Summer Weekly Update #4 - 12 January

Three items for Action and Prayer... we could write a lot more but we've selected just three items!

UPDATE (16 Jan) - Cotton Onhas removed the 'offensive' products. Mandy Ahmadi's husband has been charged with her murder and a body has been found in the back yard of their home.
Click here to read our 'Update' on these two developments. 

'Cotton On' continues to promote sleaze
Some time back we wrote about Cotton-On - a company making (mostly) cotton fashion clothing - having objectionable slogans on babies clothing.
Now Cotton On are promoting pornography - which degrades both women and men. They own the company Typo, which sells stationery and giftware. 

An article in Monday's Herald Sun reports that Typo is selling pornography-themed items in its 'back-to-school' sale. Items included a "travel mug that says "Porn is my saviour" and an iPhone cover featuring a naked woman sitting provocatively in a cross-legged pose with the word "dirty" above her. A notebook featuring a topless woman pouting in front of a bullseye is also for sale, while another appears to be trying to emulate the front of a porn magazine. The words "entertainment for men" appear over a photo of a naked woman."
Read the full article: Anger over 'pornographic' stationery in Australian back-to-school sale 
Another article from 'Smart Company' reflects on company practices - click here.

ACTION:
There is an online petition protesting against the sale of these goods - click here to sign it- and Melinda Tankard-Reist, of Collective Shout, is calling on people to boycott Typo.
Please write to Typo - and Cotton On - about these products - click here for an online form (and here for the Typo website).

Abortion - Some good news
Women in Texas who are seeking an abortion must be given an ultrasound by the abortionist and they must offer to show it to her, according to a US federal court decision on January 10, 2012.

The 'Woman's Right to Know Act', which was passed in Texas in 2003, requires that women who are seeking an abortion must be shown pictures of the child's development at least 24 hours before the abortion.
In 2011, the law was amended to require doctors to also do a sonogram (ultrasound) of the pregnant woman's child and offer to show it to the mother - as well as let her hear the child's heartbeat. This new law was signed into law on May 24, 2011 by Governor Rick Perry.

Abortionists and the Center for Reproductive Rights took legal action against the law, claiming that being 'compelled' to show the sonogram to women restricted their 'First Amendment free speech rights'. A District Court judge declared it unconstitutional in August 2011. Thankfully, the Federal Court has now overturned the District Court decision!
References:
Court Rules Texas Sonogram Mandate for Abortion Is Constitutional, Christian Post, 11/1/2012.
The Woman's Right to Know Act: click here.

Christian woman missing in Melbourne
A Melbourne Christian woman has been missing for almost a month. 'Mandy Ahmadi' arrived in Australia from Iran with her husband and family in 1999. She became a Christian about five years ago, followed by her husband about a year later. They have been conducting an outreach to Muslim refugees through Cornerstone Church in Dandenong. She disappeared from her home on Dec 16 - her phone was missing (it hasn't been used) but her handbag and credit cards were left in the home.
Fears are held for her safety, and her husband and family fear that she may have been abducted or killed by Islamic extremists - since there is a death penalty for apostates who convert from Islam (see this article on Answering Islam).

The case has now been handed over to the police Homicide Squad in Victoria to investigate and they said "we believe her disappearance is suspicious and have grave fears for her welfare". They said they have rejected the notion that she was abducted by Islamic extremists but will fully investigate the case. The police revealed today that her real name is  Zahara Rahimzadegan. It seems that she has gone away for a couple of days twice before but has always let her family know what she is doing and where she is.
The case was highlighted by Pastor Danny Nalliah in an email on Tuesday (and posted on the CTFM website) - and The Age ran a front page story yesterday.

Today the reports mention the investigation by the Homicide Squad - and reveal her real name.
Please pray for Zahara and her husband and family. Pray that Zahara is found alive and well.

References:
Email/website post from Danny Nalliah - click here.
Article in The Age - Fears held for Christian convert, The Age, 111/1/2012
Article in The Australian - Police do not believe religious conversion played a part in Melbourne mother's disappearance (12/1/2012)
Victoria Police statement: Homicide Squad to investigate suspicious disappearance

Weekly Update #3 - 7 Jan

A belated 'Happy New Year'., to you all. Apologies that our planned weekly update turned 'fortnightly' due to us having 'quality time' with our grandson last week. It is largely the thought of what sort of future our grandchildren, and your children and grandchildren, will have to face if we don't 'stand in the gap', that keeps us going.

The Queen's Christmas Message
The Queen of Great Britain, Australia, and the Commonwealth gave a surprisingly 'Christian' Christmas speech two weeks ago. It is worth listening to.
Steve Addison, a Baptist blogger who is the Director of Church Resource Ministries (CRM) Australia, summed it up along with some interesting comments on the Media coverage it received... Click here to read the Queen's message. Click here to listen to the speech.
Click here to read Steve's comments.

