we look at Australia today are we the fortunate country we once were?
Violence, almost anarchy, reigns on our streets, especially in the major cities. Our jails are full, as are the refugee centres as more and more people try to illegally enter our nation bringing with them their foreign culture and values and their gods. Is this part of the inevitable collapse of this once Christian nation?
Sadly, when people come from other places they inevitably find this is no longer the great place of peace and freedom it used to be.
The Indian migrant population have been shocked and rocked by the violence and in India, the newspapers are telling their people that Australia is now a bad place. Sadly, we think they are right.
Some Muslims are saying Australian companies need to be inspected to make sure they are clean enough to be sharia compliant, is that a reflection of what they think of our nation's moral cleanliness?
Even the atheists are introducing 'secular ethics' education into our schools, believing that because Australia is "a secular multicultural democracy, [it] must respect the separation of church and state."
Of course, there is no such implication in our Constitution. Yes, governments are forbidden from forcing a particular 'religion' or religious creed on the people, but the constitution was never intended to be used to take religion out of our schools or our society in general.
Many of the people who prepared our Constitution knew the value of Christian ethics and values as part of their own lives and worked hard to ensure we and our political leaders remembered our Christian heritage by inserting the words "humbly relying upon the blessings of Almighty God".
Sadly, even many Christians are suggesting we are a 'secular nation' - however we aren't a 'secular nation' and we should never forget it. We need to read the Constitution!
Yours in the service of Jesus Christ
Peter and Jenny StokesÂ
|
