Another busy year ahead....

1. Federal parliament has started
A battle in Question Time this week, with the Opposition asking the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, about the involvement of her staff in leaking information about Tony Abbott's whereabouts on Australia Day to a certain Union official that led to the near-riot and the 'rescue' of the PM (and Opposition leader) in a protest by some aborigines.

2. Same-sex 'marriage'
GetUp is organising a campaign of contacting Tony Abbott and the Coalition re getting them to have a conscience vote on allowing homosexuals to 'marry'... that's the only way they will get the proposal passed. We want you to ask the Coalition to stand firm on their policy of supporting the current definition of marriage.

The latest report - today, 9 Feb - says that a Bill will be put into the federal parliament on MONDAY next week by Labor MP Stephen Jones - and a second Bill from Greens Adam Bandt and Independent Andrew Wilkie. Mr Bandt says he wants both Bills referred to the Inquiry currently underway into the Greens 'marriage' Bill.

The report says "Both [Bills] are likely to include protections for churches that refuse on religious grounds to marry same-sex couples."
Read report in Herald Sun

But how long would such protections last????

3. Proposition 8 defeated at US federal court
Proposition 8, the referendum of Californians affirming marriage as only between a man and a woman, has been rejected by the 9th US District Circuit Court. The only avenue left is an appeal to the US Supreme Court...
Read more... Washington Post report

4. Muslim-friendly Bibles
Couldn't be, you say... Muslims deny the deity of Christ, don't believe He is the Son of God and so on...
World Net Daily reports that some Bible translation groups are removing statements from the Bible that could offend Muslims...

5. More PC: Removing ‘God’
Christian groups and many US politicians are upset that the US Air Force recently removed a Latin reference to God on the Rapid Capabilities Office logo.
Until a couple of months ago, the Latin logo said "Doing God’s Work with Other People’s Money".

Then the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers complained - and it was changed to ‘Doing Miracles with Other People’s Money’.

There is a growing movement in the USA to remove the name of God from public life - this is the latest example of political correctness!
Read WND report - click here.

The federal Labor government is continuing with its 'plan' to promote human rights. They held a 'National Consultation on Human Rights' back in 2008-2009 - but decided NOT to have a full 'Bill of Rights'...

BUT they are implementing a range of measures to promote human rights - they are all part of the government's document: "Australia's Human Rights Framework". Read about it: click here.  

We're printing an article in our February journal - which will be posted next Thursday (2/2/2012). It summarises the measures - a 'National Human Rights Plan', scrutiny of ALL proposed legislation against UN treaties, a special Parliamentary Committee to undertake that task, education on human rights, more anti-discrimination laws and so on. It highlights submissions for the 'Action Plan' - they close Feb 29, 2012.  
Raad article: Government promotes human rights

Anti-Discrimination law - Submissions needed by Feb 1, 2012
Please act NOW!

The most immediate challenge is an Inquiry into Commonwealth anti-discrimination law. A Discussion Paper on anti-discrimination law was released last year. The federal Labor government's plan is to 'consolidate' all Commonwealth anti-discrimination law - and ADD laws on 'sexual orientation'..
The overview says "the Government is seeking to consolidate Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws into a single Act."
The overview and Discussion Paper are posted on this specific webpage:
Consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws T
is has a general overview - plus a link to the Discussion Paper (60 pages).
Discussion Paper - direct link - click here.

ADDING sexuality and gender identity anti-discrimination laws
Currently there are laws affecting race, sex, martial status, disability, age and so on - in different Acts of Parliament. List is at Paragraph 71, Page 21 of Discussion Paper.

There are NO Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws based on sexuality (or homosexuality).
[There are such laws at state and territory level]. This is largely due to the decision of the Howard government to resist implementing such laws. Over the past 15 years the Democrats and Greens repeatedly pushed for such laws. BUT the federal Labor government wants to introduce anti-discrimination laws based on sexuality and gender identity. Apparently this was an 'election promise' at the 2010 election.
See Discussion Paper, Para 73-76, Page 21. The Overview gives the government's intent...

In considering options for reform, the Government will keep the following principles in mind:

• a reduction in complexity and inconsistency in regulation to make it easier for individuals and businesses to understand their rights and obligations under the legislation
• no reduction in existing protections in federal anti-discrimination legislation
• ensuring simple, cost-effective mechanisms for resolving complaints of discrimination, and
• clarifying and enhancing protections where appropriate.