Australia - same-sex 'marriage' debate
There is division in the ranks of those pushing for 'sexual equality' by gaining s-s 'marriage', and that is a good thing. Remember, "united we stand, divided we fall" which is one reason we have been losing this debate to date, because the 'church' has been far more divided than the so-called 'progressives'.

Well, now they are divided too - not on wanting s-s 'equality' but on when they should make the push for 'marriage' in the Federal Parliament. The stumbling block, praise God, is Tony Abbott's refusal to give a conscience vote to Liberal/National MPs and Senators. There are also accusations that some Labor MPs want to rush the vote so it will fail. There are some Labor MPs who will use their conscience vote to say 'No' to changing the Marriage Act, so those supporting change know they need some Coalition MPs to also vote for the change to get the Act changed. Small 'l' liberals like Malcolm Turnbull, given a chance, will vote with Labor and the Greens on this issue. Some of the so-called 'Independents' also support it so we already know it is a close race. The division is 'when', not 'if', to bring on the vote. Pro-homosexual group 'Australian Marriage Equality' chairman, Alex Greenwich, believes that, given time, Tony Abbott will be persuaded to accept a conscience vote, therefore virtually guaranteeing a win in the Parliament. WE must make sure we continue to appeal to Tony Abbott to uphold the Coalition election pledge to support the Marriage Act. Send him an email - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please also write to the leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss - click here for contact form. Links to Media Articles: Bill to fuel same-sex marriage squabble / Call for Patience / MP takes vow of consensus on same-sex marriage bill

American Presidential elections
Iowa, USA, was the first place that voted in America's rather strange voting system to find the Republican candidate to oppose President Obama in the National Election later this year.

There are 5 main contenders, and the result in Iowa is an indication of who that person might be... Brian S. Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage reported on the outcome stating that, the winner was Gov. Mitt Romney, but the big surprise was Sen. Rick Santorum who surged forward into second place, with just eight votes less than Romney. T

he main thing about this result is that they are both strong marriage supporters - meaning they oppose same-sex 'marriage'. This race to the White House in very important, even to Australians, because if the USA continues with Obama, marriage will likely become 'gender neutral' very soon. Obama continues to placate the homosexual activists and refuses to support DOMA, the national 'Defence of [heterosexual] Marriage Act' passed by the US Congress and supported by both Parties.

Bill Muehlenberg says "the man to now watch as the most consistently Christian and conservative candidate is Rick Santorum". Read Bill's analysis of the current situation - click here.

Weekly Update #2... 23 December

A round-up of the News this week... (along with our greetings for Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ - click here to read)...

Woman dies following abortion at Croydon clinic
A woman has died following an abortion at the controversial abortion clinic in Croydon, Victoria which is now run by Marie Stopes International.
This is the abortion clinic where many women were infected by hepatitis.

Sonja Couroupis of Life Network Australia writes:
"The Age have reported that "A 42-YEAR-OLD woman died days after attending a controversial abortion clinic in Croydon last week". It goes on to say that "Authorities have confirmed that the woman was taken to the Box Hill Hospital where she died on Sunday, after earlier having ''a procedure at a private Croydon clinic."

Sonja says, "This is the fourth investigation involving this particular clinic in six years."

Sonja encourages everyone to write to the Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, the Health Minister, David Davis, and your local Members about the awful abortion laws in Victoria.
Read the Life Network post for details on contacting these men by phone or fax.
For email contact details, click here. 

UK PM David Cameron on Christianity
David Cameron recently gave two quite 'conservative speeches' - one of these promoted the importance of Christianity.

However, this follows a recent announcement by Mr Cameron that the Conservative Party will support full same-sex 'marriage' by 2015.

Bill Muehlenberg asks the question:
"Does David Cameron really mean it when he talks of the need for Christianity?
Read Bill's article: Cameron, Conservatism, and Christianity

Political alliances in the UK and in Australia
In the UK the Conservative Party has aligned itself in a 'Coalition' with the Liberal Democrats in order to gain enough seats to govern.

In Australia, we have a similar situation with Labor and its alliance with the Greens.

In both cases, when a political party aligns itself with a radical left-wing group, the policies and the principles of the party are adversely affected as the minor party increasingly 'calls the tune'!
Read Melanie Phillips' article... (writing in the UK):
Marriage and why adolescent Clegg must be living on a different planet

Death of two world leaders
During the past week two world leaders have died - North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and the man who liberated Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel.

Mr Havel was President of that nation until 2003 and in recent years he has written and spoken out against the global warming agenda.
Bill Muehlenberg provides an insightful analysis of the character of these two men:
The Death of a Hero, and of a Monster

Newt Gingrich - on religious freedom
US Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has published a manifesto on religious freedom. Click here to read it.

It starts with 'On Day One' and proposes "Establishing a presidential commission to examine and document threats or impediments to religious freedom in the United States and to propose steps for reaffirming and protecting the foundational principle of freedom of thought, conscience and religious belief upon which our republic is built and thrives...." 

