March 2009 Journal Summary

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Summary of the articles and information in the Journal. 

Editorial (full version below)
As we write this we are all in a state of shock over the devastation from bushfires in Victoria as well as the Queensland floods and fires across NSW and South Australia. Our prayers and condolences go out to so many who have lost loved ones, and many who have lost homes and everything they own in recent days.

But that's Old Testament!
Murray Adamthwaite considers which Old Testament laws still apply for Christians today. A longer version appears on our website.

News and Action
SA: Equal Opportunity laws; Lesbian couple wins appeal; Federal discrimination laws; Gender definitions; Freedom of Religion

Abortion and Overseas Aid
The Rudd government is considering overturning the current ban on overseas aid funding that provides abortion advice or abortions in overseas nations.

Surrogacy Inquiry
"The state and federal attorneys-general and state Health and Disability Ministers have launched a nation Inquiry into surrogacy Laws. Their aim is to have a 'consistent' approach to surrogacy laws across Australia."

Bill of Rights - Nation Consultation
The federal government announced a 'National Consultation on Human Rights' on 10 December 2008.

A new 'stolen' generation?
The rate of children in 'care' has increased in the past year. This article discusses statistics from the report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare called "Child Protection Australia 2007-08",

Transsexualism - Part 3
Ken McGuire continues his series on transsexualism to answer the question on what the actual cause of transsexualism is and how it can be treated.

Gambling Inquiry
The Australian government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an inquiry into gambling. 

Abortion Statistics - Victoria
A research study on the phone calls made to Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital is examined statistically.

Victoria - Equal Opportunity Laws
The Victorian government ordered a review of the state's Equal Opportunity Act. Conducted by Julian Gardner, the report proposes that all the discrimination laws be combined into a new 'Equality Act.'

Barack Obama - abortion
Barack Obama is proud of his pro-abortion voting record. In a statement to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of Roe v Wade, last year he said "Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America."

China's one-child policy
Jenny Stokes explains the adverse consequences of China's one-child policy. 

World News
Atheist ads; UK: Free speech under threat; UK: Homosexual adoption; USA: Doctor's conscience

Editorial - Full Version:

Fires and floods across Australia

As we write this we are all in a state of shock over the devastation from bushfires in Victoria as well as the Queensland floods and fires across NSW and South Australia.

Our prayers and condolences go out to so many who have lost loved ones, and many who have lost homes and everything they own in recent days. In Victoria, whole towns have now suddenly gone. Many Christians, some we know personally, have lost everything, even their churches. This is indeed a time to grieve.

Some will see these events simply as nature, some will blame global warming, some will blame the earth worshippers or governments for a lack of proper burning off, some will even blame God. However, we always need to be careful when pointing the finger of blame, especially about 'natural' disasters, because there are always three fingers pointing back at us.

Is God responsible? Does He send drought to warn us? Drought that increases the risk of fire? We are sure many have agonised over this in recent weeks. We pray for God to bring rain - so does he withhold rain because of the sin of a nation? He directly intervened because of sin in the Old Testament - first he threw Adam and Eve out of the garden, then he sent a flood and then there was Sodom and Gomorrah. He sent the plagues on the Egyptians and destroyed places like Canaan, not because He wanted to, but because of sin.

But the good news is that God sent His Son to die for the world, to pay for our penalty for sin. He has given us the way of salvation, the only way to avoid punishment of eternal separation from Him.

But the Scriptures are also clear that when WE reject God and His values we open ourselves up to the consequences. Romans Chapter One speaks clearly of the penalties people receive when they move away from Him. Are there also consequences for nations when they walk away from His laws and values too?

In our February Journal we said that in recent years we have seen a flood of immorality in our land. Our federal government passed laws to normalise homosexuality, the Victorian government passed the most liberal abortion laws in the land, created civil registration for homosexual relationships and passed laws allowing children to become 'products' of artificial creation by anyone - and then they called it all 'good'. On the first weekend in February our Victorian Police Commissioner and the Attorney General, Rob Hulls, marched in celebration of homosexual 'pride', and spoke with great pride about their 'achievements' in normalising homosexuality. Other states have been moving in similar directions.

Australia was established on Christian principles. We need to ask what could be the consequences of rejecting God's laws.

We said last month we needed to give hope and within a week there were so many who felt totally hopeless and needed our help. In one sense we praise God for the many Christians who were on the spot, all be it because of disaster affecting them directly, but they immediately turned towards others, helping their neighbour and giving hope and practical support.

While we repair the physical damage, we must also consider the need to repair the moral damage. We need to stop our nation calling evil good and good evil.

Yours in the service of Christ,

Peter & Jenny Stokes