The Government has committed to introducing new protections against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination as part of this process.

Action - Now is the time to act. . . 

Making a new 'Act' gives the government opportunity to extend such laws. As well as adding laws based on 'sexual orientation', they specifically state (Para 73)
" This project provides the opportunity to consider whether other attributes should be covered in the federal legislation, including those attributes protected under the Fair Work Act or at the State or Territory level."

That gives them an 'open door' to do what they want!

Please send a brief submission or letter to the Inquiry.
Submissions close on Feb 1, 2012.

Send submissions to antidiscrimination@ag.gov.au (preferred by email)

Address to   

Assistant Secretary

International Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Branch

Attorney-General’s Department

Robert Garran Offices

3-5 National Circuit

BARTON ACT 2600

Send a submission from yourself - and/or from your church or organisation. It can be short - but we need to tell the Inquiry - politely - what we think!  

Some points to include - use your own words, please...
- Ask that no changes be made to extend anti-discrimination law. All anti-discrimination law removes freedom of choice - we already have too many such laws. [Anti-discrimination law is dealt with by Equal Opportunity Commissions and Tribunals - the 'rule of law' is not the overriding principle there!]
- Oppose the introduction of anti-discrimination law based on sexuality and gender identity.
- Highlight the adverse impact that this has on freedom of choice and freedom of religion.
- Cite particular cases where churches and Christians have been subject to such laws. There are numerous cases in Australia under similar state laws - Wesley Mission, CYC camps (Phillip Island etc).
A paper, by Neil Foster, presented at a Conference on religion and law, details some Australian and overseas cases and highlights the adverse impact they have had on the freedom of religion.
Click here to read his paper.

Thank you for taking action - and making a difference!

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

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 - Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au
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.

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.

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.

Yes, more happening every day...

The GOOD news first....
The 'Not Ashamed'campaign is in full swing in the UK. Launched by Christian Concern, it encourages Christians to speak up about their faith, especially as we approach Christmas.
Leaflets, videos and more...
Read more - click here.

The not-so-good news
Another motion supported at the ALP Conference was to allow 'certificates of non-impediment' to be given to homosexual couples who want to 'marry' overseas.
Currently such certificates are only provided to HETEROSEXUAL couples.
This is a further advance of the homosexual 'rights' agenda.
Read more on the ABC's AM program: click here.

and more...
The Obama administration has promised to promote homosexual rights around the globe.
The message was given in a  speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and in a memorandum given by President Obama in Washington.
They say they will commit all avenues of American 'diplomacy' - and that could include enticements regarding foreign aid! Read report.

and more...
Christian Concern report from the UK that, "A new law came into effect on 5 December 2011 which allows homosexual civil partnerships to be registered on religious premises in England and Wales for the first time."
They continue... "The new scheme is intended to be voluntary, although critics of the move believe that what is being portrayed as optional for churches will quickly become an expectation and then a duty."
The question is - 'How long will that take?'

and more...
Nativity removed in Montreal, Canada
A nativity scene and menorah have been displayed in a Montreal suburb for the past 15 years.
Now Muslims have demanded that their religious symbols also be displayed.
The result?
The Christian and Jewish symbols were removed!
Read more.

and polygamy/polyamory promoted in Australia
Yes, as Bill Muehlenberg says, 'We told you so'.
Read his article about polyamory. Click here.
Read the media report in The Australian about polyamory. 
If the government or the individual decides what is 'right', where will they stop?

There's always a lot of issues to deal with... and a lot of info from the past informs where we are at today...

At the end of the year, just doing some filing (real paper and emails!) and came across the items at 2 and 3...

1. Marriage
Yes, we are dealing with the aftermath of the ALP decision to support same-sex 'marriage'. More on that on our front page... By the time we monitor what the ALP are saying, what the Liberals are saying and the strategies being proposed by homosexual activists - and look at our own responses, the day has gone!

2. An interesting study on fathering...
Published earlier in the year by the Australian Institute of Family Studies:
"Fathering in Australia among couple families with young children"
One point from the study, biological fathers are more likely to help with their child's personal care.
Research highlights - click here.
Full study - 208 pages, pdf, 1.7 MB - click here.

