Salt Shakers
Journal
February
2008
Summary
Editorial (in full below)
Welcome to
2008. Encouragement is always welcome, especially when it comes from very
unexpected quarters and arrives at a crucial time. So it was nice that on the
first day of this year we received the following email…
The Three ‘R’s of Christianity
Dr. Murray Adamthwaite examines the
three ‘R’s of Christianity, namely ‘Ruin’ (the fall), ‘Redemption’ (the cross)
and ‘Regeneration’ (the Holy Spirit).
The After-effects of abortion inBrisbane
A study done at
the
Mater
Hospital
in
Brisbane
has found that young
women who have an abortion are more likely to drink heavily and use hard
drugs.
News and Action
Smoking in cars; WA: Prostitution;
Victoria : Knives at school
Vic: [Same-sex] Relationship Registers
‘Win for gay couples’ read
the headline in the Herald Sun. ‘New laws to mirror marriage rights’ said the
by-line. The Victorian government introduced a bill to establish a Relationships
Register on 4 December 2007. It will be debated early in 2008.
Sydney Mardi Gras
Jenny Stokes
looks at this four week festival and its promotion of the homosexual lifestyle.
She examines the sponsors, the crowd figures and the messages of support given
by politicians, including Prime Minister Rudd.
IVF and Surrogacy
JUST before Christmas the Victorian government
said they will implement ALL but one of the 130 recommendations of the Victorian
Law Reform Commission (VLRC) regarding IVF for single women and lesbians and
surrogacy. The government is expected to do this early in 2008.
Further Election Reflection
This article reviews the election, the
Christian Values Checklist and addresses the criticism of the latter that
accused Salt Shakers of exclusively focusing on moral issues rather than ‘social
justice’.
Oprah: Influential Campaigner
This article looks at Oprah’s
influence and at some of the issues she has been promoting via guest choice,
such as decriminalization of polygamy and ‘a course in miracles’ (a New Age view
of spirituality).
A Course in Miracles
‘A Course in Miracles’ was written down or
‘scribed’ by Helen Schucman, a clinical psychologist, between 1965 and 1972,
through a process of inner dictation.
The Truth Project: An excellent resource
The Truth Project is an
invaluable resource on the Christian worldview. It has been produced by Focus on
the Family in the
USA , and it is now
available in
Australia
through Focus on the Family Australia.
Abortion
The South Australian government has published data about
the number of abortions done during 2006. There were 4,888 terminations of
pregnancy (TOPs) notified in SA in 2006 - 173 more than in 2005.
Young Australians: Health and Wellbeing
A very useful compilation
of national statistics about young people in
Australia
has
been published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). A full
version of the report is available (free online, book form $40) but the 22 page
‘Selected Highlights’ booklet is available free just by asking for it - it gives
current data on issues affecting young people.
Sweden:
‘Gender-Neutral’ Marriage
The Swedish government plans to legislate early
in 2008 to combine the current marriage and registered partnerships laws.
Climate Change- Kyoto and more…
On 3 December 2007, on his first
day as Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol, committing
Australia
to
binding targets to reduce carbon emissions.
UK:
Homophobic hatred law proposed
The UK Government published its proposed
‘homophobic hatred’ law in mid-November 2007. Parts of the law are modelled on
the religious hatred law but there is no specific free speech protection.
UK: Foster parents update
Vince and Pauline Matherick, the
Christian couple from Chard,
Somerset
who had refused to promote
homosexuality to their foster children, have won the right to have their
personal convictions and conscientious objections recognised.
World News
Switzerland:
Euthanasia;
UK: Babies;
USA: APA and homosexuality; US:
Homosexual Activists;
USA
:
Polygamy
Editorial (full version)
Welcome to
2008.
Encouragement is always welcome, especially when it comes from very
unexpected quarters and arrives at a crucial time.
So it was nice that on the first day of this year we received the following
email:
“Dear Peter and Jenny,
Thank you for your newsletter. There are so few sane voices in the
world these days and you are such a blessing and truly serving the Lord.
Your article on that little bird Godwit, was such a blessing - I distributed it
far and wide, even to the atheists!
Everyone here looks up to Australia (the joke is that Oz is South Africa’s
10th Province because so many South Africans have emigrated there) so I just
hope now, with a left -leaning Government, Saltshakers voice will ring loud and
clear.
May the Lord continue to bless you and all you put your hand to. Yours in
Him, Val.”
That little bird sure made an impact. This was one of many comments we had
about it and Creation Ministries International even used our Editorial as a
guest Editorial on their web site.
Apart from the encouragement, there are, of course, some real challenges in
that email from
South Africa
. A challenge to
Australia
as
well as to us at Salt Shakers.
This year has been described by various people as “the year of new
beginnings”, and that is certainly true politically. We enter uncharted waters
with Labor governments in all States and Territories and now Federally as well.
The Howard Government did not do everything right but they did put the brakes
on a number of minority groups. They have been held back for ten years, but now
the foot is off the brake peddle and on the accelerator, going full speed to
achieve their various ‘progressive’ agendas. (Funny how that word ‘progressive’
is used today to promote liberal thinking and acting!!!)
Major issues now on the ‘progressive’ agenda include a national Bill of
Rights, homosexual normalisation, including relationships and parenting,
abortion on demand, multi-faith-ism (including appeasement to Islam) and a
republic - and that is just for starters!
The homosexual activists are certainly gearing up to exert pressure on the
Rudd government. Their media are full of articles about relationship rights,
marriage, IVF etc. Even the moves already announced for
Victoria
don’t go far enough, they
cry, and as for any possibility that Mr Rudd will force the ACT to toe the line
and not introduce a Civil Unions Bill is already being seen as a backflip.
With yet another lesbian joining the Labor ranks in
Canberra
(West Australian activist
Louise Pratt) it will be even harder to hold back the tide.
We were criticised for focusing our ‘Christian Values Check List’ on
distinctly ‘moral’ issues rather than ‘social justice’ issues such as Overseas
Aid and the poor, and, would you believe ‘work choices’, but when sin abounds
who is going to care about others. When selfishness abounds, who will care about
the poor? When greed abounds who will consider it necessary to do a hard day’s
work for a day’s pay?
New beginnings? No. Progressive? No.
Only Jesus can bring about progress and New Beginnings. A leopard cannot
change its spots - neither can satan.
Looking forward to helping you ‘Make A Difference’ in 2008.
Peter & Jenny
Stokes Author: Jenny Stokes | Modified: 19 February 2008 |