AND political correctness gone mad!
The American Family Association reports that Members of the US Congress have been BANNED from saying 'Merry Christmas' in their mail sent to constituents that is paid for by taxpayers. They've even been banned from saying 'Merry Christmas' on their official Facebook and other social media sites!
AFA reports, "According to a Dec. 12 memo by the House Franking Commission, congressmen in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail and email. Congressmen use their official franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail and email to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited."

Now that's a crazy world - what do the bureaucrats think they are actually having a HOLIDAY for?

Some Congressmen are fighting back - read the report at Lifesite.

News - Weekly Update

Firstly, we have decided that over December/January we will try to send one weekly email update. This will, of course, depend on what happens between now and February and the urgency required to deal with issues.
They will be posted on our 'Latest News' page.

Unfortunately, this week's news, right across the world, continues to be dominated by one issue - homosexuality. Unfortunately, we can't avoid it just because we are sick and tired of it - that is what those promoting it want us to do. They will continue to try to wear us down - but we won't let them, will we?

Second - some good news
Nigerian Senate passes anti-homosexual/lesbian Bill, defying British 'aid' threat
The Nigerian Senate passed a bill banning same-sex marriages, and open displays of SSA, on Nov. 29th, despite a threat from Britain to withhold aid from the nation for violating what Britain calls homosexual 'rights'.

The Bill will now go to the Nigeria's House of Representatives for a vote before President Goodluck Jonathan can sign it into law.

Full article @ AllAfrica.com

SALT Comment: Many people have criticised the Bill, and will no doubt continue to do so, but Praise God for the determination of the Nigerian government for standing firm. Many false claims about death sentences where bandied about when this Bill was foreshadowed but that related only to adults who seduce minors into same-sex activity.

Taking a stand against the greatest cause of sexual disease in Africa is imperative if they are to have any chance of breaking out of their 'third world' poverty.

Thirdly - the ongoing bad news
1. Australia - Liberal backlash against Tony Abbott and NO conscience vote.

Liberals defy Abbott on same-sex marriage (The Australian - December 15, 2011)
"LIBERALS agitating for a free vote on same-sex marriage have stepped up their campaign, with a key moderate arguing the party has never denied its MPs a conscience vote granted to their Labor rivals. Victorian MP Russell Broadbent yesterday said the Coalition should not be "afraid" of a conscience vote on same-sex marriage while senator Simon Birmingham said he would continue to fight in the Party room for a free vote..".
Full article @ The Australian  

SALT Comment: It should be noted that the Labor Party does not usually allow a conscience vote on anything other than what they call 'life issues'. This position was a ruse to get abortion 'rights' on to the ALP platform because without a conscience vote the Party would (probably) have rejected it. The same ruse has now been played to get same-sex 'marriage' on the same platform for the same reason.

The Liberal/Nat Party should not simply follow that ruse down the same slippery slope. A conscience vote is always available to Liberal/Nat Party MPs - sure, it might affect their 'rise' through the ranks but it would not get them dismissed from the Party as it would if they were Labor MPs.

Please Pray that the Lib/Nat coalition will stand strongly against same-sex 'marriage' and any legal recognition of s-s relationships. 

2. UK House of Lords - debate on civil partnerships in churches
Yesterday (14 Dec 2011), Baroness O'Caithain proposed a motion in the UK House of Lords that would have stopped registration of civil partnerships on church premises. Just prior to the debate she withdrew the motion.  

SALT Comment: Homosexuals in the United Kingdom are now allowed to register their 'civil partnerships' in churches. This new legislation, which came into effect on 5 Dec 2011, means churches can now choose to register civil partnerships on their premises.

When the law was passed in 2004, these partnerships were NOT allowed to be registered. But activists keep working away to get laws changed!

Baroness O'Caithain proposed her motion because she was concerned that churches could eventually be forced to register civil partnerships. During the debate Lord Alli (who moved the original amendment) said that the legislation includes a 'conscience clause' for churches who don't want to register civil partnerships.

But of course, a legal challenge could still be made. The government maintained that this is 'voluntary' - but also said said that if such a challenge was successful they would 'revisit the law'!Read BBC report - Peer drops fight over same-sex ceremonies in churches

3. President Obama promotes global homosexual rights
On December 6, 2001, US President Barack Obama declared that all US federal agencies dealing with diplomacy and foreign aid must promote homosexual rights. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also declared this in a speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Dec 6.

CFAM investigates this further - and reports that, "Every federal agency engaged overseas, and "other agencies as the President may designate," is directed to "combat the criminalization of LGBT status or conduct abroad," assist LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, leverage aid to advance LGBT non-discrimination, respond swiftly to abuses of LGBT persons abroad, enlist international organizations "in the fight," and report on progress."
Read full C-FAM article: Obama Elevates LGBT as U.S. Foreign Policy Priority  

SALT Comment: This overt declaration of global support for, and promotion of, homosexual rights shows exactly where President Obama and his government are heading.
Read the official Memorandum issued by President Obama - you will be shocked to see the extent of this development. 

Read President Obama's Official Memorandum
Read the White House official 'Fact Sheet' on this development.