3. Faith in Australia
A snippet from 2009.... the Faith in Australiasurvey from Neilsen...
67% of people believe in God, 63% believe in miracles, 42% believe in evolution and 41% believe in astrology and only 38% believe in hell.
What a mixture!
This article was written by journalist David Marr - click here.

It doesn't stop...

1. Queensland passes Civil Partnership Bill
Yes, the Bill passed by 47 votes to 40 votes.
Read our report - click here.

2. UN says people trafficking in Australia is under-estimated
News.com reports: "AUTHORITIES are underestimating the number of people being trafficked into sexual, domestic and labour slavery across Australia, a senior United Nations official says. 
"The UN's Special Rapporteur for people trafficking, Joy Ezeilo, believes Australia's official records - which point to only 192 trafficking cases, resulting in just 14 prosecutions - don't reflect the true nature and scale of the problem.
"The scale of the problem appears to be underestimated and under-reported, with most victims outside the sex industry remaining unidentified," Professor Ezeilo told reporters in Canberra today at the end of a two-week fact-finding mission. "Of course, this is at variance with growing cases of trafficking for forced labour being handled by grassroots organisations."...
Read media report.

3. WA - Prostitution Bill
The WA Parliament was scheduled to debate this Bill for one hour today - but it was expected that a vote will not be taken today. This is the last sitting day for 2011.

4. Same-sex 'marriage' debated by the ALP
The ALP National Conference is debating the issue of same-sex 'marriage' on Saturday 3 December.
The Stand4Marriage rally will be held at 10 am in martin Place, Sydney. Please pray about this issue.
Read our report - click here.

Around the world we see trouble everywhere (well, almost everywhere!)... of all kinds!
For a world that largely rejects or ignores God, it isn't really surprising to see such turmoil.

1. Middle East - increasing unrest
Earlier in the year, many commentators proclaimed the 'Arab Spring' as the coming of 'democracy' in the Middle East. More unrest has now erupted in Egypt - where elections are scheduled for this week. 

The Muslim Brotherhood was one of the prominent groups behind the move to oust the President. They are now the largest political party in the forthcoming Egyptian elections. But they aren't really promoting 'democracy' as we know it. Instead, their aim is for the establishment of Islamic states....
Many Christians are being persecuted and are under increasing threat.
John Bradley writes about the current political situation, talking of the winter of 'Islamic jihad'...

Arab Spring? This is turning into the winter of Islamic jihad - By John Bradley 
Daily Mail, 22nd November 2011
"The Arab Spring is rapidly turning into a winter of chaos and oppression. As protests grip the Egyptian capital of Cairo, and Islamic fundamentalists gain in confidence there and elsewhere across the region, the hopes of Western leaders for a new era of democracy across the Middle East have been exposed as hopelessly naïve. . ."

2.  Financial collapse in Europe
For weeks we've been hearing about the financial collapse of some of the European Union nations - such as Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain (hence the name PIGS). Of course, since most of the EU nations have all adopted the use of the euro, when one nation faces financial collapse, all the others are affected.

In Britain (which retained their 'pound'), the UK Telegraph recently reported that "Diplomats are preparing to help Britons abroad through a banking collapse and even riots arising from the debt crisis. The Treasury confirmed earlier this month that contingency planning for a collapse is now under way. A senior minister has now revealed the extent of the Government's concern, saying that Britain is now planning on the basis that a euro collapse is now just a matter of time. "It's in our interests that they keep playing for time because that gives us more time to prepare," the minister told the Daily Telegraph. Recent Foreign and Commonwealth Office instructions to embassies and consulates request contingency planning for extreme scenarios including rioting and social unrest...."

Meanwhile, the 'carbon trading' market in Europe has collapsed....
Andrew Bolt notes that this will make Austrlai's carbon tax even MORE expensive!
Gillard's tax now more than double Europe's as carbon trading crashes 
Andrew Bolt - Sunday, November 27, 11.

And more . . .
Add to that ongoing turmoil in Iraq and Afghanistan, the promotion of Islam and shari'a law, the situation regarding our federal Parliament and the replacement of the House of Representatives Speaker, the debate on same-sex 'marriage', the abortion of twins in Melbourne at 32 weeks and so on ... and we really are in a sorry state.

Only Jesus Christ and Christianity offer truth and meaning. As we approach Christmas, we need to remember WHY Jesus came ... to provide us with salvation and a way back to God through repentance (saying sorry) and forgiveness.